Cool News
Professor Emelius Browne taps the Bedknob 3 times with a quarter turn to the right...
Hey folks, Harry here. You familiar with the 'heebie-jeebies'? That weird up you spine wiggle you get when you hear something so ironic that it becomes... very very scary? No? Well let me explain...
On the last Saturday of every month here in Austin, I host THE SATURDAY MORNING FUN CLUB for children at the Alamo Drafthouse. With 100% of the profits from last year's BUTT-NUMB-A-THON, I decided to start a film series that worked hand in hand with BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, THE HUMAN LEAGUE and THE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE to show children that otherwise wouldn't be getting to see a movie on the big screen... a chance to see not only that... but the exact sort of magical films that they should be watching.
So, for the past four months on that last Saturday of the month, we've screened CLASH OF THE TITANS, FORBIDDEN PLANET, ESCAPE FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN and then... just this past Saturday... We screened BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS.
The audience is about 70% under the age of 10, and they fell in love with the film. The musical numbers, the dancing... the glowing bedknob that could take you anywhere at anytime. Sure, it's a bit LITTLE NEMO-ish, but gosh it's a great dream. And in the film it was David Tomlinson and his Professor Emelius Browne that captured the children. Perhaps it was the manner in which he could twitch his nose spasticly like a rabbit. Perhaps it was because he so wanted to be able to perform magic. The incompetent spell in which to transform yourself or another into a white rabbit... for just a bit of time.
Meanwhile... across the Atlantic, David Tomlinson had just passed away just a few short hours before. And already he was still delighting a whole line up of children. And he will, in that same magical Drafthouse, he will do so again when someday in the future we'll screen THE LOVE BUG and MARY POPPINS. Till then in all those pre-10 minds, he'll be just that tricky soccer referee, that street-side salesman of magic, the man who can find the spell to defeat a nazi invasion.
If you get a chance... check out BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS again... I love that film...
A Father Geek note: First off every thing Harry noted goes for me too, this guy was pure magic to watch on the screen and it's a really weird feeling to have been watching him in "BEDKNOBS" on Saturday morning with 200 excited kids
cheering his every action knowing now that he has departed this earthly realm. However, seeing the pure joy on all those children's faces as they left the Alamo running and kicking imaginary soccer balls against imaginary cartoon soccer foes proves beyond any doubt that he will live in a way forever.
On another point we have set up an AICN-Obits page that indexes and links to all the past Memorials that have been written here at AICN. So if you missed our musings about Bones, Ernest, Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, Marc Davis, or anyone else, or if you just want to revisit one of our past Obits just click on that "MORE AICN" box over on the left and check it all out.
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Amen, Harry.
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i wish more people with a little power would do cool shit for kids like that. this is all the proof i need that you arent going to give in to big business.
keep it up big guy
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David Tomlinson may not be a household name, but his work in "Mary Poppins" and "Bedknobs and Boomsticks" was delightful, complex and multi-layered. he will be missed.
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In a time when truely great characters are hard to find, this one stands out amongst the rest. He will be missed...
EPD
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I didn't know that!You warm- hearted,Amsih-bearded lug,you!!Anyhoo,I am gonna miss that crazy Emelius.That movie was my favorite until I was introduced to the wonder of gore at the ever-so-impressionable age of 6.Bless you,Carpenter!I miss him already...big British bunny.I'm gonna curl up in a sock drawer and cry myself to sleep every day until..eh,let's say September.This has been a Pole Vaulting Crocodile Moment w/User ID Indeed!
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Jun 26, 2000 6:50:30 PM CDT
Sam Raimi Ripped Off the Climactic Battle of 'Bedknobs & Broomst
by bari umenema
Of course he was only paying homage to Bedknobs/Broomsticks at the end of Army of Darkness but if you don't believe me rent both of them and see for yourself buckos.
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Jun 26, 2000 6:53:58 PM CDT
Now before Raimi gets all Upset, You were Paying Homage Sam, Pay
by bari umenema
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you got a point...I never put the two together.
anyway...great film....but does anybody notice Lansbury still looks like she's 60? -
Jun 26, 2000 7:01:47 PM CDT
Headline:User ID Indeed!sent a virus for sticking up for Harry p
by user id indeed!
