Holiday Special: Richard Finch on “Meet John Doe”

 

by Richard Finch

 

California film scholar Richard Finch has amassed an enviable archive of film reviews over decades of writing.  Wonders in the Dark is thrilled to post his re-assessment of the Frank Capra holiday classic, “Meet John Doe.”

 

 

 

I watched “Meet John Doe” last night for the first time in a number of years. In the past I’ve been less enthusiastic about this film than about similar Capra movies like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but last night I seemed to appreciate it more than before, and that was for a number of reasons, I think. I always viewed Edward Arnold’s aspirations for oligarchy, his private army of thuggish loyalists, and the techniques of mass persuasion he hoped to achieve his aims through too far-fetched to be really scary. But not last night. For the first time, his quasi-fascist view of the ideal US and the unethical means he planned to use to persuade people to voluntarily surrender to this vision seemed perilously possible. I know that in 1940 Capra’s cautionary ideas, simplistic as they might have been, were aimed at unshakable pacifists and admirers of fascist “efficiency,.” But last night I saw how his concerns also have real validity today, and that alarmed me in a way this movie never has in the past.

 

 

 

I also noticed how very good Barbara Stanwyck was–no surprise there–but also how earnest and affecting the often wooden Gary Cooper was. Both of them are at first perfectly willing to follow their mercenary instincts (after all, the Depression was just really beginning to fade), but by the end of the movie each has had a major change of heart after at last seeing clearly how dangerous Edward Arnold really is and how fickle the vicissitudes of celebrityhood are. They must convey through their line readings, facial expressions, and body language this slowly dawning realization and carry us along with them in a believable way. Capra helps them do this convincingly and relatively subtly by not getting in the way of his actors and the screenplay by longtime collaborator Robert Riskin. There are some elaborately mounted big scenes, but for the most part the interpreter stays out of the way of the material he’s interpreting and lets it propel itself on the strength of its convictions.

 

 

 

Meet John Doe has always been thought of as a Christmas movie, yet I never had strong Christmas associations with it, even though that is when the story is set. The Christmas association is in truth hatched rather arbitrarily by Stanwyck when she’s trying to think of a way to stretch the newspaper story out for two months. She simply mutters under her breath at one point “until Christmas” and before long everyone else has taken on that idea. This led to my linking the movie to the later It’s a Wonderful Life more strongly than I ever had before. It suddenly struck me as almost a trial run for ideas that anchor that bona fide seasonal classic.

 

 

 

‘By the end of the movie, Cooper seems nearly as close to martyrdom as George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, going even so far as to dissolve into complete despair and plan to leap to his death. I’m not sure that the ending, according to IMDb the fifth of five that were tested, is wholly persuasive. But it is a hopeful ending, and importantly, it is feelings of humanity on the part of individuals that save the day.

Wonka, War Pony, Rotting in the Sun, 1974 Best Song Polling Results and 1975 Best Song Polling on Monday Morning Diary (December 18)

by Sam Juliano

One week till Christmas.  The time is flying by, but what else is new?  Lucille and I have been running around like so many others at this hectic time, and we saw some recent releases, one in the theater.  Ratings are as follows:

Wonka     4.5  of  5.0

War Pony   4.5 of 5.0

Rotting in the Sun   1.0 of 5.0

“Help Me” Named Best Popular Song of 1974!

Joni Mitchell’s iconic love song, “Help Me,” the signature hit on her album “Court and Spark,” prevailed in our 1974 Best Song Poll, scoring a win over Steeley Dan’s “Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number,” 366-344. According to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., who reported that 45 ballots were cast, the tabulation resulted in the first time that four songs finished over 300 votes. After “Help Me” and “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Midnight at the Oasis” and “Rebel, Rebel” achieved that voting milestone.

1 Help Me – Joni Mitchell 366

2 Rikki Dont Lose that Number – Steely Dan 344

3 Midnight At The Oasis – Maria Muldaur 330

4 Rebel Rebel – David Bowie 301

5 Waterloo – ABBA 262

6 Band on the Run – Paul McCartney and Wings 189

7 The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand 170

8 Nothing from Nothing – Billy Preston 142

9 The Air That I Breathe – The Hollies 141

10 Annie’s Song – John Denver 138

11 Take Me To The RIver – Al Green 137

12 Come and Get Your Love – Redbone 133

13 I Shot the Sheriff (Eric Clapton) 124

14 Whatever Gets You Through the Night (John Lennon) 120

15 Jazzman – Carole King 117

16 Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot 116

17 Its Only RocknRoll But I Like It – The Rolling Stones 115

18 Bennie and the Jets – Elton John 110

19 Tell Me Something Good – Rufus & Chaka Khan 100

20 Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce 98

21 Living for the City – Stevie Wonder 93

22 September Gurls (Big Star) 93

23 No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley and the Wailers 90

24 Loves Theme (Love Unlimited) 89

25 Cant Get Enough of Your Love – Barry White 88

26 Until You Come Back To Me ( (Aretha Franklin) 87

27 Forever Young – Bob Dylan 85

28 Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks 85

29 Radar Love – Golden Earring 78

30 The Joker – Steve Miller 78

31 Rock the Boat -The Hues Corporation 75

32 You’re No Good (Linda Ronstadt) 74

33 You Make Me Feel Brand New – The Stylistics 73

34 Bungle in the Jungle – Jethro Tull 69

35 Killer Queen – Queen 68

36 Autobahn – Kraftwerk 65

37 Feel Like Makin Love – Roberta Flack 65

38 Skating on the Thin Ice of a New Day (Jethro Tull) 65

39 #9 Dream – John Lennon 64

40 All I Want is You – Roxy Music 63

41 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John 63

42 Jet – Paul McCartney and Wings 63

43 Rednecks – Randy Newman 63

44 Jolene – Dolly Parton 62

45 Takin Care of Business – BTO 62

46 The Entertainer – Marvin Hamlisch 62

47 I Honestly Love – YouOlivia Newton John 60

48 Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John 58

49 I Cant Stand the Rain (Ann Peebles) 58

50 The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace 58

45 ballots cast.

Florencia en el Amazonas, Monster, The Boy and the Heron and Passages on Monday Morning Diary (December 11)

by Sam Juliano

Lucille and I were busy attending to the current movie scene over this past week, though the holiday season also took some of the time by way of decorating and gift-buying.  I have been also occupied with the time-consuming task of managing the FACEBOOK birthday pollings of famous directors and actors.  plenty of fun, but definitely a high maintenance endeavor.  I do need to spend more time with my third novel, Roses for Saoirse, and will do so over the holidays when all the off days will yield a block of time.

The 1974 Best Song balloting will continue until late Wednesday night.  Currently, 43 ballots have been cast.  Full results will be cast on next week’s MMD, along with the 1975 opening presentation.  Many thanks to those who have voted and of course to Tony, who has been faithfully and generously posting the winning songs to Spotify.

I saw the Latino opera Florencia en el Mazaonas via livestream on Saturday afternoon in a local theater.  It was absolutely ravishing and markedly Pucciniesque.

Lucille and I watched Passages on netflix, and two magnificent Japanese films in theaters.  Both of those rank among the years very best films.

Monster  (Miyazaki)        *****    (IFC Film Center)

The Boy and the Heron (Kore-eda)   *****    (Secaucus multiplex)

Passages  (netflix)  German gay-themed    ** 1/2  (The lead actor Franz Rojalski won the NYFCC award for Best Actor)

R.M.N., Fallen Leaves, May December, Akitsu Springs (1962), 1973 Popular Song Results-Top 50 and 1974 Popular Song Polling on Monday Morning Diary (December 4)

 

by Sam Juliano

Lucille and I were busy watching films this past week.  We saw three in theaters: 1962’s Akitsu Springs was watched at Lincoln Center.  The Japanese gem was seen for the first time on a big screen, and was directed by Allan’s beloved Kuji Yoshida.  We also saw Aki Kaurismaki’s superlative Finlandic Fallen Leaves, which is surely one of the best films of 2023 (also at Lincoln Center.)  We watched Todd Haynes’s May December and Cristian Mongiu’s R.M.N., both of which join the list of the best films of 2023.

