Two New References to Orson Welles

[Glenn Anders]

Not having caught any fish with "little demons," let me add two more current references to Orson Welles:

1) In the new and controversial art form of "sampling," a rising star is one Serena Bramble. She is getting lots of hits with her "video essay" on MAD MEN, now beginning its second season. Drawn to that fascinating series, I found that she has also done a half dozen other very professional works, mixing music, editing, and visual theses on the subjects of Film Noir, The Archers, Roman Polanski, etc. The most interesting and well done of her efforts, to me, and perhaps you, was on Film Noir. I like her taste in movies, and Our Man Welles figures prominently in her scheme of Dark Events:

http://vimeo.com/38946362

Ms. Bramble's "Endless Night: A Valentine to Film Noir" is a damn good six and a half minutes, as are her other pieces.

2) A second reference to Welles turned up unexpectedly, for me at least, on the premiere episode of the new STARZ series, MAGIC CITY, seen on Fridays. The program, which draws vaguely from THE GODFATHER/THE SOPRANOS, MIAMI VICE, and maybe from the above mentioned MAD MEN, is set, initially at least, in 1959 Miami Beach, at a large resort hotel having labor problems. The leads are Jeffery Stanley Morgan, Olga Kurlyenko, and . . . Danny Huston. The series will evidently feature lots of chicanery, sex, and violence, introduced in blazing pool and beach side settings or surreal backlit hotel interiors, and begins as Frank Sinatra is anticipated to open the Atlantis Room of the Miramar Playa on New Year's Eve.

Ike Evans (Morgan) goes to Mr. Go-to, Ben Diamond (Huston), for a Big Favor. Huston/Diamond is lounging by the pool, and he plays hard to get. Asked why he won't help, he leans back, rubs his hairy chest, takes a big puff from a large cigar, and says (paraphrasing), "Have you ever heard that story of a scorpion and a frog who came to a stream . . . ?"

One wonders where Script Writer Mitch Glazer (or Danny Huston) got that story? Will there be other references by Danny to the work of his father's old friend?

Take a look at the cast and explore the series, if you wish:

http://www.starz.com/originals/magiccity/cast

"CALLING TODD BAESEN . . . CALLING TODD BAESEN. REPORT TO INVESTIGATION HEADQUARTERS -- THAT IS ALL . . . ."

Glenn

[Le Chiffre]

That's a terrific little noir video Glenn, thanks. Thanks for the tip on the Little Demons thing, although I'm leery of having to give my email to sign up. Still mulling it over.

Good to see Danny Huston still getting some mileage out of his under-appreciated Welles work in FADE TO BLACK.