February is frequently foggy in New Orleans. Hence this featured image from Orson Welles’ 1942 film The Magnificent Ambersons. Cinematographer Gregg Toland *almost* topped his work on Citizen Kane in what has been called Orson’s mangled masterpiece. I’ll have more on the Ambersons in our second act.

It’s the quiet after the Carnival storm at Adrastos World HQ. Both Claire Trevor and I are having allergy problems. At least mine don’t cause me to overgroom. Poor kitty, it’s marring her diva beauty. The vet has put her on a course of steroids hoping to ease the itchiness.

This week’s theme song was written by Pete Townshend for his 1977 duo album with Ronnie Lane of Faces fame, Rough Mix. I understand what Pete was driving at: I’ve often felt misunderstood myself. What can ya do?

Let’s play point counterpoint with this timeless tune by The Animals:

I might as well throw this swell cover by Declan MacManus into the rough mix:

I’m not big on the Winter Olympics, I am not now nor have I ever been an Ice Person. But I love me some John Irving. That’s where we begin our second act.

The Irving Family Rules: The best thing I’ve read about the Milan Olympics comes from The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn. The title says it all: What’s it like to have two grandchildren in the Winter Olympics? Let John Irving tell you.

John Irving’s grandkids are Olympic skiers. For some reason this is my favorite passage in this wonderful piece:

“Every now and again, Birk and Svea Irving, the brother-sister Olympic skiing duo, receive text messages requiring time and attention. They unlock their phones, open their message apps, click “Grandpa.” Then thumbs scroll.

“Complete paragraphs, all spaced out,” Birk Irving says. “Grammatically, the best text messages you’ve ever seen.”

I’d expect nothing less from the author of The World According To Garp, A Prayer For Owen Meany, and The Cider House Rules. I’d always heard that Irving was a nice man. I’m glad to have that confirmed.

The last word of the segment goes to a song inspired by A Prayer For Owen Meany:

Deepfaking The Magnificent Ambersons: I hate AI as much as I love the films of Orson Welles. Both emotions were triggered by reading a story in The New Yorker by Michael Schulman about an attempt to restore the missing 43 minutes of The Magnificent Ambersons.

There have been unconfirmed rumors that a copy of the missing footage could be found in Brazil where Orson headed after making The Ambersons. Orson went there on behalf of the federal government to shoot a documentary. It was never made.

While Orson was having a ball in Brazil, the studio suits mangled his second film. It was contributory negligence on Orson’s part. He should have stayed and duked it out with the studio.

To read this twisted tale, get thee to The New Yorker.

The last word of our second act goes to Joe Henry:

We begin with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: Ready for more Orson Welles? He’s been played onscreen by 6 actors including Vincent D’Onofrio in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood:

My favorite onscreen Orson was Liev Schreiber in RKO 280:

Your Basic Basie: This week’s blast from the Basie past is on theme.

Have I told you lately how much I love Count Basie?

Best Of SNL: Another week, another MAGA cold open with Amy Poehler as Pam Bondi and Tina Fey as Cosplay Kristi.

Classic Movie Trailer: I’ve decided to mess with you by not posting the trailer for a certain Orson Welles flick. Instead, I give you:

Grading Time: It’s been ages since I saw this movie but I have fond memories of it. I give Garp 3 1/2 stars and an Adrastos grade of B+.

Saturday GIF Horse: This is not a proper GIF per se. It’s a GIF-like video used to illustrate the New Yorker piece on The Magnificent Ambersons.

 

Toon Time: See Pam Bondi scream. Scream Pam scream:

Somebody should have given her some ice cream:

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Closer: We circle back to our misunderstood theme. Was it just a Misunderstanding? Let’s consult with Genesis:

I can’t believe I wrote about The Magnificent Ambersons without mentioning Agnes Moorehead. She steals every scene she’s in as she did on Bewitched. The last word goes to Endora: