Advertising Matters. Views from the Frontline, June 3rd 1pm

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Goodbye John Prine.

We had the pleasure of drinking with John Prine in Smyths of Haddington Road, Dublin. He was a friend of Dermot Moynihan who ran a recording studio and they were sitting at the bar, quietly.

Nobody knew who he was, but I did, because being a folk/country singer wasn't in the spotlight. But more than that, he was an unassuming, polite man anyway. 

A Chicago mail-man originally, he never lost his wit in looking at the world. 

For us, it will always be 'Speed of the Sound of loneliness' (above) covered by Nanci Griffith amongst others. You only have to see what Dylan, Springsteen are saying today of his greatness, on his death from this virus.

And I can tell you he was great that night in Smyths with a gentle laugh. An ordinary man just having a beer with friends. God bless John Prine. 

Something for the weekend Sir? Try the BBC Iplayer.

The home alone scenario we're all in, means we're getting bored with Netflix, TV although remember, YouTube. But coupled with the growth in podcasts, radio is seeing a resurgence at the minute.

The BBC Iplayer is superb.

Apart from being able to listen to live Radio 4, radio 3 and others, it has lots of cool features. Like being able to pause (catch up), a great archive, a cool snooze button (so you can leave the music on as you go asleep with a timer), great alarm for the mornings and much more.

Productions are world class. In fact everyone on Radio 4 sounds like a British Airways captain, very quintessential posh radio. Really easy to use too and so worth the change.

You'll get it in the Apps store.

A lovely change in these boring times.....

Great great viewing. The Americans.

I can't say it any plainer, but this is the best thing to watch. Now you'll need an Amazon Prime sub (about 7 euro pm) but don't hesitate to get one just to see this.

2 KGB sleeper spies living as husband and wife in Washington, as Americans to spy during the 1981 Reagan Cold War years. It's a thriller, but it's also human. 

6 Seasons (last one was 2018) with Keri Russell (Felicity, Mission Impossible) is incredible it in with 'husband' Welsh actor Matthew Rhys who is great too. In fact, it's all great and they both formed a relationship during filming. Always good because you see it on screen. 

Lots of awards including a Golden Globe but binge away because you won't stop. Forget the virus, think Cold War. Be a spy for a while....

Feel better. Roberta Flack 'Quiet Fire' 1971.

I don't know what it is, but there's so much positivity out there. We seem to have moved from being very, very scared to embracing where we are at. Maybe we're beginning to understand that there's more to life than the daily grind.

The fish are back in Venice, people are smiling again and my kids are planning a trip to our local restaurant once they re-open. Something that we would do every week and take for granted, in and out. Now it's a treat to look forward to and so it should be. Life balance is changing.

So, you need to do no more to feel greater, than to put on Roberta Flack's third album from 1971 'Quiet Fire'. There is no better feel good record.

It's cover songs but you'd hardly recognise 'Bridge over troubled water' because she's re-invented every song, beautifully. You'll probably recognise the single 'Will you still love me tomorrow?'.

Working in the kitchen, the study, the bedroom, just put it on. And feel good. And Take care. It's going to be better.

Something for the Weekend? Try Witness for The Prosecution.

Just for these peculiar times, yesterday we mentioned that YouTube was a good source of movies or online, if you get bored with TV or indeed, Netflix. A lot of them are free, especially classic movies.

Yesterday we talked about Billy Wilder's 'Double Indemnity' so here's another, 'Witness for The Prosecution'.

Marlene Dietrich a german anti-Nazi star of the silent era, steals the show but so too Charles Laughton (Mutiny on the Bounty, Night of the Hunter)) as the typical Rumpole of The Bailey defence barrister and that's not to take away from the murder accused, Tyrone Power (who died at 44 and this his last film). The housekeeper is Una O'Connor from Belfast. 

They're all great in this 1957 Courtroom drama.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, you don't know the real story until the shocking very end and theatre goers then, were asked not to reveal it. Because it's a great, great ending to a superb picture. You'll never guess it...Duckie....

Another Billy Wilder classic. And classic it is, if you're looking for something different to take your mind off things. This one will. 

A movie deadlier than the virus...The Amazing Double Indemnity.

We all think TV and Netflix, but few of us ever remember to go to free YouTube and there's lots of movies there, that you don't get anywhere else! Lots and free. 

Notably classic movies and film noir. So go on a search of discovery on YouTube and you'll hopefully find this one because it's one of the greatest and considered the first film noir. 

Double Indemnity is the clause in some insurance policies that doubles the payout in unusual deaths - like falling off a train....

It's 1944 directed and written by the great Billy Wilder of course (The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard, Some like it hot, etc) and the great film noir writer Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe books) a recovering alcoholic at the time. Although they didn't get along on this film, Chandler has a cameo in the film looking up from a magazine as Neff walks past. 

(If you want to see another Billy Wilder superb film noir classic, go to 'Witness for The Prosecution' on YouTube - Marlene Dietrich/Tyrone Power. It's fab too.)

Edward G is Walter Neff the insurance chief but gets little screen time. Fred Mac Murray is the insurance salesman and Barbara Stanwyck (one of the most popular Hollywood actresses IN Hollywood) is the femme fatale.

There's lots of dark techniques like the Seitz 'venetian blind' lighting and you'll see it in the trailer above.

But go looking on YouTube because sometimes, an Insurance salesman can be more dangerous than a virus....but DO NOT miss it.