New Tributes to Natalie Merchant--and Akira Kurosawa

And don't miss new version of "Seven Samurai"

Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” (recently nominated for an Emmy). You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free.

Okay, just a couple of links to articles that just emerged on two rather diverse figures I admire: Akira Kurosawa and Natalie Merchant. And the usual cartoons down below. And you can still subscribe for free.

Many are reading a new Jenny Boyar piece in the LA Review of Books about her love for Natalie Merchant since the age of nine, watching “Carnival” on MTV, culminating in attending a few recent concerts and having a moment with the singer during one of them. Like myself, she admired her early singles then drifted away, only to connect with the mature (and not as popular) artist much later and appreciate newer songs. I considered her “Keep Your Courage” album—at least a vinyl version with four added re-makes—the best of the year in 2022. We’ve caught her annual recital in a small parlor at Mohonk in two of the past three years. So here just a few numbers cited by Boyar…

“Carnival” video launched a million fans by MTV

”Ophelia”—a good deal on this concept album of that name in the article

Growing up, Boyar could relate to “Tell Yourself.”

Then blown away by “Keep Your Courage,” including this tribute to 1970s feminists, “Sister Tillie….”

The Return of the Seven Samurai

Last week we saw a trailer for a new 4K version of one of my ten favorite movies,
”Seven Samurai,” at our local rep house, the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY. I first saw a (cut) version on Channel 13 in NYC around 1971, then full versions in theaters years later, but will be sure to catch this one. It’s been released in NYC this weekend and will appear nationwide by tghe end of the month. The cliche “you must see this in theaters” certainly applies. Of course, Kurosawa is my favorite director and one of my career highlights remains getting to interview him at some length for American Film in 1981—a rare event at the time.

Check out J. Hoberman’s piece about the new version this weekend at NY Times, and below the new trailer and don’t miss tribute video on his breathtaking and innovative filmmaking.

Saturday Cartooning

Steve Brodner: