Once, Julie Andrews could have danced all night.
Yesterday, I bought her memoir, Home, and was looking forward to reading it before bed. But, as I was checking the web, I had a brainstorm based on a conversation recently concluded, wrote that out (posting it later today) and then discovered Pajamas had posted my piece on Out‘s one-sided coverage of Washington’s gay wars, so was eager to update the blog and alert my friends.
It was well pat my bed-tie when I hit the hay. I expected to go to sleep as soon I lay down, but then I saw Julie’s book on my nightstand. All at once my heart took flight, eager to learn a thousand things about this beloved actor/singer I’d never known before.
But, I do have an idea what made it so exciting. I could have read, read, read all night.
Oh, good grief.
Death to My Fair Lady. Get a copy of Pygmalion, starring Leslie Howard and the incomparable Wendy Hiller, and soon you too will understand.
Mary Poppins was the first movie I ever saw. I’ve seen it since, and it is quite cumbersome. Any time I see Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins is what comes to my mind
#2
I don’t think I’ve ever watched that all the way through. I know I’ve never watched The Sound of Music all the way. I just don’t dig it.
I definitely dig Sound of Music. One of my favorite feel-good movies: perfect for when you’re home sick or something. Like Mary Poppins, and love Andrews’ Christmas albums too. Imma square like that.
Sorry, but my fave is “Victor/Victoria.” The screenplay reunited two halves of one soul – James Garner and Julie Andrews. Anyone who has ever seen “The Americanization of Emily” knows what I’m talking about.
TSOM is of course my 2nd fave – who else but Julie could pull off the story of Baroness Von Trapp? But the penultimate Andrews musical is V/V. Mary Poppins is one of those where I just want to see the beginning and ending – the middle part is too cumbersome.
Best line from V/V by Robert Preston – “There is nothing more inconvenient than an old queen with a head cold.” Priceless!
Regards,
Peter H.
haha. I hated victor/victoria.
Maybe if you’re dead. Don’t know what I would watch. I haven’t really been sick in a few years, except for this infernal earache I’ve had for almost a week. The last time, I slept forever.
Leah, I must both agree and disagree with your assessment of MARY POPPINS. While the constant — though beautiful — musical score is, perhaps, cumbersome, I’ve learned over the years to watch MP for the real story. MARY POPPINS, the first movie I, also, saw, is not about MARY POPPINS but about Mr. George Banks, portrayed by the great David Tomlinson. George Banks’s story is the gem of the movie.
That being said, I refuse to pay $30 for any book — even one by and about my first Hollywood crush, Julie Andrews. (No I was not named after her. I wish I were!) I’ll wait for libraries to offer it.
I could have listened all night…..it’s proof that listening to an autobiography read by the author (especially by the grande dame Ms. Andrews) is the best. Not only do you get the words they wrote, but you get the intonation and the feeling of the events of their life. Cant’ wait for the rest of the story…..
#9 – Kev, get the director’s cut of “Victor/Victoria” and listen to Julie and hubby Blake Edwards dissect each scene and talk about the backstory of each camera angle, motivation of the actors and character development. You will never see the movie the same again!
Regards,
Peter H.