December 2006 Archives
After months of political turmoil concerning his tenure as Minister of Information, Mr. Mohamed Al-Sanousi (picture) has resigned (see Asharq Al-Awsat and Safat Square).
Even though Mr. Sanousi is a cultured, shrewd and charming gentleman - as well as a liberal who was always vocal in improving Kuwaiti infrastructure and development - he was an unfortunate catalyst in impeding the freedom of the press and democratic ideals here. Whether that was his choice or not is irrelevant; if it was the latter he should have resigned on principle if he truly believed in freedom of the press.
One would have hoped that he would continue the great work done by former Minister Mr. Anas Rushaid in disbanding the ministry but not only did he not continue the work, he reversed course and attempted to salvage the Ministry. Under his watch, most of the licenses given to new newspapers were allocated only to 'high profile' entities; he attempted to block the '5 for Kuwait' satellite stations; he ordered (then retracted the order) sending a journalist from 'Al-Siyassah' to court for publishing information that was common knowledge everywhere in Kuwait, among other issues.
His repeated defiance of National Assembly members vise a vise the "Quizzing" (i.e. "I am ready, I will make the MP's bite their nails") only added fuel to the fire.
Nevertheless, as much as I may have disagreed with some of Mr. Sanousi's actions in the Ministry, he deserves our sympathy. He has obviously been through much personal and professional turmoil (i.e. his 'Showbiz' B.O.T. being cancelled) and the man deserves some relief and peace of mind.
The beast of burden is the Ministry of Information; it is the entity threatening to eradicate any knight attempting to traverse through its wall of flames. No one will leave the ministry intact, a high price will be paid.
It really is time to break the ministry (the way Qatar did a *decade* ago): the television is sub par, the news is weak, the censorship bureau is unwilling to adopt a ratings system for the cinema, sticking to a 30 year old antiquated code and the foreign press bureau or press attaches would be better served under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among other observations.
Like its equally unappealling sister, the Ministry of Education, the Info Ministry will always be at the center of a tug of war between the Government and the Islamists - it is not worth fighting for. Shut it down once and for all. That way we can avoid future 6 month continuous "quizzing" threats paralyzing the system here.
And besides, no democratic state - at the very least, a state with a Parliament and a Constitution - should harbor a Ministry of Information.
Arab Times: Kuwait: World must join hands to fight corruption.
Start at home, baby, start at home...
Indonesia eager to draw Kuwaiti investments (KUNA)
Jordanian investment authority to open bureau in Kuwait soon (KUNA)
Egypt targets Kuwaiti investments; Both countries facing common interests (KUNA)
Sudanese Finance Minister visits Kuwait to attract investments
Algeria lures investments from Kuwait (Kuwait Times)
I have no problem with Kuwait - through KIA or other entities - investing in foreign countries.
But as long as others don't invest here; as long as we are not an attractive investment locale, then we will never truly be a successful state.
Ever since my father took me to a reissue of Charles Chaplin's MODERN TIMES at a cinema in Rome during the early 1970s, I have been a film aficionado and not only enjoy cinema but the movie palaces that I grew up with in Rome, Madrid and London.
What I find immensely sad is that a lot of the single-screen movie theatres I grew up with have either been converted to multiple screens or torn down altogether. The experience of sitting in a Stall or Balcony seat in a 1200 plus seat theater with a massive Cinerama-like curved screen, with ushers moving around selling popcorn, sweets and drinks inside the theater, is an experience I miss. Sure there are a a few of the large theaters left: Odeon Leicester Square, London, Uptown Cinema, Washington DC, among others, but they are few and far between now. Many of the theaters I enjoyed in London, such as the Odeon Haymarket, the Plaza Cinema, Rialto, among many, have also been torn down and/or replaced with much smaller cinemas (i.e. Warner West End, Odeon Marble Arch).
ODEON MARBLE ARCH
The Odeon Marble Arch had one of the best screens in London. During the 1960s it was refitted with a Dimension 150 screen capable of playing "Road Show" epics such as PATTON, HELLO DOLLY! IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and others films. I remember seeing many films in this theatre including HERBIE RIDES AGAIN (1976), A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977), RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), among many other films.
The Odeon Marble Arch. The year must be 1948 because A SONG IS BORN is playing.
Odeon Marble Arch (1967) The expensive Fox musical DR. DOOLITTLE playing on a Dimension 150 Screen.
The Odeon Marble Arch today. The 1 screen massive theater was turned into a multiplex with 5 screens.
ODEON SWISS COTTAGE
The proximity of this cinema to my granparent's home in London was a reason why I used to frequent this joint. The cinema went from one large screen to two screens and eventually to 5 screens (during the last few years). The concession area is still large but the small multiplexes are very disappointing.
Looking at some of these pictures, I can still visualize myself standing outside the foyer, inhaling the strong hot dog aroma, and anxiously awaiting the opening of the doors to films such as SHOUT AT THE DEVIL (1976) and THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT (1975).
Odeon Swiss Cottage (1968). The Russian Best Foreign Language film (WAR AND PEACE) is playing in Two Parts.
The cinema today.
THE RIALTO
The Rialto is off Leicester Square (adjacent to 'Planet Hollywood). By the time I frequented this theatre in the 1970s it was showing B movies such as BLAZING MAGNUM (1976), THE STUD (1978) and THE BITCH (1979).
The Rialto (1949) (Photograph by Grenville Barret)
The Rialto (1964) (Photograph by Ken Roe)
The Rialto Today
THE PLAZA
One of my favorite cinemas in London was The Plaza, on lower Regent Street. It was a CIC (Paramount, Universal) cinema I remember watching films such as SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, AIRPORT '77, STAR TREKs II - V, AIRPLANE! and many others. It was a multiplex, with two large theatres and three smaller ones (the larger ones had a red colored, plush interior). I remember they had a Baskin Robbins in the lobby. Unfortunately, the cinema is no longer there, having been replaced by a supermarket.
The Plaza during the early 1980s. TIME BANDITS, AIRPLANE and LIFE OF BRIAN are on the marquee.
THE ODEON HAYMARKET
The Odeon Haymarket was a one screen theater, located on a basement level, the corner of St. James Market, not too far from Leicester Square. It had a large screen and a an intimate ambience. I remember it also used to screen Buena Vista/Disney films such as FANTASIA and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. The theatre unfortunately has closed down as well.
The Odeon Haymarket circa 1962 (Posted by Ken Roe)
The inside of the Haymarket (Photograph Ken Roe)
A 1995 Haymarket interior photograph (Image by Bridget Smith)
The Haymarket after its closure (Photo by Ian Grundy)
Trust me, you don't want to see a Martin Scorcese movie in a Kuwaiti theatre. More embarrasing news, courtesy of The Ministry of Information via Contact Music:
"MARTIN SCORSESE's hit new film THE DEPARTED went through 21 cuts in Kuwait before film censors there agreed to release the film".
I've said this before and I will say this again: Kuwait needs a Rating system. Cut the sex, that's fine, but leave the language and violence and rate it "18" but don't butcher the film. Not all films are meant to be seen by both 5 year olds and adults.
By the way, I saw THE DEPARTED - uncut - and it is excellent, among Martin Scorcese 's best films.
