Wotcha, Laura. Where were you? } I was on the train going home. Daughter was right beside me doing homework. Ben, not in person, in the magazine;)

Hi, glad to see Spring is back on line. BTW there is an excellent review for MLSF in The Houston Chronicle .. "It is notably well acted, especially by Firth..." can't remember the rest.I can't believe the way Miramax is treating this film especially as it still seems to be going strong.

(Ben), Maybe all this reflects my own prejudice - if I were an actor, I would far prefer to be on stage, because most films are crap. True, but now, everytime a movie star wants to be in a play, they will take the plum role away from the stage actor, no matter who he might be. I like the fact that Colin is not famous, and, that is why I can not seem to get enough of him, and, why I know his films by heart. Laura, is that an old Style mag? (Just want to know if he still has the time to go to Rome) ;-)

True, but now, everytime a movie star wants to be in a play, they will take the plum role away from the stage actor, no matter who he might be. Not entirely true....the two national theatre companies in England (RSC and NT) do NOT hire movie actors, no matter who they are. They are members of the company first, and do other things second. Mendes may have hired Spacey and Kidman, but they are also fantastic actors. He would not hire any old Hollywood hacks. I don't know....I'm just suspicious of vicarious thrill-seeking from CF's career. As you say, it's nicer that, in my case, LDE is not so famous. In general, isn't it more fun to enjoy things that the whole world is NOT raving about? And, from a less selfish viewpoint, isn't it natural and only right to assume that CF and LDE themselves are happy in what they're doing, and not manically trying to climb the greasy pole of Hollywood?

Laura, is that an old Style mag? (Just want to know if he still has the time to go to Rome) ;-) ] Yep, it's the latest issue of In Style Magazine. Kate Winslet is on the cover. I just bought it the other day. When does he have a chance to get to Rome? Who knows, but when one lives in Tuscany, why go to Roma to relax????

(Ann) "It is notably well acted, especially by Firth..." can't remember the rest Does it matter? Heeheehee ;-P And Miramax won't be changing their MLSF "PR" strategy at this point. (Laura) When does he have a chance to get to Rome? The mag may be on newstands now, but who knows how old the quote (if there is such a thing anymore) is. Also, wasn't it said years ago that ODB jumps on airplanes in the same manner as the rest of us take buses?

(Ben)Maybe JE craves attention and material wealth. Perhaps stardom. No I think she just wants good roles...And I do agree that the best roles on the the British stage....Sadly, only the British and people who can get over to London get to see those productions. There are many of JE and CF fans in the US who will never see them at their best acting on stage.Unless they come to Broadway...and even that gets prohibitive for someone in Nebraska. Sorry for being off topic...again.

Sorry, Evelyn. Absolutely right. I will rant no more. Here is a little quiz. There is one example, to get the gist of the thing. The rest are up to you. There are special bonus points for the LDE ones, because they are harder. This is a test of your rhyming skills; specifically, if I say "Colin laughing", the answer is "Mirth of Firth". The questions differ but the answer always takes the same form. Geddit? Here you are... 1. Absence of C 2. C's waist 3. nine, ten, sixty 4. C's grave 5. Tough Jennifer 6. Weak J 7. Tactile J 8. Divine, Cambridgeshire J

Ben: The Firths were easy. I'm working on the Jen's or Ehles! 1. Dirth of Firth 2. Girth of Firth 3. Birth of Firth 4. Earth of Firth Murph

How about 5: Steely Ehle 7. Feely Ehle 6. Mealy Ehle????? (I was thinking of mealy mouthed, but my answer's not a very good one!) No clue on number 8 :-( Thanks, Ben. This was fun.

