Viewing The Princess Bride as a Buddy Film

According to Vito Russo, in his book The Celluloid Closet, society has been fairly obsessed with maintaining the male role onscreen. Films about war or men together were constantly under scrutiny to avoid risking the male standard. To avoid the confusion that the male might prefer each other’s company, there was often a task, a woman or something in which the men or the male lead could do to prove his masculinity (i.e. heterosexuality).

On the surface, The Princess Bride (1987) directed by Rob Reiner might not seem a good example of the “buddy” film. However, upon closer inspection, the film has all of the necessary elements of a great buddy film and uses comedy to great effect, with a lead that is less than typically masculine. There are multiple sets of “buddies” in the film. There is the Grandfather/Grandson set, the Prince Humperdinck/Count Tyrone Rugen set and the three main characters of Westley, Inigo Montoya and Fezzik.

One aspect of the buddy film is the absence of a female character and the first set played by Peter Falk and Fred Savage illustrate this well. Falk interrupts Savage’s game playing to read him a “romance” novel, editing out the heterosexual love scenes and expressing concern when the grandson might be too involved. The book selection alone adds a level of suspect in this relationship, though it seems in line with the mentor/student role rather than a sexual role. The mother, who has a single line at the beginning of the film, is never seen again—she is merely the character that opens the door and brings the buddies together, then leaves.

Another aspect of a buddy film is that there are a group of men going off to war or attempting to conquer something. The lead character, Westley, played by Cary Elves is a simple farm hand and heads off to “prove” himself worthy of Buttercup, played by Robin Wright Penn. When it is assumed that he has been killed by pirates, she is forcibly engaged to the hyper-masculine Prince Humperdinck. The Prince and Count Tyrone Rugen use Buttercup as a pawn in their efforts to start a war. The fact that he would have his fiancé killed illustrates another Russo idea that male bonding is associated with violence. The Prince has his bride abducted in order for him to hunt down the enemy’s who abducted her which will allow him to “prove” his manhood.

Russo comments that heterosexual romance was a standard plot ingredient but there was a sense of fear when the women were too expendable. The buddy set of the Prince and the Count plays on this fear well. They are the villains and do despicable things to the other characters to prove their power. However, on the side of love, their actions provide the plot element that brings the three other buddies together.

Westley has not been killed by pirates and return to begin his quest to save the abducted Buttercup. Along the way, he conquers the Spaniard (Inigo Montayo) with in a sword fight, Fezzik (Andre the Giant) with brains, and a battle of wits with Vizzini, who loses and dies. Each of the scenes have close physical contact between the men but because the actions are associated with a fight, it is deemed acceptable and, excepting Vizzini who died, the conquered men become his close friends who are willing to put their lives on the line.

The Princess Bride is a great example of a buddy film pulsing under the overt plot of a romance film. This film has three sets of buddies who display different aspects of the “Buddy Films” described by Vito Russo. I feel that the comedic dialogue did indeed allow for more bonding to take place in that it seemed to move the overt plot forward. However, I find it ironic that a movie built around the lines “As You Wish” (i.e. I Love You) is more of a buddy film than it is the expected romance film.

Weimar: Germany's Example - Class 4

We are settling into a routine. The large black man in the back seems like he is sleeping but is genuinely friendly, if not overly interested in the topic of the class. The lesbians have fallen into a back-and-forth banter with the instructor, who, without his notes would be completely lost.

Luckily for us, we got to listen to the discussion on Dorothy being a lesbian coming of age story. The term “Witch” is a code word for LESBIAN!!!! So, when Glenda asks Dorothy whether she is a good witch or a bad witch … yep, a whole new meaning. She initially responds that she’s not a witch! However, by the end of the film she is informed that she has had the power the entire time … does this mean that she is now “sexually” aware? Does her Ruby Red shoes indicate anything? Once you start down the yellow-brick road there are all sorts of potential interpretations.

Anyway, this week we discussed the role that the German film industry, prior to the rise of the Nazi’s, had on the notion of homosexuality. Loosely speaking, there was a perception of three types of sexuality, male, female and the third. Because of this idea, many felt that the issue of homosexuality did not lie with the homosexuals, since they were born this way, but with the people who had issue.

With this foundation, the discussion went to the various interpretations of the third sex. The third sex was divided into the Male/Female In-betweens which included those who demonstrated characteristics generally associated with the opposite sex. The other aspect of the third sex was centered on the Instructor/Student ideal.

Our film, Maedchen In Uniform was a dry film, pieced together about a motherless girl who goes to a boarding school and falls in love with one of the instructors who shows kindness. Oxygen guy brought his little Toto to class again and in a fit of boredom chewed through his leash and then visited the classroom rubbing his stinky little body against all of us … apparently we are now marked!

Speaking of marked, next week we get to appropriate the monster genre! I can’t wait.

Next Week: Required Reading: Queer Monsters: Vampires, Zombies, and Creatures – Oh MY! Screening: The Old Dark House (Whale, 1932). Required Reading: Harry Benshoff’s “Defining the Holloywood Queer Monster.”

Sliding into 36 – The Pre-Birthday Events

Tapeo

Frank did a great job of getting the boys together … not that there is that many left! John was heading off to meet Ben in Paris and Jeff was off to China. To solve the big hole that would be left in their lives if they missed the opportunity to celebrate my birthday, we met at the Metro and had dinner at Tapeo! It was a nice collection of new friends and friends I haven’t had the opportunity to see in a long time. Even better was the fact that Tapeo was offering 2 for 1 Tapas and we got to eat like little piggies – thanks go out to Rusty for taking over the ordering responsibilities!

Surprisingly, I lost two pounds according to the scale!

Badlands

I was going to say I haven’t been dancing for ages … then realized that technically we had gone dancing at the foam party in Guerneville, so I’ll say that I haven’t been to Badlands forever! And, it hasn’t changed, though they are currently trying to lure people in with cheap beer … it worked.

Now, I’m not the world’s best dancer and will cop to the fact that I tower on the dance floor. I’m often reminded of a great children’s book where a camel wants to be a ballerina. She realizes that she will never be a great dancer but enjoys herself and does not dance to please other people. I am not that self-actualized … others were demonstrably more comfortable with themselves. It was like watching the “Live from Badlands – The Elaine from Seinfeld” dance! We arrived and there were not that many people … and yet the dance floor was dangerously full. Legs were flying. Hips were popping. And people were spinning.

Now add to the mix the towering giant (self-actualized) who would drink two beers at a time and who would finish the beer by holding it aloft over his head and dripping the last drop into his mouth! Then, with a giant flourish, he would swim those long limbs back into the air and swing them monkey like around and around. It really gives tall people a bad name.

However, the shorty’s were well represented by the bouncy-I’m-a-Tigger toy and the guy that was crushing something invisible in his palm with his invisible pestle. Once the magic was ready, he blew the magic into the room … yeah, right. Thank God James joined us or we would have looked like little stuck up snobs … judging everyone who wasn’t us! I can hardly wait to return for my 37 birthday!

The Surprise!

I love John and take back all of the snide little things he has revealed in the past. I want the title back of being the person who cannot keep a secret! I’ve been having a rough time at work lately and really wanted to look forward to something not work related. With this in mind, I instructed Frank to keep birthday weekend plans hush hush.

So, when I talked to John before he flew off to Paris, I thought I had the whole thing figured out. Rusty was picking us up, so that meant a ride to the airport. Frank doesn’t like to fly long distances for short weekends, so that meant the West coast. It could be Disneyland but we had been to LA last year for my birthday. John said it was somewhere “family” oriented. I’m thinking family + west coast = Palm Springs! Nope. I took it to mean “Family” (WINK WINK), not family with children. Oy vey.

The Vehicle

Anyway, I’m out front of the apartment and Frank is late. The kitchen phone rings and I have to leave my spot on the front porch to answer it. The caller hangs up. I start for the front door and it rings again. AGITATION!!!! It’s Frank and he’s calling me to come out front … it’s what I was trying to do. I am channeling my inner peach maker and when I walk out the door … there it is a convertible mustang!! Excellent. Now we’re on a road trip and my schema is completely blown. However, I have a fabulous new CD and a book on different hiking options in Big Sur!

A perfect surprise and John didn’t blow it this year! Good job Frank!

That's Big Sur to You!

We’re driving in our car … we’ve turned on the radio! I think everyone should either own a convertible or rent one because you should have the opportunity to be “one of them!” at least once. Plus as you drive along, you get to enjoy all the elements that are usually shielded by the frame of the car. Strawberries … yum. Salt air … refreshing. Lettuce … debateable.

We made our way down the coast to our lodgings at the Big Sur Lodge. (www.bigsurlodge.com). No TV. No radio. No phones. Just a fireplace, a book and good company. It is amazing how a little separation from civilization can calm my nerves. Of course, I had to process work stuff but that is pretty easy to do while stepping over logs, avoiding poison oak and viewing the waterfalls.

Our plans can be summarized by the following:

• Hike
  
• Eat
  
• Read
  
• Hike
  
• Eat
  
• Read
  
• Sleep
  
• Repeat
  
  

Along the coast!

Not a bad way to spend the weekend and over the course of three days we enjoyed three different hikes. I would talk about the person in the restaurant who broke a chair when he sat down … but I swore not to mention names.

The Hikes From the Big Sur Lodge

Pfeiffer Falls + Valley View

This 40 to 60 minute stroll along Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek features some of the finest redwood groves in the Big Sur region. Expect steps in the few steeper sections and a number of wooden footbridges across the creek. The 60 foot high waterfall at the end of the trail is a scenic highlight. A wooden platform at the base of the falls is a fine place to rest, meditate or have a picnic lunch … okay, we took pictures and then continued to the Valley View Hike.

You can climb through the oak woodland to the Valley View Overlook. The view from this vantage point includes much of the Big Sur Valley, Point Sur and Andrew Molera State park.

Buzzard’s Roost

A rugged two-hour hike along the Park’s western edge will take you along the river, through shady redwoods, then through a series of switchbacks among bay trees and tanoaks to the chaparral covered top of Pfeiffer Ridge. From the top there is a magnificent panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountain Range.

A Place to Meditate ...

Pfeiffer Falls

Point Sur Light Station – State Historic Park

The Gate to the Lighthouse!

One could argue that it isn’t a “hike” but the tour does go uphill and we were required to walk. This was definitely on of the highlights of the hiking experiences. We had to wait for the gate to be unlocked before we could drive across the private cattle land and park at the base of the hill. We had two docents, who reminded me of my father, and they were great storytellers. It was obvious to our little group of eight that these guys enjoyed the experience.

Point Sur is the only complete turn-of-the-century light station open to the public in California. From 1889 to 1974, families lived and worked in the buildings atop Pt. Sur. The unique stone lighthouse still guides ships with its light, though it is not totally automated. Some would call it cheesy … I call it good upbringing! I can’t fully explain but I am always comforted knowing that these experiences would be ones I could share with my parents and with Frank.


The Lighthouse

The Highlands Restaurant

I’ve just finished a lovely cheese omelet made with my new omelet pan. And while I take a certain level of pride in my proficiency in the kitchen, I can only dream of the meal we had at the Highland Restaurant. We enjoyed the chef’s five course tasting menu, which included wine pairings. Bats and moths entertained us as the sun set over the ocean.

What did we eat?

What did we eat?

• Lobster Bisque
  
• Halibut sashimi
  
• Scallops in a Lobster reduction
  
• Squab wrapped in Proscuitto
  
• Veal
  
• Squash Brule with raspberry sorbet
  

The meal, of course, called for a roaring fire back at the room. Of course, we had to break into the room since we both left our keys inside. Perfect day. Perfect night.

The Big Day Arrives

God was sad to see me getting older he cried all morning, which forced us to stay in the room and read the Sunday paper before heading out to a little hippie café where we had an organic brunch. From there, the sun smiled down as we drove north on the 1.

Just south of Half Moon Bay we saw the Arata’s Farm, which is home to the Hay Bale Maze … yep, we stopped and got lost with the chickens running around our feet. We finished the afternoon with a showing of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and dinner at the Hungry Hunter.

Yep. I’m tired … but in a good way. I’m looking forward to another exciting year and hope to share many more adventures with Frank, my family and friends.


Taking a Break in the Maze!

Confusion Says ...

If you use the following Lucky #'s and win the Lotto ... and you know who you are ... I expect you to share!

Douglas' Fortune Cookie: You are affectionate and loyal to those you love! (in bed) Lucky #'s: 8,14,21,38, 41, 17

Frank's Fortune Cookie: Life is like a good book. The further you get into in, the more it makes sense. (in bed) Lucky #'s: 6,16,23,36,38, 16

The following was made possible from Eric's on Church Street in San Francisco, CA.

