Sean Bean Week: Sharpe's Rifles

Welcome fine readers to Day 1 of Sean Bean Week and I hope we get off to a great start by viewing one of Bean's first ground and back breaking series based of the Bernard Cornwell novels (a novelization based on Peninsular War campaigns Sharpe's Rifles, the prequels Sharpe's Tigers, Sharpe's Triumph, Sharpe's Fortress, Sharpe's Trafalgar and Sharpe's Prey)  a young sergeant promoted to lieutenant commanding a handful of sharpshooters.  This is Sharpe's Rifles.

Hope those guns are loaded with blanks... this time.

Richard Sharpe: So... the Chosen Spoilers, eh?  Well, I didn't choose you. But I know you, you and your kind all my life.  All I know is how to fight. So if there's any man among you expecting a quick ramble through this war, now's the time.

Sir Arthur Wellesley (David Troughton of Bonjour la Classe, Sharpe's Eagle, A Few Short Journeys of the Heart, Underworld, Captain Jack and The Cafe) is the commander of the British infantry being pursued by the French when he is saved by a shavetail sergeant Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean of Patriot Games, Scarlett, Goldeneye, Airborne, Ronin, Equilibrium, The Lord of the RIngs: The Fellowship of the Ring and Troy).  Impressed with this young wily sergeant, Wellesley offers Sharpe a field promotion to Lieutenant and command of the "Chosen Men" some of the best sharpshooters formerly lead by Rifleman Patrick Harper (Daragh O' Malley of Texas, Sharpe's Seige, Sharpe's Justice, Grim Fandango and Cleopatra) and they both immediately loathe one another. Stuck in Portugal with no monthly payment, Wellesley has arranged a loan from the Rothschild household that was sent from Vienna but is overdue.  James Rothschild was said to have been traveling with this notice and has not been heard from in some time.

I'm telling you, that is the guy from Goldeneye.

Wellesley, Sharpe, his men and company commanded by Major Dunnett (Julian Fellowes of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, The Bunker, Angels, Damage, Tomorrow Never Dies and Monarch of the Glen) follows Rothschild's last known whereabouts and set out to find him.    The company is exhausted as Sharpe and his men are on recon trying to make heads or tails of this missing member of noble house.  Will they encounter heavy resistance?  Is there a trap lying in waits for them all?  Will they ever escape this accursed war?   Well give it a view and find out.  Rather good periodical work.

Just a few comments about the TV movie now.  Paul McGann (Doctor Who, Downtime, Fish, Queen of the Damned, Doctor Who: Shada, Collison, Luther and Art Is...) was chosen for the role of Sharpe but due to a football (Soccer for us yankees) injury, Sean Bean was given the role and McGann is a shorter fellow and the outfit was tailored to fit him so that is why it looks snug and open for Bean.

Author Bernard Cornwell was blown away by Sean Bean's performance as Sharpe that he changed the physical description of his own character to closely resemble the man in question.   Sharpe's 95th Regiment and the green jackets are factual and the direct ancestor of the Royal Green Jackets better known as The Rifles Regiment.

God's sake man, put a bra on.

The Lost of Laughter... RIP Robin Williams.

Many of us are familiar with his works, his hi-jinks and comedy.  We have seen his box office bombs and the films that touched our hearts.  From humble beginnings in San Francisco to cracking up the planet.  The laughter and the losses, Robin Williams outlived many of his closest friends including: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Christopher Reeve.  It is rare to speak of an original but I think it say Robin Williams stood out among so many of his fellow comedians.

Growing up I experienced Mork & Mindy and got many a chuckle until I snuck into the hallway late that night while my parents had HBO on and saw the 1982 Evening at the Improv and beheld comedy magic.  This fuzzy lunatic interacting with the audience, making random references, odd noises and in general keeping the crowd astounded and full of mirth.   Comedy Relief hosted by Robin, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.  Presenting obscene jokes, great observation humor for the sake of raising awareness and money for the homeless. There will never be the like as this man, nor should there be.

 I, for one was utterly amazed him having time for responses back to his Twitter fans of which, I am one. With the success of his comedy and movie careers came 2 divorces and two children survived by him.  This week will focus on whether or not he committed suicide or not and frankly you should focus how he managed to brighten your day, opened your eyes through his bizarre take on life, love and relationships.

Surely, we owe an original that much for bringing us gut wrenching, tear jerking laughter and warmth.

Sean Bean Week

A big hello, hi there and welcome to a week I thought amusing for all.  We have seen this Englishman a villain, a reluctant hero and a fellow striving to do the right thing.  Alas we have also seen this charismatic fellow die numerous times and sometime horrifically.  I speak of none other than Sean Bean.   standing at 5'10", this green eyed, sandy blonde has been working in all forms of the acting medium ranging theater, TV, radio and movies this gentleman has played some of the most angst-ridden villains to some of the most emotionally worn warriors of the land.