From This is London: Theatre fashions cash from thin air by Jasper Rees Tonight 300 people will cough up �150 each to watch a fashion show over dinner in grungy Hoxton. The clothes-horses will occupy a cross-section of a house, and be seen getting up in the morning, performing their morning rituals and throwing on clothes from the latest men's collection from Herm�s. In the fashion business, where the eye-catching stunt is all, there's nothing unusual here. The only oddity is that the show will be masterminded by Jonathan Kent. As joint artistic director of the Almeida Theatre, Kent is more normally to be found putting the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett through their paces. So why is he lending his much garlanded talent to the staging not of words and ideas but fabrics? In a word, money. The Almeida may have brilliantly positioned itself as the must-visit theatre of the London fringe, but it is more or less permanently on its uppers. The roof has needed fixing for years, and they want to create better access for stage sets than the door used by the punters. Hence this improbable collaboration, a straight swap of cachet for cash: �45,000, to be exact. The Almeida is not alone. Most of the smaller London theatres are permanently holding out an upturned palm. What is new is the increasing creativity they are bringing to the task: theatre is learning to use stunts as imaginatively as the fashion world. Not long ago the company currently halfway through its scheduled purchase of the Old Vic placed an advertisement in The Jewish Chronicle. It showed a picture of Lord Attenborough inviting interested parties to ring for a brochure. "My husband is Jewish," sa s Sally Greene, chief executive of the Old Vic, and a woman who could charm a profit-free investment out of Silas Marner himself. "He said this is the way you should be advertising." Of the theatre's 300 investors, a third responded to a single ad that has so far yielded several hundred thousand pounds. For their money they get invited to an annual party at The Ivy, first nights and lunches at the Old Vic, and a general sense of privileged belonging. (The Ivy and, latterly, One Aldwych are the two addresses where theatres do their most creative begging.) The one thing they don't tend to get is their money back: investors are effectively donors. The particular attraction for donors is mingling with the stars. The Donmar sticks to traditional gala nights where donors meet the talent after the show: there h s been one for The Blue Room in London (attended by Tom Cruise), another for Cabaret in New York. The next is for Three Days of Rain, when they will all get to press flesh with Colin Firth. Last week the Old Vic held a private dinner for 60 investors after the evening's performance of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell. Peter O'Toole was the bait. The sponsored evening was free, but, said Greene the day before: "They will all be hit very hard for a donation." The Old Vic's key purse-opener is Kevin Spacey. Although his debut on the London stage was in last year's Almeida production of The Iceman Cometh, the play transferred to the Old Vic, which he first visited as a seven-year-old, and he has thrown his lot in with Greene's fund-raising thrust as a director of the Old Vic trust. He even boarded a private jet to be there for the new owners' launch in September. Over at the Royal Court they are working on the assumption that everyone wants their name to be connected with the theatre. As the newly refurbished Court prepares to open in January, benefactors are being invited to splash out �1,000 on naming a seat in the auditorium. "They can either put their own name on the seat and thus achieve a small, vainglorious form of theatrical immortality, or they can name it after someone associated with the Court. Mel Smith, Jason Flemyng, Nigel Hawthorne, Nicholas Hytner nd Fiona Shaw have all coughed up their grand. It may be a measure of their current standing that while a seat has been named after Elsie Fowler, the Court's long-serving cleaner, no one has yet bought seats reserved for two of the Court's angry young men, John Osborne and Arnold Wesker. Selling seats is a theatrical tradition almost as old as an evening of anecdotage with John Mortimer (coming soon to the Royal Court; with novelty auction attached). The Court can be more imaginative. It recently wrote to every famous person ever involved with the theatre and asked them to send a signed, written description of their personal experiences of the Royal Court. Various Pythons have responded, but the pithiest response so far is from David Mamet, who says simply: "Royal Court yum yum yum." The esulting autograph book will be put up for sale at a later date, while the auction on 15 November will include such lots as famous items of old costume, and the night's hire of an Ivy chef to cook a dinner party in your home. In every fund-raising initiative, theatres are selling their own gilt-edged, copper-bottomed classiness, but now and then they have to beg a favour from film, their brassier, richer kid brother. This autumn there will be gala screenings of East Is East for the Court, Kenneth Branagh's Love's Labours Lost for the Old Vic and (probably) Sam Mendes's American Beauty for the Donmar. But these are relatively domestic films. Earlier this year Jonathan Kent's co-artistic director Ian McDiarmid, who acted in The hantom Menace, asked George Lucas if he would allow a pre-release screening of the film, all proceeds to the Almeida. The screening raised a staggering �150,000. If Star Wars helps mend a roof in Islington, it will have at least one redeeming feature. ************* Press the flesh with Colin Firth - think I like that game better. ;-D Besides, we will all "pay extra"!

How much extra? I'd really like to know how much the DB is worth in their opinion ;-)

Ben's 8 is pretty mean, but Ely is a cathedral town in Cambridgeshire. Thanks Jana, had no clue at first on the J's as I didn't know how to pronounce Ehle.

Thanks Karen, I have friends whose parents belong to the Ivy. Maybe I should start pressing them for details. :-) There is a slight possibility that DH and I will be in London either end of Oct. or Nov. (I am pushing for Nov. for 3DOR reasons). Ben, what fun! Worth dropping the criptic puzzle.

Murph, Jana and Mark - you're brilliant. Not unexpectedly, all answers are correct. Mealy(-mouthed) Ehle is right - hey, *you* try rhyming with Ehle. And Ely Cathedral is right too. I tried to work in Firth of Forth, but couldn't manage it. Other possibilites were Sele or Seeley Ehle (the first is a starting pitcher for the Texas rangers, the second the name of the Cambridge history dept.'s library), but these would have been a little obscure, I fear. How about 9.Genuine Jen? or, with a little more licence, 10.Genuflecting Jen?, or, with yet more licence, 11.Annual J? And finally, a real test, 12. Colin on the Tay?

9 & 11 don't rhyme in my accent, and didn't you just give away 12? How about: 13 C's weight in gold 14 J unrestrained

13. Firth's worth 14. Freely Ehle Very good, Mark, but no! 12 remains unsolved! I will give you another clue, which I gather is particularly suitable.... Colin at the WACA?

