One of my favorite movies of all time is Preston Sturges' "Sullivan's Travels." It's a 1941 comedy about a film director who makes wildy popular light comedies. He longs to make a socially relevant serious movie, sets out to do so, and in the process learns the real value of good comedy.
Nora Ephron was one of my all-time favorite writers and directors of film comedy. She was also an author of several books. (One of which, "I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman," I lent out and sorely miss. If you're reading this……) She passed away this past Tuesday at age 71.
Comedy-- the ability to write clever dialog, to mine a belly laugh from the shaft of life-- that is one of the greatest gifts of all. Good clever comedy is one of our best tonics and probably has done more for the quality of life on this planet than any war ever fought.
Geez. Dick Cheney got a new heart at 71. Where's the justice in that? He's funny but not in a comedic way. He was instrumental in starting what has evolved into a lengthy and multiple front war but I don't think it's done much for humanity. He hasn't made me laugh once, except for the time he shot his hunting partner-- and then he wasn't even trying.
Nonetheless, the crusty old fart gets a new heart at seventy-one so he can continue his conservative alarmist negativity and curmudgeonly ways while Nora Ephron, a woman who has produced more than a lifetime of pleasure and good laughs, dies at the same age of leukemia. Not funny. Then again, Nora Ephron could probably find the humor in that score.
A lovely tribute to a funny, funny gal. I'm still not over it.
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