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What is the name of the doctor of which the Incredible Hulk is the alter-ego? | Hulk (Bruce Banner) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.
Hulk (Bruce Banner)
Robert Bruce Banner
Aliases
Annihilator, Captain Universe, Joe Fixit, Mr. Fixit, Mechano, Professor, War, Bruce Bancroft, David Banner, David Bixby, Bob Danner, Bruce Jones, Bruce Roberts, David Blaine, the Green Scar, Green Goliath, Jade Giant, Bob, World-breaker, Sakaarson
Identity
Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)
Significant Issues
See OHOTMU Bibliography ; Working with the Red Hulk against Intelligencia (Fall of the Hulks: Gamma, 2010); Captured by the Intelligencia (Incredible Hulk #608, 2010); Hulk returns (Incredible Hulk #610, 2010)
Occupation
Unemployed, former nuclear physicist
Known Relatives
Betty Ross Banner (wife, deceased), General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (father-in-law), Jennifer Walters ( She-Hulk , cousin), Morris Walters (uncle), Elaine Banner Walters (aunt, deceased), Brian Banner (father, deceased), Rebecca Banner (mother, deceased), Lyra (daughter), Skaar and Hiro-Kala (sons)
Group Affiliation
Formerly Avengers , Defenders , Fantastic Four , Pantheon , Horsemen of Apocalypse , Warbound
Education
Banner has a PhD in Nuclear Physics. The various Hulk personas have demonstrated different intelligence levels, from brutish to average to the same level of intelligence as Banner.
Physical Attributes
5' 9½" (Banner); 6'6" (gray Hulk); 7' – 8' (green/savage Hulk); 7'6" (green/Professor Hulk)
Weight
128 lbs. (Banner); 900 lbs. (gray Hulk); 1,040 – 1,400 lbs. (green/savage Hulk); 1,150 lbs. (green/Professor Hulk)
Eyes
Brown (Banner); Gray (gray Hulk); Green (green/savage Hulk); Green (green/Professor Hulk)
Hair
Brown (Banner); Black (gray Hulk); Green (green/savage Hulk); Green (green/Professor Hulk)
Powers
The Hulk possesses an incredible level of superhuman physical ability. His capacity for physical strength is potentially limitless due to the fact that the Hulk's strength increases proportionally with his level of great emotional stress, anger in particular.
The Hulk uses his superhumanly strong leg muscles to leap great distances. The Hulk has been known to cover hundreds of miles in a single bound and once leaped almost into orbit around the Earth. The Hulk can also use his superhumanly leg muscles to run at super speeds, although his legs have limitless strength he does not have limitless speed and once he reaches a certain speed his legs become too strong and destroy the ground giving him no friction to run on, therefore he jumps to travel.
The Hulk can slam his hands together creating a shock wave, this shock wave can deafen people, send objects flying and extinguish fires. His thunderclap has been compared to hurricanes and sonic booms.
The Hulk has shown a high resistance to physical damage nearly regardless of the cause, and has also shown resistance to extreme temperatures, mind control, nuclear explosions, poisons, and all diseases. In addition to the regeneration of limbs, vital organs, and damaged or destroyed areas of tissue at an amazing rate. The Hulk also has superhuman endurance.
The Hulk's body also has a gland that makes an "oxygenated per fluorocarbon emulsion", which creates pressure in the Hulk's lungs and effectively lets him breathe underwater and move quickly between varying depths without concerns about decompression or nitrogen narcosis.
Abilities
Dr. Bruce Banner is a genius in nuclear physics, possessing a mind so brilliant that it cannot be measured on any known intelligence test. When Banner is the Hulk, Banner's consciousness is buried within the Hulk's, and can influence the Hulk's behavior only to a very limited extent.
Weapons
While on Sakaar Hulk fought with gladiator's weapons
Paraphernalia
"Caught in the blast of gamma radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner is cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as THE INCREDIBLE HULK. "
Contents
15. Total Chaos
Childhood Trauma
Robert Bruce Banner was the son of an alcoholic who deeply hated him. Banner's mother showed much affection for her child, who returned her love, but this only served to fuel his father's rage. Dr. Brian Banner was an atomic physicist who worked on producing clean nuclear power as an energy source, but he was afraid his exposure to it mutated his son's genes. Bruce showed signs of high intelligence at an early age which strengthened his father's belief. Brian became abusive to Bruce and when his mother intervened, Brian murdered her. He frightened Bruce to keep quiet, but his own bragging landed him in a psychiatric institute.
As a child Bruce was withdrawn, possibly developing a split personality to help deal with his pain and rage. His only happiness came from spending time with his cousin Jennifer Walters . Bruce found it hard to develop friendships and often found himself on the receiving end of physical abuse at the hands of school bullies. One such incident sparked him to build and plant a bomb in the basement of his school. The bomb was a dud, and Bruce was expelled, but the military took notice of his genius. Eventually, Bruce earned a doctorate in nuclear physics and started a career with them.
Man or Monster
File:Acotilletta2--Hulk beginning 2.jpg Supervising the trial of an experimental gamma bomb that he designed for the U.S. Defense Department at a nuclear research facility in New Mexico, Bruce selflessly rushed to the rescue of an ignorant teenager who had wandered onto the testing field as the countdown ticked inexorably toward zero. After shoving young Rick Jones to safety in a nearby ditch, Bruce was struck full-force by the bomb blast. He survived, but was irradiated by the deadly gamma energy.
At first, Banner would transform into the brutish gray Hulk only at sunset, and revert to human form at dawn. Eventually, his changes into the childlike green Hulk came to be triggered by the release of adrenaline when he was intensely excited, no matter what time of day. The green Hulk possesses little of Banner's memory and intelligence, and is easily enraged; making him a menace to society.
Since Banner's initial transformation into the Hulk, military forces commanded by the implacable General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross – Bruce's one-time benefactor – have hunted him continually. Hulk continued to make more enemies within the military such as Major Glenn Talbot as he and Bruce constantly competed for the affections of Ross' daughter, Betty .
For a short time, Banner successfully treated his condition with radiation and was able to maintain enough of his own personality when he became the Hulk to control himself in that form. Subsequently, he earned the government's favor by destroying the alien Metal Master and received a presidential pardon.
Friends and Foes
A founding member of the Avengers
Not long after Hulk was baited into a trap by the Asgardian trickster, Loki , into destroying a train trestle. This would lead to the first instance where Hulk became a team player . Beside the occasional group endeavors, Hulk has teamed-up with many others that didn't think he was so bad. Spider-Man , Power Man and Iron Fist have partnered with Hulk on several occasions. Even brutes like the Thing and scrappers like Wolverine identified with Hulk and have allied with him almost as many times as they've fought against him. Not only has Hulk befriended those in the super-hero community, but he has managed to form bonds with regular people such as "Crackajack" Jackson and Jim Wilson .
Unfortunately for the Hulk, there are many who used his limited intelligence against him and attempted to manipulate him for their own selfish means. Vile menaces like the Leader , Tyrannus , and Captain Omen . When Hulk proved to be too hard to control, they sent their minions like Aquon and Mogol to confront him physically. Enemies came in all shapes and sizes, ranging in power levels. From mere humans like Devastator , to evolved beings like the Inheritor , to monstrous powerhouses like Glob , Hulk always found a way to prevail – even against those who masqueraded as friends such as his old physics professor, Geoffrey Crawford – later known as Ravage .
Multiple Personality Disorder
Gamma-powered psychiatrist Leonard "Doc" Samson captured the Hulk and successfully separated Banner and his alter ego. Without Banner's psyche to restrain him, the Hulk became a greater danger than ever before. Realizing there was only one way to reign in the Hulk, Banner agreed to merge with the monster. But the stress of the re-integration fractured Banner's subconscious, creating the street-smart gray Hulk. During this time, he spent several years in Las Vegas, sometimes operating as an enforcer calling himself Mr. Fixit (or "Joe Fixit.") The smart-mouth Fixit was an ill-tempered, wise-cracking, thuggish brute whose personality resembled that of his father and the fraternity boys who surrounded him in college. It was also at this time that Joe Fixit began his a short-lived relationship with the future wife of Rick Jones, Marlo Chandler . In this state of the Hulk, Banner again found himself changing into the Hulk at night and into his human form in the light of the day.
Soon after, the swirling mess of persona and mentalities took their toll on the ever-flustered mind of Dr. Banner, and a battle for supremacy and control took place in Banner's subconscious. With assistance by the Ringmaster and his hypnotic abilities, Doc Samson tapped into the subconscious of Banner and reached his separate incarnations. Through this hypnosis, Banner, the green Hulk, and the grey Fixit all aligned to face their true inner demons-- Banner's unresolved issues with his abusive father and the murderer of his mother. With this realization, Banner was able to fuse these mentalities together, finding peace of mind. However, a green but intelligent version of the Hulk emerged. He had the mentality of Dr. Banner but the body and abilities of the Hulk – later nicknamed the Professor. Although Banner had his dominant personalities merged together, there were a number of other personas running through his mind including that of a "Devil-Hulk."
Pantheon
Trial of Agamemnon
It was during this time the Professor was recruited into the Pantheon , a group determined to end war, famine and pestilence on the Earth . His exploits with the team ranged from posing as gangsters in Las Vegas, taking down individuals like the enigmatic Mr. Frost , to renewing old grudges with powerful foes such as Madman while forming new enemies as the amphibious android, Piecemeal , to battling enemies from beyond the stars. During this time, Hulk also traveled forward in time and met his future self, the Maestro . However, once it was discovered Agamemnon , immortal founder of the Pantheon, betrayed them to an alien race called the Troyjans , Hulk quit the group. Sometime later, the Pantheon was hired by Henry Gyrich to capture the Hulk, but they secretly wanted him to join their ranks again. They faked the Hulk's death as a show of good faith, but he still declined their invitation.
Harmless to Horseman
As War
When Dr. Banner realized he must once again keep his temper in check, he triggered a fail-safe within his subconscious. Any time he let his rage loose, the mentality of the savage green Hulk would soon take over, albeit in the form of Banner's human body. Without the strength of the Hulk and filled with the Green Goliath's rage and belief of his old abilities, he proved to be a great danger only to himself. This was, however, not to last. During the assault of the being known as Onslaught , the Hulk asked Jean Grey to let the green Hulk loose from its mental prison in order to use his maximum potential and abilities to defeat the menace. In a strange twist, Banner became divided. Half physically went away to a parallel world created upon Onslaught's defeat, where he once again became the savage green Hulk. The other half that remained on Earth was a cold, somewhat unfeeling but intelligible version of the jade monster. This version of the Hulk also found himself allied with Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur) , who made Hulk into War – one of his Four Horsemen. This only lasted until War injured Rick Jones, and Hulk's guilt rejected Apocalypse's programming.
Devastating Loss
The surly version of the Hulk remained in this state, never changing until much later when the two Hulk fragments re-merged, and Banner and Hulk split their time and existence. The Maestro returned after absorbing enough radiation to re-form his body after suffering a previous defeat from Hulk, but was beaten again. He reestablished a connection to his wife, Betty, but was left a broken man after her death due to radiation poisoning. Banner blamed himself, believing it was Betty's prolonged exposure to him that caused her death, but he discovered the Abomination had injected her with his radioactive blood. Hulk would later bludgeon his archenemy into a bloody pulp, nearly killing him.
Planet Hulk
After the events of the M-Day , Banner sought refuge and peace in Alaska, where he lived as a hermit loosely connected to the town community. He was eventually tracked down by Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. , who required his help in defeating the Hydra space weapon called the Godseye which could detonate all the nuclear bombs in the world. Sent up as the Hulk, he discovered that the Godseye was actually a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. weapon that could match the strength of any enemy. In the ensuing battle, the Godseye found that though it could try, it could not match the increasing power of the Hulk, and it exploded.
A S.H.I.E.L.D. commissioned space shuttle was sent to retrieve the Hulk, or so he believed. Seizing the opportunity to be rid of the Hulk, a group of superheroes known as the Illuminati decided to jettison the shuttle into space, to a planet with no intelligent life forms. Unfortunately, there was a navigation error, and the Hulk landed on Sakaar , a place full of barbarian tribes, gladiator battles and ruled over by a corrupt empire. The planet was situated near a portal, which gave it access to several different cultures and technologies. The trip made him vulnerable, and it wasn't long before he was subjugated by the Red King . Hulk was forced to fight, but he eventually brought peace to the savage planet.
Hulk was proclaimed the Green King, and all those on Sakaar worshiped him and his Queen, Caiera . She told her king that she would bear him a child, and it seemed that the Hulk's life of running and fighting was over. However, the Hulk was not destined for a happy ending as the ship that brought him to that world soon exploded, seemingly killing both his wife and unborn child sending Banner into a rage like no other. He and his Warbound journeyed to Earth seeking revenge on the planet's heroes for their part in Sakaar's destruction.
World War Hulk
Once they arrived, the Hulk crushed Black Bolt on Attilan and took the city of New York as his battleground. Iron Man , Mister Fantastic and Doctor Strange all fell before the Hulk and his Warbound too. Even old sparring partners such as the X-Men as well as new threats like the Gamma Corps couldn't even slow the Hulk's rampage . Iron Man called upon the combined power of various satellites to finally put an end to Hulk's war. Banner was taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and was placed three miles below the Mojave Desert. The Warbound was also placed in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, but they escaped after saving New York from being split in half by an expanding chasm the Hulk created.
The Coming of the Red Hulk
While Banner was incarcerated at Gamma Base, a new mystery revealed itself when long-time Hulk foe, the Abomination, was found murdered in his homeland of Russia. A team comprised of Iron Man, General Ross, Samson, She-Hulk and Commander Maria Hill went to investigate only to determine the only suspect that could have done this was the Hulk. The perpetrator soon revealed himself on a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier , and it was indeed a massive creature referring to itself as the Red Hulk . This new incarnation of the Hulk decimated the likes of She-Hulk, Iron Man, Thor , and even Rick Jones in his new powered up identity named A-Bomb. Banner was set free when the conflict between the Red Hulk and A-Bomb caused a big enough earthquake to damage his prison. The potential threat to Banner's life triggered his transformation into the Green Goliath, and the Hulk wasted no time in confronting his new nemesis. The Hulk was caught unprepared for the Red Hulk's fighting style. He was defeated in their first meeting - suffering a broken arm in the process - but the outcome was much different during their second clash. The Hulk found a potential weakness in the Red Hulk and exploited it. Once the Red Hulk was beaten, the Hulk left before he could find out the Red Hulk's true identity. However, Banner had been spending his time trying to track down the Red Hulk before he can do anymore damage. On his journey, Banner ended up in Las Vegas where the Hulk had to team up with Sentry , Ms. Marvel , Moon Knight and even Brother Voodoo to quell a pack of Wendigos from devouring everyone inside a casino.
Defenders / Offenders War
Grandmaster's Defenders
Collector's Offenders
The Grandmaster came to Hulk with a proposition: if Hulk chose to participate in a game and won, Grandmaster would bring his love, Jarella , back to life. Hulk agreed and was told he could pick a group of allies to aid him in the game. Hulk chose his former teammates in the Defenders: Namor , Doctor Strange, and Silver Surfer . When the time came to meet their opponents, the Collector appeared with the Red Hulk, and his team: Baron Mordo , Terrax and Tiger Shark - now known as the Offenders . With the game underway, a member of each team was paired up on separate battlefields, but each couple was too evenly matched. In an unexpected turn of events, the Red Hulk impaled the Hulk on a trident, killing him. Grandmaster would eventually resurrect the Hulk to attend to an out of control Red Hulk, but he would still be left broken-hearted over the loss of his beloved Jarella – much to the satisfaction of his red nemesis.
Fall of the Hulks
Banner became a captive of M.O.D.O.K. and the Intelligencia , and quartet of heroes attempted to infiltrate the underground base to free him. They uncovered that at the end of Hulk's war with the heroes of Earth, the satellites Stark used to end the Hulk's rampage were hacked into by M.O.D.O.K. for the sole purpose of interfacing with Banner's irradiated cells. With this information, and the help of a seemingly traitorous General Ross, M.O.D.O.K. intended to create an army of gamma-powered soldiers. They already caused Doc Samson to develop an evil split personality, transformed Rick Jones into the monstrous A-Bomb, and created the Red Hulk. When Samson turned on his group and attacked She-Hulk, leaving Ben Urich and Peter Parker to fend for themselves against the Red Hulk, an enraged Banner released his alter-ego to save them. The battle between the Hulks left the base in ruins, but it appeared it would be the last time these behemoths would ever clash again. The Red Hulk used his power to absorb radiation to drain Hulk dry, leaving Banner unable to ever transform into the Green Goliath again. Taking Hulk out of the equation so soon wasn't initially part of the plan, but that was only the start of the Intelligencia's master stroke .
World War Hulks
Hulks strike back
Unable to summon his incredible strength to combat his foes, Banner had to rely mainly on his son, Skaar , to do as he was told. Skaar had come to Earth to kill his father but without Hulk around, he wound up aiding Banner. Amadeus Cho , She-Hulk, A-Bomb, his recently discovered daughter, Lyra , and a bevy of other heroes were also working with Banner to defeat the Intelligencia. An unforeseeable event occurred when the Intelligencia put their plan in motion and transformed an army of A.I.M. soldiers into Hulks and marched them into the nation's capitol – the ray used to transform the soldiers also created "Hulked-Out Heroes." Following a chaotic battle, Banner and the rest of the world's smartest men managed to revert the all of the Hulks and M.O.D.O.K. back to normal humans, but the cost was too high. The radiation taken from the soldiers' bodies was brought back to the Intelligencia's ship, the Hellcarrier , but its machinery couldn't contain it for long. The only thing on the planet able to absorb it all was Banner. Samson attempted to help undo some of the damage he caused and sacrificed himself in the process. Immediately following the absorption process, Banner became the Hulk once again, and Skaar was finally going to get the fight he'd been longing for. During the brawl Skaar accidentally placed several innocents at risk. Hulk saved their lives, proving he wasn't the monster Skaar or Banner made him out to be. Father and son finally reconciled and decided to act as a family.
Dark Son
With the threat of the Intelligencia behind him Banner began to make amends with his makeshift family, but Betty wanted no part of it. The more Bruce pushed the more she spurned his advances and eventually transformed into her Red She-Hulk persona and vaulted away. Banner followed suit and pursued as the Hulk which only led to a clash titanic enough to grab the attention of Steve Rogers and his Avengers . It was at this time Hulk discovered he had another son – Skaar’s twin brother, Hiro-Kala , who was racing toward Earth with the planet K’ai in tow. The Hulk took his family into space to stop Hiro-Kala before the planets collided, killing everyone on both. While Hulk’s allies dealt with Hiro-Kala’s forces, Hulk confronted his son with the hope he could reason with him. He soon found out his second son was evil and cruel, and the only thing he understood was violence. Still, Hulk could not bring himself to kill his own flesh and blood, so Skaar sealed Hiro-Kala in a rock tomb, leaving him imprisoned on K’ai for the foreseeable future. K’ai was brought back to its point of origin, the Microverse , by Arcturus Rann and the Enigma Force .
Total Chaos
As Hulk was dealing with his errant son the Chaos King was busy trying to plunge the universe back to the nothing before time and space began. Only Hercules and a select few had the power to oppose him, but they were rapidly losing ground. Dr. Strange appeared before Hulk and requested aid. The Hulk returned to Earth and was immediately assaulted by an enemy long-thought dead – the Abomination, now a servant of the Chaos King. To make matters worse Dr. Strange fought at Abomination’s side, possessed by Zom , and the two were seeking Marlo Chandler, A-Bomb’s ex-wife and the only person on Earth to have been touched by death and live. The dead had returned as servants of the Chaos King to fight the Hulk, but fallen allies rose to help him. Samson, Jarella and even Banner’s mother stood by his side, but one parent’s return signaled the resurrection of his father. Hulk had to face his personal demons alone as his new family contended with an army of undead enemies, but before long they were all united in defending Marlo. It almost seemed as if the Chaos King’s forces would overwhelm the heroes until Marlo tapped into the power within her and returned all of the Chaos King’s allies to the grave, and Hercules restored the universe to the way it was before the assault. After seeing how some of the heroes were rewarded for their assistance, Hulk was angered his family did not receive anything for their service. He journeyed to the new Mount Olympus where the Greek gods were restored to power and challenged Zeus , demanding his family be given the opportunity to live normal lives as their reward for their part in saving existence. Zeus gladly accepted the challenge but once he realized Hulk was only looking to sacrifice his own life for the lives of others, Zeus stopped fighting and decided to teach hulk a lesson through torture. Hulk was saved by Hercules and his family, but having to live with his own tortured soul proved to be punishment enough.
| Hulk (comics) |
What were the full names of Bonnie and Clyde? | The Incredible Hulk | Best cartoons of the 1980's on 80s Toons
The good guys are Bruce Banner’s friends.
Hulk
The Hulk, a green-skinned monster, is the alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. As one of the most powerful creature on Earth the Hulk fortunately stands on the side of good, and fights villains when he can only limited by his intelligence. Though often portrayed as a raging monster, the only thing Hulk really wants is peace and quiet. Whenever he's calm, he turns back into Bruce Banner. Just like Bruce Banner the Hulk also has a liking for Betty Ross. Whenever Betty is in trouble the Hulk pursues to save her.
Voiced by: Susan Blu . Born July 12, 1948. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
She-Hulk
A cousin to Dr. Bruce Banner, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) once received an emergency blood transfusion from him when she was wounded, which led to her acquiring a milder version of his Hulk condition. As such, Walters becomes a large powerful green-hued version of herself while still largely retaining her personality. The She-hulk only appears in 1 episode.
Voiced by: Victoria Carroll . Born January 21, 1941. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
Bad Guys
The villains include well known super powered evil guys like The Leader who want to take over the world as well as the army, represented by General Ross and Glenn Talbot.
Thunderbolt Ross
Ross is a United States military officer, the father of Betty Ross and was head of the Gamma Bomb Project that turned Banner into the Hulk. After the creation of the Hulk, Ross pursues the creature with a growing obsession. Even though Bruce is Betty's love interest, Ross doesn't like Bruce that much because he's a weakling in his eyes.
Voiced by: Robert Ridgely . Born December 24, 1931. Died February 8, 1997. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
Glenn Talbot
He was a close compatriot to General Thaddeus Ross and an active participant in his operations to capture or kill the Hulk. His most significant blow was discovering and informing his superiors that Doctor Bruce Banner physically transformed into the Hulk, which made the scientist a wanted fugitive.
Voiced by: Patrick Fraley . Born February 18, 1949. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
Puppet Master
He gets control of the residents in Mesa City while also attempting to control the Hulk (his Hulk 'doll' even allows him to exert some slight influence over Bruce Banner, although Banner simply feels uncomfortable rather than falling under the Puppet Master's control) simultaneously causing the Hulk's true identity to be revealed. The only person he doesn't make a puppet of is his stepdaughter Alicia, which allows Bruce and Rick to track him down, Rick subsequently using the Puppet Master's equipment to erase all memory of the Hulk's true identity prior to its destruction.
Voiced by: Bob Holt . Born December 28, 1928. Died August 2, 1985. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
The Leader / Samuel Sterns
Born Samuel Sterns in Boise, Idaho, he worked for a chemical plant there in a menial capacity. While moving radioactive materials into an underground storage area, some of the radioactive materials exploded, bombarding Sterns with gamma radiation. He recovered, and found that the radiation had changed him from an ordinary human into a green-skinned, super-intelligent entity with an oversized brain housed in a towering cranium.
Voiced by: Stan Jones . Born October 23, 1926. Died December 30, 1998. Image via Behindthevoiceactors .
Episode
1. Tomb of the Unknown Hulk
2. Prisoner of the Monster
3. Origin of the Hulk
4. When Monsters Meet
7. The Creature and the Cavegirl
8. It Lives! It Grows! It Destroys!
9. The Incredible Shrinking Hulk
10. Punks on Wheels
12. The Boy Who Saw Tomorrow
13. The Hulk Destroys Bruce Banner
Lyrics
Michael Bell - Dr. Bruce Banner, Dr. Octopus, George
Susan Blu - Rita, Jamala
Hamilton Camp - Dr. Brandon Jones
Victoria Carroll - Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk
Roberto Cruz - Rio, Mateo
Pat Fraley - Maj. Ned Talbot, Jeff Kessler, Scott Grant
Bob Holt - The Hulk, Dr. Carlson
Michael Horton - Rick Jones, Beta Leader, Jonah
Stan Jones - The Leader
Dennis Marks - Dr. Curt Donovan, Dr. Proto
Robert Ridgely - Gen. 'Thunderbolt' Ross, Spymaster
Stanley Ralph Ross - Quasimodo
Michael Rye - Dr. Steve Perry, Jasper Bryn
B.J. Ward - Betty Ross, Alicia Masters
Alan Young - Cyclops Computer
| i don't know |
Who played Irish-American cop Jim Malone in the 1987 film The Untouchables? | The Untouchables | Moviepedia | Fandom powered by Wikia
Edit
Prohibition in the United States led to an organized crime wave in the 1920s and early 1930s. Various gangs bootlegged vast amounts of alcohol and controlled their businesses with violence and extortion. The problem was most serious in Chicago, where gang leader Al Capone (Robert De Niro) had almost the whole city (even the Mayor of Chicago) under his control, and supplied low-quality liquor at high prices. Treasury Department agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) was put in charge of leading the crusade against Capone and his empire. Ness's initial strategy was to conduct raids using a large squad of uniformed officers, but these failed due to high level corruption in the Police Department, who secretly warned Capone's men of Ness's raids and hoped that a public humiliation would put a quick end to Ness's efforts.
Seeking ideas for a change of tactics, Ness solicited help from Jim Malone (Sean Connery), an incorruptible Irish American police officer, following a chance encounter one evening. Malone advised Ness to recruit directly from the police academy in order to ensure the officers not have a chance to come under Capone's influence. An Italian American trainee George Stone, formerly Giuseppe Petri (Andy Garcia) was enlisted, due to his superior marksmanship and intelligence under pressure. Along with an accountant, Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), assigned to Ness from Washington, he had acquired a team capable of combating Capone without fear of corruption.
Their first raid took place in a local post office, where its storeroom was used to house illegal liquor. Malone, along with most of the police, knew where the alcohol was, and knew it was left alone because no one wanted to provoke Capone and his gang. The raid succeeded without anyone getting killed, though Capone took his revenge on the foreman later. As the four picked up steam and became noted by the press, Wallace informed Ness that Capone had not filed an income tax return since 1926. Therefore a feasible method of prosecuting him would have been through a tax evasion charge, if nothing else. At one point, Ness and his men were visited by one of Capone's men offering them a large sum of money in exchange for their dropping the investigation, but Ness angrily rejected the bribe and threw him out, but not before the man invented the name "The Untouchables" for them, and told them that anyone could be assassinated, even them.
The man's words proved to be true when Capone's chief hit man, Frank Nitti (Billy Drago), made smart remarks about Ness and his family outside his house, and drove off before Ness could capture him. Realizing Capone was targeting him and his family, Ness ordered his wife and daughter moved to a safer place while he instructed his team to keep a lower profile during the investigations.
During a raid on the Canada-United States border, Ness captured one of Capone’s bookkeepers, George (Brad Sullivan). They managed to persuade him to provide evidence against Capone. However, when Wallace was escorting him to witness protection, Nitti, disguised as a policeman, shot and killed them both, writing the word "Touchable" with their blood (mocking the team's nickname.) This left Ness with insufficient evidence to press charges, and the frustration drove him into challenging Capone to a physical fight in front of his son and henchmen, for the timely intervention of Malone, who forced Ness out of the hotel and saved him from Capone's wrath.
Malone told Ness to stall the prosecutor from dropping the case while he searched for information regarding Capone’s other bookkeepers. He learned about Payne, another bookkeeper after a brutal fight with the corrupt police chief, Irishman Mike Dorsett (actually an old acquaintance of Malone from their younger years) who had sold out Wallace and George and allowed Nitti to murder the two officers guarding him (explaining how Nitti got the uniform). He called Ness and asked to meet him at Malone's home, unaware that Dorsett has sold him out as well.
Later, Malone was sneaked upon by a knife-wielding thug at his home, whom he quickly drove out the front door at gunpoint, only to be ambushed by Nitti and shot many times by a tommy gun. Ness and Stone arrived to find him mortally wounded. With his dying breaths, he informed the two about Payne’s upcoming departure from Chicago by train. Ness and Stone arrived at Union Station (Chicago) and found Payne guarded by many gangsters. After a fierce shootout (a homage to the famous Odessa Steps scene from the film The Battleship Potemkin), the two succeeded in killing all the gangsters and taking Payne alive.
Payne testified in court against Capone, admitting he had disbursed 1 1/3 million dollars for Capone over a three-year period. Ness, however, noticed Capone remained relaxed and even smiling despite the probability of serving a long prison sentence, and also saw Nitti carrying a gun in court. He took Nitti out of the courtroom with the bailiff and discovered that Nitti was permitted by the corrupt mayor of Chicago to carry the gun into court, and possibly use it inside the courtroom if necessary. However, Nitti was revealed to be Malone’s murderer when Ness saw a matchbook with Malone's address on it. Panicking, Nitti shoots the bailiff and ran up to the roof of the building, exchanging gunfire with Ness all the way. Eventually, Ness had Nitti in his sights, but couldn't bring himself to shoot him in cold blood. Nitti gave himself up to Ness, stating Malone died a coward and Ness should think about that when he, Nitti, "beats the rap" (avoids jail). Enraged at the thought that Nitti would escape punishment for his crimes, Ness pushed Nitti off the roof to his death, avenging both Malone and Wallace.ed Back inside the courthouse, Stone showed Ness a document from Nitti’s jacket, proving that the jury had been bribed, explaining Capone's relaxed mood. After unsuccessfully pleading for justice, Ness extorted the obviously-corrupt judge into doing the right thing, lying that the judge's name was among those in the bookkeeper's ledger of official payoffs, causing the judge to incriminate himself. As a result, the judge switched the jury with the one sitting on a divorce case next door, but before the trial could continue, Capone's lawyer withdrew the plea of "not guilty" for a plea of "guilty" without Capone's consent. Capone flew into a rage and assaulted his lawyer for this, but surprisingly enough, the case was closed, all evidence was thrown to the wind, and Capone was sentenced to eleven years in prison, repeatedly calling Ness "Nothing but a lot of talk and a badge!".
Ness packed up his Chicago office. He saw the Saint Jude pendant that Malone had carried with him for many years. Ness offered Stone the pendant, having shaken hands with him. "He would have wanted a cop to have it," Ness insists, because Jude was the patron saint of police officers. Out on the street, a reporter wished to have a word from the man who put Capone away, but Ness merely remarked he was just there "when the wheel went 'round." When the reporter mentioned that Prohibition was due to be repealed, he asked what Ness might do then, only to have Ness decide to go for a drink.
Cast
Edit
"He's in the car" - Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, referring to Nitti, whom he just pushed off the roof and has landed on the roof of a car.
"I want you to get this fuck where he breathes! I want you to find this nancy-boy Eliot Ness, I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his house burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna PISS ON HIS ASHES!" - Robert De Niro as Al Capone.
"You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way! And that's how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I'm offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?" - Sean Connery as Jim Malone.
"Come on Mr. Treasury man, ARREST ME!" - Billy Drago as Frank Nitti.
Production
The Untouchables was filmed in Chicago, Illinois ; Hardin, Montana ; and the surrounding areas of Great Falls, Montana .
Robert De Niro prepared so thoroughly for the role of Al Capone, that he even wore underwear from that period, even though it would never be seen throughout the movie. After the movie came out, he said that he was not satisfied with his performance or the movie overall.
Differences between fact and fiction
Edit
In the film, there are only four "Untouchables": Ness, Jim Malone, Oscar Wallace, and George Stone. However, according to Ness' biography, there were actually ten of them, including himself. Malone, Wallace and Stone are fictional characters. Malone's real-life counterpart may have been Martin Lahart, an Irish-American from a family of cops who served as Ness's second-in-command. However, Ness and Lahart were both in their 20's at the time of the Capone investigation, and Lahart was born in the U.S., not Ireland. According to Charles Martin Smith in the Special Collector's Edition dDVD feature The Script, The Cast, Wallace, the bespectacled agent with the accounting background, was loosely modeled on Frank Wilson, the Treasury Agent who commanded the team of IRS investigators who put together the tax evasion case against Capone.
While Ness and his real Untouchables did battle with Capone's organization, they had little to do with assembling the tax evasion case that would ultimately send Capone to prison. That case was put together by the criminal investigations unit of the Internal Revenue Service separately from Ness' efforts, though some of the evidence used to assemble that case included financial records seized by Ness during raids. Similarly the IRS unit would pass information on to Ness's squad about the location of breweries, stills, etc.
Ness's main strategy in his war with the Capone mob was raiding breweries. Breweries represented a major investment of capital and putting one out of commission simultaneously constituted an immediate major loss of assets due to the confiscation of the equipment, and a future major loss of income due to the crippling effect the raids had on the Mob's ability to provide a saleable product. In the film, Ness and his squad make one raid on a liquor warehouse, and intercept an international shipment of liquor coming across the Canadian border, but do not raid a single brewery.
Contrary to the meetings in the film, the real Capone and Ness never actually met face to face before the trial of Capone.
The baseball bat scene in which Capone bludgeons a mobster is loosely based on an actual 1929 incident when Capone bludgeoned three mobsters to death: John Scalise, Albert Anselmi, and Joseph "Hop Toad" Giunta.
Two of the four Untouchables are killed in the movie. In real life, none of the actual Untouchables were killed, though some were injured during their battles against the mob. Frank Basile, an associate of Ness's prior to the formation of the squad, was killed, but he was not officially an agent. Of note, the two Untouchables who are killed drink or prepare to drink alcohol at some point in the film.
During the trial scene, Nitti is shown to have bribed the jury of Capone's trial into acquitting Capone of all charges. The judge then substitutes another jury for the tainted one. (This makes little sense, as, in the film, the trial is well underway at the time of the jury-switch, meaning the new jury would be asked to decide a trial in which they'd missed the bulk of the evidence and testimony.) In reality, Nitti was ruling Capone's crumbling empire, while enforcers attempted to tamper with the pool of potential jurors that had been assembled before the trial began. The judge then replaced the pool of potential jurors with another pool that had been assembled for a different trial.
The judge in the trial is depicted as a grafter, who switches juries only after being threatened with public exposure of his corruption. In fact, the judge in the Capone trial, James Wilkerson, had a well-deserved reputation for probity and integrity, and the idea for switching the jury pools prior to the beginning of the trial was entirely his.
In the film, Capone's lawyer pleads his client guilty over his client's vehement protests. In real life, Capone pled not guilty, and the trial went to verdict. A defense lawyer in a criminal trial would not be allowed to plead guilty on behalf of his client without the client's consent.
The final confrontation between Ness and Nitti, in which the latter falls to his death, is entirely fiction. In fact, Nitti spent nearly six years running the empire after the fall of Capone, and he committed suicide in March 1943 upon learning of his possible jail sentence. The Capone minion who was discovered carrying a gun in court, and who was later found to have a list of the jury pool in his pocket, was Phil D'Andrea, not Nitti, and the discovery led to a quiet arrest, not a rooftop shootout.
In a similar vein, while Nitti was depicted as Capone's chief hitman in the film, in reality he was, by this point at least, in charge of the gang's financial dealings; Jack McGurn or Fred Burke would have been more accurately depicted in this role.
In the film, Ness and his squad are referred to as "Treasury Agents." In fact, at the time of the Capone investigation, the Bureau of Prohibition, the agency Ness worked for, was part of the Department of Justice, and had been since 1930.
In the film, Ness is depicted as a family man with a wife, a daughter, and a son on the way. In real life, the thrice-married Ness was a bachelor during most of the Capone investigation. He had only one child, a son he adopted with his third wife, long after his law enforcement career had ended.
Reception
Opening weekend U.S. gross: US$10,023,094
Total U.S. box office gross: $76,270,454
Background notes
Edit
The media reported that the producers wanted Sean Connery for the movie but could not afford his salary, so he agreed to do the movie for $50,000 with a 10 percent share of the proceeds. The expectation was that the movie would not make much money, so the producers agreed to it. However, it exceeded all expectations and Sean Connery reaped a large amount of money. It was one of the most publicized - and rare - times that an actor had benefited so greatly from having "bet" on the future of the movie and since then other actors have parlayed their acting skills into taking less up front for a part of the proceeds.
Critical response
Edit
The film has received a mostly positive reception from critics. Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave the movie a glowing review, calling it "a smashing work" and saying it was "vulgar, violent, funny and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful." [1] Roger Ebert , on the other hand, said "'The Untouchables' has great costumes, great sets, great cars, great guns, great locations and a few shots that absolutely capture the Prohibition Era. But it does not have a great script, great performances or great direction." [2] Many reviewers, including Ebert, singled out DeNiro's scenes portraying Al Capone as the biggest disappointment of the film, while giving praise to Connery's performance. Connery, however, won first place in a BBC poll for worst film accent. [3] Leonard Maltin gives the film a four out of four star review. Colin McNaughton rates the film 4 out of 5.
Academy awards
Edit
Antoine Fuqua was originally attached to direct in 2004, [1] but DePalma took over the reins a year later. [2] Shooting was set to begin in June 2007, [3] but was delayed to October. Gerard Butler signed on to star in May 2007, [4] and Nicolas Cage was negotiated with to play Al Capone, but left due to scheduling difficulties. [5] In a November 2007 interview, De Palma said that if he could not cast the lead role and begin production within the next month that he may move on to other projects; De Palma stated that he needed to be shooting during the winter to recreate the St. Valentine's Day Massacre . [6]
Trailer
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Brother owner Anna Sage is best known in history for giving information to the FBI on which bank robber? | Who Inspired The Untouchables (film)?
Who Inspired The Untouchables (film)?
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The Untouchables is a 1987 American crime-drama film directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Mamet. Based on the book The Untouchables, the film stars Kevin Costner as government agent Eliot Ness. It also stars Robert De Niro as gang leader Al Capone and Sean Connery as Irish-American officer Jim Malone.
Creator(s):
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Martin Riggs is a police officer in which series of films? | Lethal Weapon (TV Series 2016– ) - IMDb
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TV show based on the popular 'Lethal Weapon' films in which a slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.
Creator:
Holiday celebrations are cut short when the precinct is called to examine a homicide linked to the deranged nephew of the drug lord who has ties to Riggs; and Murtaugh has a problem with his ...
8.6
When a million dollar casino heist takes a deadly turn, Riggs befriends the only credible witness, an eight-year-old boy, and takes him into his care. On the flip side, Murtaugh pulls some dangerous ...
8.5
Roger and Trish finds themselves against each other when a stolen car full of cocaine is traced to a ring of car thieves.
8.4
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Storyline
TV show based on the popular 'Lethal Weapon' films in which a slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.
Action's Biggest Pair See more »
Genres:
21 September 2016 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Did You Know?
Trivia
Advertisements for this series credited Clayne Crawford as "Introducing Clayne Crawford" (a credit usually reserved for actors making a debut) even though Crawford had his first onscreen credit in 1997 (in an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and has multiple credits per year, every year, since the early 2000s. See more »
Connections
– See all my reviews
Boy did i have doubts about this. The trailers certainly made me more optimistic, but I still put off watching the first episode when it came out because i really didn't know what to expect.
Of course its over the top (it is lethal weapon after all) but here's the thing... Right now i'm looking forward to this show every week more than any other. They've completely nailed the casting and characters of Riggs and Murtaugh, from Murtaugh's protectiveness of his family to Riggs's crazy outward charm, thinly veiling a near suicidal depression. More than that though, they've managed to recreate the bromance that made the originals so memorable. That is truly where this show excels, at being a damn good buddy cop story.
So here's my suggestion. Don't expect anything, don't pre-judge it, just watch the first few episodes. If you still don't like it then fine, but i'm betting that if you liked the originals, then you will.
21 of 25 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
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| Lethal Weapon |
The film Reservoir Dogs involved a botched job to steal what type of items? | Lethal Weapon TV series: Clayne Crawford cast as Riggs | Den of Geek
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Lethal Weapon TV series: Clayne Crawford cast as Riggs
Rectify's Clayne Crawford will play Martin Riggs – Mel Gibson's former character – in the Lethal Weapon TV series...
Lethal Weapon: TV series in the works
Deadline reports that Clayne Crawford will take on the role of Martin Riggs – originated, of course, by Mel Gibson – in the Lethal Weapon TV adaptation’s pilot episode, which is currently in development.
Here’s Deadline’s summary of how this version of Riggs will end up running into Damon Wayans Sr’s Roger Murtaugh (the character played by Danny Glover in the films)…
“[W]hen Texas cop and former Navy SEAL Riggs suffers the loss of his wife and baby, he moves to Los Angeles to start anew. There, he is partnered with LAPD Detective Roger Murtaugh, who, having recently suffered a ‘minor heart attack, must avoid stress in his life.”
If you scroll down a bit, you’ll find some further plot details. And if you’re wondering where you recognise Clayne Crawford from, it could be A Walk To Remember, 24 or Rectify.
Also in the cast are Jordana Brewster (The Fast And The Furious, Secrets & Lies TV series) as hostage negotiator/therapist Maureen “Mo” Cahill, and Kevin Rahm (Mad Men, Bates Motel, Nightcrawler) as LAPD big boss Captain Avery.
More news as it happens.
Lethal Weapon TV series: story details
Mild spoilers lie ahead for the planned pilot of the Lethal Wepon TV series
Deadline broke the news that the long rumoured television reboot of Lethal Weapon is going ahead. McG is confirmed as the director of the pilot and Damon Wayans Sr (pictured above) has signed on for the role of Murtaugh.
Deadline provide a few brief details about the pilot but we have a little more to offer, with regards to the plot and characters.
The pilot for the Lethal Weapon TV show will begin with an extended cold opening that introduces us to the characters and the set-up for the story, before revealing the Lethal Weapon title. In this long teaser we'll first see Riggs working and getting caught up in a car chase with his partner - not Murtaugh - and talking to his wife, who is about to give birth, on the phone.
Unlike the original film, this new telling of the very similar set-up will actually show us the moment that Riggs' wife died - also in a traffic accident - and his learning of this news at the hospital, in a sequence that sounds like it could be rather melodramatic in its execution.
Flash forward six months and Riggs is not coping with the death of his wife and unborn child well and much like in the original he is staring down the barrel of a gun and contemplating ending it all. The pilot for Lethal Weapon sets up the character and Murtaugh's mirror image of Riggs very similarly to the original film, with Riggs not fearing death to the point of almost desiring it and Murtaugh being so scared of death that it threatens to hamper his effectiveness as a police officer.
The familiar contrasts in their home lives are there too, with Riggs this time living in a winnebago, rather than in a beach hut and Murtaugh living with his wife and three kids, including a baby. As in the original film, Murtaugh is 50 - Riggs is going to be slightly younger than in the film but still in his 30s - and there will be a number of jokes about his age. Also, he's recently had heart surgery and was technically dead for a period of time. Because of this he is worried about his heart rate being elevated and pays close attention to it by monitoring it on his Apple Watch.
One other shift from the film is in the way this new television reboot approaches Riggs and Murtaugh first working together. Rather than repeating the jumper sequence from the film, which superbly sets up Riggs' character and his lack of fear about death, this new telling instead shows us the pair responding to a call about a bank robbery. Riggs uses the idea that he doesn't mind dying here too but in order to casually kill the bank robbers, rather than save someone. It's unusual shift that provides a different introduction to the character. Although, even in the original film, Riggs wasn't exactly against shooting people.
In addition to the main pair, Murtaugh's wife and kids, and their captain - who is named Avery - the pilot will also introduce a female psychiatrist character named Dr Maureen Cahill, who is called Mo for short. Her character is perhaps inspired by Stephanie Woods from the original films and it would not be at all surprising to see her and Riggs involved at some point in the series. Dr. Cahill is also going to be roughly the same age as Riggs.
The pilot episode will tell a complete case, from the pair first turning up at the scene of a death, right through to them wrapping everything up, but I won't go into details here as to do so would probably be unnecessarily spoilery. It would seem likely from the way things are set up though that the Lethal Weapon TV series may well be a show that focuses on a case of the week style story rather than a wider arch, although going beyond the pilot this could of course change.
No word yet on when the Lethal Weapon pilot will air, but it sounds like Fox are putting quite a bit of money into it, so I'd be very surprised if it didn't get a series pickup too.
| i don't know |
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In Hollywood, movie deals involving millions of dollars are routinely made with a simple handshake. It's often the case that a film has been completed before the lawyers work out the details and the star signs a contract. This may be common in industry circles. But will it make sense to a jury of Los Angeles County residents? That's the question this week as actress Kim Basinger confronts charges that she backed out of a movie she allegedly had agreed to star in. Main Line Pictures Inc.
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Actress Kim Basinger, claiming that her creditors are demanding a say over what movies she makes and even whether she has a baby in order to force payment of a staggering $8-million jury verdict in the "Boxing Helena" case, has decided to seek further bankruptcy protection, her attorneys said Monday. Basinger, who has appeared in such films as "Batman" and "9 1/2 Weeks," will convert a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing she made earlier this year into a Chapter 7 filing, attorney Leslie Cohen said.
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June 26, 1992 | MATHIS CHAZANOV, TIMES STAFF WRITER
It was Paramount Pictures' marketing department that came up with the idea: Get the Hollywood sign for a week, put up a 75-foot-high metal cutout of a cartoon character that looks like Kim Basinger and open the studio's latest film in a blaze of publicity. But some people who live below the famous sign did not like it, fearing that the spectacle would bring throngs of outsiders to their narrow, twisting streets.
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The Lifetime cable channel on Tuesday unveiled a slate of original programming for the fall, including a TV movie starring Academy Award-winning actress Kim Basinger. "The Mermaid Chair," based on a novel by Sue Monk Kidd, will feature Basinger as what the network described as "a restless wife and mother consumed with forbidden love for a Benedictine monk." It is scheduled to premiere Sept. 9.
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Actress Kim Basinger was back in court Tuesday, quibbling over custody matters in her ongoing, two-year battle with ex-husband Alec Baldwin. The couple share joint custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Ireland. Moments after Basinger entered the courtroom, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Maren Nelson barred the press and public. Baldwin, who lives in New York, did not attend the hearing.
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Kim Basinger appears almost nervous as she presents herself in a finely tailored dark suit that would remind no one of how lushly available she looked in "L.A. Confidential." She can't really be nervous, this woman of independent means and mythic cheekbones who walked up the aisle and took home an Oscar for best supporting actress two years ago. But you understand immediately how becoming it is for someone so glamorous to act this way as she extends her hand in an unguarded greeting.
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Actor Alleges 'Jump Cut' in Paparazzo's Video
July 16, 1998 | EVELYN LARRUBIA, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Alec Baldwin's years on the silver screen served him well on the witness stand Wednesday when he noticed a gap on a video recording of his altercation with a paparazzo and pointed it out to the jury, dramatically alleging that the tape had been edited.
NEWS
Basinger, Williams Win Early Awards
March 24, 1998 | From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Kim Basinger, who played the stunning hooker in "L.A. Confidential," took the first Oscar of the evening Monday at the 70th Academy Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. An obviously moved at being chosen best supporting actress, Basinger said she wanted to thank "everybody I've ever met in my entire life," including the film's director, Curtis Hanson. "If anyone has a dream out there, just know I'm living proof they do come true," she said.
ENTERTAINMENT
'Little Guy' Sends Chill Through Hollywood : Movies: Carl Mazzocone's court victory over actress Kim Basinger will force stars to choose their lines carefully when discussing a script.
March 26, 1993 | ROBERT W. WELKOS, TIMES STAFF WRITER
His film production company has five employees. He once served 14 months as a location manager on a movie called "Jaws 3-D." Among his dubious achievements is overseeing construction of what he claims was the largest tank ever used in underwater photography--2 million gallons. And now Carl Mazzocone--a self-admitted "little guy" in the world of movie making--has taken on the big guys and rocked the film industry.
NEWS
Damages Against Kim Basinger Voided : Courts: Appellate justices find judge gave ambiguous instructions to jury in 'Boxing Helena' case. Verdict of $8.1 million threw film star into bankruptcy.
September 23, 1994 | JUDY BRENNAN and EDWARD J. BOYER, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Citing "prejudicially ambiguous" options given to a jury, a unanimous appeals court panel overturned an $8.1-million verdict against actress Kim Basinger on Thursday for reneging on an agreement to appear in the film "Boxing Helena." The judgment had forced Basinger into bankruptcy and threatened to undermine the Hollywood tradition of making deals on a handshake.
crime pays
October 5, 1997
When films set in Los Angeles routinely involve the city's destruction by aliens or lava the noir-ish Fifties wonderland of police corruption depicted in "L.A. Confidential" seems positively boosterish. Attending the premiere was gold-plated townie Mayor Riordan, below, and cast members Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito and Guy Pearce. Also on hand: co-leading man Kevin Spacey, bottom left, and a bow-tied James Ellroy, upon whose thriller the movie was based.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
Alec Baldwin Arrested in Battery on Photographer : Privacy: Cameraman claims he was punched by the actor, who asked him not to videotape the homecoming of his and Kim Basinger's baby girl.
October 27, 1995 | NICHOLAS RICCARDI, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Alec Baldwin was placed under citizen's arrest Thursday after he allegedly slugged a cameraman who was videotaping the homecoming of the actor's wife, actress Kim Basinger, and their newborn daughter, Los Angeles police said. Baldwin and Basinger arrived at their hillside home about 12:45 p.m. with their 3-day-old daughter Ireland when they spotted Alan Zanger, a 51-year-old free-lance photographer, parked across the street with his camera rolling, LAPD Lt. Ray Lombardo said.
| The Getaway |
Real life police officers Buddy Russo and Jimmy Popeye Doyle are depicted in the movie The French Connection by which two actors? | Steve McQueen | BAMF Style | Page 2
Steve McQueen’s Glen Plaid 3-Piece as Thomas Crown
Steve McQueen as Thomas Crown in 1968’s The Thomas Crown Affair.
Last Friday would have been Steve McQueen’s 83rd birthday. To celebrate Steve and honor an early request from a BAMF Style follower…
Vitals
Steve McQueen as Thomas Crown, millionaire criminal mastermind
Boston, June 1968
Film: The Thomas Crown Affair
Release Date: June 19, 1968
Director: Norman Jewison
Costume Designer: Alan Levine
Background
Steve McQueen was racking up several iconic tough guy looks by 1968, with both The Great Escape and Bullitt under his belt. Now, as millionaire playboy Thomas Crown, he would be playing more of a romantic lead and would need the wardrobe to match. Continue reading →
Hilts in The Great Escape
Steve McQueen as the unflappable Capt. Hilts in The Great Escape (1963).
This weekend marked the 69th anniversary of “The Great Escape”, the mass escape of allied airmen from the German-controlled Stalag Luft III in Lower Silesia. The escape, which involved the efforts of 600 men, achieved the goal of RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bushell to “make life hell for the Hun.”
In 1963, the story was filmed by the Mirisch Company as The Great Escape.
Vitals
Steve McQueen as Capt. Virgil Hilts, U.S. Army Air Force pilot and escape artist
Silesia, Spring 1944
Release Date: July 4, 1963
Director: John Sturges
Wardrobe Credit: Bert Henrikson
Background
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’ve heard of The Great Escape and have hopefully seen it roughly a hundred times in your life. Continue reading →
Steve McQueen as Bullitt (1968).
Vitals
Steve McQueen as Lt. Frank Bullitt, renegade San Francisco inspector
San Francisco, Spring 1968
Release Date: October 17, 1968
Director: Peter Yates
Costume Designer: Theadora Van Runkle
Background
McQueen’s character in Bullitt is often remembered for two things: his handling of the green fastback Mustang during the car chase and the iconic shooting jacket and rollneck jumper he wore. Just prior to that sequence, we see Bullitt pulling an all-nighter at the hospital after the fatal shooting of the witness his men were protecting.
Very realistically, McQueen/Bullitt shows up at the scene in a casual shirt and slacks with a high-fastening and thick cardigan over it. Continue reading →
Steve McQueen as Carter “Doc” McCoy in The Getaway (1972).
Vitals
Steve McQueen as Carter “Doc” McCoy, Texas bank robber and parolee
Texas, Spring 1972
Release Date: December 13, 1972
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Men’s Costumer: Kent James
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
If nothing else, I hope that this blog has served the purpose of further informing the world as to just how cool Steve McQueen is. If life should throw enough lemons at you that you decide your only way to succeed is to rob a bank, at least do it in style and follow Steve’s example.
McQueen plays Carter “Doc” McCoy, a paroled bank robber who teams up with his wife Carol (Ali MacGraw) and a few cronies to take down a Texas bank and line the pockets of a crooked political boss. The film is an excellent piece of ’70s action drama, full of twists, double-crosses, and Sam Peckinpah’s trademark violence. Continue reading →
Bullitt
Steve McQueen as Bullitt (1968).
Dressing for fall – especially in a city like Pittsburgh – can be difficult when the morning is 40°F, the temperature climbs to 75°F at noon, and a humid rain falls just in time for the drive home. And yet, Steve McQueen found a way to be prepared for all weather while looking cool and comfortable at the same time.
Vitals
Steve McQueen as Lt. Frank Bullitt, San Francisco inspector (they don’t call them detectives in the SFPD)
San Francisco, Spring 1968
Release Date: October 17, 1968
Director: Peter Yates
Costume Designer: Theadora Van Runkle
Background
The definitive Steve McQueen style blog has a great statement:
One thing sane people do, as we all know, is spend a good portion of their spare time on eBay searching for a brown tweed jacket a bit like the one in Bullitt.
Although a relatively simple look, McQueen’s tweed jacket, blue rollneck, and desert boots grew to icon status for several reasons. Continue reading →
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Officer Alex J. Murphy became better known by what name in the title of a 1987 film? | RoboCop | RoboCop Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
This article is a disambiguation page.
The following is a list of links to pages that might share the same title.
Please follow one of the disambiguation links below or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
The term RoboCop may refer to a number of articles:
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Who played The Outlaw Josie Wales in the movie of the same name? | Peter Weller | Sons of Anarchy | Fandom powered by Wikia
Charles Barosky - List of Appearances
Peter Weller is an actor and director for Sons of Anarchy . Aside from directing episodes, he also portrays Charles Barosky . As an actor, Weller is best known for his role as the title character in the first two Robocop films, released in 1987 and 1990, respectively.
Contents
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Who was the dentist, gambler and gunfighter of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp? | Doc Holliday (Dentist) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News
Doc Holliday
Male
Born Aug 14, 1851
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. As a young man, Holliday earned a D.D.S. degree in dentistry and set up a practice in Atlanta, Georgia. However, in 1873 he was diagnosed with consumption, the same disease that had claimed his mother when he was 15.… Read More
related links
Holliday, Herd Embrace Tough Schedule Huntington Herald Dispatch
Google News - Aug 27, 2011
'Second-year head coach <mark>Doc Holliday</mark> offers another candidate. "The hardest schedule is what Jack Lengyel and those guys had in '71 because they were starting over," Holliday said. Ever since he's taken over as the lead man in Huntington, Holliday has'
2011 Marshall Football Radio Crew Announced West Virginia Metro News
Google News - Aug 25, 2011
'The University of Florida alumnus enters his 26th year calling intercollegiate football, basketball and baseball, and is also the host of the <mark>Doc Holliday</mark> and Tom Herrion Call-in Shows. This season, Mark Martin moves from the sidelines up to the'
Captains Named For 2011 Marshall Football Season Wowk
Google News - Aug 23, 2011
'HUNTINGTON -- There was never any doubt in Head Coach <mark>Doc Holliday</mark>'s mind who the captains would be this season. âIt was unanimous who the team wanted as its leaders,â said Holliday. âThese guys have set standards that will serve as a benchmark for'
Holliday Has Changed Attitude West Virginia Metro News
Google News - Aug 22, 2011
'The more I hear <mark>Doc Holliday</mark> describe the 2011 Thundering Herd the more two points become clear to me. First, Doc likes the attitude and enthusiasm of this team. Secondly, the cupboard was left pretty bare following the departure of Mark Snyder'
Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Doc Holliday.
CHILDHOOD
1851 Birth Born in 1851.
1852 1 Year Old Holliday was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in 1852. … Read More
He had a sister, Martha Eleanora Holliday, born December 3, 1849, who died at the age of six months.<br /><br /> In 1864, his family moved to Valdosta, Georgia, where his mother died of tuberculosis on September 16, 1866. The same disease killed his adopted brother. Three months after his wife's death, his father married Rachel Martin.<br /><br /> Holliday attended the Valdosta Institute, where he received a strong classical education in rhetoric, grammar, mathematics, history, and languagesâprincipally Latin, but some French and Ancient Greek. Read Less
TEENAGE
1870 19 Years Old In 1870, 19-year-old Holliday left home for Philadelphia.
TWENTIES
1872 - 1873 2 More Events
1872 21 Years Old On March 1, 1872, at age 20, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery (now part of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine). … Read More
Holliday graduated five months before his 21st birthday, so the school held his degree until he turned 21, the minimum age required to practice dentistry.<br /><br /> Holliday moved to St. Louis, Missouri, so he could work as an assistant for a classmate, A. Jameson Fuches, Jr. Less than four months later, at the end of July, he relocated to Atlanta, where he joined a dental practice. He lived with his uncle and his family so he could begin to build up his dental practice. A few weeks before his birthday, dentist Arthur C. Ford advertised in the Atlanta papers that Holliday would substitute for him while he was attending dental meetings. Read Less
1873 22 Years Old Holliday was reported to have been involved in a shooting on the Withlacoochee River, Georgia, in 1873. … Read More
At age 22, Holliday went with some friends to their favorite swimming hole, but discovered it was occupied by a group of African-American youths. Holliday and his companions told them to leave, but they refused. Accounts of this event vary. Holliday left and returned carrying either a shotgun or a pistol and started shooting, either at or over the heads of the black youths. Some of the African-Americans may have shot back. Some family members and friends allege that Holliday killed one to three of the youths, but other members of Holliday's family disputed those accounts.<br /><br /> Shortly after beginning his dental practice, Holliday was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was given only a few months to live, but was told that a drier and warmer climate might slow the deterioration of his health. After Dr. Ford's return in September, Holliday left for Dallas, Texas, the "last big city before the uncivilized Western Frontier." Read Less
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When he arrived in Dallas, Holliday partnered with a friend of his father's, Dr. John A. Seegar. They won awards for their dental work at the Annual Fair of the North Texas Agricultural, Mechanical, and Blood Stock Association at the Dallas County Fair. They received all three awards: "Best set of teeth in gold", "Best in vulcanized rubber", and "Best set of artificial teeth and dental ware." Their office was located along Elm Street, between Market and Austin Streets. Read Less
They dissolved the practice on March 2, 1874, and Holliday opened his own practice over the Dallas County Bank at the corner of Main and Lamar Streets. … Read More
His tuberculosis caused coughing spells at inopportune times, and his dental practice slowly declined. Meanwhile, Holliday found he had some skill at gambling, and he soon relied on it as his principal income source. Read Less
On May 12, 1874, Holliday and 12 others were indicted in Dallas for illegal gambling.
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He was arrested in Dallas in January 1875 after trading gunfire with a saloon keeper, Charles Austin, but no one was injured and he was found not guilty. … Read More
He moved his offices to Denison, Texas. But after being found guilty ofâand finedâfor gaming in Dallas, he decided to leave the state. Read Less
Holliday headed towards Denver, following the stage routes and gambling at towns and army outposts along the way. During the summer of 1875, he settled in Denver under the alias "Tom Mackey" and found work as a faro dealer for John A. Babb's Theatre Comique at 357 Blake Street. … Read More
While there, he got in an argument with Bud Ryan, a well-known and tough gambler. Drawing knives, they fought, and Holliday left Ryan seriously wounded. Read Less
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Holliday left after hearing about gold being discovered in Wyoming, and on February 5, 1876, he relocated to Cheyenne. … Read More
He found work as a dealer for Babb's partner, Thomas Miller, who owned a saloon called the Bella Union Saloon. Read Less
In the fall of 1876, Miller moved the Bella Union to Deadwood (site of the gold rush in the Dakota Territory), and Holliday went with him.
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In 1877, Holliday returned to Cheyenne, and then Denver, eventually making his way to Kansas to visit an aunt. … Read More
He left Kansas and returned to Texas, setting up as a gambler in the town of Breckenridge. Read Less
On July 4, 1877, he got involved in an altercation with another gambler, Henry Kahn, whom Holliday beat repeatedly with his walking stick. … Read More
Both men were arrested and fined, but later that same day, Kahn shot the unarmed Holliday, wounding him seriously.<br /><br /> The Dallas Weekly Herald incorrectly reported that Holliday had been killed in its July 7 edition. His cousin, George Henry Holliday, moved west to take care of him during his recovery. Once healed, Holliday relocated to Fort Griffin, Texas. While dealing cards at John Shansseyâs saloon, he met Mary Katharine "Big Nose Kate" Harony, a dance hall woman and occasional prostitute. Her nose was a prominent feature. "Tough, stubborn and fearless," she was educated, but chose to work as a prostitute because she liked her independence. She is the only woman with whom Holliday is known to have had a relationship.<br /><br /> In October 1877, outlaw Dave Rudabaugh robbed a Sante Fe Railroad construction camp and fled south. Wyatt Earp was given a temporary commission as Deputy U.S. Marshal, and he left Dodge City following Rudabaugh over to Fort Griffin, a frontier town on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. Earp went to the Bee Hive Saloon, the largest in town and owned by John Shanssey, whom Earp had known since he was 21. Shanssey told Earp that Rudabaugh had passed through town earlier in the week, but he did not know where he was headed. Shanssey suggested Earp ask gambler Doc Holliday, who had played cards with Rudabaugh. Read Less
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After about a month in Fort Griffin, Earp returned to Ft Clark and in early 1878, he went to Dodge City, where he became the assistant city marshal, serving under Charlie Bassett.
During the summer of 1878, Holliday and his common-law wife, Harony, also arrived in Dodge City. According to accounts of the following event reported by John Flood and by Glenn Boyer in I Married Wyatt Earp, Earp had run cowboys Tobe Driskill and Ed Morrison out of Wichita earlier in 1878. … Read More
During the summer, the two cowboys accompanied by another two dozen men rode into Dodge and shot up the town while galloping down Front Street. They entered the Long Branch Saloon, vandalized the room and harassed the customers. Hearing the commotion, Wyatt burst through the front door, and before he could react, a large number of cowboys were pointing their guns at him. In one version, Holliday was playing cards in the back, and upon hearing the noise, quietly came out and put his pistol at Morrison's head, forcing his men and him to disarm. In another version of the story, Holliday burst through the front door, both guns drawn, gaining Earp enough time to draw his weapons and face the cowboys down. Whatever actually happened, Earp credited Holliday with saving his life that day, and Earp and he became friends. Read Less
Holliday was still practicing dentistry from his room in Fort Griffin, Texas, and in Dodge City, Kansas. In an 1878 Dodge newspaper advertisement, he promised money back for less than complete customer satisfaction, but this was the last known time that he worked as a dentist. … Read More
He gained the nickname "Doc" during this period.<br /><br /> Holliday was engaged in another gunfight with a bartender named Charles White. According to 19-year-old eyewitness Miguel Otero, who would later become Governor of New Mexico Territory, Holliday walked into the saloon with a cocked revolver in his hand and challenged White to settle an outstanding argument. White was serving customers at the time and took cover behind a bar, then started shooting at Holliday with his revolver. During the fight, Holliday shot White in the scalp. Holliday thought that he had killed White and left for Dodge City, but White survived the wound. In another instance, Bat Masterson said that Holliday was in Jacksonboro, South Carolina, and got into a gunfight with an unnamed soldier whom Holliday shot and killed. Historian Gary L. Roberts found a record for a Private Robert Smith who had been shot and killed by an "unknown assailant". Read Less
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Holliday and Big Nose Kate joined Wyatt and Jim Earp and their wives for the trip to the Arizona Territory. Read Less
A few days before Christmas in 1878, they stopped in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Wyatt reunited with Holliday. … Read More
The 22 hot springs near the town were favored by individuals with tuberculosis for their alleged healing properties. Doc opened a dental practice and continued gambling, as well, but the winter was unseasonably cold and business was slow. The New Mexico Territorial Legislature passed a bill banning gambling within the territory with surprising ease. On March 8, 1879, Doc was indicted for "keeping a gaming table" and was fined $25. The ban on gambling combined with extreme low temperatures persuaded Doc to return to Dodge City for a few months.<br /><br /> In Dodge City, Doc joined a team being formed by Deputy U.S. Marshal Bat Masterson. He had been asked to prevent an outbreak of guerrilla war between the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which were vying to be the first to claim a right-of-way across the Royal Gorge, (one of the routes through the Rockies that crossed the continental divide and would reach the Pacific Coast). Both were striving to be the first to provide rail access to the boom town of Leadville. Royal Gorge was a bottleneck along the Arkansas, too narrow for both railroads to pass through, and with no other reasonable access to the South Park area. Doc remained there for about two and a half months. The federal intervention prompted the so-called "Treaty of Boston" to end the fighting. Read Less
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The D&RGW completed its line and leased it for use by the Santa Fe. Doc took home a share of a $10,000 bribe paid by the Denver and Rio Grande to Bat Masterson to give up their possession of the Santa Fe roundhouse, and returned to Las Vegas, NM where Big Nose Kate had remained. <br /><br />The Santa Fe Railroad built tracks to Las Vegas, New Mexico, but bypassed the city by about a mile. A new town was built up near the tracks and prostitution and gambling flourished there. Read Less
On July 19, 1879, Holliday and John Joshua Webb, former lawman and gunman, were seated in a saloon. … Read More
Former U.S. Army scout Mike Gordon tried to persuade one of the saloon girls, a former girlfriend, to leave town with him. She refused and Gordon stormed outside. He began firing into the building, and a few hours later, Gordon was found mortally wounded outside. Some attribute the shooting to Holliday, but no conclusive evidence of who killed Gordon was ever found. The next day, Doc paid $372.50 to a carpenter to build a clapboard building to house Doc Holliday's Saloon with John Webb as his partner. While in town, he was fined twice for keeping a gambling device, and again for carrying a deadly weapon. Read Less
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Dodge City had been a frontier cowtown for several years, but by 1879 had begun to settle down. Later in life, Wyatt wrote, "In 1879, Dodge was beginning to lose much of the snap which had given it a charm to men of reckless blood, and I decided to move to Tombstone, which was just building up a reputation." Holliday had become well known for his skill with a gun, as well as with the cards. <br /><br />In 1879, Virgil Earp wrote Wyatt and told him about the opportunities in the boomtown of Tombstone. Read Less
In September 1879, Wyatt resigned as assistant marshal in Dodge City.
It appeared Holliday and Kate were settling in to life in Las Vegas when Wyatt Earp arrived on October 18, 1879, with news of the boom going on in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. … Read More
Holliday and his wife Kate joined Wyatt and his wife Mattie, Jim Earp and his wife and step daughter, and they all left the next day for Prescott, Arizona Territory. They arrived within a few weeks and went straight to the home of Constable Virgil Earp and his wife Allie. Holliday and Kate checked into a hotel and when Wyatt, Virgil, and James Earp with their wives left for Tombstone, Holliday remained in Prescott, where he thought the gambling opportunities were better. Read Less
No contemporaneous newspaper accounts or legal records offer proof of the many unnamed men whom Holliday is credited with killing in popular folklore, with the exception of Mike Gordon in 1879 and a few other victims. … Read More
The same is true for the several tales of knifings credited to Holliday by early biographers. Some scholars argue that Holliday may have encouraged the stories about his reputation, although his record never supported those claims. Overall, Holliday was in at least five one-on-one gunfights in his lifetime.<br /><br /> In a March 1882 interview with the Arizona Daily Star, Virgil Earp told the reporter, "There was something very peculiar about Doc. He was gentlemanly, a good dentist, a friendly man, and yet outside of us boys I don't think he had a friend in the Territory. Tales were told that he had murdered men in different parts of the country; that he had robbed and committed all manner of crimes, and yet when persons were asked how they knew it, they could only admit that it was hearsay, and that nothing of the kind could really be traced up to Doc's account." Read Less
THIRTIES
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John Henry "Doc" Holliday (August 14, 1851 â November 8, 1887) was an American gambler, gunfighter, dentist, and a good friend of Wyatt Earp. He is most well known for his role as a temporary deputy marshal in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. <br /><br />At age 20, Holliday earned a degree in dentistry from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He set up practice in Atlanta, Georgia, but he was soon diagnosed with tuberculosis, the same disease that had claimed his mother when he was 15. Hoping the climate in the American Southwest would ease his symptoms, he moved to that region and became a gambler, a reputable profession in Arizona in that day. Over the next few years, he had a number of armed confrontations that earned him a reputation as a deadly gunman. While in Texas, he saved Wyatt Earp's life and they became friends. In 1880, he joined the Earps in Prescott, Arizona, and then in Tombstone. Read Less
On October 26, 1881, after many months of threats and attacks on his character, Holliday was deputized by Tombstone city marshal Virgil Earp. … Read More
The lawmen attempted to disarm five outlaw cowboys, which turned into the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.<br /><br /> Following the Tombstone shootout, Virgil Earp was maimed by hidden assailants and Morgan Earp was murdered. Unable to get justice through the courts, Wyatt Earp took matters into his own hands. Deputy U.S. Marshal Wyatt Earp formally deputized Holliday and others and as a federal posse, they pursued the outlaw cowboys they believed were responsible. They found Frank Stilwell lying in wait as Virgil boarded a train for California and killed him. The local sheriff issued a warrant for the arrest of five members of the posse, including Holliday. Read Less
Holliday quickly became embroiled in the local politics and violence that led up to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881. … Read More
Holliday and Big Nose Kate had many fights. After a particularly nasty, drunken argument, Holliday kicked her out. County Sheriff Johnny Behan and Milt Joyce saw an opportunity and exploited the situation. They plied Big Nose Kate with more booze and suggested to her a way to get even with Holliday. Three Cowboys stopped the stage between Tombstone and Benson, Arizona.<br /><br /> Bob Paul, who had run for Pima County Sheriff and was contesting the election he lost due to ballot stuffing, was riding along as the Wells Fargo shotgun messenger. He had taken the reins and driver's seat in Contention City because the usual driver, a well-known and popular man named Eli "Budd" Philpot, was ill. Philpot was riding shotgun. Paul fired his shotgun and emptied his revolver at the robbers, wounding a Cowboy, later identified as Bill Leonard, in the groin. Philpot and passenger Peter Roerig, riding in the rear dickey seat, were both shot and killed. Read Less
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The posse killed three others during late March and early April, 1882, before they rode to New Mexico. … Read More
Wyatt Earp learned of an extradition request for Holliday and arranged for Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin to deny Holliday's extradition. Holliday spent the remaining few years of life in Colorado and died in his bed at the Glenwood Springs Hotel of tuberculosis at age 36.<br /><br /> Holliday's colorful life and character have been depicted in many books and portrayed by well-known actors in numerous movies and television series. Since his death, researchers have concluded that, contrary to considerable popular myth-making, Holliday only killed from three to seven men and took part in nine shootouts.<br /><br /> Holliday was born in Griffin, Georgia, to Henry Burroughs Holliday and Alice Jane (McKey) Holliday. He was of English ancestry. His father served in the MexicanâAmerican War and the Civil War (as a Confederate). When the war ended, he brought home an adopted son named Francisco and taught Holliday to shoot. Read Less
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One analysis of the fight gives credit to either Holliday or Morgan Earp for firing the fatal shot at Frank on Fremont Street. Holliday may have been on Frank's right and Morgan on his left, and Frank was shot in the right side of the head, so Holliday is often given credit for shooting Frank. However, Wyatt Earp had shot Frank in his torso, earlier, a shot that alone could have killed him. Frank would have turned away after having been hit and Wyatt could have placed a second shot in Frank's head. Morgan is highly unlikely to have fired the fatal shot, as he had been shot across both shoulder blades, possibly leaving him incapable of shooting accurately. <br /><br />Big Nose Kate said she remembered Holliday's reaction after the gunfight. She reported that Holliday came back to his room, sat on the bed, wept, and said, "That was awfulâawful", although some historians dispute whether she was actually present. A 30-day-long preliminary hearing found that the Earps and Holliday had acted within their duties as lawmen, although this did not pacify Ike Clanton. <br /><br />The situation in Tombstone soon grew worse when Virgil Earp was ambushed and permanently injured in December 1881. Read Less
Then, Morgan Earp was ambushed and killed in March 1882. After Morgan's murder, Virgil Earp and many remaining members of the Earp families fled town. Holliday and Wyatt Earp stayed in Tombstone to exact retribution on Ike Clanton and the corrupt members known as the Cowboys. Several Cochise County Cowboys were identified by witnesses as suspects in the shooting of Virgil Earp on December 27, 1881, and the assassination of Morgan Earp on March 19, 1882. … Read More
Some circumstantial evidence also pointed to their involvement. Wyatt Earp had been appointed Deputy U.S. Marshall after Virgil was maimed. He deputized Holliday, Warren Earp, Sherman McMaster, and "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson. Although sick with tuberculosis, Holliday managed to ride with the posse into the badlands in search of the cowboys. In that time, Holliday said farewell to Kate for good.<br /><br /> The Earp party guarded Virgil Earp and his wife Allie on their way to the train for California. In Tucson, the group spotted an armed Frank Stilwell and Ike Clanton, whom they thought were lying in wait to kill Virgil. On March 20, 1882, Frank Stilwell's body was found at dawn alongside the railroad tracks, riddled with buckshot and gunshot wounds. Wyatt credited himself as the one who fatally shot Stilwell with a shotgun; other bullets placed into him may have been fired by Doc Holliday. Read Less
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Holliday and four other members of the posse were still faced with warrants for Stilwell's death. The group elected to leave the Arizona Territory for New Mexico Territory and then Colorado. Wyatt and Holliday, who had been fast friends since Holliday saved Earp's life in Dodge City during 1878, had a serious disagreement and parted ways in Albuquerque. According to a letter written by former New Mexico Territory Governor Miguel Otero, Wyatt and Holliday were eating at Fat Charlie's The Retreat Restaurant in Albuquerque "when Holliday said something about Earp becoming 'a damn Jew-boy.' Earp became angry and leftâ¦. Wyatt was staying with a prominent businessman Henry N. Jaffa, who was also president of New Albuquerqueâs Board of Trade. Jaffa was also Jewish, and based on the letter, Earp had, while staying in Jaffaâs home, honored Jewish tradition by performing the mezuzah upon entering his home. According to Otero's letter, Jaffa told him, "Earpâs woman was a Jewess." Earp's anger at Holliday's racial slur may indicate that the relationship between Josephine Marcus and Wyatt Earp was more serious at the time than is commonly known. Read Less
Holliday and Dan Tipton arrived in Pueblo, Colorado in late April 1882.
On May 15, 1882, Holliday was arrested in Denver on the Tucson warrant for murdering Frank Stilwell. … Read More
When Wyatt Earp learned of the charges, he feared his friend Holliday would not receive a fair trial in Arizona. Earp asked his friend Bat Masterson, Chief of Police of Trinidad, Colorado, to help get Holliday released. Masterson drew up bunco charges against Holliday.<br /><br /> Holliday's extradition hearing was set for May 30. Late in the evening of May 29, Masterson sought help getting an appointment with Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin. He contacted E.D. Cowen, capital reporter for the Denver Tribune, who held political sway in town. Cowen later wrote, "He submitted proof of the criminal design upon Holliday's life. Late as the hour was, I called on Pitkin." His legal reasoning was that the extradition papers for Holliday contained faulty legal language, and that there was already a Colorado warrant out for Hollidayâincluding the bunco charge that Masterson had fabricated. Pitkin was persuaded by the evidence presented by Masterson and refused to honor Arizona's extradition request. Read Less
Masterson took Holliday to Pueblo, where he was released on bond two weeks after his arrest. Holliday and Wyatt met again in June 1882 in Gunnisonafter Wyatt helped to keep his friend from being convicted on murder charges against Frank Stillwell; and then again lastly Holliday was able to see his old friend Wyatt in the late winter of 1886, where they met in the lobby of the Windsor Hotel. … Read More
Sadie Marcus described the skeletal Holliday as having a continuous cough and standing on "unsteady legs.â <br /><br /> On July 14, 1882, Johnny Ringo was found dead in the crotch of a large tree in West Turkey Creek Valley near Chiricahua Peak, Arizona Territory. He had a bullet hole in his right temple and a revolver was found hanging from a finger of his hand. In his book I Married Wyatt Earp, editor Glenn Boyer wrote that Josephine Marcus Earp said Wyatt Earp and Holliday returned to Arizona to kill Ringo. Josephine reported that Holliday killed Ringo with a rifle, but this contradicts the coroner's finding that Ringo committed suicide, dying by a pistol shot at close range. Boyer's book "is now recognized by Earp researchers as a hoax" that cannot be relied upon.<br /><br /> The newspaper in Salida, Colorado, reported that Holliday had arrived there on July 7, six days and from where Ringo died. Read Less
However, district court records from Pueblo County, Colorado, document that both Holliday and his attorney appeared in court on July 11, 14, and 18, 1882, making it impossible for them to have been in Arizona at the same time. … Read More
In her book Doc Holliday, A Family Portrait, author Karen Holliday Tanner noted that the court record for July 11 indicated that he appeared in person, using the Latin legal phrase in propria persona or "in his own person". She also described a writ of habeas corpus that was issued for Holliday on July 11. She speculated that he may not have been actually in Pueblo and that his attorney appeared on his behalf. Tanner asserts that the phrase was standard legal filler and does not prove that Holliday was physically present in court.<br /><br /> Holliday spent his remaining days in Colorado. After a stay in Leadville, he suffered from the high altitude. He increasingly depended on alcohol and laudanum to ease the symptoms of tuberculosis, and his health and his skills as a gambler began to deteriorate. One of Holliday's last shootings took place in Hyman's saloon in Leadville. Holliday borrowed $5 from Billy Allen, a bartender and special officer at the Monarch Saloon, which enabled Allen to carry a gun and make arrests within the saloon. Holliday was down to his last dollar. He had pawned his jewelry, and when Allen demanded he be repaid, Holliday could not comply. Fearful Allen would come gunning for him, Holliday secreted a weapon behind the counter at Hyman's and when Allen appeared in the doorway, Holliday shot him, hitting him in the arm. Before he could shoot again, the bar man disarmed him. Read Less
1885 34 Years Old …
Holliday was put in the county jail for a week. During the subsequent trial, he claimed self-defense under the doctrine of no duty to retreat. He produced a witness who testified that Allen had been armed and in Hyman's earlier in the day apparently looking for Holliday. Read Less
On March 28, 1885, the jury acquitted Holliday. … Read More
This was the second or third time that Holliday shot a man in the hand or the arm to disarm him and force him to drop his weapon, his favorite method of dueling, which avoided the risk of capital punishment for murder. Read Less
| john henry doc holliday |
Who wrote and performed the Oscar Nominated track Blaze Of Glory for the movie Young Guns 2? | Doc Holiday - Huckleberry 11x17 Poster
Doc Holiday - Huckleberry 11x17 Poster
SKU: owp-0023
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Doc Holiday - Huckleberry 11x17 Poster - John Henry "Doc" Holliday (1851-1887) was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Poster says: "I'll be your Huckleberry," as featured in the popular movie, Tombstone.
Custom designed poster made specifically for Legends' General Store and Legends of America. You cannot find these anywhere else. Printed on semi-glossy, 48 lb paper and measures 11" x 17".
Made right here in Missouri, USA!
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In response to his young radio listeners aspiring to be just like him, who created the Cowboy Code, or Cowboy Commandments? | Gene Autry's Cowboy Code - Conrad Askland blog
Conrad Askland blog
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Autry created the Cowboy Code or Cowboy Commandments in response to his young radio listeners aspiring to be just like Gene. I used to play keyboards for Roy Rogers Jr. – see Roy Rogers and Gene Autry had a friendly rivalry between them, all in good fun. But I’d bet my saddle that Roy would agree with this list too.
1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation’s laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
No related posts.
| Gene Autry |
What was John Wayne's last movie? | The Cowboy Code or Cowboy Ten Comandments by G. Autry Free Dating, Singles and Personals
The Cowboy Code or Cowboy Ten Comandments by G. Autry
Posted: 3/7/2007 6:58:32 AM
I don't know why you think Mr. Autry comprised this 10 list of who or what a cowboy was or is?
In fact, these values were established by the cowboys (vaqueros) themselves (a silent code of ethics) existed for a couple hundred years before Hollywood and the east discovered the cowboy or the romantic concept of what a cowboy was or is.
These rules existed in part because without them, the cowboy in his tough and wild environment could not have survived.
The more important rules and I quote:
A cowboy was expected to be cheerful even if he was tired or sick.
A cowboy was expected to have courage. (Cowards could not be tolerated in the cowboy culture because one coward might endanger the whole outfit in time of danger.)
No real cowboy was a complainer. (Complaints were associated with quitting, and no real cowboy was a quitter.)
A cowboy always helped a friend, but if the cowhand saw a stranger or even an enemy in distress, the rule said he was to render assistance as quickly as possible. (This mutual-help principle was essential to survival on the open range where everyone helped on another, especially during roundup time.)
A cowboy did he best he could at all times.
Of course there are a few other rules as well which contributed to the success of the cowboy.
Too bad that these rules couldn't be included in many of busy lives today. Life would be much better.
By the way, Gene Autry was not a cowboy. He was an actor.
Buenas rutas (Happy Trails in Spanish)
| i don't know |
Together For The First Time - James Stewart - John Wayne - in the masterpiece of four-time Academy Award winner John Ford was the tag-line to what movie? | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - IMDb
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ( 1962 )
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A senator, who became famous for killing a notorious outlaw, returns for the funeral of an old friend and tells the truth about his deed.
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »
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Directors: Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson
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Director: Sam Peckinpah
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A cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande must deal with murderous raiding Apaches, his son who's a risk-taking recruit and his wife from whom he has been separated for many years.
Director: John Ford
A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love.
Director: John Ford
Edit
Storyline
When Senator Ransom Stoddard returns home to Shinbone for the funeral of Tom Doniphon, he recounts to a local newspaper editor the story behind it all. He had come to town many years before, a lawyer by profession. The stage was robbed on its way in by the local ruffian, Liberty Valance, and Stoddard has nothing to his name left save a few law books. He gets a job in the kitchen at the Ericson's restaurant and there meets his future wife, Hallie. The territory is vying for Statehood and Stoddard is selected as a representative over Valance, who continues terrorizing the town. When he destroys the local newspaper office and attacks the editor, Stoddard calls him out, though the conclusion is not quite as straightforward as legend would have it. Written by garykmcd
Two Great Stars Appear Together For the First Time! See more »
Genres:
22 April 1962 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Un tiro en la noche See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
John Wayne suggested Lee Marvin for the role of Valance after working with him in The Comancheros (1961). See more »
Goofs
The opening shot of the movie shows the train coming around the last bend on approach to Shinbone Station. In this wide shot, the locomotive is seen pulling a cargo carriage and a passenger carriage. When the train pulls into the station a moment later, the locomotive is instead pulling two passenger carriages. See more »
Quotes
(North America) – See all my reviews
John Ford directs this western story that opens with Senator Ransom Stoddard(played by Jimmy Stewart) arriving by train in the town of Shinbone, to attend the funeral of old friend Tom Doniphon(John Wayne). He tells a local newspaper reporter about his first arrival in Shinbone by stagecoach, where it is robbed by a bullying ruffian named Liberty Valance(Lee Marvin, well cast) As a young lawyer left only with his law books, he gets a job in a local restaurant as a dishwasher, only to run afoul of Valance again, who is being used by local landowners who oppose proposed statehood. Stoddard is approached to be a representative, and after being challenged by Liberty, is elected, though Valance decides that only a showdown can settle things...
Thoughtful and effective film is more a showcase for Stewart than Wayne, much the same way Stoddard comes to overshadow Tom, though both actors are equally memorable, as are the characters they play.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
| The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance |
In 2006 there were approximately how many pubs in the UK? 47,500, 57,500 or 67,500? | Great Film Tag Lines
Great Film Tag Lines
"Movie-wise, there has never been anything like it - laugh-wise, love-wise, or otherwise-wise!"
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
"Check in. Relax. Take a shower."
AND
"It is REQUIRED That You See Psycho From the Very Beginning!"
Homicidal (1961)
"There will be a special FRIGHT BREAK during the showing of Homicidal. Can your heart stand the challenge when the clock starts the COUNTDOWN!"
"If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!"
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
"Together For The First Time - James Stewart - John Wayne - in the masterpiece of four-time Academy Award winner John Ford"
"Sister, sister, oh so fair, why is there blood all over your hair?"
Beach Party (1963)
"Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!"
AND
"The man with the barbed-wire soul."
The Nutty Professor (1963)
"The hot-line suspense comedy."
The Flesh Eaters (1964)
"The only people who will not be STERILIZED with FEAR are those among you who are already DEAD!"
AND
"The loverliest motion picture of them all!"
Cat Ballou (1965)
"A Riot! A Ball! A Romp! A Gasser! A Swinger! A She-Bang! A funny movie...? You bet it is!"
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
"A Love Caught in the Fire of Revolution"
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
"Go-Go For a Wild Ride With the ACTION GIRLS!"
Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
"The story of what they did to a kid..."
The Loved One (1965)
"The movie with something to offend everyone."
Orgy of the Dead (1965)
"The film that will satisfy every over-sexagesimal adult!"
AND
"In gorgeous and shocking ASTRAVISION and SEXICOLOR!"
She (1965, UK)
| i don't know |
What is the second most common pub name in the UK behind the Red Lion? | Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion? | Europe Forum | Fodor's Travel Talk Forums
Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion?
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Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion?
Posted by: PalenQ on Mar 28, 11 at 11:42 AM
Printer Friendly
The other day on Coronation Street, the long running popular British soap, it was said that 'Britain has over 600 Red Lion pubs and who has ever seen a red lion?"
Well this got me to thinking what the heck is a red lion? The Scottish symbol? No it turns out and this site explains what it really stems from...
The inn-significance of the Red Lion | ZythophileDec 5, 2007 ... Here's what the ISS says about the Red Lion, often claimed to be the commonest pub name in Britain (though at around 650 examples it is ...
HOW MANY RED LION PUBS HAVE YOU BEEN IN/
I wonder if this is the msot common pub name in Britain?
Kate on Mar 28, 11 at 12:03 PM
I'm not sure there's a single reason for the red lion, I suspect it's simply the fact that it so commonly appears of heraldic arms. So if the local landowner had a red lion on his crest, the local tenant tavern may have taken the name as a result. Similarly popular names include the White Lion and the Rose & Crown.
'The Crown' might be the Red Lion's chief contender for most popular name. I wonder if anyone has ever counted?
My favourite story comes from a pub I used to visit in Buckinghamshire called the Bull & Butcher. It dates from Tudor times, and the rumour is that the name was a not-so-secret code for 'The Bullen Butcher', ie Henry VIII, who chopped off the head of Anne Boleyn (also written as 'Bullen').
According to BBPA [British Beer and Pub Association], the most common names are:
Red Lion (759)
and according to CAMRA [Campaign For Real Ale]they are:
Crown (704)
Bell (378)
New Inn (372)
Both surveys conducted in 2007. The reason for the discrepancy is due to the ambiguity as to what constitutes a public house as opposed to other licensed premises.
Many long moons ago I used to work in a pub called "My Father's Moustache" in Lincolnshire. I suspect that may have been at the other end of the scale.
flanneruk on Mar 28, 11 at 12:59 PM
The Scottish national arms feature a red lion - and many Red Lion pubs roughly date from the time James of Scotland took over as king of England.
There's a a long tradtion of monarch-flattering signs: the White Hart (Richard II's arms), the Sun in Splendor (the Yorkists), the George (any of the first four) and the Royal Oak (Charles II).Putting up a sign that celebrated the monarch was, till the early 19th century, very widespread - though after a while they just became pub names, and people were opening Royal Oaks long after the Stuarts had been replaced by monarchs more prepared to work in a Protestant democracy.
So the signs got overtaken by battles where we'd bopped some Johnny Foreigner (the Alma, Spion Kop, etc) in the 19th century, then downright silliness (the Slug and Lettuce) in the late 20th, then by "For Sale" in the early 21st.
alanRow on Mar 28, 11 at 01:24 PM
There's also a long tradition of naming the pub after your sponsor - retiring soldiers would use their pay-off to set up a pub and name it after the person who paid for the regiment - so something like "Northumberland Arms" is quite common
Kate on Mar 28, 11 at 01:48 PM
Yes Alan, the reason there are so many 'Marquis of Granby's' is that he apparently bought a pub for all his retiring non-Commissioned Officers after some big battle, and bankrupted himself in the process.
Spent many lost 'Happy Hours' in the grotty Granby Tavern in Reading during my dissolute student years. Pound a pint back then...
alya on Mar 29, 11 at 01:23 AM
It's 4 points if you play the travel game 'Legs'.
For the uninitiated it's a game you play in the car, best played by 2, you look out of the window and for every pub that you pass on your side of the car, you count the number of legs - Red Lion = 4, Coach and Horses = 8
Kings Head = 0, since he didn't actually have legs just a head.
NOT a game you can play in the US.
My favourite pub name is the Black Swan, generally known by everyone locally as 'The Mucky Duck'.
.....It's 4 points if you play the travel game 'Legs'....
Known to our family as "Pub cricket"
We scored arms as well as legs, so the Queen Victoria would score 4. If you got a crown or similar, you were out.
There would be arguments in the car about pubs called things like "The fox and hounds".
tenaya on Mar 29, 11 at 02:31 PM
One pub sign game is used by parents of pre-reading children to keep them occupied: look at the sign and guess the name. I was extremely impressed when a little boy of my acquaintance on seeing Lady With Decapitated Head Under Arm immediately guessed right --- "The Silent Woman".
"I was extremely impressed when a little boy of my acquaintance... "
You'd be even more impressed if the child passed a pub near me.
Roughly contemporary with the conversion of the rough path outside into a turnpike in the earlyish 18th century - but close to an excellent fishing river - on one side, its sign features the nearby tollbooth marking the entrance to the cutting edge of 18th century transport technology: the superhighway of its day.
On the other, to attract the anglers after a hard day not doing whatever it is anglers don't do all day, a pike twisting as it leaps.
The pub, of course, is called the Turnpike: its sign isn't just a visual pun, but a piece of multi-consumer segmented marketing as well. Who says pubs rot your brain?
"The Saracen's Head" looks down the lane,
Where we shall never drink wine again,
For the wicked old women who feel well-bred
Have turned to a tea-shop "The Saracen's Head."
"The Saracen's Head" out of Araby came,
King Richard riding in arms like flame,
And where he established his folk to be fed
He set up a spear--and the Saracen's Head.
But "The Saracen's Head" outlived the Kings,
It thought and it thought of most horrible things,
Of Health and of Soap and of Standard Bread,
And of Saracen drinks at "The Saracen's Head."
So "The Saracen's Head" fulfils its name,
They drink no wine--a ridiculous game--
And I shall wonder until I'm dead,
How it ever came into the Saracen's Head.
--G.K. Chesterton
| Royal Oak |
Amos Brierly and Mr Wilks ran which pub on TV? | Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion? | Europe Forum | Fodor's Travel Talk Forums
Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion?
Tagged: Switzerland
7 4 days itinerary for France by vbansal | 5 responses; most recent on Jan 20, 17 at 12:26 AM
Tagged: France , Germany
10
Tagged: France
11 Itinerary and transportation suggestions by blan1000 | 4 responses; most recent on Jan 19, 17 at 11:22 PM
Tagged: Italy
14 Marksburg Castle Transport Question by hbo6 | 3 responses; most recent on Jan 19, 17 at 11:07 PM
Tagged: Turkey
19 Road Trip From Frankfurt by GeorgeTony | 11 responses; most recent on Jan 19, 17 at 10:39 PM
Tagged: France
23 Croatia and Montenegro Itinerary by Lolie | 2 responses; most recent on Jan 19, 17 at 09:52 PM
Britain Has Over 600 Red Lion Pubs...What is a Red Lion?
Posted by: PalenQ on Mar 28, 11 at 11:42 AM
Printer Friendly
The other day on Coronation Street, the long running popular British soap, it was said that 'Britain has over 600 Red Lion pubs and who has ever seen a red lion?"
Well this got me to thinking what the heck is a red lion? The Scottish symbol? No it turns out and this site explains what it really stems from...
The inn-significance of the Red Lion | ZythophileDec 5, 2007 ... Here's what the ISS says about the Red Lion, often claimed to be the commonest pub name in Britain (though at around 650 examples it is ...
HOW MANY RED LION PUBS HAVE YOU BEEN IN/
I wonder if this is the msot common pub name in Britain?
Kate on Mar 28, 11 at 12:03 PM
I'm not sure there's a single reason for the red lion, I suspect it's simply the fact that it so commonly appears of heraldic arms. So if the local landowner had a red lion on his crest, the local tenant tavern may have taken the name as a result. Similarly popular names include the White Lion and the Rose & Crown.
'The Crown' might be the Red Lion's chief contender for most popular name. I wonder if anyone has ever counted?
My favourite story comes from a pub I used to visit in Buckinghamshire called the Bull & Butcher. It dates from Tudor times, and the rumour is that the name was a not-so-secret code for 'The Bullen Butcher', ie Henry VIII, who chopped off the head of Anne Boleyn (also written as 'Bullen').
According to BBPA [British Beer and Pub Association], the most common names are:
Red Lion (759)
and according to CAMRA [Campaign For Real Ale]they are:
Crown (704)
Bell (378)
New Inn (372)
Both surveys conducted in 2007. The reason for the discrepancy is due to the ambiguity as to what constitutes a public house as opposed to other licensed premises.
Many long moons ago I used to work in a pub called "My Father's Moustache" in Lincolnshire. I suspect that may have been at the other end of the scale.
flanneruk on Mar 28, 11 at 12:59 PM
The Scottish national arms feature a red lion - and many Red Lion pubs roughly date from the time James of Scotland took over as king of England.
There's a a long tradtion of monarch-flattering signs: the White Hart (Richard II's arms), the Sun in Splendor (the Yorkists), the George (any of the first four) and the Royal Oak (Charles II).Putting up a sign that celebrated the monarch was, till the early 19th century, very widespread - though after a while they just became pub names, and people were opening Royal Oaks long after the Stuarts had been replaced by monarchs more prepared to work in a Protestant democracy.
So the signs got overtaken by battles where we'd bopped some Johnny Foreigner (the Alma, Spion Kop, etc) in the 19th century, then downright silliness (the Slug and Lettuce) in the late 20th, then by "For Sale" in the early 21st.
alanRow on Mar 28, 11 at 01:24 PM
There's also a long tradition of naming the pub after your sponsor - retiring soldiers would use their pay-off to set up a pub and name it after the person who paid for the regiment - so something like "Northumberland Arms" is quite common
Kate on Mar 28, 11 at 01:48 PM
Yes Alan, the reason there are so many 'Marquis of Granby's' is that he apparently bought a pub for all his retiring non-Commissioned Officers after some big battle, and bankrupted himself in the process.
Spent many lost 'Happy Hours' in the grotty Granby Tavern in Reading during my dissolute student years. Pound a pint back then...
alya on Mar 29, 11 at 01:23 AM
It's 4 points if you play the travel game 'Legs'.
For the uninitiated it's a game you play in the car, best played by 2, you look out of the window and for every pub that you pass on your side of the car, you count the number of legs - Red Lion = 4, Coach and Horses = 8
Kings Head = 0, since he didn't actually have legs just a head.
NOT a game you can play in the US.
My favourite pub name is the Black Swan, generally known by everyone locally as 'The Mucky Duck'.
.....It's 4 points if you play the travel game 'Legs'....
Known to our family as "Pub cricket"
We scored arms as well as legs, so the Queen Victoria would score 4. If you got a crown or similar, you were out.
There would be arguments in the car about pubs called things like "The fox and hounds".
tenaya on Mar 29, 11 at 02:31 PM
One pub sign game is used by parents of pre-reading children to keep them occupied: look at the sign and guess the name. I was extremely impressed when a little boy of my acquaintance on seeing Lady With Decapitated Head Under Arm immediately guessed right --- "The Silent Woman".
"I was extremely impressed when a little boy of my acquaintance... "
You'd be even more impressed if the child passed a pub near me.
Roughly contemporary with the conversion of the rough path outside into a turnpike in the earlyish 18th century - but close to an excellent fishing river - on one side, its sign features the nearby tollbooth marking the entrance to the cutting edge of 18th century transport technology: the superhighway of its day.
On the other, to attract the anglers after a hard day not doing whatever it is anglers don't do all day, a pike twisting as it leaps.
The pub, of course, is called the Turnpike: its sign isn't just a visual pun, but a piece of multi-consumer segmented marketing as well. Who says pubs rot your brain?
"The Saracen's Head" looks down the lane,
Where we shall never drink wine again,
For the wicked old women who feel well-bred
Have turned to a tea-shop "The Saracen's Head."
"The Saracen's Head" out of Araby came,
King Richard riding in arms like flame,
And where he established his folk to be fed
He set up a spear--and the Saracen's Head.
But "The Saracen's Head" outlived the Kings,
It thought and it thought of most horrible things,
Of Health and of Soap and of Standard Bread,
And of Saracen drinks at "The Saracen's Head."
So "The Saracen's Head" fulfils its name,
They drink no wine--a ridiculous game--
And I shall wonder until I'm dead,
How it ever came into the Saracen's Head.
--G.K. Chesterton
| i don't know |
With only one letter in its name. What is the name of the pub with the shortest name? | One-Letter Name - TV Tropes
One-Letter Name
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— Sebastian Stark, Shark
When you take Only One Name to the extreme, this is the result. Most often a Code Name .
For some reason letters from the second half of the alphabet are much more likely to be chosen. Even people who change their names to something starting with A to get to the top of an alphabetical list seem to never use just A.
A fair number of older novels (from, say, the 19th and early 20th centuries) use this as a form of "discretion shot". (See Spell My Name with a Blank .) For example, a lot of Sherlock Holmes stories refer to "Mr. B——" as a way to imply that this is a real person and the story really happened in the real world, but that due to the potentially embarrassing nature of the events Watson is too much of a gentleman to reveal Mr. B's true identity.
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A serial killer in Hell Teacher Nube that patterns himself after Aka Manto (Red Mantle) is simply referred to by authorities as "A". It's clear this is an attributed alias, but we never learn his real name.
I Wish has the male protagonist called K. It's stated early on that he goes by K, because his real name is cursed.
Count D and his relatives in Pet Shop of Horrors .
D, the alien spy from Project A-ko . It is, however, a code name.
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX :
In the English dub, Aster Phoenix's adoptive father is named The D . In the Japanese version, he was called DD, which is a two-letter name , but comes close.
In the Japanese version, the Deck Destruction pro-duelist is named X. In the English dub, he was called Howard X. Miller.
G, the Big Bad of Real Bout High School , who honestly doesn't remember his name after the years of psychological and physical conditioning he was subjected to since he was a boy in order to become the perfect bodyguard. As far as he's concerned, it's a placeholder; He'll find out what his name is if it's the last thing he does. Like many characters in the series , G is a Captain Ersatz of a King of Fighters character; in his case, K' (see below).
G., the first Vongola Storm Guardian from Katekyo Hitman Reborn! .
Phantom Thief G? from D.Gray-Man
Soldat J, from GaoGaiGar
J from Heat Guy J
J from Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo . You know, the one with the garlic/onion (the heroes can never decide this) for a head?
In the Diamond/Pearl saga of the Pok�mon anime, a villain known as Pokemon Hunter J and a one-shot filler character known as O were introduced.
In Pok�mon Adventures , the protagonists of each arc are named after their generation's games. So the protagonists for the XY arc are named... X and Y. Granted, when romanized their names become Ekkusu and Wai, but it still doesn't make their names any less weird. Averted with Y in the Viz version, as her actual name is Yvonne but has 'Y' as her nickname.
Gravitation 's K. (Although his actual name is revealed later.)
K in Puni Puni Poemi .
L from Death Note . A handful of other characters use one-letter codenames at some point, as well, (most notably L's successor Near first introduces himself as N) but, as revealed in the "how to read" book , L actually is his first name. The full name being L Lawliet.
L-sama from Slayers novel afterwords. Though this is an abbreviation of L.O.N. or Lord of Nightmares.
In Valvrave the Liberator , soldiers trained at the Karlstein Institute have their real names taken, and they are replaced by combining this with You Are Number 6 . So we have L-Elf (Elf meaning 11), and several others.
Y in Humanity Has Declined . Assuming that's her actual name, seeing as no one else has one...
The main antagonist of the third Tenchi Muyo! OVA goes by Z, remarking that his real name, Z-0001332536893, is too long.
Mazinger universe: Fanon often refers to the eponymous Humongous Mecha Mazinger Z as simply "Z".
Z, the Big Bad from the eponymous One Piece movie One Piece Film: Z .
The Alphabets, Major Eberbach's subordinates in From Eroica with Love , are each known by one single letter as a codename. The Major always seems to have 28 of them around despite having sent some to Alaska. (Also, the letters are pronounced like German alphabets.)
In Naruto , a lot of people from the Village Hidden in the Clouds: The Raikage is "A", his brother is "B" (though everyone called him "Killer Bee" ), he has an aide named "C" and they sent a shinobi after Sasuke, who was called "J", and an incidental character was named "F". In this case, these are code-names/ranks (that may have fully replaced the characters' original names which are never revealed). For example, B is given the name after being chosen as the combat partner for A when he was promoted to head of the village and its armed forces (implying the Raikage is always called "A" and paired with an assistant/bodyguard called "B").
The Gundam Engineers Doctor J, Professor G, Doktor S, Instructor H, and Master O. The sequel novel Frozen Teardrop has Trowa and Quatre taking similar aliases Doktor T and Instructor W, as well as revealing Doctor J's real name: Jay Nul
[C] - Control (itself a One-Letter Title ) has an Asset going by the name Q. Also, a chain reaction that impacts the global economy when a Financial District goes bankrupt is simply known as C .
Bungou Stray Dogs has a character that technically has a full name, but is only ever referred to as Q by the other characters.
Audio Play
Ixpellia from Striker S Sound Stage X , whose nickname of Ix/Ikusu is transcribed in English as "X" in the CD booklet.
Card Games
Magic: The Gathering card (from an official joke set) has a zero letter name.
Comic Books
Films — Live-Action
F, the voiceless vampire girl in Marebito .
G, of the movie Holy Man (played by Eddie Murphy ) - the titular character, in this case.
In Envy, Christopher Walken 's hobo character calls himself "the J-Man."
The film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen has M, who is the one who gathers the League and gives them their task. Of course, it turns out that M stands for Moriarty .
V for Vendetta : "Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V."
Willem Dafoe's character in New Rose Hotel is known only as X.
X, leader of the alien invaders in Godzilla Final Wars . He says it's just a nickname for the humans to call him because his real name is too hard for humans to say .
X is one of the men going to the Million Man March in Get on the Bus. Flip doesn't believe it's his real name, and it isn't — it's short for Xavier, but he's always preferred "X".
Z (pronounced Zed) from (and short for) Zardoz .
Men in Black agents, including Agents J, K, L, and Zednote (i.e., 'Z' in any English-speaking country except the U.S., and French-speaking countries as well), along with almost everyone else with the organization. The third movie adds an "AA", but it's only in a Bad Future anyway. Interestingly, the names appear to be based on the first letter of the first name (James, Kevin, Laura, Michael ). This begs the question - are there only 26 agents in the MIB? What happens when two agents have their first names start on the same letter?
The animated series also has Alpha, one of the founding members of MIB and K's mentor, before he went rogue. When he first meets J, he introduces himself as agent A. When J later mentions A to K and Zed, Zed points out that there is no agent A.
The James Bond films famously have several of these.
Bond's boss M, based on the Real Life head of Mi 6 , who goes by the codename "C". It's mentioned in Casino Royale (2006) that M is not just a random letter (whether it references a name - the novels have the original Miles Messervy and Barbara Mawdsley, a prop in Skyfall has the name Olivia Mansfield
- is unclear):
Bond: I had no idea it stood for-
M: Utter one more syllable and I'll have you killed.
Gadgeteer Q ("Q" being short for "Quartermaster"/"Quartermaster's department", referencing his job to supply agents).
Q's assistant, dubbed as R ("reserve"), before he gets promoted to Q.
Faust: Love of the Damned : The main bad guy is known only as "M", though it's presumably short for Mephistopheles .
Fanfic
The Big Bad of Pok�umans , Mr. X.
Jokes
Via Reader's Digest, 1958:
My friend R.B. Jones doesn't have a first or middle name � only the initials R.B. This unusual arrangement was never a problem until he went to work for a government agency. The government is not accustomed to initialed employees, so R.B. had a lot of explaining to do. On the official forms for the payroll and personnel departments, his name was carefully entered as R (Only) B (Only) Jones.
Sure enough, when R.B. got his pay check, it was made out to Ronly Bonly Jones.
Literature
In The Bourne Series , Jason Bourne went by the military-alphabet name Delta when he was in the Medusa program in Vietnam.
General G in the novel From Russia with Love . Probably at least partly because of his long freakin' name , Grubozaboyschikov.
Older Than Television : The protagonist of ''The Castle' by Franz Kafka is known only as K.
The protagonist of Franz Kafka's The Trial is named Joseph K.
In Sputnik Sweetheart , the narrator is only ever known by the letter K.
In the Japanese novel Kokoro , Sensei writes a long testament about his relationship with his dead friend, whom he only refers to as " K ."
As the title probably suggests, the heroine of the erotic classic The Story of O is known only by her initial.
S (aka "The Stooge"), the protagonist of Paul Pope's sci-fi graphic novel, Heavy Liquid .
V from Vegan Virgin Valentine. Her full name is Vivienne Vail Valentine , so you can see why she shortens it.
To Kill a Mockingbird has a bit character called X Billups. Most people didn't believe that was his full name until he was asked to spell it during a court case.
John Hackworth's nemesis Dr. X in The Diamond Age . (A slight subversion in that his actual name is quite long, but it is very hard to pronounce, so everyone just calls him Dr. X. Interestingly, his Chinese name is written with only one character as well.)
6 and @ from Max Berry's book Syrup. When 6 was born, her parents named her 0 (zero), then on her first birthday, she was renamed 1, up until they were killed when she was, yup, six years old. The name stuck. As for @, well, it's not explained, but 6 says she only did it to copy her.
In The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois, the island of Krakatoa is settled by twenty families, who take on the letters A through T as names (e.g., the man who founded the island is only known as Mr. M, his wife is Mrs. M, and their children are M-1 and M-2). When the protagonist is stranded there, he asks if they would like to start referring to him as Mr. U; they decline, as it would lead to pronoun confusion. No mention is made of how they manage to non-confusingly talk about the I family, though at least I is only a pronoun in the subjective case.
Members of the Audubon Ballroom in Honor Harrington use X as a surname, though most have a different legal name.
As an extension of this, freed slave and noted academic Web Du Havel's full name is W. E. B. Du Havel. He didn't understand how names work when he needed to provide one for the record, so W. E. B. doesn't actually stand for anything.
The Aann, a reptilian race from the Humanx Commonwealth novels, use a string of capital letters in place of a surname. As they advance in rank within their society, letters are removed from these strings, meaning that the Emperor of their kind has a one-letter surname.
E.E. "Doc" Smith and Stephen Goldin's Family D'Alembert series has two major villains: Lady A, and someone (or something) called C. However, there is no B in the hierarchy (nor D through Z for that matter) and C is actually the boss. Why this is so is only revealed when it's almost too late to save the situation.
J. Eugene Raxford in Donald E. Westlake's The Spy in the Ointment, due to not being given real names by the FBI agents he's forced to deal with, mentally refers to them as Agent A, B, etc.
The protagonist of I Am J is a teenage trans boy whose name is "J". Early in the book, a flashback shows that in sixth grade he gets into a confrontation with a teacher when she kept on calling him "Jenifer", though his soon-to-be friend Melissa stepped in and made an excuse that he couldn't be called "Jenifer" because of an incident in his family that caused the name to bring up negative memories.
In Ödön von Horvaths novel Jugend ohne Gott the narrator only refers to his students by letters, which are implied to be the first letter of their first names.
Live Action TV
Mr. X, Mulder's second Mysterious Informant from The X-Files .
Lord Zedd from Power Rangers . His Mooks had this letter on their breastplates.
Power Rangers S.P.D. had a character named Z, short for Elizabeth.
Power Rangers RPM has a character known only as Dr. K, later explained as being because she grew up in a secret government think-tank codenamed "Alphabet Soup". Presumably Dr. A through Dr. J had non-Ranger based areas of expertise.
One episode of Shark involved a fashion designer named Z Pruitt. He was much ridiculed.
Doctor Who has a villain named Omega.
In "The Happiness Patrol", the natives of Terra Alpha all have one-letter surnames denoting social rank. Offworlders have their surname replaced by 'Sigma'.
The Doctor himself has been known to sign his name as simply "?".
Get Smart : When Max and the Chief swap roles due to a bureaucratic foulup, the Chief goes back to his old designation of Agent Q (he joined CONTROL before they switched to numbers).
On Dollhouse , all the actives in the LA house are apparently assigned a letter, but are referred to as the military phonetic code for said letter (Alpha, Echo, November, Sierra, Whiskey, etc). How they deal with having more than 26 actives is never addressed; quite possibly they just don't ever have that many.
Music
The alternative rock band A, though they were originally called Grand Designs.
E from the band Eels , who used to also make solo albums under that name, until he decided it made his music too hard to track down. He has gone by his real name though - his autobiography Things The Grandchildren Should Know and the soundtrack to the film Levity are both credited to Mark Oliver Everett. He initially started being called E in high school because he just knew too many other people named Mark .
Ian "H" Watkins of Steps.."
V from BTS .
Hello! Project former group W. Quite tricky to search for their material, if it wasn't for one of their alternate names, Double You.
If plurals of a single letter count, short-lived Christian swing/ska band The W's.
X was at the forefront of the Los Angeles punk scene.
X Japan was known in its early years only as X; they adopted the "Japan" once they broke into the international market, to distinguish from the above.
Y is AOA drummer Youkyung's "angel name"note To go with the group's angel concept they were given stage-names called "angel names" at debut. but like the other members' angel names it's stopped being used for the most part.
In Vivian Stanshall's comedy LP Sir Henry at Ndidi's Kraal, the eponymous Sir Henry Rawlinson mounts an expedition to Africa, the "dark incontinent" . He can't remember his native bearers' names, so "to their - ahem - cheery delight, I numbered the sods. The last twenty-seven I named after the letters of our alphabet. The twenty-seventh - knew you were going to ask me that! - was a question mark.
Professional Wrestling
After Kodo Fuyuki stripped Hayabusa of his gimmick and gave it to Mr. Gannosuke in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling , the former Hayabusa became the delinquent known as H.
Tabletop Games
In Pathfinder , there's a Monk archetype which - at high levels - allows the monk to heal and resurrect all their allies in return for being wiped from existence to the extent that their name can't be written down. It has been proposed that one could abuse the one letter name trope to use 26 monks to destroy the alphabet.
Video Games
| Q |
The Bottle Inn at Marshwood in Dorset has what annual eye watering and tongue numbing item on the menu? | Travel from � to Y by Internet
BORED? Play our free word games – INTERACTIVE HANGMAN
by Eric Shackle
Seasoned globetrotters may boast of having toured the world from A to Z (Australia to Zimbabwe), but few, if any, have travelled from � (pronounced Aw) to Y (pronounced E).
Those are two little-known places with the world's shortest names. � (population 150) is a tiny fishing hamlet in the Lofoten Islands, a granite chain in north-west Norway, in the Arctic circle, while Y is an even smaller French village, with only 29 inhabitants.
� is in Norway
"Exposed to North Sea gales, the [Lofoten] islands nonetheless enjoy a summer that makes the slender beaches as appealing as the spectacular scenery and abundant birdlife," says a Polish website.
"Adjacent to prime cod grounds, the islands' many fishing hamlets are situated at the foot of towering cliffs, inhabited by cormorants, puffins, and guillemots. A road connects the major settlements, the largest of which is Svolvar, site of the main services and a colony of artists. At the island's southern extremity, � boasts the world's shortest place name."
The largest building in � is the Lofoten Stockfish Museum. Its website says "The museum provides an insight into the production of Norway's oldest export commodity, stockfish, which was used in foreign trade as early as in the 800s. The museum also shows how work at a conventional fish landing station is carried out...
"Large, heated video room with non-stop 30 min. video (English subtitles) – covers everything from the catch, to delivery on the most important market: Italy – plus a 5 min. video in various languages specially intended for groups.
"Coffee and waffles [are available] in authentic maritime atmosphere. You can also try tasting stockfish: Lofoten's own 'snacks'. We take pride in offering professional guiding in Norwegian, English, German, French and Italian."
The website also reveals that towards the end of April, an area of 400,000 square metres of Lofoten is covered in stockfish – cod hung out to dry on racks. Every year, 16 million kilograms is hung out, the weight being reduced by about 80 per cent when dried.
How did � acquire its brief name? We e-mailed the question to the Lofoten T�rrfiskmuseum. Back came this reply from Elin Graner: "� is an old word for a little river. There is a little river coming from the mountains and it ends in the sea here, so that`s the reason for the name.
"� is the last letter in our alphabet, and the very end of the Lofoten road. The � sign on the road is stolen by tourists every year, so it was decided to write � i Lofoten instead, to avoid this (it would be too big to steal).
"But then the population in � said 'NO, the name of our place is �, not � i Lofoten, so now there is a small sign with only one letter again."
Elin said that although � no longer has a landing station for fish, fisherman families still live there. "Lofoten has been, and still is dependant on stockfish production. It was the first commodity that the vikings exchanged for goods in other countries. � used to be much larger than it is to-day. Because it is difficult to get a job, young people move to other places."
Not every visitor has a kind word to say about �. Take this extract from a diary English undergraduate Matthew Mayer (19), of Crawley, West Sussex, has posted on his website:
"Unfortunately our plans for whale-eating came to nothing since there was only one caf�-restaurant in �. I bought a watermelon and cake for lunch.
"After lunch I went alone to the world-famous Stockfish Museum, 'the only one of its kind in the world' (it was not hard to see why). No one seemed to be about at the entrance, so I walked in, took a guide leaflet and had a look around without having to pay.
"The museum was hilarious in its irrelevance. Facts such as 'Wheelbarrows were used for the internal transport if fish on the quay until the 1970s', 'With the help of air conditioning the stockfish can be dried a further 5%, turning it into klipfish' and 'Up until 1955 workers had to kneel down on the floor to brace the fish' were read and promptly forgotten.
"My desire for stockfish sated, I headed back into � to have a look around. Many of the buildings in the pretty fishing village have been incorporated into the Norsk Fiskev�rsmuseum (Norwegian Fishing Museum). I was able to visit the deserted cod liver oil factory, fisherman's house, forge, bakery and woodshed. This was all very interesting but could have done with a bit more explanation."
Despite Matthew's criticism, � is a picturesque and popular tourist resort in summer.
Some 1,500 miles to the south lies the French village of Y. Its brief name dates back to 1241. Y is near the township of Ham ans Athies in the department of Somme in Picardy. In World War I (1914-18), the Somme, on the Western Front, was a bloody battlefield, where more than a million British, U.S., Australian/New Zealand, French and German troops were killed in two horrific encounters. The American Somme Cemetery, 98 miles northeast of Paris, contains the remains of 1,844 soldiers, most of whom served in American units attached to British armies or in operations near Cantigny.
Y is a French village
Famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron) mentioned the village in his book, Der Rote Kampfflieger, published in 1917. An English language version was published in 1918 as The Red Battle Flyer.
"We went on a shooting expedition on the twentieth of April," he wrote. "We came home very late and lost Sch�fer on the way. Of course everyone hoped that he would come to land before dark. It struck nine, it struck ten, but no Sch�fer was visible.
"His benzene could not last so long. Consequently, he had landed somewhere, for no one was willing to admit that he had been shot down. No one dared to mention the possibility. Still, everyone was afraid for him.
"The ubiquitous telephone was set in motion in order to find out whether a flying man had come down anywhere. Nobody could give us information. No Division and no Brigade had seen anything of him. We felt very uncomfortable. At last we went to bed. All of us were perfectly convinced that he would turn up in the end.
"At two o'clock, after midnight, I was suddenly awakened. The telephone orderly, beaming with pleasure, reported to me: 'Sch�fer is in the Village of Y, and would like to be fetched home.'"
And that, judging by the Internet search engines, was the last time anyone seems to have heard about Y*.
Footnote:
Wondering why the name of the Norwegian hamlet is written as � instead of A? The Norwegian alphabet has 29 letters, three more than English. The extra characters are � (�), � (�) and � (�). They're pronounced as the vowels in pat, pert and port. Norwegian computer keyboards have three extra keys.
© 2002 Eric Shackle ([email protected]).
| i don't know |
Which movie sees Jack Lemmon and Tont Curtis dressed as women in an all girl band? | Some Like It Hot (1959) - IMDb
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Some Like It Hot ( 1959 )
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When two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.
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Title: Some Like It Hot (1959)
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Won 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations. See more awards »
Videos
A man tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.
Director: Billy Wilder
A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.
Director: Billy Wilder
An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions.
Director: Billy Wilder
Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.
Director: Orson Welles
A hapless New York advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
A San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.
Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds
A veteran British barrister must defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise.
Director: Billy Wilder
A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.
Director: Michael Curtiz
An ingenue insinuates herself into the company of an established but aging stage actress and her circle of theater friends.
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Showgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw travel to Paris, pursued by a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei's fiancé, as well as a rich, enamored old man and many other doting admirers.
Director: Howard Hawks
Edit
Storyline
When two Chicago musicians, Joe and Jerry, witness the the St. Valentine's Day massacre, they want to get out of town and get away from the gangster responsible, Spats Colombo. They're desperate to get a gig out of town but the only job they know of is in an all-girl band heading to Florida. They show up at the train station as Josephine and Daphne, the replacement saxophone and bass players. They certainly enjoy being around the girls, especially Sugar Kane Kowalczyk who sings and plays the ukulele. Joe in particular sets out to woo her while Jerry/Daphne is wooed by a millionaire, Osgood Fielding III. Mayhem ensues as the two men try to keep their true identities hidden and Spats Colombo and his crew show up for a meeting with several other crime lords. Written by garykmcd
The movie too HOT for words! See more »
Genres:
14 April 1959 (Japan) See more »
Also Known As:
Not Tonight, Josephine! See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
It is interesting that due to line issues and the train scene and the Manhattan drink. During prohibition 'Bourbon,' made only in Kentucky, would not have been available. However Manhattan's were originally made from rye whiskey since that was the primary grain used in Canadian whiskey which would have been available at that time. See more »
Goofs
Spats has a henchmen button his spats before they go to the banquet hall. But, as Joe and Jerry are hiding under Spats's table in the banquet hall, Spats's right shoe is clearly not buttoned. See more »
Quotes
Toothpick Charlie : I already told you.
Mulligan : Refresh my memory.
Mulligan : That's very refreshing; what's the password?
Toothpick Charlie : "I've come to Grandma's funeral." Here's your admission card.
[he gives Mulligan a mourning armband]
[...]
I Wanna Be Loved by You
(1928) (uncredited)
Sit back and enjoy this comedy, I don't believe in greatest this and that when it comes to films, but boy, this is superb.
The acting here is fantastic, all actors, even Monroe are on top form.
The direction by Wilder is superb, the guy's style in this picture is perfect. He directed this film in a very clever way, by using one camera for the majority of the scenes, he could easily edit the film together without studio interference.
The script is well written. The dialogue between Lemmon and Curtis is beautifully balanced.
Monroe is just too hot for the screen in this picture. Although, Monroe had major off-screen problems (83 takes to get things right) she is fantastic on-screen. She may not have the best lines, but what the heck! She plays the role very well.
Overall, this is awesome, it really is.
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| Some Like It Hot |
In which of Shakespeare's plays does the character Viola pose as a boy, Cesario? | Some Like It Hot | Variety
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February 24, 1959 | 11:00PM PT
"Some Like It Hot," directed in masterly style by Billy Wilder, is probably the funniest picture of recent memory. It's a whacky, clever, farcical comedy that starts off like a firecracker and keeps on throwing off lively sparks till the very end.
“Some Like It Hot,” directed in masterly style by Billy Wilder, is probably the funniest picture of recent memory. It’s a whacky, clever, farcical comedy that starts off like a firecracker and keeps on throwing off lively sparks till the very end.
Pictures like this, with a sense of humor that is as broad as it can be sophisticated, come along only infrequently. Add to this the attraction of Marilyn Monroe, returning to the screen after a two year absense in a part that’s tailor-made for her particular talents, topnotch performances by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, and the directorial brilliance of Wilder, and the concoction becomes irresistible.
Even so, the film has its faults. It’s too long, for one, being a small joke milked like a dairy; one or two scenes skirt the limits of good taste. But who’ll care?
Story revolves around the age-old theme of men masquerading as women. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon escape from a Chicago nightclub that’s being raided, witness the St. Valentine’s Day massacre and ‘escape’ into the anonymity of a girl band by dressing up as femme musicians. This leads to the obvious complications, particularly since Curtis meets Miss Monroe (ukulele player, vocalist and gin addict) and falls for her. Lemmon, in turn, is propositioned by an addle-brained millionaire (Joe E. Brown).
While romance blossoms in Miami, gangsters led by George Raft come on the scene for a convention and Curtis and Lemmon are recognized. Eventually, Raft and Co. are “rubbed” out. Curtis and Lemmon can then reveal their identity. On this plot skeleton, Wilder has put the flesh of farce. He has done this so deftly that the ridiculous somehow appears possible, and the shocking turns into laughter.
Picture opens with a hearse being chased by police. It is the late 1920s. In the coffin repose dozens of bottles of bootleg gin. Bullets rip through hearse and the coffin starts spouting liquid. It’s that sort of thing all the way through. Shot of Curtis and Lemmon walking down the station platform dressed as girls, swinging their hips with the anxious look of one who has yet to learn to walk on high heels, brings the house down.
Again, the scene on the train, where the ‘private’ pullman berth party of Lemmon and Miss Monroe in her nightie is invaded by guzzling dames, represents humor of Lubitsch proportions. And the alternating shots of Miss Monroe trying to stimulate Curtis on a couch, while Lemmon and Brown live it up on the dance floor, rate as a classic sequence.
To coin a phrase, Marilyn has never looked better. Her performance as “Sugar,” the fuzzy blonde who likes saxophone players “and men with glasses” has a deliciously naive quality. She’s a comedienne with that combination of sex appeal and timing that just can’t be beat. If, at the time of the filming she was pregnant, and the tight dresses she’s asked to wear just don’t fit very well, never mind. This gal can take it, and so can the audience.
It’s a tossup whether Curtis beats out Lemmon or whether it goes the other way ’round. Both are excellent. Curtis has the upper hand because he can change back and forth from his femme role to that of a fake ‘millionaire’ who woos Miss Monroe. He employs a takeoff on Cary Grant, which scores with a bang at first, but tends to lose its appeal as the picture progresses. It’s obvious that Curtis enjoys the part of a comedian, and he makes the most of it.
Lemmon here draws a choice assignment. Some of the funniest bits fall to him, such as his announcement that he’s ‘engaged’ to Brown. There is about him the air of desperation of any man who might find himself in this kind of unreal predicament. The audience virtually explodes when, after being grabbed by Curtis in his bosomy disguise, Lemmon announces angrily: “I lost one of my chests!”
In the smaller parts, Raft hams it up as a caricature of himself in a “tough guy” gangster bit. Brown is very funny as Osgood, the smitten millionaire, who tries to lure Lemmon on his yacht. Pat O’Brien has a small role as a federal agent, and Nehemiah Persoff acts the role of “Little Bonaparte,” who looks very much like Al Capone , and whose boys machinegun Raft and his toughs out of existence.
But, in the final accounting, this is still a director’s picture and the Wilder touch is indelible, particularly since he’s collaborated with I. A. L. Diamond on the script. If the action is funny, the lines are there to match it. In fact, laughs often step on one another. Of course, in a two-hour picture, the pace is bound to slacken eventually, and it does. But the momentum of this madcap comedy is such that it keeps rolling along, a gay romp that knows just when to draw back before crossing the line to the vulgar.
Miss Monroe performs a couple of songs capably and in the style of the twenties. Charles Lang’s photography, in black-and-white, is just fine and so is Adolph Deutsch’s background score. Arthur Schmidt’s editing makes for smooth continuality and, in several scenes, contributes importantly.
“Some Like It Hot” goes on the premise that a laugh is a laugh, regardless where you find it, and it knows that men dressed as women tickle the risibilities of male and female alike. Since much of it is also clever, the film should provide United Artists with one of its top grossers for the year.
1959: Best B&W Costume Design (Corry Kelly).
Nominations: Best Director, Actor (Jack Lemmon), Adapted Screenplay, B&W Cinematography, B&W Art Direction
Some Like It Hot
Production
Ashton/Mirisch. Director Billy Wilder; Producer Billy Wilder; Screenplay Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond; Camera Charles Lang Jr; Editor Arthur P. Schmidt; Music Adolph Deutsch; Art Director Ted Haworth. Previewed at Loew's Lexington Theatre, N.Y., Feb. 5, '59.
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Barry Humphries plays Dame Edna Everage, but which character does he plays as the Australian Cultural Attache? | Barry Humphries - IMDb
IMDb
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His father was an affluent construction manager. Barry was a very intelligent boy who attended Melbourne University. There, he began in revues and doing some impersonations. He moved to London around 1960 and began his TV career. He has created numerous characters, including Dame Edna Everidge and Sir Les Patterson. See full bio »
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2014 The Kangaroo Gang (TV Series)
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- Episode #3.7 (2008) ... Dame Edna Everage (as Dame Edna Everage)
1978-2007 Parkinson (TV Series)
1990 Single Voices (TV Series)
Sandy Stone
1982 Omnibus (TV Series documentary)
Sir Les Patterson
1990 A Night on Mount Edna (TV Movie) (uncredited)
1990 Single Voices (TV Series) (1 episode)
1966 The Late Show (TV Series)
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1984 Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage (TV Movie) (lyrics: "Shyness") / (music: "Shyness") / (performer: "Shyness")
1981 Shock Treatment (performer: "Little Black Dress", "Shock Treatment")
1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (performer: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (Finale))
1972 The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (lyrics: "My One-eyed Trouser Snake", "Old Pacific Sea", "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie")
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1984 Another Audience with Dame Edna Everage (TV Movie) (composer: song "I'm Shy")
1981 Flamingo Park (Short) (music - as Dame Edna Everage)
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2003 Concert for George (Video documentary) (camera rigger)
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1993 Edna Time (TV Series) (executive producer - 1993)
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2011 Eddie Perfect: Misanthropology (Video) (thanks)
2007 'Little Britain' Down Under (TV Movie documentary) (thank you - as Dame Edna Everage)
2005 Great Performances (TV Series) (special thanks - 1 episode)
2015 Stop Laughing... This Is Serious (TV Series documentary)
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2015 The Talk (TV Series)
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2013 American Masters (TV Series documentary)
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2012 Raising the Curtain (TV Series documentary)
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2012 Q&A (TV Series)
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2011 Piers Morgan Tonight (TV Series)
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2010 The Review Show (TV Series)
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2009 Rove Live (TV Series)
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2008 I'd Do Anything (TV Series)
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2007 100 Greatest Stand-Ups (TV Special documentary)
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2005 Celebrate 'Oliver!' (TV Movie)
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2005 The Unseen Spike Milligan (TV Movie documentary)
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2005 Barry Humphries on Bedazzled (Video documentary short)
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2004 Live! with Kelly (TV Series)
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2003 Micallef Tonight (TV Series)
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1992-1996 Pebble Mill (TV Series)
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1995 The Celluloid Heroes (TV Movie)
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1976-1995 Omnibus (TV Series documentary)
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1989 The South Bank Show (TV Series documentary)
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1987 The Last Resort (TV Series)
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1986 The Story of English (TV Mini-Series documentary)
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1983 Breakfast Time (TV Series)
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1983 Time with Betjeman (TV Series documentary)
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1981 The Rocky Horror Treatment (TV Movie documentary)
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1979 Christmas Snowtime Special (TV Movie)
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1965 The Australian Londoners (TV Movie documentary)
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1964 Monitor (TV Series documentary)
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2013 Greatest Stand Up Comedians (TV Movie documentary)
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2012 The Unforgettable Russell Harty (TV Movie documentary)
Herself - Interviewee on The Russell Harty Show (as Dame Edna Everage)
2012 7.30 (TV Series)
2004 Arena (TV Series documentary)
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1991 Memories of 1970-1991 (TV Series documentary)
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TV commercial (voiceover as Dame Edna Everage) for Tesco supermarkets (2004) See more »
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Who plays the killer in the 1960 film Psycho where he dresses in his mother's clothes? | Barry Humphries Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth
Barry Humphries Net Worth
Barry Humphries net worth:
$12 Million
Barry Humphries is an Australian comedian, satirist, Dadaist, artist, author and Character actor, who has a net worth of $12 million. Barry Humphries has earned his net worth from the on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, whom is a Melbourne housewife and a "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, whom is an Australian foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the Court of St. James. Humphries is also a film producer and script writer, as well as a star at the London West End musical theatre. Humphries is an accomplished award winning writer as well as an accomplished landscape painter. In 2010 Anne Pender described Humphries as the most significant theatrical figure of our time, and the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin. Barry was born on February 17, 1934, and raised in the suburb of Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He has been married four times and is currently married to Lizzie Spender and he has five children. Some of Humphries notable friends include; Australian painter Arthur Boyd, author and former politician Jeffery Archer, and Irish comedian Spike Milligan. Humphries is also the author of several books including; two autobiographies, two novels and a treatise on Chinese drama in the goldfields. He is also the author of many plays as well as dozens of recordings. The J. R. Ackerley Prize for autobiography in 1993 was won by Barry Humphries.
Barry Humphries
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Which character in the TV series MASH dresses as a woman in an attempt to be dismissed from the army? | Maxwell Q. Klinger | Monster M*A*S*H | Fandom powered by Wikia
Jamie Farr
Sergeant Maxwell Q. Klinger is a fictional character from the M*A*S*H television series played by American actor Jamie Farr . A Lebanese-American hailing from Toledo, Ohio, Klinger serves as an orderly/corpsman (and later company clerk) assigned to the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit during the Korean War. The character's original defining characteristic is his attempts to gain a discharge from the army, typically through being judged mentally unfit for service (under "Section 8") or for other reasons. To this end, he would habitually wear women's clothing and engage in other "crazy" stunts. He later gives up his discharge attempts and is promoted from the rank of corporal to sergeant during the course of the TV series.
Contents
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Klinger was the first main character introduced on M*A*S*H not to have appeared in either Richard Hooker's original M*A*S*H novel or the subsequent film. Originally introduced as a bit character in the early first season episode " Chief Surgeon Who? " as a simple gag of a soldier who wanted out of the Army and was trying to fake his way to a "Section 8" medical discharge, he made such an impression on the producers and audience that he became a recurring character throughout the season, and by the second season was a regular member of the cast.
Klinger is proud of his family, and of his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, which he regularly mentions (including references to Tony Packo's Cafe , a real-life local attraction). The only time the series has a glimpse of Toledo is a dream sequence when Klinger finds himself in a deserted street. He is also an enthusiastic Toledo Mud Hens baseball fan (a real-life minor league baseball team) as he has been seen wearing a "Mud Hens" cap (Note that the cap worn by the actor is not a Mud Hens cap but actually a Texas Rangers cap as the costume dept couldn't find an authentic Mud Hens cap for the character). He also is fond of cuban cigars made in New Jersey by Puerto Ricans. His father and grandfather are olive pickers; likewise his father had a sharp temper; a left hook and is a bowling champ.
Klinger in the 4077th MASH
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In the early episodes, a running gag was Klinger's endless efforts to get discharged from the Army either by cross-dressing or through other means. Viewers could always look forward to what new outfit he would wear or what other ploy he would attempt.
But despite all his efforts, his commanding officers are never fooled, and Klinger is continually frustrated. Perhaps they recognised, as B.J. Hunnicutt once remarked, that Klinger is actually the only sane one by always trying to get out, while the rest of the camp are crazy for accepting their situation and making the most of it, as Joseph Heller would also observe in "Catch 22". The commanders largely tolerate Klinger's antics because they are entertaining, and he is otherwise a conscientious and reliable orderly who makes a point of never letting his schemes interfere with his duties. For example, he volunteered to join the party to go beyond enemy lines to recover casualties in Season 3 "Rainbow Bridge" . In "Aid Station" he is sent with Margaret and Hawkeye to a Battalion aid station . There he performs duties which would normally be done by a surgical nurse, while remaining steady under artillery fire, earning praise from Margaret and Hawkeye. By Season 7 "They Call the Wind Korea" he is the one who cajoles Winchester into saving a Greek soldier when Winchester thought the conditions were too difficult and the equipment too primitive.
In Season 8, he takes over Radar O'Reilly's job of company clerk with reasonable seriousness, developing a reputation as a scrounger and eventually getting promoted to Sergeant. Klinger also performs a near pitch-perfect impression/impersonation of Colonel Potter, which he uses several times to manipulate others into giving the unit supplies or information that requires the Colonel's direct approval (which is often hard to obtain, since he is frequently in surgery when needed on the phone).
By the end of the Korean War, Klinger has fallen in love with and married a native Korean woman, Soon Lee (Rosalind Chao). In the final M*A*S*H episode, Klinger reverses his longtime goal to leave Korea, and decides to stay to help search for her relatives (inspired by real US troops choosing to stay in Korea after the war). In the short-lived spin-off, After M*A*S*H , we learn that soon after the end of the war, Klinger and his wife, having found her family, return to the United States. Klinger, though, has been disowned and ostracized by his own family for marrying a Korean and finds his hometown unwelcoming to a mixed-race couple. In desperation, Klinger resorts to petty crime to make ends meet, and is caught and put on trial. Klinger contacts Colonel Potter seeking help, and a deal is struck, whereby, in exchange for the charges' being dropped, Klinger and his wife will move to St. Louis, Missouri and work at the hospital that Colonel Potter now administrates. Klinger and Soon Lee make the move, and Klinger studies for a Civil Service Exam, while he and Soon Lee await their first child.
The Klinger Collection
Main article: The Klinger Collection
One of the main ways Klinger would try to prove himself mentally unfit for service was to habitually wear women's clothing. Although this was as a scam to get out of the army, he took the role seriously and developed a great deal of expertise in ladies fashion and became extremely proud of his "Klinger Collection". Besides buying outfits, he also made his own, investing money and effort buying the best materials from overseas. He had a sewing machine in his tent as well as tailor's mannequins. He was sometimes consulted by the nurses and even Margaret on fashion matters.
At least three times Klinger loses his entire "Klinger Collection" of dresses-once when he thought there was a ceasefire and thus he didn't need them for Section 8 anymore; once when he was sent to a Battalion Aid Station with Hawkeye and Houlihan, Radar sold them when he thought Klinger had been killed; another time when the 4077th had bugged out to a new location, he has to trade them to Korean prostitutes so the MASH can use a "school building" as a new operating room!
Eventually, Klinger gives up wearing women's clothing, a change demanded by Farr because he felt his children would be ashamed of his appearing in women's clothing week after week on national television, and the views of the Klinger Collection became more rare from Season 8 onwards. The "Klingerpatra" costume in Season 8 "April Fools" is one of more memorable late Season outfits, with his picnic suit in Season 9 "Taking the Fifth" probably his last.
Other ploys to gain a discharge
Main article: Klinger's ploys to get out of the army
Besides dressing as a woman, Klinger also tried a wide range of ploys to get out of the army. Not all of the ploys attempted to exploit a "Section 8" by proving that he is mentally unfit for service. Other ploys were aimed at getting a hardship discharge on compassionate grounds or were outright efforts of desertion.
These ploys invariably fell flat mostly because his commanders could see through Them or outwit him. Colonel Blake in particular (and later Colonel Potter) kept a thick file of bogus letters in which Klinger claimed numerous family catastrophes, culminating in one episode where one half of the family had died, while the other half was pregnant. Klinger makes so many attempts at being sick in order to get discharged that one time when he develops anemia due to a side effect of Primaquine the MASH staff refuses to believe he is really ill!