“Let’s Get It On” Named Best Popular Song of 1973 in landslide vote!

Marvin Gaye has joined the Rolling Stones and Simon & Garfunkel as two-time winners in our popular song pollings! The soul titan took the top spot in 1971 for “What’s Going On?” and two years later has claimed pole position again for his romantic hit “Let’s Get It On,” which Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. has announced dominated balloting in landslide terms, running away from the two songs that tied for Number 2, “Angie” by the Rolling Stones and “Midnight Train to Georgia,” 323-228-228.

Stevie Wonder had four songs in the Top 50.

1 Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 323

2 Angie – The Rolling Stones 228

3 Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight and the Pips 228

4 Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack) 203

5 Call Me – Al Green 176

6 Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan 165

7 Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder 161

8 Band on the Run – Wings 157

9 Rambling Man (Allman Brothers Band) 149

10 Daniel – Elton John 143

11 Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road – Elton John 143

12 Love Reign O’er Me -The Who 138

13 Mind Games (John Lennon) 130

14 Dream On – Aerosmith 128

15 Money – Pink Floyd 123

16 Live and Let Die – Paul McCartney and Wings 118

17 Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealers Wheel 103

18 Piano Man – Billy Joel 101

19 You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder 98

20 Dueling Banjos – Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell 95

21 Kodachrome – Paul Simon 95

22 Give Me Love – George Harrison 92

23 Reeling in the Years (Steely Dan) 88

24 My Old School (Steely Dan) 83

25 Could It Be I’m Falling in Love – Spinners 82

26 Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – Elton John 81

27 Loves Me Like a Rock – Paul Simon 81

28 Right, Place, Wrong Time – Dr John 80

29 Superstition – Stevie Wonder 80

30 It Never Rains in Southern California (Albert Hammond) 79

31 Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen 79

32 Living for the City – Stevie Wonder 78

33 Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce) 68

34 Yesterday Once More – Carpenters 63

35 Love Train (The O’ Jays) 61

36 Papa Was a Rolling Stone – The Temptations 61

37 Drift Away – Dobie Gray 60

38 Personality Crisis – New York Dolls 60

39 Photograph – Ringo Starr 60

40 Heartbreaker – The Rolling Stones 58

41 A Passion Play (Jethro Tull) 57

42 Bad Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce 57

43 Crocodile Rock – Elton John 57

44 I Got a Name – Jim Croce 57

45 Blinded by the Light – Bruce Springsteen 54

46 Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group 53

47 Neither One of Us – Gladys Knight & the Pips 53

48 Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh 53

49 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Bette Midler 52

50 I Can’t Stand the Rain (Ann Peebles) 52

43 ballots cast.

Embracing Cinephilia – The Best Films of 2022

By Duane Porter

In 1915 Louis Feuillade began chronicling the activities of the arch criminals of Paris, Les Vampires. A serial of ten episodes, it opened in theaters from November through June of the following year. Working with a low budget, shooting on location, something happened, they found an unusual reality, a terrible beauty, an authenticity in representation. The spirit of cinema lives through Irma Vep (Musidora), for thousands of years before the invention of the cinema apparatus ever since the first human put his handprint on the wall of a cave and forward to Dreyer moving his camera close to the face of Falconetti in sacred communion with the spirit of cinema, on to the transcendent moment in John Ford’s The Searchers when hate turns to love as John Wayne lifts up Natalie Wood and says, “Let’s go home, Debbie” and in the recapitulation of cinema history that is George Lucas’ Star Wars, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo come to the rescue of Princess Leia, destroy the Death Star just in the nick of time saving the Rebel base and the Resistance, John Williams stirring score accompanies them as they ascend the stairs and the Princess presents them with their hero’s medals, she smiles and the magic of cinema continues to shine, this is what Olivier Assayas’ Irma Vep is about, a ritual, a spectacle, a celebration.

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I. Irma Vep directed by Olivier Assayas

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2. Crimes of the Future directed by David Cronenberg

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3. Blonde directed by Andrew Dominik

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4. Showing Up directed by Kelly Reichardt

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5. The Novelist’s Film directed by Hong Sang-soo

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6. Decision to Leave directed by Park Chan-wook

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7. Tár directed by Todd Field

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8. No Bears directed by Jafar Panahi

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9. One Fine Morning directed by Mia Hansen-Løve

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10. The Eternal Daughter directed by Joanna Hogg

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Ten Runners-up listed in alphabetical order:

Alcarràs directed by Carla Simón
Babylon directed by Damien Chazelle
Both Sides of the Blade directed by Claire Denis
Coma directed by Bertrand Bonello
Dark Glasses directed by Dario Argento
EO directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
Holy Spider directed by Ali Abbasi
Master Gardener directed by Paul Schrader
Pacifiction directed by Albert Serra
Stars at Noon directed by Claire Denis

Napoleon, Nuovo Olimpo and Thanksgiving Day on Monday Morning Diary (November 27)

by Sam Juliano

Trusting all our friends stateside had a soulful Thanksgiving Day with family.  For the 29th year consecutively, our family attended a Thanksgiving bonanza (in people and dinner) at the spacious home of my wife’s sister Elaine and her husband in Butler, New Jersey. (photo above)

Jim Clark’s latest essay at the site on Pamfir; Dmytro Sukholykyy-Sobschuk (2022) and Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past (1913)

this past week is a real beauty.

Lucille and I saw two movies this past week in a theater and home streaming.

Napoleon (Saturday night) Ridgefield Park multiplex   ** (2 of 5)

Nuovo Olimpo (Friday night)  streaming  **** 1/2  (4.5 of 5)

Next week, the 1973 Best Song results will be posted, in addition to the 1974 polling.

PAMFIR; Dmytro Sukholykyy-Sobchuk (2002) and Marcel Proust’s ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ (1913)

by James Clark

    Romania, never occurred to me. But there it is, in our film today, presenting millions of troubles and a few joys. Its ravishing mountain scene could leave one to think of a happy place. But when last in Europe, happiness could not be expected to be found. There is a kind of drunkenness, looking for power in wild custody, in fact. Along that thought would be a strange passion. Most of them would find ways to have simple dignity. But a few would need much more. They would be the heights, those who fully see.

    And then, the crime could discover something intense, powerful, keen, fine, fierce, ardent, burning, irresistible. The melodrama is steeped by these hopes. (“You’re a mummy’s boy”… All through the saga, there are actions in boxing. A hopeless thought…”Come to Poland, it pays well.”)

    Blue light! Something different. All through this story, there are touches of the true…There is even a beautiful set of curtains. Breathtaking! And in the light bulb.  An old man: “I might only have one good eye, but come see that your father is back. Don’t forget to give my papers to the pastor.” The protagonist, Gazy: “I need a work permit… (And, smuggling has been used for cigarettes going into Romania.)

    Gazy caressing his wife… Seeing themselves in the mirror. “I’m going to stay, but only for two weeks…”/ ” He needs a father around. He doesn’t have a role model… He needs an iron hand. I can’t manage him. Order…  And we still haven’t paid off the house…”/”I want you to stay forever. Don’t leave again.” /”Stay here to work for peanuts?”/”I just love your voice…” (No Vision…)/ “Your money won’t make you a better dad… Leonid…Stay. Don’t go back… You don’t even know the brakes… religion program on the powers of God… “(His wife: “My father took out one eye, but didn’t take the other. Stop your nonsense. What did you promise the priest?”)

