Rick's Sendup of Sondheim: "I’m Still Here & UP Here!"

This jazzy photo is from the summer of 2007, when I decided to leave
 Traverse City, MI after 30 years.

I re-watched Postcards from the Edge recently, with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, based on Carrie Fisher’s novel. As a thinly veiled Debbie Reynolds, Shirley plays the always “on” and aging movie queen. After Streep-as-Carrie sings at a welcome home party, guess who decides to do a number, too? MacLaine’s Mommie movie star selects Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here,” re-vamped to her legendary life!

Many an aging diva has sung this showbiz battle cry. I’ve viewed many versions on YouTube since watching Postcards. Yvonne De Carlo introduced the song on Broadway back in 1971, in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. Perhaps the most famous take on “I’m Still Here” is by Elaine Stritch.

It got me to thinking that anyone of a certain age could tailor this tune to their life. So here’s my hopefully humorous take as an aging Yooper back in Upper Michigan, aka the Upper Peninsula. After this, you readers out there will know a little more about Rick’s real life. Cheers!

I'm Still Here & UP Here

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

A gathering of Gould kids in hard knocks Upper MI! I was in the
2nd row, second from the right, in the purple striped shirt. And I'm still here!

I’ve slipped plastic bread bags,

In my boots.

Bummed school lunches,

3^rd grade was a real hoot.

Seen all my dreams go up in flames,

But I’m here.

My family bought this house the summer of '67 UP here;
it burned down the following February. And I'm still here!

I’ve shivered in fish shanties,

Gawked at the guys' girlie mags,

But I’m here.

Slept in my long undies,

Seven months of the year,

But I’m here.

Little Ricky relocated in the U.P. starting with 3rd grade!

I loved plaid flannel & being 23,
here with my niece as a baby, who will be 43 in 2025!

I’ve stood in unemployment lines

With the best,

Watched while the headlines

Did their worst.

In the Great Recession was I depressed?

Nowhere near.

I loved a Texas oilman,

And I’m here.

My sweet Texas oil man, the late Jigger Johnson. Me AKA "RG" at the left.

 

I’ve been through Oprah,

JLo and Ben’s affairs,

And I’m here.

Ben & Jerry’s,

Oversized glasses and permed hair,

And I’m here.

I got through Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, too

Three Kardashians, Two Jenners, ewww.

Had plenty of Pasties,

And Upper MI atmosphere.

I’ve lived through Paris Hilton.

And I’m here.

Like a lot of '80s youth with straight hair, I just had to get a perm. And rinse & repeat!

I’ve gotten through George Senior and George Dubya Bush,

Gee, that was fun and a half.

When you’ve been through two Bushes,

Anything else is a laugh.

The Top of the Park at the Place Hotel in Traverse City, MI for Martini Night!

I’ve been through Traverse City.

I’ve traversed through Portlandia,

And I’m here.

American Spirits and Martini Night,

Nap times and binging on Netflix,

And I’m here.

Been called a homo,

Faggot, too,

Got through it all as a rule.

I should’ve paid more attention in school,

That seems clear.

Still someone said, “He has potential.”

So I’m here.

Stocking shelves & going to grad school at 50 was typical of Rico's irregular path!

In the black one day,

Next day you’re cashing out stocks,

But I’m here.

Grad school Monday,

Tuesday, you’re stocking the shelves,

But I’m here.

"RG" on the edge of 30, in Traverse City, MI.

First you’re another

Big-eyed twink,

Then someone’s ex,

Then you’re camp.

Then you career to career,

Any career!

I’m almost through my memoirs,

And I’m here.

Like the tee shirt says, MI's Upper Michigan AKA The U.P. is someplace special!

I went from regularly hiking on the PNW's Columbia Gorge 15 years ago
to tripping on three steps 1 year ago here in Upper MI, breaking my leg!

Ricky in Mackinac Island, MI in my 20s. I was more into fudge than leather!

I’ve gotten through, “Hey, is that Rick?

Wow, he used to be good looking, too!”

Or better yet, “I wasn’t sure that was you.

Gee, you’ve really changed!”

I actually felt pretty great at 60 in the fall of 2019. 
Unfortunately, the COVID epidemic was just around the corner!

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

The COVID era was my last career hurrah. I retired at 62. 
And I'm UP here!

I've run the gamut,

 A to Z.

Three cheers and dammit,

Holy Wah!

I got through all of these years,

And I'm here.

Lord knows, at least I was there,

And now I'm UP here!

Look who's here!

I'm still here!

And UP here!

I'll let you decide if I've gone to the dogs at age 65 circa 2025
in Upper Michigan, in my home town of Manistique!

 

The Many Faces of ‘Eve’ & ‘Lizzie’ 1957

"The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie," that respectively starred Joanne Woodward &
 Eleanor Parker, were both 1957 films that depicted the topic of multiple personalities.

Hollywood had competing films about title characters with three conflicting personalities, both released in 1957. Very specific coincidences, right?! The Three Faces of Eve showcased rising star Joanne Woodward; Lizzie starred film veteran Eleanor Parker. The movies were made on small budgets, returned modest profits, and its stars were praised—with Woodward winning a Best Actress Oscar.

Of course, the studios promoted the more sensational aspects of their subjects
in 1957's  "The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie."

Their Situations

The Three Faces of Eve was based on a true story, with Joanne Woodward as Eve White, Eve Black, and Jane. The first personality is a meek young housewife with a young child. Her behavior has become increasingly erratic, at one point endangering her little girl. It's not long before her doc meets Eve Black, a raucous gal who comes out occasionally to find fun and create chaos. Jane comes on later in the movie as the even-keeled personality, who is the best bet to take over this woman's body. David Wayne is her exasperated husband Ralph; Lee J. Cobb is the sympathetic, but no-nonsense Doctor Luthor.

In 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve," Lee J. Cobb is the psychiatrist,
Joanne Woodward the title character, and David Wayne her bewildered husband.

In Lizzie, Eleanor Parker plays a young woman, Elizabeth, who lives with her drunken Aunt Morgan (Joan Blondell) and works at a museum. Her character is plagued with headaches and insecurities, making her a co-worker to avoid. Her aunt is mostly oblivious to her but does notice her escalating odd behavior. Lizzie’s director, Hugo Haas, also plays the writer neighbor, Walter, who encourages alcoholic auntie to get her niece to kindly doctor Dr. Wright, played by Richard Boone. Once Doc has Elizabeth under hypnosis, he meets her alter ego, Lizzie. She is a vicious character, a female Mr. Hyde. Later in the movie, the doc discovers a third personality, Beth, who is balanced and normal.

In 1957's "Lizzie," Eleanor Parker is the title character with three personalities.
Joan Blondell is the aunt with an overbearing personality!

Their Stories

In The Three Faces of Eve, Eve White is hospitalized for treatment. While the symptoms are identified with her varying personalities, the doctors can not figure out what sets them off. Once home, Eve isn’t getting better. It doesn’t help that husband Ralph wants to drag Eve to another state. And the more Eve Black comes out, it’s more than the reactionary husband can handle. Once he leaves her, this leads Eve back to Dr. Luthor.

David Wayne's Ralph has an obedient wife in Eve, but not when she's Eve Black! Joanne Woodward plays three personalities in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

Lizzie’s Aunt Morgan isn’t a deep thinker, but when auntie's bourbon bottles empty ever faster, her antennae go up. The writer neighbor notices and for some reason is empathetic to the harridan aunt. Yet, he urges her to be more patient to the niece. It all comes to a head when the woman's work life and her erratic nightlife collide. You see, there are nights when mousy Elizabeth is left behind and hellcat Lizzie springs out. She hangs out at local nightclubs on the prowl and one evening meets up with her office place Romeo.

Joan Blondell's Aunt Morgan knows where Eleanor Parker's "Lizzie" finds
the booze AND the boys! "Elizabeth" only gets the hangover! 

