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Bogdanovich Ahoy!

Peter Bogdanovich is a Hollywood director. He directed The Last Picture Show with Cybill Shepherd (with whom he was having an affair at the time) and Mask with Eric Stoltz (who went on to not play Marty McFly).

He also directed Illegally Yours, starring Rob Lowe and Colleen Camp, and filmed in St. Augustine, Florida, right down the street from where I grew up. It's about the worst movie someone with Bogdanovich's chops could ever hope to direct, but I love it because of all the Jacksonville/St. Augustine locations and also Rob Lowe. And, most importantly, the soundtrack featuring original songs by Johnny Cash. Including "Love is a Gambler," which I still sing to myself. If anyone knows where I can get a copy of this soundtrack, write me.

Recently, he directed The Cat's Meow which is set in the 1920s aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht. Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man) is in it.

Also, it turns out he's a gifted impressionist. In a 30-minute episode of Jon Favreau's Dinner for Five, he performed remarkable impressions of Orson Welles, John Ford, Jimmy Stewart, and Alfred Hitchcock. He's a fabulous storyteller and a joy to watch.

And, he's been playing Dr. Melfi's psychiatrist on The Sopranos which is fine except that it always frustrates me when someone is best known for one of his lesser accomplishments. Not that The Sopranos is bad, although I don't believe it's as good as its reputation; it's just a shame that Bogdanovich is much more likely known to today's audience for that than for Dinner for Five.

Anyway, I'm proud of him, and I'm retroactively regretful that at the age of ten I didn't chase him down while he was in my hometown and take the chance to meet him. Seriously, if you ever see or hear of that soundtrack, you have to let me know. "Love is a Gambler" is the greatest Johnny Cash song ever. And Bogdanovich co-wrote it! Tell me the man's not a genius.

1 Comment (Add your comments)

Bee BoySun, 9/5/04 2:50pm

I obviously don't know anything. I only just found out that Bogdanovich – my hero! – was the director of the film version of Noises Off which is one of the best plays ever, even though I've only been lucky enough to see it in movie form. It came on HBO2 this morning and I've been watching it even though I missed the first 20 minutes due to watching Hurricane Frances coverage, because the last time I checked it was not yet out on DVD which means you take your HBO opportunities (pan-n-scan and all) when you get them.

Then I checked. It is on DVD (as of May, apparently) and already winging its way toward me. And, it's directed by Bogdie! Wow. He's like the genius of everything. (And what a cast! Carol Burnett, John Ritter, Marilu Henner, the late Denholm "Dr. Marcus Brody" Elliott, in what was apparently his last role – plus the reteaming of Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve from the spectacular Deathtrap!)

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