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E-mail me at gandalfdc@aol.com NEWS ARCHIVE FEBRUARY 2007 - NO UPDATES MAY 2007 - NO UPDATES
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FRIDAY 15th SELUTRON'S SUPERMAN 2 CUT If you missed it, Selutron was interviewed about his Superman 2 re-cut AKA The version we deserved. You can read the interview here and check out his clips at YouTube -- here.
FRIDAY 15th ALEX THOMPSON HAS PASSED AWAY Alex made his mark when he was Roeg's camera operator and did a lot of uncredited work as 2nd unit camera operator on films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. Another genius gone. :(
ROYAL FLASH - UPDATED 22/6/07
One of the Lester films which has alluded me... ...has now come out on DVD! Royal Flash, photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth. It's not as good as the book and I don't think Fraser did a great job with adaptation for the screen , but saying that, I quite enjoyed it. McDowell is a lightweight in the role of Flashman; I always imagined him to be much bigger, but Malcolm has that cheeky glint in his eyes which makes up for the screen presence. It's typical Lester; this material is perfect for the auteur's trademark incidental humour. It's worth watching just for Unsworth's photography because it looks so authentic. A lot of the exteriors are shot in Eastern Europe, and I found it quite breathtaking - absolutely stunning production design. I'm not lying when I say that this film is one of my favourite asthetically designed features I've ever seen. There's an affectionate tribute to Lester by David Picker. Also included are featurettes, a commentary by Nick Redman and Malcolm McDowell, PLUS the pièce de résistance --- an isolated f/x and music (Ken Thorne's adapted score) track assembled by Michael Matessino! Essential for Flashy, Lester, and Unsworth fans.
SATURDAY 2nd SUPERMAN RETURNS TO TEXAS Saturday, July 14 @ 3 pm Details here Thanks to Geoff Johns.
SELUTRON'S SUPERMAN 2
SUPERMAN RETURNS TO THE THEATRE
DRURY LANE THEATRE OAKBROOK presents the fun-filled musical It’s A Bird! It’s A Plane! It’s Superman! Previewing May 31, Opening June 7 and running through July 29
Oak Brook, IL- Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, Chicagoland’s Award-winning theater, presents IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN, a sly and sassy send-up of the Man of Steel. With a tongue-in-cheek script by Robert Benton and David Newman (who went on to write "Bonnie and Clyde" and the blockbuster "Superman" film) and a fabulous, much-lauded score by BYE BYE BIRDIE’s Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, the musical pokes fun at the American superhero whose unwavering morality, fidelity, and loyalty make him a bit of a dull cracker. IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN will be directed by William Osetek, with musical direction by Margaret James and choreography by Tammy Mader, and will preview May 31, open June 7, and close July 29. Although it has now slipped into obscurity, critics raved at the opening for IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN in 1966, including The New York Times which called it "fun, easily the best musical so far this season … it would be enjoyable in any season." Strouse and Adams provide a superb score, including "It’s Superman," "The Woman for the Man," "It’s Super Nice," "So Long, Big Guy," "The Strongest Man in the World," and "Pow! Bam! Zonk!" IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN is an action-packed glimpse into the life of DC Comics’ most forthright, eager, and famous hero. As the show opens, Superman – in his guise as Clark Kent – is working for the Daily Planet and in love with Lois Lane, although she is beginning to chafe at the problems inherent in dating a superhero. An arch-villain is soon plotting Superman’s downfall, in a convoluted plot which involves a troupe of acrobats (who can no longer get paid to perform since everyone started watching Superman fly for free), a supercomputer called the Brainiac 7, and a theatrical columnist who also hates the hero (both for dating Lois Lane and for constantly stealing his headlines). Will Superman fall prey to Professor Sedgewick’s psychobabble and lose his confidence in his own super abilities? Will he lose Lois to a less-than-charming rival who at least never cuts dates short to go rescue someone?
Robert Benton and David Newman were editors together at Esquire Magazine when they created the script for IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN. They went on to write the screenplays for 1967’s "Bonnie and Clyde," for which they both received Oscar nominations, and the first "Superman" movie, a 1978 blockbuster. Benton also wrote and directed "Kramer vs. Kramer," which won him two Oscars, as well as "Places in the Heart," which garnered an Oscar and an Oscar nomination. Recent works from Newman include the book for the stage show THE LIFE, as well as composing for "Anastasia," which earned him an Oscar nomination; "Bowfinger"; the recent remake of "Bedazzled"; "102 Dalmations"; and "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps." Composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams had previously collaborated on GOLDEN BOY as well as their recent hit show, BYE BYE BIRDIE, when they created the score for IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN. The pair went on to create music for ALL AMERICAN, APPLAUSE (the stage musical based on the film, "All About Eve") and reunited with Benton and Newman for the Oscar-nominated film, "Bonnie and Clyde." Starring as the Man of Steel will be Jim Rank, seen at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place as “The Baron” in Grand Hotel and most recently as “Nigel Rancour” in Something’s Afoot at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace. McKinley Carter appears as Lois Lane; audiences will also remember her from Something’s Afoot at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace as “Hope Langdon” and as “Lucinda” in Into The Woods at Marriott Theatre. Joining them will be David Perkovich as Dr. Sedgewick and Bernie Yvon as theatre writer Max Mencken. Holly Stauder Stacey plays Sydney, Max’s frustrated assistant who makes a play for Clark Kent. Jayson Bayle appears as Jim Morgan, Superman’s romantic rival for Lois. John Reeger plays Father Ling. Other cast members include Jeff Max, Leah Morrow, Michael Gutrich, David Kortemeier, Nicole Hren, Tim Howard, Dustin Hamilton, Carol Feiger, Ariane Dolan, Amanda Tanguay, Sharon Sachs, Sean Hunt, and Matthew Gold. The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6 p.m. Show prices range from $22 to $41.50 (depending on the day of the week); Lunch or Dinner and Theatre Packages are available. Inquire at box office or website for details and prices. For reservations, phone (630) 530-0111 or call TicketMaster at 312-599-1212. You may also visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.
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