Billie Holiday’s ‘God Bless the Child’ Gave Blacks Their Own Mournful But Hopeful ‘Over the Rainbow’
Of all the words of wisdom my mother has passed on to me, the earliest ones I remember have been the most useful. She told me I could achieve any goal I set for myself, but being Black, I would have to work harder than most.
My mom inspired my DIY work ethic, and Billie Holiday’s inspired her to write her best-known song, the classic “God Bless the Child.” The jazz and blues legend also known as Lady Day shared its origin story in her 1956 autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues,” published three years before her death from complications of cirrhosis of the liver at age 44. She got the idea for the song after approaching her mother for a loan. When the woman who had given birth to her and who had often benefited from her daughter’s financial assistance refused, Holiday shouted back: “God bless the child that’s got his own.
My mom inspired my DIY work ethic, and Billie Holiday’s inspired her to write her best-known song, the classic “God Bless the Child.” The jazz and blues legend also known as Lady Day shared its origin story in her 1956 autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues,” published three years before her death from complications of cirrhosis of the liver at age 44. She got the idea for the song after approaching her mother for a loan. When the woman who had given birth to her and who had often benefited from her daughter’s financial assistance refused, Holiday shouted back: “God bless the child that’s got his own.
- 2/12/2021
- by Jeremy Helligar
- Variety Film + TV
James Taylor will take on the Great American Songbook on the singer’s upcoming album American Standard, due out February 28th. The LP is Taylor’s first since 2015’s Before This World and 19th overall.
“I’ve always had songs I grew up with that I remember really well, that were part of the family record collection — and I had a sense of how to approach, so it was a natural to put American Standard together,” Taylor said in a statement. “I know most of these songs from the original...
“I’ve always had songs I grew up with that I remember really well, that were part of the family record collection — and I had a sense of how to approach, so it was a natural to put American Standard together,” Taylor said in a statement. “I know most of these songs from the original...
- 1/23/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The 1978 Irwin Allen classic disaster film gets an update. The Swarm was a big budget movie for its time and the cast was a who’s who of top actors, including Micheal Caine, Katherine Ross, Olivia de Havilland, Ben Johnson, Richard Windmark, Richard Chamberlain, Jose Ferrer, Patty Duke, Slim Pickens, Fred MacMurray and Henry Fonda. A cast like that today would take the entire budget, leaving nothing left to film with. But despite this cast, Swarm is considered one of the worst epic disaster films ever. Caine himself claims it to be the worst he ever made (and he was in Jaws: The Revenge).
The remake will be produced by Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity). Award-winning commercials director Ash Bolland is attached to direct and a writer is expected to be hired within the next month. Both films are based off the novel by Arthur Herzog ,who also wrote Orca,...
The remake will be produced by Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity). Award-winning commercials director Ash Bolland is attached to direct and a writer is expected to be hired within the next month. Both films are based off the novel by Arthur Herzog ,who also wrote Orca,...
- 11/18/2010
- by Dave
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
In real life the world's bees may be facing decimation from colony collapse, but that apparently hasn't stopped filmmakers from deciding to launch a remake of the 1978 Irwin Allen disaster film The Swarm, in which killer South American bees join forces to launch a massive attack on humans.
On the other hand, maybe it's time the bees had a little payback for man's mistreatment of the planet…and maybe the filmmakers — Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) — will have the foresight to factor that into their story. And there is recent precedent for such an occurrence, though from Africanized bees.
The original film starred Michael Caine as an entomologist who learns that killer bees from South America have been coming together to form huge swarms. He sets out to stop the military from attacking and worsening the imbalance in nature, ultimately teaming up with them to prevent...
On the other hand, maybe it's time the bees had a little payback for man's mistreatment of the planet…and maybe the filmmakers — Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) — will have the foresight to factor that into their story. And there is recent precedent for such an occurrence, though from Africanized bees.
The original film starred Michael Caine as an entomologist who learns that killer bees from South America have been coming together to form huge swarms. He sets out to stop the military from attacking and worsening the imbalance in nature, ultimately teaming up with them to prevent...
- 11/17/2010
- CinemaSpy
In movie remake news, a new version of The Swarm is currently being developed. Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) are producing, while commercial director Ash Bolland helms. More after the break. The original 1978 Irwin Allan film - itself based on the novel by Arthur Herzog - sees huge swarms of South American killer bees banding together and making their way around the globe. Though a box-office flop, the B-movie had an A-list cast: Michael Caine, Richard Widmark, Olivia de Havilland, Richard Chamberlin, Henry Fonda, and Patty Duke, to name a few. A writer is expected to be attached to the project within the next month. Source: TheWrap.com...
- 11/17/2010
- FEARnet
The Wrap is reporting that producers Roy Lee (The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) are developing a remake of the 1978 disaster movie "The Swarm." The original starred Michael Caine as an entomologist who learns that killer bees from South America have been coming together to form huge swarms. He sets out to stop the military from attacking and worsening the imbalance in nature, ultimately teaming up with them to prevent the deadly swarm from reaching Houston. Award-winning commercials director Ash Bolland is attached to direct and a writer is expected to be hired within the next month, although it's unclear whether they'll be working from the Arthur Herzog novel that served as the basis for the original movie. "The Swarm" Trailer:...
- 11/17/2010
- WorstPreviews.com
According to reports, producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider are developing a feature remake of the 1978 Warners feature "The Swarm", adapting the 1975 novel "The Swarm", by author Arthur Herzog.
The new film will be directed by Ash Bolland.
The original film, directed by Irwin Allen, focused on a swarm of 'killer bees' that invade a Texas town, starring Michael Caine, Slim Pickins, Olivia de Havilland, Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Swarm"...
The new film will be directed by Ash Bolland.
The original film, directed by Irwin Allen, focused on a swarm of 'killer bees' that invade a Texas town, starring Michael Caine, Slim Pickins, Olivia de Havilland, Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Swarm"...
- 11/17/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
The trend for remaking old horror films shows no signs of abating with news that The Swarm is about to get a modern makeover. Commercials film-maker Ash Bolland is being tipped to direct although no writer is attached to the project, reports TheWrap. The original 1978 film, starring Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda, was based on a 1975 novel of the same name by Arthur Herzog.
- 11/17/2010
- Sky Movies
Producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider are set to helm a remake of the 1978 creature feature "The Swarm" reports The Wrap.
Based on Arthur Herzog's 1975 novel, the Irwin Allen-directed original follows the residents of a Texas town who fight to survive after a massive swarm of killer bees descend upon them. A critical and financial flop despite a lavish cast like Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda, the film became a cult success on video.
Frequent commercials director Ash Bolland is slated to direct, though no writer is currently attached. No word as yet if the remake will stick closer to either the earlier film or the original acclaimed novel.
Based on Arthur Herzog's 1975 novel, the Irwin Allen-directed original follows the residents of a Texas town who fight to survive after a massive swarm of killer bees descend upon them. A critical and financial flop despite a lavish cast like Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda, the film became a cult success on video.
Frequent commercials director Ash Bolland is slated to direct, though no writer is currently attached. No word as yet if the remake will stick closer to either the earlier film or the original acclaimed novel.
- 11/17/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Pardon the horrible title, but I wanted to share some cool news with you. It looks like the 1978 cult classic The Swarm is going to get a remake from the producers Roy Lee and Stephen Schneider.
Both Lee and Schneider have experience with suspenseful movies, they produced The Ring and Paranormal Activity respectively. Ash Bolland, an award-winning commercial director has been hired to direct the remake. A writer for the screenplay will be hired soon. It is not known if the remake will be based on the Arthur Herzog novel or if a new screenplay will be written.
The original film starred Michael Caine as an entomologist who sets out to prevent the deadly swarm from reaching Houston. The film floppped at the box office despite it's impressive cast, which included Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Ben Johnson, Henry Fonda, Patty Duke, Slim Pickens and Fred MacMurray in his final role.
Both Lee and Schneider have experience with suspenseful movies, they produced The Ring and Paranormal Activity respectively. Ash Bolland, an award-winning commercial director has been hired to direct the remake. A writer for the screenplay will be hired soon. It is not known if the remake will be based on the Arthur Herzog novel or if a new screenplay will be written.
The original film starred Michael Caine as an entomologist who sets out to prevent the deadly swarm from reaching Houston. The film floppped at the box office despite it's impressive cast, which included Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Ben Johnson, Henry Fonda, Patty Duke, Slim Pickens and Fred MacMurray in his final role.
- 11/17/2010
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
"We have been invaded... by an enemy far more lethal than any human force." Another day, another remake. Apparently inspired by the success of Piranha 3D (which wasn't much of a success), Vertigo Entertainment and Room 101 are developing a remake of the 1978 Irwin Allen killer bees horror classic The Swarm. The Wrap reported on the news, adding that commercials director Ash Bolland is attached to make his feature debut, but a writer still needs to be found. The original is based on Arthur Herzog's novel, but they're unsure if they'll be pulling from that again. In this day and age of remakes, I expect it'll be another cheesy 3D flick. The original The Swarm starred Michael Caine, yes good ole Alfred, as an entomologist who learns that killer bees from South America have been coming together to form huge swarms. He sets out to stop the military from...
- 11/17/2010
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Horror Producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider are planning a remake of The Swarm , reports TheWrap . The original 1978 film was based on a 1975 novel of the same name by Arthur Herzog. Directed by Irwin Allen, the storyline involved a massive swarm of killer bees that invade a Texas town. Though it featured an impressive cast that included Michael Caine, Slim Pickins, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda (among others), the original film was a critical and financial failure that soon found life primarily as a cult horror film. Ash Bolland, whose career so far has focused on commercials, is slated to direct, though no writer is currently attached. TheWrap notes that it is unclear whether the script will focus on the Allen film version or if it will return to the more critically...
- 11/16/2010
- Comingsoon.net
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