Some of his ploys came close to succeeding. One of the closest, he wears a body/water reducing suit during a heatwave. Colonel Potter had agreed to give Klinger a discharge if he could hold out for 24 hours in the suit. This fails because he can't stand the heat stress and gives up with only an hour to go! Klinger also nearly got a section 8 when Majors Burns and Houlihan are so tired of his acting up they do recommend his release; Klinger's chances are gone when Major Freedman will only recommend a discharge if Klinger acts like a transvestite for the rest of his life!
At one point, Klinger's hearing is damaged by an exploding land mine (caused by the ice contracting the ground and pressure setting the land mines off due to cold), but the injury isn't permanent and Klinger regains his hearing. When Col. Potter tells him deafness would have got him a medical discharge, he immediately tries to fake a relapse. But Col. Potter bellows in his ear that he doesn't buy it and Klinger responds "You don't have to yell! What do you think I am, deaf?"
In the Season 8 episode "Dear Uncle Abdul", Klinger, in writing a letter to his uncle, reflects on his failed attempts to get out on a Section 8 remarking on all the weird things going on in camp involving the officers. He ends the letter by saying "You see, Unc? It's no wonder I never got a Section Eight; there's nothing special about me. Everybody here is crazy!"
Get rich quick schemes
Main article: Klinger's get rich quick schemes
In between trying to get out of the army, Klinger also manages to indulge in various get rich quick schemes. Most of these came to nothing but some, like the one in "Too Many Cooks" brought great pleasure to the camp personnel and others, like the one in "A War for All Seasons" were indeed very profitable for everyone else but him (and Winchester).
Reputation as a scrounger
Another of the running gags from episode to episode was Klinger's many uncles. They would give him connections for many things or serve as a source of advise for many situations. One almost got him into West Point!
Other attributes
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In one episode, Klinger is seen with a bandana around his neck. When Maj. Burns tells him to remove it as it is not military, Klinger refuses, as he said his Ma told him to never take it off. Unlike his other costume choices, this one is wholly sincere. Klinger's respect for his mother is established in several episodes. She does not speak or read English, only Arabic. Fearing she would worry herself sick if she knew he had been sent to Korea, he has told her he was stationed at Fort Dix, where he actually served his training. In the episode "The Party," Mrs. Klinger reveals that she knew he was in Korea all along.
Although Klinger does not seem to possess a great academic intelligence, he does possess what might be called very good practical intelligence. He doesn't know that a horse is a mammal, but he is able to trick Winchester, into helping him. This seems surprising, since Winchester is much more gifted than Klinger in book learning. But Klinger is able to manipulate Winchester, since he knows Winchester's weak spots. This is Klinger's practical intelligence at work. For example, when Klinger decides to produce a MASH newspaper, he needs to get people to write for it. He asks Winchester, who he knows has a sophisticated understanding of what constitutes good food, to write a food column for the paper. Winchester agrees, but only after Klinger tells him that Igor, who prepares the camp's meals, is writing a column on food. Since everyone knows that Igor can't cook well at all, Klinger knows that this will persuade Winchester to write a column. But then Klinger, in his greed, informs Winchester that he will need to pay to receive the newspaper. Winchester responds by saying: "if you think I'm going to pay you for the privilege of writing for your paper, you're dumber than you look, which boggles the mind." Klinger then tells him that Igor, has a plan to write a recipe for "Boston Clam Chowder." Since Winchester is from Boston, and understands what constitutes gourmet food, he's offended to hear that Igor, will be writing a recipe for it. Klinger adds that, according to Igor, "you take a bucket of canned clams, add powdered milk..." And Winchester, not wanting such a gourmet delicacy as Boston Clam Chowder made so crudely, relents, and decides to write for the paper. Klinger has made all of this up, about Igor writing a column on food. He knows that the idea of Igor, whose preparation of the camp's meals everyone hates, writing a column on food, will cause Winchester to give in and write. This displays real practical intelligence. Other examples of this practical intelligence, include him tricking Hawkeye and B.J. into giving him a three day pass, and his suggestion to Winchester, that he should treat Col. Baldwin with kindness, in order to get Baldwin to transfer Winchester. Klinger knows that Winchester, who hates Baldwin for sending him to the MASH unit, and who is planning on getting revenge against Baldwin, can manipulate Baldwin into transferring him, by being nice to him. Despite being a hustler at least twice the results come back on Klinger-in The Yalu Brick Road his deal for turkeys results in nearly everyone including himself getting food poisoning; in A War for All Seasons (TV series episode) his deal of betting on a baseball team with Major Winchester results in Winchester losing a lot of money !
Although these examples seem to indicate a devious side to Klinger, he also has a very good heart. He tries to do the right thing, when confronted with a moral problem. He tells Col. Potter about a nurse who was drinking too much, and who almost gave a person the wrong blood type. He shows generosity toward the Korean orphans at Christmas time.
Trivia
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Once, in answer to Winchester's bigoted question, "How would you feel if your sister were marrying a swarthy, dark-haired olive-picker?" Klinger responds that he has a sister who did just that. She is only once mentioned again-when Klinger says "Hello" to his sister "Irene" on the Clete Roberts interview episode..Klinger's mother and grandmother also married olive pickers,
Klinger's first wife was Laverne Esposito from the Hungarian side of Toledo - He never sees Laverne while they are married since they marry over the radio (Henry wouldn't grant him leave because of his continual efforts to get out of his military service) - 3.6 "Springtime" - She asks him for a divorce - 6.20 "Mail Call Three" - Later, she moves on with his best friend - 9.7 "Your Retention Please"
Charles Winchester once confessed to being so bored he wanted to look at Klinger's cousin Hakim's wedding pictures
Both Klinger and Winchester have the same blood type. However, in another episode (4.3) Klinger is B positive while Winchester states he is AB negative (8.11).
It was never established what the "Q" stood for in Maxwell Q. Klinger.
Series writer Larry Gelbart stated during the M*A*S*H* 30th Anniversary Reunion special that Klinger's antics were inspired by stories of Lenny Bruce attempting to dodge his own military service by dressing himself as a WAVES member.
Farr noticed the women's wardrobe in his dressing area on his arrival, and thought at first he'd be sharing the space with a woman. Finding out the clothing was for his character, he was surprised, but took it in stride.
Early filmed scenes, with Farr performing in a sissy way, didn't work. Farr suggested his own vision of the character: Klinger was heterosexual, but crazy, thinking it was normal for him to dress like a woman, but behave like a man. This version of Klinger clicked on camera, and with the TV audience.
The dog tags Klinger wore on the show were Jamie Farr's own from when he served in Korea in the United States Army.
Besides wearing dresses for a Section 8, another running joke is Klinger's feud with his mortal enemy supply Sgt Zelmo Zale:
In 5.18, Klinger and Zale are manipulated into a boxing match by Frank Burns, but it's Burns who gets a K.O. from both Klinger and Zale.
In 5.20, when Zale makes a nasty remark about the Toledo Mudhens, Klinger loses his temper and hits Zale, for which he gets KP duty for a whole month.
In one episode (5.12), Klinger states why he has such a large nose: "I came from a long line of short nosed people. One day my grandfather's camel spit in the eye of the village witch. Ever since then we've been growing them like this" (points to his nose).
A fourth running joke is Klinger's get rich-quick schemes: only one (11.5) has a real chance to succeed, when Klinger tries to have Major Winchester invest in a hula hoop prototype; unfortunately for Klinger, Winchester's ego ruins any chance of success. Quote Major Winchester, "My God, Klinger! You've invented the circle!". {A goof is that the hula hoop didn't become popular until after the Korean War} In another scheme, (episode 9.11), Klinger tries to practice electronics on the camp's Public Address system by taking the PA system apart so as to make a fortune repairing broken T.V. sets.
In one episode Klinger and Winchester get lost-and find they are only 200 yards from MASH 4077. The goof is a scene which shows Klinger on a hill overlooking MASH-despite the fact MASH 4077 is surrounded by a minefield.
Klinger appears to be Catholic during the first few seasons (mentioning a family priest, as well as the practice of praying to St. Anthony, and observing Lent), then at least once being mentioned as an Atheist (when Father Mulcahy asks why Klinger is praying when he is an Atheist, Klinger replies that he gave it up for Lent). In the show Aftermash he remains Catholic; he said that his wife prayed to Buddha while he prayed to Allah, the Arabic for God, for Father Mulcahy's recovery.
The house that Klinger is born in is at 1215 N. Michigan St., Toledo, Ohio 43604.
Klinger knows how to mix concrete and basic rules for using it, as seen in (9.3).
Quotes
| Klinger |
Which 1970 hit for the Kinks was about a young man's experience with a transvestite in a bar? | Nurses with Recurring Roles – MASH4077TV.com
Nurses with Recurring Roles
Introduction
There are a number of actresses who had recurring roles on M*A*S*H, appearing both credited and uncredited in numerous episodes. Some, like Kellye Nakahara and Gwen Farrell, were with the series for the bulk of its run. Others, like Marcia Strassman, were only in a single season. These actresses help make the 4077th feel like a real place to viewers; seeing familiar faces in supporting capacity season after season was a nice touch.
A note about nurses at the 4077th: many of them were, at one time or another, given the rank of lieutenant. I am not familiar with the way ranks work in the army, but maybe all the nurses at the 4077th — with the exception of Margaret — were lieutenants.
This page is a work in progress; as additional credited and uncredited appearances for actresses are noted, they will be added.
Nurse Kellye (Kellye Nakahara)
NOTE: Because she is clearly identified as Nurse Kellye in the majority of her credited appearances, I am placing Kellye Nakahara on this page rather than the Same Face, Different Name page, even though she was credited as several different nurses.
Kellye Nakahara’s first credited appearance on M*A*S*H was as Nurse Yamato in Season Two’s “ Hot Lips and Empty Arms ,” although she appeared uncredited in several earlier Season Two episodes. She would not be credited as Nurse Kellye until Season Four’s “ The Kids .” She was also credited as Nurse Able, Nurse Charlie, Nurse Baker and simply as Nurse. All in all, Kellye Nakahara was credited in forty-four episodes, with dozens of uncredited appearances as well.
Her most memorable episode is without a doubt “ Hey, Look Me Over ,” the first episode of the eleventh and final season, in which she erupts at Hawkeye for the way he chases after ever nurse but her. Later, Hawkeye sees her comfort a dying soldier and gains a new found respect for the nurses. Overall, her role became somewhat more substantial during the last few seasons; she was credited in over half the episodes in Season Ten and nine of the final sixteen in Season Eleven.
Some of Nurse Kellye’s appearances: in “ Bulletin Board ,” she was on her way to winning a race when Frank burst out of the underbrush and, with a gaggle of nurses behind him, crossed the finish line in terror. She helped throw a bridal shower for Margaret in “ Margaret’s Marriage .” In “ Bottom’s Up ” she offered to cover for Nurse Whitfield if she wasn’t up to her shift (Whitfield was an alcoholic). She helped comfort Nurse Gwen after she was shot in “ The Life You Save ” and in “ Who Knew? ” she admitted to not knowing Millie at all — along with the rest of the camp. She participated in the frantic race to save a wounded soldier from paralysis in “Life Time.”
In “ As Time Goes By ” she donated her favorite pair of army boots to the camp’s time capsule, telling everyone they stood for standing. She was also referred to as Nurse Nakahara in that episode, begging the question of what the character’s last name was: Kellye or Nakahara? Finally, in “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she revealed that she was hoping to be assigned to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu so she could be close to her family.
Left: “Hey, Look Me Over”; Right: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
List of Appearances:
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Margie Cutler (Marcia Strassman)
Marcia Strassman (perhaps better known to the general public as Mrs. Kotter on Welcome Back, Kotter) appeared in six episodes during the first season as Nurse Margie Cutler, a doe-eyed lieutenant with an feisty streak who always kept Hawkeye guessing. She was memorably introduced in “ Requiem For A Lightweight ” running out of the shower wearing only a towel — and she soon lost that. Hawkeye and Trapper were both taken by the new nurse but the heated competition between the two was over before it started. Margaret had Margie transferred for being “a bit of a distraction.”
Colonel Blake agreed to bring Margie back to the 4077 if Hawkeye and Trapper could find someone to fight in a boxing tournament. Trapper stepped up and went a few rounds in the ring to keep Margie around. Later, in “ Yankee Doodle Doctor ,” Margie participated in Hawkeye’s film, appearing alongside Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar and later showcasing her dancing talent a table in the mess tent.
In “ Bananas, Crackers, and Nuts ” she bore the brunt of Hawkeye’s crazed rejection when she finally agreed to go out with him. She rallied the nurses in “ Edwina ,” convincing them not to go out with any men in camp until somebody went out with Nurse Eddie. When Hawkeye drew the short straw, a bemused Margie was happy to see him take his dating duty seriously.
While helping to take x-rays of Radar in “ Love Story ,” she told Hawkeye that he acted like a child. And in “ Ceasefire ,” her last appearance, Margie was overjoyed that the war would be ending soon, meaning she and Hawkeye could start making post-war plans together. She was shocked when he told her he was married (he was lying). Perhaps that led to her requesting a transfer from the 4077th once the cease-fire failed to materialize.
Left: “Requiem for a Lightweight”; Right: “Cease-Fire”
List of Appearances:
“Cease-Fire”
Nurse Ginger Ballis (Odessa Cleveland)
NOTE: I am unsure of the spelling of Ginger’s last name. Hawkeye said it at the end of “Dear Dad” and the closed captioning on the DVD gave the spelling as Ballis while other sources use Bayliss.
During the first two seasons, Ginger was one of the most recognizable faces in the background scenes of M*A*S*H. Odessa Cleveland is credited in eleven episodes of Season One and eight episodes of Season Two, plus one additional episode in Season Three. At the end of “ M*A*S*H – The Pilot ,” when the P.A. announces that “the following personnel are assigned to the 4077th surgical hospital,” Odessa Cleveland’s name is listed. And at the end of “ Dear Dad ,” Hawkeye wishes his father a Merry Christmas from everyone at the camp, including Ginger. However, her role was never as significant as other supporting characters of the early years.
She was seen dancing with Spearchucker at the raffle party in “ M*A*S*H – The Pilot ” and a game of strip dominoes between her and Spearchucker in “ Chief Surgeon Who? ” is interrupted by General Barker, who asks her if everybody at the 4077th is crazy. Her response? “Everybody who’s sane is, sir.” Hawkeye asked her to check on a patient in “ Bananas, Crackers, and Nuts ” because he is worried about the patient’s breathing. She is shocked to discover that the patient is a dog.
In “ Major Fred C. Dobbs ,” Frank erupts at Ginger, calling her useless and an incompetent bungler. His harsh words reduce her to tears. After surgery, Hawkeye and Trapper comfort her and then proceed to prank Frank without mercy. She assists Henry during surgery in “ 5 O’Clock Charlie ” and he asks what number of yards she has down for 5 O’Clock Charlie that day. When she replies thirty-two and a half, he laughs, and refuses to disclose his own number. It is a very nice scene between the two.
Donnie has written in to explain that in “ 5 O’Clock Charlie ,” Henry does not refer to Ginger as Richardson, he is asking her for a Richardson retractor, a surgical instrument that comes in two different sizes. Because Henry doesn’t specify the size he wants, Ginger asks “Big or little?”
Perhaps her finest moment came in “ Dear Dad… Three .” Early in the episode, after Hawkeye sends her for more plasma, a soldier asks Hawkeye to make sure he doesn’t get “darkie” blood. Later, Hawkeye and Trapper paint the soldier’s face and hands with tincture of iodine. When Ginger goes to check on him, she compliments him on passing for white, which prompts him to start yelling at her. She yells right back, declaring that she is a lieutenant and he had better watch his mouth. After Hawkeye and Trapper tell the soldier about the man who discovered plasma dying because a whites only hospital wouldn’t let him in (the story is false) the remorseful soldier thanks Hawkeye for giving him a lot to think about, and then salutes Ginger.
She was yelled at by Margaret in “ Hot Lips and Empty Arms ,” but by that time her role was reduced to a scene or two in the O.R. and after the Season Three episode “ O.R. ” the character was never seen again.
Left: “M*A*S*H — The Pilot”; Right: “Dear Dad… Three”
List of Appearances:
“O.R.”
Lt. Barbara Bannerman (Bonnie Jones)
In “ I Hate A Mystery ,” Hawkeye lavished her with praise, telling her he admired her for her analytical mind. However, she still thought he was guilty of stealing a variety of items. Earlier in the episode, Trapper hit on her in the supply tent while she was taking inventory. She was also seen rooming with Leslie Scorch. Later, in “ Dear Dad ,” she was one of at least two nurses who had a date with Hawkeye in the same night. Despite a rather large, speaking role in “ Sticky Wicket ,” in which she again had a date with Hawkeye (he broke it), Bonnie Jones was not named in the closing credits. And, in “ Cease-Fire ,” she was one of three nurses to learn that Hawkeye was married (he was lying). She also bought one of Klinger’s dresses at his end-of-the-war sale.
Left: “I Hate a Mystery”; Right: “Cease-Fire”
List of Appearances:
Nurse Able (Judy Farrell)
Note: Judy Farrell was married to Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt) until 1983.
Judy Farrell first appeared in “ Out of Sight, Out of Mind ,” begging Hawkeye to come fix the furnace in the nurses’ quarters. Later, she lead a blind Hawkeye out of post-op after he nearly came to blows with Frank. She took him to the nurses’ quarters. Along with several of her fellow nurses, she had prepared for a trip to Tokyo in “ Movie Tonight ” but after seeing the fun that the rest of the camp was having, decided to stay.
She helped give Margaret a bridal shower in “ Margaret’s Marriage ” and in “ Images ” she helped convince Hawkeye and B.J. to talk to Margaret about giving Nurse Cooper a break. In “ Ain’t Love Grand ,” she tried to talk Hawkeye into going back to the Swamp during his fued with B.J. to no avail. She was one of the (many) nurses to enjoy Hawkeye’s vintage wine in “ Taking the Fifth ” after he tried to use it to get a date. And during the farewell dinner in “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she announced that she was going to be “the best darn nurse Oklahoma’s ever seen.”
Left: “Images”; Right: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
List of Appearances:
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Nurse Baker (Jan Jorden)
Although many actresses were credited as Nurse Baker over the years, Jan Jorden was always credited as Baker, never anyone else. Her first appearance was in the Season Seven episode “ Commander Pierce ,” in which she argues with Bigelow and Kellye about switching shifts. In “ Hot Lips Is Back In Town ,” she was one of the nurses who welcomed Lieutenant Linda Nugent to the 4077th. Hawkeye flirted with her in “ Taking the Fifth ” and she later joined the rest of the nurses in the supply tent to sample his vintage wine.
In “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she announced that she was going to stay in nursing and try to get into maternity or pediatrics. After everything she went through during the war, it “would be nice to help bring people into the world.”
Left: “Taking the Fifth”; Right: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
List of Appearances:
“The Moon is Not Blue”
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Nurse Peggy Bigelow (Enid Kent)
Note: It just might be possible to determine which season an episode appeared in if you look carefully at the length and style of Enid Kent’s hair.
She felt just awful about Hawkeye being blinded in “ Out of Sight, Out of Mind ,” especially since she was one of the nurses who woke him up early in the morning to fix the furnace in the nurses’ quarters. She often flirted with Hawkeye; the two seemed to have a solid relationship founded on witty retorts. In “ Movie Tonight ” she participated in the nurses’ verse of “Gee Ma, I Wanna Go Home.” When the camp was obsessed with The Rooster Crowed at Midnight in “ The Light That Failed ,” Bigelow helped deduce who wasn’t the murderer.
Her first name was given as Peggy during “ In Love and War ” when she was introduced to another nurse. In “ Images ,” she revealed that she used to work emergency in Chicago and it still took her a while to get used to the “meatball” surgery at the 4077th. She went with Hawkeye to the 8063rd during the week-long switcheroo in “ Temporary Duty ” and was referred to as a lieutenant. While attempting to secure the water tower in “ They Call the Wind Korea ” she suffered a ruptured spleen. And in “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she somberly announced that she was quitting nursing, after having dealt with so much carnage — first at the tail end of World War II and, of course, the Korean War.
Left: “Temporary Duty”; Right: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
List of Appearances:
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Nurse Shari (Shari Saba)
Shari Saba’s first credited appearance was in the Season Eight episode “ Bottle Fatigue ,” in which she had one line (“Si, si doctor.”). In “ Lend a Hand ,” during a cold snap, she turned down Hawkeye’s suggestion they go somwhere cold and get warm, opting instead for some “stimulating conversation.” She was also in on the conspiracy to throw Hawkeye a surprise birthday party. In “ Bottom’s Up ,” Hawkeye and Charles moved B.J.’s cot into the nurses quarters, she was one of the grinning nurses awaiting him when he woke up.
She held a light over Gwen during a blackout after Gwen had been shot in “ The Life You Save ” and lost to B.J. in pinball in “ Wheelers and Dealers .” In one of my personal favorite scenes that shows the dedication of the background players on M*A*S*H, she can be seen trying to glue together a mug in “ Who Knew? ” in the nurses quarters. And according to “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she wanted to get into radiology. She also saved Father Mulcahy from being hit by a jeep in that episode.
Overall, Shari Saba was credited in only eleven episodes — both as simply Nurse and as Shari — but appeared uncredited in countless others, often in the background or in crowd scenes.
Left: “Lend a Hand”; Right: “As Time Goes By”
List of Appearances:
“U.N., the Night and the Music”
“As Time Goes By” (uncredited)
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Nurse Leslie Scorch (Linda Meiklejohn)
Leslie was Henry Blake’s main squeeze during the first season (and one episode of the second). Forgetting for a moment the moral repurcussions of the married Henry fooling around with another woman, it seems likely that army regulations frowned upon an officer of Henry’s stature fraternizing with a subordinate like Leslie (on the other hand, army regulations never stopped anyone at the 4077th from doing anything). She was seen in the original opening sequence to “ M*A*S*H – The Pilot ” enjoying champagne with Henry and was later off to Seoul in a chopper (Henry came back at the end of the episode; Leslie was not in the chopper with him, so how did she get back?).
She was at the party for Hawkeye in “ Chief Surgeon Who? ” and was introduced to Young Hi in “ The Moose ” during breakfast in the mess tent. In “ Henry, Please Come Home ” she joined with Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar to trick Henry into returning to the 4077th under false pretenses. During Henry’s search of the camp in “ I Hate A Mystery ,” Radar nearly ran off with a pile of Leslie’s delicates. When the nursing staff went on “strike” in “ Edwina ” until one of the men went on a date with Edwina, even Colonel Blake couldn’t get any affection from Leslie, his favorite nurse.
After seven appearances in Season One, she returned for the first episode of the second season but quickly disappeared, never to be seen again.
Left: “M*A*S*H — The Pilot”; Right: “I Hate a Mystery”
List of Appearances:
Nurse Jo Ann (Jo Ann Thompson)
NOTE: This actress is credited as both Jo Ann Thompson and Joann Thompson.
In eleven credited appearances, Jo Ann Thompson was given a name only twice, both times Jo Ann. In her other appearances, she was credited as simply Nurse (or Nurse #1 in “ As Time Goes By “). Her first appearance was in the Season Seven episode “ Dear Sis ,” when she recieved socks for Christmas and was very impressed with the gift Klinger recieved. She helped B.J. harvest an arterial graft from a dead soldier in order to save another patient in “ Life Time ” and assisted Hawkeye in surgery in “The Red/White Blues.” She alerted the rest of the camp to the newspaper stash Charles was keeping in “ Communication Breakdown .”
Was “bribed” by Reddish with a pair of silk stockings to let him speak with a patient before visiting hours in “ Foreign Affairs .” She took the stockings and then went to alert Hawkeye and B.J., finally returning the stockings when they confronted Reddish. She was one of the enraged patrons of the Officer’s Club in “ Friends and Enemies ” when Charles put his classical music in the jukebox. In “ As Time Goes By ” she was present at the time capsule ceremony, along with most of the camp. And in “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ,” she announced she was sticking with the army.
Left: “Life Time”; Right: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
List of Appearances:
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Unnamed Nurse (Jennifer Davis)
With Jennifer Davis, the writers and/or producers bypassed the issue of naming characters by never once crediting Jennifer Davis as anything but Nurse. She is credited in nine episodes, starting with Season Five’s “ Dear Sigmund ” and ending with “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen .” In “ C*A*V*E ,” she was working on the patient Hawkeye was trying to help while battling his claustraphobia. Hawkeye hit on her in “ A Night a Rosie’s ” and again in “ Are You Now, Margaret? ” but both times she shrugged him off.
In “ April Fools ,” Colonel Tucker began asking her about an I.V. before Hawkeye interceded. And in “ Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen ” she watched in horror as Hawkeye drove a tank through the newly rebuilt latrine.
Left: “A Night At Rosie’s”; Right: “Friends and Enemies”
List of Appearances:
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Lt. Dish (Karen Philipp)
Lieutenant Dish, in the words of Hawkeye, is “a girl with a face that doesn’t quit. A girl with so much body she should be continued on the next girl.” She’s engaged and, according to Hawkeye, is inaccesible to everyone but him. But she always seem to turn him down as well, even going as far as to suggest that Hawkeye might thrive on rejection. She does agree to take part in the raffle to raise money for Ho-Jon but apparently only because she knows she won’t actually have to go away with the winner (she does assume it’ll be Hawkeye). The winner, of course, turns out to be Father Mulcahy and Dish is off the hook.
In “Germ Warfare” she’s seen first in the Pre-Op Ward assisting Trapper John, then in the Mess Tent where she talks with Hawkeye and teases him about how his fantasies and finally back in the Pre-Op Ward where she dresses a wound and talks with Margaret. Despite being featured heavily in the CBS fall preview for M*A*S*H as well as promotional material leading up to the series premiere, Dish only appeared in these two episodes.
Left: “M*A*S*H — The Pilot”; Right: “Germ Warfare”
List of Appearances:
“M*A*S*H — The Pilot” (credited as Lt. Dish)
“Germ Warfare” (credited as Lt. Dish)
Lt. Jones (Barbara Brownell)
During a date with Hawkeye at the minefield in “The Moose” she told him his kisses were driving her crazy; she then pushed him away for biting her throat. The two were soon interrupted by Trapper. Was introduced to Young Hi (the “moose”) at breakfast the following morning. Hawkeye tried to talk her into going out with Radar in “Love Story” but instead he talked her into his own, very capable, arms.
Left: “The Moose”; Right: “Love Story”
List of Appearances:
“The Moose” (credited as Lt. Jones)
“Love Story” (credited as Lt. Jones)
Nurse Webster (Deborah Harmon)
Went on a date with Hawkeye in “Promotion Commotion” but only after deciding to give him a second chance following Rizzo’s attempt to gain favor with Hawkeye by telling her how much of a stud. The date ended badly due to interference from Igor and Klinger. Was one of the nurses to bug out with patients in “Hey, Look Me Over” and then return to a joyous reception from the doctors. Helped prepare for an inspection by Colonel Bucholtz and was later unexpectedly given the night off by Margaret.
Left: “Promotion Commotion”; Right: “Hey, Look Me Over”
List of Appearances:
“Promotion Commotion” (credited as Nurse Webster)
“Hey, Look Me Over” (credited as Nurse Webster)
Nurse Lacey (Rita Wilson)
Was supposed to go out on a date with Hawkeye in “Blood and Guts” but had to back out when war correspondent Clayton Kibbee asked her to have a drink with him. Jokinly asked Hawkeye if he was jealous and was later seen at the Officer’s Club with Kibbee. Was one of the nurses to bug out with patients in “Hey, Look Me Over” and later returned to the 4077th to find a joyous reception from the doctors. Hawkeye later flirted with her while she was “cooking” hemostats (she ignored him). Complained about Margaret loudly, saying she was worse than Colonel Bucholtz. Worried about a dying patient with Hawkeye.
Left: “Blood and Guts;” Right: “Hey, Look Me Over”
List of Appearances:
“Blood and Guts” (credited as Nurse Lacey)
“Hey, Look Me Over” (credited as Nurse Lacey)
Last updated November 10th, 2013
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Which male actor played a female soap star in the film Tootsie? | Tootsie Cast List: Actors and Actresses from Tootsie
Full Cast of Tootsie Actors/Actresses
5.5k views 16 items tags f t p @
Tootsie cast list, listed alphabetically with photos when available. This list of Tootsie actors includes any Tootsie actresses and all other actors from the film. You can view additional information about each Tootsie actor on this list, such as when and where they were born . To find out more about a particular actor or actress, click on their name and you'll be taken to page with even more details about their acting career. The cast members of Tootsie have been in many other movies, so use this list as a starting point to find actors or actresses that you may not be familiar with.
List is made up of many different actors, including Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman.
If you want to answer the questions, "Who starred in the movie Tootsie?" and "What is the full cast list of Tootsie?" then this page has got you covered.
This cast list of who was in Tootsie includes both lead and minor roles. (16 items)
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Which British comedian describes himself as an executive transvestite? | Heroines of Cinema: ‘Tootsie’ and Feminism the Hollywood Way | IndieWire
Heroines of Cinema: ‘Tootsie’ and Feminism the Hollywood Way
Heroines of Cinema: 'Tootsie' and Feminism the Hollywood Way
Aug 22, 2013 9:26 am
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Last month, a video went viral in which Dustin Hoffman talked about his experience making the 1982 film “Tootsie”. The actor was moved to tears as he recalled preliminary make-up tests, in which he found himself, made up as a woman, “shocked that I wasn’t more attractive”. He claims the experience led to an epiphany in which he realised that he would never approach a woman of such an appearance, based purely on her (lack of) looks. “There are too many interesting women I have not had the experience to know”, he concluded “because I have been brainwashed”.
It is a strikingly honest admission, and yet not surprising to anyone who has seen “Tootsie”, one of the most head-on confrontations that mainstream Hollywood has ever made with issues of gender roles. The film was a wild success when released, nominated for ten Oscars and grossing the equivalent of over $400 million in the US alone, second only to “E.T.” that year. Considering the type of films that are able to make that amount of money these days – and the kind of roles they typically offer their female characters – it is somewhat extraordinary to recall just how commercial a hit a film like “Tootsie” was.
“Tootsie” is, in fact, the story of a man – namely Michael Dorsey, played by Dustin Hoffman. Michael is an actor, talented yet unemployable due to his reputation for being difficult to work with. When his friend Sandy (Teri Garr) misses out on a part in a soap, he decides to audition himself, disguised in drag, and somewhat miraculously gets the part. Only his agent and his roommate – played by director Sydney Pollack and Bill Murray respectively – are in on the secret. To everyone else, ‘Dorothy Michaels’ is the sweet-hearted, plain-talking and rather dowdy woman she appears – and that’s where the fun begins.
As Michael starts work on the soap, he is immediately struck by how preposterously Dorothy’s character Emily Kimberly has been written. When an older male co-star is scripted to attempt an uninvited kiss, Dorothy responds by slapping him in the face. The crew are shocked – but the female producer is delighted, while the chauvinist male director professes himself thrilled with such feistiness. Dorothy is allowed to play the scene as she chooses, and soon her ballsy improvisations become a trademark. Time and again, Michael-as-Dorothy-as-Emily speaks up against the sexism and misogyny inherent in the scripts, not to mention the leery behaviour of the director. “Think of me as a person, not as a woman”, Dorothy demands. “You are the first female character who is her own person” the producer breathlessly confides.
Of course, there is something potentially unsavory in the fact that it takes a man to vocalise thoughts which the female crew members clearly share but do not dare express. What prevents the film from portraying Michael as the saviour of womankind is the fact that he is only this passionate and committed in his female persona. As Michael Dorsey, the man, he is in fact a bit of loser. Indeed, the film gleans most of its pathos from the fact that Dorothy is a much more appealing person than Michael is – and it is sad each time we are reminded that she is, in fact, a charade. Being cast as a woman gives Michael license to express sensitive qualities that simply do not gel with his hot-headed macho self. As Michael he is vain, tempestuous and self-obsessed, and he starts to realise it. “I think Dorothy’s smarter than I am”, he forlornly tells his roommate. “I just wish I looked prettier. She deserves it”.
This seemingly innocuous line in fact reveals a perspective that emerges as both the film’s greatest strength and one of its weaknesses, or at least limitations – its take on the customs of romance and dating. Inside work and outside, Dorothy is pursued by various suitors. This is of course a great source of comedy, but it also allows Michael to witness how absurd male courting rituals are when seen from the other side. From the much older co-star who more or less forces himself upon Dorothy, only to back off respectfully when another man enters the room, to the absurdly presumptuous advances of another co-star’s father, Michael becomes rapidly well-versed in how it feels to be a woman on the dating scene.
It is perhaps then disappointing that the film does not reap more dividends from this potent set-up. For a start, Dorothy is bombarded with attention. While this is heartening and certainly entertaining to watch, when one recalls the honesty of Dustin Hoffman’s comments regarding women he had neglected to know, it seems a shame that the film does not have the bravery to show how it might feel for Dorothy to be simply cast aside or ignored as a potential love object. Nor is there much exploration of the fact that women who society deems “outspoken” are rarely so roundly celebrated as Dorothy. Again, while it is a pleasant fantasy to observe, the fact is that so-called “opinionated” women are often met with scorn and abuse, and it might have been interested to include that as part of Michael’s learning experience.
As it is, we are not entirely clear how much Michael has learned by the end of the film. Early on, he takes an instant liking to his pretty, blonde co-star Julie (Jessica Lange), and it is she who he remains interested in by the end. Not his somewhat more untamable friend Sandy, who is all but ridiculed as she screams “I’ve read The Second Sex, I’m responsible for my own orgasm”. I like to imagine Michael learning to empathise with a woman moved to such passionate expression of her opinions in the face of restrictive gender binaries. But no, his eyes remain firmly on Julie – hardly a reprehensible decision, but not the film’s boldest move.
Perhaps it is unsurprising, with “Tootsie”’s star, director, producers and three out of four writers being male, that the film seems at times masculine in its approach, with all the insights and limitations that this implies. Ultimately though, these criticisms do not prevent the film from being a marvel and a delight – a shining example of how feminist discourse can ease into the cinematic mainstream. As a classic Hollywood production through and through – right down to the preponderance of males among its key creatives – it is really quite remarkable how full of bold feminist pronouncements and ideas the film is. As Michael proclaims himself, in his final dramatic speech, “proud enough to be a woman that was the best part of my manhood”, his sincerity is not in doubt. Now if only Hollywood would give as much creative freedom to women as it does to men like Sydney Pollack and Dustin Hoffman, we might hope for more of the same, and then some.
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The film Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams in the title role, was set in a Victorian property known as one of the painted ladies. In which city is this tourist attraction? | RWF ::: PRODUCTION NOTES ::: Bicentennial Man (1999)
Production notes
1999 | Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama | 130 min | PG
In the first decade of the new millennium, with advances in global technology overtaking the sovereignty of human compassion, Richard Martin (SAM NEILL) buys a gift, a new NDR-114 robot. The product is named Andrew (ROBIN WILLIAMS) by the youngest of the family's children. Touchstone Pictures'/Columbia Pictures' "Bicentennial Man" follows the life and times of Andrew, a robot purchased as a household appliance programmed to perform menial tasks. As Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought, the Martin family soon discovers they don't have an ordinary robot.
Touchstone Pictures and Columbia Pictures present A 1492 Pictures Production in association with Laurence Mark Productions and Radiant Productions, "Bicentennial Man." Directed by Chris Columbus, from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan, the film is based upon the short story by Isaac Asimov and the novel The Positronic Man by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. The film is produced by Wolfgang Petersen, Gail Katz, Laurence Mark, Neal Miller, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan. Executive producer is Dan Kolsrud. "Bicentennial Man" is distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
The Story
"Bicentennial Man" spans two centuries, during which it is the goal of a single individual whose quest is to learn all he might about the intricacies of humanity, life and love. Through his efforts Andrew, a popular robot model, teaches as much as he learns. He shows the world how to open its eyes and its heart to receive any being with enough compassion to ask for acceptance.
Andrew appears as a typical robot. Upon his delivery, there are four members of the Martin home: Richard Martin, whom Andrew respectfully refers to as Sir; his wife, simply as Ma'am; and their two children Grace and Amanda, who will always be Miss and Little Miss, respectively.
Little Miss is the first to call him Andrew, because she misunderstands him to be an android, which of course, he is not. He is a robot: A NorthAm Robotics NDR-114 that has been purchased, as he himself describes, "To perform menial tasks. Cooking. Cleaning. Making household repairs. Playing with or supervising children." The children, however, are at first suspicious of this new member of the household. Miss sees him as an uninteresting simple appliance, common in the homes of her friends. Little Miss thinks he's a bit scary. She, of course, has nothing to fear as the first law of robotics states, "A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction cause a human being to come to harm."
It is perhaps the second law of robots, "A robot must obey all human orders except where such orders conflict with the First Law," which leads the Martin family to change their perception of Andrew. For it is following an incident in which Miss orders Andrew to leap from an upstairs window (an order which he is compelled to follow), that leads Sir to proclaim, "Though Andrew is technically a piece of property, he shall be treated as if he is a person." In treating Andrew as human, are they starting to see human traits? Is he indeed showing some very anthropomorphic signs of creativity, curiosity and friendship? Or is it merely as the NorthAm Robotics executives explain, "An appliance with human form showing signs of mechanical failure, interpreted as eccentricity."
Sir decides to not only allow Andrew his creativity but to encourage and cultivate the behavior as he believes Andrew to be a unique individual.
Andrew's artistry is first exhibited in his carving delicate wooden animals. Before long he has converted the basement of the Martin home into his workshop where he crafts beautifully intricate clocks. As his talent develops, so too, does Andrew's friendship with Sir and his ever-deepening affection for Little Miss.
It is ironic that one who spends so many hours creating timepieces is himself unaffected by the passage of time. But time does pass. Through the years, then decades, Andrew achieves a degree of notoriety for creating and selling his exceptional works, all the time watching as the family he has become so much a part of grows up... and grows old. It makes Andrew all the more aware how different he is, and in his uniqueness, how alone he is.
Andrew decides that by looking more human he might narrow the gap between himself and the human world he so wants to understand. Even after the robotic upgrades that change his looks, there is still something missing. The ability to decide for one's self where to live, the ability to come and go as one pleases and the ability to choose are all things that Andrew, as a piece of property, cannot know. He lacks the power of free will. Though such a request has never been heard before, the court finds it cannot deny freedom to any being with a mind advanced enough to desire freedom so passionately.
Andrew's freedom comes, initially, at a great personal cost. Sir, his lifelong companion and teacher, is unable to understand Andrew's desire. But to Andrew, it is the start of a journey toward emotional growth and something he is compelled to pursue.
Andrew sets out on a journey of discovery, to find out for himself what it is to be human. He needs to know if anywhere there is anyone or anything else like him. His search will not lead him to understand others, but with the help of his new friend Rupert (OLIVER PLATT), an independent and inventive robotics expert, Andrew is able to discover himself, developing and appreciating his own feelings and abilities. As Andrew returns to his own life he remains ever closer to the newer members of the Martin family. The awkward affection he once felt for Little Miss develops into precious companionship with Little Miss' granddaughter Portia. Through her, he learns that with mankind comes mortality, and the very uniqueness that has always seemed to keep from his human existence is the very thing that gives him his humanity.
About the Production
According to records, the robot, also known as Andrew Martin, was powered up on the stages at Treasure Island in San Francisco, California. As the production evolved from a written page to a cinematic story, so too did a feeling among the hundreds of craft workers, artisans and technicians creating the elements of this story. It was the knowledge, an all but unspoken truth, that what was being created here was something very special. The story which begins in the near future, spans the next two centuries. Only one figure is constant throughout, the character of Andrew Martin, played by Robin Williams.
The original story "The Bicentennial Man," written by Isaac Asimov, was intended to be part of a science fiction anthology to be released in 1976, the year of the American bicentennial. As Asimov himself describes in his book The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories, he was approached in January 1975 to be a participating writer for the anthology. It was to be a very limited edition, containing original works by ten of the top science fiction writers of the day. The stories could be about anything at all provided that they could seem to have risen out of the phrase "The Bicentennial Man." Asimov completed his work ahead of his April 1975 deadline but at nearly twice the length requested, the longest story he had ever written below the level of a novel in seventeen years.
Due to a variety of complications, the anthology never came to fruition and the Asimov story was eventually transferred to Judy-Lynn del Rey's anthology of original stories entitled Stellar Science Fiction #2 which appeared in February, 1976. Asimov liked the story so much that it became the title piece in his own collection of short stories.
The road to the big screen was a long one for Andrew Martin. Asimov first sold the screen rights for the story to Chicago-based producer Neal Miller in November 1986 a decade after its original publication. "I was looking for good stories that might be adapted to the screen," Miller remembers. "A friend suggested that I read 'Bicentennial Man' and I fell in love with it. It was a parable of what it means to be human."
The challenge of bringing together the myriad elements required to adapt the Asimov story and bring it to fruition as a major motion picture rested with venerable producers Gail Katz and Wolfgang Petersen. "The project had been sitting dormant for a number of years," recalls producer Katz. "Wolfgang and I read the short story, and loved it. We immediately decided to develop it into a film."
Katz and Petersen, along with producer Laurence Mark, hired screenwriter Nick Kazan to write the screenplay. "I think Nick [Kazan] absolutely captured the story," says Katz. "In my mind, he actually went beyond it in terms of also creating a love story. We developed a screenplay that ultimately attracted Academy Award® winning actor Robin Williams and director Chris Columbus."
The teaming of Robin Williams with Chris Columbus was a natural. Having worked together on two previous films they had an established relationship that performed brilliantly in comedy. But the challenges beyond the humor are what brought them together for this story.
"The appeal to me," says Williams, "is the way the story deals with artificial intelligence and human behavior. It's the idea of a robot, an assembly line creature, an NDR-114. There are thousands of them in the beginning, but there's something unique about this one. He has curiosity, a sense of fascination."
As Columbus describes, "It's really like nothing I've ever done before. It's a story spanning two hundred years, that follows the life of a single family for several generations. The film's cast of supporting characters was continually changing." The central figure, and the most unique task for virtually every department on the production, would be the creation of the robot. Williams has a great deal of respect for the original source. "Asimov is amazing," he says of the late and prolific author. "By giving the robots the three laws, he gave them a kind of moral directive. Asimov did indeed contribute significantly to the modern perception of what a robot is and how it should behave."
Though robotic-like inventions can be traced back to around 200 BC when Hero of Alexandra built complicated amusing automaton, the word "robot" is itself a creation of the 20th century, coming from the Czech word Robota, meaning forced labor. The term robot was first used in a 1920s play by Karel Capek called "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots). The play dealt with robots created to free humans from the burden of labor but who eventually turn on and try to destroy their human creators because of their desire for freedom.
In 1926, the robot character Maria launched a similar attack on humanity in Fritz Lang's "Metropolis." In 1950 Asimov set down the three laws of robotics in his book "I, Robot" which established a standard for the fictional robot that has since been accepted by almost anyone writing about or referring to robots. The three rules are:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with The First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
It is with these laws, or moral directives as Williams calls them, that the fictional robots lose their disposition toward calamity. "Asimov was the first writer to think of robots in a positive sense," Williams says. "That he could think they could be as moral as human beings, and maybe more so is what's fascinating about them. By programming what may be considered a consciousness and giving his robots both curiosity and desire, Asimov removed any real danger the robots might pose. What remains is the threat that people feel by the robots' presence, placing Andrew in a world where he must face the all-too-familiar forces of bigotry and hatred in a daring bid to obtain the only thing that really matters to him--his humanity."
How is consciousness defined? "I think it was Arthur C. Clarke," Williams recalls, "who said, 'You'll know when an artificial intelligence has a consciousness when it can make a joke and know that it made a joke and laugh at it."
For the filmmakers the task was no small one. To create the robot suit for Williams, the challenge was to avoid having the suit completely mask the humor and emotion of the character.
To help solve this problem the production turned to Steve Johnson and his special effects company XFX, Inc. The suit Johnson created was made up of over 250 pieces which were assembled into 30 wearable components weighing roughly 35 pounds. Chris Nelson and Eric Fiedler of XFX were the puppeteers who maintained the suit and controlled the facial expressions. The first-stage suit could have been very limiting, because as Chris Nelson explains, "There wasn't much movement for someone with a face as expressive as Robin Williams'. It had only jaw movement which Robin could control. It didn't have the smile mechanism that we would upgrade to later. The eyes blink and the eye brows go up and down by remote control."
Was the lack of facial mobility limiting? Nelson explains, "Something that was constantly coming up from the beginning was, 'Couldn't you have put just about anybody inside this mask?' You don't initially see any of Robin, but the biggest thing on this show for me is that Robin is actually inside, and Robin's essence comes though this suit. Covered in plastic, covered in silicone, in all the mechanisms and things, he reads through. You know it's Robin and if anybody else was in that suit you wouldn't have that, especially when it carries over to Andrew's many different looks and where it ends up."
The final result surprised even Williams, but in a very positive way. "I've not seen one frame of dailies, but I know the robot is interesting," he explains. "The greatest compliment the robotics guys and I have received was when the studio first saw the robot, they thought it was CGI. The second was that when I'm inside working the suit, it looks totally different than with just animatronics. They said it has life."
Eric Fiedler explains the process of operating the face. "It's a type of performance. It's an accentuation to punctuate what Robin does. If it were just a static face you would still read something. You would read a lot of the body language, but the expression helps it along. Robin and I had conversations about it. He always came up with great ideas like, 'why not put a surprised look here.' Or, later, when the face moves a little he'd say, 'Make him have just a slight smile. We worked together, which made it fun.'"
During the early tests of the suit for its expression and mobility, Williams entertained the crew, improvising everything including a robo-rapper, and the results were hilarious. For Williams though, it was not just a matter of acting through the suit but rather having the suit become a part of him. "It isn't just a mind-set, it's a body-set," he explains. "Everything from where your feet make contact with the ground to the way you move your hands, how you grab things, how much range of motion you have in your head. It's all dictated by the suit. Then you try and push the limits of the suit."
"Ultimately," Williams says thoughtfully, "it's very strange. Once they encase you in the suit, it's a bit like being in the make-up for Mrs. Doubtfire, you're kind of freed by it. It defines who you are. The hardest part was keeping that in mind once we started to lose all the accessories, getting what Andrew calls upgrades because he's still a robot, not fully human."
Williams' long-time make-up artist, Cheri Minns, was the one person who worked with him through all the various looks and applications; from Steve Johnson's robotics, to the more humanoid features through the later old-age look designed by Greg Cannom and the company Captive Audience Productions. Of the transformation Minns says, "Robin sort of sustains the character. I think people will care about him because he maintains a thread of dignity from his earliest appearance as a robot to eventually becoming something like an elder statesman."
Embeth Davidtz, in the dual roles of adult Little Miss and Portia, enjoyed her own engaging interplay opposite the robot. "When I first read the screenplay," Davidtz remembers, "I thought, how do you make that believable? How do you make love believable? But Robin transforms himself into more than just a robot. That's why the story is so profound. It's about something that was man-made to begin with, but then becomes self-made, and that's what the allure is."
Playing the role of Sir, Sam Neill also found the prospect of playing against a robot that is starting to show unusually human attributes, an interesting one. But as the man who first recognizes Andrew's uncommon abilities Neill says of his character, "He's Andrew's first owner and he's fascinated by the whole business of robotics. But he notices that there's something humane about the robot, and he has a sense of humor and an inquiring mind. There's this little spark in his robot that is different from all the other hundreds of thousands of other ones."
As the character playing Andrew's owner, Neill had to try to explain the concept of humor. In reality, Neill found Williams well versed on the topic. "I've never really worked with anyone like Robin before," Neill recalls. "I have to say I've laughed more on this film than I have on the last ten films combined. When we'd do a scene, like the one where Andrew has to tell a joke, with Robin you never really know where it's going to go. It can go ways that are absolutely hilarious but completely unprintable. So this was a very interesting and extremely funny process for me."
As someone who has the opportunity to interact with Andrew from the perspective of two different characters, Embeth Davidtz could easily understand Portia's attraction to a robot. "First of all," Davidtz explains, "the character of Andrew is fantastic. He's really funny, quaint, quirky, very old fashioned but really way ahead of his time. So, he's got this intellect, which is a challenge to her and a wonderful kindness. It's a great contrast that's given. Some of the human beings are not really great human beings and then here's a robot that has more of a soul than most people do."
For Robin Williams, the opportunity to play off such a wide variety of characters throughout the diverse story is what created the challenge and gave it innovation. From the parental Sir or the inquisitive Little Miss to the partnership he forms with Oliver Platt's character, inventor Rupert Burns, or the playful combativeness he experiences with Kiersten Warren's Galatea, Robin knows that he's lucky. He says, throughout his existence he has had several teachers, people who hook up and become mentors for him.
Director Chris Columbus put a new face on Robin Williams when the two made the tremendously successful comedy "Mrs. Doubtfire." Columbus, whose first screenwriting jobs were science fiction-horror-fantasy, felt it was time to get back to his roots. "Science fiction has always been one of my biggest passions. But I had never been able to find a story in that genre that worked on an emotional level. When I read Nicholas Kazan's screenplay, I found a story tht was not only magical and fantastic from a science fiction standpoint, but also tremendously complex and moving from a human standpoint. Also, it was completely original and unpredictable."
"The challenge of the picture was creating a realistic and believable robot, and a futuristic view of San Francisco that would span over 200 years. We needed to create a robotic suit that would be realistic and completely believable. The audience must always believe that this is a machine and not an actor inside of a suit. And although the robotic design of the suit helps create this illusion, it is Robin's controlled and extremely focused performance that makes Andrew Martin so real."
The evolution of San Francisco was also an area to test the imagination of director Columbus. "I felt it was essential to create a future that had complete architectural integrity. A city like San Francisco will never let its past die," explains Columbus, "so it is important to be true to that vision, but subtly adding to the city's already existing architecture."
The social attitude was an area to which he would pay close attention. Of the director's approach to these societal issues and his creative vision to tell the story, Williams says, "People know Chris for a certain style of movies because he has great instinct for comedy. What people may not realize is there's an incredible literacy to him and a film literacy, a vision for something like this, a science fiction or really fantastic movie. This one offers that because it has the other side, the human edge, the behavior of the characters. That's what's interesting about doing this. He's been very open to trying different things in his casting of different people. It's been great. He's very adamant about how the robots should look and the inter-relationships of all the different characters."
Sam Neill agrees with his fellow actor's assessment, saying of Columbus, "He's the most unflappable director I've ever met. He's just extraordinarily calm and never lets anything ruffle his feathers, which is kind of amazing on something this big."
To project Columbus' unique vision and propel a cityscape as well known as San Francisco from its current look to 200 years in the future, the director turned to the talents of Academy Award® winning production designer Norman Reynolds, who is especially well known for his art direction on "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" and his production design on "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi" in the original "Star Wars" series.
"I haven't gone too far into the future," Reynolds says of his designs. "Having said that implies that I know what the future looks like, and I don't. But we've taken advantage of the San Francisco landmarks, like the Golden Gate Bridge, to which we've added another road at high level. We've increased the size of Sausalito so that you can see it from Fort Point, underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. All of these landmarks are familiar to people both here and overseas."
To allow the city of San Francisco's presence to be felt throughout the film, director Columbus utilized many practical locations unique to the city by the bay. Also featured, in Little Miss' wedding and later as the church Portia is restoring, is Grace Cathedral. With its French and Spanish inspired design and towers rising 174 feet above the street, the church has been a recognizable landmark since its construction began in 1928.
To convey the passage of the 200 years over which the story takes place Columbus had Reynolds continually modernize the character's living spaces. The interior sets of the Martin house, for example, were built on the stages on Treasure Island in San Francisco that would retain their classic architectural design allowing for upgrades to convey the passage of time. We've had a number of kitchens in this movie," Reynolds says with a laugh, "like, four or five. It's difficult to change each of them but hopefully we've succeeded and I think making things simple has helped, you know, to not be too cluttered."
Not all of Reynolds' designs utilized existing structures. The World Legislature set was an undertaking that took three months to construct on the stages of Manex Studios in Alameda, California, and is one of the most advanced of Chris Columbus' vision of the future. As Reynolds describes in overview, "There are a number of interiors, but the exteriors are what we use to really convey the future. What we've done is to add more buildings, more futuristic buildings and take advantage of the city rather than build sets that are too way out."
To establish that sense of the future and the progress of time in the environment and in technology, Dream Quest Images, the feature film visual effects division of The Walt Disney Company, employed such multi-faceted techniques as digital matte paintings, CG imagery and models to realize the futuristic world envisioned by Columbus and Reynolds.
"Chris and Norman's concept of an 'evolutionary' future--instead of a far out one--was what really enabled us to create realistic shots," observed Dream Quest's visual effects supervisor James Price. "By utilizing existing structures and building around them, we were able to design environments that are futuristic yet familiar. This was crucial not only to show the progress of time throughout the film, but also to maintain a level of intimacy between the audience and the world in which the characters are living."
Holograms figure importantly throughout the film. Dream Quest's team of digital artists created the Three Rules of Robotics, a vortex of light and words which the newly arrived Andrews projects for his apprehensive family. While this early display has a somewhat menacing overtone, Andrew later demonstrates his abilities in an emotional and nostalgic way when he projects the wedding dance for Sir. Holograms of human organs are used to underscore the technology used in Andrew's human transformation. The replacement of Andrew's head and the morphing of a robotic underskeleton to a humanoid hand also involved the use of bluescreen and motion control photography, survey techniques to recreate the camera move in 3D, and digital compositing, along with animation and CG.
Landmark views of San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. have been combined with digital matte paintings of new millennium skyscrapers. A CG tanker churns beneath the double-deck span of the Golden Gate bridge, a CG Circle Line hover ferry can be seen on New York's East River, CG hover cars fly above the Brooklyn Bridge and CG traffic and hover cars appear throughout the shots of the Capitol. The World Legislature itself was built as a 1/48 scale miniature by Dream Quest's model shop over a 12-week period, as was Portia's loft. The Victorian building in an old San Francisco neighborhood is seen with both traditional cable cars and a futuristic monorail, all intricately detailed models seamlessly blended with a digital matte painting of the Bay Bridge. Other architectural modifications are seen in the CG extension of the hospital set, the Rupert Burns building, and the family's Northern California mansion.
Eventually the truth prevails. The feeling shared by all people involved with the production of "Bicentennial Man" is that this story is special. Beyond the elaborate sets, beyond the philosophy, and beyond the science of robotics, "Bicentennial Man" is a very human story. As Sam Neill says, "There are all kinds of questions raised, some of which are rather troubling. Where does science overstep its mark? Where does what we invent and what we use start to erode what we understand about a civilized way of living? I have no idea where we will be in a hundred years, even if we'll be alive as a race. It's terribly hard to know or to see. All I do know is it'll be wildly different from anything we can guess now."
Robin Williams agrees, "No scientists will predict the future. They talk about when the first functioning robot will be. They talk about getting that nano-technology down to a certain point but then there will be something, as always, as right now, that no one can predict. No one could predict lap-top computers sixty years ago."
In this story, however, Williams feels very positive about what technology might bring for that too comes back to the human element. "Some people could say it's like a divine accident when it happens," he says of his character's evolution and the questions it might bring about. "There's a certain time when his perception of the world changes and he becomes quite unique. There have been movies about robots. There have been movies about artificial intelligence. But who we are and how we will relate to these creatures is what Asimov was always writing about. How will we relate to these questions and could they be superior in a moral way. A robot would have more humanity that most human beings according to Asimov, and that makes us look at ourselves."
About the Cast
Robin Williams (Andrew Martin) was most recently seen in "Jakob The Liar" and the Universal Pictures' presentation "Patch Adams," which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Williams is one of the most gifted and abundantly talented actors of our time. He is the recipient of the 1997 Best Supporting Actor Academy Award® for bringing compassion and intelligence to the part of Dr. Sean McGuire in "Good Will Hunting," a role for which he also received the Screen Actors Guild Supporting Actor Award.
Williams first captured the attention of television viewers when he landed a guest-starring role on the hit situation comedy series "Happy Days" as Mork, the wildly manic and humorous extraterrestrial. His sharply hilarious yet heartfelt portrayal won him instant stardom. Viewer response was so great that he quickly signed for the now-legendary spin-off comedy series "Mork & Mindy."
In 1980, Williams made the leap to feature films, debuting in Robert Altman's "Popeye." Audiences then embraced a more poignant Williams in his portrayal of T.S. Garp in George Roy Hill's hugely successful "The World According To Garp," followed by Paul Mazursky's "Moscow on the Hudson." Barry Levinson's landmark film, "Good Morning, Vietnam" earned Williams his first Academy Award® nomination, with Peter Weir's "Dead Poets Society" earning him a second nomination.
Williams next starred opposite Robert De Niro in Penny Marshall's "Awakenings" (bringing him a special honor from the National Board of Review) followed by Terry Gilliam's "The Fisher King" for which Williams received his third Academy Award® nomination. He additionally starred in Barry Levinson's "Toys," Steven Spielberg's "Hook," and Mike Nichols' "The Birdcage" which earned the ensemble cast of the film an Actor Award from the Screen Actors Guild.
Williams received a Golden Globe Award for his performance in "Mrs. Doubtfire" and also earned a Special Achievement Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his vocal contributions as Genie in Walt Disney Pictures' now-classic animated blockbuster feature "Aladdin."
Born in Chicago, Williams attended high school in Marin County, California. After a short stint studying political science at Claremont Men's College in Southern California, Williams entered the College of Marin to study theater and his innate comedic and dramatic skills led to his acceptance at the Juilliard School in New York, where he spent three years under the tutelage of acclaimed actor John Houseman and other noted professionals. In 1988 he performed on stage when he co-starred with Steve Martin in Mike Nichols' off-Broadway production of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."
Williams, who began his career as a stand-up comedian, has won four Grammy Awards, including one for Robin Williams Live at the Met. He also won Emmys for the television specials "Carol, Carl, Whoopi, and Robin," and "ABC Presents A Royal Gala."
He is also active in several humanitarian organizations, and has been a primary force in "Comic Relief," an annual benefit to aid the homeless raising over $50 million to date.
SAM NEILL (Sir) was raised in New Zealand, and has been recognized as an actor of extraordinary depth and range.
Neill's recent credits include his role opposite Robert Redford and Kristen Scott Thomas in the critically acclaimed film "The Horse Whisperer," and the science fiction thriller "Event Horizon," with Laurence Fishburne. He appeared opposite Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant and Robert Downey, Jr. in "Restoration," and in "Sirens," also with Hugh Grant. Neill also starred in Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" and in Jane Campion's "The Piano" opposite Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel.
In addition to a memorable appearance in "My Brilliant Career," Neill appeared in "Plenty" and "A Cry in the Dark," for which he won the Australian Film Institute award for Best Actor and was also seen in "Dead Calm" and "The Hunt for Red October."
On television, Neill recently received Emmy nominations for his starring role as the title character in the ABC/Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation "Merlin." He was named Best Actor on British Television, and received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal in the title role "Reilly, Ace of Spies," and earned a second Golden Globe nomination for his work opposite Judy Davis in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of "One Against the Wind."
A native of Northern Ireland, Neill grew up in New Zealand, where he began his career with the Amamaus Theatre Group, subsequently joining the New Zealand Film Unit. In 1991, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to acting.
Embeth Davidtz (Adult Little Miss/Portia) caught the attention of critics and audiences alike as the Jewish maid who survives both the abuse and the attraction of Ralph Fiennes' sadistic Commander Goeth in Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List."
She then portrayed a seductive but fragile caterer opposite Kenneth Branagh in Robert Altman's critically acclaimed thriller "The Gingerbread Man." Her other work includes Miramax's "Mansfield Park," "Murder in the First" opposite Kevin Bacon, "Feast of July," "Matilda," and the supernatural thriller "Fallen" opposite Denzel Washington.
Oliver Platt (Rupert Burns) recently starred in "Lake Placid," "Bulworth" and "Doctor Dolittle." His feature credits also include "Simon Birch," "The Impostors," "Dangerous Beauty," "Executive Decision," "A Time To Kill," "The Three Musketeers," "Indecent Proposal," "Funny Bones," "Beethoven," "Flatliners," "Working Girl," "Postcards From the Edge," "Crusoe" and the upcoming "Gun Shy" and "Three to Tango." His first major break came with his role in Jonathan Demme's "Married to the Mob."
Platt spent his childhood in Washington, D.C. and Asia and earned a degree in drama from Tufts University. He has worked extensively in theater with roles in such productions as "The Crucible" and "Buried Child."
Wendy Crewson (Ma'am) was recently nominated for a Gemini Award (Canada's equivalent of the Emmy) in the category of Best Actress, for her title role in "At The End Of The Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story." In addition, she recently completed filming director Robert Zemeckis' "What Lies Beneath," with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, and is currently shooting "Piano Man's Daughter," directed by Kevin Sullivan, produced by Whoopi Goldberg and co-starring Stockard Channing.
Crewson previously starred opposite Harrison Ford as the intrepid and dynamic First Lady in Wolfgang Petersen's "Air Force One." She followed that starring as the street savvy prosecutor Helen Eden in the MGM release "Gang Related" with James Belushi and the late Tupac Shakur. Displaying her comic skills opposite Tim Allen in the 1995 box office smash "The Santa Clause," Crewson subsequently starred as a grieving widower's reluctant date in "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" with Michelle Pfeiffer and Peter Gallagher.
Crewson's other film credits include "Corrina, Corrina" with Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta, "The Good Son" with Macaulay Culkin and a memorable appearance in "The Doctor" with William Hurt.
On television, Crewson appeared in the Sally Field-directed episode of the critically acclaimed "From The Earth To The Moon," executive produced by Tom Hanks. She received an ACTRA Best Actress Award for "Home Fires" on which she was a series regular. She received ACTRA nominations for her roles in "I'll Never Go To Heaven," "Getting Married In Buffalo Jump" and "The War Brides." Crewson is featured as a series regular on the CBS one-hour drama "Hard Copy" and Robert Altman's "Tanner 88" for HBO. Other television credits include Alice Monroe's "The Lives of Girls and Women."
A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Crewson received a Bachelor of Arts from Queens University in Kingston and continued her post-graduate studies in London at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Repertory Theatre.
She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband, actor Michael Murphy, and their two children.
Hallie Kate Eisenberg (Young Little Miss) is 7 years old and loves to act. She first appeared as Marie in "Paulie." She portrayed Barbara in Michael Mann's "The Insider." She recently completed filming "Beautiful," co-starring Minnie Driver and directed by Sally Field.
Eisenberg has also appeared in three television movies, portraying Eleanor in "Nicholas' Gift" (CBS), Josie in "Blue Moon" (CBS) and Jenny in "Swing Vote" (ABC). She also appeared as Abby Mills in the short film "A Little Inside" which aired on Lifetime.
Young Eisenberg starred in a series of promos for the Independent Film Channel as Christie, "the hot new indy director," and has filmed an international advertising campaign for the Pepsi-Cola Company. She also served as the "Entertainment Tonight" correspondent for the Emmy Awards, Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
Eisenberg has guested on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, "Donny & Marie" and "The Howie Mandel Show," and has a guest spot coming up on the "Letterman" show this December.
Stephen Root (Dennis Mansky) is a classically trained actor who has starred on Broadway, television and film. Recent features include "Office Space," "Krippendorf's Tribe," "Natural Selection," "Bye, Bye Love," "Crocodile Dundee" and "Dave." He co-stars with George Clooney in the Coen Brothers' next feature "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
Root made his feature debut as a cold-blooded scientist in George Romero's "Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear," and followed by playing a police sergeant opposite Demi Moore in "Ghost," and as Gary Murray in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Other feature credits include "Extreme Justice," "Robocop III," "V.I. Warshawski," "Black Rain," "Kindergarten Cop," "Guilty by Suspicion" and "Stanley and Iris."
He currently stars as Gene on CBS-TV's "Ladies' Man," is a series regular on the Emmy-winning "King of the Hill," voicing the characters of Hank's next door neighbor Bill, boss, Mr. Strickland and Topsy, and provides the voices of Donovan in Columbia Tri-Star's "The Big Guy and Rusty the Robot" and as Sheriff in "Star Command." He starred as station manager Jimmy James on the series "News Radio" and was a series regular on "The Golden Years," and "Harts of the West." He starred in the miniseries, "From the Earth to the Moon," and had recurring roles on "Civil Wars" and "L.A. Law."
Root received a CableACE Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the telefilm "Road to Galveston," starring Cicely Tyson. His extensive guest starring credits on series include "Seinfeld," "Chicago Hope," "Cybil," "Party of Five," "Roseanne," "Murphy Brown," "Civil Wars," "Northern Exposure," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Home Improvement."
Born in Sarasota, he majored in acting and broadcasting at the University of Florida, then left before graduating when he won a regional audition for the National Shakespeare Company. After three years of touring the U.S. and Canada with the troupe, Root settled in New York, honing his craft in several off-off Broadway Shows before landing a role in off-Broadway's "Journey's End."
Regional theater performances led to Root's starring Broadway debut in "So Long on Lonely Street." He then starred with Richard Kiley in "All My Sons," which won the 1987 Tony Award for the year's best revival. He has also starred off-Broadway in "The Au Pair Man." His starring role in the national tour of "Driving Miss Daisy" with Julie Harris brought Root to Los Angeles where he launched into his television and film roles.
Lynne Thigpen (Female President) enjoys a distinguished artistic career on stage, film, television and radio. A Tony Award winner for her starring role in the Dan Sullivan-directed play "An American Daughter," Ms. Thigpen's other Broadway credits include "Tintypes" for which she received a Tony Award nomination, "Fences" directed by the legendary Lloyd Richards, "A Month of Sundays," "Working," and "The Magic Show."
Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, Ms. Thigpen starred in "Jar the Floor," "Having Our Say," "Boesman and Lena," for which she won an Obie Award; "Balm in Gilead," "The Best Man" and "Fences," for which she received the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Award.
Equally acclaimed for her performances in feature films, Ms. Thigpen has appeared in a wide variety of motion picture roles. Among the highlights of her numerous credits are Michael Mann's recent hit "The Insider," "Random Hearts," "Just Cause," "Bob Roberts," "The Paper," "Article 99," "Lean on Me," "Running on Empty" and "Tootsie."
For television's Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, Ms. Thigpen starred in "Night Ride Home" and "The Boys Next Door." Her other movies-of-the-week include "A Chance of a Lifetime," "A Mother's Instinct," "Cagney & Lacey" and "Separate But Equal." Thigpen also starred as a series regular on "FM," and has a recurring role on "Law & Order." She previously starred with recurring characters on "L.A. Law," "thirtysomething" and the daytime drama, "All My Children," and guest-starred on "Homicide: Life on the Street," "The Cosby Show" and "Frank's Place." She received four Emmy Award nominations for her performances on the acclaimed PBS series "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
In addition to her stage and film successes, Ms. Thigpen has appeared on the popular NPR program, "The Garrison Keillor Show." Her mellifluous voice has also contributed to the success of recorded books by Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison, Dr. Maya Angelou and others.
Bradley Whitford (Lloyd) most recently appeared in Albert Brooks' "The Muse." Previously, he was seen in the feature films "Philadelphia," directed by Jonathan Demme; "The Client," directed by Joel Schumacher; "A Perfect World," directed by Clint Eastwood; and "Awakenings" directed by Penny Marshall; as well as the films "My Fellow Americans," "Cobb," "My Life," "Scent of a Woman," "Red Corner" and "Presumed Innocent."
After attending the Juilliard Theatre Center, Whitford began his career with roles in numerous New York and regional theater productions, including "A Few Good Men," "Curse of the Starving Class," "Measure for Measure, "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Whitford's long list of television credits include starring on the new hit series "The West Wing," as well as guest-starring roles on "The Secret Lives of Men," "ER," "The X-Files" and "Ellen," as well as a recurring role in "NYPD Blue" and numerous movies of the week.
Kiersten Warren (Galatea Robotic/Human), recently starred in Barry Levinson's "Liberty Heights." She will soon be seen as Candy, in Bruce Paltrow's "Duets," starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Scott Speedman. Additionally, Ms. Warren recently completed the screenplay "Miss Runner Up" which Michael Douglas' Furthur Films will produce. The film is a black comedy about a scrappy orphan who's been on the have not team for too long. Kiersten is attached to star in the film. Her other feature credits include, "Pushing Tin" for director Mike Newell, "Independence Day," and "Painted Hero."
Ms. Warren's many television credits include her role as the eccentric Leeann opposite Beau Bridges in the Barry Sonnenfeld executive produced series "Maximum Bob," a role on "Saved By the Bell: The College Years," and guest-starring roles on "Cybill" and "JAG." Her films for television include "Fugitive Among Us," "False Arrest," "Grave Secrets" and "Exile."
John Michael Higgins (Bill Feingold) is perhaps best known for his acclaimed portrayal of David Letterman in the HBO film "The Late Shift." He has also starred in such hits as Barry Levinson's "Wag the Dog" and Ridley Scott's "G.I. Jane." He will be seen in the upcoming "Best of Show," the new "mockumentary" by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Eugene Levy.
Higgins, a longtime veteran of Broadway and regional theatre, created the title role in Paul Rudnick's "Jeffrey" for the New York stage and is internationally recognized as a leading interpreter of Harlequin, from the Italian commedia dell'arte. He has played a litany of the great classical roles from Shakespeare to Shaw to Sheridan, and is a well-respected improviser and comedian as well, co-writing and starring in such off-Broadway successes as "The National Lampoon Revue" for ShowTime and "The Comedy of Errors," for the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Scores of television credits include everything from Elaine's bald boyfriend on "Seinfeld," to the fussy alien A'rnox on Disney's "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," to Carol Burnett's Riverdancing paramour on "Mad About You," as well as dramatic turns in Tom Hanks' "From the Earth to the Moon" and the controversial ABC drama "Nothing Sacred."
George D. Wallace (Male President) has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in motion pictures, stage and television productions. Among his most prominent feature films of the past few years are "Forces of Nature" starring with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck; "Multiplicity," with Michael Keaton; "Diggstown," with James Woods; "Postcards from the Edge," with Meryl Streep; "Punchline," with Sally Field and Tom Hanks; "Defending Your Life," with Streep and Albert Brooks; as well as "A Rage in Harlem," "Resurrection" and "My Girl 2."
Early in his career, Wallace became an instant star for his performances as Commando Cody, Sky Marshall of the Universe, in Republic Pictures' classic serial, "Radar Men from the Moon." More than a generation later, he is still revered for this memorable role. He subsequently starred in another sci-fi classic feature drama, "Forbidden Planet," and he has appeared on screen opposite many of Hollywood's legends, including Clark Gable ("Soldiers of Fortune"), Jane Russell ("The French Line"), William Holden and William Bendix ("Submarine Command"), Rock Hudson ("The Lawless Breed"), Kirk Douglas ("The Big Sky," "Man Without a Star"), Randolph Scott ("Man in the Saddle"), and Audie Murphy ("Destry," "Drums Across the River," "Six Black Horses").
For television, Mr. Wallace's body of work can best be characterized as voluminous, having appeared in many of the medium's classic episodic dramas and sit-coms. A fraction of these credits include relatively recent guest starring roles on "Early Edition," "JAG," "ER," "Mad About You," "Civil Wars," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Cybill," "L.A. Law," "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "Matlock," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Picket Fences," "Dynasty," "Hill Street Blues," "Knots Landing" and "St. Elsewhere"; going back to such time-honored perennials as "Rawhide," "77 Sunset Strip," "Wyatt Earp," "The Virginian," "Perry Mason," "The F.B.I.," "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza." He was also a series regular on "Sons and Daughters."
Among Wallace's extensive list of miniseries and made-for-television movies are "Nothing Personal," "Miracle At Clements Pond," "Child of Rage," "The Haunted," "U.S. Vs. Salim Adjam," "People Like Us," "Murderous Passion," "The Final Days," "Fresno," "Love Leads the Way" and "Return to Earth."
On stage, Wallace made his Broadway debut in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, "Pipe Dream." His subsequent Broadway credits include director George Abbott's musicals "Pajama Game," in which he replaced John Raitt as the lead, and "New Girl In Town" opposite Gwen Verdon. He then starred opposite Mary Martin in the musical, "Jennie," and Sondheim's "Company" directed by Harold Prince. He also starred in the national touring productions of "Camelot" as King Arthur, "Man of La Mancha" and "Company." In addition, he starred at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in director Jose Quintero's acclaimed production of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof."
Born in New York City, Wallace now resides in Los Angeles with his wife, award-winning singer/actress Jane A. Johnston.
About the Filmmakers
Chris Columbus (Director/Producer) is perhaps best known for directing one of the highest grossing motion picture comedies of all time, "Home Alone" and its smash hit follow-up "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." Recent credits include his direction of last year's heartwarming drama, "Stepmom" with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon; his box office hit "Mrs. Doubtfire" with Robin Williams and Sally Field; the popular comedy "Nine Months" which he wrote, produced and directed; the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy "Jingle All The Way," which he produced, and "Monkeybone" starring Brendan Fraser, directed by Henry Selick to be released Thanksgiving 2000 which he is producing.
Columbus was born in Spangler, Pennsylvania and grew up outside of Youngstown, Ohio. As a youngster, he aspired to draw cartoons for Marvel Comics and eventually discovered that comic books resemble the storyboards directors sketch for their movies. In high school he began making 8mm films and drawing his own storyboards (which he continues to do for his films today). After high school, he enrolled in the Directors Program at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.
Columbus first attained success as a screenwriter. While still in college he sold his first script, "Jocks," a semi-autobiographical comedy about a Catholic schoolboy who tries out for the football team.
After graduating from NYU, Columbus wrote a steel town drama called "Reckless" based on his experiences as a factory worker in Ohio. The film starred Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn, and was directed by James Foley.
Columbus gained prominence in Hollywood with a trio of original scripts for Steven Spielberg: the 1984 comedy thriller "Gremlins," the 1985 adventure "Goonies," and the fantasy "Young Sherlock Holmes" which was directed by Barry Levinson.
Columbus' screenwriting achievements led to his first two directorial efforts, "Adventures In Babysitting" and "Heartbreak Hotel," which he also wrote.
He continued his affiliation with Spielberg on "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" before a meeting with John Hughes led him to his directing assignment on "Home Alone," followed by the poignant comedy "Only The Lonely" from his own screenplay.
Nicholas Kazan (Screenplay by) was nominated for the Academy Award® for his acclaimed 1990 screenplay, "Reversal of Fortune" (which he also co-produced), and was voted Screenwriter of the Year by ShoWest for that work.
Among Kazan's subsequent films are "Fallen" (on which he also served as executive producer), and "Matilda" (written with his wife, Robin Swicord). He also co-authored "Frances" starring Jessica Lange, and wrote the screenplays for "Patty Hearst" and "At Close Range." In addition to writing "Dream Lover," he made his directorial debut with that film, starring James Spader.
Mark Radcliffe (Producer) continues his longtime collaboration with Chris Columbus, having recently served as producer on the box office hit "Stepmom" as well as "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Nine Months," "Jingle All the Way" and "Monkeybone," due Thanksgiving 2000. He was executive producer of "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York" and co-producer of "Only The Lonely" and associate producer and assistant director of "Home Alone." He and Columbus first worked together on "Heartbreak Hotel."
Radcliffe is a native of Oklahoma and began his film career as assistant director on Francis Ford Coppola's "The Escape Artist." He later joined Coppola on "Rumblefish" and "Peggy Sue Got Married."
For filmmaker John Hughes, Radcliffe was assistant director on "She's Having a Baby" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." He also worked as assistant director to Jerry Zucker on "Ghost," with Donald Petrie on "Mystic Pizza," and with Paul Schrader on "Light of Day."
Michael Barnathan (Producer) is president of 1492 Pictures and producing partner of Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe with whom he produced "Stepmom," "Nine Months," "Jingle All The Way" and most recently, "Monkeybone." The company was formed in May 1994 and has a three-year, first look deal with 20th Century Fox.
Prior to joining 1492 Pictures, Barnathan was senior vice president of production at Largo Entertainment for four years where his responsibilities included supervision of both development and production of Largo's films. He served as executive producer on "Used People" and supervised such productions as "Point Break," "Dr. Giggles," "Judgment Night" and "The Getaway."
Before joining Largo, Barnathan spent seven years working for Edgar J. Scherick Associates, eventually becoming the company's executive vice president. During his tenure there, he produced and executive produced numerous cable movies, television films and miniseries including "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" which received nine Emmy nominations. Barnathan is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Gail Katz (Producer) is currently producing "The Perfect Storm" starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg directed by Wolfgang Petersen for Warner Bros. based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger. She recently produced the Columbia Pictures blockbuster "Air Force One" starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Glenn Close, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. She was the executive producer of the Walt Disney Pictures live-action remake of "Mighty Joe Young," starring Bill Paxton and Charlize Theron directed by Ron Underwood. She also recently executive produced "Instinct" starring Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr., directed by Jon Turteltaub from Touchstone Pictures.
Katz served as executive producer on the MGM film "Red Corner," starring Richard Gere and directed by Jon Avnet. She was the producer of the very successful "Outbreak," starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Cuba Gooding Jr. She executive produced the highly acclaimed hit "In the Line of Fire," starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, and Rene Russo and co-produced "Shattered" starring Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins and Greta Scacchi.
In 1990 she and partner Wolfgang Petersen formed Radiant Productions. Since then, they have made nine films in as many years. They are developing numerous feature film projects and currently have a first-look deal for feature film development at Columbia Pictures. They recently formed Radiant Television and have series commitments at CBS Television.
Katz began her production career as a vice president at New World Pictures after segueing from her position as vice president of finance there. She earned her MBA from Yale University and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a native of Los Angeles, California.
Wolfgang Petersen (Producer) was born in Emden, Germany. He began directing stage productions at age 21 while still an acting student at Hamburg's Ernst Deutsch Theatre. Eventually deciding to focus his efforts solely on directing, Petersen entered the Berlin Film and Television Academy, where he trained for four years.
In 1970, Petersen made his TV directorial debut with "I Will Kill You, Wolf," which he followed with six two-hour telefeatures for the series "Tatort." Among his other early successes were "Smog," which won the 1975 Silver Prix Futura in Berlin, and "Black and White, Like Day and Night," for which he earned the award as Best Director at the Paris Film Festival in 1978.
Petersen started his feature film career as winner of the German National Films Prize as best new director for "One of Us Two" in 1973. He soon gained international recognition with the controversial 1977 drama "The Consequence," the WWII nautical adventure "Das Boot" (1981), for which he received two Oscar® nominations (Best Director, Best Screenplay Adaptation); "The NeverEnding Story" (1984), his first English-language film, the space fantasy "Enemy Mine" (1985), starring Louis Gossett, Jr. and Dennis Quaid; and--after taking permanent residence in the United States--the suspense thriller "Shattered" (1991), starring Tom Berenger. In 1993, Petersen directed the critically acclaimed suspense thriller, "In the Line of Fire," starring Clint Eastwood, which was nominated for three Academy Awards®: Best Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Best Screenplay and Best Editing. This triumph was followed by the boxoffice hit "Outbreak" (1995), starring Dustin Hoffman, and "Air Force One" (1997), starring Harrison Ford.
Petersen is currently filming "The Perfect Storm" starring George Clooney, based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger.
Neal Miller (Producer) formed Rubicon Film Productions, Ltd. in 1976, after a successful career as a management and information systems consultant to several Fortune 500 companies. His first film project was a series pilot starring Daryl Hannah. Over the next seven years, he wrote and produced six award-winning films, which originally aired on the American Playhouse series on PBS, including "Who Am I This Time?" starring Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken, directed by Academy Award® winner Jonathan Demme; "Come Along With Me" with Estelle Parsons, Sylvia Sidney and Barbara Baxley, directed by Joanne Woodward; "A Matter of Principle" with Alan Arkin and Virginia Madsen; "Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby is a Friend of Mine," adapted from the story by Ray Bradbury, starring Fred Gwynne; and "Under The Biltmore Clock" starring Sean Young (which Miller also directed). He also wrote and directed the ABC After School Special "Love Hurts," which won a Golden Apple Award at the National Educational Film & Video Festival. His film "The Roommate," adapted from a story by John Updike, has been featured in seven film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, and won awards at the San Francisco and Dallas film festivals, as well as the Grand Prix at the Los Angeles International Film Festival.
After Miller and his family moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1988, The Walt Disney Studios acquired his rights to The Bicentennial Man. He is currently producing and directing his first documentary, "RoughRiders," about the reuniting of his Chicago high school championship basketball team to compete in the 1998 National Masters Basketball Championships. He is also directing the upcoming motion picture "Don't You Cry For Me," reuniting Alan Arkin and much of the cast from the widely acclaimed "A Matter of Principle."
Laurence Mark (Producer) received an Academy Award® nomination for producing "Jerry Maguire," starring Tom Cruise and directed by Cameron Crowe, and he executive produced "As Good As It Gets," starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear and directed by James L. Brooks, which was also nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture.
Mr. Mark also recently produced "Anywhere But Here," starring Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman and directed by Wayne Wang; "The Object of My Affection," starring Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd and Nigel Hawthorne and directed by Nicholas Hytner; and "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," starring Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow and Janeane Garofalo and directed by David Mirkin.
Upcoming films for Mr. Mark include "Hanging Up," starring Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton and Lisa Kudrow and directed by Ms. Keaton, due out in February, and "Center Stage," directed by Nicholas Hytner, due out next spring.
Laurence Mark Productions is headquartered at the Sony Studios where the company has a long-term production arrangement with Columbia Pictures.
As producer or executive producer, Mr. Mark's other credits include Bob Rafelson's "Black Widow," Mike Nichols' "Working Girl," Susan Seidelman's "Cookie" and Herbert Ross' "True Colors," as well as "Sister Act 2," "The Adventures of Huck Finn" and "Simon Birch." For television, Mr. Mark executive produced "Sweet Bird of Youth," starring Elizabeth Taylor and directed by Nicolas Roeg, and "Oliver Twist," starring Richard Dreyfuss and Elijah Wood and directed by Tony Bill.
Mr. Mark began his career as an executive trainee at United Artists after graduating from Wesleyan University and from New York University with a master's degree in cinema. After working as a producer's assistant on a number of films ("Lenny," "Smile"), he held several key publicity and marketing posts in New York and Los Angeles at Paramount Pictures, culminating in his being appointed Vice President of West Coast Marketing for that studio.
Moving into production, he then worked as Vice President of Production at Paramount before joining Twentieth Century Fox as Executive Vice President of Production. At those studios, he was closely involved with the development and production of such films as "Terms of Endearment," "Trading Places," "Staying Alive," "Falling in Love," "The Fly" and "Broadcast News."
In theatre, Mr. Mark made his debut as a producer in 1991 with "Brooklyn Laundry," starring Glenn Close, Laura Dern and Woody Harrelson and directed by James L. Brooks at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles. He also produced the musical stage version of "Big" which played Broadway's Shubert Theatre in 1995.
Dan Kolsrud (Executive Producer) began his entertainment industry career directing television programs at local stations in Baltimore and Boston. Moving to Los Angeles, he initially worked as an assistant director on feature films before becoming a producer.
As a noted filmmaker Mr. Kolsrud's creative contributions to the industry include executive producing some of Hollywood's biggest hits. Most notable among his credits is author Ray Bradbury's screen adaptation of his classic novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes," as well as "Impulse," "Memoirs of an Invisible Man," "Falling Down," "Grumpy Old Men," "Richie Rich," "Seven," the Academy Award® winning "L.A. Confidential" and, most recently, "Mystery, Alaska."
Phil Meheux, B.S.C. (Director of Photography) began his career as a documentary filmmaker before moving into feature films. Among Mr. Meheux's notable feature achievements are such hits as "Entrapment," "The Mask of Zorro," "The Saint" and "Goldeneye." He also contributed his talents and creativity to "The Long Good Friday," "No Escape," "Ruby," "Highlander II," "The Fourth Protocol," "Defenseless," "Criminal Law" and "The Final Conflict," among others.
Television audiences have seen Mr. Meheux's work on the original telefilm "Max Headroom," as well as "Lace," "Experience Preferred But Not Essential," "The Disappearance of Harry" and "Out." He also served as director of photography on "'Der Kaiser Von Atlantis," an opera film for German television which won the Prix Italia for the Best Music Program; as well as director John Mackenzie's "Just Another Saturday" which won he Prix Italia for the Best Drama made for television.
Norman Reynolds (Production Designer) has a long history of designing otherworldly and futuristic films. Having won an Academy Award® for "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," he went on to do production design for the next two films in the "Star Wars" series, "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi." His second Oscar® was for his production on "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Reynolds' recent work includes his production design for Brian DePalma's "Mission: Impossible" and "Sphere" directed by Barry Levinson. Reynolds' other production design credits include "Alive," and "Empire of the Sun" with producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy; the critically acclaimed "Avalon," also with Barry Levinson as well as "Mountains of the Moon," "Return to Oz" and "Young Sherlock Holmes."
Neil Travis, A.C.E. (Edited by) won an Academy Award® in 1990 for his work on Kevin Costner's "Dances With Wolves." In 1977 he also won an Emmy for his work on ABC's highly acclaimed miniseries "Roots."
Among the films Travis has edited are "Jaws 2," "Cujo," "The Philadelphia Experiment," "No Way Out," "Marie," "Bopha!," "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger," "Outbreak," "Moll Flanders," "The Edge," and "Stepmom."
His numerous television credits include NBC's "They Call it Murder," "Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn," "Roots: The Next Generation," CBS's "The Atlanta Child Murders" and ABC's "Out On A Limb."
Joseph G. Aulisi (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for feature films for over 25 years. Prior to his film career, he designed numerous noteworthy musicals and plays on Broadway.
Aulisi's film credits include his work with director Chris Columbus on "Stepmom" as well as Frank Oz's "Bowfinger" with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. He has designed three films directed by Robert Benton: "Twilight" with Paul Newman and Susan Sarandon, "Nobody's Fool" also with Paul Newman, and "Billy Bathgate" with Nicole Kidman and Dustin Hoffman. He designed "Die Hard With A Vengeance" starring Bruce Willis, "On Deadly Ground" with Steven Segal, "Shaft," "The Pope of Greenwich Village" and "Three Days of the Condor" starring Robert Redford and directed by Sydney Pollack. Herbert Ross' "My Blue Heaven" and "The Secret of My Success" were both designed by Aulisi.
Other period films include "Ironweed" starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson and Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs." Aulisi also designed "Private Parts," starring Howard Stern.
James Horner's (Music Composed and Conducted by) evocative music scores have enriched a long list of motion picture hits. One of the most creative talents in the industry, Horner received two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his music from "Titanic: (one for Best Original Score, and one for Best Original Song for "My Heart Will Go On"). He has earned five additional Academy Award nominations, four additional Golden Globe nominaionts, and has won six Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 1987 (for "Somewhere Out There") and 1998 (for "My Heart Will Go On").
Among Horner's most prominent recent film credits are Walt Disney Pictures' live-action drama, "Mighty Joe Young," as well as "The Mask of Zorro," "Deep Impact," "The Devil's Own," "Titanic," and "Ransom." His other credits include "To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday," "The Spitfire Grill," "Courage Under Fire," "Jumanji," "Braveheart," "Apollo 13," "Casper," "Legends of the Fall," "Clear and Present Danger," "The Pelican Brief," "Sneakers," "Glory," "Searching For Bobby Fischer," "Field of Dreams," "Aliens," and "An American Tail."
Mr. Horner's upcoming projects include "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Perfect Storm," and the made-for-television film "Freedom's Song."
Award winning special effects designer Steve Johnson (Robotic Effects by) began his career at age 18, on productions such as "The Fog," "The Howling" and "An American Werewolf in London." He then served in key supervisory roles on "Videodrome" and "Greystoke" on which Johnson supervised the animatronic ape shoot in Africa.
In the mid-1980s, Johnson was appointed head of the "creature shop" at Richard Edlund's Boss Film Corporation, where he oversaw productions on such films as "Ghostbusters," "Fright Night," "Poltergeist 2" and "Big Trouble in Little China." The sum of this experience led to the formation of his own company, XFX, Inc. in 1986.
Steve Johnson's XFX, Inc. drew initial acclaim with memorable effects such as the surreal demise of Freddy Kreuger in Renny Harlin's "Nightmare on Elm Street IV," which lead to the creation of his now famous fully articulated, translucent, self-illuminating underwater beings for James Cameron's "The Abyss." He has brought XFX, Inc. to the forefront of the development of hands-on design and on-set application for projects as diverse as "Species," "Amistad," "Anaconda," "Sphere," and the popular Putterman Family for Duracell Batteries.
Johnson was awarded his first Emmy for "The Stand," ABC's eight hour miniseries based on Stephen King's version of the apocalypse, for which he created a particularly memorable prosthetic age makeup for actress Ruby Dee as Mother Abigail. XFX, Inc. continued to produce striking, ground-breaking make-up imagery for commercials, television, theme parks, and feature films, earning a second Emmy for the top rated ABC miniseries based on Stephen Kings' "The Shining."
Johnson and his XFX, Inc. team of 150 technicians started work on "Bicentennial Man" in June 1998 and worked 24 hours a day for 8 months preparing and designing the cybersuit worn by the film's star Robin Williams, as well as 20 other "robots" for this film. The cybersuit is made from a unique synthesis of fiberglass, silicone, plastic, rubber and other components crafted through a series of design sessions, molding and fittings. A fully animatronic version is able to spin a full 360 degrees at the waist and additional pieces were created to showcase operational internal parts and biomechanical organs. The final product, a combination of robotics, animatronic design and prosthetic effects, sets new standards in those fields as well as in make-up design and imagery.
XFX, Inc. is currently working on four other major motion pictures including the Fox release "Monkey Bone" (produced by Chris Columbus' company 1492) starring Bridget Fonda, Brendan Fraser and Whoopi Goldberg, a sci-fi fantasy about a cartoonist trapped in the realms of dreams/nightmares with 12 hours to find his way back to reality; "The Red Planet," a sci-fi film about the first mission to Mars starring Val Kilmer for Warner Bros.; "Magnolia," starring Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore and William H. Macey, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson ("Boogie Nights"); and "Outpost," an action/thriller starring Sylvester Stallone.
XFX, Inc. is also doing extensive work in television including the hit Warner Bros. television series "Charmed." Showtime has kept XFX, Inc. busy creating make-up and creature effects for the past 5 seasons on both the "Outer Limits" and "Stargate SG-1."
More Production Notes
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2 Fast 2 Furious
John Singleton3.5B00005JM4ZBecause of his part in letting Dominic Toretto escape the police, officer Brian O'Connor lost his job and seeks redemption in an investigation into a dog street racer with drug connections.
No Track Information Available
Title: 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS
Street Release Date: 08/23/2005
Genre: ACTION / ADVENTURE
21
3B0018CWW5KAn unconvincing exercise in moral complexity, 21 is based on Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe) plays brilliant, blue-collar scholar Ben Campbell, whose doubts that he'll win a scholarship to Harvard Medical School compel him to join a secret, M.I.T. gang of math whiz kids. Under the silky but chilling command of a math professor (Kevin Spacey), Jim and the others master card counting, i.e., the statistical analysis of cards dealt in blackjack games. The team lives a humdrum existence during the week, but on weekends in Sin City, the students are rolling in cash, going to exclusive clubs, and feeling on top of the world. (Ben even gets the girl: a comely, fellow counter played by Kate Bosworth.) Despite all that success, Ben feels ethically compromised, and indeed director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde), in the old tradition of American movies, plays it both ways where fun vices are concerned. On the one hand, it feels so good; on the other, ahem, we know it's wrong. That studied ambivalence proves wearing after a while, making the most interesting character in the film a casino watchdog played by Laurence Fishburne. A master at reading the emotions of gamblers beating the house with a scam, he's admirable for being good at his job, but repellent for wrecking the faces of counters in casino dungeons. He's all about moral complexity in the tradition of anti-heroes, and a truly provocative element in an otherwise superficial movie. —Tom Keogh
Beyond 21
Read the book 21 was based on
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Stills from 21 (click for larger image)
24 - Season Three
4.5B0002XVQSUStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 12/07/2004
24 - Season Two
4.5B00008YGRUStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/09/2003 Run time: 404 minutes Rating: Nr
24: Season One
4B0014BJ16SStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 05/20/2008 Run time: 1056 minutes Rating: Nr
102 Dalmatians
Kevin Lima3.5B000059TCDGet ready for outrageous fun in Disney's 102 DALMATIANS. It's a brand-new hilarious adventure, starring the audacious Oddball, the spotless Dalmatian puppy on a search for her rightful spots, and Waddlesworth, the wisecracking, delusional macaw who thinks he's a Rottweiler. Barking mad, this unlikely duo leads a posse of puppies on a mission to outfox the wildly wicked, ever-scheming Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close). Filled with chases, close calls, hilarious antics, and thrilling escapes all the way from London through the streets of Paris — and a Parisian bakery — this adventure-packed tale is wacky good fun your entire family will want to howl over again and again.
3000 Miles to Graceland
Russell, Kurt3B00005LDDBElvis has left the building with $3.2 million in stolen jack. Participants in a las vegas international elvis week pull off a daring casino heist then must confront their worst enemy: each other. Special features: original theatrical trailer cast/filmmaker career highlights and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 12/12/2006 Starring: Kevin Costner Courteney Cox Run time: 125 minutes Rating: R Director: Demian Lichtenstein
About Schmidt
Alexander Payne3.5B00005JLSKWarren schmidt is forced to deal with an ambiguousfuture as he enters retirement. Soon after his wife passes away he must come to terms with his daughters marriage to a man he doesnt care for & the failure that his life has become. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Jack Nicholson Hope Davis Run time: 124 minutes Rating: R Director: Alexander Payne
Adobe Photoshop Elements 11
AdobeB0093FROMABring your photos to life with a powerful picture editing solution built from Adobe Photoshop software, the professional standard for digital image editing.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 11
AdobeB0093FROMABring your photos to life with a powerful picture editing solution built from Adobe Photoshop software, the professional standard for digital image editing.
After the Sunset
Brett Ratner3.5B0007KZQAWAfter the Sunset may not be the greatest jewel-heist caper comedy ever made, but it sure is easy on the eyes. Shifting back into his crowd-pleasing Rush Hour mode, director Brett Ratner kicks off the action with a rousing chase scene that pretty much describes the entire film: utter nonsense, but adequately enjoyable. Things get very sunny thereafter, when FBI agent Woody Harrelson lands in the Bahamas to track down ace diamond thief Pierce Brosnan and his lovely accomplice Salma Hayek, whom he suspects of planning their next big heist on a cruise ship. A Bahamian gangster (Don Cheadle) wants in on the action, and the whole thing's about as fluffy as an Elmo doll and just as harmless, especially when you consider Hayek's revealing wardrobe (which, thankfully, distracts from Brosnan's less-than-Bond-like physique). There's an abundance of witty banter between everyone, and the tropical locations make After the Sunset a balmy, vicarious vacation. Critics weren't exactly kind to this breezy dose of popcorn entertainment, but it's an agreeable time-killer and an instant cure for seasonal affective disorder, even if the comedic chemistry leaves something to be desired. —Jeff Shannon
Along Came a Spider
3B00003CXUYMorgan freeman reprises his kiss the girls role as detective alex cross teaming with a beautiful secret service agent to try and stop a brilliant psychopath from committing the crime of the century. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/22/2006 Starring: Morgan Freeman Michael Wincott Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R
Alvin and the Chipmunks
4.5B0013FSWT2Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 04/01/2008 Rating: Pg
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Mike MitchellB004EPZ03EIn the third entry in the popular live-action/animated series, Alvin, Simon, Theodore, their guardian Dave (Jason Lee), old foe Ian (David Cross), and Chipettes Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor wind up marooned on a tropical island. Their adventure includes an encounter with a mysterious castaway named Zoe (Jenny Slate), a dangerous volcano, a buried treasure, and a spider bite that brings about an odd change in Simon. Also features the voices of Justin Long, Anna Faris, Amy Poehler, and Christina Applegate. 88 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; featurettes; extended scenes; sing-along songs; bonus digital copy; more. Also includes a DVD version of the film. Two-disc set.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel [Blu-ray]
Betty Thomas4B0029LI69AStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/30/2010 Run time: 89 minutes Rating: Pg
American Pie
Weitz, Chris4B00005LKHWAnyone who's watched just about any teenage film knows that the greatest evil in this world isn't chemical warfare, ethnic cleansing, or even the nuclear bomb. The worst crime known to man? Why, virginity, of course. As we've learned from countless films—from Summer of '42 to Risky Business—virginity is a criminal burden that one must shed oneself of as quickly as possible. And while many of these films have given the topic a bad name, American Pie quietly sweeps in and gives sex some of its dignity back. Dignity, you may say? How can a film that highlights intercourse with fruit pies, premature ejaculation broadcasted across the Internet, and the gratuitous "gross-out" shots restore the dignity of a genre that's been encumbered with such heavyweights as Porky's and Losin' It? The plot may be typical, with four high school friends swearing to "score" by prom, yet the film rises above the muck with its superior cast, successful and sweet humor, and some actually rather retro values about the meaning and importance of sex. Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, and Eddie Kaye Thomas make up the odd quartet of pals determined to woo, lie, and beg their way to manhood. The young women they pursue are wary girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid), choir girl Heather (Mena Suvari), band geek Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), and just about any other female who is willing and able. Natasha Lyonne as Jessica, playing a similar role as in Slums of Beverly Hills, is the general adviser to the crowd (when Vicky tells her "I want it to be the right time, the right place," Jessica responds, "It's not a space shuttle launch, it's sex"). The comedic timing hits the mark—especially in the deliberately awkward scenes between Jim (Biggs) and his father (Eugene Levy). And, of course, lessons are learned in this genuinely funny film, which will probably please the adult crowd even more than it will the teenage one. —Jenny Brown
American Pie 2
Scott, Seann William4B00005RHFEAfter their first year at college the guys reunite for another summer of fun. Jim continues his quest for sexual independence by seeking the help of his old prom date michele after an unexpected call from nadia who plans to visit jim. Meanwhile kev and vicky find themselves in an awkward situation. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 08/24/2004 Starring: Seann William Scott Jason Biggs Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Ur Director: J.b. Rogers
American Wedding - Unrated
Jesse Dylan3.5B00005JMCTThe third film in the american pie series deals with the wedding of jim and michelle and the gathering of their families and friends including jims old friends from high school and michelles little sister. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 06/28/2005 Starring: Jason Biggs Alyson Hannigan Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Ur Director: Jesse Dylan
Analyze This
Harold Ramis4B00000JGPEPaul vitti is one of new yorks most powerful mobster. But when its time to assume his role as leader of the crime family he starts suffering anxiety attacks. Suburban psychiatrist ben sobol is unsatisfied with his patients routine problems. Features: interactive menus filmographies scene access & more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Starring: Robert De Niro Lisa Kudrow Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R Director: Harold Ramis
Anger Management
Peter Segal3B0000AJLU2After a misunderstanding aboard an airplane that escalates out of control the mild-mannered dave buznik is ordered by judge daniels to attend anger management sessions run by doctor buddy rydell which are filled with highly eccentric and volatile men and women. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/20/2005 Starring: Adam Sandler Jack Nicholson Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Peter Segal
Arthur
Susan E. Morse, Steve Gordon4.50790731886Arthur is the worlds richest alcoholic. But all is not well in his pickled paradise. He will lose access to the familys great wealth if he doesnt marry the uptight debutante picked out for him by his parents. Hes not in love with her doesnt even like her. Whats worse is hes in love with a wacky shoplifter. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005 Starring: John Gielgud Dudley Moore Run time: 97 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Steve Gordon
The Associate
Donald Petrie4.56305428344Goldberg plays a savvy businesswoman on the fast track until a conniving male co-worker steals her promotion. The laughs start when goldberg opens her own firm and invents a male partner so she can be taken seriously in the male-dominated corporate world. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/01/2003 Starring: Whoopi Goldberg Tim Daly Run time: 114 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Donald Petrie
August Rush
4B00133KFGWCellist lyla and rock musican louis meet at a party spend the night. Lyla learns she is pregnant. Her father forces them apart she gets pregnant. Lyla has an accident her father tells her the baby died the child survives and is give up for adoption the child(evan)11 now embarks finding his parents through music Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/30/2008 Starring: Freddie Highmore Jonathan Rhys Meyers Run time: 113 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Kirsten Sheridan
Auntie Mame
B0045HCJ80Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/09/2010
Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]
James Cameron3.5B002VPE1B6A reluctant hero. An epic journey. A choice between the life he left behind and the incredible new world he’s learned to call home. Return to James Cameron’s Avatar — the greatest adventure of all time.
Please note: This edition of the film is not in 3D
Bad Boys
Michael Bay4B00004STULWhen a brilliant thief steals $120 million worth of confiscated heroin out from under their noses miamis top cops have to solve the case before the fbi shuts them down. Special features: subtitles in english spanish portuguese chinese korean and thai music videos theatrical trailers and much more. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 01/17/2006 Starring: Martin Lawrence Will Smith Run time: 118 minutes Rating: R Director: Michael Bay
Bad Boys II
Smith, Will, Union, Gabrielle3.5B0000DKDURNo one goes to a movie directed by Michael Bay for delicacy and grace; you go because Michael Bay (Armageddon, The Rock) knows how to make your bones rattle during a high-speed chase when a car flips over, spins through the air, and smacks another car with a visceral crunch. Bad Boys II fulfills this expectation and then some. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence may be mere puppets amid all this burning rubber and shrieking metal, but they actually provide a human core to the endless cascade of car wrecks and gunfights. Their easy rapport makes their personal problems—a running joke is Lawrence's attempts at anger management—as engaging as the sheer visual hullabaloo of bullets and explosions. The plot is recycled nonsense about drug lords and dead bodies being used to smuggle drugs, but orchestration of violence is symphonic. If that's your thing, then this is for you. —Bret Fetzer
Bad Teacher
Jake KasdanB0041KKYH4Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) is a foulmouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate teacher. She drinks, gets high, and can’t wait to marry a meal ticket to get out of her bogus day job. When she’s dumped by her fiancé, she sets her sights on a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) while shrugging off the advances of the school gym teacher (Jason Segel). The consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, coworkers, and even herself an education like no other!
Badder Santa
Terry Zwigoff3.5B00020HAB0Instantly qualifying as a perennial cult favorite, Bad Santa is as nasty as it wants to be, and there's something to be said for comedy without compromise. The Coen brothers conceived the basic idea and served as executive producers, but it's director Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Ghost World) who brings his unique affinity for losers and outcasts to the twisted tale of Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton), a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed sexaholic safe-cracker who targets a different department store every holiday season, playing Santa while he cases the joint with his dwarf elf-partner Marcus (Tony Cox). With comedic support from Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, Cloris Leachman, and John Ritter in his final film, Thornton milks the lowbrow laughs with a slovenly lack of sentiment, warming Bad Santa's pickled heart just enough to please a chubby misfit (Brett Kelly, hilariously deadpan) who may or may not be mentally challenged. As dry as an arid martini and blacker than morning-after coffee, Bad Santa is an instant cure for yuletide schmaltz, and if you think this appropriately R-rated comedy is suitable for kids, your parenting skills are no better than Willie's. —Jeff Shannon
The Banger Sisters
Aram Nigoghossian, Bob Dolman3.5B00005JLNZStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 04/15/2008
Barbershop
Tim Story4B00006RVJRA day in the life of a south side chicago barbershop Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 01/08/2008 Starring: Anthony Anderson Sean Patrick Thomas Run time: 102 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Tim Story
Barry Manilow - Ultimate Manilow!
4.5B0001IW2S4
Basic Instinct
Frank J. Urioste, Paul Verhoeven4B00005N919The take-no-prisoners sex thriller from 1992 now stands as a milestone in the career of screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, but in the hands of director Paul Verhoeven Basic Instinct is an undeniably stylish and provocative study of obsession. In the role that made her a star (and showed the audience a little more skin than she intended), Sharon Stone plays the cleverly manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell who snares San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) with her insatiable sexual appetite during the investigation of her boyfriend's murder. Tramell is the prime suspect, but the plot twists and turns until Curran is trapped in a dangerous cycle of dead ends and unsolved murders, never sure if Tramell is committing the crimes or if it is some other, unknown suspect. With a plot that keeps viewers guessing, Basic Instinct is the work of a director who is clearly in his element. —Jeff Shannon
Basic Instinct 2
Michael Caton-Jones2.5B000FS9UKINotorious crime novelist catherine tramnell is back & shes criminal psychologist dr michael glass deadliest challenge. With professional boundaries blurred by obsession dr glass is lured into a murderous web of lies & deceit & begins a torrid affair with tramell that takes him to the point of no return. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/25/2007 Starring: Sharon Stone David Morrissey Run time: 117 minutes Rating: Ur
Batman Begins
Christopher Nolan4.5B000AU9UYCBatman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.
Beautiful Creatures
Richard LagraveneseB009AMAGQMWhen newcomer Lena Duchannes arrives in the small town of Gatlin she quickly captures the attention of Ethan Wate, who only wants to escape what he views as a boring and dead end town. He quickly gets more than he bargained for, as Lena possesses strange powers that have long kept her at a distance from others in her life. Lena and Ethan are drawn together, but their budding romance is threatened by the dangers posed by Lena's being a Caster and her family's Dark powers, for upon her sixteenth birthday Lena must undergo the Claiming, a process that will decide her fate forever: Light or Dark.
Because I Said So
Michael Lehmann3B000OCZA04In Because I Said So, Diane Keaton outdoes any pushy parent trying to marry off their children. On the eve of her 60th birthday, Daphne (Keaton) decides that she will find a suitable suitor for her youngest daughter Milly (Mandy Moore). Never mind that Moore was barely into her 20's when she shot the film and easily could pass as a high-school senior. The film asks us to believe that an otherwise smart, loving mother would push marriage on a young woman who obviously wasn't ready for that kind of commitment. The romantic comedy has a cute premise that grows old fast: In order to root for Daphne's almost manic desire to see Milly walk down the aisle, the audience has to believe she's undergoing some kind of trauma, or at least dying of an incurable disease. But because she is such an overbearing busybody whose best interests for her daughter have little to do with reality, viewers just see an obnoxious, meddling mother trying to micromanage her child's life. That we don't want to strangle Daphne is a credit to Keaton's acting skills, which manage to shine through, even in the most over-the-top scenes. Lauren Graham and the always adorable Piper Perabo play Milly's older, married sisters. Had the film revolved around the three sisters' lives—sans mom—Because I Said So would have been a much more interesting picture. —Jae-Ha Kim
Because of Winn-Dixie
Wayne Wang4B0009NZ2KGBased on the best-selling book this is the heartwarming tail of a young girl whose life is changed by a scruffy fun-loving pooch she names winn-dixie. The special bond between them works magic on her reserved dad & the eccentric townspeople they meet during one unforgettable summer. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/12/2008 Starring: Jeff Daniels Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg
Behind Enemy Lines
John Moore3.5B00005JKL8When a u.S. Navy pilot is shot down over bosnia he must struggle to survive the relentless pursuit of hostile serbian forces. With time running out his commander defies strict nato directives and launches a renegade rescue mission to bring an american hero home. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 01/30/2007 Starring: Owen Wilson Gene Hackman Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
John MaddenB005S9EJ14An award-winning, all-star cast, led by Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith, lights up this "buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion." (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to "outsource" their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Smart, life-affirming and genuinely charming, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is a "true classic that reminds us that it's never too late to find love and a fresh beginning at any age." (Rex Reed, The New York Observer)
The Best of The Chris Rock Show - Volume 2
Linda Mendoza4B00005J6UNA jaw-dropping comedy event as chris rock turns activist to free bobby brown exposes mr. Sweet potato head & other racist toys visits the make-you-wait hair salon teaches you how to not get your *ss kicked by the police & more. Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 05/30/2006 Starring: Chris Rock Run time: 59 minutes Rating: Ur
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Raja Gosnell4B001CTDH4YWhile on vacation in mexico chloe a ritzy beverly hills chihuahua finds herself lost and in need of assistance in order to get back home. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/03/2009 Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis George Lopez Run time: 91 minutes Rating: Pg
Beverly Hills Cop
Murphy, Eddie4.5B00005JKCBWhile its sequels were formulaic and safe, the first Beverly Hills Cop set out to explore some uncharted territory, and succeeded. A blend of violent action picture and sharp comedy, the film has an excellent director, Martin Brest (Scent of a Woman), who finds some original perspectives on stock scenes (highway chases, police rousts) and hits a gleeful note with Murphy while skewering L.A. culture. Good support from Judge Reinhold and John Ashton as local cops not used to doing things the Detroit way (Murphy's character hails from the Motor City). Paul Reiser has a funny, brief moment at the beginning, and Bronson Pinchot makes a hilarious impression in a great, never-to-be-duplicated scene with the star. —Tom Keogh
Big Hero 6
Chris Williams Don HallB00O4ZC57IWith all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, BIG HERO 6 is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends — adrenaline junky Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred — who transform into a band of unlikely heroes. Bring home Disney's BIG HERO 6, featuring comic-book-style action and hilarious, unforgettable characters — it's fun for the whole family!
Blade
4.50780624890WESLEY SNIPES STARS AS THE TORTURED SOUL BLADE-POSSESSING POWERS GREATER THAN ANY MAN OR CREATURE OF THE NIGHT. BLADE SHARPENS HIS LETHAL SKILLS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PROFESSIONAL VAMPIRE HUNTER. WHEN THE BLOODTHIRSTY IMMORTALS' LORD, DEACON FROST, DECLARES WAR ON THE HUMAN RACE, BLADE IS THE LAST HOPE.
The Blind Side [Blu-ray DVD]
John Lee Hancock4.5B002VECM72Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) knows little about family. Less about football. What the homeless teen knows are the streets and projects of Memphis. Well-to-do Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) knows little about his world. Yet when she and Michael meet, he's found a home. And the Tuohys have found something just as life-changing: a beloved new son and brother. This real-life story of family and of Michael's growth into a blue-chip football star will have you cheering with its mix of gridiron action and heartwarming emotion. Share the remarkable journey of the college All-American and first-round NFL draft pick who was a winner before he ever stepped onto the playing field.
Blue Collar Comedy Tour - The Movie
C.B. Harding4.5B000094FFAThe comedic stylings of four sort-of famous funnymen are brought to the big screen courtesy of this 2002 documentary. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Ron White Bill Engvall Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg Director: C B Harding
The Blues Brothers
4.5078322804XAfter building up the duo's popularity through recordings and several performances on Saturday Night Live, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd—as "legendary" Chicago blues brothers Jake and Elwood Blues—took their act to the big screen in this action-packed hit from 1980. As Jake and Elwood struggle to reunite their old band and save the Chicago orphanage where they were raised, they wreak enough good-natured havoc to attract the entire Cook County police force. The result is a big-budget stunt-fest on a scale rarely attempted before or since, including extended car chases that result in the wanton destruction of shopping malls and more police cars than you can count. Along the way there's plenty of music to punctuate the action, including performances by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, and James Brown that are guaranteed to knock you out. As played with deadpan wit by Belushi and Aykroyd, the Blues Brothers are "on a mission from God," and that gives them a kind of reckless glee that keeps the movie from losing its comedic appeal. Otherwise this might have been just a bloated marathon of mayhem that quickly wears out its welcome (which is how some critics described this film and its 1998 sequel). Keep an eye out for Steven Spielberg as the city clerk who stamps some crucial paperwork near the end of the film.—Jeff Shannon
Bolt (Three-Disc Edition w/ Standard DVD + Digital Copy + BD Live) [Blu-ray]
Chris Williams, Byron Howard4.5B001OMU6UWBolt (voiced by John Travolta) is the star of the biggest show in Hollywood. The only problem is, he thinks the whole thing is real. When the super dog is accidentally shipped to New York City and separated from Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus), his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt springs into action to find his way home. Together with his hilarious new sidekicks Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton) – Bolt’s #1 Fan – and a street-smart cat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), Bolt sets off on an amazing journey where he discovers he doesn’t need super powers to be a hero.
Bonus Features:
All-New Exclusive Super Rhino Short
Deleted Scenes
A New Breed Of Director: A Filmmaker's Journey
Act, Speak! The Voices Of Bolt
Creating The World Of Bolt
Miley Cyrus And John Travolta Sing The Song I Thought I Lost You In Studio
Bolt's Be-Awesome Mission Game
Disney BD-Live
The Bourne Legacy
Tony GilroyB005LAIIQCThe Bourne Legacy takes the action-packed Bourne series to an explosive new level. On the verge of having their conspiracy exposed, members of the government's intelligence community will stop at nothing to erase all evidence of their top secret programs - even the agents involved. Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) must use his genetically-engineered skills to survive the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse and finish what Jason Bourne started. Also starring Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz and Academy Award nominee Edward Norton, critics are calling this a "thrilling, edge-of-your-seat heart-pounder" (Meg Porter Berns, WSVN-TV (FOX), Miami).
Boys on the Side
Herbert Ross4.50790741822Three women a club musician a demure real estate agent and a flaky drug-dealers girlfriend make a break with their pasts and form an unlikely family while traveling across the country together. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/01/2004 Starring: Whoopi Goldberg Mary-louise Parker Run time: 113 minutes Rating: R Director: Herbert Ross
Brewster's Millions
Walter Hill4B000063UR3A minor-league pitcher inherits $300 million but must spend $30 million in 30 days to get it. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 06/24/2008 Starring: Richard Pryor Jerry Orbach Run time: 97 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Walter Hill
Bridesmaids
B005CHTXY0Thirty-something annie has hit a rough patch but finds her life turned completely upside down when she takes on the maid of honor role in her best friend lillians wedding. In way over her head but determined to succeed annie leads a hilarious hodgepod ge of bridesmaids a wild ride down the road to the big event. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/20/2011 Starring: Kristen Wiig Maya Rudolph Rating: R
Bringing Down The House
Adam Shankman3.5B00005JM4BHe wanted a soul-mate what he got was a soul-sister. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/06/2005 Starring: Steve Martin Queen Latifah Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg13
Brother Bear
Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker4B00005JMFHWhen an impulsive boy named kenai is magically transformed into a bear he must literally walk in anoterhs footsteps until he learns some valuable life lessons. His courageous & often zaney journey introduces him to a forest full of wild-life. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/15/2008 Starring: Joaquin Phoenix Rick Moranis Run time: 85 minutes Rating: G
Bruce Almighty
Tom Shadyac4B0000AKCKIBestowing Jim Carrey with godlike powers is a ripe recipe for comedy, and Bruce Almighty delivers the laughs that Carrey's mainstream fans prefer. The high-concept premise finds Carrey playing Bruce Nolan, a frustrated Buffalo TV reporter, stuck doing puff-pieces while a lesser colleague (the hilarious Steven Carell) gets the anchor job he covets. Bruce demands an explanation from God, who pays him a visit (in the serene form of Morgan Freeman) and lets Bruce take over while he takes a brief vacation. What does a petty, angry guy do when he's God? That's where Carrey has a field day, reuniting with his Ace Ventura and Liar, Liar director, Tom Shadyac, while Jennifer Aniston gamely keeps pace as Bruce's put-upon fiancée. Carrey's actually funnier before he becomes Him, and the movie delivers a sappy, safely diluted notion of faith that lacks the sincerity of the 1977 hit Oh, God! Still, we can be thankful that Carrey took the high road and left Little Nicky to Adam Sandler. —Jeff Shannon
The Bucket List
Rob Reiner4B000YAF4MAIn THE BUCKET LIST cancer doesn't discriminate in its choice of victims. It's equally eager in its attacks on kindly sage of a mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and mean-spirited millionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson). When the unlikely pair shares a room at a hospital they learn that they both have less than a year to live as a result of the deadly disease. Inspired by the words of a college professor Carter begins to make a "bucket list" of things he wants to accomplish before he dies. With Edward's limitless funds at their disposal the men embark on an adventure that takes them from Egypt to France to Hong Kong crossing items off their list as death grows closer.System Requirements:Running Time: 97 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/FRIENDS Rating: PG-13 UPC: 085391139881 Manufacturer No: 113988
A Bug's Life
Spacey, Kevin, Stanton, Andrew4.5B00004R999There was such a magic on the screen in 1995 when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, Toy Story. Their second feature film, A Bug's Life, may miss the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty, it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible.
Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help—a hearty bunch of bug warriors—and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict.
As with Toy Story, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.
More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film—a giant worldwide hit—will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan.
The video also contains Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, Geri's Game. Box art varies. —Doug Thomas
Calendar Girls
Michael Parker, Nigel Cole4.5B0001I55M4Chris & annie are best friends living in yorkshire when annies husband dies or leukemia. Chris enlists the help of the womans institute in a fund-raiser for the local hospital. Her idea is to produce a calendar with different woman photograped for each month. The radical twist - the woman will be in the nude! Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/10/2007 Starring: Helen Mirren Linda Bassett Run time: 108 minutes Rating: Pg13
Cars
Andrew Jimenez, Dan Scanlon, Joe Ranft, John Lasseter, Mark Andrews4.5B000H5U832Lightning McQueen is a cocky, rookie race car. Speeding on his way to a big race, he crashes into Radiator Springs, destroying lots of the inhabitants belongings. In order to make up for what he did, the cocky roadster is sentenced to community service. Though he will do anything to get away from the work, McQueen must learn to respect and bond with the Radiator Springs inhabitants in order to get out of the town and back on the racetracks. Features:All-new animated short: Mater and the GhostlightAcademy Award-nominated animated short: One Man BandJohn Lasseter's inspiration for CarsRatatouille teaser trailerDeleted scenes
Cars 2
B005AUWY90From the creators of CARS and TOY STORY 3 comes a new, laugh-out-loud, heartwarming adventure geared for the entire family. Star race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship on the road from Radiator Springs to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix! Product Measures: 0.5 x 5.5 x 7.5
Casino Royale
Martin Campbell4B000MNP2KIIn his first mission james bond must stop le chiffre a banker to the worlds terrorist organizations from winning a high-stakes poker game at casino royale in montenegro. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 01/22/2008 Starring: Daniel Craig Mads Mikkelsen Run time: 144 minutes Rating: Pg13
Cats & Dogs
Lawrence Guterman3.5B00005O5DJFor years a secret battle has been waged between cats and dogs. Now an untrained puppy named lou is the only one who can save humanity from total cat-tastrophe. Special features: separate dog and cat commentaries: storyboard comparisons: teaching a new dog new tricks: plus lots of hidden dog and cat treats. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Jeff Goldblum Elizabeth Perkins Run time: 87 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Lawrence Guterman
The Cell
Tarsem Singh3B00003CXKMSchizoid serial killer Carl Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio) has been captured at last, but a neurological seizure has rendered him comatose, and FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughan) has no way to determine the location of Stargher's latest and still-living victim. To probe the secrets contained in Stargher's traumatized psyche, the FBI recruits psychologist Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez), who has mastered a new technology that allows her to enter the mind of another person. What she finds in Stargher's head is a theater of the grotesque, which, as envisioned by first-time director Tarsem Singh, is a smorgasbord of the surreal that borrows liberally from the Brothers Quay, Czech animator Jan Svankmajer, Hieronymous Bosch, Salvador Dali, and a surplus of other cannibalized sources.
This provides one of the wildest, weirdest visual feasts ever committed to film, and The Cell earns a place among such movie mind-trips as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Altered States, What Dreams May Come, and Un Chien Andalou. Is this a good thing? Sure, if all you want is freakazoid eye-candy. If you're looking for emotional depth, substantial plot, and artistic coherence, The Cell is sure to disappoint. The pop-psychology pablum of Mark Protosevich's screenplay would be laughable if it weren't given such somber significance, and Singh's exploitative use of sadomasochistic imagery is repugnant (this movie makes Seven look tame), so you're better off marveling at the nightmare visions that are realized with astonishing potency. The Cell is too shallow to stay in your head for long, but while it's there, it's one hell of a show. —Jeff Shannon
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tim Burton3.5B000BB1MI2Mixed reviews and creepy comparisons to Michael Jackson notwithstanding, Tim Burton's splendidly imaginative adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would almost surely meet with Roald Dahl's approval. The celebrated author of darkly offbeat children's books vehemently disapproved of 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (hence the change in title), so it's only fitting that Burton and his frequent star/collaborator, Johnny Depp, should have another go, infusing the enigmatic candyman's tale with their own unique brand of imaginative oddity. Depp's pale, androgynous Wonka led some to suspect a partial riff on that most controversial of eternal children, Michael Jackson, but Burton's film is too expansively magnificent to be so narrowly defined. While preserving Dahl's morality tale on the hazards of indulgent excess, Burton's riotous explosion of color provides a wondrous setting for the lessons learned by Charlie Bucket (played by Freddie Highmore, Depp's delightful costar in Finding Neverland), as he and other, less admirable children enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Wonka's confectionary wonderland. Elaborate visual effects make this an eye-candy overdose (including digitally multiplied Oompa-Loompas, all played by diminutive actor Deep Roy), and the film's underlying weirdness is exaggerated by Depp's admirably risky but ultimately off-putting performance. Of course, none of this stops Burton's Charlie from being the must-own family DVD of 2005's holiday season, perhaps even for those who staunchly defend Gene Wilder's portrayal of Wonka from 34 years earlier. —Jeff Shannon
Cheaper By the Dozen 2
4B000EHSVFUTom baker & wife kate bring the clan together for a memorable summer getaway.But their dream vacation turns into an outrageous competition with the overachieving overzealous family of toms longtime rival jimmy murtaugh. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/16/2007 Starring: Steve Martin Bonnie Hunt Run time: 94 minutes Rating: Pg
Chicago
Rob Marshall4B00009RGBSBased on the broadway musical two women convicted of murder in the 1920s become celebrities by manipulating the media. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Catherine Zeta Jones Richard Gere Run time: 113 minutes Rating: Pg13
Chicken Little
Mark Dindal3.5B000DWMYQ8When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop who will rise to save the day? together with his hysterical band of misfit friends chicken little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion & prove that the worlds biggest hero is a little chicken. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/02/2007 Run time: 81 minutes Rating: G
Chicken Run
Nick Park, Peter Lord4.5B00003CXJ4While the chickens on evil mrs. Tweedys farm dream of a better life a clever hen named ginger is hatching plans to fly the coop for good. The only problem is chickens cant fly or can they? every escape attempt goes fowl until rocky a smooth talking all-american rooster crash-lands into the coop. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Animated Run time: 84 minutes Rating: G Director: Peter Lord/nick Park
Children of Men
Alfonso Cuarón3.5B000N6TX1IIn 2027 as humankind faces the likelihood of its own extinction a disillusioned government agent agrees to help transport and protect a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her childs birth may help scientists to save the future of mankind. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/09/2008 Starring: Clive Owen Michael Caine Run time: 110 minutes Rating: R
Chocolat
Lasse Hallström4B00005K3OTNominated for 5 Academy Awards(R) including Best Picture, Best Actress (Juliette Binoche — THE ENGLISH PATIENT), and Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench — SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), CHOCOLAT is the beautiful and captivating comedy from the acclaimed director of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES! Nobody could have imagined the impact that the striking Vianne (Binoche) would make when she arrived in a tranquil, old-fashioned French town. In her very unusual chocolate shop, Vianne begins to create mouth-watering confections that almost magically inspire the straitlaced villagers to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness! But it is not until another stranger, the handsome Roux (Johnny Depp — SLEEPY HOLLOW), arrives in town that Vianne is finally able to recognize her own desires!
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Andrew Adamson4.5B00005JO1XFour young siblings discover a magical wardrobe and are transported to narnia an enchanted world ruled by the glacial powers of an evil white witch. With courage and heart-felt desire to save narnia the children must band together to fight the witch in a spectacular climatic battle. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/28/2008 Starring: Tilda Swinton Jim Broadbent Run time: 134 minutes Rating: Pg
Cleaner
3.5B00151QYSKTom carver is an ex-cop who now makes his living cleaning up crime scenes. His life of order & control is suddenly turned upside down when one of his jobs hits too close to home. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 11/25/2008 Starring: Samuel L Jackson Ed Harris Run time: 89 minutes Rating: R Director: Renny Harlin
The Client
Joel Schumacher46304712952Settle in. Take a deep breath. Hold tight. The best screen version yet of a novel by John Grisham (The Firm, The Pelican Brief) delivers all-out, moment-by-moment suspense! Headliners Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones join newcomer Brad Renfro in The Client, a whirlwind thriller that "starts like a house afire and keeps on blazing" (Chicago Tribune). Renfro plays Mark Sway, an 11-year-old torn between what he knows and what he can never tell. A hitman will snuff him in half a heartbeat if Mark reveals what he learned about a Mob murder. An ambitious federal prosecutor (Jones) will keep the pressure on until Mark tells all. Suddenly, Mark isn't a boy playing air guitar anymore. He's a pawn in a deadly game. And his only ally is a courageous but unseasoned attorney (Sarandon) who risks her career for him...but never imagines she'll also risk her life.
Coming to America
John Landis4.56305310343Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at the same time. There are enjoyable sequences of Murphy's Prince Akeem applying his lordly manner to his new job in a fast-food emporium, and falling for the boss's spirited daughter (Shari Headley), who teaches him how to party down, American style. But the fish-out-water premise is never fully exploited. Star spotters will have a field day locating Cuba Gooding Jr., Donna Summer, Louie Anderson, Vondie Curtis Hall, E.R.'s Eriq La Salle, and Samuel L. Jackson in their minuscule supporting roles. —David Chute
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Anita Brandt-Burgoyne, Sara Sugarman3B00005JN0ZTucked into the middle of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is a charming sequence in which two girls from New Jersey (Linsay Lohan and Alison Pill) try to go to a rock concert in New York and have their illusions broken, then restored, and then broken, just a bit, again. Lola (Lohan) yearns for glory by playing the lead in the high school play and getting to meet the lead singer of a band called Sidarthur. Despite the spiteful efforts of a popular girl, Lola gets everything she wants without much of a struggle. Most of the movie takes place in a glitzy but flavorless high-school world with glossy teenagers dressed like a less discriminating Christina Aguilera. Pill (Pieces of April) shines in the thankless role of the geeky best friend. Also featuring Glenne Headley (Dick Tracy) and Carol Kane (Office Killer). —Bret Fetzer
The Count of Monte Cristo
Kevin Reynolds4B00006ADFMRevenge rarely gets sweeter than it does in The Count of Monte Cristo, a rousing, impeccably crafted adaptation of Alexandre Dumas père's literary classic. Filmed countless times before, the story is revitalized by director Kevin Reynolds (rallying after Waterworld) and screenwriter Jay Wolpert, who wisely avoid the action-movie anachronisms that plagued 2001's dubious Dumas-inspired The Musketeer. Leading a superior cast, Jim Caviezel (Frequency) expresses a delicate balance of obsession and nobility as Dantes, the wrongly accused Frenchman who endures 13 years of prison and torment, then uses a hidden treasure to finance elaborate vengeance on those who wronged him. Memento's Guy Pearce is equally effective as Dantes's betraying nemesis, and Richard Harris tops his Harry Potter wizardry with a humorous turn as Dantes's fellow prisoner and mentor. Filmed on stunning locations in Ireland and Malta, The Count of Monte Cristo easily matches Rob Roy for intelligent swashbuckling entertainment. —Jeff Shannon
Courage Under Fire
Edward Zwick4.5B00005221JA year after a devastating friendly fire incident during the Gulf War, Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is in a Washington, D.C., desk job assigned the rudimentary task of overseeing a Medal of Honor candidate who died in the war. However, the case and soldier in question are a political hot potato—Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) is America's first female soldier to be killed in combat.
Serling soon finds discrepancies in the case of a downed Medevac helicopter in the rocky Kuwait territory. What unfolds in flashback are several versions of Walden's tactics (à la Kurosawa's Rashomon) to rescue the soldiers and survive the downing. As with Glory, Director Edward Zwick's cast of unknown and famous faces always comes off as the real article. Walden's crew is especially convincing. Matt Damon as the medic comes off as the giddy scaredy-cat when telling his story to Washington. In battle he's a flawed, humorous soldier. The most surprising work in the movie is done by Lou Diamond Phillips (as the group's gunman), whose career had been headed to straight-to-video oblivion.
Then there's Ryan. She has done well with dramatic work in the past (When a Man Loves a Woman, Flesh and Bone) but has never been able to escape the romantic-comedy image. With dyed hair, a light accent, and the dramatics of the situation, Ryan finally has an enduring dramatic film. Even though she has half of Washington's screen time, her brave and ultimately haunting performance makes Courage something special, right down to its curious but rewarding final scene. —Doug Thomas
Coyote Ugly
David McNally3.5B0000524E5Bar dancing and fire-breathing are all in a days work at coyote ugly new york citys rowdiest bar. Perabo stars as the suburbanite who makes good in this sexy romantic comedy with a hot soundtrack. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Piper Perabo Maria Bello Run time: 101 minutes Rating: Pg13
Crimson Tide
Tony Scott46304765258When the uss alabama is given an unconfirmed order to launch nuclear missiles and possibly trigger world war iii captain frank ramsey faces off against his young executive officer over the validity of their orders and then the two men battle for control of the submarine. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Denzel Washington Gene Hackman Run time: 115 minutes Rating: R Director: Tony Scott
Daddy Day Care
Steve Carr4B00005JM4WTwo men get laid off and have to become stay-at-home dads when they cant find jobs. This inspires them to open their own day-care center. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/20/2005 Starring: Eddie Murphy Steve Zaun Run time: 92 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Steve Carr Iii
The Dark Knight
4B001GZ6QDSSPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES THE DIGITAL COPY
Dark Shadows
Tim BurtonB008QE9VJIFrom the wonderfully warped imagination of Tim Burton comes the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a dashing aristocrat who is turned into a vampire by a jilted lover and entombed for two centuries. Emerging from his coffin into the world of 1972, he returns to his once-majestic home, only to the few dysfunctional descendants of the Collins family who remain. Determined to return his family name to its former glory, Barnabas is thwarted at every turn by his former lover - the seductive witch Angelique (Eva Green) - in this wildly imaginative" (Sam Hallenbeck, NBC-TV adventure).
Delta Farce
C.B. Harding2.5B000T5O494Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 89 minutes Rating: Pg13
Dennis the Menace
Nick Castle4.5B00007G1Z9Dennis everyones favorite kid from the comics is back. When his parents have to go out of town he stays with mr and mrs wilson Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/14/2006 Starring: Walter Matthau Christopher Lloyd Run time: 94 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Nick Castle
Despicable Me
Pierre Coffin and Chris RenaudB002ZG97EC“**** This Year’s COOLEST Animated Comedy!” – Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview
Get ready for a minion laughs in the funniest blockbuster hit of the year!
Vying for the title of “World’s Greatest Villain”, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) – along with his hilarious crew of mischievous minions – plots to pull off the craziest crime of the century: steal the moon! But when Gru enlists the help of three little girls, they see something in him nobody else has ever seen: the perfect dad. From executive producer Chris Meledandri (Horton Hears a Who, Ice Age), and featuring the voices of an all-star comedic cast, including Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove and Julie Andrews, Despicable Me is “rousingly funny, heartfelt and imaginative” (Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine).
Despicable Me 2
Gregory Perler, Chris Renaud, Pierre CoffinB008JFUQ3OGru, his adorable girls, and the mischievous Minions are back with a cast of unforgettable new characters in the blockbuster sequel to the worldwide phenomenon. Just as Gru has given up being super-bad to be a super-dad, the Anti-Villain League recruits him to track down a new criminal mastermind and save the world. Partnered with secret agent Lucy Wilde, Gru, along with the wildly unpredictable Minions, must figure out how to keep his cover while also keeping up with his duties as a father. Assemble the Minions for laugh-out-loud comedy in "one of the funniest, most enjoyable movies ever!" (MovieGuide)
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Darren Grant4B00097DXFSCharles a powerful attorney & helen a devoted housewife seem to have everything: money beautiful mansion - the american dream. But as they prepare to celebrate their 20th anniversary helens picture perfect life is about to take an unexpected turn. Charles wants to divorce her for her best friend. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 02/06/2007 Starring: Kimberly Elise Shemar Moore Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg13
Die Another Day
Lee Tamahori3B00008S2SFStudio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 10/26/2007
Die Hard Box (3 Pk) (Sensormatic) / Ws & Ultimate
B00008V5Y3
Ron HowardB003Y5H4ZWA MAN DISCOVERS THAT HIS BEST FRIEND'S WIFE IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.
Dinosaur
Eric Leighton, Ralph Zondag3.5B000050MN3An orphaned dinosaur raised by lemurs joins an arduous trek to a sancturary after a meteorite shower destroys his family home. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/21/2004 Starring: D.b. Sweeney Ossie Davis Run time: 82 minutes Rating: Pg
Dirty Grandpa
Dan MazerB01D2KF8BKRobert De Niro and Zac Efron get down and dirtier in this unrated version of the raunchy comedy about a wild road trip shared by an uptight guy and his foul-mouthed granddad.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Callie Khouri3.5B00006IZH3Grab your tissues and send the guys away, because Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is the most pedigreed chick flick since Steel Magnolias. You can tell by the title and the novelish names of the Louisiana ladies from Rebecca Wells's precious bestseller. First there's Sidda (Sandra Bullock), a successful playwright still wrestling with her manipulative mother, Vivi (Ellen Burstyn), after a traumatic upbringing. Then there's longtime friends Teensy (Fionnula Flanagan), Necie (Shirley Knight), and Caro (scene-stealer Maggie Smith), from Vivi's secret club of "Ya-Ya Priestesses," together since childhood and determined to heal the rift between Sidda and her mom. Through an ambitious flashback structure (including Ashley Judd as the younger Vivi), screenwriter and first-time director Callie Khouri (who wrote Thelma & Louise) establishes a rich context for this mother-daughter reunion. There's plenty of humor to temper the drama, which inspires Bullock's best work in years. Definitely worth a look for the curious, but only fans of Wells's fiction will feel any twinge of loyalty. —Jeff Shannon
Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story
Stiller, Ben, Taylor, Christine, Vaughn, Vince4B00005JMYFHow's this for impressive trivia: Dodgeball faced off against The Terminal in opening-weekend competition, and 29-year-old writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber aced Steven Spielberg by a score of $30 to $18.7 in box-office millions. That's no mean feat for a newcomer, but Thurber's lowbrow script and rapid-fire direction—along with a sublime cast of screen comedians—proved to be just what moviegoers were ravenous for: a consistently hilarious, patently formulaic romp in which the underdog owner of Average Joe's Gym (Vince Vaughn) faces foreclosure unless he can raise $50,000 in 30 days. The solution: A dodgeball tournament offering $50K to the winners, in which Vaughn and his nerdy clientele team up against the preening, abhorrently narcissistic owner (Ben Stiller) of Globo Gym, who's threatening a buy-out. That's it for story; any 5-year-old could follow it with brainpower to spare. But Thurber, Vaughn, Stiller, and their well-cast costars (including Stiller's off-screen wife, Christine Taylor) keep the big laughs coming for 96 nonsensical minutes. With spot-on cameos by champion bicyclist Lance Armstrong, David Hasselhoff, Hank Azaria, Chuck Norris, and William Shatner, and a crudely amusing coda for those who watch past the credits, Dodgeball is no masterpiece, but you can bet Spielberg was unexpectedly humbled by its popular appeal. —Jeff Shannon
Doubt
4.5B001PA0FFOSet in 1964 doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. He denies the charges and much of the plays quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion morality and authority. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 04/07/2009 Starring: Meryl Streep Amy Adams Run time: 103 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: John Patrick Shanley
Down Periscope
David S. Ward4.5B00013RC70Kelsey Grammer stars as the captain of a rust-bucket submarine who is fighting for his career by proving his skills in a contest against far more sophisticated ships. Rob Schneider provides comic support as an uptight ensign, and Lauren Holly plays an officer who has to fight her own will-they-accept-me-because-I'm-a-woman anxieties. The film didn't do well at the box office, but it is actually pretty funny, Grammer is enjoyable, and the above-the-water/below-the-water action sequences are as good as any in most submarine films. —Tom Keogh
Dr. Dolittle 2
Steve Carr3.5B00005NRNVIt's only a marginal improvement, but Dr. Dolittle 2 defies the odds by rising above its popular 1998 predecessor (and once again, let's not confuse these movies with the earlier Rex Harrison musical). Eddie Murphy cakewalks through his title role with the confident professionalism of a comedian who knows when to share the spotlight—especially when he's being upstaged by a bunch of animals who steal all the punch lines. And once again the movie's aimed at a preteen audience, so many of those punch lines involve flatulence, bodily functions, and frequent use of the word butt.
