Green eyes in gray

The off-the-wall 1967 movie ‘Smashing Time‘ was the second time that Rita Tushingham and Lynn Redgrave appeared together. Three years before that, they were in ‘Girl With Green Eyes’. Both movies were directed by Desmond Davis, but they couldn’t be more different. Desmond Davis is best known for directing ‘Clash of the Titans’, which has a big remake being released next week.

‘Girl With Green Eyes’ was produced by Tony Richardson. After a cheerful start, it has some of the same dark, depressing tone that I associate with Richardson’s ‘The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner’.

Here’s a sample of ‘Girl With Green Eyes’ that I spliced together, (with Spanish subtitles for Lia Pamina). Curiously, the band that’s playing in the dance hall scene sounds more like it belongs in ‘American Graffiti’, than in the Beatles-obsessed England of 1963-64.

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A friend’s grief

The unnamed victim in this news item was the son of my friend Morris.

Friday, March 19, 2010 at 8:59 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — A motorcyclist died after being hit by two vehicles Friday afternoon, and one driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.

The 36-year-old victim was driving the motorcycle south on Florida Drive shortly after 1 p.m. when a man driving a 2005 Volvo sedan eastbound on Zoo Place attempted to make a left turn onto Florida.

The Volvo struck the motorcyclist, and the man fell to the ground. He was then hit by another vehicle going south on Florida, said San Diego police Sgt. Ray Battrick.

Both drivers stopped and the driver of the Volvo was arrested, Battrick said.

The victim, whose name was not yet released, died at the scene.

Not fab! Not gear! It’s smashing!

The year: 1967
The place: London

Two girlfriends from the boring north arrive in Swinging London, determined to find success and have a smashing time. This screwball comedy stars Rita Tushingham, who didn’t become well known in America, and Lynn Redgrave, who did.

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Thanks, Lía Pamina, for pointing out this quintessentially British 60’s arty-fact that I’d never heard of.