Rediscovering Dick Cavett

Recently, one of the nostalgia channels we get started showing old Dick Cavett shows, and when I say old shows, I mean all of them. Not every episode, to be clear, but selected episodes from each of Dick Cavett's talk and interview shows, as he's had one or more in several decades, from the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. I myself recall seeing Dick on TV before I could read.

Dick Cavett had also recently started a radio tour pushing his two latest books and was telling great stories on the air, and he was booked on the most recent TCM Classic Cruise. So the man has come back into my life in a big way. I bought the books and was reading them, watching the shows (which were unfortunately minus live musical performances per rights), and anticipating his appearance on the Cruise. I was buried in Cavett.

On the Cruise, he introduced several movies including The Third Man, a couple Marx Brothers flicks, where he discussed his friendship with Groucho Marx, and he sat down with TCM interviewers a few times during the trip to answer questions from them and the audience, always telling the most wonderful stories. The Bride even rode an elevator with him one day on the ship.

One of the highlights of the Cruise however was the showing of a few episodes of his original 1960s show, specifically one where Dick interviewed Orson Welles. In this 1970 interview with the man who rarely gave interviews, Welles turns the tables on Cavett, interviewing him and casting some not so nice aspersions on Jerry Lewis, also a guest on that Cruise. Welles was amazing, owning the show, having fun, and making Cavett good naturedly squirm.  Good stuff. 

I have a newborn interest and respect in Dick Cavett - the man and his career. I can't recommend his shows or his books enough, check them out.

The 2016 TCM Classic Cruise

Sadly, it was with bittersweet feelings that The Bride and I attended the 2016 Turner Classic Movies Classic Cruise, as it had been announced earlier in the year that this would be the final cruise. After five previous highly successful cruises of this kind, they were ending the program. The reasons given have been diverse and full of rumor, perhaps attendance or logistics, but suffice it to say, I still had the time of my life.

This cruise took place on the Disney Fantasy for seven wonderful days at sea and at ports in the Western Caribbean. While Robert Osborne was unable to attend, other TCM hosts and regulars were there, including Ben Mankiewicz, Illeanna Douglas, new TCM host Tiffany Vazquez, trivia master Alex Trebek, Eddie Muller, Bruce Goldstein, and Randy Haberkamp. Guests included Leslie Caron, Kim Novak, Diane Baker, Michael York, Lucie Arnaz, the fabulous Dick Cavett (why isn't he a TCM host yet?), and joining the ship halfway was Jerry Lewis. Music was supplied by Jennifer Keith, and as always the Hot Sardines.

Besides the guests, and more movies than you can shake a film reel at, there were other events, like the Beaux Arts Ball, a theme night designed to bring alive the technicolorful world of An American in Paris. Also taking inspiration from films like Funny Face, Sabrina, and Midnight, the city of lights was brought to life on deck for one night of Parisian delight.

This year's week-long escape was a blast, good to see old friends from previous Cruises, and make new friends too, and I hope TCM will reconsider ending this program. Everyone who has experienced the TCM Classic Cruise absolutely loves it. In the days and weeks to come here at Welcome to Hell, I'll be featuring my reviews from the Cruise, including The Third Man, The Kid Brother, Employees' Entrance, Vertigo, Strait-Jacket, an episode or two of "The Dick Cavett Show," and The Dark Corner, just to name a few. Stay tuned!

RIP Ravi Shankar