The difference this time: Dr. Dolittle has settled into his talk-to-the-animals routine; his 16-year-old daughter (Raven-Symone) is getting to be a feisty handful (it turns out she's coping with a hereditary gift); and his lawyer wife (Kristen Wilson) is representing him in a trial against corporate villains who want to clear-cut a local forest. Naturally, the local critter mafia (their Don is a beaver... fugeddaboutit!) want Dolittle to fight for their cause, and this involves the successful mating of an endangered bear and a domesticated circus bear who's forgotten all the bear necessities of life in the wild. The bears are voiced by Lisa Kudrow and Steve Zahn, and they almost steal the show, but the whole menagerie (with digitally animated "talking") is equally amusing. Adults might wish that the filmmakers had tried harder to make a truly memorable sequel, but this is a movie for kids, and they're going to love it without quibbling. —Jeff Shannon
DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack
B005LZW944Disc 1:
DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury
- Gobber’s Training Secrets
DreamWorks Dragons: Book of Dragons
- Dragon Lair (DVD-ROM)
- 3D Land of the Dragons
Dragons Online Video Game
Use your game card to gain exclusive access to this all-new online video game
- Create your own Viking avatar
- Learn to train dragons
14 Battle Arenas8 Dragon Lairs4 Legend Games
- Challenge the dragons you loved in the film
- Discover and battle seven never-before-seen dragons
- Earn training and battle badges
Drowning Mona
Nick Gomez3B00004TJJXAfter years of driving the town crazy mona dearly drove herself into a river. Now the chief of police finds himself drowning in suspects. The big mystery isnt who would want to see mona dead but who wouldnt. Special features: talent files theatrical trailers interactive menus scene selections and much more. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/23/2004 Starring: Danny Devito Neve Campbell Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Nick Gomez
Eddie
Steve Rash46305428530The newest coach in the nba has got the knicks right where she wants them. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/01/2003 Starring: Frank Langella Lisa Ann Walter Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Steve Rash
Elf
Newhart, Bob4B0002F6BREThis hilarious film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into santas bag of gifts on christmas eve & is transported back to the north pole & raised as an elf. Years later buddy learns hes not really an elf & goes on a journey to new york city to find his true identity. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 09/30/2008 Starring: Will Ferrell Bob Newhart Run time: 95 minutes Rating: Pg
Enchanted
4.5B0011U52E2A classic disney fairytale collides with modern-day new york city when a fairytale princess is sent to our world by an evil queen. Soon after her arrival princess giselle begins to change her views on life & love after meeting a handsome lawyer. Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world? Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008 Starring: Amy Adams Susan Sarandon Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg
End of Days
Peter Hyams36305767866When a burned-out former new york city cop named jericho thwarts a hit on a mysterious and foreboding stranger all hell breaks loose. While investigating the crime he finds himself the reluctant saviour of the beautiful and terrified christine york whose destiny involves death the devil and the fate of mankind. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger Kevin Pollak Run time: 122 minutes Rating: R Director: Peter Hyams
Enemy of the State
Tony Scott46305428115When successful labor lawyer robert clayton dean has a chance meeting with an old pal he has no idea the trouble hes about to encounter. He later discovers his pal has secretly slipped him a disc containing footage of a hidden political assassination overseen by the senior advisor to the nsa. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Will Smith Gene Hackman Run time: 132 minutes Rating: R Director: Tony Scott
Eragon
Stefen Fangmeier2.5B000NA28HUWhile it owes much of its appeal and appearance to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Eragon can stand on its own as an enjoyable fantasy for younger viewers. Faithfully adapted from the bestselling novel by teenage author Christopher Paolini, this boy-and-his-dragon tale offers clean, fast-paced family entertainment without compromising the darker qualities of Paolini's novel (the first in what is known as the "Inheritance" trilogy). The plot centers on 17-year-old peasant farmboy Eragon (played by appealing newcomer Ed Speleers) who discovers a mysterious blue object that turns out to be an egg that eventually hatches to reveal Saphira, a blue-scaled dragon that quickly grows to full-size. According to prophecy, Eragon is destined to be a dragon-rider like those who once protected a benevolent kingdom, thus reviving an ancient conflict against the army of King Galbatorix (John Malkovich), a former dragon rider who turned to evil, now in alliance with a! dark-magic "Shade" sorcerer named Durza (Robert Carlyle). While the movie serves up familiar fantasy elements and offers little if anything new to fans of the genre (or anyone who's read the books of Anne McCaffrey and Ursula K. Le Guin), it's visually impressive (especially the dragon scenes, with Rachel Weisz providing the telepathic "voice" of Saphira) and full of timeless wisdom, much of it delivered by Eragon's heroic mentor Brom (Jeremy Irons), himself a former dragon rider with memories of past battles and hope for Eragon's future. Add a fair warrior-maiden named Arya (Sienna Guillory) and you've got all the ingredients for a worthwhile (if not particularly original) fantasy that points directly to a sequel. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is up to individual viewers to decide. —Jeff Shannon
Eragon Extras
Christopher Paolini talks to us about his book and film inspirations and makes recommendations for fans of Eragon, click here to view the complete list. Build and customize your very own dragon with "Volksdragon".
Beyond Eragon
Eragon (Inheritance Trilogy, Book 1)
The Eragon Community on Amazon
Eragon Collectibles Stills from Eragon
Escape Plan
Mickael HafstromB00H1RMWYW
The Expendables
Sylvester StalloneB002ZG99A4Sylvester Stallone stars as Barney Ross, leader of The Expendables, a tight-knit team of skilled combat vets turned mercenaries. Hired by a powerful covert operator, the team jets off to a small South American country to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Once there, they find themselves caught in a deadly web of deceit and betrayal. Using every weapon at their disposal, they set out to save the innocent and punish the guilty in this blistering action-packed thriller.
Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story
Pete Michels, Peter Shin4B000A3DFV8Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/06/2007
Fantastic Four
Tim Story3.5B000BCE8PKMarvels first family of comic book superheroes takes the world by storm as the longest running comic book series in history comes to the big screen. Mr fantastic invisibile woman human torch & the thing come together to battle the evil doctor doom. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/10/2008 Starring: Jessica Alba Chris Evans Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg13
Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer
3.5B000VI70QSStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/10/2008 Run time: 92 minutes Rating: Pg
Fargo
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen40792846427Leave it to the wildly inventive Coen brothers (Joel directs, Ethan produces, they both write) to concoct a fiendishly clever kidnap caper that's simultaneously a comedy of errors, a Midwestern satire, a taut suspense thriller, and a violent tale of criminal misfortune. It all begins when a hapless car salesman (played to perfection by William H. Macy) ineptly orchestrates the kidnapping of his own wife. The plan goes horribly awry in the hands of bumbling bad guys Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare (one of them being described by a local girl as "kinda funny lookin'" and "not circumcised"), and the pregnant sheriff of Brainerd, Minnesota, (played exquisitely by Frances McDormand in an Oscar-winning role) is suddenly faced with a case of multiple murders. Her investigation is laced with offbeat observations about life in the rural hinterland of Minnesota and North Dakota, and Fargo embraces its local yokels with affectionate humor. At times shocking and hilarious, Fargo is utterly unique and distinctly American, bearing the unmistakable stamp of its inspired creators. —Jeff Shannon
Fast & Furious 6
Justin LinB00FF9SKSKVin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez lead a cast of returning all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed delivers the biggest adrenaline rush yet. Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled drivers, whose mastermind (Luke Evans) is aided by the love Dom (Diesel) thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal mercenaries from stealing a top secret weapon is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks for the help of Dom and his elite team. Payment for the ultimate chase? Full pardons for all of them and a chance to make their families whole again.
The Fast and the Furious
Walker, Paul4B00008MZ0NStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Justin Lin4B000HA4WTIIn order to avoid a jail sentence sean boswell heads to tokyo to live with his military father. In a low-rent section of the city sean gets caught up iin the underground world of drift racing. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/06/2008 Starring: Lucas Black Nikki Griffin Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg13
Fast Five
Justin LinB004EPYZQMGet ready for “five times the action, excitement and fun” (Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV) as Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all-stars from every chapter of the explosive franchise built on speed. Fugitive Dom Toretto (Diesel) partners with former cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) on the opposite side of the law in exotic Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There they are hunted by a high-powered U.S. strike force led by its toughest Fed (Dwayne Johnson) and an army of corrupt cops working for a ruthless drug kingpin. To gain their freedom and win this ultimate high-stakes race, they must pull off one last job - an insane heist worth $100 million.
Fiddler on the Roof
Antony Gibbs, Robert Lawrence, Norman Jewison5B00005N7YZThis rousing musical, based on the stories of Shalom Aleichem, takes place in pre-revolutionary Russia and centers on the life of Tevye (Topol), a milkman who is trying to keep his family's traditions in place while marrying off his three older daughters. Yet, times are changing and the daughters want to make their own matches, breaking free of many of the constricting customs required of them by Judaism. In the background of these events, Russia is on the brink of revolution and Jews are feeling increasingly unwelcome in their villages. Tevye—who expresses his desire for sameness in the opening number, "Tradition"—is trying to keep everyone, and everything, together. The movie is strongly allegorical—Tevye represents the common man—but it does it dexterously, and the resulting film is a stunning work of art. The music is excellent (it won Oscars for the scoring and the sound), with plenty of familiar songs such as "Sunrise, Sunset" and "If I Were a Rich Man," which you'll be humming long after the movie is over. Isaac Stern's violin—he provides the music for the fiddler on the roof—is hauntingly beautiful. And despite the serious subject matter, the film is quite comedic in parts; it also well deserves the Oscar it won for cinematography. —Jenny Brown
The Fighting Temptations
Jonathan Lynn4B00011ZBZ2A romantic comedy about a slick-talking con artist who loses his job and returns to his hometown georgia to collect an inheritance. As stipulated in the will he must recruit a gospel choir and lead it to success before he can cash in. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Beyonce. Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Pg13
Finding Forrester
Gus Van Sant4B00005ASOCJamal wallas is a 16-year-old basketball star with a secret passion for writing. William forrester is a famous reclusive novelist who is angry at the world. After an unexpected meeting forrester becomes jamals unlikely mentor and both men learn lessons from each other about the importance of friendship Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 01/22/2008 Starring: Sean Connery Anna Paquin Run time: 136 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Gus Van Sant
Finding Nemo
Stanton, Andrew4.5B00005JM02A delightful undersea world unfolds in Pixar's animated adventure Finding Nemo. When his son Nemo is captured by a scuba-diver, a nervous-nellie clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) sets off into the vast—and astonishingly detailed—ocean to find him. Along the way he hooks up with a scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who's both helpful and a hindrance, sometimes at the same time. Faced with sharks, deep-sea anglers, fields of poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans, and much more, Marlin rises above his neuroses in this wonderfully funny and nonstop thrill ride—rarely does more than 10 minutes pass without a sequence destined to become a theme park attraction. Pixar continues its run of impeccable artistic and economic success (their movies include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters, Inc). Also featuring the voices of Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, and Allison Janney. —Bret Fetzer
Finding Neverland
Marc Forster4.5B0007CNXUUJames barrie a playwright whose latest play was a total flop. Determined to find a new subject for his next play he meets by chance a widow and her 4 boys. His friendship with the family shows james the love and passion for life he has been missing and is the inspiration for his most successful play - peter pan. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/08/2006 Starring: Johnny Depp Dustin Hoffman Run time: 101 minutes Rating: Pg
First Knight
Jerry Zucker3.50800141601Their greatest battle would be for her love. Richard gere sean connery and julia ormond play the legendary roles of sir lancelot king arthur and queen guinevere in the re-telling of the story of camelot. The glory and romance of king arthurs legend and the undying passions that camelot live forever. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/21/2004 Starring: Sean Connery Richard Gere Run time: 133 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Jerry Zucker
The First Wives Club
Hugh Wilson46305182051Brenda elise and annie are three well-heeled manhattan women who were college chums. They all helped their husbands build up successful businesses and now theyre reunited by catastrophe. Each has just been dumped by her husband for a young trophy wife they concoct a plan to exact bitter vengeance upon their exes. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Bette Midler Diane Keaton Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Hugh Wilson
A Fish Called Wanda
John Cleese4.56305161879An odd quartet of thieves pull off a jewel heist and the only one who knows the location of the loot is sent to prison. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 01/22/2008 Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis Kevin Kline Run time: 108 minutes Rating: R Director: Charles Crichton
Flushed Away
John H. Venzon, Eric Dapkewicz, Henry Anderson, David Bowers, Sam Fell4.5B000M343BCThe story of an uptown rat that gets flushed down the toilet from his penthouse apartment ending in the seewers of london where he has to learn a whole new & different way of life. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Hugh Jackman Ian Mckellen Run time: 84 minutes Rating: Pg
Freaky Friday
Mark Waters4.5B00005JMCWAn overworked mother and her daughter do not get along. When they switch bodies each is forced to adapt to the others life for one freaky friday. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/11/2007 Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis Mark Harmon Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Pg
Friday Night Lights
Josh Pate, Peter Berg, Mark Piznarski4B0006IJ5PMA stand-up-&-cheer movie about a courageous high school football teams fight to fulfill their destiny & live their dream. A true story about how one legendary texas town made hope come alive. One of the greatest sports stories ever told is now one of the greatest sports movies. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/22/2007 Starring: Billy Bobo Thornton Lucas Black Run time: 118 minutes Rating: Pg13
From Paris with Love
Pierre Morel3.5B002ZG97O2James Reece (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), personal aide to the U.S. Ambassador to France, is secretly moonlighting as a low-level CIA operative. Looking for more action, Reece accepts a job that teams him with wise-cracking special agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta), a trigger-happy loose cannon sent to Paris on a mission of international importance. Now, Reece finds himself on the wildest ride of his life as the new partners pull out all the stops to annihilate the enemy in this explosive, white-knuckle, non-stop thriller.
Frozen
Chris Buck, Jennifer LeeB00G5G7K7OFearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
G.I. Jane
Ridley Scott3.51558908315Demi moore stars as gutsy lt. Oneil the first woman to endure the brutal tarining of the elite navy seals. No one wants to see her succeed including powerful politicians top military brass or her male navy seal teammates. But a determined lt. Oneil hangs tough with the best of the best. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/03/2003 Starring: Demi Moore Vittgo Mortensen Run time: 125 minutes Rating: R Director: Ridley Scott
Gallagher - The Best of Gallagher Volume 1
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Gallagher - The Best of Gallagher Volume 2
Rich Blankinship, Wayne Orr4B000AQ69VI
The General's Daughter
Simon West3.50792159659A undercover military investigator uncovers a shocking trail of murderous sexual obsession in this electrifying psychological thriller. Special features: director commentary: four deleted scenes including an alternate ending and two romantically charged scenes between john travolta and madeleine stowe & more. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 03/22/2005 Starring: John Tavolta James Cromwell Run time: 117 minutes Rating: R Director: Simon West
Ghost
Walter Murch, Jerry Zucker4.5B000059TEPA love story of a man who is killed and comes back with the help of a spiritual advisor to solve his own murder and protect his lover. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/04/2005 Starring: Patrick Swayze Demi Moore Run time: 126 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Jerry Zucker
Gladiator
Ridley Scott4.5B00003CXE7A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogue ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately "classical"), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind—believe it or not—Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga. As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescues Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall—he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero! —Mark Englehart
GREEN HORNET (2011) 3D
B004VRS4RODVD Details * Actor(s): Seth Rogen * Format: Widescreen * Soundtrack: English French * Subtitles: English French * Additional: Closed Captioned Box Set * Rating: PG13 * MSRP: $49.95 * Run Time: 119 Minutes * Release Date: 5 3 2011 * Number of Discs: 3
The Green Mile
4.5B000P0J0EMOscar nomimated best picure adaptation of a Stephen King novel about a gentle giant of a prisoner with supernatural powers who brings a sense of spirit and humanity to his guards and fellow inmates. Oscar award winning actor Tom Hanks heads the cast in this emotionally riveting story.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 053939273328 Manufacturer No: C2733
Grumpier Old Men
Howard Deutch4.56304698607Turn the beloved bait shop into a chichi ristorante? this means war. With jack lemmon and walter matthau returning to wage it it also means funny. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/03/2004 Starring: Jack Lemmon Ann Margret Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Howard Deutch
Grumpy Old Men
Donald Petrie4.50790731517A sexy middle-aged widow moves in across the street and adds a lovely new twinkle to the long-standing feud between two eccentric next-door neighbors. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: Jack Lemmon Walter Matthau Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Donald Petrie
The Guardian
Andrew Davis4B000KF0GWWReeling with grief after a mission gone tragically wrong rescue swimmer ben randall is given a mission he doesnt want - training raw recruits. Once there he knocks heads with cocky jake fischer a swimming champ whos more interested in breaking records than saving lives. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008 Starring: Kevin Costner Ashton Kutcher Run time: 136 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Andrew Davis
Guess Who
Kevin Rodney Sullivan3.5B0009RCPUWStudio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 02/20/2007 Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg13
Hairspray
Adam Shankman4B000W4KT64Pleasantly plum teenager tracy turnblad teaches 1962 baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local tv dance show. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: John Travolta Zac Efron Run time: 117 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Adam Shankman
Hall Pass
Bobby Farrelly, Peter FarrellyB004EPYZSAA MARRIED MAN IS GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN AFFAIR BY HIS WIFE. JOINED IN THE FUN BY HIS BEST PAL, THINGS GET A OUT OF CONTROL WHEN BOTH WIVES START ENGAGING IN EXTRAMARITAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL.
Hannibal
Ridley Scott3.5B00003CXSPDr. Hannibal lecter escaped from the asylum in baltimore to florence italy where he has become one of the curators of the palazzo vecchio and has learned to stop eating human flesh all the time. But his cover is broken when cop rinaldo pazzi will turn dr. Lecter over for money to mason verger. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 10/16/2007 Starring: Anthony Hopkins Gary Oldman Run time: 131 minutes Rating: R Director: Ridley Scott
The Happening
M. Night Shyamalan2B001DZOC6YA paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/07/2008 Starring: Mark Wahlberg John Leguizamo Run time: 91 minutes Rating: R
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chris Columbus4B00008DDXCFirst sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. —Jeff Shannon
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
David YatesB001UV4XI8Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction – the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever…but Dark Forces in their midst threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort…alive.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Mike Newell4B000E6EK38When harrys name emerges from the goblet of fire he becomes a competitor in a grueling battle among 3 wizarding schools - the triwizard tournament. But since harry never submitted his name for the tournament who did? now harry must confront a deadly dragon fierce water demons & enchanted maze. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 08/19/2008 Starring: Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint Run time: 157 minutes Rating: Pg13
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
David Yates (II)4B000W7F5SSStudio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Run time: 138 minutes Rating: Pg13
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Alfonso Cuarón4B0002TT0NWHarry & his friends are forced to face escaped prisoner sirius black who poses a great threat to harry. Harry must overcome the soul-sucking dementors outsmart a dangerous werewolf & finally deal with the truth about sirius black & his relationship to harry & his parents. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint Run time: 142 minutes Rating: Pg
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Chris Columbus4B00003CXI1Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Subtitles in english and spanish self-guided tour of hogwarts new interviews with the director and the producer and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson Run time: 152 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Chris Columbus
The Heat
Paul FeigB00E8RK5OCOscarr Winner Sandra Bullock* and Oscarr Nominee Melissa McCarthy** team up in this outrageously funny comedy from the director of Bridesmaids, Paul Feig. Uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Bullock) and foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (McCarthy) couldn't be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected...buddies.
Hitch
Andy Tennant4B000957O7SAlex hitch hitchens is a true urban myth - a legendary new york city date doctor who for a fee has helped hundreds of men woo the women of their dreams. The ultimate professional bachelor hitch discovers that all of his tried & true tricks of the trade are no match for sara the one woman he truly loves Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/03/2006 Starring: Will Smith Eva Mendes Run time: 120 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Andy Tennant
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Peter JacksonB00HWWUQYY
Holes
Andrew Davis4.5B00009XUM5A wrongfully convicted boy is sent to a brutal desert detention camp where he joins the job of digging holes for some mysterious reason. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Sigourney Weaver Shia Lebeouf Run time: 117 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Andrew Davis
Hollow Man
Paul Verhoeven2.5B00003CXKAKevin bacon and elisabeth shue play former lovers who along with a team of other scientists like themselves discover the secret of invisibility. Bacon volunteers to be the guinea pig but then uses the power to wreak havoc on unsuspecting victims. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/21/2004 Starring: Kevin Bacon Josh Brolin Run time: 113 minutes Rating: R Director: Paul Verhoeven
Home on the Range
John Sanford (II)3.5B00029LO0YWhen a greedy outlaw named alameda slim schemes to take possession of the patch of heaven dairy farm 3 determined cows a karate kicking stallion & a colorful corral of critters join forces to save the farm. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008 Starring: Judi Dench Randy Quaid Run time: 76 minutes Rating: Pg
Hoosiers
David Anspaugh4.50792843592Based on the true story of a small-town Indiana team that made the state finals in 1954, this movie chronicles the attempts of a coach with a spotty past, and the town's basketball-loving drunk to lead their high school team to victory.
Horrible Bosses
Seth GordonB004EPZ08EFor Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day), the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few too many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers...permanently. There’s only one problem: even the best-laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.
How To Train Dragon 1+2 Df
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Hudson Hawk
Michael Lehmann40767821513Willis is top cat burglar who wants to go straight in this action-packed comedy adeventure. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 02/28/2006 Starring: Bruce Willis Danny Aiello Run time: 95 minutes Rating: R Director: Michael Lehmann
Hugo
Martin ScorseseB003Y5H5HEWelcome to a magical world of spectacular adventure! When wily and resourceful Hugo discovers a secret left by his father, he unlocks a mystery and embarks on a quest that will transform those around him and lead to a safe and loving place he can call home. Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese invites you to experience a thrilling journey that critics are calling “the stuff that dreams are made of.” *Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Francis LawrenceB008JFUS8MKatniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
The Hurricane
Norman Jewison4078324228XRubin hurricane carter is cut down in the prime of his boxing career and convicted of three murders he did not commit. Sentenced to life in prison carter writes a best-selling autobiography called the sixteenth round which inspires a young man to enlist the help of activists to make carter a free man. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 03/28/2006 Starring: Denzel Washington Deborah Kara Unger Run time: 146 minutes Rating: R Director: Norman Jewison
I am Sam
Jessie Nelson4B000066HASI Am Sam makes you laugh, cry, and recoil all at the same time. Perhaps no other film of recent memory has epitomized the shameless sentimentality of Hollywood as succinctly as director and screenwriter Jessie Nelson's story of a mentally challenged man fighting to retain custody of his 7-year-old daughter. Sam (Sean Penn), who has the mental age of 7, wipes down tables at a Los Angeles Starbucks and takes good care of his daughter Lucy, who was left with him shortly after birth by a homeless woman. Sam has gotten by just fine with a little help from his friends, including his eccentric neighbor (Diane Wiest) and a lovable group of similarly challenged friends, but a series of misunderstandings leaves Sam fighting to get Lucy back from the state. Sam's lawyer, Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), is an overly ambitious woman whose life is soon transformed by proximity to Sam's brimming humanity. Sean Penn is, as usual, wholeheartedly committed to his role and turns in an admirable, if overtly affected performance. However, I Am Sam, with all its earnest charm, reaches an emblematic low when Sam, a character apparently devoid of any authentic sentiment, delivers a courtroom speech memorized from Kramer vs. Kramer as the film's finale. —Fionn Meade
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
3.5B000VXWX7EStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/06/2008 Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg13
I Spy
Betty Thomas3B000085EFKWhen the switchblade the most sophisticated stealth fighter ever created is stolen from the u.S. Government one of the united states top spies is called in to action. What he doesnt expect is to get teamed up with a cocky civilian boxing champion. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/21/2004 Starring: Eddie Murphy Famke Janssen Run time: 97 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Betty Thomas
I, Robot
Alex Proyas3.5B00005JN0TAs paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black) displays both his trademark quips and some impressive pectoral muscles in I, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind—he's just not sure how. When a leading roboticist dies suspiciously, Spooner pursues a trail that may prove his suspicions. Don't expect much of a connection to Isaac Asimov's classic science fiction stories; I, Robot, the action movie, isn't prepared for any ruminations on the significance of artificial intelligence. This likable, efficient movie won't break any new ground, but it does have an idea or two to accompany its jolts and thrills, which puts it ahead of most recent action flicks. Also featuring Bridget Moynahan (The Sum of All Fears), Bruce Greenwood (The Sweet Hereafter), and James Cromwell (Babe, LA Confidential). —Bret Fetzer
Ice Age
Chris Wedge4.5B00006CXHUJust as A Bug's Life was a computer-animated comedy inspired by Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, the funny and often enthralling Ice Age is a digital re-imagining of the Western Three Godfathers. The heroes of this unofficial remake (set 20,000 years ago, during the titular Paleolithic era) are a taciturn mastodon named Manfred (voiced by Ray Romano), an annoying sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo), and a duplicitous saber-toothed tiger, Diego (Denis Leary). The unlikely team encounters a dying, human mother who relinquishes her chirpy toddler to the care of these critters. Hoping, against all odds, to return the little guy to his migrating tribe, Manfred and his associates need to establish trust among themselves, not an easy thing in a harsh world of predators, prey, and pushy glaciers. Audiences that have become accustomed to the rounded, polished, storybook look of Pixar's house brand of computer animation (Monsters, Inc.) will find the blunt edges and chilly brilliance of Ice Age—evoking the harsh, dangerous environment of a frozen world—a wholly different, and equally pleasing, trip. Recommended for ages 4 and up. —Tom Keogh
Identity Thief
Seth GordonB00BNWWWLYJason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) lead an all-star cast in this hilarious blockbuster hit. Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Orlando. There's only one glitch: she's financing her shopping sprees with an ID stolen from Sandy Patterson (Bateman), an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Patterson is forced to extreme measures to clear his name. From the director of Horrible Bosses and the producer of Ted, critics are calling Identity Thief "smart, funny and surprisingly touching" - Rafer Guzman, Newsday.
The Incredibles
4.5B0007A2GSWBob parr and his wife used to be among the worlds greatest crime fighters. 15 years later they are living normal suburban lives with civilian identities. Bob gets his chance to get back into action with a top-secret assignment. He soon discovers it will take a super family effort to save the world. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/16/2008 Starring: Voices Of Craig T Nelson Samuel L Jackson Run time: 115 minutes Rating: Pg
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Michael Kahn, Steven Spielberg3B001DTPZNYStudio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Pg13
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
4.5B0014C2FX8The third episode in Steven Spielberg's rousing Indiana Jones saga, this film recaptures the best elements of Raiders of the Lost Ark while exploring new territory with wonderfully satisfying results. Indy is back battling the Nazis, who have launched an expedition to uncover the whereabouts of the Holy Grail. And it's not just Indy this time—his father (played with great acerbic wit by Sean Connery, the perfect choice) is also involved in the hunt. Spielberg excels at the kind of extended action sequences that top themselves with virtually every frame; the best one here involves Indy trying to stop a Nazi tank from the outside while his father is being held within. For good measure, Spielberg reveals (among other things) how Indy got his hat, the scar on his chin, and his nickname (in a prologue that features River Phoenix as the young Indiana). —Marshall Fine
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
5B0014Z4OMUIt's said that the original is the greatest, and there can be no more vivid proof than Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first and indisputably best of the initial three Indiana Jones adventures cooked up by the dream team of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Expectations were high for this 1981 collaboration between the two men, who essentially invented the box office blockbuster with `70s efforts like Jaws and Star Wars, and Spielberg (who directed) and Lucas (who co-wrote the story and executive produced) didn't disappoint. This wildly entertaining film has it all: non-stop action, exotic locations, grand spectacle, a hero for the ages, despicable villains, a beautiful love interest, humor, horror… not to mention lots of snakes. And along with all the bits that are so familiar by now—Indy (Harrison Ford) running from the giant boulder in a cave, using his pistol instead of his trusty whip to take out a scimitar-wielding bad guy, facing off with a hissing cobra, and on and on—there's real resonance in a potent storyline that brings together a profound religious-archaeological icon (the Ark of the Covenant, nothing less than "a radio for speaking to God") and the 20th century's most infamous criminals (the Nazis). Now that's entertainment. —Sam Graham
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Stany de Silva4B0014Z4ON4It's hard to imagine that a film with worldwide box office receipts topping $300 million worldwide could be labeled a disappointment, but some moviegoers considered Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the second installment in Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' 1980s adventure trilogy, to be just that. That doesn't mean it's a bad effort; any collaboration between these two cinema giants (Spielberg directed, while Lucas provided the story and was executive producer) is bound to have more than its share of terrific moments, and Temple of Doom is no exception. But in exchanging the very real threat of Nazi Germany for the cartoonish Thuggee cult, it loses some of the heft of its predecessor (Raiders of the Lost Ark); on the other hand, it's also the darkest and most disturbing of the three films, what with multiple scenes of children enslaved, a heart pulled out of a man's chest, and the immolation of a sacrificial victim, which makes it less fun than either Raiders or The Last Crusade, notwithstanding a couple of riotous chase scenes and impressively grand sets. Many fans were also less than thrilled with the new love interest, a spoiled, querulous nightclub singer portrayed by Kate Capshaw, but a cute kid sidekick ("Short Round," played by Ke Huy Quan) and, of course, the ever-reliable Harrison Ford as the cynical-but-swashbuckling hero more than make up for that character's shortcomings.
A six-minute introduction by Lucas and Spielberg is the prime special feature, with both men candidly addressing the film's good and bad points (Lucas points out that the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back, was also the darkest of the original three; as for Spielberg, the fact that the leading lady would soon become his wife was the best part of the whole trip). Also good are "The Creepy Crawlies," a mini-doc about the thousands of snakes, bugs, rats and other scary critters that populate the trilogy, and "Travels with Indy," a look at some of the films' cool locations. Storyboards and a photo gallery are included as well. —Sam Graham
Iron Man
4.5B001C08RHA13.5x20 New Mini One Sheet Movie Poster
Iron Man 2
Jon Favreau3.5B0021L8V1QGet the ultimate Iron Man 2 experience with this special edition loaded with bonus features that take you inside the suit, plus a digital copy of the film that you can watch anywhere, anytime! Now that Tony Stark’s superhero secret is revealed to the world, he must once again suit up in order to face his most dangerous enemy yet – but not without a few new allies of his own!
The Island of Dr. Moreau
Don TaylorB00005K3OBThe Island of Doctor Moreau is a remake of 1932's Island of Lost Souls and, of course, an adaptation of H.G. Wells's classic tale of the dangers of playing God. Shipwreck victim Andrew (Michael York) washes up on a tropical island and is taken in by Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster), who lords over a compound staffed by some distinctly odd-looking servants. Also along for the ride are the mysteriously beautiful Maria, menacing shadows in the jungle, and lots and lots of cages in the House of Pain. While not as eerily creepy as its predecessor, The Island of Doctor Moreau has some fun makeup tricks and a good tiger fight or two, not to mention a thorough discussion of legal nuance by the island's "natives" ("What is the law?" "Not to walk on all fours!"). Definitely a fine afternoon's entertainment. Remade in 1996 with Marlon Brando. —Ali Davis
The Italian Job
F. Gary Gray4B0000B1OFLAfter a master thief loses his heist in a double-cross he & his team set out to re-steal the loot by creating the largest traffic jam in la history. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Mark Wahlberg Donald Sutherland Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: F Gary Gray
Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius
Paulsen, Rob, John A. Davis4B000065U37A boy genius in the making must come to the rescue when the towns parents are kidnapped by alien invaders planning to take over the planet. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/22/2006 Starring: Debi Derryberry Patrick Stewart Run time: 82 minutes Rating: G Director: John A. Davis
Joan of Arc
Christian Duguay4.5B00005QCVQThe heroic story of a 19-year-old woman whose saintly visions lead her to unite france against its english invaders. Five hundred years later she is burned at the stake for heresy she is declared a saint and revered by the country she saved. Features: cast and crew production notes and more. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 03/08/2005 Starring: Leelee Sobieski Chad Willet Run time: 140 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Christian Duguay
John Q.
Nick Cassavetes3.5B00005JKWXA down-on-his-luck father whose insurance wont cover his sons heart transplant takes the hospitals emergency room hostage until the doctors agree to perform the operation. Special features: deleted/alternate scenes with optional director commentary: theatrical trailer and much more. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/14/2006 Starring: Denzel Washington James Woods Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Nick Cassavetes
Just Cause
Arne Glimcher3.50790740796A harvard law professor reopens a florida murder case and is caught in a quicksand pit of violence and deception. Features: scene access. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/13/2007 Starring: Sean Connery Blair Underwood Run time: 102 minutes Rating: R Director: Arne Glimcher
The Karate Kid
Harald Zwart3.5B002ZG99CMStudio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/05/2010 Run time: 104 minutes Rating: R
Keeping the Faith
4B00003CXHGKeeping the Faith, Edward Norton's directorial debut, centers on Jake (Ben Stiller) and Brian (Norton), a rabbi and a priest who've been best friends since childhood. Both find their callings and grow into strong spiritual leaders for their community. The clever and occasionally slapstick comedy as Jake and Ben find their places in the religious community is precisely timed, and the film begins with a bang. Yet when childhood friend Anna (Jenna Elfman)—the perfect woman, a cross between "Jonny Quest and Tatum O'Neal"—finds them after all these years, both men fall for the stunning woman who is married to her career and her vibrating cell phone. But what starts as the making of a great joke (of course, the priest is sworn to celibacy and there's not much of a market for a rabbi married to a gentile) turns into a somewhat mawkish romance with mixed messages about the meaning of faith and the power of love. When Anna and Jake secretly begin a tryst, "just for fun," they of course fall in love, which is where the movie begins to unravel, as Anna is oblivious to the turmoil Jake might be feeling in having to choose between his faith and her. Jake turns into a total schmuck, Brian into a drunken idiot, and every secondary character becomes a clichéd stereotype, right down to the yentas in the synagogue and the kindly mentor (director Milos Forman) who guides Brian. However, despite the muck, Norton is surprisingly sympathetic and Elfman is an adorable heroine who helps bring some shining, fun moments to a mediocre film. —Jenny Brown
Kindergarten Cop
Ivan Reitman40783225504Arnold Schwarzenegger made a successful transition to comedy with this 1990 box-office hit directed by Ivan Reitman. Arnold plays an undercover cop whose attempt to locate a little boy and his mother leads him to a small-town kindergarten class, where he poses as a teacher while continuing his investigation. He's also trying to catch a vicious drug dealer (Richard Tyson), whose ex-wife and son are the pair that Arnold's trying to rescue from impending danger. The scenes featuring Arnold and a classroom full of kindergartners are a real hoot, and Pamela Reed offers enjoyable support as Schwarzenegger's police partner, while Penelope Ann Miller (as another teacher) provides a low-key romantic interest and Carroll Baker steals her scenes as the villain's domineering mother. These familiar elements combine to make this a surprisingly lively and entertaining comedy-thriller, but parents are advised to heed the PG-13 rating: there are a lot of funny kids in the movie, but it's still a police thriller, with a violent climax that's not suitable for young viewers. —Jeff Shannon
Kingdom Come
Doug McHenry4B00005N5SIWhoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J lead a strong cast in Kingdom Come, one of those the-whole-family-comes-together comedy-dramas that celebrate the transcendent power of love. When the surly patriarch of the family dies, relatives descend upon his widow (Goldberg): his recovering alcoholic son Ray (Cool J) and his wife Lucille (Vivica Fox from Independence Day), who have been unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant; the incompetent other son Junior (Anthony Anderson, Big Momma's House) and his jealous wife Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith) and their three rambunctious boys; the over-religious sister (Loretta Devine) and her shiftless son; and assorted other eccentric characters who generally turn the reception and funeral into a series of squabbling indignities—the kids even wrap the hearse in toilet paper. The movie's script is modest at best and loaded with forced plot points—to no one's surprise, all problems are resolved in an orgy of forgiveness—but the cast handles the material with sincerity and grace. Goldberg rises to the top as the stoic Mama Rae, lacing her bland lines with a dry and biting wit. Cedric the Entertainer (The Original Kings of Comedy) and singer Toni Braxton round out the cast. —Bret Fetzer
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
Simon West3.5B00003CXZ1A member of a rich british aristocratic family lara croft is a tomb raider who enjoys collecting ancient artifacts from ruins of temples cities etc. Worldwide and doesnt mind going through death-defying dangers to get them. She is skilled in hand-to-hand combat weapons training and foreign languages. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 02/13/2007 Starring: Angelina Jolie Jon Voight Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Simon West
The Last Airbender
M. Night ShyamalanB002VPE1C0Experience the thrilling live-action adventure based on the hit Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Join Aang, an extraordinary boy with incredible “bending” powers, as he journeys through an exotic land filled with magical creatures and powerful friends. As the Avatar, he is the only one who can end the age-old conflict between the four nations: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. An inspirational journey, The Last Airbender is exciting entertainment for the entire family!
Last Holiday
4.5B000ERVJJKDiscover what happens when a woman finds out that her days are numbered. She throws caution to the wind to embark on a lifetime of fun in just a few weeks. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Queen Latifah Timothy Hutton Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Last Samurai
Edward Zwick4B0001JXOVCAn american military advisor embraces the samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Tom Cruise William Atherton Run time: 154 minutes Rating: R Director: Edward Zwick
Legally Blonde
Robert Luketic4.5B00005O5CMWhen her boyfriend ditches her simply because shes too blonde a beautiful fashion major vows to do anything to get him back even it means going to law school. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 08/24/2001 Starring: Reese Witherspoon Selma Blair Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Robert Luketic
The Legend of Zorro
Martin Campbell3.5B000CEXGAKHaving spent the last 10 years fighting injustice & cruelty alejandro de la vega is now facing his greatest challenge: his loving wife elena has filed for divorce & taken up with count armand who is behind a terrorist plot to destroy the u.S. Zorro has to try & save 2 unions before its too late! Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/26/2007 Starring: Antonio Banderas Rufus Sewell Run time: 129 minutes Rating: Pg
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Brad Silberling4B0007PICAIAfter violet klaus & sunny baudelaires parents perish in a terrible fire they are placed in the care of their uncle count olaf an evil fiend who is plotting to kill them & seize their fortune. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Jim Carrey Meryl Streep Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13
Lethal Weapon
Stuart Baird, Richard Donner4.5B00004RFFYA cop on the edge is assigned a new partner a laid back methodical guy. Together they create an unstoppable team when they go after drug dealers. Special features: brand-new dolby digital 5.1 remix original theatrical trailer and expanded motion menu. Subtitles in english french and spanish. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 04/05/2005 Starring: Mel Gibson Danny Glover Run time: 117 minutes Rating: R Director: Richard Donner
Lethal Weapon 2
Richard Donner4B00004RFFWThe series formula started to kick in with this immediate sequel to Lethal Weapon, but that doesn't necessarily make it a weak movie. Joe Pesci joins the fold, Richard Donner directs again, and Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD partners, their relationship smoother now that Gibson's character has recovered from his maddening grief over his wife's death. But the reckless Mel and cautious Danny equation, good for a million laughs, settles into place in this story involving a South African smuggler and a new girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) for Gibson. The movie is hardly comfy, though. The last act gets nasty, and a climactic fight between Gibson (who gets the worst of it) and some high-kicking villain is ugly. —Tom Keogh
Lethal Weapon 3
Richard Donner4B00004RFFXThe unconventional cops are back in this explosive sequel to take on corrupt police officers supplying confiscated weapons to gangs. Special features: brand-new dolby digital 5.1 remix original theatrical trailer and expanded motion menu. Subtitles in english french and spanish. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/31/2005 Starring: Mel Gibson Joe Pesci Run time: 117 minutes Rating: R Director: Richard Donner
Lethal Weapon 4
Richard Donner40790738953Mel gibson and danny glover reteam as riggs and murtaugh the buddy cops whose work routine is anything but routine in a flat-out all-out crowd pleaser that includes returning favorites joe pesci and rene russo plus hot comic chris rock and international action sensation jet li. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: Mel Gibson Joe Pesci Run time: 127 minutes Rating: R Director: Richard Donner
Liar Liar
Don Zimmerman, Tom Shadyac40783235070Jim Carrey is back in top form after his disastrous outing in The Cable Guy. As a lawyer who becomes physically unable to tell a lie for 24 hours after his son makes a magical birthday wish, Carrey learns a few brutal truths about the real meaning of life. There is very little plot, but Carrey's rubbery contortions and slapstick trickery provide just enough humor to keep you interested in this breezy bit of escapism. Not aided in this film by pets or animation, Carrey manages to do amazing and unique things with very simple props. He is also more in control of his acting than before. He is still over the top, but remains believable in some of the lower-energy scenes. An added plus is that the comedy is not as coarse as we've come to expect from him. —Rochelle O'Gorman
The Lion King
Roger Allers, Rob MinkoffB0036TGT3EThe wait is over. For the first time ever, experience the majesty of Disney’s epic animated masterpiece as it roars off the screen and into your living room on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D. With a spectacular digital picture, spine-tingling high definition sound and immersive bonus features—you will feel the love for this critically acclaimed and universally beloved classic like never before.
Embark on an extraordinary coming-of-age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” You will be thrilled by the breathtaking animation, unforgettable Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score; Best Song, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”) and timeless story. The king of all animated films reigns on Disney Blu-ray 3D—magic in a new dimension.
The Lion King
Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers4.5B00003CXB4Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking, and the music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the Rugrat crowd. —Tom Keogh
How good-looking is the DVD restoration of Disney's popular animated film? Take a look at the serviceable but dull film clips incorporated in the plethora of extras and compare them to the vivid gorgeousness of the film presentation. This "special edition" also adds a 90-second song ("Morning Report") that originated in the lavish stage musical. To Disney's credit, the original theatrical version is also included, both restored and featuring two 5.1 soundtracks: Dolby Digital and a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which does sound brighter. As with the Disney Platinum line, everything is thrown into the discs, except an outsider's voice (the rah-rahs of Disney grow tiresome at times). The excellent commentary from the directors and producer, originally on the laser disc, is hidden under the audio set-up menu.
The second disc is organized by 20-minute-ish "journeys" tackling the elements of story, music, et cetera, including good background on the awkward Shakespearean origins at Disney where it was referred as "Bamlet." The most interesting journey follows the landmark stage production, and the kids should be transfixed by shots of the real African wildlife in the animal journey. Three deleted segments are real curios, including an opening lyric for "Hakuna Matata." Most set-top DVD games are usually pretty thin (DVD-ROM is where it's at), but the Safari game is an exception—the kids should love the roaring animals (in 5.1 Surround, no less). One serious demerit goes to the needless and complicated second navigation system that is listed by continent, but just shows the same features reordered. —Doug Thomas
Little Miss Sunshine
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton4B000K7VHQEA family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their vw bus. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/05/2008 Starring: Greg Kinnear Alan Arkin Run time: 101 minutes Rating: R
The Little Shop of Horrors
Marshall Neilan Jr., Roger Corman4.5B00005B1YMHilarious, cheapie black comedy from 1960 that may be the best film by B-picture master Roger Corman, other than Bucket of Blood, made about the same time with the same writer, Charles Griffith. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) is an assistant in a skid-row flower shop who's on the point of losing his job when the unusual plant he's developed turns the store into a major attraction. The only problem is that the plant needs human blood to live, all the while crying, "Feed me! FEED ME!" Luckily, Seymour causes a series of inadvertent deaths that more than make up for the food shortage. Jack Nicholson provides a comic sidebar as a nutjob masochist visiting a dentist's office. Giggling and wild-eyed from the same impulse that might lead others to read scandal sheets, he can be seen in the dentist's waiting room reading aloud from Pain magazine. Famous for having the shortest shooting schedule on record (two days and a night), The Little Shop of Horrors spawned an off-Broadway musical that was in turn made into a successful film in 1986, starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. It was in just this quick-shoot atmosphere that Corman nurtured the careers of many of America's most celebrated film directors; this little shop of honors included Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, and Jonathan Demme. The DVD has optional Japanese subtitles, very generous bios of the stars and filmmakers, and a clean, crisp transfer. —Jim Gay
Little Shop of Horrors
Frank Oz4.5B00004RF8JThe owner of a man-eating plant tries to curb its appetite in this delicious musical comedy. Levi stubbs is the singing voice of audrey 2 the plant. Special features: two original theatrical trailer and two tv spots subtitles in english french and spanish production notes and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Starring: Rick Moranis Ellen Greene Run time: 94 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Frank Oz
Live Free or Die Hard
4B000VNMMQQJohn mcclane takes on an internet based organization who is systematically shutting down the united states. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/14/2008 Starring: Bruce Willis Run time: 130 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Len Wiseman
The Long Walk Home
Richard Pearce4.5B00008W2RDThis underrated 1990 film directed by Richard Pearce (Country, Leap of Faith) features exceptionally nuanced performances by both Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter) and Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost) in a story set against the backdrop of the emerging civil rights movement of the 1950s South. Spacek plays a Southern socialite who becomes gradually enlightened by the plight of her housekeeper, played by Whoopi Goldberg, as she struggles to raise her family amid the increasing turmoil, prejudice, and violence around her. A well-done treatment of an important period of American history, The Long Walk Home is an effective and accurate period drama. It is also an opportunity to see fine, understated performances by two very popular actresses in an earnest and socially conscious setting. —Robert Lane
The Long, Long Trailer
Dave O'Brien, Tex Avery, Vincente MinnelliB000EHQU08Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz live slaphappily ever after as newlyweds honeymooning in The Long, Long Trailer, breezily directed by Vincente Minnelli. They quickly find that the interior of a moving trailer is ideal for tossing a Caesar salad - and everything else. That backing up their 40-foot, three-ton home is only a little more difficult than threading a needle wearing boxing gloves. And that trailer-park folks are neighborly sorts who turn the lovebirds' rig into the wrong, wrong trailer by crashing the wedding night. Co-starring comedy pros Marjorie Main and Keenan Wynn (Ball's frequent co-star in her MGM days), this smash was filmed at the height of the I Love Lucy craze and is packed with the inventive sight gags and physical humor that made the series a TV landmark. If you like the Trailer, you're going to love the movie!
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
4.5B00003CWT6In a small village in the shire a young hobbit named frodo has been entrusted with an ancient ring. Now he must embark on an epic quest to the cracks of doom in order to destroy it. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Sean Astin Orlando Bloom Run time: 178 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Peter Jackson
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King
4.5B0001US8E4In the final film of the trilogy frodo makes his way through the darkness to mount doom to destroy the one ring whole aragon learns of his destiny & the others prepare for a battle that will decide the fate of all. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Elijah Wood Ian Mckellan Run time: 200 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers
McKellen, Ian, Mortensen, Viggo, Wood, Elijah4.5B00005JKZVThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a seamless continuation of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power with the creature Gollum as their guide. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy. These two films are perhaps the greatest fantasy films ever made, but they're merely a prelude to the cataclysmic events of The Return of the King. —David Horiuchi
The Majestic
Frank Darabont3.5B00005JKNCJim carrey plays an amnesia victim who mistaken as a missing favorite-son war hero by a tiny california town restores and reopens the local abandoned movie palace discovering love and rebuilding his own life along the way. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 12/12/2006 Starring: Jim Carrey Laurie Holden Run time: 152 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Frank Darabont
Major Payne
Patrick Kennedy, Nick Castle4.50783230494Bonus features: production notes talent bios film highlights theatrical trailer and web link. The military was never this much fun or this wild. Wayans is hilarious as a retired marine officer determined to whip a rambunctious group of cadets into a winning troop. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/24/2005 Starring: Damon Wayans Karyn Parsons Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Nick Castle
Maleficent
Robert StrombergB00M4ADWTKExplore the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain in this wickedly fun twist on the classic SLEEPING BEAUTY. In an unforgiving mood after a neighboring kingdom threatens her forest, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) places an irrevocable curse on the king's newborn daughter, the Princess Aurora. but as the child grows, Maleficent finds herself becoming fond of the girl. And as the conflict between the two realms intensifies, Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land. Journey beyond the fairy tale in this soaring adventure that is "visually arresting, brilliantly designed" (Andrew Barker, Variety).
Malice
Harold Becker4B00004Y87PMovie critic Roger Ebert made this amusing observation about Malice: "This is the only movie I can recall in which an entire subplot about a serial killer is thrown in simply for atmosphere." He's referring to the fact that this hokey but highly charged thriller is so packed with plot twists and red herrings that you'll soon find yourself so confused that you just have to sit back and hope that it will all make sense by the time the credits roll. It never does make much sense, but the movie at least has the look, feel, and twisted momentum of a really good thriller, and the talent on both sides of the camera is pretty impressive. Alec Baldwin plays a hot-shot surgeon who meets up with an old med-school buddy (Bill Pullman), whose wife (Nicole Kidman) has no objections when Baldwin moves into the upstairs room of their New England Victorian home. The situation's ripe for intrigue, suspicion, temptation, emergency surgery, legal proceedings, and just about anything else you'd find in a movie that desperately struggles to out-Hitchcock Hitchcock. Talk about McGuffins—this movie's chock full of 'em! When the plot thickens to the consistency and clarity of quicksand, you can still enjoy the darkly stylish work of master cinematographer Gordon Willis—or you can check out director Harold Becker's more coherent thriller Sea of Love. With Kidman and Baldwin working up a steamy lather, this one's just fun enough to be an agreeable waste of time. —Jeff Shannon
Mamma Mia! The Movie
4B001GKJ2FMThe story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father from three possible candidates told using songs by the popular 70s group abba. Based on the hit broadway musical. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/16/2008 Starring: Meryl Streep Colin Firth Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Mask
Chuck Russell40790729970A quiet bank clerk is turned into a cartoon character with strange abilities usually only available in animatation, all through an ancient mask he finds.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Media Type: DVD
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World
Peter Weir4B0001HLVS2In the capable hands of director Peter Weir, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a seafaring adventure like no other, impeccably authentic, dynamically cast, and thrilling enough to give any classic swashbuckler a run for its money. In adapting two of Patrick O'Brian's enormously popular novels about British naval hero Capt. Jack Aubrey, Weir and cowriter John Collee have changed the timeframe from the British/American war of 1812 to the British/French opposition of 1805, where the HMS Surprise, under Aubrey's confident command, is patrolling the South Atlantic in pursuit of the Acheron, a French warship with the strategic advantage of greater size, speed, and artillery. Russell Crowe is outstanding as Aubrey, firm and fiercely loyal, focused on his prey even if it means locking horns with his friend and ship's surgeon, played by Crowe's A Beautiful Mind costar Paul Bettany. Employing a seamless combination of carefully matched ocean footage, detailed models, full-scale ships, and CGI enhancements, Weir pays exacting attention to every nautical detail, while maintaining a very human story of honor, warfare, and survival under wretched conditions. Raging storms and hull-shattering battles provide pulse-pounding action, and a visit to the Galapagos Islands lends a note of otherworldly wonder, adding yet another layer of historical perspective to this splendidly epic adventure. —Jeff Shannon
The Matrix
Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski4.5B00000K19EBy following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers—Andy and Larry—annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal—from what or whom he doesn't know—until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless character he has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is—a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend.
Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves and Fishburne—who both turn in fine performances—much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise—a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks). —Jeremy Storey
The Matrix Reloaded
Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski3.5B00005JLTNNeo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250000 probes discover zion and destroy it and its inhabitants. During this neo must decide how he can save trinity from a dark fate in his dreams. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Keanu Reeves Laurence Fishburne Run time: 138 minutes Rating: R Director: Andy & Larry Wachowski
The Matrix Revolutions
Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski3.5B0001BKAEYIt is a dark time for the world. Neo is trapped in the train station between the matrix & the source. Zion is doomed to be crushed under an unstoppable army of countless sentinels. But it is not only the human race that is in peril. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Keanu Reeves Laurence Fishburne Run time: 129 minutes Rating: R
Mean Girls
Mark Waters5B0002IQJ96Having been home-schooled and raised in the African bush, Cady is unprepared for the cut-throat politics of public school.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Media Type: DVD
Meet The Fockers
Jay Roach3.5B0007UM8WGNow that greg focker is in with his soon-to-be-in-laws jack & dina byrnes it looks like smooth sailing for him & his fiance pam. But thats before pams parents meet gregs parents bernie & roz focker. The hyper-relaxed fockers & the tightly-wound byrneses are woefully mismatched from the start. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 08/22/2006 Starring: Ben Stiller Dustin Hoofman Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg13
Meet the Parents
Jay Roach3.5B00003CXO1Male nurse greg fokker meets his girlfriends parents before proposing but her suspicious father is every dates worst nightmare. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 07/24/2007 Starring: Robert Deniro Ben Stiller Run time: 108 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Jay Roach
Men in Black 3
Barry SonnenfeldB005LAIHQSIn Men in Black™ 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
Men in Black II
3B00005JKZ3Its been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions kay has since returned to the comforts of civilian life while jay continues to work for the men in black who face the toughest challenge yet the mibs untarnished mission statement. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/24/2008 Starring: Tommy Lee Jones Lara Flynn Boyle Run time: 88 minutes Rating: Pg13
Miami Vice
William Goldenberg, Paul Rubell, Michael Mann3B000J4QWMCBased on the 1980s tv action/drama this update focuses on vice detectives crockett & tubbs as their respective personal & profeessional lives become dangerously intertwined. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 11/27/2007 Starring: Colin Farrell Gong Li Run time: 140 minutes Rating: Ur Director: Michael Mann
Minions
Pierre Coffin, Kyle BaldaB00NYC7FWMThe Minions, breakout stars from "Despicable Me," are presented in an origin story that showcases their unpredictable personality and physicality, and pairs them with equally memorable human characters. As it turns out, Minions have existed since the beginning of time. They have evolved from single (yellow) cell organisms into the familiar beings we know, and they live for a collective purpose: to seek out and serve the most despicable master they can find. Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock will lead the voice cast of the human characters as Scarlett Overkill, the world's reigning super-villain of the 1960s.
Minority Report
Steven Spielberg4B00005JL78Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/22/2006 Run time: 146 minutes Rating: Pg13
Miracle
Gavin O'Connor4.5B0001US66YFrom the studio that brought you THE ROOKIE and REMEMBER THE TITANS comes the movie everybody loves — MIRACLE. Filled with exhilarating nonstop hockey action and heart-racing suspense, it's the inspiring true story behind one of the greatest moments in s
Misery
4.50792846443An injured novelist is held captive and violently tortured by a woman who claims to be his number one fan. Special features: collectible booklet theatrical trailer teaser widescreen and fullscreen versions subtitles in french and spanish. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 07/03/2007 Starring: James Caan Kathy Bates Run time: 108 minutes Rating: R Director: Rob Reiner
Monster House
Gil Kenan4B000IFRT2OEven for a 12 year-old dj walker has an overactive imagination. He is convinced that any toy that touches his crabby neighbors property promptly disappears. Dj has seen it with his own eye! what everyone doesnt know is that dj isnt imagining things. Its all true & its about to get worse than dj imagined. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/25/2007 Starring: Voices Of Steve Buscemi Jon Heder Run time: 91 minutes Rating: Pg
Monster-in-Law
Robert Luketic3B000A343RIAfter years of looking for mr right charlie finds the man of her dreams kevin only to discover that his mother viola is the woman of her nightmares. Viola is determined to scare off her sons new fiancee by becoming the worlds worst mother in law. The 2 women battle it out to see who is the alpha-female. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 01/08/2008 Starring: Jennifer Lopez Michael Vartan Rating: Pg13
Monsters University
Dan ScanlonB008JFUPOYDisney Pixar proudly presents the hilarious story of how two mismatched monsters met and became lifelong friends in a movie screaming with laughter and oozing with heart. Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he’s dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. With their dreams temporarily dashed, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Get ready to party with hours of exclusive bonus extras, including an inside look at the world of monsters and the animated theatrical short film "The Blue Umbrella."
Mouse Hunt
Craig Wood, Gore Verbinski40783231172TWO BUMBLING BROTHERS INHERIT A RUN-DOWN HOUSE, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT'S WORTH A FORTUNE. BUT BEFORE THEY CAN CASH IN ON THEIR WINDFALL, THEY NEED TO EVICT A STUBBORN TENANT - ONE WITH A TAIL AND A NOSE FOR COMIC REVENGE. BONUS FEATURES: STUNT FOOTAGE, PRODUCTION NOTES, CAST AND FILMMAKER BIOS' AND MORE.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Doug Liman3.5B000AP04FGBrad Pitt and Angelina Jolie smolder in one of the most anticipated sizzling action films ever made. After five (or six) years of vanilla-wedded bliss ordinary suburbanites John and Jane Smith (Pitt and Jolie) are stuck in a rut the size of the Grand Canyon until the truth comes out! Unbeknownst to each other they are both coolly lethal highly paid assassins working for rival organizations. And when they discover they're each other's next target their secret lives collide in a spicy explosive mix of wicked comedy pent-up passion nonstop action and high-tech weaponry that gives an all-new meaning to "Till death do us part!"System Requirements:Starring: Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Vince Vaughn Directed By: Doug Liman Running Time: 112 MinutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG-13 UPC: 024543213710 Manufacturer No: 2231371
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
H.C. Potter, Tex AveryB0001WTWVUCary Grant is hilarious as a successful New York advertising executive who wants to escape the confines of his family's tiny midtown apartment. So he designs his dream home in the suburbs and discovers the project wasn't as easy as it seemed. The house gets larger. The bills get bigger. The problems just won't go away. Eventually, the whole affair becomes a nightmare-a very funny nightmare-that left audiences laughing in 1948 and will have you in stitches, too. This is the comedic masterpiece that inspired the popular 1987 movie "The Money Pit." It's an adventure in homeowning that strikes a familiar chord with everyone who's ever bought a house. Year: 1948 Director: H.C. Potter Starring: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
B0009X75WEWhen James Stewart decides to take his family on vacation in California, he needs another vacation to recover. Co-stars Fabian.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Chris Columbus4.5630558365XThis huge 1993 hit for Robin Williams and director Chris Columbus (Home Alone), based on a novel called Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine, stars Williams as a loving but flaky father estranged from his frustrated wife (Sally Field). Devastated by a court order limiting his time with the children, Williams's character disguises himself as a warm, old British nanny who becomes the kids' best friend. As with Dustin Hoffman's performance in Tootsie, Williams's drag act—buried under layers of latex and padding—is the show, and everything and everyone else on screen serves his sometimes frantic role. Since that's the case, it's fortunate that Williams is Williams, and his performance is terribly funny at times and exceptionally believable in those scenes where his character misses his children. Playing Williams's brother, a professional makeup artist, Harvey Fierstein has a good support role in a bright sequence where he tries a number of feminine looks on Williams before settling on Mrs. Doubtfire's visage. —Tom Keogh
The Mummy
4.5B0018BD9FIStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 07/08/2008 Starring: Brendan Fraser Jonathan Hyde Run time: 125 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Mummy Returns
4B0018CWESAStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 07/08/2008 Run time: 130 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Rob Cohen3B001HQZJMUStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/16/2008 Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Pg13
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Joel Zwick4B00006FMUWWhen toul portokalos decides to change her life for the better she starts by getting a new wardrobe and ends up getting married! but can the quiet daughter in a loud greek family meet and marry the all-american man of her ddream without breaking a few plates. Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 09/11/2007 Starring: Nia Vardols Michael Constantine Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg
My Cousin Vinny
Stephen E. Rivkin, Tony Lombardo, Jonathan Lynn4.5630592970XWhen two Italian-American boys from New York are falsely accused of murder in a small Alabama town, they call for a lawyer—but the only lawyer they know is their cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci), who made six attempts before he passed his bar exam. My Cousin Vinny is a classic fish-out-of-water comedy; the flimsy plot about clearing the two boys and solving the murder is just a hook to support a lot of culture-clash humor. Thanks to the strong cast of character actors like Fred Gwynne, Austin Pendleton, and Lane Smith, it's pretty funny—even old-hat jokes about Brooklyn versus Southern accents come to life. Pesci has played a few too many schticky characters, but this time it works. There's just enough humanity in his caricature to make Vinny likable and entertaining. When the movie was released, there was controversy about whether Marisa Tomei, playing Vinny's big-haired and black-leather-wearing fiancée, deserved to win the best supporting actress Oscar (she beat out Judy Davis, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, and Vanessa Redgrave); but seeing her performance on its own, it's a comic marvel and worthy of honor. —Bret Fetzer
Mystic River
Clint Eastwood3.5B0001ZX0OMDrama. Mystic River tells the story of three men whose dark, interwoven history forces them to come to terms with a brutal murder on the mean streets of Boston.
National Lampoon's Animal House
George Folsey Jr., John Landis4B0000A02TZThe delta house is scheming to keep itself from being kicked off campus and led by belushis bluto they do so without much hope—but with many laughs. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/14/2006 Starring: John Belushi Kevin Bacon Run time: 109 minutes Rating: R Director: John Landis
National Treasure
Jon Turteltaub4B0007L43D2Ever since benjamin franklin gates was a boy he has been obsessed with finding the legendary knights templar treasure the greatest treasure known to man. Now in a race against time gates must steal one of americas most sacred & guarded documents - the declaration of independence. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/01/2006 Starring: Nicolas Cage Sean Bean Run time: 131 minutes Rating: Pg
National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets
Jon Turtletaub4B0013BM63OJoin Nicolas Cage on a heart-pounding adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat in a race to find the Lost City of Gold. Grounded in history imbued with myth and mystery Disney's NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS takes you on a globe-trotting quest full of adrenaline-pumping twists and turns — all leading to the final clue in a mysterious and highly guarded book containing centuries of secrets. But there's only one way to find it — Ben Gates must kidnap the President. Packed with fast-paced action and crackling humor NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS is a movie your entire family will want to rediscover again and again.System Requirements:Running Time: 124 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS Rating: PG UPC: 786936735390 Manufacturer No: 5439303
Nebraska
B00H9L28OOFrom Academy Awardr winner Alexander Payne, the director of Sideways and The Descendants, comes the film that critics are calling "An American Masterpiece." When a father (Bruce Dern) and his adult son (Will Forte) embark on a journey to claim a million-dollar prize, what begins as a fool's errand becomes a search for the road to redemption. Discover why Nebraska is "one of those movies I'll watch for the rest of my life."
Night at the Museum
Shawn Levy4B000NOKJC2An irresistible concept meets computer-generated wonders in Night at the Museum, inspired by a 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc. Ben Stiller stars as Larry Daley, an underachieving inventor waiting for his ship to come in while getting evicted from one apartment after another for lack of funds. Larry's son needs some stability, so the well-meaning ne'er-do-well takes a job as night watchman at New York City's Museum of Natural History. What the soon-to-retire guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs) don't tell him is that an ancient pharaoh's tablet in the museum causes everything on display to come to life at night. Thus, Larry meets representations of Teddy Roosevelt, Attila the Hun, fire-worshipping cavemen, and Roman Empire soldiers, and learns to cope with an excitable T-Rex and man-eating, ancient animals. The film might have left things at that, but an added story element gives Night at the Museum some extra urgency and excitement, especially fo! r kids: Larry becomes responsible for keeping this nightly miracle going and preventing anything in the museum from dying due to exposure to sunrise. Computer effects, as well as wildly imaginative costumes and makeup, help make the film appeal to the 8-year-old in everyone. Director Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther) works with a hugely talented cast, including Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Carla Gugino, and Steve Coogan. —Tom Keogh
Night at the Museum Extras
Ben Stiller on Director Shawn Levy
Ricky Gervais on the size of his trailer and eating cheese.
Beyond Night at the Museum
See What DVDs Meant Special Effects to Amazon DVD Editors As Kids
More Adventure Films for Kids & Family
The Night at the Museum Paperback Book
Stills from Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Three-Disc Edition + Digital Copy + DVD) [Blu-ray]
Shawn Levy3.5B001PR0Y4OHistory is larger than life—and twice as funny—in this monumental comedy sequel that’s “better than the original” (At the Movies)! Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast (including Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria and Robin Williams) as Larry Daley, a former night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, where the exhibits come to life after dark. But now Larry’s nocturnal friends are being retired to the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, luring him back for a hilarious, all-out battle against museum misfits who plan to take over the Smithsonian...and the world!
Nim's Island
Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin4B001APZMJSStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 08/05/2008 Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
B0016Q2D1QBased on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency tells the uplifting fictional story of a Botswana woman who fulfills a longtime dream – and bucks daunting odds – by opening her country’s first and only female-owned detective agency.
The North Avenue Irregulars
Bruce Bilson (II)4.5B00000JKTITypical of Disney's 1970s output, this squeaky-clean comic adventure about a group of church volunteers and soccer moms who take on local gangsters is packed with slapstick humor, sight gags, and nonlethal car crashes. Curiously enough, it's based on the true story of Reverend Albert Fay Hill, who wrote a book about his efforts to stop mob-run gambling in his city. Edward Herrmann plays the fictionalized Presbyterian minister Mike Hill, a soft-spoken widower with two kids who ruffles the feathers of the dedicated church secretary (Susan Clark) when he organizes a group of women to help the Treasury Department catch the bookies in the act. The mobsters are more Damon Runyon than John Gotti: no one gets hurt and everything ends in a demolition derby free-for-all as the suburban-lady volunteers play bumper cars with the mobsters. There's a potentially fascinating story in there that Disney keeps a G-rated cap on (though seeing Karen Valentine swingin' her booty under the cover of pounds of makeup and a little halter top is a surprise in a family film), but it's a harmless little comedy enlivened by plucky performances by Barbara Harris and Cloris Leachman and a fun turn by Ruth Buzzie as a church elder with a CB-radio handle. —Sean Axmaker
Notes on a Scandal
Richard Eyre4B000NIVJFYA pottery teacher enters into an affair with one of her students causing upheaval in her personal & professional lives. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/04/2008 Starring: Judi Dench Cate Blanchett Run time: 121 minutes Rating: R
On Golden Pond
Robert L. Wolfe, Mark Rydell4.5B0000JBALOWriter Ernest Thompson, who came up with the original stage play of On Golden Pond and adapted it for film, is lucky to have two giants of the screen give dignity and breadth to his sometimes trite dialogue. Henry Fonda, in his last role, plays a prickly English professor at the disagreeable age of 80. Visiting his summer house by a Maine lake with his wife (Katharine Hepburn), the old man forges an unlikely bond with a lonely boy, comes to terms with his daughter (Jane Fonda), and suffers disorienting effects of mild dementia. Even playing a tired old man, Fonda is an absolute lion of a movie star, and Hepburn brings her special spirit to the part of his worried bride. The onscreen relationship between Henry and Jane Fonda naturally makes one think about their much-discussed difficulties offscreen, but that's a side benefit in a movie that is really just a celebration of simple human decency. Directed by Mark Rydell (Harry and Walter Go to New York). —Tom Keogh
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Hayek, Salma3B0000WN140Hitman el mariachi becomes involved in international espionage involving a psychotic cia agent and a corrupt mexican general. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/20/2005 Starring: Salma Hayek Eva Mendes Run time: 102 minutes Rating: R Director: Robert Rodriguez
The Order
Brian Helgeland3B0000TPA0GStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/09/2008
Original Sin
Michael Cristofer4B00005V4XVOriginal Sin belongs in the "so bad it's good" category of languid potboilers, offering enough nudity, sexual chemistry, and far-fetched plotting to make it an enjoyable lazy-day diversion. Based on Cornell Woolrich's novel Waltz into Darkness (previous filmed by François Truffaut as Mississippi Mermaid) and set in turn-of-the-century Cuba, the film traces a tailspin of amorous obsession when coffee plantation owner Luis (Antonio Banderas) discovers that his American mail-order bride (Angelina Jolie) is not the plain wife he'd expected, but a beautiful, scheming thief who's after his fortune. The movie asserts that love is truly blind, but absurd twists of plot make Luis appear more stupid than passionate. Writer-director Michael Cristofer fared better with Jolie in Gia; here, he's made another good-looking film about beautiful people, but its plot just can't be taken seriously. —Jeff Shannon
Overboard
4.56305236569A bored super-rich woman falls off her yacht and into the life of a carpenter with four children in need of attention.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Media Type: DVD
Pacific Rim
Guillermo Del ToroB008JFUR10When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse
The Pacifier
Thieriot, Max4B0009DWL8WLt shane wolfe is a tough-as-nails navy seal who has controlled military operations in every corner of the globe. Now the ultimate test comes when hes assigned to protect the home front ..In a house loaded with 5 out-of-control kids! Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/11/2007 Starring: Vin Diesel Run time: 95 minutes Rating: Pg
Passenger 57
Kevin Hooks46304936311Security agent cutter steps into the plane lavoratory and reemerges to find a hi-jacking in progress. Relying on his cool cunning and his street lethal martial arts moves he defies the hi-jackers in a running cat and mouse battle in the air. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Wesley Snipes Bruce Payne Run time: 84 minutes Rating: R Director: Kevin Hooks
Pearl Harbor
Michael Bay3.5B00003CXTGStudio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005
Pete's Dragon
David LoweryB01I0RFN38When a mysterious 10-year-old boy, Pete, turns up, claiming to live in the woods with a giant green dragon, it's up to a forest ranger, Grace, and young Natalie to learn where the boy came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this magical dragon.
Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End
Gore Verbinski3.5B00005JPFXStudio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/04/2007
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest
Gore Verbinski4B00005JP0FOnce again thrown nto the world of the supernatural captain jack sparrow finds out that he owes a bloody debt to the legendary davey jones captain of the ghostly flying dutchman. With time running out jack must find a way out of debt or else be doomed to eternal damnation & servitude in the afterlife. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/05/2006 Starring: Johnny Depp Keira Knightley Run time: 150 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Gore Verbinski
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl
Gore Verbinski4.5B00005JM5EPirate jack sparrow sets out to save a governors daughter from fellow pirates with the hopes that it will give him the opportunity to regain the ship that was stolen from him. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/11/2007 Starring: Johnny Depp Orlando Bloom Run time: 143 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Gore Verbinski
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rob MarshallB0054K8O36From Disney and Producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes all the fun, epic adventure and humor that ignited the original. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. A tale of truth, betrayal, youth, demise - and mermaids! When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he's not sure if it's love, or if she's a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. Forced aboard the ship of the most feared pirate ever, Jack doesn't know who to fear more -Blackbeard (Ian McShane) or the woman from his past. Directed by Rob Marshall, it's filled with eye-popping battle scenes, mystery and all-out wit.
Planet 51 (Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]
Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, Marcos Martinez3B001PR0YEOWhen Chuck the astronaut (Dwayne Johnson) lands on a distant planet filled with little green people, he is surprised to discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. But he gets the shock of his life when the residents of Planet 51 mistakenly believe that his presence is the start of an alien invasion of the human kind! Luckily, Lem (Justin Long) quickly realizes that Chuck is friendly and makes it his personal mission to help him return safely to his ship.
Poltergeist
Tobe HooperB000V4UFZKCraig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams. A Steven Spielberg classic places a typical suburban family in harm's way when beings from the other side" infiltrate their home and scare the bejeezes out of them with a series of bizarre and terrifying events. Celebrate the 25-year-old nightmare for the Freeling family with no let up in the sheer horror it invoked as when it was first released! 1982/color/114 min/PG/widescreen.
The Prince of Tides
4B00005OLYFStudio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/26/2005 Run time: 132 minutes Rating: R
The Princess Bride
Rob Reiner4.5B000TJBNHGScreenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his skeptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story.
And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity...
The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. —Sam Sutherland
The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement
Garry Marshall4B00063KGPUIf you're a ten-year-old girl, this sequel to Disney's 2001 hit will completely transfix you. How could it not? Bubbly Mia (Anne Hathaway), the American teenager who in the first film learned she was actually European royalty, finishes college and—whoosh!—heads off to Genovia, where he's given a closet full of fabulous clothes and jewelry in preparation to rule the kingdom under the tutelage of grandmother Julie Andrews. Throw in a horse and a volatile but innocent romantic attraction to the dreamy young stud (Chris Pine) who's also vying for the throne, and you have the kind of stuff that prepubescent girls rhapsodize about at slumber parties. Oh—and there's a slumber party here, too, featuring a bevy of cute, international young princesses mattress-surfing down a giant slide. Resistance is futile. For the rest of us, though, director Garry Marshall has managed to make his Laverne & Shirley days seem positively Shakespearean in comparison. The movie is precious, padded (two hours!), and pandering twaddle; Andrews, in her role as Queen Mother, is even shoehorned into a faux-hip-hop duet with Disney Channel favorite Raven (one of many, many grueling moments intended to sell the soundtrack). Then the film takes a maddening left turn three-quarters of the way into the plot and decides that, despite all the preceding consumption and connubial fantasies to the contrary, it's really about feminine emancipation. But don't worry—what causes you to smack your forehead in frustration will go right over the heads of its hypnotized target market. —Steve Wiecking
The Producers
Susan Stroman4B000EWBKMQNew york 1959. Max & leo come up with a scheme to make only flops for broadway: raise more money than you need & make sure the show is despised. No one will be interested & you can pocket the surplus. They produce a musical called springtime for hitler. What can go wrong? theres no accounting for taste. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/09/2008 Starring: Nathan Lane Uma Thurman Run time: 135 minutes Rating: Pg13
Proof
Mick Audsley, John Madden3.5B00005JNM3The daughter of a brilliant & mentally disturbed mathmatician recently deceased tries to come to grips with her possible inheritance: his insanity. Complicating matters are one of her fathers ex-students who wants to search through his papers & her estranged sister who shows up to help settle his affairs. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Gwyneth Paltow Jake Gyllenhaal Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Pg13
Psycho
Alfred HitchcockB0087ZG7UWOne of the most shocking films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho changed the thriller genre forever. Join the Master of Suspense on a chilling journey as an unsuspecting victim (Janet Leigh) visits the Bates Motel and falls prey to one of cinema’s most notorious psychopaths - Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Named #1 on the AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills list, this notorious film has become a cultural phenomenon. Featuring one of the most iconic scenes in film history - the famous “shower scene”, Psycho is “still terrifying after all these years” (Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide).
Radio
Michael Tollin4B00008EY60Since winning an Academy Award for his exuberant performance in Jerry Maguire, Cuba Gooding Jr. has gotten little but static from critics for a spate of calamitous career choices not seen since '80s-vintage Burt Reynolds. But he triumphantly returns to Oscar-worthy status with his moving performance as Radio, a mentally challenged young man, whom South Carolina high school football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) takes under his nurturing wing. This does not play well with the school's patient but questioning principal (Alfre Woodard); the school's biggest athletic booster, who views Radio as a distraction; the man's son, the team's star player, who plays cruel pranks on the trusting Radio; and the Coach's teenage daughter, who feels neglected. Almost all will be won over by Radio's trusting and good nature. Based on a Sports Illustrated story, Radio was adapted for the screen by Mike Rich, screenwriter of The Rookie, and as in that superior family film, the heroics are mostly off the field. As Coach says, with all the subtlety of a blitz, "We're not the ones been teaching Radio; he's the one been teaching us." The ending, in which we see the actual Radio, still cheering his team on 26 years later, will melt the most cynical hearts. —Donald Liebenson
Rain Man
Levinson, Barry4.5B0000YEEGMSelfish yuppie charlie babbitts father dies and leaves a fortune — to raymond the institutionalized savant brother that charlie didnt know he had. They set out on a cross-country journey of discovery. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 11/13/2007 Starring: Dusin Hoffman Valeria Golino Run time: 134 minutes Rating: R Director: Barry Levinson
Rango
Gore VerbinskiB003Y5H542Get ready to tango with RANGO, a winner with critics and audiences that’s “like nothing you’ve ever seen before” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). Johnny Depp is spectacular as Rango, a kooky pet chameleon who gets tossed into a wild and raucous town in desperate need of a hero. Refreshingly original with eye-popping animation, RANGO is “loads of fun and genuinely funny” (Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times). And now you can get more RANGO in the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack with Digital Copy featuring the never-before-seen ending, 10 deleted scenes and exclusive interactive Blu-ray features including picture-in-picture storyboards and an interactive field trip to Dirt, and so much more.
Ratatouille
4.5B000VBJEEGRemy is a young rat in the french countryside who arrives in paris only to find out that his cooking idol is dead. When he makes an unusual alliance with a restaurants new garbage boy the culinary and personal adventures begin. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 11/06/2007 Starring: Voices Of Janeanne Garofalo Peter Otoole Run time: 111 minutes Rating: G
Ray
Taylor Hackford4.5B0006OD444The triumphant & remarkable story of one of americas true musical geniusus ray charles. From his humble beginnings in the south through his meteoric rise to the top rays inspirational journey is a tale of hpe redemption and the power of the human spirit. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 08/26/2008 Starring: Jamie Foxx Regina King Run time: 153 minutes Rating: Pg13
Red Dragon - Collector's Edition
Brett Ratner4B000089A06Fbi agent will graham has been called out of early retirement to catch a serial killer known by authorities as the tooth fairy. He asks for the help of his arch-nemesis dr. Hannibal the cannibal lecter.The only problem is that the tooth fairy is getting inside information from lector Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Anthony Hopkins Ralph Fiennes Run time: 124 minutes Rating: R Director: Brett Ratner
Remember the Titans
Boaz Yakin4.5B000056VP4With only one major star (Denzel Washington), an appealing cast of fresh unknowns, and a winning emphasis of substance over self-indulgent style, Boaz Yakin's Remember the Titans is, like Rudy before it, a football movie that will be fondly remembered by anyone who sees it.
Set in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, the fact-based story begins with the integration of black and white students at T. C. Williams High School. This effort to improve race relations is most keenly felt on the school's football team, the Titans, and bigoted tempers flare when a black head coach (Washington) is appointed and his victorious predecessor (Will Patton) reluctantly stays on as his assistant. It's affirmative action at its most potentially volatile, complicated by the mandate that the coach will be fired if he loses a single game in the Titans' 13-game season. The players represent a hotbed of racial tension, but as the team struggles toward unity and gridiron glory, Remember the Titans builds on several subplots and character dynamics to become an inspirational drama of Rocky-like proportions.
Yakin—whose debut, Fresh, was one of the best independent films of the 1990s—understands the value of connecting small scenes to form a rich climactic payoff. Likewise, Washington provides a solid dramatic foundation (his coach is obsessively harsh, but for all the right reasons) while giving his younger co-stars ample time in the spotlight. The result is a film that achieves what it celebrates: an enriching sense of unity that's unquestionably genuine. (Ages 9 and older) —Jeff Shannon
The Road to El Dorado
Bibo Bergeron, David Silverman, Don Paul, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Will Finn4B00003CXG7In its third foray into animated features, DreamWorks came up with something unfortunate: the routine animated picture. Plagued with production problems (it was originally conceived as a mold-breaking PG-13 adventure), the likable film is a Hope/Crosby-style road picture about two scalawags who stumble upon the Latin American paradise of El Dorado, the mythical city with riches of gold. Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline are quite fun as Miguel and Tuilo, two Spanish con artists who are shipwrecked in the New World with a scene-stealing horse. The pair follow a map to the secret city where their loyalty will be tested: do they return home rich men or continue to live in this paradise? Of course there are some obstacles: a high priest (Armand Assante) is locked in a power struggle with the benevolent chief (Edward James Olmos) and the perfunctory girlfriend (Rosie Perez) puts the two friends at odds. Like too many of the animated features of its time, The Road to El Dorado impresses only on a visual level (it's drenched in gorgeous greens and golds). The story and Elton John's songs are quite forgettable; only Branagh and Kline's playful banter keeps the film alive. The PG rating is for some bare backsides and a suggestion of off-screen sex that should soar right over the little ones' heads. Slick and light, it's a fine 83-minute entertainment for ages 5 and up, including the nondiscriminating adult. —Doug Thomas
Rob Roy
Peter Honess, Michael Caton-Jones4079283366XWhen a dishonest nobleman tries to cheat robert roy macgregor out of the money he borrowed to save his countrymen this rugged leader is thrust into the most challenging battle of his life. The legendary rob roy is the one man with the courage to take his enemies and save his followers from total devastation. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 05/22/2007 Starring: Liam Neeson Jessica Lange Run time: 120 minutes Rating: R Director: Michael Caton Jones
Robin Williams - Live on Broadway
Chad Callner, Steve Kraftsow, Marty Callner4.5B000077VQ6Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 02/24/2004
Robots
Chris Wedge4B0009ZHJ7SA young robot, who is a genius inventor, dreams of making the world a better place and meeting his idol, master inventor Bigweld.
Genre: Feature Film Family
Media Type: DVD
Role Models
David Wain4B001OD4S50Danny and wheeler two salesmen who trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 hours with a mentorship program. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 03/10/2009 Starring: Paul Rudd Run time: 99 minutes Rating: R Director: Paul Rudd
Rumor Has It...
Rob Reiner3B000EMGID2Old pro Shirley MacLaine steals her every scene in Rumor Has It..., a very curiously conceived comedy directed by Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally..., The Princess Bride). Sarah (Jennifer Aniston, The Good Girl) arrives at her sister's wedding with her fiance Jeff (Mark Ruffalo, 13 Going on 30). She's already feeling anxiety-ridden about her impending marriage when she gleans from some odd hints from her grandmother Katherine (MacLaine, The Apartment, Terms of Endearment) that her family was the basis for the movie The Graduate. Quicker that you can say "Mrs. Robinson" she slips away from Jeff to investigate, suspecting that the guy Dustin Hoffman's character was based on—Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner, Tin Cup)—might be her actual father...well, from there the plot takes a few twists, but this is not a movie that succeeds based on its story (which never really becomes persuasive). Instead, Rumor Has It... rests on the surprisingly complex and mature emotional interactions between the characters (particularly given that it's a movie about someone refusing to make choices in her life). Aniston won't win any awards for this, but she certainly gives her role more depth than a typical romantic comedy heroine; Costner and Ruffalo are both in fine form; and MacLaine appears just often enough to inject some delightfully prickly personality into a movie that often teeters on the edge of too much niceness. Also featuring Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) and Mena Suvari (American Beauty). —Bret Fetzer
Rush Hour
Brett Ratner4.50780625145The plot line may sound familiar: Two mismatched cops are assigned as reluctant partners to solve a crime. Culturally they are complete opposites, and they quickly realize they can't stand each other. One (Jackie Chan) believes in doing things by the book. He is a man with integrity and nerves of steel. The other (Chris Tucker) is an amiable rebel who can't stand authority figures. He's a man who has to do everything on his own, much to the displeasure of his superior officer, who in turn thinks this cop is a loose cannon but tolerates him because he gets the job done. Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction. It rehashes just about every "buddy" movie ever made—in fact, it makes films such as Tango and Cash seem utterly original and clever by comparison. So, why did this uninspired movie make over $120 million at the box office? Was the whole world suffering from temporary insanity? Hardly. The explanation for the success of Rush Hour is quite simple: chemistry. The casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Fans of Jackie Chan may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung-fu craft. On the other hand, those who know the history of this seasoned Hong Kong actor will be able to appreciate that Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that Chan had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of pitiful mediocrity. —Jeremy Storey
RV
Barry Sonnenfeld3.5B000GCFNZOBob munro an overworked exec persuades his wife & kids to give up their hawaiian vacation for some family bonding on a cross country rv trip. Through a series of mis-adventures including constant run-ins with an overly friendly troupe of full-time rvers bob inadvertently learns the true meaning of family. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 01/22/2008 Starring: Robin Williams Cheryl Hines Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Pg
Sahara
Breck Eisner3.5B0009UC7HAIn the scorching desert dirk pitt uncovers the truth behind his lifelong quest - the fate of a civil war ironclad. Now amidst the blazing shifting sands of the sahara dirk pitt will make a desperate stand - in a battle the world cannot afford to lose! Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Matthew Mcconaughey Steve Zahn Rating: Pg13
Sanctum
Alister GriersonB003Y5H51KMASTER DIVER FRANK MCGUIRE LEADS A TEAM-INCLUDING HIS 17-YEAR-OLD SON-TO EXPLORE THE LARGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL AND LEAST ACCESSIBLE CAVE SYSTEM ON EARTH. BUT WHEN A TROPICAL STORM CUTS OFF THEIR ONLY ESCAPE ROUTE, THE TEAM MUST WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH AN UNCHARTED AND DANGEROUS LABYRINTH.
The Santa Clause
Reinhold, Judge4.5B000068TQVDivorced toy company executive Scott Calvin (Tim Allen of Home Improvement and the Toy Story movies) is pleased to have his son Charlie for Christmas, though the boy himself isn't happy about it. But when Santa Claus accidentally topples off the roof of the house and falls with a thud in the snow, Scott finds himself taking the merry old elf's place and earning new respect in his son's eyes. When the night ends, the reindeer take them to the north pole, and Scott discovers that by donning the fabled red suit, he's inadvertently agreed to become the next Santa Claus. The next morning he wakes up in his own bed and thinks it's all a dream—only Charlie remembers it with crystal clarity. Scott now has to deal with his suspicious ex-wife (Wendy Crewson, Air Force One) and her psychiatrist boyfriend (Judge Reinhold, Beverly Hills Cop), who both think he's playing tricks with Charlie's mind, and also with his own out-of-control body, which is putting on weight and growing a prodigious beard. The Santa Clause probably won't supplant It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street as anyone's favorite holiday film, but it's an enjoyable, straightforward family film, anchored by the affable charisma of Allen. —Bret Fetzer
Santa Clause 2
Michael Lembeck4B00005JLQ8Scott calvin has been santa claus for the past eight years & his loyal elves consider him the best santa ever. But santas got problems (hes even mysteriously losing weight) and things quickly go south when he finds out that his son charlie has landed on this years naughty list. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/07/2004 Starring: Tim Allen Elizabeth Mitchell Run time: 104 minutes Rating: G Director: Michael Lembeck
School of Rock
Sandra Adair, Richard Linklater4B00018U9FWA diehard rock guitarist-turned-substitute-teacher transforms a class of fifth graders into a high-voltage rock group. His lesson: to lead the kids on to victory in the local battle of the bands competition. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/22/2006 Starring: Jack Black Joan Cusack Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Nr
Seabiscuit
4B00005JMCNProving that truth is often greater than fiction, the handsome production of Seabiscuit offers a healthy alternative to Hollywood's staple diet of mayhem. With superior production values at his disposal, writer-director Gary Ross (Pleasantville) is a bit too reverent toward Laura Hillenbrand's captivating bestseller, unnecessarily using archival material—and David McCullough's familiar PBS-styled narration—to pay Ken Burns-like tribute to Hillenbrand's acclaimed history of Seabiscuit, the knobby-kneed thoroughbred who "came from behind" in the late 1930s to win the hearts of Depression-weary Americans. That caveat aside, Ross's adaptation retains much of the horse-and-human heroism that Hillenbrand so effectively conveyed; this is a classically styled "legend" movie like The Natural, which was also heightened by a lushly sentimental Randy Newman score. Led by Tobey Maguire as Seabiscuit's hard-luck jockey, the film's first-rate cast is uniformly excellent, including William H. Macy as a wacky trackside announcer who fills this earnest film with a much-needed spirit of fun. —Jeff Shannon
Secondhand Lions
Tim McCanlies4.5B0000YTP02A comedic and touching family film about a shy boy who finds shy boy who finds himself spending the summer with a pair of cranky & eccentric great-uncles have a mysterious and secret past. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 09/12/2006 Starring: Michael Caine Robert Duvall Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg
The Secret Life of Bees
Gina Prince-Bythewood5B001NLJ3NUStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/03/2009 Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg13
Secret Window
David Koepp3.5B0002234LSMort rainey a writer just coming off a troublesome divorce with his ex-wife amy finds himself stalked at his remote lake house by a psychotic stranger who claims mort stole his best story idea (changing just the ending). Based on a steven king novel: secret window secret garden. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/20/2005 Starring: Johnny Depp Maria Bello Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg13
Seven Pounds
Gabriele Muccino4B001QERPACAn irs agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/17/2009 Starring: Will Smith Rosario Dawson Run time: 123 minutes Rating: Pg13
Sex and the City - The Complete Second Season
Alan Taylor, Allen Coulter, Allison Anders, Daniel Algrant, Darren Star4.5B00005AVCAStudio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 02/13/2007 Run time: 540 minutes Rating: R
Shark Tale
Bibo Bergeron, Rob Letterman, Vicky Jenson3.5B0006JMLQQOscar a lowly tongue-scrubber at the local whale wash becomes an improbable hero when he tells a great white lie. To keep his secret oscar teams up with an outcast vegetarian shark lenny and the 2 become the most unlikely of friends. When the lie begins to unravel its up to oscars friends to help him. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Will Smith Renee Zellweger Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Pg
Shooter
Antoine Fuqua4B000Q6GUTIA marksman living in exile is coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill the president. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt he goes on the run to track the real killer and find out who exactly set him up and why. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 03/04/2008 Starring: Mark Wahlberg Michael Pena Run time: 125 minutes Rating: R
Shrek
Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson4.5B00003CXXJStudio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/21/2002 Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Pg
Shrek 2
Andrew Adamson4B0002TUCRUHappily ever after never seemed so far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into another hilariously twisted adventure for shrek & fiona. With the help of his faithful donkey shrek takes on a potion-brewing fairy godmother the pompous prince charming & the famed ogre-killer puss in boots. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/23/2005 Starring: Mike Myers Cameron Diaz Run time: 92 minutes Rating: Pg
Shrek the Third
Chris MillerB001JR0TIG
Signs
3.5B00005JL3TStory of the hess family in buck county pa who wake up one morning to find a 500 foot crop circle in their backyard. Emotional story of one family on one farm as they encounter terrifying last moments of life as the world is invaded. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005 Starring: Mel Gibson Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: M Night Shyamalan
The Silence of the Lambs
Jonathan Demme4.5B000LP6KNUStudio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 02/05/2008
The Simpsons Movie
David Silverman4B000WGYMGKStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 87 minutes Rating: Pg13
Sister Act
Colleen Halsey, Emile Ardolino4.5B00005KAQPA reno lounge singer brings rock n roll to a choir of uns while hiding out from the mob in a convent. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/01/2004 Starring: Whoopi Goldberg Harvey Keitel Run time: 101 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Emille Ardolino
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Smith, Maggie46305433909Whoopi Goldberg returns in a gratuitous, poorly written sequel that contrives a reason to get her character back into Maggie Smith's convent. The "socially conscious" plot finds Goldberg being asked to relate to a bunch of street kids and pull them together into a choir. Since a bad guy is needed, the script grabs that old chestnut about a rich guy (James Coburn) preparing to close down the convent's school, and runs with it. The film is slow and unconvincing from start to finish, although costars Mary Wickes and Kathy Najimy get some good laughs, and the music is pretty spirited. —Tom Keogh
The Sixth Sense
Willis, Bruce, M. Night Shyamalan4.5B00004BZIYMalcolm crowe is a dedicated child psychologist who faces his greatest challenge when he meets a young boy who lives in a world populated by ghosts. Paralyzed by fear the boy claims to be tormented by ghosts who demand his help from their otherworldly pain. Crowe may be the boys only hope. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Bruce Willis Olivia Williams Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13
Slumdog Millionaire
4B001P9KR8UA mumbai teen who grew up in the slums becomes a contestant on the indian version of who wants to be a millionaire?. He is arrested for cheating & while being interrogated events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers. 1/3 is in hindi with english subtitles-rest in english Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/31/2009 Starring: Dev Patel Run time: 120 minutes Rating: R Director: Danny Boyle/loveleen Tandan
Smooth Talk
Joyce Chopra3.5B00062IVLWLaura Dern stars in this sensitive and beautifullydirected picture (The Wall Street Journal ) about the joysand perils of growing up in small-town America whereinnocence can be lost in the blink of an eye.System Requirements: Running Time 92 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 027616915207 Manufacturer No: 1007439
Snakes on a Plane
David R. Ellis3.5B000JBXHR8Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Run time: 106 minutes Rating: R
Snow Dogs
Brian Levant3.5B00005JKVUStudio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/02/2005 Run time: 139 minutes Rating: Pg
Something's Gotta Give
Joe Hutshing, Nancy Meyers3.5B0001AVZA8Harrys a perennial playboy with a libido much younger than he is. During what was to have been a romantic weekend with his latest girl marin he develops chest pains & winds up being nursed by marins mother erica. Harry who has always had the world on a string finds his life unraveling. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/27/2005 Starring: Jack Nicholson Amanda Peet Run time: 128 minutes Rating: Pg13
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Jon TurteltaubB002ZG99KYMagic is everywhere in Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice-the fun family adventure from the creators of National Treasure. Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a modern-day sorcerer with his hands full defending Manhattan against dark forces. When a seemingly average kid shows hidden potential, Balthazar takes his reluctant recruit on a crash course in the art and science of magic to become the ultimate sorcerer's apprentice. Experience more extraordinary thrills, heart-stopping action and spectacular special effects than you can imagine as these unlikely partners show us that the real world is far more magical than we ever knew!
Sphere
Barry Levinson3079073639XAt the bottom of the pacific deepest fears come true. An elite underwater team explores the mysteries and menace of an eerie spacecraft that plunged into the ocean 300 years ago. Bonus: behind-the-scenes documentary shaping the sphere: the art of the visual effects supervisor. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/08/2005 Starring: Dustin Hoffman Samuel L. Jackson Run time: 135 minutes Rating: R Director: Barry Levinson
Spider-Man
Sam Raimi4B00005JKCHFor devoted fans and nonfans alike, Spider-Man offers nothing less—and nothing more—than what you'd expect from a superhero blockbuster. Having proven his comic-book savvy with the original Darkman, director Sam Raimi brings ample energy and enthusiasm to Spidey's origin story, nicely establishing high-school nebbish Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) as a brainy outcast who reacts with appropriate euphoria—and well-tempered maturity—when a "super-spider" bite transforms him into the amazingly agile, web-shooting Spider-Man. That's all well and good, and so is Kirsten Dunst as Parker's girl-next-door sweetheart. Where Spider-Man falls short is in its hyperactive CGI action sequences, which play like a video game instead of the gravity-defying exploits of a flesh-and-blood superhero. Willem Dafoe is perfectly cast as Spidey's schizoid nemesis, the Green Goblin, and the movie's a lot of fun overall. It's no match for Superman and Batman in bringing a beloved character to the screen, but it places a respectable third. —Jeff Shannon
Spider-Man 2
Sam Raimi4B0002XK186Peter parkers having a rough time. Things are so bad he declares that hes quitting & never putting on the suit again. However his sense of duty forces him to become a hero again when dr octavius is deformed in an accident & becomes dr octopus. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 04/25/2006 Starring: Tobey Maguire James Franco Run time: 127 minutes Rating: Pg13
Stand and Deliver
Nancy Richardson, Ramón Menéndez4.56305161917Based on a true story, this inspiring American Playhouse production stars Edward James Olmos as a high school teacher who motivated a class full of East L.A. barrio kids to care enough about mathematics to pass an Advanced Placement Calculus Test. Not exactly a variation of To Sir, With Love, the film concerns itself with assumptions and biases held by mainstream authorities about disadvantaged kids, and Olmos's efforts to keep his students coolheaded enough to prove them wrong. Olmos, virtually unrecognizable as the pudgy, balding instructor, gives a career performance in this fine piece directed by Ramón Menéndez, and written by the director and Tom Musca. —Tom Keogh
Star Trek - First Contact
4.56305127638Even-numbered Star Trek movies tend to be better, and First Contact (#8 in the popular movie series) is no exception—an intelligently handled plot involving the galaxy-conquering Borg and their attempt to invade Earth's past, alter history, and "assimilate" the entire human race. Time travel, a dazzling new Enterprise, and capable direction by Next Generation alumnus Jonathan Frakes makes this one rank with the best of the bunch. Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his able crew travel back in time to Earth in the year 2063, where they hope to ensure that the inventor of warp drive (played by James Cromwell) will successfully carry out his pioneering warp-drive flight and precipitate Earth's "first contact" with an alien race. A seductive Borg queen (Alice Krige) holds Lt. Data (Brent Spiner) hostage in an effort to sabotage the Federation's preservation of history, and the captive android finds himself tempted by the queen's tantalizing sins of the flesh! Sharply conceived to fit snugly into the burgeoning Star Trek chronology, First Contact leads to a surprise revelation that marks an important historical chapter in the ongoing mission "to boldly go where no one has gone before." —Jeff Shannon
Star Trek - Nemesis
Stuart Baird3.5B00005JLRTParamount Star Trek: Nemesis - DVD
The cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" returns on a diplomatic mission to initiate peace with the Romulans. But uponarrival to the alien planet, the crew is faced with a threat that could lead to the Earth's destruction, and Picard meets his most dangerous adversary yet, a surprisingly personal nemesis.
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton,
Majel Barrett, Marina Sirtis,Michael Dorn, Steven Culp, Gates McFadden, Tom Hardy, Ron Perlman, Tom Brady, Whoopi Goldberg, KateMulgrew, Dina Meyer
DVD Features:
Region 1; Keep Case; Widescreen
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
AudioCommentary - 1. Stuart Baird - Director
Featurettes (4)
Text/Photo Galleries: Photo Gallery
Star Trek Into Darkness
J.J. AbramsB00AZMFK3KWhen the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace
Ben Burtt, Paul Martin Smith, George Lucas3.5B00003CX5PLuke skywalkers father is just a hopeful 9-year-old boy named anakin who knows nothing of his eventual fate as a dark lord in years to come. In this earlier time obi-wan kenobi is a determined young jedi knight. Qui-gon jinn is obi-wans venerable jedi master teaching the jedi way to his apprentice. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/12/2006 Starring: Liam Neeson Natalie Portman Run time: 133 minutes Rating: Pg Director: George Lucas
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones
Ben Burtt, George Lucas3.5B00006HBUJIf The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. —Jeff Shannon
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith
McGregor, Ewan, Portman, Natalie4B000ANNM4SThe Star Wars saga is now complete on DVD with Episode III REVENGE OF THE SITH. Torn between loyalty to his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi and the seductive powers of the Sith Anakin Skywalker ultimately turns his back on the Jedi thus completing his journey to the dark side and his transformation into Darth Vader. Experience the breathtaking scope of the final chapter in spectacular clarity and relive all the epic battles including the final climactic lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan.System Requirements:Starring: Ewan McGregor Natalie Portman Hayden Christensen Ian McDiarmid Samuel L. Jackson Christopher Lee Directed By: George Lucas Running Time: 140Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 024543212768 Manufacturer No: 2231276
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
J.J. AbramsB01B80CM4WVisionary director J.J. Abrams brings to life the motion picture event of a generation. As Kylo Ren and the sinister First Order rise from the ashes of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is missing when the galaxy needs him most. It's up to Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, a defecting stormtrooper, to join forces with Han Solo and Chewbacca in a desperate search for the one hope of restoring peace to the galaxy.
Stuart Little
Rob Minkoff4B00003CX67This live-action version of E.B. White's novel doesn't have quite the magic of, say, Toy Story. Instead of entertainment the whole family can be enthralled with, Stuart Little is squarely aimed, and successfully so, at the 4- to 10-year-old watcher. Does this make it a bad family film? Not in the slightest. The gee-whiz visual effects (created by original Star Wars wizard John Dykstra) and the film's ebullient wholesomeness make this a welcome addition to the home library.
In E.B. White's world, it's hardly surprising that human parents would adopt "outside their species." The smooth-talking mouse Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox) seems the perfect new child for parents Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie, especially with an adorable wardrobe of very small sweaters and pants. Harder is fitting in with the Little's family cat, Snowbell (voiced by Nathan Lane, who also deftly voiced Timon in director Rob Minkoff's last feature, The Lion King). The simple story deals with Stuart trying to fit in with his new life, including big brother George (Jerry Maguire's scene-stealing Jonathan Lipnicki). And of course there's an adventure when Snowbell's schemes lead Stuart into true danger, in the form of the devious plans of an alley cat named Smokey (voiced by Chazz Palminteri). Brisk—85 minutes—amusing, and tolerably cute, Stuart Little stands tall. Two curios: The effects are so cleanly done that we could call Stuart the first successfully computer-animated actor, and the screenplay was cowritten by M. Night Shyamalan, who made bigger waves in 1999 writing and directing The Sixth Sense. —Doug Thomas
Stuck On You
Mark Steilen, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly3.5B0001HLVSMConjoin the fun with bob & walt tenor two brothers who share a passion for life — & a liver. But their unique bond leads to wild complications when walt decides to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor & persuades his reluctant sibling to go along for the ride! Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 12/19/2006 Starring: Matt Damon Cher Run time: 119 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Bobby & Peter Farrelly
The Sum of All Fears
Phil Alden Robinson3B00005JL8FIt's not easy replacing Harrison Ford as a beloved screen hero, but Ben Affleck brings fresh vitality to The Sum of All Fears, reviving Paramount's Tom Clancy franchise in the role Ford made famous. As CIA agent Jack Ryan, Affleck is a rookie in the covert ranks, unraveling a plot that lures Russian and American superpowers into a nuclear standoff, while a neofascist faction turns most of Baltimore into an atomic wasteland and holds the world in the grip of a terrorist nightmare. Affleck combines sharp intelligence with a new-guy's perspective, while a senior agent (Morgan Freeman) passes the torch of back-channel authority. The result is one of the best Clancy films to date, ably helmed by Phil Alden Robinson (whose comic thriller Sneakers was sorely underrated) with a stellar supporting cast, and adapted with abundant humor, humanity, and thrills by Donnie Brasco screenwriter Paul Attanasio and cowriter Daniel Pyne. Even the typically reticent Clancy would approve. —Jeff Shannon
Swordfish
Dominic Sena3.5B00003CY0VWhen the DEA shut down its dummy corporation operation codenamed SWORDFISH in 1986 they had generated $400 million which they let sit around; fifteen years of compound interest has swelled it to $9.5 billion. A covert counter-terrorist unit called Black Cell headed by the duplicitious and suave Gabriel Shear wants the money to help finance their raise-the-stakes vengeance war against international terrorism but it's all locked away behind super-encryption. He brings in convicted hacker Stanley Jobson who only wants to see his daughter Holly again but can't afford the legal fees to slice into the government mainframes and get the money.Running Time: 99 min.System Requirements:Starring: John Travolta Hugh Jackman Halle Berry Don Cheadle Vinnie Jones and Sam Shepard. Directed By: Dominic Sena. Running Time: 99 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2001 Warner Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS Rating: R UPC: 085392132225 Manufacturer No: 21322DVD
Tammy Extended Cut
Ben FalconeB00K2CHXQATammy: EXT&TH (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD UltraViolet Combo Pack)
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Comedy
B002GSXKPQARSENIC AND OLD LACE Cary Grant and a stellar cast romp through this classic farce based on the Broadway hit and breezily directed by Frank Capra. A frazzled drama critic’s two maiden aunts put a secret ingredient in their elderberry wine – and the resulting circus is howlingly hilarious, with a comically rubber-faced, rubber-legged Grant in the center ring. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Grand opera equals grand comedy as the Marx Brothers cram a ship’s stateroom and more with wall-to-wall gags, one-liners, musical riffs and two hard-boiled eggs – all while skewering pompous schemes to sabotage an opera production. “Arguably their finest film” (4 Star Rating! - Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide). THE LONG, LONG TRAILER Anyone know how to park this thing? Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz play newlyweds who hit the honeymoon road with a 40-foot house trailer in tow in this slaphappily-ever-after comedy directed by Vincente Minnelli. FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950) Spencer Tracy is the father and Elizabeth Taylor the bride in this comic celebration of an American rite (and wrongs) of passage. Here comes the bride, there goes dad’s wallet…and everyone’s heart. What sparkling fun!
Ted
Seth MacFarlaneB005LAII1CFamily Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish...and has refused to leave his side ever since.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Steve Barron4.56304698739Catch americas favorite green teens in the original live-action blockbuster film. After wading in a puddle of radioactive waste these radical reptiles are transformed into new york citys greatest crime-fighting quartet. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/10/2009 Run time: 95 minutes Rating: Pg
The Terminator
James Cameron4.5B00005N5S5This is the film that cemented Schwarzenegger's spot in the action-brawn firmament, and it was well deserved. He's chilling as the futuristic cyborg who kills without fear, without love, without mercy. James Cameron's story and direction are pared to the bone and all the more creepy. But don't overlook the contributions of Linda Hamilton, who more than holds her own as the Terminator's would-be victim, Sarah Connor—thus creating, along with Sigourney Weaver in Alien, a new generation of rugged, clear-thinking female action stars. It's surprising how well this film holds up, and how its minimalist, malevolent violence is actually way scarier than that of its far more expensive, more effects-laden sequel. —Anne Hurley
The Jungle Book
Jon FavreauB01CTNDO58In an epic adventure directed by Jon Favreau (IRON MAN), Mowgli, a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he's forced to abandon the only home he's ever known. Featuring an all-star voice cast including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson, THE JUNGLE BOOK is "stunning" (Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter).
The Terminal
Steven Spielberg3.5B00030M9P6After arriving at nys jfk airport viktor vivorski gets caught in bureaucratic glitches that make it impossible for him to return to his home country or enter the u.S. Now caught up in the world inside the airport viktor makes friends gets a job & finds romance - all inside the terminal. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Tom Hanks Stanley Tucci Run time: 128 minutes Rating: Pg13
Thor
Joss Whedon, Kenneth BranaghB0055EAJ7AThe powerful but arrogant warrior thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of asgard and sent to live amongst humans on earth where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/13/2011 Starring: Chris Hemsworth Natalie Portman Run time: 114 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Kenneth Branagh
Titanic
3.5B00000JLWWKate winslet and leonardo dicaprio play ill-fated lovers in this epic romance set against the backdrop of an unforgettable disaster. Their budding romance is scuttled when the luxury liner on which they are traveling strikes an iceberg and plummets to the ocean floor on april 15 1912. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio Kate Winslet Run time: 194 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: James Cameron
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar
Andrew Mondshein, Beeban Kidron4.5B0000714BPCar trouble strands three drag queens in a conservative midwestern town. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/28/2004 Starring: Wesley Snipes Patrick Swayze Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Beeban Kidron
The Tourist
Florian Henckel von DonnersmarckB004A8ZWT2Frank (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered American on vacation in Venice, Italy, is befriended by Elise (Angelina Jolie), a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a mysterious secret. Soon, their playful romantic dalliance turns into a complicated web of dangerous deceit as they are chased by Interpol, the Italian police, and Russian hit men in this suspense-filled, international action thriller.
Tower Heist
Brett RatnerB004A8ZWWYStudio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/21/2012 Rating: Pg13
Toy Story 3
Lee Unkrich4.5B003XKPPOUThe creative minds behind Disney Pixar's groundbreaking animated blockbusters invites you back inside the Toys' delightful world for a heartwarming and hilarious Hi-Definition movie experience you'll never forget. All the original voice talent returns (including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) plus new talent including Michael Keaton as Ken and Ned Beatty as Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear. It's the biggest, best, most exciting Toy Story of them all, raves Access Hollywood.
As Andy gets ready to leave for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang wonder if this is the end of the line. But, when a mix up lands them in the Sunnyside Day Care Center where they meet 14 new toys, they soon discover that a wild new adventure is just beginning! Take an amazing journey with some of the most beloved characters in movie history and discover what being a friend is truly all about.
It's everything a movie should be: hilarious, touching, exciting and clever, says USA Today. Buzzing with hours of exclusive bonus features, including an interactive trivia game and the Pixar short film Day and Night, Toy Story 3 goes to infinity and beyond on Blu-ray Hi-Def!
Meet the Characters Woody
Woody is a cowboy sheriff with a pull-string that, when pulled proclaims Woody's signature catchphrases from the 1950s TV show "Woody's Roundup." He's always been Andy's favorite toy. Even though his owner is now grown, the loyal sheriff Woody maintains a steadfast belief that Andy still cares about his toys. As the toys venture into their unknown future, Woody remains the voice of reason. As their dependable leader, he ensures that no toy gets left behind. Buzz Lightyear
Buzz Lightyear is a heroic space ranger action figure, complete with laser beam, karate-chop action and pop-out wings. Buzz is a boy's dream toy who becomes a quick favorite of young Andy, and the closest of buddies with Woody. While Buzz's sole mission used to be defeating the evil Emperor Zurg, what he now cares about most is keeping his toy family together. Buzz's new mission is sidetracked along the way, however, when his journey brings out surprising aspects of his personality even he didn't know existed. Jessie
Jessie is an exuberant, rough-and-tumble cowgirl doll who's always up for a daring adventure to help critters in need. With Andy's imminent departure hanging over the toys, Jessie is afraid of being abandoned by her owner once again. She takes charge, insisting that the toys take control of their own destinies. But is it a decision they'll later regret! Rex
Rex may look like the most fearsome dinosaur in the toy box, but this tyrannosaurus is one of the most lovable toys of the bunch. Despite his endless worrying and insecurities about his small roar, Rex always comes through for his pals. Hamm
A pink piggybank with a penchant for one-liners. He's still a know-it-all, or at least that's what he'd like everyone to believe. Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head is a wisecracking, hot-headed spud, complete with angry eyes. He's the eternal pessimist with a tough plastic exterior, but his total devotion to his little "sweet potato," Mrs. Potato Head, reveals a softer side.. Mrs. Potato Head
Mrs. Potato Head is Mr. Potato Head's biggest fan. She adores her brave spud and is always willing to lend him a hand. Or an eye. While Mr. Potato Head's "sweet potato" lives up to her pet name, she also shares her husband's hair-trigger temper. Bullseye
Bullseye is Woody's trusty toy steed from the "Woody's Roundup" gang. Bullseye can ride like the wind and leap across giant canyons in a single bound, especially when Woody is in the saddle. Big Baby
Your little one with love this lifelike baby doll with his soft, cuddly fabric body and vinyl arms, legs, and face. With dazzling blue eyes that open and close, this realistic baby encourages nurturing play. Eighteen inches tall, he comes dressed in an adorable yellow onesie with matching bonnet, and has his own magical bottle of milk that disappears while he drinks! A perfect first doll for your special child. Machine washable on gentle cycle. Flame Retardant. Chatter Telephone
Ring-ring! The Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone is a classic pull toy that has been inspiring giggles for many generations, while building motor skills and balance. Preschoolers can't resist the friendly face with eyes that move up and down when they pull the toy along, and the bright colors and pleasing sounds keep them happy and engaged. Chatter Telephone is ideal for the little hands in your life. Mr. Pricklepants
Frolic your afternoons away on woodland adventures with Mr. Pricklepants! This charming lederhosen-wearing hedgehog is from the Waldfreunde collection of premium imported plush toys. He may look prickly, but the plump and fuzzy Mr. Pricklepants is made strictly for cuddling! Hand wash and air dry. Restore fluffiness with fingers. Made in Germany. Dolly
Dolly is a soft and sweet dress-up rag doll, and is the perfect gift for any young child! Her floppy body and sunny smile will make her an irresistible new member of your family. Dolly has purple hair, googly eyes and gently blushing cheeks. She comes with a pretty blue dress, but templates are included to create and sew your own outfits. Machine washable on gentle cycle. Stretch
Stretch is a fun-loving under-the-sea octopus friend that shines in glittery purple. Kids can count her eight rubbery legs and dozens of sticky suckers that are sure to stand up to rough-and-tumble play and extreme stretching. Toss her high on the wall and watch her climb her way down! Clean in mild soap solution to remove dust and lint. Twitch
Meet Twitch, the insectaloid warrior, where MAN + INSECT = AWESOME! This sturdy action figure stands over five inches tall, with more than 15 points of articulation, including ferocious chomping mandibles. Use his powerful wings and impenetrable exoskeleton to evade capture! Twitch is meticulously detailed and includes his signature magical battle staff and removable chest armor. For children ages 4 and up. Other insectaloid figures sold separately. Trixie
Trixie is a perfect playmate for prehistoric playtime! Visit the era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth! Made of rigid, durable plastic and in friendly shades of blue and purple. Trixie features an expressive mouth and movable legs. This gentle Triceratops will feed any child's imagination. Also available: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and Velociraptor. Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear
Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear is a jumbo, extra-soft teddy bear with a pink and white plush body and a velvety purple nose. This lovable bear stands fuzzy heads and shoulders above other teddy bears because he smells like sweet strawberries! With a smile that will light up your child's face and a belly just asking to be hugged. Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear is sure to become a bedtime necessity. Stain-resistant. Spot clean plush surface with a damp cloth. Ken
Grab your binoculars and join Ken on a safari! A swinging bachelor who's always on the lookout for fun, Ken sports the perfect outfit for his eco-adventure: light blue shorts and a leopard-print shirt with short sleeves sure to keep him cool in the hot sun. And after his exciting expedition, Ken will be ready to hit the dance floor in style. His accessories include matching scarf, sensible loafers, and a fashion-forward gold belt. Dozens of additional Ken outfits sold separately. Meet the voices behind your favorite characters: (From left to right) Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, and Joan Cusack as Jesse
(From left to right) Ned Beatty as Lots-O', Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, and Michael Keaton as Ken
Trading Places
John Landis4.5B00003CXD3In this crowd-pleasing 1983 comedy of high finance about a homeless con artist who becomes a Wall Street robber baron, Eddie Murphy consolidated the success of his startling debut in the previous year's 48 Hours and polished his slick-winner persona. The turnabout begins with an argument between super-rich siblings, played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche: Are captains of industry, they wonder, born or made? To settle the issue, the meanies construct a cruel experiment in social Darwinism. Preppie commodities trader Dan Aykroyd (perfectly cast) is stripped of all his worldly goods and expelled from the firm, and Murphy's smelly derelict is appointed to take his place, graduating to tailored suits and a world-class harem in record time. Eventually the two men team up to teach the nasty old manipulators a lesson, cornering the market in frozen orange juice futures in the process. Director John Landis (The Blues Brothers) doesn't have the world's lightest touch, but he hits most of the jokes hard and quite a few of them pay off. Trading Places is also a landmark film for fans of Jamie Lee Curtis. —David Chute
Transformers
4B000VR0570Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 143 minutes Rating: Pg13
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Michael BayB005G4TJI4Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
The Transporter
Corey Yuen3.5B0009VBTNMStudio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/28/2008 Run time: 92 minutes Rating: Pg13
Transporter 2
Nauta, Kate, Statham, Jason, Valletta, Amber3.5B000BTITKSEx-special forces operative frank martin aka the transporter is now retired in miami. He makes a living drving for a wealthy family but when their young son is abducted frank must use his martial arts mastery & extraordinary driving skills to save the boy & thwart the kidnappers master plan. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/05/2008 Starring: Jason Statham Run time: 87 minutes Rating: Pg13
Transporter 3
Camille Delamarre, Carlo Rizzo, Olivier Megaton3.5B001QB9H10Frank martin puts the driving gloves on to deliver valentina the kidnapped daughter of a ukranian government official from marseilles to odessa on the black sea. En route he has to contend with thugs who want to intercept valentinas safe delivery and not let his personal feelings get in the way. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 03/10/2009 Starring: Jason Statham Natalya Rudakova Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Olivier Megaton
Tropic Thunder
Ben Stiller3B001H5X7I4Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/18/2008 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: R
Troy
Wolfgang Petersen3.5B0002Z0EYAA re-creation of a long-ago world of bireme warships clashing armies the amssive fortress city & the towering trojan horse. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Starring: Brad Pitt Diane Kruger Run time: 163 minutes Rating: R
Twister
Jan de Bont4B00004RFFIIn the heart of tornado alley an unfunded ragtag group of scientists make themselves right at home in the middle of some of natures most violent storms. In order to launch experimental equipment designed to help them develop an early tornado warning system these researchers risk it all in the name of science. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Helen Hunt Cary Elwes Run time: 113 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Jan De Bont
U.S. Marshals
Stuart Baird40790736411An ultimately futile attempt to make lightning strike twice, this so-called spinoff from 1993's blockbuster The Fugitive avoids the label of "sequel" by forging ahead without the first film's star, Harrison Ford. The idea is to showcase the return of Tommy Lee Jones in his Oscar-winning role as tenacious U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, this time testing his mettle against a covert government operative (Wesley Snipes) accused of murdering two secret service attachés. Unfortunately, Jones and the entire cast have been trapped in a rambling plot, and the underdog status that made Ford such a compelling hero is sacrificed to an evenly matched and eventually tiresome game of cat and mouse, with a villain whose identity is far too predictable. With no dramatic buildup and several superfluous characters to distract its focus, the film's momentum plays out like a rote exercise compared to the high stakes of the earlier film. —Jeff Shannon
Unbreakable
3.5B00003CXQASecurity guard david dunn is the sole survivor of a horrific train crash in a remote area outside philadelphia. In fact he miraculously emerges from the wreckage without a single scratch. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Bruce Willis Samuel L. Jackson Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Up (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live) [Blu-ray]
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter4.5B001KVZ6G6Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios take moviegoers up, up and away on one of the funniest adventures of all time with their latest comedy-fantasy. Up follows the uplifting tale of 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange, exotic and surprising characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly imaginative adventure.
Van Helsing
Stephen Sommers3B0002KVUKWLegendary monster hunter van helsing is summoned to mysterious transylvania on a mission that will thrust him into a sweeping battle against the forces of darkness! Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/18/2007 Starring: Hugh Jackman Kate Beckinsale Run time: 132 minutes Rating: Pg13
Wall-E
Andrew Stanton4B0013FSL3EAs the last robot left on earth wall-e is one small robot wh holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of hismetal hand. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 11/18/2008 Starring: Ben Burtt Run time: 98 minutes Rating: G Director: Andrew Stanton
Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Nick Park, Steve Box4.5B000CZ0PUIWhen their towns prized produce stars disappearing our cheese-loving inventor and his savvy canine companion must use all their wildly imaginative inventions to try to capture a mysterious beast of epic and fluffy proportions! Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 85 minutes Rating: G
Wanted
Timur Bekmambetov5B001HIJYR4A young man finds out his long lost father is an assassin. And when his father is murdered the son is recruited into his fathers old organization & trained by a man names sloan to follow in his dads footsteps. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/02/2008 Starring: James Mcavoy Angelina Jolie Run time: 110 minutes Rating: R
The War of the Roses
Danny DeVito4.5B0009X75PQMichael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reunited for a third time to fabulous effect in this dark, disturbing comedy of martial trauma and revenge, which couldn't be more different from their sunnier outings in Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Douglas and Turner, in career-best performances, are the materialistic, consumer-driven Roses of the title (Oliver and Barbara) whose seemingly perfect marriage has soured beyond repair; their only point of contact, aside from their two college-bound kids, is their meticulously maintained dream house, which Douglas bought and Turner decorated to perfection. When Turner gets a taste of financial independence, she asks Douglas for divorce—all she wants is the house and everything in it (aside from his clothes and shaving kit). He laughs at her and she punches him in the face. Things only get worse from there, as nasty divorce proceedings (with DeVito as Douglas's lawyer) give way to insults, threats, ruined dinner parties, and pet abuse. And through it all, the Roses begin destroying their beloved home and its contents, just to spite each other. DeVito, who also directed, takes Michael Leeson's blacker-than-black screenplay and gives it a hyperstylized spin, complete with skewed camera angles and wonderfully expressionistic cinematography (by Stephen Burum) as Douglas and Turner barricade themselves in their house, both refusing to give an inch. Shocking for a mainstream studio picture, with its unsympathetic protagonists, escalating bitterness, and disturbing finale, Roses is a poisonously funny valentine to both marriage and '80s materialism, tempered only by its framing device as a cautionary tale. Definitely not a date movie. —Mark Englehart
War of the Worlds
Steven Spielberg3B00005JNTIWAR OF THE WORLDS - DVD Movie
The Waterboy
Sandler, Adam, Winkler, Henry4630529142XAmerica's favorite wild and zany funnyman, Adam Sandler (50 FIRST DATES, MR. DEEDS, PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE), scores big laughs in a smash comedy hit where the laughs never run dry! Just an oddball mama's boy from the back bayous of Louisiana, Bobby Boucher (Sandler) never wanted anything more than to quench the thirst of the dehydrated athletes who treat him like dirt! But when Coach Klein (Henry Winkler — HOLES, TV's HAPPY DAYS) makes the call that allows Bobby to finally stand up for himself, it unleashes a torrent of bottled-up frustration ... and exposes a talent for tackling that transforms him from a meek "water distribution engineer" into the hardest hitter ever to roam the gridiron! Also featuring award-winning Kathy Bates (ABOUT SCHMIDT, TITANIC, MISERY) and sexy Fairuza Balk (ALMOST FAMOUS, RETURN TO OZ) in a hilarious cast of stars — here's your chance to join the millions everywhere who've proudly stood and cheered for The Waterboy! ————————————————————————————————————————
Wedding Crashers - Uncorked
David Dobkin4B000BKVQSEWith Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as a pair of brazen wedding crashers, this buddy/romantic comedy milks a few big laughs from its foolproof premise. Under the direction of David Dobkin (who previously worked with Wilson on Shanghai Knights), the movie ranges from bawdy romp to mushy romance, and that tonal identity crisis curtails the overall hilarity. But when the well-teamed costars are firing on all pistons with fast-paced dialogue and manic situations, belly laughs are delivered at a steady clip. Things get complicated when the guys infiltrate the family of the Treasury Secretary (Christopher Walken), resulting in a romantic pair-off between Vaughn and the congressman's oversexed daughter Gloria (Isla Fisher) while Wilson sincerely woos another daughter, Claire (Rachel McAdams), who's unhappily engaged to an Ivy League cheater (Bradley Cooper). Walken is more or less wasted in his role, but Jane Seymour and Henry Gibson make amusing appearances, and a surprise guest arrives late in the game for some over-the-top scene-stealing. It's all a bit uneven, but McAdams (considered by some to be "the next Julia Roberts") is a pure delight, and with enough laughs to make it easily recommended, Wedding Crashers will likely find its place on DVD shelves alongside other flawed but enjoyable R-rated comedies that embrace a naughtier, nastier brand of humor with no need for apologies. —Jeff Shannon
The Wedding Singer
Frank Coraci4.50780622588You're better off having been born after, say, 1965, if you really want to enjoy this corny romantic comedy and its abundant references to the MTV culture of the mid-1980s—and even then the odds are only 50-50 that you'll have a shamelessly good time. But a lot of people beat those odds, because The Wedding Singer was a surprise box-office hit when released in early 1998, and it resulted in Saturday Night Live graduate Adam Sandler's salary going ridiculously sky-high. It's a schizophrenic film about a seemingly schizophrenic wedding singer (Sandler) who's charmingly sweet to some people but a tongue-lashing maniac to others, probably out of frustration over his fading ambition as a wannabe rock star (not to mention Sandler's penchant for loud-mouthed lunacy). When he meets an admiring young waitress (delightfully played by Drew Barrymore), it's love at first sight, complicated by their pending marriages to much less appealing fiancés. The plot then contorts itself to accommodate this contrived will-they-or-won't-they? scenario, so you're better off ignoring the love story and focusing on the comedy, which is sporadic but occasionally hilarious. This is also a lighter, friendlier Sandler than moviegoers had seen before, which probably accounts for the movie's success. Toss in a fine supporting cast—including a show-stopping drunk act by indie-movie stalwart Steve Buscemi—and you've got the ingredients for a no-brainer that's ultimately more fun than it is annoying. —Jeff Shannon
Weekend at Bernie's
4B00005QJHOWeekend at Bernie's starts when two lowly clerks at an insurance agency uncover a $2 million fraud and report it to their boss, Bernie (Terry Kiser). Unfortunately for them, Bernie is the one behind the fraud, and he invites them to his island beach house for the weekend, where he intends to have them killed by his mob contacts. Unfortunately for Bernie, the mob decides to rub him out instead—and thus begin the necrotic hijinks. The clerks, Richard (Jonathan Silverman) and Larry (Andrew McCarthy), arrive and discover Bernie's body. At first they panic and start to call the police, but when a party of islanders sweeps in, Richard and Larry also discover that the local residents are so self-absorbed they don't notice that Bernie is dead. So if our heroes can just convince everyone that Bernie is still alive for they weekend, they can have a splendid time. Unfortunately, they also convince the mob hitman, who keeps trying to take Bernie out. Weekend at Bernie's was made at the height of 1980s fashion and features many amusing outfits and hairstyles—often the styles are funnier than the dialogue, and the characters are tissue-paper thin. Still, there's no denying that the movie chugs along from bit to bit and never takes itself more seriously than it should. A cheerful, disposable piece of fluff. —Bret Fetzer
White Oleander
Peter Kosminsky4B000087F7EWhite Oleander chronicles the life of Astrid (Alison Lohman), a young teenager who journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) goes to prison for committing a crime of passion. Set adrift in the world, Astrid struggles to become her own person while coming to terms with the challenges of living life on her own.
Wild Hogs
Walt Becker4B000QFCD7WStudio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/15/2008 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Pg13
Windtalkers
John Woo3B00005JK8KIn the brutal World War II Battle of Saipan Sergeant Joe Enders (Academy Award® winner* Nicolas Cage) guards and ultimately befriends Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) a young Navajo trained in the one wartime code never broken by the enemy the Navajo Code. But if Yahzee should fall into Japanese hands how far will Enders go to save the military's most powerful secret? John Woo directs this exciting (Premiere) against-all-odds battle adventure (The Toronto Star) written by John Rice and Joe Batteer and inspired by the true story of the Navajo soldiers whose courage and sacrifices helped win the war in the Pacific.System Requirements: Running Time 134 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 027616881335 Manufacturer No: 1004026
Witless Protection
3B0013J9KIUA small-town sheriff witnesses what he believes is a kidnapping & rushes to rescue a woman. The kidnappers turn out to be fbi agents assigned to protect her & deliver her to a big enron-type corruption trial in chicago but are later found to be on the take & are villains who are bent on killing her. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 06/10/2008 Starring: Larry The Cable Guy Jenny Mccarthy Run time: 97 minutes Rating: Pg13
The World Is Not Enough
Michael Apted3.56305784922In his 19th screen outing, Ian Fleming's superspy is once again caught in the crosshairs of a self-created dilemma: as the longest-running feature-film franchise, James Bond is an annuity his producers want to protect, yet the series' consciously formulaic approach frustrates any real element of surprise beyond the rote application of plot twists or jump cuts to shake up the audience. This time out, credit 007's caretakers for making some visible attempts to invest their principal characters with darker motives—and blame them for squandering The World Is Not Enough's initial promise by the final reel.
By now, Bond pictures are as elegantly formal as a Bach chorale, and this one opens on an unusually powerful note. A stunning pre-title sequence reaches beyond mere pyrotechnics to introduce key plot elements as the action leaps from Bilbao to London. Bond 5.0, Pierce Brosnan, undercuts his usually suave persona with a darker, more brutal edge largely absent since Sean Connery departed. Equally tantalizing are our initial glimpses of Bond's nemesis du jour, Renard (Robert Carlyle), and imminent love interest, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), both atypically complex characters cast with seemingly shrewd choices, and directed by the capable Michael Apted. The story's focus on post-Soviet geopolitics likewise starts off on a savvy note, before being overtaken by increasingly Byzantine plot twists, hidden motives, and reversals of loyalty superheated by relentless (if intermittently perfunctory) action sequences.
Indeed, the procession of perils plays like a greatest hits medley, save for a nifty sequence involving airborne buzz saws that's as enjoyable as it is preposterous. Bond's grimmer demeanor, while preferable to the smirk that eventually swallowed Roger Moore whole, proves wearying, unrelieved by any true wit. The underlying psychoses that propel Renard and Elektra eventually unravel into unconvincing melodrama, while Bond is supplied with a secondary love object, Denise Richards, who's even more improbable as a nuclear physicist. Ultimately, this World is not enough despite its better intentions. —Sam Sutherland
World War Z
Marc ForsterB005LAIIN0A former UN investigator is thrust into the middle of trying to stop what could be the end of the world. Worldwide destruction sends him around the globe seeking clues about what they are fighting and what it will take to defeat it, as he tries to save the lives of billions of strangers, as well as his own beloved family.
The World's Fastest Indian
Roger Donaldson4.5B000F8DBDKAnthony Hopkins stars in the true story of Burt Munro a motorcycle enthusiast from New Zealand who designs and builds one of the fastest bikes in the world. The story includes his legendary 1967 performance at the famed raceway at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where he set the land speed record. The life and triumph of Burt Munro the elderly Kiwi man who at the far from spritely age of 68 broke motorcycle racing records in Utah has fueled director Roger Donaldson's creative energy for years. In the early 1970s just a few years after Munro's incredible triumph Donaldson directed OFFERINGS TO THE GOD OF SPEED a documentary on the sensational senior. Here with the help of the fine actors Anthony Hopkins and Diane Ladd the director brings the story to vivid dramatic life yet again constructing a gripping and inspirational narrative.Hopkins's Munro is a rich and magnetic character a man who wears his notable physical ailments (which include an embarrassing prostate condition and deficient eardrums) like quirky idiosyncrasies rather than debilitating defects. An active playboy Munro is a lovable character in his small New Zealand town an attractively unique old man with a zest for life and a love of his vintage motorcycle—a bright red 1920 Indian model. After racing his own times obsessively every day he becomes determined to live out his dream of participating in the annual Speed Week motorcycle event at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Through local support and innovative fundraising Munro is finally able to afford the long nautical journey across the world to Mormon-land and beating all the incredible odds not only enter the race but break its records with a jaw-dropping speed of 201 miles an hour. Besides telling a classic tale of individual triumph THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN offers a sociological look at the American West of the late 1960s an iconic landscape peppered with colorful characters that include a wizened Native American and a generou
Wrongfully Accused
4079073849XWith the success of There's Something About Mary, the brothers Farrelly would seem to have inherited the dumb-comedy crown from the various talents who made Airplane! and its many descendants: Top Secret!, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots!. For the most part, that's true, but as Wrongfully Accused proves, there's a bit of life in the old shtick. Pat Proft, a screenwriter on The Naked Gun series and Hot Shots!, makes his directorial debut with this farce, which stars—surprise, surprise—Leslie Nielsen in a parody of the feature version of The Fugitive. More than that: Proft piles on joking references to a host of other dramas, including Casablanca, Mission: Impossible, and Braveheart. While the persistence of these inter-movie gags can wear a viewer down a bit, the fact is some of the silly stuff really does hit its target. If the progeny of Airplane! were to end with this movie, it would be a worthy way to say farewell to a once-good idea. The DVD includes trailers, a game, Dolby, audiovisual production notes, cast interviews, biographies and filmographies, English and French soundtracks, and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. With Kelly LeBrock, Richard Crenna, Sandra Bernhard, and Michael York. —Tom Keogh
X-Men
Bryan Singer4B000050GBFIn a time when race and religion don't separate people, but extra powers and mutated characteristics do, two longtime friends, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) part ways, only to become rivals over the issue of how much patience they should have with "normal" people. Living lives that scare most humans lacking the "X-factor" (a special power such as telekinesis), they fight over changing the general population into mutants. Xavier decides to help mutants in a special school while waiting for humanity to be more accepting, while Magneto opts to change all "normal" people into mutants in order to create a mutant-only world. Leading a group of four powerful X-Men (and women) to rescue one lost girl (the mutant Rogue, played by Anna Paquin)—and the entire population of New York—Xavier recruits a new member to their group: Logan (Hugh Jackman), better known as Wolverine, joins the team with much reluctance, only to prove very valuable to the rescue effort.
Each member of the X-Men has mastered their special gift—the ability to create a storm (Storm, played by Halle Berry), telekinesis (Dr. Jean Grey, played by Famke Janssen), eyesight carrying laserlike destructive power (Cyclops, played by James Marsden), the ability to heal nearly any wound he sustains (Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman). The chemistry among these four sets the stage for some expert teamwork—and some hidden romance. The mutants' ensemble work drives the action sequences, such as in a train station battle with Magneto's crew—including Sabertooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)—that unleashes a lot of destruction, thanks to the striking special effects.
You don't have to be a fan of the hugely popular X-Men comic books to enjoy Bryan Singer's film, which is loaded with creativity, cool effects, and characters complex enough to lift it above run-of-the-mill action films. And Singer sets the stage admirably for the sequels that could turn X-Men into the strongest comic-book franchise since Batman. —Sandra Levin
X-Men - The Last Stand
Brett Ratner3.5B000HCO83QWhen a cure is found to treat mutations lines are drawn amongst the x-men led by professor charles xavier & the brotherhood a band of powerful mutants organized under xaviers former ally magneto. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/02/2007 Starring: Hugh Jackman Ian Mckellen Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Pg13
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Ultimate 3-Disc Edition
Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds, Lynn Collins, Taylor Kitsch, will.i.am, dc adamantium sideshowcollectibles.com metal sound track soundtrack music cd exclusive poster dc spiderman spider man green lantern wolvrine wolveine sideshow collectibles season one two three four vol volume v 1 2 3 4 first second third, fourth trilogy x3 x2 i ii iii iv xm xmow xmo w bd live unleashed sabretooth Limited Edition Blu-ray Gift Set with Wolverine Bust and Gift CardB002P93VGOUltimate 3-Disc Edition features Blu-ray and DVD copies of the movie, as as a Digital Copy disc! Blu-ray includes X-Men Origins: Wolverine in high-definition and many bonus features, including BD-Live.
Amazon.com Review
Wolverine, fan favorite of the X-Men universe in both comic books and film, gets his own movie vehicle with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a tale that reaches way, way back into the hairy mutant's story. Somewhere in the wilds of northwest Canada in the early 1800s, two boys grow up amid violence: half-brothers with very special powers. Eventually they will become the near-indestructible warriors (and victims of a super-secret government program) known as Wolverine and Sabretooth, played respectively by Hugh Jackman (returning to his role) and Liev Schreiber (new to the scene). It helps enormously to have Schreiber, an actor of brawny skills, as the showiest villain; the guy can put genuine menace into a vocal inflection or a shift of the eyes. Danny Huston is the sinister government operative whose experiments keep pullin' Wolverine back in, Lynn Collins is the woman who shares a peaceful Canadian co-existence with our hero when he tries to drop out of the program, and Ryan Reynolds adds needed humor, at least for a while. The fast-paced early reels give an entertaining kick-off to the Wolverine saga, only to slow down when a proper plot must be put together—but isn't that perpetually the problem with origin stories? And despite a cool setting, the grand finale is a little hemmed in by certain plot essentials that must be in place for the sequels, which may be why characters do nonsensical things. So, this one is fun while it lasts, if you're not looking for a masterpiece, or an explanation for Wolverine's facial grooming. —Robert Horton
X2 - X-Men United
4.5B0000BWVCMX2 does a fine job of picking up where X-Men left off, giving fans more of what they liked the first time around. Under the serious-minded custody of returning director Bryan Singer, the second film of this Marvel comics franchise ups the ante on Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and the superhero mutants from the first film, pitting them against a mutant-hating scientist (Brian Cox) who's determined to wipe out the mutant race by tricking Xavier into abusing his telepathic powers. More a series of spectacles than a truly satisfying thriller, X2 introduces new mutant allies while giving each of the X-Men alumni—notably the temporarily helpful Magneto (Ian McKellen)—their own time in the spotlight. Well aware of the parallels between "mutantism" and virulent intolerance in the real world, Singer lends real gravity to the proceedings, injecting dramatic urgency into a continuing franchise that, in lesser hands, might've grown patently absurd. —Jeff Shannon
XXX
3.5B00005JL3KXander cage is an extreme sports athelete recruited by the government on a special mission. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 07/19/2005 Starring: Vin Diesel Samuel L Jackson Run time: 124 minutes Rating: Pg13
Yours, Mine & Ours
Raja Gosnell3B000E3LI54A widowed coast guard admiral and a widowed handbag designer fall in love and marry much to the dismay of her 10 and his 8 children. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Dennis Quaid Rene Russo Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Pg
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How many symphonies did Mozart compose? | Mozart - Composers - Classic FM
Classic FM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Biography
Johannes Chrystostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart (1756–1791) was arguably the most gifted musician in the history of classical music. His inspiration is often described as 'divine', but he worked assiduously, not only to become the great composer he was, but also a conductor, virtuoso pianist, organist and violinist. Mozart's music embraces opera, symphony, concerto, chamber, choral, instrumental and vocal music, revealing an astonishing number of imperishable masterpieces.
Mozart was born in Salzburg, in 1756. Mozart's father, Leopold, was an ambitious composer and violinist.
Though he was and still is considered a genius, he was also tactless, arrogant and had a scatological sense of humour.
Mozart composed his first opera, Apollo et Hyacinthus when he was only 11. A year later the Emperor Joseph II commissioned him to write La finta semplice.
In August 1782 he married Constanze Weber. The Mozarts' marriage seemed to be a happy one. Constanze was easy-going, free-spending and usually pregnant. Only two of their six children survived.
