史堅如影集

史堅如是我的堂叔公,父親和母親生前常帶著三個小孫兒前往圓山國軍忠烈祠瞻仰史堅如的銅像,但對史堅如事蹟也不是那麼清楚,鳳凰衛視於民國一百年為紀念辛亥革命百周年製作系列特別節目,詳細的介紹了史堅如、史憬然、史古愚三位叔公和姑婆的生平事蹟,因此將它摘錄下來~~~

史繩組與孫兒

父親帶著三個孫在台北園山忠烈祠鼓樓史堅如塑像前留影

Continue reading

A Certain Smile

“A Certain Smile” is a popular song. It was written for the 1958 film of the same name based on the novel A Certain Smile by Francoise Sagan. The song was nominated for the 1958 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The music was written by Sammy Fain with the lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song has been covered by artists such as Johnny Mathis, who appeared in the 1958 film as a bar singer who sang the title song, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #14 on The Billboard Hot 100. Astrud Gilberto recorded it for her 1966 album, A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness.
Jay and the Americans released a version of the song on their 1963 album, At the Cafe Wha?
The song was featured in the 2010 BBC production of “A Passionate Woman.”

Continue reading

55 days at Peking 北京55日

55 Days at Peking is a 1963 historical epic film starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven, made by Samuel Bronston Productions, and released by Allied Artists. The movie was produced by Samuel Bronston and directed by Nicholas Ray, Andrew Marton (credited as the second unit director), and Guy Green (uncredited). The screenplay was written by Philip Yordan, Bernard Gordon, Ben Barzman, and Robert Hamer, the music score was written by Dimitri Tiomkin, and the cinematographer was Jack Hildyard.
In addition to directing, Nicholas Ray plays the minor role of the head of the American diplomatic mission in China. This film is also the first known appearance of future martial arts film star Yuen Siu Tien. The Japanese film director Juzo Itami, credited in the film as “Ichizo Itami”, appears as Colonel Goro Shiba.

Continue reading

500 Miles

“500 Miles” (also known as “500 Miles Away from Home” or “Railroaders’ Lament”) is a folk song made popular in the United States and Europe during the 1960s folk revival. The simple repetitive lyrics offer a lament by a traveler who is far from home, out of money and too ashamed to return. The song is generally credited as being written by Hedy West, and a 1961 copyright is held by Atzal Music, Inc. Some recordings have also credited Bobby Bare, Curly Williams, and/or John Phillips as co-writers. David Neale writes that “500 Miles” may be related to the older folk song, “900 Miles,” which may itself have origins in the southern American fiddle tunes “Reuben’s Train” and “Train 45”.
“500 Miles” is West’s “most anthologized song.” The song appears on the 1961 self-titled debut album by The Journeymen; this may have been its first release.
The song was heard on the February, 1962 Kingston Trio live album College Concert (a 1962 US#3). It was further popularized by Peter, Paul & Mary (it was the second track on their US#1, May 1962 debut album). Rewritten with new lyrics (by Bobby Bare), it charted as a hit single by American country music singer Bobby Bare in 1963 (#10 US, #47 NOR, #7 NOR, #9 SWE, #16 DEN). Bare’s version features a spoken recitation following the repeat of the Refrain, before he sings one original line of his second verse. Following this, he makes a transition from the key of G to the key of D for the Third Verse, featuring a counterpoint portion by the backup singers, before making a transition back to the key of G for the last refrain, before the song’s fade. The lyrics feature heavily in the Bob Dylan song “I Was Young When I Left Home”. It has also been recorded by the Brothers Four, Sonny & Cher, Johnny Rivers, The Hooters, Reba McEntire, Jackie DeShannon, The Seekers, Elvis Presley, The Highwaymen, The Seldom Scene, Nick Cave, Richard Anthony, Franco Battiato, Rosanne Cash, Bad Astronaut, Peter and Gordon, Eric Bibb, Hootenanny Singers, Joan Baez and many others. In an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Jim Nabors, in the title role, sang the song to character Lou-Ann Poovie, played by Elizabeth MacRae, resulting in Lou-Ann choosing Gomer as her boyfriend.

By Peter, Paul and Mary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwB2A9HHaCU

Continue reading