Although better known for his comedies, many of them parodies of movie genres, Mel Brooks has also been executive producer of a number of acclaimed dramas. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), which he produced for his wife Anne Bancroft, was one such project. Brooks had bought the rights to the story for her as a birthday present. Cast opposite her was Anthony Hopkins, who had already played opposite Bancroft in her cameo in The Elephant Man (1980), which was produced by Brooks. They had also acted together, again briefly, in Young Winston (1972), in which she played the title character’s famous mother, Lady Jennie Churchill, and he appeared as British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Hopkins “adored” the 84 Charing Cross Road screenplay by Hugh Whitemore and was eager to make the movie.

The story is based on the 1970 autobiographical book of the same name by New Yorker Helene Hanff, a playwright, magazine author, and scripter of many early television dramas. The book detailed the 20-year correspondence between her and Frank Doel, staff member of the antiquarian bookshop Marks & Co. Hanff, in search of long out-of-print classics and obscure British titles unavailable in the States, contacted the company at the titular London address in 1949 after seeing an ad for it in the Saturday Review of Literature. (Charing Cross Road, in fact, is known for its many booksellers.)

Doel’s correspondence with Hanff was at first formal and related strictly to literature and the book business, but there soon developed a warm friendship, and their frequent letters took on subjects as diverse as cooking, sports, and their own personal lives, and occasionally included an exchange of gifts. Hanff and Doel never met face-to-face; he died in 1968 before she had a chance to visit. The bookstore closed not long after, and Hanff wrote about her 1971 visit to the empty but still-standing shop in a subsequent book, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street.

84 Charing Cross Road was first adapted into a play by James Roose-Evans, which ran on Broadway for 96 performances between December 1982 and February 1983. It starred Ellen Burstyn as Helene and Joseph Maher as Frank and took place in her New York apartment and his bookstore. Whitemore, an old hand at turning books and plays into movies and television shows, opened up the action and also added another character not in the play, that of Frank Doel’s wife Nora. She was played by Judi Dench, already a significant actor in British film, theater, and television. She has since gone on to great international success, winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar® for Shakespeare in Love (1998) and nominated another five times. She was created Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1988.

Ironically, Dench and her husband Michael Williams had turned down an offer to play the roles of Hanff and Doel on the British stage “because we thought it smacked of a recital evening––which goes to show what my judgment is!” Dench almost turned down the role of Nora, too. At the time, she did not enjoy film work (and insists she still will not watch herself on screen). Dench got on well with Hopkins, enjoying his witty humor and instinctual approach to characterization. It was only later, when they worked together on stage in Antony and Cleopatra, that she became aware of what she characterized as his volatile, intense temperament.

84 Charing Cross Road brought Bancroft a Best Actress Award from the British Academy (BAFTA). It also received BAFTA nominations for Dench and Whitemore and won Hopkins Best Actor at the Moscow International Film Festival.

The real Marks & Co. bookstore was most recently a wine bar but bears a plaque commemorating its connection to the book and film. There is also a plaque on the apartment building where Hanff lived at 305 E. 72nd St. in New York, which has been dubbed “Charing Cross House” in honor of the story. Hanff died in 1997 at the age of 80.

Director: David Hugh Jones
Producer: Mel Brooks
Screenplay: Hugh Whitemore, based on the play by James Roose-Evans and the book by Helene Hanff
Cinematography: Brian West
Editing: Chris Wimble
Original Music: George Fenton
Cast: Anne Bancroft (Helene Hanff), Anthony Hopkins (Frank P. Doel), Judi Dench (Nora Doel), Maurice Denham (George Martin), Mercedes Ruehl (Kay).
C-96m. Closed captioning.

