I sit on the love seat at noon with Summer, and I know I have a morning full of thoughts, but now that it’s time to write them down, they all escape me.
• I’m not sure if I’m ready for Supergirl as a hung-over party girl. That was the only 10 seconds I didn’t love in the excellent Superman movie last summer.
• I’m thinking of leaving my Christmas decorations up this year, in keeping with Ebenezer Scrooge’s pledge to hold Christmas in his heart always.
• I’m pretty sure “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” was my first exposure to Dickens’ immortal tale. The songs by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill — who would collaborate on “Funny Girl” two years later — hold up for me, especially “Ringle Ringle” and “The Lord’s Bright Blessing.” Of course, later I discovered the brilliant Alastair Sim, but my second-favorite “Christmas Carol” continues to be Magoo’s.
• I listened to “Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye” the other night, and I must say it may be the most joyous music ever written short of Handel or Beethoven. E.T. The Extraterrestrial is a symphony. I have said this many times: people should watch that film again to hear the music. Of all the movies I’ve ever seen, I think the marriage of story and soundtrack in E.T. is as darn near perfect.
• James Stewart’s greatest performance in a lifetime of great performances was as George Bailey. It’s hard to quibble with the selection of Fredric March and The Best Years of Our Lives as Best Actor and Best Picture that year, but Stewart and It’s A Wonderful Life have proven immortal.
