Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts

March 30, 2024

DVD 1: The Sex Pistols ~ The Filth & the Fury

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DVD front cover - rockumentary
photo by Styrous®
 
 
On Mar 30, 1976, the Sex Pistols played their first show at The 100 Club In London. And, as they say, the rest is history! 
 
In 2000 Julien Temple directed a British rockumentary film entitled, The Filth & the Fury. It follows the story of punk rock pioneers the Sex Pistols and their humble beginnings from Shepherd's Bush in London, England, to their fall at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. It follows the  chaotic, exciting, berserk and enormously influential brief history of the band. It is considered a continuation of Temple's first documentary centered on the band, titled The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, but acts as an opportunity for the surviving members of the group to tell their side of the story.            
 
 
 
DVD back cover - rockumentary
photo by Styrous®
 
              
The title of the film is a reference to a headline that appeared in the British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror on December 2, 1976, after an interview on the ITV Today presented by Bill Grundy. The title of The Mirror article was itself inspired by the William Faulkner novel, The Sound and the Fury which was in turn taken from a line in Macbeth by William Shakespeare.         
        




In 1990, Glenn Matlock wrote a book entitled, I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol which documented the life of the band from his perspective.       






        
         
         
            
Tracklist:
       
1 - The Filth And The Fury - 1:43:00               
       
Companies, etc.
       
    Copyright © – Sex Pistols Residuals
    Copyright © – Fine Line Features
    Copyright © – New Line Home Video
       
Credits:
       
    Executive-Producer – Eric Gardner (3), Jonathan Weisgal
    Film Director – Julien Temple
    Film Editor – Niven Howie
    Film Producer – Amanda Temple, Anita Camarata
    Performer – Glen Matlock, Paul Cook, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones (2)
       
Notes:
       
Widescreen version.
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Rated R
       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        
    Barcode: 794043508622

Sex Pistols – The Filth And The Fury
Label:    New Line Home Video – N5086
Format:    DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Enhanced
Country: US
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk
         
 
 
 
Viewfinder links:               
William Faulkner        
Sex Pistols         
Julien Temple       
        
Net links:        
        
Roger Ebert ~ The Filth and the Fury review         
Tommy Gerard ~ The Filth And The Fury: A Sex Pistols Film        
Our Town NY ~ The Filth and The Fury The Filth and ...         
Sex Pistols website ~ The Filth & the Fury         
uDiscover Music ~ How Sex Pistols Sparked A Media Outrage        
Variety ~ The Filth and the Fury         
        
YouTube links:        
        
The Filth And The Fury (1hr, 43 mins.)         
Sex Pistols: The Grundy Show incident        
         
         
         
         
         
         
        
        
         
         
         
         
         
         
Styrous® ~ Saturday, March 30, 2024                 
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
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December 21, 2021

Winter Solstice on the 21st in 2021

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photo collage by Styrous®
 
 
Today is the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice, which marks the beginning of the astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere, is today. I have always felt this day is actually the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year.   
 
The solstice occurs at the same instant everywhere on Earth. The Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. The winter solstice, which marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It's the precise moment at which the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun.    

Meteorologists use a different method of defining the first day of winter. And, in some countries, the beginning of the seasons is determined by average temperatures rather than fixed dates or astronomical events.            

Rogers and Hart wrote a love song about this day entitled, The Shortest Day of the Year, from the musical, The Boys from Syracuse which was based on the William Shakespeare play, The Comedy of Errors (link below).        



        
There is a two hour video on YouTube of the Solstice as it's happening at Newgrange, a prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland, located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Drogheda on the north side of the River Boyne. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids (link below).       
        
        
        
Viewfinder links:        
        
Memories of Solstice         
Rogers and Hart           
William Shakespeare         
         
Net links:        
        
Almanac ~ Winter Solstice 2021        
Britannica ~ Winter Solstice        
USA Today ~ The shortest day of the year is Tuesday        
        
Youtube links:         
        
Newgrange monument ~ Winter Solstice - Monday 21 December 2021 (documentary) (48 mins., 29 secs.)
Newgrange monument ~ Winter Solstice - Monday 21 December 2021 (2 hrs., 2 mins.)
Rogers & Hart ~ The Shortest Day of the Year        
        
        
         
        
        
        
        
         
        
         
Styrous® ~ Tuesday, December 21, 2021       
      















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May 7, 2020

Orson Welles ~ Director Extraordinaire: Voodoo Macbeth

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Orson Welles - January 29, 1939
The Campbell Playhouse
photo by Warneke and Elkins 
     

Yesterday was the birthday of Orson Welles; I missed posting this by a few hours yesterday; whatever! There are several Viewfinder links with tons of information about him at the end of this article.      

