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Selected Masterworks of Film Art
Viewing Recommendations Submitted by Site Readers
(Under construction—please send suggestions/corrections to the Mailbag)

To read Ray Carney's suggestions of recent American independent films and filmmakers worth watching, click here to read the screening programs he has advised on or curated for the Harvard University Film Archive. Also skim through the last fifteen or twenty pages of the Mailbag (accessible from the top menu on this page or via the blue ticket icon in the left menu of this and most other site pages) to read brief notices and comments on many other recent European and American films.

To read statements about the creative process by many of the filmmakers in the following list, click here.

Director

Film Title

Rental/Purchase Sources

Akerman, Chantal

Akermania, Vol. One (short works)

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

La Captive

A,C,F,I,M,N

Akerman, Chantal

A Couch in New York

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Akerman, Chantal

The Eighties

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

Je, Tu, Il, Elle

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

News from Home

F

Akerman, Chantal

Night and Day

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

Rendevous d’Anna

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

Tomorrow We Move

A,B,F,I,M,N,Q

Akerman, Chantal

Toute Une Nuit

A,F

Akerman, Chantal

Window Shopping

A,F

Almareyda, Michael

Another Girl, Another Planet*

*

Almareyda, Michael

Rocking Horse Winner (short)

F

Almareyda, Michael

Sundance

*

Almareyda, Michael

Twister

B,N

Anders, Alison

Gas, Food and Lodging

B,C

Angelopoulos, Theo

Landscape in the Midst

A,B,I,N,Q

Armstrong, Gillian

My Brilliant Career

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Armstrong, Gillian

The Last Days of Chez Nous

A,F

Ball, David

Honey

click here

Barker, David

Afraid of Everything

B

Barney, Matthew

Cremaster 3: Order

A,B,F, I, N,Q

Bergman, Ingmar

Scenes from a Marriage

A,B,C,F,Q

Blair, David

Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among Bees

F,Q

Blair, Les

Bad Behavior

A,B,F,Q

Bresson, Robert

Au Hazard, Balthazar

A,B,C,F,N,Q

Bresson, Robert

Dames de Bois de Bologne

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Bresson, Robert

The Devil Probably

F

Bresson, Robert

Diary of a Country Priest

A,B,C,F,N,Q

Bresson, Robert

Une Femme Douce

F

Bresson, Robert

L’Argent

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Bresson, Robert

Lancelot of the Lake

A,B,F,N,Q

Bresson, Robert

Man Escaped

A,B,C,F,N,Q

Bresson, Robert

Pickpocket

A,B,F,N,Q

Bujalski, Andrew

Funny Ha Ha

B,F,I,N,Q

Bujalski, Andrew

Mutual Appreciation

N

Burnett, Charles

Killer of Sheep

*

Burnett, Charles

To Sleep with Anger

A,F,N,Q

Capra, Frank

It Happened One Night

A,B,C,F,G,I,N

Capra, Frank

It’s A Wonderful Life

A,B,C,F,G,I,M,N,Q

Capra, Frank

Lost Horizon

B,C,F,G,I,N

Capra, Frank

Meet John Doe

A,B,C,F,G,I,M,N,Q

Capra, Frank

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

A,B,C,F,G,I,N

Capra, Frank

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

A,B,C,F,G,I,N

Cassavetes,John

Big Trouble

A,B,C,N,Q

Cassavetes,John

A Child Is Waiting

A,F,Q

Cassavetes,John

Faces (short release version)

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Cassavetes,John Faces (longer pre-release edit) Ray Carney discovered this print, but Gena Rowlands is attempting to prevent it from being screened

Cassavetes,John

Gloria

A,B,C,F,N,Q

Cassavetes,John

Husbands

F,Q Note: 10 minutes are cut from all videos; Ray Carney was given complete versions by Cassavetes

Cassavetes,John The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (long version, 1976) *
Cassavetes,John The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (short version, 1978) A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Cassavetes,John

Love Streams

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Cassavetes,John

Minnie and Moskowitz

C,F,I,Q

Cassavetes,John

Opening Night

A,B,C,I,N,Q

Cassavetes,John

Shadows (first version)

Ray Carney has video and film copies: Note: Gena Rowlands wants to suppress ths work

Cassavetes,John

Shadows (second version)

