I was in Walmart stocking up on chocolate for Valentine’s Day when I saw a nerdy teenager wearing a Godzilla Minus One T-shirt. Screwing up my courage, I asked him how he liked the movie. After shaking hands and introducing ourselves, we shared our views about Godzilla and our favorite films in the franchise. It was such a fun conversation! We agreed on one thing: we don’t want to watch a bunch of talking heads sitting around gabbing. We want to see Godzilla destroy cities! As we parted company, the boy said, “I thought I was the only one who liked Godzilla.” I reassured him he was not, which made him happy. A few minutes later, he rushed down the aisle, carrying a Godzilla T-shirt that Walmart is now selling. I was touched by his thoughtfulness.
It was a delightful experience, and when I told my husband about it, he agreed: wewant to see Godzilla in action, not a bunch of boring scientiststalking.
So, that’s what I’ll be watching tonight while my husband is working! Godzilla Minus One is not available on streaming, the DVD has not been released, and it’s not even on the bootleg channel yet. But there are plenty of other Godzilla movies. I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day with my bad boy, Godzilla, and enjoying every minute.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
(“My Funny Valentine,” sung by Frank Sinatra.)
Dawn Pisturino
February 14, 2024
Copyright 2024 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
The Miracle of the Bells (1948) is a little-known movie that my husband and I always watch at Christmas. It is not a Christmas-themed movie, although there is a touching Christmas sequence in the movie featuring Philip Ahn (best known as Master Kan in the 1972 TV series Kung Fu) as a Chinese restaurant owner.
The movie centers around a poor Polish-American girl named Olga Treskovna (Alida Valli), who aspires to be a great Hollywood actress. Press agent Bill Dunnigan (Fred MacMurray) befriends her and helps her land her dream role as Joan of Arc in Marcus Harris’ production of Joan of Arc. Unbeknownst to everyone, Olga suffers from anthracosis and tuberculosis from inhaling coal dust. She grows weaker and sicker and dies the day after the final shooting of the film. When Harris (Lee J. Cobb) decides to shelve the film, Dunnigan objects and fights to save Olga’s legacy.
Olga’s body is shipped to Coal Town, Pennsylvania, where she grew up with her family. Despite having little money, Dunnigan devises ways to hold a huge public funeral to honor her memory and pressure Harris to release the film. Dunnigan meets Father Paul (Frank Sinatra), the priest at St. Michael’s Church, and they work together to overcome obstacles and inspire the people of Coal Town to honor Olga’s memory and return to their faith.
Surprising events occur that bolster the townspeople’s faith and bring a positive and meaningful climax to the movie. Valli gives a phenomenal performance as the tragically doomed actress. The entire movie, although sad in many ways, projects a feeling of HOPE.
I highly recommend this film if you are looking for something warm-hearted and uplifting.
Dawn Pisturino
December 6, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
(Exorcism scene from the 1973 movie The Exorcist.)
I once dreamed that God was made of light so white and pure that nothing evil could live in His presence. I felt comforted by that dream and woke up feeling happy.
My husband had a dream about Hell. He described it as a black hole in the desert where no sound or light could penetrate. The waves of evil emanating from the cavity were so dreadful and malevolent that he woke up feeling hopeless and in complete despair.
The Zoroastrians portrayed the world through the duality of opposites: good and evil, black and white, night and day. If good exists, so does evil. Night cannot occur without day. Black absorbs colors, and white reflects them. Opposites depend on one another to exist and function properly.
The Chinese philosophy of yin and yang also views opposites as complementary rather than destructive. Men and women complement each other, though genetically and anatomically different. In fact, human life could not exist at all without those differences.
But what is evil? What is good? Evil is associated with darkness, negativity, and destruction. Good is a positive attribute that reflects inner light and constructive outcomes. When evil comes into our lives, we know it by the negative consequences that follow. Confronting that evil is the only way to restore harmony, balance, and life-supporting hope.
In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), God created everything and how evil exists. It’s called Free Will. When Satan turned against God, he exercised his free will. The angels that followed him also chose to turn against God and follow Satan. When humans engage in harmful behavior, they choose to do so. There is no “The Devil made me do it.” People choose to follow the path of good or evil.
One of the hallmarks of horror books and movies is the stark contrast between good and evil. Good people are attacked by evil forces beyond their imagination and control. The film The Exorcist is one of the best examples of this duality. It perfectly reflects the Christian battle between good and evil, God and the Devil. The book explores this much deeper than the movie, which depends on special effects.