They didn't want me as pretty as Brosnan.

 













With no less than four divorces under his belt and three children I could see why most of his characters have a penchant for brooding and scowling.  Nevertheless our actor of the week has some of the most screen captured deaths in more than 20 times and I thought it fitting and proper given his new TNT drama Legends where he may stand a running chance of not dying horrendously he deserved the spotlight.  This marks a new era for a man that has worked with the likes of: Robert Deniro, Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, Viggo Mortensen, Miranda Otto, John Hurt, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Julian Glover, Laurie Holden and Radha Mitchell.  So keep them eyes peeled and stay on target because this week is Sean Bean Week.

Mr. Jackson, why are you tight zooming on me?

Movie Starlets of the 1940's: Deanna Durbin

Day 4 of Movie Starlets of the 1940's is upon us and this time around we have a Canadian born singer/actress brought in as an extra in the short Judy Garland in Every Sunday and was scooped up into Universal providing a competition against MGM's Judy Garland.  Given she rendered the ideal teenage daughter in 1936 film The Smart Girls giving her the next 18 years a career.  This is Deanna Durbin.

Prom has strict security.

Penny Craig: I'm not spoiled headed, I'm strong minded.









A soprano and well taught vocalist sang anything from popular tunes of the day or even to the range of operatic arias.    From having gorgeous looks, deep brown eyes,  excellent comedic timing offering her next 9 films and was deemed the primary reason Universal Studios was not in bankruptcy, making her one of the highest paid female star.  Using some wise level of investment with placement in merchandise making our young actress independently wealthy by the time she was 18.

No, I will not sing the "Sound of Music".

 Durbin did tire of playing the good girl roles and demanded to get a mature woman's role such as the film noir movie Christmas Holiday and the astounding whodunit Lady on a Train, however the collection to her less than well received musical comedies and romances giving Judy Garland a leg up in the industry.    By 1949 and two divorces she retires from both acting and singing married to Charles Henri David in 1950.
 A few side notes about Durbin at this time.  In 1936, Durbin auditioned for voice overs for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves but Walt Disney himself stepped up and announced her at the time 15-year-old sounding too old for the part.   She was opted to play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

 Her stardom gave her some more unique fans including Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Holocaust survivor and diarist Anne Frank.   In 1941, Durbin received a letter in the official newspaper "Il Popolo d'italia" (The People of Italy)  requesting from dictator Mussolini asking to speak to President Roosevelt on behalf of America's youth to convince him to not get involved in WW2.  As you can imagine, she did not and probably was a bit baffled how America's Sweetheart could sway FDR and his war campaign.

Chef Durbin approves this quiche!

Movie Starlets of the 1940's: Barbara Stanwyck

Welcome back folks to Day 3 of Movies Starlets of the 1940's Week.  Our gal of the hour hails from a six decade long career from stage presence from both film and TV.   With a strong, realistic depiction and deemed a favorite to work with directors Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra giving her 85 movies in 38 in Hollywood before making her way to television.  This is Barbara Stanwyck.

Larry, yer pulling my sequins!

Phyllis: I think you're rotten.
Walter Neff: I think you're spoiled- so long as I'm not your husband.
Phyllis: Get out of here.






Just before her sixteenth birthday in 1928, our Ruby Catherine Stevens prepared for work a s a chorus girl allowing for her to be recognized for a Vaudeville act Ziegfeld Follies giving her Broadway credentials for more than 9 months and over a hundred performances that playwright David Belasco (Warrens of Virginia, A Good Little Devil and Laugh, Clown, Laugh) who suggested Ruby needed a stage name that popped into the heads of producers and directors and Barbara Stanwyck was created.

Holy cats, yer that Stanwyck kid!

With her first talkie roles of The Locked Door and Mexicali Rose churned out in 1929 were complete flops, Frank Capra (It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe, The Battle of Russia, The Battle of China and It's a Wonderful Life) cast her in the romantic drama Ladies of Leisure giving her top billing in and starring next to Ralph Graves (Sporting Life, What Am I Bid?, Nobody Home,The Extra Girl, Flight, Ladies of Leisure and Dirigible) showing off some versatility our gal across the way has worked with the likes of Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Gary Cooper ranging in crime drama, screwball comedy, romantic drama and even making her way into westerns and opening doors from co-workers to more than a few close friends of the like of : William Holden, Ralph Meeker, James Stewart, Linda Evans, Joan Crawford, Jack Benny and Robert Wagner meeting the starlet demand clear up to age 45 before moving to television.

Being from foster care and given no quarter in life, Stanwyck viewed FDR as a bad idealist  and not the best of choices against Nazi Germany.  She even felt Stalin had its influences in decisions on the war and how to run our country.   Robert Wagner and Ms. Stanwyck had a four year fling starting on the set of Titanic and moved to Wagon Train and the latter show that gave more than a few young ones their chance in The Big Valley.