Post-marriage, some of Mozart's best started to appear -the Haffner and Linz symphonies and five string quartets, for example.
Between 1784 and 1786, he composed nine piano concertos and three of these concurrently with The Marriage of Figaro.
The year 1787 saw the premiere of Mozart's second opera, Don Giovanni.
Mozart had a great run of successes in his final years - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and the Clarinet Quintet in A, three of his 41 symphonies; Cosí fan Tutte, three piano trios, the Coronation piano concerto, two piano sonatas and three string quartets.
His health began to fail and his work rate slowed in 1790. He got better, though, and in 1791 alone composed the most famous The Magic Flute, the Requiem (unfinished), and the Clarinet Concerto.
Mozart did not live long enough to complete his Requiem. He died in Vienna, in 1791, before his 36th birthday.
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Who wrote Principia Mathematica, published in 1687? | Why did Beethoven write so few symphonies compared to Mozart? - Quora
Quora
Music
Why did Beethoven write so few symphonies compared to Mozart?
My personal impression is that writing music, whilst great and of equal quality to Mozart, didn't come easy with Beethoven. Or was it that Beethoven had a perfectionist personality? Or am I simply writing a unfair question..?
[image via BEETHOVEN vs MOZART - d_laurentis ]
[...] writing music, whilst great and of equal quality to Mozart, didn't come easy with Beethoven.
I understand what you are getting at here, however, I feel a bit uncomfortable making extrapolations based on perceived ease or difficulty. This topic could very well wonder (as it has in the past) into a discussion of "raw talent" * . A common such notion is: Mozart was a more naturally gifted composer, effortlessly conjuring up "perfect" pieces. On the other hand, Beethoven only achieved greatness in laboring endlessly through revisions to arrive at perfection. It is my belief that no one except Mozart and Beethoven would know in an absolute sense how their compositional struggles compare. With writing music, much of the process is completely internalized, existing only in the minds of these two men with no outward documentation.
So what exists externally that can we examine to perhaps gain a deeper understanding? Well, for the sake of this question I will focus on the rate of production, and the differing roles of the symphony as a genre.
Rate of Production
An easy answer to why Beethoven wrote so few symphonies compared to Mozart would be that Beethoven wrote fewer works in nearly every form than Mozart.
Symphonies: 41 ** (Mozart) / 9 (Beethoven)
Operas: 22 (Mozart) / 1 (Beethoven)
Masses: 15 *** (Mozart) / 2 (Beethoven)
Concerti for Piano & Orch.: 27 (Mozart) / ~5 **** (Beethoven)
Concerti for Violin & Orch.: 5 (Mozart) / 1 (Beethoven)
String Quartets: 23 (Mozart) / 16 (Beethoven)
Piano Sonatas: 18 (Mozart) / 32 (Beethoven)
Though neither composer would land on the list I made for Who are/were the great composers who composed relatively little music? , if we compute the rate of composing symphonies the difference between Mozart's pace and Beethoven's becomes even more profound.
Mozart
Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, K. 16, was written in 1764.
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, on 10 August 1788.
41 symphonies / 24 years = 1.70833333333 symphonies per year
Beethoven
Op. 21: Symphony No. 1 in CMaj (composed 1799–1800, premièred 1800)
Op. 125: Symphony No. 9 in Dm (composed 1817–24, premièred 1824)
9 symphonies / 25 years = 0.36 symphonies per year
To be fair, I find Mozart's rate of nearly 2 symphonies a year to be insane, especially when you take into account all of the other operas, concerti, masses, and so on he also wrote per year. As far as I can tell, during his peak, few composers in Western music have ever been as prolific as Mozart. This begs the question not why Beethoven wrote so few symphonies compared to Mozart, but rather, why was Mozart so freakishly productive in writing symphonies compared to the rest of humanity?
Usually folks will be quick to point out that Mozart composed the bulk of his oeuvre existing in the long established Classical Era, while Beethoven is considered a transitional figure whose musical innovations are largely credited as the birth of the Romantic Era. In short, this may be analogous to the difference between learning how to speak fluently in a preexisting language, and inventing your own language that is so rigorous and clever that the rest of the world wants to learn it too. Native speakers often achieve the former naturally by childhood, whereas the latter is rarely attempted by anyone (let alone achieved).
Also please note: For early works by both composers an important issue to consider is attribution. Tallies provided by various sources are going to differ because there are ongoing debates regarding exactly who composed certain childhood works. Thus, it is possible that Mozart's total is wrongly inflated. However, even if all the works in question turn out to be another composer's, Mozart would still have several times as many confirmed symphonies as Beethoven.
The Changing Role of the Symphony
As Quora User outlined in his answer, during Mozart's time the symphony was not yet the massive undertaking it would later come to represent. The function of a symphony within a concert program was often that of a lite interlude between other more "serious" and substantial forms. This is why Haydn was able to pen over a hundred symphonies. The form was clear, as was the expected function of each movement.
After Beethoven showed the world the large scale possibilities that the symphony could have most composers followed suit, re-calibrating their ambitions for the form. The notion of trying to compose 41 symphonies in the course of one's career is so unrealistic that I have never heard of a major composer after Mozart even attempting to do so. Conversely, writing 9 symphonies in a lifetime has become a goal for several big name composers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In fact, it has even spawned the well known Curse of the ninth .
Written Dec 24, 2014
While it is true that Beethoven's process of composition was in some ways more pensive and laborious than Mozart's, and that Beethoven was not as fast or quantitatively prolific as his Viennese predecessors, the only reason that Beethoven completed merely nine symphonies as opposed to Mozart's forty-one and Haydn's one hundred four of them is simply that Beethoven's symphonies are much longer, less formulaic on the whole, and in general musically richer than most of those of the elder composers. Beethoven wrote fewer symphonies mainly because the average Beethoven symphony is a much "bigger deal," so to speak, than the average Mozart or Haydn symphony.
To be fair to the others, Beethoven's expansive and altogether more serious conception of the genre did not emerge from a vacuum. Consider that Haydn composed forty symphonies between 1757 - 1767, but less than twenty between 1785 - 1795; Mozart had finished his first thirty symphonies by the age of nineteen (!) but took a further thirteen years or so to complete the last eleven. There are several factors as to why this is the case, but the biggest is that these composers were becoming more ambitious and adventurous with regard to the structure and content of the symphony, and thus the composition of a symphony became rather a bigger project than it once had been.
When Beethoven came to establish himself in Vienna, he made a concentrated effort to adopt the Viennese style but without simply rehashing what the city's greats had already done. He saw himself as saddling up and sallying forth from where Haydn and Mozart had come to rest; Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C (1801), was, for him, a matter of picking up where Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in C ("Jupiter") had left off more than a decade prior. The symphony had become a grand, very public, almost ideological sort of statement, and Beethoven viewed his symphonic output as the primary vehicle for his legacy.
Not only is the music material and process in the Beethoven symphonies more finely wrought and less formulaic than was typical of the genre -- his orchestration is significantly more colorful and varied as well, with much greater independence in the woodwinds, for example, and more imaginative and unusual effects of texture.
(Thanks for the A2A!)
Great review by Andrew Watts !
For the anecdote, the most prolific classical composer of all time was Georg Philipp Telemann:
'Most Prolific' Composer: It's Not Bach
While many would say that J.S. Bach is the greatest prolific composer, Bach’s contemporary, Georg Philipp Telemann, is credited by the Guiness Book of World Records as the most prolific, having written over 3,000 compositions, including 1,000 church cantatas, as well as numerous other instrumental works.
However, Bach still has him bested in one prolific area: he had 22 children!"
> 'Most Prolific' Composer: It's Not Bach
There is also an amazing statistic method which, while necessarily approximative (depending on the execution speed), gives a pretty good idea of the amount of music actually composed. Instead of quantity of opuses, this method counts hours of music. So, according to this system, Mozart is credited with 202 hours of music composed, Beethoven 120:
TOP TEN MOST PROLIFIC COMPOSERS
ranked by hours of music composed, based on a survey
conducted by _Classical Music_. Source: Russell Ash,
_The Top Ten of Everything 2000_ (NY: DK [Dorling
Kindersley] Publishing, 1999), p. 163.
> Amazon.com: Customer Discussions: Most prolific composer?
I find such a method interesting. Adapted to literature, one should count the number of pages written by an author rather than the number of volumes. A novelist having written 1 book of 500 pages has produced more than an author having written 3 books of 120 pages. Even more precise would be the amount of words, since the number of pages is highly variable (page size, layout, font size).
Nice!
Written Feb 20, 2015
As I understand the question, it is /Why/, and assumes that Mozart did compose many more symphonies than Beethoven. At least in the meaning of the word symphony that it has today, the assumption is not true. I would say that Mozart wrote 5 or 6 symphonies, and toward the end of his life.
So the answer to "why." The numbering system for Mozart's symphonies is after-the-fact. I have the feeling that in sifting through the manuscripts, there was some attribution to the symphony column when what was before the reviewers was closer to being an orchestral divertimento. I upvoted another answer that pointed out that Mozart did not write all that many "good" symphonies, in fact, we would not know of them at all had they been written by someone else.
I like a lot of Mozart's music; a symphonist was not main axe as a composer.
| i don't know |
What are the dry constituents of dry Martini? | Dry Martini recipe
Dry Martini recipe
Scan me to take me with you
serve in
1 olive
Stir gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a cocktail glass, add the olive, and serve.
More comments
Twist, please
posted by vmwrites @ 09:25AM, 5/27/06
A true dry martini tastes best when served with a twist, rather than an olive. This is largely a matter of taste, and there are many schools either way, but a bit of lemon rind, twisted over the top of the martini imparts a gently spray of lemon oils to the surface. Olives, on the other hand, add an olive taste, salt, and water, of course.
But a great martini is the way you like it.
Lingo matters
posted by vicki @ 03:16PM, 6/15/06
If you are a bartender and someone asks for a dirty martini...put an olive in it...a lemon is a request only type of thing...don't let this comment above confuse you. If you ask for a dirty martini in any bar anywhere you will get olives. If you want a twist of lemon ask for a vodka martini up with a twist. they call it a dirty martini b/c the olive juice makes it look cloudy. Bottom line.
Good, but not dry enough....
posted by angrynorwegian @ 01:31PM, 6/17/06
I prefer this drink even "dryer".
Start with adding just one bottlecap worth of vermouth (I prefer noilly prat) Gently turn the shaker to coat all the ice vith vermouth, and strain out the excess. Then you add the gin ( I use 30cc of tanqueray) and stir until cold. Strain into a chilled coctail glass and garnish with an olive or a twist.
Or enjoy it any other way you prefer.
Lovely classical cocktail!
posted by RuneLancer @ 01:09AM, 7/14/06
Why strain out the vermouth? Leave it in there. ;) Of course, it's entirely a matter of taste.
I use Stock, personally - it's extra-dry and blends in very well with Tanqueray. There's a place near here which sells olives stuffed with almonds. Very delicious. It's an interesting variation on the typical pimento-stuffed olive.
The driest yet
posted by Martooni Man @ 05:19PM, 7/26/06
Put a half cap of dry vermouth in a frozen double old fashioned glass. Coat the glass with vermouth by swirling. Pour out excess, add ice to the brim and fill with gin. Tanqueray or Citadelle are my personal preferences.
Shaken not stired
posted by bartender of the year @ 10:30AM, 11/10/06
Thanks to james bond who helped shape the modern martini that is always shaken not stirred.
A traditionalist - with flavor
posted by mark richmond @ 03:03PM, 12/27/06
A dry martini is one with very little dry vermouth in the gin. I keep my bombay sapphire in the freezer, swirl 1/2 or less cap of vermouth around a martini glass (I also prefer Noilly Prat). Now comes the twist - no, not that twist - I use anchovy stuffed or garlic stuffed olives (usually 3, but then I tend toward large martinis).
Enjoy.
Perfect Dirty Martini
posted by Catlady3 @ 02:09PM, 1/03/07
I make mine with Beefeaters and definately use the old fashioned amount of extra dry vermouth (I use Martibni & Rossi Estra Dry). This recipe is from The Martini Book and try it first before you criticize the amount of vermouth. 6 parts gin, 2 parts dry vermouth, 1 part olive brine, Cocktail olives. I use 3 super huge ones stuffed with pimentos. I shake it for a long time till I can't hold the stainless steel shaker anymore. Yum!
Good to the last drop
posted by Louis Emond @ 01:56PM, 2/01/07
I used to put too much vermouth in my first Martinis, I now only coat the glass. Pure heaven! I exclusively use Plymouth Gin, I find it better than Beefeater or Booker.
Bookmarked this site by the way.
Suggestions needed
posted by Harry @ 07:42PM, 2/09/07
I need to know which brands of Vodka and Vermouth will make the tastiest of martinis. Any suggestions?
The Perfect Martini is...
posted by Markastic @ 04:38AM, 2/13/07
Garnished with whatever the customer wants. This is a recipe for a DRY martini, not a dirty, so the option is there for either an olive or lemon twist... or a combination of whatever the guest asks for. A dry martini, in 2007 means at the most a splash of Dry Vermouth (usually followed by spill) at the MOST. Typically... none. Just make sure the drink is as cold as is possible - chill the glass first, then start with the shaker and vodka or gin.
Dry = More or less vermouth
posted by Chris @ 03:50PM, 3/03/07
When I went to bartending school I was told the extra dry meant very little vermouth (1/16 oz) and some bartenders would just wave the bottle of vermouth over the shaker. Was this incorrect? I was a bartender about 10 years ago and did it through college. I never had a martini sent back.
Excellent stuff
posted by Slowie @ 12:25PM, 3/23/07
I like it as described, but if I make it to myself I add 3-5 olives depending on glass size. :)
Dirty to me is when you add a bit of olive water to it as well to make it even saltier.
The Bombay
posted by John @ 02:53PM, 3/25/07
Why waste the vermouth. Just use Bombay sapphire, the olive and the ice. Great for the Atkins or South Beach. No carbs.
Suggestions needed - reply
posted by E3 @ 06:08PM, 6/01/07
For the person looking for a vodka martini, I prefer Kettle One vodka, little dry vermouth, shaken, strained with a half cap full of olive juice (dirty = good). I also prefer the anchovy or blue cheese stuffed olives. Enjoy!
South Texas Martini
posted by JT @ 03:23PM, 7/02/07
Vodka or gin, whatever happens to be in the toolbox, pickled pepper or cocktail oniion, no vermouth (doesn't travel well in the heat). Oh, and ice if available.
Dry = Less Vermouth
posted by Cory @ 06:44PM, 8/20/07
I have worked for years in a fine dining restaurant. The clientele is that of an average age over 60. These people in my mind are the true martini drinkers. After many discussions and reading recipes in the older drink recipe books, THE DRYER THE MARTINI, THE LESS VERMOUTH IT HAS. Ask any martini drinker over the age of 70, trust me.
Gin Sot
posted by elliot cooper @ 02:15PM, 9/01/07
My friends and I always argued about the correct amount of Vermouth to put into a Dry Martini until, after much argument, we came up with the following recipe. Take a bottle of Blackwoods 60 (you aren't going to find a better gin for a Dry Martini) from the freezer and pour it into a cocktail glass also from the freezer. Then, and this is the important bit, face in the direction of Trafalgar Square (if you don't know where/what this is then you are not a gentleman and should not even be considering anything as decadent as a martini), hold the glass up to the side of your face and whisper, not too loud mind as you don't want to over do it, "Martini" in the most alluring voice you can muster. You are not holding the perfect Dry Martini. There is no need to ruin the superb gin with an olive or other addition.
Use good quality Gin and you'll never go back to Vodka
posted by Winston Churchill @ 12:08PM, 9/26/07
Seriously. Try Bombay, Bombay Sapphire, Boodles, Plymouth, Citadelle, Magellan, Tanqueray Ten, or any premium quality gin. It makes a huge difference. Crappy gin is only good for a G&T.
I prefer 2.5 oz Boodles with .5 oz Noilly Prat, both at room temperature, combined with ice in a shaker, STIRRED gently for 10-15 seconds, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. I like olives, but this is good with a twist, too.
Suggestions needed - reply
posted by t @ 09:57AM, 10/15/07
i work in a vodka bar and find the best vodkas to use are either Ketel One or Grey Goose vodkas.
Martini for two in a frozen crystal glass - Beefeater's deserves crystal
posted by the count @ 01:46PM, 10/29/07
I keep a 12 oz. crystal glass in the freezer with four ice cubes and a teaspoon in the glass. My martini glasses are also kept in the freezer. Into the crystal glass, I pour Beefeater's to fill the glass about 90%. About three drops of Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth is the absolute maximum! Next, I add two teaspoons of olive juice from Roland's Anchovie Stuffed Olives - these are stuffed with white anchovies. La Espana brand is better but difficult to find.
Gently stir, moving the spoon up and down for about ten seconds and pour into the frozen martini glass. Add three anchovie stuffed olives speared on a small metal olive skewer.
Evidently, James Bond liked his vodka watered down - because that is what happens if you shake the gin with ice. Don't bruise a good gin and dilute it by shaking. When pouring from the crystal glass into the martini glasses, the spoon is used across the lip of the glass to prevent the ice cubes from entering the martini glass.
To repeat: this is a martini for two people.
Note: at 94 proof, Beefeater's ranks with the high alcohol gins. The crystal glass and the martini glasses will actually "smoke" when the gin is poured.
Note: the metal teaspoon conducts heat out of the glass of gin, cooling the gin even more.
Dry Martini
posted by Ashok/Bombay(India) @ 03:33AM, 1/04/08
3 Oz Tanqueray Gin, half a teaspoonful Neuilly Prat dry Vermouth, shaken with the largest ice cubes you have so as to minimise dilution, strained into a pre chilled large Martini glass with TWO stuffed olives on a stick after they are rinsed in water to eliminate the salty taste - now THAT is the perfect Dry Martini !! Made any other way it might taste great - I wouldn't know - but it will NOT be the perfect Dry Martini.
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| gin and vermouth |
In music, the B-52s were formed in which year? 1976, 1980 or 1984? | Dry Martini recipe
Dry Martini recipe
Scan me to take me with you
serve in
1 olive
Stir gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a cocktail glass, add the olive, and serve.
More comments
Twist, please
posted by vmwrites @ 09:25AM, 5/27/06
A true dry martini tastes best when served with a twist, rather than an olive. This is largely a matter of taste, and there are many schools either way, but a bit of lemon rind, twisted over the top of the martini imparts a gently spray of lemon oils to the surface. Olives, on the other hand, add an olive taste, salt, and water, of course.
But a great martini is the way you like it.
Lingo matters
posted by vicki @ 03:16PM, 6/15/06
If you are a bartender and someone asks for a dirty martini...put an olive in it...a lemon is a request only type of thing...don't let this comment above confuse you. If you ask for a dirty martini in any bar anywhere you will get olives. If you want a twist of lemon ask for a vodka martini up with a twist. they call it a dirty martini b/c the olive juice makes it look cloudy. Bottom line.
Good, but not dry enough....
posted by angrynorwegian @ 01:31PM, 6/17/06
I prefer this drink even "dryer".
Start with adding just one bottlecap worth of vermouth (I prefer noilly prat) Gently turn the shaker to coat all the ice vith vermouth, and strain out the excess. Then you add the gin ( I use 30cc of tanqueray) and stir until cold. Strain into a chilled coctail glass and garnish with an olive or a twist.
Or enjoy it any other way you prefer.
Lovely classical cocktail!
posted by RuneLancer @ 01:09AM, 7/14/06
Why strain out the vermouth? Leave it in there. ;) Of course, it's entirely a matter of taste.
I use Stock, personally - it's extra-dry and blends in very well with Tanqueray. There's a place near here which sells olives stuffed with almonds. Very delicious. It's an interesting variation on the typical pimento-stuffed olive.
The driest yet
posted by Martooni Man @ 05:19PM, 7/26/06
Put a half cap of dry vermouth in a frozen double old fashioned glass. Coat the glass with vermouth by swirling. Pour out excess, add ice to the brim and fill with gin. Tanqueray or Citadelle are my personal preferences.
Shaken not stired
posted by bartender of the year @ 10:30AM, 11/10/06
Thanks to james bond who helped shape the modern martini that is always shaken not stirred.
A traditionalist - with flavor
posted by mark richmond @ 03:03PM, 12/27/06
A dry martini is one with very little dry vermouth in the gin. I keep my bombay sapphire in the freezer, swirl 1/2 or less cap of vermouth around a martini glass (I also prefer Noilly Prat). Now comes the twist - no, not that twist - I use anchovy stuffed or garlic stuffed olives (usually 3, but then I tend toward large martinis).
Enjoy.
Perfect Dirty Martini
posted by Catlady3 @ 02:09PM, 1/03/07
I make mine with Beefeaters and definately use the old fashioned amount of extra dry vermouth (I use Martibni & Rossi Estra Dry). This recipe is from The Martini Book and try it first before you criticize the amount of vermouth. 6 parts gin, 2 parts dry vermouth, 1 part olive brine, Cocktail olives. I use 3 super huge ones stuffed with pimentos. I shake it for a long time till I can't hold the stainless steel shaker anymore. Yum!
Good to the last drop
posted by Louis Emond @ 01:56PM, 2/01/07
I used to put too much vermouth in my first Martinis, I now only coat the glass. Pure heaven! I exclusively use Plymouth Gin, I find it better than Beefeater or Booker.
Bookmarked this site by the way.
Suggestions needed
posted by Harry @ 07:42PM, 2/09/07
I need to know which brands of Vodka and Vermouth will make the tastiest of martinis. Any suggestions?
The Perfect Martini is...
posted by Markastic @ 04:38AM, 2/13/07
Garnished with whatever the customer wants. This is a recipe for a DRY martini, not a dirty, so the option is there for either an olive or lemon twist... or a combination of whatever the guest asks for. A dry martini, in 2007 means at the most a splash of Dry Vermouth (usually followed by spill) at the MOST. Typically... none. Just make sure the drink is as cold as is possible - chill the glass first, then start with the shaker and vodka or gin.
Dry = More or less vermouth
posted by Chris @ 03:50PM, 3/03/07
When I went to bartending school I was told the extra dry meant very little vermouth (1/16 oz) and some bartenders would just wave the bottle of vermouth over the shaker. Was this incorrect? I was a bartender about 10 years ago and did it through college. I never had a martini sent back.
Excellent stuff
posted by Slowie @ 12:25PM, 3/23/07
I like it as described, but if I make it to myself I add 3-5 olives depending on glass size. :)
Dirty to me is when you add a bit of olive water to it as well to make it even saltier.
The Bombay
posted by John @ 02:53PM, 3/25/07
Why waste the vermouth. Just use Bombay sapphire, the olive and the ice. Great for the Atkins or South Beach. No carbs.
Suggestions needed - reply
posted by E3 @ 06:08PM, 6/01/07
For the person looking for a vodka martini, I prefer Kettle One vodka, little dry vermouth, shaken, strained with a half cap full of olive juice (dirty = good). I also prefer the anchovy or blue cheese stuffed olives. Enjoy!
South Texas Martini
posted by JT @ 03:23PM, 7/02/07
Vodka or gin, whatever happens to be in the toolbox, pickled pepper or cocktail oniion, no vermouth (doesn't travel well in the heat). Oh, and ice if available.
Dry = Less Vermouth
posted by Cory @ 06:44PM, 8/20/07
I have worked for years in a fine dining restaurant. The clientele is that of an average age over 60. These people in my mind are the true martini drinkers. After many discussions and reading recipes in the older drink recipe books, THE DRYER THE MARTINI, THE LESS VERMOUTH IT HAS. Ask any martini drinker over the age of 70, trust me.
Gin Sot
posted by elliot cooper @ 02:15PM, 9/01/07
My friends and I always argued about the correct amount of Vermouth to put into a Dry Martini until, after much argument, we came up with the following recipe. Take a bottle of Blackwoods 60 (you aren't going to find a better gin for a Dry Martini) from the freezer and pour it into a cocktail glass also from the freezer. Then, and this is the important bit, face in the direction of Trafalgar Square (if you don't know where/what this is then you are not a gentleman and should not even be considering anything as decadent as a martini), hold the glass up to the side of your face and whisper, not too loud mind as you don't want to over do it, "Martini" in the most alluring voice you can muster. You are not holding the perfect Dry Martini. There is no need to ruin the superb gin with an olive or other addition.
Use good quality Gin and you'll never go back to Vodka
posted by Winston Churchill @ 12:08PM, 9/26/07
Seriously. Try Bombay, Bombay Sapphire, Boodles, Plymouth, Citadelle, Magellan, Tanqueray Ten, or any premium quality gin. It makes a huge difference. Crappy gin is only good for a G&T.
I prefer 2.5 oz Boodles with .5 oz Noilly Prat, both at room temperature, combined with ice in a shaker, STIRRED gently for 10-15 seconds, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. I like olives, but this is good with a twist, too.
Suggestions needed - reply
posted by t @ 09:57AM, 10/15/07
i work in a vodka bar and find the best vodkas to use are either Ketel One or Grey Goose vodkas.
Martini for two in a frozen crystal glass - Beefeater's deserves crystal
posted by the count @ 01:46PM, 10/29/07
I keep a 12 oz. crystal glass in the freezer with four ice cubes and a teaspoon in the glass. My martini glasses are also kept in the freezer. Into the crystal glass, I pour Beefeater's to fill the glass about 90%. About three drops of Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth is the absolute maximum! Next, I add two teaspoons of olive juice from Roland's Anchovie Stuffed Olives - these are stuffed with white anchovies. La Espana brand is better but difficult to find.
Gently stir, moving the spoon up and down for about ten seconds and pour into the frozen martini glass. Add three anchovie stuffed olives speared on a small metal olive skewer.
Evidently, James Bond liked his vodka watered down - because that is what happens if you shake the gin with ice. Don't bruise a good gin and dilute it by shaking. When pouring from the crystal glass into the martini glasses, the spoon is used across the lip of the glass to prevent the ice cubes from entering the martini glass.
To repeat: this is a martini for two people.
Note: at 94 proof, Beefeater's ranks with the high alcohol gins. The crystal glass and the martini glasses will actually "smoke" when the gin is poured.
Note: the metal teaspoon conducts heat out of the glass of gin, cooling the gin even more.
Dry Martini
posted by Ashok/Bombay(India) @ 03:33AM, 1/04/08
3 Oz Tanqueray Gin, half a teaspoonful Neuilly Prat dry Vermouth, shaken with the largest ice cubes you have so as to minimise dilution, strained into a pre chilled large Martini glass with TWO stuffed olives on a stick after they are rinsed in water to eliminate the salty taste - now THAT is the perfect Dry Martini !! Made any other way it might taste great - I wouldn't know - but it will NOT be the perfect Dry Martini.
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| i don't know |
Who is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the top four flights of the English leagues, in the FA Cup and League Cup, and at international level? | San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate
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The influx of foreign talent in the Premier League has brought about an unprecedented depth of scoring talent over the last decade, with many overseas imports making their way into the annals of English football.
January 21 marks the three-year anniversary of Clint Dempsey 's 2012 hat-trick against Newcastle United, steering Fulham almost single-handedly to a 5-2 win over the Magpies. That accolade to this date makes Dempsey the only American ever to bag a hat-trick in the English first tier.
In celebration of the Texan's accolade, we've pulled together a list of the greatest foreign talents to have marked their territory in the Premier League with a hat-trick, taking into account all players originating outside the United Kingdom.
For some, this achievement was routine, while even some of the most world-class athletes could only manage the feat on one occasion.
Regardless of how many hat-tricks they bagged, however, simply recording one is good enough to gain entry into our draw, paying respects to the foreign figures of past and present to have netted goals en masse.
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Tony Yeboah
The only Ghanaian ever to score a Premier League hat-trick, former Leeds United striker Tony Yeboah twice bagged three-goal hauls during his time at Elland Road, both of which came in 1995.
In two years among the English top flight, one of the Black Stars' most prominent attackers in history scored 32 goals, six of those coming against Ipswich Town and Wimbledon.
Robinho
Many would suggest that Robinho's £33 million arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2008 is where Abu Dhabi's money-fuelled ownership of Manchester City first began to rear its head as a future Premier League titan.
In the five years since, not every player purchase has worked as desired—to say the least—and while Robinho's value to City was up for debate, he at least has a proud Premier League hat-trick to his name.
The Brazilian put all three past Stoke City in a 3-0 defeat of the Potters in October 2008, just a month-and-a-half after his arrival in England, showing fans what they had to be excited for in future.
Robinho's time with the Citizens ultimately ended quite bitterly and dragged out with a short-term loan at former club Santos, but there's no denying what a magnificent talent the former Selecao star was in his prime.
Savo Milosevic
Savo Milosevic's three years at Villa Park were far from the most prolific of his career, but a hat-trick against Coventry City during his debut 1995-1996 campaign provided one particular highlight for the Serbian.
He would later go on to find his most reliable scoring touch with Spanish sides Real Zaragoza, Espanyol and Celta Vigo, albeit never quite living up to the expectations established at Partizan Belgrade.
25. Andrei Kanchelskis
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Andrei Kanchelskis represented no fewer than four Premier League clubs during his playing career, but a combined 11 league appearances for Manchester City and Southampton meant the Russian didn't net a single goal for either outfit.
Rather it was Manchester United and Everton who got the best out of his ability earlier in the 1990s, grabbing a hat-trick for each of those teams, both of which came in the 18 months building up to his first England departure.
Arriving at Old Trafford from Shakhtar Donetsk in 1991, it took the enigmatic winger more than three-and-a-half years to bag his only United hat-trick, accounting for three of his 28 league goals with the Red Devils.
After transferring to the Goodison Park in 1995—where he enjoyed a much more prolific scoring pattern—Kanchelskis showed more initiative, taking just six months to bag three in a 5-2 beating of Sheffield Wednesday in April 1996.
Despite his instant impact on Merseyside, however, Kanchelskis was sold to Fiorentina in 1996 before he had a chance to get his second Everton season up and running.
24. Fabrizio Ravanelli
Michael Steele/Getty Images
The first of two iconic, Italian '90s strikers included in our countdown is Fabrizio Ravanelli, the man who despite finishing among the Premier League's top scorers in just one full season at Middlesbrough, couldn't prevent their relegation.
And what better way to announce his presence at Teesside than with a hat-trick display against Liverpool? That 3-3 result comprised the first of his two three-goal contributions with 'Boro. The other ironically came later that season as part of a 6-1 thrashing of future club Derby County.
The 1996-97 season at Middlesbrough was an incredibly successful one for Ravanelli on the individual scale, but by the time he joined the Rams in 2001, his decline was more evident and no further hat-tricks were scored.
23. Marc Overmars
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Although it wasn't always smooth sailing for Marc Overmars in north London, the ex-Arsenal winger persevered and won over Premier League critics in time.
The Dutchman took his time to adapt to the English top flight, and it's perhaps fitting that it was in his last season as a Gunner that he recorded his only Premier League hat-trick.
That achievement came about in the 1999-2000 campaign, where a 5-1 demolition of Middlesbrough saw Overmars thrive off the brilliance of one Dennis Bergkamp, who contributed the other two Gunners goals.
After Euro 2000 the following year, Overmars departed for Barcelona in a £25 million transfer, but could look back on this performance as a special day's work in front of goal.
22. Dimitar Berbatov
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Of the three Premier League outfits Dimitar Berbatov represented during his eight-year English tenure, Fulham were the only club for whom he failed to record a hat-trick.
The Bulgarian's first came in the shape of a four-goal contribution during a 6-4 dismantling of Reading in 2007, while he still played under Tottenham Hotspur's banner, while his other four hat-tricks were all for Manchester United.
That demolition of the Royals wasn't the only occasion on which Berbatov managed more than three goals, however, managing five against Blackburn Rovers in November 2010, making him the only non-Englishman to score five in one Premier League game.
21. Nicolas Anelka
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The man of a million clubs—or 12 to be more precise—Nicolas Anelka has had as much chance as any other overseas striker to make his presence felt in the Premier League.
Playing for six English top-flight teams in total, Anelka is one of only two non-Englishmen to have scored hat-tricks for three different Premier League sides, Yakubu Aiyegbeni being the other.
The French journeyman has slotted one hat-trick for each of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, who unsurprisingly sit as three of the biggest British clubs he's turned out for.
Now a free agent after leaving Mumbai City at the end of 2014, Anelka's expedition around the globe's football leagues continues, but 2015 could finally see him hang up his boots.
20. Fernando Torres
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
His reputation may not be what it once was, but there's no arguing that former Liverpool ace Fernando Torres has made a big impact on the Premier League—both good and bad.
After officially cutting ties with Chelsea—the club where his career began its crumbling—perhaps we'll see the Spaniard add to his hat-trick total, although any almost certainly won't be in the Premier League.
In seven-and-a-half years as a Premier League player, Torres netted four hat-tricks—three of which were scored for the Reds, while his last came at Stamford Bridge.
In correlation with his career trajectory, the striker bagged his three Liverpool hat-tricks within a 17-month window, against Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Hull City, in that order.
After that 6-1 defeat of the Tigers, it would be another two-and-a-half years before he was again named as a hat-trick scorer in the Premier League, showing how damaging his move to west London truly was.
19. Gianluca Vialli
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The second former Azzurri star of the 1990s included in our list is Gianluca Vialli, who came to Chelsea at the very end of a 20-year playing career and scored some pivotal goals during his three years as a Stamford Bridge player.
On that spectrum of importance, four goals in a 6-0 Premier League win over Barnsley perhaps doesn't sparkle near the top, but is nonetheless indicative of the reliable role he enforced both in the starting XI and as a squad player.
Vialli is somewhat unique on this list, as his Premier League career would lead to a player-manager role in west London before assuming full managerial duties.
18. Jurgen Klinsmann
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Jurgen Klinsmann's most successful season as a Tottenham Hotspur forward came in the 1994-95 campaign, but it was actually during a short-term loan at White Hart Lane later on that he scored his only Premier League hat-trick.
One might have been forgiven for not expecting great things from the German at this point, coming back to Spurs on loan from Sampdoria in the winter of 1997.
At 33 years of age and well past his prime, it would turn out to be his last stint at football's elite level, but his instant impact in north London helped save Tottenham from relegation that season.
In particular, it was a four-goal bonanza against Wimbledon that helped steer Spurs back on track. That May 1998 fixture ended 6-2 in Tottenham's favour, in some ways acting as a final thank you to the club that cherished his input.
17. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
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The fastest scorer of a four-goal haul in Premier League history gained renown for his super-sub influence, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 12-minute quartet of scores against Nottingham Forest in 1999 puts him among a very exclusive group.
That wasn't the only 1999 fixture in which the Norwegian would score four goals, either, helping Manchester United to a 5-1 defeat of Everton in December of that year.
It would be just over two years before Solskjaer added to his hat-trick tally, however, assisting with three goals in a January 2002 win over Bolton Wanderers, failing to add another in his remaining five years at Old Trafford.
For many, the Babyfaced Assassin perhaps should have been a more prominent member in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad, but at the very least, Solskjaer consistently made the best of his predicament.
15. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
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To this date, only five Premier League players have recorded hat-tricks after coming off the substitutes' bench. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is one of those, alongside Romelu Lukaku , Emmanuel Adebayor, Robbie Earnshaw and the aforementioned Solskjaer.
That miraculous effort was made against Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2004, one of the three league-based hat-tricks scored during his time as a Chelsea player, the fourth coming during his stint with Middlesbrough.
In his 136 Premier League appearances for the Blues, the Dutchman managed 69 goals, averaging just over a goal every other game.
It's a testament to Hasselbaink's longevity that even after moving to the northeast with Boro, the then 32-year-old was still potent enough in front of goal to be netting goals in their threes, that 2004 effort leading the side to a 4-0 drilling of Blackburn Rovers.
14. Samuel Eto'o
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Well-travelled Samuel Eto'o has scored glorious goals in Spain, Italy and Russia, and England was happy to welcome his talent to its borders upon his signing for Chelsea in the summer of 2013.
Granted, given that his career was supposedly entering its twilight years, the Cameroonian's sole season with the Blues wasn't a prolific one compared to previous, but in January 2014, his evergreen quality was evident.
For it was then the former Real Madrid, Inter and Barcelona star paved the way to a 3-1 hammering of Manchester United, very probably his finest hour—or 79 minutes—in west London.
Now one year into a two-year contract with Everton, the Toffees may still seek to see Eto'o add to his hat-trick total in England, but with BBC Sport reporting a Serie A return with Sampdoria is perhaps on the cards, those hopes may be lost.
13. Eden Hazard
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Given the names already mentioned on this list, some may dub it premature to rank Eden Hazard so highly in a list of overseas Premier League greats, but the Belgian is truly a world-class talent.
Not necessarily known for scoring goals in great number, it's not surprising that Hazard's two-and-a-half-year stay with Chelsea has thus far only produced one hat-trick.
That three-goal supply came about during a 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United in February 2014, a clear indicator of the winger's ability to win games single-handedly.
Last month, BBC Sport reported Hazard was close to penning new terms at Stamford Bridge, giving west Londoners a prayer of seeing to it that those scoring exploits only continue to grow in frequency.
12. Robert Pires
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
On May 7, 2003, Arsenal hit Southampton for six in claiming a 6-1 triumph over the Saints, a fixture in which there was not only one, but two hat-trick scorers.
Joining Jermaine Pennant in the goal rout came Gunners great Robert Pires, who was perhaps helped on by the fact the former had managed to put Arsenal three goals up within the first 10 minutes of their meeting.
With Southampton on the ropes, Pires would add another three to their misery and record his only Premier League hat-trick, a small percentage of the Frenchman's total 62 league goals while part of Wenger's team.
Still going in the Indian Super League with F.C. Goa, Pires is far from the figure who once dazzled Highbury audiences on a weekly basis, but his worth as one of the division's greatest-ever foreign assets is undeniable.
11. Dwight Yorke
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It's not often that the scorer of any hat-trick ends up on the losing team, but it's an anguish former Manchester United and Aston Villa hero Dwight Yorke knows all too well.
Yorke also played for Blackburn, Birmingham City and Sunderland throughout his Premier League career, but only managed hat-tricks for the Villans and the Red Devils.
It was in October 1996 that three goals from the ex-Trinidad and Tobago international wasn't enough to prevent a 4-3 loss for Villa at the hands of Newcastle United.
Less than two years later, Yorke completed a £12.6 million switch to Old Trafford, where he would raise his hat-trick tally to four, notching trios against the likes of Arsenal, Derby County and Leicester City.
Yorke averaged a goal every other game at United, netting 48 in 96 Premier League outings and his contributions often coming at key times during an extremely successful period under Ferguson.
10. Carlos Tevez
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Carlos Tevez may have cemented his Premier League reputation during a two-year stay with Manchester United, but it wasn't until he joined Manchester City in 2009 that he scored his first hat-trick in the division.
In fact, It took the Argentinian less than six months at City to bag three goals in a Premier League match for the first time, going on to net four in total.
The prominence enjoyed at West Ham followed by the sometimes second-string status at Old Trafford was overcome by the stardom that welcomed Tevez at the Etihad, albeit not without its own problems.
Hat-tricks have a habit of being scored in routs, results where even without those contributions, the same team would have won regardless.
However, Tevez—now at Juventus—had a habit of timing his triples well, three of his four coming in fixtures which would have otherwise ended in draws—a 4-1 beating of Blackburn, along with 3-0 wins over Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion.
9. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
One of only two Dutchmen ever to score five hat-tricks in the Premier League, and much like the aforementioned Berbatov, Ruud van Nistelrooy's greatest successes came at Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy averaged one hat-trick per season during his Old Trafford stay, the first coming just five months after his 2001 arrival in England as United beat Southampton 6-1 in December of that year.
That game also saw the iconic Oranje forward net one of the fastest goals of the campaign, opening the scoring after just 31 seconds before notching twice more.
Van Nistelrooy scored 25 goals in the 2002-03 season to be named Golden Boot winner, the same season in which he grabbed no fewer than three of his five hat-tricks.
8. Robin van Persie
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Following fellow Oranje striker Van Nistelrooy into this list of Premier League scoring heroes comes Robin van Persie, another proud owner of five hat-tricks in the English top flight.
Unlike Van Nistelrooy, however, Van Persie had a seven-year wait between his 2004 arrival in the Premier League from Feyenoord and recording his first hat-trick in the division.
Once he rose to prominence at Arsenal, however, the Dutchman couldn't cease his scoring majesty, grabbing the first three of his five hat-tricks within a 13-month span between January 2011 and February 2012.
The Gunners were only left regretful they perhaps didn't give RVP such responsibility sooner, and the maestro continued his hat-trick exploits at Old Trafford following a 2012 move to Manchester United.
His first Red Devils hat-trick was particularly magnificent, as little more than two weeks after arriving, he embarked on a one-man rampage to come back from behind and beat Southampton 3-2 in September 2012.
7. Dennis Bergkamp
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Eleven years in north London provided just the one Premier League hat-trick for Dennis Bergkamp, his first for the club during a 1997 clash against Leicester City.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the Gunners to win the fixture, drawing 3-3 against the Foxes, but it would nonetheless prove pivotal in a campaign where they beat Manchester United to the title by just one point.
In a way, it summarises Bergkamp's influence: Flash where and how it was needed, no more and certainly nothing less.
The Dutchman finished his Gunners career with more than 100 goals to his name across all competition, the vast majority of which (87) came in league contest.
6. Luis Suarez
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Only one non-English player—whom we'll discuss in more depth later on—has managed to score more hat-tricks than former Liverpool marvel Luis Suarez , who slotted six in his three-and-a-half years at Anfield.
Norwich City in particular grew sick of facing the Uruguayan, who also became the first player in Premier League history to score three hat-tricks against the same team when facing the Canaries.
Granted, his total of six leaves him some way off the all-time leader in hat-tricks scored, Alan Shearer, who netted 11 in all his 18 years playing among the big guns of English football.
However, when considering Suarez managed his number in only three full seasons with the Reds, his reputation as a prolific provider of goals becomes all the more clear.
In fact, it took Suarez fewer than 24 months to score his six hat-tricks, the first coming in April 2012, in a 3-0 win over Norwich, while his last materialised in March 2014, during the Reds 6-3 hammering of Cardiff City.
His career in Spain hasn't taken off with as golden a scoring touch thus far, but it's this kind of poaching frequency that led Barcelona to pay £75 million for his services.
5. Eric Cantona
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
In the beginning, there was Eric Cantona, the proud scorer of the Premier League's first-ever hat-trick following its inception in 1992. That feat came on August 25, 1992, a mere 10 days after the inaugural campaign got underway.
The Frenchman helped Leeds United claim a 5-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, but that's where his hat-trick exploits would end in the Premier League, never managing to record another.
Despite developing a star presence at Old Trafford, not once did Cantona manage to score more than twice in any one Premier League fixture under Ferguson, although his impact at the club was no less significant.
In some ways, Cantona's tally of 64 goals in 143 league appearances for the Red Devils across five seasons only further enhances his reputation, sprinkling his influence far more frequently as opposed to scoring in batches at a time.
4. Sergio Aguero
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
As touched upon in Hazard's case earlier, it may be premature grading one such as Sergio Aguero so highly in these stakes so early in his Premier League career, but the Argentinian has taken no time to make history.
It's been three-and-a-half years since Manchester City signed the scoring sensation from Atletico Madrid for a £38 million figure, during which time he's managed a relatively modest two hat-tricks.
But Aguero sits as another example that goals in great number aren't everything, especially taking into account the fact that his three-goal contributions came a remarkable three years apart.
The first, made during a 3-0 trouncing of Wigan in September 2011, just two months after his Etihad arrival, wouldn't be equalled—or bested—until October 2014, where he led the Citizens to a 4-1 rout over Spurs.
That being said, 66 goals in 101 Premier League appearances is no shabby ratio, with Aguero's regular influence in front of goal as welcome as any number of hat-tricks as far as City are concerned.
3. Didier Drogba
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Didier Drogba holds a unique achievement in being the only overseas player ever to have scored hat-tricks in back-to-back Premier League fixtures.
The Ivorian bends the rules ever so slightly in the fact these two games actually occurred in separate seasons—the first coming against Wigan in May 2010, while its partner materialised against West Brom in August of that year—but we're not complaining.
Those account for two of Drogba's three Premier League hat-tricks, which is remarkable considering that leaves the rest of his 94 Premier League goals unaccounted for.
The Blues veteran of course bagged all three with Chelsea, the only English club he ever has and by all likelihood ever will represent, with retirement potentially in sight later this year.
Drogba is also the only Ivorian ever to have scored a Premier league hat-trick, although compatriot Yaya Toure may damage that record if he ever manages to resummon his best form.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Since moving to Real Madrid in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a record number of 23 hat-tricks, per the Sunday Times . The number he scored during his time in the Premier League? One.
In six years at Old Trafford, only three of the 84 goals he managed to put away in the English first tier were recorded in the same match, a 6-0 thumping of Newcastle United in January 2008.
Of course, given that so many others on this list are strikers, it's forgivable that Ronaldo, who was still in his formative years as a winger with United, didn't notch more.
His time with Real Madrid has been one of transformation, and his ability to score goals in higher amounts is obviously an indicator of that development.
Manchester United can only be left longing after the talent they lost all those years ago.
1. Thierry Henry
Michael Regan/Getty Images
For many, the aforementioned Ronaldo may well be a superior talent to ex-Arsenal dynamo Thierry Henry when compared at their peaks.
But in terms of Premier League impact, specifically speaking in terms of hat-tricks scored, the Gunners legend has no equal among overseas players.
In the 13 years since the Premier League's inauguration, no overseas player has managed to beat Henry's tally of eight hat-tricks, with only Shearer and Robbie Fowler besting that figure. Former Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United striker Michael Owen also has eight.
Henry's scoring prowess, of course, also gave the north Londoners one of the most successful periods in their history, with the 1999 arrival guiding the Gunners to two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
Henry has the astonishing achievement of also converting four of his eight Premier League hat-tricks in a one year-period, coming between April 9, 2004 (beating Liverpool 4-2) and April 2, 2005 (a 4-1 win against Norwich).
The French talisman is without a doubt one of the greatest assets the Premier League, and indeed European football as a whole, has ever known. However, when it comes to influence over the division through means of his scoring in threes, he sits at the summit.
| Robert Earnshaw |
Who was the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup final at Wembley? | BBC - Nottingham - Sport - The fiendishly difficult football question
You are in: Nottingham > Sport > Features > The fiendishly difficult football question
The fiendishly difficult football question
Each Saturday BBC Radio Nottingham's Robin Chipperfield launches the 'fiendishly difficult football question'. Below are the previous week's questions and answers.
Saturday 5 May
When teams had to apply for re-election to stay in the FOotball League, which club had to apply the most?
ANSWER: Hartlepool
Send Robin your fiendishly difficult football questions e-mail: [email protected]
Saturday 28 April
Who was the first manager in the history of the Premiership to be sacked?
ANSWER: Ian Porterfield (Chelsea - January 1993)
Saturday 21 April
Manchester United could be set for another treble this season, repeating their feat of 1999. What we want to know today is the name of the team who prevented United winning a QUADRUPLE that year?
ANSWER: Tottenham, winning a League Cup tie 3-1.
Saturday 14 April
Who was the last player to be transferred between Liverpool and Manchester United in either direction? There are some players who've played for both, but we were looking for the last player to move from Man Utd to Liverpool, or Man Utd to Liverpool.
ANSWER: Phil Chisnall.
The last player to move between the clubs was Phil Chisnall back in April 1964. The inside-right played 35 games for United before his transfer to Liverpool for a then-substantial sum of £25,000. But Chisnall never established himself at Anfield, although he did play in Liverpool's first European match (against Reykjavik in August 1964) and in the first-ever Match of the Day game (a 3-2 win over Arsenal). But after being dropped after a defeat at Leeds in the next match, he never re-established himself in the first team, and his record for Liverpool makes sorry reading. In three seasons at the club he played just eight times (scoring two goals) before he was transferred to Southend in 1967.
Saturday 7 April
Which English League club was the last to lose its unbeaten League record this season?
ANSWER: Aston Villa (28 Oct vs Liverpool (10th game of season)).
Saturday 24 March
Who was the first (and we think only!) player to be substituted by his brother during an international match at the old Wembley?
ANSWER: David O'Leary - replaced by brother Pierce O'Leary for Republic of Ireland vs England in 1980).
Saturday 17 March
Who is the only player to have won Champions league winners medals for
2 different clubs in consecutive seasons ?
ANSWER - Marcel Desailly - Marsaille 1993, AC Milan 1994
Saturday 10 March
Which Nottinghamshire football personality (past or present) only scored one hat-trick in his career... on the day he was being marked by Bobby Moore?
ANSWER - Bill Dearden, for Sheffield Utd vs West Ham
Saturday 3 March
The first dug-out for managers in British football appeared in the 1930s, but where?
ANSWER - Aberdeen
Saturday 24 February
Which is the only fixture in Premiership history to have seen nine different scorers in one match?
ANSWER - Spurs vs Arsenal (13/11/04)
Saturday 17 February
Which Nottinghamshire football personality (player, manager, chairman, chief executive) had the line "let me look at that finger" in the ITV series "Outside Edge."
ANSWER - Notts County manager Steve Thompson
Saturday 10 February
Who was the first non-British / non-Irish footballer to score a Premiership goal?
ANSWER - Robert Warzycha (Poland) for Everton
Saturday 3 February
Which player started his career at Leeds, then moved to Arsenal, back to Leeds, and then to Arsenal again?
ANSWER - John Lukic
Saturday 27 January
Can you name the England player who gained his first three caps under three different managers?
ANSWER - Andy Cole
Who became the first man to score FOUR goals in one Premiership match?
ANSWER - Efan Ekoku for Norwich v Everton, Sept 93, 5-1 win at Goodison
Saturday 13 January
Who has scored the fastest Champions League hatrick?
ANSWER - Mike Newell (for Blackburn Rovers vs Rosenborg, 1995/6, 3 in 9 minutes)
Saturday 6 January
Which is the only club ever to play FA Cup matches in all four home countries?
ANSWER - Nottingham Forest. They played Queens Park in 1885; they played Linfield of Northern Ireland in 1889; Cardiff in 1922 and of course they've played a few English clubs down the years too.
Saturday 30 December
Which two teams have contested the most played top flight fixture in English football?
ANSWER - Aston Villa and Everton
Saturday 23 December
Tell us the name of the Englishman who's scored the most number of Premiership goals without winning an international cap?
ANSWER - Kevin Campbell
Saturday 16 December
Who's the only player ever to have captained the winning side in both the English and Scottish FA Cup finals?
ANSWER - Martin Buchan (Manchester United and Aberdeen). United beat Liverpool in 1977 and Aberdeen beat Celtic 3-1 in 1970.
Saturday 9 December
Who was the first footballer to play in all four English divisions in one season?
ANSWER - Eric Nixon
Which player has been capped by 7 England managers?
ANSWER - David Seaman
Saturday 18 November
Who's the only Liverpool-born player to have won the FA Cup with both Everton and Liverpool?
ANSWER - Gary Ablett
Saturday 11 November
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 20th anniversary in charge of Manchester United this week but who scored the first goal of the Ferguson era at Old Trafford?
ANSWER - John Sivebaek (in a 1-0 win over QPR)
Saturday 4 November
Which is the highest Football League club above sea level?
ANSWER - West Bromich Albion
Saturday 28 October
Who's the only player to score a hatrick in the Premiership, all three Football Leagues (whatever they were called), FA Cup, League Cup, and for his country?
ANSWER - Robert Earnshaw
West Brom v Charlton, March 2005
Championship - Cardiff v Gillingham, September 2002
League 1 - Cardiff v Tranmere, March 2002
League 2 - Cardiff v Torquay, December 2000
FA Cup - Cardiff v Bristol Rovers, November 2000
League Cup - Cardiff v Boston United, September 2002
Country - Wales v Scotland, February 2004
Saturday 21 October
Which was the first all-seater stadium in Great Britain?
ANSWER - Pittodrie, Aberdeen
Saturday 14 October
Who are the only TWO players to have won a European Championship, Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup winners medals?
ANSWER - Nicholas Anelka, Peter Schmeichel
Saturday 7 October
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Which team hold the record for the highest aggregate win in the Champions League, beating Sporting Lisbon 12-1? | Champions League Final Facts And Figures
Champions League final facts and figures
Champions League final facts and figures
By Vision Reporter
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SATURDAY''S final will be the 58th since the competition began in the 1955-56 season, with Real Madrid winning the first five finals
SATURDAY'S final will be the 58th since the competition began in the 1955-56 season, with Real Madrid winning the first five finals.
- Bayern Munich are third in the all-time list of finalists having appeared in nine previous finals, winning four times, in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 2001, and losing five times, in 1982, 1987, 1999, 2010 and last season, when they lost to Chelsea on penalties in Munich.
- Real Madrid have appeared in a record 12 finals since 1956, followed by AC Milan on 11. Saturday will be Munich's fifth in the Champions League era, only one behind Milan, whose six appearances were between 1993 and 2007.
- Borussia Dortmund are appearing in their second Champions League final after winning on their only other appearance in 1997, when they defeated Juventus 3-1 in Munich.
- Ottmar Hitzfeld is one of only three men to win the European Cup with two different clubs - leading Borussia Dortmund to their 1997 success and winning it with Bayern Munich in 2001.
- The only others to win it with two clubs are Ernst Happel, with Feyenoord in 1970 and SV Hamburg in 1983, and Jose Mourinho with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
- Franz Beckenbauer became the first player to captain three successive European Cup-winning teams, with Bayern in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Although Real won five successive cups between 1956 and 1960, they had three different captains.
- Since the Champions League format was introduced in 1992-93, no side has won a greater percentage of their games to lift the trophy than Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
- They won nine of the 11 matches they played - 81.8 per cent. In contrast, when Manchester United won the competition in 1999 their winning percentage was a record low, 45.5 per cent.
- The following season, as defending champions, Borussia beat Bayern 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
- The lowest attendance for any finals match was for the replayed final in 1974, when Bayern beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels on Friday, May 17. Only 23,325 watched the match. A crowd of 48,772 watched the original 1-1 draw two days previously.
- Georg Schwarzenbeck scored Bayern's equaliser in the last minute of extra time to force that 1-1 draw, but Bayern experienced heartbreak in the last seconds of time added on for injury in the 1999 final, when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored to give Manchester United a 2-1 victory in Barcelona - the most dramatic end to any European final.
- This will be the fourth time two clubs from the same country have played each other in the final following Real Madrid v Valenica in 2000, AC Milan v Juventus in 2003 and Manchester United v Chelsea in 2008. Those matches ended in victories for Real, Milan and United, with Milan and United winning on penalties.
- Bayern would become the first club to lift the European Cup twice on penalties if they were to succeed in a shootout. They beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties in 2001 after a 1-1 draw. They would also become the first club to feature in three shootouts in the final if the match ends in a draw, following last season's loss.
- Paulo Sousa became one of only two players to win the European Cup with two different clubs in successive seasons when Borussia Dortmund lifted the trophy in 1997. The previous season he was in the winning Juventus team. Marcel Desailly (Olympique Marseille 1993, AC Milan 1994) is the only other player to achieve the feat.
- Since Bayern won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965, the two clubs have met 95 times in all senior comptitions, with Bayern winning 41 times, Borussia 25 with 29 matches drawn.
- The record score between the sides was Bayern's 11-1 win over Borussia in the Bundesliga in November 1971, their record victory in the Bundesliga.
- They have met four times this season, with Bayern beating Borussia 2-1 in the season-opening German Super Cup in August and also gaining revenge for their 5-2 defeat in last season's German Cup final with a 1-0 win in the German Cup in February. Their two league matches finished 1-1.
- Bayern's stunning 7-0 aggregate victory over Barcelona was a record winning margin in the semi-finals in the competition since it began in 1955-56. They also hold the record aggregate victory in the knockout rounds in the Champions League era, beating Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate in a first knockout round match in 2008-09.
Champions League final facts and figures
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| FC Bayern Munich |
Who was the first goalkeepers to score a goal in the Premier League? | Tradition meets modernism in all-German London showdown - timesofmalta.com
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 00:01
Tradition meets modernism in all-German London showdown
The Champions League... an all-Bundesliga affair.
The all-German Champions League final tonight pits traditional powerhouses Bayern Munich against modernists Borussia Dortmund at London’s Wembley Stadium (kick-off: 20.45) with more at stake than Europe’s premier club trophy.
Bayern, four-times European champions, are Germany’s richest and most successful club, while rejuvenated Borussia Dortmund won the trophy in 1997 but came to the brink of financial ruin in 2005.
The Ruhr valley club have recovered on a sporting level under coach Juergen Klopp, challenging Bayern’s dominance in the past two seasons before the Munich club reclaimed the league title last month in record-breaking fashion.
The Bavarians, in the first all-German Champions League final, are desperate to erase memories of two lost finals in 2010 and 2012 and reclaim their top spot by beating the team that forced them to go two seasons without any domestic silverware.
Last season’s Champions League final defeat in Munich to Chelsea on penalties has been especially bitter to swallow for Bayern but now Jupp Heynckes’s team stands before an unprecedented treble for a German club.
Heynckes, who has an-nounced an end to his long Bundesliga career and will be replaced by former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, could leave after completing a trio of titles including the German Cup, 12 months after what for other teams could have been a back-breaking defeat.
“To be able to rise again after such a final defeat last year shows that my players are carved out of special wood,” said Heynckes.
“That is why I am convinced that we will lift the trophy.”
For several Bayern players, the final could be the last chance for a major international trophy that has been eluding them with both club and country.
Bayern playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger and captain Philipp Lahm have enjoyed hugely successful footballing careers but, both in their late 20s, they are running out of chances for a big trophy.
France international Franck Ribery and Dutch winger Arjen Robben have also had enough runners-up titles in their careers and are eager to avoid being stuck with a loser tag at the third attempt in four seasons.
For Dortmund, who lost only one game in the entire competition – 2-0 at Real Madrid in the semi-final, second leg – it is the culmination of a sensational three-year spell. They won the German league in 2011, the league and cup double in 2012 and now get a shot at the Champions League title.
This success has come at a price with Dortmund players, including top scorer Robert Lewandowski, on the wish list of almost every major European club
The achievement of Klopp’s young team, characterised by its counter-punching and offensive style that at times is mesmerising, has even surprised some of his own players.
“If someone had told me before the season that we would be playing in the final, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski.
“For us, the players and the whole club, it is a great event. Not many of us have had the chance to play in a final like this. This is the culmination of our good season in the Champions League,” added one of three Poland internationals in the team.
Enthusiasm has slightly been dampened for 45-year-old Klopp’s team, with hugely gifted Mario Goetze, who will join Bayern next season, missing out on the final due to a muscle injury.
The offensive midfielder, for whom Bayern paid a reported €37 million, was injured in the second leg of the semi against Real.
Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels is nursing an ankle injury but should be fit this evening.
Last Five Cup Finals
2008 Moscow - Man. United 1 Chelsea 1
(Manchester United won 6-5 on penalties)
2009 Rome - Barcelona 2 Man. United 0
2010 Madrid - Inter 2 Bayern Munich 0
2011 London - Barcelona 3 Man. United 1
2012 Munich - Chelsea 1 Bayern Munich 1
(Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties)
Competition Notes
• Bayern Munich would become the first club to lift the European Cup twice on penalties if they were to succeed in a shootout. They beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties in 2001 after a 1-1 draw.
• Paulo Sousa became one of only two players to win the European Cup with two different clubs in successive seasons when Borussia Dortmund lifted the trophy in 1997. The previous season he was in the winning Juventus team. Marcel Desailly (Marseille 1993, Milan 1994) is the only other player to achieve the feat.
• Bayern’s stunning 7-0 aggregate victory over Barcelona was a record winning margin in the semi-finals in the competition since it began in 1955-56. They also hold the record aggregate victory in the knockout rounds in the Champions League era, beating Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate in a first knockout round match in 2008-09.
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The Declaration of Arbroath was signed in which century? | The Declaration of Arbroath - Arbroath - Visit Angus
Arbroath
The Declaration of Arbroath
Bernard de Linton, drafted the Letter of Arbroath, thought by many to be the most important document in Scottish history. This was a letter written to Pope John XXII on behalf of Robert the Bruce, and signed by most of the great and good of 14th Century Scotland .
It asked the Pope to put pressure on Edward II of England to recognise Robert as the legitimate King of Scotland. It also asked him to remove the excommunication that had been placed on Robert after he had murdered the Red Comyn in a Dumfries church in 1306.
From such auspicious beginnings, the growth of Arbroath continued over the years, but the real boom time came as the flax and engineering industries began to expand, leading to an ever-increasing population.
If Arbroath's early growth depended heavily on Arbroath Abbey, the last few centuries have seen it look to the sea for its prosperity. And not just to fishing, though this has been, and continues to be, important to the town.
Still a working port, Arbroath's harbour remains an attractive focal point for the town.
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Where in Scotland was the famous Irish manuscript The Book Of Kells illuminated? | Declaration of Arbroath
The following article is Copyright by Nigel Tranter. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of the Nigel Tranter Estate
A Letter from Arbroath
By NIGEL TRANTER
The following article was written in early 1970 when Scotland was about to celebrate the 650th anniversary of a critical moment in her fortunes. That moment occurred when a group of men gathered at Arbroath to compile a letter to the Pope - - the Declaration of Arbroath. NIGEL TRANTER sees in this noble document a message for Scots of 34 years ago before Devolutiion and, I'm quite sure, for today as well. It is also of vital importance for the people of all nations who prize freedom and it is essential for the understanding of the significance of Tartan Day which we celebrate each year on 6 April. Rory Mor, Editor
ONE might be forgiven for wondering whether there was ever another race quite like the Scots, another nation so continually in a ferment, so consistently divided against itself, yet so thirled to, and concerned for, its historical if not its actual and political integrity. Surely only in Scotland could a people be preparing to celebrate the 650th anniversary of its most renowned national proclamation and statement of faith, with much pride and acclaim; yet find themselves little further, if as far, along the road to the goal and objective so splendidly set forth in that declaration all those centuries before and be, in the main, so blandly unaware of any discrepancy.
Nowhere else, I think, could the word, the spoken, sung and declared word, be so venerated, the spirit vaunted, and the practical application thereof almost utterly ignored. Are we a race of hypocrites, then? I sometimes fear that we are. Perhaps not more so than other races and peoples who delude themselves; the Germans, with their Wagnerian sentimentality; the Italians with their desperate virility, the French, with their alleged worldly-wisdom; the English with their island-race-of-seamen illusion. But the Scots chose freedom for their national preoccupation. And freedom demands more than just singing about it. Moreover freedom is susceptible to test, others can all too readily judge whether our devotion to freedom is all that genuine!
The famous Declaration of Arbroath was drawn up and signed on April 6, 1320, six years after Bannockburn, in the fourteenth year of Robert the Bruce's embattled reign, all nine years before his death. It so happens that I am at present writing the last volume of a trilogy of novels dealing with the life and times of The Bruce; and this matter of the Declaration of Independence inevitably comes prominently into my considerations and my writing.
As we start this year of 1970, I feel that it is our simple duty to consider for a little the events, pressures and lessons of 650 years ago, when we as a people more or less started on the long, long road towards national freedom -- consider and ponder. There had been an independent Scotland for centuries before that, of course; but its independence and entity had not been really threatened. Therefore the conception of national freedom had hardly come up.
Some understanding of the background and circumstances against which this Declaration was compiled, and the personalities involved is necessary for full appreciation. For exactly thirty years Scotland had been struggling to maintain her national independence and identity, in the face of almost overwhelming English assault and dominion; for twenty-four of those years by armed resistance. And in the process had lost appallingly in lives, progress and wealth. But had gained also, by the sorest means known to a people, in two vital concomitants of nationhood -- unity, and a passionate devotion to freedom.
Edward the First, King of England, was well-named 'the Hammer of the Scots', for he it was who hammered and forged these two essential ingredients of nationality upon the Scots people, by his lust for power and his pathological hatred. For it must be remembered that, prior to Edward 'Longshanks' hammering, Scotland, although claiming perhaps the most ancient royal line in Christendom, had had little sense of nationhood; and freedom, national freedom, was something that had hardly arisen, in that it had not been endangered.
The Situation That Existed
It is difficult, today, to visualise the conditions that prevailed prior to Edward's aggression, political and military, used as we are to the ScottishEnglish dichotomy, the Auld Enemy idea, and a dearly defined national entity. Until 1290 Scotland and England were normally good neighbours, and the border between them fluctuated and was indeed of little practical importance.
There was then enormous coming-and-going between the two realms in Church and in State, land ownership and personal relations. The ruling classes of the two kingdom were almost inextricably mixed partly as a result of David the Firsts policies and Anglophile attitudes and partly as a natural outcome of the dominant Norman-French knightly prowess and tradition. Many great lords would have been hard put to it to tell whether they were in fact Scots or English, if they ever really thought about it, including The Bruce himself, until he made his dramatic choice. Much of the nobility of both realms owned as great estates in one land as the other; the kings of Scots held lands in England also - a significant matter; hereafter; and churchmen of both countries held office in the other.
Although entirely relevant, it is not for me here to describe how and why all this came to be changed by Edward the Angevin's savage ambition, allied to the grievous accident that left Scotland kingless when Alexander the Third fell over Kinghorn's cliff in 1286. Suffice it to say that Edward thereupon claimed suzerainty over Scotland, because he said Alexander, had done homage to him, by proxy, for his English lordship of Tynedale, and because he, Edward, had been chosen to act arbitrator in the competition for the vacant Scots throne, appointing thereto the weak John Baliol as nearest heir, against the claims of Robert the Bruce's grandfather. And when his puppet, Baliol, driven to desperation, at last refused to dance further to Edward's string-pulling, he drew the sword with which he was so expert, the first Knight of Christendom, and the bloody Wars of Independence were started.
Of the utterly appalling savagery, the untold suffering, the desolation and desperation of those decades of wholesale bloodshed, treachery and hate, as well as of blinding heroism and dauntless courage, we cannot deal here. We must forbear to expiate on William Wallace, the first Scotsman ready to perceive the meaning of disinterested patriotism and the greatest, truest hero of our history. And to take for granted the rise of Bruce, from being a very doubtful hero indeed to the pinnacle of the hero- king whose fame has resounded around he earth ever since.
We must pass over the dire days, months, years when Scotland lay prostrate, harried, bludgeoned, battered, tortured and starved beneath the mailed heel of the greatest soldier and fiercest tyrant of his age, and only the tiny flicker of faith in one man's heart saved this ancient realm from entire extinction - a faith which commenced only as a belief in his destiny but developed into the burning faith in a people's freedom. All this we must take as read, and accept only Robert Bruce's eventual profound dedication to the freedom which in twenty-four searing years he fashioned and brought to perfection and acceptance.
A Letter to the Pope in Rome
Because it is against this backcloth that the Declaration of Arbroath was written -- and not by Robert Bruce, although not one word therein could have been written without him. This is what makes the reference to Bruce therein so startling, so utterly electrifying, and so poignant. Only when this is understood can the full meaning and vision of the Declaration be recognised.
Many of us, I know, fail to realise that in 1320, six years after the success of Bannockburn, Scotland was still fighting for her independence. The English had been trounced in that momentous battle, yes -but they were not thereby brought low and humbled, or changed one iota in their ambitions. They merely changed the direction and tempo of their assault. What produced the need for this Declaration was the fact that they had brought the Pope, John the 22nd, in on their side. This was not new of course, for, though the Church in Scotland itself had all along been Bruce's most faithful support, Holy Church as represented by the Holy See had always been against him -- the excommunicate murderer of John Comyn.
But, at this stage, the Pope's fulminations and anathemas against Bruce and his kingdom were particularly strong and menacing -- to the glee of England. The Pope indeed refused to recognise Bruce as king at all, and censured him as a usurper, addressing him by letter, and sending his legates only as to Robert Bruce, Governor of the Kingdom of Scotland. This papal attitude allowed Edward the Second to refuse piously to make the peace treaty Scotland so greatly required, for its security, well-being and advancement. Moreover, it put the Church in Scotland in a very awkward position.
So it was decided to send a letter to the Pope, not from Bruce himself, but from the whole community. Indeed, the Declaration is endorsed thus:
"A letter addressed to the Lord Supreme Pontiff by the community of Scotland"
A community cannot write a letter, and, although it was sealed and assented to by a great number of the leaders of the people and officers of state, it yet had to be composed mainly by one hand. And that hand almost certainly belonged to Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Arbroath. De Linton's career was a meteoric one. A young parish priest of no known lofty connections, he was merely Vicar of Mordington, an unimportant though strategically placed parish just north and west of Berwick-on-Tweed, when he was brought to Bruce's notice. How this came about we do not know, but it happened during that period when the king had returned from his Hebridean exile and was engaged in the enormous and daunting task of winning back Scotland fight by fight, castle by castle, village by village, from an overwhelmingly superior and well-organised occupation force, a time of shocking peril and recurrent disaster, when only the very stoutest hearts would rally to his tattered banner, with hanging, drawing and quartering the well-advertised fate of all who fell alive into Edward's hands. So Bernard must have been a brave man, whatever else, and no mere wordspinner.
There might be a clue to his coming to Bruce in the fact that Lamberton is just over the hill from Mordington. And William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, principal cleric of Scotland and Bruce's great friend and supporter, was at this time a captive in England. But a rather curious captive, in that he was allowed a great deal of freedom for reasons too involved to go into here. He was permitted to travel about the North of England, so long as he did not cross back into Scotland -- presumably having given his parole.
At any rate, he proved an excellent source of information for Bruce on English movements and affairs -- a sort of ecclesiastical fifth column; and with Mordington plumb on the borderline and the Tweed, but outside the populous and dangerous Berwick area. What more natural than that he should use the young and active vicar, whom he probably would know personally, as go-between? We can visualise many a night-time row across Tweed in a salmon-coble, between the young cleric and the old, and long journeys in search of the elusive Bruce thereafter.
This is the merest supposition, of course. But however he was introduced to the warrior-king in hiding, this unknown and otherwise untried young priest was made secretary and chaplain to the monarch, and in a comparatively short time promoted to the almost princely mitred abbacy of Arbroath -- this partly as a device to get rid of the incumbent abbot, who was pro-Comyn and pro-English; and partly as bestowing on him a high enough rank so that he might be made Chancellor, or first minister of state, without too greatly offending other eligible clerics.
All this, of course, was before Bannockburn and the fruits of victory, when such appointments actually began to mean something. At that great battle, Abbot Bernard bore before his master into the thick of the fray the famous Brecbennoch of St. Columba, now better-known as the Monymusk Reliquary. Obviously he was a man of deeds and great courage.
But it is his words which especially concern us here. We believe for various reasons that be was the real composer of the Declaration. Firstly, it was dated and sent from Arbroath Abbey. Secondly, only someone in a position such as the Chancellor's would be able to obtain all the illustrious assents and sealings -- not signatures, it is to be noted. Thirdly, the Latin in which it is written is very stylised, and that in a style which compares exactly with other writings of Abbot Bernard, concise, admirable, stirring. Also, it was clearly the work of a cleric, from the subject matter and from its destination to the Pope.
There is a lot more to the wording of the letter than meets the eye -- even after this brief historical background-sketch is taken into account. There is also a great deal to be learned from the seals and assents attached, which is not obvious at first glance. For one thing, no bishops or abbots are included. Considering that these were amongst the most valiant fighters in the long struggle, this might seem odd. But the fact was that most of them were at the time persona non grata at the Vatican, refusing summonses to Rome, some actually excommunicated, like Bruce himself; and their signatures could have been construed as invalidating the document, providing the Pontiff with an excuse to reject it allegedly unread. Moreover, the clerics had already submitted a manifesto of a similar type, from Dundee, in 1309.
More interesting are some of the names of Earls, barons and knights chosen to subscribe this Declaration. Most of them were veteran supporters of the fight for liberty, such as Randolph, Earl of Moray, the King's nephew; Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, his old friend; Walter the High Steward, his son- in-law; the Good Sir James Douglas, his dearest companion-in-arms; and Sir Gilbert Hay, the High Constable. There were others, though, who were highly-placed traitors, back-sliders whose records were quite deplorable, or men who had been all along on the English and Comyn side.
Such were the Earls of Fife, Dunbar and Strathearn; Sir Ingram de Urnfraville, brother of the Earl of Angus, Sir David de Brechin, Sir John Stewart of Menteith; Sir Roger de Moubray; and Sir William de Soulis. Brechin, Moubray and Soulis, indeed, were all convicted of treason that same year. Almost certainly these men were asked to subscribe as both a test of their repentance and a check and pressure for future better behaviour.
It must not be forgotten how great a part of Bruce's task and success was the uniting of his sorely divided kingdom, both during and after the warfare; and how extraordinarily generous and forgiving he was towards the innumerable traitors -- much against the wishes of many of his closest lieutenants. All with this goal of unity. This is often overlooked, and was one of the King's greatest achievements -- for he was by nature a man of strong views, violent passions and no half-measures.
As to the wording, there are, of course, certain slightly varying translations of the Latin original. It is a lengthy document, and too long to quote in full here. But certain sections are very significant. After the superscription, there is a long preamble, summarising the age-old history of Scotland, from misty and semi legendary beginnings, right down to the end of the 13th century -- this to emphasise to the Pope that Scotland had always been an independent country, with no overlordship from England or elsewhere -- and an indication of the 113 kings, however fabulous, to reinforce the message. Then comes:
"Under such free protection did we live, until Edward King of England . . . covering his hostile designs under the specious disguise of friendship and alliance, made an invasion of our country at the moment when it was without a king, and attacked an honest and unsuspicious people, then but little experienced in war.
The insults which this prince has heaped upon us, the slaughters and devastations . . . his imprisonments of prelates, his burning of monasteries, his spoilations and murder of priests, and the other enormities of which he has been guilty, can be rightly described, or even conceived, by none but an eye-witness."
This emphasis on damage to the church in especial, is, of course, to put His Holiness in a difficult position, as one who has backed the wrong horse, to the injury of his own interests.
"From these innumerable evils we have been freed, under the help of that God who woundeth and who maketh whole, by our most valiant Prince and King, Lord Robert, who, like a second Maccabaeus, or Joshua, hath cheerfully endured all labour and weariness and exposed himself to every species of danger and privation, that he might rescue from the hands of the enemy his ancient people and rightful inheritance, whom also Divine Providence, and the right of succession according to those laws and customs, which we will maintain to the death, as well as the common consent of us all, have made our Prince and King."
This, as counter to the Pontiff's refusal to recognise Bruce's true kingship. Then follows perhaps the most dramatic clause:
"To him we are bound . . . and to him as the saviour of our people and the guardian of our liberty, are we unanimously determined to adhere; but if he should desist from what he has begun, and should show an inclination to subject us or our kingdom to the King of England . . . then we declare that we will use our utmost effort to expel him from the throne, as our enemy and the subverter of his own and of our right, and we will choose another king to rule over us, who will be able to defend us; for as long as a hundred Scotsmen are left alive, we will never be subject to the dominion of England. It is not for glory, riches or honours that we fight, but for that liberty which no good man will consent to lose but with his life."
Most Extraordinary Statements
This, of course, by any standards, is quite one of the most extraordinary statements, considered, endorsed and published, of all time. We are apt to be so familiar with it now, that we probably tend to overlook just how revolutionary and outstanding it is. Consider for a moment what is stated and implied. Robert the Bruce was the greatest hero of his age, the greatest fighter for freedom, the beloved leader of his people, the most popular King Scotland had ever had. Yet here was a public announcement of his principal subjects and closest associates, declaring to the world that they would reject, abandon and expel even him if he did not continue to measure up to the lofty standards of liberty and freedom now set forth. Moreover, this was the age of absolute kingship, royal dictatorship if you like, when monarchs ruled by divine right as well as by the power of the sword. But here is a people proclaiming to him, as to all others, that they will unseat him and choose another to rule over them should he fail in this essential respect for freedom.
Here above all, is proudest democracy, a valiant profession of a conception at the period almost unheard of amongst the nations of Christendom, an astonishing foretaste of the spirit which was to animate the Scots down the coming centuries, however many the setbacks. Undoubtedly the influence of the slaughtered Wallace was behind this -- but so was Bruce's own. Although he could not sign this letter, in the circumstances equally certainly it could not have been composed and sent without his fullest assent and co-operation.
Here then is something for Scots to ponder over. And especially today, when, in the resurgent tide of national consciousness, loud voices may here and there seek to lay down dictates and make patriotism exclusive to a few. Highly interesting also is the next clause, where the compilers declare that they are prepared to do everything for peace which does not compromise the freedom of their constitution and government; and urge the Pope to procure the peace and supremacy of Christendom through a united crusade against the Infidel in Spain and the Holy Land, in which they and their King would take part with joyful hearts.
'This, of course, was a very real preoccupation in the Middle Ages, and very much on Bruce's own mind - hence his famous command, when he was dying for his friend James Douglas to take the heart out of his dead body and lead a crusade, with it in the forefront, to honour a vow he had made when his cause was darkest, and which his prolonged struggle at home had prevented him from carrying out. But, as well as being a true and popular challenge to the Pontiff, this was also a very subtle move, since all the rulers of Christendom were in theory committed to the task of expelling the Infidel, and the Pope most of all.
This was a demand which he would find it very difficult to ignore or play down. And much to the point is the delightful postscript, to the effect that if the King of England would leave them in peace, he would not himself be able to plead, as an impediment to going crusading, his wars with his neighbours.
We Commit the Defence of Our Cause To God
The ending of the Declaration is possibly the most essentially dramatic of all, since it all but puts the Holy Father on trial before God, a boldness almost unheard of in those days.
"If Your Holiness do not sincerely believe these things, giving to implicit faith to the tales of the English, and all this ground shall not cease to favour them in their designs for our destruction, be well assured that the Almighty will impute to you that loss of life, that destruction of human souls, and all those various calamities which will follow. Confident that we now are, and shall ever as in duty bound, remain obedient sons to you, as God's viceregent, we commit the defence of our cause to God, as the great King and Judge, placing our confidence in Him, and in the firm hope that He will endow us with strength, and confound our enemies; and may the Almighty long preserve Your Holiness in health . . ."
Such then is the renowned Declaration of Arbroath, a writing of which Scotland has every reason to be proud, a document infinitely more significant and splendid than the Magna Carta, which our friends in the south admire so greatly, but which was concerned with the rights of property, and barons' property at that.
Whatever the small differences of expression produced by various translators of the Declaration, the general tenor and message is the same. Let us remember that it was composed after long and agonising years of the most savage oppression and diabolical cruelty. And that it was necessary that the Pope should learn, without any doubt, that his policy of supporting England against Scotland was not only repellent but pointless.
If it is suggested that such conditions and reactions have little relevance to the present day, let us not forget Czechoslovakia, Tibet, Biafra, and other places, and the situation of many minorities inside 'respectable' states much nearer home. The lesson for us in Scotland, surely, apart from the obvious one of the need for the unending struggle for personal and national freedom, is the same need for unity of purpose at home, which was the background and preoccupation of this Declaration.
Scotland's fatal weakness has always been -- and Wallace, and later Bruce, both sought to counter it -- a preference for hair-splitting and squabbling amongst ourselves, forgetting the great objectives in the means thereto. If our celebration and consideration of the Declaration of Independence anniversary helps to bring home to us this all-important lesson, in this period of especial opportunity, with watchfulness for the dangers and pitfalls to our freedom from within, even more than from without, then our forefathers of six-and-a-half centuries ago may perhaps rest the more peaceably.
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Who was the last British monarch to have been born in Scotland? | Britain's Longest Reigning Monarchs - British Monarchy Family History
British Monarchy Family History
Shown Below Are The Fifteen British Monarchs Who Have Reigned For Twenty Five Years Or More
Britain's longest reigning king, King George III
1 - Britain’s longest reigning monarch is it's present monarch Queen Elisabeth II who has reigned over the country, it's former commonwealth and it's fourteen overseas territories for over sixty three years.
Elisabeth officially became monarch at the age of twenty five in February 1952 after the death of her father King George VI but she was not officially crowned for another sixteen months, in June 1953. Her coronation was the first in the world to be televised live and the first in the world to be filmed in colour.
2 - The country's second longest reigning monarch is House of Hanover queen, Victoria, who ruled not only Britain but it's vast empire too during her mammoth sixty three year and seven month reign between 1837 and 1901, no mean feat for one who was born fifth in line to the throne at the time of her birth in 1819.
3 - The country's third longest reigning monarch is the country's longest reigning king, House of Hanover monarch, George III, who ruled from 1760 until 1820 with a reign of 59 years and three months.
However, due to both mental and physical illness, the last ten years of his monarchy had been overseen by his eldest son the Prince Regent, the future King George IV.
4 - King James I of England had already been King James VI of Scotland for thirty three years when he took the crown of England in 1603. He went on to rule as joint monarch of both countries for another twenty two years before his death in 1625, culminating in him overseeing a fifty seven year and eight month long reign in all.
5 - In fourth place is Plantagenet king, Henry III, who ruled England for a staggering fifty six years and one month between 1216 and 1272, after having come to the throne at the age of just ten years old.
6 - In fifth place is another Plantagenet king, Edward III, who attained his golden jubilee after a reign of of fifty years and four months between 1327 and 1377. He too began his reign as a young boy, coming to the throne at the age of just fourteen.
7- In sixth place is Tudor queen Elisabeth I, England’s last Tudor monarch and the most influential ruler in British royal history. Her forty five year and three month reign spanned the years between 1558 to 1603.
The inclusion of Elisabeth I on this list means that three of the country’s six queen regnants have attained rules of over forty five years.
8 - In seventh place is Lancastrian king, Henry VI, with a thirty eight year and eleven month long reign between 1422 and 1471. His reign began when he was just nine months old, making him England’s youngest ever monarch.
9 - The eighth longest reigning monarch is all time royal bad boy, Tudor king Henry VIII, whose infamous thirty seven years and nine month rule spanned the years between 1509 and 1547.
10 - Norman king, Henry I, was the eighth born child of William the Conqueror and as such was never born to be king, but circumstances changed all that and Henry ended up ruling England for thirty five years and three months between 1100 and 1135.
11 - Plantagenet king, Henry II, was the son of Empress Matilda, who should have been the Queen of England herself but was usurped by her cousin Stephen of Bloise, an act which caused a nineteen year historical period known as the Anarchy.
Henry’s rightful place on the throne during his thirty four years and eight month long reign from 1154 until 1189 put an end to that awful period of English history and ensured that never again would a queen be denied her rightful place upon the English throne.
12 - King Edward I was another Plantagenet king who managed to attain over thirty four years on the throne, with a reign which spanned between 1272 and 1307, culminating in a thirty four year and seven month long reign.
13 - House of Hanover king, George II, was the last British king to be born on foreign soil and renowned for being the last British king to take an army into battle during his thirty three years and four month long reign between 1727 and 1760.
14 - House of Windsor king, George V, was never meant to be king at all, but became heir apparent after the sudden death of his elder brother Albert.
Subsequently George V went on to reign for twenty five years and eight months between 1910 and 1936, an era which included the dark years of World War One.
15 - Stuart monarch King Charles II had actually reigned for an overall period of thirty six years and one week but his reign was officially in two parts, or just one part if you consider yourself a staunch royalist and count the eight years that he was forced to live in exile.
Charles first came to the throne after the death of his father in 1649 and reigned for just five years before he was ousted by parliament in 1653, after England had became a republic and was ruled ruled by a de–facto council of state led by Oliver Cromwell.
During Cromwell and his son Richard's six year protectorate Charles had been living in exile in France but returned in 1660 to resume his rightful place upon the throne, where he went on to rule for a further unbroken period of twenty five years.
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During which century was Sir Walter Scott born? | British Monarchs Never Born To Rule - British Monarchy Family History
British Monarchy Family History
British Monarchs Never Born To Rule
Traditionally, until the year 2010, the heir to the English / British throne had always been the first born son of the presiding monarch. However, due to untimely deaths or monarchs dying without issue, this rule of thumb has led to over half the country’s forty four monarchs never having been heir to the throne at the time of their birth.
Strangely this number includes every one of the country’s seven queens, the country's longest reigning king, George III, the country's patriot king, Richard The Lionheart, the country's only de-facto king, King Stephen, the country's only joint ruling monarchs, William & Mary, the country's most despised monarch, King John and the country's most notorious monarch, Henry VIII.
WILLIAM II - Norman King, William II, was the fourth child and third born son of William the Conqueror and his queen consort Matilda of Flanders. William inherited the throne after his older brother Robert had been disinherited by his father and his older brother Richard had been killed in a hunting accident in 1081.
STEPHEN - Norman King, Stephen, was an usurper to the throne of England, and as such was only ever known as a de - facto king, despite overseeing a nineteen year reign.
The previous monarch King Henry I had one son, William Adelin, but he had died in the White Ship Disaster of 1120, so his daughter Matilda was made his heir. However Stephen took the crown from Matilda six weeks into her reign, leading to a nineteen year period of civil war known as the Anarchy.
HENRY II – King Henry II was in fact the true heir to the English throne by birthright, but due to his mother's usurper, King Stephen, was never actually born to be king because his mother Matilda considered King Stephen would choose one of his own sons as his successor.
However, Stephen had actually made plans for Matilda’s son Henry to succeed him and Henry took the crown upon his death in 1154. Henry was the first Plantagenet king and went on to be the country’s tenth longest reigning monarch with a reign of thirty five years.
RICHARD I - Plantagenet King Richard I was the fourth born son of King Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine but he inherited the throne after the deaths of his three elder brothers, Geoffrey, William and Henry, all of whom had died long before the death of their father in 1189.
JOHN - Plantagenet monarch King John inherited the throne after the death of his older brother, King Richard I, who, despite having been married for over eight years had died without issue.
RICHARD II - The nine year old Richard become heir to the throne after the death of his father, Edward, Prince of Wales in 1376 and became the Plantagenet monarch King Richard II one year later in 1377. His father Prince Edward had never lived long enough to become king owing to his own father's (King Edward III) mammoth fifty year reign.
HENRY IV - The first Lancastrian monarch, King Henry IV, came to the throne after the Plantagenet king, Richard II, was deposed. He was chosen to be king by his father John of Gaunt, the 1st Duke of Lancaster, who was the sixth child and third born son of King Edward III and brother of King Richard II, making his son Henry a nephew and grandson of two previous English kings.
RICHARD III - Yorkist monarch King Richard III was the youngest son of Richard Plantagenet the third Duke of York. Richard came to the throne after the twelve year old King Edward V - along with his younger brother the ten year old, Richard, Duke of York - were imprisoned in the Tower of London after the young king's birthright and claim to the English throne had come into doubt. However Richard's reign would be a short one as he died on the battlefield just two years later.
HENRY VII - The first Tudor Monarch King Henry VII came to the throne after his army had defeated and slain the Yorkist king, Richard III, on the battlefield at Bosworth Field in Leicestershire in 1485. King Richard had died without issue after his only son and heir, Edward of Middleham, had died at the age of eleven the previous year.
HENRY VIII - Tudor monarch, King Henry VIII, became heir to the throne after the death of his older brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales, who had died from an unspecified illness at the age of fifteen in 1502.
LADY JANE GREY – Lady Jane Grey was the cousin of the very ill sixteen year old monarch, King Edward VI. Edward was the only son of Tudor king, Henry VIII, and chose Jane to succeed him in order to stop his Catholic half sister, Mary, from gaining the throne. However King Edward VI's plans were short lived as his sister Mary had Lady Jane Grey arrested, tried for treason and subsequently executed for being an usurper to the thrown just nine days after her succession.
MARY I – The insertion of Mary on a list of monarchs never born to rule is some what tenuous, as she certainly was the daughter of a monarch, King Henry VIII, and his first born child at that, but due to her Catholic upbringing, the king's divorce from her mother and the birth of a half brother in 1537 made any claim to the English throne seem impossible.
However, with the short lived reigns of both her half brother King Edward VI and his successor Queen Jane, Mary eventually took the crown in 1553 and in doing so became the country's first ever queen regnant.
ELISABETH I – Britain’s most prolific and influential monarch and one of the country’s longest serving monarchs with a reign of forty five years Queen Elisabeth I came to the throne upon the death of her elder half sister Queen Mary in 1558.
Elisabeth was the second born daughter of the former Tudor monarch King Henry VIII and as such was never born to rule as she was third in line to the throne behind her younger brother Edward and older sister Mary, both of whom due to ill health had short reigns, Edward for six years and Mary for five years.
JAMES I – Stuart King James I was already the King of Scotland when he was chosen to take the throne of England upon the death of his second cousin Queen Elisabeth I, who died unmarried and without issue. James was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, whose mother was Margaret Tudor the sister of King Henry VIII and wife of King James IV of Scotland.
CHARLES I – Charles was the fourth child and second born son of King James I and his queen consort, Anne of Denmark. He became heir to the throne after the death of his elder brother Henry, Prince of Wales, who died of typhoid at the age of nineteen in 1612.
JAMES II – Stuart King, James II, inherited the throne after the death of his elder brother King Charles II, who had died in 1685 without issue, which is somehow ironic considering he had fathered thirteen illegitimate children with seven former mistresses during his lifetime.
WILLIAM III & MARY II – Protestant King William and his Stuart wife Queen Mary were chosen to be the country’s first joint ruling monarchs by the English government after it had deposed the previous Catholic king James II in 1688. James was left without an heir after the death of his only son James, Prince of Wales, in 1766.
ANNE – Queen Anne was chosen to succeed her brother in law King William III after he died without issue. Anne was the younger sister of his wife Queen Mary who had become pregnant just the once during her marriage to William, a pregnancy which sadly ended in a miscarriage.
GEORGE I – The first Hanoverian monarch King George I was chosen to be king after the death of his cousin Queen Anne who had died without issue, despite being pregnant eighteen times during her twenty five year marriage to Prince George of Denmark. Of these eighteen pregnancies only six were live births and five of them died before they were two years old. Her only heir was her son Prince William who died from smallpox at the age of eleven in 1700.
GEORGE III – Hanoverian king George III came to the throne after the death of his grandfather, King George II, therefore bypassing his father the rightful heir, Fredrick, Prince of Wales, who had died nine years earlier. King George III went on to be the longest serving king in the country with a fifty nine year reign.
WILLIAM IV – Hanoverian king William IV came to the throne upon the death of his brother, King George IV, who died without issue. King George IV had one female heir, Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Wales, but she had sadly died in childbirth at the age of twenty one in 1817.
VICTORIA – Britain’s second longest reigning monarch, House of Hanover monarch Queen Victoria, came to the throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle King William IV, who had died without issue. King William had actually fathered five children with his queen consort Adelaide but they had all died in infancy. At the time of her birth Victoria had been fifth in line to the throne but after the deaths of the king's brothers Edward, Duke of Kent in 1820, Fredrick, Duke of York in 1827 and King George IV in 1830 Victoria suddenly found herself heir to throne.
GEORGE V - House of Windsor monarch King George V became heir to the throne after the sudden and unexpected death of his older brother, Prince Albert, who had died of pneumonia following a bout of influenza which he had caught during the great flu pandemic of 1891.
GEORGE VI – House of Windsor monarch King George VI, formerly known as the Duke of York, was the second born son of King George V and his queen consort Mary of Teck. George came to the throne after the only abdication in the history of the British Monarchy, after his elder brother King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
ELISABETH II – Britain’s longest reigning monarch the House of Windsor queen, Elisabeth II, was the daughter of the Duke of York at the time of her birth, but with the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII and the accession to the throne of her father King George VI in 1936, Elisabeth became heir to the throne at the age of ten and monarch at the age of twenty five.
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James IV was killed during which battle? | The sad tale of James IV’s body - BBC News
BBC News
The sad tale of James IV’s body
By Dr Tony Pollard University of Glasgow
9 September 2013
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Image caption King James IV died at Flodden on 9 September 1513
Scotland's King James IV was killed at the Battle of Flodden 500 years ago. But what became of his body after the massacre?
Earlier this year, the discovery of the body of Richard III, killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, beneath a car park in Leicester was front-page news.
The obvious implication, that finding long lost kings was a piece of cake, has led to me being repeatedly asked if I am going to look for the body of James IV.
His corpse, disfigured by arrow and bill, was identified after the battle and taken to Berwick, where it was embalmed and placed in a lead coffin before being transported to London.
Image caption Dr Pollard is the director of Glasgow University's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology
The recipient of this gory package was Catherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII, and in charge of the family business while the English king fought in France.
She, in turn, sent the dead king's surcoat, blood-stained and slashed, to her husband with the recommendation that he use it as a war banner.
Obvious choice
As time passed however and Henry returned from France, there was the question of what to do with the troublesome Scottish king's body.
Battle of Flodden Field
More key moments in the history of Scotland
The obvious solution would have been to bury it, with the monastery of Sheen in Richmond upon Thames, where it was residing, being the obvious choice for James's grave.
It wasn't as simple as that though, as prior to Flodden, the Scottish king had been excommunicated from the church as punishment for breaking the Truce of Perpetual Peace, which was signed between Scotland and England in 1502 and strengthened by the marriage of James to Henry VIII's sister, Margaret Tudor.
In reality the excommunication was in retaliation for James's support of the French, who were at war with the Papacy of which England was an ally at the time.
Under these circumstances a proper burial in consecrated ground was out of the question.
So it was that the body of James was left to moulder in the woodshed of Sheen monastery, even after the Pope had granted permission for burial.
Eventually, the desiccated corpse was forgotten about and by some act of carelessness the head became detached.
The story then goes, for there isn't much hard evidence for some of this, that workmen played football with it, some time after which it was nabbed as a trophy by Elizabeth I's master glazier, who took it home.
It was a sad, ignominious end for one of Scotland's most charismatic warrior kings
Dr Tony Pollard
It is not hard to imagine his wife growing tired of a musty old head cluttering up the place and insisting he get rid of it.
Whatever the reason for disposing of it, the head was taken to Great St Michael's Church in Wood Street in the city of London, where it was dumped into a charnel pit, the last resting place of stray bones and crypt sweepings.
The monastery of Sheen was eventually demolished after the Dissolution, and whether the king's headless corpse was buried there we shall probably never know, not least because looking for it would involve digging up a golf course.
Nothing lasts forever, and the church in Wood Street was also done away with and today, after several redevelopments, the site is occupied by a pub.
It was a sad, ignominious end for one of Scotland's most charismatic warrior kings, but perhaps it is he who will have the last laugh, especially if an archaeologist should be foolhardy enough to go looking for him, as the pub under which his head is said to rest is not called The King's Head, but The Red Herring.
| Battle of Flodden |
Architect of the Battle Of Britain victory, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was born in what borders town? | Battle of Flodden | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll † Strength ~26,000 English 30-34,000 Scottish Casualties and losses 1,500 [1] 5,000-17,000 [2] [3]
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton (Brainston Moor [4] ) was a conflict between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. The battle was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey . [5] It was an English victory. In terms of troop numbers, it was the largest battle fought between the two Kingdoms. [6] James IV was killed in the battle, becoming the last monarch from the British Isles to suffer such a death.
Contents
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This conflict began when James IV, King of Scots declared war on England to honour the Auld Alliance with France by diverting Henry VIII 's English troops from their campaign against the French king Louis XII . Henry VIII had also opened old wounds by claiming to be the overlord of Scotland which angered the Scots and the King. At this time England was involved in the War of the League of Cambrai —defending Italy and the Pope from the French (see Italian Wars ) as a member of the " Catholic League ".
Pope Leo X , already a signatory to the anti-French Treaty of Mechlin , sent a letter to James threatening him with ecclesiastical censure for breaking his peace treaties with England on 28 June 1513, and subsequently James was excommunicated by Cardinal Christopher Bainbridge . James also summoned sailors and sent the Scottish navy, including the Great Michael to join the ships of Louis XII of France. [7]
Henry was in France with the Emperor Maximilian at the siege of Thérouanne. The Scottish Lyon King of Arms brought James IV's letter of 26 July [8] to him. James asked him to desist from attacking France in breach of their treaty. Henry's exchange with Islay Herald or the Lyon King at his tent at the siege of Thérouanne on 11 August was recorded. The Herald declared that Henry should abandon his efforts against the town and go home. Henry angrily replied that James had no right to summon him, and ought to be England's ally, as he was married to his sister Margaret , declaring;
"And now, for a conclusion, recommend me to your master and tell him if he be so hardy to invade my realm or cause to enter one foot of my ground I shall make him as weary of his part as ever was man that began any such business. And one thing I ensure him by the faith that I have to the Crown of England and by the word of a King, there shall never King nor Prince make peace with me that ever his part shall be in it. Moreover, fellow, I care for nothing but for misentreating of my sister, that would God she were in England on a condition she cost the Schottes King not a penny. [9]
Henry also replied by letter on 12 August that James was mistaken and resistance to any of his attempts on England would be in place. [10] A year earlier, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey , had been appointed Lieutenant-General of the army of the north and was issued with banners of the Cross of St George and the Red Dragon of Wales . [11] Using the pretext of revenge for the murder of Robert Kerr, a Warden of the Scottish East March who had been killed by John "The Bastard" Heron in 1508, James invaded England with an army of about 30,000 men. [6]
Invasion
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Sketch of Edinburgh in 1544, detail showing the Netherbow Port with St Mary's Wynd running north
On 18 August, five cannon brought down from Edinburgh Castle to the Netherbow Gate at St Mary's Wynd for the invasion set off towards England dragged by borrowed oxen. On 19 August two 'gross culverins ', four 'culverins pickmoyance' and six (mid-sized) 'culverins moyane' followed with the gunner Robert Borthwick and master carpenter John Drummond . The King himself set off that night with two hastily prepared standards of St Margaret and St Andrew. [12]
James IV captured Ford Castle from Lady Heron
Catherine of Aragon was Regent in England and, on 27 August she issued warrants for the property of all Scotsmen in England to be seized. [13] On hearing of the invasion on 3 September she ordered Thomas Lovell to raise an army in the Midland counties . [14]
In keeping with his understanding of the medieval code of chivalry , King James sent notice to the English, one month in advance, of his intent to invade. This gave the English time to gather an army and, as importantly, to retrieve the banner of Saint Cuthbert from Durham Cathedral , a banner which had been carried by the English in victories against the Scots in 1138 and 1346. [15] [16] After a muster on the Burgh Muir of Edinburgh, the Scottish host moved to Ellemford, to the north of Duns, and camped to wait for Angus and Home . The Scottish army then crossed the River Tweed near Coldstream and on 24 August James IV held a council or parliament at Twiselhaugh and made a proclamation for the benefit of the heirs of anyone killed during this invasion. [17] By 29 August Norham Castle was taken and partly demolished. The Scots moved south, capturing the castles of Etal and Ford . [18]
A later Scottish chronicle writer, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie , tells the story that James wasted valuable time at Ford enjoying the company of Elizabeth, Lady Heron and her daughter. [19] Edward Hall says that Lady Heron was a prisoner (in Scotland), and negotiated with James IV and the Earl of Surrey her own release and that Ford Castle would not be demolished for an exchange of prisoners. The English herald, Rouge Croix , came to Ford to appoint a place for battle on 4 September, with extra instructions that any Scottish heralds who were sent to Surrey were to be met where they could not view the English forces. [20] Raphael Holinshed 's story is that a part of the Scottish army returned to Scotland, and the rest stayed at Ford waiting for Norham to surrender and debating their next move. James IV wanted to fight and considered moving to assault Berwick-upon-Tweed, but the Earl of Angus spoke against this and said that Scotland had done enough for France. James sent Angus home, and according to Holinshed, the Earl burst into tears and left leaving his two sons, the Master of Angus and Glenbervie , with most of the Douglas kindred to fight. [21]
Battle
Events of the 9th September 1513 - Map
The battle actually took place near the village of Branxton , in the county of Northumberland, rather than at Flodden—hence the alternative name is Battle of Branxton. The Scots had previously been stationed at Flodden Edge, to the south of Branxton. The Earl of Surrey, writing at Wooler Haugh on Wednesday 7 September, compared this position to a fortress in his challenge sent to James IV by Thomas Hawley , the Rouge Croix Pursuivant. He complained that James had sent his Islay Herald agreeing that they would join in battle on Friday between 12.00 and 3.00 pm, and asked that James would face him on the plain at Milfield as appointed. [22]
Next, Surrey moved to block off the Scots' route north and so James was forced to move his army and artillery two miles to Branxton Hill. [23] The Scottish artillery, as described by an English source, included five great curtals, two great culverins , four sakers , and six great serpentines. [24] The King's secretary, Patrick Paniter was in charge of these cannon. [25] When the armies were within three miles of each other Surrey sent the Rouge Croix pursuivant to James, who answered that he would wait till noon. At 11 o'clock, Thomas, Lord Howard's vanguard and artillery crossed the Twizel Bridge . [26] (Pitscottie says the king would not allow the Scots artillery to fire on the vulnerable English during this manouevre.) [27] The Scots army was in good order in five formations, after the Almain (German) manner. On Friday afternoon the Scots host descended without speaking any word to meet the English. [28]
Western side of the battlefield, looking south-south-east from the monument erected in 1910. The Scottish army advanced down the ploughed field, the English down the grassy field in the foreground, and they met, presumably at the valley boundary between the two fields.
The English army had formed two "battles" each with two wings. Lord Howard combined his "vanguard" with the soldiers of his father's "rearward" to meet the Scots. [29] According to English report, the groups commanded by the Earls of Huntly and Crawford and Erroll , totalling 6000 men, engaged Lord Howard and were repulsed and mostly slain.
Then James IV himself leading a great force came on to Surrey and Lord Darcy 's son who "bore all the brunt of the battle". Lennox and Argyll's commands were met by Sir Edward Stanley . [30]
After the artillery fire ended, according to the English chronicler Edward Hall , "the battle was cruel, none spared other, and the King himself fought valiantly". [31] James was killed within a spear length from Surrey and his body taken to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Hall says the King was fatally wounded by an arrow and a bill . [32] Meanwhile, Lord Howard's brother, Edmund Howard , commanding men from Cheshire and Lancashire, fought the section of the Scottish army commanded by the Chamberlain of Scotland , Alexander, Lord Home , and Thomas, Lord Dacre's force, who had been fighting Huntley, came to assist him. [33]
The Earl of Surrey captured the Scottish guns, including a group of culverins made in Edinburgh by Robert Borthwick called the "seven sisters", which were dragged to Etal Castle. The Bishop of Durham thought them the finest ever seen. [34]
Tactics and aftermath
Edit
Soon after the battle, the council of Scotland decided to send for help from Christian II of Denmark . The Scottish ambassador, Andrew Brounhill, was given instructions to explain "how this cais is hapnit." [35] Brounhill's instructions blame James IV for moving down the hill to attack the English on marshy ground from a favourable position, and credits the victory to Scottish inexperience rather than English valour. The letter also mentions that the Scots placed their officers in the front line in medieval style who were vulnerable and killed, contrasting this loss of the nobility with the English great men who took their stand with the reserves and at the rear. [36] The English generals stayed behind the lines in the Renaissance style. The loss of so many Scottish officers meant there was no one to coordinate a retreat. [37]
However, according to contemporary English reports, Thomas Howard marched on foot leading the English vanguard to the foot of the hill. Howard was moved to dismount and do this by taunts of cowardice sent by James IV's heralds, apparently based on his role at sea and the death two years earlier of the Scottish sailor Andrew Barton . [38] A version of Howard's declaration to James IV that he would lead the vanguard and take no prisoners was included in later English chronicle accounts of the battle. Howard claims his presence in "proper person" at the front is his trial by combat for Barton's death. [39]
Weaponry
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Flodden was essentially a victory of bill used by the English over the pike used by the Scots. As a weapon, the pike was effective only in a battle of movement, especially to withstand a cavalry charge. The Scottish pikes were described by the author of the Trewe Encounter as "keen and sharp spears 5 yards long." [40] Although the pike had become a Swiss weapon of choice and represented modern warfare, the hilly terrain of Northumberland, the nature of the combat, and the slippery footing did not allow it to be employed to best effect. [41] Bishop Ruthall reported to Thomas Wolsey , 'the bills disappointed the Scots of their long spears, on which they relied.' [42] The infantrymen at Flodden, both Scots and English, had fought in a fashion that in essence would have been familiar to their ancestors, and it has rightly been described as the last great medieval battle in the British Isles. This was the last time that bill and pike would come together as equals in battle. Two years later Francis I defeated the Swiss pikemen at the Battle of Marignano , using a combination of heavy cavalry and artillery, ushering in a new era in the history of war. An official English diplomatic report issued by Brian Tuke noted the Scots' iron spears and their initial "very good order after the German fashion" but concluded "the English halberdiers decided the whole affair, so that in the battle the bows and ordnance were of little use." [43]
Despite Tuke's comment (he was not present), tactically, this battle was one of the first major engagements on the British Isles where artillery was significantly deployed. John Lesley , writing sixty years later, noted the Scottish bullets flew over the English heads while the English cannon was effective, the one army placed so high and the other so low. [44]
The Scots advance down the hill was resisted by a hail of arrows, an incident celebrated in later English ballads. Hall says the armoured front line was mostly unaffected, confirmed by the ballads which note some few Scots were wounded in the scalp and, wrote Hall, James IV sustained a significant arrow wound. [45] Many of the archers were recruited from Lancashire and Cheshire. Sir Richard Assheton raised one such company from Middleton , near Manchester. He rebuilt his parish church St. Leonard's, Middleton , which contains the unique "Flodden Window." It depicts and names the archers and their priest in stained glass. The window has been called as the oldest known war memorial in the UK. The success of the Cheshire yeomanry, under the command of Richard Cholmeley , led to his later appointment as Lieutenant of the Tower of London . [46]
Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk was given an augmentation of honour to commemorate the Battle of Flodden Field
Honours
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As a reward for his victory, Thomas Howard was subsequently restored to the title of " Duke of Norfolk ", lost by his father's support for Richard III . The arms of the Dukes of Norfolk still carry an augmentation of honour awarded on account of their ancestor's victory at Flodden, a modified version of the Royal coat of arms of Scotland with an arrow through the lion's mouth.
At Framlingham Castle the Duke kept two silver-gilt cups engraved with the arms of James IV, which he bequeathed to Cardinal Wolsey in 1524. [47] The Duke's descendants presented the College of Arms with a sword, a dagger, and a turquoise ring in 1681. The family tradition was either that these items belonged to James IV, or were arms carried by Thomas Howard at Flodden. The sword blade is signed by the maker Maestre Domingo of Toledo. [48] There is some doubt whether the weapons are of the correct period. [49] The Earl of Arundel was painted by Philip Fruytiers , following Anthony van Dyck 's 1639 composition, with his ancestor's sword, gauntlet and helm from Flodden. [50]
Legends of a lost king
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Lord Dacre discovered the body of James IV at the battlefield. He later wrote that the Scots "love me worst of any Inglisheman living, by reason that I fande the body of the King of Scotts." [51] The chronicle writer John Stow gave a location for the King's death; "Pipard's Hill," now unknown, which may have been the small hill on Branxton Ridge overlooking Branxton church. [52] Dacre took the body to Berwick-upon-Tweed, where according to Hall's Chronicle, it was viewed by the captured Scottish courtiers William Scott and John Forman who acknowledged it was the King's. (Forman, the King's sergeant-porter, had been captured by Richard Assheton of Middleton. [53] ) The body was then embalmed and taken to Newcastle upon Tyne. [54] From York, a city that James had promised to capture before Michaelmas , [55] the body was brought to Sheen Priory near London. [56] James's banner, sword and his cuisses , thigh-armour, were taken to the shrine of Saint Cuthbert at Durham Cathedral. [57] Much of the armour of the Scottish casualties was sold on the field, and 350 suits of armour were taken to Nottingham Castle . A list of horses taken at the field runs to 24 pages. [58]
Thomas Hawley, the Rouge Croix pursuivant, was first with news of the victory. He brought the "rent surcoat of the King of Scots stained with blood" to Catherine of Aragon at Woburn Abbey . She sent news of the victory to Henry VIII at Tournai with Hawley, and then sent John Glyn on 16 September with James's coat (and iron gauntlets ) and a detailed account of the battle written by Lord Howard. Brian Tuke mentioned in his letter to Cardinal Bainbridge that the coat was lacerated and chequered with blood. [59] Catherine suggested Henry should use the coat as his battle-banner, and wrote she had thought to send him the body too, as Henry had sent her the Duke of Longueville , his prisoner from Thérouanne, but "Englishmen's hearts would not suffer it." [60]
Soon after the battle there were legends that James IV had survived; a Scottish merchant at Tournai in October claimed to have spoken with him, [61] Lindsay of Pitscottie records two myths; "thair cam four great men upon hors, and every ane of thame had ane wisp upoun thair spear headis, quhairby they might know one another and brought the king furth of the feild, upoun ane dun hackney," and also that the king escaped from the field but was killed between Duns and Kelso. [62] Similarly, John Lesley adds that the body taken to England was "my lord Bonhard" and James was seen in Kelso after the battle and then went secretly on pilgrimage in far nations. [63]
A legend arose that James had been warned against invading England by supernatural powers. While he was praying in St Michael's Kirk at Linlithgow , a man strangely dressed in blue had approached his desk saying his mother had told him to say James should not to go to war or take the advice of women. Then before the King could reply, the man vanished. David Lindsay of the Mount and John Inglis could find no trace of him. The historian R. L. Mackie wondered if the incident really happened as a masquerade orchestrated by an anti-war party: Norman Macdougall doubts if there was a significant anti-war faction. [64] Three other portents of disaster were described by Paolo Giovio in 1549 and repeated in John Polemon's 1578 account of the battle. When James was in council at the camp at Flodden Edge a hare ran out of his tent and escaped the weapons of his knights; it was found that mice had gnawed away the strings and buckle of the King's helmet; and in the morning his tent with spreckled with a bloody dew. [65]
Scotland after Flodden
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The wife of James IV, Margaret Tudor, is said to have awaited news of her husband at Linlithgow Palace , where a room at the top of a tower is called 'Queen's Margaret's bower.' Ten days after the Battle of Flodden, the Lords of Council met at Stirling on the September 19, and set up a General Council of the Realm "to sit upon the daily council for all matters occurring in the realm" of thirty-five lords including clergyman, lords of parliament, and two of the minor barons, the lairds of The Bass and Inverrugy. This committee was intended to rule in the name of Margaret Tudor and her son James V of Scotland .
The full Parliament of Scotland met at Stirling Castle on 21 October, where the 17 month-old King was crowned in the Chapel Royal. The General Council of Lords made special provisions for the heirs of those killed at Flodden, following a declaration made by James IV at Twiselhaugh, and protection for their widows and daughters. [66] Margaret Tudor remained guardian or 'tutrix' of the King, but was not made Regent of Scotland .
The French soldier Antoine d'Arces arrived at Dumbarton Castle in November with a shipload of armaments which were transported to Stirling. The English already knew the details of this planned shipment from a paper found in a bag at Flodden field. [67] Now that James IV was dead, Antoine d'Arces promoted the appointment of John Stewart, Duke of Albany , a grandson of James II of Scotland as Regent to rule Scotland instead of Margaret and her son. Albany, who lived in France, came to Scotland on 26 May 1515. [68] By that date Margaret had given birth to James's posthumous son Alexander and married the Earl of Angus . [69]
A later sixteenth century Scottish attitude to the futility of the battle was given by Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, in the words he attributed to Patrick Lord Lindsay at council before the engagement. Lord Lindsay advised the King withdraw, comparing their situation to an honest merchant playing dice with a trickster, and wagering a gold rose-noble against a bent halfpenny. Their King was the gold piece, England the trickster, and Thomas Howard the halfpenny. [70]
Casualties
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The Flodden memorial cross, erected in 1910, contemplated by David Starkey .
Surrey's army lost 1,500 men killed. [1] There were various conflicting accounts of the Scottish loss. A contemporary French source, the Gazette of the Battle of Flodden, said that about 10,000 Scots were killed, [3] a claim made by Henry VIII on 16 September while he was still uncertain of the death of James IV. William Knight sent the news from Lille to Rome on 20 September, claiming 12,000 Scots had died with less than 500 English casualties. [71] Italian newsletters put the Scottish losses at 18 or 20 thousand and the English at 5000. Brian Tuke, the English Clerk of the Signet, sent a newsletter stating 10,000 Scots killed and 10,000 escaped the field. Tuke reckoned the total Scottish invasion force to have been 60,000 and the English army at 40,000. [72] George Buchanan wrote in his History of Scotland (published in 1582) that, according to the lists that were compiled throughout the counties of Scotland, there were about 5,000 killed. [2] A plaque on the monument to the 2nd Duke of Norfolk (as the Earl of Surrey became in 1514) at Thetford put the figure at 17,000. [2] Edward Hall, thirty years after, wrote in his Chronicle that "12,000 at the least of the best gentlemen and flower of Scotland" were slain. [73]
As the nineteenth century antiquarian John Riddell supposed, nearly every noble family in Scotland would have lost a member at Flodden. [74] The dead are remembered by the song (and pipe tune) " Flowers of the Forest ":
We'll hae nae mair lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighing and moaning, on ilka green loaning,
The flowers of the forest are all wede away.
Contemporary English ballads also recalled the tragedy of the Scottish losses:
To tell you plaine, twelve thousand were slaine,
that to the fight did stand;
And many prisoners tooke that day,
the best in all Scotland.
That day made many a fatherlesse childe,
and many a widow poore;
And many a Scottish gay Lady,
sate weeping in her bowre. [75]
A legend grew that while the artillery was being prepared in Edinburgh before the battle, a demon called Plotcock had read out the names of those who would be killed at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile . According to Pitscottie, a former Provost of Edinburgh , Richard Lawson, who lived nearby threw a coin at the Cross to appeal from this summons and survived the battle. [76]
Branxton Church was the site of some burials from the battle of Flodden. [77]
After Flodden many Scottish nobles are believed to have been brought to Yetholm for interment, as being the nearest consecrated ground in Scotland. [78]
Notable men who died
Sir Brian Tunstall of Thurland Castle ; died in battle
William Wallace of Craigie [82]
Willielmi Wallace de Carnell [138]
Henry Wardlaw of Kilbaberton, Edinburgh, p. 574 [97]
Sir David Wemyss, bro-i-law of Robert Gray. p. 278, [88] p. 14 [86] " [82] [139]
William Wood of Raik, Aberdeenshire, p. 576 [97]
Names of Scottish casualties from property records
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A number of subsequent property transactions give names of the fallen. A register of royal charters was kept and published as the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. The battle was mentioned because of the declaration James IV had made at Twiselhaugh respecting the heritage of the heirs of potential casualties, which waived feudal fees. Some of the lands noted were those held under Matthew, Earl of Lennox, who died in the battle of Flodden Field, "in campo bellico de Flodoun" (in the field of war at Flodden). Other great seal charters mentioned an altar dedicated for remembrance at St Giles', Edinburgh and the effect of the battle on Selkirk , a border town. [93] [140]
The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a record of royal income, also gives names of the fallen. These were feudal tenants who held their lands from the King, and would pay their dues directly to the exchequer. The names of landless men or those who held their lands from a landlord would not appear in this record. The preface to the published volume of the Exchequer Rolls gives this explanation and guide to the variety of Latin phrases used to describe deaths in the campaign;
"The usual form of entry is "qui obiit in bello" (who died in the war), "in campo bellico" (in field of war), or "in campo" (in the field); but the forms also occur "qui obiit sub vixillo regis", (who died under the king's banner) which probably denotes with certainty that the death was at Flodden, or "qui obiit in exercitu in Northumberland" (who died in the army in Northumberland), which perhaps indicates that the death occurred elsewhere than at Flodden, or that the place of death was unknown. In the Responde Books the earlier Sasines (property documents) are silent as to the campaign. The later Sasines refer to it as "bellum", or "campus bellicus," and it is not till 1518 that Flodden is named, and then only about half-a-dozen times. ..., It must be borne in mind that it is only the King's vassals or tenants who left heirs in lands in the comparatively small portion of Scotland then held by the King, whose names can be expected to appear in the present Accounts. Besides the names in the following list, there are many other instances of Sasines taken in favour of the heirs of persons whom we know from other sources to have died at Flodden." p.clxii [97]
English soldiers knighted at Flodden
Around forty five English soldiers were knighted by the Earl of Surrey after the battle. [141] Edward Hall mentions some of their positions in the army's advance from Newcastle. [142]
Battlefield today
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In New York in 1890, William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by what method? | 6 August 1890 – William Kemmler | Execution of the day
Execution of the day
6 August 1890 – William Kemmler
William Kemmler
The first person to go to the electric chair in America was William Kemmler. He was found guilty of murder after he butchered his partner. But he didn’t go quietly.
Burying the hatchet
Kemmler had killed his common-law wife Tilly Zeigler after he took a hatchet to her. And he was found guilty of murder in New York in 1890 and sentenced to go to the electric chair.
Electrocution was highly controversial, but despite lobbies to get the penalty changed to a more humane method, his execution took place.
Kemmler took his penalty very stoically. But the irony of his final words ‘Take it easy and do it properly, I’m in no hurry’ hit hard.
Horse trials
Understandably the electrocutors were in dire need of practice, this being their first time. Despite successfully electrocuting a horse as a trial run, they misjudged the current necessary to kill a man.
According to the ‘New York Times’, R C Barnes, who had tuned the electric chair being used, went on record with the statement ‘no electrician who understands the subject and knows what the apparatus is can doubt that it will kill Kemmler’. But he had based his supposition on the fact that they’d use around 15,000 volts.
Shallow fried
In actual fact, a mere 1,000 volts coursed through Kemmler’s body for 17 seconds, on the presumption that that’d kill him. Despite the smell of frying flesh, Kemmler was still breathing at the end of his electrifying session.
A second stint, this time of 2,000 volts ran through Kemmler’s body. The electricity caused his blood vessels to rupture and blood to ooze before his body eventually caught fire. The whole thing took an agonising eight minutes causing one spectator to comment: ‘They would have done better using an axe.’
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In 1960, which country became the first in the world to have a female Prime Minister? | William Kemmler – The First Electrocution, August 6, 1890. | Robert Walsh
William Kemmler – The First Electrocution, August 6, 1890.
William Kemmler and the world’s first electric chair.
August 6, 1890 saw the dawn of a new age for criminal history. At Auburn Prison in upstate New York there was the execution.of one William Kemmler, condemned for murdering his girlfriend Matilda Ziegler with a hatchet. There was nothing remarkable about Kemmler (an alcoholic vegetable peddler with a vicious temper) or about his crime. There wasn’t anything unusual about an execution in New York State, either., hangings being a fairly regular event.
Matilda ‘Tillie’ Ziegler, Kemmler’s girlfriend and victim.
What was unusual was the method. Americans had been hanged, shot, drowned and burned at various, but none of them had ever been electrocuted. Even the word ‘electrocute’ was brand new, coined specially to reflect what its enthusiasts clumsily named ‘electrical execution.’ It had never been done before and, after its nightmarish debut, there was much debate about whether it should ever be done again.
Of course, it was. There have been over 4000 electrocutions in American penal history since Kemmler’s and, while the ‘Old Sparky’ is (rather ironically) at death’s door due to the introduction of the gas chamber and lethal injection, it was once by far the most popular means for America’s prisons to perform human pest control. State after State threw away its gallows and plugged into the latest way to get the job done. They did so with varying degrees of enthusiasm (New York really loved it, South Dakota only used it once and even then they had to borrow one from the State of Nebraska because they didn’t have their own). They also turned on to the new idea with varying degrees of competence (often with hideous results for all concerned, especially the condemned).
Hanging can be the least inhumane method of execution if properly performed, so there’s a bitter irony in the reason for Old Sparky’s long tenure. Which was that many American executioners would probably have found it a challenge correctly hanging curtains, let alone humans. Bungled hangings were regular events, with prisoners often beheaded or slowly strangled by bungling hangmen using faulty or unsuitable equipment. British hangman Albert Pierrepoint was openly scathing of American hangmen and thier kit, sarcastically calling the traditional hangman’s rope a ‘cowboy’s coil.’ After one horror show too many at the hanging of Roxalana Druse, New York State Governor David Hill decide to form a ‘Death Commission’ to decide which method would best replace the rope. Enter two very big names, an inventor, a dentist and, of course, William Kemmler.
The idea of electrocution came from a dentist, Alfred Southwick of Buffalo, New York. Southwick had seen a drunk die instantly from accidentally staggering up against an electrical generator and, being a stauch supporter of capital punishment, decided that the new technology would be perfect for deliberately killing people. Also, being a dentist, he thought a chair with straps all over it was the best way to convey the current to the inmate. He left the actual building of the ‘hot seat’ to Harold Brown, an electrical engineer working for a rather famous name. Enter one Thomas Edison.
Edison had been approached to oversee the creation of the electric chair but, being an opponent of capital punishment, had firmly refused to take part. Unfortunately, Edison became locked in the ‘War of the Currents’ with his great rival George Westinghouse. Edison championed direct current (DC) while Westinghouse was marketing an alternating current (AC) system. Both wanted to corner the rapidly-snowballing market in electricity and related products. Westinghouse’s system was far more efficient at transmitting electricity over long distances, but it was required far higher voltages to do so, making it potentially far more dangerous to technical staff and consumers. Edison saw that as an opportunity to bury his rival’s new system and, putting his personal opposition to executions aside (along with many other principles) decided to make full use of AC being more dangerous to human life.
He started by mounting a publicity campaign openly touting AC as deadly and his own DC as the safe option. He mounted a series of public demonstrations, electrocuting animals ranging from cats and dogs to a fully-grown elephant. Then he reconsidered his attitude to the death penalty. What better way was there to discredit George Westinghouse by harnessing both his system and his name to death? Westinghouse had refused to sell the State of New York a generator for executions so Brown, funded by Edison, bought one under a flase name, had it delivered to Brazil and then shipped back to Auburn Prison. This infuriated Westinghouse, but not nearly as much as the more personal aspect of Edison’s campaign. The new method, in the eyes of many Americans, needed a new name. ‘Electrocution’, a combinations of ‘electricity’ and ‘execution’ caught on to replace the clumsy phrase ‘electrical execution.’ Edison campaigned in favour of describing inmates as having been ‘Westinghoused.’
With Kemmler, a violent drunkard, ensconced on Auburn’s Death Row, Westinghouse funded his appeals. Edison secured large funding from one of his investors, J.P Morgan, to ensure Kemmler’s appeals failed. They did. William Kemmler was destined to take a prime (and unwilling) place in criminal history as the first inmate ever to do the ‘hot squat.’ At Auburn Prison preparations went ahead. Harold Brown enlisted one Edwin Davis to help perfect the final touches to the ‘electrocution chair.’ Davis was a qualified electrical contractor at Auburn and was the perfect choice to become the world’s first ‘State Electrician.’ Davis would execute around 200 inmates and train two of his proteges, John Hurlbut and Robert Elliott, both of whom succeeded him as executioners. Between them, these three men would execute over 700 prisoners and Elliott would be credited with perfecting electrocution as an execution method. For now, though, Davis was in charge. Davis designed and patented the first electrodes which on early chairs were fixed to the inmate’s head and the base of their spine. After much gruesome experimentation, electrodes were fixed to an inmate’s head and leg as standard.
August 6, 1890 dawned bright and clear. The chair had been installed, linked to the prison generator (later chairs had their own separate generator) and thoroughly tested. Warden Charles Durston woke Kemmler at 5am, gave him a final breakfast and had him dressed for the occasion. At 6:30am the grim ritual began. Kemmler, his head and spine shaved and with a slit in his shirt-tails, was led into a room in front of 17 witnesses including 3 doctors and numerous reporters. He was asked for his last words which proved grimly ironic in the light of what was about to happen:
“Take it easy and do it properly, I’m in no hurry…”
Kemmler probably would have been in a hurry if he’d known what was coming and the execution team, given that they’d never actually electrocuted anyone before, certainly didn’t do it properly. About the best that could be said for the witnesses was that their misery would be less horrendous than Kemmler’s.
The grim facade of Auburn Prison in upstate New York, the prison is still in use, but New York repealed the death penalty in 1965. The last execution in New York was in August, 1963.
At 6:38am the signal was given and Davis threw the switch. 1000 volts of alternating current seared Kemmler’s body and nervous system. After 17 seconds the power was shut off and Doctor Charles Spitzka stepped forward fully expecting to certify Kemmler dead.
He wasn’t.
Spitzka initially thought Kemmler was dead and said as much. The chair’s inventor, dentist Alfred Southwick, proudly stood before the witnesses and in front of Kemmler’s smoking body and uttered the immortal words:
“Gentlemen, we live in a higher civilisation from this day.”
Then the dead man began to breathe and started twisting against the straps and moaning increasingly loudly. Horrified witnesses blanched as Warden Durston and Doctor Spitzka hurriedly discussed what to do. Either the current had been too low or not applied for long enough so the obvious solution was to double the voltage and increase the duration. Spitzka spoke briefly and sharply:
“Have the current turned on again, quick. No delay!”
The current was turned on quick. Not knowing what they were doing the execution team turned it on far too high for far too long. For a full minute 2000 volts cooked Kemmler alive. His remaining hair smouldered, his flesh singed and blood vessels burst under his skin, causing him to bleed through his pores. Smoke and a stench of burnt meat filled the room while witnesses tried to get out through locked doors and several fainted.and slumped around the floor.
Kemmler did at least die, but in a way that nearly made his the first and last electrocution in criminal history. The newspapers competed to run the gaudiest tales of his suffering, as though it needed to look any worse than it actually was. Two of the doctors present, Charles Spitzka and Carlos MacDonald, feuded bitterly and publicly for years afterward. Edison, whose role in the affair was now public knowledge, refused to comment or to even speak to reporters. His great rival George Westinghouse, asked for his opinion of the execution, was far more forthcoming and brutally frank:
“They would have done better using an axe…”
Of course, the chair, its components and the overall method were steadily refined and perfected over the next century or so. Davis’s apprentices Hurlbut and Elliott would go on to perfect the process and kill hundreds doing so, Although Hurlbut did commit suicide shortly after resigning from as the euphemistically-titled ‘State Electrician.’ All of New York’s executioners after Davis had to be qualified electricians, and were paid $150 per prisoner with an extra $50 for any additional prisoner during multiple executions. Good money if you could stomach pulling the switch.
Tennessee’s electric chair at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
There’s a grim postscript to this story. Until earlier this year the electric chair had fallen into disfavour and disuse. No States retained it as their primary method, having changed to lethal injection as their first choice. The current refusal by drug companies to supply American prisons with the drugs for lethal injection has led to experimentation with different drug combinations and, in turn, botched lethal injections such as Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma dn Joseph Wood in Arizona. Wood took over two hours to die in a process that should have taken minutes.Which is why the State of Tennessee, previously discarding their electric chair for lethal injection, have reinstated electrocution and dusted off their ‘hot seat.’
Unlike William Kemmler and 4000 or so other inmates, Old Sparky has risen from the grave., .
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What was the name of the first dog to orbit the earth? | BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | First dog in space died within hours
Monday, 28 October, 2002, 10:34 GMT
First dog in space died within hours
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
The dog Laika, the first living creature to orbit the Earth, did not live nearly as long as Soviet officials led the world to believe.
The animal, launched on a one-way trip on board Sputnik 2 in November 1957, was said to have died painlessly in orbit about a week after blast-off.
Now, it has been revealed she died from overheating and panic just a few hours after the mission started.
The new evidence was presented at the recent World Space Congress in Houston, Texas, US, by Dimitri Malashenkov of the Institute for Biological Problems in Moscow.
Noted space historian Sven Grahn told BBC News Online that the new information was surprising and significant as it ended more than 40 years of speculation about Laika's fate.
Space pioneer
Laika's mission on board Sputnik 2 stunned the world. Sputnik 1, the world's first satellite, had been launched less than one month before.
Laika had been a stray
It was a metal sphere weighing about 18 kg (40 lbs) and was far heavier than anything the United States was contemplating launching.
An astonished world witnessed the launch of Sputnik 2 weighing 113 kg (250 lbs) and carrying the first living thing to go into orbit - the dog Laika.
The animal had been a stray wandering the streets of Moscow when she was captured and prepared for a space mission.
Shortly after launch the Soviets said that Laika was not destined to return alive and would die in space. The statement caused outrage to many observers.
Racing pulse
Dr Malashenkov has now revealed several new details about Laika's mission, such as her food being in jelly form and that she was chained to prevent her turning around.
There was a carbon dioxide absorbing device in the cabin to prevent the accumulation of this toxic gas, as well as an oxygen generator.
A fan was automatically activated to keep the dog cool when the capsule's temperature exceeded 15 deg Celsius.
According to Dr Malashenkov, a great deal of work had to be done to adapt a group of dogs to the conditions in the tight cabin of Sputnik 2. They were kept in gradually smaller cages for periods up to 15-20 days.
Three dogs were trained for the Sputnik 2 flight: Albina, Laika and Mushka. Albina was the first "backup", having flown twice on a high-altitude rocket. Mushka was used to test instrumentation and life support.
Death in space
Medical sensors placed on Laika indicated that during launch her pulse rate went up by a factor of three above its resting level.
At the start of weightlessness, her pulse rate decreased. It took three times longer than after a centrifuge ride on the ground to return Laika's heartbeat to pre-launch values, an indication of the stress she was suffering.
Dr Malashenkov also revealed how Laika died. Telemetry from the Sputnik 2 capsule showed that the temperature and humidity increased after the start of the mission.
After five to seven hours into the flight, no lifesigns were being received from Laika. By the fourth orbit it was apparent that Laika had died from overheating and stress.
Previously, it has been thought that Laika survived at least four days in space and perhaps even a week when Sputnik's transmitters failed.
Despite surviving for just a few hours, Laika's place in space history is assured and the information she provided proved that a living organism could tolerate a long time in weightlessness and paved the way for humans in space.
Laika's "coffin" circled the Earth 2,570 times and burned up in the Earth's atmosphere on 4 April 1958.
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French woman Isabelle Dinoire was the first person to receive a transplant of which body part in 2005? | Laika: First Animal to Orbit Earth - Puppy Leaks
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Laika: First Animal to Orbit Earth
June 26, 2014
By Jen Gabbard 14 Comments
A stray dog named Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth in 1957. The Russians chose to work with stray dogs because they were already accustomed to living in harsh environments. Laika was the lucky candidate, chosen from many other strays due to her good nature. And yes – she’s the reason I named my dog Laika.
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. Aboard was a little dog stray dog named Laika, and she became the first animal to orbit Earth.
How a Stray Dog Became the First Mammal to Orbit Earth
November 3 1957 Sputnik 2 was launched into space. It’s the second spacecraft launched into Earth’s orbit and the first carrying a live animal. Laika , a dog found wandering the streets in Moscow was on board, she became the first living animal to orbit the Earth. She was chosen from 10 other canine candidates because of her even temperament.
After the success of Sputnik 1 the Soviet Union were in a hurry to produce another spacecraft. This was during the great space race between the Soviet Union & the United States. They had already launched the first satellite, Sputnik 1 into space and they wanted their next mission to be even greater.
To go further with Sputnik 2 they decided on a orbital flight with a dog; no living creature larger than a microbe had been launched into space, so the dog would become the first mammal to orbit Earth. They had already put 12 dogs into sub orbital space on ballistic flights. The decision to launch Sputnik 2 was made in early October, giving scientists only 4 weeks to design & build the spacecraft.
Preparation For Liftoff
Laika practicing for liftoff
Laika had been found by scientists as a stray on the streets of Moscow, they figured the strays there would already be conditioned to deal with harsh environments. Laika was a mutt, weighed 12 pounds and was about 3 years old. To get her used to the small confines of Sputnik 2 the scientists kept her in progressively smaller cages for up to 20 days. The close confinement caused her to stop urinating or defecating.
Laika was placed in centrifuges that stimulated the acceleration of rocket launch and placed in machines that emulated spacecraft noises. The stressors caused her pulse to double and her blood pressure to greatly increase.
The craft had an air regeneration system to provide Laika with oxygen. She would receive food & water in gelatinized form through a dispenser. Laika had a harness to chain her in place, a bag to collect waste and electrodes to monitor her vital signs.
Countdown to Launch
Laika was placed into Sputnik 2 three days before it launched. The conditions were cold before the mission began so they used a hose connected to a heater to keep her container warm. Prior to liftoff she was sponged in weak alcohol and groomed, iodine was placed onto the areas of her body that were to be monitored.
One of the technicians on the Sputnik 2 project stated “after placing Laika in the container and before closing the hatch, we kissed her nose and wished her bon voyage, knowing that she would not survive the flight.”
On November 3 1957 Sputnik 2 was launched, it successfully made it into Earth’s orbit. Shortly after reaching orbit one of the cores did not separate correctly, preventing the thermal control mechanism from working properly.
Thermal insulation tore lose and the temperature inside the cabin’s interior reached 104 F. During the acceleration Laika’s pulse had increased to 3 times normal. After 3 hours of weightlessness it settled back down on 102 beats per minute, 3 times longer than it had taken on their preflight tests, proving the amount of stress she was under. After 6 hours of flight no further signs of life were detected.
The scientists hadn’t planned for Laika to return. No recovery mission had been planned. They had originally planned on euthanizing her with serving of poisoned food.
After the Mission
The Soviets gave conflicting reports about how Laika had died. At first they claimed she had been suffocated, years later it’s been revealed that she died from overheating although the exact time of death remains uncertain. Five months after the initial launch Sputnik 2 disintegrated during re-entry on April 14, 1958.
Sputnik 2 caused a lot of debate about testing on animals across the globe. There were protests held outside the United Nations and New York. One of the scientists who worked on Sputnik later stated “Work with animals is a source of suffering to all of us. We treat them like babies who cannot speak. The more time passes, the more I’m sorry about it. We shouldn’t have done it… We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog.”
Western countries saw it as a dog being exploited. To get around this issue, the Soviets canonized her, making her a hero who had sacrificed herself for the greater good of her country.
–Damon Murray, author of Soviet Space Dogs
Further space missions carrying dogs were designed to be recovered. Laika and other animals who helped space research are now regarded as heroes .
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What was the world's first jet-driven airliner to enter commercial service? | History of Aviation - First Flights
History of Aviation - First Flights
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History of Aviation - First Flights
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright capped four years of research and design efforts with a 120-foot, 12-second flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina - the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine. Prior to that, people had flown only in balloons and gliders. The first person to fly as a passenger was Leon Delagrange, who rode with French pilot Henri Farman from a meadow outside of Paris in 1908. Charles Furnas became the first American airplane passenger when he flew with Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk later that year.
History of Aviation - First Flights
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright capped four years of research and design efforts with a 120-foot, 12-second flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina - the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine. Prior to that, people had flown only in balloons and gliders. The first person to fly as a passenger was Leon Delagrange, who rode with French pilot Henri Farman from a meadow outside of Paris in 1908. Charles Furnas became the first American airplane passenger when he flew with Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk later that year.
History of Aviation
First Flights
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright capped four years of research and design efforts with a 120-foot, 12-second flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina - the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine. Prior to that, people had flown only in balloons and gliders.
The first person to fly as a passenger was Leon Delagrange, who rode with French pilot Henri Farman from a meadow outside of Paris in 1908. Charles Furnas became the first American airplane passenger when he flew with Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk later that year.
The first scheduled air service began in Florida on January 1, 1914. Glenn Curtiss had designed a plane that could take off and land on water and thus could be built larger than any plane to date, because it did not need the heavy undercarriage required for landing on hard ground. Thomas Benoist, an auto parts maker, decided to build such a flying boat, or seaplane, for a service across Tampa Bay called the St. Petersburg - Tampa Air Boat Line. His first passenger was ex-St. Petersburg Mayor A.C. Pheil, who made the 18-mile trip in 23 minutes, a considerable improvement over the two-hour trip by boat. The single-plane service accommodated one passenger at a time, and the company charged a one-way fare of $5. After operating two flights a day for four months, the company folded with the end of the winter tourist season.
World War I
These and other early flights were headline events, but commercial aviation was very slow to catch on with the general public, most of whom were afraid to ride in the new flying machines. Improvements in aircraft design also were slow. However, with the advent of World War I, the military value of aircraft was quickly recognized and production increased significantly to meet the soaring demand for planes from governments on both sides of the Atlantic. Most significant was the development of more powerful motors, enabling aircraft to reach speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, more than twice the speed of pre-war aircraft. Increased power also made larger aircraft possible.
