[brian1961]

Brian---

Just chanced to see if you responded to my mention of old movies. Glad you enjoyed TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. I also love THE BIG SLEEP, beginning to end, with the acting and the music simply "film noir" to the MAX.

You've probably seen this one, the film that catapulted Bogie to a major star, THE MALTESE FALCON. Believe it or not, the figurine and what the rara avis was supposed to represent figures heavily in the thirteenth chapter of my recently released E-book on a CD on postwar regional sports cards.

Turner Classic Movies started a series of films, in cooperation with selected theaters, where they were showing them on the big screen. About a year ago, in celebration of its 75th anniversary, THE MALTESE FALCON was aired. My son treated my wife and I, and we all went to see it. Honestly, it was a genuine thrill to see this classic on the big screen, after seeing it on a TV my whole life. Naturally, thoughts of how the movie figures in my thirteenth chapter flashed through my mind again, and again, and again. In a nutshell, I have given a priceless king-sized gem of a baseball card the name, THE MALTESE FALCON OF BASEBALL CARDS. It's the 1953 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle, graded by PSA in MINT 9 condition! A 1 of 1---far and away ahead of any other Stahl-Meyer Mantle.

Well, the author is starting to get verbose, so I'll shut up.

Back to movies, another Humphrey Bogart movie I love is ACROSS THE PACIFIC, the film he made right before his greatest and my favorite of his, along with just about everyone else---CASABLANCA.

Take care, friend. Keep enjoying those old movies. I bookmarked my favorite TCM opening, THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE. It's beautiful. You can find it by Google searching the title and include Turner Classic Movies. A thirty-second masterpiece.

---Brian Powell