    “To go better than others. Hey, watch your hands…” Real adventure. Glory to God! All scream! (Brought you my husband’s papers.) Nazar, the boy who burned the church. Your father never comes to church. He’s angry with God. He needs time to understand. God puts each of us to the test. Tell your father to come to church with your mother.”/”Don’t tell Mom, she’ll kill me.”/”You’re punished; no bicycle… Go to church, practice, and don’t miss a day../ (Try to pay for it…) I need 600 euros!” In the dark…

    Smuggling, even the priest is in. On the first try, there is success and failure. The troupe carries large boxes on their backs. They march in a very stated movement, paced beautifully in their steep work. In fact the action seems to be a dance. The woods are beautified. This crime is magic.

Riveting.

Lights.

Is there a moment which has not been touched.

Finding the treasure.

Into the woods.

In mist… beauty.

Animal sounds… A call!

The beauties of the flowers. Amaryllis!

Can you see them… Over…

Pamfir.

Seeking.

A race…

Lights and noise.

All interacting.

Ancient.

Small light.

A time for the future.

It’s not so simple.

Beautiful and strange.

Hide!

A new life.

The cows, around to give birth…

Humility.

Finding.

I’m coming to find you…

Hands.

Don’t worry, it’s an easy job.

The brave.

A monster.

Pictures of beauty; pictures of strangeness.

Currents.

Hold your hands in the air.

Brave.

Blue lights! The flights!

Dying planet.

Fires.

The skies within horror!

The easy job kills Nazar! The latter knew. The latter wanted to die. Where is the zeal: passion, ardour, love, fervour, fire, avidity, devotion, enthousiast, radical, Young Turk, relish, gusto…

Such matters are true.

The skies rip the dying moments. Other places could be right.

Happy Thanksgiving; Radical; Cries and Whispers; 1972 Best Song Poll Results; 1973 Best Song Poll on Monday Morning Diary (November 20)

by Sam  Juliano

Wishing all our dear friends and associates statewide a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lucille and I saw a powerful and moving Mexican film about an audacious schoolteacher instructing in a crime-ridden region south of the border on Saturday night at the Secaucus, N. J. multiplex. Radical rates 4.5 of 50 for me.  On Thursday evening, Lucille, young Sammy, Jeremy and I visited the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey to watch Ingmar Bergman’s 1972 “Cries and Whispers” in 35mm. The first time I saw this staggering masterpiece in a theater was back in 1972 in Manhattan’s Cinema 1 when I was 18.

“American Pie” Named Best Popular Song of 1972 in a squeaker!

Don McLean’s best-selling marathon Grammy Award winning eight and a half minute opus, “American Pie,” – featuring the repeated phrase, “the day the music died,” – in reference to the 1957 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper – narrowly edged Stevie Wonder’s soul masterpiece “Superstition,” 305-298, in balloting that attracted 49 participants. A few, who normally vote, chose not to cast a ballot for this particular year, which may have affected the final outcome. “American Pie” spent many weeks as the #1 song on Billboard and radio stations across the country and in Europe, and has often been praised for its lyrical brilliance.

According to beleaguered Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” the Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rollingstone,” and Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” rounded out the Top 5.

