Eight Years of Blogging

Eight years…never would have guessed it. When I did my first post, I don't think I had any idea what I was getting into, let alone that it would become a daily task that would last for eight years. Today's post uses the stats from blogger to display my Top 10 posts, starting with…

The #10 Daveland Post. Sometimes, it's obvious to me why a post gets high readership; this one baffles me. Coming in with more than 1,936 views, you can read about "The Aristocats" and "The Three Caballeros."

Squeaking in at #9 with 1,975 views, the classic holiday treat "A Christmas Story" is covered in this post.



Shirley Temple, Bo Derek, and crazy in the desert. It's no wonder that this post is #8 with a walloping 4,645 views.



The debut of an unseen Steve Martin at Disneyland in 1957? I totally understand why this post got 4,721 views and earned the #7 spot.



The #6 Daveland Post inches up the ladder with 4,912 views and a photo of Elizabeth Taylor at Club 33.



The #5 Daveland Post covers the "High School Musical" phenomenon and has gotten over 7,432 views.



Unable to turn away from the weird, over 9,298 people have looked at The #4 Daveland Post which shows the evolution of the Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes in the Park.



Could it be the sight of Michael Douglas copping a feel from Kathleen Turner that got The #3 Daveland Post 9,780 views?



Two beloved child stars meet, and people obviously want to see it. With more than 12,528 views, The #2 Daveland Post shows Annette Funicello and Shirley Temple Black at the Oscars.



With a whopping 41,008 views, I am totally baffled as to why The #1 Daveland Post earned the top spot. Getting my car's smog test, I wandered through the University Heights neighborhood and took a few photos. Even more baffling is why this particular post has been spammed to death by idiots trying to sell Michael Kors purses.



Interesting to note that despite grumblings from a few readers who get upset when I veer the topic here from Disney, 4 of the top 10 posts have absolutely nothing to do with the Mouse. Raise your glasses to another 8 (or more) years of diverse offerings here at Daveland; thanks for stopping by!

See more vintage and current Daveland photos on my main website.

Daveland On Location: Double Indemnity

"Double Indemnity" (1944) has just been released for the first time on Blu-ray. Watching it last weekend, I was reminded of the genius of Director Billy Wilder. He took a decently written novella by author James M. Cain and fleshed it out into a film noir classic, creating the text book example of how the genre should operate.



Cain's dialogue was spiced up by detective fiction author and screenwriter Raymond Chandler ("The Big Sleep") and Wilder. Despite the fact (or maybe because of it) that the two didn't get along, the dialogue far surpasses the original. The interplay between femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) and insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) sizzles, laden with double entendres that allowed the film to pass the strict censors while still letting the audience know exactly what was going on, even if they didn't see it.



Stanwyck steals the picture. Wearing a cheap blonde wig that Wilder picked out for her, she transforms into the scheming wife who'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. MacMurray was an excellent choice, playing against type as the poor schmuck who is lost in the haze of sexual attraction, losing any sense of morality because of it.

Many films were inspired by "Double Indemnity," most notably "Body Heat," from 1981, starring Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. The storyline was not much different, but definitely a lot more graphic than its predecessor.



In 1982, comedian/writer/musician Steve Martin paid homage to the Film Noir genre with the hilarious, "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid." In one sequence, he dons the horrid Barbara Stanwyck wig, recreating the "Double Indemnity" scene at Jerry's Supermarket.



Here, Detective Rigby Reardon (Martin) in drag successfully attracts Walter Neff with a bewitching perfume called "Fondle Me."



Thanks to the well executed inter-cutting of current and vintage footage, a serious scene from "Double Indemnity" becomes a riot in "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid."



Surprisingly enough, the imposing Spanish Colonial style Dietrichson home from "Double Indemnity," built in 1927, still exists.



Other than an unfortunate change of garage doors, you would think you'd stepped back in time looking at the Beechwood Canyon home today, which is still a private residence.





You might even find an insurance man on the steps, still waiting for his femme fatale.



See more vintage & current Daveland Hollywood Movie photos on my main website.

Favorite Movies: The 1990's

"Wild at Heart" (1990) is David Lynch at his wackiest. Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage are two lovers on the lam, with Diane Ladd playing the nuttiest mother you've ever seen. Not for the faint at heart.



Sure, "Kindergarten Cop" (1990) is an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, but I love watching it for Carroll Baker's performance as a grandmother from hell.



"Goodfellas" (1990) is a Martin Scorsese masterpiece. Based on a true story of a crime family, it is a cautionary tale about ill-gotten gains. Ray Liotta is outstanding as the pivotal character, Henry Hill.



"Pretty Woman" (1990) is Disney's...oops, I mean Touchstone's not-so-moralistic tale about prostitution. Dabble in it, and you just might end up with a wealthy husband that looks like Richard Gere. Thanks to Julia Roberts' winning performance, it's easy to overlook some of the more unbelievable moments in the movie.



"The Rocketeer" (1991) is one of those cult classics that was initially overlooked by many, but has picked up steam over the years. It perfectly captures the look and feel of 1938 Los Angeles and the silver screen serials that were so popular during that time. The ageless Billy Campbell plays the title character.





Sure, it's not quite the norm, but "My Own Private Idaho" (1991) is a beautifully crafted movie about two hustlers (played by Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix) on a journey to find Mike's (Phoenix) mother. Funny, emotional, and unresolved, it bears repeated viewings to comprehend it all.



"Frankie & Johnny" (1991) can be a bit depressing, as it deals with the theme of "settling" for someone just to have a bit of love in one's life. Some of the subplots are the predictable stuff you would expect from a Garry Marshall film, but thanks to Pfeiffer and Pacino, it's a movie worth watching.



While we are talking about predictability..."Sleeping with the Enemy" (1991) is the very epitome of a predictable movie. I doubt that anyone in the theater wondered what the ending would be, but because of Patrick Bergin's performance as Julia Roberts' anal-retentive abusive husband, you'll be on the edge of your seat through the entire journey.



"Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991) is an enjoyable tear-jerker, but for me, the best moments are those that show the growth of Kathy Bates' character thanks to her growing friendship with someone she met in a nursing home (Jessica Tandy).



"Age of Innocence" (1993) is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. The Saul Bass title sequence made my jaw drop; it is absolutely gorgeous.



Joanne Woodward's narration lends the perfect air of respectability to the forbidden love story played out between Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day Lewis.



"Six Degrees of Separation" (1993) is a little gem of a film that shines a none-too-flattering light on a few art snobs in New York City who get duped by a hustler (Will Smith). He makes a huge impact on their lives.



"Serial Mom" (1994) is for those (like me) who have a sick sense of humor and enjoy seeing Kathleen Turner running through Baltimore in high heels, pearls, and a kitchen knife, attempting to wipe out those who don't fasten their seat belts.



"To Die For" (1995) was the first movie that I actually respected the talents of Nicole Kidman. As a driven woman who will stop at nothing to get her fifteen minutes of fame, she is a devastating commentary on what matters so much to too many people in this world today.



"Clueless" (1995) could be called "Mindless" and I'd still love it.



Alicia Silverstone is the not-so-dumb blonde who always gets what she wants, whether it's support from her dad (Dan Hedaya) or the attention from the guy that she's in love with (Paul Rudd).



"Citizen Ruth" (1996) is an Alexander Payne classic. Rather than preaching for or against abortion, it expertly shows the silliness of any radical group who attempts to jam their opinions down the throat of the masses without any humanity or compassion towards the people they claim to be looking out for. Laura Dern should have won an Oscar for this one.



"Mother" (1996) is a favorite of mine because Debbie Reynolds takes on the persona of my mother in so many ways. A light breezy little comedy with some very sharp observations about mother-son relationships.



"L.A. Confidential" (1997) channels the film noir movies with a dash of color...



and a splash of Oscar winner Kim Basinger.



"Pleasantville" (1998) was one of the first films to make use of the blossoming capabilities of digital technology, and does so very well. The not-so-veiled message of "being different is okay" sits very comfortably in the white bread era of the 1950's.



Joan Allen perfectly captures the 1950's housewife who struggles to break free of her black and white world.



"Office Space" (1999) is full of so many memorable comic moments. If you've ever worked in an office, you'll appreciate the bureaucratic red tape that is spoofed in this movie. Doesn't every office have a Milton?



Uh, yeah...that's great. Don't forget those TPS Reports.



"Election" is Reese Witherspoon at her most annoying. Another Alexander Payne classic about how a determined know-it-all (Reese)...



Gets under the skin of one of her teachers (Matthew Broderick) and drives him over the edge.



"Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire" (1999) is a little-known independent film that really got to me when I saw it. A sweet look at the close relationship between two very different brothers who truly complement each other. A real gem.



See more classic Movie & TV photos on my regular web page.