At the same time, the war was bad for commercial aviation in several respects. It focused all design and production efforts on building military aircraft. In the public's mind, flying became associated with bombing runs, surveillance and aerial dogfights. In addition, there was such a large surplus of planes at the end of the war that the demand for new production was almost nonexistent for several years - and many aircraft builders went bankrupt. Some European countries, such as Great Britain and France, nurtured commercial aviation by starting air service over the English Channel. However, nothing similar occurred in the United States, where there were no such natural obstacles isolating major cities and where railroads could transport people almost as fast as an airplane, and in considerably more comfort. The salvation of the U.S. commercial aviation industry following World War I was a government program, but one that had nothing to do with the transportation of people.
Airmail
By 1917, the U.S. government felt enough progress had been made in the development of planes to warrant something totally new - the transport of mail by air. That year, Congress appropriated $100,000 for an experimental airmail service to be conducted jointly by the Army and the Post Office between Washington and New York, with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia. The first flight left Belmont Park, Long Island for Philadelphia on May 14, 1918 and the next day continued on to Washington, where it was met by President Woodrow Wilson.
With a large number of war-surplus aircraft in hand, the Post Office set its sights on a far more ambitious goal - transcontinental air service. It opened the first segment, between Chicago and Cleveland, on May 15, 1919 and completed the air route on September 8, 1920, when the most difficult part of the route, the Rocky Mountains, was spanned. Airplanes still could not fly at night when the service first began, so the mail was handed off to trains at the end of each day. Nonetheless, by using airplanes the Post Office was able to shave 22 hours off coast-to-coast mail deliveries.
Beacons
In 1921, the Army deployed rotating beacons in a line between Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, a distance of about 80 miles. The beacons, visible to pilots at 10-second intervals, made it possible to fly the route at night.
The Post Office took over the operation of the guidance system the following year, and by the end of 1923, constructed similar beacons between Chicago and Cheyenne, Wyoming, a line later extended coast-to-coast at a cost of $550,000. Mail then could be delivered across the continent in as little as 29 hours eastbound and 34 hours westbound - prevailing winds from west to east accounted for the difference which was at least two days less than it took by train.
The Contract Air Mail Act of 1925
By the mid-1920s, the Post Office mail fleet was flying 2.5 million miles and delivering 14 million letters annually. However, the government had no intention of continuing airmail service on its own. Traditionally, the Post Office had used private companies for the transportation of mail. So, once the feasibility of airmail was firmly established and airline facilities were in place, the government moved to transfer airmail service to the private sector, by way of competitive bids. The legislative authority for the move was the Contract Air Mail Act of 1925, commonly referred to as the Kelly Act after its chief sponsor, Rep. Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania. This was the first major step toward the creation of a private U.S. airline industry. Winners of the initial five contracts were National Air Transport (owned by the Curtiss Aeroplane Co.), Varney Air Lines, Western Air Express, Colonial Air Transport and Robertson Aircraft Corporation. National and Varney would later become important parts of United Air Lines (originally a joint venture of the Boeing Airplane Company and Pratt & Whitney). Western would merge with Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), another Curtiss subsidiary, to form Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA). Robertson would become part of the Universal Aviation Corporation, which in turn would merge with Colonial, Southern Air Transport and others, to form American Airways, predecessor of American Airlines. Juan Trippe, one of the original partners in Colonial, later pioneered international air travel with Pan Am - a carrier he founded in 1927 to transport mail between Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba. Pitcairn Aviation, yet another Curtiss subsidiary that got its start transporting mail, would become Eastern Air Transport, predecessor of Eastern Air Lines.
The Morrow Board
The same year Congress passed the Contract Air Mail Act, President Calvin Coolidge appointed a board to recommend a national aviation policy (a much-sought-after goal of then Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover). Dwight Morrow, a senior partner in J.P. Morgan's bank, and later the father-in-law of Charles Lindbergh, was named chairman. The board heard testimony from 99 people, and on November 30, 1925, submitted its report to President Coolidge. The report was wide-ranging, but its key recommendation was that the government should set standards for civil aviation and that the standards should be set outside of the military.
The Air Commerce Act of 1926
Congress adopted the recommendations of the Morrow Board almost to the letter in the Air Commerce Act of 1926. The legislation authorized the Secretary of Commerce to designate air routes, to develop air navigation systems, to license pilots and aircraft, and to investigate accidents. The act brought the government into commercial aviation as regulator of the private airlines spawned by the Kelly Act of the previous year.
Congress also adopted the board's recommendation for airmail contracting, by amending the Kelly Act to change the method of compensation for airmail services. Instead of paying carriers a percentage of the postage paid, the government would pay them according to the weight of the mail. This simplified payments, and proved highly advantageous to the carriers, which collected $48 million from the government for the carriage of mail between 1926 and 1931.
Ford's Tin Goose
Henry Ford, the automobile manufacturer, was also among the early successful bidders for airmail contracts, winning the right, in 1925, to carry mail from Chicago to Detroit and Cleveland aboard planes his company already was using to transport spare parts for his automobile assembly plants. More importantly, he jumped into aircraft manufacturing, and in 1927, produced the Ford Trimotor, commonly referred to as the Tin Goose. It was one of the first all-metal planes, made of a new material, duralumin, which was almost as light as aluminum but twice as strong. It also was the first plane designed primarily to carry passengers rather than mail. The Ford Trimotor had 12 passenger seats; a cabin high enough for a passenger to walk down the aisle without stooping; and room for a "stewardess," or flight attendant, the first of whom were nurses, hired by United in 1930 to serve meals and assist airsick passengers. The Tin Goose's three engines made it possible to fly higher and faster (up to 130 miles per hour), and its sturdy appearance, combined with the Ford name, had a reassuring effect on the public's perception of flying. However, it was another event, in 1927, that brought unprecedented public attention to aviation and helped secure the industry's future as a major mode of transportation.
Charles Lindbergh
At 7:52 a.m. on May 20, 1927, a young pilot named Charles Lindbergh set out on an historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York to Paris. It was the first trans-Atlantic non-stop flight in an airplane, and its effect on both Lindbergh and aviation was enormous. Lindbergh became an instant American hero. Aviation became a more established industry, attracting millions of private investment dollars almost overnight, as well as the support of millions of Americans.
The pilot who sparked all of this attention had dropped out of engineering school at the University of Wisconsin to learn how to fly. He became a barnstormer, doing aerial shows across the country, and eventually joined the Robertson Aircraft Corporation, to transport mail between St. Louis and Chicago.
In planning his trans-Atlantic voyage, Lindbergh daringly decided to fly by himself, without a navigator, so he could carry more fuel. His plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, was slightly less than 28 feet in length, with a wingspan of 46 feet. It carried 450 gallons of gasoline, which comprised half its takeoff weight. There was too little room in the cramped cockpit for navigating by the stars, so Lindbergh flew by dead reckoning. He divided maps from his local library into thirty-three 100-mile segments, noting the heading he would follow as he flew each segment. When he first sighted the coast of Ireland, he was almost exactly on the route he had plotted, and he landed several hours later, with 80 gallons of fuel to spare.
Lindbergh's greatest enemy on his journey was fatigue. The trip took an exhausting 33 hours, 29 minutes and 30 seconds, but he managed to keep awake by sticking his head out the window to inhale cold air, by holding his eyelids open, and by constantly reminding himself that if he fell asleep he would perish. In addition, he had a slight instability built into his airplane that helped keep him focused and awake.
Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field, outside of Paris, at 10:24 p.m. Paris time on May 21. Word of his flight preceded him and a large crowd of Parisians rushed out to the airfield to see him and his little plane. There was no question about the magnitude of what he had accomplished. The Air Age had arrived.
The Watres Act and the Spoils Conference
In 1930, Postmaster General Walter Brown pushed for legislation that would have another major impact on the development of commercial aviation. Known as the Watres Act (after one of its chief sponsors, Rep. Laurence H. Watres of Pennsylvania), it authorized the Post Office to enter into longer-term contracts for airmail, with rates based on space or volume, rather than weight. In addition, the act authorized the Post Office to consolidate airmail routes, where it was in the national interest to do so. Brown believed the changes would promote larger, stronger airlines, as well as more coast-to-coast and nighttime service.
Immediately after Congress approved the act, Brown held a series of meetings in Washington to discuss the new contracts. The meetings were later dubbed the Spoils Conference because Brown gave them little publicity and directly invited only a handful of people from the larger airlines. He designated three transcontinental mail routes and made it clear that he wanted only one company operating each service rather than a number of small airlines handing the mail off to one another. His actions brought political trouble that resulted in major changes to the system two years later.
Scandal and the Air Mail Act of 1934
Following the Democratic landslide in the election of 1932, some of the smaller airlines began complaining to news reporters and politicians that they had been unfairly denied airmail contracts by Brown. One reporter discovered that a major contract had been awarded to an airline whose bid was three times higher than a rival bid from a smaller airline. Congressional hearings followed, chaired by Sen. Hugo Black of Alabama, and by 1934 the scandal had reached such proportions as to prompt President Franklin Roosevelt to cancel all mail contracts and turn mail deliveries over to the Army.
The decision was a mistake. The Army pilots were unfamiliar with the mail routes, and the weather at the time they took over the deliveries, February 1934, was terrible. There were a number of accidents as the pilots flew practice runs and began carrying the mail, leading to newspaper headlines that forced President Roosevelt to retreat from his plan only a month after he had turned the mail over to the Army
By means of the Air Mail Act of 1934, the government once again returned airmail transportation to the private sector, but it did so under a new set of rules that would have a significant impact on the industry. Bidding was structured to be more competitive, and former contract holders were not allowed to bid at all, so many companies were reorganized. The result was a more even distribution of the government's mail business and lower mail rates that forced airlines and aircraft manufacturers to pay more attention to the development of the passenger side of the business.
In another major change, the government forced the dismantling of the vertical holding companies common up to that time in the industry, sending aircraft manufacturers and airline operators (most notably Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and United Air Lines) their separate ways. The entire industry was now reorganized and refocused.
Aircraft Innovations
For the airlines to attract passengers away from the railroads, they needed both larger and faster airplanes. They also needed safer airplanes. Accidents, such as the one in 1931 that killed Notre Dame Football Coach Knute Rockne along with six others, kept people from flying
Aircraft manufacturers responded to the challenge. There were so many improvements to aircraft in the 1930s that many believe it was the most innovative period in aviation history. Air-cooled engines replaced water-cooled engines, reducing weight and making larger and faster planes possible. Cockpit instruments also improved, with better altimeters, airspeed indicators, rate-of-climb indicators, compasses, and the introduction of artificial horizon, which showed pilots the attitude of the aircraft relative to the ground - important for flying in reduced visibility
Radio
Another development of enormous importance to aviation was radio. Aviation and radio developed almost in lock step. Marconi sent his first message across the Atlantic on the airwaves just two years before the Wright Brothers? first flight at Kitty Hawk. By World War I, some pilots were taking radios up in the air with them so they could communicate with people on the ground. The airlines followed suit after the war, using radio to transmit weather information from the ground to their pilots, so they could avoid storms
An even more significant development, however, was the realization that radio could be used as an aid to navigation when visibility was poor and visual navigation aids, such as beacons, were useless. Once technical problems were worked out, the Department of Commerce constructed 83 radio beacons across the country. They became fully operational in 1932, automatically transmitting directional beams, or tracks, that pilots could follow to their destination. Marker beacons came next, allowing pilots to locate airports in poor visibility. The first air traffic control tower was established in 1935 at what is now Newark International Airport in New Jersey
The First Modern Airliners
Boeing built what generally is considered the first modern passenger airliner, the Boeing 247. It was unveiled in 1933, and United Air Lines promptly bought 60 of them. Based on a low-wing, twin-engine bomber with retractable landing gear built for the military, the 247 accommodated 10 passengers and cruised at 155 miles per hour. Its cabin was insulated, to reduce engine noise levels inside the plane, and it featured such amenities as upholstered seats and a hot water heater to make flying more comfortable to passengers. Eventually, Boeing also gave the 247 variable-pitch propellers, that reduced takeoff distances, increased the rate of climb, and boosted cruising speeds
Not to be outdone by United, TWA went searching for an alternative to the 247 and eventually found what it wanted from the Douglas Aircraft Company. Its DC-1 incorporated Boeing's innovations and improved upon many of them. The DC-1 had a more powerful engine and accommodations for two more passengers than did the 247. More importantly, the airframe was designed so that the skin of the aircraft bore most of the stress on the plane during flight. There was no interior skeleton of metal spars, thus giving passengers more room than they had in the 247.The DC-1 also was easier to fly. It was equipped with the first automatic pilot and the first efficient wing flaps, for added lift during takeoff. However, for all its advancements, only one DC-1 was ever built. Douglas decided almost immediately to alter its design, adding 18 inches to its length so it could accommodate two more passengers. The new, longer version was called the DC-2 and it was a big success, but the best was still to come
The DC-3
Called the plane that changed the world, the DC-3 was the first aircraft to enable airlines to make money carrying passengers. As a result, it quickly became the dominant aircraft in the United States, following its debut in 1936 with American Airlines (which played a key role in its design).
The DC-3 had 50 percent greater passenger capacity than the DC-2 (21 seats versus 14), yet cost only ten percent more to operate. It also was considered a safer plane, built of an aluminum alloy stronger than materials previously used in aircraft construction. It had more powerful engines (1,000 horsepower versus 710 horsepower for the DC-2), and it could travel coast to coast in only 16 hours - a fast trip for that time.
Another important improvement was the use of a hydraulic pump to lower and raise the landing gear. This freed pilots from having to crank the gear up and down during takeoffs and landings. For greater passenger comfort, the DC-3 had a noise-deadening plastic insulation, and seats set in rubber to minimize vibrations. It was a fantastically popular airplane, and it helped attract many new travelers to flying.
Pressurized Cabins
Although planes such as the Boeing 247 and the DC-3 represented significant advances in aircraft design, they had a major drawback. They could fly no higher than 10,000 feet, because people became dizzy and even fainted, due to the reduced levels of oxygen at higher altitudes.
The airlines wanted to fly higher, to get above the air turbulence and storms common at lower altitudes. Motion sickness was a problem for many airline passengers, and an inhibiting factor to the industry's growth.
The breakthrough came at Boeing with the Stratoliner, a derivation of the B-17 bomber introduced in 1940 and first flown by TWA. It was the first pressurized aircraft, meaning that air was pumped into the aircraft as it gained altitude to maintain an atmosphere inside the cabin similar to the atmosphere that occurs naturally at lower altitudes. With its regulated air compressor, the 33-seat Stratoliner could fly as high as 20,000 feet and reach speeds of 200 miles per hour.
The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938
Government decisions continued to prove as important to aviation's future as technological breakthroughs, and one of the most important aviation bills ever enacted by Congress was the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938. Until that time, numerous government agencies and departments had a hand in aviation policy. Airlines sometimes were pushed and pulled in several directions, and there was no central agency working for the long-term development of the industry. All the airlines had been losing money, since the postal reforms in 1934 significantly reduced the amount they were paid for carrying the mail.
The airlines wanted more rationalized government regulation, through an independent agency, and the Civil Aeronautics Act gave them what they needed. It created the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) and gave the new agency power to regulate airline fares, airmail rates, interline agreements, mergers and routes. Its mission was to preserve order in the industry, holding rates to reasonable levels while, at the same time nurturing the still financially-shaky airline industry, thereby encouraging the development of commercial air transportation.
Congress created a separate agency - the Air Safety Board - to investigate accidents. In 1940, however, President Roosevelt convinced Congress to transfer the accident investigation function to the CAA, which was then renamed the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). These moves, coupled with the tremendous progress made on the technological side, put the industry on the road to success.
World War II
Aviation had an enormous impact on the course of World War II and the war had just as significant an impact on aviation. There were fewer than 300 air transport aircraft in the United States when Hitler marched into Poland in 1939. By the end of the war, U.S. aircraft manufacturers were producing 50,000 planes a year.
Most of the planes, of course, were fighters and bombers, but the importance of air transports to the war effort quickly became apparent as well. Throughout the war, the airlines provided much needed airlift to keep troops and supplies moving, to the front and throughout the production chain back home. For the first time in their history, the airlines had far more business - for passengers as well as freight - than they could handle. Many of them also had opportunities to pioneer new routes, gaining an exposure that would give them a decidedly broader outlook at war's end.
While there were numerous advances in U.S. aircraft design during the war, that enabled planes to go faster, higher, and farther than ever before, mass production was the chief goal of the United States. The major innovations of the wartime period - radar and jet engines - occurred in Europe.
The Jet Engine
Isaac Newton was the first to theorize, in the 18th century, that a rearward-channeled explosion could propel a machine forward at a great rate of speed. However, no one found a practical application for the theory until Frank Whittle, a British pilot, designed the first jet engine in 1930. Even then, widespread skepticism about the commercial viability of a jet prevented Whittle's design from being tested for several years.
The Germans were the first to build and test a jet aircraft. Based on a design by Hans von Ohain, a student whose work was independent of Whittle's, it flew in 1939, although not as well as the Germans had hoped. It would take another five years for German scientists to perfect the design, by which time it was, fortunately, too late to affect the outcome of the war.
Whittle also improved his jet engine during the war, and in 1942 he shipped an engine prototype to General Electric in the United States. America's first jet plane - the Bell P-59 - was built the following year.
Radar
Another technological development with a much greater impact on the war's outcome (and later on commercial aviation) was radar. British scientists had been working on a device that could give them early warning of approaching enemy aircraft even before the war began, and by 1940 Britain had a line of radar transceivers along its east coast that could detect German aircraft the moment they took off from the Continent. British scientists also perfected the cathode ray oscilloscope, which produced map-type outlines of surrounding countryside and showed aircraft as a pulsing light. Americans, meanwhile, found a way to distinguish between enemy aircraft and allied aircraft by installing transponders aboard the latter that signaled their identity to radar operators.
Dawn of the Jet Age
Aviation was poised to advance rapidly following the war, in large part because of the development of jets, but there still were significant problems to overcome. In 1952, a 36-seat British-made jet, the Comet, flew from London to Johannesburg, South Africa, at speeds as high as 500 miles per hour. Two years later, the Comet's career ended abruptly following two back-to-back accidents in which the fuselage burst apart during flight - the result of metal fatigue.
The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, following World War II, helped secure the funding needed to solve such problems and advance the jet's development. Most of the breakthroughs related to military aircraft that later were applied to the commercial sector. For example, Boeing employed a swept-back wing design for its B-47 and B-52 bombers to reduce drag and increase speed. Later, the design was incorporated into commercial jets, making them faster and thus more attractive to passengers. The best example of military - civilian technology transfer was the jet tanker Boeing designed for the Air Force to refuel bombers in flight. The tanker, the KC-135, was a huge success as a military plane, but even more successful when revamped and introduced, in 1958, as the first U.S. passenger jet, the Boeing 707. With a length of 125 feet and four engines with 17,000 pounds of thrust each, the 707 could carry up to 181 passengers and travel at speeds of 550 miles per hour. Its engines proved more reliable than piston-driven engines - producing less vibration, putting less stress on the plane's airframe and reducing maintenance expenses. They also burned kerosene, which cost half as much as the high-octane gasoline used in more traditional planes. With the 707, first ordered and operated by Pan Am, all questions about the commercial feasibility of jets were answered. The Jet Age had arrived, and other airlines soon were lining up to buy the new aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958
Following World War II, air travel soared, but with the industry's growth came new problems. In 1956 two aircraft collided over the Grand Canyon, killing 128 people. The skies were getting too crowded for existing systems of aircraft separation, and Congress responded by passing the Federal Aviation Act of 1958.
The legislation created a new safety regulatory agency, the Federal Aviation Agency, later called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when Congress created the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 1967. The agency was charged with establishing and running a broad air traffic control system, to maintain safe separation of all commercial aircraft through all phases of flight. In addition, it assumed jurisdiction over all other aviation safety matters, such as the certification of aircraft designs, and airline training and maintenance programs. The Civil Aeronautics Board retained jurisdiction over economic matters, such as airline routes and rates.
Wide-bodies and Supersonics
1969 marked the debut of another revolutionary aircraft, the Boeing 747, which, again, Pan Am was the first to purchase and fly in commercial service. It was the first wide-body jet, with two aisles, a distinctive upper deck over the front section of the fuselage, and four engines. With seating for as many as 450 passengers, it was twice as big as any other Boeing jet and 80 percent bigger than the largest jet up until that time, the DC-8.
Recognizing the economies of scale to be gained from larger jets, other aircraft manufacturers quickly followed suit. Douglas built its first wide-body, the DC-10, in 1970, and only a month later, Lockheed flew its contender in the wide-body market, the L-1011. Both of these jets had three engines (one under each wing and one on the tail) and were smaller than the 747, seating about 250 passengers.
During the same period of time, efforts were underway in both the United States and Europe to build a supersonic commercial aircraft. The Soviet Union was the first to succeed, testing the Tupolev 144 in December of 1968. A consortium of West European aircraft manufacturers first flew the Concorde two months later and eventually produced a number of those fast, but small, jets for commercial service. U.S. efforts to produce a supersonic passenger jet, on the other hand, stalled in 1971 due to public concern about it's expense and the sonic boom produced by such aircraft.
Navigate Aviation History
| The Comet |
Situated on the north coast of Scotland, the UK's first fast-breeder nuclear reactor is situated where? | Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 prototype Model 367-80 or "Dash 80".
The Boeing 707 was not the first US transport aircraft to be jet-powered; that distinction belonged to the experimental military XC-123A powered assault glider. However, the 707 was the first production American jet airliner that allowed the US to gain the lead in commercial jet transportation. The 707 remained in continuous production from the mid-1950s until 1977 with more than 1,000 aircraft produced. The 707 prototype, the Model 367-80 or "Dash 80", made its inaugural flight on July 15, 1954.
Its main competitor at the time was the British De Havilland Comet, but the 707 had accommodations for approximately four times as many passengers as the original Comet I that had first flown on July 27, 1949—it was also 100 mph faster than the Comet. This, combined with a series of accidents for the Comet, helped establish the 707 in World-Wide service. (One year after the Comet went into service, three aircraft broke up in flight due to metal fatigue. Cracks originating from the window corners caused catastrophic failures.) The Comet 4 was first to open a transatlantic passenger jet service, on October 4, 1958, but this was followed by a Pan American 707 on October 26, 1958 and went on to inaugurate the first round the world jet passenger service on October 10, 1959.
Initial orders from the airlines were delayed because they were still flying fairly new piston-powered aircraft that they still needed to recoup their investment from, so the first 29 aircraft were built as KC-13A fuel tankers. It wasn�t long before the airlines started ordering jets and then a flood of orders came from airlines all over the world, after a large order was placed by Pan American. Production centered on two major series, the 707-120 medium-range versions for up to 181 passengers and the 707-320 long-range versions for 189 passengers. When production ended in 1977, a total of 1,011 Boeing 707 airliners were produced and were operating in every continent of the world.
The story of the 707 begins with Boeing trying to develop an improved version of the Model 367 that the Air Force was currently using as the C-97. It was then realized that the performance of the C-97 with existing piston engines and the B-29 wing had reached its limits and that a whole new aerodynamic design was needed. Boeing was looking to develop a commercial variant of the B-47 , but continued to work through the Model 367 or C-97 development line. The final form was the 80th configuration of the Model 367 and so designated as the Model 367-80. Boeing kept this designation as to not tip off its competitors. Word had a way of getting around in the industry and the 367-80 designation would give the allusion that it was just a further development of the C-97. It wasn�t until the aircraft was unveiled that Boeing designated it as the Model 707.
The fuselage of the 707 had the same width as the C-97, but the sides were smoothed out and did not have the pronounced crease. The length of the tubular fuselage remained straight so that sections could be added for increased capacity. The wings and engine pylons were variants of the B-47 and B-52 but were more rigid with pronounced dihedral built in. Panels could be added at the wing roots to increase wing span. A distinctive feature of the 707 was the High Frequency (HF) boom antenna pointing forward at the top of the vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer also had a pronounced dihedral.
There were two sets of ailerons, inboard and outboard. With the flaps down, both sets of ailerons would operate. With the flaps retracted, only the inboard ailerons would be operated during cruise to dampen lateral control. Spoilers would also function for lateral control and as speed brakes. The flaps were located between the engines so as to not obstruct the jet exhaust.
When commercial jets were first introduced, noise was a great problem and some jet airliners were barred from certain airports such as New York�s LaGuardia Airport. Stopping a heavy propellerless airplane was another consideration. Boeing spent $15 million to develop both engine noise suppressors and thrust reverser systems as a solution.1
An early Boeing 707 with JT4 engines, equipped with sound suppressors. The HF antenna on top of the vertical stabilizer was a distinctive feature of the 707.
The original Boeing 707 was followed by a series of 707 passenger and cargo variants, with different lengths, weights and engines. The passenger carrying 707-320B and passenger/cargo 707-320C models were still in production in 1977. Also developed was the short-to-medium-range version known as the Boeing 720 or the 720B with JT3D turbofans . By the end of October 1976, they had flown more than 30 million hours and carried just under 522 million passengers.
In 1970 it was still not unusual for passengers to disembark on the airport ramp.
Boeing 707 Model 120 Jet Transport
The first production airplane of the Boeing 707 commercial jet series made its maiden flight December 20, 1957, with Pan American World Airways putting the airplane into transoceanic service October 26, 1958, and American Airlines following with transcontinental service January 25, 1959.
The prototype jet airliner, built as a private venture by Boeing at a cost of more than $16,000,000, amassed more than 1000 hours in its four years of flight testing, while the first three of the production airplanes used for Civil Aeronautics Administration certification testing raised the overall total to more than 1650 hours. In addition, the new jet transports benefited by the thousands of hours of flight time logged by their military counterpart, the Boeing KC-135 jet multipurpose tanker-transports which went into service in 1957.
Including the prototype, there are eight Boeing jet airliners; the others are the 707-120, the 707-120B, the 707-220, the 707-320, the 707-420, the 720 and the 720B. Weighing in at 248,000 pounds as compared with the prototype's 190,000, the 120 is principally intended for continental use. The 220 is identical in airframe and body size to the 120, but is powered by Pratt & Whitney JT4 turbojet engines, larger and of greater thrust than the JT3. The "B" airplanes use Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofan engines.
SPECIFICATIONS (120): Span 130 ft. 10 in.; Height 42 ft.; Length 144 ft. 6 in.; Engines Four Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 turbojet, more than 10,000 lb. thrust; Gear tricycle, main undercarriage units, four-wheel trucks, dual nose wheels.
PERFORMANCE: Cruise Speed 591 mph; Cruising Altitude 25,000 to 40,000 ft.
Boeing 707 Intercontinental Jet Transport
The 320 and the 420 are the Intercontinental 707s, which partially fulfill the growth potential Boeing designed into the basic 707 series. Weighing more than 295,000 pounds, they are 8 feet, 5 inches longer overall than the 120, 220, and 720, have 11 feet 7 inches more wingspan, and 500 square feet of additional wing area. Fuselage diameter, 148 inches, is the same in all models. Only difference between the 320 and 420 is the engines, the former using Pratt & Whitney JT4s and the latter Rolls-Royce "Conways."
SPECIFICATIONS INTERCONTINENTAL: Span 142 ft. 5 in.; Height 42 ft.; Length 152 ft. 11 in.; Engines Four Pratt & Whitney JT4 or Rolls Royce Conway turbojets, more than 10,000 Lb, thrust; Gear tricycle, main undercarriage units, four-wheel trucks, dual nose wheels.
PERFORMANCE: Cruise Speed 591 mph; Cruising Altitude 25,000 to 40,000 ft.
Boeing 720 Jet Transport
Designed to operate profitably in the medium range area, the Boeing 720 combines low cost with excellent operational flexibility. Associated with its capability to operate over existing route segments is the ability of the 720 to utilize present runways and terminal facilities throughout the entire airline system. The 720 offers a high level of safety, ease of maintenance and inspection, long life, minimum structural weight and reliability based on experience and extensive test programs. The seats are mounted on continuous tracks recessed in the floor, allowing use of four, five and six-abreast seating. In less than ten minutes each row of seats and its accompanying overhead service unit can be repositioned or replaced. Windows are spaced at 20-inch intervals to insure an unobstructed view regardless of seat spacing. This flexibility permits a choice of seating combinations ranging from the luxurious four-abreast interior to the six-abreast, 149-passenger tourist arrangement.
SPECIFICATIONS: Span 130 ft. 10 in; Length 136ft. 2 in.; Height 41 ft. 6.5 in.; Empty Weight 103,145 Lb.; Engines Four Pratt & Whitney JT3C-7; Fuel Capacity 11,500 gal.; Wing Area 2433 sq. ft.
PERFORMANCE: Maximum Speed more than 600 mph; Maximum Range 3300 mi.; Cruising Altitude 15,000 to 40,000 ft.
Endnotes:
| i don't know |
In 1983, Colin Pirchfork became the first criminal to be convicted for murder by the use of what evidence? | BBC NEWS | UK | Crime-fighting successes of DNA
Printable version
Crime-fighting successes of DNA
A new way to interpret DNA samples has been announced by the Forensic Science Service. Some high-profile cases have been solved by DNA evidence:
LYNDA MANN AND DAWN ASHWORTH
The first murder conviction using DNA evidence came in 1988 when baker Colin Pitchfork was found guilty of the separate murders of two schoolgirls - Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both 15 - in Narborough, Leicestershire.
Advancements in DNA technology led to Pitchfork's conviction
Both of the cases - one in 1983 and one in 1986 - involved sexual assaults, and semen samples were taken from both bodies.
Police had been convinced that local man Richard Buckland had committed both crimes and, under questioning, he confessed to the later murder but said he had no involvement in the first.
It was because of officers' belief that Mr Buckland had killed both girls that Leicester University's Dr Alec Jeffreys, who had developed a technique for creating DNA profiles, was called in.
After comparing semen samples with Mr Buckland's blood sample, Mr Jeffreys conclusively proved that both girls had been killed by the same man, but that it had not been Mr Buckland.
After the world's first mass screening for DNA - where 5,000 men in three villages were asked to volunteer blood or saliva samples - Pitchfork was eventually caught and jailed in 1988.
PETER FALCONIO
On 14 July 2001, Bradley Murdoch, of Broome, Western Australia, flagged down British backpackers Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees in their camper van in Alice Springs.
Murdoch consistently denied responsibility for the killing
He shot Mr Falconio dead and pointed a gun at Miss Lees before tying her up. She later escaped.
During the investigation that followed, the UK's FSS team carried out DNA tests on hand ties used on Miss Lee.
A DNA profile was obtained from "deep inside the home-made ties" thanks to the relatively new technology of DNA Low Copy Number (DNA LCN).
DNA LCN means DNA profiles can be obtained from samples containing only a few cells, as with the hand ties.
In 2005, in the court case that led to Murdoch's conviction, the jury heard that the genetic sample obtained from the handcuffs was 100 million times more likely to have come from Murdoch than anyone else.
MARION CROFTS
In 1981, Marion Crofts, 14, was dragged from her bicycle as she rode to band practice in Aldershot, Hampshire, and beaten to death. She had also been raped and strangled.
Marion Crofts was killed in 1981
Despite a major investigation, it was not until two decades later, and thanks to advances in forensic evidence gathering, that there was a major breakthrough.
In July 1999, a full DNA profile of Marino's killer was obtained using DNA LCN.
It was extracted from microscope slide samples which had been taken from Marion's body and sealed in 1981. The process was risky - if the tests had failed, the samples could not be used again.
The DNA profile was entered into the national DNA database, but there were no matches.
In April 2001, Leicester man Tony Jasinskyj was arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting his wife. He was routinely swabbed for DNA and the profile entered into the database.
It turned out to be a match for the profile of Marion's killer and he was subsequently jailed for life in 2002.
MICHAEL LITTLE
Michael Little, 53, died when a brick smashed into the cab of his 40-tonne lorry as he drove on the M3 in Surrey in March 2003.
Craig Harman admitted manslaughter after giving DNA
DNA taken from a brick thrown through Mr Little's cab was checked against the national database.
A relative of Craig Harman, of Frimley, inadvertently led police to their man after officers used the pioneering familial searching technique.
Familial searches, which are based on the fact that individuals who are related are more likely to have similar DNA, had been launched a few months before.
The DNA profile from the brick was checked against the national database, but because Harman did not have a criminal record no match came up.
Using the technique, 25 people with similar DNA were located and Harman's relative was top of the list. Harman was then caught after giving a DNA sample which matched exactly.
In April 2004, Harman, then 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, becoming the first person in the world to be successfully prosecuted using familial searching.
| DNA profiling |
Born in 1978, what is the name of the UK's first "test tube baby"? | DNA Testing Facts | Legalbeagle.com
DNA Testing Facts
By John Landers
DNA testing, or genetic profiling, involves the analysis of an individual's skin, saliva, semen, blood, hair or other bodily material to learn about their genetic traits. Analyst examines the proteins, "chemical fingerprints" (metabolites) and chromosomes, which is the DNA. The purpose is to identify and study families and population groups. DNA testing is typically associated with criminal cases and is a part of the criminal appeals process. However, it is also used in a wide variety of other testing settings, including medical, forensics, paternity and genealogy.
Facts
Human beings inherit the DNA of their parents. Every person has 23 pairs of genes, one each from the mother and father for a total of 46 genes. Researchers and geneticists believe the human genome is somewhere around 20,000 to 25,000 genes. Genetic profiling examines the hereditary pattern that separates nearly every human being. DNA testing has been around since 1985, and in 1987 a Florida rapist was the first criminal convicted by the use of DNA evidence. Most DNA tests are touted as more than 99 percent accurate. DNA evidence can be lifted from samples that are many years old.
Genetics
Besides genetic profiling, many DNA tests are used to not only isolate the presence of a disease, but also individuals' hereditary susceptibility to specific diseases and birth defects. This is done with the use of biochemical tests, which goes beyond the conventional DNA profiling and examines protein, RNA and a host of other elements. It also looks for aberrant genes that could lead to health issues.
Forensics
Forensic testing is used to identify specific patterns in evidence discovered at crime scenes. Analysts evaluate 13 DNA regions. These properties are also called "loci" or "markers," which are the genetic fingerprints of an individual's DNA profile. Early DNA analyses were conducted with a procedure called Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). RFLP's reputation for errors caused it to be abandoned as a DNA testing method. Today, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Short Tandem Repeat (STR) are the most prevalent forms of DNA testing.
Other Uses
In paternity DNA testing, it can identify the father of a child with 99.99 percent certainty or with 100 a percent accuracy that a particular male is not the father. Many people take a simple cheek-swab test to learn more about their genealogy. These types of test are not conducive for determining the likelihood of contracting a hereditary condition.
Considerations
Make sure the laboratory is accredited, such as the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). AABB-accredited laboratories are required to meet or exceed certain conditions and follow stringent rules that will be accepted in nearly any court. The laboratory should consistently provide a 99.99 percent probability of inclusion. DNA testing is a two-part process: properly performing the test and correctly interpreting the test results.
References
| i don't know |
Which Dutch airline merged with Air France in 2004? | KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) | Flying Blue | SkyTeam
العربية
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline operating under its original name. In 2004 Air France and KLM merged to form AIR FRANCE KLM. The merger produced the strongest European airline group based on two powerful brand names and hubs – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The two airlines collaborate in three core activities whilst maintaining their own identities – passenger transport, cargo transport, and aircraft maintenance.
In the Netherlands, KLM comprises the core of the KLM Group which further includes KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair. KLM is a leader in the airline industry and offers reliable operations and customer-oriented products resulting from its policy of enthusiasm and sustainable innovation.
KLM participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France, Delta Air Lines and Alitalia. With approximately 250 daily trans-Atlantic flights and a fleet of around 150 aircraft, the joint venture between AIR FRANCE-KLM, Alitalia and Delta Air Lines provides customers with the benefits of a vast route network offering more frequent flights, competitive fares and harmonized services on all trans-Atlantic flights.
Facts & Figures
| KLM |
If your suitcase had an airline luggage tag with the letters LAX, to which town or city would you be travelling? | Air France-KLM Merger Approved | Business | DW.COM | 12.02.2004
Business
Air France-KLM Merger Approved
Air France and Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) will become the world's largest airline in terms of revenue after European and U.S. authorities approved the deal. The merger should be completed in the summer.
They'll each keep their shade of blue.
A combined KLM-Air France will fly past American Airlines and United Airlines, both based in the United States, in terms of passanger traffic to rank number one in the world. It will also take off ahead of Japan Airlines System Corp. as the largest airlines group in revenue.
As a result, the European Commission in Brussels approved the deal on Wednesday only under strict conditions. The merged airlines have to give up several routes from the Netherlands to France and also transatlantic routes from Amsterdam to Atlanta and New York and from Paris to Detroit.
The two companies' chief executive officers surrendered nearly a hundred slots for takeoff and landing at European airports. "This will enable rival airlines to start a service where competition would have been eliminated or significantly reduced," the European Commission said in a statement, according to Reuters news service.
European Union Commissioner for Competition Mario Monti
Air France boss Jean-Cyril Spinetta and KLM Chairman Leo Van Wijk had lobbied hard to strike the deal. As recently as Monday they had a lengthy discussion with the EU commissioner handling mergers, Mario Monti (photo).
More weddings on the horizon
Monti is also likely to give his green light for a close partnership between Air France and Italy's major carrier, Alitalia. Monti, who has always approached the merger talks positively, regards consolidation in the European market as necessary. As a result, more weddings might follow soon, say analysts. Today the European aviation sector is still organized alongside national borders and not economic needs.
Ryanair, left, bought Buzz airline from KLM last year.
The big airlines, many of them partly state-owned, feel pressure from 40 low-budget-carriers that popped up like mushrooms all over the EU in recent years.
U.S. authorities also approved the deal despite concerns that KLM's already existing alliance with North-West-Airlines would harm competition with Delta Airlines. But since the U.S. carrier is bundled with Air France and North-West and Delta would be in one airline family under the Sky-Team-Alliance headed currently by Air France, the American officials agreed to the merger.
Stock markets welcomed the deal. Air France und KLM shares jumped on Tuesday. Last September, Air France announced it would buy KLM through a share exchange of €784 million ($1 billion). Both companies will retain their brands and hub airports once the merger is fully completed in the summer.
DW recommends
| i don't know |
Before breaking up, how was the Union of Soviet Socialist Rebublics abbreviated in Russian, using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet? | h2g2 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - Edited Entry
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Content from the guide to life, the universe and everything
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Created
5 Conversations
To fully understand the history of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1 , (abbreviated to USSR and rendered CCCP in the Cyrillic alphabet) it is best to look at it through the lives of its leaders. The earliest of these were Vladamir Ilich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, and Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, or Stalin, as most of us know him. At the time of their births, in 1870 and 1879 respectively, no one could have foreseen the great changes that lay ahead for the Russian Empire, an empire that had been ruled by the Grand Princes, Tsars and Emperors for almost one thousand years.
In 1848, Karl Marx wrote The Communist Manifesto and in 1867, Das Kapital. The impact of these and other socialist writings were to affect Russia and indeed the rest of world for most of the 20th Century.
Who Led the USSR?
Unlike most other republics where the leader is the President or some other elected representative is the obvious leader of the country, in the USSR, the Communist Party was supreme. Therefore if you were Party Chairman you had the authority to select and sack whoever you wanted in government and follow whatever policy you wished. Only towards the end did Gorbachev make the two roles of Party Chairman and President into one - the short-lived role of Executive President of the USSR.
Vladamir Ilich Lenin 1870-1924
Lenin was the son of a schoolteacher who had risen to the position as an inspector of schools. However, he was expelled from university where he was studying law after only three months in 1887. He became a Marxist in 1889 and eventually took his law exams at Samara gaining a first class degree. The various Marxist groups first came together in 1895 as the Union for the Struggle for the Liberation of the Working Class. Lenin quickly became established among the leaders, and with the others was arrested in December for organising demonstrations. He was initially jailed for fifteen months then exiled for three years in Siberia where he was joined by his fiancée Nadezhda Krupskaya; they were married in exile.
Most of the leaders were still imprisoned when the Marxist groups called a first congress in 1898 in Minsk. Little was achieved. However, at the second congress held in Brussels and London in 1903 the formation of ideology came to a dramatic impasse. Over a crucial vote there were two distinct groups within the newly-renamed Russian Social-Democratic Worker's Party. The majority supported the views of Lenin and became known as the Bolsheviks (meaning majoritorians) whereas the minority voted with L. Martovs and henceforth were known as the Mensheviks (or Minoritorians).
1905 Revolution
Both the groupings within Marxist circles agreed that two forms of revolution were required to bring about their manifesto. First, the Bourgeois , educated middle class liberals, and then the Proletariat working class. In 1902 Lenin had written What is to Be Done? basically a reworking and updating of Bakunin and Nechayes's 1869 Revolutionary Catechism. So an attempt to stir up these two classes was made in 1905. However, the time was not yet right for revolution and the leaders were either round up or scattered. Lenin himself was to find himself in exile from 1907 until 1917 when the 'glorious revolution' finally came.
The rift between the views of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks continued to deepen following the failure of 1905 and the split was made absolute in 1912 when Lenin called a Bolshevik Party Convention in Prague in 1912. Across Europe, with the threat of war, socialist groups agreed that if their nations led them into an Imperialist war it would be the time to prompt their people to revolution. However, in 1914 when the war finally came they fell into line with the war effort. Lenin found himself more or less cut off from Russia in neutral Switzerland, but tried to motivate socialists elsewhere to 'transform the imperialist war into civil war' 2 . Instead they agreed to go only as far as allowing the people the right to self determination.
The 1917 Revolution
The turnaround came in March 1917, when in Petrograd 3 a war-weary, cold and hungry group of soldiers deposed the Tsar. On hearing the news Lenin, with the consent of the Germans, proceeded as fast as he could to the seat of the revolution he had so long been hoping for. When he arrived a provisional government was in place. Unfortunately for him the Mensheviks had a majority on the Petrograd Soviet 4 . They had considered that the revolution had been carried out by the bourgeois class and therefore had created a liberal provisional government to reflect this. Lenin took a month to get to Petrograd, but on his arrival declared the new regime simply a different form of Imperialism, not worthy of the support of the socialists. He said they were incapable of providing the workers, soldiers and peasants with their desire, i.e. a fair proportion of the wealth of their nation.
The Second Revolution
Lenin fled to Finland but set about re-establishing a majority in the local regional and town soviets for his Bolshevik branch of socialism, by publishing articles and pamphlets. His views to nationalise all land and the tightening of control over privately owned industry for the benefit of the labourers soon gathered support. By September the Petrograd Soviet and indeed those across the country once more had a Bolshevik majority. In October at great personal risk he returned to attend a meeting of the Bolshevik Central Committee in Petrograd where he gained their agreement to seek supporters in the army and navy and to prepare the workers' militia, known as the Red Guard, for a military take over. On the 7th and 8th of November, to little resistance, the Bolshevik revolution took place. Shortly after, at the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets, Lenin was confirmed as the new Chairman. He may have finally achieved his long held aim but the struggle was far from over.
Civil War and the Establishment of the Soviet Union
Over the next two years the new regime faced economic crisis and civil war; not everyone was confident that the new way was the best. Some of the first shots fired in the conflict were indeed intended to remove Lenin. Two bullets from an assassin's gun lodged in his neck in August 1918. However, he made a rapid recovery, and as a result he managed to somehow maintain a supply line for the workers' Red Army in their battles against the White Army led by disillusioned Tsarist Generals and Admirals 5 . Lenin demanded the requisition of food from the peasants to supply his army from the land he had encouraged them to seize without compensation from the landed gentry. Some of the peasants resisted until they witnessed what the White Army's 'liberation' entailed. The Whites took revenge on those who supported the revolution by giving the land back to the previous owners and punishing those responsible for its seizure. Eventually the workers chose the Red cause and the war was won.
However, with the Whites defeated the peasantry no longer felt obliged to hand over all their grain to the nation, and fearing a revolt, Lenin gave way on one of his key principles and allowed them to sell their goods on the open market. On foreign policy he set about his two goals; to create a front preventing the Imperialists retaking Russia, and to nurture proletarian regimes abroad. The first was more or less achieved by the time of his death in 1924 when all the major powers recognised the Soviet regime with the exception of the United States of America. The latter objective would take some time, as others were not so quick to join a worldwide revolution. To encourage this he changed the party name to the Russian Communist Party and encouraged other socialists elsewhere to set up sister communist parties.
By 1921 all opposition was crushed, but Lenin believed his opponents now within the Party structure were more dangerous than ever. What came out of this was the start of suppression by fear and a number of 'show trials' occurred often ending in the death penalty for people seen to be enemies of the state by opposing the establishment of Bolshevism.
Lenin's health was failing. In the spring of 1922 he fell ill, the cause was put down to one of the bullets he had taken in 1918 and this was removed from his neck and he recovered rapidly. But a month later he faced paralysis and was unable to speak. He recovered by June and set about establishing the U.S.S.R., which was finally created on 30 December. However, just before the creation, he was again semi-paralysed and over the next month he dictated a number of articles to his secretary warning about the party falling under the control of the forceful personalities of Stalin or Trotsky. In March 1923 he suffered a stroke that would render him speechless from then until his death. It was a second stroke on the evening of 21 January 1924 that eventually killed him.
Joseph Stalin 1879-1953
Stalin was born Iosif Visssarionvich Dzhugashvili. He was the son of a drunken cobbler who often beat him. Unlike Lenin, who became an atheist in his youth, Stalin (he took his pseudonym from the Russian for steel) studied for the priesthood at Tiflis (now Tblisi) Theological Sminaryin Georgia. However, he was eventually expelled for revolutionary activity. In 1900, he joined the political underground, instigating strikes and demonstrations in the Caucasus. He would be imprisoned seven times for his efforts before 1913. When the Social Democrats split in two he joined the more militant Bolsheviks becoming a disciple of their leader Lenin. He plotted behind the scenes not making much of a political impact until in 1912 he was appointed to the Central Committee of the breakaway Bolshevik party. He became the editor of their newspaper Pravda until, in 1913, he embarked on his longest period in exile in Siberia. However, after the 1917 revolution, he resumed his position at Pravda.
Stalin played a significant, if less noticeable, role in the coup d'etat, than Leon Trotsky, bringing an end to the provisional government which saw Lenin take power. Then he served as commissar for nationalities and state control. He became Secretary General of the Party's Central Committee in 1922 following Lenin's worsening health, but used his new-found position of power to move away from Lenin's ideas. He also saw Trotsky as the main threat to his leadership and so Trotsky was banished to Alma Ata in Kazakhstan, and from there deported to Turkey in 1929. As a former communist leader he had difficulty finding a country in which to settle and finally in 1937 he ended up in Mexico, but three years later he was murdered with an ice pick by one of Stalin's followers.
On the death of Lenin Stalin created a cult to the Bolshevik leader by having his embalmed body put on permanent display in a mausoleum in Red Square. He also renamed Petrograd, the starting point of the revolution, Leningrad in 1924. However, after a few short years, he moved away from Lenin's quasi-capitalist approach to economics to state-organised industrialisation under a series of rigid five-year plans. These included organising peasants' small holdings into collective farms, refusal to do so leading to arrest, exile or execution. However, the rigidity of his policies on exportation caused a famine in the Ukraine. The full extent of his policies on the rural community are not known, but 10 million may have perished as a result. His rapid programme of industrialisation faired little better and Stalin put a succession of managers on trial for their failure to fulfil the chairman's policies. However, it did succeed in dragging the country from it's backward industrial state into an industrialised nation.
The 1930s saw the beginning of the worst excesses of Stalin. He started to purge the party of anyone he considered a potential threat. This followed the assassination of his leading colleague and rival Sergey Kirov in 1934. As a result many leading political and military leaders where sentenced to death for treason. The effect was to silence any voice of opposition or even questioning of his five-year plans. The secret police, arts, academia, legal and diplomatic spheres were also subject to denunciation and execution.
World War II
In 1939 Stalin initially tried to form an anti-Hitler alliance with the Western powers but when this was rejected, he formed a pact with the Germans. This resulted in the German invasion of Poland and the declaration of war. Stalin annexed Eastern Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania 6 as well as a part of Finland in an attempt to shore up his boundaries. However, when Hitler suddenly turned his attention east on 22 June 1941 the preparations of Stalin were found to be wanting against the effective Blitzkrieg. By the end of the year the Germans were only 25 miles from the Kremlin and threatening Moscow. Stalin, by this time having appointed himself Chief of Staff, stayed in the capital to oversee a successful counter offensive which pushed the Germans back. The Battle of Stalingrad the following year and the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 were further Soviet victories repulsing the German onslaught, an advantage they never again surrendered until the final victory in May 1945. He maintained close personal control over the war effort and unlike Hitler trusted those around him enough to delegate.
After the war Stalin imposed a colonial control over the communist countries, now increased with the creation of the Eastern Soviet zone in Germany, until Tito took Yugoslavia out of the alliance in 1948. To stop further defections he resorted to the show trails and executions that had proved so successful in the 1930s's to tighten his control. His allies from the war, Great Britain and the United States, were now his new enemies on ideological grounds. Also, the Soviet Union became more ego-centric ignoring the achievements of the outside world while emphatically praising their own.
In January 1953, a new series of purging appeared to be about to begin in the Soviet Union when some doctors at the Kremlin, mainly Jewish, were arrested on suspicion of medically murdering various Soviet leaders. The fears, however, were greatly eased by the sudden and 'timely' death of Stalin on 5 March 1953.
Georgy Maksimilianovich Malenkov 1902-1988
For a couple of weeks following the death of Stalin, Malenkov held absolute power as First Secretary of the Central Committee. He remained on as Prime Minister under Khruschev until 1955, trying to reduce arms spending, increase the production of consumer goods and create incentives for farmers. However, he was eventually removed from this post as well, but remained in the politburo from where he mounted a failed challenge to the leadership of Khruschev. As a result he was ostracised and thrown out of the Communist Party by 1961. He managed a remote hydro-electric plant in the Kazakh S.S.R. for 30 years and eventually died, still in disgrace, aged 88.
Nikita Sergeyevich Khruschev 1894-1971
Unlike most of the other Soviet leaders who had a middle class background, Khruschev was the son of a miner from the Ukraine. He worked for Stalin in the war effort relocating Ukrainian industry as far East as possible trying to avoid the advancing Germans. His role following the War was trying to restore the administration structures and increasing agricultural production, which earned him the nickname the Butcher of the Ukraine.
After the death of Stalin there were three potential heirs. Malenkov was the natural heir apparent but there was also Lavrenty Beria his deputy Prime Minister and Khruschev, who was popular with the politburo. Malenkov was soon ousted and Beria was sentenced and executed as an imperialist spy, establishing Khruschev in power.
One of his first acts as leader was to set about rectifying the excesses of the purges of the Stalin era. He condemned Stalin for his 'intolerance, his brutality, his abuse of power' 7 . He exposed the wrongful executions of the 1930s and set thousands of political prisoners free and rehabilitated many less fortunate who died in prison or exile.
He also allowed a greater degree of freedom to the other Warsaw Pact nations than Stalin who had started to clamp down on them. However, when in 1956 Hungary's premier Imre Nagy threatened to withdraw from the alliance, he suppressed this insurrection using military might. This led to opposition at home led by Malenkov and Vyacheslav Molotov. He appealed to the rest of the central committee and further strengthened his power by making himself Prime Minister in 1958.
In 1959 he changed the approach to the West, setting up in 'peaceful competition' 8 especially in space where the first satellite, space walk and docking were all Soviet successes. He set about visiting the United States of America and revelations reached a new high when he met President Dwight D. Eisenhower at Camp David. However, he later cancelled a conference between the two but met the next President John F. Kennedy only to disagree over the solution for the German question; within months the Berlin wall was erected. Soviet-American relations continued to degenerate, with the Soviet Union placing medium-range weapons just outside San Cristobal, Cuba in 1963 bringing the two superpowers to the edge of war. It was only averted on the promise of the Americans not to attempt to overthrow Castro's Communist government. However, in reaching this agreement with the imperialists he upset China on ideological grounds.
He relaxed the rules on visas allowing Soviet tourism overseas, but he continued to fail with the Soviet Unions' ongoing battle to increase agricultural production. He attempted even to cultivate 70 million acres of Siberia but still the U.S.S.R. received massive imports from the USA and Canada. This crisis and the ever deepening China rift led to him eventually being forced from power and he resigned on 14 October 1964, on the grounds of age and ill health, though he lived on till 1971. He was the only Soviet Leader to retire from office of his own volition.
Leonid Ilich Brezhnev 1906-1982
Born in 1906 Brezhnev worked as a land surveyor in the early Soviet years of the 1920s before studying at university to become an engineer. However, he was soon taking positions in the local party. He rose swiftly under Stalin's regime becoming by 1939 the secretary of his regional party committee in Dnepropetovsk. During World War II he served as a political commissar reaching the heady heights of head of the commissars on the Ukrainian front with the rank of major general.
On the death of Stalin he gave up all his positions in the party including his central committee membership to become the deputy head of the political department at the Ministry of Defence as a lieutenant general. However he was soon promoted to be second secretary of the Kazakh SSR Central Committee where he soon caught the eye of the new Chairman Khruschev. He returned to the Central Committee in 1956 and loyally supported its leader in the attempted rebellion of 1957. Three years later he was rewarded by being created chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Then in 1964 he was created assistant Secretary to Khrushchev of the Central Committee. However, three months later, he was instrumental in forcing Khruschev to give way before taking the Chairmanship himself.
As head of government he delegated some functions, such as diplomatic relations and internal economics to his colleagues Aleksey Kosygin and Nikolay Podgorny, while focusing his attentions on foreign and military affairs as well as dissenters to Marxist ideology within the Soviet Union. He made many foreign visits including a grand tour of his eastern European allies in 1965. However, twelve years after his predecessor faced a similar problem in Hungary he faced down Czechoslovakia who made a bid for greater freedom.
During the 1970s he attempted to cool the Cold War with a new policy of co-existence with the United States. However, he continued to increase and modernise his military power base. Also, he supported wars of national liberty in developing countries, which often found him in direct conflict with the United States. As his reign continued the early idea of collective government vanished. In 1976 he attained the rank of marshal (the highest military rank) and the following year became the first leader to be both Chairman of the Presidium and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In his last years, however, he was seen less in public and when he did appear, he often looked to be on strong medication. His last major appearance on the world stage was at the heavily boycotted Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, as a result of the invasion of Afghanistan.
The Interim Leaders
Yury Vladimirovich Andropov 1914-1984
In preparation for the death of Brezhnev, Andropov resigned from his post as head of the KGB. On 12 November, 1982, two days after the death of his predecessor, at the age of 68, he was elected chairman of the central committee. However in August 1983 he withdrew from public life with his terminal illness. His 15-month tenure in charge of one of the world's superpowers yielded nothing of note, and his death on 9 February, 1984 led to another interim leader taking his place.
Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko 1911-1985
At 73, Chernenko was older than his predecessor, but he had been the Chief of Staff for Brezhnev. He maintained the hard-line approach of his former boss on foreign affairs, but his frequent absences through ill health led to speculation that the selection of such an elderly and infirm man was only to allow the successful grooming of the eventual heir to Brezhnev. His death in 1985 allowed the final reformer of Soviet history to take his place in the Union's short history.
Mikhail Sergeyovich Gorbachev Born 1931
The only leader of the Soviet Union not to be born under the Tsars was to eventually become inadvertently the architect that dismantled the mighty Union. Born the son of peasants in 1931 in the village of Privolnoie near Stavropol. He went to study at Moscow State University where he graduated with a degree in Law. He later gained a qualification from Stavropol Agricultural Institute's department of the economy which enabled him to move into a profession as an agronomist-economist.
He rose steadily through the ranks of the local party in Stavropol until in 1971 he was elected to the Central Committee at the 24th Party Congress. In 1979 he entered the Supreme Soviet representing the Ipatovsky district. Interestingly, a list published at this time of Kremlin leaders listed Gorbachev 28th and last in the hierarchy. In 1980 he swiftly became a full member of the Politburu.
His experience and education in agriculture were quickly utilised and he was given key role in Brezhnev's ten year food plan. The eventual proposal linked agriculture with the industries supporting it for the first time in Soviet history. However, bad harvests continued and Gorbachev's position was perilous for four years in a row. On Brezhnev's death he was moved to a position overseeing the Party apparatus and government under Andropov. Then, under Chernenko, he became effectively second in command.
Leader of the Soviet Union
He became General Secretary of the Communist Party in May 1985, in preference to Chernenko's preferred successor Victor Grishin, and set about the most radical change in Soviet policies since the time of Stalin. He initiated a period of political openness (glasnost) and transformation (perestroika) intended to modernise the U.S.S.R. more towards a western style of government than had been present for the previous 70 years. He entered into extensive dialogues with President Reagan and then Bush in the USA and the European leaders Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl and Francois Mitterand. He eventually also became elected President in 1988.
He started the process of dismantling the world's nuclear arsenal and received the Nobel Peace Prize for this initiative in 1990. However, the year before he received his award, the world was starting to change.
The Collapse of the System
November 1989 saw the visible and ideological collapse of the Iron Curtain when the Berlin wall came down. The impetus to move away from communism spread through eastern Europe country by country. On 26 December, even hardline Romania pulled away by executing Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife. Only Russia, China, Albania and Cuba remained as communist states unaffected by this wave of change at the end of the year.
In March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet states to declare independence; Latvia and Estonia followed soon after. These three states had known independence between the two World Wars.
The Coup
On 18 August, 1991 a hard-line communist coup d'etat placed Gorbachev and his wife Raisa under house arrest at his dacha in the Crimea. The coup plotters, Boldin (Chief of the President's staff), Shenin (a member of Politburo, Secretary of the Central Committee), Baklanov (Deputy Chief of Defence Council), Varennikov (General of the Army) and Plekhanov (Chief of KGB department of personal protection) were there demanding he declare a state of emergency or resign; Gorbachev refused. The following day it was announced that Gorbachev had been relieved of his duties due to the state of his health and that power had been transferred to Vice President Gennadi Yanaev.
The first voice of dissent to what was going on was Boris Yeltsin, the Russian President. He denounced the actions of the day as reactionary and anti-Constitutional. Meanwhile the military were taking control of Moscow and Leningrad and other key sites. Things became tense and the White House, home of the Russian Parliament, came under attack from the Soviet military.
Yeltsin became the voice of the people appearing on the streets and in front of tanks defending the constitution that had recently come into place. On 21 August the Coup collapsed and Gorbachev was free to return to Moscow and resume power. However, three days later, Gorbachev resigned from his position as head of the communist party.
For the remainder of the year tensions continued to flow underneath the fabric of the Soviet Union as each of the states wanted more autonomy and independence. Eventually on 25 December he resigned as President and dissolved the Soviet Union. The 'Bear of Communism' in the East had roared its last and became for the first time in a long time fifteen states again.
1 In Russian, 'Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' is pronounced Soyuz Sovietskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik 2 From speeches made at two anti-war conferences held at Zimmerwald and Kienthal, Switzerland in 1915 and 1916. 3 Previously and currently St. Petersburg, also known as Leningrad during the Soviet Years. 4 The name for a local grouping of the Marxists. The Supreme Soviet is a central meeting of representatives at the Kremlin. 5 Supported by Britain, France and the other allies in the hope that Russia would join them again in the fight against Germany. 6 These three had enjoyed independence in the inter-war years. 7 From his speech to the 20th Party Congress, February 1956. 8 From a speech at the 21st Congress.
| Soviet Union |
In which country does OPEC maintain its headquarters? | "The Event of Our Era": Former Soviet Muslim Republics Change the Middle East :: Daniel Pipes
"The Event of Our Era"
Former Soviet Muslim Republics Change the Middle East
by Daniel Pipes
Central Asia and the World: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
1994
Comment ( 5 )
[N.B.: The following reflects what the author submitted, and not exactly what was published. To obtain the precise text of what was printed, please check the original place of publication.]
What is going on in Central Asia and in Turkey has completely changed the region's geo-politics.
-- Akbar Torhan, Iran's minister of defense and armed forces logistics
The very emergence of Central Asia onto the scene of world politics exerts a strong ripple effect on such states as Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and others, potentially unleashing regional conflict, wars, separatist or irredentist movements, and religious extremism that affect the broader stability and security of the surrounding states.
-- Graham Fuller
INTRODUCTION
The emergence of six mostly Muslim republics from the former Soviet Union has prompted much concern about their falling under Middle Eastern influence. But Middle Eastern states have attained little power over those republics; ironically, the impact goes the other way. The independence of republics in the Transcaucasus (Azerbaijan) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), has profound implications for the Middle East, and especially for their four immediate neighbors-Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Turkey's former prime minister Süleyman Demirel exaggerated only slightly when he called the independence of these states (called henceforth the ex-Soviet Muslim republics or the Southern Tier) "the event of our era." Indeed, the Southern Tier's resumption of history may well have enormous consequences for the Middle East.
Middle Eastern Impact on the Southern Tier
Reporting from Central Asia and Azerbaijan since late 1991 has concentrated on the competition for influence over them among Middle Eastern states. The rivals include primarily Turkey and Iran, as well as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Ankara sees success at wooing the Southern Tier as a means of advancing Turkish secularism as a model, while Iran's success would win support for that country's anti-Western Islamic model.
To be sure, this competition does exist: Many Middle Eastern states saw an opportunity in about 1990 to gain influence in what seemed a virgin territory. Turks swooned at the prospect of leading a substantial bloc of Turkic speakers. Iranians jumped at the opportunity to reassert their historic cultural influence, now laced with Khomeinist Islam, over the Southern Tier. Pakistanis looked to Central Asia as a place to do business and establish a strategic hinterland versus India. Some Tajik and Uzbek Afghans looked to the region for allies. Saudi Arabians quickly geared up their Islamic apparatus to operate in a new region. Both Israelis and Syrians actively sought out friends in the Southern Tier. The ensuing competition had political, strategic, economic, ideological, and cultural dimensions. All these states dispatched diplomats to the Southern Tier; signed cultural, trade, or security protocols; beamed radio and television broadcasts; provided loans; and trained students.
But activity alone does not guarantee influence. Indeed, the Middle Eastern states have so far exerted little real authority in any area of Southern Tier life, from military affairs to religious practice. This generalization holds especially in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Southern Tier's most populous and powerful states; it also applies to Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, where Turkey and Iran, respectively, enjoy greatest strength.
Why so little impact? Because Middle Eastern states are weak and divided, while the Southern Tier is proud and wary.
Middle Eastern weakness. Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan all suffer from severe limitations. Not one of them has the cultural, economic, or military means to carve out a sphere of influence. In addition, each state has its own special shortcomings. Although Iran's location will surely mean commercial and transportation links to the Southern Tier, the country's international isolation much reduces its attraction for states just emerging from three generations of colonialism and political quarantine. Also, its severe, unremitting Islamic order puts off peoples accustomed to secularism. Saudi Arabia competes, but its flimsy manpower base, remote location, and alien religious customs make it a less than formidable contender. As for Pakistan, it suffers from perpetual instability and wrenching poverty, and so can neither project power nor serve as a convincing model for others.
Of all the Middle Eastern actors, Turkey has the most active program for the Southern Tier and is widely seen as the most plausible influence over that region; its weaknesses therefore deserve more detailed consideration. Western notions to the contrary ("Turkey has the strongest historical and cultural links"), not only is Turkey geographically remote from Central Asia, but it enjoys few historical or cultural ties to that region. Istanbul never ruled Central Asia; conversely, Central Asia ruled Anatolia only momentarily (under Tamerlane) six centuries ago. Ottomans concentrated attention on their vast empire from Hungary to Yemen, not on distant Turkestan. Consequently, they had little cultural impact there until the decades just before World War I. The Soviets broke communications between the two areas, so that Kemal Atatürk's Westernizing reforms in Turkey during the 1920s and 1930s had almost no effect in the Southern Tier.
Turkish politicians sometimes portray their country as a middleman between the former Soviet republics and the West. Turks hope their Western orientation will strongly appeal to peoples emerging from three generations of totalitarianism. But how well can Turks serve this function if they themselves have not been let into the European Community ? And even if they can, why should the newly emerging states look to a peripheral member of the West rather than approach the key players directly?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Central Asians find disappointment in Turkey. Students report poor conditions for study , businessmen find capital limited, and religious figures don't care for the country's secularism. All of them encounter a language more difficult to understand and a culture more remote than expected. And while the Turks have extended their media-television and newspapers especially-to the Southern Tier, they do not custom-design materials for these new audiences. Once the novelty of their media fare wore off, this severely restricted its appeal.
Turks lack the capital to carry through on their ambitious economic plans. Utbank, a joint Turkish-Uzbek commercial bank established in Tashkent to considerable fanfare, had a meager $2 million capitalization. In by far the biggest deal so far, the Turkish company BMB signed an $11.7 billion deal to operate four oil fields in Kazakhstan. But a few months later it was reduced to making a public appeal for an $800 million loan over four years ("and $200 million of it very urgently") because its own funds would not permit it to carry through the contracted prospecting in Kazakhstan. In general, Turkish entrepreneurs have become active in small-scale efforts (commerce, training, transportation), but have forfeited the larger undertakings (in oil, gas, gold) to Western and Asian corporations.
Further, the business that has actually transpired is pretty paltry: in 1992, Turkey's total trade (imports and exports) with the five republics of Central Asia amounted to a mere $300 million. Nor is it likely to go much higher soon, for the two sides produce many of same goods. Turkey neither offers much of a market for Southern Tier products nor supplies what the Southern Tier most wants to buy.
By late 1992, Southern Tier republics had begun complaining about Turkish activities. For example, the Azerbaijani authorities disliked the fact that Turkish joint ventures were attached not to manufacturing but to-as in the old, bad Soviet days-exporting raw materials. In December 1992 Kazakhstan's ambassador to Turkey accused Turkish businessmen of "lacking the courage to initiate investment," though he may have been confusing courage with capitalization. More broadly, as Patrick Clawson of the National Defense University argues, the Turkish example does not inspire ex-Soviet Muslims.
The "Turkish model" looks rather uninviting to those who see Turkey as at best a second-class economy, with profound problems-a foreign debt that has had to be rescheduled several times in recent decades, a growth record well below that in East Asia, continuing macroeconomic imbalances (budget deficits and inflation), etc.
Assessing Turkey's current economic capabilities, William Ward Maggs holds that it cannot "do much more than ship typewriters and television programs" to the Southern Tier. In Martha Brill Olcott's words, Turkish efforts have proven to be "more air than action." The new "great game" for power in Central Asia, Boris Rumer of Harvard comments, brutally but accurately, "is unfolding not so much among the old colonial powers as among their former minions, many of whom are themselves just emerging from colonial domination and seeking to define their roles."
Then there is the Azerbaijan fiasco. As the Southern Tier republic closest to Turkey both spatially and culturally, Azerbaijan served as a showcase for Turkish efforts to help ex-Soviet Muslims leave the Russian sphere of influence and find their way to stable democracy. But Ankara did little to help Azerbaijan in its war with Armenia. The Turks warned Yerevan in 1992 that Armenia's attacks on Azerbaijan forces "would inevitably affect Turkish politics, and could even destabilize the country." A year later, as Armenian aggression intensified, so did Turkish rhetoric, with Prime Minister Demirel going so far as to warn the Armenians, "If you are enemies of Azerbaijan, so you become enemies of Turkey." Many observers expected that fighting between Azeris and Armenians would spur Ankara to come to the aid of its brethren. Heated words aside, however, Ankara basically stayed out of the conflict; it strenuously asserted that "Not a single Turkish soldier serves in the Azerbaijan Armed Forces" and admitted only to sending humanitarian aid and training Azeri officers. For its part, Baku acknowledged just Turkish deliveries of fabric for its troops' field uniforms and a retired Turkish general of Azeri origins.
The election of Ebulfez Ali Elçibey as president of Azerbaijan in June 1992 brought a passionately pro-Turkish politician to power. Elçibey hung a portrait of Atatürk in his office , appointed Turkish citizens to high positions in his government , and spoke ardently of Turkey as a "light of hope for all Central Asia Muslims and Turks." His comments even took on a maudlin quality, as when he explained how Azeris become "tearful when Turkey is mentioned. These tears are the tears of estrangement and longing of a hundred years." Turks replied to these extravagant statements in kind. For example, President Turgut Özal told Elçibey: "This is your second country and Azerbaijan is our second motherland." When Haydar Aliyev removed Elçibey from power in June and July 1993, however, Ankara did not lift a finger to rescue Elçibey's presidency. Turkish politicians merely pointed out the illegality of Aliyev's rule and fretted about his "Stalinist" methods.
This combination-not protecting Azerbaijan from Armenian predations or swaying Azerbaijan's domestic politics-drastically reduced Ankara's reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the Southern Tier.
Lack of interest. The Western press contains many statements to the effect that Southern Tier countries are looking to the Middle East for a model to follow. In a typical assertion, Colin Barraclough held that the "Central Asians are searching the outside world for a model for change." Middle Easterners also promote this notion. Umut Arik, chairman of the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), which doles out Turkish aid to the Southern Tier, contended that the new republics are "in search of a model."
But a close examination of sentiments among the ex-Soviet Muslims suggests they are not looking to the Middle East. To begin with, they recognize the weakness of their neighbors. With some disdain, they dismiss as "second hand" the technology proffered them by Turks and Iranians, pointing out that it really comes from Germany or some other Western country.
Southern Tier leaders also express skepticism about coming under the sway of another state. "We reject foreign influence, whether Turkey's or Iran's, in our lives and politics," Foreign Minister Khudoyberdy Kholiqnazarov of Tajikistan has asserted. "After years of Russian imperialism we just want to live free in an independent country called Tajikistan." Ex-Soviet Muslims have plenty of diurnal problems without getting involved in faraway regions. Falling right back under what Southern Tier residents consider the tutelage of another distant capital holds out few charms for them. And visionary schemes of any sort have little appeal for peoples emerging from decades of corrupted ideology.
Ties to Russia remain strong; indeed, in many respects the independence of the Southern Tier states is more formal than real. And Russia shows keen and growing interest in reasserting its influence over the former Soviet republics (now known as the "near abroad"). To associate too closely with Middle Eastern states, then, could make trouble with Moscow.
Finally, ex-Soviet Muslims take pride in their own accomplishments. They see themselves as no less civilized than their southern neighbors and reject notions that they need to learn from the latter. Where are infant mortality rates lower and literacy rates higher? Who hosts a cosmodome and advanced military industries? And which countries until recently contributed to the Soviet superpower? Southern Tier Muslims feel culturally and technologically at least the equal of Turkey. Azimbay Ghaliyev, a Kazakh demographer, sees the balance this way:
Turkey is a developing country. Internal conditions and internal stability are inadequate; religious and nationalist fundamentalism and powerful Kurd and Arab nationalities are increasingly important factors. The light and food industries and tourism are well developed in Turkey. On the other hand, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry, and machinery construction technology are just now becoming established. Sectors such as space research, astrophysics, nuclear physics, mathematical physics, and chemical medicine are mostly nonexistent. They are striving to learn these from us. Likewise, it would be more suitable for us to learn the banking system from the United States, Germany, and Japan. In this area, we must look at the Turkish example with critical eyes.
Symbolic of the ex-Soviet Muslims' pride, Tashkent in August 1992 announced the granting of a hundred scholarships for Turkish students to study in Uzbekistan, signaling that aid will not go in just one direction. At the same time, the Uzbekistanis (and Kyrgyzstanis) took advantage of only some of the two thousand spots awarded their students at Turkish institutions.
Azerbaijan's experience confirmed the hesitations of ex-Soviet Muslims about Turkey in another way. Elçibey's extravagantly pro-Turkish policies and statements led to criticism that he had replaced the Russian "big brother" (starshyi brat ) with a Turkish one (agabey ). The pro-Turkish program alienated so many constituents that by the time Elçibey faced a military rebellion in June 1993 he lacked a strong base. His old-guard opponents easily overthrew him, brought in communist-era practices, and replaced the Turkish orientation with a Russian one.
Nevertheless, Southern Tier leaders are willing to play along with Middle Easterners-for a price. The Southern Tier urgently needs capital and training; flattery is a small price to pay for these benefits. As Maqsudul Hasan Nuri puts it, referring to the states of the Southern Tier, "these 'six brides' are going to use all their charms and wiles and guile to extract maximum aid and the best business terms for themselves." The apparatchiks yet running the Southern Tier made their way up the slippery hierarchy of the Communist Party by pleasing their superiors, and they have few scruples about pleasing new potentates. It is simply a matter of adapting their verbiage: democracy takes the place of socialism, Islam replaces atheism, the market replaces central planning, Turkish and Persian languages replace Russian. Reality changes very little, however.
Thus, the deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan had no problem appealing to Turks, "Teach us the Turkish language and culture." Islam Karimov, the tough ex-communist leader of Uzbekistan, referred unblushingly to "the holy land of Iran" on arrival in Tehran. If Turks wish to suffuse their politics with emotions, Southern Tier Muslims happily respond in kind. When Demirel told a Central Asian audience, "Your name will be registered in a golden page in the history of the great Turkic community," Uzbekistan's president replied with a rousing "Long live the unity of Uzbeks and Turks." The right prize will prompt almost any words. On the other hand, these words will cease if suitable rewards are not forthcoming.
Southern Tier Impact on the Middle East
If Middle Eastern states have little influence over the Southern Tier, influence emanating from the latter has greatly affected the Middle East. In the language of social science, the causal arrow goes from Central Asia to the Middle East. Opinion polls confirm this observation. Southern Tier residents consistently show great curiosity in and high expectations of the West and Russia, and much less of both concerning Turks, Iranians, Arabs, and Pakistanis. When asked in January 1992 which country they would like to visit, a representative sampling of almost 900 adults living in the Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent placed the United States a strong first, followed by India, Japan, and Turkey. The same poll revealed that six in ten Uzbekistanis want Western countries to help them "build democracy." In contrast, a sampling of 1,000 Turks in November 1992 revealed very strong interest in Central Asia; for example, more Turks sought social and cultural relations with Central Asia than with Western Europe, the Middle East, or the United States.
Southern Tier independence has already had a variety of consequences for the Middle East. For example, the Iranians had planned to construct a pipeline across Turkey to Europe but scuttled this plan in April 1992, choosing instead to lay the line via Azerbaijan, Russia, and the Ukraine. This change in route (which is yet to be financed) clearly reflected the Iranian rivalry with Ankara for influence in the Southern Tier. Turks understood this change of mind in light of that competition and threatened to retaliate by encouraging Turkmenistan not to build a pipeline through Iran, but instead under the Caspian Sea, then through Azerbaijan and along the Armenia-Iran border. Ankara raised the stakes in August 1993 when it retaliated for Iranian obstructionism by charging 1,600 German marks for each Iranian truck crossing through Turkey. The Turks made it clear that they would rescind the charge if given access to Azerbaijan via Iranian territory.
Most consequences are larger and vaguer than this, however. The remainder of this chapter looks at two especially dangerous theaters, the Azeri and the Tajik-Pashtun, and assesses the ways in which they can disrupt the Middle East. Then it considers Turkey and the other Middle Eastern states affected by Southern Tier independence. It concludes with some speculations for the long-term future.
Background
Muslims of the former Soviet Union number some fifty-five million and live primarily in six southern republics, one in the Transcaucasus (Azerbaijan) and five in Central Asia. Muslims make up a majority in all these Southern Tier republics except for Kazakhstan, where they constitute just 42 percent of the population (Russians constitute about 36 percent). Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have by far the largest populations (20.7 and 16.8 millions, respectively), followed by Azerbaijan (7.2 million), Tajikistan (5.4 million), Kyrgyzstan (4.4 million), and Turkmenistan (3.7 million).
Fifty million residents of the Southern Tier speak various forms of Turkic, some quite intelligible to a resident of Istanbul, others not. The languages of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan present him with few troubles, but Kazakh is another matter. A native of Istanbul can communicate basic ideas in Kazakh, but little more. Conversing requires several months of residence and study. While it is true, as Paul Henze of the RAND Corporation points out, that su means "water" from the Adriatic to China, most other words change across that vast distance. The gradations of difference might make it possible, however, for the Kazakh to pass on his message via a Kyrgyz to an Uzbek, to an Azeri, then to the Istanbul native.
The other five million Muslims of the Southern Tier speak Tajik, an Iranian language intelligible to Tehran's residents. Tajik closely resembles Dari, the Persian language of Afghanistan.
Russian conquest of the Southern Tier began with the conquest of Azerbaijan by 1828. The tsar's forces then needed another forty years to conquer Central Asia, from 1847 to 1885 - which was about the same time as the British and French empires reached their maximum extents in Africa and Asia. Indeed, Russian settlement in Central Asia resembled that of the British in Rhodesia or the Portuguese in Angola. But it most closely mirrored French control of Algeria. Algeria and the Southern Tier are both lands of ancient civilization and high Muslim civilization. Like the French in Algeria, Russians settled in Central Asia in substantial numbers. They built new European cities alongside the old Muslim ones. They appropriated the best land and monopolized the key jobs. The main differences are three: Russians used far more brutal methods than the French or any other European colonial power; blue water divides Algeria from France, while the Southern Tier is connected by land to Russia, thereby obscuring the colonial quality of Russian rule; and the Soviets gave colonialism a modern cast, turning it into a seemingly altruistic enterprise for the sake of "younger brothers" in the Southern Tier.
During the Soviet period, and especially before 1980, this colonized Muslim body experienced a nearly total isolation from its coreligionists to the south. With very few exceptions, borders were completely closed. This meant, for example, that travel between Baku and Tehran, just 350 miles apart, required going via Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, a detour of 2,400 miles. (In American terms, that is like going from Boston to Baltimore via Houston.) Moscow manipulated scripts to reduce communications, imposing the Cyrillic alphabet to distance Soviet Turcophones from the Latin script used in Turkey and the Arabic script used elsewhere in the Muslim Middle East. Bombarded by Marxism-Leninism, Soviet Muslims could not participate in the culture of Islam. Only a handful of them made the pilgrimage to Mecca or studied at Islamic institutions of higher learning in Cairo or Fez. At the same time, glossy propaganda featured peoples called "Muslims of the Soviet East" and a steady parade of third world delegations was routed through Tashkent to witness the wonders of Soviet civilization in Islamic garb.
Seventy years of isolation (and one hundred fifty years of Russian dominance) came abruptly and unexpectedly to an end in late 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. One anecdote captures the astonishing speed of this transformation: On his arrival in Turkey on the morning of 16 December 1991, President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan received no official honors, for Ankara viewed his republic as part of the Soviet Union; that very afternoon, the Turks recognized all the Soviet republics as independent states, changing Karimov's status. On leaving Turkey three days later, he received the 21-gun salute reserved for heads of state.
Liberation and independence came not only quickly, but also nearly unasked for. Soviet Muslims did very little to bring about the end of communism or to break up the U.S.S.R.; they simply benefited from actions taken elsewhere. Bakhadir Abdurazakov, a Soviet ambassador of Uzbek origins, captured the general astonishment this way: "The disintegration of the empire was God's gift. Really, it is enough to make one believe." Not only were the Southern Tier leaders not involved in winning their independence, but in many cases they did not even welcome it, remaining loyal to the old order longer than did the Russians themselves! Kazakhstan's government, for example, never declared its withdrawal from the Soviet Union. As Martha Brill Olcott writes, "Few peoples of the world have ever been forced to become independent nations. Yet that is precisely what happened to the five Central Asia republics."
These unusual circumstances explain why the new Southern Tier governments were so woefully unprepared for sovereignty. Abdurrahim Pulatov, leader of the opposition in Uzbekistan, ruefully looks back on this experience and declares, "Independence came to Central Asia too quickly and too easily." A Central Asian economist expressed this even more strongly, comparing the new republics to "a baby who has lost his parents." The apparatchiks who still make most decisions knew how to execute economic and social orders from Moscow, not how to incubate a free market or solve ethnic problems; and they certainly have little experience in making foreign policy.
The abruptness of Central Asian independence spawned many problems. Thus far, two stand out as the most dangerous, one concerning Azeris, the other Tajiks.
TWO DANGEROUS THEATERS
Azeris and Tajiks have several features in common. Both populate and control small republics at the edge of the former Soviet Union. Both connect linguistically and religiously to several neighboring countries, and Iran in particular. Both are in the throes of violent upheavals that threaten their entire regions.
The Azeri Theater
While the travails in the Caucasus impinge on many countries-Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Iran-they center on Azerbaijan for two main reasons. Twice as many Azeris live in Iran as in Azerbaijan, raising acute tensions between Tehran and the newly independent government in Baku; and Azerbaijan's war with Armenia tempts Turkey and Iran to intervene, with potentially cataclysmic results.
Iranian Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a nation divided in two, with the independent Republic of Azerbaijan (capital, Baku) in the north and the traditional Iranian province of Azerbaijan (capital, Tabriz) in the south. A mere 6 million Azeris live in independent Azerbaijan, versus some 12 million in Iran (where they constitute by far that country's largest ethnic minority). Moscow conquered northern Azerbaijan by 1828; from then until January 1990, the two halves of Azerbaijan had no serious hope of uniting, except in 1945-46 period, when Stalin controlled Iranian Azerbaijan.
Baku's emergence as an independent capital has fundamentally changed the equation, inspiring Tabriz to dreams of independence and union. With the election of Ebulfez Ali Elçibey as president of Azerbaijan in June 1992, nationalist Azeri ambitions to unite Azerbaijan increased dramatically, only to decline a year later when Elçibey lost power. Elçibey referred to his country as "northern Azerbaijan" and regularly called for the cultural autonomy of Azeris living in Iran, the uniting of the Azerbaijani region of Iran with his country, and even the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Especially during the Soviet era, Azeris living in Iran had little desire to join their northern confrères. ("When the Tabriz residents interviewed in 1952 were asked about sentiment for union with Azerbaijanis now in the Soviet Union, their... unanimous response was one of incredulity.") Even today, they feel unsure of their identity-Turcophones who happen to live in Iran or Iranians who happen to speak Turkic. But the emergence of an independent Azerbaijan has an impact. If ex-Soviet Azeris are politically independent of Moscow, why do those living in Iran remain subject to Tehran? Nationalist appeals coming from Baku resonate. Northerners fleeing their troubles move south and take with them nationalist ideas. They win rapturous receptions in the south, especially when the two sides connect culturally (for example, through poetry) or politically (through anti-Armenian slogans).
Even with Elçibey out of power, the Iranian authorities rightly worry that independent Azerbaijan will eventually try to wrest away Iranian Azerbaijan. Loss of this area would have several major consequences for Iran. It would reduce the country's population by about one-fourth. It would provide a land bridge between Turkey and northern Azerbaijan, now separated by Armenia , strengthening the Turcophone bloc to the north. It might inspire Iranian Kurds and Turkmens (also known as Turkomans) to break from Iran to join their brethren across the border, leading to a breakup of the Iranian polity.
To protect against these developments, Iranian leaders strongly denounced Elçibey and helped the opposition forces in his country. They moved Nakhichevan, an autonomous and geographically separate portion of Azerbaijan, toward the Iranian orbit by maneuvering politically and building up trade relations. They helped Haydar Aliyev topple Elçibey in June 1993. More defensively, they split Iranian Azerbaijan into two provinces (Sabalan and East Azerbaijan, with capitals in Ardebil and Tabriz ), in an apparent effort to reduce a sense of Azeri nationhood. These efforts succeeded in containing Azeri nationalism to the point that Tehran felt confident enough to relax long-standing prohibitions against Azeri Turkish in 1992 , allow an Azerbaijan consulate in Tabriz in June 1993 , and open a direct Tabriz-Baku flight one month later. But it could yet lose control.
War with Armenia. War between Azerbaijan and Armenia poses even greater dangers. Fighting began in early 1988 when the Armenian leadership in Yerevan, sensing the decline of Moscow's power, launched a military campaign to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous area populated by Armenians but located within Azerbaijan's borders. Azeris resisted, and the conflict escalated into a brutal struggle of mutual sieges, embargo, and massacre. While Armenians have suffered terribly from hunger and cold, their forces have fared well on the battlefield; by late 1993, they held nearly 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory.
Turks have a strong visceral sympathy for Azeris, an emotion that Azeris reciprocate. The two speak almost the same language and have a history of close relations. Symbolic of this, Azeris (alone of the ex-Soviet Muslims) have actually taken steps to adopt the Latin alphabet, have chosen to be represented abroad by Turkey, and have asked Ankara "to be a center for our country's relations with the outside world." They proclaimed an adherence to "Atatürk's way." Also, Turks and Azeris share a history of conflict with Armenians. In addition, Turkey counts many citizens of Azeri origins.
Not surprisingly, Turkey's leaders feel strong popular pressure to join the battle on Azerbaijan's side. Mustafa Necati Özfatura, a Pan-Turkic nationalist, pushed for alliance with Azerbaijan, stating that "an attack on Azerbaijan would be considered an attack on Turkey." Özal called for Turkey to help Azerbaijan fight the Armenians. A May 1992 poll showed one-third of the Turkish electorate supporting armed intervention. Pressure also came from Azerbaijan, where leaders use a kind of code, calling on Turkish support to help the Azerbaijanis "consolidate" their independence-that is, control the territories contested by Armenians. Prime Minister Tansu Çiller subsequently warned that "If one spot of Nakhichevan is touched," she would ask parliament to authorize war on Armenia.
Although 1,600 Turkish military experts were sent to Azerbaijan (where they were joined by 200 pan-Turkic militants of the Nationalist Action Party), Turks generally maintained what Demirel characterized as a "coolheaded approach," resisting the temptation and the pressure to intervene. They did so for very good reasons. In the first place, Turkey needs Armenia for access to Azerbaijan and Central Asia-be it transportation links or oil pipelines. Second, Turkey has enough problems with neighbors (Aegean islands and Cyprus with Greece, ethnic Turks with Bulgaria, water with Syria, Kurds with Iraq and Iran) without needing another hostile state. Third, siding with Azerbaijan could jeopardize Turkey's carefully nurtured relationship with the U.S. government. When arguing for restraint, Demirel explicitly acknowledged the danger of an erosion in his country's international position:
When I was received by U.S. President Bush in Washington on 11 February [1992], I told him that if the United States and Western countries back Armenia in this conflict, then we will have to stand by Azerbaijan, and this will turn into a conflict between Muslims and Christians that will last for years.
On another occasion, Demirel commented, "The world will move against Turkey if we close all our doors and move against Armenia." To this, Foreign Minister Hikmet Çetin added: "The people in the United States would create an uproar if the Armenian people die of hunger and cold."
Fourth, the Caucasus could explode if Turkey joined Azerbaijan's war against Armenia. Russia, Iran, and some Western countries might respond by assisting Armenia. Russia, the Armenians' traditional protector, explicitly raised the possibility of intervention. In a May 1992 statement, Marshal Yevgeny Shaposhnikov of the Commonwealth of Independent States warned that, were Turkey to join the conflict, "we shall be on the brink of a new world war." While exaggerated, this threat did have a sobering impact in Turkey. For good measure, the Armenian foreign minister two days later threatened to take recourse to its CIS security pact if Turkey intervened militarily in the Caucasus. To prevent a Russian-Turkish confrontation, Çiller traveled to Moscow in September 1993 and the two sides set up a hot line.
These reasons impelled Turkey's leadership to exercise admirable restraint toward Armenia. It has even made goodwill gestures, such as supplying one hundred thousand tons of grain , thus helping that country circumvent the economic blockade imposed by Azerbaijan. More surprising yet, Turkey contracted in November 1992 to sell 300 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the Armenian energy grid at a lower rate than that paid by Turkish consumers. (The electricity was to be supplied, ironically, via power lines installed during the 1980s to carry Soviet electricity to Turkey.) Foreign Minister Çetin justified this aid by arguing that it shows "Ankara is not Yerevan's enemy." In addition, Turks worried that, cut off from outside supplies of energy, the Armenians would reactivate their Chernobyl-style nuclear reactor at Medzamor. But Azeris vehemently objected to this sale, calling it a "stab in the back " and a "betrayal" of their cause, and their Turkish partisans protested loudly. In the end, the Turks sent heating fuel to Armenia , though these supplies (and all other humanitarian aid ) were cut as a result of Armenia's breaking out of the Nagorno-Karabakh area in March 1993 and capturing large amounts of Azerbaijani territory.
Armenia also had compelling reasons to maintain good relations with Turkey. Having lost its historic Russian protector and being nearly surrounded by Turcophone Muslims, it needed to get along with the strongest of its neighbors. Also, Turkey provided its best access to the outside world. In gratitude for Turkey's goodwill gestures, the Armenians offered "to open all our roads" for transporting humanitarian aid to Azerbaijan. To encourage Turkey to remain neutral, Yerevan ignored the vehement anti-Turk sentiments of its own population and downplayed the issue of genocide during World War I. When asked about the latter, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan replied, "Armenia wants to look forward in its relations with Turkey. Genocide does not concern the Armenia government.... Any incidents took place before the republic in Turkey was established." Yerevan even asked its diaspora brethren, much to their annoyance, to ease up on the anti-Turkish campaign. Strangely, then, the Caucasus war has so far led to an improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations, a testimony to the maturity of the leaders on both sides, and enhanced Turkey's lagging reputation in the West.
Unfortunately, the strength and patience of moderates has limits. Should atrocities against Azeris continue or Armenians succeed in taking more and more of Azerbaijan's territory, Turkey could intervene militarily, with disastrous results for nearly everyone. On the Armenian side, continued war, isolation, and impoverishment reduces the appeal of President Levon Ter-Petrosian's middle course, while winning support for the extremist Dashnak Party.
As for Iran, it formed a quasi-alliance with Armenia, helping this Christian nation against its Muslim neighbor. This may explain why Armenian forces pushed their offensive toward Azerbaijan's border with Iran in August 1993. Tehran moved extra troops to the area of its border with Turkey and sought to undermine Azerbaijan's control of Nakhichevan. The Iranians did so because they share key concerns with Armenians about Turkey and Turcophone unity, though for different reasons. They also can help each other. For example, Armenia's leaders offer themselves as a bridge to the West and make their scientists available for Iranian employment. James M. Dorsey claims, with only some exaggeration, that the Armenian-Iranian alliance "could reshape the political map of the Middle East."
Because fighting in the Caucasus so closely touches on Turkish and Iranian interests alike, it could embroil them in a conflict neither seeks. "If there is to be a major war between these two," William Ward Maggs writes, "it will come in Armenia and Azerbaijan, where their interests will most actively collide." In sum, while Azerbaijani independence creates problems for both Turkey and Iran, it also presents opportunities for the former.
The Tajik Theater
Central Asia is a cauldron of real and potential troubles. Afghanistan's civil war began in 1979 and continues on; Tajikistan's civil war began in 1992. Border problems could cause as much trouble in Central Asia as in the Caucasus; ten territories are in contention. One observer calls these a "time bomb" for the region. Religious, ethnic, and ideological problems afflict the region. Religion's cutting edge concerns Sunnis and Shi'is. Leading ethnic groups include Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Pashtuns. The first three came to blows in Osh, a corner of the Ferghana Valley. The second three are engaged in Afghanistan. As for ideology, fundamentalist Islam constitutes the main force. It comes in several varieties (Khomeinist, Pakistani, Tajik). Communism used to offer an alternate vision, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is now reduced to the common background of a self-interested group that benefited from the old system.
These conflicts threaten the stability of the entire region between Iran and China, but we concentrate here on the impact on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan. As in the Caucasus, ethnic mixing bedevils politics in the Tajik-Pashtun theater. From the birth of Afghanistan in the eighteenth century until the Soviet invasion, Pashtuns (also known as Pathans and Pukhtuns) constituted more than half of the population and ruled the country. As a result of massive emigration during the 1979-89 war, mostly to Pakistan, today they make up just one-third of Afghanistan's population, or about five million. In contrast, Pakistan now hosts twice that number of Pashtuns, though they constitute less than 10 percent of Pakistan's population.
Similarly, more Tajiks live in Afghanistan (about 5 million) than in Tajikistan (about 3.3 million), although they make up a smaller percentage of the population in the former (35 percent vs. 62 percent). Additionally, some million Tajiks live in Uzbekistan, 100,000 in Kazakhstan, and 30,000 in the Sinkiang province of China.
These figures point to two main sources of trouble. First, the imbalance in populations (Afghanistan hosts more Tajiks than Tajikistan, Pakistan hosts more Pashtuns than Afghanistan) is a sure-fire recipe for instability. As elsewhere (Iran hosts more Azeris than Azerbaijan, more Turkmens than Turkmenistan; Jordan hosts more Palestinians than "Palestine"), a national group that lives primarily outside its own primary region is virtually foreordained to irredentism.
Second, Tajiks hope to take advantage of their new numerical strength in Afghanistan to wrest power from the Pashtuns. Each of these peoples constitutes about one-third of Afghanistan's 15 million inhabitants; the rest of the population divides among Hazara (about 15 percent), Uzbeks (about 12 percent), and Turkmens (about 5 percent). Afghanistan's civil war has produced military leaders from the two largest ethnic groups and from the Uzbeks.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-i Islami, represents the Pashtun determination not to cede power in Afghanistan. As is so often the case with nationalist leaders, he was born outside his ethnic heartland, in the predominantly Tajik area of Kunduz. Though widely seen in the West as a fundamentalist Muslim extremist, Hekmatyar's record reveals him to be an opportunist of the first rank. The Pakistani government, working through the Interservices Intelligence (ISI), found Hekmatyar an ideally pliable agent of its power during the war and used him as a way to bring the mujahidin under its control.
Ahmed Shah Mas'ud, the hero of the anti-Soviet resistance and defense minister of Afghanistan, represents the ethnic Tajik intent to win power from Pashtuns. Although an immensely capable leader who united the Tajiks under his command and made common cause with Uzbeks, he has been unable to extend his ministry's mandate to the Pashtun areas; also, he has repeatedly lost ground to Uzbeks. Indeed, Mas'ud could not even hold on to Tajik regions. Again, Mas'ud's reputation in the West belies reality; though widely seen as religiously moderate, he is the genuine fundamentalist.
General Abdurrashid Dostam ("the most powerful man in Afghanistan today") represents the interests of the largest people in Central Asia, the Uzbeks. And, as befits a former military leader fighting for the Soviet-sponsored regime, he represents the forces of anti-fundamentalism. For both these reasons, Dostam has particularly close relations with Karimov of Uzbekistan; his family lives in Tashkent and the two leaders have discussed his going independent. This is a realistic possibility, for, based in the northwestern Afghan city of Mazar-i Sharif, Dostam has managed to carve out for himself "virtually a separate state" or "a state within a state." Indeed, Mazar-i Sharif already boasts consulates of Iran, Uzbekistan , and Pakistan.
Rival forces have thus effectively divided Afghanistan into three zones: Pashtuns under their chieftains and Hekmatyar control the south of Afghanistan, Uzbeks under Dostam rule the north, and the government of Iran enjoys predominant influence in the west, where it controls a grouping of Shi'is, the Hezb-i Wahdat. (Tajiks under Mas'ud have been restricted to the northeast, largely squeezed out of the country's power politics.) Each of these powers looks to bring its region of Afghanistan in closer association with a state beyond the border-Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Iran, respectively. (And the Tajiks look to Tajikistan.)
The civil war in Afghanistan directly affects surrounding countries. For example, the fall of Afghanistan's President Najibullah to fundamentalist Muslims in April 1992 inspired fundamentalists in Tajikistan just a month later to bring down their own Communist ruler, Rakhmon Nabiyev.
Afghanistan's northern border has been highly porous for a decade. During wartime, official Afghanistan forces virtually ignored the formal lines separating their country from the Soviet Union, and the mujahidin imitated them, laying mines in Soviet territory and recruiting among Muslims in the Soviet Union. The mujahidin also directed radio broadcasts to the north. Today, the old border hardly exists, as Dostam's ethnic Uzbek militia routinely crosses into Tajikistan to protect fellow Uzbeks there. The authorities in Uzbekistan blame the proliferation of weapons among ethnic Tajiks in their country on smuggling from Afghanistan. Going in the other direction, over 100,000 Tajiks have braved the frigid waters of the Amu Darya River to flee the war in Tajikistan and seek refuge in Afghanistan. On arrival, the young men among them are armed , and some return to battle the government in Tajikistan.
This disappearing border gives substance to the hope of many Tajiks, including Mas'ud, to join northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan in a unified Tajik state. As my colleague Khalid Duran notes, the process is fairly far along: "the reunification of Tajikistan-one Afghan, the other formerly Soviet-has progressed considerably since 1988, even though it did not make headlines as Germany did." In all likelihood, such a state would enforce an extreme fundamentalist Islamic vision of society comparable to that in Iran-but in this case Sunni.
The fate of Tajikistan influences the course of events in Afghanistan, which in turn influences politics in Pakistan. To the north, Tajikistan influences Uzbekistan, which influences Kazakhstan, which has a potentially major bearing on Russia. In a sense, then, Tajikistan stands at a pivot, capable of creating problems from the Indian Ocean to the North Pole. For these reasons, Boris Rumer rightly suggests that a Greater Tajikistan "must be a nightmare for [Uzbekistan's President Islam] Karimov. But such prospects ought to disturb [Russia's President Boris] Yeltsin as well. Indeed, such prospects ought to be unsettling for Western states."
Peace and stability in the region depend in large part on Afghanistan, and its future will be determined largely by developments in Tajikistan. Protracted civil war in Tajikistan means Central Asia will burn.
Pakistan. Conceptually, Pakistan lies distant from Central Asia. Geographically, however, it is a near neighbor. Pakistan's capital city, Islamabad, is closer to Tashkent than to its own port city of Karachi; Lahore is closer to Dushanbe than to Karachi. Pashtuns and other peoples of the country's north look more to Central Asia for trade and culture than to India.
Pakistan has substantial interests in Central Asia. Fundamentalist Muslims from Pakistan have their own variant of Islam to promote; the radical group Tabligh-i Jama'at is especially active in Central Asia.
As other doors have closed, Central Asia has taken on major importance as a place for skilled Pakistani emigrants to exercise their talents. They operate as traders, professionals, and executives in Central Asia, a culturally familiar environment in which they feel at ease. As Russians departed, Pakistani entrepreneurs quickly found niches for themselves, especially connecting Central Asia to the outside world. They opened banks and hotels, trained business personnel, and established an airline. They work as doctors and college instructors. In one display of raw financial power, Pakistanis responded to a request from Kazakhstan's prime minister by raising a $100 million loan within three days.
Yacub Tabani, a young entrepreneur, may head the list of Pakistanis active in Central Asia. He helped set up Uzbekistan Airlines and provides management assistance to nearly all the new airlines of the region. Tabani handled fertilizer, chemicals, and cotton for the governments; he set up garment and cigarette factories; and he built a hotel in Tashkent.
Finally, the Pakistan state has a perceived need to develop strategic depth against India; Central Asia offers geographic vastness and a sizable population. This defensive concern may imply grand nationalist ambitions, as Hafeez Malik of Villanova University explains: "Pakistanis have started to speculate that Pakistan's natural habitat includes Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Central Asia Republics." Sometimes called "Islamistan," this region gets counterpoised against the Arabic-speaking south.
The Pakistani government has tried hard to establish close relations with the Southern Tier states through diplomacy and transportation links. By late 1991, Islamabad had offered unconditional support for Azerbaijan's cause against Armenia. It recognized the Southern Tier republics just days after Turkey did, then sent a large delegation to Central Asia to establish cultural and economic ties. The Pakistani authorities strenuously tried to establish special relations with Kyrgyzstan. To win favor in oil-rich Turkmenistan (dubbed by some "the second Kuwait"), Islamabad offered $10 million in credit.
Pakistan's government plans ambitious transport connections to Central Asia. It has proposed building a railway across Afghanistan to link up to the trains of the former Soviet Union. A new road along the Amu Darya River connects Mazar-i Sharif in north Afghanistan with Chardzhou, the second largest city in Turkmenistan , but unsettled conditions have much reduced traffic. For now, once-weekly PIA flights to Tashkent and Almaty (Kazakhstan's capital) constitute the sole transportation link between Pakistan and Central Asia. This air connection does not suffice, however; for Pakistanis fully to exploit the Central Asian connection, they need a land route via Afghanistan.
A land link in turn implies the need for peace in Afghanistan, which partially explains why Pakistan's policy dramatically changed in late 1991, when Islamabad abandoned Hekmatyar. (Another imperative for seeking a settlement was to induce the Afghan refugees to go home.) With Hekmatyar in power in Kabul, the Pakistani government would have gained its long-sought strategic hinterland. But Islamabad diminished its support for Hekmatyar because it had an eye on Central Asia. As Central Asia beckoned, using Hekmatyar to establish a military hinterland lost priority.
In sum, Central Asia's independence has fundamentally altered the civil war in Afghanistan, adding new elements and altering Pakistan's calculations.
IMPACT ON TURKEY
"Turkey is like a strong castle in a tempestuous sea," President Özal confidently declared in late 1991. But the abrupt independence of tens of millions of Muslims in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Balkans has caused some leakage in the Republic of Turkey. The stolid pro-NATO course of recent decades is giving way to an unfamiliar excitement and confusion. The Southern Tier's independence has affected politics in Turkey, with large and unpredictable consequences, making this country particularly deserving of attention.
Changed Politics
Thanks to the Soviet bloc's collapse, a new and excited tone pervaded the Turkish body politic in 1991 and 1992. "Heady days for Turks, these." The Turkish population got engaged in foreign policy in new ways and the government adopted an unheard-of activism. Mainstream politicians articulated ideas about Pan-Turkic nationalism that had been the exclusive preserve of the fringe right. In all, the situation led Turks to see themselves as a more active force in the world.
Foreign policy activism. For decades, Ankara avoided taking foreign policy initiatives, preferring to follow its allies. This held doubly true in policy vis-à-vis the Soviet Union. The Soviet collapse inspired Turks quite suddenly to see themselves as a major regional power, relatively stable, militarily potent, and economically strong, roles enhanced by the Turkish role in Operation Desert Storm. They variously portrayed Turkey as the natural leader of the Balkans, the Black Sea area, the northern Middle East, and world Turcophones. The Turkish decision of mid-December 1991 to recognize all the republics of the former Soviet Union as independent states, possibly the most daring Turkish choice in decades , marked the emergence of this new confidence. One newspaper commentary viewed this as the first time ever Turkey had acted "without considering the decisions of other countries."
Nineteen ninety-two also saw a stunning series of regional initiatives. President Turgut Özal announced that "Three important areas, the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East, have opened in front of Turkey," and the government followed up on this vision. Ankara conceived the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone and hosted a summit meeting of member states in June. It hosted a summit conference of Turcophone leaders in October, not coincidentally on Turkey's independence day. And it hosted a Balkan summit in November. Further, the Turks infused new life into the Economic Cooperation Organization, which links Turkey to Iran, Pakistan, and other states. Perhaps most interesting were the attempts to reach out to long-time adversaries (Greece, Armenia, the Kurds), inspired both by a practical need to improve the country's diplomatic position and international reputation and by a sense of power that implied largesse.
Turkish diplomacy took on a slightly frenzied quality-new embassies, huge delegations traveling to many countries, and lots of visitors. On a single day in January 1992, for example, no fewer than three presidents-those of Albania, Serbia, and Azerbaijan-found themselves in Ankara. Some guests came from places only Ankara cared much about, such as Tatarstan. After years of acceding to Arab wishes, Ankara boldly invited Israel's President Chaim Herzog to participate in the quincentennial anniversary of the arrival of Sephardic Jews from Spain in 1492.
The 1993 dispatch of a Turkish unit to Somalia and the appointment of a Turkish general to the mission constituted a small but revealingly far-flung endeavor of a sort that would have been unlikely in previous years.
But then the mood passed almost as quickly as it arose. An October 1992 summit of Turcophone leaders in Ankara signaled the troubles ahead; Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev refused to go along with the Turkish agenda out of concern not to upset Moscow. The June 1993 collapse of Elçibey's government finally punctured the romance with the new states. Turkish leaders realized the limits of their influence and retreated to a more passive foreign policy.
Ethnic identification. In this century alone, substantial numbers of immigrants have come from Bosnia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran , the Russian Empire/Soviet Union, Afghanistan, and China. Numbers are hard to come by and are probably exaggerated: Turks of Azeri origins, for example, are said to number six million , while nearly ten million Turks trace their origins to the Balkans. Taking inflated figures into account, the descendants of these immigrants probably number about twelve million, or one-fifth of the Turkish population.
While immigrants assimilated into Turkish life, they yet remembered their ancestry. During the Cold War, the authorities in Ankara suppressed connections to the old countries for the simple reason that most of them had communist governments. The Soviet bloc's collapse ended that suppression and raised the specter of heightened ethnic consciousness within Turkey. As Caucasian peoples like the Abkhaz, Chechen, and Ossetians asserted their identity, Turkish citizens of such origins found their ethnic affiliations newly important. Graham Fuller notes that "In 1991, for the first time ever, Turks began to start talking about their own various geographic origins as Turks from diverse areas."
In one case, that of Bosnia, an actual ethnic lobby emerged in 1992. Serbian efforts at "ethnic cleansing" suddenly gave the four million Turkish citizens who trace their origins to Bosnia (twice as many as the Muslims in Bosnia itself ) a special political cause of their own. From the time the war began in early 1992, "they lived with the rhythms of combat in the ex-Yugoslavia, crying for the deaths, indignant about the general indifference for their former patrimony, and trying to soften the lot of refugees stranded in the former Ottoman capital." Folk dancing gave way to refugee absorption efforts. Özal referred to Balkan immigrants creating a "bridge of obligation" between Turkey and their lands of origins. Even the loss of the Serbo-Croatian language did not dim the sense of ethnic solidarity. The mother of Mesut Yilmaz, a former prime minister, came from Bosnia , which helps explain why he was especially vocal on the situation in ex-Yugoslavia. Indeed, Çetin repeatedly mentioned the Bosnian element as one of the reasons his government took special interest in former Yugoslavia.
This fracturing of the Turkish body politic seems likely to continue and to gain in importance.
Worries about immigration. Turmoil in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia sent waves of emigrants into Turkey. The Bulgarian campaign of assimilation in the late 1980s prompted 320,000 of its Turkish population to move to Turkey. (With the fall of the communist regime, however, half of these returned to Bulgaria.) In 1992 the Turkish assembly unanimously accepted 50,000 Meskhetian Turks from southern Georgia and indicated a readiness to take in the Akhista (or Akhaltsikhe ) Turks of Kyrgyzstan. By November 1992, 15,000 Bosnians had newly arrived in Turkey , of which fully 14,000 settled near relatives. Serbian aggression could cause these numbers to multiply many times; Muhammad Cengic, the deputy prime minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina, announced in May 1992 that about one million Bosnians hoped to emigrate to Turkey.
Like Germans, many Turks feel "the boat is full" (that is, their country has reached full capacity) and actively try to discourage future immigrants by subsidizing them in their places of origins. Ankara is explicit about this: "We aim to provide incentives for Turks to stay where they were born," acknowledged Minister of State Orhan Kilercioglu. Toward this end, it provides courses on marketing, management, and public administration , and it encourages Turkish businesses to invest in Bulgaria.
Changed Ideas
In the course of establishing the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk explicitly renounced two types of claims: to form a union with distant Turcophones and to regain the lost Ottoman Empire. His doctrine of disengagement from international affairs ("Peace at home, peace in the world") guided Turkish politicians for seventy years. But the collapse of the Soviet bloc has suddenly opened the possibility of a more ambitious foreign policy. Some Turks have thought through the possibilities of Pan-Turkic nationalism and reasserting Ottoman connections. Together, these ideas have created a new sense of Turkey's importance in the world.
Pan-Turkic nationalism. Pan-Turkism, the belief that Turkic speakers from Albania to the farther reaches of Siberia form a single people and should form some kind of union, has been rediscovered. Extremist figures like Alparslan Türkes of the National Work Party (MCP) found themselves relegated to virtual irrelevance during the era of Soviet strength. But in 1992 his call for Turcophone countries to unify on the basis of "Unity in language, idea, and work" found a new, larger audience.
Former prime minister Süleyman Demirel hardly issued so direct an appeal, but he did occasionally echo Türkes. As the Turkish leader most affected by the prospect of Turcophone emancipation, he sometimes got carried away with an uncharacteristic enthusiasm. Here is a small sampling of Demirel's statements:
Returning from a tour of the Turcophone republics: "My head is turning. I am very excited."
Meeting a leader of the Crimean Tatars: "You were never alone, and you are not alone now; we are all together."
Addressing an audience in Kazakhstan: "Your name will be registered in a golden page in the history of the great Turkic community."
Dedicating a new bridge between Turkey and Nakhichevan: the bridge meant "the two countries became one again."
Demirel announced that "a new Turkic world has emerged" or even more ambitiously, "a new world has emerged and a new map is taking shape." He proclaimed that Turcophones inhabit an area of ten thousand square kilometers and noted that "Five new flags with crescents have been added to Turkey's crescent-and-star flag. The great Turkic world extending from the Adriatic to the China Sea should intermingle." Demirel enjoyed his new role as chief Turcophone leader. After Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan called him "big brother" (agabey), a highly pleased Demirel often repeated this title.
Of course, Demirel did not alone feel excitement about Turkey's Turcophone hinterland. "We were all alone; now there are five others," a senior Turkish official explained. To which an intellectual added: "It has been a great thrill for Turks to realize that they are no longer alone in the world." This thrill, more than dreams of glory, lay behind the statements of Demirel and other politicians. It's also important to underline that these statements did not have operational consequences.
Neo-Ottomanism. Nostalgia for empire grew noticeably with the Soviet collapse. After three generations of living the prosaic reality of the Turkish Republic, memories of the Ottoman Empire revived and appear to exert a strong, if slightly illicit allure. Dreams of recapturing the grandeur of the old empire found new expression. Çengiz Candar, who dubbed these sentiments "Neo-Ottomanism," stated, "The time has come to reconsider [Atatürk's] policy. We cannot stick to the old taboos while the world is changing and new opportunities are arising for Turkey. We have to think big."
Many in Turkey echoed this view. Özal announced that "Current historical circumstances permit Turkey to reverse the shrinking process that began at the walls of Vienna [in 1683]." He saw the inhabitants of former Ottoman lands outside Turkey as "children of those who yesterday were our countrymen and the kinsmen of our present countrymen." Re-establishing relations with them is "a natural right and duty." Özal asked, "How could it be otherwise, when we have lived 800 to 900 years together and have been cut off from each other only for the last 70 or 80 years!" Nur Vergin of Bilkent University eloquently captured the sense of longing for empire:
Place names that we sealed away in our subconscious as a result of collective amnesia and which we tried to remember as ordinary geographic areas have begun to reappear in our daily lives: Bosnia, Macedonia, Kurdistan, the Caucasus, and beyond that, Transoxiana [i.e., Central Asia].
Even a Pan-Turkic nationalist like Özfatura incorporated elements of Neo-Ottomanism. On the grounds that the former Ottoman subjects look to Turkey as their liberator, he called on Turkish troops to intervene in Nakhichevan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Macedonia.
Turkey's importance. Turkish politicians, with Süleyman Demirel again leading the way, made audacious statements about Turkey's new importance. Demirel asserted that "The presence of an additional five flags beside the star and crescent boosted our prestige and that of the Turkic republics." "A new world is being born," he declared, "and Turkey is a window on it.... This is a centuries-old dream." "Everyone has to take Turkey more seriously," he told Azerbaijanis in Baku. In part, the prime minister premised these assertions on economics. "When we take a collective view of the economic potential of our [Turcophone] region we can see that it is one of the world's most promising regions.... if we pool our resources then there is no obstacle we cannot surmount." Demirel let his imagination get carried away when he declared that "the oil and natural gas reserves in Central Asia and the Caucasus are bigger than all the world's reserves," an obviously false assertion.
Nor was Demirel alone in these grandiose declarations. Özal asserted in his 1993 New Year's message: "Turkey's region is the most critical region in the world." The writer Attila Ilhan stated, "Turkey can extend its region of influence all the way to the Yellow River [in China]." Husamettin Cindoruk, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, announced that "Turkish unity will bring peace, tranquility, and stability to the world." In perhaps the most extravagant statement of all, Kamran Inan, a minister of state, averred that "Turkey is a candidate to be the strongest state in the West in the period following the year 2010."
Turks not only made lofty statements about the future, but sometimes convinced themselves that Turkey had already attained more than was the case. Just as Mikhail Gorbachev announced the demise of the Soviet Union, Hikmet Çetin declared:
Turkey is no longer the peripheral country it used to be during the cold war. It has gained a more central position on the map.... Indeed, in an area that extends from the Atlantic to the Chinese border, Turkey is at the focal point of the sensitive balances.
Çetin also made the astonishing statement that "If you look at world problems, you can see that none of them could be tackled without Turkey." State Minister Ikram Cayhun declared that Turkey's progress in the 1980s made it "one of the developed states of the world," which it plainly did not.
So far, this rhetoric about Pan-Turkic nationalism, a revived Ottoman sphere, and Turkey's importance has not caused any problems. Quite the contrary, realistic policies and sober actions have been the order of the day. Further, Prime Minister Çiller has been almost silent on these topics. There is no immediate danger that Turks, taking inflated statements by politicians to heart, will get carried away with a sense of their own power, leading to serious errors. But these statements sow seeds that, while not harmful in themselves, could unsettle Turkey in the future. Many problems surround Turks and involve them-Bosnia, Greece, Armenia and Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, Syria, Cyprus-so the stakes are very high. An unnamed Western diplomat in Ankara summed up this concern: "We're heading into uncharted waters. It's very difficult, very dangerous and alarming."
OTHER EFFECTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST
Turkey's connections to the Southern Tier are fairly obvious, having to do with the Turkic language, immigrants, and customs (such as a shared cuisine). Iran's connections are deeper but also more subtle, and so call for more explanation. The Arabs and Israel have also become involved, at least at the margins.
Iran and the Turko-Persian Tradition
History. Central Asia and the Transcaucasus have for a thousand years been included in the "Persianate zone," a large cultural area marked
by the use of the New Persian language as a medium of administration and literature, by the rise of Persianized Turks to administrative control, by a new political importance for the 'ulama [Islam's rabbis], and by the development of an ethnically composite Islamicate society.
The Southern Tier had for millennia participated integrally in the development of Iranian culture. The Shahnameh, Iran's national epic, takes place mostly on what later became Soviet territory; the region's cities have a larger presence in the classics of Persian poetry than do those of Iran proper. Bukhara and Marv are two of the oldest and most important cities of Iranian civilization. Samarkand boasts the Gur Emir, Tamerlane's tomb, as well as many other great Islamic structures. Tashkent hosts ancient schools. Medieval figures such as the philosophers Alfarabi and Avicenna, the geographer Albiruni, the poet Ali Sher Navai, and the astronomer Ulugh Beg all lived in what we term the Southern Tier.
The Turko-Persian tradition developed in the Seljuk period (1040-1118) and reached its fullest florescence in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, when it prevailed in an area stretching from Anatolia to southern India, from Iraq to Sinkiang. The Ottoman, Safavid, Chagatay, and Mughal empires all subscribed to this civilization. Their prestige caused it to spread even beyond their boundaries, for example, to Hyderabad in southern India. The Turko-Persian tradition declined in the eighteenth century, when Europeans began to encroach and land trade declined. Still, Persian remained the language of culture in the Central Asian cities until the Russian Revolution.
Islam set the parameters in the Persianate zone, Turcophones ruled, and Iranians administered. As this implies, each of the three classical languages of Islam had a distinct function: Arabic belonged to religion; Turkish to the military; and Persian to administration, polite society , and the arts. In short, the Turko-Persian tradition featured Persian culture patronized by Turcophone rulers. This mix led to unlikely juxtapositions: for example, shortly after 1500, the Iranian ruler Shah Isma'il wrote poetry in Azeri Turkic (under the pen name Khata'i ) while his Ottoman counterpart in Istanbul wrote poetry in Persian.
The elites had much in common, from education to home life to styles of dress. But that was not all, as Robert L. Canfield of Washington University in St. Louis explains:
People on many levels of the society had similar notions about the ground-rules of cooperation and dispute, and in other ways shared a number of common institutions, arts, knowledge, customs, and rituals. These similarities of cultural style were perpetuated by poets, artists, architects, artisans, jurists, and scholars, who maintained relations among their peers in the far-flung cities of the Turko-Persian Islamicate ecumene, from Istanbul to Delhi.
Today. The Southern Tier's connections to Iran would seem to be moribund, overtaken by the delimitation of nation-states, Russian colonization, the Soviet experiment, and the Islamic Republic. But they are not: on both sides of the old Soviet border with Iran, the Turko-Persian tradition lives on.
On the northern side, the Turko-Persian tradition remained a source of pride and hope through seven decades of Soviet rule. In 1967 Olaf Caroe, the British administrator and author, explained that "it would be a profound mistake to imagine that the Sovietization of Central Asia and its populations has wiped clean the earlier drawings on the slate." In 1990 Graham Fuller reiterated the point: "the Persian legacy still runs deep in those republics, profoundly shaping their basic culture." Ex-Soviet Muslims have various connections to Iran. Tajiks share with it ethnic and linguistic bonds; Azeris share the Twelver Shi'i religious tradition; Armenians look to it for a potential balance to the Turcophones ; and the whole region celebrates Nowruz (the Iranian New Year's festival in March ). Much else-music, cuisine, crafts-is also similar. Today, dispirited by the devastation about them, many ex-Soviet Muslims see Persianate culture and Iran as sources of hope. Symbolic of this, the Tajiks have replaced a statue of Lenin with one of the poet Ferdousi, author of the Shahnameh. Turkmenistanis considered changing their currency unit to the dinar or tuman , though they eventually settled on the manat. Turkmenistan's President Saparmurad Niyazov told the foreign minister of Iran that he was "personally interested" in learning Persian and would facilitate its teaching in his country. On a visit to Iran, Kazakhstan's Minister of Culture Yerkegeliy Rahkmadiyev referred to the two countries' thousand-year relations and declared, "We consider Iran as our own home."
While today's republics have won a utilitarian acceptance, the old khanates of Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand live on in the imagination. The Great Ariana Society in Tajikistan advocates a Greater Khurasan, which would incorporate a Persian-speaking belt from the far end of Afghanistan to the Persian Gulf. Graham Fuller speculates that such a unit could become a counterpoise against a Turcophone belt to the north.
On the Iranian side, too, the Turko-Persian tradition survives. Government officials are generally cautious in their public statements, disclaiming interest in political influence, seeking only a softer kind. According to Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati, "the export of revolution means the export of culture and ideas, no more." As a sign of the kind of influence Iranians hope to have, Velayati himself delivered a lecture at the Turkmen Academy of Sciences on the poet and thinker Mahdum Kuli. President Hashemi-Rafsanjani contented himself with bland statements. "The newly independent countries to the north are very dear to us," he declared in late 1992.
Still, indelicate expressions-betraying Iranians' excitement-sometimes get articulated. Velayati spoke of Central Asia's "Iranian identity" and noted that it is impossible to look at the region "without making reference to Iranian culture and to the Iranian language." The religious leader of Isfahan, Ayatollah Taheri, held that "some of the newly independent republics of the former Soviet Union do not agree to the ignominious Turkmanchai Treaty between Iran and the former Soviet Union [actually Russia] and consider themselves part of Iran and regard the esteemed leader [Khamene'i] as their own leader." An Iranian journalist explains this impulse: "In our heart of hearts, we know that Azerbaijan and Turkmenia [Central Asia] were once part of the Persian empire." Some Iranians explicitly say as much; Sarhadizadeh, a former minister of labor, predicted that independent Azerbaijan would eventually "become part of Iran." The prayer leader of Mashhad echoed, "The Treaty of Turkmanchay expired several years ago, and these countries are now parts of Iran."
Interestingly, Iran's political "moderates" articulate these dangerous dreams more than its "radicals." That's because the radicals have only Islamic aspirations, while the moderates have Persian nationalist ones as well. For the latter, Shahram Chubin notes, the new states "could in theory become a new constituency or audience, widening the strategic depth of the Islamic republic and deepening its base." Powerful elements within Iran, in short, appear to want to create a sphere of influence that includes Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
In asserting their claims, these Iranians dismiss Turkey's claimed connections to Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Iran's deputy foreign minister reacted with scorn when asked about possible rivalry between Turkey and Iran in the area: "What rivalry? Turks have nothing in the area but local idioms close to Turkish. History, civilization, culture, literature, science-everything is Iranian."
The Arabs and Israel
Saudi activities in the Southern Tier consist in large part of building mosques, distributing Qur'ans, finding local agents, subsidizing pilgrimages to Mecca, and establishing a range of Islamic institutions. Tajikistan had just sixteen working mosques in the mid-1980s; thanks to Saudi largesse, some five hundred mosques a year were built over the next four years. According to The Washington Post, Riyadh has spent over $1 billion just on Islamic centers and efforts to promulgate the Arabic language. The response was mixed. Kyrgyzstan declined an invitation to the Saudi-dominated Organization of the Islamic Conference in October 1991 , but a year later signed an accord to accept aid and an Arab information-cultural center. Realizing the weakness of their position, the Saudis quickly deployed their resources best to block Iranian influence over the Southern Tier by supporting Turks. As Khalid Duran observes, "These days the Saudis appear pleased when the Turks defeat the Iranians, and it doesn't matter if the Turk is a Kemalist or a Wahhabi"-a secularist or a fundamentalist.
The Syrians joined the fray by establishing connections to Armenia. It helped that President Levon Ter-Petrossian was the son of a Communist Party leader in Syria , but a shared hostility to the Republic of Turkey provided the real basis of cooperation. Yerevan opened an embassy in Damascus during the depths of its siege in April 1993. In turn, Syria's President Hafiz al-Asad promised 7,000 tons of fuel oil gratis to the starving Armenians. In early 1993 Azerbaijan's President Elçibey announced that five hundred terrorists had arrived in Armenia from Lebanon, while his ambassador in Ankara asserted that Syrian citizens fought with Armenia against Azerbaijan. The Turks permitted a scheduled Aleppo-Yerevan flight until early April 1993, when Armenian aggression in Azerbaijan caused the Turks to cancel this and all other flights between the two countries. Accordingly, when the Armenian foreign minister visited Syria a few days later, he traveled via Paris.
Southern Tier independence has stirred much interest in Israel, including a hot debate whether it is a positive or negative development. Chief of Staff Ehud Barak expressed a pessimistic view about the emergence of the Southern Tier states: "new Muslim republics in Asia don't seem to me something that will add to our health, at least in the long term." When fundamentalist Muslim demonstrators took to the streets of Tajikistan in April 1992 carrying Khomeinist signs proclaiming "Death to Israel ," this worry seemed to be borne out.
But this agitation proved to be very much the exception. Most voices from the Southern Tier insisted that religious differences or the Arab-Israeli conflict not obstruct good relations with Israel. For the leaders, ties with Israel symbolized an anti-fundamentalist orientation. A pro-Israel outlook was understood to enhance one's standing in the West. Jewish immigrants from the Southern Tier were expected to invest in their countries of origin. For their part, Israelis responded with alacrity. In addition to the usual reasons for seeking good relations, they particularly welcomed warm ties with predominantly Muslim states; and they looked ahead to setting up networks for the day when the region's 200,000 Jews might need to leave in a hurry.
Ties flourished. An Israeli cabinet minister visited Baku even before the August 1991 coup attempt. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan established full diplomatic relations with Israel; in turn, Jerusalem opened embassies in all but Kyrgyzstan. In September 1992, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Sergei Tereschenko paid an official visit to Israel. President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan visited Israel in January 1993 - becoming only the second Muslim head of state ever to visit the capital of the Jewish state. Most remarkably, he agreed to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, though this notion got quickly scuttled. (Only two states, Costa Rica and El Salvador, have embassies in Jerusalem; all other embassies are in Tel Aviv.) He also stated that "Jerusalem cannot be divided."
So pleased were the Israelis that in early 1993 the parliament voted a credit for Kazakhstan, the first time it had voted for credits to a specific state. At the same time, Jerusalem got a bit blasé about these new connections-for example, not placing an ambassador in Azerbaijan for many months after diplomatic relations had been established.
LONG-TERM PROSPECTS
The long-term implications of Southern Tier independence are as unclear as they are momentous. The Southern Tier polities are too new, untried, and unpredictable for informed speculations about the distant future. We have insufficient experience with Rip Van Winkle states to guess intelligently what they might do upon waking.
Still, we can try: In the very long term, Muslims of the Southern Tier are likely to leave Russia's orbit and rejoin the Middle East. The experience of other ex-colonies and the history of Muslim-Christian relations support this conclusion. Stripping away the rhetoric and the superstructures, Muslim republics during the Soviet period were essentially colonies of Moscow. Like other ex-colonies, they will eventually move away from the imperial center. Of course, Russia differs in important ways from other European colonizers, having unique strengths (a greater willingness to use force, closer ties, and contiguity) and weaknesses (the Marxist-Leninist system, a poorer economy). Nevertheless, Russia seems likely to follow the same general pattern as Britain, France, and the others. Intense ties with the former colonies will continue for years to come, but the prospects of reasserting true imperial control appear dim. Russians have not yet come to terms with the end of empire; their minister of finance, Boris Fedorov, noted in late 1993 that "Most people, even here in Moscow, still fail to realize that Kazakhstan, say, is a foreign country. To them, its independence is make-believe." This attitude may cause enormous problems.
Religious differences will play a major role. Muslims invariably insist on ruling themselves and in the long run resist living under the control of non-Muslims. This autonomist impulse runs deep through history; it is apparent today in such diverse places as Cyprus, Israel, and Kashmir. With time, as the new republics become real polities, they will turn away from Russian as their international language and the ruble as their currency. Institutional connections to Russia will atrophy and those to the Middle East and Asia will grow, in terms of studies abroad, media influence, and trade and investment.
Russian efforts to dominate the southern "near abroad" may work for a while, but they cannot succeed in the long term. As Turkic- and Persian-speaking Muslims, the Southern Tier peoples will eventually repudiate Moscow; of this there can be no question. However, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will retain more ties to the old metropolitan center than the other four countries (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) because they share a border with Russia and host much larger Slavic populations. Interestingly, both are developing important trade and cultural links to China which might balance the old ties to Russia.
In brief, the map eventually will change: the Middle East will include six new countries and some sixty million new people. Turcophones will become more important in the Middle East and Arabophones less so. What used to be the Northern Tier-Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan-will stand at the heart of the Middle East.
This northward movement of the Middle East's boundaries will eventually affect virtually every aspect of Middle Eastern political life. Shahram Chubin rightly judges that the new predominantly Muslim states
could change the balance of political power in Islam and affect the tenor of politics in the Islamic world, especially if they were to act collectively or in unison. They could alter the predominant tone of Islamic gatherings, give impetus to radical, or anchor moderate, tendencies, and alter prevailing alignments.
Many political factions and religious groups in the Middle East look to the former Soviet citizens as their lifeblood, believing their own future to be largely determined by the outlook of the former Soviet citizens. Were ex-Soviet Muslims to adopt Pan-Turkic nationalism, their politics could become as unsettled as Arab politics was in the 1950s. The proliferation of independent states using Turkic languages could cause Turkey to accelerate its move away from a European orientation and toward a Pan-Turkic one. Pan-Turkism also might mobilize Turkic populations in other countries, especially Iran and Afghanistan, to become politically active. Ironically, the example of Turcophone independence could also spur Kurdish nationalism in eastern Turkey.
When it comes to religion, the fact that ex-Soviet Muslims lived for seven decades under an atheistic regime makes them needy for contact with their coreligionists in the Middle East. (In this too, the Southern Tier most closely resembles Algeria.) They look to the Middle East for heritage, knowledge, and ideas. These include a return to the Arabic script, a hunger for Saudi-donated Qur'ans, the need for religious teachers, and admiration for Ayatollah Khomeini. But the ex-Soviet Muslims are more than passive consumers of Middle Eastern religiosity. They have major decisions to make, and the way they turn will have a great impact on religion throughout the Middle East. Should ex-Soviet Muslims accept Turkish-style secularism, this will be the first major boost for Atatürkism in many decades. If the new countries turn toward the Iranian version of fundamentalist Islam, they provide an enormous hinterland for Tehran's lagging movement, greatly strengthening Tehran's hand. If they turn toward Pakistan, they willy-nilly enter the Indo-Pakistani political system.
The opening of the Southern Tier introduced a new arena of Arab-Israeli competition. Will ex-Soviet Muslims, like so many of their ex-nationals, adopt a pro-Israel policy out of reflective distaste for the old regime's anti-Israel animus? Or will Muslim solidarity prompt them to adopt an anti-Israel policy? The rise of Turcophone power could alarm the Arab world and turn its attention away from Israel; or fundamentalism in the Southern Tier might dramatically expand the threat to Israel's existence.
The profusion of new oil and gas production could either harm the Persian Gulf exporters (by expanding the supply) or help them (by concentrating yet more energy clout in the Middle East); it all depends on politics.
The Southern Tier could become a new Balkans, leading to shifting and competitive relations between would-be hegemons, then to skirmishes and small wars, and possibly even to a larger conflagration. Efforts by the Southern Tier states to define their geo-political orientation, Boris Rumer argues, "threatens to alter political and military equations from China to the Persian Gulf."
Speculating even more freely, such problems could cause the existing state order suddenly to collapse. Should southern Azerbaijan break away from Iran, Kurds and Turkmens might take advantage of the turmoil to win their independence from Iran, leaving Tehran the capital of a rump state. Alternatively, were Iran to incorporate independent Azerbaijan, the Persian nature of that country would come under doubt. Were Tajiks to secede from Afghanistan, Pashtuns and Baluch could follow suit. Both peoples would presumably seek to unite with their brethren in Pakistan, perhaps splitting Pakistan and destroying it. Separatist tendencies in India, already strong, would likely be encouraged by these developments, possibly leading to its breakup.
The Economist is probably right to describe Central Asia as "one of the most unstable parts of the world over the next decade," in which case it will export a wide range of problems. The emergence of an independent Southern Tier has, in other words, one common implication for neighbors: it complicates their politics. We cannot tell whether it will have deep consequences, but the potential is vast. The map from Turkey to Bangladesh could undergo drastic changes on short notice.
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Who is the Minister of Magic in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's stone? | Minister for Magic | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Several Ministers in recent times, from left to right: Cornelius Fudge (1990-1996), Rufus Scrimgeour (1996-1997), Pius Thicknesse (1997-1998) and Kingsley Shacklebolt (1998-c. 2019)
The Minister for Magic is the leader of the wizarding community in the United Kingdom and Ireland and the highest ranking member of the Ministry of Magic , which they control. The position somewhat corresponds to the Prime Minister of British Muggles .
The Minister is advised on wizarding matters by their staff members and by the other Heads of Departments. They also chair the Wizengamot to pass Wizarding Laws, or to hear important trials (such as Harry Potter 's case), though the verdict is decided by majority vote, including that of the Minister themselves. Many other wizarding countries also have Ministers and have the similar governmental systems such as the Bulgarian minister .
Despite being the head of the wizarding community of Britain and Ireland, it is common for the Minister to uphold a facade of peace and safety to maintain control and the satisfaction of the public, even if it means blatantly lying to the citizens, putting them at risk, and forcing the media to corroborate the Ministries claims. This was a sign of the corruption during the times of the Second Wizarding War .
The Minister for Magic was formally appointed in 1707 when Ulick Gamp was voted in as the first Minister for Magic. The minister is democratically elected through a public vote and there is no fixed limit to a Minister's term in office. However, regular elections must be held at a maximum interval of seven years. [1]
Contents
[ show ]
History
Albus Dumbledore was offered, but refused, the position on at least three occasions. This was due to Dumbledore's past, leading himself to believe that he was not to be trusted with power.
After Millicent Bagnold was preparing to retire, Barty Crouch Snr was the next prime candidate, due to his cruel but effective methods of combating the Dark Arts during the First Wizarding War , until he sentenced his son to Azkaban for being a Death Eater . It was after his son's presumed death that the public began to take pity on the boy and thought Crouch was too neglectful as a father, which led to a drop in his popularity, causing him to lose out to Fudge.
Cornelius Fudge was Minister from 1990 to 1996 . During his first days in office, he was not very confident and, as a result, constantly bombarded Dumbledore with letters for advice . During the last year of his tenure, Fudge was overcome by self-induced persecution delusions because Dumbledore claimed Voldemort had returned, and abused his own position to prevent that news from spreading, in order to protect both his position of power and the peace that the Ministry had worked so hard to maintain. In the end, when Fudge was forced to accept that Voldemort had indeed returned, the entire wizarding community called for his resignation and, after a fortnight of futile attempts to remain in office, in July 1996 he was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour .
Scrimgeour's term ran for one year, in which he was little better than Fudge, despite his aura of experience and pro-activity; he created cover-ups and detained incorrect suspects to make it look as though he was accomplishing something. Making the same mistakes as his predecessor, he gave little chance to build up any effective defence as a whole, and it eventually cost him his life when he was overwhelmed and killed in August of 1997 , with the official line saying that he had resigned. He was replaced by Voldemort 's puppet, Pius Thicknesse .
Thicknesse, under Yaxley 's Imperius Curse , was appointed as Minister, though he was really only Voldemort's puppet, with the Dark Lord effectively becoming the true Minister. While Thicknesse was to handle everyday business, which included changing the entire Ministry to suit the Death Eaters' ideology, Voldemort was free to extend his reign beyond the government. Voldemort did not announce himself Minister, but instead kept himself hidden in the shadows, in order to plant uncertainty and doubt within the wizarding community, preventing them from trusting anyone and forming any rebellion that may have overwhelmed the Ministry and the Death Eaters.
By the end of the war , Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed as temporary Minister, the position later becoming permanent. His term led to the revolutionising of the entire Ministry, removing any and all corruption that had permeated it before and during the takeover.
By 2019 , Hermione Granger had succeeded Kingsley as Minister for Magic.
List of British Ministers of Magic
18th century
Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Had previously been one of the top Ministry employees during Shacklebolt's massive reform of the Ministry, a progressive voice who ensured the eradication of oppressive, pro-pureblood laws.
Timeline
Relationship to the Muggle Prime Minister
One of the Minister for Magic's duties is to correspond with the British Prime Minister of Muggles regarding any ongoing events in the wizarding world that will or may affect the United Kingdom as a whole. e.g. Voldemort 's return. This includes introducing themselves to the Muggle Prime Minister, should there be a change in office on either side.
A small portrait in the corner of the Prime Minister's office serves as an envoy between the two Ministers. It announces the arrival of the Minister for Magic, seeking the Prime Minister's reply (usually acquiescence to the unavoidable). It is believed that a Permanent Sticking Charm must have been placed on the portrait, for neither the Prime Minister nor his experts were able to remove it from its location.
Known correspondences
Sometime between 1990 and 1993 , Fudge introduced himself to the newly elected Muggle Prime Minister and informed him of the existence of the magical population living among Muggles in secret. Fudge assured the Muggle Prime Minister that they would likely not see each other again unless there was an emergency. Fudge also claimed that the previous Prime Minister had tried to throw him out of the window, believing him to be a hoax planned by his political opposition.
In around July 1993 , Fudge visited the Prime Minister's office again, to inform him of Sirius Black 's breakout from Azkaban , the wizard prison. On this visit, Fudge also told the Prime Minister about Voldemort, in order to allow the Prime Minister to have an in-depth understanding of what was going on, though as he dared not say the name out loud, he instead scribbled it on a piece of paper.
In August 1994 , Fudge turned up to report on the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup , since its victims included Muggles . He also informed a bewildered Prime Minister that the Ministry of Magic would be importing dragons and a sphinx into Great Britain for the Triwizard Tournament , taking place at Hogwarts later that year.
Sometime prior to July 1996, a flustered Fudge appeared in the Prime Minister's office briefly to inform him that there had been a mass breakout from Azkaban , the wizard prison.
Around July 1996 , Fudge turned up and announced to the Prime Minister that the Second Wizarding War had begun, and admitted that the Dark forces in their community were responsible for the various gloomy and tragic events occurring in the Muggle world. In addition, Fudge introduced his successor, Rufus Scrimgeour .
When Voldemort took over the Ministry of Magic , it was possible that the the puppet Minister Pius Thicknesse was not sent to meet the Muggle Minister, as was the tradition in the past, due to the Death Eaters' attitudes towards Muggles and Muggle-borns. However, once Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed Minister in 1998 , it is possible, if not likely, that he did meet with the Prime Minister to not only introduce himself (indeed, he had been put in as secretary to the Prime Minister in 1996 to watch over his security) [2] but to assure the Muggle Minister that the war had ended.
When Hermione Granger was appointed Minister around 2019, she, like her predecessors, likely also introduced herself to the incumbent Prime Minister.
