Jack the Ripper, Preston Sturges, and of course, Barry Trotter

Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell's new book attempts to solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper. Here's a short AP story to tease you. If your interest is piqued in the case, there's an excellent website on it here.



Regarding last week's screed about "Stardust Memories," Matt Fogel wrote: "Along with your blogging on great 8 1/2-esque movies, you'd be a monkey to leave out "Sullivan's Travels." Preston Sturges is so frustratingly forgotten these days that the man who introduced both the auteur and irony to American film is just coupled by a few overstuffed critics with snappy dialogue and that is it. You cannot believe the film was made in 1940--its satirical bent, its ironic nature that comments on itself at every turn, and of course, the greatest self-justification for comedy by any funny person ever."



When I asked Matt to clarify what he meant by "self-justification for comedy," here's what he said: "The film is about a comedy director (his biggest hit: "Ants in Your Plants of 1939") who wants to make a 'serious' movie: a look at pain and suffering among the downtrodden. He winds up on a chain gang, and one night, the prisoners go to the movies. They see a Walt Disney cartoon--Pluto and the flypaper--and Sully can't help but laugh. He realizes that "There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much ... but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan." At that moment, he also has Veronica Lake on his lap. Not too shabby."



Of course, in the version made on Earth 2, Sullivan concluded, "That Disney sure is great. I am in favor of extending the term of copyright to 5,000 years," and continued being serious. Anyway, Matt adds that "the new Criterion DVD is super-great: a wonderful documentary about Sturges' rise and fall, and wonderful and insightful commedy from Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, the former who took Sturges' style of sharp, ensemble comedy and made it his own."



My goal is to have this blog written entirely by others. On another topic, Barry Trotter continues to sell like slightly profane hotcakes--the UK publisher, Orion, just ordered another reprint...