More Junk Archives - Nepal 1992

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?

One or the Other

By Friday, a decision is supposed to be made with work whether I'll be going to Ecuador or Nepal in March. I've been to the former three times, the latter five. So I am hoping it's the former. Though the latter would be fine, albeit not with a 20 hour flight.

However, I don't think I can negotiate my way out of those trips to Fresno and Wichita.

Nepal Again?

There is a good chance that JunkThief will be going back to Nepal for a sixth visit this October or next March. Though it's a colorful place, I have to admit that I am less than excited, if only from the thought of making the flight from SFO to Bangkok or HK or Singapore. I can hardly stand flying to JFK these days.

And there are too many places (Nome, Reykjavik, Sapporo, Baku, Dubuque) that I've not visited yet that I would rather go to.

Then again, I might get me a nifty, shiny double-breasted suit from the boys at Fit Wel.