JAMES BOND RELEASE DATE

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films, fans have been eagerly awaiting a new box set that will compile every movie in glorious Blu-ray editions- including the many titles that were not released during the initial hi-def wave. I'm looking forward to seeing the new print of On Her Majesty's Secret Service! A release date has finally been listed on Amazon, and Spy Vibers can expect to see the complete collection on September 25th. Amazon has bundled the box set with a limited edition book about the history of 007 movie posters (while supplies last). You can find this Blu-ray set and other spy treasures in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon Store.

Amazon Exclusive - "Limited Edition James Bond 50 Years Of Movie Posters Book." Available For A Limited Time, While Supplies Last. This Hardcover Book includeds 50 Years of Movie Posters that provide a kaleidoscope of Bond imagery that captures, distills and defines the lasting appeal of cinema’s most compelling superspy. Collectible box set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray disc in one complete offering for the first time.Collection includes all 22 James Bond feature films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace and more than 130 hours of bonus features including never-before-seen content from the Bond archives, and more.One disc of brand new bonus content approximately one hour in length.9 titles available on Blu-ray for the first time ever: Goldeneye, Octopussy, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, The Living Daylights, Tomorrow Never Dies, Diamonds are Forever, A View to a Killand On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.Box set includes an open slot for forthcoming James Bond film.


The poster book is also available as a separate purchase: Packaged with two exclusive prints! Coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of the Bond movie franchise as well as the release of the new Bond film, Skyfall, featuring Daniel Craig, James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters is sure to be a must-have for every Bond fan. From 1962's Dr. No to 2012's Skyfall, this lavish film-by-film guide, written by Bond Production Designer Dennis Gassner, boasts the most impressive visual collection of James Bond movie posters to date. Featuring a gallery of rare and sought-after posters, as well as spectacular unused concept artwork, and unique teasers and lobby cards from virtually every country where Bond movies have screened, this is a gorgeous collection of the images that have defined cinema's most famous superspy.

RAYMOND BENSON NOVELS

Raymond Benson is a familiar name among Spy Vibers who grew up with his famous book, The James Bond Bedside Companion.  Out of print and highly collectible (I sold two mint copies to Spy Guys in the 90s- drat!), the classic volume is now available on Kindle. Benson's official James Bond novels were re-released in two handsome omnibus editions in 2008. Amazon currently has them listed at 60% off, so now is a great time to pick them up for your library. If you haven't checked out his new series, The Black Stiletto, pick up the Kindle edition of the first novel for free! The next in the series, The Black Stiletto: Black and White, will be released on May 30th. Raymond Benson is also a fellow film historian and buff, and he is a regular contributor to Cinema Retro magazine. You can find these books and other spy treasures in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon Store.

RAYMOND BENSON CELEBRATES 007

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of 007, WGNTV talks with Bond historian and author, Raymond Benson. Benson is the writer of the classic James Bond Bedside Companion and six official 007 novels. His new book in the The Black Stiletto series, Black Stiletto Black and White will be released on May 30th. Watch Benson reflect on Bond at WGNTV here. Author photo below at Ian Fleming's desk at Goldeneye. You can find Benson's books and other spy treasures in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon Store.

STEED & MRS PEEL COMICS

If you're looking for the original Avengers, Boom! Studios is currently re-printing the Steed And Mrs Peel comics by Grant Morrison. They have also announced new stories in the Avengers line that deal with the infamous Hellfire Club. Check out the news at my fellow COBRAS site, Double O Section. Additional series cover art below. The re-print series trade paperback is available for pre-order on Amazon for a December 4th release. You can find these and other spy treasures in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon Store.

SKYFALL TRAILER

The first trailer for the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall, has been released. Spy Vibers can see it at the official 007 website. Below is the quad edition of the teaser poster.

