Of a lost Joan, eagles, Winnie Atwell's piano, octopi, totty, Time Warp, and the return of a Queen

Costume designer Edith Head called this frock "cinema’s single biggest influence on fashion"

It's another snippets post, dear reader:

• Nymphomaniac news: Letty Lynton, a scandalous Joan Crawford film about sex and murder that - thanks to a long-standing lawsuit - was pulled from cinemas and has remained unseen for ninety years, is finally getting shown, thanks to the great lady's grandson. The Art Deco settings and outfits by Adrian [as per "that dress" above] alone would make it worth a watch!

• Where eagles dare news: The magnificent golden eagle, one of Britain's biggest birds, is finally set to be reintroduced to England after more than 150 years, with a boost of government funding.

• Go East, young man news: The remarkable new V&A East museum opens its doors this weekend. Planned as an "open space" for visitors and locals alike, its emphasis is on 'making' and the process of craft and creation. The first showcase exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story apparently features outfits worn by everyone from Dame Shirley Bassey to Sade to Stormzy, Joan Armatrading's guitar, Winifred Atwell's piano and much more besides.
• When is an octopus not an octopus? news: A fossil believed to be "the world's oldest octopus" has been proven, using new technology, to be another primitive sea creature altogether.

[click any pic to embiggen]

• Hot Paprika news: Hungary's new prime minister Péter Magyar is not just a breath of fresh air for that country after years of repressive government, he's also a rather tasty bit of totty! [And Mistress Maddie agrees.]
• It's astounding news: Half a century on, and three of its stars Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn ("Brad", "Columbia", "Magenta") are reuniting for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular UK tour, which hits London's Dominion Theatre this weekend. Little Nell spills the tea on everything from Freddie Mercury to Mick Jagger to Disney erasing her nipple...
• And finally - Our Glorious Leader news: Madonna has a new album out this year - and even more fabulous is the fact that it's a sequel to her superb Confessions On A Dance Floor, from way back in 2005! Confessions II, released in July, is a return collaboration with Stuart Price - who produced the original - and here, for your delectation, is a teeny-tiny teaser snippet:

Madonna - I Feel So Free (Preview)

It's a bit trance-y, so more like her Ray of Light era - but exciting nonetheless!

And the weather? It's been threatening to rain all day, but that never happened. I'm back in work for the day tomorrow, and it looks better (sigh) - but then, so does the weekend!