** SPOILER ALERT **
When a demonic entity possesses the body of a young girl, she is slowly consumed by its domination. The mother uses every legitimate means to help her, but to no avail. In desperation, she seeks a Catholic priest’s help even though she does not believe in God or have any religious affiliation.
Father Karras is a psychiatrist and imperfect human being who suffers from feelings of inadequacy and guilt. In fact, he’s not sure that he believes anymore. Tormented by doubts, he reluctantly agrees to help the mother and her daughter.
Church officials agree to an exorcism but insist on using Father Lankester Merrin as the exorcist. Father Merrin has battled this ancient demon before. Despite ill health, he decides to take up the battle again.
On the night of the exorcism, Father Merrin coaches Father Karras on the proper procedure. Karras is a hothead and easily manipulated by the demon. But when Father Merrin suffers a fatal heart attack, Karras is forced to continue the exorcism and save the girl. He invites the demon to possess him. Father Karras throws himself out of the bedroom window when the demon agrees and dies on the steps below.
Father Merrin is a devout Catholic priest who never doubts the existence of good and evil, God and the Devil. Father Karras, still tied to the secular world through his family and psychiatric education, is riddled with doubt. When faced with pure evil and the pressure to save the girl, he recognizes the reality of good and evil, God and the Devil. He sacrifices his life to save the girl and fulfill his priestly commitment to serve God and his people.
If good exists, so does evil. Humans choose which path to follow. This idea is as old as the human race itself. Evil never sleeps. It must be confronted and defeated.
What are your thoughts? Have you ever encountered real evil? What did you do? What would you do?
~
Dawn Pisturino
October 4, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
One of the more delightful sequences in The Wizard of Oz (1939) is Dorothy’s visit to Munchkinland. The shy but cheery little Munchkins welcome her in celebration and song. After all, it was her house that killed the Wicked Witch of the East! The coroner confirms the witch’s death with these famous words: she is “not only merely dead” but “most sincerely dead” and presents an official Death Certificate to the mayor. Dorothy receives gifts from the Lullabye League and the Lollipop Guild. When Good Witch Glinda, the Witch of the North, arrives, she advises Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City.
The Munchkins were portrayed by adults with dwarfism and average-sized children. The characters have been beloved by adults and children for 84 years. “Munchkin” has become a term of endearment for small children. Dunkin’ Donuts even has Munchkin donut holes.
On November 20, 2007, a star dedicated to the Munchkins was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The last Munchkin to survive, Jerry Maren, died on May 24, 2018, at the age of 99.
And, of course, we cannot forget the famous song, “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” which has become a Halloween staple.
[NOTE: Please note that I will mostly be blogging on Wednesdays for a while as I finish up some exterior and interior painting projects before the cold, windy weather sets in. I will continue to visit other bloggers’ sites.]
Cheers!
Dawn Pisturino
September 27, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
In 1972, Hermann Hesse’s Nobel Prize-winning novel, Siddhartha, was turned into a cinematic sensation by Conrad Rooks, who wrote, directed, and produced it. Filmed entirely in India by Ingmar Bergman’s cameraman, Sven Nykvist, the movie captures the mystical heart of Hesse’s book.
Siddhartha (Shashi Kapoor) is a wealthy Brahmin who feels dissatisfied with his life. He joins a group of wandering ascetics to become a poverty-stricken sadhu. When this lifestyle no longer fulfills him, he yearns for an alternative. Although mesmerized by the Buddha’s teachings, he declines to become one of his disciples and continues his spiritual quest. He experiences his first sexual relationship, becomes a wealthy merchant with a sterling reputation, and lives a lavish lifestyle. Feeling empty and hopeless, he abandons his wealth and becomes a poverty-stricken ferryman. On the river, he finds peace and harmony inside himself, as taught by the Buddha.
This is a beautiful film that will enrich and uplift you. The cinematography and music are breathtaking. Available on Amazon.com, I highly recommend it to anyone seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Dawn Pisturino
September 11, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Harold and Maude (1971) is a cult film written and produced by Colin Higgins. This was Higgins’ first script. He later wrote the screenplay of the popular 1978 comedy Foul Play, starring Goldie Hawn.
The story centers around Harold (Bud Cort), a young, wealthy eccentric whose troubled relationship with his selfish, domineering mother (Vivian Pickles) incites him to obsess over death and engage in bizarre, attention-seeking behavior. He attends funerals, drives around in a hearse, and stages scenes of his suicide for his mother’s benefit.
