Althouse: Film dead, 2008.

January 1, 2009

Film dead, 2008.

14 comments:

George M. Spencer said...: Knock out Cyd Charisse dance number from the obscure musical "It's Always Fair Weather." (This is also the film that has a Buster Keatonesque scene in which Gene Kelly tap dances on roller skates.)

Of course, as always, Bo Diddley did not get no respect and was omitted from the Turner list.

And, incidentally, Dead music, 2009; 1/1/09, 2:53 PM
blake said...: Some of these people were so old, you forget that they died just because it seems like they could never die. Forrest Ackerman (called "Little Forrie" by H.P. Lovecraft back in the '30s), for example.

I was glad to see they remembered Maila Nurmi (Vampira).

When we first moved into this house, child actress Gloria Jean lived across the street from us (with her chain-smoking sister, making the whole thing have a "Baby Jane" vibe). Like a lot of the forgotten actors of the era, she was pleased that TCM and the Internet was bringing her a new generation of fans to the old stuff.; 1/1/09, 3:04 PM
Palladian said...: Geez. So many great people. I hadn't heard about Vampira. I guess I was most affected by Arthur Clarke's death, though it wasn't that unexpected.

And keeping with our "It's A Wonderful Life" theme of late, with the passing of Robert Anderson Jr., who played the young George Bailey, there's almost no one left alive from that film.

Vive memor lethi! Fugit hora.; 1/1/09, 3:30 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: That was a fine tribute. Now I'm sad.; 1/1/09, 3:40 PM
joewxman said...: i actually always look foward to the year end tribute to the film dead by turner because during the year i tend to miss many of the news items when these people die. There are always a few in the list like lois nettleton, joy page, and robert anderson. so sad!; 1/1/09, 5:01 PM
John Stodder said...: Music by the great Joe Henry, a superb singer-songwriter and producer (and in-law of Madonna, who covered one of his best songs, "Don't Tell Me to Stop"). You could do worse than investing a little time in the new year exploring his music.

http://tinyurl.com/9u65dh; 1/1/09, 5:07 PM
Simon said...: Some of these are terrible losses, and I had no idea that Jerry Reed had died, but for me the saddest loss of 2008 wasn't from film, but from music: Richard Wright.; 1/1/09, 5:34 PM
David said...: Thanks for posting this. So much pure enjoyment we receive from these people.

Suzanne Pleshette, I still love you.; 1/1/09, 5:37 PM
Palladian said...: Until her death in September, Anita Page was one of the last living silent film stars. She retired in 1933! Soon there will be no one alive who remembers that whole era. She was also the last person alive who attended the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929.; 1/1/09, 6:02 PM
blake said...: Joe Henry teamed with one of my favorites, Loudon Wainwright III for the soundtrack of Knocked Up and the KU-inspired CD Strange Weirdos.

I believe Joe wrote "Daughter":

Everything
she sees
she says she wants
Everything
she wants
I see she gets; 1/1/09, 6:05 PM
heywoot said...: Funny, the only dialogue in that tribute was "I'll have what she's having."

Lot of talent lost there. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...; 1/1/09, 6:57 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Palladian--

Just watched the 1955 Robert Mitchum neo-expressionist fearflick "Night of the Hunter" co-starring silent star Lillian Gish. Lady knows how to use a shotgun.; 1/1/09, 7:01 PM
joewxman said...: night of the hunter was one creepy film.; 1/1/09, 7:06 PM
Walt said...: My God, So many! these are people that I came to love in my youth. It really makes me feel old.; 1/1/09, 11:01 PM