tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post1930979728056153651..comments2024-03-17T03:42:21.277-05:00Comments on LEARNING CURVE ON THE ECLIPTIC: An (almost) Matched Pair of Movies Twilighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-51402779566616542372016-01-06T08:56:21.739-06:002016-01-06T08:56:21.739-06:00mike (again) ~ I didn't know of "Johnny G...mike (again) ~ I didn't know of "Johnny Got His Gun" - read the Wiki page just now - thanks for the link. Oh!! I'm not sure I could stomach that movie - it was even hard to read the detail and imagine! If you watch it, do let me know what you think of it. <br /><br />Thanks for the points about Trumbo's astrology. He was a very strong character - would have made a good president in some dystopian or utopian world. :-) Although he sided with communism then, in those circumstances, I wonder how he'd view the scene today. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, anyway, when an opportunity arises.<br />Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-56167586633772458992016-01-05T21:08:13.955-06:002016-01-05T21:08:13.955-06:00Trumbo wrote "Johnny Got His Gun" (1939)...Trumbo wrote "Johnny Got His Gun" (1939), then directed the movie (1971):<br /><br />"Although Johnny Got His Gun was a minor success at the time of its release, it was largely forgotten soon after by mass audiences. While it is well known that Jimmy Carter required all his new State cabinet members to view the film shortly after his election as Georgia governor in 1971, the film became far better known when it was incorporated in the video of Metallica's song 'One', whose popularity subsequently turned Johnny Got His Gun into a cult film. Eventually, the members of Metallica bought the rights to the film in order to keep showing their music video without routinely paying royalties fees."<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Got_His_Gun_%28film%29<br /><br />I've only viewed a handful of his movies, but after reading the plot of "Johnny Got His Gun", I'll have to see it. It's available on youtube for free, so I'll watch it on Roku's youtube channel.<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qppiWX3qCwk<br /><br />Trumbo has several aspects that could make him an independent (and ostracized!): Sun opposed Pluto; Venus, Jupiter, Saturn T-square, with Saturn conjunct S Node; Mercury conjunct Uranus, both opposed Neptune; Sun sextile Mars, both in weak yod with Neptune. Saturn on the S Node is a difficult aspect, often presenting the individual with outer, major challenges to overcome through diligence and perseverance over a long duration.<br /><br />His Wiki page states, "Though an anarchist, Dalton Trumbo aligned himself with the Communist Party in the United States before the 1940s...". Anarchist is a strong descriptive of Trumbo, but his astrology would support that term. Wiki doesn't substantiate the use of that particular word to describe him.mike (again)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-31577642964056781142016-01-05T15:09:11.871-06:002016-01-05T15:09:11.871-06:00mike (again) ~ Thanks for the C. Rose link - watc...mike (again) ~ Thanks for the C. Rose link - watched the Bryan Cranston segment - very good! Cranston's a very good speaker on this showing - presumably this was off-the-cuff, unscripted. Of course he's been steeped in his subjects (Trumbo and LBJ for months or years so would be well prepared). I doubt we'll get the movie in our town, maybe Lawton - it's released early February, I shall watch for it.<br /><br />I hadn't read about the "Son of Saul" movie. It's one we should all see, but I'm feeling squeamish already. Haven't watched the link yet. It has 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes while "Trumbo has only 70%.<br /><br />Trumbo had Sun in Sag. with Mars & Saturn in Aquarius, Moon & Jupiter in Taurus.<br />http://astro-charts.com/persons/chart/dalton-trumbo/<br /><br />Oh dear! A Trump voter surfaces...I suspect there'll be many in Texas and quite a few in Okie land, though the Dog-botherers amon 'em will be keener on Cruz or Rubio I suppose.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-39073739544837720702016-01-05T13:34:07.083-06:002016-01-05T13:34:07.083-06:00I first knew of "Trumbo" from "Char...I first knew of "Trumbo" from "Charlie Rose"...Bryan Cranston was interviewed:<br />http://charlierose.com/watch/60645719<br /><br />Last night's "Charlie Rose" presented the producer and an actor from "Son of Saul", which has won many awards:<br />http://charlierose.com/watch/60668910<br /><br /><br />The McCarthy era was horrible. I was born in 1950, and it flavored my first decade of existence. Conservative, conservative, conservative!!! The fear of being different, of being labeled unAmerican, or standing-out among the drab was a constant concern. As with "Trumbo", there was a tremendous price to be paid, should an individual stand-up to the inquisition. So many were thrown under the bus. Fortunately, the beatnik generation took control...LOL.<br /><br /><br />My friend that lost his wife to cancer 6 or 7 months ago called me this morning. After a period of chit-chat, The Donald was brought-up derisively by me. It was then disclosed that he is voting for Trump. WOW! Same guy that voted for Bush-the-Jr, solely because Bush was offering tax breaks.mike (again)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-74259987784650061112016-01-05T11:45:44.440-06:002016-01-05T11:45:44.440-06:00mike ~ I don't think the heterosexual affair ...mike ~ I don't think the heterosexual affair itself produced the legal challenge - I guess it was the complete loss of the two women's private school's business resulting from the gossip. To our sensibilities the reaction seems ridiculous, even had it been true, which it wasn't. Anyway, the story is a story, even though partly based on fact from the early 19th century. There's a long time-span involved with much change happening between factual event upon which the play and films were based: for the later movie - some 150 years.<br /><br />I wasn't aware of Lillian Hellman before this - it's all a bit too 'Murican for me - the blacklisting, McCarthy era etc. I'm interested, but can't get too excited about it, other than blaming it all for <b>the weak-kneed so-called left</b> in this country! I'll be interested in seeing the new movie "Trumbo" when I get the chance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumbo_%282015_film%29<br /><br />I'm not into Ayn Rand, as you'll likely remember. Just because she had the odd decent thought about stuff doesn't, still, endear her to me in general. ;-)<br /> Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-30265841019884986352016-01-05T10:17:45.811-06:002016-01-05T10:17:45.811-06:00I don't recall viewing either movie, and I tho...I don't recall viewing either movie, and I thought I had seen all of her plays-to-movies. Seems a bit strange to adapt Hellman's original to a heterosexual format, thereby despoiling the content. Considering that so many heteros have extracurricular affairs, it would seem trite. I can't imagine a heterosexual affair producing a court challenge...must have been some interesting, fictional circumstances in the movie versions.<br /><br />I've long admired Hellman for her stand during the McCarthy era of blackballing. She and so many others were treated in a shameful manner by a shameful program of conservative idiocy, then called "American values". I mentioned in yesterday's comments regarding individuals that are willingly employed by corporations we love to hate, and some of them are responsible for the latest method of abusing the consumer (aka sleeping with the enemy). Hellman's anti-conservative views got her blackballed, to which she lost income, social acceptance, and had travel restrictions, plus being under surveillance. She made a choice and lived with the consequences...bravo to her and cohorts!<br /><br />I've always liked Hellman's writings. They conjure the dark nature of humans winning their blood by villainous means, always left in cold, stank, isolation after their game has been won. Just like real life...LOL.<br /><br />And here I go again with Ayn Rand. "Atlas Shrugged", for those that haven't read it, yet are willing to condemn the book, has some excellent prose denouncing censorship, authoritarianism, and "American values"...a government gone mad with restrictions and governance. Hellman's antagonist is the evil individual, Rand's is the corrupt official that desires to govern, eg Will H. Hays, Joseph McCarthy.<br /><br />From Wiki:<br />"In the world of Atlas Shrugged, society stagnates when independent productive agencies are socially demonized for their accomplishments. This is in agreement with an excerpt from a 1964 interview with Playboy magazine, in which Rand states: 'What we have today is not a capitalist society, but a mixed economy — that is, a mixture of freedom and controls, which, by the presently dominant trend, is moving toward dictatorship. The action in Atlas Shrugged takes place at a time when society has reached the stage of dictatorship. When and if this happens, that will be the time to go on strike, but not until then'.<br /><br />Rand also depicts public choice theory, such that the language of altruism is used to pass legislation nominally in the public interest (e.g., the 'Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Rule', and 'The Equalization of Opportunity Bill'), but more to the short-term benefit of special interests and government agencies."<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Shruggedmikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-18556980756568038562016-01-05T09:11:23.642-06:002016-01-05T09:11:23.642-06:00Sonny ~ It's an affecting story and the later...Sonny ~ It's an affecting story and the later version was far more poignant than the 1936 one, especially the ending.<br /><br />James Garner is a favourite of ours too, I've liked him ever since those early episodes of "Maverick", years ago. The "Americanization of Emily" is a favourite of mine among his movies, and husband likes his "Rockford" (I do too but the stories get a bit samey after a while).<br /><br />Aries Sun, yes - Moon Scorpio, 3 planets in Pisces, Libra rising. Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-52041142106897332872016-01-05T07:07:02.575-06:002016-01-05T07:07:02.575-06:00ops. I meant James Garner and no he was an aries.....ops. I meant James Garner and no he was an aries.. april 7Sonny Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06926830309207639536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-23214566000723982372016-01-05T07:04:33.057-06:002016-01-05T07:04:33.057-06:00I saw the 1961 version many times and each time I ...<br /> I saw the 1961 version many times and each time I was so angry, I cried.<br /><br /> I agree, if a remake is made I hope they do it as well as the '61 version or even better.<br /> oh how I loved James Gardner:) wasn't he an aquarius? I'll have to go google that..Sonny Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06926830309207639536noreply@blogger.com