Is the Alternate Pre-Release Version on the DVD set the 1999 Re-Release?

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as negative concerning SUNSET BLVD. It's actually my favorite ALW work (along with JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, but SUNSET wins out because it's more complex/sophisticated score, and the fact that it's based on one of my favorite films). My favorite person in the role of Norma is definitely Diahann Carroll; she sang the *beep* out of the part! Glenn Close is a wonderful actress, but not really a singer. As for Patti LuPone, I hope I'm not alone in thinking her performance was HIGHLY underrated; she was superb, IMHO, although perhaps a bit young at the time.

BTW: Been checking out you YouTube videos, and I really liked your fast-paced SUNSET BLVD. "montage," and the music video based on the title song. I also watched THE AWAKENING OF VERONICA, which I though was fantastic. To quote myself:

"I love it! Very stylish, eerie and funny. The music is delightful as well."

I'm a writer too, currently at work with a producer in NYC on several major projects for the stage. I love short, intimate dramas, and we've written several short one act plays together, one based on the Marquis de Sade, and another on August Strindberg's MISS JULIE. Also at work on some musical comedies.

LOL, and yes, Broadway doesn't like vampires... of course, Broadway hasn't gotten any decent vampires since Frank Langella as DRACULA decades ago. I admit I did rather like LESTAT, but I would never say it was a good show, though it had nice moments.

DRACULA was atrocious though (And I even have a fetish for Wildhorn's JEKYLL & HYDE, LOL). You're right though, it isn't right to completely blame Christopher Hampton, who is a good writer. Nonetheless, even though Don Black is probably to blame for most of the badness in the DRACULA book and lyrics, Hampton as his collaborator should have been able to iron out more of the *beep* than he did.

Uwe Kröger: LOL, I rather liked him as Count Von Krolcok, although he was a bit obnoxious. Who can beat Steve Barton though? As for MARIE ANTOINETTE, I'm afraid I haven't even heard any of the music; will seek it out. Speaking of which, I really liked Sofia Coppola's film about her...


Returning to CALIGULA, haha, I'd love to see that musical. I can see it now, Caligula and Drusilla singing a duet version of MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL, LOL.

But whooooah, the "Version Integrale" edition's transfer is even better than the Imperial Edition? Is that color wise? Or is it cleaner? I may have to seek out that Russian DVD sometime, being that I'm an obsessive geek (I'm sure you sympathize, LOL). And yeah, I won't be picking up that Japanese DVD; I also read that genitalia is blurred in typical prudish Japanese manner. That soooooooooo *beep* annoyed me on VISITOR Q, UROTSUKIDOJI IV, etc.

Oh, and thanks for the link, I actually watched this the other week and nearly fell over. Check out their I'D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE vid as well, if you haven't already.

-Ashton

EDIT: Forgot to ask you, are you a Walerian Borowczyk fan? His DR JEKYLL ET LES FEMMES is one of my all time favorite films, although it has tragically never been released on DVD. Just recently spent a bundle to frame a huge poster for the UK release of the film.


"Imagination is intelligence with an erection."

-Victor Hugo

[deleted]

I like GOTO and THE BEAST a lot, but DR. JEKYLL ET LES FEMMES is much, much better, and I'd also highly recommend you check out the incredibly haunting LOVE RITES. Both also feature the lovely Marina Pierro, which makes them even better. :) I have got to order IMMORAL TALES and BEHIND CONVENT WALLS from Amazon.co.uk soon as well, as both of those are supposedly classics.

Just recently started a blog, BTW... it's been a little bit since I've posted, but I think my next post will be Borowczyk-related.

http://www.bizarrestimulations.blogspot.com/

As for Tinto Brass, I must confess have only seen SALON KITTY, but I loved it, even though I rather detest the Nazisploitation sub-genre (but Brass' brilliant film does NOT deserve that label). Actually, this semester I lent it to a professor with whom I was taking a Holocaust Literature course (he actually liked it), and also wrote a brief analysis of it in another literature course.

It is often compared to THE NIGHT PORTER, but I found that film to be pretentious, ludicrous and plain retarded for the most part, although it had some great moments sprinkled here and there, and good performances. Brass avoids that ludicrous pretentiousness with SALON KITTY with his great satiric wit. I thought the love story was slightly out of place but it didn't really take away from the overall impact.

Will definitely be checking out your SUNSET channel; thanks! In return I'll offer a link to a site I through together with material from LESTAT:

www.freewebs.com/lestatmusical

I'll shoot you an email in a minute as well regarding other theater-related stuff; perhaps we can work out a trade. My collection consists mainly of TANZ-related stuff.

Crap, and just when I thought I would soon have all the available footage from CALIGULA, now I have to get the equipment to play a UK VHS! I did just recently pick up a Betamax player at a thrift store for practically nothing though; do you have any info on CALIGULA on Beta?

And I'll probably avoid the Russian DVD then, but I just may pick up the French one if I can get it for cheap.

As for my plays, well, they actually have not yet been staged, although thanks to my producer there are major people interested. It's just that pulling everything together takes a long time, and is hard as crap, as I'm sure you know.

"Imagination is intelligence with an erection."

-Victor Hugo

It's hilarious and joyous the way that this thread has gone from Caligula minutiae to Broadway Musicals! I was really sorry to hear about the fates of Dracula and The Fearless Vampire Killers. I'm out of touch: how is Lestat faring? Rebecca is a wonderful idea for a musical (I'm remembering Bernard Hermann's opera Wuthering Heights and Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw)...

Doctor Mabuse, Evil Genius, King of Crime

[deleted]

LOL, it was a bizarre change of subject. :)

As for LESTAT, it disappeared almost as soon as it appeared, a terrible failure. I need to check out Hermann's WUTHERING HEIGHTS; that is after all my favorite novel of all time.

BTW: Did you know WUTHERING HEIGHTS was Jim Steinman's inspiration for IT'S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW? That's where the line in the song "If you forgive me all this / If I forgive you all that" is derived from.


"Imagination is intelligence with an erection."

-Victor Hugo

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]