Five Sentence Tribute: Farrah Fawcett

When I was seven and eight years old I actually watched CHARLIE'S ANGELS.  Farrah Fawcett played Jill Munroe. I had the above poster on my wall and I knew a lot of other males who pinned it up also (I read that the poster from 1976 sold over eight million copies). THE CANNONBALL RUN (1981) was actually cooler because she was in it. I liked Farrah so much that I actually taped THE BURNING BED onto VHS and watched it more than once.

Five Sentence Tribute: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was the king of pop, a fantastic artist, great performer, and one heck of an underrated songwriter. So, so, so many of his songs make me downright happy:  Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Human Nature, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror, and the list goes on. I got rid of almost all my vinyl records, but could not sell, trade, or toss the THRILLER album. I was 13 when it came out and nobody was bigger in the 80s (only Madonna, Prince, or Springsteen come close, but not quite). I am happy to have seen him live in 1985 and was just hoping that it could happen again.

Five Sentence Tribute: Paul Newman

A truly good human and first rate American citizen who gave millions to charity and helped countless children through both his Newman's Own Foundation and his Hole In The Wall Camps. His Newman's Own products are fabulous, especially the Salt and Pepper Pretzels, Lemonade, and chocolate bars! He was married to his second wife, Joanne Woodward for 50 years, an anniversary I'd like to achieve. I could go on and on about his great acting and the dozens of fantastic movies, but I'll just say that NOBODY'S FOOL from 1994 is one of the best movies I have seen and, despite the many classics this man starred in, his character Sully Sullivan in that film remains my personal favorite. Paul Newman was always just the coolest, I mean just look at that photo above and you'll understand why, as a boy, I can remember seeing him and thinking "Now, there's a man I'd like to be like."

Previous Five Sentence Tributes:

Jerry Reed
George Carlin
Tim Russert
Sydney Pollack
Charlton Heston
Paul Scofield
Roy Scheider
Heath Ledger
Dan Fogelberg
Brad Delp
Peter Boyle
Robert Altman
Jack Palance

Jerry Reed: Five Sentence Tribute

Cledus "Snowman" Snow rules! I mean who doesn't like SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT? If you've not seen THE SURVIVORS (1983) rent it now. "Guitar Man" is one of the great songs ever! If "East Bound and Down" is all he left it would be enough for me!

Bruce Remembering Tim Russert

This is a real nice tribute.

Five Sentence Tribute: George Carlin

I know, this should be a seven word tribute to the man, but I can't post things I wouldn't want my children to read! I was lucky enough to have seen Mr. Carlin live more than once and to have met him twice. He has hundreds, count them, hundreds of genius comedy routines. One of my favorites was the "Ice Box Man" which I think I may just put in a separate post. This man was my absolute, all-time, second-place-is-not-even-close, favorite comedian, and man, this one really hurts.

Five "Sentence" Tribute: Tim Russert

Wow. Shocking news. 58 years old. MEET THE PRESS was a great show. I really liked Tim Russert.

Five Sentence Tribute: Sydney Pollack

My four favorite Sydney Pollack films came out in the decade between my 12th and 22nd birthdays: ABSENCE OF MALICE, TOOTSIE, OUT OF AFRICA, and HAVANA. Sure there are other great ones, but you'd do well renting those four. Coincidentally, Chrisy and I recently rented TOOTSIE for Max because we both hold it so dear. Pollack was a good director and he could act. I thought he was great in MICHAEL CLAYTON, THE PLAYER, EYES WIDE SHUT, and again, TOOTSIE.

Danny's Gone

E Street Band member, Danny Federici, died yesterday. There's nothing I could write here that so-called "normal" people--those who never experienced what I experienced at a BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND show--could understand. The E Street Band is not just a group, it's a brotherhood. We who attend are not concert-goers, we are a community, Danny wasn't just playing rock 'n' roll, he was part of a spiritual movement.

Thank God both of my sons were able to see the full E Street Band with Danny on keyboards last October. It's a night we will never forget. "Phantom Dan" was the man! It was just last November that I posted Godspeed Danny. I was in denial that he would be back in the band full-time. This sucks. My heart is heavy.

Five Sentence Tribute: Charlton Heston

The dude played Moses in 1956.  He'll be remembered for things like THE OMEGA MAN, TOUCH OF EVIL, BEN-HUR, and SOYLENT GREEN too, but mostly THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Moses!  When I met him I had him sign an 8 x 10 from PLANET OF THE APES.  It's a moment and picture I cherish.  I liked Charlton Heston.

Five Sentence Tribute: Paul Scofield

The amazing Paul Scofield won an Oscar for his performance in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS in 1966. However, if Scofield had only played poet Mark Van Doren in Robert Redford's 1994 masterpiece, QUIZ SHOW, if he had only acted in that one film, it would be enough for me.  It is beyond me how he didn't win the Supporting Actor Academy Award for QUIZ SHOW (he was nominated). The above picture of him sharing a piece of chocolate cake with his son, played by Ralph Fiennes, is absolutely one of the best scenes I've ever seen.  If you've not ever seen QUIZ SHOW, go rent it now in honor of this great actor we've lost.

Previous Five Sentence Tributes:

Roy Scheider

Heath Ledger

Dan Fogelberg

Brad Delp

Peter Boyle

Robert Altman

Jack Palance

Chariots of Fire

Cinematographer David Watkin died last Tuesday. Watkin won an Academy Award for OUT OF AFRICA which is a movie I loved in 1985 when it came out.  I remember being 16 years old and seeing it by myself in the theater. I was taken in by how beautiful it was. Yep, I was that kind of a movie snob even then.

I must admit that I don't really totally understand what a director of photography (DP) does on a movie. I know that they are responsible for the cinematography which involves how light is shot.  I also know that this is a different craft than directing. Apparently Watkin had an affinity for natural light which makes sense because the three movies I really liked that he worked on seem naturally very pretty to me. Those movies, pictured here in the order that I love them are CHARIOTS OF FIRE, OUT OF AFRICA, and YENTL.

I thought in order to honor Watkin I'd watch one of those movies he had collaborated on. I hadn't seen any of them in ages. Max loves to watch movies so I wanted to go with the one I thought he would enjoy most. I decided to check-out CHARIOTS OF FIRE from the library and watch it with my son. We watched it Saturday night.

I saw CHARIOTS OF FIRE in the theater in 1981 and I remember that it was good, but what I remember even more was being so mad that it beat RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK for the Best Picture Oscar.  I was just as into the Academy Awards then at age 12 as I am now and I was livid.

That said, CHARIOTS OF FIRE is a really great film. I love the sport of running, probably more than any other sport, which isn't saying much, I know.  But, the running in the movie is great. Moreover, I love the character of Eric Liddell because he is such an inspirational Christian leader.

Especially if you have never seen the film, I'd like to share these quotes with you.  They all come from Eric Liddell who is played by Ian Charleson:

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

"God made countries, God makes kings, and the rules by which they govern. And those rules say that the Sabbath is His. And I for one intend to keep it that way."

"The impertinence lies, sir, with those who seek to influence a man to deny his beliefs!"

You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.

Five Sentence Tribute: Roy Scheider

Roy Scheider was nominated for an oscar twice, amazing work in fantastic films:  (1) Best Supporting Actor for THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971); (2) Best Leading Actor for ALL THAT JAZZ (1979).  He was terrific in MARATHON MAN and, if you've never seen that film, go rent it today!  When I was a kid I remember loving him in everything and I even rode my 10-speed bike to the theater to see BLUE THUNDER in 1983.    But, let's face it, if the man only gave us Police Chief Martin Brody in JAWS, he'd still be a legend. I truly enjoyed this man's acting.

