The Amazing Transparent Man (1960): Classic B Movies

     Made during the Atomic Age, Cold War, Spy era of the late 50s/early 60s, The Amazing Transparent Man (1960) plays off of the paranoia of the time.

     Scientist Peter Ulof is the unwilling participant in the plan of the mad Major Krenner. Krenner is holding Ulof's daughter hostage while Ulof perfects a machine that renders life forms invisible through atomic radiation. Krenner plans to create a whole invisible army and sell the transparent mercenaries to the highest bidder.

     The only problem is... they need more radium to complete the plan in it's entirety. So, Major Krenner manages to break a safecracker, Joey Faust, out of prison with the help of a beautiful female accomplice.

 The hope is that making Faust invisible, he will be able to steal deposits of radium from various vaults.

     Faust has other plans, though. This new invisible state gives him the idea that robbing banks without being seen will be a much more lucrative venture. But despite being invisible, he somehow manages to have an altercation at every attempt.

     Faust sets to double cross Krenner along with his new lovely partner. Their scheme is not inconspicuous enough, though, and Krenner senses there is something amiss.

     Meanwhile, the invisibility formula isn't quite working according to intent (he becomes visible sporadically) and Orlof seriously questions the moral implications involved in his research...

The Amazing Transparent Man- movie trailer

Frank O'Neill: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Frank O'Neill, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

     
     On Quiet Desperation, Frank O'Neill plays a diligent Boston Music historian, gladly using other's misfortunes to document their failure on his blog: "The Cold Talons of Failure." He follows Robby and his circle around, hoping to catch a glimpse or just sense that things are about to take a turn for the worse. Basking in schadenfreude, he has a smile on his face the whole time.

Quiet D episode 10- "Fall"

Episode 21- "Worried All the Time" 

     In real life, Frank O'Neill is a gifted actor. Any of the episodes in which he appears is testament to his great humor and comedic timing.

Episode 19- "The WBCN Rumble"

Quiet Desperation #3, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Arlo Guthrie: Art and Music (Songs that Inspired the Illustrations)

Arlo Guthrie, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Darkest Hour

Motorcycle Song

Coming Into Los Angeles

City of New Orleans

When a Soldier Makes It Home

Alice's Restaurant

Arlo Guthrie, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Arlo Guthrie, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Jennifer Coolidge: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Jennifer Coolidge, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     On Quiet Desperation, Jennifer Coolidge hired Rob Potylo and his band to sing Happy Birthday to her father at the conclusion of her performance at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. She was unable to pay the band, and they had to work for food, because Jennifer had spent the money on a new $600 fur hat.

Quiet D- singing Happy Birthday to Jennifer Coolidge's Dad

     In real life, Jennifer Coolidge has been a popular and successful Hollywood actress for over a decade. She is known for her role in Legally Blonde (2001), as well as her most famous role as Stifler's sexy "MILF" Mom in American Pie (1999).

Read more on wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Coolidge

and IMDB here: imdb Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge in American Pie (1999)

Jennifer on The Joey Show

Jennifer Coolidge interview

Jennifer Coolidge in Legally Blonde (2001)

Bend and Snap

Quiet Desperation #8, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Belle de Jour (1967): Risque Classic Cinema

     Catherine Deneuve, the lovely actress in the title role, reflected on her time in Belle de Jour (1967) in a not so positive way. In retrospect, she felt she was used, overexposed and exploited in the film. She did not intend that statement as literal (there is no full, graphic nudity in the film), but rather was making a figurative assessment of the psychological involvement in the story. The film came out at the height of the French New Wave movement, and reflects the intellectual implications and symbolism of the genre...

     Deneuve plays Severine, the newlywed bride of a busy husband. 

     Her droll existence leaves much to be desired, and she seeks distractions... both in dreams and reality... 

     Curiosity leads her to a brothel where she finds employment (but only from 2 until 5 in the afternoon, for she must be home before her husband returns from work). 

     The Madame of the house christens her Belle de Jour (Beauty of the Day), and her introduction to her new occupation has her nervous and remorseful. 

     She must cater to the sexual needs and fetishes of whomever pays for her services. 

     After a while she gains a certain satisfaction and sense of freedom from the daily sex, and begins to relax. 

     Everything seems fine until a customer, an unbalanced criminal, becomes obsessed with her. 

     Despite his controlling ways, she has a certain modicum of attraction to him as well. However, this can only lead to disaster if he persists and her husband should find out...

Belle de Jour- movie trailer

Wonder Boys (2000): Films for Winter

     With it's depictions of snow, sleet, rain and brisk air, Wonder Boys (2000) perfectly captures winter in Pittsburgh. Adapted from the great Michael Chabon novel of the same name, the film boasts a wonderful cast and a tight soundtrack, led by the incomparable Bob Dylan.

     Michael Douglas plays Grady Tripp, a novelist and college professor who has reached an impasse. His wife left him, his mistress is pregnant and he has been unable to finish writing his new novel for the past seven years. 

     A Word fest event brings his flamboyant publisher (played brilliantly by Robert Downey Jr.) and other literati to the University for the weekend. 

     One of Grady's students, James Leer (Toby Maguire), is fascinated by old Hollywood deaths and suicides. Grady's troubles are multiplied when, at the Chancellor's house party, he points out a valuable jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe on her wedding day to his student. James Leer consequently steals the jacket and some of the future events of the film hinge on this act. 

