comment #1

The InSneider says ...

Hands down the nicest man I've met since I moved to LA over 3 years ago. A true class act. It was an honor to work with him and edit his blog. He will be missed, especially by this Variety vet.

comment #2

EdHavens says ...

Since I've never been as eloquent as Mr. Archerd, I will simply say "Oh, shit!" and raise a toast to him at dinner tonight.

comment #3

Josh Tate says ...

Would like to hear Gaydos comment on this. It would be nice to have at least one prominent, middle-of-the-road commenter like Army again instead of all the shrill sensationalists we have today. There is something to be said for that old Hollywood gentility.

comment #4

DeeZee says ...

Bubba finally says something nice about Barry.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090908/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_bill_clinton_health_care
Another Wild Wild West wannabe?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i087771e1f6660364c7efc43446976e31
The Tolkiens finally get their cash.
http://www.thresq.com/2009/09/hobbit-settlement.html
Lawrence of Arabia the mini-series.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008251.html?categoryId=18&cs=1
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents notes a Canadian BD of Hard Day's Night, while Sony plans to put Sex, Lies, on BD in November.

comment #5

DeeZee says ...

Cage gives up the Hornet.
http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2009/09/nicolas-cage-dropt-out-of-green-hornet.html
Dimension tries its luck with The Road in November.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008181.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

comment #6

Gaydos says ...

Jeff, thanks for noting the classy tenacity of Mr. Archerd and Josh thanks for asking.

I tried tonight in Variety to express something of what Army meant to me, to us. By us, I also mean the readers of Hollywood Elsewhere, because there is so much real passion and knowledge for film and film history here, much of it led by Jeff who isn't interested in merely going along with the current jive, but on a regular basis jolts everybody by making sure you gots your priorities straight.

You gotta know the butter from the margarine.

Army meant a lot to us film geeks because he started his career deep in the butter days. He was part of that American film world of the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s that stirred up so much great cinematic art that we're still savoring here today.

Army also meant a lot because he may have smiled on the red carpet at the Oscars and remembered everyone's names and birthdays, but he was fierce in his ethics and beliefs.

He was cranky before cranky was web fashionable cool. He just kept it in reserve. Most of the time.

I wasn't working with him during the Rock Hudson story days, but I saw him dig into Michael Jackson for his musical anti-semitism antics and though I disagreed with Army's position on Elia Kazan at the Oscars, I never questioned his sincerity or the sincerity of those on his side of that political/cultural divide.

He had a sense of outrage and like my mother who passed away a couple of years ago at age 89, I believe he made to that good age of 87 because he just reallly dug being here (on earth, if that's where we are) and didn't want to go.

So he kept working long past the point where it could have been a lot of fun because that motor of life just kept humming, fueled with the love of his wife, his friends, this crazy effing town/biz.

He dug it ferociously and he wailed on his own special gig, showing up and telling his tales every freaking day for decades. A man with a work ethic, to be sure, but also not a man to leave the bandstand while there's still some life in the room.

He loved the Hollywood dream with a vengeance and yet he still conducted himself honorably. Neat trick.

My favorite memory of the man? When I asked him about the supper club beat in the 50s, how cool it must have been, he stared into my eyes and his ears seemed to curve back, his lips tightened and he muttered, "You have no idea."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008279.html?categoryId=25&cs=1

comment #7

Wiggumx says ...

Pretend to have some fucking class, Fake DZ, and not post two unwelcome spam messages in a thread honoring the death of someone way classier than you. There are eight million other threads to infiltrate.

Army was always a class act. And, while it's no surprise that a man of 87 years passes, in this case, it's still sad. He's a legend.

comment #8

Ryansi51 says ...

yeah DZ posting links on this thread is just incredibly crass.

comment #9

DeeZee says ...

R.I.P.

comment #10

Manitoba says ...

So nice to read the Army Archerd tributes by Jeff and Steven Gaydos of Variety. The picture of Archerd with Marilyn Monroe that often popped up with his columns, always reminded me I was reading the work of an able old pro. So sorry to read in the AP story that Archerd had a rough time the last couple of years, possibly as a result of World War Two service exposure to asbestos. Classy, solid veterans like Archerd, James Bacon and Bob Thomas constantly proved that entertainment journalism can also be quality work worth reading.

comment #11

Edward says ...

The current Hollywood scene will never be the same. RIP, Mr. Archer.

comment #12

COCO says ...

A class act...he will be missed.

comment #13

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