Behind the scenes
In the American editions, the Minister is called the Minister of Magic. In the films, both Minister of Magic and Minister for Magic seem to be acceptable, as different characters call it different names. For example, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 , when Scrimgeour arrives at The Burrow, George wonders what the "Minister of Magic" is doing there; likewise, when Kingsley's Patronus interrupts the Bill and Fleur's wedding, he calls the Minister the same thing. However, when Pius Thicknesse gives his speech later in the film, he calls himself the "Minister for Magic". The reason behind this is unknown.
Basil Flack has the distinction of being the Minister for Magic with the shortest known term in office: 2 months, in 1752 . The longest term was that of Faris Spavin , lasting 38 years, from 1865 to 1903 . There has been at least one foreign Minister for Magic with a shorter term then Flack's, though: Joshua Sankara , Minister for Magic of Burkina Faso for two days in 2006 .
Apparently, the Minister must get the approval of a Wizengamot majority for any legislation.
Since Kingsley's appointment as the next Minister for Magic is omitted from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 , there is no mention of who is appointed to that position after the final battle.
Supposing that the liaison between the Minister for Magic and the Muggle Prime Minister has been conducted in the same way since the Ministry's inception, as well as supposing that the Muggle Prime Ministers in the Harry Potter universe are all the same as their real-life counterparts, then the following table illustrates the Ministers for Magic that would have introduced themselves to the respective Prime Ministers:
Minister for Magic
| Ministry of Magic |
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT is an anagram of which character's name? | Return of the Biju Who Lived Chapter 2, a Harry Potter + Naruto Crossover fanfic | FanFiction
Powerful enough entity or person in transformation speaking
'Powerful enough entity or person in transformation using an Jutsu'
POWERFUL ENOUGH ENTITY OR PERSON IN TRANSFORMATION SHOUTING
'POWERFUL ENOUGH ENTITY OR PERSON IN TRANSFORMATION SHOUTING AN JUTSU'
(Side Notes)
Notes: Chakra and Magic are very similar things in this story as is Yoki though it is found in Yokai and Biju just to warn you I am using my Fangirl Sakura model for this story instead of my Shinobi Sakura model as I am in a couple of other stories I am writing so she is being bashed in it just so you know. I have played around with Rock Lee's disability in this story so some things about his condition which in this story verse Might Guy and a certain other person introduced in this chapter share so be forewarned. All Wizarding Spells in this story have Adept variants in the Elemental Nations so I have created some Jutsu's for that purpose in this story.
Philosophers Stone Arc
Chapter Two: Matters
The Next Morning at Hogwarts after the group woke up and Kunai the house Elf retrieved at Kushina's request and with a letter to those whom needed to know where they had gotten she had retrieved the other members of Team Kushina that she was teaching in addition to her son. The First was the young Heir of the Uchiha clan Sasuke Uchiha, The Second was a member of the Shihoin clan of Konoha whom had re-named herself Morning Lotus whom had Dark Skin a athletic muscular build and C cup breasts. Morning Lotus also wore clothes very similar to Morning Lotus's Idol Might Guy and even styled her purple hair similarly to her current mentor's former student though Lotus still had problems similar to Rock Lee and her idol. Mom where are we and what's going on? Asked Naruto in confusion and Kushina grinned before Kunai appeared with Sasuke and Morning Lotus.
YOSH THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH IS UPON US SENSEI SAMA HAS SUMMONED US TO… began Lotus Girl Dobe please spare our ear drums we don't need this at this time in the morning said Sasuke as stoically as possible. So Kushina began to explain the situation to the students they were staying at a place called Hogwarts for now while her Husband took care of things at this place called the Wizengamot which was apparently this realms government. She also told of the events leading to this point in time YOSH MY MOST YOUTHFUL SENSEI I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW THIS LANDS PEOPLE HOW I BURST OUTWARDS WITH THE FLAMES OF YOUTH shouted Lotus. Naruto and Sasuke though fond of their teammate whom in a sense was the glue that held them together as they fought quite a lot despite being the best of friends but she could be a bit much at times they were sure this was how Tenten and Neji felt about Lee.
Kushina smiled at her most hardworking and ambitious of students even more so than her own son though Naruto and Sasuke were hardworking on their own they paled in comparison to Morning Lotus. Just then Severus Snape and Sirius Black walked in and stared at them especially Morning Lotus and Sasuke and unawares of their guests Lotus continued on her rant. IF I Can't SHOW ENGLAND MY FLAMES OF YOUTH THAN SENSEI I SHALL RUN 500 LAPS AROUND THIS CASTLE AND IF I Can't DO THAT I SHALL SCALE ITS VERY WALLS WITH JUST MY FINGER 500 TIMES AND… she was cut off by Snape clearing his throat. Lotus's head snapped towards the two newcomers immediately as Sirius's eyes swam in amusement at the girl's choice of attire and loud very Gryffindor personality though Snape for himself saw the girls Slytherin Ambition and resourcefulness burning brightly in her eyes.
So Mom whom are they? Said Naruto and Sirius and Severus turned their heads towards the Hanyo now dressed and standing up and both proceeded to introduce themselves to the group though Snape was doing so because he didn't want to be shown up by Sirius. Meanwhile elsewhere Albus Dumbledore after informing Minister Cornelius Fudge of everything via letter had brought Minato Namikaze whom was now decked in his Hokage attire to the Wizengamot. Minato sighed he had gotten quite the lot of looks from many females on the way here and wondered why he had left Kushina at home he was considered by the lands laws something called a Pure Blood a term that did disturb him slightly. The Old man Albus Dumbledore had insisted on guiding him here and he had been very grateful for that help as it had been quite hard to get to this place even with the old man's help.
Ah Albus is this him the man you brought with the woman who lived? Said an elderly voice and he saw another elderly man approaching him speaking Yes Cornelius this is Mr. Namikaze Lady Potter's husband said Albus. And where is Lady Potter now? Inquired this Cornelius whom looked around for a bit at Hogwarts safe from her enemies said Albus Not that Kyubi Chan needs protection said Minato. Cornelius Fudge had been told by Dumbledore of what had happened since he was minister of magic and the old politician knew that many would not take kindly to the potter heiress as she was turned into being a Magical creature technically. But one thing remained Pure Bloods even those with blood purist beliefs shared a strange relationship with Yokai as the Potter heir was now one based on mutual persecution by Muggles and forged in fire.
Despite what she once he has become Lady Potter is still considered by ancient law the heiress of the Potter fortune and it is best for us wizards not to meddle in the choices of divine beings such as Death said Cornelius looking serious which seemed out of character for him. Anyhow we should get into the chambers the Wizengamot is going to be in session soon Albus Mr. Namikaze Potter please follow me said the Minister motioning for them to follow him into the chambers.
End of Chapter
Rather short I know please don't mind I hope you review just don't flame me I don't flame others so please return the curtsy.
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Name the character played by Anthony Perkins in Hitchcock's 1960 movie, Psycho. | Psycho | film by Hitchcock [1960] | Britannica.com
film by Hitchcock [1960]
Psycho, American suspense film and psychological thriller, released in 1960, that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and is loosely based on the real-life killings of Wisconsin serial murderer Ed Gein .
(From left to right) Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Anthony Perkins in Psycho …
© 1960 Paramount Pictures, all rights reserved
After secretary Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh ) impulsively absconds from her job with $40,000, she checks into the eerie Bates Motel, which is run by shy, awkward Norman Bates ( Anthony Perkins ) and his domineering elderly mother. While taking a shower, Crane is fatally stabbed by Norman’s mother, and Norman disposes of the body. Meanwhile, Crane’s boyfriend ( John Gavin) and her sister ( Vera Miles ) launch a frantic search that eventually takes them to the Bates home. There they fend off an attack by Norman’s mother, who, dressed as the long-deceased Mrs. Bates, in reality is Norman. A psychiatrist later determines that Norman suffers from a split personality that led him to commit murder.
In 1960, the same year that director Michael Powell ’s career was nearly ruined for releasing the sexually oriented murder film Peeping Tom , Hitchcock found his greatest success with this equally disturbing film along similarly shocking plotlines. Hitchcock made Psycho on a limited budget by shooting in black and white and using the crew from his television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The director financed much of the film himself in return for a large percentage of the profits, which earned him millions. The murder in the shower, one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history, was a textbook example of brilliant film editing, but the scene is probably best remembered for Bernard Herrmann ’s masterful score, in which violins , cellos , and violas screech in unison with each slash of Norman’s knife. The production design of the old house on the hill where the eccentric Norman Bates lived is famous for its nightmarish effect.
A scene from Psycho (1960), directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
© 1960 Paramount Pictures Corporation
Director and Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Writer: Joseph Stefano
| Norman Bates |
Ming the Merciless is the arch-enemy of which comic book hero? | Anthony Perkins - The Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
The Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
Perkins in a publicity still for [[Psycho]] (1960)
Biography
Anthony Perkins (1932–1992) was an American actor.
He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his second film, Friendly Persuasion (1956), but is best known for playing Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock 's Psycho and its three sequels. His other films include Fear Strikes Out (1957), The Matchmaker (1958), The Trial (1962), Tall Story (1960), Pretty Poison (1968), The Black Hole (1979) and North Sea Hijack (1980).
In August 1973, Perkins married photographer Berinthia "Berry" Berenson and their son, Oz Perkins , played the role of young Norman Bates in Psycho II .
After contracting AIDS, Perkins died of pneumonia in September 1992, aged 60.
Filmography
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In which 1987 movie thriller did Glenn Close boil a bunny? | Fatal Attraction (1987) - IMDb
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A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.
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Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations. See more awards »
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Storyline
Happily married New York lawyer Dan Callagher has an affair with his colleague Alex, and the two enjoy a love weekend while Dan's wife and kid are away. But Alex will not let go of him, and she will stop at nothing to have him for herself. Just how far will she go to get what she wants? Written by Sami Al-Taher <[email protected]>
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Taglines:
On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story. See more »
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18 September 1987 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Affairs of the Heart See more »
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Glenn Close still has the knife she used in the movie hanging in her kitchen. See more »
Goofs
Alex's head tilts the opposite way when she tries to persuade Dan to not leave after he confronts her. See more »
Quotes
See more »
Crazy Credits
Barbara Harris is sometimes credited under the name Barbara Iley. In the final credits here, under 'Party Guests', she is credited under both names. See more »
Connections
Prelude No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 28
(uncredited)
One Of The Most Memorable Movies Of The '80s
28 January 2007 | by ccthemovieman-1
(United States) – See all my reviews
You don't hear much about this film anymore, but in its day, this was the most-talked about movie of the year. It was a 'favorite topic of conversation about the office water cooler' for a number of weeks. At the time, it was a shocker. Nowaways.....who knows? As we become more and more desensitized to violence, sex and profanity, it takes a lot more to shock us.
Still, this movie had memorable moments that have stayed with us who first saw it at the theater 20 years ago. Most of those memorable scenes, if not all of them, involve Glenn Close's character, "Alex Forrest." Man, this is a woman who would not be denied what she wanted: in this case, married man Michael Douglas.
No sense going into all the details. Everyone knows them by now, anyway. Looking back, I think the film was a good lesson for men (or women) thinking about cheating on their spouses and assuming nothing bad will happen as a result. Men may commit more crimes, but that old adage about a "woman scorned" certainly is demonstrated here in spades! Douglas' character, "Dan Gallagher," certainly can attest to that, but he is anything but a sympathetic character. Both actors do a superb job in here, but kudos also to the rest of the Gallagher family, played by Anne Archer (wife "Beth") and Ellen Hamilton Latzen (daughter "Ellen.")
Also, the cinematography shouldn't be overlooked. The widescreen DVD certainly brought out how nicely this film was shot and directed. This two-hour film keeps your attention all the way. The only thing I would change is the language, toning it down a bit. Otherwise, it's a classic thriller and one of the most famous films in the '80s.
45 of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
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| Fatal Attraction |
Who is the arch-enemy of Inspector Gadget? | Fatal Attraction – Behind the Scenes | The Pioneer Woman
Fatal Attraction – Behind the Scenes
by Ree on October 19, 2011
I stayed up too late last night watching a behind-the-scenes show about the making of Fatal Attraction on Biography. (I think it was on Biography. Again, it was late.)
Here’s just a handful of things I found out:
1. Did you know Fatal Attraction originally had a completely different ending? In the original, Glenn Close takes her own life following the fight with Michael Douglas wherein he threatens to kill her if she tells his wife about their affair, then he winds up being arrested for her murder because his fingerprints are on the knife (because he had grabbed it from Glenn when she tried to stab him during the fight). The original version was supposed to end with Michael Douglas sitting in the electric chair screaming “I am innocent!”
(Huh?)
This version obviously fell flat with audiences, who viewed Michael Douglass as a sympathetic character, so they reworked the show so that after his arrest for the murder, Anne Archer (Michael’s beautiful wife) discovers the cassette tape Glenn had made for Michael—the one in which she rambled on for hours about how much she loved him and how she wouldn’t be able to go on living if he were to reject her—and she rushes the tape to the police as proof that Michael didn’t do it.
(Hmm.)
In the end, they wound up completely reworking the ending again so that Anne Archer is forced to shoot Glenn Close in order to protect her family, and it’s the one audiences loved the most. They wanted Michael’s character to almost lose everything…but find redemption in the end.
2. Glenn Close was actually quite shy and reserved, and she said that during the scene in her apartment where she’s wearing a teddy and saying “I’m not going to be IGNORED, Dan!” her unease with wearing such skimpy clothing greatly contributed to her her appearing nervous and unstable.
(I could totally relate to this. I’m shy about my body, and if I had to wear a teddy in front of a crew, I’d be nervous and unstable, too.)
3. During their *ahem* more raucous love scenes, Glenn Close had to drink half a pitcher of margaritas in order to have the courage to film them.
(All I could think about here was how I wouldn’t be able to stop laughing. It sure is a good thing I:
a) can not act
b) probably would not be cast as a femme fatale even if I could act
Because I’d pretty much use up my paycheck cracking up the whole time.)
4. I won’t tell you what I learned about the rabbit scene.
(You really don’t want to know.)
The show was so interesting. I love behind-the-scenes stories of movie production, especially years and years after their release. It’s like discovering a little treasure chest of secrets.
It also makes me want to watch the movie again. As nutso and disturbing as it was, it really was a classic.
(Though I think I’ll fast forward through the rabbit scene next time.)
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What name was given to the serial killer sought by Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs? | The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - FAQ
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FAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Silence of the Lambs can be found here .
What is 'The Silence of the Lambs' about?
When Catherine Martin ( Brooke Smith ), the daughter of Tennessee Senator Ruth Martin ( Diane Baker ), is kidnapped by a serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill ( Ted Levine ), F.B.I. agent-in-training Clarice Starling ( Jodie Foster ) is called upon to interact with psychopathic, cannibalistic killer psychiatrist Doctor Hannibal Lecter ( Anthony Hopkins ) who may have insights into the identity of Buffalo Bill.
Is "The Silence of the Lambs" based on a book?
The movie is based on The Silence of the Lambs, a 1988 novel by American writer Thomas Harris. The novel was adapted for the movie by American screenwriter Ted Tally. The Silence of the Lambs won the 1992 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. There have since been two movie sequels, Hannibal (2001) and Hannibal Rising (2007) and one prequel Red Dragon (2002), also based on novels by Thomas Harris. Prior to The Silence of the Lambs, there was another Hannibal Lecter movie, Manhunter (1986), which was based on Harris' 1981 novel, Red Dragon.
What does the title mean?
Clarice tells Lecter how she was orphaned at 10 years of age and sent to live on a sheep and horse ranch in Montana. One night she awoke to a terrible screaming and discovered the rancher was slaughtering the spring lambs. She grabbed a lamb and tried to rescue it. When she was found the next day, the rancher sent her away to live in an orphanage. The experience had a traumatic psychological effect on Clarice that haunts her for life. Lecter concludes that Clarice's fervent desire to save Catherine Martin will ultimately help her to silence the sound of the lambs screaming in her mind.
When does the story take place?
A picture of one of Buffalo Bill's victims has the year 1989 on it, so it must be either 1989 or the beginning of 1990. This is also implied when Chilton mentions the date of Hannibal's attack on a nurse (July 8th, 1981), and his remark that Hannibal has not seen a woman in 8 years. This presumes that the nurse was indeed the last woman Hannibal came into contact with, which is a reasonable assumption, given that Hannibal was locked up in a dungeon with only male orderlies.
What does 'quid pro quo' mean?
Quid pro quo is Latin for "what for what" or "something for something." It refers to a reciprocal exchange. In the context of the movie, Lecter promises to feed information about Buffalo Bill to Clarice but only if she will tell him things about herself in return.
What kind of moths was Buffalo Bill raising?
Roden ( Dan Butler ) and Dr Pilcher ( Paul Lazar ) identify the one taken from the victim's throat as a Death's-Head moth (Acherontia styx), a species found only in Asia. In reality, the cocoon was made from Tootsie-Rolls and gummy bears, in case the actress swallowed it. Photos of a real Death's Head moth can be seen here .
Why did Lecter make such a point of telling Starling about the census taker he ate?
The infamous line where Lecter tells Starling that he ate a census taker's liver with fava beans and a "nice Chianti" has a few meanings: On the one hand, it's a grotesque display of power. By mentioning that he did something like this to Starling, he's reminding her of what he is and, more so, of what he's capable of and how he regards selected people or people in general. On the other hand, apart from containing alcohol, a Chianti is likely to be rich in tyramine - especially the more so when aged, whereas fava beans also contain a considerable amount of tyramine. Liver that is usually eaten from animals can also be high in tyramine. For obvious reasons, less is known about how a human liver differs in its constituents from that of an animal in regards to diet, potential poisoning and specific interactions. This may either be mere coincidence, simply reflect Hannibal's cannibalistic taste, or could possibly be an attempt to confuse, mock or provoke students of psychiatry or the psychology of criminalistic behavior, such as Clarice. Anything beyond that is speculative and elusive to investigations, as is probably intended, considering the context and the manner in which the statement was made as well as the nature of the individual it came from.
How was Hannibal able to use the pen tip as a key for the handcuffs?
Often in film, when a prisoner escapes from handcuffs without a key, a small, thin metal object is used. Until the release of this film, it'd been done many times by other characters in other movies. So it wasn't too hard for the writers to convince us that Hannibal could do the same thing. Also, he's an inventive genius, which makes it even more believable. In Thomas Harris' novel, the escape is almost exactly the same. Hannibal does steal a pen, though it wasn't Chilton's, it belonged to an attendant who had carelessly left it behind. Hannibal spends weeks cutting the shaft of the ink cartridge using only a small burr on a bolt that holds his bunk bed against the wall of his cell. When he has a length of the shaft cut to the right size, he cuts 2 small grooves in it lengthwise. He hides it in his cheek, and a scan with a metal detecting wand misses it. In his new cell, while guarded by Pembry and Boyle, he uses the pen tip to bend the section of the shaft outward, making a key that he uses to undo the cuffs. The movie makes the scene a bit simpler, probably to save time and control the pacing.
How could Hannibal possibly overpower both Pembry and Boyle? It was two armed men against one prisoner.
Aside from the obvious answers like Hannibal undoing his cuffs with a piece of the pen he stole from Chilton, the bigger issue is that Boyle and Pembry didn't have the kind of respect for Hannibal's inventive genius that Barney did at the institution in Baltimore. Essentially, they considered Hannibal to be merely a prisoner to babysit. Hannibal's plan from the beginning was to get himself transferred away from Chilton (who he considered a tormentor). If you watch the beginning of the escape scene, you can easily see the mistakes Boyle and Pembry make: Boyle puts the tray on the floor near Hannibal when he rolls up the sketches (with the sketches placed on the table that Hannibal eats from, this may have also been part of Hannibal's plan; Boyle probably should've handed the tray to Pembry.) Pembry, when removing the key from the lock, is standing around much too casually, not watching Hannibal closely enough, and even turns his back on him and begins to walk out of the cage.) Additionally, Boyle probably should not have been allowed to carry a pocket knife as a personal item when working with so dangerous a prisoner. In the end, Hannibal, over the course of a few days or so that he was incarcerated in Memphis, had ample enough time to observe both men and to discern the weaknesses in their procedures.
Why does Clarice believe that "Jack Gordon" is actually Buffalo Bill?
Her suspicions are aroused when "Gordon" asks if Frederika Bimmell was "a great big fat person." Lecter pointed out that all of the victims were larger women, because the killer wants their skins to fit onto a man's body. That Gumb's first thought of a woman he didn't otherwise recognize was her size was enough to make Starling want to find out more. Once inside his house, Clarice recognizes the Death's Head moth in the living room. Gumb gives his name as "Jack Gordon." Those initials, J.G., are consistent with "Jame Gumb" and "John Grant," both aliases named by Crawford.
How does the movie end?
From Lecter's advice -- that Bill covets that which he sees every day -- Clarice and Ardelia deduce that the first victim could have been someone who Bill knew personally. Clarice drives to Belvedere, Ohio to talk with the father of the first victim, Frederika Bimmel. In looking over Frederika's bedroom, Clarice finds a music box ballerina, in which she finds a false bottom that contains pictures obviously missed during previous investigations. On the pictures, Frederika is seen posing, wearing only underwear, suggesting that there was indeed an unknown man in her life who took the pictures, most likely her murderer. Clarice goes through a wardrobe and notices the triangular gussets on Frederika's dresses match the pieces of skin Bill cut from one of his victims. Clarice calls Jack Crawford ( Scott Glenn ) to inform him that Bill is making a "woman suit" of real skin. Crawford is already in route to Chicago, having identified Bill as Jame Gumb, but they find that the house where he's supposedly living has been abandoned. Clarice continues to poke around in Belvedere and interviews one of Frederika's friends, who points to the house of "old Mrs Littman" where she was often hanging around. Mrs Littman doesn't live there any more, but the current resident, who calls himself Jack Gordon, offers to give her Mrs Littman's son's business card and invites Clarice inside to wait. When she notices spools of thread and a Death's-Head moth, she realizes that Jack Gordon is really Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb. She pulls her gun on him, but Gumb leads her on a wild goose chase into the basement, where he has Catherine Martin imprisoned in a well. Gumb dons a night vision mask and turns out the lights, leaving Clarice to feel around in the dark. When he makes the mistake of cocking his gun, Clarice shoots him. Catherine is subsequently rescued. In the final scenes, Clarice is shown graduating from the Academy. At the party that follows, she receives a phone call from Lecter, calling from the airport on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. He assures her that he's not about to come looking for her and requests that she extend him the same courtesy, which Clarice cannot do, of course. He then says that he must hang up because "I'm having an old friend for dinner," as he watches Dr. Frederick Chilton deplane.
What happens to Dr. Chilton?
The closing, where Hannibal says: "I'm having an old friend for dinner" as he watches Dr. Chilton deplane, strongly suggests that Chilton ended up as one of Hannibal's meals. A small reference was made in the sequel novel Hannibal, where it was mentioned that Chilton disappeared seven years earlier while on vacation, strongly suggesting Hannibal had gotten his revenge (albeit in the novel, Chilton disappeared in Jamaica, not the Bahamas). However, this is never specifically stated in the sequel movie. The only reference to Dr. Chilton in Hannibal is made by Barney, when he says that Lecter, when possible, preferred to eat "the rude," and Dr. Chilton "was a bad man," which also strongly implies Chilton became Hannibal's victim.
Is Hannibal Lecter sociopathic, psychopathic, or something else?
In the novel Red Dragon, Will Graham calls Lecter a "pure sociopath," but makes a point in mentioning that he only calls him this because a more appropriate term doesn't exist, meaning Lecter doesn't actually fit any psychological profile.This is echoed in the film version of The Silence of the Lambs, where Dr. Chilton refers to Lecter as a "pure psychopath," but given Chilton's incompetence, it makes sense that he would term Lecter's pathology so simply. Another reference to Graham's description in Red Dragon is made when Clarice tells a young security guard in the Tennessee asylum that "they don't have a name" for what Lecter is. According to the film's director, Jonathan Demme, Lecter is a good man trapped in an insane mind. Anthony Hopkins plays him as a refined, eloquent and seductive character who is very careful and cunning in his crimes. This is more in line with a sociopathic pathology, as sociopaths are known to be more organized in their actions. If you consider the prequel novel Hannibal Rising to be canon (which many fans of the Lecter mythology don't), it is suggested that Hannibal's pathology is a result of irreparable trauma he suffered as a child; however, others contest this simple summary of the novel, and maintain that Lecter's childhood trauma is merely one, if not the main event that causes his already sociopathic tendencies to manifest themselves at a young age; this is suggested by Hannibal continuing to murder people, even after dealing with the people responsible for the trauma. In other words, Lecter would have become a serial killer anyway, but events from his childhood simply accelerated the process and provided him with a special focus. Some viewers even maintain that Lecter isn't actually insane at all but does horrific things simply because he wants to and is smart enough to get away with them. They maintain that the people in the novels and films refer to Lecter as insane simply because it's easier to term him as such; it gives them a false sense of security and makes them feel that they know how Lecter's mind works when they actually have no idea. Simply put, it's possible that Lecter is a sociopath or a psychopath but, considering Graham's description, it's much more likely that Lecter is just pure evil.
Why does Hannibal treat Barney Matthews so well?
Over the years that Hannibal is incarcerated, Barney develops respect for Lecter's ingenuity and intelligence, not to mention, respects how dangerous Lecter is. Lecter develops respect for Barney's courteous and kind manner, and in the sequel, Barney points out that he never felt in danger after Lecter's jailbreak, as Lecter preferred to eat "the rude". In the novel, Lecter and Barney have a short exchange before Lecter is transferred: Lecter thanks Barney for being decent to him, and Barney accepts and wishes him well.
Is this film a sequel to Manhunter?
There are two schools of thought on this. One could certainly argue that The Silence of the Lambs is a sequel to Manhunter, since it features three of the same characters from Manhunter, that is, Hannibal Lecter, Jack Crawford, and Dr. Frederick Chilton (played respectively by Brian Cox , Dennis Farina , and Benjamin Hendrickson in Manhunter and Anthony Hopkins , Scott Glenn , and Anthony Heald in The Silence of the Lambs). On the other hand, Manhunter was not a successful film, which is why Dino De Laurentiis chose not to produce this film. When The Silence of the Lambs was released, it was not marketed as a sequel to Manhunter. All references from the book that mention Will "the Red Dragon" Graham have been excised from the film. The two returning cast members, Frankie Faison and Dan Butler , play different roles. It's also worth noting that in early drafts, when the producers were not sure if they could use the characters from Manhunter, Ted Tally changed those characters' names to cut all ties with Manhunter. They were eventually changed back. However, given that Tally also wrote the screenplay for Red Dragon, which featured three out of four actors returning to their roles, including Faison playing his Silence role, it is more likely that Manhunter is meant to be part of a separate continuity, while Red Dragon is meant to be a direct prequel to The Silence of the Lambs.
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Workprint?
There are some differences between the Workprint version and the Theatrical Release. The Workprint is more or less a final cut of the movie. Beside many minor changes, here and there are some scenes, which were removed in the Theatrical Version. The image quality of the Workprint is especially in dark scenes pretty bad. The Workprint got an alternate Soundtrack. In some parts there is no or different music and in other parts the same music compared to the Thatrical Version. For example at the beginning when Starling runs through the wood. The Workprint features a different dark/haunting music with a musical box motive. Furthermore all the Credits and the location names are missing in the Workprint. A detailed comparison between both versions with pictures can be found here.
| Buffalo Bill |
Uma Thurman plays which enemy of Batman in the 1997 movie Batman And Robin? | The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - IMDb
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The Silence of the Lambs ( 1991 )
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A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.
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Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
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Won 5 Oscars. Another 48 wins & 36 nominations. See more awards »
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Storyline
FBI trainee Clarice Starling works hard to advance her career, including trying to hide or put behind her West Virginia roots, of which if some knew would automatically classify her as being backward or white trash. After graduation, she aspires to work in the agency's Behavioral Science Unit under the leadership of Jack Crawford. While she is still a trainee, Crawford does ask her to question Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist imprisoned thus far for eight years in maximum security isolation for being a serial killer, he who cannibalized his victims. Clarice is able to figure out the assignment is to pick Lecter's brains to help them solve another serial murder case, that of someone coined by the media as Buffalo Bill who has so far killed five victims, all located in the eastern US, all young women who are slightly overweight especially around the hips, all who were drowned in natural bodies of water, and all who were stripped of large swaths of skin. She also figures that Crawford... Written by Huggo
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Taglines:
Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. - Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer. See more »
Genres:
14 February 1991 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Silence of the Lambs See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
Sean Connery was director Jonathan Demme 's first choice to play Hannibal Lecter, but he turned the part down. Connery later did a similar serial-killer thriller called Just Cause (1995), where Ed Harris plays a sort of bible-bashing, redneck rip-off of Hannibal Lecter. The film was neither a critical or commercial smash like The Silence of the Lambs (1991) was. See more »
Goofs
During the discussion Clarice has with Hannibal in the cage, she says "Now, please listen to me. We've only got five..." and Hannibal is supposed to interrupt her but it there is a brief pause before Hannibal speaks. It is clear that she stopped talking without being interrupted. See more »
Quotes
Crazy Credits
The producers wish to thank Adele, Bobby and the rest of the gang at Bufa's. See more »
Connections
Written by Bruce Licher (as B. Licher), Mark Erskine (as M. Erskine), and Jeff Long (as J. Long)
Courtesy of Independent Project Records
(Livonia, MI USA) – See all my reviews
Sweeping all five major Academy Awards ("Oscars" for Best Movie, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay) is quite an accomplishment. Doing it nearly a year after a film was released is a miracle considering the notoriously short attention span of Oscar voters. It is a powerful example of how great a movie can be when superb writers, directors, actors, and others work at the top of their craft.
`Silence of the Lambs' is the story of a young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who is summoned to help find one serial killer called `Buffalo Bill.' by interviewing another. Foster's performance is absolutely brilliant. While Anthony Hopkins receives most of the (well-deserved) praise for his chilling portrayal of incarcerated serial killer `Hannibal the Cannibal' Lector', it is Foster's performance that holds the movie together. The fear she shows just behind her eyes makes Clarice's outward courage all the more interesting and vulnerable. This is the perfect way to play the part because it explains Lector's interest in Clarice. Her only bargaining chip in getting Lector's help is to let him `feed' on her innermost secrets and fears in exchange for his brilliant insights into the psychotic mind. The title of the movie comes from these exchanges and is very poignant.
Director Jonathan Demme is masterful. There is one scene late in the movie that I will not spoil. It is one of the most simply brilliant scenes ever staged in a movie. I don't know if all the credit goes to Demme or the writers, but there is a moment in the film where the suspense builds beautifully to a what seems to be a common movie scene. However, through skillful timing of the direction, the audiences assumptions are used against them and when the truth is revealed (hint: it involves a doorbell) it is shocking and induced a collective gasp from the audience I saw it with at the theatre. It set the stage for an edge-of-your seat climax.
Do not miss this movie.
The movie is incredibly suspenseful and an absolute must see.
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| i don't know |
Which villainous soap character is played by John Altman? | EastEnders
'Ello Ma'!!!!!
The Creation of Nick Cotton
Nicholas Charles "Nick" Cotton is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders played by John Altman on a recurring basis from the soap's debut episode on 19 February 1985, in six separate stints (1985 to 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000 to 2001, 2008 to 2009 and from 2014 onwards). Nick is the son of characters Charlie (Christopher Hancock) and Dot Cotton (June Brown), and the father of Charlie (Declan Bennett), Ashley (Frankie Fitzgerald) and Dotty Cotton (Molly Conlin). His storylines have seen him twice commit murder; Reg Cox in 1985 and Eddie Royle in 1991 respectively, succumb to a heroin addiction, his racism and attempts to poison his own mother, causing the death of his son Ashley and faking his own death, amongst numerous other misdemeanours. Nick was also the subject of a special spin-off episode, The Return of Nick Cotton, which aired in October 2000. He has been voted one of television's all-time most villainous characters in a Channel 4 poll. On 29 July 2014, it was confirmed that John Altman would return and Nick appeared onscreen again on 24 October 2014. He is the shows original villain as a result of his actions.
Nick Cotton was the twenty-fourth character invented by the creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith. Nick was not part of Holland's and Smith's original vision for EastEnders, and his creation came about as an afterthought. The first episode of the series was to include the death of an elderly resident, Reg Cox, who had been brutally attacked in his home, and left to die. During the first writers' meeting, where the writers were introduced to the intended characters and early scripts, each independently wanted to know which character had killed Reg. However, Holland and Smith had never intended for the murderer to be unveiled. They had no idea who had killed Reg Cox, and they had felt that "the who" was not important. The fact that he was dead following an attack was the important issue, and Reg's murder was not intended to be solved, it was only there to tell the audience, from the outset, that Walford was a rough and tough place.
The writers opposed this. They accused Holland of throwing away a great opportunity and suggested that a murder hunt would provide an array of dramatic possibilities that would captivate the audience. After deciding that all of the twenty-three original characters were incapable of committing the crime, Holland decided to invent an entirely new character, in the form of Nick Cotton. The original character outline for Nick read: "His image is exclusively macho. Vanishes for weeks on end. Mum doesn't ask questions... Unlike Den, Nick is a real crook. Worms his way into people's confidentiality and homes. From then on, lives on his wits. Waiting for the moment to strike; to nick the cash and disappear...Usually chooses his victims who, for one reason or another, are frightened to report him...Nick's a heroin addict."
As Nick was only intended to be a semi-regular character, Julia Smith was not involved in his casting and the actor John Altman was chosen by the directors.
"Nick Cotton is an EastEnders legend. His complex relationship with Dot, his criminal tendencies, and his addiction to heroin, violence, and everything else that's bad have made him one of the show's best-remembered and best-loved villains. We're very excited that he - and the talented John Altman who plays him - will be returning to the Square." �Executive producer Diederick Santer on Nick's 2008 return to EastEnders.
June Brown (Dot Cotton)
June Muriel Brown, MBE (born 16 February 1927) is an English actress, best known for her role as Dot Cotton in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2005, she won Best Actress at the British Soap Awards and also received the Lifetime Achievement award at the same ceremony. In 2009, she was nominated for Best Actress at the BAFTA TV Awards. She is only the second performer to receive a BAFTA nomination for their work in a soap opera (the first was Jean Alexander). Her other television appearances include Doctor Who (1973-1974) the comedy series Now and Then (1983-1984) and the 2003 TV film Margery and Gladys opposite Penelope Keith. She was made a MBE in the 2008 Queens Birthday Honours.
Dorothy "Dot" Branning (also Cotton) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown since 1985. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the mother of criminal Nick Cotton (John Altman). The character has worked as a launderette assistant for most of that time along with original character Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). Dot moved away with her son and his family in 1993.
June returned to the role in 1997, and Dot was shown moving back to Albert Square, and has continued since that time. Dot is the second longest-serving character currently appearing in EastEnders, surpassed only by original character Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story (2003) a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. In April 2012, June took a six-month break from the show to write her memoirs. Dot temporarily departed on 18 May 2012. She returned on 14 January 2013.
Dot's relationship with her wayward son Nick (John Altman), has been a feature of the character's narrative since her inception. Unlike Dot, Nick is scripted as a semi-regular character, one who comes and goes sporadically and, as authors Jill Marshall and Angela Werndly have observed, "we know heartache is in store for Dot Cotton every time her son, 'Nasty Nick', turns up. The recurrence of generic elements means we derive pleasure from expectation and prediction."
Executive producer Diederick Santer has discussed the "wonderfully dysfunctional mother-son relationship" Nick shares with Dot and her perpetual willingness to give Nick another chance regardless of his history of wrongdoing. Santer explained: "There�s that thing where you sort of dare to hope that someone�s changed, which is really tragic. They�ve let you down a hundred times, and yet you still hope that the hundred and first time they�ll have changed." Actor Leslie Grantham has stated that Dot is the "one friend in [Nick's] life", while series story producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins has affirmed: "Dot�s always going to forgive him. And that�s the beauty of Nick and Dot." Concurring with this sentiment, John Altman (Nick) agreed: "No matter what he does, she�ll forgive him. So did a lot of gangsters' mothers throughout history. Probably Al Capone's mother thought he was a sweet lad, you know."
One of Nick's most notable returns to the series occurred in 1990. Nick returned to his mother's life with the claim that he was a born-again Christian, which happened to coincide with her �1000 win on the bingo. EastEnders writer Sarah Phelps explained: "For Dot, the idea that Jesus had finally spoken to Nick, that was all her Christmases coming at once! Nick knew that. It was sort of obvious that Nick could be saying 'Jesus walks with me' and then just go out and kick somebody or nick their wallet." With the help of a fake priest, Nick managed to convince his mother of his new-found faith and then began a slow campaign to control her eating habits and poison her in order to claim her money. Discussing the storyline, scriptwriter Colin Brake has indicated that at first it was not clear to the audience whether Nick had reformed or not, but as the weeks passed it became obvious that he did intend to kill his mother, as he was shown practising a fake suicide note in Dot's handwriting � a foil to cover the intended murder; according to Brake, Dot remained blithely and perhaps purposefully ignorant to his wrongdoing. The episode which culminated the storyline, written by P.J. Hammond, was set solely in Dot's house and featured an unusually small cast consisting of Nick, Dot, Nick's estranged father Charlie, Dot's close friend Ethel Skinner and Alistair the fake priest. At the last moment, in what Altman has called the "one time we saw a glimmer of Nick�s good side", Nick backed out of his plan and stopped Dot from eating the poisoned meal he had intended to kill her with. Once again Dot was left alone, broken-hearted at what her own son had been prepared to do to her.
Other storylines have concentrated on Dot's various attempts to reform Nick, such as in 1991, when Nick returned with a heroin addiction. As the plot unfolded, Dot tried to curtail Nick's addiction by locking him in his room and forcing him to go cold turkey. His resulting paranoia and cravings led him to escape and murder the first person he encountered, The Queen Victoria landlord Eddie Royle (Michael Melia). The episode where Eddie was murdered was the big autumn launch episode for 1991. Nick stood trial in January 1993; however, "he got away with murder" for a second time in the serial. Other scams have included Nick's attempt to con Dot by claiming he had AIDS in 1998 after escaping from prison, which ultimately led to Dot having him re-imprisoned. Then followed a plot that saw him largely responsible for the death of his son Ashley (Frankie Fitzgerald) in 2001, ultimately leading Dot to disown Nick.
Following pleas from Brown to resurrect Nick, John Altman returned to the serial again in December 2008, in a storyline that saw Nick attempt to con Dot again, this time aided by a previously unheard of daughter, Dotty (Molly Conlin). Altman explained: "Nick needed something, because I think if he didn�t have little Dotty, for him to walk through that door, she would just have treated him as a complete outcast." As the storyline progressed, it was revealed that Nick and Dotty had intentions to kill Dot for her inheritance; they concocted a plan to make her think she had developed dementia then overdose her with sleeping pills, which fails when Dotty has a change of heart and Nick flees once again after causing an explosion and being disowned by Dot.
John and June Brown are very good friends off screen.
Nick Cottons 2014 (and final) Return
by Daniel Kilkelly for Digital Spy 25 October 2014
EastEnders is reintroducing the show's most memorable villain as Nick Cotton has returned to Walford.
Following his brief appearance at the end of Friday night's episode, Nick horrifies his son Charlie (Declan Bennett) next week by arriving at Dot's house unexpectedly, threatening to reveal the fact that his recent 'death' was faked.
EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins recently promised to tell "the Nick story to end all Nick stories", so there is bound to be huge drama ahead for the Cottons and the Mitchells as the iconic character causes more trouble. This week, Digital Spy had an exclusive chat with John Altman, who plays Nick, to hear more gossip about what's in store.
How does it feel to be back on EastEnders?
"First of all, as an actor, it's great to be working. It's also fabulous to be given some quite powerful storylines - and I love EastEnders, so it's great to be back!"
Were you surprised when you got the call to return?
"It's always a nice surprise when they do get in touch. Over the years, sometimes I've had long stretches away from the show. That can be as long as nine years, which means I have to get on with my life outside of EastEnders - I don't sit by the phone waiting for it to ring! "There have been a couple of times when I've had to say no to returning because I've been doing something else, but this time it worked out."
How did you feel about the fake death storyline for Nick?
"I knew about Nick returning from the dead long before anyone else knew about it, because the executive producer Dominic and story producer Alex [Lamb] told me about their plans. Of course I had to remain quiet about that, and it's quite hard because I couldn't really tell anybody at all. You have to be careful if you're talking in a taxi or on a train, because you never know who might overhear you! "I had to keep the truth a closely-guarded secret, but that's part of being up here at EastEnders. I love surprises and I wouldn't want to know myself what was coming up."
Keeping it quiet must have been a challenge
! "It was particularly difficult when Nick's funeral came around! People kept saying to me, 'Isn't it terrible that they've killed him off and you weren't even there?'
People were moaning about it and saying he was a great character so it shouldn't have happened! "I just had to listen to them and say, 'You're right, I don't know anything about it either'. Something went round about me being annoyed about it, but that wasn't actually true - it was just what I had to say in order to cover it all up!"
Why does Nick decide to return next week?
"Nick has got himself into a bit of a fix. He's run out of money again and he's been out of the country, mixing with the criminal elite in Spain I believe! Once again, he's on his uppers and he always comes back to the Square when that happens so that he can tap up someone there to help him out. "Nick is in a bit of a corner, though. Having declared himself dead, he doesn't want to be seen. He's almost returning in spirit form!"
What kind of a relationship can we expect between Nick and his son Charlie?
"It's going to be fractious. Nick had Charlie many years ago and left Yvonne to bring him up. He did pop by occasionally but not very often, so Nick was one of those absent fathers. Charlie has a lot of resentment about the fact that Nick was never there when he was a little boy, but at the same time, Nick is still his dad. "There's that 'blood is thicker than water' thing bubbling under the surface, so we can expect to see some very powerful run-ins between Nick and Charlie. You'll also see some quite tender and emotional scenes, because they are father and son and they haven't seen each other for a long time."
How about Nick and Yvonne?
"Yvonne is Nick's wife. It's the only time he's got married, although he seems to have a string of kids all over the place! Maybe there are others, I don't know! Nick didn't tell Dot about Yvonne, which is typical. "Yvonne will become entangled in the evil web of Nick. I think they're very different people. She was a nurse way back and met Nick when he'd just come out of a remand centre, so it was a case of opposites attracting. There's still passion between the two of them, but Yvonne is fighting that because she doesn't really want to get sucked back into the evil world of Mr. Nicholas Cotton!"
Cotton is a huge name in soapland, so are you pleased to see the family being expanded with these new characters?
"Very much so. The family is quite dysfunctional in many ways, which is probably due to Nick and also Nick's father, who was the original Charlie Cotton. "I always felt that Nick's dad died a little bit too soon into the history of this soap. That was a bit of a gratuitous killing-off, I thought. They said it was to draw Nick and Dot closer together, but I never believed that and thought they should have kept Charlie Cotton for a lot longer. He was a great character and a really great actor. Sadly Chris Hancock is no longer with us. "As an actor, you get to love your on-screen family and I'm sure that's the same with the rest of the cast too. To see the Cotton family expanded is good and quite exciting, as there are new faces to be playing with." Dominic has gone public with the fact that Nick Cotton vs. Ronnie Mitchell will be a big storyline!
Are you looking forward to that?
"Yeah! That was a surprise to me. Ronnie has already bumped somebody off, hasn't she? The score right now is three kills for Nick and one for Ronnie! Those two characters will definitely be going head-to-head. "Nick isn't best pleased that Ronnie and Charlie are together because she's a Mitchell. He's never liked the Mitchells - particularly Phil. Anything to do with the Mitchells, Nick does not like, so you can expect to see a few fireworks going off long after Bonfire Night!"
Are you excited about the long-term arc planned for Nick?
"Very, yes! They've cooked up some pretty dastardly events. There's some very dramatic stuff coming up and I'm very proud to be a part of it again."
What's it like to work with June Brown again?
"With the show's anniversary coming up you suddenly think, 'Crikey, I've known her for 30 years!' June is a dear friend and we meet up when we can, but of course she is employed at EastEnders and that keeps her very busy. Now that I'm up here again, it's a reminder that you almost get cut off from the rest of the world because it takes over your life. "It's great to be back with June. There's a lot of pressure, as you might suddenly get six scenes thrown at you to film the next day, so you've got to get your head down until midnight or 1am to cram them all in. June is amazing for her age because she's working under that same pressure quite a lot, but she loves what she does."
Did you get a chance to catch up with June before your return?
"Before I started back, I actually went over to see June and we spent five hours together combing through the script, just making sure that it was right. Bless them, there are loads of writers and they don't always get it exactly right - they sometimes write Nick how they think he is, rather than how he actually is. "The standard of the writing on the show is very good, but as we go along, we'll sometimes see sections of the script that we don't think is quite how it should be, so we'll put a little change in here or there. We don't do that over-dramatically because that would cause chaos, but sometimes we'll put something in or take a line out. "Myself and June know the characters so well and we're a bit of a double act, really - maybe we should do some comedy over the holiday season!" Nick is such a well-known character.
When did you first become aware that he was reaching that iconic status?
"I suppose it takes time to become iconic. It's hard for me to completely see it because I play it, but it's probably over the last five years that people have started writing that down. I was quite pleased when they did, as it's certainly no bad thing, is it?"
You obviously have worked outside of the show too, so have you ever wanted to move on from Nick?
"Well, people will never forget Nick, will they? The acting business is a strange one - you just don't know from one month to the next where you're going to be half the time, so it's very insecure in many ways. But at the same time, that's exciting - I quite like the gypsy life. "I never know whether I'm going to be on the road like I was when I was doing Chicago a few years back, or going off to do a film in Liverpool, which I did before coming back to EastEnders. That was called My Lonely Me and was directed by Joe Scott. That's going to Cannes in 2015, so I'll be going down there. "I have lots of unfulfilled ambitions. The film world beckons again and I love it. I've never worked in America and I've never actually performed on the West End stage, so who knows what the future holds?"
| Nick Cotton |
Rene Belloq is the arch-enemy of which movie hero? | Nasty Nick paid for my daughter's education! John Altman on the plus side of playing EastEnders arch villain Nick Cotton | Daily Mail Online
Nasty Nick paid for my daughter's education! John Altman on the plus side of playing EastEnders arch villain Nick Cotton
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EastEnders star John Altman jokes that his character Nick Cotton’s had more comebacks than Elvis, Sinatra and even Count Dracula.
When the show is in need of a dollop of evil, John gets a call. Nick is far and away Britain’s most despicable soap character – a double murderer, who’s killed his son and tried to poison his mum.
Now he’s returned and he’s as bad as ever. ‘It’s good to be back, and they’ve given me lots of horrible storylines,’ says John.
John says that playing one of the most hated men in soapland has provided him with many opportunities that he wouldn't have otherwise have gotten
‘But I wouldn’t want him any other way.’ It’s Nick and John’s sixth stint in the show – he was one of the original characters when EastEnders launched in 1985 – and the role has given him regular work. ‘Playing Nick helped me get a house and paid for my daughter Rosanna’s education,’ says the 62-year-old.
‘I toured in the musical Chicago for a couple of years because of EastEnders,’ he says. That’s not to say playing one of the most awful characters ever to grace our screens hasn’t been a double-edged sword. ‘It can be difficult getting roles because I’m often typecast,’ explains John. ‘But I understand that. Imagine if I joined Downton as a footman – the public wouldn’t think it’d be long before I’d poison Lord and Lady Grantham!’
GETTING TO KNOW...JOHN ALTMAN
Couch potato or fitness fanatic? I run, cycle and swim to stay in shape. Steve McFadden (who plays Phil Mitchell) does a lot of swimming off the Cornish coast and I may try it too.
Sunbathing or sightseeing? I’m a beach bum. The loveliest place I’ve ever been to is the Grenadines island chain in the Caribbean. It’s stunning.
Cola or juice? I don’t drink alcohol but I love juices, and I’ve discovered coconut water recently – it’s good for you and tastes great.
British or American drama? HBO in the US makes top-class TV – I’ve really got into Boardwalk Empire.
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino Pacino? The Godfather blew me away.
Posh nosh or good value? I like down-to-earth French food.
And John’s even been threatened by a member of the public who confused him with Nick. ‘A bloke who was with a group of mates once wanted a fight and called me a terrible name. I just agreed with him and he drifted off. The advantage of playing Nick is that people don’t know if I might just pull out a knife!’
Nick provided the dramatic climax to EastEnders’ very first episode on 19 February 1985 when, as a drug-addicted burglar, he put his fist through the Queen Vic window – and he’s been in trouble with the law ever since.
After admitting in 1988 that he’d killed Albert Square war veteran Reg Cox – a murder victim in the opening episode – three years later he stabbed pub landlord Eddie Royle to death while coming off heroin. ‘Nick got really bad around that time,’ recalls John. ‘I remember thinking, “What is this monster I’m creating?”’
In 2001 the conniving criminal decided to murder Mark Fowler by cutting the brakes on his motorbike, but unintentionally killed his own son, Ashley. Then in 2009 he attempted to poison his mum Dot for her life insurance, before faking his own death earlier this year.
Looking back at his career, John – who also sings with a rock band called JOANovARC, with whom he’s releasing a single, Wild One, this Christmas – says he feels ‘proud and lucky’ to still be working.
‘So many actors fall by the wayside,’ he says. And, given how popular Nasty Nick is, there’s a good chance he’ll be in and out of EastEnders for years to come – leaving mayhem in his wake. ‘I’m back for a reasonable amount of time,’ says John. ‘But Nick isn’t going to stick around for long – he never does!’
| i don't know |
Which iconic movie villain was played by a wrestler with the professional name of Tosh Togo? | Harold T. Sakata (1920 - 1982) - Find A Grave Memorial
Honolulu County
Hawaii, USA
Actor. A native of Holualoa, Hawaii, he is best remembered for his role as henchman 'Oddjob' in the James Bond spy film, "Goldfinger" in 1964. His character's weapon of choice was a razor-rimmed bowler hat, that could pass for a frisbee. The film also starred German actor Gert Frobe in the title role. Other credits include the films, "Seventeenth Heaven" (1965), "Operation Gold" (1966), "The Poppy Is Also A Flower" (1966), "Dimension 5" (1966), "The Phynx" (1970), "Sarge" (1971), "The Wrestler" (1974), "Impulse" (1974), "Mako: The Jaws Of Death" (1976), "The Happy Hooker Goes To Washington" (1977), "Record City" (1978), "Death Dimension" (1978), "Goin' Coconuts" (1978), "The Billion Dollar Threat" (1979), "The Ninja Strikes Back" (1982), "Invaders Of The Lost Gold" (1982), and "Mad Mission III: Our Man From Bond Street" (1984), released after his death. On television, Sakata played the role of 'Cheng' in the short-lived series, "Highcliffe Manor" in 1979, and that of 'Ramoo' in the "Gilligan's Island" episode, "The Hunter", which aired on January 16, 1967. He also appeared in "The Amazing Spider-Man", "Hawaii Five-O", "The Blue Knight", "Police Woman", "The Rockford Files", "Quincy, M.E.", and "Kraft Suspense Theatre." Born Toshiyuki Sakata of Japanese descent, he was also an avid sportsman from a very young age. He became interested in wrestling and won a silver medal in that sport in the light heavyweight division at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. He later became a professional wrestler under the name of 'Tosh Togo,' and became known for throwing salt in the eyes of his opponent. He was later discovered by James Bond film producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and went onto the role that made him famous. He passed away from cancer in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 62.
| Oddjob |
Which group take their name from the promoter (Bill Goode), and the DJ that first played their records (Bill Gates)? | Harold Sakata - Filmbug
Harold Sakata
Harold Sakata
Toshiyuki Harold Sakata (July 1, 1920-1982 was a film actor most famous for his role as the villain Oddjob in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
Toshiyuki Sakata was born on July 1, 1920 in Holualoa, Hawaii, of Korean descent; when he moved to mainland America he began to go by the more Western name Harold. He spent his early life training as a wrestler and won a silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London; he also did a stint as a professional wrestler under the name Tosh Togo.
Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli took notice of Sakata because his heavy build - he stood 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighed 284 lb (129 kg) - coupled with his intimidating gaze made him the perfect choice for the part of Oddjob. He had no acting background at all, but the character was mute and required little theatrical skill.
As Oddjob, he was bodyguard to Bond villain Auric Goldfinger and his sharpened, steel-brimmed bowler hat became a famous and much-parodied trademark of the Bond series. He appeared in several other movies in similar roles and took on Oddjob as a middle name.
He also appeared in a series of TV commercials for cough syrup, the premise of which was that he had a severe cough, causing him to smash everything in sight until someone gave him cough syrup.
Sakata died on July 29, 1982 in Honolulu, Hawaii, of cancer.
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Sakata
Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.
Harold Sakata Facts
| i don't know |
Which famous UK band took their name from an unemployment benefit form? | Am I Right - Band Name Origins -> U, Page 1
It stands for ultra pure overload
U2
The German equilivant of the subway is the U-bahn, abbreivated U and then the number. The U2 line in Berlin runs from Pankow to Ruhleben, through such important parts of town as the Olympic Stadium, Potsdamer Platz, and Alexanderplatz. This is where U2 got their name. This is reinforced by the album title "Achtung Baby." "Achtung" is German for "look out."
U2
they had come down to four choices, the first one was who me, the second one was ya you, the thrid one was what about me and the fourth one u2. this is according to VH1 from behind the sceens
U2
When they started they didnt have a name and werent very good. The drummer said to Bono "I dunno bout you, but we suck" and Bono replied as a joke with "you too, huh?" They liked you too huh but huh was just useless and U2 was a spy plane in WW 1 or 2 (Bonos uncle died in the war)
The band picked U2 because it's the identification number given to Ireland on U.S. immigration forms.
U2
It's named after the U-2 spy plane and they DID pick it off a list, just not with those other choices. Larry Mullen's father (It was either Larry Mullen or Adam Clayton; probably Larry Mullen) was a pilot so he knew about U-2 planes. It's in the U2 book.
U2
The references to U2 getting their name from "you too" or an immigration form are complete hogwash. The band got their name from the American (NOT GERMAN) U-2 Spy plane. It was the spy plane USAF pilot Gary Powers was flying when he was shot down over the USSR in 1960. As an Irish immigrant to the USA, I can tell you that there is no special form given to Irish immigrants. All aliens fill out the same form and there is no U2 form.
U2
I recently had this argument here in Peru, with one of the locals. He also reckons it comes from the "bulls***" plane. However, being from Ireland, I had to tell him the band name came from the name of their classroom in secondary school. All the classes were numbered 1 to 6 and lettered D-U-B-L-I-N. Hence, when the band first got together in second year of secondary school, their classroom was called U-2! And that is that, I dont want to hear any more waffle about planes and spies, stop looking so deep people. Im not even a big fan of U2 but I still know how the name came about! Its not a conspiracy theory either, it just is people!
The U2 was an American spyplane, but lead singer Bono chose it because it "sounded cool"
U2
Yes, the name is a reference to the breed of spyplane that started the Cold War when the last planned flight, by Gary Powers, was shot down and the US and USSR ended what was until then a cordial relationship. Blame Ike and the CIA. But don't miss what else the name means. It's U2, as in "You, too, can make a difference" or "You, too, can change the world". It's not just us in this fight, it's not just about us, it's you too. Taken in this light, it's not a stupid name, it's actually rather clever. It's meant to include the listener in their agenda. Don't forget this band have been activists from the beginning. Check out "Sunday, Bloody Sunday".
U2
AFAIK it has nothing to do with the German Plane. Bono placed an ad on a wall, at school, when he was looking for musicians. It was more or less like this: "If you too have a great desire to make great music, join us". "You too", to save space (because the ad was written on a small scrap of paper), was written as U 2.
U2
On an MTV interview in 1983 I happen to own on tape, Bono was questioned about the name of the band and why they chose it, and Bono innocently replied: "U2: is just a letter and a number", like "are you dumb, don't you know your ABCs?". While I do believe that they had a reason for the name, I just think Bono didn't like the idiot/nerd MTV picked as the interviewer who was too old to begin with (45-50 y/o), so he made up the excuse. Thumbs up for Bono!
U2
German Spy Plane. Used to be called Feedback and Hype, but their manager suggested U2 would sell more records.
U2
There's also another coincidence about the name on what many people forget (Even the fans sometimes) In Berlin, there's a railway line that says "U-2", near the "Zoo Station".
It's the emigration form for their homeland.
U2
No, Ugo C- I know it had nothing to do with that. It was Larry Mullen who put the ad up, not Bono. At first they were called Feedback then they changed their name to The Hype. They were going to enter a talent show, and they thought they should come up with a better name. Adam Clayton's friend Steve Averill made them a list of cool names and U2 was on that list, and they chose that.
U2
U-2 (Utility 2) is an American plane developed by sailplane enthusiasts at Bell Aircraft (NY) after suggestion by American infantryman in Korea to build a light, efficient plane that would (they hoped) fly above SAM altitude. Prior to completion, concept was commandeered by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and finished by Lockheed (CA). It's nothing to do with Germans.
U2
Yes, they did pick it from a list!!! What I'm saying doesn't mean that it's not named after a spyplane!
Vikas you're way off, U2 is not an German spyplane, but an American one.
U2
Alright, U2 is named after a spy plane! Ok? Not a classroom! It was even on the show "Who want to be a millionare?" They didn't pick it from a list. It's even on the official website. I'm the biggest U2 fan and trust me, I know. That guy from Peru was right. It's named after a spyplane sense they care about war so much. Check the officical U2 site and watch millionare more often! The episode might come up. Evry good U2 fan knows that they are named after a spy plane! It's all over the internet and they said it themselves!
UB-40
UB-40 stands for "Unemployment Benefits" form #40, a reference somewhat well-known in the UK but not known in the states. The boys came up with the name for the band while standing in line at the unemployment office. From a Rolling Stone interview.
UB40 is form number for the unemployment forms in the UK.
UB40
UB40 was in actual fact the name of the form you had to complete to receive unemployment benefit at that time in Britain. This is why their first album was called "Signing Off". The album cover was a mock UB40 form.
UB40
The name comes from the form needed to obtain your unemployment benefit in England. They used it because they were all unemployed at the time the formed the band.
UB40
The Name UB40 come from the UK dole office from "Unemployment Benefit" Form 40 (UB40) not from some German toy maker. Ian Amaliar Stand corrected Regards Gordon
UB40
It stands for "Unemployment Benefit - 40", a series of British financial benefits for the unemployed during the 80's. Unemployment, poverty and social conditions in general were a major source of inspiration for bands of that time, and UB40 was one of them.
UB40
Sorry Ian Amalier, but the band UB40 was named after the UK Unemployment benefit form, not some model railway.
UB40
UB40 is M�rklin�s (German model railroad manufacturer) product code for a transport train than was commonly used in Britain when the band was formed. The trasport train symbolizes the bands willingness to travel in time and space, and go trough all kinds of trouble (symbolized by the often hash weather conditions a train has to cope with).
UB40
It is quite simple. All of the band members were out of work and in the UK the form you have to fill in to get benifit money from the job center was called a UB40. They took the chance, as they had nothing to lose and made the big time. Hence the name UB40.
Parody of "Pretty Boy Floyd"
Ugly Kid Joe
They were opening for Pretty Boy Floyd and they hadn't picked out a name, so when the stage manager asked how to introduce them, theyparodied PBF.
Ugly Kid Joe
The band had no name but were following another band named after an infamous Gangster, "Pretty Boy Floyd." The name was just a parody of the band they were following.
Ugly Kid Joe
Originally called overdrive until 1990 when they were set to play a gig with LA glam band Pretty Boy Floyd. Ugly Kid Joe is a parody of that name.
Ultravox
The band, bored with the negative, angry band names at the time, wanted their name to express a postive energy.
After X-rated Wendy "Whitebread Undercover Slut" comic book from 1990
Underworld
Karl Hyde (Vocalist) and Rick Smith (Musician/ Producer) were in the 80's band 'Freur' who recorded the soundtrack to the Clive Barker horror movie 'Underworld', released in 1985. (This is not to be confused with the 2003 film of the same name starring Kate Beckinsale). Freur broke up in 1986 and Rick & Karl and some of the other members of Freur went on to form Underworld, using the name of the film that their previous incarnation soundtracked. Underworld in their original 5 piece form also broke up but reformed with a new dancey outlook, with the addition of Darren Emerson (a DJ) in 1992, but they kept the 'Underworld' name and still continue today. This final incarnation of Underworld is often refered to as Underworld MKII. (mark 2).
| UB40 |
Which American band had hits with Bad Moon Rising and Proud Mary? | Food For Thought by UB40 Songfacts
Food For Thought by UB40 Songfacts
Songfacts
This was the Birmingham band's first single. It was released as a double A-side with "King," which was a lament for Dr. Martin Luther King, which was also a rootsy, Ska-based song. "King" seemed to be the favorite with live audiences, but it was "Food For Thought," that got the airplay and became their first hit. It charted despite being released without any major-label marketing or promotion, but they were aided by being the support act to The Pretenders on their UK tour, after Chrissie Hynde saw them playing in a pub.
The song is a bitter meditation on third-world poverty, and an indictment of politicians refusal to relieve famine. For many listeners it took a while to decipher the lyrics sung by Ali Campbell and discover for instance that he wasn't singing "I Believe In Donna," he is in fact referring to an "Ivory Madonna."
UB40 played their first gig in February 1979. The money needed to start the band and buy instruments came from compensation awarded to after he was glassed in a pub fight.
This song, along with the rest of the album, was recorded in a Birmingham bedsit. The room was so small that the drummer Norman Hassan had to record his percussion in the garden. On some of the tracks if you listen really closely, you can hear the birds singing in the background.
The band titled their first album Signing Off, as they were signing off from the unemployment benefit. The band's name comes from the paper form that needs to be completed by someone wanting to claim unemployment benefit in the UK-an Unemployment Benefit Form 40. >>
Suggestion credit:
| i don't know |
Which band shares it's name with a type of foam used in horticulture? | Weathering Conditions in Your Home | North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
by Deborah B. McGiffin, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Science
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Durham County Center
This year has been the warmest year I can remember. Lately, I often find myself wondering if global warming has permanently affected our climate, or if La Nina is responsible for our recent weather patterns and eventually more historical temperatures will return. Regardless of what the weather is doing outside, most of us really want to be comfortable inside. A comfortable home should not feel like the outdoors. Well insulated homes will feel comfortable and will not fluctuate greatly in temperature no matter what the climatic or weather conditions are outside. If the inside of your home mirrors the weather, then perhaps you need more insulation, or need to find areas where gaps of insulation exist.
Properly installed insulation is resistant to heat flow. Although insulation slows all types of heat flow-conduction, convection, and radiation-it greatest impact is on conduction. The effectiveness of insulation also depends on how and where it is installed, and how well the insulation resists heat. Different degrees of thermal heat resistance, known as the R-value, are needed in different locations of your home. The R-value of insulation depends on the type of material the insulation is made from, its thickness and density. However, the key to an effective insulation system is insulating the home with a continuous layer of insulation around the entire building envelope with no gaps or areas of compressed insulation. Studies show that improper installation can cut the heating and cooling performance and the comfortable level of a home by 30 percent or more.
Finding out how much insulation you have and where takes some investigation. Older homes will probably have less insulation than newer homes built in the last decade. Start by checking in the places where insulation should typically be installed in homes. In each area, the type of insulation needs to be determined and its thickness. Areas that should be investigated include:
1. In unfinished attic spaces, between and over the floor joists; the attic access door.
2. In finished attic rooms with or without dormers, between studs of the “knee” walls; between the studs and rafters of exterior walls and roof; ceilings with cold spaces above; extended joist space beyond finished walls.
3. All exterior walls including walls between living spaces and unheated garages, shed roofs, or other storage areas; foundation walls above ground level; foundation walls in heated basements, full wall either interior or exterior.
4. Floors above cold spaces, such as vented crawl spaces and unheated garages; any portion of the floor in a room that is cantilevered beyond the exterior wall below; slab floors built directly on the ground; as an alternative to floor insulation, foundation walls on unvented crawl spaces; floor joists extended to wall.
5. Band joists.
6. Replacement or storm windows and caulk and seal around all windows and doors.
Begin accessing your home’s insulation in the attic, then move to the walls and floors adjacent to unheated spaces such as a garage or basement. In theses areas, ceilings, joists, or wall framing boards are often exposed, so the insulation can be easy to access and the insulation depth or thickness can be measured readily. Or course it is more difficult to inspect exterior walls. However, by using an electrical wall outlet, exterior walls can also be inspected. For this method, cut off the power to the outlet, then remove the cover plate and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. You should be able to see whether or not insulation is in the wall, and you may have to pull some of it out to determine which type of insulation is in the wall. Because wall insulation in one wall doesn’t mean that it is everywhere in the house, you will have to check other outlets on the first and second floor, and in old and newer parts of the house. Alternatively to using the electrical outlets to investigate your insulation, a small section of the exterior siding can be removed and replaced.
Next, move to unfinished basement ceilings and walls or above crawl spaces to inspect and measure the thickness of any insulation in these spaces. Non-ventilated crawl spaces may have insulation outside the basement or foundation wall, but this would not be visible because it would be covered by a protective layer of stucco, plastic, fiber glass, metal flashing, or rigid protection board. The original homeowner or builder may be able to tell you if any exterior insulation was used and what kind.
When you have determined what areas of the house need added insulation, you will need to learn what R-value should coincide with insulation needed in the applicable areas. The R-value is the rate that measures how well insulation will resist the transfer of heat. The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will prevent the outside climate from affecting the indoor air and comfort. In our area of North Carolina, R-values range from R-10 to R-49, depending on the part of house to be insulated. What type of insulation you need to buy will have to be decided upon next. Some types of insulation you can install yourself. Other types require professional insulation. There are several forms of insulation to consider along with their R-values, and the thickness. For a given type and weight of insulation, the thicker it is, the higher its R-value. The basic forms of thermal insulation include blanket, blown-in, foamed-in-place, rigid, and reflective insulation.
Blanket insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls and is made from flexible mineral fibers. They are available in widths standard to wall stud, attic and floor joist spacing. Rolls can be hand-cut and trimmed to specific spaces. Blankets are available with or without vapor retardant facings. Batts with a special flame-resistant facing are available in various widths for basement walls where the insulation will be left exposed.
Loose-fill blown-in insulation is made up of loose fibers or fiber pellets that are blown into existing cavities or attics with special pneumatic equipment. Another form of blown insulation is co-sprayed with an adhesive to make the fibers resistant to settling. Blown-in material can provide addition resistance to air infiltration if the insulation blown is sufficiently dense.
Foamed-in-place polyurethane foam insulation can be applied by professionals using special equipment to meter, mix, and spray insulation into place. Polyurethane foam can also help reduce air leaks, especially around plumbing penetrations.
Rigid insulation is made from fibrous materials or plastic foam that is pressed or extruded into board-like forms or pipe-sized coverings. These forms provide thermal and acoustical insulation, strength with low weight and coverage from heat loss. Some boards may be faced with a reflective foil that reduces heat flow when placed next to an air space.
Reflective insulation systems are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of backings such as craft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard. The resistance to heat flow depends on the direction of the heat flow. This type of insulation is most effective in reducing downward heat flow. Reflective systems are typically located between roof rafters, floor joists, and wall studs. If a single reflective surface is used alone and faces an open space, such as an attic, it is called a radiant barrier. Radiant barriers are sometimes used in buildings to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. They are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates. All radiant barriers must have a low emittance (0.1 or less) and high reflectance (0.9 or more).
The type of insulation you select of course depends on where it will be used, but the product label on insulation will indicate if your selection is suitable for its intended purpose. The label should clearly state the R-vale and information about health and safety issues. It should also state the package quantity and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
Only time will tell if our climate is destined to the effects or global warming, or not. But your home when properly insulated should be an oasis of comfort, no matter what the weather man predicts.
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| Oasis |
Which group had members with the christian names Jay, Merrill, Alan and Wayne? | Weathering Conditions in Your Home | North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
Weathering Conditions in Your Home
by Deborah B. McGiffin, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Science
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Durham County Center
This year has been the warmest year I can remember. Lately, I often find myself wondering if global warming has permanently affected our climate, or if La Nina is responsible for our recent weather patterns and eventually more historical temperatures will return. Regardless of what the weather is doing outside, most of us really want to be comfortable inside. A comfortable home should not feel like the outdoors. Well insulated homes will feel comfortable and will not fluctuate greatly in temperature no matter what the climatic or weather conditions are outside. If the inside of your home mirrors the weather, then perhaps you need more insulation, or need to find areas where gaps of insulation exist.
Properly installed insulation is resistant to heat flow. Although insulation slows all types of heat flow-conduction, convection, and radiation-it greatest impact is on conduction. The effectiveness of insulation also depends on how and where it is installed, and how well the insulation resists heat. Different degrees of thermal heat resistance, known as the R-value, are needed in different locations of your home. The R-value of insulation depends on the type of material the insulation is made from, its thickness and density. However, the key to an effective insulation system is insulating the home with a continuous layer of insulation around the entire building envelope with no gaps or areas of compressed insulation. Studies show that improper installation can cut the heating and cooling performance and the comfortable level of a home by 30 percent or more.
Finding out how much insulation you have and where takes some investigation. Older homes will probably have less insulation than newer homes built in the last decade. Start by checking in the places where insulation should typically be installed in homes. In each area, the type of insulation needs to be determined and its thickness. Areas that should be investigated include:
1. In unfinished attic spaces, between and over the floor joists; the attic access door.
2. In finished attic rooms with or without dormers, between studs of the “knee” walls; between the studs and rafters of exterior walls and roof; ceilings with cold spaces above; extended joist space beyond finished walls.
3. All exterior walls including walls between living spaces and unheated garages, shed roofs, or other storage areas; foundation walls above ground level; foundation walls in heated basements, full wall either interior or exterior.
4. Floors above cold spaces, such as vented crawl spaces and unheated garages; any portion of the floor in a room that is cantilevered beyond the exterior wall below; slab floors built directly on the ground; as an alternative to floor insulation, foundation walls on unvented crawl spaces; floor joists extended to wall.
5. Band joists.
6. Replacement or storm windows and caulk and seal around all windows and doors.
Begin accessing your home’s insulation in the attic, then move to the walls and floors adjacent to unheated spaces such as a garage or basement. In theses areas, ceilings, joists, or wall framing boards are often exposed, so the insulation can be easy to access and the insulation depth or thickness can be measured readily. Or course it is more difficult to inspect exterior walls. However, by using an electrical wall outlet, exterior walls can also be inspected. For this method, cut off the power to the outlet, then remove the cover plate and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. You should be able to see whether or not insulation is in the wall, and you may have to pull some of it out to determine which type of insulation is in the wall. Because wall insulation in one wall doesn’t mean that it is everywhere in the house, you will have to check other outlets on the first and second floor, and in old and newer parts of the house. Alternatively to using the electrical outlets to investigate your insulation, a small section of the exterior siding can be removed and replaced.
Next, move to unfinished basement ceilings and walls or above crawl spaces to inspect and measure the thickness of any insulation in these spaces. Non-ventilated crawl spaces may have insulation outside the basement or foundation wall, but this would not be visible because it would be covered by a protective layer of stucco, plastic, fiber glass, metal flashing, or rigid protection board. The original homeowner or builder may be able to tell you if any exterior insulation was used and what kind.
When you have determined what areas of the house need added insulation, you will need to learn what R-value should coincide with insulation needed in the applicable areas. The R-value is the rate that measures how well insulation will resist the transfer of heat. The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will prevent the outside climate from affecting the indoor air and comfort. In our area of North Carolina, R-values range from R-10 to R-49, depending on the part of house to be insulated. What type of insulation you need to buy will have to be decided upon next. Some types of insulation you can install yourself. Other types require professional insulation. There are several forms of insulation to consider along with their R-values, and the thickness. For a given type and weight of insulation, the thicker it is, the higher its R-value. The basic forms of thermal insulation include blanket, blown-in, foamed-in-place, rigid, and reflective insulation.
Blanket insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls and is made from flexible mineral fibers. They are available in widths standard to wall stud, attic and floor joist spacing. Rolls can be hand-cut and trimmed to specific spaces. Blankets are available with or without vapor retardant facings. Batts with a special flame-resistant facing are available in various widths for basement walls where the insulation will be left exposed.
Loose-fill blown-in insulation is made up of loose fibers or fiber pellets that are blown into existing cavities or attics with special pneumatic equipment. Another form of blown insulation is co-sprayed with an adhesive to make the fibers resistant to settling. Blown-in material can provide addition resistance to air infiltration if the insulation blown is sufficiently dense.
Foamed-in-place polyurethane foam insulation can be applied by professionals using special equipment to meter, mix, and spray insulation into place. Polyurethane foam can also help reduce air leaks, especially around plumbing penetrations.
Rigid insulation is made from fibrous materials or plastic foam that is pressed or extruded into board-like forms or pipe-sized coverings. These forms provide thermal and acoustical insulation, strength with low weight and coverage from heat loss. Some boards may be faced with a reflective foil that reduces heat flow when placed next to an air space.
Reflective insulation systems are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of backings such as craft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard. The resistance to heat flow depends on the direction of the heat flow. This type of insulation is most effective in reducing downward heat flow. Reflective systems are typically located between roof rafters, floor joists, and wall studs. If a single reflective surface is used alone and faces an open space, such as an attic, it is called a radiant barrier. Radiant barriers are sometimes used in buildings to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. They are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates. All radiant barriers must have a low emittance (0.1 or less) and high reflectance (0.9 or more).
The type of insulation you select of course depends on where it will be used, but the product label on insulation will indicate if your selection is suitable for its intended purpose. The label should clearly state the R-vale and information about health and safety issues. It should also state the package quantity and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
Only time will tell if our climate is destined to the effects or global warming, or not. But your home when properly insulated should be an oasis of comfort, no matter what the weather man predicts.
Was the information on this page helpful? Yes check No close
Care to tell us why?
| i don't know |
Which Australian rock band did not perform for a year after the death of their lead singer in 1997 by asphyxiation? | Best Australian Bands - Top Ten List - TheTopTens®
Best Australian Bands
The Top Ten
1 AC/DC
AC/DC are a Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014. They were fronted by Bon Scott until his untimely death due to alcohol poisoning in 1980, after which they hired Brian Johnson to ... read more .
AC/DC's 1980 album Back In Black currently stands at the #2 all-time highest selling albums... Ever. Being that the #1 spot is occupied by an American, I would say this is good enough reason to convince anyone AC/DC is Australia's #1 band... Oh, they are also in the record books as Australia's #1 export, never fallen into the "where are they now" category, never had an album that didn't produce two or 3 chart makers, let alone have never had an album go out of print that became impossible to find for a while. Not to mention, not many bands could compete with having created so many memorable and classic rock anthems and riffs. Even Deep Purple only have TWO of those, and most people don't even know Black Knight without hearing it.
Yep. They're number 1 ozzie band. And they are still going strong.
AC/DC are easily the best band to come out of Australia saw them live in Melbourne last february and there is nothing like it they are just simply amazing
Back in Black is second highest selling album of all time and they have so many classic songs have to be #1
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2 INXS
INXS were an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales.
I Highly agree... their music mix of POP/FUNK/R&B/ROCK genres reached the most tastes of all music lovers worldwide and MH had one of the top 5 Rock Vocal ranges ever... I love AC/DC but have to categorize them as Hard/Heavy Metal Rock. For all that, I would have to put INXS at # 1!
Great band especially I love their song never tear us apart the music and the drummer plays very well
I discovered INXS with the video of the song 'Need You Tonite' and never, ever stopped listening to them. Michael Hutchence was the best ever Rock singer to walk planet Earth. Great voice, sensuous - he had it all and and he left it all to soon. Every member of the band performs well. Their song 'Never Tear Us Apart' is one of the BEST rock ballads by a Rock Band. The band died with the death of Michael Hutchence. There never will be another!
With their brand of rock music, appealing to a huge range of fans, I think INXS are Australia's number 1 band, respect to ACDC, they've been around longer and had huge hits, but I wonder if Hutchence was still around whether they would seriously compete for Australia's number 1 band.
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3 Little River Band
Everybody's written about their songs, lyrics and muscianship... But for me they are well up there with CSNY and S&G as proponents of harmony singing. Simply flawless.
Nothing beats them.. My girlfriend is Aussie and she loves them as much as I do..
I was in the army in the late 70s. I have only good memories of the hits the band had in those days.
One Band that has had more line up changes than other band. Sadly there's no original members and Aussies left in the line up for LRB these days and totally based in the States. Had hits in Australia from 1975 to 1990. Two great lead singers in Glenn Shorrock and John Farnham. Over 22 million in albums sold world wide. But still underrated only can get studio albums on iTunes come by an LP Cassette or even a CD hang on to it!
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4 Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars, and Chris Joannou on bass guitar.
... I'm going to pretend "The Young Modern" never happened and vote Silverchair for best Australian band.
Their music got me through tough times and let me know I wasn't the only that felt that way. His voice is AMAZING, I hope they put out more albums cause I'm in love with that band. WE LOVE YOU SILVERCHAIR
Silverchair is honestly my favorite bands of all time. They have so much passion and talent and sound amazing. From grunge, hard rock, alternative, rock, pop and indie, they are one of the greatest bands of all time. They were 16 and were playing on SNL and Letterman and hold the record for the most ARIA awards. They went on with big shows like Rock in Rio, Big Day Out, Rock AM Ring, MTV music awards and a ton more. But to be put on the spot and handle it so well, there just amazing
Greatest Australian band in the modern era.
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5 Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band, who originally performed as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie.
Strongly think this band should be listed higher. A band can only be judged in its own time frame. Midnight Oil was hugely important in its time, and references to it and its songs are still being made in political and social circles.
Maybe not the highest in popular appeal, the Oils have to rank at the top in terms of musical content and body of work. Great lyrics, lots of albums, awesome in concert-what more could you ask for?
Not only the best band from Australia, the best band of all time. Their music is the most compelling I've ever heard, even years after they officially packed it in. Never seems to age or be less than totally relevant and powerful. Couldn't pick a best album - at least six could fill that spot, and best song? Forget it, too many to count. Greatness is not based on popularity, it's based on greatness, and Midnight Oil are the greatest.
Proper comments here - anyone who doesn't think the Oils are Number One on this list is sorely mistaken. Best songwriters, best musicians, best frontman, best live band, best everything. No one else is even close in terms of talent and vision, maybe Crowded House, but that is mainly due to Neil Finn alone. Matchless body of work.
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6 Crowded House
If you take personal bias aside and take a band on a song-by-song basis, then no one comes even close to Crowded House. Sure ACDC are an amazing rock band, Chisel have produced some power ballads, but Crowded House are the masters when it comes to writing a perfect song. Track for track of every album (pre reunion and latter efforts) is amazing. The combination of both Finn brothers on "Woodface" was huge and I do not think there is a single singer/songwriter to come out of Australia / New Zealand with the talent of Neil Finn. He and the band are amazing. They are without a doubt number 1.
I absolutely love Crowded House, not only are they one of the best Aussie bands (I know Neil Finn is a Kiwi, but they're still overall Australian), I honestly think they are one of the best all-time bands.
It's a rare occasion when you find a Best Of album where every song is not only recognisable but of the highest quality.
This is literally my favourite band OF ALL TIME! I remember hearing Don't Dream It's Over on the radio when I was about 3 or 4-after Paul Hester died- and Crowded House has always been with me from that point. I cannot think of anyone as consistently brilliant as Neil Finn and I just think that both he and Tim are seriously underrated in places like the UK and the US. On a song for song basis there is no band that has had so many brilliant songs, when a Crowded House best of is released it would probably be fairer to just rerelease every album. Also, taking personal opinion aside, where's cold chisel?... Not top 3? WHAT?!
Neil Finn is Crowded House and he is a sublime talent. Master of melody and lyric.
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7 Bee Gees
The Bee Gees were a pop music group formed in 1958. Their line-up consisted of brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.
One of the best bands ever. I always love their songs. They were one of the best musicians in their time. One of my dreams is being in one of their live concerts will never come true!
Bee Gees are definitely an excellent music group, but whether they are classed as Australian I always ponder - yes they did live in Australia for a few years and started their career hear, many still question their true nationality.
Another one belonging right in the topmost 5 please check and rectify your records now!
One of best groups ever. Love Barry Gibb. What a tragic family!
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8 Cold Chisel
You have Cold Chisel WAY down the list from their rightful place in the top 5 when they are Australian Rock Royalty. It's like listing Led Zeppelin below Oasis on a British list. I mean what? This is a band that crosses generations with hit after hit. Even if you don't like them, you gotta be impressed with the song writing and amazing vocals of young Jimmy Barnes. This list loses all credibility with Cold Chisel down this low. Just go see a whole crowd of young kids raise their glass in the air and sing an entire Chisel song regardless of whether they own a single album.
Absolute joke leaving chisel out of the top 10 let alone the top 5, I mean these dudes were just so real and everything Australian culture is about, absolute legends and the voice of barnes is something that no country or other band will ever have, the uniqueness of this great aussie pub rock band is something that no body will ever be able to compare to, again absolute joke leaving them out of the top 10!
If they aren't the best band Australia has produced, they're a close second to AC/DC... which is only because of worldwide popularity. Easily better than INXS and Crowded House, they are the definitive Aussie Rock band with most of their music being very cultural and nationally relevant. International fame is the one thing they lack, and should this list be judged on that? - paulvroc
Definitely better than Crowded House
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9 Parkway Drive
Parkway Drive is an Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay, New South Wales, formed in 2003. As of 2015, Parkway Drive has released five full-length albums, one EP, two DVDs, a split album and one book, titled Ten Years of Parkway Drive.
Parkway Drive are the most technically accomplished and musically enlightened metalcore band of the 21st century. They play fast ultra heavy style metal, but it is still music. Most modern metal/deathcore bands I have heard only want to be the loudest/fastest/most dissonant band and forget that they are meant to be making music.
Just a personal note, Metalcore isn't really metal/punk at all. It is it's own genre.
At least Parkway make some real metal.
How is parkway drive not in the top 5 they are arguably the best metal core band in the world. The have the best growler I have ever heard and kick ass drumming and a awesome guitarist. Beast solos and epic intros what more could you want?
One of the best bands alive and kicking, fast beats and massive breakdowns. I have never heard anything like them, plus Winston McCall brings the whole band up to a new level with hard vocals and big shouts.
One of the best metal core bands of all time. There songs create a powerful atmosphere and have great meaning behind them. I cry to horizons... - Zoran945
... read more .
Because they are one of the best Aussie bands that still have more to come. I love there songs because there are great quality and it doesn't matter if you are rocking out at the supermarket because you are listening to one of the greatest rock artist ever
Joker and thief lyrics, voice is impressive
Same as iTunesJunky they should be first or second
Wolfmother aren't as good as ac/dc but I haven't even heard of half of these other. Their songs always have something new to them some are a bit like screamos but most aren't I respect all their songs even though joker and the thief is the only one that most have heard of I think at least they should be 3rd if not 4th.
Should be way higher on this list. Joy what?
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12 Living End
AMAZING BAND! Absolutely awesome to see live! Not to mention how incredible Chris Cheney is at playing guitar
From great simple songs to insane ones like "Carry Me Home", The Living End has done it all! Bloody brilliant!
How is this band not #1? Chris Cheney is one of the best guitar players there is, and there's nobody really like them.
Dynamic mixture of rock and roll, rockabilly and punk - and a great live act too
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13 The Easybeats
Brilliant band, with loads of classics. To the person who said none of the members are Australian, just because they weren't born in Australia, doesn't mean they aren't Australian. Plus, Tony Cahill was actually born in Australia...
A great Aussie band. Amazingly consistent and diverse catalogue. How they're this low, I don't know.
Good lord this band has Australia's best songwriters and hit makers - why is it only in No 13?
Great band with the greatest Australian song writers
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14 Men At Work
All time best Australian Band Ever! They made Australia visible and popular to us "yanks" from the U.S. I absolutely loved this band and saw them twice when they came to the states and later got to actually meet Colin Hay up close and in person and shake his hand and get a photo with him! He is hilariously funny!
Totally agree that this band should be at the top of this post!
Down under was the best song, it was on kangaroo jack my favorite movie.
I'm from Canada, and honestly, if I can say that, it's because they were REALLY famous all over! Man, it cannot be that low on this list; please fix it!
Can't believe Men At Work is not in the top ten?
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15 Powderfinger
Greatest band ever, so much better than all the modern day music and so many great songs. I went to the Sunsets Farewell Tour, where Powderfinger and jet both played and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Bernard Fanning is amazing.
I'm from the US and lived in Sydney for a year. This band had the greatest impact on me while I was there. Love the whole story... Sorta similar to Pearl Jam in my humble opinion. Great memories of these guys and their music.
Bloody love this band to bits. 'Baby I've got you on my mind' just blows me away. I can't begin to imagine how much I've listened to their music and how much other people love them. Keep it up boys.
I love Powderfinger!
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16 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I'm sorry but Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds needs to be in the top 10, simply the sophistication of their music places them above most of these bands. Into My Arms, Where the Wild Roses Grow, Are You The One That I
Ve Been Waiting For, Do You Love Me? , The Ship Song, The Mercy Seat, Red Right Hand- are some of the best Australian songs ever
This band should definitely be ranked in the top 10. If for no other reason than Red Right Hand. That song is pure genius!
This band is absolutely genius.
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17 Divinyls
You don't know what you've got till it's gone. The Divinyls had a magic full sound, great guitar and Chrissie's great vocals. Not to mention an awesome presence and performance on stage. What can separate the bands for me in the number of good to great songs. I can get about 15 to 20 with Divinyls but only 12 or so for AC/DC (most from Back in Black).
The Divinyls are one of my favourite Australian bands. Chrissy Amphlett was amazing in her schoolgirl uniform. Pleasure and Pain, I Touch Myself, Science Fiction, Boys in Town, I'll Make you Happy, Great rock n roll / new wave songs.
Why aren't the divinyls here? They are way better than the Hoodoo Gurus!
Pleasure and pain - what a great song
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18 Rose Tattoo
I swear I started thinking that my browser search was not working when I did not find Rose Tattoo in the list. They are one of the most influential bands in Aussie rock history! - sumit
Rose Tattoo NEVER TOO LOUD is easily the best Australian hard rock album in my opinion, every song is gold
Yes these guys are top 10. Angry the only original member left.
I have been to plenty of their gigs & Angry still sings with flat out passion. Saw them support Guns N' Roses, Angry sung with Axle "Nice Boys" mate, Axle sounded like a cat in heat compared to Angry. I think they turned down Angry's mike because his voice was so strong & showed up Axle.
Rock n Roll is King.
19 really should easily be top 10
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19 The Saints
I loved their first two albums, so I went to see them live a few month ago and they were one of the worst bands I've ever seen. Shame!
The first punk band formed before The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Ramones
A really great band from the punk era.
Come on, The Saints were pioneers of Punk, they should be in the top 5 at least
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20 Savage Garden
Savage Garden were an Australian pop duo consisting of Darren Hayes as vocalist and Daniel Jones as instrumentalist.
One of the best bands in Australia with their hits to The Moon And Back, I Knew I Loved You and Truly Madly Deeply. - ronluna
This band should be on place 2-3, NOT 13! They may be a pretty old band, but they have great songs, such as Truly Madly Deeply and To the Moon and back. They were very popular 1997.
Totally agree-whoever put this band below those few at the top went wrong somewhere-this band's sound in all songs are incredible-true art in the making!
Truly an injustice, should be higher up
| INXS |
Which Jackson has starred in Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, and Snakes On A Plane? | INXS | Duran Duran Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
J. D. Fortune
Musicians
INXS (pronounced "in excess") was an Australian rock band , formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Perth, Western Australia. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax. For twenty years, they were fronted by Michael Hutchence on lead vocals, whose "sultry good looks" and magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band. Initially known for their New Wave / ska / pop style, they later developed a harder pub rock style,including funk and dance elements.
INXS achieved international success with a series of hit recordings through the 1980s and 1990s, including the albums Listen Like Thieves , Kick , X and Welcome to Wherever You Are and the singles " Original Sin ", " Need You Tonight ", " Devil Inside " and " New Sensation ".
Hutchence died in 1997 and INXS did not perform publicly for a year. The band made appearances with several guest singers including Jimmy Barnes , Terence Trent D'Arby , and Jon Stevens ; Stevens formally joined the band for a tour and recording session in 2002. In 2005, members of INXS participated in a reality television series, broadcast worldwide, culminating in the selection of their new lead singer, Canadian J. D. Fortune , and the release of " Pretty Vegas " and "Afterglow" as singles, and its album Switch .
INXS has won six Australian Recording Industry Association awards including three for 'Best Group' in 1987, 1989 and 1999, and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. To date INXS have sold more than 30 million records.
Contents
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The origins of the band began with Andrew Farriss convincing his fellow Davidson High School classmate, Michael Hutchence , to join his band, Doctor Dolphin. The band contained two other classmates, Kent Kerny and Neil Sanders and a bass player, Garry Beers and Geoff Kennely, from a nearby high school, Forest High School. In 1977, Tim Farriss , Andrew's older brother, invited Andrew, Hutchence and Beers to join him and his schoolmate Kirk Pengilly . Tim and Pengilly had been playing together since 1971 as either an acoustic duo or as a four-piece band called Guinness (named after their bass player's dog). Together with younger brother Jon Farriss they formed the Farriss Brothers consisting of Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar, Geoff Kennelly on Drums, Michael Hutchence on lead vocals and Kirk Pengilly on guitar and saxophone. The band made their debut on 16 August 1977 at Whale Beach , 40 km (25 mi) north of Sydney. Andrew Farriss remembers: I thought the show went really well, but I think my dad summed it up the next day: 'Great show, but everyone was asleep when we left.' I think everyone might have been stoned.—Andrew FarrissThe parents of the Farriss boys relocated to Perth, Western Australia in 1978, taking Jon to continue his schooling and, as soon as Hutchence and Andrew finished school, the rest of the band followed. They briefly performed as The Vegetables, singing "We Are the Vegetables", before returning to Sydney ten months later, where they recorded a set of demos. At a chance meeting in the car park of the Narabeen Antler, a pub in North Narrabeen . Tim was approached by Gary Morris , the manager of Midnight Oil . I remember him coming up to me and saying 'Who are you working for, mate?' and I kind of went, 'Oh, we have this band and we're called The Farriss Brothers'. He offered to give us some work supporting Midnight Oil on the spot.—Tim FarrissThe band began to regularly support Midnight Oil and other local bands. Morris advised that a member of the Oils crew had come up with a new name and suggested they change it to INXS. The name INXS was inspired by English band XTC and Australian jam makers IXL . "I saw a commercial for a brand of jam called IXL. Their ad featured a guy who said, 'I excel in all I do.' I'd recently seen the English band XTC when they toured Australia, and I loved their name: XTC - Ecstasy. In that moment, I put all those thoughts together. The name needed to be letters, but make a word. I put the IXL jam commercial together with XTC and the concept of a band that was inaccessible and I had it: INXS—Gary MorrisPengilly explained that Morris had some other ideas: Gary [Morris] was a great marketing man, and I think he also had this idea of us being 'inaccessible'. He said we could be on stage in a cage of lights. It was a mystery thing ... He told us that unless we wanted to change our ways and become the world's biggest Christian band, he could no longer manage us ... He wanted us to write songs about Christ and to promote a drug-and-alcohol-free and no-sex-before-marriage, proper Christian lifestyle. He was very convincing and for a moment I think we might have done it. Then he got on to strange terrain.—Kirk PengillyWe thought that would be a bit much - but it was a good name.—Tim FarrissThe band's first performance as INXS was on 1 September 1979 at the Oceanview Hotel in Umina, New South Wales and by the end of 1979, after passing on the Christian band image, they hired Chris Murphy as their manager and continued taking on the Oz pub circuit. The night Morris offered them to me, I told him I'd take them midway through their third song. I stood there thinking, "This is pretty funky.' This kid up front is pretty weird. This band plays really, really well ... What Morris didn't realise was that I only intended to take them on as their booking agent. I didn't want to be their manager.—Chris MurphyMurphy was an adept business manager and negotiator. By early 1980 the band had signed a five-album record deal with a Sydney independent label, Deluxe Records, run by Michael Browning, a former manager of AC/DC .
1980s
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INXS released their first single, "Simple Simon"/"We Are the Vegetables", in Australia and France in May 1980. The single had its debut TV performance on Simon Townsend's Wonder World . Their self-titled debut album, INXS , was recorded at Trafalgar Studios in Annandale , Sydney, it was co-produced by the band and Duncan McGuire (ex- Ayers Rock ), with all songs attributed to the entire band, at the insistence of Murphy. Deluxe gave them a budget of $10,000 to record the album, so to keep within the budget they had to record from midnight to dawn, usually after doing one of more performances earlier that night. The album was released in October 1980. It featured "Just Keep Walking" which was their first Australian Top 40 single, with the album peaking in the Top 30 of the Kent Music Report for Australian albums. The album eventually went gold (selling over 35,000 units) but it took a number of years to do so. I'm not a great fan of the first album. It's naïve and kinda cute, almost. It's these young guys struggling for a sound. All I can hear is what was going to happen later and it's probably an interesting album because of that. "Just Keep Walking" was the first time we thought we'd written a song. And that became an anthem around town. It's funny, I remember kids in pubs saying it and hearing it on the radio the first time. We'd never heard that before.—Michael HutchenceThese early records demonstrated their New Wave / ska / pop style, and were followed by near constant touring with almost 300 shows during 1981 as the band developed their status as a live act. After a year of playing pub gigs, I made sure that INXS only did tours, whether it was just a few cities or across the whole of Australia. We choose a theme, made posters, printed T-shirts, and gave it a mood that created excitement. It made an INXS show into an event, not just another pub gig.—Chris MurphyIn 1981, they signed Gary Grant as their tour manager, who then became co-manager a year later. Between touring commitments, the band released their third single in May 1981, "The Loved One", which was a cover of a 1960s song by Australian group The Loved Ones . The song was recorded at Studios 301 in Sydney, produced by Richard Clapton and peaked in the Top 20. Richard had never produced before and wasn't sure if he wanted to. I didn't care; I knew his songwriting capabilities would be a good influence to give INXS more structure. In the early days the band would jam in rehearsal until a song just happened. Then they'd stand in front of an audience and play that song and see whether or not the audience jumped around. Then they'd go back and chop it up until it worked. And if it continued to work live, they'd go and record it.—Chris MurphyThe success of the single led to Clapton and the band returning to Studio s 301 between July and August 1981 to create an album. In October 1981, their second album Underneath the Colours was released and became a hit in Australia peaking at #15. I was completely enamored with them. I really thought that they could become one of the biggest bands in the world, completely out of nowhere. I mean, at that point, they didn't even have an audience.—Richard ClaptonMost of the songs on Underneath the Colours were written in a relatively short space of time. Most bands shudder at the prospect of having 20 years to write their first album and four days to write their second. For us, though, it was good. It left less room for us to go off on all sorts of tangents.—Michael HutchenceSoon after recording sessions had finished, band members started work on outside projects. Beers, Jon and Andrew Farriss played on Clapton's solo album, The Great Escape. Hutchence recorded "Speed Kills", written by Don Walker of Cold Chisel for the soundtrack of the film Freedom directed by Scott Hicks . It was his first solo single and was released by WEA in early 1982. In January, INXS toured New Zealand as support act for Cold Chisel . Band manager, Murphy, became convinced their future no longer lay with Deluxe Records, who had been unable to attract international interest, and decided to record a new song, " The One Thing " at their own expense, with Mark Opitz at Paradise Studios. The song turned out so well that Murphy hired Opitz to produce three more songs. Murphy approached WEA Australia with copies of the song, leading to INXS signing a recording deal in July 1982 with WEA for releases in Australia, South East Asia, Japan and New Zealand, Atco Records (a subsidiary of Atlantic Records ) for North America and Polygram for Europe and the UK. [1 ] [2 ] [3 ] [12 ] INXS got signed not because some A&R guy thought we'd sell a lot of records, but because we sold out so many venues.—Tim FarrissMurphy and the band weren't entirely convinced that Opitz could produce an entire album that would attract international interest so prior to recording their third album Pengilly, Hutchence and Andrew Farriss visited the UK and USA, with a view to selecting a suitable producer, only to find that no-one they wanted was available and that most people advised them that Opitz's work on their single was as good as they could wish for. Bob Clearmountain said to us, 'I love your music and I would definitely work with you guys, but I don't have any ideas better than the guy who recorded these for you. The best advice I have for you is to go back to Australia and record the whole album with him.—Kirk PengillyIn mid-1982, they commenced recording at Rhinoceros Studios, with Opitz. Mark was the first producer that was able to capture some glimmer of what the band felt it was like live. Prior to us, Mark had done bands like AC/DC , Cold Chisel , The Angels . Big guitar sounds, mighty drum beats.—Tim FarrissIn October 1982, Shabooh Shoobah was released internationally on Atlantic/Atco Records, peaking at #52 on the US Billboard 200 and #46 on the Hot Pop Albums chart. In Australia it peaked at #5 and remained in the albums charts for 94 weeks. The single "The One Thing" brought them their first Top 30 hit in United States peaking at #30 on 28 May 1986, it was a Top 20 hit in Canada and peaked at #14 in Australia on 23 August 1982. [1] "One Thing" was their first video to air on the fledgling MTV and siginficantly added to the ultimate success of the single. INXS undertook their first US performance in San Diego in March, 1983, to a crowd of 24 patrons. Their first tour was as support for Adam and the Ants , then support for Stray Cats , The Kinks , Hall & Oates followed by The Go-Go's . INXS played alongside many of their contemporaries on New Wave Day in May 1983, at the US Festival in Devore, California It was during this time that Grant, their co-manager, relocated permanently to New York to ensure a continual presence in the northern hemisphere. The band remained on the road in the US for most of the year, including support for Men at Work and by mid-1983 were headlining venues such as The Ritz in New York.
From "Original Sin" to Listen Like Thieves
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Following a performance in Toronto , Canada , the band was approached by producer Nile Rodgers , and by September 1983, recorded " Original Sin ", originally titled "Brand New Day", at New York's Power Station Studios. We were fresh off the road. So we had the basic song completed and we'd been playing it live in the set. He was talking to us through the headphones, kind of saying things that were meant to encourage us, and we figured he was just getting levels and stuff on the whole band playing together, but after we'd run it down a couple of times he said 'OK, come in and have a listen'. We went in and the control room was sort of full of people dancing. Apart from adding background vocals and the sax solo, we were finished. We didn't even know he was recording.—Andrew FarrissThree tracks from Shabooh Shoobah were featured in the soundtrack for the 1984 film Reckless . The band then travelled to the UK to begin sessions on their fourth album with Nick Launay at the Manor Studios in Oxford . Nick was always going to be the main production force behind The Swing. We had a really genuine interest in the stuff that he had done and we knew he was the right guy for us at the time. It was funny, actually, because we arrived at the Manor, which is up in Oxford, and we basically walked in and said, 'Nick, we've recorded one song for the album'. And he was like, 'Oh yeah, where did you do that?' And we said, 'New York.' "Who'd you do it with?' 'Nile Rodgers.' And his face just went white because he was a major Nile Rodgers fan himself. So he said 'Well, 'suppose we'd better listen to it', and we put it on and he was just blown away. I think that started poor old Nick off on a bit of a -- he wasn't as secure and confident as he probably would have been.—Andrew FarrissThe album The Swing released in April 1984, received more significant attention from around the world, as "Original Sin" became their first #1 single and was a highly popular song worldwide with fans and reviewers. During 1984 it was #1 in Australia (for two weeks in January) as well as in Argentina and France , #6 in New Zealand , #11 in Canada, #23 in Switzerland , #31 in the Netherlands and #58 in the U.S. Yet "Original Sin" was largely ignored in the UK, where INXS was described in New Musical Express as a "depressingly definitive example of excruciating, boring, incredibly unimaginative MTV rock" and INXS didn't have any Top 50 chart success until the 1985 album Listen Like Thieves .
During 1984, INXS toured non-stop performing across Europe, the UK, the US and Australia and by December 1984, The Swing, was double platinum , making it, at the time, one of the five biggest domestic albums in the history of Australian music. In March 1985 the band re-entered Sydney's Rhinoceros Studios to record their next album, together with producer Chris Thomas ( Sex Pistols , Pink Floyd , The Pretenders , Elton John ). Chris was one of the most talented, most eccentric and demanding people you'd ever want to meet. ...from the moment you walked into the control room, there was no doubt you were in the presence of greatness. INXS met their match with Chris Thomas. He was the only producer they've ever had who told them what they needed to hear.—Richard ClaptonThis is what we've been trying to do one way or another for a few years now, that is to make an album that is purely just form and function of the songs. It has no artistic pretentions.—Michael HutchenceAs the band were finishing the recording sessions, Thomas told the band that the album was not good enough and still had no “killer” track: We'd already finished the Listen Like Thieves album but Chris Thomas told us there was still no 'hit'. We left the studio that night knowing we had one day left and we had to deliver "a hit". Talk about pressure.—Andrew FarrissAndrew produced a demo tape of a funk song he had been working on "Funk Song No. 13" and evolved it into " What You Need ". Then Andrew brought in three demos – two songs that had been completed and he played me a thing that was just this riff – dink, dink, dink-a-dink-and it was great. I thought, 'I could listen to that groove for ten minutes!' I said, 'Let's work with that groove.' So we went with that and in just two days it turned into the song that eventually broke them, "What You Need".—Chris ThomasWe wrote it on Saturday, rehearsed it on Sunday and recorded it on Monday.Whilst the band was recording, WEA released Dekadance , a limited edition cassette only EP of INXS remixes from their album The Swing.
On 19 May 1985, INXS won seven awards at the 1984 Countdown Music and Video Awards ceremony. They performed "Burn for You", dressed in Akubras (hats) and Drizabones (outdoor coats/oilskin jackets). They performed five songs for the July 1985 Oz for Africa concert, in conjunction with the Live Aid benefit. Two INXS songs, " What You Need " and "Don't Change", were also in the BBC broadcast and are contained on Live Aid's four DVD boxed set released in 2004.
INXS had started out as a New Wave act, gradually moved in a more straight-ahead rock-oriented direction through the first half of the 1980s. Listen Like Thieves was released in October 1985, was approved of by critics, reaching #3 on the Australian charts and #11 on the US charts. With the release of Listen Like Thieves, the band had developed a rock sound influenced by Led Zeppelin and XTC , but remained true to the band's original roots in Aussie pubs . It was also the first album to feature songs written by a combination of band members, with Andrew Farris and Hutchence becoming the primary songwriters in the years to follow. The first US single from the album, "This Time", stalled at #81 in late 1985, but the next single, "What You Need", released there in early 1986, became a top five Billboard hit, bringing INXS their first breakout US success. The single was also a top 20 hit in Canada, reached #2 in Australia (September 1985) but only #51 on the UK charts.
The British press dismissed the album, with New Musical Express calling the band 'INX-cusable' and a reviewer declaring Listen Like Thieves to be a 'complete and utter turkey'. In the United States however Rolling Stone Magazine wrote "INXS rocks with passion and seals the deal with a backbeat that'll blackmail your feet."
In August 1985, they toured ahead of the album's release, before touring South America before returning to Melbourne to play for Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales at a concert in Australia, it was filmed and later released on home video entitled Living INXS, an edited version of the concert was played on MTV in the US in 1985 on their Saturday night concert series. In November, December, January, and February INXS toured North America, Europe, and New Zealand. The band then took a two month break, with Andrew Farriss writing and producing "You're Gonna Get Hurt" for Jenny Morris (who had previously been a backing vocalist with the band), and Hutchence featuring in Richard Lowenstein 's second feature film Dogs in Space . Lowenstein had previously made the video clip for "Dancing on the Jetty". Whilst a song from the movie, "Rooms for the Memory", written by Ollie Olsen , with vocals by Hutchence charted, the movie was received well by critics but was not a commercial success.
In May 1986, the band returned to the United States and over the next six months performed 32 European shows,including support for Queen at their Live at Wembley '86 concert on July 12th,42 US shows and 12 Australian shows. America's influential Musician magazine calling them "the best live band in the world."
From "Good Times" to Kick
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Whilst supposedly taking an eight month break before commencing work on a new album, their manager Murphy decided to stage a series of major outdoor concerts across Australia, featuring INXS, Jimmy Barnes , Models , The Divinyls , Mental as Anything , The Triffids and I'm Talking . To promote the tour INXS recorded two songs with Jimmy Barnes of Cold Chisel: The Easybeats cover " Good Times " and "Laying Down the Law" which Barnes co-wrote with Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Hutchence and Pengilly. "Good Times" was used as the theme song for the Australian Made series of concerts in the summer of 1986–1987 It peaked at #2 on the Australian charts, and months later was featured in the Joel Schumacher film The Lost Boys and its soundtrack , allowing it to peak at #47 in the US on 1 August 1987.
After the success of "What You Need" and Listen Like Thieves, the band knew their new material would have to be even better, according to Pengilly, We wanted an album where all the songs were possible singles.—Kirk PengillyThey recorded Kick in Sydney and Paris, it was produced by Thomas again, but Atlantic Records was not happy with the result, as manager Chris Murphy remembers: They hated it, absolutely hated it. They said there was no way they could get this music on rock radio. They said it was suited for black radio, but they didn't want to promote it that way. The president of the label told me that he'd give us $1 million to go back to Australia and make another album.—Chris MurphyDespite Atlantic's protests, Kick was released in October 1987 and provided the band with worldwide popularity, it peaked at #1 in Australia, #3 on the US Billboard 200, #9 in UK, and #15 in Austria. It was an upbeat, confident album that yielded four Top 10 US singles, " New Sensation ", " Never Tear Us Apart ", " Devil Inside " and #1 " Need You Tonight ". "Need You Tonight" peaked #2 on the UK charts, #3 in Australia, and #10 in France. They toured heavily behind the album throughout 1987 and 1988. The video for the 1987 INXS track "Mediate" (which played after the video for "Need You Tonight") replicated the format of Bob Dylan's video for " Subterranean Homesick Blues ," even in its use of apparently deliberate errors. In September 1988 the band swept the MTV Video Music Awards with the video for "Need You Tonight/Mediate" winning in 5 categories.
During 1989, Hutchence collaborated with Ian 'Ollie' Olsen on a side project, Max Q , the two had previously worked together on Lowenstein's film Dogs in Space. The rest of the band also took a break to work on side projects, but soon returned to the studio to record their follow-up album to Kick.
1990–97: from X to Elegantly Wasted
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In October 1990, INXS released X which was produced by Thomas again and it peaked at #3 in Australia, #5 in the US, #2 in the UK, #5 in Switzerland and #10 in Sweden. It followed in the same vein as Kick, and added harmonica to some songs. X scored hits with " Suicide Blonde " and " Disappear " (both Top 10 in the US), "Suicide Blonde" peaked at #2 in Australia, #11 in the UK and in Switzerland. Other singles from X were " Bitter Tears " and " By My Side " but they had less chart success.
Hutchence's romance with Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue brought the group a new audience of fans. INXS performed at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1991, during their "Summer XS" tour stop in London to a sold out audience of 74,000 fans. This performance was recorded and filmed to become the their live album Live Baby Live (a video version was also released under the same title), which was released in November 1991 and peaked in the Top 30 in both Australia and UK album charts, but had less success on The Billboard 200.
On 28 March 1992 INXS performed at the controversial 'Concert for Life' at Centennial Park in Sydney (a fund raiser for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Centre), together with Crowded House , Yothu Yindi , Jenny Morris , Diesel , Ratcat and Def FX . Due to inclement weather the expected attendance of 100,000 never eventuated and the event only raising $500,000.
Welcome to Wherever You Are , produced by Mark Opitz and released in August 1992, was an experimental album using sitars and a 60-piece orchestra while adding a much more "raw" sound to their music. It received good critical reviews and went #1 in the UK and in Sweden #2 in Australia and Switzerland, and #3 in Norway, but had less chart success in the US peaking at #16. [8 ] Singles from the album included, " Taste It " and " Baby Don't Cry " which were Top 20 successes in UK but had less success in US or Australian markets.
Full Moon, Dirty Hearts ', produced by Opitz again, was released in November 1993 and peaked at #3 on the UK charts, #4 in Australia, #8 in Sweden, #9 in Switzerland, #14 in Norway, but did not reach the Top 50 in the US. . The title track featured The Pretenders ' Chrissie Hynde and another track, "Please (You Got That)", featured Ray Charles . The band made a full video album for the record using unknown Australian students to direct with help by Richard Lowenstein . Full Moon, Dirty Hearts received mixed reviews and was the last record under INXS' contract with Atlantic. The band took time off to rest and be with their families, while Hutchence remained in the public eye through modelling and film acting.
In 1997, the group released a comeback album titled Elegantly Wasted , which garnered mixed reviews. It fared respectably in Australia (#14), Canada (#14), France (#30), UK (#16) (where INXS had more success in the 1990s than in the 1980s), Belgium (#7) , Switzerland (#13), but only #41 in US.
On 22 November 1997, Hutchence was found dead in his Sydney Ritz-Carlton hotel room. On 6 February 1998, after an autopsy and coronial inquest , New South Wales State Coroner , Derrick Hand, presented his report which ruled that Hutchence's death was a suicide while depressed and under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Despite the official coroner's report, fans and relatives considered his death accidental.
1997–2003: transitional years
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After Hutchence's death, INXS did not perform publicly for almost a year and then only made a few one-off performances with different guest singers until 2000. On 28 November 1998, they played at the Mushroom 25 Concert with Jimmy Barnes fronting for two songs: "The Loved One" and "Good Times". On 12 June 1999, they headlined the opening of Stadium Australia in Sydney, with US singer-songwriter Terence Trent D'Arby as guest vocalist, they performed "New Sensation", "Kick", "Never Tear Us Apart" and "What You Need".
Former lead singer of Australian band Noiseworks , Jon Stevens began singing with INXS in May 2000. They played as one of the headline acts at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and then toured through South America and Europe. Stevens was officially named a member of INXS in 2002 and they started recording new material in November. Stevens left in October 2003 to pursue a solo career, only recording a contractual obligation song called " I Get Up ", it was not officially released as a charting single due to it being part of the game EA Sports Rugby 2004 this does not constitute a charting single. All sales of this single were not tallied in comparison to the ARIA charts of the time. The song was used in the Rugby Union World Cup 2003 and the EA Sports Rugby 2004 video game.
2004–05: Rock Star: INXS
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INXS returned to the news in 2004, when it was announced that a new reality television program titled Rock Star: INXS would feature a contest to find a new lead vocalist for the band. The show, which had its debut on the CBS network 11 July 2005, (on Global in Canada, VH1 in the UK and FOX8 in Australia), featured 15 contestants vying for the position of lead singer. The show was executive produced by Survivor 's Mark Burnett and hosted by Brooke Burke and former Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro .
On 20 September 2005, J. D. Fortune (born Jason Dean Bennison, but uses his mother's maiden name) of Salt Springs, Nova Scotia , Canada won the eleven-week competition, which culminated in his singing the Rolling Stones 's " You Can't Always Get What You Want " and INXS' "What You Need" in the finale of the show to become the new lead singer of INXS. With Fortune they recorded their 2005 album, Switch produced by Guy Chambers and went on a world tour in 2006. Runner-up Marty Casey was the opening act during the first leg of the tour, along with his band, The Lovehammers .
During the Rock Star: INXS competition, the contestants were challenged to write the lyrics and melody to music written by Andrew Farriss . Originally this challenge was divided up into two teams. When Fortune did not see eye-to-eye with his team (that included Casey), he decided to venture out on his own and write his own lyrics. At first Fortune's move seemed to have doomed his chances to win the competition (because it was perceived he couldn't work in a team), but it was this move that resulted in his creation of the lyrics to " Pretty Vegas ". This song became a favourite of both fans and INXS and played a major role in Fortune being able to win the competition. "Pretty Vegas" was released 4 October 2005 and reached #5 on the iTunes Store ranking of top downloaded songs on its first day, it peaked at #9 in Australia, [5 ] #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a huge radio airplay hit (going platinum and reaching number one) in Fortune's native Canada.
2005 to 2008 Reworked line up JD Fortune era
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On 29 November 2005, the band's first album with Fortune as lead singer, entitled Switch, was released in the United States via Epic Records . The new lineup started touring in support of Switch in January 2006. Fortune revealed he was working on material for the next INXS album after Switch, but it would turn out that Fortune would not participate in INXS's next album, and Fortune's songs would later appear on his solo album.
In September 2006, the band and Epic Records parted ways.
INXS toured Australia and New Zealand in March 2007, with Simple Minds and support band Arrested Development . After the cancellation of a 31 August 2007 show in Cleveland, Ohio , INXS placed a statement on their website stating "Due to ongoing medical issues with Garry Beers' hand, the band's doctor has urged the band to not play more than three shows in a row or risk permanent damage to Garry's hand."
2009-present
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The band is once again without a frontman. The band signed with Petrol Records in December 2008, reuniting them with former manager Chris Murphy. The band was preparing to enter the studio in March 2009 to record a new project without a singer.
On 16 February 2009, J. D. Fortune revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight Canada that INXS let him go from the band with a shake of the hand at an airport in Hong Kong. Fortune admits to becoming addicted to cocaine during his stint with the band. [64 ] J. D. Fortune is back to living out of his car (pickup truck) and saving every dime to try and get his solo album released (provisionally titled, "Death of a Motivational Speaker"). He said he's been off of all drugs including cocaine for the past two years. He discussed his story, along with a live performance, on Toronto's Virgin Radio.
On 23 February 2009, Chris Murphy, INXS creative director and global business strategist and former manager, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, said J. D. was not sacked and, in fact, "the band made it known to him that they had not ruled out seeing a return by Fortune." He also states JD was next on his list to call regarding a major recording contract he was negotiating for the band. In an interview with Confidential on March 1, 2009, Murphy stated "The whole thing has been bizarre - he was basically a contractor and his contract had ended." Speaking with Billboard, Murphy stated that he would rather part ways with the band than work with Fortune. "If the band said to me tomorrow, 'We'd still like you to make that call and talk to him about working on a project,' I'd have to say 'Sorry, I have to go.'
In an interview with Sun Media published on 6 March 2009, J. D. Fortune clarified his claim that he had been fired at an airport. After returning to Canada from Hong Kong, Fortune believed there were still two more legs of the INXS 2007 tour to complete. When the rest of the tour was cancelled and the band did not return his calls for 10 months, he believed he was out of the band.
The band is currently recording an album in memory of Michael Hutchence. Brandon Flowers of the band The Killers revealed that he recorded the song " Beautiful Girl " with the band. Snow Patrol covered " New Sensation " as their contribution to the mix album Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol in 2009. Rob Thomas from the band Matchbox Twenty recorded the song " Never Tear Us Apart " and " Original Sin " with the band. Australian singer-songwriter Vanessa Amorosi has also been reported to have recorded a version of " Devil Inside ". Oddly, Ben Harper has also reportedly recorded a version of " Devil Inside ". The album is being produced by James Ash of Rogue Traders . Gabriella Cilmi , Nikka Costa , Tricky , and Eskimo Joe 's Kavyen Temperley have recorded tracks for the project, although it is not yet known what songs that have performed on. Deborah de Corral is also slated to perform on the album. C. M. Murphy revealed in November 2009 that the band will release some singles in the early part of 2010, culminating in a new album release in October 2010. Other reports have the album coming out in May 2010.
On 30 November 2009, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, and Kirk Pengilly performed an acoustic version of Don't Change with the Qantas Choir at the Pride of Australia Awards.
On 8 December 2009, INXS announced they will be embarking on a large scale world tour, commencing with a performance in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. INXS is currently rehearsing for their upcoming gig at the 2010 Winter Olympics and subsequent world tour in Sydney, Australia. The band announced on 11 February 2010 that J. D. Fortune would be vocalist for the performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but it will be a one-off performance with Fortune, and a vocalist for the subsequent world tour has yet to be announced.
Influence and recognition
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Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, INXS was a major force in Australian popular music , leading the way into worldwide popularity for several Australian bands. The band worked closely with several other Australian artists, such as Models and ex-patriate New Zealander Jenny Morris , helping to establish their careers. By the mid-nineties, however, their popularity had waned, especially in the US, where their Greatest Hits compilation failed to reach the Top 100. At the 1996 BRIT Awards , Michael Hutchence presented Oasis with an award, after which their lead vocalist Liam Gallagher remarked "Has-beens shouldn't be presenting awards to gonna-bes".
INXS was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 30 October 2001. INXS has won six other ARIA Awards including three for 'Best Group' in 1987, 1989 and 1992. The band has also received three Grammy nominations over their 30-year career. In 2007, The Farriss Brothers were inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Awards Hall of Fame. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) , INXS have sold 15 million units in the United States alone, making them the third-highest selling Australian music act in the United States, behind AC/DC and The Bee Gees.
Commercials
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In 2002 in America, McDonald's and Toyota used " New Sensation " for a promo campaign. "New Sensation" also was featured in the 2003 movie Shattered Glass It is also currently in a sofa advert in the UK. "What You Need" featured in a Chevy trucks advertising campaign. In Australia, " By My Side " has been used by NRMA Insurance on and off for eight years. " The One Thing " is featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories under the fictional radio station Flash FM .
Movie/Game/Ad
J. D. Fortune – lead vocals (2005–2009)
On tour/special performances:
Terence Trent D'Arby – guest vocals (1999)
Awards and nominations
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INXS has won and been nominated for numerous music awards. These include ARIA Awards , Grammy , MTV Awards , ARIA Awards
INXS has won seven Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards . The band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001 alongside The Saints . This induction recognised their achievement of a "significant body of recorded work" and that they "had a cultural impact within Australia".INXS has won six other ARIA Awards including three for 'Best Group' in 1987, 1989 and 1992.
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Thomas Jonathan Jackson was a confederate general during the American Civil War. By what name was he better known? | Stonewall Jackson - American Civil War - HISTORY.com
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Stonewall Jackson’s Early Years
Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia ). When Jackson was two years old, his six-year-old sister died of typhoid fever. His father, Jonathan Jackson (1790-1826), an attorney, perished of the same disease a short time later, leaving his wife, Julia Neale Jackson (1798-1831), with three children and considerable debt. After Julia Jackson remarried in 1830, to a man who reportedly disliked his stepchildren, Thomas Jackson and his siblings were sent to live with various relatives. The future Civil War hero was raised by an uncle in the town of Jackson’s Mill, located in present-day West Virginia.
Did You Know?
In 1954, Stonewall Jackson's home in Lexington, Virginia—the only home he ever owned—was turned into a museum and historic site. Jackson lived in the home, which is filled with period furniture and some of his personal possessions, during the decade he taught at the Virginia Military Institute.
In 1842, Jackson enrolled at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Older than many of the other students, he initially struggled with the curriculum and endured frequent ridicule for his modest background and relatively poor education. However, Jackson worked hard and eventually met with academic success, graduating in 1846.
Jackson left West Point just as the Mexican War was starting and he was sent to Mexico as a lieutenant with the 1st U.S. Artillery. He quickly earned a reputation for toughness and bravery, and by the war’s end in 1848 he held the rank of brevet major. Jackson continued his military service until he accepted a professorship at the Virginia Military Institute in 1851.
Stonewall Jackson’s Civilian Life
Jackson spent 10 years as a professor of artillery tactics and natural philosophy (similar to modern-day physics) at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. He was better at teaching artillery than natural philosophy, and was disliked by some cadets for his brusqueness, lack of sympathy and eccentric behavior. Students mocked him for his hypochondria and his habit of keeping one arm elevated to hide a perceived discrepancy in the length of his limbs.
In 1853, Jackson married Elinor Junkin (1825-54), the daughter of a Presbyterian minister who was the president of Washington College. She died in childbirth 14 months later; in 1857, Jackson married Mary Anna Morrison (1831-1915), the daughter of a former president of Davidson College. The following year, the couple had a daughter; however, the child lived for only a month. Jackson’s one surviving daughter, Julia Laura (1862-89), was born less than a year before her father’s death.
Jackson’s final years in the Lexington community earned him a reputation as an honest and dutiful man of devout faith. He did not drink, gamble or smoke. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Jackson accepted a commission as a colonel in the Confederate army and went off to war, never to return to Lexington alive.
Jackson Earns His Name
During the first wave of secession from December 1860 through February 1861, during which time seven Southern states declared their independence from the U.S., Jackson hope that his home state of Virginia would remain in the Union. However, when Virginia seceded in April 1861, he supported the Confederacy, showing his loyalty to his state over the federal government.
Jackson served only briefly as a colonel before receiving a promotion to brigadier general under General Joseph E. Johnston (1807-91). Jackson earned his nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as Manassas) in July 1861 when he rushed his troops forward to close a gap in the line against a determined Union attack. Upon observing Jackson, one of his fellow generals reportedly said, “Look, men, there is Jackson standing like a stone wall!”–a comment that spawned Jackson’s nickname. Jackson was commissioned a major general in October 1861.
Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign
In the spring of 1862, Jackson spearheaded the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, firmly establishing himself as a strong and independent commander. The Confederate army’s high command had charged him with the task of defending western Virginia from an invasion by Union troops. With an army of some 15,000 to 18,000 troops, Jackson repeatedly outmaneuvered a superior Union force of more than 60,000 men. Jackson’s army moved so quickly during the campaign that they dubbed themselves “foot cavalry.” President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) had split the Union army into three parts, and Jackson used his mobility to attack and confuse the divided forces over the course of the campaign. He won several key victories over armies of larger size. By the campaign’s end in June, he had earned the admiration of Union generals and had become the South’s first great war hero. Jackson had prevented the Northerners from taking the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, and had done so in the face of unfavorable odds.
Jackson’s Partnership with Lee
Jackson joined Lee’s army in June 1862, and Lee was determined to keep him in the thick of the fighting in Virginia. Chosen for his tactical prowess and bravery, Jackson did not disappoint. From August 1862 until May 1863, he and his troops played key roles at the Second Battle of Bull Run , the Battle of Antietam , the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville .
By October 1862, Jackson was a lieutenant general and led a significant portion of Lee’s army. His widely publicized exploits had elevated him to legendary status among Southern soldiers and citizens alike. Jackson’s bravery and success inspired devotion from his soldiers, but to his officers, he was known as overly secretive and difficult to please. He frequently punished his officers for relatively minor violations of military discipline and rarely discussed his plans with them. Rather, they were expected to obey his orders without question.
The Battle of Chancellorsville and Jackson’s Death
Lee and Jackson’s most famous victory took place near a crossroads at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia in May 1863. Facing a numerically superior Union force of 130,000 men to 60,000 of their own, Lee and Jackson devised and executed a plan to rout the army of Union General Joseph Hooker (1814-79).
Historians call this battle one of Lee’s finest moments as a Confederate general, and his success owed much to Jackson’s participation. On May 2, Jackson stealthily and quickly took 28,000 troops on an approximately 15-mile forced march to Hooker’s exposed flank while Lee engaged in diversionary attacks on his front. Jackson’s attack on the Union rear inflicted massive casualties on the superior force, and Hooker was forced to withdraw only days later.
But the victory was not without cost. Jackson’s brutal attack ended at sunset, and he took some men into the forest to scout ahead. A North Carolina regiment mistook them for enemy cavalry and opened fire, severely wounding Jackson. He was taken from the field and General J. E. B. Stuart (1833-64) took over his command. Doctors determined that a bullet had shattered the bone just below his left shoulder, and they quickly amputated Jackson’s left arm. He was transferred to a field hospital at a nearby plantation to recover. Lee dispatched a letter, writing, “Could I have directed events, I would have chosen for the good of the country to be disabled in your stead.” Jackson initially appeared to be healing, but he died from pneumonia on May 10, 1863, at the age of 39. Southerners mourned the death of their war hero, while Lee faced fighting the war without a highly valued general and comrade. Jackson was buried in Lexington, Virginia.
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Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson [1] as (January 21, 1824 [2] – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War , and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E. Lee . [3] His military career includes the Valley Campaign of 1862 and his service as a corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee. Confederate pickets accidentally shot him at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, which the general survived, albeit with the loss of an arm to amputation. However, he died of complications of pneumonia eight days later. His death was a severe setback for the Confederacy, affecting not only its military prospects, but also the morale of its army and of the general public.
Military historians consider Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in United States history . His Valley Campaign and his envelopment of the Union Army right wing at Chancellorsville are studied worldwide even today as examples of innovative and bold leadership. He excelled as well in other battles: the First Battle of Bull Run (where he received his famous nickname "Stonewall"), the Second Battle of Bull Run , Antietam and Fredericksburg . Jackson was not universally successful as a commander, however, as displayed by his weak and confused efforts during the Seven Days Battles around Richmond in 1862.
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Thomas Jonathan Jackson was the great-grandson of John Jackson (1715 or 1719 – 1801) and Elizabeth Cummins (also known as Elizabeth Comings and Elizabeth Needles) (1723 – 1828). John Jackson was born a Protestant in Coleraine , County Londonderry , Ireland . While living in London , he was convicted of the capital crime of larceny for stealing £170; the judge at the Old Bailey sentenced him to a seven-year indenture in America. Elizabeth, a strong, blonde woman over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, born in London, was also convicted of larceny in an unrelated case for stealing 19 pieces of silver, jewelry, and fine lace, and received a similar sentence. They both were transported on the prison ship Litchfield, which departed London in May 1749 with 150 convicts. John and Elizabeth met on board and were in love by the time the ship arrived at Annapolis, Maryland . Although they were sent to different locations in Maryland for their indentures, the couple married in July 1755. [4]
The family migrated west across the Blue Ridge Mountains to settle near Moorefield, Virginia , (now West Virginia ) in 1758. In 1770, they moved further west to the Tygart Valley . They began to acquire large parcels of virgin farmland near the present-day town of Buckhannon , including 3,000 acres (12 km²) in Elizabeth's name. John and his two teenage sons were early recruits for the American Revolutionary War , fighting in the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780; John finished the war as captain and served as a lieutenant of the Virginia Militia after 1787. While the men were in the Army, Elizabeth converted their home to a haven, "Jackson's Fort," for refugees from Indian attacks. [5]
John and Elizabeth had eight children. Their second son was Edward Jackson (March 1, 1759 – December 25, 1828), and Edward's third son was Jonathan Jackson, Thomas's father. [6]
Early childhood
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Thomas Jackson was the third child of Julia Beckwith (née Neale) Jackson (1798 – 1831) and Jonathan Jackson (1790 – 1826), an attorney . Both of Jackson's parents were natives of Virginia. The family already had two young children and were living in Clarksburg , in what is now West Virginia, when Thomas was born. He was named for his maternal grandfather.
Thomas's sister Elizabeth (age six) died of typhoid fever on March 6, 1826, with two-year-old Thomas at her bedside. His father died of the same disease March 26. Jackson's mother gave birth to Thomas's sister Laura Ann the day after Jackson's father died. [7] Julia Jackson thus was widowed at 28 and was left with much debt and three young children (including the newborn). She sold the family's possessions to pay the debts. She declined family charity and moved into a small rented one-room house. Julia took in sewing and taught school to support herself and her three young children for about four years.
In 1830, Julia Neale Jackson remarried. Her new husband, Blake Woodson [8] , an attorney, did not like his stepchildren. There were continuing financial problems. The following year, after giving birth to Thomas's half-brother, Julia died of complications, leaving her three older children orphaned. [9] Julia was buried in an unmarked grave in a homemade coffin in Westlake Cemetery along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike in Fayette County within the corporate limits of present-day Ansted, West Virginia .
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As their mother's health continued to fail, Jackson and his sister Laura Ann were sent to live with their uncle, Cummins Jackson , who owned a grist mill in Jackson's Mill (near present-day Weston in Lewis County in central West Virginia ). Their older brother, Warren, went to live with other relatives on his mother's side of the family, but he later died of tuberculosis in 1841 at the age of 20. Thomas and Laura Ann returned from Jackson's Mill in November 1831 to be at their dying mother's bedside. They spent four years together at the Mill before being separated—Laura Ann was sent to live with her mother's family, Thomas to live with his Aunt Polly (his father's sister) and her husband, Isaac Brake, on a farm 4 miles from Clarksburg. Thomas was treated by Brake as an outsider and, having suffered verbal abuse for over a year, ran away from the family. When his cousin in Clarksburg besought him to return to Aunt Polly's, he replied, "Maybe I ought to, ma'am, but I am not going to." He walked 18 miles through mountain wilderness to Jackson's Mill, where he was welcomed by his uncles and he remained there for the following seven years. [10]
Cummins Jackson was strict with Thomas, who looked up to Cummins as a schoolteacher . Jackson helped around the farm, tending sheep with the assistance of a sheepdog , driving teams of oxen and helping harvest wheat and corn. Formal education was not easily obtained, but he attended school when and where he could. Much of Jackson's education was self-taught. He once made a deal with one of his uncle's slaves to provide him with pine knots in exchange for reading lessons; Thomas would stay up at night reading borrowed books by the light of those burning pine knots. Virginia law forbade teaching a slave, free black or mulatto to read or write, as enacted following Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion in Southampton County in 1831. Nevertheless, Jackson secretly taught the slave to write, as he had promised. Once literate, the young slave fled to Canada via the underground railroad . [11] In his later years at Jackson's Mill, Thomas was a schoolteacher.
Early Military Career
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In 1842, Jackson was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . Because of his inadequate schooling, he had difficulty with the entrance examinations and began his studies at the bottom of his class. As a student, he had to work harder than most cadets to absorb lessons. Displaying a dogged determination that was to characterize his life, however, he became one of the hardest working cadets in the academy, and moved steadily up the academic rankings. Jackson graduated 17th out of 59 students in the Class of 1846. It was said by his peers that if he had stayed there another year, he would have graduated first.
U.S. Army and the Mexican War
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Jackson began his United States Army career as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment and was sent to fight in the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848. He served at the Siege of Veracruz and the battles of Contreras , Chapultepec , and Mexico City , eventually earning two brevet promotions, and the regular army rank of first lieutenant . It was in Mexico that Jackson first met Robert E. Lee .
During the assault on Chapultepec Castle, he refused what he felt was a "bad order" to withdraw his troops. Confronted by his superior, he explained his rationale, claiming withdrawal was more hazardous than continuing his overmatched artillery duel. His judgment proved correct, and a relieving brigade was able to exploit the advantage Jackson had broached. In contrast to this display of strength of character, he obeyed what he also felt was a "bad order" when he raked a civilian throng with artillery fire after the Mexican authorities failed to surrender Mexico City at the hour demanded by the U.S. forces. [12] The former episode, and later aggressive action against the retreating Mexican army, earned him field promotion to the brevet rank of major. He was later recognized by army commander Winfield Scott at a celebratory banquet in Mexico City for earning more promotions than any other officer during the three-year war.
Lexington and the Virginia Military Institute
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In the spring of 1851, [13] Jackson accepted a newly created teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in Lexington, Virginia . He became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery. Jackson's teachings are still used at VMI today because they are military essentials that are timeless, to wit: discipline, mobility, assessing the enemy's strength and intentions while attempting to conceal your own, and the efficiency of artillery combined with an infantry assault.
However, despite the high quality of his work, he was not popular as a teacher. He memorized his lectures and then recited them to the class; any students who came to ask for help were only given the same explanation as before. And if students came to ask again, Jackson viewed this as insubordination and likewise punished them. The students mocked his apparently stern, religious nature and his eccentric traits. In 1856, a group of alumni attempted to have Jackson removed from his position. [14]
Little as he was known to the white inhabitants of Lexington, Jackson was revered by many of the African-Americans in town, both slaves and free blacks. He was instrumental in the organization in 1855 of Sunday School classes for blacks at the Presbyterian Church. His second wife, Mary Anna Jackson, taught with Jackson, as "he preferred that my labors should be given to the colored children, believing that it was more important and useful to put the strong hand of the Gospel under the ignorant African race, to lift them up." [15] The pastor, Dr. William Spottswood White, described the relationship between Jackson and his Sunday afternoon students: "In their religious instruction he succeeded wonderfully. His discipline was systematic and firm, but very kind. ... His servants reverenced and loved him, as they would have done a brother or father. ... He was emphatically the black man's friend." He addressed his students by name and they in turn referred to him affectionately as "Marse Major." [16]
Jackson's family owned six slaves in the late 1850s. Three (Hetty, Cyrus, and George, a mother and two teenage sons) were received as a wedding present. Another, Albert, requested that Jackson purchase him and allow him to work for his freedom; he was employed as a waiter in one of the Lexington hotels and Jackson rented him to VMI. Amy also requested that Jackson purchase her from a public auction and she served the family as a cook and housekeeper. The sixth, Emma, was a four-year-old orphan with a learning disability , accepted by Jackson from an aged widow and presented to his second wife, Mary Anna, as a welcome-home gift. [17] After the American Civil War began he appears to have hired out or sold his slaves. Mary Anna Jackson, in her 1895 memoir, said, "our servants ... without the firm guidance and restraint of their master, the excitement of the times proved so demoralizing to them that he deemed it best for me to provide them with good homes among the permanent residents." [18] James Robertson wrote about Jackson's view on slavery: [19]
Jackson neither apologized for nor spoke in favor of the practice of slavery. He probably opposed the institution. Yet in his mind the Creator had sanctioned slavery, and man had no moral right to challenge its existence. The good Christian slaveholder was one who treated his servants fairly and humanely at all times.
While an instructor at VMI in 1853, Thomas Jackson married Elinor "Ellie" Junkin, whose father was president of Washington College (later named Washington and Lee University ) in Lexington. An addition was built onto the president's residence for the Jacksons, and when Robert E. Lee became president of Washington College he lived in the same home, now known as the Lee-Jackson House. [20] Ellie gave birth to a stillborn son on October 22, 1854, experiencing a hemorrhage an hour later that proved fatal. [21]
After a tour of Europe, Jackson married again, in 1857. Mary Anna Morrison was from North Carolina, where her father was the first president of Davidson College . They had a daughter named Mary Graham on April 30, 1858, but the baby died less than a month later. Another daughter was born in 1862, shortly before her father's death. The Jacksons named her Julia Laura , after his mother and sister.
Jackson purchased the only house he ever owned while in Lexington. Built in 1801, the brick town house at 8 East Washington Street was purchased by Jackson in 1859. He lived in it for two years before being called to serve in the Confederacy. Jackson never returned to his home.
In November 1859, at the request of the governor of Virginia , Major William Gilham led a contingent of the VMI Cadet Corps to Charles Town to provide an additional military presence at the hanging of militant abolitionist John Brown on December 2, following his raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry on October 16. Major Jackson was placed in command of the artillery, consisting of two howitzers manned by 21 cadets.
Civil War
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In 1861, as the American Civil War broke out, Jackson became a drill master for some of the many new recruits in the Confederate Army . On April 27, 1861, Virginia Governor John Letcher ordered Colonel Jackson to take command at Harpers Ferry , where he would assemble and command the famous " Stonewall Brigade ", consisting of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry regiments. He got his nickname "Stonewall" from the fact that he and his brigade never retreated but always stood as a stone wall. All of these units were from the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia, where Jackson located his headquarters throughout the first two years of the war. Jackson became known for his relentless drilling of his troops; he believed discipline was vital to success on the battlefield. Following the Great Train Raid of 1861 on May 24, he was promoted to brigadier general on June 17. [22]
First Bull Run
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Jackson rose to prominence and earned his most famous nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) on July 21, 1861. As the Confederate lines began to crumble under heavy Union assault, Jackson's brigade provided crucial reinforcements on Henry House Hill, demonstrating the discipline he instilled in his men. Brig. Gen. Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr. , exhorted his own troops to re-form by shouting, "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians!" [23] There is some controversy over Bee's statement and intent, which could not be clarified because he was killed almost immediately after speaking and none of his subordinate officers wrote reports of the battle. Major Burnett Rhett, chief of staff to General Joseph E. Johnston , claimed that Bee was angry at Jackson's failure to come immediately to the relief of Bee's and Bartow's brigades while they were under heavy pressure. Those who subscribe to this opinion believe that Bee's statement was meant to be pejorative: "Look at Jackson standing there like a damned stone wall!" [24] Regardless of the controversy and the delay in relieving Bee, Jackson's brigade, which would henceforth be known as the Stonewall Brigade , stopped the Union assault and suffered more casualties than any other Southern brigade that day. [25] After the battle, Jackson was promoted to major general (October 7, 1861) [22] and given command of the Valley District , with headquarters in Winchester .
