Pop culture Q&A

December 5, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By Rich Heldenfels

McClatchy Newspapers

Q. In 1942, Hoagy Carmichael wrote the song “Baltimore Oriole” for the movie “To Have and Have Not.” A few years ago, I rented the movie mainly to see how the song was used in it. To my surprise, the song was not there. Why does the song not appear in the movie?

A. Lauren Bacall said in her autobiography that Howard Hawks, the director of the Bogart-Bacall classic, had hoped that Carmichael’s song would become her theme, played “every time I appeared on screen. ... He thought it would be marvelous if I could always be identified with it ... [and] have me known as the ‘Baltimore Oriole.’” Bacall, by the way, is a New Yorker. But this was Hollywood myth-making in action even though, as Bacall wrote, “it wasn’t me.”

Unfortunately, Carmichael biographer Richard M. Sudhalter says, “Bacall, whether through nerves or a lack of musical ability, proved unequal to the challenge of singing ‘Baltimore Oriole.’” It ended up being used only as background music. She did perform another Carmichael song in the movie.

Q. I saw a series on public broadcasting years ago about a little town in Ireland. It was called “BallyKiss Angels” or something to that effect. I was wondering if it was ever made available for viewing on either DVD or VHS.

A. “Ballykissangel,” which aired originally from 1996 to 2001, has been released in individual-season DVD sets as well as in a “complete collection” box.

Q. What happened to “The New Adventures of Old Christine”? That was among THE funniest shows, especially with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes together! If I remember correctly, Louis-Dreyfus even received an Emmy for it.

A. Many viewers had tired of the show after five seasons. There was talk about the show going to ABC after CBS canceled it in May, but no deal was made. It continues in rerun, including on Lifetime. And the first three seasons are on DVD.

Louis-Dreyfus, already a supporting-actress comedy Emmy winner for “Seinfeld,” added an Emmy as lead comedy actress for “Old Christine” after its first season in 2006.

Q. I am looking for a movie where Richard Dean Anderson lived in between the walls of this woman’s house or apartment. I know this is not a lot of information; just looking for it on DVD.

A. You are remembering “Through the Eyes of a Killer,” a 1992 TV movie with Anderson as a contractor who has an affair with a client — and makes some creepy changes to her home. Marg Helgenberger, by the way, plays the client. It is not, as far as I can find, on an authorized DVD. There was a VHS release, although because of the relative rarity of the movie, the copies can be expensive.

Q. I’ve all but given up on finding the name of a movie I saw on TV years ago. The film was black and white and took place in a rural setting — perhaps the English countryside. The first scene I saw was of a well-dressed man and woman getting out of a car that had crashed in a storm. They decide to go for help, and walk up to what appears to be an abandoned mansion. Near the end of the movie, they walk back to the car. They are stunned to see themselves slumped over dead in it.

A. Based on that and other details you gave, I think you are remembering a 1973 movie called “Voices,” sometimes known as “Nightmare.” It starred David Hemmings and Gayle Hunnicutt, who were husband and wife then. It is in color, but the scenes match what you remember. The movie does not appear to be available in an authorized video.