Charlie Chaplin was certainly multi-talented, and 1928's The Circus tested every performing skill he had, along with others that he probably would have preferred not to exercise. The whole business was so bad that in after years Chaplin preferred to act as if the film never existed, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The movie opens … Continue reading Charlie Chaplin’s Chagrin
Kirk Douglas’s Comedy Debut
After the Second World War, Kirk Douglas really began to get noticed, and his first comedy was 1948's My Dear Secretary. Also starring Laraine Day and Keenan Wynn, the film is a pale imitation of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn's cinematic powerhouses, but we all have to start somewhere. Owen Waterbury (Kirk Douglas) is a … Continue reading Kirk Douglas’s Comedy Debut
Little Edith Cortright
Off we go... I don't know why I thought 1936's Dodsworth was based on a Charles Dickens novel. Maybe it's because the name sounds very British. But no, the novel was written by Sinclair Lewis, published in 1929, and includes Lewis's favorite recurring character, the ever-dependable, ever-surprising midwestern town of Zenith (Some English BA I … Continue reading Little Edith Cortright
One Month Until The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon
The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon is already a month away, all. The time is flying, just like Rose and Jack. The thing that always amazes me about Titanic is how there are always new references to her in pop culture coming out, or just resurfacing. Like the Cast and Crew video for the James … Continue reading One Month Until The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon
During World War Two: 1945 Movie Recs
In 1945 with the war finally nearing its end, Americans were exhausted but starting to feel buoyant again. While the war news remained grim, and with the further confirmation of Nazi atrocities and Japanese atrocities, even more grim, but we were now on the downhill slope. It helped that movies, while many still reflected the … Continue reading During World War Two: 1945 Movie Recs
Tea In Wonderland
Probably the most infamous scene in Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland is the Mad Tea Party, and we all know how it happens. Alice comes upon the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Doormouse, sits down to have tea with them, and is rather put out at their rudeness. Here's an audio version of … Continue reading Tea In Wonderland
Cooking With the French Chef: Strawberry Tarts
Welcome back to Cooking With the French Chef, in which I review episodes of Julia Child’s original show, cook out of the new edition of the French Chef Cookbook and share the results with you. Past posts can be found here. Fruit tarts are both intriguing and intimidating. No matter the season, there they sit in the bakery … Continue reading Cooking With the French Chef: Strawberry Tarts
Judy Garland, Mystery Sleuth
Cash-ins, of course, are nothing new, and in 1945 Judy Garland was able to add another item to her resume. Well, sort of. In Judy Garland and the Hoodoo Costume, the former Dorothy Gale became an unwitting mystery sleuth. The author, Kathryn Heisenfelt, is more mysterious than her books and her books are all kinds of … Continue reading Judy Garland, Mystery Sleuth
Contractual Obligations Are So Romantic
Are we back? We seemed to get a slew of adventurous romcoms in the early 1980s, probably because a lot of people wanted to ride the Indiana Jones wave, and one of the most famous of that time was 1984's Romancing the Stone, a fiery and funny send-up of romance novels. Those who have seen that … Continue reading Contractual Obligations Are So Romantic
Made It Through May. Woo Hoo.
Golly, May was a crazy month. My son was in his last month before graduating from high school, I was in my last month of work before the summer so that meant end-of-year barbecues and other last things, and my husband is getting our Miata that we never drive ready to sell. Getting back to … Continue reading Made It Through May. Woo Hoo.
Taking Up Room 