GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’S CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA

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I cheated yesterday. Took time off in the afternoon to watch the movie adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra.

Normally, tuesdays are spent preparing for my podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou in the evening. I became engrossed with the movie. Meant I had to work my ass off afterwards to make sure everything was in order for the podcast.

The movie outstanding! Claude Rains as Caesar and Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra. Rains short of stature to play Caesar. Leigh the best Cleopatra I have seen

The movie a fictionalized account of Caesar and Cleopatra’s relationship. Humorous. Very much so.

Shaw wrote Caesar and Cleopatra as a play in 1898. The movie was shot in 1945. Shaw still alive. He collaborated closely on the production.

I recall two other Caesar/Cleopatra movies. One earlier starring Claudette Colbert. The mega production in later years starring Elizabeth Taylor. The two were not Shaw’s work reproduced. They were written for the screen by others based on historical accounts.

I always loved Colbert. Unfortunately, she runs a distant third to Leigh and Taylor as Cleopatra. Taylor the beauty! An outstanding actress! Lovely in the film! Never the less runs second to Leigh in my opinion.

Vivien Leigh the star of the earlier Gone With The Wind. A serious performance. Caesar and Cleopatra comedic. She fit the part. Also, her natural beauty more apparent in the film.

One problem. The film was an economic failure. Lost $3 million. A tidy sum in 1945.

I watched the show on Turner Classic Movies. If you get the chance, watch it. You will not be disappointed.

My podcast went well later in the evening. I was prepared. Hit on several current matters. A total of ten topics. Trump a part of four.

Speaking of Trump, he had a busy day yesterday. His first day back since a 10 day family vacation. His plate had to be full. Much requiring his attention.

He jumped right in. Obviously worked hard. Sent out 16-18 tweets. Pissed off half the world. Aggravated the White House staff.

I have a busy evening. Sloan at 5:30. Syracuse/Wake Forest at 7. Wake Forest a one point favorite.

My afternoon today busy also. At least 2 hours work preparing for Sloan’s visit at 5:30.

I will not leave the house again today. There is always tomorrow.

You have to admire Iceland. They are always a step ahead.

Following the bank debacle of 2008, they prosecuted and jailed bankers. Those at the top. Something I have been recommending for years we do in the U.S.

They elect women big time. Almost 50 percent of their Parliament is female. They elected a woman Prime Minister in November.

Iceland recently passed a law that allows companies who pay women less than men to be punished. Fined. No jail. A step forward, however.

Equal pay laws have no teeth. They tell the companies females must be paid equal to men. Enforcement lacking. Iceland recognized the problem and moved the step ahead.

It is generally acknowledged the law would not have come into being were it not for the large number of women in Parliament.

Enjoy your day!

 

HEMINGWAY RECALLED

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The past few hours have been Hemingway time! Hemingway time recalled.

I stayed in last night. I was tired. Watched TV. Hit a gold vein! Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls. The 1943 movie starring Gary Cooper.

Woke at 4 this morning unable to sleep. Turned on TV. The gold vein had not run out. Hemingway’s A Farewell To Arms playing. The 1932 movie starring Gary Cooper.

I believe A Farewell To Arms was Hemingway at his best.

More Hemingway.

Hemingway frequented Sloppy Joe’s. He and Joe were best of friends. Hemingway started drinking at Sloppy Joe’s when it was located on Green Street.

Late in the evening on this day in 1935, Joe moved his business to its present location on Duval. Hemingway helped him move. Carried tables and bar stools. Took the ceramic urinals home. Those urinals today are hooked up to the water system and supply the cats who make their home at the Hemingway House on Whitehead.

A special morning weather wise. Absolutely no breeze. Water calm. Like a mirror. Sky blue. No white clouds. There is a taste/smell in the air. Of spring, not summer. Interesting since the past two weeks have been humid and I have been describing it as summer time having arrived.

Lunched at Waterfront Restaurant yesterday. Business poor. Few customers. I ate at the bar. Was not crazy about my lunch. First time I have felt that way. I am concerned for the viability of this generally fine Key West restaurant. I wish the proprietors good luck. They have big dollars invested.

Road construction in the area did not help. Lower Caroline and the huge parking lot being repaired at the same time. What idiot in City Hall made that decision?

