June wasn't bad. Most summer movies aren't the rock 'em, sock 'em blockbusters that they used to be, but there's still definite fun to be had, and in between keeping up this blog and making that ill-fated strawberry tart, it felt as if I was always running off to the theater. And wow, it's been … Continue reading Summertime Has Arrived
Charlie Chaplin’s Chagrin
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
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
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.
Pick A Parody, Any Parody. Well, Almost.
We haven't had a bad movie on here in a long time, and in this case I mean bad. I don't know how 2004's Miss Castaway And the Island Girls came up in my Tubi feed, but there it was, and even though I could tell it was awful, I was strangely intrigued by Michael Jackson's disembodied head … Continue reading Pick A Parody, Any Parody. Well, Almost.
Were They As Good The Second Time?
The thing with blogging, especially film or book blogging, is that we're always left to wonder if a reviewer ever changes their mind about something. It's easy to have an opinion in the heat of the moment, but after the dust settles, then what? We all know it's especially easy to do this with theatrical … Continue reading Were They As Good The Second Time?
Another Go With “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”
Welcome back, Mr. Keaton... 1928's Steamboat Bill, Jr. seems like one of the quintessential Buster Keaton movies. I'll be honest: I tried reviewing this movie for last year's Buster Keaton Blogathon and just couldn't muster an opinion. It wasn't for lack of trying, either. Long story short, as soon as I saw Lea was bringing … Continue reading Another Go With “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”
During World War Two: 1944 Movie Recs
How is it that our 1944 recs list is longer than the one for 1943? Yet here we are. There was a lot of crazy stuff happening that year, movie-wise and news-wise, so obviously this list isn't exhaustive. I saw a bunch of movies in IMDb's advanced search results that I want to add to … Continue reading During World War Two: 1944 Movie Recs
The Original Slayer
Not too long ago, I got to watch pretty much all the episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Sure, it got goofy sometimes, but a lot of it was also really, really cool. However, it's taken decades for me to see the movie, which was pretty … Continue reading The Original Slayer
Close To Home
Grab the Kleenex... There was no shortage of tearjerker movies during the World War Two period, and one of the most successful was 1943's The Human Comedy. The public loved it. The critics loved it. It was also reputed to be Louis B. Mayer's favorite movie. How does it hold up today? Surprisingly well in a … Continue reading Close To Home
A Gallery of Graduations
Graduation, of course, is on the horizon for so many, my son and nephew included, and the bittersweet feelings are thick right now, as is the nostalgia. What better way to tap into that than watch some movies centered around graduation? Or at least have a graduation scene in them? It all works. In that … Continue reading A Gallery of Graduations
My Favorite Shirley Temple Movie
Here we go... I've never been a huge fan of Shirley Temple's early films, but The Little Princess is one of my favorites (Another is Heidi). No offense to anyone who likes them, but they're just not my taste. In 1939 Shirley Temple turned eleven, no longer a poppet but not yet a teenager, although she … Continue reading My Favorite Shirley Temple Movie
Bela Lugosi, Action Hero
Who's ready for adventure? Bela Lugosi, is, of course, best known for playing Dracula, as well as starring in various other creature features, but Dracula was both his blessing and his curse, and Lugosi spent the rest of his life trying his hardest to get away from it. One of his more successful attempts seemed … Continue reading Bela Lugosi, Action Hero
Taking Up Room 