The three weeks following January 15th are the statistically coldest days of our short winter in Essex County. We are just coming out of our upteenth severe cold spell, which this time lasted two days. We will have an extended breather until Thursday, when the next cold spell rolls in. All without any snow. However, as I write this, a monster storm is tearing through areas south of us. It's effects will barely glaze our area, but will hit Toronto and Ottawa hard, with plenty of snow, anywhere from 10" to 16". We could get 1", which would be welcome as ground protection. Today was almost a perfect January day. The temperature rose to 31 F. It was sunny, and there was barely any wind. All that was missing was some snow, and it would have been a perfect winter day, suitable for snow shoeing. Here is the weather map as of 4:30 pm Sunday. Detroit and our county is at upper left.
In shipping news, all Great Lakes locks are now closed for the season. Three of the lakes can be navigated without locks: Erie, Huron, and Michigan. That includes Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. there are still a few ships passing by, but they all seem to be heading to winter berths. The photo below shows the Manitowac. It's destination was listed on my website as "Hotel Toledofornia." Hilarious!
In movie news, I chose the next feature directed by Fassbinder. From 1978, it was called In A Year of 13 Moons, and concerns the affairs of one very screwed up trans person. The main problem with this very bold drama is that it is virtually impossible to have any sympathy with the main character, who has painted herself into a corner. Her emotions aren't much beyond the teenage high school stage, and even if it weren't an adult but a teen being depicted, it would still be hard to empathize. The film gets better when she goes to apologize to the man she once loved for comments she made in a recent magazine interview. This is the most bizarre part of the film, but also the most fun. Supposedly it was Fassbinder's favourite of his films, possibly because he had a personal attachment to it. Fassbinder's gay lover committed suicide before filming.
Angel Face is from 1953, directed by Otto Preminger and starring Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons. This is a really great little noir, with intelligent dialogue and plausible outcomes. Simmons is the deranged young beauty who wants to kill her stepmother. When new boyfriend Mitchum, hired as the family chauffeur, refuses to get involved, she undertakes things on her own. They both end up getting arrested and tried for murder. There are moments when dark-haired Simmons can be saved. But her lawyer doesn't listen to her guilty pleas, and Mitchum doesn't believe her when she tells him she plead not guilty to save him (which is true). After the trial he wants no part of her at all. Period. What's a psychotic girl to do? The ending must have been shocking at the time. it appears on some top 10 film lists, including that of Godard (8th best American sound film). Definitely worth catching.
Mapman Mike
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