JONATHAN FRID DIES AND PASSES THE TORCH TO JOHNNY DEPP

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

“Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch ‘Dark Shadows, When I had the honor to finally meet him, as he so generously passed the torch of Barnabas to me, he was as elegant and magical as I had always imagined. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The world has lost a true original.”

 These were the words used by Johnny Depp to describe actor, Jonathan Frid, who died at the age of 87, (oddly enough on Friday April 13^th). Depp will be playing the part of Barnabus Collins in the new Dark Shadows Film by Warner Brothers. Check out the movie trailer: http://darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html ) Frid plays a cameo role in the new film.

 Like Johnny Depp, I too used to race home from school to watch the original Dark Shadows with my older sister. We were so scared sometimes, we held hands.  We were latchkey kids and so were alone each day for the latest episode. There were lots of great characters, Angelique, Dr. Julia, and others, but the real star of the soap opera was Barnabus Collins, vampire and dashing, romantic figure!

Years later, reruns of Dark Shadow came on TV. I couldn’t wait to watch and be scared and excited like I was so many years ago. When it finally aired, I couldn’t believe it. What was so exciting then was now SLOOOWW! The budget was so low that they could only afford have 2 or 3 characters on each day. The story dragged out and the effects were so lame it was funny to look at them in this age of awesome special effects. Nevertheless, that doesn’t take away for the phenomenon that was Dark Shadows back in the day! For its time, this soap opera was cutting edge, serious entertainment for a generation of vampire loving school kids!

JOHNNY DEPP AND VANESSA PARADIS SPLIT

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Single women of the world, you may have another chance

People magazine is reporting that Johnny Depp and Parisian actress/singer Vanessa Paradis, his love of 14 years, are on the verge of a split. The couple have 2 children together- Lily Rose (12) and Jack (9). Since they moved to LA from their private love nest in the Plan-de-la-Tour region of France, things haven’t been quite right.

Johnny showed up at the Golden Globes alone, and after a brief  presentation on stage, left the awards. He also showed up alone last may when he attended the Cannes Film Festival to promote the 4^th “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. That event was only miles from the couple’s estate.

  Despite their lack of red carpet appearances, the pair recorded a song together in November, a tribute to French crooner Serge Gainsbourg. The couple have also publicly discussed making their first film together, My American Lover, a biopic about French feminist philosopher Simone De Beauvoir.

Johnny Depp is a talented American Actor who has played a wide variety or characters and roles. Here is a list of his movies:

Johnny Depp Movie List (http://wanttoknowit.com/johnny-depp-movie-list/)

• Hugo Cabret (2011)- M. Rouleau
• The Rum Diary (2011)- Paul Kemp
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)- Jack Sparrow
• Rango (2011)- Rango / Lars
• The Tourist (2010)- Frank Tupelo
• Alice in Wonderland (2010)- The Mad Hatter
• Public Enemies (2009)- John Dillinger
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)- Imaginarium Tony #1
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)- Sweeney Todd
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)- Jack Sparrow
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)- Jack Sparrow
• Corpse Bride (2005)- Victor Van Dort (voice)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)- Willy Wonka
• The Libertine (2004)- Rochester
• Finding Neverland (2004)- Sir James Matthew Barrie
• And They Lived Happily Ever After (2004)- L’inconnu. The DVD title is ‘Happily Ever After’.
• Secret Window (2004)- Mort Rainey
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)- Sands
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)- Jack Sparrow
• From Hell (2001)- Inspector Frederick Abberline
• Blow (2001)- George Jung
• Chocolat (2000)- Roux
• Before Night Falls (2000)- Bon Bon / Lieutenant Victor
• The Man Who Cried (2000)- Cesar
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)- Ichabod Crane
• The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)- Commander Spencer Armacost
• The Ninth Gate (1999)- Dean Corso
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)- Raoul Duke
• The Brave (1997)- Raphael. Depp also directed this film.
• Donnie Brasco (1997)- Donnie Brasco / Joseph D. ‘Joe’ Pistone
• Nick of Time (1995)- Gene Watson
• Dead Man (1995)- William Blake
• Don Juan DeMarco (1994)- Don Juan
• Ed Wood (1994)- Ed Wood
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)- Gilbert Grape
• Benny & Joon (1993)- Sam
• Arizona Dream (1993)- Axel Blackmar. The film is also known as ‘The Arrowtooth Waltz’.
• Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare- Guy on TV
• Edward Scissorhands (1990)- Edward Scissorhands
• Cry-Baby (1990)- Cry-Baby
• Platoon (1986)- Lerner
• Slow Burn (1986- television movie)- Donnie Fleischer
• Private Resort (1985)- Jack
• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)- Glen Lantz

What's Shakin is the Seaford Cinemas!

Tony Walker

If you live on Long Island & you're close to Seaford come on down to the Cinema tonight at 6pm!
There is a special showing of "Rango" where a percentage of the money is going to Wantagh SEPTA... SEPTA means Special Ed PTA.
The Wantagh School District has a fantastic special ed dept. & our kids could use all the help they can get. My daughter who is autistic has made tremendous strides thanks to Wantagh Schools.
Get the family & come enjoy a movie while giving to a good cause!
Thanks to the Lounge for allowing me to publicize this on the site!!