Pop culture Q&A
By Rich Heldenfels
McClatchy Newspapers
Q. Every time I hear Barry Manilow sing “Ready to Take a Chance Again,” I think of an old movie in which that song was featured.
Goldie Hawn was one of the stars and I loved the movie, but I can’t remember the name. Hope you can identify it for me.
A. According to the Internet Movie Database, Manilow’s song has been used in several movies, among them “200 Cigarettes,” the Ben Stiller version of “The Heartbreak Kid,” “Keeping the Faith” (also starring Stiller) and “Can’t Hardly Wait.”
But the Goldie Hawn film with it is “Foul Play,” a comedy adventure starring Hawn and Chevy Chase, from 1978.
It was later made into a short-lived TV series with Deborah Raffin and Barry Bostwick.
By the way, the song was written for the movie by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and nominated for an Oscar. (Manilow, winner of many other awards, has never been nominated for an Oscar.) It lost to “Last Dance,” the Donna Summer tune from “Thank God It’s Friday.”
Lyricist Gimbel won an Oscar the following year for his work with David Shire on “It Goes Like It Goes” from the movie “Norma Rae.”
Q. Is “Rubicon” coming back for a second season?
A. No. AMC chose not to renew the show after its ratings proved low even by cable standards. The network issued a statement saying: “‘Rubicon’ gave us an opportunity to tell a rich and compelling story, and we’re proud of the series.
This was not an easy decision, but we are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a phenomenally talented and dedicated team.”
Q. What happened to Michael Keaton? I haven’t seen him in a long time.
A. Maybe you just missed the movies starring the man from “Beetlejuice,” “Mr. Mom” and Tim Burton’s “Batman.” In 2010 alone, he was the voice of Ken in “Toy Story 3” and the police captain in “The Other Guys,” with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
The past five years have also found him in “Post Grad,” “The Merry Gentleman,” “The Last Time,” “Cars,” “Herbie Fully Loaded” and the TNT miniseries “The Company.”
He recently signed a deal to produce, direct and star in projects for HBO, including a possible series. An HBO executive told entertainment publication Variety:
“Michael Keaton is a multifaceted talent who never fails to engage the audience in fresh ways. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with him.”
Q. I have occasionally wondered if the animated film of “Animal Farm,” which was shown annually on TV, and is the same story as the book, is available on VHS or DVD. I’ll be greatly anticipating your reply.
A. George Orwell’s political allegory was made into a British animated film in 1955.
It is available on DVD but has encountered some criticism for its ending, which is reportedly more upbeat than the Orwell version.
In 1999, TNT aired a version using live animals and animatronics, with voices by Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer and others; it also modified Orwell’s ending.
It was released on DVD and VHS a decade ago; a new set called “Classic Adventures Collection 3,” due in late December, bundles it with Stewart’s version of “Moby Dick.”
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