More Halloween Memories

As I always do around this time, here are some few samples of my Halloween themed cartoons:

REBECCA!

My pretty little granddaughter Rebecca was born 8 years ago and it is with great joy and happiness that today we celebrate her birthday!  All I can say is, I wish her all sorts of blessings and the best in life always. Rebecca...I love you!

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION DAY!

From Wikipedia:

This day commemorates the first public performance of Charles-Émile Reynaud's Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris, 1892. In 1895, the Cinematograph of the Lumière brothers outshone Reynaud's invention, driving Émile to bankruptcy. However, his public performance of animation entered the history of optical entertainments as shortly predating the camera-made movies. In recent years, the event has been observed in more than 50 countries with more than 1000 events, on every continent, all over the world. IAD was initiated by ASIFA, International Animated Film Association, a member of UNESCO. During International Animation Day cultural institutions are also invited to join in by screening animated films, organizing workshops, exhibiting artwork and stills, providing technical demonstrations, and organizing other events helping to promote the art of animation. Such a celebration is an outstanding opportunity of putting animated films in the limelight, making this art more accessible to the public.

LOVE & DEATH

As I was strolling across a field near my home, I suddenly felt a strange chill running through my spine and a weird sense of anxiety overcame me, when suddenly I turned around and saw this tall and mysterious figure standing right beside to me. A cold breeze swiftly encircled my entire body and I knew then and there I was next to Death itself.  Fortunately, the alarm went off and I woke up.  I then remembered I had fallen asleep a few hours before, watching Woody Allen's 1975 film "LOVE AND DEATH". Whew!

Vic Flick and Plas Johnson

 VIC FLICK -                                                                                                                                              You may not know the name Vic Flick, but you know his signature motif–that reverby lick from the James Bond theme, recorded in 1962 for Dr. No, the first in the long-running film franchise. Flick played on every Bond smash through Diamonds are Forever, and even recorded with Eric Clapton on the latter-day 007 soundtrack, License to Kill. You can further hear the guitarist in the film scores such as Midnight Cowboy and The Return of the Pink Panther, as well as cult shows like “The Avengers” and “The Prisoner.”

The John Barry Seven, featuring John Barry on trumpet and Vic Flick on the guitar.

Vic Flick 

The Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe Guitar used by Vic Flick 

on the original James Bond Theme recording of 1962.

John Barry recorded a revised version in 1967.

You can listen to it here:

THE JAMES BOND THEME

The original James Bond Theme used in DR. NO :

The Original James Bond Theme

PLAS JOHNSON -

Plas Johnson's seductive tenor sound has been utilized on many studio sessions, including - most notably - the Pink Panther film (1963). A more versatile player than one might think, Johnson sounds equally at home in blues, R&B-ish, and hard bop settings. He recorded a single in New Orleans (1950), moved to Los Angeles, and was quickly established as a popular studio musician. Johnson worked with Johnny Otis and Charles Brown, recorded dates as a leader for Tampa (1956-1957), Score, Capitol (1958-1960), Ava (1964), and Concord (1975-1976), worked with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, and toured with the Gene Harris Superband in 1990. But to date, his most famous piece is the theme from THE PINK PANTHER, composed by Henry Mancini and recorded in 1963. 

"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 37th Academy Awards but lost to the Sherman Brothers for Mary Poppins. The eponymous cartoon character created for the film's opening credits by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Plas Johnson.

PLAS JOHNSON

The Pink Panther original recording:

THE PINK PANTHER THEME

Birthday Wishes for Two Great Little Kids!

Happy Birthday to my dear little granddaughter Almudena! She is four years old today! Here's wishing her all the best! It's so much fun being four!

And also a ton of good wishes for her youngest brother, little Ferrán, who was 2 years old this past October 19th. Sending him many hugs and kisses on this momentous occasion!

It's no secret that grandchildren give us elders a renewed lease on life!

Signs of the Halloween Season

Maybe getting your head chopped off by the Headless Horseman is a bit too radical a sign for the oncoming Halloween but the relentless merchandising of Halloween stuff everywhere may well be the next worst thing about the Halloween Season. And wait...Christmas is coming right behind it! 

BULLITT

BULLIT, starring Steve McQueen as Lt. Frank Bullitt was released on October 17, 1968.

              It was directed by Peter Yates with a screenplay by Alan R. Trustman and Harry Kleiner, 

                                          based on the book MUTE WITNESS by Robert L. Pike.  

The plot was fairly simple and dealt with San Francisco police detective Lieutenant Frank Bullitt and his team, Delgetti and Stanton who are tasked by Walter Chalmers with guarding Ross over the weekend, until he can be presented as a witness to a Senate subcommittee hearing on organized crime on Monday morning.

BULLIT became one of my all time favorite films. I remember exactly the day I went to see it back in my hometown of Mexico City. I was 17 years old and I immediately bought the soundtrack LP and attired myself with a dark blue turtleneck sweater and a pair of boots similar to the ones worn by McQueen.

                                                              

I'm just glad I didn't own a car back then or I would've certainly totalled it trying to emulate the famous car chase which is still considered to be one of the greatest car chases in cinema history. 

Of course, as was the case with almost every great film of the sixties, MAD Magazine featured a very funny spoof of the movie, written by Al Jaffee and illustrated by the master of caricature, Mort Drucker.

And, as I frequently do whether the occasion fits or not, I shall celebrate this event by listening to Lalo Schifrin's excellent jazz score and watching BULLITT for the umpteenth time!

VA-ROOOO-OOOOOM!

                                                       The complete story of the film can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullitt

And more photos from BULLITT here:

https://www.pinterest.com.mx/ferllera/bullitt/

COMEDIANS OF THE WORLD.

Somewhere in the Mexican town of San Miguel Allende you could find this painting, which was donated by Mario Moreno Foundation to the National Association of Actors in 1993. The painting by Antonio Navarrete was created many years before and it features Buster Keaton playing the harp, Red Skelton, guitar, Danny Kaye, violin, Bob Hope, guitar, Charles Chaplin, conductor, Cantinflas, guitar, Fernandel, trumpet, Luis Sandrini, french horn and Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy at the vibraphone.

Try to Google it and you'll find zilch!

15 Months in Another Town!

I moved into my new apartment away from my hometown 15 months ago, and I have made lots of new friends here. Not human friends mind you, but just a whole flock of birds who visit me every day. 

Not being a gregarious sort of person, I guess this is the best I can get after reaching 70.

OCTOBER 12th!

Family Birthday Celebration!

Another year, another birthday for my one and only son, Ricardo! Many happy returns, kid! Wishing you all the best in this, your 49th anniversary on earth!