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Bradford Dillman

Richard Venture

Aunt Peg wrote:Bradford Dillman

They might only be the films that I'll remember him for but he had a great run of roles in B-movies that were hybrids of the animal attack and disaster movie genres popular in the mid to late 70s. He's the lead in Bug from 1975, a William Castle production directed by Jeannot Szwarc. Apparently (at least according to the commentators on the 42nd Street Forever trailer compilations) the release of Jaws completely overwhelmed this other 'when nature attacks' film and might even have led to Szwarc being given the directing role on Jaws 2 to kind of make up for it!

He's also in notoriously silly killer bee film The Swarm, that was sort of the film that signaled the end for Irwin Allen's brand of star laden disaster movies. But of course what he should always be remembered for is his lead role in Joe Dante's classic Piranha. Which has the great exchange between the hero and heroine when they get waylaid by the authorities: "You go out there and distract the guard", "What if he's gay?", "Then I'll distract him!"

I'd also love to see Chosen Survivors some time! Or Guyana: Cult of the Damned for that matter!

I'll always remember her fondly for her part in the docile half of probably the greatest "paired" musical perf ever, "Innamorata" from Artists and Models, but honestly, contray to her obit, there's little mystery in why her career withered after winning her (undeserved) Oscar

She was wonderful in The Tarnished Angels. I just saw The Big Sleep recently and forgot she was the bookstore clerk - I had to go back and take a second look, because between the dark (rather than blonde) hair and her very young age, it was easy to mistake her for someone else.

Dillman is also the victim of Harry Callahan's immortal "Your mouthwash ain't makin' it!" diss. Just one of his many smarmy, officious twits, which he always played with aplomb.

I do like the way that the obit for Dorothy Malone 'sexes up' her final appearance as a "similing lesbian ax murderer" in Basic Instinct. They're not exactly wrong but she only appears in the scene immediately following the car chase version of Vertigo's tailing scene as the sweet old lady that Stone's character is making a (conjugal? See, I can also add extra drama!) visit to, seen from afar waving her goodbye!

domino harvey wrote:I'll always remember her fondly for her part in the docile half of probably the greatest "paired" musical perf ever, "Innamorata" from Artists and Models, but honestly, contray to her obit, there's little mystery in why her career withered after winning her (undeserved) Oscar

Huh? I guess opinions will be opinions, but she makes the movie for me and I really like her performances in general.

Of the actresses nominated that year, Malone wouldn't have been my pick (I'd go with Eileen Heckart, though I know that's not a popular opinion either), but I'm certainly not mad at her win. I agree with knives, she was a good actress in general and one I've enjoyed in whatever I've seen her in (particularly her bit in The Big Sleep).

Paul Bocuse, chef.

Olivia Lua, 23 years old. 5th porn actress died in 69 days.

Connie Sawyer, Hollywood's oldest working actress, at age 105.

mfunk9786 wrote:Ursula K. Le Guin

Damn. A titan, for sure.

I'll always think fondly of these two (perhaps odd) pieces in particular: her speech about commodity and her excellent take on Go Set a Watchman, which was unfairly slagged by critics who were looking at it from the wrong angle.

fdm wrote:Hugh Masekela

Masekela wrote the book/score, with Mbongeni Ngema, for my favorite musical. South African legend.

Mark E. Smith of The Fall

Wonderful remembrance from the Guardian

Very nice read, thanks for posting. So many 90s memories-I has always hoped his work with Elastica would have jump started more work with Justine Frischmann.

Devastatingly bad news, but unsurprising. He was obviously in ill health for some time, and seemed uninterested in taking care of himself, continuing to drink as if he were still in his twenties.

The Fall is by a huge margin my favorite rock band, and Smith's lyrics were incomparably strange and imaginative. Regardless of the band's composition, its sound bore his unique imprint.

My great aunt died last Friday and this hit me way harder. Nothing in the world has had an influence on me anywhere near The Fall have.

Echo Helstrom Casey, the Girl From the North Country

RIP Mark E Smith, one of the greats of indie music for decades on end. And he was great up to the end there: Our Future, Your Clutter has become my favorite Fall album