Amid the valedictories for Charles M. Schultz and “Peanuts,” a dissenting view: “No one under the age of 30 or 35 reads “Peanuts” at all. Why should they? To convey what is so magnificent about Schulz’s achievement, it’s necessary to look at just where his comic strip went so catastrophically wrong.” – New York Press
Category: People
THE DOSTOEVSKY OF FRENCH FILM
“Robert Bresson made films that stood apart from the mainstream even in their day, but now seem even more distinct because of their Spartan look, spiritual content, largely nonprofessional casts and utter obliviousness to fashion.” – Boston Herald
FILMMAKER ROBERT BRESSON DIES
THE “WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME”
83-year-old dance legend Bella Lewitsky has had her leg amputated. – Los Angeles Times
CATCH-18?
Not exactly the same ring to it, eh? Christopher Hitchens reflects on his pal Joseph Heller. How a cultural conundrum almost came up four short if not for Leon Uris. – The Nation
AN AFTERNOON WITH PICASSO
One afternoon in 1943, Brassai spent an afternoon with Picasso in his house. Picasso on signing his work, on keeping tidy, on people taking his things. – University of Chicago Press
FILMMAKER ROMAN POLANSKI –
– was inducted into France’s Academie des Beaux Arts this week – an embrace by the French establishment. – BBC
THE PAVAROTTIS IN COURT
Divorce drags on through the Italian courts. – BBC
SAY IT AIN’T SO SNOOPY
- Charles M. Schultz announces his retirement, due to colon cancer. – BBC
- New York Times account
JOSEPH HELLER
“Catch 22” author has died of a heart attack. He was 76. – BBC
NY Times account
London Telegraph account