Five Sentence Tribute: Heath Ledger

His role in MONSTER'S BALL was like a sucker-punch to the gut. Got a nomination for playing Ennis Del Mar in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN which, despite all the hype and flack, was a good movie. I'll always think A KNIGHT'S TALE is very watchable and a lot of fun! His upcoming Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT looks like the best Joker ever. So young, left a daughter fatherless, such a horriblly sad and tragic loss.

Five Sentence Tribute: Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg died at age 56 on Sunday

I saw the great singer/songwriter, Dan Fogelberg live on June 5, 1988 and it was a wonderful show.  I'm listening to his lovely first album, HOME FREE (above) from 1972 as I type this.  Fogelberg had many hits like "Hard to Say," "Leader of the Band," "Part of the Plan," "Longer," and the classic "Same Old Lang Syne."  I'll never forget listening to his albums SOUVENIRS (1974), NETHERLANDS (1977), PHOENIX (1979), and THE INNOCENT AGE (1981) on my "U.S. Tour 1987" with my buddy Matt Jones.  TWIN SONS OF DIFFERENT MOTHERS, his collaboration with Tim Weisberg in 1978, is another one worth listening to.

Walter

It was a peculiar moment
the first time I ever
pulled out of your driveway and
you weren't standing
on the porch
"Drive safe," you'd always say,
"You've got precious cargo."
Tonight the porch was empty
I won't ever forget the sight
of your great-grandchildren
leaning in to kiss you goodbye
your frail body
left only scarce traces of the man
I'd grown to love
Honestly, I imagined myself there
hoping all my children would be
present the way yours were
Would they all have children of their own
when I drew my final breath?
I shall never take back the deathbed
promise I made to you,
"I'll love your granddaughter
as long as you loved your wife."
Fifty-five years with the same woman
made you a hero in my eyes
No doubt you've been reunited
with her now and
mourning for someone who
got what they desired is imprudent
Instead, as I breakout
on my morning run
I'll just shift my eyes to heaven
and tell my Abba,
"You've got some mighty
precious cargo!"

--Shenandoah Lynd














Walter Parker 1929-2007
Geraldine Parker 1929-2003
married 1948-eternity

For a related post, read Black Eyed Peas

Five Sentence Tribute: Brad Delp

Brad Delp was the lead singer of Boston. Boston was an amazing rock group. It's hard to find a better album than Boston's self-titled debut album. Released in 1976, "Boston" doesn't have a bad track on it. If I'm in a negative mood, I can play that first album (pictured above) and I will be cured of all "bad moods" before the first three tracks are over. The rockin' first three tracks are: "More Than A Feeling," "Peace of Mind," and "Foreplay/Long Time."

Brad Delp died on March 9, 2007 at age 55.

PREVIOUS FIVE SENTENCE TRIBUTES:
Peter Boyle
Robert Altman
Jack Palance

Five Sentence Tribute: Peter Boyle

My favorite Peter Boyle role was Carl Lazlo, Esq. in WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM (1980), a classic and underrated film with Bill Murray (above). Recently, he was amazing in MONSTER'S BALL (2001). Yet, I'll always remember YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) first when somebody says his name. I just recently started watching some EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND reruns and he was, hands-down, the funniest thing about that show. I met Peter Boyle at a Bruce Springsteen concert in 1999.

Five Sentence Tribute: Robert Altman

Robert Altman was a film-making giant.
THE PLAYER (1992) and SHORT CUTS (1993) are beyond amazing.
If he had only made those two, I would still consider him a film-genius.
Yet, he directed so many more great films, especially in the 1970s.
I think POPEYE (1980) was underrated too.

Five Sentence Tribute: Jack Palance

Here's a new feature on my blog. When somebody I think is noteworthy dies, I will post a five sentence tribute. Here is my first.

When I was a kid I loved the movie SHANE (1953).
In fact, I just watched it with my boys.
Jack Palance was in that movie.
38 years later people loved him as Curly Washburn.
He did push-ups and made Marisa's day during the Oscars.