Maude (Ruth Gordon) is a quirky 79-year-old woman who attends funerals, steals cars, dodges the police, participates in anti-war protests, and lives life to the fullest. She makes plans for her 80th birthday with anticipation and fulfillment.
When these two lost souls meet at a funeral, they instantly bond, and magic happens. They fall in love. Their romantic adventure is thought-provoking, mind-bending, and surreal.
The comedy is sheer genius, and the soundtrack is from Cat Stevens, but this movie is about love’s transcending and transformative power. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something unusual and different.
Dawn Pisturino
August 23, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
When the Broadway musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’, came to the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco in 1980, my then-jazz pianist husband and I had to see it. Today, the name Fats Waller is rarely heard. But in 1980, San Francisco boasted a number of hopping improvisational jazz clubs where the musical styles of greats like Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, and Fats Waller were very much alive and well.
Waller (1904-1943) studied piano with James P. Johnson, who developed the Harlem stride school of jazz piano. This style employed a wider range of scale in the left hand, smoother dynamics, and left more room for improvisation than its forerunner, ragtime. Fats Waller became a master of stride jazz and his sense of comedy and playfulness secured his legacy as a popular comedic entertainer. His radio program showcased his comedic talents throughout the 1930s. Later, he went to Hollywood and played in the 1943 film, Stormy Weather, with co-star Lena Horne. In the same year, he became the first African-American to compose the music for a Broadway musical, Early to Bed.
Two well-known jazz standards composed by Waller are “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” He reportedly copyrighted over 400 songs, but he often sold songs to other performers and allowed them to take full credit.
Mobster Al Capone was so taken by Fats Waller that four of his hoods kidnapped the well-known pianist in 1926 and forced him to perform at Capone’s birthday party.
One of my favorite Waller songs is “Your Feet’s Too Big” because it’s funny and set to a catchy tune. It truly captures the pianist/composer’s delightful sense of humor.
(Your Feet’s Too Big by Fats Waller)
Dawn Pisturino
June 7, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
(Photo from Professional Woman’s Magazine. Naomi Parker Fraley, the real Rosie the Riveter, died in 2018 at 96.)
I wrote a short script for a One Week Short Script Challenge early in April. After getting all the feedback, I edited the script multiple times and re-submitted it for more feedback. On May 1st, I entered it in the 2023 Pipeline Media Group Short Script Competition. I’m not expecting to win anything, but I’m proud of myself for doing it. I challenged myself, and that makes me feel stronger as a writer.
What are you doing to challenge yourself?
~
The Writers Guilds of America, East and West, are officially on strike. This is a significant strike against the major Hollywood studios and networks that will affect everyone. New movies and TV shows will not be produced or delayed, projects may be canceled, and the new season episodes we are all waiting for will be put on hold. We will see more reruns and recycled TV shows until the strike is resolved.
Writers are striking for the same reasons all workers go on strike: long hours, less pay, loss of value and respect, less creative autonomy, and fewer opportunities. The regulation of A.I. is on the list of demands.
The WGA has already sent emails to its members and members of organizations like The Black List, warning against “scabbing” and crossing the picket line. Any writer who sells a screenplay, makes a deal, or gets hired to write for a Guild signatory company during the strike will be blacklisted and banned from WGA membership for life. Their Hollywood career will be over.
Dawn Pisturino
May 3, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
When the pilot for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In premiered on TV on September 9, 1967, the Vietnam War raged in full gear, the Civil Rights Movement continued to explode, and the country was split by conflict and political divide. A forerunner of Saturday Night Live, Laugh-In used provocative satire and humor to comment on current affairs. The show featured well-known actors and actresses like Henry Gibson, Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson, and Richard Dawson. Sets used bright colors and mod art, reflecting the hippie culture of the time. Popular slang, like “Sock it to Me,” peppered the show. Strange characters, bold costumes, and mind-blowing music enthralled the audience so the show emerged again as a series on January 22, 1968, and ran until May 14, 1973.
There were no social media then and people frowned at curse words. Laugh-In compensated by inventing the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate award. Every week the hosts, Rowan and Martin, awarded some entity this award, which was the equivalent of giving the finger to unpopular governments, public officials, organizations, celebrities, and corporations. The first award was given on September 16, 1968. Over the years, winners included the Pentagon, the U.S. Congress, and the National Security Agency.
(Rowan and Martin awarding the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate to Soviet Russia.)
Dawn Pisturino
March 27, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
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