The Actors

The Three Faces of Eve got a lone Oscar nomination and win for Joanne Woodward; Lizzie received no nominations.

Joanne Woodward is excellent in all three roles in The Three Faces of Eve. Eve White is totally repressed, a type of role Woodward played well. Joanne played a more raucous sort like Eve Black as the beatnik in The Fugitive Kind. And the later personality to emerge is Jane, the most complete personality to emerge, that Joanne plays with great empathy. Woodward, an Actor's Studio product, is quite natural without going over the top, like Geraldine Page or Kim Stanley would have probably done.

Joanne Woodward as Eve Black comes on to a male nurse like Blanche Dubois
 chatting up the paper boy in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

In Lizzie, Eleanor Parker's performance is quietly effective as the repressed Elizabeth and the serene Beth. Though flatteringly photographed, Parker is quite toned down from her studio era glamour, and is very expressive in Elizabeth’s anguish and Beth’s calm. However, as wildcat Lizzie, Parker goes big, either of her own volition or Haas’ direction. Either way, Eleanor as Lizzie is way over the top. From the way she makes herself up like a clown or vamps around the cocktail bar like Sadie Thompson, it’s funny, not fierce. Also, Elizabeth is 25 going on 26; Eleanor was a lovely 35. Very typical in its movie age math—thankfully, Parker can pass as a decade younger.

Eleanor Parker suffers in chenille as tormented Elizabeth in 1957's "Lizzie."

Lee J. Cobb is more three-dimensional as Eve’s Doctor Luthor than super-kind Richard Boone in Lizzie. David Wayne as Ralph is most realistic as the confused small town spouse of Eve White. 

Joan Blondell's acting as the alcoholic aunt in "Lizzie" is about as subtle as her hat!

Joan Blondell’s performance as the alcoholic aunt in Lizzie is about as subtle as slugging down a bottle of bourbon. Joan gave a handful of memorable dramatic performances in her career and should have been given more opportunities. But Blondell is a complete caricature here—partly the way the character is written, as well as performed. My guess is that came from director Hugo Haas, who made a number of dime store melodramas that were hilariously unsubtle. Blondell’s boozing and barking in her bathrobe gives off a Baby Jane Hudson vibe!

Joan Blondell w/ director Hugo Haas, who plays a kindly neighbor in 1957's "Lizzie."

The Films

Eve White has a traumatic childhood incident that’s subtly recalled. In Lizzie, Elizabeth recalls a vile incident on her birthday, not subtle at all, but still powerful. Both characters find resolution in facing their pasts. The Three Faces of Eve was written by doctors Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, who treated the real Eve. Lizzie was a novel written by Shirley Jackson (The Lottery). 

The book versions of "The Three Faces of Eve" & "Lizzie."

Nunnally Johnson was more famed as a screenwriter than as director, but his intelligence was always a plus, and it shows in the sensitivity of The Three Faces of Eve. Hugo Haas, on the other hand, seemed to dwell on sensationalism in his B-movies. There is a lurid quality to Lizzie that screams Hugo Haas, especially with Joan Blondell’s role and Parker’s performance as the lowdown Lizzie.

Tears Mixed With Humor

The leavening humor in The Three Faces of Eve is in the small town world of the husband and doctors, faced with this strange woman, who’s a timid mouse one moment and then a purring cat on the prowl. There are some smiles with the perplexed classic '50s husband that can’t reconcile the two extreme behaviors of his wife. Eve Black reminded me of a cross between Shirley MacLaine's good-hearted bimbo in '58s Some Came Running and Lee Remick's good-humored trailer tart in Anatomy of a Murder in '59. 

In Lizzie, the humor is unintended camp. The intentional “comic relief” between the aunt and niece, and aunt and neighbor are heavy-handed to the point of hilarity. Lizzie and Aunt Morgan's domestic life reminded me of the dramatized story of Frances Farmer’s life with mother or the Hudson sisters without the wheelchair. I love it when meek Elizabeth walks upstairs to get away from boozing Blondell and randomly barks out an insult as Lizzie, worthy of Kathleen Turner's Serial Mom asking her neighbor if she likes pussy willows!

