hepburn + brazzi + venice = yum

Did anyone else see Summertime, 1955, on TCM the other night? Gosh, I can't stop thinking about it. I thought I had seen all the David Lean films out there, but somehow this little gem fell through the cracks. It's about a lonely American spinster, who learns to accept imperfect love from a married art dealer, while on holiday in Venice.

This is a smaller, slower film than Lean's epics, and not quite in the same league as Brief Encounter, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The unique thing about this movie, is that it's filmed entirely on location in gorgeous 1950s Venice. The remastered Criterion Collection version is crisp, colorful and quite delicious. I'm not sure which was the most lip-smacking, the 39 year old Rossano Brazzi in a gray flannel suit or Venice. Hepburn is magnificent, at any age, and she certainly held her own, at 48, paired with the younger Brazzi.



I love the scene where Hepburn enter's Brazzi's shop and spots a wonderful vintage goblet in the window. It made me long to travel in time back to the Venice of the 50s and do some serious shopping. One interesting tidbit of trivia; there's a scene where Hepburn accidentally falls into the canal while taking a home movie of Brazzi's shop. As a result, she actually contracted an infection in her eyes that she battled the rest of her life.

Although this film is a predictable love story, it's not a sappy one. It's poignantly real and deals with the deep fear and emotion felt by Hepburn's character. The quintessential Lean photography is breathtaking. It made me want to pack my bags and head straight to Venice. In the meantime, I'm going to buy myself a DVD for my little manor library.

Thank you, Mr. Mercer

Did anyone else see the great Clint Eastwood produced documentary,
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me, on Turner Classic Movies
Wednesday night? I sat there in my nest, aka my favorite corner of
the leather sectional, in the sitting room off the kitchen, completely
glued to the screen. I didn't realize until then, what a big part
Mercer's songs have played in my life. I knew the words to nearly all
of them. He was a genius. We owe this lovely man a huge debt of
gratitude. Take a listen to two of my faves. They've been in my head
all week...

Moon River, wider than a mile,

I'm crossing you in style some day.

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,

wherever you're going, I'm going your way.

Two drifters off to see the world.

There's such a lot of world to see.

We're after the same rainbow's end--

waiting 'round the bend,

my huckleberry friend,

Moon River and me.

.

Skylark, have you anything to say to me?

Won't you tell me where my love can be?

Is there a meadow in the mist

where some one's waiting to be kissed?

.

Skylark, have you seen a valley green with spring

where my heart can go a journeying

over the shadows and the rain

to a blossom covered lane?

.

And in your lonely flight

haven't you heard the music in the night,

wonderful music,

faint as a will o' the wisp, crazy as a loon,

sad as a gypsy serenading the moon.

.

Oh, skylark, I don't know if you can find these things

but my heart is riding on your wings.

So if you see them anywhere

won't you lead me there?

.

By the way, the DVD version of this documentary will be available
just in time for Christmas, for all you Mercer fans out there.

.

This just in:

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This program will air again Wednesday, November 18

on TCM at 6:00 P.M. EST.