He is a man, but who is Lizabeth Scott?

I’ve always been a little unsure of how to take Lizabeth Scott‘s He is a Man, the promo number from her 1957 album Lizabeth. On one hand, it feels like a pretty ballad to the man in her life (what man?), but upon closer inspection, the lyrics actually feel like the words of a defeated woman willing to accept any behavior from the man she loves just to keep him.

He is a Man
Lizabeth Scott

He is a man, at times he goes astray
Seems so unfair, but a man is made that way
What can I do, what else is there to say?
He is a man, that’s all

I’m his gal, and he needs my helping hand
He needs my faith to achieve the things he’s planned
He’ll take the prayers
But I will understand
He is a man, that’s all

Though he really cares
It may not always show
Still I won’t despair
For one thing I know

He is a man
Who’s mine forever more
I’m the girl
He is destined to adore
If things go wrong, the way they have before
I love him, so I recall
That he is a man, that’s all

If things go wrong, the way they have before
I love him, so I recall
That he is a man, that’s all

See Lizabeth perform He is a Man on TV’s The Big Record.

Lizabeth’s album isn’t without its torch songs; Can’t Get Out Of This Mood, Willow Weep For Me and How Did He Look? fit the bill perfectly. But He Is A Man is a curious one. Is Lizabeth condoning the womanizing man? Is it simply the residue left by a pre-feminist world? Rather than making a blanket statement, perhaps Lizabeth’s intention was to tell the story of this particular song. While we’d all love to have a man who looks at us being enough, what if it’s not possible? What if the man you love is the kind who will always have his finger in a few other pies? Maybe you do just need to recall that he is a man, that’s all.

Alas, I certainly hope not.

More ‘in remembrance’ for 2009…

Stephen Gately was just another pretty face amongst the sea of boybands in the 1990s, until one day in 1999 when he decided to step out of the closet. After becoming one of the most famous gay role models, he released a solo album in 2000 and soon went to perform in various stage productions and television programs. Gately married his partner Andrew Cowles in Las Vegas in 2003 and again in London in 2006.

Stephen Gately passed away in October due to natural causes. He was 33.

Molly Bee passed away in February aged 69 after suffering a stroke. You’ve probably heard her voice singing the Christmas tune “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause”, released when Bee was just 13.

Dorothy Bridges is most famous for her husband, actor Lloyd Bridges and two children, Jeff and Beau, also both actors. Dorothy was actually an accomplished actress and poet in her own right. She died in February at age 93, in the home where she and her late husband raised their two children.

Socks, the First Cat, passed away in February. Socks, originally a stray cat, came to prominence when he was adopted by the Clintons during the early years of Bill Clinton’s presidency. Due to disagreements between Socks and the First Dog Buddy, Socks moved in with former secretary to Bill Clinton Betty Currie after Clinton left office.

Monte Hale was a B-movie a serial star during the 1940s, appearing in a number of westerns for famous B-studio Republic as a “singing cowboy”. He passed away in March aged 89.

Jack Wrangler led a rather complicated life. Arriving in Los Angeles with good looks and apparent talent, he soon found that neither of those things guarantees work. After playing a role in a gay themed play, he soon found himself working in a strip show at a bar in New York City. It was there that he was approached by gay porn studio Magnum, leading to his first pornographic role in the 1970s film Eyes of a Stranger.

A mix of gay and straight pornographic roles followed before he managed to slip into acting roles on stage, both on and off Broadway. It during the 1970s that Wrangler met jazz singer Margaret Whiting after he became infatuated with her over-the-top gestures, glamorous hair and loud furs. The pair would become very good friends and even married in 1994 (though he always maintained that he was gay). But, predictably enough, the relationship wasn’t without its strains. When Wrangler yelled during one of their many arguments in a restaurant that he was gay, Whiting replied “only around the edges dear”.

Nevertheless, they remained married until Wrangler’s death in April this year at age 62.

In another life, the name Jane Bryan may have been as well known as Jane Wyman. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Groomed by Warner Bros. to be their next big name, her acting career of just four years included roles opposite Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney and William Holden. Bryan retired from the screen in 1940 after marrying wealthy drugstore magnate Justin Dart. Always loyal Republicans, the couple helped convince their friend Ronald Reagan to run for president in 1980. Jane Dart died in April at age 90.

Marilyn Cooper was one of those ever-reliable Broadway gals. Beginning in 1956 with Mr. Wonderful, her career spanned many productions up to the 1994 revival of Grease. She was also the subject of much acclaim for her supporting role opposite Lauren Bacall in Woman of the Year. She died at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey in April.

