Performing men, answers thereto

I’m disappointed more people didn’t play, but that’s the way it goes. Maybe the news has been so unremittingly bad that frivolity seemed out of step. Here are the answers: 1. J Pierpont Finch: Leading man, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” played first on stage and screen by Robert Morse 2. Roger …

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The original “Silver Bells” was in a movie

“Silver Bells” made its first appearance in the film “The Lemon Drop Kid” in 1951, sung by Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope (yes, Bob Hope). It was first recorded on vinyl in September 1950 by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards, after the film had completed production but before it was released. When the Crosby/Richards duet …

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Time for a re-read or re-viewing or both

I used to re-read the books every couple of years, but I haven’t done so in a while. Haven’t re-watched the films, either, although I saw all the Hobbit ones, mostly out of a sense of duty. They weren’t very good. Well, they were well-made, I guess, but they certainly weren’t the light-hearted romp that …

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The end of the film

I was in the Navy in Japan relaying messages to ships off the coast of Vietnam from December 1972 through November 1974, just as America was desperately trying to get out of that war. Watching the final episode of Burns & Novick’s film tonight surely didn’t make me feel very good about the promises we …

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The Vietnam War on PBS

If you haven’t been watching this, you should be. It’s wonderfully good and it’s not pulling any punches about American misconceptions while at the same time explaining the politicians’ and the generals’ thinking. If you’re my age you recognize a lot of the music playing in the background or during interludes. The film and cinematography …

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