film
The Wife: Two’s a Party
Stored in a basement somewhere are my old high school notebooks — full of doodles, magazine cut-outs, and MASH results. One of those magazine images was a montage of famous couples. Not only did it cover a range of pop culture references — for example, comic strips (Blondie and Dagwood), cinema (Hepburn and Tracy), and literature (Romeo and Juliet) — but it also included pairings whose share of conflicts made them just as memorable as their ardor (Burton and Taylor). My favorites of these are the ones who work in the same industry; better yet, the ones who share projects. The potential for something productive, constructive, or destructive (usually all three) is great, exposing the complexity of human relationships.
In an attempt to recreate a page from my teenage-decorated notebooks, I offer a collection of photographs of some of my favorite collaborators: Burton & Taylor; Bergman & Rossellini; Fellini & Masina; De Beauvoir & Sartre; Lennon & Ono; Carter & Cash; Hepburn & Tracy. These pairs are far from perfect, but their energy and intensity make even their moments of scandal and dysfunction just as captivating as their displays of tenderness and devotion.
Maneaters: Bringing It All Back Home
Woa… there’s a Rock Band version of Neko Case singing People Got A Lotta Nerve.
And speaking of Calamity Janes…
Maneaters: For the Love of Nature
Until approximately 6.5 weeks ago, I only knew two people with an intense interest in Jacques Cousteau: my grandfather Armando and Wes Anderson. Now I know another: my friend and colleague Josh. Recently, on a whim, Josh and his wife, borrowed The Cousteau Odyssey from the library. They soon fell in love with the man, his mission, and his red skull cap. That red skull cap is so distinctly Cousteau that it’s even referenced in the Cousteau Society’s logo.
Maneaters: aka Femme Fatales
You know the type — the kind that Hall and Oates sing about. The kind that’ll chew you up. There aren’t just songs about them; there are movies, books, paintings, sculptures, late-night diner conversations!
Cleopatra is one of the famous, but certainly not the first. When it came time to make a movie about her, studios turned to her Hollywood heiresses: Theda Bara and Elizabeth Taylor. (Oh, and they asked Claudette Colbert, too.)
Maneaters: When I See An Elephant Fly
He’s got wing-like ears, makes nice with a mouse, and rolls with the circus. These are crucial points to the story of Dumbo and some key elements used in the design of the film posters.
