All Dame Shirley's 50 years in the business is evident here in this wonderful collection of songs. Her voice is amazing given her age and her maturity is needed for some of these songs. Most moving is her interpretation of the final track written by the Pet Shop Boys, Exceptional.

Suddenly, Last Summer is a 1959 American film based on the play of the same title by Tennessee Williams. The story centers on a 1930s psychiatrist who is assessing a female patient who, by the hand of her wealthy aunt , is a possible lobotomy patient after witnessing the mysterious death of her male cousin while traveling in Spain the previous summer.

Set in 1937 Catherine (Elizabeth Taylor) has been inside a mental hospital since her return from Europe. Mrs. Venable (Katherine Hepburn) her wealthy aunt meets with Dr. Cuckrowicz (Montgomery Clift) to discuss her niece's case, recounting her vacations with her son Sebastian to the Encantadas. Catherine is moved into the State Hospital where Cukrowicz works and she is observed there.

The story unfolds dealing with the taboo of homosexuality in the 1930s and of the disturbing and tragic events of Catherine's last Summer with Sebastian.

This is a dark story, made at the height of the Taylor Burton relationship. It is set on a beautiful private island just of Sardinia where Taylor who is very rich lives in a beautiful villa. Then along comes Burton a poet and her desperate situation and life becomes more dramatic. There is a wonderul appearance by Noel Coward as the 'Witch of Capri'. Taylor looks very beautiful in the film and the setting is wonderful. But it is a dark story.

This is an incredibly story, all the more so because it is a true rags to riches story. It starts with poverty, and slowly moves to Chanel's relationships with rich men (there were many) then on to her journey via these men to become the icon (period) of the couture fashion and perfume world. Along the way there are aristocrats, artists, international royality, film stars, politics and two world wars. It is a detailed story that looks at her life and the times/period. I would have liked to have seen more detail on her couture work in this book.

This is a glossy rags to riches story that covers Vidal's early years in the East End of London, his early days training to be a hairdresser, National Service, the building of an empire, and along the way, models, fashion designers (particularly Mary Quant), film stars, photographers, artists, family and his jewish faith and love for Israel. This is a very postive book, but I feel only scrapes the surface of his amazing life.

I've been a fan of Maureen Lipman since her deput film 'Up The Junction' and have enjoyed her in 'Agony', Re-Joyce' and more recently the wonderful 'Ladies of Letters'. What I like about this book is that it is written as though she was having a conversation directly with you the reader. She discusses her thoughts, observations, family and career.

The chapters don't follow any particular pattern, so you can dip in and out of the book as you please. I must say that it is a very mixed bag, some chapters being more mildly amusing than others. My conclusion on reading this book is that Maureen is a GREAT act, but in this book for me she goes on far too long.

With her smooth soft silky tones and wonderful interpretations of American jazz and popular music, every CD collection should have this CD. Peggy is an icon and was and is an inspiration to many successful female artists past and present. She was a very talented performer and song writer who mesmerised audiences without having to scream and shout like many of todays female singing stars. QUALITY.

I have only recently discovered Scott Walker, why this guy is not a MEGA STAR I have no idea; his voice is like liquid velvet, he has a fantastic range, with just the right amount of emotion, without all the screaming and shouting you find with more contemporary artists today. I've gone on to buy two further CD's and they are all excellent. This should be in everyone's CD collection.

I loved Kate Bust in the 70s and early 80s and like many people waited a long time for this album arrive. Were our expectation too high? Like all things Kate has moved on, the album is very deep and try's to tell a story, that sadly is lost on me. You have to admire her individuality as an artist, but I just can't get into this album, no matter how hard I try.

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical. The story focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.

The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and five Golden Globes. The film is set early in the flapper era of 1922. Millie Dillmount's (Julie Andrews) ambition is to find work as a stenographer and then marry her boss. Millie befriends Miss Dorothy Brown (Mary Tyler Moore) as she checks into the Priscilla Hotel. While Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie) the housekeeper is selling her tenants into white slavery.

At a friendship dance in the hall, Millie meets paper clip salesman Jimmy Smith (James Fox), to whom she takes an instant liking. However, she carries on with her plan to marry a rich man.

Mrs. Meers makes several attempts to kidnap Miss Dorothy and hand her over to her Asian henchmen, but Millie manages to interrupt her every time. When Mrs. Meers finally succeeds Millie realises Miss Dorothy is just one of several girls who have vanished without a word to anyone and so the drama unfolds.

For me the film is too long, but it's worth watching just to see the wonderful Carol Channing as the eccentric widow Muzzy Van Hossmere and Beatrice Lillie