(1957)
A jazzy screwball comedy released in May 1957 with the
unbeatable pair Hepburn/Tracy, who once again challenge one
another's wits — this time Tracy marketing a computer (then called
an "electronic brain") against Hepburn heading up a reference
library crew of workers for a network (think NBC, the exterior shots
are all Rockefeller Plaza) proud of their book skills and learning.
It raises all sorts of dilemmas and ideas that still reach into today
re communication and the value of a human touch.
Written by Henry and Phoebe Ephron who would go on to raise four
daughters, and all writers, one called Nora.
Speaking of writers — we lost a fine one with Michael Gizzi. A shock to
learn of his passing on Wednesday morning.
Michael did all sorts of things in the life of a poet — teacher, editor, man
about town, tree surgeon, publisher, an attractive raconteur. Jazzy. Years ago
we walked about a few towns together just talking things out...faraway
from the poetry reading scene and just inspecting the neighborhood.
When Ted Enslin and I read one winter at Melville's Arrowhead in the Berkshire hills,
Michael didn't have to, but he took it upon himself to set up a table of our
books where he took care of selling things. Years later I ran into him bumming
around with a literary famous one, bookshop haunting, and both were perfect
snobs. You could never tell. But I always trusted Michael could flip back and
forth.
He loved books and rummaging in poetry and he wrote some fine books of his
own — somehow not quite getting the recognition I thought he deserved. Maybe in
another lifetime.
