R3OK

The Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer receives the Nobel Prize in Literature 2011. I just saw the announcement via the web cam on the Nobel Prize website.

Sad to read that Sidney Lumet, one of my favourite film directors, has died:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/apr/09/sidney-lumetdies-86

Good memories of 12 Angry Men, Long Days Journey into Night, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and many other great films.

RIP Sidney Lumet

Archive on 4

BBC Radio 4
20:00 - 21:00

The Mary Whitehouse Effect

Joan Bakewell - who herself frequently crossed swords with Mary Whitehouse - reflects on the impact of the woman who challenged the 'tide of permissiveness and filth' she saw as sweeping the nation.

In the 60s, under Director General Hugh Carlton Green, the BBC broadcast gritty plays featuring abortion and sex before marriage, satire that mocked politics and religion, and swearing and sexual freedom in comedy series such as Till Death Us Do Part. Mary Whitehouse launched her Clean Up TV campaign and then the National Viewers and Listeners Association as a reaction to what she saw as a liberal and morally corrupting view of the world entering our homes through TV and radio.

In the 70s Mrs Whitehouse took her campaign beyond broadcasting, and launched a private prosecution against the editor of Gay News for publishing a sexual poem about Jesus. She invoked the old blasphemy law and won her case, but for many this was a step too far.

Joan explores how Mrs Whitehouse was both archaic and misguided in her battles, but also how she was a strong woman - forward thinking in using the law as she did - and how her battle against sexual exploitation and pornography chimed with the feminist cause.

Joan considers whether the Mary Whitehouse effect lives on in today's compliance and politically correct culture and whether she had any real impact on society, or whether hers was a voice of a bygone age fighting against inevitable change.

The programme features, among others, Warren Mitchell, Peter Tatchell, Mary Kenny and Geoffrey Robertson QC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00skqdx

 

Doris Eaton Travis, the last of the Ziegfeld Girls, has died:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/arts/dance/12travis.html

Her last public appearance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBlpIasJZo4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgumtO9vc0g&feature=related

Dancing at the age of 101:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IN3gOQcgEI

From the good old days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s9N6O3J59I&feature=related

RIP Doris Eaton Travis

The grandson of Richard Wagner has died:

http://www.tagesschau.de/kultur/wagner144.html

RIP Wolfgang Wagner

http://nastynets.com/?p=2890

The actress Jean Simmons has died:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8476400.stm

It was always a delight seeing her on screen. She played her first roles in classic British films such as The Way to the Stars, Great Expectations and Black Narcissus. Later she starred in big Hollywood productions such as The Robe, Guys and Dolls, The Big Country and Spartacus. A personal favourite is a witty comedy called The Grass is Greener (1960) written by Hugh and Margaret Williams, co-starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum. Another favourite is a film from 1995 called Daisies in December (co-starring Joss Ackland). I saw it once on television but sadly I didn't record it then. The film doesn't seem to be available on DVD.

RIP Jean Simmons

Sad to read that Miep Gies, the last surviving member of the group who helped protect Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis, has died:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8453331.stm

She often appeared on Dutch television and I always found her stories of the Frank family very impressive.

RIP Miep Gies