During the Great Depression, as a part of a New Deal federal stimulus package (sound familiar?), the federal government wrote a 20-year-old director a check to stage Macbeth to fight Jim Crow! It gets weirder. This young director set his version of the Shakespeare masterpiece in Haiti, and based it loosely on the life of a former slave-turned-revolutionary-turned-king named Henry Christophe, and cast only black performers. The year was 1936, the director was Orson Welles who two years later would frightened the nation with his radio dramatization of the War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (complete info, links below).    


 
Voodoo Macbeth - program - 1936 


 The Voodoo Macbeth is a common nickname for the Federal Theatre Project's 1936 New York production of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Welles adapted and directed the production, moved the play's setting from Scotland to a fictional Caribbean island, recruited an entirely Black cast, and earned the nickname for his production from the Haitian vodou that fulfilled the role of Scottish witchcraft. A box office sensation, the production is regarded as a landmark theatrical event for several reasons: its innovative interpretation of the play, its success in promoting African-American theatre, and its role in securing the reputation of its 20-year-old director.       

The production opened April 14, 1936, at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem. A free preview two days before drew 3,000 more people than could be seated.                


 Opening night at the Lafayette Theatre (April 14, 1936)


"By all odds my great success in my life was that play," Welles told BBC interviewer Leslie Megahey in 1982. "Because the opening night there were five blocks in which all traffic was stopped. You couldn't get near the theater in Harlem. Everybody who was anybody in the black or white world was there. And when the play ended there were so many curtain calls that finally they left the curtain open, and the audience came up on the stage to congratulate the actors. And that was, that was magical."              




The Works Project Administration provided economic stimulus during the Great Depression, and under its aegis was Federal Project Number One, responsible for generating jobs in the arts for which the Federal Theater Project was created. The Negro Theatre Unit was split into two halves, the "Contemporary Branch" to create theater on contemporary black issues, and the "Classic Branch", to perform classic drama. The aim was to provide a point of entry into the theater workforce for black writers, actors and stagehands, and to raise community pride by performing classic plays without reference to the color of the actors.        

I found no evidence to support it but it seems to me that the influence of the Harlem Renaissance (link below) of the previous decade was felt by the group.      


Jack Carter as Macbeth 


Edna Thomas as Lady Macbeth 


 Macbeth's bodyguard 


Virginia Girvin as the Nurse 
with Wanda Macy and Bertram Holmes as 
Macduff's daughter and son


Many of the notable artists of the time participated in the Federal Theatre Project, including Susan Glaspell who served as Midwest bureau director. The legacy of the Federal Theatre Project can also be found in beginning the careers of a new generation of theater artists. Arthur Miller, Orson Welles, John Houseman, Martin Ritt, Elia Kazan, Joseph Losey, Burt Lancaster, Marc Blitzstein and Abe Feder are among those who became established, in part, through their work in the Federal Theatre. Blitzstein, Houseman, Welles and Feder collaborated on the controversial production, The Cradle Will Rock.      


Federal Theatre Circus (1935–38) 


Viewfinder links:       
  
Marc Blitzstein         
Burt Lancaster        
William Shakespeare       
Carl Van Vechten & the Harlem Renaissance       
Orson Welles       
       
Net links:       
      
Inverse ~ The Forgotten Story of Orson Welles' All-Black Macbeth Production  
Internet Archive ~ The War of the Worlds              
      
YouTube links:       
       
Voodoo Macbeth      
Voodoo MacBeth battle over Citizen Kane        We Work Again ~ Voodoo Macbeth Footage       
Orson Welles interview on Voodoo Macbeth (1936)       
       















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March 16, 2020

Corona Virus in San Francisco

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looking west   
March 15, 2020, 4:20 PM
























looking east toward the Ferry Building
March 15, 2020, 5:49 PM









"Beware the Ides of March!"
              ~ Shakespeare
       
     
   
      
         
Styrous® ~ Monday, March 16, 2020











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December 7, 2017

William Shakespeare articles/mentions

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 Prince ~ Purple Rain         
 Miklós Rózsa ~ Spellbound        
Orson Welles ~   
       Director Extraordinaire: Voodoo Macbeth         
       His productions       
               
Procession of Characters from Shakespeare's Plays
Unknown artist (manner of Thomas Stothard)
Oil on board - circa 1840
Height: 311 mm (12.24 in). Width: 1,378 mm (54.25 in).






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April 21, 2016

20,000 Vinyl LPs 53: Prince ~ Purple Rain












 cover photo by Ed Thrasher     
 photo of album cover by Styrous® 



For the third time this year I am in shock! Prince Rogers Nelson, the artist formerly known as Prince, died today. The first time was the death of David Bowie (see link below). The second time was the death of Vanity (see link below). Needless to say, I was stunned! He was only 57 years old! At this point there is no information about his death.

Two of his albums are my favorites and I couldn't decide which one I would write about so I'm going to write about both of them; Purple Rain first, and then in the next article, Around the World in a Day. Purple Rain is the soundtrack of the 1984 film of the same name.    


back cover 
art director - Laura LiPump
photo by Styrous®


As with every album I like, there are favorite songs of mine. In Purple Rain, there are two; When Doves Cry which is second only to the title song, Purple Rain. What an incredible song it is! It's rock and it's very best! The guitar work is exquisite!  

Purple Rain a combination of rock, pop, gospel, and orchestral music. It reached number 2 in the U.S. for two weeks, behind Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, and it is widely considered Prince's signature song. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, shipping 1 million units in the United States. 

Rolling Stone ranked it number 143 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (no argument from me on this) while Q magazine placed it at number 40 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, and Pitchfork Media named it the best song of the 1980s.





side 1 record label detail
art director - Laura LiPump
detail photo by Styrous®


Prince played all the instruments on the song, When Doves Cry. The song's texture is stark. There is no bass line, which is unusual for an 80s dance song; Prince has said that there originally was a bass line but, after a conversation with singer Jill Jones, he decided that the song was too conventional with it. The song ends with a classical music-inspired keyboard piece backed by another synthesizer solo. It's A great dance tune, however.  

According to the Purple Rain DVD, Prince was asked by the director to write a song to match the theme of a particular segment of the film – one which involved intermingled parental difficulties and a love affair. The next morning, Prince had reportedly composed two songs, one of which was "When Doves Cry". According to Per Nilsen, Prince's biographer, the song was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.     

When Doves Cry is considered the lead single from the album and was his first number one hit worldwide. The song was #1 in the U.S. for five weeks, from July 7, 1984 to August 4, 1984. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.        


side 2 record label detail
art director - Laura LiPump
detail photo by Styrous®



Purple Rain is a gatefold album designed by Laura LiPump. Ed Thrasher, who passed away in 2006, was also the photographer for the covers of the Jimi Hendrix album, Are You Experienced?, Song to a Seagull by Joni Mitchell and Anthem of the Sun by the Grateful Dead, among many, many others.   


gatefold interior
art director - Laura LiPump
photo by Styrous®




Prince was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He wrote his first song when he was seven years old. He wrote one of my all-time favorite songs, Nothing Compares To You, which was covered by Sinéad O'Connor. Her version, which O'Connor co-produced with Nellee Hooper, became a worldwide hit in 1990. A music video, which has been described as iconic, was shot and received heavy rotation on MTV. Its lyrics explore feelings of longing from an abandoned lover's point of view.  



Tracklist: 

Side 1:


A1 - Let's Go Crazy
Recorded By – David Leonard, Susan RogersTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Susan RogersWords By, Music By – Prince
 4:39

A2 - Take Me With U
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Featuring [Duet With] – ApolloniaRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Strings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Violin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 3:54

A3 - The Beautiful Ones
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Technician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Words By, Music By – Prince
 5:15

A4 - Computer Blue
Recorded By – David Leonard, Susan RogersTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Susan RogersWords By, Music By – John L. Nelson, Prince, Lisa, Wendy*
 3:59

A5 - Darling Nikki
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceWords By, Music By – Prince

Side 2:

4:15

B1 - When Doves Cry
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Technician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Words By, Music By – Prince
 5:52

B2 - I Would Die 4 U
Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinWords By, Music By – Prince
 2:51

B3 - Baby I'm A Star
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinStrings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaViolin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 4:20

B4 - Purple Rain
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinStrings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaViolin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 8:45

Companies, etc.

Credits:

Notes:

1st cat# sleeve; 2nd cat# labels

Track A4 segues into track A5 and B2 into B3

Music From The Motion Picture Purple Rain Starring PRINCE

"Let's Go Crazy" & "Computer Blue" were recorded at The Warehouse in the summer of '83
"Take Me With U," "The Beautiful Ones" & "When Doves Cry" were recorded at Sunset Sound
"I Would Die 4 U," "Baby I'm A Star," "Purple Rain" recorded live at 1st Avenue in the summer of '83 & Record Plant, New York.
"Darling Nikki" was recorded at a place very close 2 where u live.

Includes poster and printed inner sleeve. 

           
        
        
        
           
       
Net links: 
     
Prince Discography             
Prince ~ Around The World In a Day          


YouTube links: 
         
Purple Rain     
When Doves Cry
Prince ~  Nothing Compares To You (original version)           
Sinéad O'Connor ~ Nothing Compares To You    




“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”                            ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet



Styrous® ~ Thursday, April 21, 2016










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