1 American Pie – Don McLean 305

2 Superstition – Stevie Wonder 298

3 Heart of Gold – Neil Young 278

4 Papa Was A Rollingstone – Temptations 252

5 Let’s Stay Together – Al Green 244

6 Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed 233

7 Tumbling Dice – Rolling Stones 216

8 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack 208

9 Rocket Man – Elton John 207

10 Starman – David Bowie 188

11 Vincent – Don McLean 187

12 Lean on Me – Bill Withers 184

13 Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues 178

14 Celluloid Heroes – The Kinks 170

15 I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash 170

16 School’s Out – Alice Cooper 155

17 Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie 137

18 Mother and Child Reunion – Paul Simon 130

19 Oh Girl – The Chi-Lites 127

20 Reeling in the Years – Steely Dan 123

21 Taxi – Harry Chapin 123

22 Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan 119

23 Without You – Harry Nilsson 119

24 Burning Love – Elvis Presely 111

25 Hello, It’s Me – Todd Rundgren 108

26 I’ll Take You There -The Staple Singers 108

27 Suffragette City – David Bowie 98

28 Saturday in the Park – Chicago 95

29 Thick as a Brick – Jethro Tull 95

30 Day After Day – Badfinger 93

31 Sail Away – Randy Newman 91

32 Layla – Derek and the Dominos 83

33 Listen to the Music – The Doobie Brothers 81

34 Do It Again – Steely Dan 79

35 Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard – Paul Simon 79

36 You’re So Vain – Carly Simon 79

37 Horse with No Name – America 78

38 Garden Party – Rick Nelson 74

39 Never Been to Spain – Three Dog Night 71

40 Brandy – Looking Glass 66

41 Old Man – Neil Young 64

42 All the Young Dudes – Mott the Hoople 61

43 City of New Orleans – Arlo Guthrie 61

44 Operator – Jim Croce 61

45 If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes 52

46 You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio – Joni Mitchell 51

47 Go All the Way – The Raspberries 50

48 Rocks Off – The Rolling Stones 49

49 Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress – The Hollies 48

50 Perfect Day – Lou Reed – 48

49 ballots cast.

Interview with Joe Bocko on Irish Jesus of Fairview; Priscilla; Conclusion of HorrorFest 2023; Top 50 Song Results of 1971; New song poll for 1972 on Monday Morning Diary (November 6)

 

by Sam Juliano

Election Day and New Jersey Teacher’s Convention means we are off three days this week.  This is in fact the one week of the year that gives flight to the digs from non-educators when they say that those in this profession have a “racket.”

The final capsule reviews in Jamie Uhler’s fabulous HorrorFest 2023 will appear later in this post!  Many thanks to Jamie for again treating us to his splendid and expert positions on this genre, one he has long mastered.

This past week, my longtime friend, and film writing colleague Joel Bocko of the popular site I Lost It at the Movies, and a past writer for Wonders in the Dark posted an interview he conducted with me on You Tube.  Topics discussed included my two novels, Irish Jesus of Fairview and Paradise Atop the Hudson, the work and plans so far on the third novel, Roses for Saoirse; current movies and the history of Wonders in the Dark.  This endeavor was a great honor, and I can’t thank Joel enough for all his work to make it happen!  Astoundingly, the interview runs a little over 90 minutes!

“What’s Going On” Named Greatest Popular Song of 1971

The final numbers were extremely close, but in the end, one of music’s most powerful and emotional songs emerged triumphant. Twice in Rollingstone Magazine’s Top 500, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye – based on police brutality – finished #4 of all-time in their pollings. According to Voting Tabulator Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., the soul masterpiece edged out “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones, 365-360. “Imagine” (John Lennon), “It’s Too Late,” (Carole King), “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (The Who), “Mercy Mercy Me” (Marvin Gaye), “Maggie May” (Rod Stewart), “Changes” (David Bowie), “Me and Bobbie McGee” (Janis Joplin), and “Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin) rounded out the Top 10. The 51 ballots cast was the most ever for our songs polls, no surprise since 1971 is often called the greatest single year in the rock era.

