Loused Horizon: The Not Dead Kennedy

When I was a child, my father's best friend Harry considered the gauge of a movie's quality was whether or not it had George Kennedy in it. George, he felt, was the only male movie star that was a regular, level-headed guy, most notably as the ever practical Captain Patroni in the various Airport films. In 1973 Harry, his wife, my parents, my sister and I saw George in what may not be his only musical but certainly his only Himalayan musical. Not surprisingly, George was cast as solid engineer Sam Cornelius who designs a water system for the locals.

In the early 1980s, a friend of Harry's ran into George while in the VIP lounge at LAX and spotted him sporting a man purse. When Harry heard, he never went to a movie again for the rest of his 86 years.

In the meantime, here's a better follow-up of my earlier post from this classic musical. And, for Sally Kellerman fans, you might also enjoy this.

The Things I Will Not Miss

In the world of gloriously bad musicals, I think none can top Ross Hunter's 1973 Lost Horizon. Though sadly we don't get to see George Kennedy sing and dance (which would be up there with the thrill of Lee Marvin performing "Wandering Star" in Paint Your Wagon, we do get to see Liv Ullmann and Peter Finch do a few numbers). Why Liv didn't go on to star in more musicals is a mystery to me. In addition, we get to see John Gielgud and Olivia Hussey play Nepalis. Bacharach's "oriental" orchestral ornamentations make Flower Drum Song seem P.C. by comparison.

Did Larry Kramer's anger that led to founding ACT UP really stem from Reagan's HIV/AIDS non-response or from have co-written the screenplay to this wacky classic?

The pinnacle, however, for me is this little tune, "The Things I Will Not Miss", in the library with Olivia and Sally Kellerman long before she pursued her lucrative career as the voice of Hidden Valley salad dressing. Hidden Valley. Shangri-La. Is there a connection?

Turkey Promises

For some reason, this ditty above from near the end of act one of Promises, Promises (not to be confused with my favorite Naked Eyes tune below) has been on heavy rotation since Wednesday. I also like Julie Klausner's tribute to the same holiday song. Not only does it feature an early career highlight of Donna McKechnie but also Margo Sappington before she went on to choreograph Oh, Calcutta!, but it is also the only song in a Broadway musical that I know of that features one character working in petty cash and another working in accounts receivable. I guess those gals in accounts payable and cost inventory were less inclined to such gyrations and singing.