I had assumed Colin on the Tay was Firth of Tay (which runs out past Dundee), but I accept Firth in Perth is more satisfying

Hurrah! Sorry about the ambiguity. One final, and unconscionable thought....if J had married the bright(i.e. red)-tailed and bushy-eyed ex-Chancellor, she would be.... Re: Jasper Rees' article, what would any of you be prepared to pay for, say, dinner with the Firth? This is a serious (and unsmutty) question. I'm just interested. The place is Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons, or somewhere equally cool, and you have four hours, 7-11, before Signora F reclaims her property. How much?

I'd forego the "dinner" part.

Unless they come to Broadway...and even that gets prohibitive for someone in Nebraska. or Australia :-(

or Australia :-( But you're coming up for 3DOR, right? Somehow I don't think there are bargain rates from Sydney-London...still looking for Chicago-London deals. When oh when does Virgin start its service to Chicago. Bound to be some special deals when that finally gets going...

Dinner with Colin? Well, I'd pay a lot just for the pleasure of being in the same room with him, but God knows I wouldn't be able to eat anything. Not even a breadstick. I'd throw up.

(Evelyn) 3 DOR will begin on Nov. 9th....so he will be performing on stage both times that SLOW is screening. I don't think 3DOR has a Friday matinee, but Colin probably wouldn't show up for SLOW anyway, modest boy that he is. (Moon) I like the fact that Colin is not famous, and, that is why I can not seem to get enough of him, and, why I know his films by heart. I agree. I've often wondered if I, or we, would be so devoted if CF were suddenly Hollywood's flavour of the month and readily accessible. Would we be somewhat like Paul Ashworth, who managed to disengage himself a little from Arsenal after it finally won the League and he didn't have to worry so much.:-) Ben (a little late, I'm afraid), IMO, Darcy would have had to be devoured by his emotions in order to overcome his strongly ingrained social and rational objections to marrying Elizabeth. Colin's interpretation was perfect, as witnessed by his continuing impact in that role.The sport I'd like to see Darcy play has to be polo - galloping on a beautiful horse, swinging a mallet, mixing it up...and so upper-class! As for what I'd be willing to pay for the gala - it would definitely depend upon how much flesh pressing is available...:-)

You have to HAVE the money before you can spend it!! What is the size of the bankroll upon which this estimate is based? :-)

But you're coming up for 3DOR, right? Definitely! Somehow I don't think there are bargain rates from Sydney-London Definitely not! :-)

Karen, what about Chicago-Boston-London? You'd have free lodging;) And Virgin flies out of Logan.

(Ben), The place is Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons, or somewhere equally cool, and you have four hours, 7-11, before Signora F reclaims her property. It would certainly be worth the while to do while Signora F is in Rome(we must leave room for some cha-cha dancing). Not much eating would be done, lots of talking and laughing. But, I would be curious to hear Colin order and pronounce of few words in french, then I would also test his knowledge of the italian language.

Colin speaking French? Oh God, I'd faint dead away. "Garcon, la carte des vins, s'il vous plait. Comme suggerez-vous? Je voudrais un bon vin blanc, je pense." (The waiter suggests something, but I don't know what it is because I'm sure Colin would be ordering a wine that I've never heard of because I couldn't afford it.) "Eh bien. Ce vin est bon? Merci. Un bon pourboire pour vous, monsieur."

And Virgin flies out of Logan. Thanks for the offer, but it will be flying out of Chicago any day now. We saw a bunch of red-suited employees carrying promotional bags in the lobby of the Drake, when Evelyn was here. There had been a gala party for the travel biz people that night per my sister.

Here's the synopsis of SLOW from the LIFF website; only a pic of Nia Long in b/w The Secret Laughter of Women 1998 / 120 mins / UK With: Colin Firth, Nia Long, Directed by: Peter Schwabach A woman's unmarried status worries her mother and neighbours. In a picturesque coastal town in Southern France, Nimi leads a relatively peaceful life amongst the women-centred Nigerian community. A landscape gardener by trade and the mother of Sammy, a lively, imaginative eight-year-old, she is happy enough. But her unmarried status is a concern to her mother and her traditionalist neighbours, and a plan is hatched to match her with the community's new, handsome and single vicar. In the older women's eyes he is indeed a Godsend, but Sammy has other ideas. To his min , local ex-pat Matthew, the creator of his comic book hero Saracen, is an infinitely preferable prospective stepdad. This sunny, likeable comedy about the rocky road to cross-cultural romance has enough wit and humour to raise it above the norm, and scores highly with its depiction of the closely knit, protective group of women, bound by their belief in duty and respectability. LIFF on tour: Some of the films from the LIFF will travel around the country, but it doesn't say yet all that will be shown. The LLF on Tour will be playing at: � Manchester Cornerhouse and Odeon � NewcastleTyneside Cinema and Odeon � Liverpool Odeon � The Sheffield Showroom and Odeon � Nottingham Broadway � Glasgow Film Theatre and Odeon � Bristol Watershed � Brighton Odeon � Norwich Cinema City and Odeon � Cardiff Chapter Arts and Odeon Call 0171 957 4715 for a free copy of the LFF on Tour programme available from November 1999