A Quarter Into It

The San Francisco Fringe Festival is in full swing and SF Sonja (aka. Turtle) is a back with a vengeance with her cohort Aaron. Twins. Birthdays. Mid-twenties angst. Flipperland Productions presents, "A Quarter Into It"

Blow out the candles and say hello to the most surprising birthday ever! A pair of twins turn 25 and decide to take a vacation to celebrate. They unwittingly check in to L'Hotel de la Crise, in the Quarter Life Crisis district of town. Their fears & adolescent expectations come to dazzling life in this comedy about the most embarrassing life crisis of them all.

Ms. Sonja is excellent as "Sonja" (not herself, really!), the fabulously snobbish, snooty, French waiter, and a bouncer. Aaron, kept up playing himself (not with himself, although there was a moment when he reached down to unbuckle in a moment of confusion), a construction worker, and Jenna Biatch (wearing the infamous Wig ... yes, my nasty one!). Hell, I got a "Thank You" credit, (sniff sniff) and a pair of comp tickets. If that wig could talk ... she would thank all of the polyester strands that made her possible.

I was going to say I'm Sonja's number one fan, but that conjured up an image of Kathy Bates with a sledge hammer, which then led to another image of Kathy Bates and a hot tub, wheich inevitable led to Kathy Bates getting out of the hot tub. Oy vey. Let me simply say congratulations, Sonja!

There are two more performances, so if you haven't decided on your Fringe Festival play, look up the showtimes for A Quarter Into It website.

Labor Day Weekend Pictures

Ben, Frank, Ernie and Douglas

What do I do next?


That tent looks pitched.


Arriving with all the goodies!


Randy and Paul visit Camp Fur !

Toto Meets the Dark Rider - Class 3

It ain't no sin to take off your skin and dance around in your bones.
— The Dark Rider, now playing at ACT's Geary Theater

If one’s sexuality is not explicitly stated, does that mean anyone can assign one? If this is the premise, then Dorothy, in “The Wizard of Oz” (TWOOz) could be a … lesbian! Sadly, we were not able to participate in the discussion since we had previous obligations with The Black Rider, so I have no answers. Is TWOOz really a lesbian coming of age story? Are the male characters archetypes of manliness? No brain? No heart?

The Oxygen Man brought his little Toto to class. His Toto, looked a bit like Benji … well, like Benji, if Benji smoked crack. Anyway, it turns out that Tranny is a cat person! Surprise! She was looking sassy in a smart pantsuit. The instructor began class and Toto began licking his bum … slurp, slurp, cough, and slurp. Obviously distracted by the antics of Toto the instructor tried to continue with class. Toto apparently has worms! He proceeded to scoot across the floor like a bobsled! At the end of his run … he threw up! The lesbian by the door ran out of the room. I bit my finger to keep from laughing.

“I think your dog is sick!”
“No, he was sick in the cab! This is just the last of it!”

Oxygen Man cleaned it up with a hankie from his front pocket. Unfortunately, as stated, we were unable to see if Toto II enjoyed the performance of Toto I, since we were running to a German inspired fable of deals made with the devil.

I enjoyed the performance in that it was unique, the staging was well executed and it was unlike anything I watched stateside (Germany and Czech are a different story!). Death. Deals with the devil. Discordant singing … you’ll have a gay old time. Frank looked like he was having a tooth pulled without anesthesia and John, Tasos, and Jeff loved it. Read the REVIEW before attending.

A Weekend in Guerneville, California

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. - Jawaharlal Nehru

Another way to look at this past weekend would be to state, “What happens in Guerneville, stays in … well, actually it typically flows down the river and ends up in Jenner, CA.”

Guerneville is a difficult place to describe. The best description I have is “Gay and White Trash,” although both seem to get along just fine and the line between the two is often blurred. Gureneville is home to such festivities as the Russian River Jazz Festival, Lazy Bear and Womyn’s Weekends. It is also base camp for the yearly canoe trip that I’ve participated in over the past 9 or so years. Even though the participants change, depending on scheduling conflicts, the routine is pretty much the same – at some point during the weekend the troops launch canoes into the Russian River and spend a day in the sun, eating, drinking, splashing and sometimes tipping over.

The Canoe Trip

Burke’s Canoes used to be an affordable way to access the river for the day. It was a little bit of a sticker shock paying $50.00 rental fees verses the $20.00 fees when I started years ago. It’s not like they’re buying new boats every year! The afternoon is always entertaining, especially when the river rats, those actually spending the day in the river not on it, are on display. It’s kind of like floating past a scientific gene-pool experiment. Lovely.

The boys this year, sans Michelle who seems to think spending time with Baby Frank takes precedence over spending time with the “other” boys in her life, were from all parts of the country. We had boys from Chicago, Los Angeles and of course the local bay area guys for a total of 8 canoes and 18 floaters. The river was lower this year, so the obstacles and the weight of certain boats made the journey a bit more challenging. No one drowned … I’ll take that as a successful event.

Hollywood Bob was the loudest and went from zero to misery in about ¼ of the Absolute Vanilla Vodka bottle he was mixing. I can’t imagine how to set the expectations any differently … silly city boys … when the event states that one will be in a canoe on a slow river for four hours … what more can be said? Bring more alcohol? Bring a seat cushion? People need to remember that the goal is not to finish as quickly as possible, but to finish without any beer left in the cooler! Remember children, life is a journey! It was an enjoyable event overall, though next year, a small survey might be added to the screening process.

Q1) Do you like sitting in the sun for hours in the middle of a stinking green river?
Q2) Does your idea of a good time include viewing car parts, river rats, and slime for hours at a time?
Q3) Do you own your cooler?
Q4) Do you melt if water touches you?
Q5) Do you have ADD?

Depending how you answer, you will be welcomed with open arms or advised to sit by the pool and drink margaritas. Every one should be happy with the final decisions.

Other Weekend Adventures

This year we camped at Fife’s in a borrowed tent for Randy and Paul. Frank and I are both over 6” tall and have used my “4—man tent” in the past. Apparently, we count for 2 average people each since we barely squeezed into it last year. Randy had a retro Winnebago tent … let’s just say it was HUGE! We had a front room and a back room! Thanks boys.

Comedy

The Triple R has an outdoor stage during the summer and it was warm evening and comedy night was excellent. Tom Orr did his shtick with Dirty Little Show tunes II, that led up to the comedy performance of the evening, Diane Amos (Yes, the Pine Sol lady!). Steve, Frank, Joe and I were seated near the back of the audience. Steve noted an older gentleman invading his personal space and giggled. A few minutes later, I hear an “OH MY GAWD!” and note that the octogenarian (Mr. O) is not only invading Steve's space but also invading his own personal space and grunting like one of the seal lions at Fisherman’s Wharf! Trust me, I was enjoying the comedy musing of Diane and was ill prepared for Mr. O’s self—stylings. What is a girl to do? Correct! I giggled my ass off! Steve and I couldn’t stop. Shockingly, I was chastised for my ill behavior! ME? I was not displaying a privates show in public! Anyway, Mr. O was escorted off of the premises.

Wine Tasting

Ernie, Ben, Frank and I took a little Russian River Wine Tour along Westside Road. The journey took us to five distinct wineries, a lovely lunch in Healdsburg at the Oakville Grocery before heading back to Guerneville and the Foam party.

Davis Bynum Winery — THEM: Distinguished as the first winery on Westside Road. Emphasis is to limit production so that the wines reflect the individuality of each vineyard. US: The stand-alone bathroom needed primping and the wine didn’t make me want to dance (in foam or otherwise!) Ben purchased.

Belvedere — THEM: Great wines, fun-loving staff. Aromatic gardens, beautiful views of the valley. US: We agree, and fabulously add, a touch of heaven. Ben and Frank purchased.

J Vineyards — THEM: Experience our unique wine and food program. US: We did and the pairings were delightful! No one purchased.

Rodney Strong: They had nothing to say although Ernie found his bottle of wine for the day. Ernie purchased.

Roshambo winery — THEM: Artisinal wines. Modern art. Amazing architecture. Drop dead gorgeous views. US: One of the servers was drop dead gorgeous and the price for a case of wine was good. Frank and Ben purchased.