Lizzie getting herself up to go out reminds me of Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest. She meets the sexy janitor in the bar, who has switched out from his work white tee-shirt for evening wear black tee-shirt with jacket, anticipating the Miami Vice look by 30 years. As Lizzie finds the booze and the boys, Aunt Morgan seems more concerned where the booze is going than what's going on with Elizabeth.

Eleanor Parker getting dolled up as "Lizzie" gives me a Faye Dunaway vibe as
 "Mommie Dearest!"

Near the showdown between the two women, Blondell’s aunt snaps, “You look like a slut!”

Parker’s Lizzie gives a Patty Duke/Neely O’Hara snarling delivery, “Drop dead, Auntie, drop dead!”

Future TV Stars

In The Three Faces of Eve, Vince Edwards aka Ben Casey, plays the horny young soldier who wants his due with Eve Black—after all, he spent 8 dollars on her! Near the end of the film, Nancy Culp of The Beverly Hillbillies appears in a flashback as Eve’s mother. In Lizzie, Marion Ross of Happy Days plays a kind co-worker of Parker’s lonely Elizabeth.

Vince Edwards plays a soldier who expects Eve Black to put out in
1957's "The Three Faces of Eve.

Needless Guest Appearances

Alastair Cook's introduction and narration in The Three Faces of Eve is highly unnecessary. It feels very condescending, as if he's a professor lecturing students about a very serious subject! With Lizzie, there is a very distracting piano bar player/singer named Johnny Mathis. He sings two tunes; one is his big hit, It’s Not for Me to Say. At least it wasn’t wailing Johnny Ray! All the while, Parker’s personality-plus Lizzie is working the joint with her hoochie mama antics.

Final Analysis

The Three Faces of Eve and Lizzie have very similar stories, likewise the female characters’ multiple personalities. The difference is in tone. The Three Faces of Eve plays like a pseudo-documentary mixed with a William Inge slice of life drama. Lizzie comes across like a campy “woman’s picture,” to use an old Hollywood term. Here, with the two women at odds in their dreary home, “suffering in chenille” might be more apt!

Why Cinemascope? To fit all those personalities?

"Lizzie" & "The Three Faces of Eve," both from 1957.

By today’s standards, both are very simplistic in the telling of multiple personalities. The one thing Eve and Lizzie have in common is strong lead performances by its stars, Joanne Woodward and Eleanor Parker. Both are worth a look, if only for the attitudes of the era on this controversial subject.

"Jane" is the most balanced personality played by Joanne Woodward in
1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

"Beth" is the winning personality between meek "Elizabeth" & monstrous "Lizzie."
Eleanor Parker played the triple role.

Bonus Material

Here’s my look at when Joanne Woodward teamed with husband Paul Newman for the first time, 1958’s The Long, Hot Summer: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-long-hot-summer-long-but-not-so-hot.html

My take on one of Eleanor Parker’s best performances, from 1950 as “cute little trick” who is Caged: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2019/02/caged-never-classic-but-still-packs.html

Joanne Woodward as tarted up Eve Black in 1957's "The Three Faces of Eve."

Eleanor Parker goes big as demented "Lizzie."

Hitchcock’s Fine ‘Foreign Correspondent’ 1940

 

Is reporter Joel McCrea (R) tilting at windmills? George Sanders & Laraine Day
 certainly wonder, in Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film, "Foreign Correspondent."

Rebecca was Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 American breakthrough smash hit, and deservedly so. Yet Foreign Correspondent, the British director’s other 1940 film, was just as fine in its own right.

Director Alfred Hitchcock making his customary cameo, here with star Joel McCrea,
in 1940's "Foreign Correspondent."

Foreign Correspondent is imaginative suspense mixed with wartime espionage, and makes for rousing entertainment. Some of Hitchcock’s favorite film themes are represented in Foreign Correspondent: the everyman thrown into intrigue; the “MacGuffin,” Hitch-speak for the thing everyone is after; the sympathetic villain; the imposters; sudden violence; suspense set pieces against memorable backdrops.