Stanwyck died tragically at 82 with from chronic smoking and special-effects smoke on the set of The Thorn Birds giving her bronchitis causing her congestive heart failure.  Referred as the Best Actress That Never Won an Oscar, Stanwyck was voted the 40th Greatest Movie Star of All Time by Entertainment Weekly and deemed number 11 of the American Film Institute 100 years of the Greatest Screen Legends.   Guess she did alright for herself.

Matriarch actress indeed. Hmph!

Movie Starlets of 1940's: Veronica Lake

Greetings ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Day 2 of Movie Starlets of 1940's.  A time honored cliche' the blonde bombshell does grab attention and invite trouble to themselves they may or may not expected.  Born Contance Frances Marie Ockelman in Brooklyn, New York began working in film in 1936 as an extra and a small role in Sorority House.  Director John Farrow first noticed our dishy blonde allowing her lightly crimp hair draped over her right eye, giving her an air of mystery and giving her natural beauty making her stand out.   Farrow immediately introduced this petite beauty Paramour producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr.  He convinced Constance she needed a stage name to suit her deep blue eyes.  This is Veronica Lake.

Evening boys.

Ellen Graham: Why don't you go to the police?
Philip Raven: I'm my own spoiler.






In 1941, Lake's breakthrough role giving her second female lead in war drama I Wanted Wings were she developed her signature look with her long blonde hair draped in front of her right eye giving her the nickname the "peek-a-boo girl" coupled with a voluptuous figure.     Following up with good starring roles such as: Sullivan's Travels, This Gun for Hire, I Married a Witch and So Proudly We Hail!  Having such chemistry with Alan Ladd giving her femme fatale began with This Gun for Hire and follow up four more film noirs The Glass Key, The Blue Dahlia, Saigon and The Sainted Sisters.  During World War II, Lake became a popular pin-up girl for the soldiers during the war and through around the States to raise money for war bonds.  Able to perform in crime drama, war drama, and romantic drama.

Must you talk of such things?

Rather than offering any acting tutors or even watch over the golden goose having the flop The Hour Before the Dawn and Slattery's Hurricane, Lake's career fell in a slump.  With two divorces under her belt, impending bankruptcy and mad being a Hollywood sex symbol she gathers the kids, walked out on Hollywood to restart her career in New York.  Lake moved to a new medium in television.

With TV doing well enough our gal gets some steam under her allowing her to pursuing Off-Broadway studies and give it her all.  By the 1970's Lake realized she had reached a plateau in her life that the little things in truly matter, being with her children and trying to move beyond acting and yet she moved to England and did her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire on English stage.     Passing away in 1973 due to liver damage at age 51 she lived her dream more than most Americans have the guts and determination to do.

Another street mime!  Gonna nail him!

Movie Starlets of the 1940's: Bette Davis

Good day gentle viewers of the cinema for Day 1 of Movie Starlets of the 1940's.  We begin our week with one of the most influential actresses of the time.  Standing tall and proud at 5'3" yet her performances made her a giantess, bringing ranges of the gal next door to uncompromising and dare I say ruthless characters, this woman's talents hailed her praise from stage tropes to the big screen that she has won two Oscars, an Emmy, a Golden Globe and Canne Film Festival.   This is Bette Davis.

That's right, he needs an entire jug of vodka.

Judith Traherne: Nothing can hurt us now. What we have can't be spoiled.  That's our victory -  our victory over the dark. It is a victory because we are not afraid.




From the humble screen-time beginnings of The Bad Sister with her co-star Humphrey Bogart to the startling madness that is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Davis' work spans over five decades bringing sultry to her role and/monsters to life in only the way of the range her capabilities could muster.   Beloved by most movie viewers are the title roles of All About Eve, Dark Victory, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Jezebel and The Letter.    The willingness to play less than sympathetic character is well presented in her performances ranging in such genres as: crime dramas, historical and/or period pieces and even some comedies.  Where she excelled highly though was romantic dramas.

D...O...G...  Yes, Mongo that is how you spell Joan Crawford.

Warner Brothers knew they had a gold mine with this lady and purchased her contract for the next 2 decades.  Co-founder of the famous Hollywood Canteen (a club offering dinner, dancing and a wide range of entertainment for servicemen usually before they went overseas, it was open to allied forces as well as women in the branches of service and well.  The cover charge for these folks was to show up in their Class A's.) and first woman president in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization dedicated to advancing the arts and scientific breakthroughs in motion pictures) but she always felt she was nothing more than a face or figurehead as she deemed the AMPAS did not always hear her proposals.  

Accredited 123 films both cinema and TV, Davis was placed second on the American Film Institute listing her second as the greatest female stars of all time.  Katharine Hepburn still holds the number one spot but she doesn't have Bette Davis Eyes.

Get my agent, I want to direct!