IAN FLEMING BIOPIC ANNOUNCED

News emerged during Cannes that director Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code and son of David Bowie), will helm a biopic based on the life of Ian Fleming. According to the announcement by Deadline, the film will be based on the biography Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond by Andrew Lycett. The project, which is said to have the support of the Ian Fleming estate, will go into production later this year. Fleming had an interesting and rich life leading up to the creation of James Bond in his mid-40s, including his own experiences in intelligence during WWII. From what I've seen of Jones' work, he seems able to craft narratives that stay at the heart of well-developed characters. Hopefully he will retain his knack for pacing and intimate portraits in this project, rather than pushing into the realm of possible Bondian gloss and big stars. According to Playlist, he has turned down various big-budget offers in lieu of Ian Fleming- a very good sign. I'm excited to see this one! As for actors, I agree with Ain't it Cool that Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) would be interesting. Who do you think would make a good Ian Fleming?

UFO NOVELS

The FAB world of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's series UFO (1970-71) spawned some cool  publications, including annuals, activity books, technical manuals, and behind-the-scenes guides. Episode novelizations appeared in England, the US, Germany and Italy. You can read PDF scans of the two UK novels on-line at the UFO Series website.

BILLY STRANGE

Spy and music fans lost a great guitarist and arranger during the winter. Billy Strange, famous for his work with Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., the Beach Boys, the Everly Brothers and many more, passed away at the age of 80. Spy Vibers may remember him for his numerous soundtrack cover albums and for working on Nancy Sinatra's non-soundtrack version of You Only Live Twice. Here is one of Billy's many spy album jackets, followed by his cool version of the James Bond Theme to start your weekend!

FLUXUS FILM

John Lennon visited a Fluxus exhibit by Yoko Ono on November 9th, 1966 and he was struck by the playfulness and positive imagining in the work. Although Fluxus Art may seem bizarre to the uninitiated, it shares whimsical and conceptual qualities with Dada, the do-it-yourself aesthetic, a political avant-garde, and the philosophies of John Cage. Yoko's show was at the Indica Gallery, a gallery owned by Peter Asher, John Dunbar, and Barry Miles, and backed by Paul McCartney (group seen below at the opening of Indica with Marianne Faithfull). 

Reflecting on his first meeting with Yoko, John Lennon said, "I got the humor in her work immediately. I didn't have to have much knowledge about avant-garde or underground art, the humor got me straightaway. There was a fresh apple on a stand - this was before Apple - and it was two hundred quid to watch the apple decompose. But there was another piece that really decided me for-or-against the artist: a ladder which led to a painting which was hung on the ceiling. It looked like a black canvas with a chain with a spyglass hanging on the end of it. This was near the door when you went in. I climbed the ladder, you look through the spyglass and in tiny little letters it says 'yes'. So it was positive. I felt relieved. It's a great relief when you get up the ladder and you look through the spyglass and it doesn't say 'no' or 'fuck you' or something, it said 'yes'."

Filmmaker Jeffrey Perkins is currently working on a new documentary film about the Fluxus art movement. He was also initiated into Fluxus by Yoko in the 1960s and she appears in the new film. With seven days left to fund production of the movie through Kickstarter, Perkins has already conducted interviews with such luminaries as Ono, Jonas Mekas, Jon Hendricks, Alison Knowles, Nam June Paik, and Peter Frank. Consider becoming a backer at the project's Kickstarter page. As a rich element in the history of art in the late 1950s and 1960s, Fluxus deserves the in-depth look that this documentary will provide. Plus, one of my former filmmaking students is working on the film! Spy Vibe has contributed to the production of the film. Read more about Fluxus and Jeffrey Perkins at Art in America.

NEW 007 POSTER

Sony and Eon Productions released today the teaser poster for the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall. Inspired by the classic gun barrel sequence that has opened every official film in the 50 years of the franchise, the design links Skyfall with the 50th anniversary of the movies and is a strong connection symbolically between Craig's Bond and the character's legacy. Fans wonder what the next outing may offer in terms of other links to past iterations. Will Craig bring Bond back into a tone of suave panache? If the poster is any clue, I expect a balance between modern grit and classic style. The teaser trailer is due out this Monday!