B,C,F,I,N,Q

Cassavetes,John

Too Late Blues

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Cassavetes,John

A Woman Under the Influence

A,B,F,C,N,Q

Chaplin, Charlie

City Lights

A,C,Q

Chaplin, Charlie

Modern Times

A,C,Q

Chaplin, Charlie

The Gold Rush

A,C,Q

Clarke, Alan

Rita, Sue and Bob Too

A,F,Q

Clarke, Alan

Contact

Video clips are available here

Clarke, Alan

Made in Britain

A,F,Q

Clarke, Alan

Scum

A,F,Q

Clarke, Alan

Christine

Still unavailable on video

Clarke, Shirley

Bridges Go Round

*

Clarke, Shirley

Portrait of Jason

B,F

Conner, Bruce

Breakaway

F

Conner, Bruce

Cosmic Ray

*

Conner, Bruce

Looking for Mushrooms

*

Conner, Bruce

Marilyn Times Five

F

Conner, Bruce

Mona Lisa

*

Conner, Bruce

Mongoloid

F

Conner, Bruce

A Movie

F

Conner, Bruce

Permian Strata

F

Conner, Bruce

Report

*

Conner, Bruce

The Rose

*

Conner, Bruce

Take the 5:10 to Dreamland

*

Conner, Bruce

Ten Second Film

F

Conner, Bruce

Valse Triste

*

Conner, Bruce

Vivian

F

Conner, Bruce

White Rose

F

DeSica, Vittorio

Bicycle Thief

A,F

DeSica, Vittorio

Umberto D

A,F

Dreyer, Carl

Day of Wrath

A,C,Q

Dreyer, Carl

Gertrud

A,C,F,Q

Dreyer, Carl

Ordet

A,C,Q

Dreyer, Carl

Passion of Joan of Arc

A,B,C,I,N,Q

Dreyer, Carl

Vampyr

A,B,C,I,N,Q

Duplass, Mark & Jay

Intervention (short)

B, click here

Duplass, Mark & Jay

The New Brad (short)

click here

Duplass, Mark & Jay

The Puffy Chair

A,B,N, click here

Duplass, Mark & Jay

Scrabble/Scrapple (short)

B, click here

Duplass, Mark & Jay

This Is John (short)

B, click here

Engel, Morris

Little Fugitive

A,B,F,N,Q

Engel, Morris

Lovers and Lollipops

A,F,Q

Engel, Morris

Weddings and Babies

A,F,Q

Fassbinder, Rainer Werner

In a Year of 13 Moons

B,F,Q

Fassbinder, Rainer Werner

Marriage of Maria Braun

A,B,C,F,Q

Fellini, Frederico

Amarcord

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Friedrich, Su

Damned If You Don’t

B,O

Friedrich, Su

Hide and Seek

B,O

Friedrich, Su

The Odds of Recovery

B,O

Friedrich, Su

Rules of the Road

O

Friedrich, Su

Sink or Swim

O

Friedrich, Su

The Ties That Bind

B,O

Gallo, Vince

Buffalo 66

A,B,C,F,I,N

Garcia, Rodrigo

Nine Lives

A,B,C

Ginsberg, Milton Moses

Coming Apart

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Haynes, Todd

Safe

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Haynes, Todd

Superstar

*

Hook, Harry

The Kitchen Toto

A,F,Q

Jarmusch, Jim

Mystery Train

A,B,C,F,I,N

Jarmusch, Jim

Stranger than Paradise

A,B,C,F,N

Jarmusch, Jim

Down by Law

A,B,C,F,N

Jost, Jon

All the Vermeers in New York

A,C,F,N,Q

Jost, Jon

Bell Diamond

F

Jost, Jon

Common Sense

F

Jost, Jon

Last Chants for a Slow Dance

F

Jost, Jon

Plain Talk

F

Jost, Jon

Rembrandt Laughing

F

Jost, Jon

Sure Fire

F

Jost, Jon

The Bed You Sleep In

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Kanievski, Dietai

Freeze, Die, Come To Life

*

Kar Wai, Wong

2046

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Karpovsky, Alex

The Hole Story

B

Keaton, Buster

The Cameraman

B,G,N

Keaton, Buster

The General

A,B,C,F,N

Keaton, Buster

Go West

B,C,F,M,N

Keaton, Buster

Our Hospitality/ Sherlock, Jr.