Mickey Carroll isn’t a household name, but he had a household face. Forever remembered as one of the last surviving munchkins from The Wizard of Oz (he was the Town Crier), his role was actually offered to him by Judy Garland. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 and often appeared as a grand marshal in parades. Mickey Carroll passed away in his home in May.

Joan Alexander is perhaps the most overlooked identity in all the Superman mythology. Famous for providing the voice of Lois Lane in the early radio serials, she also played the role in the short Fleischer animations of the 1940s and in one season of the 1966 animated Superman series. In 1954 she released a book about pregnancy called Grin & Bear It which went on to be reprinted twice. She passed away in May aged 94.

As we farewell 2009…

Some people find the way in which we react to the death of a celebrity irrational. After all, what do they do for the world that is so wonderful to warrant such worship upon death? Well, nothing really. But we do admire their achievements, and maybe we project some of ourselves onto them…? Whatever the many reasons, there’s no doubt that the death of a celebrity forces all of us to consider our own fate and mortality.

Brittany Murphy, Natasha Richardson, Bea Arthur, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Jones, Brian Naylor, Frank Coghlan Jr, Marilyn Chambers, Jade Goody, Pat Hingle, John Hughes, Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Bud Tingwell

Lizabeth Scott’s House

I was in Los Angeles in October and, being the mad Lizabeth Scott fan that I am, couldn’t resist the idea of catching a glimpse of the grand dame’s home on Hollywood Boulevard. Cast your eyes:

Ms. Scott's home on Hollywood Boulevard

Many have suggested that I should have knocked on her door. Well, given the security that every house worth living in has in the grossly oversized metropolis of Los Angeles, that is impossible. I could have used the intercom, perhaps even been personally addressed by the amazing, husky paradise that is Ms. Scott’s voice. But if you were an 87 year old woman and two strange men suddenly appeared on your doorstep, how would you react? Exactly.

No, the mere fact that I stood outside Lizabeth Scott’s house, while she was inside – that is amazing. There was  even an open window! It may be as close as I ever get to this legend, but that’s OK. She quit the movie business in 1955; if she wants her privacy nowadays, that’s her prerogative. If there’s one thing I cannot stand it’s when fans feel a certain ownership over celebrities.

Lizabeth Scott is the reigning queen of film noir (of-course not to discount her other acting and singing talents) – I wouldn’t dare contradict her serene highness’ wishes!

Meanwhile; if your appetite for all things Lizabeth Scott still needs more feeding (and why wouldn’t it?), be sure to venture over to The Night Editor, a superbly dark (blog)spot where you’ll find the likes of Ann Savage, Dan Duryea and of-course, Ms. Scott herself, all sitting around just aching to be written about.

Long live the Queen!

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. Are you wearing your Red Ribbon?

Many of us remember HIV/AIDS as a horrible thing that swept the world in the 1980s and currently affects poorer nations in places like Africa. But many of us do not realise that AIDS continues to ravage many other communities much closer to home.

In Australia, the HIV rate has increased steadily since 1999. Often, those most at risk are from poorer communities where health and education may not be to the standard most of us have come to expect. These people are already disadvantaged in many other ways; the threat of HIV/AIDS can mean disaster.

AIDS does not discriminate – it is a global infection.

On December 1, people all over the world will wear a Red Ribbon to symbolise their support for a cure. Monies raised in Australia will benefit the AIDS Trust of Australia, which raises and disburses funds for HIV/AIDS research, education, care and support. The AIDS Trust of Australia does not seek nor receive any government funding.

Don’t forget to buy a Red Ribbon and wear it today! If you can’t find anywhere selling ribbons, google your country’s AIDS charity/trust and find out why. Or better yet, start selling them yourself!

Honour the icons; ALL the icons!

The sublime legend Lauren Bacall was presented with her very own Oscar on Saturday night, a special honorary award for lifetime achievement. If anyone deserves an award like this, it’s Bacall, a rare creature who has managed to remain loved, relevant and beautiful.

Among the other recipients was B-movie mogul Roger Corman. Famous for his string of ridiculous and cheap B-movies (It Conquered The World, Swamp Women, The Wasp Woman, A Bucket of Blood, Creature From The Haunted Sea), it’s quite interesting to find the Academy honouring a man of his talents.

But one rather unfortunate, if not surprising, aspect is to find Bacall referred to as “the grand dame of film noir”. OK, so it was only Melbourne’s The Age, but really, if you don’t know film, don’t write about it.

Anyone familiar with film noir will know that, of all the “grand dames”, Lauren Bacall is not one of them. She is by far one of the most talented, memorable, and probably the most famous. But to be a “grand dame”, surely the title must assume some sort of long-term achievement and commitment. After all, no one becomes an official Dame without being good at something for some length of time. It would be more appropriate for Lauren Bacall to be a grand dame of cinema.

It’s no mystery who I believe is the rightful grand dame of film noir, her name needs no mention. But I will anyway; Lizabeth Scott. With more than three quarters of her 20 films within the genre, Scott is without doubt the reigning queen.

Ann Savage

With the Academy now officially recognising the contribution to film history by icons such as Roger Corman, surely it is time to bring back the still-living legends of film noir. Unfortunately, Oscar and his friends have not been kind to this genre in the past. Dismissed as B-movies in their time, even the Library of Congress could not tempt the Academy to give noir icon Ann Savage the send-off she deserved in 2009. Savage, the star of one of the most influential noir films Detour (1945), passed away in 2008. But despite being an official “icon and legend”, as named by the Academy themselves, she was not included in the annual tribute montage at the Oscar ceremony.

Lizabeth Scott

But Lizabeth Scott is still very much alive and active, as are many identities that made film noir the history-altering genre it was. It would be absolutely fantastic to see the Academy honour the living legends and make official what is already known to anyone who has seen one of noir’s best.

To Britney, or not to Britney?

Australia can be a very strange place at times. While often viewed as a simple, friendly and easy-going country by those within it, an overseas tourist may leave with a slightly different point of view. One interesting example of this could be the bizarre media coverage of Britney Spears’ Australian tour.

Naturally, no one is surprised anymore to find unflattering photos of Spears in tabloid magazines. And for a star who’s dived in and climbed back out of pits of mental illness and bad life choices, it’s no revelation that media scavengers have used her rather serious episodes to sell rubbish. But it could also be argued that a lot of her bad publicity has led to her career right now, i.e. an undeniable superstar.

When Britney Spears arrived in Perth for the first of her Aussie shows, the verdict had, unbeknownst to any of us or probably Spears herself, already been reached. Even before the cameras began clicking at a greasy, tired and run-down star leaving the airport, headlines were formed in the minds of our media – “flop”, “fans walk out”, “lip-synching sinks Spears”. After all, what kind of person would dare step off an international flight looking anything less than extravagantly gorgeous?

The out-of-touch treatment Australia has given Britney was made painfully clear on Wednesday when Benji and Joel Madden (from the band Good Charlotte) were interviewed on Fox FM’s breakfast radio show. The boys were to play a game where Benji was blindfolded while Joel was shown a picture – Benji was supposed to try and guess what Joel was thinking. Co-host Matt Tilley presented Joel with that picture of Britney getting out of a car with no underwear on. Both walked out of the interview, with Joel later posting on Twitter:

Just walked out of a FOXfm interview in Melbourne not in the mood to be a clown. Most of the time I can put up with idiot morning show hosts but not today. I guess I have finally found some Aussie’s I don’t get on with…

When asked about the incident, Matt Tilley actually justified his stunt by claiming the picture had appeared in trash mags such as NW and Famous. Apart from proving the inappropriate-Dad-like humour over at Fox, it also gives hints at how the media can be too involved with themselves to realise that most Australians may not actually think relentlessly attacking someone for no reason in particular is a fun and harmless past-time.

What the Australian media has failed to grasp is that nothing anyone has thrown at Britney is remotely new. Lip-synching? She’s been doing that for a very long time, and anyone who has tried to perform concerts that combine dancing and singing every night for any length of time will tell you, some pre-recorded stuff is a must (no critics dared mention the pre-recorded portions of Cher’s farewell tour).

It seems that ever since that infamous performance at the MTV awards, ordinary people have been given licence to vent their “opinions”, mostly because they know the media will lap it up. It’s like an unwritten deal; pretend to think exactly what that TV reporter wants you to think, and they’ll put you on TV, and in the process give you the illusion that your small life is just as exciting as those celebrities you read about in the trash mags. Hey, if you wind up on the news, you might even feel some sort of self-worth. At least for a little while, anyway.

The wave of Spears-criticism in Australia stinks almost as much as the USA’s obsession with reality TV about nobodies. We will never hear actual opinions of those who have watched Britney’s show, because that’s not the image the media wants to portray. Just as we rarely read positive coverage of Nicole Kidman anymore, despite the fact that she is one of the most popular and successful Australians of all time.

Australia has enjoyed looking down on the press culture of the UK for a long time, and just about any Aussie media rat enjoys a good feeling of superiority above any American. But as this Spears “controversy” has shown, the Australian media can be and often are amongst the worst in the world.

Happy Birthday Lizabeth Scott!

The wonderful, sublime, radiant, and magnificent Lizabeth Scott turns 87 today. Ms Scott, of-course, is the Sugacoobs banner lady, and also one of the most amazing stars ever. Though she is rarely offered the respect and accolades she ought to be showered in, her image still lingers. I believe that’s what you call a legend.

Happy Birthday Lizabeth Scott!

Gasp! Nic Cage as Superman!

Avert your eyes if you must. Somehow, this picture that allegedly shows Nicholas Cage (or a model of Cage) during a costume fitting for the aborted Superman Lives project of the late 1990s has only recently surfaced (via www.timburton.jp – it’s all in Japanese). There is still some controversy over whether the picture is authentic – you must admit, it’s not entirely impossible that it could be Cage’s head photoshopped on to an action figure. In-fact, it’s rather likely. Alas, if it is true, it brings what could’ve been to a brand new low.

Nic Cage looking stupid, or a photoshopped action figure?

I’ve read the script by Kevin Smith for Superman Lives. It’s really not very good. Superman dies, he’s resurrected, but in place of his old powers we have a robotic suit called L-RON, which producer Jon Peters described as “a gay R2-D2 with attitude”. But worse, gone is the familiar suit, replaced by a black thing, with no cape if Peters were to have his way.

The large majority of the script sees Superman battling Brainiac and Lex Luthor with the aid of his robot suit, L-RON (named after the creator of Scientology… yes, it did just reach an even lower low).

Needless to say, Jon Peters is an awful, terrible, horrible producer. He may have had some hits, but clearly they have been the work of the directors. In the book Burton on Burton, Tim Burton speaks about his horror days working with Peters during the first Batman film in 1989. When Warner Bros. asked him to come back for Batman Returns, he was actually rather hesitant. The main reason for this, apart from the long, cold shoots in England, was working with Jon Peters, a person he makes no secret of disliking. Despite this, Burton signed on for Batman Returns, with the promise of greater autonomy (hence the darker tones), and later signed a pay or play deal to direct Superman Lives.

The first thing he did after taking over the project was order a rewrite of Kevin Smith’s script. Smith wasn’t happy:

“The studio was happy with what I was doing. Then Tim Burton got involved, and when he signed his pay-or-play deal, he turned around and said he wanted to do his version of Superman. So who is Warner Bros. going back to? The guy who made Clerks, or the guy who made them half a billion dollars on Batman?”

When the project fell apart, Burton commented;

“I basically wasted a year. A year is a long time to be working with somebody that you don’t really want to be working with.”

Burton maintains that virtually the entire film of Superman Lives was made – everything but the actual shooting. If the above costume prototype is to be believed, that’s probably a really, really good thing.

Shazam! RIP Frank Coghlan, Jr.

With one magic word – Shazam! – and he became Captain Marvel, the world’s mightiest mortal. Anyone lucky enough to have seen the classic 1941 film serial Adventures of Captain Marvel will surely agree, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. Widely considered the very best cinema serial of all time, Captain Marvel combined quality acting, skillful writing and amazing special effects to create one of most memorable superhero experiences you’ll ever enjoy.

Sadly, one piece of that legend passed away earlier this month. Though Frank Coghlan, Jr. appeared in over 129 films and TV programs, he will undoubtedly be best recalled by one word – Shazam!

While Coghlan may be an icon of the superhero serial, he of-course was never literally the Captain. After uttering the magic word, a puff of smoke exploded and Billy Batson became Tom Tyler, AKA Captain Marvel.

Strangely enough, Coghlan knew nothing about Captain Marvel when he was offered the role of Billy. After his first meeting with the directors and producer, he bought a copy of the comic book on his way home; “I said to myself, ‘Hey, I do kind of look like that kid,’.”

Billy Batson during his fateful meeting with Shazam.

After adulthood forced a farewell to his career as a child actor, a few grown-up roles followed before he joined the US Navy as a Naval Aviator. His service lasted 23 years and he eventually became a lieutenant commander. Even in the seemingly unrelated world of the Navy, Hollywood was never far from Coghlan’s heart. He was often given the job of advising movie-makers on Naval matters, including the films The Bridges of Toko-Ri, The Caine Mutiny, and In Harm’s Way.

After his retirement from the Navy he took some acting roles, even making a cameo appearance in the 1970s Captain Marvel television series, Shazam!. The biggest role of his career would always be something Coghlan held dear; the licence plate on his car read “Shazam”.

Frank Coghlan, Jr. passed away in his sleep on September 7, aged 93. He is survived by a son, three daughters, three stepchildren and six grandchildren.

Frank Coughlan Jr.’s obituary at the Los Angeles Times.