YELLOW SUBMARINE EVENT

As the Yellow Submarine builds up steam for its hi-def launch in early June, a special screening has been scheduled with the director of animation, Bob Balser. Balser will present the film at the Grammy Museum in LA on May 29th at 7:30. From the Grammy Museum: "We invite you to join us at The GRAMMY Museum in a special screening of the monumental film. Yellow Submarine, based upon a song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is a fantastic tale brimming with peace, love and hope, propelled by Beatles songs, including Eleanor Rigby, When I'm Sixty-Four, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, All You Need Is Love and It's All Too Much. When the film debuted in 1968, it was instantly recognized as a landmark achievement, revolutionizing a genre by integrating the freestyle approach of the era with innovative animation techniques. Inspired by the generation's new trends in art, the film resides with the dazzling Pop Art styles of Andy Warhol, Martin Sharp, Alan Aldridge and Peter Blake. Guests will return to "Pepperland," a place where music and happiness reign supreme, to relive the magic once again. Following the screening, Yellow Submarine Animation Director Bob Balser will take the stage for a discussion moderated by Executive Director Bob Santelli." Admission is $10. Doors open at 7:00. Find the new Blu-ray and other Beatles treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store. Also, only a few days left to back a new documentary film. Read about how Fluxus Art brought John and Yoko Ono together and how you can support a film project on Kickstarter. Details at our post here.

                                                                                                                      

BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY SPY CAR

Looking for a new motor to park at your secret lair? What would you say to a brushed metal, futuristic concept car that was built to break the Amphibious World Speed Record? Well Spy Vibers, it's for sale! Dubbed the "Sea Lion", this beauty is capable of land speeds up to 180mph and is water-ready. Unlike James Bond's Lotus-sub, however, it operates above the surface. Perfect for an agent in Venice. Current price is $259,500. Check out the images and video tour below. More info at Gizmag.

GERNREICH MOON GIRLS

Get through the middle of you week (and protect yourself from those cosmic rays) with this classic William Claxton photo featuring fashion by Rudi Gernreich. Need a larger dose of Moon Girls and Op-inspired threads? Check out the Rudi Gernreich Book by Peggy Moffitt and our article, Mods to Moon Girls. Find Swinging London treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

NEW 007 COVER ART

The cover designs for the new editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels have been revealed. The excellent blog, The Book Bond, has posted the complete set along with a statement about the design process. "The Vintage Classics covers are designed to emphasise the cool and clever reputation of Bond. We wanted to evoke the heritage and era without being dated. The bold, colourful, film poster feel was inspired by Saul Bass." Although I like the designs, they do resemble the animated title-sequence art by Bass, more than they feel like book jackets. Many of the lines feel as though they could continue running across a movie screen ala another modern take on Bass, Catch Me if You Can. As covers go, they don't quite say '007 adventure' to me. Maybe if they had mystery elements added, like on the new editions of the John Gardner Bond books. Little guns, skulls, and the like. That said, however, maybe I'll be won over when I see them in person. Read more of the publisher's statement and see all of the cover art at The Book Bond. Find out more about Saul Bass, the designer behind many Hitchcock graphics and who inspired the vintage 007 covers. Spy Vibers will enjoy the Saul Bass design site because it is presented in an animated style based on his title designs for North By Northwest. Find 007 books and other treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

BONDSPEAK

Of the many books due out during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the James Bond, two will feature stories of the franchise by Bond actors themselves. Sir Roger Moore has penned a new memoir chock-full of photographs called Bond on Bond. From Amazon: "The Bond movies remain the longest continually running film series in movie history, and 2012 marks its fiftieth anniversary.  To celebrate these universally adored films, their cultural history, and wide appeal, Sir Roger Moore, KBE, has written a book that features all the Bond movies, along with a wonderfully witty account of his own involvement in them. From the girls to the villains, the cars to the cocktails, and oh so many gadgets, Bond on Bond has it all. This sumptuous book is  illustrated with over 400 hundred iconic images from all the films including many previously unseen photos from the Bond archive as well as photos from Moore's personal collection.  And while there have been other actors that have taken on the coveted role of James Bond, Moore, the longest starring 007, is certainly one of the most renowned and beloved. Written with all the affection and good humor he brought to the role, his charming wit and charismatic personality come through on every page."

Film journalist Bill Desowitz has published the book, James Bond Unmasked, that chronicles the 50-year franchise. What makes this volume stand out from other James Bond books is that it features interviews with all six 007 actors to provide contact to the character and films. Although Amazon lists the publication date as May 9th, the official website announces June 1st as a release date. I have not read any reviews yet and I am mostly curious to learn how much the interviews make up the book itself. As first impressions go, the cover design is not terribly stylish. Maybe we'll hear from Spy Vibers who check it out.

From Amazon: "James Bond is the most powerful and enduring cultural hero of our time and the longest-running franchise in movie history. In James Bond Unmasked, veteran film journalist Bill Desowitz chronicles the 50-year evolution of Ian Fleming's iconic superspy on the big screen from the Cold War of the sixties to the current post-9/11 era. This insightful book comes direct from the source, as Desowitz interviews all six Bond actors: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig." Bill Desowitz has a movie blog called Immersed in Movies. Find 007 books and other treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

007 FIRST EDITIONS

As James Bond fans look forward to the 50th anniversary events and releases, including Skyfall and the Ian Fleming Bibliography, quench your thirst for rare 007-realted artifacts at the James Bond First Editions website. Spy Vibers with deep pockets may be tempted to pick up some holy grail editions by Fleming, Amis, Gardner, and others. The site also has a blog called The Biblio Bond.

007 MAGAZINE

Where can a James Bond fan find in-depth articles, rare images, memorabilia and autographs for sale, and a community forum? Check out 007 Magazine (007 Archive File), the premier James Bond resource since 1979. The newest issue focusses on james Bond promotional artwork with rare images from around the world. Back issues are also available, including vol 1 of their coverage of my fave 007 film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (below). Follow them on Facebook.

VARIETY'S 50 YEARS OF JAMES BOND

Variety has published a 50 Years of James Bond special with articles about the franchise, film locations, the 1954 version of Casino Royale, and an intriguing sounding piece called "Bond's most dangerous nemesis: His own dark reflection." If you are not a member, you can register for free to gain access to on-line reading beyond the lead article. More info at Variety.

MI6 CONFIDENTIAL

The publishers of MI6 Confidential have announced the release of issue #15. Lavishly produced with rare images and in-depth articles, MI6 Confidential is one of the premiere 007 magazines in print. The new issue features articles about the new Bond film, Skyfall, Fleming publications, Bond comics, and more! When issues go out of print, they tend to triple in price on the collector's market- so order while you can. The magazine is only $10 plus shipping and is available internationally from the MI6 Confidential website.

In This Issue

• To Istanbul With Love - The Skyfall cast & crew discuss their work in the historic city
• Shooting Bond - Photographer Keith Hamshere explores his various 007 campaigns
• Fleming Bibliography - An exclusive extract from this unique history of Bond in print
• The Phoenix Project - Bond is in Istanbul again, hot on the tail of missing defence technology
• 007 On TV - The curious history of James Bond films on the small screen
• Poster Gallery - How character posters could have dominated the marketing of Bond 19
• Boyd On Board - Scottish author William Boyd is joining the ranks of 007 penmen
• The Bond Connection - What else was making the news in the year Dr. No debuted?

OP AD

One of my favorite design conventions of the mid-sixties is Op Art, which can be found throughout the visual and performing arts. Here's a commercial example, a 1965 ad for Pond's Fresh-Start cleansing gel.

MAGRITTE

Artist, Rene Magritte, might be best remembered for his surreal portrait of the bowler hat and apple, but he was also a terrific Fantomas fan. He was so enthralled by the character and Feuillade's films, in fact, that he even wrote some fiction about the arch-criminial! This text was published in March, 1928: "A THEATRICAL EVENT. Juve has been on the trail of Fantomas for quite some time. He crawls along the broken cobblestones of a mysterious passage. To guide himself he gropes along the walls with his fingers. Suddenly, a whiff of hot air hits him in the face. He comes nearer...His eyes adjust to the darkness. Juve distinguishes a door with loose boards a few feet in front of him. He undoes his overcoat in order to wrap it around his left arm, and gets his revolver ready. As soon as he has cleared the door, Juve realizes that his precautions were unnecessary: Fantômas is close by, sleeping deeply. In a matter of seconds Juve has tied up the sleeper. Fantômas continues to dream — of his disguises, perhaps, as usual. Juve, in the highest of spirits, pronounces some regrettable words. They cause the prisoner to start. He wakes up, and once awake, Fantômas is no longer Juve's captive. Juve has failed again this time. One means remains for him to achieve his end: Juve will have to get into one of Fantômas's dreams — he will try to take part as one of its characters. (Translation by Suzi Gablik, from Magritte. Boston: New York Graphic Society 1976)." 

Magritte devoted a number of paintings to Fantomas, the most famous being The Backfire (1943), a recreation of the Fantomas book jacket and movie poster art (see below). Note how the artist exchanged the original knife that Fantomas holds with a flower. More about Magritte and Fantomas at the Matteson Art site. 

FANTOMAS POSTER

For the Spy Viber with deep pockets and a love for Fantomas, there is a gorgeous poster from Argentina currently for sale on eBay. This is the promotional art for the 1949 remake by Robert Vernay.  The original Fantomas Against Fantomas by Louis Feuillade was released in France in 1914. The stylized design of the figures and the dynamic composition remind me a bit of the Batman Animated series. Maybe someday Batman will meet Fantomas! More details about the sale at eBay here. More info about the films at the Fantomas website.

CENTURY 21 AUDIO

Fans of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet will be interested to check out new mini LP replica CDs of classics episodes. From Fanderson: "Fanderson has released its seventh CD set of replica Century 21 Mini-Albums. The collection contains adaptations of the classic Thunderbirds TV episodes Atlantic Inferno and Move - And You're Dead, as well as Captain Scarlet is Indestructible, an original audio play from Century 21 Records, featuring the voice artists from the original cast." I always enjoyed how the actor who portrayed Captain Scarlet, Francis Matthews, sounded so much like Cary Grant! Matthews also appeared in Crossplot (1969) with Roger Moore, and in episodes of The Avengers and The Saint. More info at the Fanderson website. Find Gerry Anderson treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

DESIGNING 007 EXHIBIT

An exciting new exhibit running between July 6th and September 5th will celebrate 50 years of designing the James Bond universe. "The Barbican marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, from 1962's Dr No to this year's Skyfall, with a unique exhibition showcasing the inside story of the design and style of the world's most influential and iconic movie brand. 

In collaboration with EON Productions and with unprecedented access to their archives, Designing 007 will be a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history. It will explore the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.

Highlights include gadgets and weapons made for Bond and his notorious adversaries by special effects experts John Stears and Chris Corbould, along with artwork for sets and storyboards by production designers Sir Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain, and costume designs by Bumble Dawson, Donfeld, Julie Harris, Lindy Hemming, Ronald Patterson, Emma Porteous, and Jany Temime." More info at the exhibit site at Barbican. Find 007 books and other treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

MI6 CONFIDENTIAL

MI6 Confidential (formerly MI6 Declassified) is a beautifully produced magazine from the UK that publishes in-depth articles and rare images from the world of 007. Like Cinema Retro magazine, these issues go out of print quickly and become highly prized collector's items. Most back issues are out of print and very hard to locate, but there are a few still available through the magazine's website that Spy Vibers will want to track down. I recently ordered issue #11, which features some cool stills from the set of From Russia With Love and other articles. More info at MI6 Confidential.

FLUXUS FILM PRODUCTION

Filmmaker Jeffrey Perkins is currently working on a new documentary film about the Fluxus art movement. With twenty days left to fund production of the movie through Kickstarter, he has already conducted interviews with such luminaries as Yoko Ono (who Perkins worked with in the 1960s), Jonas Mekas, Jon Hendricks, Alison Knowles, Nam June Paik, and Peter Frank. Consider becoming a backer at the project's Kickstarter page. Although Fluxus may seem bizarre to the uninitiated, it shares whimsical and conceptual qualities with Dada, the do-it-yourself aesthetic, a political avant-garde, and the philosophies of John Cage. As a rich element in the history of art in the late 1950s and 1960s, Fluxus deserves an in-depth look. Spy Vibe will definitely back production of the film. Read more about Fluxus and Jeffrey Perkins at Art in America. 

