Monday, March 25, 2013

Queen of Noir


Claire Trevor, “Moanin’ Low” from KEY LARGO

KEY LARGO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vh8veUgPt8 

I do my own MOVIES—
I do it with Words

The lives of poets & writers—
that really doesn’t interest me
______________

Nobody’s perfect in this old world—
especially fucked-up actors

Instead I let my mind meld—
with some actor or actress’ Muse
______________

Muse to Muse communiqués—
the usual surreal Automatic Writing

Faulkner did it with Raymond Chandler—
writing the filmscript for THE BIG SLEEP
_______________

Stream of consciousness, I suppose—
most of the time I don’t think about it

Like Billy Wilder letting Gloria Swanson—
Ad lib Norma Desmond in SUNSET BLVD
_______________

I just let it happen spontaneously—
impromptu improvisation outta the blue

Muses get that way sometimes, honey—
Grande Guignol queens especially
_____________

I’ve learned to fasten my seatbelt, baby—
Bette Davis with her Bumpy Night Routines

Nothing quite like ALL ABOUT EVE—
George Sanders as wicked Addison DeWitt
____________

I’ve learned to swish like Tony Curtis—
and Jack Lemon in SOME LIKE IT HOT

I’ve learned to fly over Kansas fast—
after watching awful IN COLD BLOOD
_________

I’ve been paranoid & scared to death—
like poor Joan Crawford in SUDDEN FEAR

I’ve let thugs like handsome Jack Palance—
use & fuckin abuse me like an old whore
____________

PANIC IN THE STREETS in the Big Easy—
getting undone in Lafitte’s during Mardi Gras

I’ve known a lot of old queens ending up—
Miss Havishams in GREAT EXPECTATIONS
____________

I’ve known has-been divas like Claire Trevor—
Singing “Moanin Low” in tragic KEY LARGO

I’ve felt the same way sometimes late at night—
wind blowin outside cooped up with some hoods
________________________

I’ve known some really nice Stiff Ones—
like in Tourneau’s I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE

I’ve been had by lots of smooth Lounge Lizards—
straight outta MONSTER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
_________________

I’ve even fallen in love maybe once—
That be THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

All these Hollywood fantasies end up being—
Monsters of the Id outta FORBIDDEN PLANET
_______________

But that be Okay because I haven’t given up—
I’m still looking for the perfect exquisite Lover

My one & only handsome SON OF FRANKENSTEIN—
Even if he be ugly with lots of awful stitches
_______________

That’s when I’ll sing “Moanin Low” just for him—
Just like Claire Trevor in KEY LARGO





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