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In the spring of 1862, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan 's Army of the Potomac approached Richmond from the southeast in the Peninsula Campaign , Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell 's large corps were poised to hit Richmond from the north, and Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks 's army threatened the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson was ordered by Richmond to operate in the Valley to defeat Banks' threat and prevent McDowell's troops from reinforcing McClellan.
Jackson possessed the attributes to succeed against his poorly coordinated and sometimes timid opponents: a combination of great audacity, excellent knowledge and shrewd use of the terrain, and the ability to inspire his troops to great feats of marching and fighting.
The campaign started with a tactical defeat at Kernstown on March 23, 1862, when faulty intelligence led him to believe he was attacking a small detachment. But it became a strategic victory for the Confederacy, because his aggressiveness suggested that he possessed a much larger force, convincing President Abraham Lincoln to keep Banks' troops in the Valley and McDowell's 30,000-man corps near Fredericksburg , subtracting about 50,000 soldiers from McClellan's invasion force. As it transpired, it was Jackson's only defeat in the Valley.
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By adding Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell 's large division and Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's small division, Jackson increased his army to 17,000 men. He was still significantly outnumbered, but attacked portions of his divided enemy individually at McDowell , defeating both Brig. Gens. Robert H. Milroy and Robert C. Schenck . He defeated Banks at Front Royal and Winchester , ejecting him from the Valley. Lincoln decided that the defeat of Jackson was an immediate priority (though Jackson's orders were solely to keep Union forces occupied away from Richmond). He ordered Irvin McDowell to send 20,000 men to Front Royal and Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont to move to Harrisonburg . If both forces could converge at Strasburg, Jackson's only escape route up the Valley would be cut.
After a series of maneuvers, Jackson defeated Frémont's command at Cross Keys and Brig. Gen. James Shields at Port Republic on June 8–9. Union forces were withdrawn from the Valley.
It was a classic military campaign of surprise and maneuver. Jackson pressed his army to travel 646 miles (1,040 km) in 48 days of marching and won five significant victories with a force of about 17,000 against a combined force of 60,000. Stonewall Jackson's reputation for moving his troops so rapidly earned them the oxymoronic nickname " foot cavalry ". He became the most celebrated soldier in the Confederacy (until he was eventually eclipsed by Lee) and lifted the morale of the Southern public.
Peninsula
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McClellan's Peninsula Campaign toward Richmond stalled at the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31 and June 1. After the Valley Campaign ended in mid-June, Jackson and his troops were called to join Robert E. Lee 's Army of Northern Virginia in defense of the capital. By utilizing a railroad tunnel under the Blue Ridge Mountains and then transporting troops to Hanover County on the Virginia Central Railroad , Jackson and his forces made a surprise appearance in front of McClellan at Mechanicsville . Reports had last placed Jackson's forces in the Shenandoah Valley; their presence near Richmond added greatly to the Union commander's overestimation of the strength and numbers of the forces before him. This proved a crucial factor in McClellan's decision to re-establish his base at a point many miles downstream from Richmond on the James River at Harrison's Landing, essentially a retreat that ended the Peninsula Campaign and prolonged the war almost three more years.
Jackson's troops served well under Lee in the series of battles known as the Seven Days Battles , but Jackson's own performance in those battles is generally considered to be poor. [26] He arrived late at Mechanicsville and inexplicably ordered his men to bivouac for the night within clear earshot of the battle. He was late and disoriented at Gaines' Mill . He was late again at Savage's Station and at White Oak Swamp he failed to employ fording places to cross White Oak Swamp Creek, attempting for hours to rebuild a bridge, which limited his involvement to an ineffectual artillery duel and a missed opportunity. At Malvern Hill Jackson participated in the futile, piecemeal frontal assaults against entrenched Union infantry and massed artillery, and suffered heavy casualties (but this was a problem for all of Lee's army in that ill-considered battle). The reasons for Jackson's sluggish and poorly-coordinated actions during the Seven Days are disputed, although a severe lack of sleep after the grueling march and railroad trip from the Shenandoah Valley was probably a significant factor. Both Jackson and his troops were completely exhausted. It has also been said by Longstreet that, "General Jackson never showed his genius when under the immediate command of General Lee."
Second Bull Run to Fredericksburg
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The military reputations of Lee's corps commanders are often characterized as Stonewall Jackson representing the audacious, offensive component of Lee's army, whereas his counterpart, James Longstreet , more typically advocated and executed defensive strategies and tactics. Jackson has been described as the army's hammer, Longstreet its anvil. [27] In the Northern Virginia Campaign of August 1862 this stereotype did not hold true. Longstreet commanded the Right Wing (later to become known as the First Corps) and Jackson commanded the Left Wing. Jackson started the campaign under Lee's orders with a sweeping flanking maneuver that placed his corps into the rear of Union Maj. Gen. John Pope 's Army of Virginia . At Manassas Junction Jackson was able to capture all of the supplies of the Union Army depot. Then he had his troops destroy all of it, for it was the main depot for the Union Army. Jackson then retreated and then took up a defensive position and effectively invited Pope to assault him. On August 28–29, the start of the Second Battle of Bull Run , Pope launched repeated assaults against Jackson as Longstreet and the remainder of the army marched north to reach the battlefield.
On August 30, Pope came to believe that Jackson was starting to retreat, and Longstreet took advantage of this by launching a massive assault on the Union army's left with over 25,000 men. Although the Union troops put up a furious defense, Pope's army was forced to retreat in a manner similar to the embarrassing Union defeat at First Bull Run, fought on roughly the same battleground.
When Lee decided to invade the North in the Maryland Campaign , Jackson took Harpers Ferry , then hastened to join the rest of the army at Sharpsburg, Maryland , where they fought McClellan in the Battle of Antietam . Antietam was primarily a defensive battle fought against superior odds, although McClellan failed to exploit his advantage. Jackson's men bore the brunt of the initial attacks on the northern end of the battlefield and, at the end of the day, successfully resisted a breakthrough on the southern end when Jackson's subordinate, Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill , arrived at the last minute from Harpers Ferry. The Confederate forces held their position, but the battle was extremely bloody for both sides, and Lee withdrew the Army of Northern Virginia back across the Potomac River , ending the invasion. Jackson was promoted to lieutenant general . On October 10 his command was redesignated the Second Corps.
Before the armies camped for winter, Jackson's Second Corps held off a strong Union assault against the right flank of the Confederate line at the Battle of Fredericksburg , in what became a decisive Confederate victory. Just before the battle, Jackson was delighted to receive a letter about the birth of his daughter, Julia Laura Jackson, on November 23. [28] Also before the battle, Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart , Lee's dashing and well-dressed cavalry commander, presented to Jackson a fine general's frock that he had ordered from one of the best tailors in Richmond. Jackson's previous coat was threadbare and colorless from exposure to the elements, its buttons removed by admiring ladies. Jackson asked his staff to thank Stuart, saying that although the coat was too handsome for him, he would cherish it as a souvenir. His staff insisted that he wear it to dinner, which caused scores of soldiers to rush to see him in uncharacteristic garb. So embarrassed was Jackson with the attention that he did not wear the new uniform for months. [29]
Chancellorsville
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At the Battle of Chancellorsville , the Army of Northern Virginia was faced with a serious threat by the Army of the Potomac and its new commanding general, Major General Joseph Hooker . General Lee decided to employ a risky tactic to take the initiative and offensive away from Hooker's new southern thrust—he decided to divide his forces. Jackson and his entire corps were sent on an aggressive flanking maneuver to the right of the Union lines. This flanking movement would be one of the most successful and dramatic of the war. While riding with his infantry in a wide berth well south and west of the Federal line of battle, Jackson employed Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee 's cavalry to provide for better reconnaissance in regards to the exact location of the Union right and rear. The results were far better than even Jackson could have hoped. Lee found the entire right side of the Federal lines in the middle of open field, guarded merely by two guns that faced westward, as well as the supplies and rear encampments. The men were eating and playing games in carefree fashion, completely unaware that an entire Confederate corps was less than a mile away. What happened next is given in Lee's own words:
So impressed was I with my discovery, that I rode rapidly back to the point on the Plank road where I had left my cavalry, and back down the road Jackson was moving, until I met "Stonewall" himself. "General," said I, "if you will ride with me, halting your column here, out of sight, I will show you the enemy's right, and you will perceive the great advantage of attacking down the Old turnpike instead of the Plank road, the enemy's lines being taken in reverse. Bring only one courier, as you will be in view from the top of the hill." Jackson assented, and I rapidly conducted him to the point of observation. There had been no change in the picture.
I only knew Jackson slightly. I watched him closely as he gazed upon Howard's troops. It was then about 2 P.M. His eyes burned with a brilliant glow, lighting up a sad face. His expression was one of intense interest, his face was colored slightly with the paint of approaching battle, and radiant at the success of his flank movement. To the remarks made to him while the unconscious line of blue was pointed out, he did not reply once during the five minutes he was on the hill, and yet his lips were moving. From what I have read and heard of Jackson since that day, I know now what he was doing then. Oh! "beware of rashness," General Hooker. Stonewall Jackson is praying in full view and in rear of your right flank! While talking to the Great God of Battles, how could he hear what a poor cavalryman was saying. "Tell General Rodes," said he, suddenly whirling his horse towards the courier, "to move across the Old plank road; halt when he gets to the Old turnpike, and I will join him there." One more look upon the Federal lines, and then he rode rapidly down the hill, his arms flapping to the motion of his horse, over whose head it seemed, good rider as he was, he would certainly go. I expected to be told I had made a valuable personal reconnaissance—saving the lives of many soldiers, and that Jackson was indebted to me to that amount at least. Perhaps I might have been a little chagrined at Jackson's silence, and hence commented inwardly and adversely upon his horsemanship. Alas! I had looked upon him for the last time.
–
Fitzhugh Lee, address to the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia, 1879
Jackson immediately returned to his corps and arranged his divisions into a line of battle to charge directly into the oblivious Federal right. The Confederates marched silently until they were merely several hundred feet from the Union position, then released a bloodthirsty cry and full charge. Many of the Federals were captured without a shot fired, the rest were driven into a full rout. Jackson pursued relentlessly back toward the center of the Federal line until dusk.
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Darkness ended the assault. As Jackson and his staff were returning to camp on May 2, they were mistaken for a Union cavalry force by a Confederate North Carolina regiment who shouted, "Halt, who goes there?", but fired before evaluating the reply. Frantic shouts by Jackson's staff identifying the party were replied to by a Major Barry with the retort, "It's a damned Yankee trick! Fire!" [30] A second volley was fired in response; in all, Jackson was hit by three bullets, two in the left arm and one in the right hand. Several other men in his staff were killed, in addition to many horses. Darkness and confusion prevented Jackson from getting immediate care. He was dropped from his stretcher while being evacuated because of incoming artillery rounds. Because of his injuries, Jackson's left arm had to be amputated by Dr. Hunter McGuire [31] . Jackson was moved to Thomas C. Chandler's 740 acres (3.0 km2) plantation named Fairfield. He was offered Chandler's home for recovery, but Jackson refused and suggested using Chandler's plantation office building instead. He was thought to be out of harm's way; but unknown to the doctors, he already had classic symptoms of pneumonia, complaining of a sore chest. This soreness was mistakenly thought to be the result of his rough handling in the battlefield evacuation.
Death
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Lee wrote to Jackson after learning of his injuries, stating "Could I have directed events, I would have chosen for the good of the country to be disabled in your stead." [32] Jackson died of complications from pneumonia on May 10, 1863. On his death bed, though he became weaker, he remained spiritually strong. Jackson's words were "It is the Lord's Day; my wish is fulfilled. I have always desired to die on Sunday." Dr. McGuire wrote an account of his final hours and his last words:
A few moments before he died he cried out in his delirium, "Order A.P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks"—then stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of ineffable sweetness spread itself over his pale face, and he said quietly, and with an expression, as if of relief, "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." [33]
His body was moved to the Governor's Mansion in Richmond for the public to mourn, and he was then moved to be buried in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia. However, the arm that was amputated on May 2 was buried separately by Jackson's chaplain, at the J. Horace Lacy house, "Ellwood", in the Wilderness of Orange County , near the field hospital.
Upon hearing of Jackson's death, Robert E. Lee mourned the loss of both a friend and a trusted commander. The night Lee learned of Jackson's death, he told his cook, "William, I have lost my right arm" (deliberately in contrast to Jackson's left arm) and "I'm bleeding at the heart." As Jackson lay dying, General Robert E. Lee sent a message to Jackson through Chaplain Lacy, saying "Give General Jackson my affectionate regards, and say to him: he has lost his left arm but I my right." [34]
Harpers Weekly reported Jackson's death on May 23, 1863, as follows:
DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
General "Stonewall" Jackson was badly wounded in the arm at the battles of Chancellorsville, and had his arm amputated. The operation did not succeed, and pneumonia setting in, he died on the 10th inst., near Richmond, Virginia. [35]
Legacy
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Jackson's sometimes unusual command style and personality traits, combined with his frequent success in battle, contribute to his legacy as one of the most remarkable characters of the Civil War. [36] Although martial in attitude, he was profoundly religious and a deacon in the Presbyterian Church . He disliked fighting on Sunday, although that did not stop him from doing so. He loved his wife very much and sent her tender letters. In direct contrast to Lee, Jackson was not a striking figure, often wearing old, worn-out clothes rather than a fancy uniform.
Physical ailments
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Jackson held a lifelong belief that one of his arms was longer than the other, and thus usually held the "longer" arm up to equalize his circulation. He was described as a "champion sleeper", even falling asleep with food in his mouth occasionally. A paper delivered to the Society of Clinical Psychologists hypothesized that Jackson had Asperger syndrome , [37] although other possible explanations exist. [38] Indeed Jackson suffered a number of ailments, for which he sought relief via contemporary practices of his day including hydropathy, popular in America at that time, visiting establishments at Oswego, New York (1850) and Round Hill, Massachusetts (1860) although with little evidence of success. [39] [40] Jackson also suffered a significant hearing loss in both of his ears as a result of his prior service in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer.
A recurring story concerns Jackson's love of lemons, which he allegedly gnawed whole to alleviate symptoms of dyspepsia . General Richard Taylor , son of President Zachary Taylor , wrote a passage in his war memoirs about Jackson eating lemons: "Where Jackson got his lemons 'no fellow could find out,' but he was rarely without one." [41] However, recent research by his biographer, James I. Robertson, Jr. , has found that none of his contemporaries, including members of his staff, friends, or his wife, recorded any unusual obsessions with lemons and Jackson thought of a lemon as a "rare treat ... enjoyed greatly whenever it could be obtained from the enemy's camp". Jackson was fond of all fruits, particularly peaches, "but he enjoyed with relish lemons, oranges, watermelons, apples, grapes, berries, or whatever was available." [42]
Command style
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In command, Jackson was extremely secretive about his plans and extremely punctilious about military discipline. This secretive nature did not stand him in good stead with his subordinates, who were often not aware of his overall operational intentions and complained of being left out of key decisions. [43]
Robert E. Lee could trust Jackson with deliberately non-detailed orders that conveyed Lee's overall objectives, what modern doctrine calls the "end state". This was because Jackson had a talent for understanding Lee's sometimes unstated goals and Lee trusted Jackson with the ability to take whatever actions were necessary to implement his end state requirements. Many of Lee's subsequent corps commanders did not have this ability. At Gettysburg, this resulted in lost opportunities. Thus, after the Federals retreated to the heights south of town, Lee sent one of his new corps commanders, Richard S. Ewell , discretionary orders that the heights ( Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill ) be taken "if practicable". Without Jackson's intuitive grasp of Lee's orders or the instinct to take advantage of sudden tactical opportunities, Ewell chose not to attempt the assault, and this failure is considered by historians to be the greatest missed opportunity of the battle. [44]
Horsemanship
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Jackson had a poor reputation as a horseman. One of his soldiers, Georgia volunteer William Andrews, wrote that Jackson was "a very ordinary looking man of medium size, his uniform badly soiled as though it had seen hard service. He wore a cap pulled down nearly to his nose and was riding a rawboned horse that did not look much like a charger, unless it would be on hay or clover. He certainly made a poor figure on a horseback, with his stirrup leather six inches too short, putting his knees nearly level with his horse's back, and his heels turned out with his toes sticking behind his horse's foreshoulder. A sorry description of our most famous general, but a correct one." [45] His horse was named "Little Sorrel" (also known as "Old Sorrel"), a small chestnut gelding. [46] He rode Little Sorrel throughout the war, and was riding him when he was shot at Chancellorsville. Little Sorrel died at age 36 and is buried near a statue of Jackson on the parade grounds of VMI. (His mounted hide is on display in the VMI Museum.) [47]
Mourning his death
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The South mourned his death as he was greatly admired there. A poem penned by one of his soldiers soon became a very popular song, " Stonewall Jackson's Way ". Many theorists through the years have postulated that if Jackson had lived, Lee might have prevailed at Gettysburg . [48] Certainly Jackson's discipline and tactical sense were sorely missed, and might well have carried an extremely close-fought battle.
Remembering Jackson
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After the war, Jackson's wife and young daughter Julia moved from Lexington to North Carolina. Mary Anna Jackson wrote [49] two books about her husband's life, including some of his letters. She never remarried, and was known as the "Widow of the Confederacy", living until 1915. His daughter Julia married, and bore children, but she died of typhoid fever at the age of 26 years.
A former Confederate soldier who admired Jackson, Captain Thomas R. Ranson of Staunton, Virginia , also remembered the tragic life of Jackson's mother. Years after the War, he went to the tiny mountain hamlet of Ansted in Fayette County, West Virginia , and had a marble marker placed over the unmarked grave of Julia Neale Jackson in Westlake Cemetery, to make sure that the site was not lost forever.
Commemorations
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He is memorialized on historic Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia; on the grounds of the state capitol in his native West Virginia; and in many other places.
At VMI, a bronze statue of Jackson stands outside the main entrance to the cadet barracks; first-year cadets exiting the barracks through that archway are required to honor Jackson's memory by saluting the statue. [50]
The United States Navy submarine U.S.S. Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634), commissioned in 1964, was named for him. The words "Strength—Mobility" are emblazoned on the ship's banner, words taken from letters written by General Jackson. It was the third U.S. Navy ship named for him. The submarine was decommissioned in 1995. During World War II , the Navy named a Liberty ship the SS T.J. Jackson in his honor.
The Commonwealth of Virginia honors Jackson's birthday on Lee-Jackson Day , a state holiday observed as such since 1904. It is currently observed on the Friday preceding the third Monday in January.
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Jackson also appears prominently in the enormous bas-relief carving on the face of Stone Mountain riding with Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. The carving depicts the three on horseback, appearing to ride in a group from right to left across the mountainside. The lower parts of the horses' bodies merge into the mountainside at the foot of the carving. The three riders are shown bare-headed and holding their hats to their chests. It is the largest such carving in the world.
"Stonewall" Jackson appeared on the CSA $500 bill (7th Issue, February 17, 1864).
The towns of Stonewall in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky are named in his honor as is Stonewall County in Texas.
During a training exercise in western Virginia by U.S. Marines in 1921, the Marine commander, General Smedley Butler was told by a local farmer that Stonewall Jackson's arm was buried nearby under a granite marker, to which Butler replied, "Bosh! I will take a squad of Marines and dig up that spot to prove you wrong!!" [51] Butler found the arm in a box under the marker. He later replaced the wooden box with a metal one, and reburied the arm. He left a plaque on the granite monument marking the burial place of Jackson's arm; the plaque is no longer on the marker but can be viewed at the Chancellorsville Battlefield visitor's center . [51] [52]
In popular media
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Jackson is featured prominently in the novel and film Gods and Generals . In the film, he is portrayed by Stephen Lang .
The Theater at Lime Kiln, a local outdoor theater company in Lexington, Virginia, has performed a country-style musical about the life and times of Stonewall Jackson entitled Stonewall Country since 1984. [53]
Quotations
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Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible. [54]
—Jackson to General Imboden
To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory, is the secret of successful war. [55]
—Jackson, 1863
The only true rule for cavalry is to follow the enemy as long as he retreats. [56]
—Jackson to Colonel Munford on June 13, 1862
War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to live in camps, but to find the enemy and strike him; to invade his country, and do him all possible damage in the shortest possible time. This will involve great destruction of life and property while it lasts; but such a war will of necessity be of brief continuance, and so would be an economy of life and property in the end. [55]
—Jackson
Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.
—Jackson, last words
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Which Jackson was an influential American abstract artist who died in 1956? | Jackson Pollock' Biography
of Jackson Pollock
Biography of Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 - August 11, 1956), was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and struggled with alcoholism for most of his life . In 1945, he married the artist Lee Krasner, who became an important influence on his career and on his legacy. Pollock died at the age of 44 in an alcohol-related car accident. In December 1956, he was given a memorial retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, and a larger more comprehensive exhibition there in 1967. More recently, in 1998 and 1999, his work was honored with large-scale retrospective exhibitions at MoMA and at The Tate in London.
Early Life
Pollock was born in Cody, Wyoming in 1912, the youngest of five sons. His parents, Stella May McClure and Leroy Pollock, grew up in Tingley, Iowa. His father had been born McCoy but took the surname of his neighbors, who adopted him after his own parents had died within a year of each other. Stella and LeRoy Pollock were Presbyterian; the former, Irish; the latter, Scotch-Irish. LeRoy Pollock was a farmer and later a land surveyor for the government. Jackson grew up in Arizona and Chico, California.
While living in Echo Park, California, he enrolled at Los Angeles' Manual Arts High School, from which he was expelled, after having been expelled another high school in 1928. During his early life, he experienced Native American culture while on surveying trips with his father. In 1930, following his brother Charles Pollock, he moved to New York City where they both studied under Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League of New York. Benton's rural American subject matter shaped Pollock's work only fleetingly, but his rhythmic use of paint and his fierce independence were more lasting influences. From 1938 to 1942, Pollock worked for the WPA Federal Art Project.
In attempts to fight his alcoholism, from 1938 through 1941 Pollock underwent Jungian psychotherapy with Dr. Joseph Henderson and later with Dr. Violet Staub de Laszlo in 1941-1942. Dr. Henderson was an eclectic who drew upon the spectrum of psychoanalytic theory, including Freud and Jung. Henderson made the decision to engage him through his art and had Pollock make drawings, which led to the appearance of many Jungian concepts in his paintings. Recently it has been hypothesized that Pollock might have had bipolar disorder.
The Springs period and the unique technique
In October 1945 Pollock married American painter Lee Krasner, and in November they moved to what is now known as the Pollock-Krasner House and Studio, at 830 Springs Fireplace Road, in Springs on Long Island, NY. Peggy Guggenheim lent them the down payment for the wood-frame house with a nearby barn that Pollock converted into a studio. There he perfected the technique of working with paint with which he became permanently identified.
Pollock was introduced to the use of liquid paint in 1936 at an experimental workshop operated in New York City by the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. He later used paint pouring as one of several techniques on canvases of the early 1940s, such as "Male and Female" and "Composition with Pouring I." After his move to Springs, he began painting with his canvases laid out on the studio floor, and he developed what was later called his "drip" technique, turning to synthetic resin-based paints called alkyd enamels, which, at that time, was a novel medium. Pollock described this use of household paints, instead of artist's paints, as "a natural growth out of a need." He used hardened brushes, sticks, and even basting syringes as paint applicators. Pollock's technique of pouring and dripping paint is thought to be one of the origins of the term action painting. With this technique, Pollock was able to achieve a more immediate means of creating art, the paint now literally flowing from his chosen tool onto the canvas. By defying the convention of painting on an upright surface, he added a new dimension by being able to view and apply paint to his canvases from all directions. One possible influence on Pollock was the work of the Ukrainian American artist Janet Sobel (1894-1968) (born Jennie Lechovsky). Sobel's work is related to the so-called "drip paintings" of Jackson Pollock. Peggy Guggenheim included Sobel's work in her The Art of This Century Gallery in 1945. The critic Clement Greenberg, with Jackson Pollock, saw Sobel's work there in 1946, and in his essay "American-Type' Painting" Greenberg cited those works as the first instance of all-over painting he had seen, stating that "Pollock admitted that these pictures had made an impression on him".
In the process of making paintings in this way, he moved away from figurative representation, and challenged the Western tradition of using easel and brush. He also moved away from the use of only the hand and wrist, since he used his whole body to paint. In 1956, Time magazine dubbed Pollock "Jack the Dripper" as a result of his unique painting style.
“My painting does not come from the easel. I prefer to tack the unstretched canvas to the hard wall or the floor. I need the resistance of a hard surface. On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting”
-Jackson Pollock, My Painting
“When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of what I'm doing. It is only after a sort of 'get acquainted' period that I see what I have been about. I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.”
-Jackson Pollock, My Painting
Pollock observed Indian sandpainting demonstrations in the 1940s. Other influences on his dripping technique include the Mexican muralists and Surrealist automatism. Pollock denied "the accident"; he usually had an idea of how he wanted a particular piece to appear. His technique combined the movement of his body, over which he had control, the viscous flow of paint, the force of gravity, and the absorption of paint into the canvas. It was a mixture of controllable and uncontrollable factors. Flinging, dripping, pouring, and spattering, he would move energetically around the canvas, almost as if in a dance, and would not stop until he saw what he wanted to see.
Studies by Taylor, Micolich and Jonas have examined Pollock's technique and have determined that some works display the properties of mathematical fractals. They assert that the works become more fractal-like chronologically through Pollock's career. The authors even speculate that Pollock may have had an intuition of the nature of chaotic motion, and attempted to form a representation of mathematical chaos, more than ten years before "Chaos Theory" itself was proposed. Other experts suggest that Pollock may have merely imitated popular theories of the time in order to give his paintings a depth not previously seen.
The 1950s
Pollock's most famous paintings were made during the "drip period" between 1947 and 1950. He rocketed to popular status following an August 8, 1949 four-page spread in Life magazine that asked, "Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?" At the peak of his fame, Pollock abruptly abandoned the drip style.
Pollock's work after 1951 was darker in color, including a collection painted in black on unprimed canvases. This was followed by a return to color, and he reintroduced figurative elements. During this period Pollock had moved to a more commercial gallery and there was great demand from collectors for new paintings. In response to this pressure, along with personal frustration, his alcoholism deepened .
Death
In 1955, Pollock painted Scent and Search which would be his last two paintings. Pollock did not paint at all in 1956. After struggling with alcoholism for his entire adult life, Pollock, on August 11, 1956, at 10:15 pm, died in a single-car crash in his Oldsmobile convertible while driving under the influence of alcohol. One of the passengers, Edith Metzger, was also killed in the accident, which occurred less than a mile from Pollock's home. The other passenger, Pollock's mistress Ruth Kligman, survived. After Pollock's demise at age 44, his widow, Lee Krasner, managed his estate and ensured that Pollock's reputation remained strong despite changing art-world trends. They are buried in Green River Cemetery in Springs with a large boulder marking his grave and a smaller one marking hers.
MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS
| Jackson Pollock |
Colin Jackson once held the world record in which athletics event? | My painting does not come from the easel.
Died: August 11, 1956 (aged 44)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Artist
Bio: Paul Jackson Pollock, known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was well known for his uniquely defined style of drip painting.
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What was the name of the character played by Kate Jackson in Charlie's Angels? | Angelic Heaven - Actor Bios - Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson aka Sabrina Duncan
After getting bitten by the acting bug, Kate moved to New York City from her home town of Birmingham, Alabama. While in New York, she enrolled into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Kate's big break came when she played a "ghost" in the daytime drama, Dark Shadows. After three months on Dark Shadows she had guest roles in TV's Bonanza and a semi-regular on NBC's short-lived series The Jimmy Stewart Show. Then she hit the big time with a role on the crime show, The Rookies. Kate played nurse Jill Danko for producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. The producers decided after The Rookies ended that she was strong enough for her own series. The producers and Kate created the skeleton shell for a series called Charlie's Angels. Kate was to become known around the world as Sabrina Ducan, the "smart" Angel. After a very successful three-year run, Kate decided to leave the series after the producers did not allow her out of her "Angel" contact to film Kramer vs. Kramer. After Charlie's Angels,, Kate tried her hand at comedy in the television remake of Topper (starring with first husband Andrew Stevens) and hit the big screen with the cutting edge film Making Love, about a man and his struggle with homosexuality. As her film career was blossoming, Kate was offered a new series for television called Scarecrow and Mrs. King. She fell in love with the character of Mrs. King (a mother of two boys who worked as a Secret Agent) and took on the series. Scarecrow became an huge hit. After four years, Scarecrow left the air, and Kate again returned to television in Baby Boom, which was based on the hit film. The series did not have the same pull as the film and quickly ended.
The hardest role Kate had to play was her personal battle with breast cancer in 1987 and in 1989. She shared her experience with the world to show other women the importance of mammograms and cancer prevention. In September 1995, Kate was given her greatest challenge, the adoption of her first child, Charles Taylor Jackson. She has said being a mother is her greatest role. Kate has settled into motherhood and has found herself once again in front of the camera. In 1996 she was seen in The Family Channel's Panic in the Skies, ABC's Gail Sheehy's New Passages, and in 1997 CBS's film What Happened to Bobby Earl? Angelic Heaven will keep you updated with the latest in Kate's career!
Series:
The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-72)
The Rookies (1972-1976)
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
Baby Boom (1988-1989)
Cold Heart of a Killer
Cycling Through China
Justice in a Small Town
A Kidnapping in the Family
Killer Bees
Satan�s School for Girls (1973)
Satan's School for Girls (2000)
Silence of Adultery
What Happened to Bobby Earl?
Topper
Arly Hanks Mysteries "Series Pilot"
Bonanza "One Ance Too Many"
Boys of Twilight "Shadow of a Shadow"
The Captain and Tennille
Dead Man's Gun "Death Warrant"
Gail Sheehy's New Passages
James at 15 "Series Pilot"
Just 5 [commercials]
Mad, Mad World of the Superbowl
Magical World of the Superbowl
Movin' On "Series Pilot"
The San Pedro Beach Bums "Angels and the Bums"
Saturday Night Live
Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Twice in a Lifetime
| Sabrina |
By what name is the day preceding the Christian fasting period of Lent commonly referred? | What ever happened to….: Kate Jackson who played Sabrina Duncan on the TV show "Charlie's Angels"
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Kate Jackson who played Sabrina Duncan on the TV show "Charlie's Angels"
Kate Jackson was born Lucy Kate Jackson October, 1948 in Alabama. She is best known for her role of Sabrina Duncan on the TV show " Charlie's Angels " co-starring along with Farrah Fawcett , and Jaclyn Smith . She is also well known for her role as Amanda King in "The Scarecrow and Mrs. King" as well as the role of Jill Danko on the TV show "The Rookies".
Kate Jackson as Sabrina on the TV show " Charlie's Angels "
Kate Jackson then, in her younger years prior to " Charlie's Angels "
Kate made her television debut in 1970 on the show "Dark Shadows". She starred in 70 episodes as Daphne Harridge and co-starred with Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Joan Bennett, and Nancy Barrett. She played the role until 1971 when the show ended. That year she starred in her first film, "Night of Dark Shadows" which was loosely based on the show "Dark Shadows". She played a different role, but shared some of the same cast members. She also made a guest appearance on "The Jimmy Stewart Show" that year co-starring with James Stewart, Julie Adams, Ellen Geer, and Jonathan Daly.
Kate Jackson as Daphne on the TV show "Dark Shadows"
Kate Jackson as Daphne on the TV show "Dark Shadows"
Kate Jackson (right) in a scene from the film "Night of Dark Shadows"
In 1972 Jackson began playing he role of Jill Danko on the TV show "The Rookies" co-starring Georg Stanford Brown (Terry Webster), Sam Melville (Mike Danko) , Michael Ontkean (Willie Gillis), Bruce Fairbairn (Chris Owens), and Gerald S. O'Loughlin (Lt. Ed Ryker). The show as based on three rookie police officers, Jackson's role was that of one of the officers wife who was a nurse. She would play this role until the show ended in 1976.
Cast of "The Rookies" in the later years. Front center: Bruce Fairbairn (Chris Owens) Middle left: Sam Melville(Mike Danko), Kate Jackson (Jill Danko), Gerald S. O'Loughlin (Lt. Ed Ryker) Top: Georg Stanford Brown (Terry Webster)
Georg Sanford Brown (Terry Webster), Kate Jackson (Jill Danko), and Michael Ontkean (Willie Gillis) in the TV show "The Rookies" 1973
During her run on "The Rookies", Kate also starred in shows and movies such as "The New Healers" co-starring Leif Erickson, Robert Foxworth, and Burgess Meredith (1972); "Bonanza" co-starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon , Pernell Roberts, and Dan Blocker (1972); "Movin' On" co-starring Patrick Wayne, Geoffrey Deuel, and David Soul (1972); "Limbo" co-starring Katherine Justice and Stuart Margolin (1972); "Satan's School for Girls" co-starring Pamela Franklin, Lloyd Bochner, and future " Charlie's Angels " co-star Cheryl Ladd (1973); "Killer Bees" co-starring Edward Albert, Gloria Swanson, and Roger Davis (1974); "Death Cruise" co-starring Richard Long, Polly Bergen, Edward Albert, Celeste Holm, and Tom Bosley (1974); and "Death Scream" co-starring Raul Julia, John P. Ryan, Lucie Arnaz, Edward Asner , Tina Louise, Nancy Walker, Cloris Leachman , Diahann Carroll, Art Carney, and Phillip Clark (1975).
Sam Melville(Mike Danko), Kate Jackson (Jill Danko) of the TV show "The Rookies"
Kate Jackson then
Kate Jackson then
After "The Rookies" ended, Jackson was immediately cast as Sabrina Duncan in " Charlie's Angels " co-starring Farrah Fawcett-Majors (Jill Munroe), Jaclyn Smith (Kelly Garrett), David Doyle (John Bosley), John Forsythe (Charles Townsend), and later in the series, Cheryl Ladd (Kris Munroe) who would replace Farrah Fawcett after she left the show initially. The show was based on 3 beautiful women who worked as private detectives for an unseen Charlie Townsend. The show was created specifically for Kate Jackson based on her success on the show "The Rookie". She was originally intended to play the role of Kelly, however Jackson preferred the role of Sabrina. Jackson would stick with the role until 1979 when she left the show.
Jacly n Smith (Kelly Garrett), Farrah Fawcett-Majors (Jill Munroe), and Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan) of the TV show " Charlie's Angels "
Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan) of the TV show " Charlie's Angels "
Kate Jackson then
Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan) of the TV show " Charlie's Angels "
During her run on " Charlie's Angels ", Jackson would star in "Death at Love House" co-starring Robert Wagner, and Sylvia Sidney (1976); "Thunder and Lightning" co-starring David Carradine, Patrick Cranshaw, Sterling Holloway, and Charles Napier (1977); "James at 16" starring Lance Kerwin, Linden Chiles, Lynn Carlin, and Kim Richards (1977); and "The San Pedro Beach Bums" co-starring Christopher Murney, Stuart Pankin, Susan Mullen, Nancy Morgan, and John Mark Robinson (1977);
Jacly n Smith (Kelly Garrett), Cheryl Ladd (Kris Munroe), and Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan) the later years of the TV show " Charlie's Angels "
After " Charlie's Angels " Kate Jackson would go on to star in shows and movies such as "Topper" co-starring Andrew Stevens, Rue McClanahan, and Jack Warden (1979); "Inmates: A Love Story" co-starring Perry King, Pamela Reed, Paul Koslo, Fay Hauser, Shirley Jones, and Tony Curtis (1981); "Thin Ice" co-starring Lenore Bender, William Bender and James Curtin (1981); "Dirty Tricks" co-starring Rich Little, Elliott Gould, and Alberta Watson (1981); "Making Love" co-starring Harry Hamlin, Michael Ontkean, Wendy Hiller, and Arthur Hill (1982); and "Listen to Your Heart" co-starring George Barrow, George Coe, Alison La Placa, Tim Matheson, and Ernest Harada (1983);
It would be in 1983 that Jackson, under her own production company would co-produce and star in the TV series "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" co-starring Bruce Boxleitner, Beverly Garland, and Martha Smith. Jackson played a housewife who became involved with a spy, Lee Stetson played by Bruce Boxleitner. Jackson even directed a couple of episodes of the show which would run for five seasons until 1987.
Kate Jackson (Mrs. King) and Bruce Boxleitner(Lee Stetson) of the TV show "Scarecrow and Mrs. King"
Jackson would then immediately be given the role of J.C. Wiatt on the TV series "Baby Boom" in 1988, co-starring Daniel Bardol, Susie Essman, Robyn Peterson, and Joy Behar. The show would last for thirteen episodes and end the following year. While shooting "Baby Boom", Kate would also star in the film "Loverboy" co-starring Patrick Dempsey, Robert Ginty, Nancy Valen, Barbara Carrera, Vic Tayback, Kirstie Alley, Carrie Fisher , and Elizabeth Daily (1989);
During the 1980s, all the while Kate Jackson was a successful actress, producer and director, she fought and survived breast cancer.
In the early 1990s, Jackson starred in shows and mostly movies such as "The Stranger Within" Rick Schroder, Chris Sarandon, Clark Sandford, Peter Breitmayer, and Pamela Danser (1990); an attempted show "The Boys of Twilight" co-starring Peter Crook, Stewart Finlay-McLennan, Yvette Nipar, and Robin Gammell (1992); "Quiet Killer" co-starring Al Waxman, Jeffrey Nordling, Barbara Williams, Howard Hesseman, Kathleen Robertson, and Alma Martinez (1992); "Homewrecker" co-starring Robby Benson, Sydney Walsh and Sarah Rose Karr (1992); "Arly Hanks" co-starring Ron Perlman, Polly Bergen, Nancy Youngblut, Harrison Page, Patrika Darbo, and Julie McCullough (1993); "Adrift" co-starring Kenneth Welsh, Kelly Rowan, and Bruce Greenwood (1993); "Empty Cradle" co-starring Lori Loughlin , Eriq La Salle, and Camilla Belle (1993); "Armed and Innocent" co-starring Gerald McRaney and Andrew Starnes (1994); "Justice in a Small Town" co-starring John Shea, Beth Broderick,Megan Gallacher, Terry O'Quinn, and Dean Stockwell (1994); and "The Silence of Adultery" co-starring Art Hindle, Kristin Fairlie, Patricia Gage, and Tori McPetrie (1995).
Kate Jackson cira late 1990s to early 2000s
In the later part of the '90s, Kate Jackson starred in "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" co-starring Corbin Bernsen, Philip Granger, Michael Damian, and Stevie Vallance (1996); "A Kidnapping in the Family" co-starring Tracey Gold , Jeff Yagher, Laura Harris, and Michael Hogan (1996); "New Passages" co-starring Gail Sheehy, Judy Collins, Robert Klein, and Sandy Duncan (1996); "Panic in the Skies!" co-starring Ed Marinaro, Maureen McCormick, Kehli O'Byrne, Erik Estrada, Brandy Ledford, Marilyn Norry, and Robert Guillaume (1996); "What Happened to Bobby Earl?" co-starring Drew Ebersole, Kristian Alfonso, Henriette Ivanans, Vince Corazza, Matthew Settle, and Kari Matchett (1997); "Ally McBeal" starring Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Vonda Shepard, Peter MacNicol, Jane Krakowski, and Portia de Rossi (1997); "Dead Man's Gun" starring Gary Lauder and Zook Matthews (1997); "Error in Judgment" co-starring oanna Pacula, Joe Mantegna and Sung Hi Lee (1998); "Sweet Deception" co-starring Joanna Pacula, Joan Collins, Lisa Schrage, and Tanja Reichert (1998); "Twice in a Lifetime" starring Al Waxman, Gordie Brown and Paul Popowich (1999); and Jackson lent her voice to "Batman Beyond" (1999).
In 2000, Kate Jackson appeared in a remake of "Satan's School for Girls" co-starring Shannen Doherty, Julie Benz, Daniel Cosgrove, Taraji P. Henson, Mandy Schaffer, and Victoria Sanchez. This time she was the Dean of the school, not one of the students.
Kate Jackson in 2004
" Charlie's Angels " reunite Farrah Fawcett , Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith circa 2005
Continuing through the new the new millennium, Kate starred in "A Mother's Testimony" co-starring Chad Allen, Olivia Burnette, and Susan Blakely (2001); "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" starring Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea, Jenna Leigh Green, and Beth Broderick (2002); "Miracle Dogs" co-starring Ted Shackelford , Stacy Keach, Rue McClanahan, Alana Austin, and Wayne Rogers (2003); "Larceny" Joshua Leonard, Andy Dick, Roselyn Sanchez, Tyra Banks, and Priscilla Taylor (2004); "Third Watch" starring Coby Bell, Skipp Sudduth, Jason Wiles, Kim Raver, and Tia Texada (2004); "No Regrets" co-starring Janine Turner, Brad Johnson, Lari White, Jennifer Hetrick, and Edward Albert (2004); "Family Guy" (2006); and "A Daughter's Conviction" co-starring Brooke Nevin, Keegan Connor Tracy, and John Furey (2006);
Kate Jackson in 2006
Kate Jackson today
Kate Jackson's last known acting role as a guest star in "Criminal Minds" starring Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, Thomas Gibson, and Joe Mantegna (2007).
Kate Jackson today
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In which month is the Vernal Equinox in the northern hemisphere? | Spring Equinox – Vernal Equinox, Southern & Northern
Home Sun & Moon Vernal Equinox
Spring Equinox – Vernal Equinox
The Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the Autumnal (Fall) Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.
Equinoxes and solstices happen twice a year.
Equinoxes and Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator. (Ill. not to scale)
Not Entirely Equal Day & Night
On the equinoxes the Sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night is nearly equal – but not quite.
The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north and vice versa in September.
| March |
All Saints Day is celebrated on the first day of which month? | Spring Begins - The March 20-21 Equinox
March 20 Equinox
The Equinox of March 20 is the Beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere
Springtime in the Northern Hemisphere generally means a reprieve from the cold of the winter. Steve Wisbauer/Getty Images
Geography Expert
By Matt Rosenberg
On Wednesday, March 20, 2015 at 22:45 UTC or 6:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time , the March Equinox (also known as the Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox) occurs. On March 20, most consider that spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere and fall or autumn begins in the Southern Hemisphere . The sun is directly overhead the equator on the March Equinox at noon on March 20.
Equal Hours of Daylight on the Equinox
On March 20, there are twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness at all points on the earth's surface. Sunrise is at 6 a.m. and sunset is at 6 p.m. local (solar) time for most points on the earth's surface. (This varies, of course, based on time zones, which are much broader regions than local solar time.)
At the North Pole the sun is on the horizon of the earth's surface on the March Equinox. The sun rises at the North Pole at noon to the horizon on the March Equinox and the North Pole remains light until the September Equinox.
At the Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer , and Tropic of Capricorn , as with all places on the planet, experience exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness on March 20.
continue reading below our video
Overview of the Four Seasons
At the South Pole on March 20, the sun sets at at noon after the South Pole having been light for the previous six months (since the September Equinox). The sun begins on the horizon in the morning and by the end of the day, the sun has set.
The Beginning of Spring
It has been tradition that spring "begins" on March 20, and the three other seasons begin on their solstices or equinox. However, there is no set scientific standard for the beginning of the seasons. Some consider the months of March, April, and May to be spring; this is especially true for those who study climate .
The beginning of spring often represents a mild transitional climate between the extremes of winter and summer. The areas between the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south effectively do not have seasons because the sun is always high in the sky and thus there is a large amount of solar radiation received throughout the year. Seasonal changes primarily impact the higher latitudes (those above 23.5 degrees).
Balancing an Egg on the Equinox
It is a widely held assumption that one can only balance an egg on its end on the equinoxes but this is simply an urban legend . There is no gravitational or other reasons why one would be able to balance an egg only on the equinoxes. I have personally balanced an egg on its end on an equinox day as well as on a non-equinox day. It simply takes patience.
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In France, which flower is given on May Day as a good luck charm? | May 1st, Labor Day and May Lily Day in France | PocketCultures
deebee May 1, 2012 5 comments celebrations , flowers , France , Labor Day , lily of the valley , May , May Lily Day
May 1st (May Day) is known worldwide as Labor Day, but in France it is also May Day - Fête du Muguet (Lily of the Valley) when the French greet each other with a sprig (or a small bouquet) of lily of the valley, a flower that is considered a lucky charm.
The tradition dates back to the beginning of the century when unemployed people (the unemployment benefits did not exist and people had to finding ways of making ends meet) went into the woods that were still found in the big cities ‘suburbs to pick lilies of the valley.
Lily of the valley, Double-flowered Convallaria majalis
The lily of the valley is in full bloom in late April early May, and is one of those wild plants that spread very quickly, invading clearings and edges of wood! It grows everywhere and is almost considered as a weed. People just needed the patience of picking it and composing small bouquets that they tied with a ribbon.
They sold them in the markets as women once loved to decorate their blouses with a sprig of lily of the valley, a custom that was a remainder of the old pagan tradition when people were celebrating spring by adorning themselves with flowers!
Many provinces have retained a version of this ancient tradition by decorating a pole (May Pole) with flowers. This is reminiscent of the tradition of planting a flowering tree outside the door of the girls to marry off, then followed the huge feast when they widely celebrated spring, nature and love.
Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis
In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley symbolizes “marital happiness”. It was therefore natural to link it to dating and popular dances known as “Bals du Muguet” were organized every year so that singles could meet their soul mate. The girls dressed in white and young men wore a sprig of lily on their lapel, and parents and chaperones were banned from attending!
Pink lily of the valley
The lily of the valley has been cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages but it is said to originate from Japan where it is considered a symbol of spring. Some sources, however, attest that the Celts knew the flower and that they already considered it as a lucky charm.
The French tradition of giving a sprig of lily of the valley as a good luck charm on May 1st dates from May 1, 1561 when King Charles IX receives a sprig.
May 1st Labor Day
May 1st is widely known as the international Labor Day when all trade unions parade in the major cities.
Labor Day New York 1882
The origins of Labor Day is quite different from that of the Fête du Muguet, and go back to May 1, 1886 in Chicago when Americans unions launched a strike movement to obtain the 8-hour working day. The movement lasted until May 4 and paralyzed many factories. The major riots that ensued ended by a dozen dead, including seven policemen. Five anarchists were later sentenced to death.
The 2nd Congress of the Socialist International held in Paris on June 20, 1890 decided to make May 1st the worldwide symbol of the workers’ struggles with the aim of obtaining the 8-hour working day. From the following year protesters wore a red triangle on their jackets to symbolize their triple claim: 8 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep and 8 hours of leisure!
1900s Toronto Labour Day Parade
The triangle was replaced by a dog rose flower (symbol: happy days pass too quickly), and a sprig of lily of the valley in 1907.
On 24 April 1941, the Vichy Government officially recognized May 1st as Labor Day and made it a Public Holiday to rally the working classes.
DeeBee
I am French Parisienne and lived in Asia for nearly 20 years before settling in the UK 3 years ago. I have an interest in everything and every culture and am an avid reader. French linguistics is my "specialty" but I have a passion for history and try to mingle them. Humour is very important to me, I love writing, talking, laughing, exchanging ideas, learning more from others... the world is full of fascinating people! I never leave my home without my camera, there is always something unusual, beautiful or strange to capture. I like to pay attention to details, to the world of the "small", a parallel world if you take the time to look for it...And above all, I love my country of birth, France.
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| Lily of the valley |
What is the date of St George's Day? | Human Flower Project :: Muguets for May Day
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Muguets for May Day
Image: French Gardening
Baisers to our French readers and to Francophiles everywhere. (Incroyable, there are even some of us in Texas.)
Along with protests of globalization and worker holiday parades, May 1st brings an outpouring of floral traditions across Europe. My favorite, ever since teachers Josette Kearns, Bernadette Brown, and Nicole Neukirch informed me, is the French custom of selling, giving and wearing muguet des bois, lilies of the valley.
French Gardening tells us:
“Lily of the valley is referred to as a porte-bonheur—literally, bringer of happiness or perhaps what we would call a good luck charm.
“A few days before May Day, you begin to see vendors popping up on every corner selling lily of the valley. Although at all other times of the year, selling any kind of flowers or anything else on the street requires paying for a permit, merry May Day is exempted from this evil tax, and anyone can sell the blossoms anywhere without being tithed by the city. And of course, every florist has pots and bouquets of lily of the valley dominating their outdoor displays… Even the Metro is perfumed.”
Lily of the valley happens to grow wonderfully well where I grew up, and to bloom around May first. So I’d always assumed this was a very old custom, dating to pre-Marxist, pre-capitalist, pre-Christian France. But it appears I was wrong.
While Convallaria majalis L., liliaceae family, grows wild in much of Europe and has been regarded as bringing good luck since the Renaissance, its specific association with May Day came much later, from popular and commercial culture rather than folk tradition.
Felix Mayol
According to this terrific little essay , “On May Day 1895, (Felix) Mayol, the cabaret singer, was greeted by his girlfriend Jenny Cook with some lily-of-the-valley and that evening he wore lily-of-the-valley in his buttonhole instead of the more usual Camellia.” Long before Billie Holliday pinned a gardenia in her hair, Mayol was wearing a cluster of muguets des bois—fragrant enough to to reach the last seat in the balcony.
Given this boost of celebrity, the lily of the valley then became an up-market promotion: “The great fashion houses gave sprigs of lily-of-the-valley to their customers and apprentices on May Day.”
Muguet seller, Brittany
Photo: Bretagne Air
This same source declares 1976 as the year lily-of-the-valley was thoroughly associated with May Day. If my French teachers can be trusted, and they can, I’d say 1976 is a bit late. The muguet meant May Day in France by at least 1965. As always, we welcome your experiences, learning, observations.
Our thoughts are with you, nos amis francais, who manage to balance anarchy with elan. For those who find the deconstruction of lovely floral customs disenchanting, we say, tant pis. Deconstruction, too, is French. Pin on your muguets des bois and head on down to the anti-globalization march.
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Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th celebrates the discovery of the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament? In what year did this take place? | Bonfire night 2016: Who was Guy Fawkes and where can you see the best firework displays?
Bonfire night 2016: Who was Guy Fawkes and where can you see the best firework displays?
Watch | Things you might not know about fireworks
01:06
Keely Lockhart
6 November 2016 • 2:14pm
November 5 is the day when Britons everywhere set fire to things and let things off. But why?
What is bonfire night?
November 5 - which this year falls on a Saturday - commemorates the failure of the November 1605 Gunpowder Plot by a gang of Roman Catholic activists led by Warwickshire-born Robert Catesby.
When Protestant King James I acceded to the throne, English Catholics had hoped that the persecution they had felt for over 45 years under Queen Elizabeth I would finally end, and they would be granted the freedom to practice their religion.
When this didn't transpire, a group of conspirators resolved to assassinate the King and his ministers by blowing up the Palace of Westminster during the state opening of Parliament.
The arrest of Guy Fawkes in the cellars of Parliament pictured in a wood engraving. Credit: Universal History Archive/Un/REX
Guy (Guido) Fawkes, from York, and his fellow conspirators , having rented out a house close to the Houses of Parliament, managed to smuggle 36 barrels of gunpowder into a cellar of the House of Lords - enough to completely destroy the building.
(Physicists from the Institute of Physics later calculated that the 2,500kg of gunpowder beneath Parliament would have obliterated an area 500 metres from the centre of the explosion).
The scheme began to unravel when an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker, the 4th Baron Monteagle, warning him to avoid the House of Lords.
Guy Fawkes tried and failed to blow up Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot
The letter (which could well have been sent by Lord Monteagle's brother-in-law Francis Tresham), was made public and this led to a search of Westminster Palace in the early hours of November 5.
Explosive expert Fawkes, who had been left in the cellars to set off the fuse, was caught when a group of guards discovered him at the last moment.
Fawkes was arrested, sent to the Tower of London and tortured until he gave up the names of his fellow plotters.
Lord Monteagle was rewarded with £500 plus £200 worth of lands for his service in protecting the crown.
7 things you never knew about Guy Fawkes
Who were the Gunpowder Plot conspirators?
Guy Fawkes , Thomas Bates, Robert and Thomas Wintour, Thomas Percy, Christopher and John Wright, Francis Tresham, Everard Digby, Ambrose Rookwood, Robert Keyes, Hugh Owen, John Grant and the man who organised the whole plot - Robert Catesby.
The conspirators were all either killed resisting capture or - like Fawkes - tried, convicted, and executed.
The traditional death for traitors in 17th-century England was to be hanged, drawn and quartered in public. But this proved not to be the 35-year-old Fawkes's fate.
As he awaited his punishment on the gallows, Fawkes leapt off the platform to avoid having his testicles cut off, his stomach opened and his guts spilled out before his eyes.
Mercifully for him, he died from a broken neck but his body was subsequently quartered, and his remains were sent to "the four corners of the kingdom" as a warning to others.
Bonfire Night | Did you know?
The aftermath
Following the failed plot, Parliament declared November 5th a national day of thanksgiving, and the first celebration of it took place in 1606.
Following the plot, King James I sought to control non-conforming English Catholics in England. In May 1606, Parliament passed 'The Popish Recusants Act' which required any citizen to take an oath of allegiance denying the Pope's authority over the king.
Observance of the 5th November Act, passed within months of the plot, made church attendance compulsory on that day and by the late 17th Century, the day had gained a reputation for riotousness and disorder and anti-Catholicism. William of Orange's birthday (November 4th) was also conveniently close.
James I, King of England and Scotland. Credit: Heritage Images/Corbis
Guy Fawkes Day today
The Houses of Parliament are still searched by the Yeomen of the Guard before the state opening, which has been held in November since 1928. The idea is to ensure no modern-day Guy Fawkes is hiding in the cellars with a bomb, although it is more ceremonial than serious. And they do it with lanterns.
The cellar that Fawkes tried to blow up no longer exists. In 1834 it was destroyed in a fire which devastated the medieval Houses of Parliament.
Read more: 33 things that happen every November 5
Bonfire night in the UK
Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom, and in a number of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, with fireworks, bonfires and parades. Straw dummies representing Fawkes are tossed on the bonfire, as well as those of contemporary political figures .
Watch | David Cameron holding pig effigy paraded through UK town on Bonfire Night
00:25
Dummies have been burned on bonfires since as long ago as the 13th century, initially to drive away evil spirits. Following the Gunpowder Plot, the focus of the sacrifices switched to Guy Fawkes' treason.
Traditionally, these effigies called 'guys', are carried through the streets in the days leading up to Guy Fawkes Day and children ask passers-by for “a penny for the guy.”
Today the word 'guy' is a synonym for 'a man' but originally it was a term for an "repulsive, ugly person" in reference to Fawkes.
The fireworks represent the explosives that were never used by the plotters.
In Ottery St Mary, south Devon, in a tradition dating from the 17th century, barrels soaked in tar are set alight and carried aloft through parts of the town by residents. Only Ottregians - those born in the town, or who have lived there for most of their lives - may carry a barrel.
Lewes, in southeastern England, is also the site of annual celebration. Guy Fawkes Day there has a distinctly local flavour, involving six bonfire societies whose memberships are grounded in family history stretching back for generations.
The only place in the UK that does not celebrate Guy Fawkes Night is his former school St. Peter’s in York. They refuse to burn a guy out of respect for one of their own.
What are the key events?
Flaming Tar Barrels, Devon on Nov 5
Ottery St. Mary's famous Tar Barrels festival is not for the faint-hearted. Don't like crowds or being close to flames? This event isn't for you.
Lewes, Sussex on Nov 5
Six individual processions, 17 burning crosses, and plenty of costumed revelry and fireworks - this is the biggest and the only proper bonfire night celebration left of its kind in the UK.
Watch | The Tar Barrels of Ottery St. Mary
00:30
Alexandra Palace, London on Nov 4/5
Ally Pally's annual Fireworks Festival marks Bonfire Night with a bang and attracts around 50,000 visitors.
After Dark, Sheffield on Nov 5th
This event in the Don Valley Grass Bowl is Yorkshire’s big bonfire night event and attracts up to 20,000 people with fireworks set to music.
Remember the firework code!
Fireworks should be enjoyed at a safe distance and adults should deal with firework displays and the lighting of fireworks. They should also take care of the safe disposal of fireworks once they have been used.
Here are the 10 rules to follow
Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable.
Keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a time.
Read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary.
Light the firework at arm's length with a taper and stand well back.
Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.
Never return to a firework once it has been lit.
Don't put fireworks in pockets and never throw them.
Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators.
Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire.
Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.
Watch | Bonfire Night: A father's guide to building a rocket
03:18
Make sure your pets are safe
As Guy Fawkes night approaches, animal welfare groups have issued warnings to pet owners: this can be a frightening and even dangerous time of year for pets.
Watch | Bonfire night: Firework displays that haven't gone to plan
01:11
Who invented fireworks?
During the 10th century a Chinese cook discovered how to make explosive black powder when he accidentally mixed three kitchen ingredients – potassium nitrate or saltpetre (a salt substitute used in the curing of meat), sulphur and charcoal.
The cook noticed that if the concoction was burned when enclosed in the hollow of a bamboo shoot, there was a tremendous explosion.
Fireworks arrived in Europe in the 14th century and were first produced by the Italians. The first recorded display was in Florence and the first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
The word ‘bonfire’ is said to derive from 'bone-fire', from a time when the corpses of witches, heretics and other nonconformists were burned on a pyre instead of being buried in consecrated ground.
Big bang theory
In 2005, 1000kg (2204 pounds) of gunpowder stored in 36 wooden barrels was used to blow up a replica of the 1605 Westminster 'House of Parliament' to demonstrate the damage it might have caused.
'Anonymous' protests
November 5th has become an important date globally now that political activists all over the world are wearing Guy Fawkes masks to protect their identity.
These masks were inspired by Alan Moore's dystopian 'V for Vendetta', the 1988 graphic novel whose main character is loosely based on Guy Fawkes.
Watch | London Million Mask March Descends Into Violence
00:08
There's a Guy Fawkes Island...
Isla Guy Fawkes (also known as Guy Fawkes Island) is a collection of two crescent shaped islands and two small rocks north-west of Santa Cruz Island, in the Galápagos Islands, which are part of Ecuador.
| 1605 |
How is the date of the summer bank holiday determined in England and Wales? | Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night
In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up
the Houses of Parliament. Among them was
Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.
A small group took shape, under the leadership of Robert Catesby. Catesby felt that violent action was warranted. Indeed, the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.
To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.
But as the group worked on the plot , it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. Was the letter real?
The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.
Guy Fawkes , who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.
It's unclear if the conspirators would ever have been able to pull off their plan to blow up the Parliament even if they had not been betrayed. Some have suggested that the gunpowder itself was so old as to be useless. Since Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators got caught before trying to ignite the powder, we'll never know for certain.
Even for the period which was notoriously unstable, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord for the people of England. In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster. Nowadays, the Queen and Parliament still observe this tradition .
On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night . The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.
Some of the English have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government.
| i don't know |
Which classic of English literature sees the heroine marry a farm worker called Angel Clare? | Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists
Sep 07, 2012 Stephen rated it it was amazing
HEADLINE: A bad guy who is fabulously talented in bed and a good guy who fumbles sex can complicate life for a girl.
I ought to have my head examined for undertaking a review of Tess of the d'Ubervilles, the next to the last of Thomas Hardy's novels. My purpose in considering the idea was that I might perhaps persuade one other person to read this novel who might not otherwise. I am all about service to my fellow man. However, there are strange aspects of this novel that when discussed in remove HEADLINE: A bad guy who is fabulously talented in bed and a good guy who fumbles sex can complicate life for a girl.
I ought to have my head examined for undertaking a review of Tess of the d'Ubervilles, the next to the last of Thomas Hardy's novels. My purpose in considering the idea was that I might perhaps persuade one other person to read this novel who might not otherwise. I am all about service to my fellow man. However, there are strange aspects of this novel that when discussed in remove from the novel itself can make it sound off-putting. I will mention a few of those without emphasizing them. They involve weird twists in the plot handed us through the vehicle of some strange scenes. On the other hand I do not wish simply to offer diamond-like passages from this novel, although that is tempting. But let us take a shot here.
Tess is the eldest daughter in a poor family in 19th century England. The novel follows events in her life from the time she is sixteen until she is approximately 21, let us say. There are a multitude of detailed plot outlines of this novel to be found elsewhere on line. The only valuable supplement to those that I can offer is to say bluntly what those plot outlines say in such a roundabout way that it loses impact or can be missed entirely. Tess is one hot looking sixteen-year-old female human being.
It is out of the fact that Tess is one hot looking sixteen-year-old that all the action of this novel arises. At the time of her first seduction, or rape, she is described as one who has a "coarse pattern" laid over her "beautiful feminine tissue." So in picturing her, we must picture her as something much more than simply a pretty young girl, although she is certainly that. She is a pretty young girl with that look about her that drives men wild—that look about her being something rarely encountered in a girl so young.
Some part of that look about her derives from her unity with nature—or should we say “Nature” with a capital “N” since we are after all talking about a Thomas Hardy novel? I would rather put it this way. She is earthy. When Hardy writes about her when she is in relatively unspoiled natural surroundings, it is apparent that she herself is very much at home in and a natural part of those surroundings.
Hardy places our hot looking sixteen-year-old girl in an environment with some problems. It is an environment wherein the Victorian morals of society are so completely at odds with the nature of men and women generally, and particularly in the realm of sex.
Second, she inhabits a rural area of England where the quality of life is slowly deteriorating. Hardy does not impose upon us with some heavy-handed social commentary at all. Rather, this social commentary is portrayed seamlessly along with the characters and the action. As an example, there is a great contrast between the portrayal of Tess's life as a milkmaid early in the novel, which is idyllic and almost lyrically described, and her life later in hard labor on a farm, the slave of a threshing machine. You must notice stuff like this if you are going to do big time literature.
But let me get back to the sex because I know that is what probably piqued your interest. For women heterosexual sex requires men, as much as women may at times regret this. Hardy supplies the men here in the form of two male knotheads named Alec and Angel. She is raped by the wealthy Alec who drugged her with a delicious strawberry, and has his child, which immediately dies. She falls in love with the decent Angel who lacks wits but is under the mistaken impression that he has them in spades. She marries Angel, only to be abandoned by him when he finds out about her past. She becomes Alec's mistress--Alec now, ala Roman Polanski, regrets the strawberry drugging and the rape--partly for economic reasons. A girl's gotta eat. The other part of her reasons are addressed below. A repentant Angel flies back to her, a tad late to the dance as usual, only after she has just murdered Alec. The two of them end up at Stonehenge of all places, where she is apprehended after the police let her complete a nap. There are a lot of puzzling sleep episodes in this novel. Again, you must notice stuff like that if you are going to do big time literature.
I think that we can safely conclude that Alec, the "bad guy," is sexually skillful in the sack. He knows what he is doing with a woman and likes to do it a lot. The "good guy," Angel, fumbles in this area. I mean, the "good guy," Angel, chooses to sleep on the couch during his wedding night rather than have sex with one of the hottest young women in the country. Why? Because he finds out that she has had sex before. Whew! This is the kind of thing that can complicate life for a girl, I understand. And now, thanks to this novel, I do understand.
I wanted to kick both of those guys' asses at one point or another, but of course I was feeling a little paternal about this poor hot looking sixteen-year-old girl. I refer to them as knotheads, but both do evolve and develop during the course of the novel in what we could simplistically call a favorable direction. The problem—and it is this problem that gives us our story—is that neither of them evolves and develops quickly enough to remedy the horrendous impact their earlier conduct has had on poor Tess and save her. Angel finally comes to the realization that it does not make any difference if she has previously had sex with both the football team and the marching band. She is nonetheless a quality human being whom that nitwit should feel undeservedly blessed to have as a wife.
I say “poor Tess,” but. . . . Tess is not passive. She is a girl of action and decision. She makes choices. She acts on those choices. We readers like Tess immensely. It is just that we as readers are continually frustrated with the choices she makes. She is not very old. So this is natural. However, part of the great entertainment afforded by this novel for the reader is contemplating what her alternative choices were and whether those might have resulted in any better an outcome for her.
After great thought, insofar as I do great thought, I have concluded that none of those other choices would have. My personal view is that she was doomed from the outset by the mere fact that she was one hot looking sixteen-year-old female human being in a society where that made for nothing but trouble. The tragedy is that in 21st Century America, this could have made her queen of the hop. I might be wrong. You will have fun coming to your own conclusions.
I had given a spoiler alert at the beginning, but the facts of the plot that I set out above are not really spoilers. It is not at all that unusual a 19th Century plot, other than the conclusion is more grim than usual and the sex is more prominently on display in that Alec and Tess actually do have a lot of sex, as in intercourse and all the accompanying accoutrements presumably. At least Alec was no Bill Clinton. The great pleasure in reading this story is Hardy's manner of telling it even if you know what is going to happen. Anyone who knows anything about Hardy will know that Tess is not going to come to a good end anyway.
There you go. That is the best I can do. I urge you not to miss out on this novel. And please do not respond by telling me that you saw the PBS production. Give me a break. This is a great novel, to be enjoyed as a novel. ...more
Shelves: 2013-reads
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is not a feel-good book, which sharply sets it apart from the other 19th century novels about young women (think Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, for instance).
No, it's sad and depressing to the point where it almost makes me angry. Because poor Tess, prone to making choice that are invariably the worst for her, just cannot catch a break. Because it's like she has majorly pissed off some higher power(s) that be and they are taking revenge, giving her the most rotten Tess of the d'Urbervilles is not a feel-good book, which sharply sets it apart from the other 19th century novels about young women (think Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, for instance).
No, it's sad and depressing to the point where it almost makes me angry. Because poor Tess, prone to making choice that are invariably the worst for her, just cannot catch a break. Because it's like she has majorly pissed off some higher power(s) that be and they are taking revenge, giving her the most rotten luck. Because Tess seems to have resigned herself to a future with few silver linings, having learned to view herself through the cruel prism of social conventions. Because it lacks any happiness and warm fuzzies that would make you want to reread this book while curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold rainy day¹.
¹ This lack of any feel-good warm fuzzies and Hardy's relentless destruction of anything that can make Tess' life tolerable (and, of course, combined with the fact that this book apparently is on the required reading list for many high-schoolers - and we all know how intolerable the books we have been coerced to read as teens can appear) may be at least partially responsible for why so many of my GR friends dislike it - the same people who apparently have enjoyed other 19th century novels about young women.
And yet I liked it. Maybe because I read it without anyone's coercion, without being forced to see the symbolism or make analyses of the themes and all that bullshit that high school students have to put up with during the endless hours of English classes.
"Never in her life – she could swear it from the bottom of her soul – had she ever intended to do wrong; yet these hard judgments had come. Whatever her sins, they were not sins of intention, but of inadvertence, and why should she have been punished so persistently."
Because, all symbolism aside (blah-blah, Tess = Nature destroyed by civilization and all that), Hardy seems to be doing a pretty good job showing the stupidity of rigid morals applied to women in Victorian England - the morals and attitudes that made women inferior and subservient to men. Because quite a few things are wrong when a rapist offering to marry his victim is considered a good resolution to the 'situation' as he must be her 'real' husband because he was the first to claim her vagina with his penis, regardless of whether she wanted him then or wants him now. Because something is wrong when a woman becomes 'damaged goods' in the eyes of the society because of someone else's action - actually, when, regardless of the action, her worth is based on the state of intactness of her hymen¹.
¹ That attitude did not die with Victorian era, of course. It is still perpetuated and fed to the young members of the society. Think, for instance, of all the young adult heroines that are 'pure' by the virtue of their virginity while there always (or almost always) appears to be an evil side character - a 'slut' who dares to be sexually experienced. Guess who is invariably preferred by all the romantic interests? That's right. 'Sluts' are put in their place pretty quickly. Ugh.
Hardy does a great job portraying unhealthy relationships in this book without attempting to convince the reader that those are actually normal. I will not go into details about the unhealthiness of Tess' relationship with her rapist - that's self-evident. But her doomed relationship with Angel Clare is also painted as unhealthy and dangerous - and not alluringly dangerous, like many books are prone to depict such situations. Tess' feelings for him are blinding and obsessive - and the danger of those are clearly shown, as she is ready to lose herself in him and even die for his sake. Angel's feelings are treated equally harshly as instead of respecting and admiring Tess for the person she is he idolizes what he *thinks* she is, he creates an idea of her being who he wants her to be and in that remains completely blind to who she actually is. Hardy's portrayal of that ill-fated relationship definitely does not glamorize the unhealthy aspects of it, and I applaud him for it.
.
I did enjoy reading a book about a 19th century young woman who does not belong to the privileged class, and whose ideas of poverty are not simply living in a smaller cottage and not being able to attend fancy balls. I liked the idea of a woman who is capable of work and does not shy away from it; I loved how much Hardy tried to emphasize that the stereotypes of peasants as faceless mass of idiots were not true, and how he stayed away from glamorizing money and pedigree. Tess' supposed noble descent brings her nothing but pain, after all.
"She might have seen that what had bowed her head so profoundly - the thought of the world's concern at her situation - was founded on illusion. She was not an existence, an experience, a passion, a structure of sensations, to anybody but herself. To all humankind besides, Tess was only a passing thought."
Overall I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure I will ever reread it, knowing now the turn the events in Tess' life take. For my pleasure reads I will stick with the happily-ever-after of Lizzy Bennet, thank you very much. But meanwhile I'll be appreciating that Hardy had the perseverance to write a non-feel-good story of bad things happening to good people, with lessons we can learn from it even now.
3.75 stars - rounding up to 4. ...more
Shelves: littry-fiction
there will probably be spoilers here. i will possibly rant. if you don't know what happens in tess, it is better not to read this review, although, frankly, to my way of thinking, hardy has so many superior novels, stories, poems, that you would be better served just avoiding this one and going on to one of the great ones like jude or mayor of casterbridge instead. but there is something sneaking up in me - a bubblingly vague feeling of well-wishing for poor doomed tess, that makes me think i mi there will probably be spoilers here. i will possibly rant. if you don't know what happens in tess, it is better not to read this review, although, frankly, to my way of thinking, hardy has so many superior novels, stories, poems, that you would be better served just avoiding this one and going on to one of the great ones like jude or mayor of casterbridge instead. but there is something sneaking up in me - a bubblingly vague feeling of well-wishing for poor doomed tess, that makes me think i might convince myself of this novel's adequacy, if not greatness, by the end of the review.
there - that should serve as enough blathering to hide any actual spoilers from the feed.
who knew when i woke up this morning that i would be writing a review of my least favorite thomas hardy novels? no one.
but i find myself thinking of this book a lot, lately. having just come off another retail christmas at the book factory, and having had my readers' advisory skills put to the test in such a major way once more, i feel like i should say something about this book. because i am so conflicted about it, and every time i am called upon to suggest a "classic" or "a sad book," i find myself automatically drawn to hardy, and i always say the same thing, "except for tess."
i never suggest tess.
and it is infuriating because i know for a fact that tess was hardy's favorite female character. and i love hardy; i trust him. but, lord
WHAT DOES HE SEE IN HER??
tess is loyal, and passionate, but utterly hopeless. she makes all the wrong decisions, but she just keeps barreling along, blithely. well, not blithely. more like trudging along determinedly.
hardy's whole philosophy, in his books, is that you make a mistake and you never ever stop paying for it. but it is hard to see, in this book, just which mistake is the origin of the misery.if anything, the mistake is not tess' own, but her father's, in getting too drunk to drive, putting tess in the position of accidentally killing their horse as she takes the reins. (ooh, a pun!)
this is of course, shades of mayor of casterbridge. drinking causes all sorts of accidents.
is the accident that of overreaching one's situation in life? can't be, because the fake d'urberville's are doing just fine with their purchased title, while the "real" ones are living in poverty.
is the mistake getting raped? probably. not that it's her fault, obviously, but damn, girl - learn to recognize those wolves. but no - obviously someone in tess' position is not going to recognize a risk when she sees one. sweet dummy. sweet beloved-by-her-creator dummy.
i can only assume that in this book, that is meant to be the origin. because everything that happens after that is just one more kick in the balls.
a ruined reputation, a dead child, falling for a man named angel freaking clare (i mean, honestly - this should really have been another signal - no man named angel clare is ever going to be open-minded, even if he has his own secrets, hypocritical bastard). ugh, and then the rest of it - oh, god - that damned rug! what a terrible way to communicate sensitive information, tess! that is vintage hardy, though, and that plot development i am totally okay with. in fact, i think it is genius. but then - oh god - redemption for an unsavory character and illness and death and forgiveness TOO LATE and murder and then THE WORST ENDING OF ALL TIME!
seriously? stonehenge? you can't think of a subtler location than that for your situation? oh, hardy, you failed me there.
and the ending is what ruins the book for me, at the end of the day. because i am going through this bit by bit now, in writing this review, and that is pretty much my biggest gripe.
tess as a character is fine - she wouldn't be my favorite in all of literature, but she makes sense, as someone in her position. she's no bathsheba everdene, who is obviously hardy's most interesting and complicated female character, but she means well, and she is definitely a survivor, but more of the limping variety than the warrior kind.
and the series of misfortunes is also fine. unlikely, and depressing, but fine. nowhere near as perfectly intricate as mayor, with its amaaaazing resolution, but it is tidy and appropriate, all told.
yup. now that i have actually sat down with this, it is simply the presence of stonehenge that so grates upon me. fuck stonehenge and your sacrificial maidens. it clangs, as an ending. it is like someone letting loose a wombat during a funeral. thomas hardy isn't supposed to be silly, and this ending it unarguably silly.
so, there it is, mes amis - tess redeemed through the power of review-writing.
but no amount of review-writing will ever get me to accept stonehenge.
Sep 10, 2007 Cori rated it it was amazing
Recommends it for: lovers of classic literature
From my blog:
This book was fantastic. It was bleak and heartbreaking, but fantastic. I'm not sure I've ever been so sad for a main character before. But wow, Hardy can write. I'm going to outline the plot, including the ending, so please note that there are SPOILERS AHEAD.
Tess Durbeyfield, a poor girl, finds out she's actually the descendant of the once-mighty D'Urbervilles. She goes in search of work at her relatives' home, and meets Alec D'Urberville (no actual relation -- he stole the name), From my blog:
This book was fantastic. It was bleak and heartbreaking, but fantastic. I'm not sure I've ever been so sad for a main character before. But wow, Hardy can write. I'm going to outline the plot, including the ending, so please note that there are SPOILERS AHEAD.
Tess Durbeyfield, a poor girl, finds out she's actually the descendant of the once-mighty D'Urbervilles. She goes in search of work at her relatives' home, and meets Alec D'Urberville (no actual relation -- he stole the name), who seduces her and rapes her in the forest. Bastard. Tess leaves the D'Urberville estate to be with her family again, and winds up pregnant. The baby is born but quickly succumbs to death.
Tess, who thinks her rape and death of her child are her own fault, moves away to work at a dairy. There, she meets Angel Clare (a kind man from a good family) and the two fall in love. Tess refuses his requests for an engagement, saying she's not worth him and her past would make him not love her. He pleads with her and tells her it's not the case. Finally, she agrees and the two are wed. That night, they tell each other their deepest, darkest secrets. Angel admits to two drunken nights of debauchery, which Tess forgives him for, and Tess tells him the story about Alec and the child. Angel decides Tess's sins are too great and leaves to Brazil to clear his head. Bastard.
Tess then embarks upon a long journey of trying to pay penance for her sins by doing difficult manual labor. Her letters to Angel go unanswered, but she still blames herself. When she finally hits rock bottom, she goes to appeal to Angel's family for money, although her pride never lets her go through with her plan. On her way home, she meets a street preacher, who is none other than a reformed Alec D'Urberville, although it's pretty apparent that his faith is transparent. Bastard.
Tess tells him that she had had a child and it died, and Alec proceeds to follow her around and asks her to marry him repeatedly, saying he's her true husband because he raped her they had consumated their love. Finally, she gives in because she hasn't heard from Angel (bastard) and her family is in dire straits and is living in a graveyard. Alec supports her and her family.
Angel finally realizes that Tess was not responsible for her sins and decides to come back for her, only to learn she's living with Alec. Tess is so distraught knowing that Angel finally came back for her (she never stopped loving him and blaming herself), that she kills Alec (go Tess!) and she and Angel go on the lam. Tess is finally apprehended at Stonehenge, and is soon put to death.
Yeah. Seriously. That's one depressing story. As a woman who lives in 2007, I had a hard time feeling for Tess when I just wanted to scream, "it's not your fault he raped you! Men (at least in this book) are bastards! You're worth more than them!" But of course this didn't occur to Tess in 1891. It was all her fault and she was paying for her sins. The book was so bleak when it was bleak, and so lovely the few times it was lovely. Hardy's writing was very evocative, and the subject matter was apparently scandalous in his day. His descriptions of England were amazing, too. I listened to the audio book, read by Davina Porter, and it was wonderful. She's a phenomenal reader -- one of the best so far.
My Rating: 9 out of 10 for being so tragically bleak yet so fantastically written. Also, the mini-series starring Justine Waddell is uh-ma-zing, so if you don't feel like reading the book (although I highly recommend it) you can watch the movie instead. ...more
Shelves: classics , love-and-romance , 1-star-reads
Dear, Tess of the D’Urbervilles
I’m writing you this letter because you pissed me off. I’m angry, Tess. I’ve got a lot to say to you, and I want you to hear it. I will warn you though; I’m not holding anything back. We’re going to talk about everything, everything that happens in your life from beginning to end.
How could you be so silly? How could you be so hapless and so helpless? Why do you seem to be an ill-fated walking disaster of doom trodden woe? Why, oh why, did you never learn anything? Dear, Tess of the D’Urbervilles
I’m writing you this letter because you pissed me off. I’m angry, Tess. I’ve got a lot to say to you, and I want you to hear it. I will warn you though; I’m not holding anything back. We’re going to talk about everything, everything that happens in your life from beginning to end.
How could you be so silly? How could you be so hapless and so helpless? Why do you seem to be an ill-fated walking disaster of doom trodden woe? Why, oh why, did you never learn anything?
Tess you’re an absolute idiot. It’s okay. I understand. You were young and inexperienced in the beginning. But why were you still by the end? Your only act of courage was nothing but pure stupidity. It could only end one way after that. How could you not see Alec’s wolfish nature in the beginning? The man forced fed you fruit; he made you part your lips whilst he shoved his all too suggestive strawberry in your mouth. How could you not see the nature of such an imposing act?
Read over it Tess. See it from my point of view:
"They are already here." D'Urberville began gathering specimens of the fruit for her, handing them back to her as he stooped; and, presently, selecting a specially fine product of the "British Queen" variety, he stood up and held it by the stem to her mouth.
"No--no!" she said quickly, putting her fingers between his hand and her lips. "I would rather take it in my own hand."
"Nonsense!" he insisted; and in a slight distress she parted her lips and took it in.
How could you not see his motives? I understand that your mother didn’t teach you anything. Your parents threw you into the world and let you bare their burdens of responsibility. I understand that was a large task. But, still, how can you not see that this man was sniffing round you and only after one thing? Why didn’t you run? Why didn’t you get as far away as possible form such an insincere degenerate cur as Alec D’Urberville? After that, Tess, I just couldn’t believe in your character. I cannot believe that someone could possibly be as stupid as you Tess. I’m sorry Tess, but you were just badly written.
You just seemed a little bit too fatalistic. It’s like you’d given up on life before you’d even experienced it. You just went from disaster to disaster without realising that most men of your time were pigs. You didn’t learn anything; it’s like you were born with a pre-ordained destiny to take shit from everybody and then die. You just trudged through muck, and then went looking for more afterwards. If you’re characterisation is emblematic of Victorian womanhood, then every Victorian woman has been terrible insulted. I understand that the problems you faced were real. You came across real injustice, Tess. There’s no denying that. What Alec did to you was pure evil. What Angel did you was nothing short of neglect. One rule for men and another for women, eh Tess. You really experienced misogyny and injustice. I know, and I feel sorry for you, but Tess you were just so unbelievably weak.
Why did you go running back to Angel after what he did to you? He clearly didn't love you. Why did you wait for him for so long and just accept the negligence that he subjected you to. How could you let yourself down like that? You should have gone on your own and become your own woman; you should have become empowered rather than crawling back to the bastards that mistreated you. Your actions made no sense. Your emotions and love changed with the wind. I blame your creator Tess; I don’t think he knew quite what he wanted when he wrote you. He made a character who was a survivor with a will to keep trudging through life’s shit, but she kept going back to that shit again, and again. Rather than make you hopeless, he should have had you learn from the evils of the world, and become a woman who knew how to deal with it.
Then there’s the ending of your story, Tess. Why Stonehenge? Why did you run there of all places. Why not go to the train station? Why did you let yourself be led along by that prat Angel Clare one more time? Ahh…Tess, why did you waste your life? The men you met were assholes; your family were assholes too, so why didn’t you just get away from it all? Your most tragic mistake Tess, and your doom, was not realising what was inside you. Tess, only if you realised, only if the man who wrote you realised, that women don’t need to rely on men; then the whole tragedy would have been avoided. And I wouldn’t be writing this letter to a fictional corpse.
Yours sincerely,
Shelves: classics , book-club-library , victorian , 1001-books , english , books-i-own , telegraph-top-100-books
I finally read this classic for a book club recently, my own copy of the novel having languished on my shelves for too many years. I realized, after the book club meeting, that I had probably expected it to be a discussion-cum-appreciation session, Tess being after all a cornerstone in English literature. Not a bit of it.
Woman who suggested it: Well, as you know I love the classics, and I think this is a great book. I’ve read it many times.
Me (sitting next to her): I really liked it, too, and w I finally read this classic for a book club recently, my own copy of the novel having languished on my shelves for too many years. I realized, after the book club meeting, that I had probably expected it to be a discussion-cum-appreciation session, Tess being after all a cornerstone in English literature. Not a bit of it.
Woman who suggested it: Well, as you know I love the classics, and I think this is a great book. I’ve read it many times.
Me (sitting next to her): I really liked it, too, and was glad to finally read it. It was a tale of woe, to be sure, but I liked it.
A few more comments like that follow, it being the brief introductory round.
New guy: I don’t know if I liked it or not, it was just so looong. I can see similarities with some of Balzac’s works and with Madame Bovary, but there seemed to be something missing in Tess. I don’t know. I agree that Hardy can write, but I really don’t know what I’m supposed to get out of this today. I mean the view of this woman, who’s supposed to be totally pure but doesn’t do anything? She just doesn’t DO anything – what’s that about? I really needed a reason for picking up this book, or you know, I need to know why this is still read. I mean why…
Moderator: Uhm. This is just the brief introductory round, so maybe we can come back to some of this?
Everyone around the table is stunned into silence. Before beginning our discussion of Tess, we had briefly told the new guy our names and how long the group had existed (four years). The feeling was one of welcome goodwill.
Moderator: I think I know what you mean, though. I’m not sure what I thought about it either. Yes, it’s well written, but there seems to be a lot of unnecessary melodrama and one or two situations that I found somewhat unconvincing.
Me: Really? But…
New guy: Yeah, Hardy seems to overdo it sometimes, and then at other times he spends 50 pages just wallowing in thoughts. Nothing happens.
Me: What?! Lots of stuff happens. But it’s not Dan Brown, that’s true. It’s a pastoral, Victorian novel where we follow one woman’s journey and the hardships she goes through.
Communist vegan woman (nodding): In an era when women were still living in a man’s world and struggling to survive.
New guy: But if we’re supposed to read it today, give me a good reason. I mean, Tess is just so whiny and selfish. One minute she’s pure, then she isn’t. Why doesn’t she just get up and leave when she doesn’t like her situation? How is her inability to act even relevant for today’s society? (continues in a similar vein for about a minute)
Communist vegan woman (getting worked up): Listen, Thomas Hardy had a very modern view of women. This story is quite realistic, but you’re taking a very northern view of this. In some countries today, if a woman has been with a man, that’s it; they’re practically married. In the eyes of the surrounding community they are. And remember that scene where she hides her face with a scarf because she’s constantly getting shouted at by men? Tell me that’s not relevant today! We hear news about stuff like that constantly: the women are practically begging to be raped, right?
Me: That’s a good point. Also, it was written in 1891, not in 2016. That’s way before women’s emancipation, which by the way is still going on. But I really don’t see how Tess is selfish. She’s constantly trying to do good and help her family, but she’s let down by everyone around her – her parents, Alec, Angel; society.
New guy: I don’t see how her parents are to blame. She is the one who decides to go here, there and everywhere to get a new job or find Angel’s parents.
Communist vegan woman: Oh, she hardly decides! It’s her parents who push her into contacting the D’Urbervilles in the first place.
Woman who suggested it: And after that it’s poverty!
Me: Exactly. It’s the pastor at the beginning of the novel who gets the ball rolling when he mentions that her family is related to the famous D’Urbervilles. Tess is caught up in her parents’ ambitions to form a connection with them. And later she’s caught in both society’s view of how women should behave and in religious double standards. And poverty is underneath all of it.
Moderator: I see that that’s what Hardy wants us to believe, but I don’t really buy it. I mean why does Tess (view spoiler) [kill Alec at the end? (hide spoiler) ] That was very unconvincing to me. She could have just walked out.
New guy: Right, that was totally out of the blue. No reason for it. And similarly: when Tess (view spoiler) [ becomes pregnant and loses the child (hide spoiler) ] Hardy spends two or three lines on it, instead of spending some time on it so that we could feel the drama, and the same goes for the ending when (view spoiler) [she kills him and they end up at Stonehenge etc. (hide spoiler) ] Most unlikely and really unsatisfying. Why would she do that? I was expecting something else…yadayadayada.
Me: Can we reply?
New guy: Yadayadayada…
Me (again): Can we reply?
New guy looks up, surprised. He clearly didn’t hear me the first time and reluctantly manages to reign in his monologue.
Me: Well, you mention the word ‘expectations’, which is basically your pre-conceived notions of what the novel should have been about. That’s really neither here nor there. This is what the book is like, and we have to discuss it on that premise.
New guy and moderator (taking turns): Yeah, but still, there were pages and pages where we were getting nowhere. You could have cut out 50 pages, and we’d still be left on some farm somewhere.
Woman who suggested it: Yes, but don’t you see that there are two farms and two kinds of moods for Tess? The first one, with the Cricks, where life is looking bright and she meets Angel, and then the second one where she’s working too hard and disappointment kicks in. As someone mentioned, it’s a story about a woman’s hardships in a society that she feels cannot contain her.
Heated comments from the moderator and the new guy ensue. Some of the other group members never manage to get a comment in edgewise, and one girl ups and leaves.
Communist vegan woman: Sounds to me like you just can’t empathize with Tess, which I think is really sad.
I nod vigorously and think, ‘ouch’, while mentally tuning out during their response.
Someone (in a conciliatory manner): I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
Me: Right. (But really I’m thinking: I’m not sure this book club is big enough for both me and the new guy. The next meeting may tell).
Jan 15, 2017 Henry Avila rated it really liked it · review of another edition
This novel is really about timing, it effects us all, meet someone at the wrong time or go north instead of south, your life can end badly. Ordinary events, can change our destiny. Timing is everything... Tess Durbeyfield is born into a poor, rural, southern English family of eight, in the village of Marlott, Wessex. A lazy father, John, with a taste for the bottle, and a mother, Joan, who would rather sing the latest songs, than do the necessary chores, at home. But she grows up a very attracti This novel is really about timing, it effects us all, meet someone at the wrong time or go north instead of south, your life can end badly. Ordinary events, can change our destiny. Timing is everything... Tess Durbeyfield is born into a poor, rural, southern English family of eight, in the village of Marlott, Wessex. A lazy father, John, with a taste for the bottle, and a mother, Joan, who would rather sing the latest songs, than do the necessary chores, at home. But she grows up a very attractive woman and everyone notices, especially young men. Informed by a minister, Parson Tringham, an antiquarian, that he, Mr. John Durbeyfield, real name is the ancient one of D'urbervilles, a honored wealthy family, of the past. They originated with a Norman knight, of that name, who came over with William the Conqueror, but now have lost all their lands and mansions, just another destitute family, in the late, Victorian age. John proudly boasts about it, at the local watering hole, getting drunk and his wife Joan, has to fetch him, which she is delighted to do. The only fun she has, outside the cottage. Tess being the eldest child, helps out her mother with the work of taking care of her brothers and sisters. Her mother finds out, that there is a very rich family of D'urbervilles, not far away, and urges her daughter to make a friendly visit. Hesitating, but finally decides to obey and go. Arriving, after a long walk, Tess discoverers that the relatives are not. Having changed their names from Stokes, for the prestige! But meeting Alec D'urbervilles, the only son of a blind widow, he calls her cousin, in a mocking way. A lecherous man of 23, Tess is only 16. Offered a job taking care of the eccentric old lady's pet birds, she can't refuse, her family needs the money. Alec is always chasing her, the innocent girl lasts four months there, Tess comes back home, no longer a girl. After a few unpleasant years passed in the village, and with her father ill, she gets a job as a milk maid to support the family, at a distant farm, besides, Tess hears whispers. Becoming great friends with three other young women, Izz, Retty, and Marian, fellow workers there and roommates. All fall madly in love with a handsome , clergyman's son, Angel Clare. Who strangely wants to become a farmer not a minister in the Church of England, like his two older brothers. Which greatly disappoints his orthodox father, and keeps him from receiving an university education. Learning at the dairy, but he has only eyes for the lovely Tess. Angel keeps on asking her to marry him. And the uneasy woman, has a secret she would not want to disclose. And Mr. Clare, comes from a stable, middle class, family. Does Tess, tell him and risk losing the man she loves... Thomas Hardy's most famous and best novel, I think, but not for the very faint-heart, when the pathos, flow. ...more
Shelves: 2010 , classics , 52-in-2010 , dailylit , kindle , read-while-in-a-foreign-land , 30-day-book-challenge
There's this Lars von Trier movie called Dancer in the Dark, starring Björk of all people. She plays a poor factory worker in rural America. She's going blind (which is not great when you work around heavy machinery), but she needs to save up enough money to pay for an eye operation for her son. To escape her misery, she imagines elaborate musical sequences in her mind. She's also kind of an idiot.
Now, what Lars is going for here could be called misogyny or satire or sociopathy, but in short: he There's this Lars von Trier movie called Dancer in the Dark, starring Björk of all people. She plays a poor factory worker in rural America. She's going blind (which is not great when you work around heavy machinery), but she needs to save up enough money to pay for an eye operation for her son. To escape her misery, she imagines elaborate musical sequences in her mind. She's also kind of an idiot.
Now, what Lars is going for here could be called misogyny or satire or sociopathy, but in short: he really loves torturing characters like poor Björk. So many awful things happen to her, and they are so awful, but also... they are frustratingly melodramatic and contrived. Björk's cop landlord finds out she has a lot of cash. He needs money, but when she refuses to let him borrow it, citing her beatific little son, he tries to steal it and somehow, the impossibilities of the scene continue to pile up and Björk winds up murdering him (oh, there are going to be spoilers here, by the way), not only shooting him several times, but also bashing his head in with a safety deposit box, and runs off and gives the cash to the blindness clinic before she is arrested.
So Björk is tried for murder and theft of the cash that was actually hers, and there are all these extenuating circumstances that she could use to prove her (general) innocence. But for any number of dumb reasons, she cannot. She cannot even explain where the money went (or for some reason, that she is almost blind) because that will result in the cash being seized, and her son will never get his vague operation. Oh also she promised the guy she killed that she wouldn't tell about his stealing, and she won't, even though he is dead and he screwed her over pretty bad in the process. Even when a friend figures everything out and brings in a lawyer to get her off, she refuses because of her son, resigned to her fate.
So anyway, she is convicted, and sentenced to death, and has one last fantasy song sequence as she is walking to the gallows, and just when it reaches its operatic climax (after some awful keening when they attempt to put the hood over her head), they pull the lever and her neck snaps. That's the end of the movie.
Everyone I know who has seen it has the same story: by the end, they were rolled into a ball on the couch, quivering and lowing quietly in grief. Though a really excellent movie in many ways, with a devastating lead performance, watching it is a brutal experience, simply because it is so relentlessly dogmatic in its bleakness, its melodrama, its dim view of humanity, and its commitment to punishing the leading lady.
I am pretty sure Lars von Trier read a lot of Thomas Hardy when he was growing up. He definitely read Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Facebook 30 Day Book Challenge Day 4: Book that makes you cry. ...more
Shelves: favorites , classics , favourite-authors , banned-book-challenges , bookclub-reads
If I'd only known how much I would enjoy this book, I wouldn't have let it sit on my shelf for 5 long years!
I adore classics but it is hard for me to read a lot of them without feeling some indignation of the injustices dealt to women. Hardy presents us with Tess, a young woman who really doesn't have much control over her life. She is forced to sacrifice herself time and again for her family, including her child-like parents. Poor Tess. My heart really ached for her. Having to go through all s If I'd only known how much I would enjoy this book, I wouldn't have let it sit on my shelf for 5 long years!
I adore classics but it is hard for me to read a lot of them without feeling some indignation of the injustices dealt to women. Hardy presents us with Tess, a young woman who really doesn't have much control over her life. She is forced to sacrifice herself time and again for her family, including her child-like parents. Poor Tess. My heart really ached for her. Having to go through all she went through and never having any sort of justice handed to her was heartbreaking. Therein lies the problem of that society; the double standards between women and men, the Victorian ideal of purity for women only. Without revealing too much, I think I disliked Angel Clare almost as much as I disliked Alec D'Urberville; what a hypocrite and a coward.
Despite the tragedies in this story, I highly recommend this book. Hardy's prose is just wonderful. It turns out he was a naturalist and it shows by how well and uniquely he writes about the Wessex countryside where this novel is set. Additionally, his descriptions of people's feelings was wonderful.
Shelves: favorites , hardy , classics
Thomas Hardy doesn’t need any introduction by me. An eminent writer from the nineteenth century, his work is an evidence of the social recounts, which added a more humanitarian perspective to the cause and whose other advocates included the writers like George Eliot, Thackeray and Dickens. Hardy was much aware of the sad state of farm workers, especially women during those times. The dilemma faced by women, who were the victims of seduction, appalled Hardy and he was aghast at lack of concern to Thomas Hardy doesn’t need any introduction by me. An eminent writer from the nineteenth century, his work is an evidence of the social recounts, which added a more humanitarian perspective to the cause and whose other advocates included the writers like George Eliot, Thackeray and Dickens. Hardy was much aware of the sad state of farm workers, especially women during those times. The dilemma faced by women, who were the victims of seduction, appalled Hardy and he was aghast at lack of concern towards them. In “Candour in English fiction” he criticized the so called morality, which labelled a victim of seduction as an outcast.
Sadly, the inspiration for this work had originated from an actual incidence of public hanging, which Hardy had himself witnessed, of a woman named Martha Brown who had killed her abusive husband when he had hit her over a quarrel. *Hardy noted "what a fine figure she showed against the sky as she hung in the misty rain, and how the tight black silk gown set off her shape as she wheeled half round and back", after Calcraft had tied her dress close to her body. It is believed that Hardy was captivated by the reminiscences of that hanging. It might be possible that the figure of the hanging woman through tight dress, that she wore, and her rain soaked hood inspired Hardy to frame a beautiful yet helpless character in Tess, someone who could be risen to unsurpassed heights by sacrificing herself to make amends for the morality imposed upon her and for her simple desires of life.
This review is not aimed at warning the first time readers of Tess, but still the foray would be suggested only if one is ready to plunge into the world of hers and is prepared to witness the cruelty of fate or some other force (Immanent Will) as suggested by Hardy. The reading might make one wonder how a little desire for happiness can become the source of such tragic events, but more so to question whether there is any significance of the longings of the meek creatures of flesh when faced with unforeseen forces hell bent at destroying the mere cocoon which envelops them. Yes, this is what Hardy aims at through his writings. Been influenced by the Greek tragedies and also by the times he lived in, his work portrays the plight of human beings, who seem helpless when confronted with the ruthless morality of society or unpredictable forces. The reader, hence, must be ready here for testing times because it is definitely not an easy journey. You might be appalled at the never ending problems that Tess has to face while doing the best that she can supposedly do for her family and for her love. According to Arnold Kettle:
“Hardy saw Tess as the victim of the President of the Immortals. A pessimistic and deterministic view of the world in which man – and even more, woman – is at the mercy of an unyielding outside fate, is the conscious philosophy behind the novel.”
Hardy used this force of Immanent Will here in the same manner as the Greek concept of dike. As a result, we get an account of the state of a woman, who in order to right the one wrong done by her (as she thinks so, that of the unfortunate killing of family horse while she was driving the cart), sets out for noble deeds, little knowing that her simple desire to bring happiness into the family will result into such tragic events in her life, which she would only be able to atone by sacrificing herself.
Her visit to d’Urbervilles to claim kin, the subsequent meeting with Alec, her seduction, the birth of her unfortunate child, her labor, meeting with Angel, their marriage and break up , the return of Alec and finally, the murder of Alec by Tess. Ah! Such a heart wrenching tale! Why couldn’t she have a life? As a reader you feel sad and enraged for the so called morality of those times which painted the women in an entirely alien manner. If it was Alec who initiated the series of misfortunes for Tess, it was Angel who further aggravated them by not being more humane and understanding. If only Angel had not been under the influence of social obligations of morality and would have accepted Tess, she wouldn’t have to sacrifice her life to prove her purity.
But she had to sacrifice her life, to prove it to Angel, the one she loved, that she was pure at heart, that she only wished her family to be happy and that all she did was to make sure that they could live easily. Hardy used the concept of Pharmakos or the sacrifice goat at the end, to portray the surrender of humans before the Immanent will for salvation, when he depicted Tess resting at Stonehenge and being greeted by morning rays.
Tess is pure and innocent in the sense that what ensues with her is far greater than any of her deeds can incite. But what she sacrifices for, is being guilty of living in a society and a world where humans are incapable of escaping the action of such forces for which there couldn’t simply be any justification.
Jun 07, 2013 Jr Bacdayan rated it really liked it
It pains me to say that whenever I hear about Tess of the d'Urbervilles, I automatically associate it with Fifty Shades of Grey. Oh, that this masterpiece be besmirched in my mind by that rubbish is a travesty! Thus, I resolutely set upon disconnecting the thread by finally reading this book. And what a journey this has taken me in. I've heard from a lot of people, that Tess is one of Mr. Hardy's more inferior works. This being my first Hardy experience. Honestly, if you call this is inferior, t It pains me to say that whenever I hear about Tess of the d'Urbervilles, I automatically associate it with Fifty Shades of Grey. Oh, that this masterpiece be besmirched in my mind by that rubbish is a travesty! Thus, I resolutely set upon disconnecting the thread by finally reading this book. And what a journey this has taken me in. I've heard from a lot of people, that Tess is one of Mr. Hardy's more inferior works. This being my first Hardy experience. Honestly, if you call this is inferior, then Mayor and Jude must be near perfect. Because, dear madams and sirs, this is writing in one of its finest embodiment. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is not flawed either. It is there in the precipice of greatness, but not quite. This you shall see later on. Shall we begin?
One of the more popular criticisms to Tess is the notion that it depicts women horribly. I agree, to some extent it does. And I understand as to why feminists would feel bad about it. But we have to consider the setting of the story, this being Victorian England. And that the view towards women depicted in the book is just normal for its time. And not only that, mind you, this is a peasant woman in Victorian England. It is not only time but creed that has molded her into a self-abdicating woman. I feel that some feminists anger towards this book is untoward and uncalled for. Surely, they don't expect all women in literature to be independent and strong-willed. Anyway, we are now dealing with character and this can be fully independent of gender. I'm not an anti-feminist, dear no. I'm a humanist and in matters such as this, I only adhere to reason. No more. I do applaud feminists for their fervor, though.
Another point that I should like to expound upon has its roots on the relationships that this book surmounts and how I perceive it so. Firstly, I believe that this relationship triangle of sorts is an allegory. Well, I have always seen allegories in things. But let me expostulate. Tess- innocent, unperceiving, self-abdicating, weak - I see in this the characteristics of the poor and the needy. These, she represents. Alec - rich, deceiving, heartless, cruel - here I see the traits of the powerful and the tyrants. And Angel - Intelligent, Imaginative, Logical - a man of reason. These three people represent the relationships and interactions that occur in these three groups. The poor and the needy being oppressed and taken advantage upon by the rich tyrants. The men of reason on the other hand, would endeavor to help the needy. But discovering that the needy to have flaws and crimes forced upon them by their desperation and neediness, would be flung by the men of reason as unworthy beings. Thus the needy would be ignored by both. Rich tyrants, on the other hand, can be converted by religion, thus reverting from their old ways and helping the poor. But this type of help is more of self gratification than actual kindness. Being that they only do it save their pampered souls from fiery damnation. Men of reason, on the other hand, can be made to realize the errors of their ways in time. The needy, being mostly uneducated, their only way to improve is to gain intelligence by the men of reason. They being their hope for a better life, not the rich converts. But the uneducated paupers are often trapped by the snares of the enemy. The ultimate act of the needy being murdered is a depiction of the injustice in the imperfect society that we live in. I do think that Hardy is not so pessimistic about relationships as this book makes him seem. Only, that he has other things considered.
“The beauty or ugliness of a character lay not only in its achievements, but in its aims and impulses; its true history lay, not among things done, but among things willed.”
Tess, more or less, is much more a criticism to society and its norms than to females and relationships as some perceive it to be. That society values trifles that do not reflect the internal image of people, but rather the external. The structure worshiped but the essence ignored. That spirit and character be no match for breeding and standing is a travesty higher than my associating this book with Fifty Shades. That people look not at inward but the outward. This is what makes this book so sorrowful.
This excerpt below is one of the more tender moments of the book. My favorite one, of all. I fancy that it is a scene intended as clue to the coming sadness. But this also suggests the imperfectness of our world, our society.
“Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess?"
"Yes."
"All like ours?"
"I don't know, but I think so. They sometimes seem to be like the apples on our stubbard-tree. Most of them splendid and sound - a few blighted."
"Which do we live on - a splendid one or a blighted one?"
"A blighted one.”
**after their only horse dies**
“Tis because we be on a blighted star, and not a sound one, isn't it Tess?”
I should not warrant much more of your time. Let me just make up for all the bleakness.
But the book doesn't end in gloom. The ending is far more hopeful than perceived. That though Tess dies, Liza-Lu takes her place. A younger, better version of herself. This I take to heart as, the hope to improve society lies within the younger generation. They must hand in hand work with men of intellect to improve the norms of society that stains the innate beauty of this world. And compared with the generation of Hardy, I do believe that he was right. That we have improved society and its trifles, that we will continue to improve through the years, I hope to believe.
“Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized.” ...more
This was a very beautiful story about Tess, who grows from being a child to being a woman. What she goes through is heart-wrenching; however, having now finished this book I'm left with a huge question mark above my head.
First of all, I really liked how Thomas Hardy structured this story.
He leaves out bits and pieces which makes the story even more compelling. I thought that we would eventually get the answers to some of our questions, but no! All we get are small hints as to what has happened This was a very beautiful story about Tess, who grows from being a child to being a woman. What she goes through is heart-wrenching; however, having now finished this book I'm left with a huge question mark above my head.
First of all, I really liked how Thomas Hardy structured this story.
He leaves out bits and pieces which makes the story even more compelling. I thought that we would eventually get the answers to some of our questions, but no! All we get are small hints as to what has happened, but we don't get the final revelation as I was hoping for. Why is that?
Furthermore, I was a little bit puzzled with Tess and her behaviour. I liked her a lot, but at the same time I didn't understand her and her decisions on many occasions. In other words, I didn't feel a strong connection to her at any point in the book, but I was very much interested to follow her on her story and see where things were going.
This is ultimately a love story that will break your heart. It's also a story about life for maids back in the days, and it's about growing up and making some tough decisions. I liked this novel a lot exactly because it puzzled with my mind, but I would definitely have preferred to have got some answers to all of my questions that I'm now left with. ...more
Shelves: classics , fave-classics
“I felt a little like a man reading a very grim book. A Thomas Hardy novel, say. You know how it’s going to end, but instead of spoiling things, that somehow increases your fascination. It’s like watching a kid run his electric train faster and faster and waiting for it to derail on one of the curves.”
Stephen King, 11/22/63
When I was reading King’s 11/22/63 I noted down this line because I was planning to read Tess of the d'Urbervilles soon and from its reputation and the two other Thomas Hardy “I felt a little like a man reading a very grim book. A Thomas Hardy novel, say. You know how it’s going to end, but instead of spoiling things, that somehow increases your fascination. It’s like watching a kid run his electric train faster and faster and waiting for it to derail on one of the curves.”
Stephen King, 11/22/63
When I was reading King’s 11/22/63 I noted down this line because I was planning to read Tess of the d'Urbervilles soon and from its reputation and the two other Thomas Hardy novels that I read I expected that it will probably make me at least a little melancholy, if not downright miserable. Why read it then? Just as books by Neal Stephenson is a workout for the mind I think that Hardy’s books are a good workout for the emotion (or what we on the interweb call the feels these days).
The initial plot trajectory from the moment Tess meets the obvious degenerate (and proud of it) Alec d'Urberville with his fancy
sports car
— Nastassja Kinski As Tess (1979 adaptation) —
It is clearly telegraphed by the author and you just know it is not going to well for poor Tess. After being turned into “damaged goods,” she puts up a brave face and soldiers on with her life, taking a minimum wage job as a milkmaid. As luck (or misfortune) would have it she meets Angel Clare a nice young man who relentlessly courted her and she falls in love with to devastating effect.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a character study and also a social commentary of the time of Hardy’s writing. The characterization of the main protagonists is quite complex. Tess herself starts off a naturally beautiful naïve girl who Hardy puts through the wringer and emerges no less beautiful in spite of spiritual damage. The only truly indomitable thing about her seems to be her beauty. She makes a one poor decision after another and the goodness of her heart is eventually her undoing as misadventures are heaped upon her by the author (shakes fist at Hardy).
As for Angel Clare, the romantic lead of this tale of woe, although he evidently a good man he is in some ways worse than Alec d'Urberville. The devastation he wrought upon Tess on the basis of his self-righteous conception of morality makes him entirely unsympathetic. While Alec is basically just a garden variety womanizer Angel is what Monty Python once described as a “silly bunt” (if that makes no sense you may want to google it).
Gemma Arterton As Tess (2009 adaptation) , again with the strawberry!
So as expected it all ends in tears, this novel is no less miserable than the mirthless Jude the Obscure (if you want to read a relatively happy Hardy you may want to check out Far from the Madding Crowd ). Thomas Hardy’s writing flows as beautifully as ever but if he was still alive today I probably wouldn’t want to invite him to a birthday party. I have The Return of the Native in my TBR though. Like Tess, I must be a sucker for punishment.
Anyway, highly recommended; read this and you may never laugh again (LOL!).
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Note:
I read the audiobook version of this book, beautifully narrated by Davina Porter, got it really cheap from Amazon at $0.99! ...more
Feb 27, 2007 Melissa added it · review of another edition
This is mostly just a note for me-- I wrote it as I finished the book, and it definitely gives away the ending, but I wanted to post it here because I decided this would be a good place for me to keep track of my thoughts.
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I just finished reading Tess of the D'urbervilles, and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Maybe disappointed is not the right word... but it's more than just bummed about the sad parts of the plot. Of course, I am sad about the way the story en This is mostly just a note for me-- I wrote it as I finished the book, and it definitely gives away the ending, but I wanted to post it here because I decided this would be a good place for me to keep track of my thoughts.
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I just finished reading Tess of the D'urbervilles, and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Maybe disappointed is not the right word... but it's more than just bummed about the sad parts of the plot. Of course, I am sad about the way the story ended, with Tess killing Alec (her rapist/sugardaddy/pseudo husband) and then her getting executed. It's a pretty depressing end...
But there was such a shift, and maybe that was the point. The beauty and love and excitement and novelty of the young lovers Tess and Angel at the dairy is so palpable, so real, but then the utter extinguishing of any hope, joy, optimism at the end... It's shocking, that much more troubling.
The story throughout has certain themes of fatalism and transcendentalism (I think-- with the talk of Tess at times experiencing things not as flesh but as a spirit), but what troubled me was the approach to God. So pessimistic. I think I should have seen where the story was going when Tess and Angel started to discuss the inexistance of God. To me, that moment seems as much a foreshadowing of the despair to come as the poor horse Prince getting run through. I'm trying to make sense of this haunting story in terms of my religious beliefs. I can see now, I can start to reconcile my adoration of this book with its resistance to the faith I hold so dear. I can learn from this book that when God is forgotten or ignored or denied, there is despair. I often have wondered how people without hope in divinity face trouble, and I think Tess and Angel illustrate it well. There is little hope for the two on a grand scale, only in each other do they find grounds for optimism.
What a troubling, haunting tale. I hate that Tess ended up a murderer and died, but I really hate her deterioration. I hate how the beautiful young woman, fresh and full of love and hope becomes so... cold and hard to like. Certainly she is pitiable at the end of the novel, but hardly likable. The passion between her and Angel is real, and I like that, but ... I don't know. It's been marred, wasted. I hate the portrayal of Alec as the "reformed" born-again Christian who then turned back to his old ways.... Interesting though, how religion is respected, not in the sense that it is true, but in the ways that it can promote good morals or behavior. It bothers me.
I know that I always want a happy ending, and I guess part of the reason that I'm disappointed is because this book seemed to promise one. Usually dark books are dark throughout. This one was so cheery and full of the hope of youth and then slowly was drained of life, sot hat by the time I finished the book, I felt like I was burying it. I will say that I like it. It may even be one of my most favorite recent reads. But I am disappointed. It's much like romeo and juliet. Tragedy is so much more tragic when the potential for happiness was close and then missed.
Overall, a good book. A good read. Compelling, thought-provoking, tender. It makes me thankful for my faith. It makes me acknowledge the blessing that hope is. ...more
Shelves: audiobook
There are mild spoilers in this review and major spoilers in the comments which follow.
For the past 18 months I’ve been reacquainting myself with Thomas Hardy’s novels through the medium of audiobooks, starting with Alan Rickman’s excellent narration of The Return of the Native and moving on to listen to Under the Greenwood Tree , The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure . Overall, this has been a very positive experience and I’ve wanted to listen to Tess for a while, albeit with a degree
There are mild spoilers in this review and major spoilers in the comments which follow.
For the past 18 months I’ve been reacquainting myself with Thomas Hardy’s novels through the medium of audiobooks, starting with Alan Rickman’s excellent narration of The Return of the Native and moving on to listen to Under the Greenwood Tree , The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure . Overall, this has been a very positive experience and I’ve wanted to listen to Tess for a while, albeit with a degree of trepidation born of my past negative reaction to the novel.
I’ve spent the past thirty-five years disliking this novel intensely, with Tess Durbeyfield topping my list of literary characters I most want to slap. To me, Tess has always represented a male fantasy victim: beautiful, good and completely helpless, facilitating her victimisation and deserving her fate. When I read the novel in high school at age eighteen and again at university at age twenty, Tess’ passivity drove me nuts. My reaction this time around has been quite different. The novel hasn’t changed, but I obviously have. It may just be that I’ve aged from a young woman of Tess’ age to someone old enough to be her grandmother. I felt frustrated with Tess at times, but I wanted to hug her rather than slap her. Sisterly impatience seems to have been replaced by maternal compassion.
Now that my negative reaction to Tess as a character has mellowed, I can more fully appreciate the strengths of the novel. It is a powerful tragedy related in beautiful, descriptive language, full of symbolism. Tess’ fate is inevitable: she is a tragic heroine of Greek or Shakespearean proportions. As a character, she could be criticised for being too beautiful, too good, too perfect. However, Tess has flaws and she makes mistakes which contribute to her fate. Not only is she passive, she is also naïve and proud. At various times in the narrative Hardy points out that if Tess had made a different decision, the outcome would have been different for her. Other strengths of the novel include its devastating critique of the double standard which applied in matters of sexuality morality in Victorian England and its vivid description of the lives of agricultural labourers in a changing world.
One thing which holds me back from giving the novel five stars is Hardy’s obsession with Tess’ physical appearance. She’s beautiful – okay - but the constant references to her mouth, her eyes and her hair are excessive. And maybe I can’t quite bring myself to jump from two stars to five stars in one go. Regardless, after all these years of Tess-hating, I have to cut myself a big slice of humble pie. While my youthful reaction to Tess was genuine and, I think, well-founded, it’s interesting to discover – yet again – how the passage of time can alter a response to a literary work. The fact that I listened to an audiobook edition wonderfully narrated by Davina Porter has also helped me to have a more positive reaction to the work.
Thank you to Simran, Tracey and Hayes for reading along. And to Jemidar, who was also prepared to hold my hand until her illness got in the way.
Shelves: classic-lit
Having the narrator of Tess of the d'Urbervilles tell you a story is like waiting for an eloquent speaker and thinker to get to the point; still, you bear it because through elegant word placement, he throws elegiac strains your way, which makes you wait for the story of a despondent young woman who comes of age amid the pictorial naturalism that Hardy paints.
Waiting for a Hardy story to unfold is worth it, especially after you've waited for the dimming of the movie craze and you're probably th Having the narrator of Tess of the d'Urbervilles tell you a story is like waiting for an eloquent speaker and thinker to get to the point; still, you bear it because through elegant word placement, he throws elegiac strains your way, which makes you wait for the story of a despondent young woman who comes of age amid the pictorial naturalism that Hardy paints.
Waiting for a Hardy story to unfold is worth it, especially after you've waited for the dimming of the movie craze and you're probably the last person on earth who hasn't seen or been affected by the movie. Some say Hardy straddled the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, since the "new woman" who was emerging in progressive cultures, could be found in his works, and yet she was still stuck in the fixed views of the previous era. Seems to me, this still happens in this century. We only evolve when we're willing to adopt new thinking.
What is so twentieth century about this novel, however, is the unbiased narration that doesn't lean on stereotypes. While reading this, I didn't have to sit and wonder alone about the unfairness of a world that will ostracize a raped, unmarried, and single-parent female because the narrator helped voice my bewilderment. I didn't have to ponder Angel Clare's madness, because the narrator helped answer the questions I directed to him, when I tried to reach through my book and shake him for caring so much about perfection that he was willing to make the woman he love suffer. I didn't have to worry about the tragic twists of each scene because I received tidbits of gossip disguised as foreshadowing and titled chapters. Occasionally however, I did want to debate a stance with the clever narrator as he regarded life, love, men, and women.
Men are too often harsh with women they love or have loved; women with men. And yet these harshnesses are tenderness itself when compared with the universal harshness out of which they grow; the harshness of the position towards the temperament, of the means towards the aims, of today towards yesterday, of hereafter towards today.
Even when the storytelling magic I'd hoped for was strangely planed by the narration, I knew that I could count on a tortured consciousness and a rebellion against convention to keep me going. Tess is complicated, sometimes to the point of frustrating the reader, and yet I couldn't help but admire her wherewithal and work ethic. Yes, though you gave us the cliched 'wronged damsel,' you hesitated to give us the 'damsel in distress,' Hardy, and for this, my elation knows no bounds. A woman who does not fear farm-work, a woman who supports her family despite her circumstances - here, I'll pause to wonder: imagine how this story could have ended happily if Tess didn't have to also worry about supporting her parents and family.
Hardy assayed the burden of poverty, when he showed how the poor sometimes never make it from beneath the bundle, because the one who supposedly 'makes' it, is expected to shoulder all. Tess tried in vain to get away: "to escape the past and all that appertained thereto was to annihilate it, and to do that she would have to get away." Yet, she never could get away: not from her past, not from her lovers, not from family, and certainly not from herself.
Who was the moral man? Still more pertinently, who was the moral woman? The beauty or ugliness of a character lay not only in its achievements, but in its aims and impulses; its true history lay, not among things done, but among things willed.
Shelves: classic , english-lit
When I first read this at 18, I hated it with the heat of a thousand suns. Tess was weak, gullible, and apparently doomed to plunge herself from one bad situation into another, while Hardy was clearly a fatalistic atheist. Why on earth would anyone read him? I’m still wondering what possessed me to read other novels of his — perhaps a perverse desire to see if they were just as bad. Whatever the reason, I did continue reading him and surprisingly enough became a fan...but never of Tess! That rem When I first read this at 18, I hated it with the heat of a thousand suns. Tess was weak, gullible, and apparently doomed to plunge herself from one bad situation into another, while Hardy was clearly a fatalistic atheist. Why on earth would anyone read him? I’m still wondering what possessed me to read other novels of his — perhaps a perverse desire to see if they were just as bad. Whatever the reason, I did continue reading him and surprisingly enough became a fan...but never of Tess! That remained a blot on the face of English literature. Imagine my horror when it surfaced on a course syllabus last year and I was forced to reread it, then, almost as horrifically, forced to admit that it actually wasn’t the worst novel ever written (that remains a toss-up between A Lantern in Her Hand and that sequel to Gone With the Wind — which I don’t admit to having read).
In fact, this time around I really liked Tess. Not only is the pivotal scene intentionally ambiguous, but the character of Tess herself is portrayed with enough complexity to provide endless debate. To what degree did Alec force himself on Tess? Where does naivety leave off and willful naivety begin? Are there mitigating circumstances for murder? Deception? Stupidity??
Hardy does give the novel fatalistic overtones, but the central questions of personal responsibility versus outside forces are irresolvable. More importantly, Tess’s odd combination of passion and passivity makes her a compelling character to watch. As readers, we dissect and evaluate characters to figure out what innate qualities they have and what their real motives are (which is what makes literary analysis a highbrow cousin of gossip). But some characters remain immune to consensus because there are too many competing or unknown factors, kind of (Uncomfortable Life Lesson)like the way we cannot decisively judge real life people. What a powerful reminder! And a grim one.
I suppose the take-home message for me was that if I can muster up compassion for the deeply flawed Tess, certainly I can muster sympathy for the deeply flawed nutcases in my extended family. Or at least that’s the hope. It is a bit easier when you can just open a different book.
Shelves: favorites
Având ca subtitlu "O femeie inocentă", romanul prezintă, pe un fundal realist (având rigurozitatea aceea specific englezească), drama personajului eponim. Tess este o fire dogmatică, având rădăcini -deşi nu făţişe- în morala de factură creştină.
Fiind nevoită să se abată de la calea "normală" pe care ar fi trebuit să o ducă viaţa, Tess este nevoită să abandoneze acest drum şi să înfăptuiască anumite munci pentru a-şi întreţine numeroasa familie din care făcea parte (inclusiv fraţii mai mici).
Vâ Având ca subtitlu "O femeie inocentă", romanul prezintă, pe un fundal realist (având rigurozitatea aceea specific englezească), drama personajului eponim. Tess este o fire dogmatică, având rădăcini -deşi nu făţişe- în morala de factură creştină.
Fiind nevoită să se abată de la calea "normală" pe care ar fi trebuit să o ducă viaţa, Tess este nevoită să abandoneze acest drum şi să înfăptuiască anumite munci pentru a-şi întreţine numeroasa familie din care făcea parte (inclusiv fraţii mai mici).
Vânturile vieţii o poartă, pe rând, în coardele a doi bărbaţi, caracterizaţi în antiteză, însă Tess nu reuşeşte să atingă plenitudinea în dragoste (dragostea este aici proiectată în sens clasic) alături de ei...
E destul de greu să faci o analiză migăloasă a romanului (tehnică detaliului semnificativ se impune), însă mi s-au părut sugestive câteva elemente ale operei.Structurarea romanului în şapte părţi (denumite "etape", pentru a sugerea evoluţia protagonistei, ceea ce denotă că romanul are caracterul de Bildungsroman), denumite sugestiv "Fecioria", "Sfârşitul fecioriei", "Întâlnirea", "Urmările", "Ispăşirea", "Căinţa" şi "Săvârşirea". Cum romanul are resurse religioase însemnate, nu întâmplător -se poate spune- numărul etapelor este de şapte, lucru ce trimite cu gândul fie la cele şapte sacramente, la cele şapte păcate capitale din mitologia creştină, fie la acel "de şaptezeci de ori câte şapte" din Evanghelia după Matei. Eu unul tind să optez pentru cea din urmă idee, dat fiind că una dintre ramificaţiile arborelui romanului este constituită de virtutea iertării.
O altă secvenţă ce mi s-a părut sugestivă pentru tema romanului (condiţia femeii într-o anumită etapă a istoriei) este aceea a violului. Inocenţa protagonistei şi slăbiciunea sexului frumos sunt evidenţiate aici (în scenă) în antiteză cu Alec d'Urberville, un presupus OM cu un presupus SÂNGE NOBIL (şi la propriu, dar şi la figurat, căci, după cum arată cu certitudine finalul romanului, "d'Urberville"-ul aparţine lui Tess, însă "povestea" numelui este prea amplă pentru a fi redată aici) care adoptă diferite măşti, căzând însă, la un moment dat, pradă instinctului sau animalic -ipostază în care manierismul sau aristocratic e redus la zero. El comite astfel un "păcat" care avea o greutate mult mai mare decât omuciderea în societatea respectivă, în conştiinţa anumitor femei, cu deosebire asupra lui Tess, o fire religioasă, după cum am mai amintit.
Într-una dintre diferitele locaţii în care activează ca lăptăreasă, Tess îl întâlneşte pe Angel Clare, un caracter diferit în mod radical faţă de cel al lui Alec. Acesta, deşi de o altă condiţie socială, îi oferă femeii posibilitatea de a iubi şi de a fi salvată. Portretul protagonistei este "pictat" de narator cu minuţiozitate, proiectând astfel un fizic de o nespusă frumuseţe -chiar dacă sună a basm- şi, mai ales, la început, un imaculat portret moral, fapt care -mă gândesc- a şi prilejuit sentimentele lui Angel pentru ea, în ciuda condiţiei sociale la care se ţinea cu rigurozitate în ceea ce priveşte alegerea partenerului. Lucrul poate sugera însă şi caracterul bărbatului, definitivat ulterior ca nobil (în adevăratul sens al cuvântului).
În mod paradoxal, într-un punct în care romanul se cam îndepărtează de realism, Alec -bărbatul care o violase- se converteşte, devine preot şi, în cadrul unei "misiuni" ce o ţinea, o întâlneşte din întâmplare pe Tess. Momentul este referenţial, mai ales datorită faptului că personajul masculin din această scenă, Alec, a trecut la antipodul convingerilor morale. Ei! "Căinţă", faptul odată săvârşit fiind, ce însemnătate mai are? Mai mult: în scenă violului (descrisă sumar, din anumite considerenta, dar nu acest lucru are relevanţă, cât ideea în sine), Tess -iar nu Alec- se simte vinovată.
În incipit, este o scenă care anticipează destinul tragic al protagonistei:
-Ziceai că fiecare stea este câte o altă lume, Tess?
-Da.
-Şi lumile astea seamănă cu lumea noastră?
-Nu ştiu, dar aşa cred. Uneori îmi închipui că sunt ca merele din copacul nostru bogat. Cele mai multe sunt frumoase, dar câteva sunt mănate.
-Şi aia în care trăim noi cum e? Frumoasă sau mănată?
-Mănată.
Moartea protagonistei (care are sensul unei sinucideri morale), o să-mi rămână până la finele vieţii întipărită în minte. Parcă şi acum văd silueta femeii îmbrăcate într-un voal alb în timp ce se depărtează, urmând ca -în fine!- să dispară din cadrul vizual al cititorului...
Şi, la urma urmei, "Ce înseamnă un om moral? Sau, mai relevant chiar, ce înseamnă o femeie morală? Frumuseţea sau urâţenia unui caracter nu se află doar în realizările sale, ci şi în scopurile şi pornirile sale. Iar dacă vrei să cunoşti cu adevărat un om, nu-l judecă după faptele sale, ci şi după ce fapte ar fi dorit să facă."
Protagonista lui Thomas Hardy -Tess d'Urberville- devine astfel un mit: victima luptei cu propria conştiinţa.
Apendice: dacă aş fi fost dictator, aş fi impus studierea romanului în cauza în şcoli, iar lecţia dedusă să fie de-a dreptul un examen al maturităţii pentru orice femeie. Astăzi... mai mult ca oricând.
Andrei Tamaş,
Shelves: classics , 1001-core , saddest , drama , family-drama , buddy-read
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review has many spoilers, not only about this book but all those classic works with prominent female protagonists. So, read at your own risk.
So far, I've read Dickens, Woolf, Stoker, Austen, Hawthorne, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Flaubert, Voltaire, Walpole, Radcliffe, Stevenson, James, Hugo and the Brontes. However, for unknown reason, I have been ignoring Hardy along with some of the other masters. Until my friend suggested that we read this. And oh boy, if only I knew that Hardy was this good, This review has many spoilers, not only about this book but all those classic works with prominent female protagonists. So, read at your own risk.
So far, I've read Dickens, Woolf, Stoker, Austen, Hawthorne, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Flaubert, Voltaire, Walpole, Radcliffe, Stevenson, James, Hugo and the Brontes. However, for unknown reason, I have been ignoring Hardy along with some of the other masters. Until my friend suggested that we read this. And oh boy, if only I knew that Hardy was this good, I would have definitely read him ahead of most of the ones I read already!
Written by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), Tess of the d’Ubervilles (1891) tells the story of another strong female classic literary fictional character: Tess Durbeyfield who kills her husband who has made her life miserable and continues to torment her. Hardy defiled the convention of the British society during that time by bravely writing this novel that questions the logic of noble heritage and social prejudice.
She is pretty. She is hot. She is put in a situation when her beauty becomes her liability rather than asset. The highly discriminating British society with its rigid moral codes during that time is the perfect backdrop. Tess is the victim of that time. Had she been born now, people would have loved her and she could even be the most popular actress in the showbiz industry.
Tess Durbeyfield joined the roster of the ten strong female characters that I have so far read in classic literature. Please, I said classic so don’t expect to see Katniss Everdeen, Hermione Granger and Bella Swan. Here are they arranged in chronological order:
(1) Elinor Dashwood – places interest and welfare of her family before her own in Sense and Sensibility (1811) by Jane Austen (1775-1817). Unfortunately, I did not see the same self-sacrificing attitude from Austen’s other famous heroines: Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Emma Woodhouse of Emma.
(2) Catherine Earnshaw - fights for Heathcliff when he is being bullied by her brother Hindley. She lets go of her love to surrender to culture in one of my Top 10 Favorite Novels of all times, Wuthering Heights (1845) by Emily Bronte (1818-1848).
(3) Jane Eyre - she shuns the good looking cousin and goes back to her invalid Rochester even if that means she will take care of him for the rest of her life in Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855).
(4) Mrs. Helen Graham – slams the door while leaving her alcoholic husband to live alone with her child in a faraway estate in The Tenant of the Wildfell Hall (1848) by Anne Bronte (1820-1849).
Oh my God, who could forget (5) Hester Prynne played by the then luscious Demi Moore? – who bears the stigma of having a child without a father in The Scarlet Letter (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864).
Even if you hate her, there is a strength in the character of (6) Madame Bovary - who killed herself by poisoning as she is deep in debt and ditched by her lover and she does not feel anything anymore for her boring husband in Madame Bovary (1856) by Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880). One of my best reads in 2011.
Then of course (7) Anna Karenina – who follows her heart, deserted her husband and child and elopes with her lover. In the final act of surrender, similar to that of Madame Bovary, she kills herself but this time she is more daring. She jumps in front of the speeding train! This is in Anna Karenina (1873) by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) that is said to be the perfect written novel of all times.
(8) Isabel Archer – probably goes back in the end to her spiteful husband because of her love for his husband’s child in The Portrait of the Lady (1881) by Henry James (1843-1916). She may not have done any big heroic deed but the strength of her character is consistent throughout the story.
(9) Tess Durbeyfield - isn't she the prettiest? There is a scene in the book where she is burying her dead child and it is really heartbreaking. That final scene when she has to stand up for her happiness is just breathtaking. Hardy joined the game (of having a strong female character defying the societal rules) quite late in the game, though. That’s why this is in the 9th place. Austen, the Bronte sisters, Hawthorne, Flaubert, Tolstoy and James were there first.
And for the last slot, to illustrate the evolving change in the feminist literature, seemingly, when the 20th century came, there was also a shift from the double-standard or social-prejudice issue to the racial issue. So, my 10th place goes for (10) Jane Mae Crawford – like Rosa Parks, she is a black woman who defied characterizations and racial stereotyping in Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) by Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960). I just thought that the issue of having women subservient to men especially because of social status or of women ostracized by the society because she has a child born out of wedlock is already a non-issue in most societies. What needs to be resolved still is the issues on discrimination emanating from religion, race, financial status, age, gender or even sexual preference.
But... there has to be a Filipina in this list. Well, my favorite line in the book is this: ” “My poor poor Tess, my dearest darling Tess! So sweet, so good, so true!”
This line was uttered by the British old man in Sharon Cuneta’s comeback movie in 2008, Caregiver. This was actually the reason why I decided to pick up and finally read this book because there was a scene in the movie when the old British sick man is castigating Sharon for holding his first edition of this Thomas Hardy book Tess of the d’Ubervilles. So, the next time that Sharon picks up the book to read to the British fool, she is wearing a pair of rubber gloves. Wow, I said. Imagine reading a book wearing rubber gloves! How important and how good is this Tess book?
Well, that question has been answered. The book is important because it shows once again, after many, many years the importance of women in the society.
How good is this book?
Very, very good!
Shelves: i-said
I am quite conflicted by this read.
On the one hand, Hardy’s style is flawless, beautiful as he describes the country side, the dairy, drawing out the vivid landscapes of this story. His delicious bits delight the senses with heart stopping sensitivity. And then there is his Tess our protagonist….poor Tess
is so downtrodden, her journey so bleak, hello Holden Caulfield this is PUT UPON. Still Tess is strong and holds close, her own little sparks, nuggets of hope, she tucks them way back, protectiv I am quite conflicted by this read.
On the one hand, Hardy’s style is flawless, beautiful as he describes the country side, the dairy, drawing out the vivid landscapes of this story. His delicious bits delight the senses with heart stopping sensitivity. And then there is his Tess our protagonist….poor Tess
is so downtrodden, her journey so bleak, hello Holden Caulfield this is PUT UPON. Still Tess is strong and holds close, her own little sparks, nuggets of hope, she tucks them way back, protectively from the constant despair gnaw, gnaw, gnawing on those small blossoms of hope, feeding on all those delicious bits, always hungry, always there.
Sigh……this story sits on my soul.
Shelves: book-club , classics , 2008
Tess Durbeyfield is the eldest daughter of well-meaning but irresponsible working-class parents. Innocent, poor but hard-working, she lets her mother persuade her to go to the home of a d'Urbeville - thought to be a relative, with Tess's father the last of the ancient knightly house of d'Urbeville, now long extinct. Her father is convinced that others should call him Sir John and give him money; her mother, Joan, thinks that putting Tess in the way of gentle folk will win her a gentleman who'll Tess Durbeyfield is the eldest daughter of well-meaning but irresponsible working-class parents. Innocent, poor but hard-working, she lets her mother persuade her to go to the home of a d'Urbeville - thought to be a relative, with Tess's father the last of the ancient knightly house of d'Urbeville, now long extinct. Her father is convinced that others should call him Sir John and give him money; her mother, Joan, thinks that putting Tess in the way of gentle folk will win her a gentleman who'll marry her.
But the d'Urbevilles are not even real d'Urbevilles - they are Stokes, a merchant family who took the other name because it had class and history. The widowed mother is blind, and the son, Alec, is a bit of a scoundrel with an eye for pretty ladies. He certainly has an eye for pretty Tess, and doesn't hesitate to take advantage of her.
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includes mild spoilers
There's no doubt that Tess is a sympathetic character, and that Hardy felt deeply for her. I would be curious to know how this book was received, whether people in general no longer believed that it was a woman's fault for being seduced and losing her virginity outside marriage, in such a way, or whether they changed heart after reading this. The other question, raised by my mother, is whether he is sensationalising the character and her situation for the sake of writing a "blockbuster". I really can't decide what my impression is in this regard.
Divided into six parts, each labelled in such a way that the arch of Tess's story can almost be gleaned from the titles, the novel carries with it an immense amount of tension. Firstly, although I did not really know what this book was about before I started it, I did know that Tess gets raped. Not violently, no - she is too innocent and submissive by nature, and he had every intention of keeping her for longer - but raped nonetheless. So reading part 1, "The Maiden", was a very tense experience, a waiting game, and even if I hadn't known for sure what was coming before starting, there are plenty of hints from Hardy to lead you down that path.
I also expected this book to be heavy and depressing. Strangely enough, I didn't find it to be particularly depressing. Like most books of this period and earlier, it has the omniscient narrator who can explain the motivations, emotions, thoughts and history of the characters, adding extra layers of complexity through revealing all these details. So, as much as I wanted to hate Angel for being such a hypocritical, judgemental, moralistic, unforgiving bastard, I could not. When he asked another of the dairy maids, Izz, to go to Brazil with him I wanted to put out his eyes! But just as quickly as the impulse came upon him he changed his mind, and I could hope again.
Although Tess was annoyingly submissive and agreeable around her husband, her character was understandable, plausible - and here, as with Angel, you really need to feel what the characters are feeling. Yet she had spirit, and strength, and tried to keep Alec away from her - we the reader do not, as Alec does, believe it is all her fault. She has a great line which Alec pays no attention to, but which resonates throughout the centuries as a truism:
"I feel indignant with you for talking to me like this, when you know - when you know what harm you've done me! You, and those like you, take your fill of pleasure on earth by making the life of such as me bitter and black with sorrow; and then it is a fine thing, when you have had enough of that, to think of securing your pleasure in heaven by becoming converted!" (p.387)
There are other things that Hardy points out, such as the subservience of a woman's will to her husband's, and even with the words coming out of Alec's mouth they ring with the author's dismay:
"The fact is," said d'Urbeville drily, "whatever your dear husband believed you accept, and whatever he rejected you reject, without the least inquiry or reasoning on your own part. That's just like you women. Your mind is enslaved to his." (p.400)
Tess defends herself on this score, bringing in her lack of education, but the message is there. Throughout the novel, Tess is put-upon, demeaned, shamed, ostracised, raped, tormented, and abandoned. But there is the language, the rustic-ness of the setting, the simplistic characters and attitudes, the descriptions of the countryside and the work - interesting in its own right - and the insight into a time and place we can no longer visit, because the attitudes have changed so much.
This is one of those books where many events hinge on the bad or simply poor decisions and judgements of the characters. Because of the omniscient narrator, we often know when such-and-such could have been diverted, or some other course taken, but we can shout and shout all we like and Tess and Angel will never hear. This feeling of hopelessness mirrors Tess' own, the feeling that your feet have been set upon a path not of your choosing, and no matter what you do circumstances conspire against you, and you cannot escape. Just as you cannot escape this book.
I could go on and on about this book (I can easily see why people study it at uni), but I'm going to let my thoughts brew for the bookclub meeting. In short, it seems almost like a fluke that I should have enjoyed this as much as I did, and perverse somehow, to enjoy a book about the suffering of another being. But I did enjoy it, and I do recommend it, though I can well imagine that many people would not like it as I did. It is a tragic romance, and a treatise on the sins of having such attitudes (especially towards women), and what they do to people who should be considered innocent, but are held to blame for the faults of others. ...more
Shelves: 5-star-reads , library , 1001-books , nineteenth-century , author-hardy-thomas
It is a season of firsts, and this is my first Hardy. I wonder that I left him neglected so long. As has been observed by more astute readers than I, Hardy incorporates the natural world into his writing.
The gray half-tones of daybreak are not the gray half-tones of the day's close, though the degree of their shade may be the same. In the twilight of the morning, light seems active, darkness passive; in the twilight of evening it is the darkness which is active and crescent, and the light which
It is a season of firsts, and this is my first Hardy. I wonder that I left him neglected so long. As has been observed by more astute readers than I, Hardy incorporates the natural world into his writing.
The gray half-tones of daybreak are not the gray half-tones of the day's close, though the degree of their shade may be the same. In the twilight of the morning, light seems active, darkness passive; in the twilight of evening it is the darkness which is active and crescent, and the light which is the drowsy reverse.
This passage reached a chord with me, as in the winter, there are many days when I see both the sunrise and the sunset. This passage comes early enough in the novel - and early enough in my understanding of it - that I failed to recognize how Hardy has used this description of the natural world to foretell something of Tess herself. Poor good, honest Tess! Poor unworldly, long-suffering Tess!
Hardy also drew upon his knowledge of the natural world to describe a character. Within the remote depths of his constitution, so gentle and affectionate as he was in general, there lay hidden a hard logical deposit, like a vein of metal in a soft loam, which turned the edge of everything that attempted to traverse it.