YOKO'S INVISIBLE FLOWER

Yoko Ono's work is often whimsical and philosophical, offering ideas of global peace to inspire us and, sometimes, emotional rawness to invite the brave to face tough realities head on. Her work can also offer simple gestures of innocence and magic, as in the new book, An Invisible Flower, coming out this month from Chronicle Books. I had the pleasure to make a re-mix for Yoko Ono a couple of years back, a project that developed into an experimental film, The Sun is Down. Spy Vibe celebrates pioneer artists who worked in unusual areas in the 1960s and who continue to challenge us to 'think different'. I hope readers will check out her current work. See below for two additional books about Yoko scheduled for publication this year.

From Amazon: "Yoko Ono created An Invisible Flower when she was just nineteen years old, at the very start of her artistic career. Recently rediscovered in her archive by her son, Sean Lennon, who also provides a foreword, this jewel of a book tells the heartwarming story of the invisible beauty we all know is there—and of the one man, "Smelty John", who catches sight of it. Written years before Ono met John Lennon, An Invisible Flower offers a glimpse into the early process of a brilliant conceptual artist and, it will transpire, presages the love of her life. Simple pastel drawings complement the book's affirming message, and a new afterword by Ono makes this small treasure even more special."

When Yoko announced the book on her website, she added this comment: It just made me choke up re-reading “An Invisible Flower.” I thought of the drawing of two people on horseback John made in 1952 (the same year I made “An Invisible Flower”). The two people on horseback look very, very much like John and Yoko. And the date, 18th February, was my 19th birthday. It seems like we both knew in 1952 that we would fall in love with each other in 15 years time… yoko"

In addition, there are two books about Yoko coming out in the next year. Reconsidering Yoko Ono by Lisa Carver is due in October from Backbeat Books. From Amazon: "John Lennon once described her as "the world's most famous unknown artist: everybody knows her name, but nobody knows what she does." Many people are aware of her art, and her music has always split crowds, from her caterwauling earliest work to her later dance numbers, but how many people have looked at Yoko Ono's decades-spanning career and varied work in total and asked the simple question, "Is it any good?" From her earliest work with the Fluxus group and especially her relationship with John Cage, through her enigmatic pop happenings (where she met John Lennon), her experimental films, cryptic books, conceptual art, and her long recording career that has vacillated between avant-garde noise and proto-new wave, earning the admiration of other artists while generally confusing the public at large who often sees her only in the role of the widow Lennon, Reaching Out with No Hands is the first serious, critical, wide-ranging look at Yoko Ono the artist and musician. A must-read for art and music fans interested in going beyond the stereotyped observations of Yoko as a Lennon hanger-on or inconsequential avant noisemaker."

And Yoko Ono: Collector of Skies by Nell Beram and Carolyn Boriss-Krimsky is due in January 2013 from Amulet Books. From Amazon: "This lyrical biography explores the life and art of Yoko Ono, from her childhood haiku to her avant-garde visual art and experimental music. An outcast throughout most of her life, and misunderstood by every group she was supposed to belong to, Yoko always followed her own unique vision to create art that was ahead of its time and would later be celebrated. Her focus remained on being an artist, even when the rest of world saw her only as the wife of John Lennon. Yoko Ono’s moving story will inspire any young adult who has ever felt like an outsider, or who is developing or questioning ideas about being an artist, to follow their dreams and find beauty in all that surrounds them.

In related news, The Beatles Yellow Submarine Blu-ray is available for order in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon Associates Store. Also, consider supporting a new documentary film about the Fluxus art movement (includes interviews with Yoko!). Info at our post here.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FILM

Filmmaker Michael Miner will be on hand to present his film, ROMANZA: The California Structures of Frank Lloyd Wright, at the San Rafael Film Center this Sunday. From the Film Center: "From his first California commission in 1909 to his death in 1959, Wright designed more than 80 projects for the Golden State, and more than 25 were built. The buildings were grand and modest, public and private, and came from each era of Wright's seven-decade career. With access to every California Wright building, Romanza journeys around the state, from the Los Angeles textile block houses seen in dozens of Hollywood films, to his only San Francisco commission, a building he described as a "glass of champagne," as well as the Berger House in San Anselmo, for which he also designed an adjacent doghouse. Writer/Director: Michael Miner. (US 2011) 90 min. 4:15pm screening plus discussion."