The Foam Party

Last year, the Foam Party, was a novelty and this year we were better prepared. Basically, Club Fab is a converted movie theater. The interior is divided into different levels with the dance floor located on the lowest section next to the stage. For this particular event, there is a “clothes check” where you strip down to your swimsuit, shorts, Speedos or as was the case last year … your underwear. I wore a sassy black-and-white checkered Speedo that I got from a garage sale. I’m not quite a German tourist (if you know what I mean) but I was able to pull the thing off in the dark (not literally), covered in foam.

The dance floor had a temporary wall made of plastic tubing and sheets of plastic and two foam-making machines to drop soapy foam on the dancers. At times it is so deep that I was gasping for air and other times it was low enough that my knees were exposed. It’s not supposed to irritate the skin … but when you are forced to sign a waiver … you have to wonder.

I have to admit that it is amusing seeing men and women approach the bar looking like they’ve just stepped out of a bubble bath! Hilarious. What happens in the foam … stays in the foam. We had a good time and I’ve never been so clean in my life!

The Trip Home

This had been the most relaxing three-day weekend I’ve had in a long time. Even though we were busy and had things to do, the pace was perfect and being able to spend time with different people without having to drive was great. We even got the chance to enjoy a BBQ at Joe and Larry’s! All things must end but we thought extending the last day would be better than rushing home. We chose to return to San Francisco via the Napa Valley. We had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants in Calistoga, The Flat Iron Grill. As usual, the food was excellent, affordable and the wait staff is the stuff that creates the saliva glands to go into overdrive of both men and women. The topper of the day was a blast-to-the-past experience in Sonoma ... Train Town!

The Sissy - Day 2 of Film Class

The idea of homosexuality first appeared on the screen as an unseen danger, a reflection of our fears about the perils of tampering with male and female roles.

—The Celluloid Closet, pg. 6.

I have a feeling that I’m not going to be drinking the negativity and social observations provided by our textbook, The Celluloid Closet. I can agree with the idea that there could be subtext, but the book tends to take context and throw it into the victimization of an entire group. Movies are not entertainment, characters do not somehow drive plot, and character portrayals are precise examples of the world around us!

The “Sissy” character is supposed to be a sexist character in that a male has taken on female characteristics and is now deemed “less than male.” I’m sure that there are numerous examples to support this but our film, The Kid Brother, does not seem to play out that theme. As the youngest of three boys, the kid brother completes the traditional “female” tasks, since there is no mother figure. However, he does not complete them in the traditional way and applies his brain to create new ways to do dishes and wash and hang laundry. He is proven to be ingenious and is obviously the hero in all of the escapades. Technically, he is supposed to be far younger than the actor portraying him, thus the title “The Kid Brother.” The film plays out like a rite-of-passage film, where the son must prove himself and does so by the end of the film.

In our reading there is a scene where the older brothers believe that there is a woman behind a curtain. The reality is that it is the younger brother. Both older brothers try to woo the lass and when the “truth” is revealed they chase their brother with intent to beat him up. They do not accomplish the task because, once again, the younger brother outsmarts the older two. The Celluloid Closet presents this scene as an example of the two brothers molesting the guest behind the curtain, then when they discover that the person is not a female, they fly into a homophobic rage and must regain their “masculinity” by beating up the brother. I disagree. They were simply duped and upset by the fact. Not being overly intelligent, they reacted in the manner that made sense to them, use brute strength.

One could be “positive” and say that he completed his rite-of-passage using his “natural” skills. He did not have to become a dull, muscle head and in the combat between the villains he was victorious based on his quick thinking not his muscles. Quibble if you must … however, I find it ironic that the example of the negative little sissy was heroic from start to finish. Granted, he beat up the cretin that was harassing him from the start of the film … but even a sissy can get mad and use his manicured fists! Who are we to determine what defines a sissy or not? With a G perspective … Class #2 is over.

The Tranny—I can’t believe she snuck by last week unnoticed and maybe she was not as “fabulous” as she was last night. I must compliment her on the fashionable bob-wig and the smart lavender outfit with matching jewel encrusted nails. Dare I say that she was very demure last night, yes, I will. My only advice would be to make sure the wig covered the “natural” color underneath. Projected Antagonist: Seems at peace with everyone … this may change!

Screened: The Kid Brother

Next Week: Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Screening: The Wizard of Oz (Jack Haley, Jr., 1939) plus clips from films featuring Agnes Moorehead (and others?). Required Reading: Patricia White’s “Supporting Character: The Queer Career of Agnes Moorehead”