
John Huston's Wise Blood (1980) is a prime candidate for release on DVD and in other digital formats. It's true to the spirit and basics of the Flannery O'Connor 1952 novel of the same name, and features Brad Dourif, Harry Dean Stanton, and an eeriliy cool ensemble cast. Why it has not been released is hard to fathom. Sure it's serious and droll, a hard mix for Hollywood. But so are the times. Bring it back, please!
We're coming to the end of the Lenten season, with Easter one week from today. It seems like yesterday that I converted to Catholicism even though it's already been three years. I don't feel any more saintly, exactly, but it is a comfort and a consolation, and perhaps I'm a little kinder and more patient than I used to be. I hope so.
I'd like to thank the many people who've helped along the way. I'd also like to thank some key people for helping me stay steady and optimistic through thick and thin over the years. I thank my family, of course, my mother Barbara Marie Shaffer France and my father Donald Delbert France; my sisters Vickie Charabati and Linda Stine; and my brother Jamie France; their significant others; and scores more friends and acqaintances, as well.
Today, though, I'll focus on some of the men besides my wonderful father who've been of great help and guidance.
Thanks to Nick Morrow and Wallace Fowlie, Catholic converts who spoke to me at great length about religion, art, philosophy, travel and life in general. Wallace died many years ago; his papers and art collection are now housed at Duke University. Nick is very much alive in New York City, with a house in Connecticut. I used to mock his faith, and he always responded patiently and with a great sense of humor.
Thanks to four guys in particular for their moral support, advice, generosity, hospitality, and comraderie:
It's always fun to mull over various issues with my younger brother Jamie D. France. I am sorry to report that I traumatized him with my movie choices when charged with babysitting Jamie as a kid (he's nine years younger than me). I would take him to see such child-friendly movies as Apocalypse Now!, The Kids Are Alright and Wise Blood. We had a number of memorable misadventures after each of them, too. In adulthood, he's been a steady and reliable brother, always. After Philadelphia and Brooklyn, he now lives with his Canadian-born wife Suzanne (a fellow librarian) in Cary, North Carolina.
I've known Evan Michael Farris since the seventh grade. We've talked about a million things over the years, attended each other's numerous weddings, traveled to Europe and around the States with one pair of ex'es, advised one another when needed, and talked a lot of politics. We once drove out to Colorado together in our early twenties, where I revealed to him that I had $1 in cash to get all the way back. He was very gracious (and bemused). He lives in the DC area with his lovely wife Susan Farris and their lively boys Austin and Sean.
Kenneth Dale Randall, or Kenny Randall as I've always known him, became friends with me and Evan in the ninth grade. We played on the football team and have gone on many interesting road trips and various adventures. When I was down and out with no way to get back to North Carolina, he provided a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner that I'll never forget. He's been a great friend and help in all sorts of ways. In New Hampshire during one of our road trips, Nishan "Baba" Toumajan, an old Armenian friend of my father's, dubbed us "the firebugs" and inspired us to go out and see the world at every opportunity. The idea stuck -- so did the nickname. Kenny -- also known as Ken Randall -- got to Michigan way before I did, and now resides in Midland by the shores of the Chippewa River.
Thanks finally to William Donald Caughlin. We first met as undergraduates in Chapel Hill studying under Jim Leutze, with whom we traveled around Europe for six weeks under the aegis of a summer history program. What a trip! I recently found my class journal and will send it to UNC for safe keeping at some point; Bill plans to do the same with his. We've had many adventures together (including Mardi Gras New Orleans), many excellent conversations, and he's always been most gracious and supportive -- with a wicked sense of humor. Another of the North Carolina diaspora, Bill Caughlin now lives in Texas.
One more time for the back seats -- thanks, all! Happy Easter!
Peace be with you, and more soon.
2 comments:
You seem like a very kind person with a big heart. I like how you write about all your nearest and dearest.
As the mentioned younger brother, I can say that I don't think the movies traumatized me, so much as confused me. I was 9 at the time, and didn't really understand what was going on in any of them. I will say that I will always treasure the babysitting by my older brother, however bizzare, because that that is what helped to make me the person that I am today.
Happy Easter, bro.
Love
-Jamie
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