Just a note to say that the comments on this post are open. Nothing else would be appropriate for a man who was always ready to roll with any opinion he encountered.
I was wondering what happened to David. I found out that my uncle Bill Reed died a couple of summers ago from David’s Facebook. Every effort to get in touch with David came up empty. I sense that he had been unwell for a while.
I'm so sorry, Chris. Yes, David went underground when his health began to decline, according to friends like Meredith Brody. Everyone seems to agree that Bill's death hit him very hard.
I have many, many warm memories of David. He and I were close for a while, and then not, for reasons that were not really clear—similar to your story. I didn’t take it personally. David had many, many wonderful qualities including great taste. For those who loved David, watch what as far as I can discern was his favorite movie: the very silly college musical GOOD NEWS.
One image of the very best of Ehrenstein. Paul Mazursky asked David perplexed, “Why do you think Kubrick included that clip of BLUME IN LOVE on Nicole Kidman’s tv in EYES WIDE SHUT?” David said “That was just Stanley’s way of saying ‘Hi, Paul!’”
I don't like Good News, and said so once on the blog. David didn't take it personally, and I as I recall his defense of it was both hilarious and learned. I really should give it (and June Allyson) another chance, in his honor.
I ran a sort of Saturday night cinema during the pandemic and one of the first things we showed was GOOD NEWS. It is lightweight even for a college musical where BMOC’s sing through a megaphone. But I kinda loved that David loved it…as I loved his totally sincere love of Doris Day.
He was my first friend at "A Film By...", and supported my queer voice even when it clashed with his.
David did love GOOD TIMES. He was devoted to the movies of Chuck Walters.
He always rejected my argument that Addison DeWitt was gay, but we both adored "Gypsy," and I often use his catchphrase: "Sing Out, Louise," when I comment on a blog (though increasingly it needs explanation).
For me, that was the greatest of his many gifts--the encouragement to sing out.
I was a friend of David's husband, the late Bill Reed, mentioned in the piece. A man so devoted to the Golden Age of American popular music that he not only wrote extensively about it, but was responsible for importing from Japan many CD reissues by American singers unavailable domestically. R.I.P. David. (And Bill.)
I’m Bill Reed’s nephew. I fell out of touch with Bill and David a few years ago. I learned of Bill’s death from David’s Facebook page, but couldn’t find a way to get in touch with David.
God, I adored David. I always lit up when I’d see him at screenings, and although I was never one of his closest friends I think he was always happy to see me too. I suspect a lot of us here know what I’m talking about when you have the friends you hang out with, and then there’s though casual friends you see at screenings and enjoy conversations with before or after the movie.
A side note. Here in Los Angeles we lost two really special gay writers within 24 hours of one another: David and Felice Picano. This is a very sad blow. But, yes, a generation is passing one by one, and some of us in our 70s can hear the chimes at midnight.
I am so very sad to hear this— and you have written the most eloquent homage. Tough crowd indeed. Brilliant brilliant man. I feel like we just lost a living library. What an awful week of film loss this is.
And your story about the HOme… omg, thank you for that laugh. The soup is not bad at all!
i'm sorry to hear this. I met David when I worked at Book Soup. He went through horrific financial issues in his later life. Overall he was a lot of fun. And a great cinema lover. An incredible gossip. And a fellow bus rider here in Los Angeles!
R.I.P., David Ehrenstein. I had likewise noted a few times in passing that I wasn't seeing him around but hadn't pursued it. a free voice with a unique pov, stilled, and we are poorer for it.
Thank you, Farran, for such a lovely recollection of what now seems a lost era (film blogging, 2005-2015, a “scene” I improbably find myself a part of), and the reminder of how I knew David and recognize the many truths of what you’ve written about him. If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t he a vocal champion of Prince’s UNDER THE CHERRY MOON? It’s certainly romantic, witty, gorgeous and campy! Your eloge also brought me to seek out when we we were all on one page, so to speak, on your friend Glenn’s blog, where David has quite lovely things to say about you, too:
This is a nice and fair tribute. I corresponded with him a bit, but he hadn't blogged in a while. I met him in person once, and he was friendly and knowledgeable. He could be unnecessarily antagonistic online. As a critic, at his best, he could be quite insightful, and I remember some of his pithier observations.
Of course I can't find the Gene Seymour Facebook comment that led me to this -- but I'm glad I found it! It's funny how I hear the name Mae Clark and flash "Jimmy Cagney. Grapefruit." I can't name a single other film she was in. In fact, I couldn't even name this one until I was reminded.... Lovely reminiscence. Thanks for introducing me to David Ehrenstein.
I'm grateful for posts like this because they're often the only way I ever find out why I haven't seen a name I remember from the film blog cocktail party era in such a long time. Thank you for the lovely tribute, Siren, and RIP David.
Just a note to say that the comments on this post are open. Nothing else would be appropriate for a man who was always ready to roll with any opinion he encountered.
Thanks for the lovely tribute, as all your tributes are. Thanks also for Ehrenstein's comment on Floating Weeds, which absolutely catches it.
I was wondering what happened to David. I found out that my uncle Bill Reed died a couple of summers ago from David’s Facebook. Every effort to get in touch with David came up empty. I sense that he had been unwell for a while.
I'm so sorry, Chris. Yes, David went underground when his health began to decline, according to friends like Meredith Brody. Everyone seems to agree that Bill's death hit him very hard.
I have many, many warm memories of David. He and I were close for a while, and then not, for reasons that were not really clear—similar to your story. I didn’t take it personally. David had many, many wonderful qualities including great taste. For those who loved David, watch what as far as I can discern was his favorite movie: the very silly college musical GOOD NEWS.
One image of the very best of Ehrenstein. Paul Mazursky asked David perplexed, “Why do you think Kubrick included that clip of BLUME IN LOVE on Nicole Kidman’s tv in EYES WIDE SHUT?” David said “That was just Stanley’s way of saying ‘Hi, Paul!’”
I don't like Good News, and said so once on the blog. David didn't take it personally, and I as I recall his defense of it was both hilarious and learned. I really should give it (and June Allyson) another chance, in his honor.
I ran a sort of Saturday night cinema during the pandemic and one of the first things we showed was GOOD NEWS. It is lightweight even for a college musical where BMOC’s sing through a megaphone. But I kinda loved that David loved it…as I loved his totally sincere love of Doris Day.
[I love Good News.]
He was my first friend at "A Film By...", and supported my queer voice even when it clashed with his.
David did love GOOD TIMES. He was devoted to the movies of Chuck Walters.
He always rejected my argument that Addison DeWitt was gay, but we both adored "Gypsy," and I often use his catchphrase: "Sing Out, Louise," when I comment on a blog (though increasingly it needs explanation).
For me, that was the greatest of his many gifts--the encouragement to sing out.
I remember "Sing out, Louise!" It was no fun for David without someone to talk with.
I was a friend of David's husband, the late Bill Reed, mentioned in the piece. A man so devoted to the Golden Age of American popular music that he not only wrote extensively about it, but was responsible for importing from Japan many CD reissues by American singers unavailable domestically. R.I.P. David. (And Bill.)
I’m Bill Reed’s nephew. I fell out of touch with Bill and David a few years ago. I learned of Bill’s death from David’s Facebook page, but couldn’t find a way to get in touch with David.
God, I adored David. I always lit up when I’d see him at screenings, and although I was never one of his closest friends I think he was always happy to see me too. I suspect a lot of us here know what I’m talking about when you have the friends you hang out with, and then there’s though casual friends you see at screenings and enjoy conversations with before or after the movie.
A side note. Here in Los Angeles we lost two really special gay writers within 24 hours of one another: David and Felice Picano. This is a very sad blow. But, yes, a generation is passing one by one, and some of us in our 70s can hear the chimes at midnight.
I am so very sad to hear this— and you have written the most eloquent homage. Tough crowd indeed. Brilliant brilliant man. I feel like we just lost a living library. What an awful week of film loss this is.
And your story about the HOme… omg, thank you for that laugh. The soup is not bad at all!
i'm sorry to hear this. I met David when I worked at Book Soup. He went through horrific financial issues in his later life. Overall he was a lot of fun. And a great cinema lover. An incredible gossip. And a fellow bus rider here in Los Angeles!
Wow. Just: Wow. I mean: Wow. Especially that last bit. Wow.
Week made, and several weeks after that; thank you.
Lovely tribute, Siren. David was the most mordant of movie geeks, and I will miss his ribs and corrections. And, lord knows, his help.
R.I.P., David Ehrenstein. I had likewise noted a few times in passing that I wasn't seeing him around but hadn't pursued it. a free voice with a unique pov, stilled, and we are poorer for it.
That is a great story and I hope before I die to have an opportunity to wish someone death by soup-drowning.
Thank you, Farran, for such a lovely recollection of what now seems a lost era (film blogging, 2005-2015, a “scene” I improbably find myself a part of), and the reminder of how I knew David and recognize the many truths of what you’ve written about him. If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t he a vocal champion of Prince’s UNDER THE CHERRY MOON? It’s certainly romantic, witty, gorgeous and campy! Your eloge also brought me to seek out when we we were all on one page, so to speak, on your friend Glenn’s blog, where David has quite lovely things to say about you, too:
https://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2011/11/theory-heresy-and-coffee-table-anomie.html
Oh gosh, I forgot all about that. *sniffle* Thank you so much for the link.
This is a nice and fair tribute. I corresponded with him a bit, but he hadn't blogged in a while. I met him in person once, and he was friendly and knowledgeable. He could be unnecessarily antagonistic online. As a critic, at his best, he could be quite insightful, and I remember some of his pithier observations.
Of course I can't find the Gene Seymour Facebook comment that led me to this -- but I'm glad I found it! It's funny how I hear the name Mae Clark and flash "Jimmy Cagney. Grapefruit." I can't name a single other film she was in. In fact, I couldn't even name this one until I was reminded.... Lovely reminiscence. Thanks for introducing me to David Ehrenstein.
thank you for this very sad news...
I'm grateful for posts like this because they're often the only way I ever find out why I haven't seen a name I remember from the film blog cocktail party era in such a long time. Thank you for the lovely tribute, Siren, and RIP David.