     Meanwhile Grady has more problems... a dead dog in his trunk (watch the film) and his young tenant, played by Katie Holmes, has a crush on him. 

     And his novel is still unfinished...

     Can all these interesting characters resolve the assorted problems in their lives and find a way to make everything work out for good or ill? 

Wonder Boys- movie trailer

Bob Dylan's original song for Wonder Boys- "Things Have Changed"

New Illustration: Tony Norris (Cowboy Musician, Poet and Storyteller)

Tony Norris, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     I've known Tony Norris for about 25 years or so. We met in the late 1980s, when he and my father, and a bunch of other musicians would play folk songs at campouts, gigs and parties in and around Flagstaff, Arizona. Tony always had a gift for storytelling, making the old west come alive, and bringing others around to new ways of looking at things. Plus he's a damn funny guy with one of the liveliest personalities I've ever known, and a great sense of humor. He's a good friend and I'm glad to know him. He still performs regularly. Check out his website for more info: http://www.tonynorris.com/

Tony Norris- Rock Salt and Nails

Tony Norris- Old Lee

Tony Norris and his grandson- Froggy Went A Courtin'

Tony Norris, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Tony Norris, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947): Classic Boris Karloff (Films from Comic Strips)

     The Dick Tracy comic strip comes to life again in Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947), a well made adaptation composite of the original cartoon characters. Those who knew Boris Karloff in real life swore he was the dullest man you'd ever meet, but you'd never know it from the bizarre characters for which he is known. Here Karloff delivers, as usual, a better than average performance.

     Karloff plays Gruesome, a criminal recently released from prison, in need of a new project.

     While meeting with a prospective employer, he opens a vile containing a mysterious substance that renders him stiff and lifeless for a short time.

     Gruesome and the other criminals utilize this formula, in nerve gas form, to paralyze the people inside a bank while they make off with $100,000.

     Tess Truehart, Dick Tracy's girlfriend, is inside the bank at the time, but is spared the effect of the gas because she is inside a telephone booth. She manages to call Tracy and inform him of the goings on.

     The search is on for Gruesome and his smarmy group, and the clock is ticking.

     A break comes when one of the gang members is injured and placed in the hospital.

      Dick Tracy gets an idea... Can he catch Gruesome?

clip from Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Hank Williams III (Hank 3): Profiles from the Illustrations

Hank Williams III, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     When your father is a famous musician, it is a tough act to follow. But add to that... your grandfather is the most influential and respected icon of an entire genre of music. The combined pressure must be immense. But surprisingly, and admirably, Hank 3 seems unfazed by it. In his words, he's "just doing his own thing, just makin' music."

Interview with Hank 3

     Shelton Hank Williams III has carried on the musical legacy of his family in great fashion and with ferocious intensity and originality. He has payed homage to his past and paved the way for new experimental music that is all is own. In style, voice, attitude and appearance, Hank 3 more closely resembles his grandfather, the legendary Hank Williams, than he does his father, Hank Jr. 

Comparison of Hank Sr. and Hank III playing "Ramblin' Man"

     Set to turn 40 this year, Hank 3 has been through the ups and downs of the music business and has come out on the other side with a fresh outlook, never afraid to say whats on his mind or try new things. 

Hank Williams III- "Pills I Took"

     He had a turbulent relationship with his first label, Curb Records, who insisted on trying to tame him and soften his image with a series of albums that, despite being respectable efforts, did not reflect Hank's vision for where his music should be headed. Things have changed.

Hank 3- "Dick in Dixie"

     He has since taken the helm on producing and engineering his own stuff, giving the listener a much more personal, unfiltered view as to who and what Hank Williams III really is.

Hank Williams III- "Country Heroes"

     Never one to be pinned down, stereotyped, pidgin-holed, restricted or in any way hindered, Hank's voice can be heard across numerous genres of modern music... including Country, Rock & Roll, Punk, Heavy Metal, and Industrial and Experimental Noise music. He often performs two part shows: Country and Heavy Metal. The ballsy, rebel spirit of his grandfather is with him and (if you listen closely) can be heard in every note.

Hank 3 and Assjack- "Judgement of the Dead"

Assjack

Hank 3- "Cattle Calling"

For more info, visit: http://www.hank3.com/

Hank Williams III and Joe Buck, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

The Death Kiss (1932): Classic Bela Lugosi

      A detective story with a twist (most of the sleuthing is not done by a detective), The Death Kiss (1932) is entertaining, has some great moments, and delivers a semi-surprising ending.

     A famous actor is shooting the final scene in a film, in which he kisses a woman who has betrayed him. 

     After the kiss, he walks toward camera and is supposed to walk into a hail of blank bullets. Someone, however, fires real ammunition and the actor is killed. 

     The leading lady (who happens to be the actor's ex wife) is the natural suspect.

     Her boyfriend (a detective story writer) has other ideas, though, and vows to solve the case himself, and prove her innocence.

     As the details unfold, it is learned that more than one person may have wanted the actor dead, and the list of suspects grows. The writer boyfriend works both in conjunction and at odds with the authorities in digging up clues, investigating, and interviewing.

     The movie studio boss (played by Bela Lugosi) is a character that hangs heavily over the storyline. 

     Can the boyfriend prove that the actress didn't do it, or is she doomed to pay the penalty for a crime of passion?

The Death Kiss- full feature film