Notable Passings

...John Michael Hayes, who wrote the screenplays for four Alfred Hitchcock movies, including the classics REAR WINDOW (1954) and TO CATCH A THIEF (1955), has passed away at the age of 89.

Hayes was Oscar-nominated for REAR WINDOW and received another Oscar nomination for PEYTON PLACE (1957). He also wrote Hitchcock's THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955) and THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1956).

Hayes can be seen in a documentary on various DVD releases of REAR WINDOW, including the most recent reissue of the film as part of the Universal Legacy Series.

...Clarinetist Mitchell Lurie, who was principal clarinet player with the Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphonies and later taught at USC, has died at the age of 86.

Lurie also played in studio orchestras and can be heard on the soundtracks of MARY POPPINS and DR. ZHIVAGO.

Lurie designed clarinet reeds which are used around the world.

The L.A. Times obituary on Lurie has some wonderful anecdotes.

Near the end of his life, Lurie told his son "I played my song, and I played it well."