1 What’s Going On- Marvin Gaye 365

2 Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones 360

3 Imagine – John Lennon 314

4 It’s Too Late – Carole King 292

5 Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who 281

6 Mercy Mercy Me – Marvin Gaye 277

7 Maggie May – Rod Stewart 254

8 Changes – David Bowie 223

9 Me and Bobbie McGee- Janis Joplin 221

10 Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin 214

11 Your Song – Elton John 197

12 Baba O’Riley – The Who 189

13 Just My Imagination-The Temptations 182

14 Aqualung – Jethro Tull 175

15 L A Woman – The Doors 174

16 Riders on the Storm – Doors 158

17 Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers 148

18 Bargain – The Who 147

19 You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor 143

20 Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone 130

21 Roundabout – Yes 127

22 Behind Blue Eyes – The Who 122

23 Theme From Shaft – Isaac Hayes 121

24 Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones 110

25 Superstar – The Carpenters 106

26 I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King 100

27 Love Her Madly – The Doors 100

28 A Case of You – Joni Mitchell 99

29 How Can You Mend a Broken Heart – Bee Gees 99

30 Blue – Joni Mitchell 95

31 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey – Paul & Linda McCartney 91

32 It Don’t Come Easy – Ringo Starr 90

33 Jealous Guy – John Lennon 88

34 If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot 86

35 River – Joni Mitchell 86

36 This Song is Over – The Who 85

37 Never Can Say Goodbye – Jackson Five 83

38 Wind Up – Jethro Tull 78

39 Joy to the World – Three Dog Night 74

40 Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin 72

41 Rainy Days and Mondays – Carpenters 69

42 Brand New Key – Melanie 68

43 Let’s Stay Together – Al Green 67

44 My Sweet Lord – George Harrison 65

45 The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron 65

46 Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner 63

47 Life on Mars – David Bowie 61

48 Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull 58

49 Bang A Gong -T Rex 54

50 Low Spark of High Heeled Boys – Traffic 54

51 ballots cast.

Gavin Fields’ Brutal Season; The Holdovers; Anatomy of a Fall; HorrorFest 2023 and Halloween on Monday Morning Diary (October 30)

by Sam Juliano

Brutal Season, a superbly crafted independent feature, written and directed by Gavin Fields, stylistically evokes Brecht and narratively the stage plays of August Wilson in its story of the arrival of a prodigal son to a Red Hook, Brooklyn apartment in the 1940’s and simmering tensions that finally boil over when an insurance policy is deemed fraudulent after an agent peals off the gauze on the ruse.  The slowly-enveloping drama, almost exclusively set in a kitchen eventually morphs into riveting familial revelations, which are seemingly emboldoned by the arid summer temperature, beautifully transcribed by Steven Cardona’s tightly-framed, incandescent photography, which makes excellent use of close-ups and overheads, and the atmospheric minimalist score by Andrew Burke.  The cast brings piercing authenticity to the sharp dialogue, from which top honors much go to Colleen Madden as the Trouth family matriarch, who keeps the family grounded amidst the startling disclosures.  Houston Settle,  who delivers the key performance as the returning Junior channels the most potent energy in it cocky assersiveness, and later to quiet resignation when the secrets are unearthed.  James Ridge gives a searing turn as a defeated man, and both Shelby Grady and Markwood Fields do their parts in maintaining the brooding intensity Fields nurtures and then delivers in full flower.  The gifted director further succeeds in pulling off that most difficult of balancing act of maintaining acute stage intimacy, while ultilyzing all the cinematic elements accentuating tone,  feel, texture,  muted colors and a real sense of place.  Brutal Season is wholly masterful.

(Thank you so much my friend Tony D’Ambra for this much appreciated, masterful alert!)

For all those who celebrate Halloween, wish you a barrel of fun with the trick or treating bonanza and any activities that might be on your schedule.

Lucille, the boys and I watched two films in the theater this past week, though one of them will be seen this after at 2:00 p.m. (Sunday, so I’ll have to revise the MMD to insert the star rating.

Anatomy of a Fall  (French Cannes Festival winner)   **** 1/2  (Saturday night – Ridgefield Park multiplex)

The Holdovers (Alexander Payne)   *****                    (Sunday afternoon – Clifton AMC)    My#1 favorite film of the year!!!