What you forgot to mention, Karen, is that the LFF is showing SLOW on Saturday Nov. 13 at 9PM at The Ritzy Theatre.... Do you know where that movie theatre is????? I'll tell you....it's Off the Map! Directions:" Tube stop...Brixton....." That's the last stop on the Victoria Line, folks. Prime time, maybe....Prime Place, my foot!! And we complain about where Harvey showed MLSF? ;-)

That page didn't have dates and times. Brixton, huh? Despite the area's reputation, my Time Out Guide says this about the Ritzy Cinema: "Converted into a five-screener in 1996, London's best multiplex shows a mix of rep and mainstream, including themed seasons and children's matinees. Highly recommended." OK, so it's off the beaten path a tad...

...Despite the area's reputation,....a five-screener ... London's best multiplex....off the beaten path Thank you..."happy thought indeed" :-)

Unless Brixton has undergone serious urban renewal, go in the daytime and perferably with the strongest guy you can find.

I think the Ritzy is regarded as one of the best independent cinemas in London...it always has a very good programme of films on offer. Great to read a good review for SLOW.. "sunny,likeable..with wit and humour"...sounds like my kind of film (and it's 120 minutes long!).

Sounds promising if SLOW is shown in even just a few of those venues you listed, Karen. Still, I know better than to get my expectations too high. I'm just hoping for a video release one day. Go, girls, go see this film! I'm so glad we'll have some representatives there to report back to us scene by scene. Take notes, Evelyn.

Hi All, just got back from London to see Summerfolk, more on #72, Evelyn and anyone else I do have a telephone number for The Ritzy in Brixton if any one wants it. Went to the National Film Theatre and picked up the LFF programme, so glad i am going on the Friday.

Oh yes, Ann. Take notes too. Bring your little penlights. Between the two of you, we may get the whole film line by line. If only....

Has anyone ever been to the Ritzy or are we just all reading from the guide books here. :-D

Hi Evelyn, Never been to the Ritzy, just got the details from The Evening Standard. BTW according to The LIFF website, tickets to see SLOW cost a mere 7UKpounds 20p, a bargain for what could be a rarity!!

a bargain for what could be a rarity!! Please add about $600 airfare and a few more for incidentals. Hmmm, still a bargain.

re SLOWSorry very insensitive of me, its a bit different being only 50 miles away, I agree, train fare only about 18pounds!! However, Heide I will take notes and report back as closely as I can. Bethan I hope you are able to manage a "shopping" trip on the 12th, you of all people should see this film, you have been so persistent never letting it die. I do hope you get to see it, Aishling, Lizza, Evelyn & I would love you to join us.

As Eileen has said, Bethan will never live it down if she does not manage to attend.

(Ann) Sorry very insensitive of me Nothing to be sorry about! Am truly envious of you having the ability to hop on a train and go see Colin as frequently as you are able and Jennifer on stage in two different plays. You all have been subjected to our drooling over MLSF for the entire summer and have borne it well. Bethan will never live it down if she does not manage to attend. For some reason, Laura San Giacomo in Pretty Woman comes to mind, "ooooh, the preshah." A shopping trip sounds pretty good, although the Nigerian angle would appear promising, especially if a ticket landed in your lap... ;-D

Bethan will never live it down if she does not manage to attend. Okay, okay, okay,....I'm working on it, believe me! But I have two major problems, one, I'm 200 miles from London, and two (much bigger problem) I keep my interest in CF absolutely, completely, 100% secret. It really is a "guilty pleasure"!! The only way I could see SLOW is to combine it with something work-related...I do occasionally have to go to London for meetings, courses etc. Having said that (and you can call me wimp!), I'm quite confident that now SLOW is airing at the LIFF, it will get a theatrical release or will be shown in other festivals. I have a friend who is on the organising committee for two major festivals in our area and I have infact already mentioned SLOW to her (stressing the Nigerian connection not CF!) and she has said that if it's available they'll get it. But I hope it may get a proper commercial release. At the last LIFF, two Arts Council funded movies (" ideous Kinky" with Kate Winslett, and "Plunket and Maclaine" with Robert Carlyle) both premiered and then went on general release in the UK (and the US) a few months later and then on to video. Why should we expect so much less for SLOW....which reviewers actually seem to like! Okay, I'll retreat to cover now, but don't be too hard on me! We are going to the Dome, as everyone (for differing reasons!) wants to see Blackadder. Thank God for Sodoff Baldrick!

Not meaning to be hard on you Bethan, I'm sure it is difficult but have you managed to wangle a visit to 3DOR via Oxford of course.

For all UK fans, Julie Andrews is to be interviewed on Film 99 with Jonathan Ross about Relative Values, Wednesday 6th October, at 11.20pm.

(Bethan)Okay, okay, okay,....I'm working on it, believe me! As the people who went to the Donmar with me can tell you...my personal philosophy is.."You have to make things happen,". Don't let luck get in control:-) Anyway, it's not the opportunity of seeing the film as a spectator...I know it will get another release...but this is the very first time that it is being previewed. IMO it's supporting Colin , now...

