Winter's Heart

The worst of our winter temps usually falls between about January 10th and very early February, even up to around the 13th of that month.  Six weeks of winter isn't bad for somewhere in Canada.  Sudbury is at least double that length.  So far the winter hasn't been that bad in our area.  It's been cold enough to be sure, with worse to come early next week.  We've had about 3.5" of snow, but a lot of that has now melted.  Temps have been pretty close to average, with cold spells mixing it up with brief thaws.  We are currently thawing.  So no complaining here, yet.  I've been ice skating (indoor arena) twice now, and hope to go again next week.  However, a major cold front is now arriving.

 

Deb had an unusually busy medical week, and we are both glad it has come to an end.  We had an experience with how medical services should be.  Deb was awaiting an MRI in Windsor.  Current wait time is 6 to 7 months.  So off we went to Detroit.  Booked an appointment for Thursday evening.  Back out the door of the private clinic 35 minutes later, photos in hand.  The results were sent to her oral surgeon the next morning, when her appointment was.  Instant service.  Of course we had to pay for the scan, but it was actually quite a reasonable cost, considering how much the machines cost.  The results confirm that she has some arthritis in her jaw.  She will continue on her regime of soft foods for another two months, with physio here in A'burg. 

 

A lung scan also uncovered the cause of Deb's breathing problem, and she is now being treated for that ailment with medication.  So the battles go.

 

In film news, we recently completed watching a 4-part made-for-TV series called Christ Stopped In Eboli.  From 1979 and directed by Francesco Rosi, it stars Gian Maria Volontè as the writer, artist, and sometimes doctor Carlo Levi, based on his memoirs.  He was exiled in 1935 to an isolated village in the south of Italy in 1939.  The film is a fascinating look at medieval times with electricity, as a city intellectual tries to reconcile himself to life in the slow lane.  This sometimes reminded me of a Doctor Who series, with a man suddenly transported to another dimension and time.  The photography is stunning, the use of hilltop towns superb, and the day to day life of the exiled man and the people of the village is brought to us in a way that a book or memoirs likely never could.  Low key but highly recommended.  Like many Criterion showings, the restored print is beautiful, and there are several extras to view afterwards.

 

Showing on Criterion. 

 

Desert Fury from 1947 purports to be a film noir, but could just as easily be seen as a western.  Lizabeth Scott plays a 19 year old woman who falls in love with a gangster.  Despite her mother's interference (Mary Astor), and sheriff friend Burt Lancaster, she plunges headlong into an affair.  It isn't until the last few moments of the film that she realizes her mistake.  The photography and background scenery are a highlight of the film, and much has been made of the possible homosexual relationship between the gangster and his number one man.  There is an overwrought score by Miklós Rózsa, and a really dumb three-car chase at the finale.  Filmed in brilliant Technicolor, this is a unique film, crossing a gangster movie with a western.

Leaving Criterion January 31st. 

 

And now it's time to prepare for the season's first true polar vortex.  We are in for some really cold temperatures from Sunday through Thursday.  Can't wait.

 

Mapman Mike

 

Autumn Again

 We have just finished up with another two weeks of summer, with mostly very warm temps.  Today it is cool and windy, and we had over 2.5" of rain on Friday and overnight Friday into Saturday.  So far we have needed no heat turned on, and other than the furnace test on September 22nd, our system is resting up for the big winter job.  Thursday Deb had a dentist appointment in Windsor, near the main riverfront trail.  I went for a very warm walk (it was 82 F) while she had her smile cleaned. I didn't see any ships, but one was docked at the Detroit terminal.  The bridge was heavy with trucks.

Geese on the Detroit River, seen from my riverfront walk Thursday.

Trucks on the bridge.  Detroit seen across the river.

  Looking towards downtown Detroit from Windsor's riverwalk.  It was a summery day. 

 

Three of the four ships I have been watching all this year are now on the upper Great Lakes.  I am watching two lake freighters, one Canadian and one American, and two salties, both registered under the flag of Marshall Islands.  One of the salties recently stopped in Detroit, coming from Rotterdam.  It is now way up the lakes somewhere, and I will watch for its return.  The other salty is currently in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and I'm hoping it makes at least one more passage past the Homestead before the season ends.  Though it's been a busy shipping season, it is about to get a whole lot busier, as grain shipments from recent harvests make their way past us on their way across the world.  With our trees properly trimmed, I now have an excellent view of the river again from home.

 

There are three recent films seen to mention briefly.  First, the Fassbinder project continues, this time with Satan's Brew, from 1976.  It's an avant garde comedy, and one that has some serious problems.  Despite the problems, it still has some very funny moments, including the physical appearance of Margit Carstensen, looking hilarious in short, curly hair, thick eye glasses making her eyes look gigantic, and a long, tight skirt and jacket that emphasizes her thinness.  It reminds me of some of the Richard Lester movies I have seen.  Though Deb quit watching early on, I persevered.  The two main problems is that his usual actors have little or no sense of how to act in comedy.  However, they get better as the story goes along, and by the end appear to be enjoying themselves in their bizarre roles.  The second problem is the on-going overt sexism, which is amazing in its outrageousness from today's standpoint.  Worth viewing?  Probably, but mostly for Fassbinder fans who want to see everything he has done.

Now showing on Criterion, the story of a writer who is not quite all there, and always in need of cash. 

 

Red-Headed Woman stars Jean Harlow, and is from 1932.  Especially in period Hollywood films, one is used to seeing bad guys and bad gals get their comeuppence at the end of the movie.  Well, Jean is a bad one, out to get a rich man away from his wife no matter what it takes.  She is a truly revolting gold digger who knows exactly how to tempt a man.  But no comeuppance.  She gets away with everything, including attempted murder.  I guess some girls are lucky that way.  Not a great film, but Una Merkel plays her part well, as Jean's loyal girlfriend.

 

Leaving Criterion soon. 

 

Lastly came Across The Pacific, a 1942 wartime adventure film starring Bogart, Greenstreet, and Mary Astor.  The action takes places just prior to Pearl Harbour, when the Japanese were trying to time their assault with a crippling explosion along the Panama Canal.  Luck for us that Bogart is ready to tackle the problem head on, despite first getting beat up so badly he would be in the hospital for a month.  No problem for our hero, who grabs a gattling gun and saves the western world.  Too bad he wasn't at Pearl Harbour, too.  Most of the adventure takes place aboard a small ship, which Bogart calls a boat.  Mary Astor has a great role with some very fun lines as the romantic interest, as well as having some private business to attend in Panama.  Greenstreet is perfect as the evil enabler of the Japanese.

An early film for John Huston, just after he directed Maltese Falcon.

Suited to today's weather, and the beginning of dangerous fall gale season on the Great Lakes, is this print by Claude Gellee in the DIA.

The Wreck, between 1635-36.  Claude Gellee, French (1600-82).  Etching printed in black ink, 5" x 7".  Collection Detroit Institute of Arts. 

 

Mapman Mike