Being my first Hardy, I was perhaps unprepared. For a story to be worthwhile, and long-lasting, there must be a conflict. Conflict came relatively early, and was seemingly resolved. I was fooled into thinking this is just a quiet, lovely book. Like the character above, there is a vein of metal in a soft loam, which turned the edge of everything. ...more
Shelves: favourites , classics
I simply adored this book - so much so, in fact, that I didn't immediately want to write about it; I don't think I'm going to be able to properly articulate the effect it had on me. I loved so many things about it: Tess herself, who I fell in love with almost straight away and empathised with throughout; the painfully realistic depiction of emotions and reactions; the glorious, romantic descriptions of the landscapes the characters inhabited (which made me yearn for country life even more than I I simply adored this book - so much so, in fact, that I didn't immediately want to write about it; I don't think I'm going to be able to properly articulate the effect it had on me. I loved so many things about it: Tess herself, who I fell in love with almost straight away and empathised with throughout; the painfully realistic depiction of emotions and reactions; the glorious, romantic descriptions of the landscapes the characters inhabited (which made me yearn for country life even more than I already do!); the remarkably modern attitudes displayed in the narrative. Hardy's prose creates such a vivid picture that whenever I put the book down I felt as though I had been watching its events unfold before my eyes, or at the very least watching a film, rather than just reading. This has joined my list of all-time favourites and I will definitely be reading more of Hardy's novels in the near future. ...more
Jun 10, 2009 Bonnie rated it it was amazing
Barbara recommended Tess to me this summer.
This is truly a book for celebrating the beauty of our language. As I read, I rejoiced that English is my native language! Do try to read Tess as leisurely as possible.
Hardy is masterful at weaving an intricate plot. Tess is a resplendent character; she jumps from the pages of the book and emerges as a life force before our very eyes. Her beauty is palpable. The language caresses and jars. We are plunged into the life of small hamlets in the English cou
Barbara recommended Tess to me this summer.
This is truly a book for celebrating the beauty of our language. As I read, I rejoiced that English is my native language! Do try to read Tess as leisurely as possible.
Hardy is masterful at weaving an intricate plot. Tess is a resplendent character; she jumps from the pages of the book and emerges as a life force before our very eyes. Her beauty is palpable. The language caresses and jars. We are plunged into the life of small hamlets in the English countryside. In particular, Hardy invites us into the landscape. Nature dominates:
The dull sky soon began to tell its meaning by sending down herald-drops of rain, and the stagnant air of the day changed into a fitful breeze which played about their faces. The quick-silvery glaze on the rivers and pools vanished; from broad mirrors of light they changed to lusterless sheets of lead, with a surface like a rasp. But that spectacle did not affect her preoccupation. Her countenance, a natural carnation slightly embrowned by the season, had deepened its tinge with the beating of the rain-drops; and her hair, which the pressure of the cows’ flanks had, as usual, caused to tumble down from its fastenings and stray beyond the curtain of her calico bonnet, was made clammy by the moisture, till it hardly was better than seaweed. (p. 156)
In the background section of this edition (Norton Critical Edition edited by Scott Elledge and published in 1965), there is a powerful quote from Hardy’s Notebooks which helped frame (for me) Hardy’s attitude toward religion. I read this prior to reading the novel and it clarified Clare’s agnosticism (in Tess):
Poetry. Perhaps I can express more fully in verse ideas and emotions which run counter to the inert crystallized opinion – hard as a rock – which the vast body of men have vested interests in supporting. To cry out in a passionate poem that (for instance) the Supreme Mover or Movers, the Prime Force or Forces, must be either limited in power, unknowing, or cruel – which is obvious enough, and has been for centuries – will cause them merely a shake of the head; but to put it in argumentative prose will make them sneer, or foam, and set all the literary contortionists jumping upon me, a harmless agnostic, as if I were a clamorous atheist, which in their crass illiteracy they seem to think is the same thing. . . .If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the Inquisition might have let him alone. (p. 332 from The Later Years pp. 57-58)
I just LOVE that last sentence!
I remember that in high school we read The Mayor of Casterbridge. I can only imagine how tedious this was for us back then. The language was wasted - utterly and completely wasted on me. It's taken a long time for me to reach this point: I'm able to luxuriate in and appreciate the richness of Hardy's language. The question in my mind is: when WAS the turning point, anyway? I suspect it was not any discrete point in time, but rather many microsteps towards this point. Anyhow, I am so thankful that I'm here!
Shelves: classic
A few people noted that Hardy is a bit of a hard read, and that turned out to be true. His style is jagged and choppy, bouncing around quite a bit, and never giving you a true glimpse of some scenes important to know how to interpret (such as the question of Tess' seduction or rape by Alec d'Urberville). However, overall, it is an interesting story at least and I enjoyed the book. But considering the ending seemed to be rather ill-fitting to the rest of the tale, I'll have to pass on giving it a A few people noted that Hardy is a bit of a hard read, and that turned out to be true. His style is jagged and choppy, bouncing around quite a bit, and never giving you a true glimpse of some scenes important to know how to interpret (such as the question of Tess' seduction or rape by Alec d'Urberville). However, overall, it is an interesting story at least and I enjoyed the book. But considering the ending seemed to be rather ill-fitting to the rest of the tale, I'll have to pass on giving it a high rating. It was rather disappointing to slog through his odd phrasings and quirks, only to be let down at the end by the characters just magically changing personality traits. I think Tess was a weakling without a mind of her own for the most part, Angel was worthless, and the character with the most potential in the story is the so-called villain, Alec d'Urberville. ...more
Feb 02, 2009 April rated it did not like it
Okay, I understand, I really do, that the author was tackling major issues with this book. Tess was a professional victim. I've, unfortunately, known lots of those. Tess was a woman living in a time when being a woman was depressing and sometimes dangerous...Hardy definitely nailed that one. The religious and social undertones in this book were epic and fatal riptides that philosophers could be lost in for years. That being said: I. HATE. THIS. BOOK. I don't care what he was trying to say, or ho Okay, I understand, I really do, that the author was tackling major issues with this book. Tess was a professional victim. I've, unfortunately, known lots of those. Tess was a woman living in a time when being a woman was depressing and sometimes dangerous...Hardy definitely nailed that one. The religious and social undertones in this book were epic and fatal riptides that philosophers could be lost in for years. That being said: I. HATE. THIS. BOOK. I don't care what he was trying to say, or how realistic it might be, there is nothing but loathing in me for this book. I've not read anything else by the author because of Tess. This is definitely not High School reading material. ...more
Dec 14, 2016 Yani rated it really liked it · review of another edition
-Todo esto ocurre por haber nacido en un astro picado y no en uno sano, ¿verdad, Tess?
Qué buen libro y qué buen final. Temía un poco perderme en la fama que tenía y decepcionarme, pero en la lectura me di cuenta de que la atención puesta en este libro no es gratuita. Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented (título original) habla, muestra, protesta. No creo que Hardy haya sido tan inocente como para no hacerlo adrede y eso se nota en sus prefacios. Imposible no tratar d -Todo esto ocurre por haber nacido en un astro picado y no en uno sano, ¿verdad, Tess?
Qué buen libro y qué buen final. Temía un poco perderme en la fama que tenía y decepcionarme, pero en la lectura me di cuenta de que la atención puesta en este libro no es gratuita. Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented (título original) habla, muestra, protesta. No creo que Hardy haya sido tan inocente como para no hacerlo adrede y eso se nota en sus prefacios. Imposible no tratar de decir algo de una época tan acartonada e hipócrita como la victoriana.
La historia es, desde el principio, muy desgraciada y hay un hecho bisagra (que sucede en los primeros capítulos) que está en casi todas las sinopsis. Me veo en la encrucijada de contarlo o no, pero en todo caso lo oculto como spoiler. Tess Durbeyfield es una joven muy hermosa, hija de un vendedor de colmenas que de la noche a la mañana se entera de que él y sus hijos son el último eslabón de una familia muy antigua, los d’ Urberville. El padre de Tess se pone loco de contento y empieza a proclamar por todo el lugar (esto transcurre en el sur de Gran Bretaña, si no me ubiqué mal en el mapa, en lugares cuyos nombres el autor reelaboró) que es descendiente de caballeros. Ahora bien, parece que alguien más ha adoptado la forma original del apellido en la región y cuando se produce un momento de necesidad económica (los Durbeyfield son pobres) la envían a Tess a pedir limosna, básicamente. Y, si es posible, que se case con el joven de la familia.
El acontecimiento que marca todo el resto del libro y no se puede obviar del todo es que (view spoiler) [ el joven Alec d’ Urberville se obsesiona con Tess y abusa de ella mientras estaba dormida en el bosque. Por supuesto, él lo va a negar y a decir que tuvo su consentimiento, cuando en realidad Tess no sabía ni lo que estaba haciendo, gracias a la ignorancia a la que los padres sometían a sus hijas en lo tocante al tema. (hide spoiler) ] Esto pondrá en duda, por la consecuencia que trae, qué tan pura es Tess. Porque a ella nadie le preguntará qué pasó y si se siente bien, no, no. Ni su madre (una bestia) lo hará. A Tess la señalarán con el dedo y murmurarán detrás de sus espaldas, no importa si se quiebra el cuerpo trabajando y trata de ganarse el sustento. Entonces Tess tendrá que buscar un rumbo nuevo e irse de la casa paterna. Previamente, habrá un cruce con un personaje importante de la historia, Angel. Cuento todo esto porque, más allá de que el libro sea literariamente bueno, creo que la historia merece un foco aparte.
Hardy lleva al lector a dar un paseo (no siempre grato) por el campo. La ciudad siempre es algo lejano, un lugar de rebote, no de paso. A la ciudad se va para viajar hacia otra parte, al campo se va a vivir experiencias. Las descripciones en tercera persona de los trabajos rurales son muy buenas (y supongo que acertadas, porque admito que no busqué el proceso de elaboración de la manteca en esos tiempos, por ejemplo) y demuestran el poder de observación y de compromiso del escritor, quien, al parecer, tenía ciertos problemas con la industrialización. Pone a prueba a la gente, porque los términos que utiliza no son los que una acostumbra a cruzarse en los libros, ya que la labor en la lechería tiene sus términos específicos, al igual que las demás. En ese momento la lectura se entrecorta un poco. El único tramo en donde sentí que el libro se hacía lento fue durante la cuarta y la quinta parte, porque hay algunos hechos que se alargan innecesariamente y esto, acompañado de las descripciones de Hardy, me causó cierto malestar.
Otra cosa que fue difícil de seguir porque era omnipresente: la religión. En este libro coexisten personajes con creencias pertenecientes a distintas iglesias. No recuerdo si hay algún capítulo en donde no se mencione algo de eso. Me parece que existe cierta crítica de Hardy en algunas frases, sobre todo porque ninguna de las religiones es capaz de albergar a Tess, que tiene una confusión tremenda en cuanto eso. Supongo que pensar esto hace que haya alguna utilidad en toda esa parafernalia de credos y mucho más en una población rural, pero en un punto me agotó. (view spoiler) [ De más está decir que nunca creí en la conversión de Alec en un predicador, cosa que no le dura mucho porque él mismo se encarga de volver a los vicios. Es una de las ironías del destino de las mujeres: Alec encuentra consuelo en la religión, Tess no. (hide spoiler) ]
En cuanto a los personajes, todos poseen sus luces y sus sombras. Hardy los matizó maravillosamente bien porque en algunas situaciones una duda de ellos, de su verdadera personalidad. Las reacciones que cada uno de ellos tiene ante el pasado de Tess sirven como vara para medir, por ejemplo. Y más de uno causa una decepción, ya que se espera más compasión por la protagonista. Tess me cayó bien como heroína porque toma decisiones pero es exasperante cuando no piensa por sí misma. Está atravesada (y me juego a que está hecha así a propósito) por las creencias de los demás, por los pensamientos ajenos, por los tiempos ajenos. Piensa que su condición la limita y no tiene otra opción que agachar la cabeza y dejarse manipular. Como ya dije, el siglo XIX se encargó de destrozar a las mujeres con su paradigma moral insostenible y disparejo (view spoiler) [ (un hombre puede tener deslices, como Angel y Alec, pero una mujer no) (hide spoiler) ] y el desinterés por verlas más allá del rol de esposa, madre y cosa (sí, ser una cosa sigue siendo un rol). (view spoiler) [ Es muy impresionante la parte en la que Tess se “afea” porque advierte que su principal problema es ser hermosa y llamar la atención de hombres a los cuales ella no les pide ninguna opinión. (hide spoiler) ] La ingenuidad y la desesperación por ser aceptada la llevan a cometer un error muy grande y pierde lo que más quiere por eso. Tess es arrastrada por las circunstancias, a fin de cuentas. Los demás protagonistas, como Angel, el desagradable Alec, los padres de Tess (aunque estos aparecen menos) y las nada rencorosas Izz y Marian, contribuyen a elaborar el destino de Tess.
El final es inesperado pero el libro da pistas y hay que prestar atención. Hardy plantea un dilema y, aunque se evidencia que está de parte de Tess, el narrador trata de tomar distancia del asunto y está bien. Pienso que, de haber ocurrido eso en el principio, el curso de la historia hubiera sido el mismo, así que está puesto estratégicamente para que impacte y cierre el libro.
No sé si seré muy exagerada al decir que Tess me pareció uno de los mejores libros escritos durante la época victoriana. Hay muchos y tal vez en un punto todos se asemejan, por eso me atrevo a decirlo. Y creo que la protagonista sufrida y desesperada, en este caso, toma un riesgo que no vi que lo tomaran otras. Me quedo con la sensación de que Tess logró cubrir mis expectativas con sólo contarme la historia de una mujer desdichada, víctima de su entorno íntimo y del contexto social. ...more
| Tess of the d'Urbervilles |
The 1990s American TV series Angel was a spin-off from which other TV series? | 1000 novels everyone must read: Love (part two) | Books | The Guardian
1000 novels everyone must read
Saturday 17 January 2009 07.00 EST
First published on Saturday 17 January 2009 07.00 EST
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Johann Wolfgang Goethe: The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)
Legal trainee Werther meets Lotte at a ball. They dance and recite poetry; Werther falls in love. Albert, Lotte's fiance, returns from a business trip; Werther gets depressed. Lotte and Albert marry; Werther shoots himself. This epistolary novel turned young Goethe into a national superstar, inspired at least half a dozen copycat suicides and even triggered a Werther-style fashion craze (yellow trousers, blue jacket). In plot terms, it's hard to see what all the fuss was about, but there is something so archetypal about the forlorn self-absorption of Werther's letters that reading them is not unlike listening to a classic pop record. Philip Oltermann
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Henry Green: Living (1929)
A three-in-one — along with Party Going (1939) and Loving (1945) — from one of the high priests of English Modernism. Living draws on Green's experiences of working in his family's Birmingham factory. Loving is set in an Irish country house (above stairs and below) during wartime. Party Going features a gang of Bright Young People trapped by fog in a hotel at Victoria station while crowds seethe on the platform below. Each comes garnished with elliptical dialogue, bizarre symbols and the scent of trouble beyond the horizon. DJ Taylor
Graham Greene : The End of the Affair (1951)
"This is a record of hate far more than of love," begins the novelist narrator Maurice Bendrix. The affair between Maurice and Sarah, married to the dull but decent civil servant Henry Miles, has been over for two years before the novel opens one rainy January night on Clapham Common in 1946. Maurice determines to find out why Sarah ended their relationship so abruptly — only to discover that instead of another lover, as he fears, she made a promise to God to renounce him after she believed he had been killed in an air raid. The last of Greene's so-called Catholic books (dedicated to C — Catherine Walston, his affair with whom was the basis for the novel), it is one his best. Lisa Allardice
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Thomas Hardy : Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)
Hardy's breakthrough Wessex novel, in which he tells a bundle of stories while creating a whole world (which, as Hardy reminds us, is forever gone). The sheep farmer Gabriel Oak loves the beautiful but capricious Bathsheba Everdene. His hopes are dashed when his flock is lost. Bathsheba, who inherits a farm, is subsequently courted by the dashing Sergeant Troy. They marry, he is unfaithful (his other love, Fanny Robin, dies with their child in a workhouse). Troy decamps and is thought drowned. After seven years, Bathsheba is legally a widow, and accepts an offer of marriage from the stolid farmer, William Boldwood. Oak, meanwhile, is employed by her as farm steward. Troy returns and is shot dead by Boldwood. Oak, on the foundation of this tragedy, finally wins Bathsheba. John Sutherland
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Thomas Hardy: Jude the Obscure (1895)
Hardy's last full-length Wessex novel provoked a storm of protest for anti-marriage doctrines. Jude Fawley, an orphan (with a mysterious scandal in his background), is inspired by the village schoolteacher, Phillotson, to educate himself. His rigorous programme of self-help ends when he is tricked into marriage by the carnal Arabella Donn. They separate and, now a stonemason, Jude goes to Christminster (Oxford), where he falls in love with a cousin, Sue Bridehead, a neurotic new woman. Their sinful union turns to catastrophe when their eldest child kills himself and his siblings. All ends tragically. This, Virginia Woolf asserted, is the only one of Hardy's novels which could be accused of pessimism. It is fairer to see it as a powerful contradiction to Victorian optimism. JS
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Thomas Hardy: Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891)
The story, subtitled "A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented", is Hardy's most poignant chronicle of life's ironies and the pain of the human condition. Tess Durbeyfield is the daughter of a Wessex carter, who is absurdly proud when told that his blood is that of ancient Norman lineage. Tess goes to work for the family who have (for cash) acquired the D'Urberville name. She is raped by the son of the house, Alec, and bears a child that dies. At her next place of work, the idealistic Angel Clare falls in love with her. On their wedding night, he discovers her impurity. The marriage is over. Alec reappears, as does Angel. Driven to murdering Alec, Tess is hanged. Angel consoles himself with her purer younger sister. Hardy never believed in angels. JS
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Thomas Hardy: The Woodlanders (1887)
Hardy's favourite Wessex novel and the one which most movingly chronicles his notion of "intelligent intercourse with nature". The forester, Giles Winterborne, is loved by a peasant girl, Marty South, but does not return her love. Marty is obliged to sell her one physical attraction: her magnificent head of hair. It is acquired by the lady of the manor, Felice Charmond. Winterborne's fortunes fail. He loses the woman he loves, Grace Melbury, to the dashing doctor, Edred Fitzpiers. He is unfaithful, but divorce is impossible. After a series of mishaps, Grace finds herself in the woods. Giles gives her shelter in his hut, sleeps outside, catches a chill, and dies. The novel ends with Grace and Marty grieving over his grave. JS
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LP Hartley: The Go-Between (1953)
"The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there" is the famous first line of LP Hartley's novel about memory, class and sex. Leo Colston, now in his 60s, looks back at the long hot summer of 1900, which he spent at a Norfolk country house, visiting his wealthy school friend Marcus Maudsley. Twelve-year-old Leo unwittingly becomes a "go-between" for Marcus's sister Marian and her farmer lover Ted — and ultimately an agent of both their disaster and his own. It is impossible to read The Go-Between and not be sucked into the claustrophobic intensity of that summer — the heat, Leo's discomfort and burgeoning sexuality — and not feel changed, like the narrator, for ever. Its iconic status was sealed with a film adapted by Harold Pinter, starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates; there are clear echoes in Michael Frayn's Spies and Ian McEwan's Atonement. LA
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Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Scarlet Letter (1850)
In the 17th-century puritan settlement of Boston, Hester Prynne is shunned and publicly shamed by the community for bearing a child out of wedlock. She is also condemned to wear a "fantastically embroidered" scarlet "A" on her dress. Unknown to her, her elderly husband — whom she believes to be dead — has returned, and is determined to discover the identity of the child's father. His hounding of the town's preacher leads to an intense and relentless portrayal of guilt and moral anguish. Hawthorne's long preface, "The Custom-House", which functions both as framing device and historical note, has become almost as celebrated as the novel itself. Adam Newey
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Shirley Hazzard: The Transit of Venus (1980)
The Transit of Venus introduces two Australian sisters, Caro and Grace Bell, and tracks their inner and outer lives through the second half of the 20th century. Here is love in several guises: affairs in rented rooms and city parks; unrequited devotion, nurtured at a distance; marriages both dutiful and sophisticated. Hazzard's epigrammatic sentences and short, lapidary paragraphs take a little getting used to. But be patient. Scene after scene has indelible richness and beauty: Grace and her son's doctor escaping the rain; Caro and the physicist Ted Tice on a boat in Stockholm; Caro appearing naked beside her lover at an open window, his fiancee staring up at them from below. William Fiennes
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Ernest Hemingway : A Farewell to Arms (1929)
Written when he was only 30 and drawing on Hemingway's experiences as an ambulance driver in the first world war, this is considered to be one of the greatest war novels of all time. But it is also a story of love triumphing over war. Serving on the Italian front, Lieutenant Henry finds refuge in an affair with English nurse Catherine Barkley, emotionally wounded by the death of her fiance in the Somme. Their romance blossoms from escapism to true love and Henry deserts the army so they can be together. After a briefly blissful period in a hut in the Swiss mountains, Papa Hemingway punishes them both for their happiness, killing off poor Catherine in childbirth. If the final scene of a grief-stricken Henry leaving the hospital in a rainstorm doesn't reduce grown men to tears nothing will. LA
Alan Hollinghurst : The Swimming-Pool Library(1988)
Hollinghurst's debut novel was hailed as a ground-breaking work for its frank depiction of metropolitan gay life. Through the association of the privileged and promiscuous young aristocrat, William Beckwith, and the octogenarian Lord Nantwich, who asks him to write his biography, the novel chronicles more than half a century of gay experience. It is set in the hot, hedonistic summer of 1983 and while the spectre of Aids looms (the book is dedicated to one of its fi rst victims), the subject is more fully explored by the author's Booker-winning account of Thatcher's Britain — The Line of Beauty, which picks up where the earlier novel ends. Ginny Hooker
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WH Hudson: Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest (1904)
In this exotic romance Abel leaves the city of Caracas for the uncharted forests. He settles in an Indian village and meets Rima, the last survivor of an aboriginal race. The book became a cult classic. Hudson was a conservationist and gained a reputation for his natural history writing. In 1959 the novel was turned into a film with Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins, but it was a box office failure. Kohinoor Sahota
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Zora Neale Hurston: Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)
A landmark novel in African-American fiction, Their Eyes Were Watching God was written in only seven weeks, as the author was getting over a failed romance of her own. It was published to controversy in 1937 and rescued by Virago decades later. Through three marriages to three very different men, Janie Crawford, whose grandmother was born into slavery and dreamed of a better life for the heroine, finally finds both love and liberation with a younger man called Tea Cake. Hurston knew true love never runs smooth and the couple overcome rages and jealousies, as well as tough physical challenges. But it doesn't end well for poor Janie. Hurston herself died in poverty and obscurity. Zadie Smith, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker are all fans. LA
Aldous Huxley : Crome Yellow (1921)
In Huxley's first novel, callow poet Denis Stone is invited to a house party at Crome (a barely-fictionalised Garsington Manor, home of Bloomsbury socialite Lady Ottoline Morrell and scene of many a real-world literary bash). As he falls ineffectually in love with his host's niece, and fails to capture the experience in verse, the remainder of the guests disport themselves in a variety of inventively idiosyncratic fashions, ranging from the declaiming of portions of the house's history to the losing of virginity on the rooftop. A crisp satire of the affectations of post-first world war lettered society. Sarah Crown
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Kazuo Ishiguro : The Remains of the Day (1989)
When butler Stevens sets out on a road trip to visit his former housekeeper, Miss Kenton, who is on the verge of leaving her marriage, he tells himself that his motives, as always, are purely professional. Looking back over 30 years of loyal service to Lord Darlington, Stevens reveals a life of sterile duty, routine and denial — in which his chance of personal happiness never stretched beyond an evening cup of cocoa with Miss Kenton. When Miss Kenton confesses to her lost hopes of a life with Stevens, his realisation of his own wasted past is as understated yet shocking as if he had smashed the best china. This masterful study of repression, regret and a dying class system won the Booker in 1989 and was made into a Merchant Ivory film, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, naturally. LA
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Henry James : Portrait of a Lady (1881)
Why does Isabel Archer go back to Gilbert Osmond? There can be few questions more often asked of the ending of a novel. The story of a young American woman "affronting her destiny", James endows his heroine with every possibility for freedom and happiness — an inheritance, independence of mind and beauty — only for her to become trapped by the Machiavellian Madame Merle and the sinister Osmond. Not even a passionate embrace with the manly Caspar Goodwood (is there a sexier kiss in all of literature?) can make her change her mind and renounce her duty. From the moment the dying Ralph entreats her "if you've been hated you've also been loved. Ah but, Isabel — adored!" the rest of the novel is a blur of tears. LA
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Henry James: The Wings of the Dove (1902)
Kate Croy (portrayed by Helena Bonham-Carter in the decidedly sexualised 1997 film), modern, clever and ruthless, is forbidden from marrying the impoverished Merton Densher. When a terminally ill American heiress — Milly Theale — falls for Densher, the couple persuade Milly that her affections are returned, hoping she will leave Densher her fortune. And this she does. Guilt, however, wrecks Densher and warns the reader to heed James's message: that love had better not exist for anything other than its own sake. Rosalind Porter
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Elfriede Jelinek: The Piano Teacher (1983)
Erika Kohut, a piano teacher at the Vienna Conservatory, has spent her entire life under the close watch of a domineering mother, to whom she owes her artistic success, but also a disturbed inner life. An affair with one of her students triggers a speedy decline into abuse and self-destruction. Not a love story in the conventional sense, but a powerful depiction of the way in which the ties with our parents affect our later relationships. Expressionistic, vivid and much more readable than critics of this 2004 Nobel prizewinner have it. PO
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Yasunari Kawabata: Beauty and Sadness (1964)
Oki, a successful middle-aged writer, revisits Otoko, with whom he had a disastrous aff air when she was only 15 years old. Otoko is now an acclaimed artist and recluse living with her young maid and lover, Keiko. A story dealing with Kawabata's usual themes of desire, betrayal and revenge ensues, written in his characteristically cool, spare prose. This unsettling novel is itself a work of great beauty and sadness. When he was 72, Kawabata, Japan's first Nobel laureate, stuck his head in the oven and gassed himself. He left no note. LA
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MM Kaye: The Far Pavilions (1978)
This long novel has spawned tours of India, a musical play, and a TV adaptation. It spans a quarter of a century of history in its story of Englishman Ashton Pelham-Martyn, who is brought up a Hindu and falls in love with the Indian princess Anjuli. The novel was inspired by 19th-century romantic epics, Kaye's grandfather's writings, and her Indian childhood. Director Peter Duffell's famous adaptation in 1984 starred Ben Cross, Omar Sharif and Christopher Lee. KS
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Nikos Kazantzakis: Zorba the Greek (1946)
A nameless narrator seeks life experience away from the books that have dominated his existence — and gets it in spades when he employs Zorba to be the foreman of his mine in Crete. The eponymous hero's lustful energy and "great brute soul" are enchanting, while Kazantazkis has seduced generations of readers with his questioning philosophy and heady evocation of stolen love, the bonds of friendship, blue seas, wine drunk under the stars and a lost moment on a distant island. Sam Jordison
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Milan Kundera : The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (1978)
The French philosopher Henri Bergson once described comedy as "a temporary anasthaesia of the heart" — it would make for a spot-on definition of Kundera's fifth novel as well. A self-consciously clever work with a jumpy narrative focus, it doesn't succumb to the more ponderous French style of his later novels, nor does it seem to have the same faith in love as a counter-political force that Kundera displayed in The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It's a sad book: a particularly melancholy orgy scene springs to mind, as does the final sentence — "their bare genitals stared stupidly and sadly at the white sand". Which is to say — some might argue — that Kundera captured the essence of love quite successfully. PO
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Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1982)
Kundera ponders the French revolution, Hitler, the Bible and Nietzsche's concept of eternal return — and that's just the first four pages. Against the backdrop of the emerging Prague spring, several characters explore their sexual, political and artistic freedoms and loyalties: there's Tomas, a young surgeon, his wife Tereza, a photographer, and Sabina, one of Tomas's several mistresses. The image that most people associate with Kundera's best-known work is Lena Olin's Sabina wearing only lingerie and a bowler hat in Philip Kaufman's 1988 film version. That's not necessarily unintended: Kundera's masterpiece manages a delicate balancing act between cerebral weight and sensual lightness. PO
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Pierre-Ambroise-François Choderlos de Laclos: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1782)
Laclos, an artillery officer from a provincial regiment, knew exactly what he was doing when he published Les Liaisons Dangereuses: "I resolved to write a book which would create some stir in the world and continue to do so after I had gone from it." His central characters are aristocratic profligates who consider themselves above morality and amuse themselves by plotting the seduction of a young girl. The epistolary form enables Laclos to withhold judgment on his wickedly attractive protagonists in a way which still seems dangerous today. Glenn Close and John Malkovich gave unforgettable peformances as the malevolent lovers in Stephen Frear's Academy award-winning 1989 film, based on the Christopher Hampton's script for the stage. Claire Armistead
DH Lawrence : Lady Chatterley's Lover (1960)
Constance Chatterley, the frustrated wife of a paralysed war veteran and mine owner, finds herself drawn to the family's gamekeeper. Through her attraction to Mellors, and their famously explicit affair — rich in forget-me-nots and four-letter-words — Lawrence developed his ideal of the natural man, uninhibited by class and social convention. At first privately printed, its publication in 1960 led to the prosecution of Penguin for obscenity. Was it, asked the prosecutor, the kind of book "you would wish your wife or servants to read"? The collapse of the case, after a defence featuring several top scholars, became a landmark of freedom to publish works of literary merit. CA
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DH Lawrence: The Rainbow (1915)
Banned as obscene for 11 years on publication in 1915, The Rainbow follows the turbulent lives and loves of three generations of the Brangwen family of Marsh Farm in Lawrence's native Nottinghamshire. A moving paean to a vanishing pastoral England, an enlightened manifesto for female emancipation and a bold challenge to the realist novel — The Rainbow, like its equally controversial sequel Women in Love, is remembered by most of its readers for the sex. It remains potentially dangerous reading for romantically inclined teenagers. LA
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DH Lawrence: Women in Love (1920)
Like many modernists, DH Lawrence was preoccupied with the possibility of unity and believed love could bridge — or further — the fragmentary nature of post-industrial life. Perhaps nowhere in the literary tradition is love permitted such messianic value than in his saccharinely titled fifth novel. Through the story of two couples struggling to negotiate their individualism within a relationship, the Lawrentian metaphysic is tried and tested. The most memorable scene in Ken Russell's 1969 film is certainly when Alan Bates and Oliver Reed wrestle naked, but action is largely relegated to the almost cosmic dimension of the characters' inner lives. RP
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Rosamond Lehmann: The Echoing Grove (1953)
Two sisters, Madeleine and Dinah, meet again after a long period of estrangement. This intense, intricately plotted novel tells of the love triangle that existed between the sisters and Madeleine's husband Rickie Masters, who died suddenly and unglamorously from a stomach ulcer — leaving them both to deal with his loss and betrayal. On publication the novel was dismissed as "very much a woman's book" by John Betjeman and other critics, but since being republished by Virago has gained admirers of both sexes. Lehmann herself had a complicated personal life, including a 10-year-affair with the poet Cecil Day Lewis, which drove her to distraction when he left her for an actress. LA
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Rosamond Lehmann: The Weather in the Streets (1936)
Lehmann's readers would write to her constantly: "Oh Miss Lehmann, this is my story! — how did you know?" In everything she wrote Lehmann distilled the exact essence of what we actually feel when we love another human being. Olivia Curtis, the endearing heroine of this irresistible novel, has left home to work in London. She meets a gorgeous, older, married man, and their love affair and its outcome has become a bible for generations of women who did — and do — and who felt — and feel — exactly the same as Olivia. Carmen Callil
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Anita Loos: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925)
An anatomy of flapperdom. A New York "professional lady" is advised by one of her many gentlemen friends to put "all of my thoughts" on paper. Currently she is the other woman in the life of the Gus Eisman who sends her off to Europe for some cultivation. There she dances with the Prince of Wales, finds Paris "Deevine" [sic] and in Vienna flummoxes "Dr Froyd". She concludes, "American gentlemen are the best after all, because kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and safire [sic] bracelet last forever". The character was immortalised by Marilyn Monroe in the film, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (1956). JS
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Alison Lurie: Foreign Aff airs (1984)
Two professors are sent from America to London for research assignments: the 54-year-old, unmarried, unattractive Vinnie Miner, and the 29-year-old, recently divorced, handsome Fred Turner. They both gradually spend more time on romance than work: Vinnie has an unlikely affair with a sanitary engineer, and Fred falls for an aristocratic actress. This witty and charming novel won a Pulitzer prize in 1985. KS
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Amin Maalouf: Samarkand (1989)
The poet Omar Khayyam is accused of mocking Islam, but the judge recognises Omar's genius and spares him. He is given a book with blank pages in which to inscribe his thoughts, and through this we are transported to 11th-century Persia, complete with lovers, courts and bazaars. Maalouf's story recreates the manuscript of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, blending fact and fiction. KS
Thomas Mann : Death in Venice (1912)
When the ageing writer Gustav von Aschenbach catches sight of a young boy in Venice, his assumption that love is an ailment of the undisciplined character is dismantled. As a critique of stoical rationalism, Death in Venice shows how Aschenbach's "path of least resistance" attitude to matters of the heart gains him professional stature, but is ultimately what kills him — what death relieves him of. Unlike many novels which examine love's consequences, it is absolute in its endorsement of emotion, allowing even the most taboo of passions to be celebrated for their redemptive qualities. RP
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Dacia Maraini: The Silent Duchess (1990)
Marianna Ucra, the daughter of an aristocratic family in 18th-century Sicily, has been left deaf and mute by an unspecified childhood trauma. Married to her ageing uncle at 13, she endures a life of mental confinement amid the decadent corruption of her family. But on the death of her husband, she finally starts to find the freedom she craves — as well as the truth about the events that caused her deafness. Marianna's soundless world, in which all her other senses are heightened, is rendered with astonishing clarity. The novel brought Maraini, a winner of Italy's prestigious Premio Strega, both critical and commercial success. AN
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Javier Marías: A Heart So White (1992)
A mysterious suicide, an overheard plan for murder and casual art fraud: this Impac award-winning novel bears the hallmarks of a detective story, but Marías's mysteries form the backdrop for something more existential. The narrator and his wife Luisa are both translators at high-powered political meetings, and the novel delicately riffs on themes of communication and misunderstanding between individuals. Richly layered but concise in its depiction of comic or tragic set-pieces, this is surely the first and last book to get romantic mileage out of a meeting between Margaret Thatcher and Juan Carlos of Spain. PO
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Gabriel García Márquez : Love in the Time of Cholera (1985)
Fifty-one years, nine months and four days after Florentino Ariza was rejected for another man by the beautiful Fermina Daza, he finds her helping out at her husband's wake. In the intervening years, he has made a fortune and sampled every variety of love, but has "not stopped thinking of her for a single moment". Set in a steaming, disease-prone and politically unstable Caribbean country, and culminating in the reunion of the aged lovers aboard a riverboat, García Márquez's novel delicately concludes that true passion is not the preserve of young bodies. CA
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Somerset Maugham: Of Human Bondage (1915)
Philip Carey is miserable and lonely in small-town Blackstable. He is orphaned, brought up by his uncle, and is embarrassed by his club foot. He trains as a doctor in London, where he meets the loud and irresistible Mildred, but their affair nearly ruins him. This is the thinly disguised autobiography of Maugham's life: he grew up in Whitstable, was orphaned and had a bad stutter. It is regarded as his masterpiece. KS
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William Maxwell: So Long, See You Tomorrow (1980)
Based on a true scandal in 1920s Illinois of an affair between a tenant farmer's wife and her husband's best friend, this tale of adultery and murder was first serialised in the New Yorker, where Maxwell worked as fiction editor for 40 years. The betrayal between the two families is reflected in the smaller betrayal of the uneasy boyhood friendship between the narrator and the murderer's son. At barely over 100 lean, immaculately crafted pages, this humane novella depicts the devastating impact wreaked by adult passions. "There was nothing to be done about it. He didn't want to not love her. It was as simple as that." LA
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Carson McCullers: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940)
McCullers was just 23 when she wrote this aching parable of alienation, spotlighting the inhabitants of a Depression-era Georgia mill-town. John Singer is the deaf-mute who plays the role of father-confessor to a quartet of lost souls (glum restaurateur, adolescent girl, black doctor, drunken socialist). McCullers's deft vignettes touch on issues of race, class and religion. They also give a voice to America's hidden majority — the people who, in Thoreau's words, "lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them". Xan Brooks
Ian McEwan : Atonement (2001)
A broken vase, a mistaken letter, a sexual encounter in a library, a crime, a lie — as so often with the opening of a McEwan novel, it is hard to tell the exact moment at which events begin to spiral into catastrophe. Thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis — the go-between for her elder sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner, the son of their housekeeper — commits a sin for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone. What begins as an apparently nostalgic English country house novel set just before the outbreak of the second world war turns, again as always with McEwan, into something altogether darker and more complicated. One of the most justly celebrated novels of recent years. LA
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Ian McEwan: The Child in Time (1987)
The central narrative of McEwan's novel passionately opposes two kinds of love: a man's love for a woman, and his love for their child. The full force of the latter is unleashed when Stephen's three-year-old daughter Kate is abducted in a supermarket. (No one who reads the novel forgets the slow terror of this episode.) As Stephen searches obsessively for Kate, his love for her mother, Julie, seems to slip away and disappear. A peculiar sub-plot, in which Stephen's friend, a Thatcherite MP, regresses into childhood, is thematically related, but can hardly match up to the story of love numbed by the loss of a child. John Mullan
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George Meredith: The Egoist (1879)
A novel which many Victorians would have proposed as one of the greatest that their literary culture produced. The egoist is Sir Willoughby Patterne, a man brought up surrounded by wealth and female adoration. On coming into his inheritance, he announces his engagement to Constantia Durham — but she sees through him and elopes with another man. Willoughby tours the world for three years and when he returns he ignores the devotion of Laetitia Dale, who has always loved him. Instead he courts Clara Middleton, the daughter of a wine-loving clergyman. They become engaged, but confronted by Clara's reluctance, he treacherously forms a second engagement with Laetitia. He is exposed. Laetitia remains true to her egoist. The novel embodies Meredith's complex theory of the comic spirit and deserves to be read more than it is nowadays. JS
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Henry Miller: Tropic of Cancer (1934)
First published in Paris, and banned almost everywhere else until the 1960s, Miller's semi-autobiographical stories of sexual liberation no longer seem outrageous, but they are worth fussing over. His words leap from the page, imbued with passion for life on the seedy side of Paris, and rich in the earthy pleasures of wine, women and cursing. George Orwell called it "the most important book of the mid-1930s". It remains just as vital today. SJ
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Margaret Mitchell: Gone with the Wind (1936)
Journalist Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind, her first and only novel published during her lifetime, over 10 years in secret, while convalescing from a riding injury — refusing to show the manuscript to anyone except her husband because she thought it was "lousy". When it was finally published it was an overnight sensation, winning Mitchell the Pulitzer prize. The 1939 epic starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable was the highest grossing film in the history of Hollywood and sealed its fate as one of the most popular love stories of all time (the film was responsible for the famous "frankly"). It has, apparently, sold more copies than any book since, apart from the Bible. LA
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Nancy Mitford: The Pursuit of Love (1945)
The Radlett girls, by now, are immortal. Their slang is dated, their snobbery unpalatable, and their upbringing, by a roaring Uncle Matthew in an unheated country house, probably illegal by today's standards. Yet upper-class Linda Radlett and her sisters still hold their charm. The mercurial Linda flits from the London season to the Spanish civil war to the Paris salons, acquiring and shedding men along the way, to the delight and horror of her sisters and faithful friend Fanny (the "Hons"). Satirical yet affectionate, the novel draws on Mitford's own upbringing, and provides a sepia portrait of what it meant to grow up longing for romance among the 1930s landed gentry. Carrie O'Grady
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Nancy Mitford: Love in a Cold Climate (1949)
Mitford's follow-up to The Pursuit of Love is, amazingly, even more brittle, sparkling and outrageous. The Radlett family are still in evidence, but they play second fiddle to the Hamptons, particularly young Polly, whose polite manner must surely hide a secret. Her mother, Lady Montdore, is a terrific old battleaxe, one of literature's great gems; as is Cedric, who calls everyone "angel" and dresses up as Romance for a fancy-dress ball. The comedy becomes all the more entrancing when you realise how dark is the story it adorns. CO
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Elsa Morante: Arturo's Island: A Novel (1957)
Arturo lives on his father's island, his mother is dead, and he is left in the care of a staff of black-clad women. When his father returns with a new wife, close to Arturo's age, he is full of contempt for her. In a mix of Sophoclean drama and soap opera, things take a turn for the unexpected. The novel won Italy's most prestigious literary award, the Premio Strega, and was made into a film in 1962 by Daniano Damiani. KS
Haruki Murakami : Norwegian Wood (1987)
Murakami's best-known work is also his simplest; a straightforward story of boy-meets-girl-then-a-different-girl, elevated by deceptively mild, deliciously cool prose. Hearing a Beatles song on the radio, 37-year-old businessman Toru is jerked back to his student days, during which, after the suicide of his best friend, Kizuki, he comforted then fell for Kizuki's lovely but fragile girlfriend, Naoko. When she retreated to a sanatorium in the mountains, however, he became involved with vibrant Midori; torn between the two, he risked losing both. Murakami's novel is used with sadness for time's passing; a quietly poignant anthem for doomed youth. SC
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Vladimir Nabokov : Lolita, or the Confessions of a White Widowed Male (1955)
Like Joyce's Ulysses, a scandalous bestseller, but also a major work of modern literature. The work's vexed route to publication — over the barriers which Anglo-American censorship placed in its way — altered the notion of what was permissible in literature. The hero-narrator is Humbert Humbert (a pseudonym). Cosmopolitan to his core, he comes to barbarous America. Humbert is obsessed by "nymphets", pubescent girls, "between the age limits of nine and fourteen". One such is his landlady's daughter, Dolores (Lolita) Haze. Humbert marries the mother to get at the girl. When the mother dies he and Lolita travel round America, as lovers (she increasingly unwilling) pursued by another sexual predator, Clare Quilty. All ends bloodily, with Humbert incarcerated for murder. JS
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RK Narayan: The Painter of Signs (1976)
Raman's life follows a simple routine: he lives with his aunt, he's a sign painter and he spends his evenings in the temple. When he meets Daisy, a worker from the Family Planning Health Centre who is dedicated to bringing birth control to the people, he considers giving up his painting. This is a bittersweet love story full of humour, irony and warmth, set in Narayan's fictional city of Malgudi. He was short-listed for the Nobel prize several times but never won. KS
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Anaïs Nin: Delta of Venus (1978)
The Kama Sutra, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, and Nin's friends' sexual encounters were just some of the sources for this story. Her fiction is titillating, sentimental and dream-like as it explores how sex is nothing without emotion. Nin was commissioned to write the book in the 1940s for a private collector and although it was originally classed as pornography, it was later praised as one of the finest examples of female erotica. KS
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The Angel tube station in London holds the European record for which piece of engineering? | Escalator | Wikidwelling | Fandom powered by Wikia
Escalators are used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be impractical. Principal areas of usage include department stores , shopping malls , airports , transit systems , convention centers , hotels , and public buildings.
The benefits of escalators are many. They have the capacity to move large numbers of people, and they can be placed in the same physical space as one might install a staircase. They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic), they can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits, and they may be weatherproofed for outdoor use.
In 2004, it was estimated that the United States had 30,000 escalators, and that people used escalators 90 billion times each year. [1]
Contents
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Escalators, like moving walkways , are powered by constant-speed alternating current motors and move at approximately 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) per second. The maximum angle of inclination of an escalator to the horizontal floor level is 30 degrees with a standard rise up to about 60 feet (18 m). Modern escalators have single piece aluminum or steel steps that move on a system of tracks in a continuous loop.
"Crisscross" layout
"Multiple parallel" layout
"Parallel" layout
Escalators have three typical configuration options: parallel (up and down escalators "side by side or separated by a distance", seen often in metro stations and multilevel motion picture theatres), crisscross (minimizes structural space requirements by "stacking" escalators that go in one direction, frequently used in department stores or shopping centers), and multiple parallel (two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to one or two escalators in the same bank that travel in the other direction). [2]
Escalators are required to have moving handrails that keep pace with the movement of the steps. The direction of movement (up or down) can be permanently the same, or be controlled by personnel according to the time of day, or automatically be controlled by whoever arrives first, whether at the bottom or at the top (the system is programmed so that the direction is not reversed while a passenger is on the escalator).
Design and layout considerations
File:Cannes.Palace.inside.jpg
A number of factors affect escalator design, including physical requirements, location, traffic patterns, safety considerations, and aesthetic preferences. Foremost, physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the pitch of the escalator and its actual length. The ability of the building infrastructure to support the heavy components is also a critical physical concern. Location is important because escalators should be situated where they can be easily seen by the general public. In department stores, customers should be able to view the merchandise easily. Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into confined spaces.
Traffic patterns must also be anticipated in escalator design. In some buildings, the objective is simply to move people from one floor to another, but in others there may be a more specific requirement, such as funneling visitors towards a main exit or exhibit. The number of passengers is important because escalators are designed to carry a certain maximum number of people. For example, a single-width escalator traveling at about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) per second can move an estimated 170 persons per five minute period. The carrying capacity of an escalator system must match the expected peak traffic demand, presuming that passengers ride single file. This is crucial for applications in which there are sudden increases in the number of riders. For example, escalators at stations must be designed to cater for the peak traffic flow discharged from a train, without causing excessive bunching at the escalator entrance.
In this regard, escalators help in controlling traffic flow of people. For example, an escalator to an exit effectively discourages most people from using it as an entrance, and may reduce security concerns. Similarly, escalators often are used as the exit of airport security checkpoints . Such an egress point would generally be staffed to prevent its use as an entrance, as well.
It is preferred that staircases be located adjacent to the escalator if the escalator is the primary means of transport between floors. It may also be necessary to provide an elevator lift adjacent to an escalator for wheelchairs and disabled persons. Finally, consideration should be given to the aesthetics of the escalator. The architects and designers can choose from a wide range of styles and colors for the handrails and balustrades.
Model sizes and other specifications
An escalator being repaired at Town Hall Station in Sydney, Australia.
A "freestanding" escalator reveals its inner components through the transparent truss.
Escalator truss connects to the landing platform (lower left). Also visible: exposed drive gears (center) for steps and handrail drive (left).
Exposed escalator track, with steps removed.
View of escalator steps on continuous chain.
An escalator equipped with a "bellows" handrail. The bracelets are colored grey, with occasional strings of black ones to appear as moving spacers.
Landing platforms
These two platforms house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the gears and motors that drive the stairs. The top platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear, while the bottom holds the step return idler sprockets. These sections also anchor the ends of the escalator truss. In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a combplate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the moving stairs. This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. The combplate is the piece between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting caught in the gap.
Truss
The truss is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top. The ends of the truss are attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections.
Tracks
The track system is built into the truss to guide the step chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an endless loop. There are actually two tracks: one for the front wheels of the steps (called the step-wheel track) and one for the back wheels of the steps (called the trailer-wheel track). The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the combplate. Along the straight section of the truss the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration forces the back of one step to be at a 90-degree angle relative to the step behind it. This right angle bends the steps into a shape resembling a staircase. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the two tracks converge so that the front and back wheels of the steps are almost in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheetlike arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a staircase configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again.
Steps
The steps themselves are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation lines may be added to clearly indicate their edges. In most escalator models manufactured after 1950, both the riser and the tread of each step is cleated (given a ribbed appearance) with comblike protrusions that mesh with the combplates on the top and bottom platforms and the succeeding steps in the chain. Seeberger- or "step-type" escalators (see below) featured flat treads and smooth risers; other escalator models have cleated treads and smooth risers. The steps are linked by a continuous metal chain that forms a closed loop. The front and back edges of the steps are each connected to two wheels. The rear wheels are set further apart to fit into the back track and the front wheels have shorter axles to fit into the narrower front track. As described above, the position of the tracks controls the orientation of the steps.
Handrail
The handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. In an escalator, the handrail is pulled along its track by a chain that is connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys. It is constructed of four distinct sections. At the center of the handrail is a "slider", also known as a "glider ply", which is a layer of a cotton or synthetic textile. The purpose of the slider layer is to allow the handrail to move smoothly along its track. The next layer, known as the " tension member ", consists of either steel cable or flat steel tape, and provides the handrail with tensile strength and flexibility. On top of tension member are the inner construction components, which are made of chemically treated rubber designed to prevent the layers from separating. Finally, the outer layer—the only part that passengers actually see—is the cover, which is a blend of synthetic polymers and rubber. This cover is designed to resist degradation from environmental conditions, mechanical wear and tear, and human vandalism.
In the factory, handrails are constructed by feeding rubber through a computer-controlled extrusion machine to produce layers of the required size and type in order to match specific orders. The component layers of fabric, rubber, and steel are shaped by skilled workers before being fed into the presses, where they are fused together.
In the mid-twentieth century, some handrail designs consisted of a rubber bellows, with rings of smooth metal cladding called "bracelets" placed between each coil. This gave the handrail a rigid yet flexible feel. Additionally, each bellows section was no more than a few feet long, so if part of the handrail was damaged, only the bad segment needed to be replaced. These forms of handrail have largely been replaced with conventional fabric-and-rubber railings.
Safety
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Safety is also major concern in escalator design. In India where women wear saris , there are heavy chances of getting the pallu entangled in the escalator [3] special sari guard is inbuilt in most escalators.
Fire protection of an escalator floor opening may be provided by adding automatic sprinklers or fireproof shutters to the opening, or by installing the escalator in an enclosed fire-protected hall. To limit the danger of overheating, ventilation for the spaces that contain the motors and gears must be provided.
Accidents and litigation
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There have been reports of people falling off a moving escalator or getting their shoe stuck in part of the escalator; shoe laces are a hazard when loose. Some accidents are caused by improper or unsafe use such as riding the hand rails (see bullet points below) or by escalator spinning . A few fatal accidents are:
Eight people died and 30 more were injured on February 17, 1982, when an escalator collapsed on the Moscow Metro . Wrongly set up service brakes were later blamed for the accident. [4]
31 people died after a fire, begun in the undercarriage of an MH-type Otis escalator, exploded into the ticketing hall at King's Cross St. Pancras station in 1987.
On December 13, 1999, 8-year-old Jyotsna Jethani was killed at New Delhi's international airport. Jethani fell into a gaping hole that resulted from improper maintenance. [5]
On June 15, 2002, Andrea Albright, a 24-year-old J.C. Penney employee in Columbia, Maryland , was critically injured while riding the store's escalator from the first to the second level. She somehow got her head caught between the escalator rail and a low ceiling. In 2005, her parents sued the property manager, two design firms, and the escalator company for $5 million. [6]
On New Years Eve , 2004, escalators at the Taipei City Hall Station kept moving commuters onto the overcrowded island platform . A woman whose hair got caught in the escalator received 20 stitches to the scalp. [7]
Francisco Portillo, a Salvadoran sushi chef, died after being strangled when his sweatshirt caught in a Boston subway escalator on February 21, 2005 at Porter Square . He was allegedly drunk at the time. [8]
On September 13, 2008, an 11-year old boy died after falling off an escalator in Lyngdal, Norway. [9] On April 20, 2009, a teenage boy died after getting very serious skull injuries after falling off an escalator in Falun, Sweden. [10] On June 26, 2009, a man died after falling off an escalator in Helsingborg, Sweden. [11] All three were riding the handrail.
Lessons of the King’s Cross fire
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The King's Cross fire illustrated the demanding nature of escalator upkeep and the devices’ propensity to collect “fluff” when not properly maintained. [12]
Since the station was part of a public institution (the London Underground ) and there was a substantial casualty rate, the incident yielded vociferous public outcry as riders and victims’ families demanded the removal of all wooden escalators systemwide. In the official inquiry that followed, the Fennell Report , it was determined that the fire started slowly, smoldered virtually undetected for a time, then exploded into the ticketing hall above in a phenomenon known as the “ trench effect .” This slow-burning fire, Fennell found, was allegedly kindled by a discarded unextinguished cigarette, which was shown in laboratory tests to be a more powerful ignition source than a lit match. [13] In the escalators’ undercarriage, approximately 8,800 kilograms (19,000 lb) of accumulated detritus acted as a wick to a neglected buildup of interior lubricants; wood veneers, paper and plastic advertisements, solvent-based paint, plywood in the ticket hall, and melamine combustion added to the impact of the calamity. [14] Taking this particular situation as an example, one could easily speculate that any accretion of flammable fuels, cloth, or scraps (the “fluff” denoted by Fennell) could likewise lead to a devastating fire.
Consequentially, older wooden escalators were removed from service in the London Underground, though at least one set remains in operation, at Greenford Station . Additionally, sections of the London Underground that were actually below ground were made nonsmoking; eventually the whole system became a smoke-free zone.
Litigation
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In the 1930s, at least one suit was filed against a department store, alleging that its escalators posed an attractive nuisance , responsible for a child’s injury. [15] These cases were almost always dismissed. Moreover, continual updating of escalator safety codes facilitated increased levels of consumer safety as well as a reduction in court cases.
Legislation and escalators
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Despite their considerable scope, two Congressional Acts , the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) , did not directly affect escalators or their public installations. Since Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act included public transportation systems, for a few years, the United States Department of Transportation considered designs to retrofit existing escalators for wheelchair access. Nonetheless, Foster-Miller Associates’ 1980 plan, Escalator Modification for the Handicapped was ultimately ignored in favor of increased elevator installations in subway systems. Likewise, the ADA provided more accessibility options, but expressly excluded escalators as “accessible means of egress,” advocating neither their removal nor retention in public structures. [16]
Codes and regulation
In the United States and Canada, new escalators must abide by ASME A17.1 standards, and old/historic escalators must conform to the safety guidelines of ASME A17.3 . In Europe, the escalator safety code is EN115 .
Key safety features developed over time
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Notice on escalators in Spain.
To enhance passenger safety, newer models of escalators are equipped with one or more of the following safety implementations, as per ASME A17.1 code:
Antislide devices: Raised circular objects that often stud the escalator balustrade. Sometimes informally called "hockey pucks" due to their appearance, their purpose is to prevent objects (and people) from precipitously sliding down the otherwise smooth metallic surface.
Combplate impact switches: Stop the escalator if a foreign object gets caught between the steps and the combplate on either end.
Deflector brush: A long continuous brush made of stiff bristles running up the sides of the escalator just above the step level. This helps deflect garments, shoes, and other items away from the gap between the moving steps and the skirt board.
Emergency stop button: At each end of the escalator (in some models, also on the balustrade), a large red button can be pressed to stop the device in the event of an emergency. Typically, an alarmed transparent plastic guardplate covers the button; restarting requires turning a key.
Extended balustrades: Allows riders to grasp the handrail before setting foot on an escalator, to ease customer comfort and stability/equilibrium. (The effect is similar to the flat steps described below.)
Flat steps: Like a moving walkway, the first two or three steps at either end of the escalator are flat. This gives the passenger extra time to orient him/herself when boarding, and more time to maintain balance when exiting. Longer escalators often have four or more flat steps.
Handrail inlet switches: . Sensors located at the bottom and top of the unit that guard the handrail termini. If something gets caught in these locations, a hard fault is generated in the controller, and the escalator shuts down automatically.
Handrail speed sensors: These sensors are usually optical, and monitor how fast the handrail moves. If the sensor notices a speed difference between the handrail and the steps, it sounds an alarm, pauses, and then automatically stops the escalator. In these situations, the escalator must be serviced by authorized personnel before returning to an operable state.
Missing step detectors: Depending on the manufacturer and model, this sensor is either optical or physical. When a missing step is detected, the escalator automatically shuts down.
Raised step edges: In some models, a difference in tread height is utilized to keep passengers' feet from the skirt board.
Safety instructions: A sign, typically posted on both escalator newels at the entrance landing platform. In some situations, safety precautions are posted on walls near the escalator, included on freestanding signs, or—as in some models—printed on the riser surface itself.
Sensor switch: In automatic-start/stop escalators, this sensor automatically engages the escalator motion when a rider is detected on the first step of the entrance landing platform, and stops the escalator when there are no riders on the unit.
Step demarcation lights: Either fluorescent or LED lights (traditionally green in color) located inside the truss. The illumination between the steps improves the passengers' awareness of the step divisions.
Step demarcation lines: In order to clearly delineate the edges of each individual step, manufacturers offer steps trimmed in yellow, either painted or with plastic inserts.
Safe riding: official safety foundation guidelines
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While some escalator accidents are caused by a mechanical failure, most can be avoided by following some simple safety precautions. The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation is a major advocate for safe riding in the United States and Canada, sponsors National Elevator Escalator Safety Week each year, and publishes its own suggestions for safe riding. [17]
History
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Illustration from U.S. Patent #25,076: Revolving Stairs. Issued August 9, 1859 to Nathan Ames .
Nathan Ames , a patent solicitor from Saugus, Massachusetts , is credited with patenting the first "escalator" in 1859, despite the fact that no working model of his design was ever built. His invention, the "revolving stairs", is largely speculative and the patent specifications indicate that he had no preference for materials or potential use (he noted that steps could be upholstered or made of wood, and suggested that the units might benefit the infirm within a household use), though the mechanization was suggested to run either by manual or hydraulic power. [18]
Leamon Souder
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In 1889, Leamon Souder successfully patented the "stairway", an escalator-type device that featured a "series of steps and links jointed to each other". No model was ever built. [19] This was the first of at least four escalator-style patents issued to Souder, including two for spiral designs (U. S. Patent Nos. 723,325 and 792,623).
Jesse Wilford Reno, George A. Wheeler, and Charles Seeberger
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In 1892, Jesse W. Reno patented the "Endless Conveyor or Elevator." [20] A few months after Reno's patent was approved, George A. Wheeler patented his ideas for a more recognizable moving staircase, though it was never built. [21] Wheeler’s patents were bought by Charles Seeberger ; some features of Wheeler’s designs were incorporated in Seeberger’s prototype built by the Otis Elevator Company in 1899.
Reno produced the first working escalator (he actually called it the "inclined elevator") and installed it alongside the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island , New York in 1896. [22] This particular device was little more than an inclined belt with cast-iron slats or cleats on the surface for traction, and traveled along a 25° incline. A few months later, the same prototype was used for a monthlong trial period on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge . Reno eventually joined forces with Otis Elevator Company , and retired once his patents were purchased outright. Some Reno-type escalators were still being used in the Boston subway until construction for the Big Dig precipitated their removal. The Smithsonian Institution considered re-assembling one of these historic units from 1914 in their collection of Americana, but "logistics and reassembly costs won out over nostalgia", and the project was discarded. [23]
Around May 1895, Charles Seeberger began drawings on a form of escalator similar to those patented by Wheeler in 1892. This device actually consisted of flat, moving stairs, not unlike the escalators of today, except for one important detail: the step surface was smooth, with no comb effect to safely guide the rider's feet off at the ends. Instead, the passenger had to step off sideways. To facilitate this, at the top or bottom of the escalator the steps continued moving horizontally beyond the end of the handrail (like a miniature moving sidewalk) until they disappeared under a triangular "divider" which guided the passenger to either side. Seeberger teamed with Otis Elevator Company in 1899, and together they produced the first commercial escalator which won the first prize at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle in France. Also on display at the Exposition were Reno's inclined elevator, a similar model by James M. Dodge and the Link Belt Machinery Co. , and two different devices by French manufacturers Hallé and Piat .
Early European manufacturers: Hallé, Hocquardt, and Piat
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Piat installed its "stepless" escalator in Harrods Knightsbridge store on Wednesday, November 16, 1898, though the company relinquished its patent rights to the department store. Noted by Bill Lancaster in The Department Store: a Social History, "customers unnerved by the experience were revived by shopmen dispensing free smelling salts and cognac." [24] The Harrods unit was a continuous leather belt made of "224 pieces . . . strongly linked together traveling in an upward direction," and was the first "moving staircase" in England. [25]
Hocquardt received European patent rights for the Fahrtreppe in 1906. After the Exposition, Hallé continued to sell its escalator device in Europe, but was eventually eclipsed in sales by other major manufacturers.
Major competitors and product nomenclature
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In the first half of the twentieth century, several manufacturers developed their own escalator products, though they had to market their devices under different names, due to Otis’ hold on the trademark rights to the word “escalator.” New York -based Peelle Company called their models the Motorstair, and Westinghouse called their model an Electric Stairway. The Toledo -based Haughton Elevator company referred to their product as simply Moving Stairs.
Manufacturing mergers and buyouts: the playing field narrows
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Kone and Schindler introduced their first escalator models several decades after the Otis Elevator Co., but grew to dominance in the field over time. Today, they and Mitsubishi are Otis' primary rivals.
Schindler now stands as the largest maker of escalators and second largest maker of elevators in the world, though their first escalator installation did not occur until 1936. [26] In 1979, the company entered the United States market by purchasing Haughton Elevator; nine years later, Schindler assumed control of the North American escalator/elevator operations of Westinghouse .
Kone expanded internationally by acquisition in the 1970s, buying out Swedish elevator manufacturer Asea-Graham , and purchasing other minor French, German, and Austrian elevator makers before assuming control of Westinghouse’s European elevator business. As the last "big four" manufacturers held on to the escalator market, Kone first acquired Montgomery Elevator Company , then took control of Germany’s Orenstein & Koppel Rolltreppen.
Model development and design types
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Jesse Reno's escalators did not resemble modern escalators too closely. Passengers' feet tilted upward at an angle, and the treads consisted of cleated metal (initially) or wood (later models). Reno worked on his own for several years, gaining success with installations from Toronto to Cape Town, South Africa . Similar units of the day by other manufacturers resembled conveyor belts more than moving staircases. For a time, Otis Elevator sold Reno's escalators as their own "cleat-type" escalators.
"Step-type" escalators
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Seeberger's model, bought by Otis, clearly became the first "step-type" escalator, so called after its visual likeness to steps on a regular staircase. The company later combined the best aspects of both inventions (guiding slats and flat steps) and in 1921 produced an escalator similar to the type used today: they called it the "L-type" escalator. It was succeeded by the "M-type", the "O-type", and current models by Otis such as the "NCE-type" escalator.
Spiral escalators: from Reno to Mitsubishi
Edit
Reno , in addition to his notoriety for the first “practical” escalator in public use, also bears the unique distinction of designing the very first escalators installed in any underground subway system – a single spiral escalator at Holloway Road tube station in London in 1906. The experimental device never saw public use, and was forgotten for several decades. [27] Also the first fully operational spiral escalator, Reno’s design was nonetheless only one in a series of several similar proposed contraptions. Souder patented two spiral designs (see above), Wheeler drafted spiral stairway plans in 1905, Seeberger devised at least two different spiral units between 1906 and 1911 (including an unrealized arrangement for the London Underground), and Gilbert Luna obtained West German, Japanese, and United States patents for his version of a spiral escalator by 1973. When interviewed for the Los Angeles Times that year, Luna was in the process of soliciting “major firms” for acquisition of his patents and company, but statistics are unclear on the outcome of his endeavors in that regard. [28]
The Mitsubishi Electric Corporation was most successful in its development of "spiral" (more "curve" than true spiral) escalators, and has sold them exclusively since the mid-1980s. The world's first "practical" spiral escalator—a Mitsubishi model—was installed in Osaka , Japan, in 1985. [29]
In use, a major planning advantage presented by spiral escalators is that they take up much less horizontal floor space than traditional units, which frequently house large machine rooms underneath the truss.
Etymology
Edit
Several authors and historians have contributed their own differing interpretations of the source of the word “escalator”, and some degree of misinformation has heretofore proliferated on the Internet . For reference, contradictory citations by seven separate individuals, including the Otis Elevator Company itself, are provided below. [30]
Name development and original intentions
Edit
Charles Seeberger trademarked the word "escalator" in 1900, to coincide with his device’s debut at the Exposition Universelle. According to his own account, in 1895, his legal counsel advised him to name his new invention, and he then set out to devise a title for it on his own. As evidenced in Seeberger's own handwritten documents, archived at the Otis Elevator Company headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut , the inventor consulted "a Latin lexicon" and "adopted as the root of the new word, 'Scala'; as a prefix, 'E' and as a suffix, 'Tor.'" [31] His own rough translation of the word thus created was "means of traversing from", and he intended for the word to be pronounced, "es‧kælʹə‧tər" (es-CAL-a-tor). [32]
"Escalator" was not a combination of other French or Greek words, and was never a derivative of " elevator " in the original sense, which means "one who raises up, a deliverer" in Latin. [33] Similarly, the root word "scala" does not mean "a flight of steps", but is defined by Lewis and Short’s A Latin Dictionary as the singular form of the plural noun "scalae", which denotes any of the following: "a flight of steps or stairs, a staircase; a ladder, [or] a scaling-ladder." [34]
The alleged intended capitalization of "escalator" is likewise a topic of debate. Seeberger’s trademark application lists the word not only with the "E" but also with all of the letters capitalized (in two different instances), and he specifies that, "any other form and character of type may be employed . . . without altering in any essential manner the character of [the] trade-mark." [35] That his initial specifications are ostensibly inconsistent, and since Otis Elevator Co. advertisements so frequently capitalized all of the letters in the word, suppositions about the "capital ‘e’" are difficult to formulate.
Derivatives of 'escalator'
Edit
The verb "escalate" originated in 1922, and has two uses, the primary: "to climb or reach by means of an escalator" or "to travel on an escalator", and the secondary: "to increase or develop by successive stages; spec. to develop from 'conventional' warfare into nuclear warfare." [36] The latter definition was first printed in the Manchester Guardian in 1959, but grew to prominent use during the late 1960s and early 1970s. [37]
Loss of trademark rights
See also: Genericized trademark
In 1950, the landmark case Haughton Elevator Co. v. Seeberger precipitated the end of Otis' reign over exclusive use of the word "escalator", and simultaneously created a cautionary study for companies and individuals interested in trademark retention. [38] Confirming the contention of the Examiner of Trademark Interferences , Assistant Commissioner of Patents Murphy’s decision rejected the Otis Elevator Company’s appeal to keep their trademark intact, and noted that "the term 'escalator' is recognized by the general public as the name for a moving stairway and not the source thereof", observing that the Otis Elevator Co. had "used the term as a generic descriptive term…in a number of patents which [had] been issued to them and…in their advertising matter." [39] All trademark protections were removed from the word "escalator", the term was officially genericized , and it fell into the public domain .
Primary uses and application
Edit
As noted above, a few escalator types were installed in major department stores (including Harrods) before the Expo. Escalators proved instrumental in the layout and design of shopping venues in the twentieth century.
By 1898, the first of Reno’s "inclined elevators" were incorporated into the Bloomingdale Bros. store at Third Avenue and 59th Street . This was the first retail application of the devices in the US, and no small coincidence, considering that Reno's primary financier was Lyman Bloomingdale , co-owner of the department store with brother Joseph Bloomingdale . [40]
The longest escalators in the Western Hemisphere, at the Wheaton station , Washington DC Metro
Public transportation
Edit
The first "standard" escalator installed on the London Underground was a Seeberger model at Earls Court . Noted above, London's Underground installed a rare spiral escalator designed by Reno, William Henry Aston and Scott Kietzman for the Holloway Road Underground station in 1906; it was run for a short time but was taken out of service the same day it debuted. [41] The older lines of the London Underground had many escalators with wooden treads (ca. 1930s) until they were rapidly replaced following the King's Cross fire , noted above.
Gallery
↑ Elevators & Escalators - MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
↑ See: Barrow, Dennis. "Seeberg.doc", Internal document, Otis Elevator Co., Farmington, CT: United Technologies; "escalator, noun." OED Online. June 2004. Oxford University Press, available: http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50077810 ; "Otis Firsts: Escalators in the Gaslight Era", Otis Elevator Co., available: ( http://www.otis.com/otis150/section/1,2344,ARC3125_CLI1_RES1_SEC2,00.html ); "Subject: History of the Escalator" (unnumbered sales circular letter). Internal document, Otis Elevator Co., Farmington, CT: United Technologies, October 16, 1962; "The Word ‘Escalator’", Human Interest, Online. The Museum for the Preservation of Elevating History, available: http://www.theelevatormuseum.org/h/h-1.htm ; Worthington, Jr., William. "Early Risers", American Heritage of Invention & Technology, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Winter 1989): 42; and Wosk, Julie. "Perspectives on the Escalator in Photography and Art", in Up Down Across: Elevators, Escalators and Moving Sidewalks. (Alisa Goetz, ed.) London: Merrell, 2003.
↑ De Fazio, Diane H. Like Blood to the Veins: Escalators, their History, and the Making of the Modern World (Master's Thesis, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation), 2007: 58 – 61.
↑ De Fazio, 60. Seeberger noted that the public had come to call his invention the "escə‧lāʹ‧tər" (es-ca-LĀ-tor) by 1906.
↑ Lewis, Charlton T. and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary: Founded on Andrews’ Edition of Freund’s Latin Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984.
↑ Ibid.
↑ Seeberger, Charles D. "Trade-mark for Passenger-Elevators." U. S. Trade-mark No. 34724. May 29, 1900. Available: http://uspto.gov
↑ "escalate, verb." The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press Feb. 2007. ( http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50077808 ).
↑ "escalate, verb.²" The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press. Feb. 2007. ( http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50077808 ).
↑ Folsom, Ralph H. and Larry L. Teply. "Trademarked Generic Words", The Yale Law Journal, Vol. 89, No. 7 (Jun. 1980): 1323–1359.
↑ Haughton Elevator Co. v. Seeberger85 U. S. P. Q. (BNA) 80–81 (Dec. Comm. Pat. 1950).
↑ Gusrae, G. B. "Moving Sidewalks", Architectural Record, June 1956: 220.
↑ London's Transport Museum Photographic Collection, same as reference #21 above. See also Orton, Ray. Moving People from Street to Platform: 100 Years Underground, Mobile, AL: Elevator World, Inc. 22-26, 2000.
External links
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Escalators in a Copenhagen Metro station, Denmark, 2007.
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor -driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.
Escalators are used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be impractical. Principal areas of usage include department stores , shopping malls , airports , transit systems , convention centers , hotels , and public buildings.
The benefits of escalators are many. They have the capacity to move large numbers of people, and they can be placed in the same physical space as one might install a staircase. They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic), they can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits, and they may be weatherproofed for outdoor use.
In 2004, it was estimated that the United States had 30,000 escalators, and that people used escalators 90 billion times each year. [1]
Contents
Design, components, and operation
Operation and layout
Escalators, like moving walkways , are powered by constant-speed alternating current motors and move at approximately 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) per second. The maximum angle of inclination of an escalator to the horizontal floor level is 30 degrees with a standard rise up to about 60 feet (18 m). Modern escalators have single piece aluminum or steel steps that move on a system of tracks in a continuous loop.
"Crisscross" layout
"Multiple parallel" layout
"Parallel" layout
Escalators have three typical configuration options: parallel (up and down escalators "side by side or separated by a distance", seen often in metro stations and multilevel motion picture theatres), crisscross (minimizes structural space requirements by "stacking" escalators that go in one direction, frequently used in department stores or shopping centers), and multiple parallel (two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to one or two escalators in the same bank that travel in the other direction). [2]
Escalators are required to have moving handrails that keep pace with the movement of the steps. The direction of movement (up or down) can be permanently the same, or be controlled by personnel according to the time of day, or automatically be controlled by whoever arrives first, whether at the bottom or at the top (the system is programmed so that the direction is not reversed while a passenger is on the escalator).
Design and layout considerations
"Up" escalators in France next to a staircase
A number of factors affect escalator design, including physical requirements, location, traffic patterns, safety considerations, and aesthetic preferences. Foremost, physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the pitch of the escalator and its actual length. The ability of the building infrastructure to support the heavy components is also a critical physical concern. Location is important because escalators should be situated where they can be easily seen by the general public. In department stores, customers should be able to view the merchandise easily. Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into confined spaces.
Traffic patterns must also be anticipated in escalator design. In some buildings, the objective is simply to move people from one floor to another, but in others there may be a more specific requirement, such as funneling visitors towards a main exit or exhibit. The number of passengers is important because escalators are designed to carry a certain maximum number of people. For example, a single-width escalator traveling at about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) per second can move an estimated 170 persons per five minute period. The carrying capacity of an escalator system must match the expected peak traffic demand, presuming that passengers ride single file. This is crucial for applications in which there are sudden increases in the number of riders. For example, escalators at stations must be designed to cater for the peak traffic flow discharged from a train, without causing excessive bunching at the escalator entrance.
In this regard, escalators help in controlling traffic flow of people. For example, an escalator to an exit effectively discourages most people from using it as an entrance, and may reduce security concerns. Similarly, escalators often are used as the exit of airport security checkpoints . Such an egress point would generally be staffed to prevent its use as an entrance, as well.
It is preferred that staircases be located adjacent to the escalator if the escalator is the primary means of transport between floors. It may also be necessary to provide an elevator lift adjacent to an escalator for wheelchairs and disabled persons. Finally, consideration should be given to the aesthetics of the escalator. The architects and designers can choose from a wide range of styles and colors for the handrails and balustrades.
Model sizes and other specifications
Escalator step widths
An escalator being repaired at Town Hall Station in Sydney, Australia.
A "freestanding" escalator reveals its inner components through the transparent truss.
Escalator truss connects to the landing platform (lower left). Also visible: exposed drive gears (center) for steps and handrail drive (left).
Exposed escalator track, with steps removed.
View of escalator steps on continuous chain.
An escalator equipped with a "bellows" handrail. The bracelets are colored grey, with occasional strings of black ones to appear as moving spacers.
Landing platforms
These two platforms house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the gears and motors that drive the stairs. The top platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear, while the bottom holds the step return idler sprockets. These sections also anchor the ends of the escalator truss. In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a combplate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the moving stairs. This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. The combplate is the piece between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting caught in the gap.
Truss
The truss is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top. The ends of the truss are attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections.
Tracks
The track system is built into the truss to guide the step chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an endless loop. There are actually two tracks: one for the front wheels of the steps (called the step-wheel track) and one for the back wheels of the steps (called the trailer-wheel track). The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the combplate. Along the straight section of the truss the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration forces the back of one step to be at a 90-degree angle relative to the step behind it. This right angle bends the steps into a shape resembling a staircase. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the two tracks converge so that the front and back wheels of the steps are almost in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheetlike arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a staircase configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again.
Steps
The steps themselves are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation lines may be added to clearly indicate their edges. In most escalator models manufactured after 1950, both the riser and the tread of each step is cleated (given a ribbed appearance) with comblike protrusions that mesh with the combplates on the top and bottom platforms and the succeeding steps in the chain. Seeberger- or "step-type" escalators (see below) featured flat treads and smooth risers; other escalator models have cleated treads and smooth risers. The steps are linked by a continuous metal chain that forms a closed loop. The front and back edges of the steps are each connected to two wheels. The rear wheels are set further apart to fit into the back track and the front wheels have shorter axles to fit into the narrower front track. As described above, the position of the tracks controls the orientation of the steps.
Handrail
The handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. In an escalator, the handrail is pulled along its track by a chain that is connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys. It is constructed of four distinct sections. At the center of the handrail is a "slider", also known as a "glider ply", which is a layer of a cotton or synthetic textile. The purpose of the slider layer is to allow the handrail to move smoothly along its track. The next layer, known as the " tension member ", consists of either steel cable or flat steel tape, and provides the handrail with tensile strength and flexibility. On top of tension member are the inner construction components, which are made of chemically treated rubber designed to prevent the layers from separating. Finally, the outer layer—the only part that passengers actually see—is the cover, which is a blend of synthetic polymers and rubber. This cover is designed to resist degradation from environmental conditions, mechanical wear and tear, and human vandalism.
In the factory, handrails are constructed by feeding rubber through a computer-controlled extrusion machine to produce layers of the required size and type in order to match specific orders. The component layers of fabric, rubber, and steel are shaped by skilled workers before being fed into the presses, where they are fused together.
In the mid-twentieth century, some handrail designs consisted of a rubber bellows, with rings of smooth metal cladding called "bracelets" placed between each coil. This gave the handrail a rigid yet flexible feel. Additionally, each bellows section was no more than a few feet long, so if part of the handrail was damaged, only the bad segment needed to be replaced. These forms of handrail have largely been replaced with conventional fabric-and-rubber railings.
Safety
Safety is also major concern in escalator design. Fire protection of an escalator floor opening may be provided by adding automatic sprinklers or fireproof shutters to the opening, or by installing the escalator in an enclosed fire-protected hall. To limit the danger of overheating, ventilation for the spaces that contain the motors and gears must be provided.
Accidents and litigation
Accidents
There have been reports of people falling off a moving escalator or getting their shoe stuck in part of the escalator; shoe laces are a hazard when loose. Some accidents are caused by improper or unsafe use such as riding the hand rails (see bullet points below) or by escalator spinning . A few fatal accidents are:
Eight people died and 30 more were injured on February 17, 1982, when an escalator collapsed on the Moscow Metro . Wrongly set up service brakes were later blamed for the accident. [3]
31 people died after a fire, begun in the undercarriage of an MH-type Otis escalator, exploded into the ticketing hall at King's Cross St. Pancras station in 1987.
On December 13, 1999, 8-year-old Jyotsna Jethani was killed at New Delhi's international airport. Jethani fell into a gaping hole that resulted from improper maintenance. [4]
On June 15, 2002, Andrea Albright, a 24-year-old J.C. Penney employee in Columbia, Maryland , was critically injured while riding the store's escalator from the first to the second level. She somehow got her head caught between the escalator rail and a low ceiling. In 2005, her parents sued the property manager, two design firms, and the escalator company for $5 million. [5]
On New Years Eve , 2004, escalators at the Taipei City Hall Station kept moving commuters onto the overcrowded island platform . A woman whose hair got caught in the escalator received 20 stitches to the scalp. [6]
Francisco Portillo, a Salvadoran sushi chef, died after being strangled when his sweatshirt caught in a Boston subway escalator on February 21, 2005 at Porter Square . He was allegedly drunk at the time. [7]
On September 13, 2008, an 11-year old boy died after falling off an escalator in Lyngdal, Norway [8] . On April 20, 2009, a teenage boy died after getting very serious skull injuries after falling off an escalator in Falun, Sweden [9] . On June 26, 2009, a man died after falling off an escalator in Helsingborg, Sweden [10] . All three were riding the handrail.
Lessons of the King’s Cross fire
The King's Cross fire illustrated the demanding nature of escalator upkeep and the devices’ propensity to collect “fluff” when not properly maintained. [11]
Since the station was part of a public institution (the London Underground ) and there was a substantial casualty rate, the incident yielded vociferous public outcry as riders and victims’ families demanded the removal of all wooden escalators systemwide. In the official inquiry that followed, the Fennell Report , it was determined that the fire started slowly, smoldered virtually undetected for a time, then exploded into the ticketing hall above in a phenomenon known as the “ trench effect .” This slow-burning fire, Fennell found, was allegedly kindled by a discarded unextinguished cigarette, which was shown in laboratory tests to be a more powerful ignition source than a lit match. [12] In the escalators’ undercarriage, approximately 8,800 kilograms (19,000 lb) of accumulated detritus acted as a wick to a neglected buildup of interior lubricants; wood veneers, paper and plastic advertisements, solvent-based paint, plywood in the ticket hall, and melamine combustion added to the impact of the calamity. [13] Taking this particular situation as an example, one could easily speculate that any accretion of flammable fuels, cloth, or scraps (the “fluff” denoted by Fennell) could likewise lead to a devastating fire.
Consequentially, older wooden escalators were removed from service in the London Underground, though at least one set remains in operation, at Greenford Station . Additionally, sections of the London Underground that were actually below ground were made nonsmoking; eventually the whole system became a smoke-free zone.
Litigation
In the 1930s, at least one suit was filed against a department store, alleging that its escalators posed an attractive nuisance , responsible for a child’s injury. [14] These cases were almost always dismissed. Moreover, continual updating of escalator safety codes facilitated increased levels of consumer safety as well as a reduction in court cases.
Legislation and escalators
United States
Despite their considerable scope, two Congressional Acts , the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) , did not directly affect escalators or their public installations. Since Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act included public transportation systems, for a few years, the United States Department of Transportation considered designs to retrofit existing escalators for wheelchair access. Nonetheless, Foster-Miller Associates’ 1980 plan, Escalator Modification for the Handicapped was ultimately ignored in favor of increased elevator installations in subway systems. Likewise, the ADA provided more accessibility options, but expressly excluded escalators as “accessible means of egress,” advocating neither their removal nor retention in public structures. [15]
Codes and regulation
In the United States and Canada, new escalators must abide by ASME A17.1 standards, and old/historic escalators must conform to the safety guidelines of ASME A17.3. In Europe, the escalator safety code is EN115.
Key safety features developed over time
Notice on escalators in Spain.
To enhance passenger safety, newer models of escalators are equipped with one or more of the following safety implementations, as per ASME A17.1 code:
Antislide devices: Raised circular objects that often stud the escalator balustrade. Sometimes informally called "hockey pucks" due to their appearance, their purpose is to prevent objects (and people) from precipitously sliding down the otherwise smooth metallic surface.
Combplate impact switches: Stop the escalator if a foreign object gets caught between the steps and the combplate on either end.
Deflector brush: A long continuous brush made of stiff bristles running up the sides of the escalator just above the step level. This helps deflect garments, shoes, and other items away from the gap between the moving steps and the skirt board.
Emergency stop button: At each end of the escalator (in some models, also on the balustrade), a large red button can be pressed to stop the device in the event of an emergency. Typically, an alarmed transparent plastic guardplate covers the button; restarting requires turning a key.
Extended balustrades: Allows riders to grasp the handrail before setting foot on an escalator, to ease customer comfort and stability/equilibrium. (The effect is similar to the flat steps described below.)
Flat steps: Like a moving walkway, the first two or three steps at either end of the escalator are flat. This gives the passenger extra time to orient him/herself when boarding, and more time to maintain balance when exiting. Longer escalators often have four or more flat steps.
Handrail inlet switches: . Sensors located at the bottom and top of the unit that guard the handrail termini. If something gets caught in these locations, a hard fault is generated in the controller, and the escalator shuts down automatically.
Handrail speed sensors: These sensors are usually optical, and monitor how fast the handrail moves. If the sensor notices a speed difference between the handrail and the steps, it sounds an alarm, pauses, and then automatically stops the escalator. In these situations, the escalator must be serviced by authorized personnel before returning to an operable state.
Missing step detectors: Depending on the manufacturer and model, this sensor is either optical or physical. When a missing step is detected, the escalator automatically shuts down.
Raised step edges: In some models, a difference in tread height is utilized to keep passengers' feet from the skirt board.
Safety instructions: A sign, typically posted on both escalator newels at the entrance landing platform. In some situations, safety precautions are posted on walls near the escalator, included on freestanding signs, or—as in some models—printed on the riser surface itself.
Sensor switch: In automatic-start/stop escalators, this sensor automatically engages the escalator motion when a rider is detected on the first step of the entrance landing platform, and stops the escalator when there are no riders on the unit.
Step demarcation lights: Either fluorescent or LED lights (traditionally green in color) located inside the truss. The illumination between the steps improves the passengers' awareness of the step divisions.
Step demarcation lines: In order to clearly delineate the edges of each individual step, manufacturers offer steps trimmed in yellow, either painted or with plastic inserts.
Safe riding: official safety foundation guidelines
While some escalator accidents are caused by a mechanical failure, most can be avoided by following some simple safety precautions. The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation is a major advocate for safe riding in the United States and Canada, sponsors National Elevator Escalator Safety Week each year, and publishes its own suggestions for safe riding. [16]
History
Nathan Ames
Illustration from U.S. Patent #25,076: Revolving Stairs. Issued August 9, 1859 to Nathan Ames .
Nathan Ames , a patent solicitor from Saugus, Massachusetts , is credited with patenting the first "escalator" in 1859, despite the fact that no working model of his design was ever built. His invention, the "revolving stairs", is largely speculative and the patent specifications indicate that he had no preference for materials or potential use (he noted that steps could be upholstered or made of wood, and suggested that the units might benefit the infirm within a household use), though the mechanization was suggested to run either by manual or hydraulic power. [17]
Leamon Souder
In 1889, Leamon Souder successfully patented the "stairway", an escalator-type device that featured a "series of steps and links jointed to each other". No model was ever built. [18] This was the first of at least four escalator-style patents issued to Souder, including two for spiral designs (U. S. Patent Nos. 723,325 and 792,623).
Jesse Wilford Reno, George A. Wheeler, and Charles Seeberger
In 1892, Jesse W. Reno patented the "Endless Conveyor or Elevator." [19] A few months after Reno's patent was approved, George A. Wheeler patented his ideas for a more recognizable moving staircase, though it was never built. [20] Wheeler’s patents were bought by Charles Seeberger ; some features of Wheeler’s designs were incorporated in Seeberger’s prototype built by the Otis Elevator Company in 1899.
Reno produced the first working escalator (he actually called it the "inclined elevator") and installed it alongside the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island , New York in 1896. [21] This particular device was little more than an inclined belt with cast-iron slats or cleats on the surface for traction, and traveled along a 25° incline. A few months later, the same prototype was used for a monthlong trial period on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge . Reno eventually joined forces with Otis Elevator Company , and retired once his patents were purchased outright. Some Reno-type escalators were still being used in the Boston subway until construction for the Big Dig precipitated their removal. The Smithsonian Institution considered re-assembling one of these historic units from 1914 in their collection of Americana, but "logistics and reassembly costs won out over nostalgia", and the project was discarded. [22]
Around May 1895, Charles Seeberger began drawings on a form of escalator similar to those patented by Wheeler in 1892. This device actually consisted of flat, moving stairs, not unlike the escalators of today, except for one important detail: the step surface was smooth, with no comb effect to safely guide the rider's feet off at the ends. Instead, the passenger had to step off sideways. To facilitate this, at the top or bottom of the escalator the steps continued moving horizontally beyond the end of the handrail (like a miniature moving sidewalk) until they disappeared under a triangular "divider" which guided the passenger to either side. Seeberger teamed with Otis Elevator Company in 1899, and together they produced the first commercial escalator which won the first prize at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle in France. Also on display at the Exposition were Reno's inclined elevator, a similar model by James M. Dodge and the Link Belt Machinery Co., and two different devices by French manufacturers Hallé and Piat.
Early European manufacturers: Hallé, Hocquardt, and Piat
Piat installed its "stepless" escalator in Harrods Knightsbridge store on Wednesday, November 16, 1898, though the company relinquished its patent rights to the department store. Noted by Bill Lancaster in The Department Store: a Social History, "customers unnerved by the experience were revived by shopmen dispensing free smelling salts and cognac." [23] The Harrods unit was a continuous leather belt made of "224 pieces . . . strongly linked together traveling in an upward direction," and was the first "moving staircase" in England. [24]
Hocquardt received European patent rights for the Fahrtreppe in 1906. After the Exposition, Hallé continued to sell its escalator device in Europe, but was eventually eclipsed in sales by other major manufacturers.
Major competitors and product nomenclature
In the first half of the twentieth century, several manufacturers developed their own escalator products, though they had to market their devices under different names, due to Otis’ hold on the trademark rights to the word “escalator.” New York -based Peelle Company called their models the Motorstair, and Westinghouse called their model an Electric Stairway. The Toledo -based Haughton Elevator company referred to their product as simply Moving Stairs.
Manufacturing mergers and buyouts: the playing field narrows
Kone and Schindler introduced their first escalator models several decades after the Otis Elevator Co., but grew to dominance in the field over time. Today, they and Mitsubishi are Otis' primary rivals.
Schindler now stands as the largest maker of escalators and second largest maker of elevators in the world, though their first escalator installation did not occur until 1936. [25] In 1979, the company entered the United States market by purchasing Haughton Elevator; nine years later, Schindler assumed control of the North American escalator/elevator operations of Westinghouse .
Kone expanded internationally by acquisition in the 1970s, buying out Swedish elevator manufacturer Asea-Graham, and purchasing other minor French, German, and Austrian elevator makers before assuming control of Westinghouse’s European elevator business. As the last "big four" manufacturers held on to the escalator market, Kone first acquired Montgomery Elevator Company, then took control of Germany’s Orenstein & Koppel Rolltreppen.
Model development and design types
"Cleat-type" escalators
Jesse Reno's escalators did not resemble modern escalators too closely. Passengers' feet tilted upward at an angle, and the treads consisted of cleated metal (initially) or wood (later models). Reno worked on his own for several years, gaining success with installations from Toronto to Cape Town, South Africa . Similar units of the day by other manufacturers resembled conveyor belts more than moving staircases. For a time, Otis Elevator sold Reno's escalators as their own "cleat-type" escalators.
"Step-type" escalators
Seeberger's model, bought by Otis, clearly became the first "step-type" escalator, so called after its visual likeness to steps on a regular staircase. The company later combined the best aspects of both inventions (guiding slats and flat steps) and in 1921 produced an escalator similar to the type used today: they called it the "L-type" escalator. It was succeeded by the "M-type", the "O-type", and current models by Otis such as the "NCE-type" escalator.
Spiral escalators: from Reno to Mitsubishi
Reno , in addition to his notoriety for the first “practical” escalator in public use, also bears the unique distinction of designing the very first escalators installed in any underground subway system – a single spiral escalator at Holloway Road tube station in London in 1906. The experimental device never saw public use, and was forgotten for several decades. [26] Also the first fully operational spiral escalator, Reno’s design was nonetheless only one in a series of several similar proposed contraptions. Souder patented two spiral designs (see above), Wheeler drafted spiral stairway plans in 1905, Seeberger devised at least two different spiral units between 1906 and 1911 (including an unrealized arrangement for the London Underground), and Gilbert Luna obtained West German, Japanese, and United States patents for his version of a spiral escalator by 1973. When interviewed for the Los Angeles Times that year, Luna was in the process of soliciting “major firms” for acquisition of his patents and company, but statistics are unclear on the outcome of his endeavors in that regard. [27]
The Mitsubishi Electric Corporation was most successful in its development of "spiral" (more "curve" than true spiral) escalators, and has sold them exclusively since the mid-1980s. The world's first "practical" spiral escalator—a Mitsubishi model—was installed in Osaka , Japan, in 1985. [28]
In use, a major planning advantage presented by spiral escalators is that they take up much less horizontal floor space than traditional units, which frequently house large machine rooms underneath the truss.
Etymology
Several authors and historians have contributed their own differing interpretations of the source of the word “escalator”, and some degree of misinformation has heretofore proliferated on the Internet . For reference, contradictory citations by seven separate individuals, including the Otis Elevator Company itself, are provided below. [29]
Name development and original intentions
Charles Seeberger trademarked the word "escalator" in 1900, to coincide with his device’s debut at the Exposition Universelle. According to his own account, in 1895, his legal counsel advised him to name his new invention, and he then set out to devise a title for it on his own. As evidenced in Seeberger's own handwritten documents, archived at the Otis Elevator Company headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut , the inventor consulted "a Latin lexicon" and "adopted as the root of the new word, 'Scala'; as a prefix, 'E' and as a suffix, 'Tor.'" [30] His own rough translation of the word thus created was "means of traversing from", and he intended for the word to be pronounced, "es‧kælʹə‧tər" (es-CAL-a-tor). [31]
"Escalator" was not a combination of other French or Greek words, and was never a derivative of " elevator " in the original sense, which means "one who raises up, a deliverer" in Latin. [32] Similarly, the root word "scala" does not mean "a flight of steps", but is defined by Lewis and Short’s A Latin Dictionary as the singular form of the plural noun "scalae", which denotes any of the following: "a flight of steps or stairs, a staircase; a ladder, [or] a scaling-ladder." [33]
The alleged intended capitalization of "escalator" is likewise a topic of debate. Seeberger’s trademark application lists the word not only with the "E" but also with all of the letters capitalized (in two different instances), and he specifies that, "any other form and character of type may be employed . . . without altering in any essential manner the character of [the] trade-mark." [34] That his initial specifications are ostensibly inconsistent, and since Otis Elevator Co. advertisements so frequently capitalized all of the letters in the word, suppositions about the "capital ‘e’" are difficult to formulate.
Derivatives of 'escalator'
The verb "escalate" originated in 1922, and has two uses, the primary: "to climb or reach by means of an escalator" or "to travel on an escalator", and the secondary: "to increase or develop by successive stages; spec. to develop from 'conventional' warfare into nuclear warfare." [35] The latter definition was first printed in the Manchester Guardian in 1959, but grew to prominent use during the late 1960s and early 1970s. [36]
Loss of trademark rights
See also: Genericized trademark
In 1950, the landmark case Haughton Elevator Co. v. Seeberger precipitated the end of Otis' reign over exclusive use of the word "escalator", and simultaneously created a cautionary study for companies and individuals interested in trademark retention. [37] Confirming the contention of the Examiner of Trademark Interferences, Assistant Commissioner of Patents Murphy’s decision rejected the Otis Elevator Company’s appeal to keep their trademark intact, and noted that "the term 'escalator' is recognized by the general public as the name for a moving stairway and not the source thereof", observing that the Otis Elevator Co. had "used the term as a generic descriptive term…in a number of patents which [had] been issued to them and…in their advertising matter." [38] All trademark protections were removed from the word "escalator", the term was officially genericized , and it fell into the public domain .
Primary uses and application
Department stores/shopping
As noted above, a few escalator types were installed in major department stores (including Harrods) before the Expo. Escalators proved instrumental in the layout and design of shopping venues in the twentieth century.
By 1898, the first of Reno’s "inclined elevators" were incorporated into the Bloomingdale Bros. store at Third Avenue and 59th Street . This was the first retail application of the devices in the US, and no small coincidence, considering that Reno's primary financier was Lyman Bloomingdale , co-owner of the department store with brother Joseph Bloomingdale. [39]
The longest escalators in the Western Hemisphere, at the Wheaton station , Washington DC Metro
Public transportation
The first "standard" escalator installed on the London Underground was a Seeberger model at Earls Court . Noted above, London's Underground installed a rare spiral escalator designed by Reno, William Henry Aston and Scott Kietzman for the Holloway Road Underground station in 1906; it was run for a short time but was taken out of service the same day it debuted. [40] The older lines of the London Underground had many escalators with wooden treads (ca. 1930s) until they were rapidly replaced following the King's Cross fire , noted above.
Other applications
Factories and other industrial production environments
In 1905, the American Woolen Company’s Wood Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts (then "the largest single worsted mill in the world") utilized Otis' Seeberger-type "reversible" escalators to carry its workers between floors four times a day. [41] The machines did not run all day: rather, escalators ran solely to transport employees to/from midday meals and in/out of the mill. In its advertising, Otis Elevator Company hailed this unconventional use for its unique benefits to both workers and owners: "The profitable and practicable feature of the Escalator, from the viewpoint of the owner, is the increased efficiency of each operator due to the elimination of stair climbing." [42]
Military use
In San Francisco, an escalator at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was used to convey personnel between the first and third floors. At the time of its construction in 1948, it was touted thus: "[it has the] highest lift of any industrial building in the world. It rises 42 feet." [43]
Escalators were also utilized on aircraft carriers such as the USS Hornet (CV-12) , to transport pilots from "ready rooms" to the flight deck. [44]
Extant historic escalator models
Macy's Herald Square store in New York City holds some of the more famous historic escalators. The models shown here, retrofitted with metal steps in the 1990s, are among the oldest of the store's 40 escalators. Otis "L-type" escalators with distinctive wood treads (not shown) have operated in the store since 1927.
Wooden treads on a 1930s Otis escalator at Wynyard railway station, Sydney , Australia
A few notable examples of historic escalators still in operation are:
Australia
Greenford Station , Greenford , England
North America
Macy's Herald Square department store, Otis L-type units with wood treads and replacement metal treads, New York, New York
Kaufmann's department store (now Macy's), two 16-inch (400 mm) Otis L-type units with original floorplates, several 40-inch (1000 mm) Otis escalators ca. 1950s, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Westfield San Francisco Centre (formerly The Emporium ), chrome-and-glass escalator by Eleanor LeMaire for Otis, San Francisco, California
Escalators: superlatives
Longest systems
Central-Mid-Levels escalator : in Hong Kong, tens of thousands of commuters travel each work day between Central , the central business district , and the Mid-levels , a residential district hundreds of feet uphill, using this long distance system of escalators and moving walkways . It is the world's longest outdoor escalator system (not a single escalator span), at a total length of 2,600 feet (790 m). It goes only one way at a time; the direction reverses depending on rush hour traffic direction.
Ocean Park, Hong Kong : a long escalator system connecting two parts of the Park, with an overall length of 730 feet (220 m).
Longest individual escalators
Asia and Europe
Several "metro" or "subway" systems in Central and Eastern Europe feature very long escalators.[citation needed]
In the Park Pobedy station of the Moscow Metro , opened in 2003, the escalators are 410 feet (120 m), or 740 steps, long, and take nearly three minutes to transit. Deep underground stations in St. Petersburg have escalators up to approximately 330 feet (100 m) long.
The Kiev Metro Kreschatik station's lower-level second exit escalator (a type ЛТ-2, circa 1965), lifts riders 216 feet (66 m), or 743 steps, up a 432-foot (132 m)-long incline.[citation needed]
The longest escalator in Prague is at the Náměstí Míru station at 290 feet (88 m).
The longest escalator of a European shopping mall is at MyZeil, Frankfurt , Germany, with a length of 150 feet.
The tallest escalator on the London Underground system is at Angel station with a length of 197 feet (60 m), and a vertical rise of 90 feet (27 m).
The longest wooden escalators in the United Kingdom are at the Tyne Tunnel , with a length of 200 feet (61 m). (See above.)
The longest escalator on the Stockholm Metro , and in Western Europe , is at Västra skogen with a length of 220 feet (67 m) and in Helsinki Metro at Kamppi station with a length of 210 feet (64 m).
The largest "single truss escalator" is in the Bentall Centre in Kingston upon Thames in Greater London , UK. It connects the ground floor with the second floor with only top and bottom supports.[citation needed]
North and South America
The longest set of single-span uninterrupted escalators in the Western Hemisphere is at the Wheaton station of the Washington Metro system. They are 508 feet (155 m) [46] [47] long with a (presumably) vertical rise of 230 feet (70 m), [48] and take what is variously described as 2 minutes and 45 seconds[citation needed] or nearly three-and-a-half minutes, [47] to ascend or descend without walking.
The longest escalator in the United States west of the Mississippi is reportedly in the Wilshire/Vermont metro station in Los Angeles.[citation needed]
The longest freestanding (supported only at the ends) escalator in the world is inside CNN Center ’s atrium in Atlanta, Georgia . It rises 8 stories and is 205 feet (62 m) long. Originally built as the entrance to the amusement park The World of Sid and Marty Krofft , the escalator is now used for CNN studio tours. [49]
Shortest escalators
Asia
According to Guinness , the shortest escalator in the world is in the Okadaya Mores shopping mall in Kawasaki , Japan. Its vertical rise is only 32.8 inches (83 cm).[citation needed]
North America
The shortest escalator in the United States is a Schindler unit at the entrance to the JCPenney Department Store in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus , New Jersey .[citation needed]
Notable spiral escalator installations
Escalators in the Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 , Japan.
Asia
| i don't know |
What nationality is golfer Angel Cabrera, winner of the U.S. Masters in 2009? | Angel Cabrera -- Masters Champion
Angel Cabrera -- Masters Champion
PGA Grand Slam of Golf Appearances: 2007, '09
Major Championship Wins: 2007 U.S. Open, 2009 Masters
Worldwide Victories: 19
Family: Wife, Silvia; Children: Federico (6/5/89), Angel (3/10/91)
Special Interests: Soccer
Turned Professional: 1989
By Bob Denney, The PGA of America
Now that Angel Cabrera has officially erased the 41-year disappointment of any Argentine winning a Masters, a bizarre chapter is finally put to rest.
Following the legacy of beloved fellow countryman Roberto De Vicenzo, Cabrera is now a two-time major champion and South America's newest heralded sportsman.
The man nicknamed El Pato ("The Duck") has emerged as perhaps the best "grinder" in major championship golf in many years. In 2007, he survived rugged Oakmont to win the U.S. Open and then last April outlasted Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell to win a three-way playoff at the Masters.
The first South American to capture the Green Jacket, Cabrera held on with uncanny putting and clutch shotmaking while all those around him were crumbling.
Cabrera has found a way to bottle his emotions and harness the vital inner strength that De Vicenzo finds indispensable in golf.
Two years ago, Cabrera became the only player in the history of Argentina golf to earn a top-10 spot in the Official World Ranking. This year, he was ranked 69th before his trip to Augusta National.
It was once said that the golf ball doesn't know how old you are. In Cabrera's case, the ball also doesn't know or care how you are ranked. But can he play?
By his Augusta heroics, Cabrera added yet another rung to his growing résumé. He joins Gary Player as the only foreign-born players to win the Masters and the U.S. Open.
"When they put the green jacket on, I had goose bumps," says Cabrera. "I was shaking. I can't even explain what was going through my body." De Vicenzo, the winner of the 1967 British Open, once gave this observation of Cabrera's game. "He seems to make the big mistake. He has to make what he has inside stronger."
Now, in the heat of the final stretch of a major championship, it is Cabrera who has found the inner strength and made the most of his "breaks."
On Sunday, with the light fading at Augusta National, Cabrera made a "big break" pay dividends. His approach shot on the 18th hole caromed off a tree and back to the center of the fairway. From 70 yards, he converted one of the most memorable up and downs in major championship history that earned him a berth into a three-way playoff.
He followed that with a par at 18 to open the playoff and continued to the 10th tee. A short time later, he made a routine par to pass Perry, who bogeyed after missing the green to the left. The Masters was in Cabrera's pocket.
Cabrera's climb to the upper echelon of golf began in his hardscrabble youth, having been raised since he was 3 years old by his paternal grandmother. His boyhood home was on a quiet dirt road in Mendiolaza, a barrio near Cordoba, Argentina.
When he was 10 years old, Cabrera found his life's vocation. Just 10 blocks uphill from his grandmother's home was Cordoba Country Club. He began caddying, making 25 pesos per loop, which translates today to nearly two dollars.
It was a wage that sustained him. He dropped out of school in the sixth grade to caddie full-time.
"I was very lucky because hanging out at a golf course was much better than being on the streets," says Cabrera. "Golf taught me a great deal. I grew up surrounded by people who were professionals -- lawyers, doctors, engineers. Around them I learned how to behave, speak, eat, and dress. I had nothing at home. The club was my home."
Every Monday, when the club closed, the caddies took over and had their own competitions. This is when Cabrera learned to play golf. His talent grew steadily, as did his fierce competitiveness and ingrained penchant to work relentlessly to achieve success.
Cordoba Country Club members financed Cabrera's debut into competitive golf, and at age 19 he turned professional. The first dividends began with victories in the 1995 Paraguay and Colombia Opens.
In 1999, Cabrera joined the European Tour and won his first title on the circuit with the 2001 Argentina Open and added two more Tour titles. His golf stature as a ball-striker grew, and there were the noted near-misses in major championships.
He finished one stroke out of the 1999 British Open playoff at Carnoustie. He held the lead during the second and third rounds of the 2001 Masters, and he led the 2004 U.S. Open.
He grew from those experiences and applied the lessons to make major impacts at Oakmont and then at Augusta National.
As he became more successful, Cabrera gave back to those less fortunate -- youth whose lives resembled his. Cabrera supported the youth at the club that continues to be his home away from home. He has helped caddies who have fallen on hard times and paid the medical bills of a caddie's sick child. He joined his longtime friend and mentor, Champions Tour star Eduardo Romero, to help fund a new caddie shack.
His passion to excel at his own game carries over into his drive to elevate the next generation of Argentine golfers. He has lobbied the provincial government to aid in access for junior golfers; has sponsored a group of youths; and has donated to build a facility for disabled children in Villa Allende. A man of few words, Cabrera's actions speak volumes.
| Argentines |
Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging? | Epps lends Masters winner Cabrera helping hand - Houston Chronicle
Epps lends Masters winner Cabrera helping hand
Epps lends Cabrera helping hand
STEVE CAMPBELL, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Published 5:30 am, Monday, April 13, 2009
Photo: File Photo
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Charlie Epps, got to know Angel Cabrera while living in the small Argentine city of Villa Allende in the 1980s.
Charlie Epps, got to know Angel Cabrera while living in the small Argentine city of Villa Allende in the 1980s.
Photo: File Photo
Epps lends Masters winner Cabrera helping hand
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Angel Cabrera was walking off the practice putting green at Augusta National Golf Club toward the first tee box.
Cabrera shook the hand of a gray-haired man wearing a matching yellow shirt. Moments earlier, the man had taken off his cap and asked Cabrera to sign it.
Houston golf instructor Charlie Epps felt Masters history in the making, and he wanted a keepsake. As of Sunday night, the signature on Epps’ hat is that of the champion of the 73rd Masters.
Asked when that hat might be up for auction online, Epps smiled.
“I’ve got to keep this one,” Epps said. “I’ll get a couple more.”
Cabrera undoubtedly would be happy to sign memorabilia for Epps long after writer’s cramp takes hold. Epps began working with Cabrera, a native of Argentina, in the spring of 2007. Cabrera captured the U.S. Open a couple of months later at Oakmont, Pa., and added a sudden-death Masters playoff victory over Kenny Perry and Chad Perry on Sunday.
During his winner’s acceptance speech, Cabrera made it a point to thank Epps as someone who “was always with me even when things were bad.”
“Charlie is a good friend,” Cabrera said. “He really helped me. He told me, if you won the U.S. Open, you can win the Masters. You can win any tournament you stand up on the first tee.”
Epps grew up in Argentina and speaks fluent Spanish. Living in the small Argentine city of Villa Allende in the 1980s, Epps got to know a talented, hot-tempered caddie out of Cordova Golf Club . In the early 1990s, Epps once declined an offer to sponsor the up-and-coming Cabrera.
“I just never thought he would overcome his anger,” Epps said. “He’s matured.”
Epps, the director of instruction at the Houstonian Golf & Country Club, primarily works with Cabrera on putting. The relationship clearly is more than player-instructor, though. They stayed at the same house all week, with Cabrera doing the cooking and Epps the dishes. For inspiration, Epps brought along a highlight reel he had put together of Cabrera’s Open victory at Oakmont.
“He’s always telling me how many putts he doesn’t make,” Epps said. “And I tell him, ‘Hey, just watch this.’ ”
At the 70th hole, Cabrera made a tricky, 10-foot, downhill curler for birdie that kept him within two strokes of the lead. On the first playoff hole, Cabrera saved par with an equally tricky 6-footer.
Cabrera hadn’t finished in the top five anywhere in the world in more than a year. Caught in the windy side of the draw the previous week at the Shell Houston Open , he missed the cut. The teacher kept insisting the pupil would be fine.
“We worked,” Cabrera said, “and it’s back.”
| i don't know |
Which author created a fictional world that included Little Delving, Hardbottle and The Marrish? | Puzzles - Fictional Addresses
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
2. Which author created a fictional world that included Little Delving, Hardbottle and The Marrish?
3. Which family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace?
4. �Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again� is the opening line of which 1938 classic novel?
5. Which TV programme is set in Glenbogle, an estate in the Scottish highlands?
6. Which famous character lived in �the world`s largest estate�, Xanadu?
7. Which TV comedy series featured a fictional property, with a sign featuring letters that had been re-arranged into anagrams such as Fatty Owls and Farty Towels?
8. Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy in which Jane Austin novel?
9. Which TV family lived in Nelson Mandela House?
10. Which novel first introduced Room 101?
Have we had these before in a previous existence?
3. Which family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace?
The Simpsons
7. Which TV comedy series featured a fictional property, with a sign featuring letters that had been re-arranged into anagrams such as Fatty Owls and Farty Towels?
Flowery Twats
9. Which TV family lived in Nelson Mandela House?
The Trotters
4. �Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again� is the opening line of which 1938 classic novel?
Rebecca
8. Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy in which Jane Austin novel?
p&p postage and packing or Pride and Prejudice
10. Which novel first introduced Room 101?
1984
2. Which author created a fictional world that included Little Delving, Hardbottle and The Marrish? JRR Tolkien
5. Which TV programme is set in Glenbogle, an estate in the Scottish highlands?
Monarch of the Glen
Well done everyone! nearly got them all
Have we had these before in a previous existence?
Possibly
do a search on 'Little Whinging' if you want to be quite sure
talking of which
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
Harry Potter
6. Which famous character lived in �the world`s largest estate�, Xanadu?
Citizen (Charles Foster) Kane
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
Harry Potter
shome mishtake shurely, it's Privet not Paget
D'you know, I thought something didn't look quite right about that
Think of it as your Brainteaser and Trivia all rolled into one
| J. R. R. Tolkien |
Which family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace? | Puzzles - Fictional Addresses
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
2. Which author created a fictional world that included Little Delving, Hardbottle and The Marrish?
3. Which family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace?
4. �Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again� is the opening line of which 1938 classic novel?
5. Which TV programme is set in Glenbogle, an estate in the Scottish highlands?
6. Which famous character lived in �the world`s largest estate�, Xanadu?
7. Which TV comedy series featured a fictional property, with a sign featuring letters that had been re-arranged into anagrams such as Fatty Owls and Farty Towels?
8. Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy in which Jane Austin novel?
9. Which TV family lived in Nelson Mandela House?
10. Which novel first introduced Room 101?
Have we had these before in a previous existence?
3. Which family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace?
The Simpsons
7. Which TV comedy series featured a fictional property, with a sign featuring letters that had been re-arranged into anagrams such as Fatty Owls and Farty Towels?
Flowery Twats
9. Which TV family lived in Nelson Mandela House?
The Trotters
4. �Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again� is the opening line of which 1938 classic novel?
Rebecca
8. Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy in which Jane Austin novel?
p&p postage and packing or Pride and Prejudice
10. Which novel first introduced Room 101?
1984
2. Which author created a fictional world that included Little Delving, Hardbottle and The Marrish? JRR Tolkien
5. Which TV programme is set in Glenbogle, an estate in the Scottish highlands?
Monarch of the Glen
Well done everyone! nearly got them all
Have we had these before in a previous existence?
Possibly
do a search on 'Little Whinging' if you want to be quite sure
talking of which
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
Harry Potter
6. Which famous character lived in �the world`s largest estate�, Xanadu?
Citizen (Charles Foster) Kane
1. Who lives at 4 Paget Drive, Little Whinging?
Harry Potter
shome mishtake shurely, it's Privet not Paget
D'you know, I thought something didn't look quite right about that
Think of it as your Brainteaser and Trivia all rolled into one
| i don't know |
Which TV programme is set in Glenbogle, an estate in the Scottish highlands? | Monarch of the Glen (TV Series 2000–2005) - IMDb
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Archie MacDonald, a young restaurateur is called back to his childhood home of Glenbogle where he is told he is the new Laird of Glenbogle.
Creator:
As the night of the Midsummer Ball approaches, Archie is determined to make sure everything runs smoothly. But it seems that someone is trying to sabotage the ball and Stella is determined to keep ...
8.7
Hector and Archie fight for possession of a rare and valuable barrel of whiskey while Duncan and Golly compete amongst many other contenders for the new position of head ranger on the estate.
8.6
While Archie would rather forget the fact that it is his birthday, the family is determined to organize a secret surprise party. At the same time, Hector plants an article in the local magazine to ...
8.6
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Title: Monarch of the Glen (2000–2005)
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SPOILER: Archie MacDonald, carving out a life for himself as a restaurateur in London, finds himself called back to his home in the Scottish Highlands to assume his role as The Laird of Glenbogle and get the 40,000 acre estate back on its feet. No matter the romantic interest and all the emotional undercurrents as the young Laird Archie wrestles the Glenbogle estate into the 21st century. Justine, Archie's girlfriend has competition from local school Headmistress Katrina and cook Lexie battle for the Laird's heart. Whilst Archie has to cope with his eccentric parents Molly and Hector and their friend and neighbor Kilwillie. 5 years later, Archie's half-brother Paul Bowman comes to Glenbogle, and becomes Laird of Glenbogle, whilst Archie and his new wife Lexie leave for New Zealand. He has many romantic interests including farmer Isobel Anderson, neighbor Lucy Ford, brewery chairwoman Amanda MacLeish and shepherdess Iona Maclean. Paul has to control the wacky duo of Uncle Donald, the ... Written by [email protected] & tReynard Pictures
1 January 2001 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Karl för sin kilt See more »
Filming Locations:
Lorraine Pilkington (who plays Katrina Finlay) married series director Simon Massey . See more »
Goofs
The details of Hector's history as a laird are altered throughout the series. For example, in the first episode of the series he claims to be the 14th laird of Glenbogle but in the 6th season he is referred to as the 23rd. See more »
Quotes
Molly MacDonald : Listen, mush! I can boogie with the best, dance 'til dawn and drink 'til doomsday! So don't give me this old routine! Or I shall give you an injury from which you may never recover!
Trivia Alert -- Cult Figures of British TV
5 June 2007 | by bacchae2
(United States) – See all my reviews
Yes, it may be a bit of fey highland fluff, but it has a quirky charm (a bit reminiscent of a Scottish "Northern Exposure") and would be worth watching for the lush green scenery and glittering loch alone if nothing else.
But, for connoisseurs of British TV, actors, and cult TV in general, the 6th series, just made available in the U.S. on DVD, is especially interesting because of the presence of at least 4 major cult figures of British television.
Beginning with the continuing, charming presence of regular "Molly" played by the great Susan Hampshire whose resume reads like a history of the best of British TV. From her appearances in things like "Danger Man" (aka "Secret Agent") to classics such as the original black and white "Forsyte Saga," "The First Churchills," "The Pallisers," etc. etc. We also are entertained with the newly recurring character of Hector's wastrel brother Donald McDonald played by the highly amusing Tom Baker (still my favorite Dr. Who) and the delicious Anthony Head (Giles from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and more recently the Prime Minister in those hilarious "Little Britain" sketches.)
And, best of all, for "Bad Girls" fans (at least those brilliant first 3 seasons which made British TV history thanks, largely, to this actress' landmark performance) we are further graced with the authentically Scottish, luscious Simone Lahbib (who, sadly/happily, was forced to leave the show when she found she was pregnant in real life.) She is a delight in her outdoorsy togs and her scenes with the farm animals. I'd love to see her do more comedy, though she excels as a dramatic actress. She and Tony Head, especially, have a very interesting working relationship/chemistry as well-matched actors here in their unfortunately too few scenes together. Very subtexty, less-is-more, breezy, low-key, naturalistic with a wry little twist and spin on the delivery. Too bad she couldn't have stayed longer, as they were just beginning to develop her character and the rivalry between Paul and Chester for Isobel's affections. I want to live on Isobel's farm, anyone know just where it's located?
Also...another Monarch Trivia Alert: in an earlier season there was a major degrees-of-separation Indy Jones thing happening with the presence in the same series of Paul Freeman from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," plus that other "Raiders" villain Ronald Lacey's daughter, and the new laird, Lloyd Owen is Indy's dad from TV's "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
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| Monarch of the Glen |
Which TV comedy series featured a fictional property, with a sign featuring letters that had been re-arranged into anagrams such as Fatty Owls and Farty Towels? | Monarch Of The Glen: The Complete Collection (DVD) | DVD Empire
Big Country, The
Monarch Of The Glen: The Complete Collection
Set against the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands, this immensely popular, heart-warming drama centers around an ancient castle, a collection of tartan-clad eccentrics and the handsome new master of the impoverished estate. Monarch of the Glen is one of the BBC's international success stories. From America to Vietnam, fans around the world have fallen in love with the beautiful Scottish countryside and the story of Glenbogle.
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Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy in which Jane Austin novel? | Pemberley | The Jane Austen Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
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Pemberley is the country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy , the male protagonist in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. It is located about 5 miles from the town of Lambton, in the county of Derbyshire.
In describing the estate, Austen uses uncharacteristically explicit symbolism to represent the geographical home of the man at the centre of the novel. On first visiting the estate, Elizabeth Bennet is charmed by the beauty of the surrounding countryside, as indeed she is by Mr. Darcy himself. Elizabeth had already rejected Mr. Darcy's first proposal by the time she visits Pemberley — it is his letter, the praise of his housekeeper, and his own courteous behaviour at Pemberley that bring about a change in her opinion of Mr. Darcy.
"They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" Jane Austen (1813).
Trivia
| Pride and Prejudice |
Which novel first introduced Room 101? | The Darcys of Pemberley Audiobook | Shannon Winslow | Audible.com
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Publisher's Summary
A sequel faithful to Jane Austen's beloved masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have been married for almost a year, and their heated arguments are a thing of the past. All that passion is now directed into more satisfying pursuits. But how long can the honeymoon last?
The couple's idyllic life together at Pemberley is jeopardized by the secrets they begin keeping from each other, the troubles of their closest friends, and the threat of a villain in their midst. Layers of seemingly innocent deception are building between Darcy and Elizabeth, threatening their relationship. He is conducting some covert business dealings that he's unwilling to share with his wife, and she likewise begins keeping things from him against her own better judgment.
The couple also becomes embroiled in the tribulations of Mr. Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, and his friend and cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Fitzwilliam falls victim to their aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, as the object of her latest scheme to make a noble match for her daughter. The arrangement satisfies the ambitions of the couple's parents, but appears to hold little prospect of happiness for Anne and Fitzwilliam, who each harbor other romantic interests. During this same period, Georgiana runs the gamut of emotions as she comes of age. Her elation at her birthday ball soon crumbles when she learns the man she secretly admires is engaged to another. The excitement of a London season and the attention of two other eligible suitors cannot make her forget her disappointment over her lost first love.
As the story progresses, the menacing shadow of Mr. Darcy's life-long nemesis looms ever-larger. By carelessness and design, Mr. Wickham and Lydia painfully intrude into the lives of the Darcys and the Bingleys, with disastrous results.
The Darcys of Pemberley is the tale of two romances: the continuation of Darcy and Elizabeth's story, and the courtship of Miss Georgiana. For those of us who didn't want Pride and Prejudice to end, this charming novel gives the opportunity to learn what happens after the wedding, to revisit old friends and foes, and to share the next chapter of their lives. Ms. Winslow carries on the saga much as Jane Austen herself might have - true to her style, her sensibilities, and the delightful characters she created.
©2011 Shannon Winslow (P)2013 Shannon Winslow
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By what name did Annie Mae Bullock become better known in the music world? | Tina Turner - Biography - IMDb
Tina Turner
Biography
Showing all 65 items
Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (3) | Trivia (45) | Personal Quotes (10)
Overview (4)
The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
The Burner
5' 4" (1.63 m)
Mini Bio (1)
After almost fifty years in the music business, Tina Turner has become one of the most commercially-successful international female rock stars to date. Her sultry, powerful voice, her incredible legs, her time-tested beauty and her unforgettable story all contribute to her legendary status.
Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, in Haywood County, Tennessee, to Zelma Priscilla (Currie) and Floyd Richard Bullock. Her family were sharecroppers. Tina was raised in the segregated South. She and her elder sister were abandoned by their sparring parents early on, and were then raised by their grandparents. After her grandmother's death, she eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri to reunite with her mother. This opened up a whole new world of R&B nightclubs to the precocious 16-year-old. Called up to sing on-stage with Ike Turner 's Kings of Rhythm in 1956, she displayed a natural talent for performing which the band leader was keen to develop. Soon, Anna Mae's aspirations of a nursing career were forgotten and she began to hang around with the group. When the singer booked to record "A Fool in Love" failed to turn up for the session, Ike drafted in Anna Mae to provide the vocal with the intention of removing it later. However, once he heard her spine-tingling performance of the song, he soon changed his plans. He changed her name to Tina Turner and when the record became a hit, Tina became a permanent fixture in Ike's band and his quest for international stardom. One thing led to another: they were married in Mexico between the births of Tina's two sons - the first a result of an earlier relationship with a musician, the second with Ike.
Before too long the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was tearing up large and small R&B and soul venues throughout the early and mid-1960s. The hits were relatively few, but the unsurpassed energy and excitement generated by the live stage show (read: Tina) made the Revue a solid touring act, along with the likes of James Brown and Ray Charles . Their greatest attempt to "cross over" came in 1966 with the historic recording of the Phil Spector production, "River Deep, Mountain High". While it was a commercial flop in the United States, it was a monster hit in Europe - and the start of Tina's European superstar status, which never faded during her long stint of relative obscurity in America in the late 1970s. The Revue entered that decade as a top touring and recording act, with Tina becoming more and more recognized as the star power behind the group's international success. Ike, while having been justly described as an excellent musician, a shrewd businessman and the initial "brains" behind the Revue, was also described (by Tina and others) as a violent, drug-addicted wife-beater who was not above frequently knocking Tina (and other women) around both publicly and privately. Despite hits such as "Proud Mary" and Tina's self-penned "Nutbush City Limits", further mainstream success eluded the group and Ike blamed Tina. After years of misery and a failed suicide attempt, Tina finally had enough in July 1976, when she fled the marriage (and the Revue) with the now-famous 36 cents and a Mobil gasoline credit card.
Tina, now nearing 40, endured a long and, at times, humiliating trek back to superstardom through working many substandard gigs and performing a repertoire of current Top 40 hits and old Ike & Tina tunes in hotel ballrooms and supper clubs. She now admits she was having the time of her life at this point, simply putting together her own show and performing. She refused to wrangle for a settlement from the divorce, despite being in huge debt to all the tour promoters she had let down by fleeing the Revue. After an appearance on Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (1980), Tina - in a wise business move - persuaded Newton-John's management team to take her on. With Roger Davies at her side, Tina's profile began to rise, and performances alongside the likes of Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones introduced her to the rock market she so wanted to pursue.
The European release of her cover of Al Green 's "Let's Stay Together" in 1983 was a major turning point in Tina's career. The record hit #6 in the British chart and Capitol Records were soon demanding a full album. "Private Dancer" was hurriedly produced in England in two weeks flat. The rest is rock and roll history. The next single - "What's Love Got to Do with It?" - became Tina's first #1 single the following year and the album hung around the Top 10 for months, spawning two further hits. At the 1985 Grammy Awards, her astonishing comeback was recognized with nominations in the rock, R&B and pop categories and rewarded with four trophies. Since that time, the successes have just kept coming: a starring role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985); duets with Bryan Adams , David Bowie , Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger amongst others; several sell-out world tours; a string of hit albums and awards; a bestselling autobiography, "I, Tina"; and the blockbuster biopic What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) chronicling her life.
After her "Twenty Four Seven Millenium Tour" in 2000, Tina announced she would retire from the concert stage, but continue to record and play live on a smaller scale. Four years later, at age 65, she released a career retrospective entitled "All the Best" featuring new recordings, and reached #2 in the American album chart, her highest ever placing for an album there. She ended 2005 as one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, the highest form of recognition of excellence in the arts in America. Despite changing the direction of her working life, she will always be remembered as a dynamic live performer and recording artist, able to thrill audiences like no other woman in music history. Tina Turner is the undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
Spouse (2)
Powerful sultry voice
Trivia (45)
World's most successful female rock artist ever. Record sales: over 60 million (1983-99). Has sold more concert tickets than any other female performer in history. Seven-time Grammy Award-winner.
On January 28, 1985, she took part in the USA for Africa recording of "We Are the World".
Turned down a role in the comedy-drama film Thelma & Louise (1991).
She was with Ike Turner for 20 years, but was only married to him for 16 (she does not count the two years it took for the divorce to become final as part of her marriage).
Mother of Ronnie Turner and Craig Turner.
Turned down the role of Shug Avery in The Color Purple (1985), which eventually went to Margaret Avery .
Had the biggest-grossing concert tour of North America in 2000. However, due to lower ticket prices, *NSYNC sold more tickets than Tina.
Because of the frequent beatings she received from former husband Ike Turner , she had to have reconstructive surgery on her nose.
In 2001 rapper Fat Joe sampled a lyric from the chorus of her 1984 hit "What's Love Got to Do with It?" which was used in "What's Luv?", his hit single featuring Ashanti .
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with Ike Turner ) and the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1991.
Angela Bassett mimed to Tina's voice when performing the musical numbers in the film What's Love Got to Do with It (1993).
She was voted the 61st Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.
In 1972 she (with Ike Turner ) won a Grammy Award for 'Best R&B Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental' for "Proud Mary".
In 1986 won a Grammy Award for 'Best Female Rock Vocal Performance' for "One of the Living".
In 1987 won a Grammy Award for 'Best Female Rock Vocal Performance' for "Back Where You Started".
In 1989 won a Grammy Award for 'Best Female Rock Vocal Performance' for "Live in Europe".
In February 1985 she won (with Terry Britten ) a Grammy Award for 'Record of the Year' for "What's Love Got to Do with It?".
In February 1985 she won a Grammy Award for 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance' for "What's Love Got to Do with It?".
In February 1985 she won a Grammy Award for 'Best Female Rock Vocal Performance' for "Better Be Good to Me".
In 1995 rapper Warren G. , along with Adina Howard , covered her Grammy-winning hit song "What's Love Got to Do with It?" for the soundtrack of Police Story 3: Supercop (1992).
On Oct. 7, 1999, she received the Lifetime Achievement prize at the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In 1994 she moved to Zurich, Switzerland.
Ranked #2 on VH1's Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.
In 2002 she was ranked #6 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
On Dec. 3, 2005, she received the Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipients were Robert Redford , Tony Bennett , Suzanne Farrell and Julie Harris .
On Feb. 20, 2006, "Teach Me Again", her duet with Elisa , from the soundtrack of All the Invisible Children (2005), enters the Italian singles chart at #1.
| Tina Turner |
How many blank tiles are there in a game of Scrabble? | The Blues . Blues Road Trip . Memphis and St. Louis | PBS
Born: 1934, Memphis, Tennessee
Died: July 11, 2002, New York, New York
Rosco Gordon was an integral part of the Memphis Beale Street blues scene during the forties and fifties. He created a shuffle rhythm on piano known as "Rosco's rhythm" that influenced blues, and, in the opinion of some historians, also inspired the creation of the distinctive rhythm of Jamaican ska, itself a precursor of reggae. On Beale Street Gordon worked with Johnny Ace, Bobby Blue Bland and others, and in the early fifties his song "Booted" hit number one on the R&B charts. That same year he had another hit with "No More Doggin'." Throughout his career he never matched that early success, but he did continue to record and perform. Like many bluesmen he took an extended hiatus from music to earn an alternative living, but later in his life he began performing again, and continued to do so until his death in 2002.
Essential listening: "Booted," "I'm Gonna Shake It," "No More Doggin'," "She's My Baby"
W.C. Handy
Born: November 16, 1873, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Died: March 28, 1958, New York, New York
Also known as: William Christopher Handy
W.C. Handy is widely recognized by his self-proclaimed moniker, "Father of the Blues" due to his steadfast and pioneering efforts to document, write and publish blues music and his life-long support of the genre. Although much of his musical taste leaned toward a more sophisticated and polished sound, Handy was among the first to recognize the value of the blues, and Southern black music in general, as an important American legacy. Handy was an accomplished bandleader and songwriter who performed throughout the South before continuing his career in New York. He came across the Delta blues in the late 1890s, and his composition "Memphis Blues," published in 1912, was the first to include "blues" in the title. Some historians don't consider "Memphis Blues" to be an actual blues song, however it did influence the creation of other blues tunes, including the historic "Crazy Blues," which is commonly known as the first blues song to ever be recorded (by Mamie Smith in 1920). A Memphis park was named after Handy in recognition of his contribution to blues and the Blues Foundation recognizes the genre's achievements annually with the prestigious W.C. Handy award.
Essential listening: "St. Louis Blues," "Yellow Dog Blues," "Beale Street Blues"
Albert King
Born: April 25, 1923, Indianola, Mississippi
Died: December 21, 1992
Also known as: Albert Nelson
As a child an enterprising Albert King reportedly built his own guitar out of a cigar box. A brilliant guitarist in his own right, King was originally inspired by Texas blues great Blind Lemon Jefferson. Like B.B. King, he was a master of single string solos and used the technique of "string bending" to great emotional effect. He was also left-handed, and instead of restringing the guitar, he just learned to play it upside down, which added an original tone to his style. His blues are infused with a Memphis soul sound; he became a rock and blues star after signing to the Memphis-based Stax label, which was responsible for some of the finest soul music ever recorded. King always managed to keep his sound fresh and original, and had a significant impact on blues and rock; he has influenced Eric Clapton, Robert Clay, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Otis Rush, among others. He had the honor of playing San Francisco's Fillmore West on opening night with John Mayall and Jimi Hendrix and often shared the bill with rock artists throughout his career. King continued to tour until his death in 1992.
Essential listening: "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," "Crosscut Saw," "Born Under a Bad Sign," "I'll Play the Blues for You"
B.B. King
Born: September 16, 1925, Indianola, Mississippi
Also known as: Riley B. King
B.B. King's career has spanned five decades and taken him from the clubs of Memphis to the finest concert halls in the world. He's known as the King of the Blues, and for his enduring and successful efforts as a gracious, respected blues diplomat he deserves much of the credit for the genre's mainstream popularity and recognition. Early in his career King worked as a Memphis disc jockey, where he was known as the Beale Street Blues Boy, which was later shortened to B.B. Although King's roots are in Delta blues, his sound has always been more polished, probably due to his wide variety of influences, which include jazz, gospel and pop. King's highly influential style probably originally inspired by Texas blues greats Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker features "single string" guitar solos that are so well-integrated with his commanding vocals that it's sometimes hard to tell the two apart. He also "bends" the strings, which continues the sound in a way that enhances the music's emotion. He has influenced countless blues and rock artists, including Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck. King continues to record and perform as powerfully as ever.
Essential listening: "How Blue Can You Get," "The Thrill is Gone," "Sweet Little Angel," "Paying the Cost to be the Boss"
Memphis Minnie
Born: June 3, 1897, Algiers, Louisiana
Died: August 6, 1973, Memphis, Tennessee
Also known as: Lizzie Douglas
Memphis Minnie was an accomplished guitarist, banjo player, vocalist and songwriter whose career was long and prolific, and she won the enduring respect of her contemporaries, male and female. Her talent had an impact on Memphis's famed Beale Street blues community as well as both the pre-war and post-war Chicago blues scene. She established herself on Beale Street during the 1920s, then moved to Chicago in 1930, where she reportedly regularly won guitar playing competitions, beating out the best of them, including Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, and Muddy Waters. In addition to her superb musicianship, her performance featured rich vocals with a deep, full tone. Her songwriting, often conveying a purely female perspective, was as gutsy and suggestive as any of her male counterparts, and many of her originals have become classics. Among her many contributions to the blues, she was also known for her kindness and generosity toward up and coming blues musicians. In 1971 Led Zeppelin recorded its take on her original "When the Levee Breaks" a testament to the timeless appeal of her music.
Essential listening: "Bumble Bee," "I'd Rather See Him Dead," "Moaning the Blues," "When the Levee Breaks," "Hoodoo Lady"
Willie Nix
Born: August 6, 1922, Memphis, Tennessee
Died: July 8, 1991, Leland, Mississippi
Willie Nix was an innovative drummer and gifted lyricist as well as vocalist, and was an integral part of Memphis's Beale Street blues community during the late forties and early fifties. Nix originally began performing as a tap-dancer when he was very young his creative sense of rhythm as a drummer likely had its roots in his instincts as a dancer. Nix recorded and played in both Memphis and Chicago, and worked with legendary bluesmen in both cities, among them Junior Parker, B.B. King, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Bobby Blue Bland. Nix eventually moved back to Memphis and continued to be a local fixture in the blues community. He performed on and off until his death in 1991.
Essential listening: "Truckin' Little Woman," "Nervous Wreck," "No More Love"
Junior Parker
Born: March 27, 1932, West Memphis, Arkansas
Died: November 18, 1971, Chicago, Illinois
Also known as: Herman Parker, Jr.
Junior Parker was known for his prowess as a vocalist, bandleader, songwriter and harmonica player, but it was his voice which music historians describe as "honeyed," "velvet-smooth" and "magic carpet" that brought him real fame. Parker was mentored in the subtleties of blues harp (harmonica) by the blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II, and joined Howlin' Wolf's band when he was still a teenager. He was part of Memphis's famous Beale Street blues community. Reportedly one of talent scout Ike Turner's many discoveries, Parker recorded for Sun records in the early fifties; his rendition of the self-penned "Mystery Train" made it to number 5 on the R&B charts and was later covered by Elvis Presley. Parker's recordings would make the charts many more times throughout the decade and into the early sixties. During the late fifties Parker led a highly successful R&B revue, Blues Consolidated, which also featured fellow Beale Street vocalist Bobby Blue Bland. Though he never was able to sustain the fame he'd achieved during the fifties, Parker continued working as a recording artist and performer throughout the sixties.
Essential listening: "Mystery Train," "Next Time You See Me," "Barefoot Rock," "Feelin' Good," "Love My Baby"
Sam Phillips
Born: January 1, 1923, Florence, Alabama
Died: July 31, 2003, Memphis, Tennessee
Sam Phillips has had an enormous impact on music, particularly blues, rock and roll and rockabilly. As an innovative producer and owner of Memphis's legendary Sun Studios, Phillips made his mark on music history by discovering and recording such legends as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and others. Slightly earlier in his career, however, Phillips recorded many blues legends, including Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Little Milton and Junior Parker. Sun Studios is often called "The Birthplace of Rock and Roll" in 1951 Phillips recorded the legendary single "Rocket 88," which is often referred to as the first rock and roll record. The song reached number one on R&B charts and helped put Memphis on the musical map. Phillip's obvious gift for bringing out the best in his recording artists is evident on early Sun recordings, which are also known for their live, vital sound. Sun Studios still exists in its original Memphis location.
Essential listening: "B.B. Blues," "My Baby Walked Off," "I Found a New Love," "Lookin' for My Baby" (from Blue Flames: A Sun Blues Collection, Rhino-Sun)
Ike Turner
Born: November 5, 1931, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Also known as: Izear Luster Turner, Jr.
Ike Turner has been an integral part of the history of blues, rock and R&B. As a pianist and guitarist he backed visiting bluesmen and performed with his own band, the Kings of Rhythm, while still in high school. He worked as a talent scout in Memphis and throughout the south, and as such he accelerated the careers of Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton and others; as a session musician he often backed up the talent he discovered. Turner's band recorded the song "Rocket 88" in 1951 (recorded under the name Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats), which hit number 1 on the R&B charts and is often called the "first rock and roll song." The band became very popular in St. Louis, and in the late fifties Turner added vocalist Annie Mae Bullock to the mix (who later changed her name to Tina Turner and married Ike). The band became the Ike & Tina Turner Review, and made R&B and rock history, charting singles, packing black nightclubs and touring with the Rolling Stones. Tina left the band and the marriage in 1974; subsequently Ike experienced some hard times, and his career faded. He later made a comeback, and continues to record and perform.
Essential listening: "Rocket 88," "Shake a Tail Feather," "Proud Mary," "Steel Guitar Rag," "I'm Lonesome Baby," "Tore Up," "Ike's Theme," "Catfish Blues"
Peetie Wheatstraw
Born: December 21, 1902, Ripley, Tennessee
Died: December 21, 1941, East St. Louis, Illinois
Also known as: William Bunch
Peetie Wheatstraw began performing in 1929, the year of the Great Depression, and enjoyed enormous popularity in spite of the devastating economic conditions and lulls in the careers of other artists. He was a talented songwriter and commonly addressed rather dark themes the supernatural, death, sex and addiction yet his music was uplifting due to his witty lyrics and the wide range and expressive, buoyant quality of his vocal delivery. His juxtaposition of dark themes with a message to appreciate life is perhaps partly why his music was so surprisingly successful during such trying times. Wheatstraw was primarily a piano player and worked with excellent guitarists, including Kokomo Arnold and Lonnie Johnson; he and Johnson were a recording and performing team for 10 years. He reportedly took his name from an "evil twin" character from black folk tales, and during his career he was also nicknamed "The Devil's Son-in Law" and the "High Sheriff of Hell." Wheatstraw died while celebrating his 39th birthday when, reportedly, he and his buddies tried, and failed, to beat a speeding train.
Essential listening: "Suicide Blues," "You Can't Stop Me From Drinking," "The Devil's Son-in-Law," "Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp"
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