My most favorite television program is CBS' TV series "NCIS" because of (1) my personal experience and (2) the script:
The Real World
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is the U.S. Department of the Navy primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency. When I worked for the U.S. Consulate General in Japan, one of my works was to assist the port visit by the U.S. 7th Fleet ships with the agents from the NCIS and Japanese police.
The U.S. 7th Fleet helps ensure the security of the huge region - from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south, and from the International Date Line to the 68th meridian east, which runs down from the India-Pakistan border - which includes many key countries like Russia, the People's Republic of China, North and South Koreas, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, and Pakistan.
There are 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the fleet. The seventeen ships, from aircraft carrier/flag ship to guided-missile destroyer/cruiser/mine sweeper, station at the two mother-ports in Japan. And one of their tasks is to get the understanding of its presence in the region and support from the peoples in those countries through port visit - with full media exposure and open to the public on board.
There were not much homicide like the TV series episode, but were lots of matters leading to the lawful problem. I handled 30-40 port visits, so the NCIS was very close to me.
CBS TV Series
The cast are very unique. Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray are good stars. Pauley Perrette and David McCallum are very exotic, which I like very much. I still remember well that McCallum played a role of Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born agent, in the 1960's TV series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." with Robert Vaughn. Amazing, he is still an incumbent star.
The tempo and technique of every moving scene (pan from left to right, and from right to left) is very good and scenario is excellent. Thank you, the cast and crew. I have been enjoying it! #YS
4/26/2009
Tony Curtis
I do not know why, but I clearly remember a movie called "The Rawhide Years" by Tony Curtis in my early childhood. By looking into movie materials recently, I found out that it was based on a novel by Norman A. Fox and produced by the Universal Studio in 1955.
Mid-1950's was several years after the World War II and Japan was in the midst of the reconstruction of the country. And the people's only pleasure in those days was going to see Westerns from Hollywood and Japanese Samurai (warrior) films. The stories were always good guys and bad guys fighting each other, and the good never fail to win.
The role by Tony Curtis in the movie was a cheat gambler who later turned to be a good guy. The story was little bit fresh to me and that might be a reason for me to remember it.
Twelve years later, I was a college student in Beverly Hills who lived in a house of the Jewish family. Coincidently, a maid at the house used to work for Mr. Curtis' house. She often told me about his private life, and I was very happy to listen to her.#
Mid-1950's was several years after the World War II and Japan was in the midst of the reconstruction of the country. And the people's only pleasure in those days was going to see Westerns from Hollywood and Japanese Samurai (warrior) films. The stories were always good guys and bad guys fighting each other, and the good never fail to win.
The role by Tony Curtis in the movie was a cheat gambler who later turned to be a good guy. The story was little bit fresh to me and that might be a reason for me to remember it.
Twelve years later, I was a college student in Beverly Hills who lived in a house of the Jewish family. Coincidently, a maid at the house used to work for Mr. Curtis' house. She often told me about his private life, and I was very happy to listen to her.#
1/11/2009
movies filmed in Hawaii
It is widely known that Hollywood movies with great nature and mysterious jungle were shot in Hawaii such as "Planet of the Apes" (2001), "Jurassic Park"(2000 & 1992), "Godzilla" (1997), "Dinosaurs" (1997), "The Lost World" (1996), "Raiders of Lost Ark" (1980), and so on.
But I would like to point out that two musical films in late 1950's and early 60's made Hawaii famous worldwide because of their beautiful music.
SOUTH PACIFIC is a 1958 film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific," and the film starred Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor in the leading roles.
The tunes "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Hai" in the romantic story became very popular in the world.
BLUE HAWAII is a 1961 Paramount picture and starring Elvis Presley.
Elvis is in paradise, playing an ex-G.I. who comes home to Blue Hawaii. His mother expects him to climb the corporate ladder, but he would rather wear an aloha shirt than a white collar, so he goes to work as a tour guide.
Elvis sings a dozen of his original songs in the film, and some of music such as "Blue Hawaii," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Moonlight Swim" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have caught peoples' hearts.
After half a century, the state of Hawaii still maintains the same picturesque scenery.#
But I would like to point out that two musical films in late 1950's and early 60's made Hawaii famous worldwide because of their beautiful music.
SOUTH PACIFIC is a 1958 film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific," and the film starred Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor in the leading roles.
The tunes "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Hai" in the romantic story became very popular in the world.
BLUE HAWAII is a 1961 Paramount picture and starring Elvis Presley.
Elvis is in paradise, playing an ex-G.I. who comes home to Blue Hawaii. His mother expects him to climb the corporate ladder, but he would rather wear an aloha shirt than a white collar, so he goes to work as a tour guide.
Elvis sings a dozen of his original songs in the film, and some of music such as "Blue Hawaii," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Moonlight Swim" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have caught peoples' hearts.
After half a century, the state of Hawaii still maintains the same picturesque scenery.#
1/04/2009
Italian Actresses in Hollywood
I have several favorite movie actresses, and three of them happened to be Italian who made the world debut in American films.
They are:
1) Rossana Podesta (1934 ~ )
She is best known for her role as Helen in the 1955 movie "Helen of Troy." She appeared in several Hollywood films, but she never gained the popularity in the U.S. However, she was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world in those days. She was also in the 1955 "Ulusses" with Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, the 1956 "Santiago" with Alan Ladd, the 1963 "The Virgin of Nuremberg" with Christopher Lee, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore, and so forth.
2) Sylva Koscina (1933 ~ 1994)
She appeared in a lot of American films, including the 1957 movie "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the 1959 "Uncle was a Vampire" with Christopher Lee, the 1962 "Jessica" with Angie Dickinson, the 1962 "Swordsman of Siena" with Stewart Granger, the 1968 "The Secret War of Harry Frigg" with Paul Newman, the 1968 "A Lovely Way to Die" with Kirk Douglas, the 1968 & 69 "Kampf um Rom I & II" with Laurence Harvey and Orson Welles, the 1969 "Bitka na Neretvi" with Yul Bryner, the 1970 "Hornet's Nest" with Rock Hudson, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore and Rossana Podesta, and others.
3) Francesca Rettondini (1971 ~ )
Her first American screen role was as the Italian singer in the 2002 movie "Ghost Ship," directed by Steve Beck. However, her opening song of the movie called "Senza Fine" is actually sung by Monica Mancini, a daughter of famed film composer Henrry Mancini. The song is an old Italian pop and also sung by Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Connie Francis in 1960's.
Rossana, Sylva and Francesca have a lot in common - "glamorous and mysterious." Francesca's Website would prove it.
By the way, Rossana and Sylva kindly sent me their pictures with autograph in 1962 when I was a junior high school student, and those are still my precious things.#
They are:
1) Rossana Podesta (1934 ~ )
She is best known for her role as Helen in the 1955 movie "Helen of Troy." She appeared in several Hollywood films, but she never gained the popularity in the U.S. However, she was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world in those days. She was also in the 1955 "Ulusses" with Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, the 1956 "Santiago" with Alan Ladd, the 1963 "The Virgin of Nuremberg" with Christopher Lee, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore, and so forth.
2) Sylva Koscina (1933 ~ 1994)
She appeared in a lot of American films, including the 1957 movie "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the 1959 "Uncle was a Vampire" with Christopher Lee, the 1962 "Jessica" with Angie Dickinson, the 1962 "Swordsman of Siena" with Stewart Granger, the 1968 "The Secret War of Harry Frigg" with Paul Newman, the 1968 "A Lovely Way to Die" with Kirk Douglas, the 1968 & 69 "Kampf um Rom I & II" with Laurence Harvey and Orson Welles, the 1969 "Bitka na Neretvi" with Yul Bryner, the 1970 "Hornet's Nest" with Rock Hudson, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore and Rossana Podesta, and others.
3) Francesca Rettondini (1971 ~ )
Her first American screen role was as the Italian singer in the 2002 movie "Ghost Ship," directed by Steve Beck. However, her opening song of the movie called "Senza Fine" is actually sung by Monica Mancini, a daughter of famed film composer Henrry Mancini. The song is an old Italian pop and also sung by Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Connie Francis in 1960's.
Rossana, Sylva and Francesca have a lot in common - "glamorous and mysterious." Francesca's Website would prove it.
By the way, Rossana and Sylva kindly sent me their pictures with autograph in 1962 when I was a junior high school student, and those are still my precious things.#
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