F

Keaton, Buster

The Paleface

C

Keaton, Buster

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

B,C,F,N

Kiarostami, Abbas

Life Goes On

*

Kiarostami, Abbas

Taste of Cherry

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Korine, Harmony

Gummo

B,C,F,N,Q

Korine, Harmony

Julian Donkey Boy

A,B,C,F,N,Q

Korty, John

The Crazy Quilt

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Korty, John

Funnyman

A

Korty, John

Riverrun

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Kramer, Robert

Ice

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Kramer, Robert

Milestones

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Kramer, Robert

Route One

F

Kramer, Robert

Starting Place

F,M

Leigh, Mike

Abigail’s Party

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

Afternoon

*

Leigh, Mike

Bleak Moments

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

Grown-ups

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

Hard Labour

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

High Hopes

A,F,Q

Leigh, Mike

Home Sweet Home

A,B,F,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

Kiss of Death

A,F,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

Life Is Sweet

A,F

Leigh, Mike

Meantime

A,B,C,F,I,NQ

Leigh, Mike

Naked

B,C,F,I,N

Leigh, Mike

Nuts in May

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Leigh, Mike

A Sense of History

Still not available (but shown in Ray Carney's film classes)

Leigh, Mike

The Short and Curlies

F

Leigh, Mike

Who’s Who

A,B,F,N,Q

Linklater, Rick

Waking Life

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Loach, Ken

Raining Stones

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Loden, Barbara

Wanda

A,B,F,G,N

Lowenstein, Richard

Dogs in Space

A,F,Q

Marker, Chris

La Jetee

A,B,F

Marker, Chris

Le Joli Mai

B,F

Marker, Chris

Sans Soleil

A,B,F,Q

May, Elaine

Heartbreak Kid

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

May, Elaine

Mikey and Nicky

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Merhige, Edmund Elias

Begotten

*

Mizoguchi, Kenji

The 47 Ronin

A,F,I

Mizoguchi, Kenji

A Geisha

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Crucified Lovers

F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

The Lady of Musashino

F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Life of Oharu

A,F,M

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Osaka Elegy

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Princess Yang Kwei Fei

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Sansho the Bailiff

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Shin Heiki Monogatari

F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Sisters of Gion

A,F,M

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Story of the Last Chrysanthemum

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Street of Shame

A,F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Taira Clan Saga

F

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Ugetsu

A,B,C,F,I,M,N

Mizoguchi, Kenji

Utamaro and His Five Women

A,F

Morrison, Phil

Junebug

A,B,F,I

Morrissey, Paul

Flesh

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Morrissey, Paul

Heat

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Morrissey, Paul

Trash

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Morrissey, Paul

Lonesome Cowboys

A

Nilsson, Rob

Signal 7

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Nilsson, Rob

Heat and Sunlight

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Noonan, Tom

What Happened Was

F,Q

Noonan, Tom

The Wife

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Autumn Afternoon

A,F,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Early Summer

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Equinox Flower

A,F

Ozu, Yasujiro

Flavor of Green Tea over Rice

F

Ozu, Yasujiro

Floating Weeds

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Good Morning (Ohayo)

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

I Was Born, But…

A,F,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Late Autumn

A,F

Ozu, Yasujiro

Late Spring

A,B,F,I,N,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Passing Fancy

*

Ozu, Yasujiro

Record of A Tenement Gentleman

A,F,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family

*

Ozu, Yasujiro

The Only Son

*

Ozu, Yasujiro

There Was A Father

*

Ozu, Yasujiro

Tokyo Story

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Ozu, Yasujiro

Tokyo Twilight

B

Paradjanov, Sergo

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

F,Q

Penn, Sean

Indian Runner

A,B,C,F

Radford, Michael

Another Time, Another Place

F

Rappaport, Mark

Casual Relations

F

Rappaport, Mark

Chain Letters

F

Rappaport, Mark

Impostors

F

Rappaport, Mark

Local Color

F

Rappaport, Mark

Mozart In Love

F (out of print)

Rappaport, Mark

Rock Hudson’s Home Movies

A,B,F,N,Q

Rappaport, Mark

Scenic Route

F

Renoir, Jean

Grand Illusion

A,C,I,N,Q

Renoir, Jean

Rules of the Game

A,B,C,I,N,Q

Rizzo, Fran

Sullivan’s Last Call

F

Rosenblatt, Jay

Friend Good

Available for rental here.

Rosenblatt, Jay

Human Remains

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

I Used to be a Filmmaker

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

King of the Jews

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

Period Piece

B and see above

Rosenblatt, Jay

A Pregnant Moment

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

Restricted

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

Short of Breath

See above

Rosenblatt, Jay

Underground Zero

A

Ross, Frank V

Quietly On By

Available for purchase here.

Rossellini, Roberto

Voyage in Italy

A,B,F,Q

Schmidt, Rick

Morgan's Cake

B,F

Spencer, Jane

Little Noises

B,Q

Seder, Sam

Who’s the Caboose?

B

Sokurov, Alexander

Confession

B,F,I,M,Q

Sokurov, Alexander

Father and Son

B,C,F,I,M,N

Sokurov, Alexander

Moloch

B,F,I,M,N

Sokurov, Alexander

Moscow Elegy

F

Sokurov, Alexander

Mother and Son

B,C,F,M

Sokurov, Alexander

Russian Ark

B,C,F,I,M,N,Q

Sokurov, Alexander

Second Circle

B,F,I,N

Sokurov, Alexander

Spiritual Voices

B,F,I,M,N,Q

Tarkovsky, Andrei

Sacrifice

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Tarkovsky, Andrei

Stalker

A,C,F,Q

Tati, Jacques

Playtime

A,C,F,I,N,Q

Vinterberg, Thomas

The Celebration

A,B,C,F,I,Q

Viola, Bill

Bill Viola: Selected Works

F

Viola, Bill

Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart

G,N

Viola, Bill

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

F

Viola, Bill

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

F

Viola, Bill

The Passing

F

Visconti, Luchino

Bellissimo

F

Visconti, Luchino

Boccacio ‘70

F,N

Visconti, Luchino

Conversation Piece

F

Visconti, Luchino

Death in Venice

B,C,F,I,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

La Terra Trema

B,C,F,I,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

Le Notti Bianche

B,C,F,I,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

Ludwig

F

Visconti, Luchino

Ossessione

B,C,F,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

Rocco & His Brothers

B,C,F,M,N,Q

Visconti, Luchino

Sandra of A Thousand Delights

F,M

Visconti, Luchino

Senso

C,F,I

Visconti, Luchino

The Damned

B,C,F,I,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

The Leopard

B,F,I,M,N

Visconti, Luchino

The Nun of Monza

B

Von Trier, Lars

Breaking the Waves

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Von Trier, Lars

Dancer in the Dark

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Von Trier, Lars

Dogville

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Watkins, Peter Commune *
Watkins, Peter Edvard Munch *
Watkins, Peter Punishment Park *
Watkins, Peter The War Game *

Weill, Claudia

Girlfriends

A,B,F,Q

Weiner, Charlie

Rumba

*

Zahedi, Caveh

I Am A Sex Addict

A,B,C,F,N

Zahedi, Caveh

A Little Stiff

A,Q

Zwigoff, Terry

Ghost World

A,B,C,F,I,N,Q

Rental/Purchase Sources — DVD/VHS availability (as of 2006):

A = www.amazon.com
B = www.blockbuster.com
C = www.cafeDVD.com
F = http://rentweb.facets.org
G = www.greencine.com
I = www.intelliflix.com
M = www.moviesunlimited.com
N = www.netflix.com
O = www.outcast-films.com
Q = www.qwikfliks.com

Mail-order companies that stock “the other movies”:

Facets Video: 800-331-6197 or 312-281-9075
Home Film Festival: 800-258-3456

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

J.P. Carpio’s Film Picks:

Director Film Title
Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Distant, Climates
Dardenne, Pierre and Luc La Promesse, Rosetta, The Son, The Child
Diaz, Lav Batang Westside, Evolution of a Filipino Family
Hsiao-Hsien, Hou City of Sadness, Goodbye South, Goodbye, Cafe Lumiere, etc.
Jeturian, Jeffrey Kubrador (The Bet Collector)
Kaurismaki, Aki The Man without a Past
Martin, Raya Indio Nacional
Ming-Liang, Tsai Rebels of a Neon God, Vive L'Amour, The Hole, The River, What Time is it There, The Wayward Cloud, Goodbye Dragon Inn
Pialat, Maurice Van Gogh
Reygadas, Carlos Japon, Battle in Heaven
Rivette, Jacques La Belle Noiseuse
Sautet, Claude The Things in Life, Vincent, Francois, Paul and Others, A Heart in Winter
Tarr, Bela Satantango, Weickmeister Harmonies
Torres, John Todos Todos Terros
Vigo, Jean L'Atalante
Yang, Edward A One and a Two, A Brighter Summer Day


Donal Foreman’s Film Picks:

Director Film Title(s)
Fassbinder, Rainer Werner Querelle, Fear Eats the Soul, Veronika Voss
Fotopoulos, James *
Garrel, Phillippe *
Godard The Origins of the 21st Century, Eloge de L’Amour, Notre Musique
Greene, David Gordon All the Real Girls
Hawks, Howard *
Herzog, Werner Aguirre, Wrath of God
Hsiao-Hsien, Hou Millenium Mambo, The Puppetmaster, A Time To Live and A Time To Die, Three Times
Kerrigan, Lodge Keane
Kiarostami, Abbas Ten, The Wind Will Carry Us, Through the Olive Trees, Where Is My Friend’s House Close Up
Leigh, Mike Four Nuts in May
Makmahlbaf, Mohsen *
Makmahlbaf, Samira *
Malick, Terence The Thin Red Line, The New World
Mankiewics, Joseph All About Eve, The Barefoot Contessa
Minelli, Vincente The Band Wagon
Murnau Sunrise
Paradjanov, Sergei The Colour of Pomegranates
Pasolini, Pier Paolo Accatone, Mamma Roma
Ramsay, Lynne Morvern Callar
Ray, Nicholas A Rebel Without A Cause
Sollett, Peter Five Feet High and Rising (Adapted into Raising Victor Vargas)
Suwa, Nobuhiro A Perfect Couple
Swanberg, Joe *
Tarkovsky, Andrei Mirror, Andrei Rublev
Tscherkassky, James *
Zvyagintsev, Andrei The Return


Dan Jones's Director Picks

Theo Angelopoulos  
Chantal Akerman  
Abbas Kiarostami  
Mohsen Makmahlbaf  
Dardenne Brothers  
Pedro Almodovar  
Hou Hsiao-Hsien  
Zhang Yimou  
Ousman Sembene  
Idrissa Sissako  
Edward Yang  
Wong Kar-Wai  
Jim Jarmusch  
Lars Von Trier  
Harmony Korine  
Werner Herzog  
Alexander Sokurov  
Jafar Panahi  
Tsai Ming-Liang  
Su Friedrich  
Jay Rosenblatt  
Bela Tarr  
Takeshi Kitano  
Hayao Miyazaki  
Kim Ki-Duk  
Guy Maddin  
Claud Sautet  
Claire Denis  
Olivier Assayas  
Atom Egoyan  
Mike Leigh  
David O. Russell  
Ken Loach  
Charles Burnett  
Gillian Armstrong  
Chris Marker  
Bill Greaves  
Phil Morrison  
Caveh Zahedi  
Greg Watkins  
Arnaud Desplechin  
Denys Arcand  
Jean-Luc Godard  
Steve Buscemi  
Richard Linklater (when he's not pandering)  
Nuri Bilge Ceylan  
Alexander Rogozhkin  
Ira Sachs  
Hal Hartley  
Eric Rohmer  
Ermano Olmi  
Tengiz Abuladze  
Jacques Rivette  

Emil Øversveen's Picks:

Great list... lot of favorites, lot of things I've not seen, and most excitingly of all, a lot of things I haven't heard about before ... In addition to those mentioned I'd also add:

Oshima Nagisa Shame that this master of Japanese cinema gets slept on ... His run from the mid-sixties to the seventies is one of the greatest in all of cinema. Very diverse style. His greatest are The Ceremony, Diary of A Shinjuku Thief, Night and Fog in Japan and Death By Hanging.
Hani Susuni Inferno of First Love Great, very sensitive japanese new wave film about a conflicted young man condemned of molesting a small child ... Criminally underlooked as are most JNW films.
Victor Erice Very beautiful director reminiscent of both Tarkovsky and Kiarostami. The Spirit of the Beehive is truly one of the most gorgeous stretches of celluloid ever exposed, one of the truly few films to capture the magic of youth.. Sol de membrillo is also great yet a very different animal indeed, needs to be experienced.
Stan Brakhage Really one of my big inspirations. Taught me how to see in new ways, and blew open many doors for me regarding cinema.. I love Commingled Containers, Dog Star Man and Mothlight in particular, but he's got so much stuff that's absolutely ESSENTIAL.
Naruse Mikio Another japanese director... Seems to finally be getting his due on DVD now. I have really only seen one of his films - When A Woman Ascends the Stairs - but it was gorgeous, pretty ozu-esque in content but world's apart in style and featuring a very sensitive and finely felt lead performance by miss Takamine Hideko.

 

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© Text Copyright 2006 by Ray Carney. All rights reserved. May not be reprinted without written permission of the author.