Big race saturday morning! The Zero K Race. Course is the length of Cow Key Bridge. Three hundred feet. 1,500 runners expected. Many dressed as cows. Record time 23.1 seconds. Some will be out to beat it.

This week’s KONK Life column is titled When education Fails, A Nation Fails. It is on the stands. Also linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. .keywestlou.com.

Navy Seal commandos have returned. They are training in Key West harbor waters.

Merle Haggard died. A country music icon. He had 38 #1 country hits.

When we think of the American Revolution, it is of the land battles. Concord, Lexington, New York, Trenton, and Saratoga are recalled. Rarely do we hear of the naval battles.

Today is significant in the annals of naval battles at the time. On this day in 1776, there was a second Lexington battle. The U.S. warship Lexington defeated and captured the British warship Edward off the coast of Virginia. A big win for our new country.

Part of Key West folklore/history is Count Carl Von Cosel. His lady love Elena Hoyos died. He stole her body. Kept her in a bed for several years while treating her in every possible way to make her appear alive.

An attempt is now being made to memorialize the event. The Morbid Anatomy Museum is located in Brooklyn. Ronni Thomas is a filmmaker in residence and director of the film.

Funds are being raised to produce the film. $50,000 the goal. Thus far $5,550 raised. Deadline for the fund raising is April 26.

Von Cosel’s a Key West bred story.

Take a look at the website re the film. An historical document. Interesting. http://bit.ly/voncosel.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

KENTUCKY, NORTH DAKOTA AND KENTUCKY DERBY

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I spent yesterday afternoon trying to decide what my KONK Life column will be this week. Four topics have been zeroed in on. I have to pick one today, finish my research and start writing.

The topics tickling me this week are all interesting. The Chamberlain story never told, Iceland kicking the ass of banks and bankers since 2008, the beginnings of money corruption/corporate influence in the 1960s, and Nestles and California water.

Met some terrific people in the Chart Room last night. Unfortunately, I was late for a dinner reservation and could not spend as much time as I would have liked. I am confident however we will run into each other. The two couples recently bought homes in Key West.

Five persons in all. Out together for the evening.

First, David and Marilyn. Presently have two homes. One in Owensboro, Kentucky and the other on Emma Street in Key West. David is a retired school teacher, Marilyn manages a dental office.

A second couple was Martin and Brandy. One home in West Fargo, North Dakota and the other on Washington Street in Key West. Martin and Brandy still work for Caterpillar.

Money is big in North Dakota because of oil. I jokingly said I could go to North Dakota, get a job at McDonalds and end up earning a ton of money. Some truth to the statement.

The fifth person was David from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is Martin’s father. Mentioned several times how Martin had purchased his ticket and brought him down for a visit. Proudly so. He reminded me of my father. Dad died two years ago at 98. He visited Key West many times.  Always happy to be with me. Proud of his son who had a home in Key West.

David mentioned he had something to do with a piece of land in the 1980s in Kentucky. Spend A Buck was the 1985 Kentucky Derby winner. He trained on the land.

Keith and Jennifer met me at the Chart Room. We had a drink and then were off to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner.

We had a lot of fun at the Hot Tin Roof. Keith and Jennifer are part of my bocce team.

My saturday night is already committed. I will be watching the Final Four in my bedroom from the comfort of the recliner chair. I have given up running around town trying to find a new venue for basketball watching. There are tons of reasons none tried so far worked for me.

I do not care who wins. I have no particular choice. I just want to watch good basketball.

Passover is upon us. Seder is part of Passover.

I have experienced several seder dinners over the years. The first time was 15 years ago with Aaron Wechter. In recent years, with Donna Barnett at her daughter’s Key West home. I am always invited. Had to skip last night because of my prior committment with Keith and Jennifer.

Donna and Terri White have lived in California for roughly three years. I have not seen them in a while. We have been in touch and plan on meeting in the next few days.

Tomorrow is Easter. I have to get Easter gifts for Robert and Ally. I always wait till the last minute to do things of this nature. I am the greatest Christmas Eve shopper you ever met!

Robert and Ally are 10 and 9 respectively. They will get enough baskets, candy and chocolate bunnies from others. I have decided it is time for something different. I plan on buying each a book.

Today’s KONK Life E-Blast carries my most recent column. Things We Should Know. Take a look.

Enjoy your day!