I have received this from Meluchie: "Would anyone be interested in transcribing the various Firth films, series, etc for a web site? It does not matter to me where it goes, to the grin.net site or to firth.com site, I just want to get the ball rolling. I have seen sites like this for BritComs like Blackadder and Red Dwarf. I thought we should do this as a service to Firthfans world wide. Feel free to contact me at meluchie@grin.net to discuss this more."

Thanks for the Film99 sighting on RV Ann....I'll have my VCR at the ready. RV is getting quite a lot of pre-publicilty, courtesy of JA. Can't stand Jonathon Woss though! Report in Independent on Sunday on English fictional heroes mentioned that Capt. WE Johns, creator of Biggles, might enjoy a revival, as the BBC were planning a new 6-part series on Biggles. So, if the TV Times report is correct about Biggles, I think it's odds on for Flashy!

I have just telephoned Miramax and they have given me a pretty definite release date for MLSF in the UK, it is 5th May, 2000. The Spokesman at Miramax said BVI are the Distributors and they decide when it is to be released, they just make the film!!! I guess we have to wait until the 22reels have been around the US, travelled to Australia and goodness knows where else. Still I mustn't be bitter at least it sounded pretty definite. Bethan I agree about JR. but good news about RV. Have just visited Murph's wonderful site and there is a lady there who watched them filming RV, she says that CF is very handsome but doesn't like his hair it is very "puffy". Oh dear not sure if I like the sound of that. Like you Bethan I am still optimistic that there is something in the Flashman news story, will keep my fingers crossed as I would love to see a 6 episode series on TV (or whatever it is)starring Colin Firth.

Wasn't May 5 the previously posted date for the video, which is now listed by Miramax as January 25? Doesn't make any sense. But then again, nothing with the release of this film makes sense. BTW, Buena Vista Home Entertainment (which is different from Buena Vista Intl) does the video releasing for all Disney products, including Miramax. SiL came out on video/DVD under the BV label. The lady at Miramax may have sounded pretty definite, but she may have her facts wrong.

Who knows, as you say one day they say one thing the next another, I shall believe it when I am actually sitting in the cinema and the title go up MY LIFE SO FAR!!

(Karen) When oh when does Virgin start its service to Chicago. Bound to be some special deals when that finally gets going... Just make sure the deals are really special. Flying Virgin is merely one step up from strap hanging for nine hours. (Bethan) Okay, okay, okay,....I'm working on it, believe me! /.../ I'm quite confident that now SLOW is airing at the LIFF, it will get a theatrical release or will be shown in other festivals Is this the same Bethan who carried the torch for SLOW when the rest of us abandoned it? Who picked up where Evelyn (bless her heart) left off insofar as 'bugging the bank'? Who claimed SLOW would be the ideal CF film for her? Who kicked herself for missing 3DOR in March? Bethan, you must be a gambler to forgo a sure thing (LIFF) and gamble on a theatrical release. I empathize completely about the DH thing--am currently planning and scheming to see FP in NYC on the 16th--but one has to do what one ha to do!

(Ann)I am still optimistic that there is something in the Flashman news story, will keep my fingers crossed If he shows at the SLOW matinee on the 12th, you can ask him yourself:-) (Eileen) Evelyn (bless her heart) left off insofar as 'bugging the bank'? I called them the first week of every month...religiously.And before Handmade went "belly-up" I called them. However, Bethan was relentless in her optimism.

...but one has to do what one has to do! Right you are, Eileen. As the old hippie credo says, you end up regretting the things you don't do more than the things you do. At least that's what I told myself when I made my 160-mile white-knuckle foray to Newport:-D

(Evelyn) I called them the first week of every month...religiously Apologies. I thought you recently stopped. As I said, bless your heart!

(Susan)At least that's what I told myself when I made my 160-mile white-knuckle foray to Newport:-D Susan...I really felt we pushed you into that...and felt badly when I heard all the hurdles you had to overcome....we appreciated the review all the more...AND you were an inspiration to all of us.Nothing any of us are doing can compare to what you did. ;-)

