Chimes At Midnight 1965
I love this photo of Jeanne Moreau and Orson Welles. It’s from the film, Chimes at Midnight made in the mid ‘60s. Welles was far past his prime, while Moreau was just reaching her pinnacle. Welles lived on, but his genius displayed so early in his life, was spent.

I worked with him near the end of his life. He could barely walk for his bulk. He was to be the host/narrator for a mystery series, but it was obvious that he had little interest and even less energy. It was like watching a ghost: promise unkept.

Jeanne Moreau is still fabulous. She has always been the epitome of French femininity. She’s half English, I think that’s why she speaks English so well. I know nothing about her personally, I prefer it that way. Every time I’ve met a hero in this life, I’ve been disappointed. Best not to have those preconceived notions about people, and if you do, it’s best not to know that you’ve been worshiping at feet of clay. She has said some things worth pondering:

“All fiction becomes autobiographical when the author has true talent.”

She’s never taken her star status or film itself too seriously:

“Although for some people cinema means something superficial and glamorous, it is something else. I think it is the mirror of the world.”

I hadn’t intended to write about Jeanne Moreau, but I couldn’t help myself. Her personna has been a role model for me:

“As long as you don’t make waves, ripples, life seems easy. But that’s condemning yourself to impotence and death before you are dead.”

Now, who can argue with that?

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).

And, of course

平和 に 働 き

(hewa ni hataraki: work for peace)>

*Simon Smith and His Dancing Bear

I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear
Oh I’d step out in style with my sincere smile and my dancing bear
Outrageous alarming courageous charming
Oh who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be

Seen at the nicest places where well fed faces all stop to stare
Making the grandest entrance is Simon Smith and his dancing bear
They’ll love us, won’t they?
They feed us, don’t they?
Oh, who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be

Who needs money when you’re funny?
The big attraction everywhere
Will be Simon Smith and his dancing bear
It’s Simon Smith and the amazing dancing bear
-Randy Newman