Pfunksfoolosophy

Hey there, folks.

I was going to finish up my compelling and exciting interview with columnist Michael Musto today, but something happened that pre-empted my thrilling finale. (man, I really sold it, huh?) You see, a cinema icon passed away yesterday. Miss Deborah Kerr, my favorite Scottish actress is now with the angels. Although I never met her, she was a part of my family. My family is a group of movie addicts and I remember my mom letting me stay up late when our favorite movies came on the late show. One such film was ‘An Affair to Remember’. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr were impeccable in their acting and I loved the costumes,  the dialogue and the score so very often when that flick came on channel 7 with Frank Avruch hosting, I would have to be either late to school or miss it entirely from my movie hangover.

She was elegant and had wonderful timing. I believed that she was ‘Mrs. Anna’ when I watched ‘The King and I’. I completely lost myself in ‘Tea and Sympathy’ and she helped shape my sensibilities about film acting. She was also a movie star. There’s not much of that these days. Seems it’s rather hard for actors to balance that now.

We either get the movie star: Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and their ilk, or we have actors- William H. Macy, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Angela Bassett, Philip Seymour Hoffman…

There is a difference, ya know? Nothing’s wrong with being glamorous and in the public eye, but there is something to be said for the actor who takes their job seriously, and not to the exclusion of their humanity, mind you, but you know…the folks who get their hands dirty. The person who wants to entertain and enlighten and makes you forget what was said about them on ‘Entertainment Tonight’. (and they haven’t had a sex tape leaked to the press)

I’m digressing. Deborah Kerr had me enrapt as I watched her falling for Burt Lancaster in ‘From Here to Eternity’. Guys, she was sexy and smart and get this–NOT vulgar. We didn’t have to see her heaving naked breasts in order to know she was hot to trot for Burt. As an aside, I have to tell you…Lancaster back in the day was a hottie.

So, goodbye dear friend. They’re havin’ some kinda rehearsal up there in actors’ heaven. She’s probably up there with all of her old co-stars creating magic for the angels.