Joel McCrea as John Jones grows from brash, boyish reporter to a fine
"Foreign Correspondent," Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 espionage film.

Joel McCrea was cast when Gary Cooper turned the title role down. Though Coop had his own style, McCrea was a better choice, a more open and spontaneous actor. As John Jones, Joel’s crime reporter turned foreign correspondent, who’s given the handle Huntley Haverstock. McCrea runs the gamut from brash young reporter, to flirtatious fellow, and serious correspondent, who relies on his gut instincts. McCrea’s natural style ages well and he was a precursor to William Holden’s charming, solid all-American guy.

Laraine Day was just 19 when she played love interest Mary Fisher in 1940's
"Foreign Correspondent."

Laraine Day, in an early role as Carol Fisher, is McCrea’s love interest. Day does well enough, but is definitely a product of her film era. Herbert Marshall is Stephen Fisher, Carol’s father, and revealed to be the villain half way through, another classic Hitchcock move. Marshall is quite empathetic as the flawed man, and had the ability to play both noble and nasty men. George Sanders is Scott ffolliatt, another correspondent who aids McCrea’s character on his mission. George is so young here, and playing not so jaded as he was often later cast. Albert Bassermann is a human “MacGuffin,” in this case, Van Meer, a captive politician. He is excellent as the prisoner worn down by torture for his political secrets, but not before Van Meer gives a stellar speech to the villains. Robert Benchley is the urbane fellow reporter Stebbens. Pre-Santa Claus Edmund Gwenn is a darkly comic villain who tries with determination to rub out McCrea’s reporter. Eduardo Ciannelli is the creepy main villain, Krug, who has a very good reason for wearing turtlenecks! Harry Davenport, Doctor Meade of GWTW fame, is no-nonsense as McCrea’s editor.

Albert Bassermann learned to speak English phonetically for his role as Van Meer, here with Joel McCrea, in 1940's "Foreign Correspondent."

The production of Foreign Correspondent is most atmospheric: The photography, the tight story, and special effects, which often depicts overcast days, pouring rain, and pitch black nights. There’s a sweeping score by Alfred Newman, William Cameron Menzies created the amazing set piece—that stunning plane crash, all aided by Rudolph Mate’s painterly cinematography.

The memorable war time message has been seen as a weak aspect of the movie. Quite to the contrary, I think. This was the cross roads the United States was at, whether to commit in joining WWII. England was starting to get attacked when Foreign Correspondent was released. Just over a year after this film’s release, the US was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor. So, the film’s message that the enemy was coming closer was more than apt.

Here is Joel McCrea’s Foreign Correspondent, written by Ben Hecht, giving the word to American audiences in the film’s finale:

“Don't tune me out, hang on a while—this is a big story, and you're part of it. It's too late to do anything here now except stand in the dark and let them come... as if the lights were all out everywhere, except in America. Keep those lights burning, cover them with steel, ring them with guns, build a canopy of battleships and bombing planes around them. Hello, America, hang on to your lights: they're the only lights left in the world!”

 

As London is beginning to get bombed, McCrea's reporter makes his rousing speech. When "Foreign Correspondent" was released in July 1940, it was really happening.

Producer Walter Wanger of Algiers, stayed out of Hitch’s hair in Foreign Correspondent, unlike his boss, producer David O. Selznick, who drove him crazy on Rebecca and other films. Hitchcock brings his distinct point of view to each aspect of the story, whether it’s the suspense, human drama, romance, or leavening humor. In his second year of US filmmaking, Alfred Hitchcock had arrived with his two 1940 films. Foreign Correspondent is a worthy precursor to the later Notorious, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and North by Northwest.

In Alfred Hitchcock's second year in Hollywood, he directed 1940 releases "Rebecca" & "Foreign Correspondent."

Here’s my look at Hitchcock’s last hurrah for sheer entertainment, North by Northwest: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/08/north-by-northwest-1959.html