My God...ladies and gentleman,a few seconds after I posted my "That's sweet as hell" post right here,I checked my email.The subject lines read as follows:"Your post","URGENT VIRUS WARNING!!",and "Be careful what you open these days".Careful indeed.The first was a "virus bomb" sent by Harry besher real4567 under the moniker of...DEAR GOD..."Dylan Klebold".I deleted it right away,disgusted by such a blatantly ignorant address.The second and third emails were from my dear friends SenatorSmathers and Zeno,warning me that the same real4567 who posted over and over how Harry is a horrible sellout,was sending VIRUSES TO EVERYONE WHO DISAGREED WITH HIM LAST NIGHT.I mean...this...this is just so horrible.I am totally serious about this.This is ridiculous.I have NEVER been sent a virus in my LIFE.You see folks,on the "Mark Whalberg/Planet of the Apes" board,a jackass named real4567 posted REPEATEDLY(and I mean repeatedly) his idiot opinions on how blaoted and ignorant Harry is.I and many others stood up for Harry,and flamed real4567 for all he was worth.Then about 20 hours later I had a virus sent by the same person in my Inbox.I was shocked.Surprised.Now I am just pissed.I mean,MY GOD.THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL.TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.BEFORE IT WAS A MATTER OF STANDING UP FOR SOMEONE MISTREATED UNFAIRLY.NOW...I JUST DON'T KNOW.HOW HE GOT THIS VIRUS I WILL NEVER KNOW,BUT LISTEN TO ME.EVERYONE WHO SAID SOMETHING BAD ABOUT REAL4567 ON LAST NIGHT'S BOARD BEWARE OF A VIRUS SENT UNDER THE MONIKER OF DYLANKLEBOLD.My very sincere thanks go out to Bari,Smathers,and Zeno.I think I'm gonna take a little break from TalkBack...this is just insane.
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The news David Thomson dead I admit is something of a shock to me. I'm not a big fan of him but he's been in so many movies I watched as a kid and loved that the news of this is like an old childhood memory that I know I can no longer visit.
He was great in Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I enjoyed his charm, warmth and humor. I'll miss him. -
Shit, I got the same email this morning, and I opened it. It had some stupid porno picture, with the word "tolerance." I deleted it right away and forgot about it. The problem is, I opened the email on my computer at work (i.e. on a computer that doesn't belong to me!). What kind of virus was it? What does it do? And you do you get rid of it? Oh, and to the little prick who's sending these, I hope somebody reports you to the FBI. That's illegal as hell, dickface, and I hope you get your immature and cruel ass busted. Anybody got any suggestions for me? Please?
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I'm sorry if I spelled David Thomlinson's name wrong in
my previous post, a farewell to an old friend from my childhood.
I'm terribly sorry about that.
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A British bank is run with precision
A British home requires nothing less
Tradition, discipline and rule
must be the tool
Without them, disaster, catastrophe, anarchy--in short you have a ghastly mess.
If they must go on outings, those
outings ought to be, filled with purpose. Yes! and practicality!
These silly words like..superca...super...
"supercalifragelisticexpialedocious"
..yes, and popping through pictures
provide no use, and fill no daily need.
They've got to learn the honest truth, despite their youth, they must learn..
...about the life you lead.
Exactly.
They must learn the art of toting up a balanced book
a thousand ciphers neatly in a row.
While gazing at a chart that shows the profits up, their little cups of joy should overflow.
It's time they learned to march in your footsteps. To tread your straight and narrow path with pride.
Tomorrow just as you suggest, dressed and pressed, Jane and Michael will be at your side.
(stephen sondheim couldn't have said it better himself!) -
I got the same email and did not realize what it was...I was dumb and downloaded the file....But it turned out to be a pornographic picture...i don't know if I downloaded a virus but i guess i will find out!
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I was so sad when I heard this.. another childhood favorite gone. Don't let anyone tell you different, Bedknobs and Broomsticks was cool. Taking out the Nazi's with enchanted armor, the animated sequences (especially the animal soccer game). Even the songs were good. I'm glad you're showing some of the good stuff for the kids, Harry. *Walks away singing "let's go fly a kite.. up to the highest height..*
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Darth I think that it was not a virus...nothing has happened
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Jun 26, 2000 8:21:22 PM CDT
Apologies for my previous overreaction(re:Violet21 and DarthSlat
by user id indeed!
I was told it was a virus by Sen.Samthers and Zeno,who were kind enough to send me some warnings.Zeno mentioned though that he hadn't opened it and wasn't sure exactly what it was or what it did.It could very well just had been some picture,but from what I was told,and I trust my sources,it was a virus.Maybe not,but my guess would be that it's more than just a pornographic picture,by the information given to me,as well as the whole context..If nothing happened right away though...who knows?Time well tell.I do know who did it though..I mentioned below that it was sent by some guy named real4567,whose email address is ...shudder...Dylan Klebold.I dunno the rest,as I deleted it instantly.Also,I went a little crazy in my last post.I'm usually more collected than that.Nothing bad happened,so what's the big deal.I guess I mostly wanted to warn people.Shit happens though,right?I didn't even know what it was...I just went by the info I was given.But you have to admit...this whole thing has gotten way out of hand...maybe there's something Harry can do(he might still have the full address,call the cops on him,etc.),but otherwise sorry.This has been Some Replies from User ID Indeed!
