November 24, 2013

"Singing and acting are actually very similar things."

Says Harry Dean Stanton:
"Anyone can sing and anyone can be a film actor. All you have to do is learn. I learned to sing when I was a child. I had a babysitter named Thelma. She was 18, I was six, and I was in love with her. I used to sing her an old Jimmie Rodgers song, 'T for Thelma'." Closing his eyes, he breaks into song: "T for Texas, T for Tennessee, T for Thelma, that girl made a wreck out of me." He smiles his sad smile. "I was singing the blues when I was six. Kind of sad, eh?"
ADDED: Here's "T for Texas," sung by Joe D. Johnson. I'm not familiar with this singer, but get the feeling he was better known for "Rattlesnake Daddy."

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I look forward to seeing the film. He has the American face.

Wince said...

Ann Coulter sings the praises of actor Alec Baldwin.

What are conservatives doing demanding Baldwin's head for calling some pestilential paparazzi a "c*ck-s*cking little f*g." It is perfectly obvious Baldwin was just cursing the guy out with whatever bad words popped into his head, not engaging in "homophobia" against an actual gay person.

Conservatives attacking Baldwin for his latest fit of (justified) anger are being small-time and shortsighted. You think this sets liberals back? They don't care about Baldwin. You're just reinforcing their worldview, where careers are ended over a word.

Liberals don't mind abortion, sexual promiscuity, adultery, lying or criminal behavior. They save all their moral indignation for people who use politically incorrect words. Instead of simply filing this one away under "Liberal Hypocrisy" for future use, conservatives are validating the left's next attack on a conservative.


While I agree with Coulter in the abstract, how else do you reveal the precedent that liberals get a free pass based on the various litmus tests imposed by the left unless you require liberals to cash-in that pass?

To wit, as if to put the issue in stark relief, watch how Dan Savage on Bill Maher's Real Time explains Baldwin's behavior in the same manner as Coulter, but then takes it a pernicious step further by conditioning his excuse of Baldwin's conduct based upon Baldwin's politics.

Can conservatives sufficiently rely on liberals to at least initially eat their own, thereby eventually revealing the ideological double-standard, as is partially the case with Baldwin?

Or do conservative need to seek to hold liberals to the same standards in order to demonstrate the double-standard?

Anonymous said...

This ability of Stanton's to go for what are, by modern cinematic standards, unbelievably long stretches acting with nothing but his face meshed well with Ridley Scott's ability to draw out a stalking scene without dialogue in "Alien." Brett's trying to find Jones, the cat, and being taken by the alien is, for me, still the best, most harrowing scene in the film. By contrast, the chest-burster is simply hilarious, only saved from self-satire by John Hurt's absolutely sincere performance.

mccullough said...

I'm still trying to picture Stanton and Bob Dylan jogging together and then Sam Peckinpa pulling a gun on them because they messed up his film shot. I would love to see that footage

Bob R said...

I remember Estavez singing in Repo Man, but no Stanton. I watched Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me two nights ago. Stanton as good as usual - but no singing. Could have use a little Midnight Special.

Jeff with one 'f' said...

The original, and best, T for Texas (Blue Yodel No. 1) by Jimmie Rodgers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIBmGZxAhg