Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Mystery of Sue Kaufman

Three new items pertaining to Sue Kaufman (8/7/1926-6/25/1977).

I. The 1970 movie version of Diary of a Mad Housewife is now accessible on YouTube. It's a PG edit by TLCarpenter divided into several approximately ten-minute segments. Part 2 below. This will have to do until a full-length version comes out.

II. I'm thoroughly enjoying Judith Krantz's memoir, Sex and Shopping: The Confessions of a Nice Jewish Girl (2000, 2001). Though I've never read any of her romance novels, this nonfiction work is very frank and seriously entertaining. There is a recurring thread involving Sue Kaufman; they met as Seven Sister undergraduates (Kaufman graduated from Vassar in 1947; Krantz, then Judy "Torchy" Tarcher, graduated from Wellesley College in 1948) while double-dating Harvard men.

Judith Krantz on Sue Kaufman: Sue was stunning, very dark, with magnificent eyes and delicately flaring nostrils that made her look fully as neurotic as she was. Whenever a conversation became too personal, she'd say, "Dearie, let's not talk about that," and "that," whatever it was, disappeared immediately. I was perhaps her closest friend, but in many ways I never really knew her. No one did. Her sensitivity was too great for true intimacy." (Sex and Shopping, page 155).

III. Finished rereading The Master and Other Stories (1976), a collection of Kaufman's stories ranging from the late 1940s through the 1960s and into the 1970s. "The Master" is Pablo Picasso. More on this eclectic and illuminating book soon, as well as more on Judith Krantz's memoir.

Today's Rune: Wholeness.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is very interesting for me to read the post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to this matter. I would like to read more soon.

Charles Gramlich said...

I've never seen the movie. I can't immediately place Kaufman but that voice sounds familiar.

Charles Gramlich said...

I know the guy in this scene was in Westworld.

jodi said...

Erik, The Judith Krantz recommendation sound FUN!