Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

New Book: Thank Heaven by Leslie Caron

2009-11-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

Good news for fans of classic film in general, and musicals in particular: Leslie Caron's autobiography, THANK HEAVEN, will be released later this week.

The book's publication date is November 25, 2009.

Caron's book should be very interesting. The stories she tells in DVD interviews (i.e., AN AMERICAN IN PARIS) about her experiences as a young ballerina, transitioning from war-torn Paris to Hollywood, are fascinating.

Caron currently operates a bed and breakfast in France. Wouldn't a visit be wonderful?

Notable Passing: Author Patricia Veryan

2009-11-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

Historial romance author Patricia Veryan has passed away. She was a few days short of her 86th birthday.

Veryan was considered by many to be the successor to Georgette Heyer.

Veryan's many books are available from Amazon.

My favorite title to date is LOVE'S DUET. It has been years since I read it, but I remember marveling at the elegance of Veryan's writing and how every single word really mattered.

Tonight's Movie: Sally and Saint Anne (1952)

2009-11-21T20:07:00.001-08:00

SALLY AND SAINT ANNE is a movie I loved watching on TV when I was growing up. Since then it seems to have disappeared from the airwaves. I've been looking for it this year and tonight I was able to see it again for the first time in decades. It's the movie equivalent of comfort food -- nothing notably special, but the boisterous O'Moyne family are good company. Watching the film again, I could see why it had appealed to me so much when I saw it years ago. It's a most enjoyable little movie.

Sweet Sally O'Moyne (Ann Blyth) lives in a small town with her parents (Frances Bavier and Otto Hulett) and her wacky older brothers (Jack Kelly, Hugh O'Brian, and Lamont Johnson). Sally's Grandfather Ryan (Edmund Gwenn), who has been "dying" for 20 years, spends his days in an upstairs bedroom.

As she grows up, Sally acquires a reputation around town for her willingness to ask Saint Anne's intercession for her friends' prayer requests. Sally's faith is particularly tested when mean Goldtooth McCarthy (John McIntire) tries to turn the O'Moynes out of their family home. And on a romantic front, how can Sally attract the attention of college man Johnny Evans (Gregg Palmer, then known as Palmer Lee) away from Lois (Kathleen Hughes), a haughty Bostonian who moves to town?

That's pretty much all there is to the movie, an uncomplicated comedy about love of God, family, and home. The O'Moynes are a warm, loving, and slightly goofy family, a dynamic which is nicely underscored when a smitten Johnny takes Grandpa's advice and moves in with the family in order to court Sally. Johnny fits right in with the crazy bunch.

Ann Blyth is lovely in the title role, and the presence of some familiar TV faces adds to the fun. Frances Bavier, who plays Mrs. O'Moyne, is best known as Aunt Bee from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. Hugh O'Brian was three years away from playing WYATT EARP when he played Danny, the boxing brother who has taken a few hits to the head too many. Jack Kelly, who plays Mike, an aspiring magician, was still half a decade away from his starring turn with James Garner on MAVERICK; seeing Kelly as "The Great O'Moyne," constantly shuffling decks of cards for his magic tricks, almost seems like a preview of Kelly's role as one of TV's most famous poker players.

The film includes a very memorable sequence in which the O'Moyne house is jacked up and moved. Sally, arriving home from a dance, finds her house has left without her and follows it down the street, then climbs the front steps and walks inside as it slowly creaks along on its way. That's a scene which has stayed with me all these years.

The supporting cast includes King Donovan, Dabbs Greer, George Mathews, and Alix Talton. Perennial bit player Bess Flowers can be spotted at the country club dance.

SALLY AND SAINT ANNE was directed by Rudolph Mate. It was shot in black and white and runs 90 minutes.

SALLY AND SAINT ANNE has not had a VHS or DVD release. Perhaps at some point it will be a candidate for TCM's new Universal on Demand DVD program. In the meantime, a pretty good DVD-R copy, originally recorded by a private collector from AMC back in its commercial-free days, can be obtained from Free Classic Movies on DVD.

SALLY AND SAINT ANNE is recommended as solid family fun, the kind of wholesome, pleasant entertainment which is a rarity in Hollywood these days.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

2009-11-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...I rarely patronize Starbucks, but I never miss buying their annual Christmas mix CD, which always has a nice blend of well-chosen tracks. This year's CD includes songs by Crosby, Martin, Cole, Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Lee, Day, and even Julie London. (Click the title of this post for more details.) I'll be picking it up later today.

...Mark Steyn's centennial tribute to Johnny Mercer was published this week by Maclean's.

...TV Shows on DVD reports that the new BBC version of EMMA comes to DVD in the U.S. on February 9, 2010.

...The Wall Street Journal has posted an informative article on the unelected 15-member commission which would be responsible for rationing medical care under a Senate plan.

...Here's an interview with editor Ruth Reichl about life after the shutdown of Gourmet magazine.

...California has gone ahead with its ban on the sale of big-screen TVs, which takes effect a little over a year from now, with even more stringent rules going into effect in 2013. It's estimated that 75% of big-screen TVs currently on the market will be banned from legal sale in California as of 2013. California's government seems determined to kill the economy on the one hand, while refusing to face up to the need for more energy sources on the other. The government would rather restrict its citizens' freedom that create more energy.

...Sandra Bullock's new movie THE BLIND SIDE sounds really good. It's from John Lee Hancock, the director of THE ROOKIE (2002).

...Forbes analyzes whether Fox News Channel is truly "fair and balanced" in an interesting by-the-numbers article.

...Fred Barnes has a good piece on President Obama's inability to grasp economics and his disdain for business.

...Katie is gradually posting a list of her favorite 100 films of the '30s at Obscure Classics. I particularly enjoyed her thoughts on LOVERS COURAGEOUS (1932), which I reviewed here, and HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937), reviewed by me here.

...Wish I had time to check out this interesting 1939 Festival at UCLA...they are showing some lesser-known films from Hollywood's Golden Year, including Deanna Durbin's FIRST LOVE, Ginger Rogers' 5TH AVE GIRL, and Tyrone Power's JESSE JAMES. They're also screening John Farrow's FIVE CAME BACK, a very creepy film which made a big impression when I first saw it as a teen at the L.A. County Museum of Art. (It was later remade as BACK FROM ETERNITY with Robert Ryan.)

...REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940) is a Christmas film which has been rediscovered by many film fans over the past couple of years, thanks to screenings on TCM. The movie, which stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, is now available on DVD as part of TCM's new Universal on Demand program. The movie is remastered and has extras. I'm definitely interested in adding this to our shelf of Christmas movies.

...The Classic Maiden is reviewing some of Claudette Colbert's early films. I'd sure like to see SECRETS OF A SECRETARY (1931), costarring Herbert Marshall.

...The 8th Annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival is coming in January. Details here. The scheduled films include a restored print of Dick Powell's CRY DANGER (1951).

Have a great weekend!

Read Every Word

2009-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Todd Beamer's father, David, has written an outstanding editorial about the Obama Administration's mind-boggling decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others in New York courts.

Todd Beamer, of course, was one of the heroes who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11.

Among Mr. Beamer's points: "Mr. Holder said that he and his boss had not spoken in person about this decision. This matter only involves upholding the constitutional rights of Americans, establishing a precedent with battlefield impact, and the safety and security of our citizens in a time of war. What are the criteria to make something a priority with President Barack Obama? How can it be that this matter didn't make the cut?"

Mary Katharine Ham has more reactions from 9/11 families in an article at the Weekly Standard.

TCM Festival Update

2009-11-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

This week Turner Classic Movies announced additional information about its TCM Classic Film Festival, which will be held next April in Hollywood.

Leonard Maltin, Peter Bogdanovich, and Douglas Trumbull are the first names announced to appear at the Festival.

The first films announced to be screened at the festival include a restored copy of A STAR IS BORN (1954) and a presentation of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) with Trumbull in attendance.

Unfortunately, the cost of passes is prohibitively expensive. Four-day passes start at $500 (temporarily discounted to $400) and go up from there.

According to a FAQ on the Festival site, no one-day passes will be sold. Tickets for individual events will only be sold at the box office on the date of the film's screening, with no advance online purchase available...which means you'll have no idea until you get there if making the drive to Hollywood for an individual screening will be worth the time and expense.

It also appears from the FAQ that children under the age of 13 are not allowed to attend the Festival. So much for cultivating the classic film fans of the future...my 11-year-old could teach some adults a thing or two about classic movies (grin).

It's really too bad they're not following the lead of an event like Disney's D23 Expo, which was much more affordable and allowed visitors to "test the waters" with a one-day pass. Granted, Disney has deep corporate pockets available to support its Expo, but TCM's Festival seems calculated to price out of the market all but those with plenty of disposable income, i.e., singles. For a couple or a family, that's a lot of money, especially these days.

'Tis a disappointment, but I wish TCM well. If the Festival is a success perhaps there will be more budget-friendly options in future years.

Warner Archive Plans Improvements

2009-11-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

Lou Lumenick of the New York Post has interviewed George Feltenstein of Warner Home Video.

Feltenstein reports that the company is going to be setting "a higher bar for quality" for Archive releases due to fan complaints.

The lovely film OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945), starring Margaret O'Brien and Edward G. Robinson in one of MGM's finest pieces of mid-'40s Americana, was released to the Archive yesterday in a remastered print which Feltenstein says is "beautiful."

Curiously, the Archive listing for this film says it has not been remastered.

Which leads me to wonder A) if in the future remastered films will be labeled on the Archive website so that consumers know what's what (they need to fix that inaccurate OUR VINES listing!); and B) if they will be overhauling their dreadful website, which is hard to navigate and at times is slow as molasses.

One also wonders if the planned changes are in response to TCM's new Universal On Demand program, which promises remastered prints and extras.

I continue to believe the Archive's goal of making everything in their vault available to consumers is a good idea, but especially for the high prices they're charging, it just doesn't make sense to purchase many of their unremastered films. I have bought four Archive films this year -- three at a discounted price -- of hard-to-find movies I really wanted to see which have not aired on TCM recently. Otherwise, if I already have recorded a movie from TCM to tape, I can't see a reason to buy the DVD since it's probably going to look just like what I recorded from TV; the DVD's don't even have the convenience of chapter selections, which are a must for musicals, in particular.

Feltenstein says again that Warner has a "robust" schedule planned for regular DVD releases, but all that's mentioned in this particular article are projects which were disclosed many months ago, such as the long-awaited Film Noir Volume 5 and another set of Errol Flynn films.

I think the fact that the program for regular DVD releases has been dramatically scaled back needs to be addressed honestly. Warner's regular customers aren't blind (or "myopic," a curious comment which appeared in quotes in the article). We also know the current DVD market is undergoing changes. So why not simply address what's going on directly rather than continue to pretend things are still "robust"?

Circling back to the beginning of this post, I applaud Warner for taking steps to remaster more films. Mr. Feltenstein is a great friend to classic movies on DVD, and that fact should not be lost amidst the constructive criticism.

Tonight's Movie: Vacation From Marriage (1945)

2009-11-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

Robert (Robert Donat), a mousy accountant, and timid, sickly Cathy (Deborah Kerr) have settled into a dull marriage in their drab London flat. Robert joins the Royal Navy in 1940, and Cathy thereafter joins the Wrens, leading to a separation of three years. During their military service, Robert and Cathy each blossom into new people thanks to this VACATION FROM MARRIAGE.

This film is a wonderful mood piece, capturing rainy wartime London as well as the interesting evolution of two staid, quiet people into bold new personalities. The film tells Robert and Cathy's parallel stories as they settle into their new jobs, uneasily at first and then with growing confidence. Each serves their country with heroism, and they also come to realize they are desirable, thanks to the interest of Richard (Roland Culver) in Cathy and Elena (Ann Todd) in Robert. As time passes, Robert and Cathy are each increasingly certain they don't want to return to their old way of life.

The movie should be seen in one sitting to fully appreciate the gradual transformation of the characters. It's almost difficult to watch them in the early scenes, between Cathy's endless sneezing and Robert's vacant stares. The characters of the movie's first scenes bear no resemblance to the dashing Robert and Cathy of the final reel.

My one quibble is that I would have liked to see a bit more of Cathy and Robert's new relationship developed when they meet on leave near the end of the film. What exists in the film is wonderful, but the ending was just a little abrupt.

The U.S. version shown on Turner Classic Movies is 93 minutes, whereas the version shown in England ran 102 minutes. I'm curious to know if the British version -- called PERFECT STRANGERS -- is available and what was left out of the U.S. print. Incidentally, according to IMDb, U.S. prints originally featured an introduction by Peter Lawford; it was not included in the print I recorded from TCM some time ago.

The movie was produced in Britain by MGM, which shortly thereafter brought Kerr to the United States to star opposite Clark Gable in THE HUCKSTERS (1947). Donat had had a big success at the same studio, winning the Best Actor Oscar for GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1939) -- an Oscar which, ironically, some feel should have gone to Clark Gable for GONE WITH THE WIND.

Alexander Korda directed VACATION FROM MARRIAGE. Clemence Dane won the Oscar for Best Original Story.

The supporting cast includes Glynis Johns as Cathy's friend in the Wrens and Caven Watson as Robert's friend Scotty.

This film does not appear to have had a video or DVD release in either Britain or the U.S.

TCM has the trailer available here.

FNC's Jennifer Griffin Fighting Cancer

2009-11-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

Fox News Channel's Pentagon correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, has been off the air the last few weeks as she battles breast cancer.

Griffin, who previously reported for Fox from Israel, has three young children, including a baby born earlier this year.

I have admired Griffin's work for years and was sorry to learn this news. I'm sending prayers her way for strength and a successful outcome.

Tonight's Movie: The Jungle Princess (1936)

2009-11-16T22:17:00.000-08:00

British explorer Christopher Powell (Ray Milland) injures his leg on a foray into the jungle. The rest of Chris's party gives him up for dead, but he's rescued by THE JUNGLE PRINCESS, Ulah (Dorothy Lamour).

When Chris is able to return to his friends' camp, lovestruck Ulah follows him, precipitating a showdown between Chris and his fiancee (Molly Lamont), as well as between the British explorers and the natives, who fear the mysterious Ulah and her pet tiger.

The film is pure escapism which requires the willing suspension of disbelief on multiple occasions, but it's fun. In essence the movie is a reverse of the TARZAN story, with the girl who has grown up alone with jungle animals rescuing the British man. The movie is marred only by an overly violent climax, although I did love the "flying monkeys."

The two leads, Lamour and Milland, throw themselves into their roles with enthusiasm; they're the reasons the movie works as well as it does. This was Lamour's first "sarong" role, and she became a star playing Ulah. Lamour is quite good, especially given that she must convey her role without the benefit of using much English. She gets to sing the haunting "Moonlight and Shadows" after Chris teaches her the words.

Milland, as always, is a charmer; I love his wry humor. It's fun to watch Chris's journey as he goes from jungle "outsider" to loving not only Ulah but her animals, who initially terrify him.

Lynne Overman, who plays Milland's friend, has some good lines as he meets Ulah. The cast also includes Akim Tamiroff and Hugh Buckler.

THE JUNGLE PRINCESS was directed by William Thiele. It was shot in black and white and runs 85 minutes.

This movie has not had a video or DVD release. A reasonably good copy of this hard-to-find film can be obtained from Free Classic Movies on DVD. The print has flaws and a couple brief blips and skips, but overall it's quite watchable. I've wanted to see this movie for years, so I was delighted to finally have the opportunity to watch it, even if it wasn't in pristine condition.

Turner Classic Movies will be showing more Paramount films next year -- Milland's THE UNINVITED and KITTY are coming to TCM in February -- so perhaps Paramount's THE JUNGLE PRINCESS will eventually make it to TCM as well.

Tonight's Movie: Sunday in New York (1963)

2009-11-15T21:54:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY IN NEW YORK is a very funny early '60s romantic comedy somewhat in the tradition of Doris Day and Rock Hudson's films.

I liked this movie from the moment Mel Torme started singing the title song over the opening credits. The film has a good score by Peter Nero, who has a cameo late in the movie.

The film is set entirely on, you guessed it, a Sunday in New York. Eileen (Jane Fonda) arrives in the big city to visit her brother Adam (Cliff Robertson), an airline pilot. Eileen is getting over a breakup with a serious boyfriend, who dumped her because she wouldn't agree to premarital sex.

Later that day, Eileen and Mike (Rod Taylor) "meet cute" on a 5th Avenue bus when the pin on Eileen's jacket snags Mike's suit. After a bumpy start, Mike and Eileen hit it off and spend the day together, eventually getting caught in the rain.

Mike and Eileen head back to Adam's apartment to dry off, and lo and behold Eileen's ex-boyfriend Russ (Robert Culp) arrives to apologize and propose marriage; because Eileen and Mike are both in bathrobes, Russ immediately assumes Mike is Eileen's brother, as they've never met. And we're off to the races...the moment when the real brother (Robertson) shows up leads to a couple of the funniest laugh-out-loud scenes I've seen in a long time. The movie made me think of some of the funniest episodes of one of my favorite TV series, FRASIER.

There's also an amusing subplot concerning Adam's attempts to spend time with his girlfriend Mona (Jo Morrow), which builds to a nice conclusion. Jim Backus plays Adam's airline boss.

The film is well-played by the entire cast, with particular kudos to the charming Taylor, whose expressions during the film's funniest scenes are a riot. When Taylor gets wound up, he can't keep his native Aussie accent from sneaking out, which I thought inadvertently made the film even funnier. Robertson also had some excellent comedic moments.

The screenplay was by Norman Krasna, based on his own play. Given Krasna's track record, it shouldn't be a surprised this film was such fun. Krasna's credits include comedy classics such as THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD (1934), BACHELOR MOTHER (1939), MR. AND MRS. SMITH (1941), IT STARTED WITH EVE (1941), and PRINCESS O'ROURKE (1943), along with many other entertaining movies.

SUNDAY IN NEW YORK was directed by Peter Tewksbury. It runs 105 minutes.

IMDb credits Jim Hutton as being a man in a Central Park rowboat. I'll be watching for him next time.

Parental advisory: This movie was released a couple of years before the current movie rating system went into effect, and the dialogue is surprising for its era. I would consider it a PG-13 rating due to frank discussions about premarital sex, as well as a couple of references to streetwalkers. The film's ultimate message is positive: good things happen to those who wait. I found the film presented a nice starting point for discussion with one of my teens.

SUNDAY IN NEW YORK has been released on VHS. It has not had a DVD release.

It can be seen on Turner Classic Movies, which will be showing the movie on December 21, 2009, and January 11, 2010.

The trailer can be seen at the TCM website.

Tonight's Movie: The Power and the Prize (1956)

2009-11-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

THE POWER AND THE PRIZE is a film about corporate warfare mixed with romance, in the tradition of other mid-'50s business-themed films such as EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954) and WOMAN'S WORLD (1954).

Cliff Barton (Robert Taylor) is the righthand man of George Salt (Burl Ives), chairman of Amalgamated World Metals. Cliff, as Salt's heir apparent, is also engaged to marry Salt's young niece Joanie (Nicola Michaels).

A business trip to London forces Cliff to confront his dissatisfaction with Salt's cutthroat business tactics. When Cliff meets and falls head over heels for a lovely war refugee pianist (Elisabeth Mueller), he also must face up to the fact that he is engaged to the wrong woman.

The film, which runs 98 minutes, moves a bit slowly at times, but it's nonetheless absorbing and is well worth seeing for the excellent cast. Robert Taylor fans will find it particularly enjoyable, as he appears in the vast majority of the scenes as the conflicted business executive whose core values are rock solid.

The attraction of the steady, mature Cliff to the excitable Miriam (Mueller) is somewhat perplexing at first, but it seems that the answer to their relationship must be, at least in part, that opposites attract. Maybe someone as passionate as Miriam, even though she could be a bit silly, was what Cliff needed in his life.

I found Elisabeth Mueller's character overdone, particularly in the early going, but the character improved as the film went on. I particularly liked her last few scenes. She has an interesting confrontation with Mary Astor, who plays Salt's wife. Astor makes the most of her very brief screen time.

Burl Ives plays the power-grabbing, ruthless tycoon Salt with an underlying layer of sadness which adds an interesting dimension. I particularly enjoyed Charles Coburn and Cedric Hardwicke as businessmen who see through Salt's machinations and realize which of Amalgamated's executives is made of the right stuff.

The film's supporting cast includes Cameron Prud'homme, Richard Deacon, Richard Erdman, and Ben Wright, who may be best known as Herr Zeller in THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965).

The film has a great look, thanks in large part to its cinematography and costume design. The movie was shot in black and white CinemaScope by the great George Folsey, a 13-time Oscar nominee. Folsey shot two of my favorite movies, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954). He also filmed EXECUTIVE SUITE.

Helen Rose was Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design for THE POWER AND THE PRIZE. Rose's most famous design was also created in 1956, but it wasn't for a film -- she designed Grace Kelly's wedding gown.

THE POWER AND THE PRIZE was directed by Henry Koster. If I see Koster's name on a movie, I know chances are excellent that I'm going to enjoy it. Koster directed some of Deanna Durbin's best films, including THREE SMART GIRLS (1936), FIRST LOVE (1939), and IT STARTED WITH EVE (1941); the somewhat overlooked romantic comedy THE RAGE OF PARIS (1938) starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Danielle Darrieux; the charming Irish fantasy THE LUCK OF THE IRISH (1948) starring Tyrone Power; and COME TO THE STABLE (1949), a lovely film about the power of Christian faith which deserves to find a much wider audience.

THE POWER AND THE PRIZE has not had a VHS or DVD release. It can be seen on Turner Classic Movies, which has the trailer available online.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

2009-11-14T15:20:00.001-08:00

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...I love Eric Tan's new posters for Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID and SLEEPING BEAUTY. Click the title of this post for more info about Tan's work, posted at Slashfilm.

...Speaking of Disney, this MiceChat Update has info on the executive job switch at the top of Disney theme parks management, as well as photos of Christmas decorations and the new Tiana's Showboat Jubilee. Looks like Disneyland parking will be a nightmare for some time to come...someone was asleep at the switch failing to think through the ramifications of shutting down the Timon lot to make way for Cars Land.

...Here's a nice spread on The Pioneer Woman from Southern Living, with thanks to J.C. at The Shelf.

...The L.A. Times recently ran an article on THE YOUNG VICTORIA as part of the run-up to the film's long-awaited U.S. release. It was due to come out yesterday but was pushed back to December 23rd.

...Current DVD sales for early Christmas shoppers: 50% Off Criterion DVDs at Barnes and Noble (I picked up THAT HAMILTON WOMAN)... 40% off the full retail price at Deep Discount through November 29th... A fabulous $5.79 per DVD sale at Amazon, with many classic titles available. Other titles are on sale for slightly higher prices.

...And some more movie shopping news, the Turner Classic Movies website has some cool stuff if you're shopping for a fan of classic movies and TCM.

...Season 4 of ADAM-12 is coming to DVD in February. My boys can't get enough of this show or another Jack Webb series, EMERGENCY!

...Last week the L.A. Times profiled Barbara Fairchild of Bon Appetit, the biggest food magazine left in business after the sudden demise of Gourmet.

...Here's a centennial tribute to Robert Ryan, and a nice photo spread on Ryan's BERLIN EXPRESS (1948).

...Margaret O'Brien, who starred as Tootie in the classic film MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), appears in person at the 2:00 stage performance of Musical Theatre West's production of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS on Sunday, November 15th, in Long Beach, California. I wish I had time to attend...but fortunately I was able to meet her when I was college age, and she very kindly signed a still from THE SECRET GARDEN (1949).

...This reissue of an old Ames Brothers Christmas CD was a great find for my Christmas music collection. It has some nice tracks, which can be sampled at Amazon.

...The L.A. Times published an overview of movie Scrooges through the years. My favorite CHRISTMAS CAROL movies are a tie between the sweet 1938 MGM version and what I consider the definitive production, which first aired in 1984, starring George C. Scott. Honorable mention goes to MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (1983). Feel free to contribute your vote for your favorite CHRISTMAS CAROL in the comments!

...Notable passing: David Lloyd, the brilliant comedy writer who wrote many episodes of THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, CHEERS, and FRASIER, has passed away at the age of 75. Lloyd's best-known script was the MTM SHOW's "Chuckles Bites the Dust," which is regularly listed among the all-time great TV episodes. As a fan of FRASIER, in particular, I feel blessed by all the laughter Mr. Lloyd brought into my life.

Have a great weekend!

What is Wrong With This President?

2009-11-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

President Obama bizarrely bowed deeply to another foreign head of state, in this case the Japanese Emperor -- undoing decades, if not centuries, of United States protocol.

As with the Saudi King, the bow was not returned. Instead we had the spectacle of the head of the U.S. government unilaterally humbling himself before another foreign dignitary.

Obama's bow was not normal, as demonstrated by an extensive photo series of heads of state meeting the Emperor, posted today at Free Republic.

Whatever else might be said about Obama -- and there is plenty -- it seems increasingly apparent that this man simply does not think as an American, or as an American President. There is something "off" in how he sees the United States and himself.

After this many months in office, one has to think he must be deliberately disregarding protocol advice from the State Department.

Will the "mainstream" media ignore it?

Meanwhile Obama also paid tribute to himself as the "first Pacific President" -- showing once more that he's a poor student of history.

Update: Jeff Jacoby on "Obama's Swelling Ego."

Update: More from Nathaniel Givens at America's Right.

Meanwhile, John Hinderaker at Power Line addresses Obama's dogged refusal to answer whether the United States was right to drop the atomic bomb to end World War II. Hinderaker concludes: "If Barack Obama can't stick up for the country he represents when he goes overseas, he should stay home."

Sunday Update: Paul Mirengoff of Power Line, writing in today's Washington Examiner: "Why Does He Hate Us? Barack Obama's America-Effacing Presidency."

Today at Disneyland: It's Christmas 2009!

2009-11-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

On a Friday evening just about exactly a year ago I posted photos of our first visit of Disneyland's extended Christmas season, and we visited again tonight.

We made a quick visit of about three hours late this afternoon. We said hello to friends, had a nice dinner, picked up the new issue of Disney Twenty-Three, and tried out my new camera.

New Orleans Square isn't yet completely decorated, but the beautiful lights are up at Royal Street near Court des Anges:

My new camera has a more powerful zoom; I was very pleased with how my castle photos turned out compared to last year.

We never tire of watching the evocative light and water show at Pixie Hollow:

City Hall at Town Square:

The Main Street Train Station dressed for Christmas (click to enlarge):

A tree near the World of Disney Store:

And for collectors, here's a peek at this year's Christmas-themed popcorn bucket and travel mug:

It was a lovely evening! We're looking forward to more visits in the coming weeks. One of the advantages to the combination of having passes and the extended season at the park is having the opportunity to savor Disneyland's holiday traditions bit by bit over the course of a few weeks.

Previous first visits of the season: 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Flight 1549 Reconstruction Video

2009-11-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

There's a fascinating video on YouTube which reconstructs the flight of United Airways 1549 in the seven minutes or so before it ditched in the Hudson River last January.

The images are accompanied by the radio transmissions. It really makes one realize anew just how short the time frame was to make critical decisions. I felt renewed appreciation for the calm professionalism of all involved.

(Hat tip: Holy Coast.)

Friday Update: Here's interesting background on the creation of the video by an engineer. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

Your Thursday Day-Brightener

2009-11-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Mental Floss has posted a series of links to heartwarming videos of dogs greeting their owners when they return from military deployment.

I haven't yet watched them all, but the few I watched this morning made me simultaneously laugh and tear up. The top one, in particular, of a dog so ecstatic it doesn't know what to do with itself, hopping in and out of her human's lap, is just wonderful.

Click the title of this post and take a look -- you'll be glad you did.

Now I'm going to go hug my dogs!

Fabulous Letty Lynton (1932)

2009-11-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

Just about a year ago I reviewed the terrific pre-Code LETTY LYNTON, a romantic crime drama starring Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery.

As detailed in my original review -- click the title of this post to read it -- LETTY LYNTON has a long, tangled legal history which has to date prevented it from being released on DVD or video. Whatever the original issues were, over 75 years on it's just not right that the public is prevented from seeing this American classic.

LETTY periodically comes and goes from YouTube; the Self-Styled Siren and Lou Lumenick call attention to the fact that right now LETTY is currently available. It's not a very good print, especially in the early going -- it looks much the same as the copy I was happily able to watch on a DVD-R -- but it's really worth seeing.

I couldn't resist clicking and watching some of the shipboard scenes and then the final sequence.

This film has perhaps my favorite Crawford performance, and one of my top 5 or so favorite Montgomery performances as Letty's knight in shining armor, Jerry. Jerry's quick thinking, along with unexpected help from another quarter, saves the day in a wonderfully staged finale verbally dueling with prosecutor Lewis Stone.

LETTY LYNTON is one of my very favorite pre-Code movies, along with Loretta Young's MIDNIGHT MARY (1933).

As I wrote at the time, the film is "pure pre-Code heaven." I highly recommend checking it out while it's available. If it disappears, keep checking back...it will likely turn up again in the future.

Tonight's Movie: Five Fingers (1952)

2009-11-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

FIVE FINGERS is a highly absorbing WWII thriller about a spy (James Mason) selling British secrets to the Germans.

Ulysses Diello (Mason) serves as valet to the British ambassador (Walter Hampden) to Turkey during World War II. Diello also uses his unquestioned access to the embassy to photograph top secret war documents, which he sells to the Germans. Diello feels no allegiance to any particular country, but wants to make money -- lots of it -- and then retire to the good life in Rio. Diello hopes to enjoy Rio with Anna (Danielle Darrieux), an impoverished Polish countess whose husband once employed Diello.

The British soon realize that secrets are leaking from their embassy in Turkey and send Colin Travers (Michael Rennie) to investigate. The wily Diello manages to stay two steps ahead of both Travers and his German clients, but there are a couple of twists which even the careful Diello fails to anticipate.

The film is in the best tradition of Alfred Hitchcock, combining suspense and humor; Mason, of course, would go on to be one of Hitchcock's best villains in NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959). The film is based on a true story and is rather unusual in that it simply lays out, almost in documentary fashion, the deeds of a very bad man. Mason, as the focus of the film, becomes an antihero who is strangely sympathetic to the audience -- never more so than when we see he just can't seem to stop acting as a valet, no matter the circumstances.

Mason, of course, is a fascinating actor, and the plot is constructed so that the audience can't help but root for him to succeed...although when he starts shopping around information on Operation Overlord, the viewer is jolted back to reality and thinks twice. The film has a literate, intelligent quality which is part of what makes it an engrossing espionage tale, rather than potentially distasteful, as Diello sells documents that will affect thousands of lives without a second thought. A fairly sympathetic portrayal of someone betraying the Allies for cash must have been even more surprising in 1952 than it is today. I won't give away the ending, other than to say I thought it perfectly suited both the plot and the tone of the film.

The French actress Darrieux had previously shown her ability to charm in U.S. films such as THE RAGE OF PARIS (1938) and RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY (1951). Here she plays a more complex role, as a woman whose only allegiance is to herself. Although she is physically beautiful, her amoral character is ultimately even less attractive than Mason's. They are certainly a unique pair of leads for a film of the era.

Michael Rennie made several notable films for Fox in the early '50s, including THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU (1951), and DANGEROUS CROSSING (1953). Here he's given the good guy role, who in some respects is initially seen by the audience as the spoiler for Mason's plans. It takes a while to warm up to the idea that he's the hero of the piece.

Walter Hampden, who plays the British ambassador, went on to a wonderful comedic role as the father of Humphrey Bogart and William Holden in SABRINA in 1954. Nestor Paiva and Michael Pate have small parts. John Sutton provides the narration.

FIVE FINGERS was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who also did uncredited work on the script, written by Michael Wilson. It's a black and white film which runs 108 minutes.

The musical score by Bernard Herrmann is exactly right for this type of suspense film; it's particularly good during the climactic chase sequence. Herrmann would go on to work with Alfred Hitchcock, including -- like Mason -- on NORTH BY NORTHWEST.

Cinematographer Norbert Brodine previously worked on many film noir classics, including THE HOUSE ON 92ND STREET, SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT, 13 RUE MADELEINE, BOOMERANG!, and KISS OF DEATH.

FIVE FINGERS has been released in the United States on video.

It's available on Region 2 DVD in the James Mason Screen Icons Collection. The print is excellent. The other films in the set are THE BELLS GO DOWN, THE MAN BETWEEN, ODD MAN OUT, and THE MAN IN GREY, where he plays a villain who turns anti-hero in his final scenes.

Given how relatively affordable they have become, an all-region DVD player is a great idea for a classic film fan's Christmas wish list.

FIVE FINGERS can also be seen on cable on Turner Classic Movies.

The Future of DVDs and CDs?

2009-11-10T22:31:00.000-08:00

The L.A. Times ran an interesting article on Best Buy yesterday, which lays out the idea that in the future only the hottest new DVD and CD titles will be physically available in their stores. Instead the store will be focusing on digital delivery of entertainment.

Classic films, in particular, will be increasingly difficult to find in a bricks and mortar Best Buy.

A Best Buy VP says "Most sales of DVDs happen in the first 10 weeks they are on sale, so after that we'll have to decide if the best place to stock it is in the store or online."

I rarely shop at Best Buy, but it's interesting to read about their future plans, particularly as it's possible other stores will follow suit.

Digital products may be convenient at times, but if you want to own a movie or music that can't "crash" and/or will not be withdrawn from availability by a digital provider, there's nothing like owning a hard copy of a DVD or CD. I'm not entirely old-fashioned -- I just downloaded a song from Amazon today (grin) -- but I think I will always prefer the idea of permanently owning something I can physically place on a shelf and retrieve whenever I wish.

Tonight's Movie: Four Faces West (1948)

2009-11-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

FOUR FACES WEST is a relatively unsung gem of a Western which deserves to find a wider audience. It's a film with an unusual storyline about love, redemption, and the kindness of strangers. The movie has excellent performances, and it improves on repeat viewings.

Ross McEwen (Joel McCrea) politely robs a bank -- he even leaves an IOU! -- apparently seeing it as the only way to get badly needed funds to his father. Ross escapes with famed lawman Pat Garrett (Charles Bickford) hot on his trail.

On a westward-bound train Ross is charmed by lovely Fay Hollister (Frances Dee, McCrea's real-life wife), a nurse headed to work at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Fay is attracted to Ross and senses that he is in trouble. Ross's presence on the train is also noted by a mysterious man, Monte Marquez (Joseph Calleia); is Monte friend or foe?

Ross, Fay, and Monte get off the train in Alamogordo. Ross gets a job and is able to repay some of the money he stole; during this respite he also courts Fay. But soon Garrett arrives in Alamogordo and Ross must flee. Will he be running for the rest of his life?

This simple outline of the plot really doesn't do the film justice. The magic of the movie is in the interesting script, the four lead characters, and trying to figure out "what happens next," which is anything but predictable. Calleia, in particular, plays a really fascinating character, but I hesitate to delve too deeply into my thoughts on Monte or the plot in general, because first-time viewers should watch the film without any preconceptions. It's not your typical Western.

My favorite parts of the movie are the scenes where Ross and Fay become acquainted. There's a wonderful scene where Fay stands in the train station, thinking Ross is still aboard the train pulling out of Alamogordo; it has a terrific emotional payoff. My favorite scene in the entire movie is later in the film when Ross brings Fay a ring, and when she hesitantly starts to put it on her right hand, he gently says "Oh, no," and slips it on her left ring finger. It's a very tender moment, with added emotional layers for the viewer who knows the actors playing the scene are married.

The charismatic Bickford, a year after his marvelous Oscar-nominated role as the butler in THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, is excellent as Pat Garrett. It's a multi-layered performance, as Garrett is dedicated to getting his man, yet also fair and compassionate -- unlike those who prefer the "dead" aspect of "wanted dead or alive."

Dan White plays Garrett's deputy, with William Conrad as the sheriff of Alamogordo. It's not often one sees William Conrad riding in a posse!

FOUR FACES WEST is one of several excellent films released in 1947-48 about the redemption of a "bad man." Also worth seeking out are ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947), BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948), and YELLOW SKY (1948). The movies share certain themes and character types, yet at the same time they are all quite different in mood. Each title is special in its own way, and each one is very much worth seeing. A later film in this subgenre which is also excellent is A MAN ALONE (1955).

Joel McCrea and Frances Dee had been married 15 years when FOUR FACES WEST was released in 1948; Joel died on their 57th wedding anniversary in 1990. Their first two sons, Jody and David, were born in 1934 and 1935; Jody passed away earlier this year. When Jody and David were nearing adulthood, the McCreas had another son, Peter, in 1955. Peter is married to Courtney Lemmon, the daughter of Jack Lemmon and Felicia Farr.

For more information and some wonderful photos, visit Remembering Frances Dee.

FOUR FACES WEST was directed by Alfred E. Green. It runs 89 minutes. Russell Harlan photographed the movie in black and white; Harlan's credits include classics such as RIO BRAVO (1959) and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962). The movie was shot on location in New Mexico, as well as California's Red Rock Canyon.

FOUR FACES WEST is available on both DVD (a nice print) and video.

FOUR FACES WEST is a special movie which is highly recommended.

Joel McCrea movies previously reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: THE SILVER HORDE (1930), THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD (1934), BARBARY COAST (1935), ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN (1936), WOMAN CHASES MAN (1937), THREE BLIND MICE (1938), FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940), HE MARRIED HIS WIFE (1940), THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), THE LONE HAND (1953), and STRANGER ON HORSEBACK (1955).

New Book: Christmas Memories

2009-11-09T10:32:00.003-08:00

Susan Waggoner, author of IT'S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and UNDER THE TREE, is back with a third volume on American Christmas celebrations.

Waggoner's new book is CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: GIFTS, ACTIVITIES, FADS AND FANCIES, 1920S-1960S.

Waggoner's books, as I described in a post two years ago, are "a visual feast of 'retro' graphic art, including pictures from catalogues, magazine ads, and movie posters." They are real "eye candy" for anyone who loves Christmas-related graphic art of the mid 20th Century.

The customer images available at Amazon show that this latest book is more of the same. It's a "must" for my Christmas wish list.

20 Years Ago Today

2009-11-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Twenty years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of those world-changing "I remember where I was" moments. My husband and I watched the news on our little TV in our apartment, almost unable to believe what we were seeing was happening.

Twenty years ago today the world, as I had known it since my earliest memories, ceased to exist.

Twenty years ago today the world I learned about in college, in political science course after course, vanished.

I remember crying with happiness as we watched the German people tearing down the Wall and celebrating, while East German soldiers simply stood there, watching citizens from East and West Germany joyously unite for the first time in decades.

Click the title of this post for video of the day the Wall fell, as well as video of President Reagan's 1987 speech, in which he challenged the Soviet Union to "Tear down this wall!"

It may be hard for younger people to comprehend just how radically the world shifted with the fall of the Wall, but our President is old enough to know.

If you had told me twenty years ago today that in 2009 an American President would refuse to visit the Wall to celebrate once more the triumph of liberty over Communism -- and our nation's role in that victory -- I'd never have believed it. That fact makes me tear up all over again.

There is so much I could write about our current President's narcissistic, anti-American choices and foreign policy, but I'll simply say I find the way he conducts himself both alarming and tragic.

And then I'll go watch the videos again and remind myself that, in the end, freedom and liberty triumph.

Tuesday Update: In remarks via video, President Obama once again demonstrated his narcissism, celebrating his election and omitting, among other things, any mention of President Reagan, Prime Minister Thatcher, or Pope John Paul II: "Obama neither decries the villains nor salutes the heroes of the story. Rather, Obama celebrates himself."

As Paul Rahe writes to PowerLine: "Obama proved unable to refrain from injecting his own autobiography into the event... Obama seems to think his presidency as important a milestone as the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the world of the narcissist, everything that happens is always about him."

The Campaign Spot examines Obama's schedule Monday, when he was "too busy" to travel to Berlin.

Tonight's Movie: The King and Four Queens (1956)

2009-11-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS is an oddball Western comedy-drama about an adventurer (Clark Gable) after $100,000 in gold.

The gold was stolen by the four McDade brothers, three of whom died in an explosion shortly thereafter; which son escaped is an open question. The gold has been guarded at a remote desert outpost for two years by Ma McDade (Jo Van Fleet) and her four daughters-in-law. Ma lives in the hope that her surviving son will come home to claim the gold and his wife.

Dan Kehoe (Gable) rides in, surviving Ma's welcoming gunshot, and gets to know the four possible widows as he hunts for the gold. Smart Sabina (Eleanor Parker) is standoffish but quietly interested in Dan. Ruby (Jean Willes) is a man-hungry tigress, Birdie (Barbara Nichols) is bird-brained, and Oralie (Sara Shane) is a sweet young thing who was in over her head when she married a McDade.

The film is basically a six-person character study as Gable and the women interact in varying combinations. It's probably not hard to guess which of the four ladies Gable decides he'd like to have along with the gold. The film's climax is handled in a surprisingly low-key manner, but perhaps the ending is in keeping with the film's meandering style. The movie is nothing particularly special, but Gable is charming, the ladies are beautiful, and it's a pleasant way to pass the time.

The supporting cast includes Arthur Shields as a priest and Jay C. Flippen as a bartender. Roy Roberts plays the sheriff.

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS was directed by Raoul Walsh. It was filmed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe color by Lucien Ballard. The film runs 86 minutes.

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS is available on DVD. It's an excellent print. There are no extras. A review by Glenn Erickson was posted at the TCM website.

It's also had a VHS release.

Tonight's Movie: Three-Cornered Moon (1933)

2009-11-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

THREE-CORNERED MOON is a very early example of the "crazy family" Depression-era screwball comedy, a genre which hit its peak a few years later with MY MAN GODFREY (1936).

Claudette Colbert plays Elizabeth Rimpelgar, who lives with her ditzy mother (Mary Boland) and three brothers in a spacious mansion in Brooklyn. Elizabeth may be the only sane member of the family, but the Depression soon knocks some sense into her siblings when they learn the family fortune has collapsed along with the stock market. Everyone in the family must...gasp!...get jobs. They also take in a boarder, Dr. Alan Stevens (Richard Arlen). And, as it turns out, the Depression might just be the making of the Rimpelgars.

The story is based on a play, and particularly at the outset it seems overly stagy, as the camera follows various Rimpelgars through the house. I found it a bit tiresome at first, between the Rimpelgar brothers acting like overgrown children and Elizabeth's do-nothing novelist boyfriend (Hardie Albright) whining and threatening suicide.

However, the film turned quite interesting once the family sobered up, so to speak, and realized they had to be responsible or they wouldn't eat. Oldest brother Kenneth (Wallace Ford) begins to take being a law clerk and studying for the bar exam seriously. Elizabeth goes to work in a shoe factory and eventually questions why she's supporting her freeloading boyfriend, and the other brothers find employment as well.

The movie reminded me a bit of 1938's THE YOUNG IN HEART, about a family of con artists who discover for the first time the satisfaction of education and hard work. THREE-CORNERED MOON isn't of the same quality as the later film, but it improves as it goes along and builds to a satisfying conclusion. It's a must-see for fans of screwball comedies, who will appreciate its role in helping to create the genre.

Boland does a good job in the type of "addlepated mother" role played in later comedies by actresses such as Billie Burke, Alice Brady, and Spring Byington. Lyda Roberti is also amusing as the Rimpelgars' cook, who doesn't speak English. Roberti appeared with Colbert in TORCH SINGER in 1933; she had a heart condition and sadly died young in 1938.

Colbert and Arlen, playing the sensible young doctor who supplants the novelist in Colbert's affections, are appealing leads. Colbert's younger brothers are played by Tom Brown and William Bakewell. Joan Marsh plays Kitty, the oldest's brother's feckless girlfriend. Clara Blandick (Auntie Em from THE WIZARD OF OZ) has a single scene as a landlady.

THREE-CORNERED MOON was directed by Elliott Nugent. It was filmed in black and white by Leon Shamroy. The movie runs 77 minutes.

THREE-CORNERED MOON is one of the films in the new six-film Claudette Colbert Collection. The print is in very good shape; it's not as pristine as I MET HIM IN PARIS, but looks good considering its age. This set is so interesting, we can only hope there might be a Colbert Vol. 2 someday.

Claudette Colbert movies previously reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: TORCH SINGER (1933), SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935), I MET HIM IN PARIS (1937), BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938), MIDNIGHT (1939), BOOM TOWN (1940), THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), NO TIME FOR LOVE (1943), THE SECRET HEART (1946), TOMORROW IS FOREVER (1946), WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (1946), THE EGG AND I (1947), and LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL (1951).