Hi all. I'm glad some will get a chance to see SLOW and that the Flashman possibility is resurrected. What's the big deal with Virgin, BTW? There must be other direct Chicago-London routes from other carriers. I was a great fan of Virgin, having flown the Boston-London route a lot, until recently. Is it just them, or do all airlines now forbid one from listening to music (THEIR music) when landing? I'm sure this usen't to happen but when I last came back to NYC on Virgin, one of the flight attendants jumped on me for using the headset on the approach to JFK. It goes without saying that Broadbent's law had as always been obeyed on the flight (B's Law: on all flights, BB shall sit next to (i) the screaming baby, (ii) the twenty-stone midwesterner who needs three seats not one, or (iii) both), and I was as usual relying for some comfort on listening to their dire music (the twenty-fourth rendition of The Flight of the Bumble-Bee). But this harpy of a flight attendant, who'd surely been a guard at Belsen in her previous life, had other ideas. She was stalking the aisle looking for the slightest infraction of her beloved rules. These now include, apparently, the rule that No Passenger Shall be Allowed to Relieve Inflight Boredom: In Particular, None Shall Listen to Music Within 200 miles of the Destination. Why the hell not? This was not a walkman, which I'm assured emit deadly rays that will make the plane crash, but their own audio channels. Anyway, Helge, beamed with satisfaction when she saw I was breaking not just one rule but two. My headphones were on and the arm-rest was up. After being screamed at, I squeezed the armrest down past the midwesterner's ample ribs, breaking a couple of my own in the process, and put the headphones round my neck. "No!" she barked. "I said take them off!" After (I thought) she'd gone, I confidently slid them back on. (Please picture plucky British soldier - John Mills, say - defying prison camp Kommandant.) Mistake. She suddenly appeared from behind, folded her arms and scowled. "Didn't I tell you to take those off?" I obeyed, meekly. No more John Mills. (He would have defied her again and spent a week in solitary.) She'd evidently only PRETENDED to go past and must have been lurking there deliberately. Even when she got back to her landing seat twenty row in front I could see her craning her neck to look at mine, waiting to pounce. I was reduced to humming. Thoroughly unenjoyable.

I went to see "Bedrooms & Hallways" yesterday (thought of you Ben) and while I was there spoke with the Manager about MLSF. When I told him there were only 22 prints circulating throughout America, he said that we may not get it until 2001!!!. I then said I had heard that Roadshow were releasing it here and he said that could mean straight to video because Roadshow are not keen on sharing with the smaller, independent theatres. He said that if it is available, he will definitely b screening it. I'm to phone him in a few weeks. If it goes to straight to video the rewind factor is good, but I will miss seeing Him on the big screen - damn.

LOL, Ben - have you complained to Richard Branson? This sounds unbelievably stupid: surely if the music was still played via the plane own audio system, the position of your headphones made no difference!

So Cathey, how many of those 22K reels do you think Australia might be allocated? I'm guessing no more than 2 and they will circulate among your cities. The rest will be spread to other continents on a first come, first serve basis. Do call and become friendly with your theater manager. You may even be able to get the MLSF poster, of which tens of thousands were printed.... ;-D Note: Never allow the armrests to be put up when sitting next to a passenger who should be required to purchase two tickets. Stand firm on your right to all 12" of seat space.

Ben: LOL! I think they told me (the one and only time I flew anywhere) that the whateveryacallem rays would interfere with the transmission from the tower, or some such nonsense. However, I don't see how the act of just having the headphones on your head would cause a possible plane crash....

What's the new buzz word...air rage (as in road rage). Sounds as though Virgin are actively encouraging it! MLSF and a May release...well, David Puttnam's PA definitely said "Autumn" but I guess even DP can't secure a release for his movie, no more than he can persuade Harvey to make more than 22 prints. But May 2000 does sound more like the original video release date.And such a long delay!! What exactly did the Miramax person say, Ann? I've no great faith in them. I'll try Buena Vista again, if I can get past the voice mail. BTW Miramax have just paid �1million for the distribution rights to a Britflick, "Human Traffic", a low-life comedy based on the drug culture, with so-so reviews. Didn't even take a million at the UK box office. I think they're backing losers. Now if only they had allocated �50,000 for a few more prints of MLSF! Susan, you do indeed put me to shame! (But I may surprise you!)

LOL! Ben! Next time, I might suggest you say a few prayers just before you land. (It works for me) ;-) (Eileen), I empathize completely about the DH thing--am currently planning and scheming... And my retuning to San Biagio determined to take pictures for everyone to see the church. My DH is convinced il Perugino is my favourite painter now! And he will take me back to Citta delle Pieve again and again, of thatI am sure. :-D Susan, you inspired me. ;-)

(Bethan) Miramax have just paid �1million for the distribution rights to a Britflick, "Human Traffic", a low-life comedy based on the drug culture, with so-so reviews. I read about this one and my heart fell... Harvey has lost his compass and is content to be the 1990s Louis B. Mayer or Jack Warner or any of those other moguls. One bright spot I read about is Donna Gigliotti, who was one of the key producers of SiL, has been named President of Production for USA Films, the specialty arm of Universal (I think, this has gotten sooo confusing). The reason this is significant is that Working Title is under the same umbrella. I doubt she will be the greenlighting agent for BJD as WT has negotiated quite a bit of autonomy, but there's the David Parfitt link as well... Have I thoroughly confused everyone??? ;-D (But I may surprise you!) Excellent!! And how difficult could it be, Eileen, for you to get into NYC to see FP? Have the PACE trains stopped running? Is the Holland Tunnel closed? ;-D All you have to say is you're going to see a film about football. OK, it's not the Jets (or are you Giants fans?) but you get the picture... If you don't go, who is going to stomp of the floor to the beat of Teenage Wasteland for me?