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Jun 26, 2000 8:45:21 PM CDT
Re. Virus Bombs and Harry the Great Big Kid in All of Us
by bari umenema
Hello Real4567, bet you're getting a kick out of this. Well here's a kick in the teeth back at you pal. HARRY & WEBMASTER: SURELY YOU CAN TRACK 4567 VIA HIS COOKIE I.D. AND HIS RETURN ADDRESS PRIOR TO YOUR BANNING HIM THROUGH HIS SERVER. Question: what can the FBI do to this 4567 if it really turns out to be a destructive virus? Don't know the new laws governing these situations but there should be something. If it's not a virus no harm done, just silly porno pics. As for Harry, of course he's a great big kid at heart, we all know that -- he's Charlie Brown with a Computer instead of a Kite -- Linus with a Laptop instead of a Blanket -- maybe we can get Shaft to kick 4567's ass.
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I too have recieved that ugly picture in the mail form this utter piece of shit by the name "Klebold." How incredibly stupid can one person be? HARRY, YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS CHUNK OF SPEWTUM. I will hold on to this letter in case I am contacted, so it can be used as evidence. By the way, to the giant turd who has nothing better to do than to re-post articles from Filmthreat (a site that burns with jealousy because they get only four hits a year): YOU CAN BE TRACED. AND IF YOU CONTINUE YOUR HARRASSMENT, DONT BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU FIND A LAWYER CHOMPING YOUR ASS.
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Listen you little shithead, if I find out who the hell you are I'm going to smack the living shit out of you. I will Krav Maga your windpipe shut you little pisher. Thank God I was warned by the gentlemen of this site not to open your Dylan Klebold mailer and I deleted it immediately. You are a sick sick mentally disturbed individual young man and I hope the FBI nails your little ass -- maybe we'll be lucky and you'll go to jail where your little ass can be raped nightly by your cellmate. And don't call me, I'll call you. Now fuck-off and get lost or so help me I will have Studio Security do an internet trackdown of you -- don't believe me? If I had opened my mail at work at lunchtime and you contaminated our network I'd have Security run down your e-mail address right now, fortunately I am home now and luckily for you I logged onto Aint It Cool and read these timely warnings. And if you are now posting again, repeatedly putting these stupid Film Threat charges on this board again tonight as it's now on there once again now, I hope Harry or the Webmaster will quickly delete your once again. You are a sorry and pathetic individual and I never want to see or hear about you again, you got that? Good!
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As a child, The Love Bug was my favorite film. I watched it at least once a day for two years straight. It still is one of the highest films on my list of favorites, surpassing the 1989 Batman by leaps and bounds. I hate to hear the passing of one of its stars. That movie has been my booster in times of pain and heartache. I always took comfort in the fact that we haven't last that many of its stars, and now we're down one more. In Broomsticks, he gave his best performance that I've ever seen, making his Mary Poppins work look pale. Seeing that childish look upon his face always brought a smile to mine. To me, that was the best part about his acting. He always seemed like he was giving us another look at a child instead of the character. Look at all three of the films I've mentioned. In Love Bug, he was a spioled brat. In Poppins, he was the frumpy boy that didn't want to play those games until he saw how much fun everyone was having, then he HAD to join. And in Broomsticks, he was just enjoying himself to no avail. It hurts having him gone.
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Jun 27, 2000 1:50:42 AM CDT
The great David Tomlinson--to the Hall Of Kings with you,sir!
by brian mc
Truly one of a kind--like Robert Preston he was an actor who was not a singer per se but who could handle himself magnificently with a song and through a myriad of dance sequences (and not be upstaged by special effects,a VW with a mind of it's own or an animated animal soccer team!) He was great in "Mary Poppins" (the scenes of him walking through the London parks--actually Peter Ellenshaw's matte paintings--after he loses his job at the bank and his world has fallen apart still brings tears to my eyes),a sneering cad in "The Love Bug" and of course,hilarious in "Bedknobs And Broomsticks".Among his best friends in the business were Errol Flynn-- and Peter Sellers,with whom he made a couple of movies:David Tomlinson is fantastic in, sadly, what was both his and Peter Sellers final film "The Fiendish Plot Of Dr.Fu Manchu".Desmond Llewelyn,Sir John Gielgud,David Tomlinson....the past couple of months have been a bad time for many of us who grew up admiring these guys--their eccentricities,their great performances in some of the landmark movies of our time.Farewell David Tomlinson--and thanks.
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I absolutely loved BEDKNOBS! My fave flix growing up were PETE'S DRAGON, BLACKBEARD'S GHOST, BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS, and MARY POPPINS. Too bad I was too young to ever see any of them on the big screen. It's great you're giving kids in your area a clearly superior alternative to POKEMON and such.
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I know this is old news but I got the same e-mail from that jack ass Klebold, thankfully I deleted it in time. This has gotten out of hand and something needs to be done! Thank God all the other crap was finally deleted out of these talkbacks.
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