AUGUST 2022- DALLAS, TEXAS – Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Hip Hop artist and photographer, Jay From Dallas, also known as ‘The 214 Connoisseur’ is well on his way to the top. His dedication and skills to his craft has remained consistent and unique since the beggining. Jay From Dallas has focused on never stopping working and always having content to drop. He has lots of upcoming work to look out for.  “I just put out my sophomore EP so right now I’m working on marketing it. The thing that is inspiring me most right now is self expression and financial freedom. I’m currently working three 9 to 5 jobs to buy assets and to put more money into my music career.” With a bright future ahead, the unique artist is hardworking with his work, and motivated in the way he goes about making content. As an artist, he practices the qualities of being generous, dedicated, and inspirational. Jay From Dallas remains focused on his journey.

Jay From Dallas knows where his passion starts from and speaks more on his inspirations that keep him consistent. “The music industry is a very vast place that I had to learn how to navigate through independently, and I’m still learning new things about it everyday. The business is always changing so I try my best to gain as much knowledge as I can about the game I’m playing in.” Jay From Dallas stays consistent and has been seen at shows performing his latest music.

What piece of advice do you want others to take back from the work you display?

I would like people to OWN THEIR STORY! Everyone has a unique story and life experiences that they have been through that makes their journey special, you have to own that because its what makes you unique.

What do you have coming up right now that you want others to know about?

I just dropped an EP called Reality Raps, its out now on all streaming platforms. I’m also planning to drop some videos for it in the near future.

Who were the most influential people in your life?

Nipsey Hussle was definitely a big inspiration of mind because of the way he thought about life and how he handled his business, he always seemed to be 10 steps ahead of other people in his same line of work. Another person who was very influential to me is J. Cole. I was always amazed at how he had the ability to tell another side of the black experience but also made it interesting and entertaining to the listener. Kevin Gates and LilWayne are also some honorable mentions.

Jay From Dallas has his sights set on the prize despite dealing with hardships. “I’ve had to overcome many obstacles to get to where I am now including poverty, childhood trauma, ending of relationships and friendships, learning about the music industry, and many more.” Now, with his listeners, he is motivated  by the thought of making a difference not just in this world and when he hits the stage to perform. His self motivation is an inspiration for others, and he stays steadfastly on his journey. Public Relations agency, #Focuseddd ,  continues to promote the stories of individuals like Jay From Dallas, also known as ‘The 214 Connoisseur’

Tags of people mentioned:

Instagram:

@Jay.from.dallas

Facebook: @Semaj Belcher

Twitter: @Jay_from_dallas

TikTok: @Jayfromdallas214

@Focuseddd_

Alaska è Matteo, polistrumentista e artista poliedrico classe ‘99 nel Novarese.

Esordisce nel gennaio del 2022 con l’album Oceanica, in cui l’artista presenta sé stesso, con le sue fragilità, in un lavoro introspettivo e colmo di metafore: l’elemento principale dell’album è la metafora in cui l’artista rappresenta l’insieme dei suoi pensieri con un vasto oceano in cui è difficile orientarsi. L’idea di ogni canzone parte da un’immagine mentale, abbinata ad uno specifico stato d’animo, la quale viene rappresentata in testo e musica: ad esempio, il brano “Come Animali” si riferisce ad una società utopica, chiamata “la tribù”, che risiede nella natura e si stacca dall’ambiente urbano; il brano “Oceanica”, invece, è la trasposizione in termini musicali del concetto di oceano.

Nonostante la giovane età, l’artista novarese suona il pianoforte, la chitarra acustica ed elettrica, la batteria, il basso, l’ukulele ed il kalimba: ogni canzone è autoprodotta, sia registrando con i suoi strumenti sia producendo beat.

Nei successivi lavori di Alaska troviamo 2 album in lingua inglese: “raindrops”, prodotto in salsa Lo-Fi, in cui ogni brano, ogni “goccia d’acqua” racconta una storia, tra malinconia, speranza e delusioni d’amore;  “mars.1”, completamente acustico e quasi privo di post-produzione, in cui l’artista racconta contemporaneamente la sensazione di non sentirsi parte del mondo, e la sensazione di voler evadere dal proprio contesto.

il 26 giugno rilascia l’album “Schianto”, che trascende da ogni genere musicale e racconta l’incontro e lo scontro tra ogni persona e le richieste della società e dal contesto.