You may even be able to get the MLSF poster I did ask Karen; Geoff said he keeps one and usually returns the others, but to wait and see what happens. I haven't given up hope.

We all owe Murph a big thank you for doing such a great job keeping us up on things.

Geoff said he keeps one and usually returns the others Why would he return a "damaged" poster? Very silly and a total waste of money. Should be given to a very deserving theater patron.

Ben, I'm glad you brought up the "bad-ray-emmitting-walkman" topic. One day somebody may be able to explain to me what can a tape-player or CD-player do to interfere with the navigation devices of an airplane, but nobody has so far. I'm not talking about cellular phones now - but I might as well, because microwave emmissions from telephones and ovens must be enough around the earth nowadays to deflect every plane off its course! And shall me not hold tv and radio sets responsible for all the late arrivals and departures? Of course I may be totally in the wrong here, but I do wish somebody would explain this to me. Sorry about the rambling.

Flying Virgin is merely one step up from strap hanging for nine hours. Rubbish. I have tens of thousands of miles on AA, BA, and VS from Boston to London. They are all the same, except on BA you can't reserve a seat in economy in advance. So BA is my last choice.

Karen, I exaggerated about this man's size - it was two seats not three. But it is disappointing always to have to push past the nice looking young woman in 12C, with the bashful smile, and confront the Michelin man or screaming indulged Chucky in 24D. I swear it happens EVERY TIME. Gi, it's nothing but officious nonsense. Perhaps a CD player could emit the odd photon but nothing, I'm sure, to disturb the pilot's navigational system. What about all those satellites buzzing around the place? As for Virgin's own audio system, there are no rays, apart from Mr Charles. And please don't apologise for rambling, it shows me up. Where will I be able to see FP?

Fever Pitch is to be at the Village East Theater near Union Square. While I can commiserate with those unable to listen to a John Denver tribute on the plane's audio feed, I'd rather be safe than the possible cause of an air disaster...no matter how ridiculous it would appear. When it comes to airplane arm rests, they stay down unless: adjoining is empty; adjoining seat is occupied by friend or relative; or adjoining seat is occupied by someone you'd like to know better. I am convinced there is some code in the computer that designates smaller persons for seat assignment next to larger persons. However, when I see them coming, the arm rest is slapped down and I will keep it that way. I paid for my seat and that person is not entitled to one inch of it. If he or she cannot fit into a coach-size seat, then buy one in first class or better yet buy two seats in coach for less money.

(Karen) And how difficult could it be, Eileen, for you to get into NYC to see FP? Getting there is no problem. Getting there without the DH in tow takes a tiny bit of alibi. Have the PACE trains stopped running? Is the Holland Tunnel closed? ;-D PATH trains are running. Holland Tunnel is not closed. Actually, I take the GWB except when the Yankees are playing at home (and they might be :-)). All you have to say is you're going to see a film about football. OK, it's not the Jets But then he'll want to come. That won't do. Don't worry, I have it covered. Will be there with pounding feet. (or are you Giants fans?) Ooohhh! Sacrilege! ;-) Flying Virgin is merely one step up from strap hanging for nine hours. (Chris) Rubbish. I'm glad your experiences have been better than mine. But I have flown VA on numerous occasions and always find my knees jammed into the seat in front of me--and I'm a towering 5'3". 6'4" hubby came off a flight looking like a contortionist. Never again. (Karen) I can commiserate with those unable to listen to a John Denver tribute on the plane's audio feed LOL! You're baaad!

Oh yeah, PACE is/was the suburban bus system here. Knew it started with a "p" though. Been many years. ;-) Just pulling your chain a bit, E. Knew you'd be there.

Wouldn't miss it. Paul and I have alot in common :-P

Hope all the Londoners are OK. What a hideous train crash. Gives me the shivers. Thanks for the kind words on the web site. I am ready for NEW news, though. My read is that right now Colin and Livia are in Italy -- probably in one of those charming villas in Tuscany. He is studying his part in 3DOR very hard, and will continue to study when they return to London at the end of the month. Murph

Here is a picture of Colin doing that funny dance for Julie Andrews on the set of RV Murph

LOL! It's amazing... he did the same dance for Moon's birthday to "I Got My Mojo Working." *sigh* but I never get tired of it in the right setting. ;-D

...I keep singing "yes, we have no bahnahnahs" to myself while I watch Murph's animgif...

Thanks for the action scenes Murph

Thanks Murph, I just love Geoffrey!

Damn that man's cute.

LOL! That is so funny!!! I have laughed myself senseless... (I second that SB)

(Bethan) Susan, you do indeed put me to shame! (But I may surprise you!) Oh dear, I'm afraid my previous comment made me sound like a martyr. That was not my intent. I knew if I didn't go to Newport I would regret it... (with apologies to "Casablanca")... "maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of [my] life." That's what made me go... that, and the dread of having to explain to Karen why I didn't;-D But in the end, you gotta do what works for you. If the venue is far away and in a bad part of town, I wouldn't want you to feel pressured into doing anything unsafe. (Eileen) ...except when the Yankees are playing at home (and they might be :-) Yeah, if the Red Sox haven't knocked them out of the playoffs by then. Hee hee;-)

Since the door has been opened, I'd just like to report how much I enjoyed myself at Yankee stadium last night, even though I had to stifle some satisfied yawns in the later innings, once The Greatest Team in History had obliterated Texas yet again. Roll on Boston, Cleveland, whoever you are. More satisfied yawning to be done. Off to game 2 on Thursday. You can keep YDB. I love EL DUQUE. (p.s. if I can't get ALCS tickets, once the Yanks have progressed, who amongst the Noo Yawkers wants to go and watch one of games at Mickey Mantle's on 59th St? We'd be talking about Wednesday or Thursday of next week.)

While we're off base, am I the only one who watched Lazio vs. AC Milan on Sunday? What a great game! Ended in a 4/4 tie. You can bet ODB watched it on TV. (Livia's family might root for Lazio, since it is the other Roman team) My DH is from Milan so you know which one we are partial to. ;-) Now, carry on with your baseball.

Moon: the other Roman team A Lazio fan would not like AS Roma getting any kind of precedence in these heady times. Hopefully YDB will let this pass. Grateful for the off-topic but watch out for turning this into a sports conference. That kind of thing leads to aggression, it seems.

Just a little reminder that Julie Andrews is being interviewed about Relative Values on Film 99 tonight on BBC1 at 11.20pm., have your videos at the ready just in case she mentions ODB.

(Mark) That kind of thing leads to aggression, it seems Yeah, it could get ugly!

Hello all, If this is the general CF discussion site, as oppposed to one concentrating on a specific film, perhaps this is the place to ask about the dreaded body double. I read recently that one had been used in some film; can't remember which nor where I read it. Does anyone know where body doubles were used? Tell me it wasn't HOTPig (or the Advocate as it seems to be known this side). Perhaps you have already discussed this or there is some cinematic reference work that tells all this.

(Mark)) That kind of thing leads to aggression, it seems That's why I stay in Drool...and if anyone wants to get agressive, I hope they go somewhere else:-) (Cymbeline)..this is the place to ask about the dreaded body double. Dreaded indeed. Never heard of one....though some of us wondered about the shower scene or "the rocks" in Playmaker....

I can't believe no one took Ben up on his offer...wish I were closer than 6 hours (more than that by plane) away...! I love baseball as well as cricket. As I understand it, anything that receives transmits...in ALL directions. That is why they are all Federal Communications Commission rated and have the amount of radiation listed somewhere on the piece of equipment.

Hey everyone--I thought you might me amused to know that I'm showing my freshman composition classes "Valmont" right now (they're going to write movie analyses on it,) and they actually like it! That's pretty unusual for them, considering that they whine and complain about everything. I guess it's the sexual shenanigans that they are enjoying.

Oh Amy - that is the best excuse for Drooling I have yet heard! Amazing what can be educational, is it not?!

Hi Cymbeline, yes, this is the place to discuss body doubles. I've never seen or read anything that said CF used a body double in any of his movies. However, there are people with far better memories of CF articles/quotes than I. During our discussion of Playmaker, one person (who is very knowledgeable about film making) said that the lovemaking in the shower was likely done by body doubles. This is an edited down version of what was said. Cheryl: I'd guess for part of the motorcycle scene because of insurance. But I remember thinking the same thing and there's one rip-roaring shot where it had to be him (reminded me of him on a galloping horse). For the shower pas de deux, definitely. It really struck me the second time�their voices against unrealistic visuals. For some of her positions she would have to be standing on a box, and the people in the shower don't move like our stars. But I guess that's artistic license. Colin wouldn't have do e it. With his professional stature he wouldn't have had to, and we KNOW how much this flick meant to him. ********* There's no way a double could have been used IMO for the first shower scene, when he just waltzes out, or on the Rocks scene. For The Advocate or HOTPig, it doesn't look likely either. In the European version, you do see him standing behind Maria, which is why the film caused such a ruckus here and the MPAA kept giving it an NC-17 rating, until it was excised and only hinted at. Our *pure* American eyes couldn't handle seeing such acts! However, the movie Carrington (which nobody saw) showed Jeremy Northam doing the same thing to Emma Thompson in full view for a whole lot longer; it was rated R. The other nude shot was done rom about 2 miles away and through a lot of shrubbery. He could have been wearing a bodysuit for all we know. ;-D Cymbeline, if you want to read our previous film discussions (edited versions), they are up on firth.com and now have lovely pictures. Here's the url: http://www.firth.com/filmdis/disindex.htm

Amy! What course are you giving that could use Valmont? If you can, please let us know what the students write. What specific questions did you ask them to address? If someone says, CF is a major babe, you will definitely report!! ;-D

...waiting...*tapping foot* Can you imagine a more enjoyable way of grading papers?! And, how objective can she be if they write a splendid paper but hate the actor playing the title role?!