Britannia rules the waves (again)... We all know 1964 was a huge year for the Beatles. Their careers and collective fate suddenly shot to the top. They made two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. They toured America for the first time. John wrote and published In His Own Write, which he also promoted on … Continue reading Five Reasons To See “A Hard Day’s Night”
Praising the Lord And Changing the World
I don't think there's another hymn that's as ubiquitous as "Amazing Grace." Everyone sings it, tons of musicians have covered it (here's one), and pretty much no one has a problem with it, whether they're Christian or not. What people might not know, though, is that the song was once the anthem of the abolition … Continue reading Praising the Lord And Changing the World
Stage To Screen: What A Girl Wants
When I heard that 2003's What A Girl Wants was based on a play, my first thought was, "Really?" For those who haven't seen it, the movie follows Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes), who leads a rather bohemian existence with her mom, Libby (Kelly Preston) in a fifth-floor walkup in New York's Chinatown. Libby is a wedding … Continue reading Stage To Screen: What A Girl Wants
Stage To Screen: Henry V
This month's Stage To Screen is a strike-while-the-iron-is-hot kind of scenario, because first of all, I felt like writing about Henry V, and secondly, the Lawrence Olivier version is on HBO Max right now, so the timing is fortuitous. Henry V is one of Shakespeare's later plays, and is thought to have been written and perfomed in 1599. … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Henry V
The Toppermost of the Poppermost
Those of you who have read my Origins posts probably saw that I did a bit about the 2019 film, Yesterday. Since then, I've not only seen it in the theater, but when I was in South Dakota I bought it on Blu-ray at Target. I thought it would be one of those movies I'd let … Continue reading The Toppermost of the Poppermost
There’s A New Sheriff In Town
Looking for a few good men... Anyone who's ever been in a school anywhere, teacher or student, public, private, religious, whatever, knows that the average class can smell fear. Even a Sunday school class can be fraught with peril. Some teachers claw their way through it. Others buckle. Still others end up bringing it, whether … Continue reading There’s A New Sheriff In Town
The Talk of the Town
About a year ago I did an "Origins" post on Judy, and it's kinda nice that Amazon brought the movie to Prime. Were my first impressions correct? Yes and no. The movie alternates between scenes of Judy as a youngster and as an adult, up to about six months before she passed away. There's music, of course, … Continue reading The Talk of the Town
Oxford Calling
The Barrymores are back, y'all... In 1936, MGM established a branch of its studio in Britain, starting out at the Denham Studios in London. In 1938 three of its biggest stars made A Yank At Oxford there: Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, and Maureen O'Sullivan, supported by a lady who would became rather infamous later. Lee (Robert Taylor) … Continue reading Oxford Calling
Reading Rarities: John Lennon In His Own Write
If he were alive today, John Lennon would be turning eighty this year. It's also the fortieth anniversary of his death. Kind of amazing, isn't it? Gee whiz, time flies. Once the Beatles had a number one song in America, lives that were already on fast-forward went into hyperspace. In 1964 alone, the group toured … Continue reading Reading Rarities: John Lennon In His Own Write
Reading Rarities: The Diary of A Victorian Lady
OK, I'm kind of excited about this Rarity. Well, I get excited about most of the stuff I review, but this book is a little different. The Victorian era and Victorian women in particular are such enigmas. Sure, we have novels and other works from Victorian women, and we have a pretty good idea of … Continue reading Reading Rarities: The Diary of A Victorian Lady
Shamedown #11: Bright Star
We've made it, friends--the last Shamedown of 2019. Can you believe it? I sure can't. Anyone who's wondering what the heck I'm talking about can find answers at Cinema Shame. Past 2019 Shamedowns can be found here. John Keats is part of every English major's academic diet in one way or another. Born in 1795 … Continue reading Shamedown #11: Bright Star
Shamedown #8: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
For those of you who would like to find out what all this strange Shame business is about, please visit Cinema Shame. Past 2019 Shamedowns can be found here. The timing of this Shamedown is ironic, as today we're remembering those we lost on 9-11. On the other hand, it's oddly appropriate. There are so … Continue reading Shamedown #8: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Stage To Screen: As You Like It
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare's later and more mysterious works, although it contains a lot of famous lines, such as "All the world's a stage." Thought to be written in 1598 or 1599 and possibly not performed until 1603, the play is a comedy about finding freedom through disguise and breaking through barriers. … Continue reading Stage To Screen: As You Like It
Origins: Yesterday
We've all heard of the Beatles. That goes without saying. Today's bands have to be some kind of something to be compared to them, and even if they're not, it's not uncommon to bask in Beatle glow (Bay City Rollers, anyone?). But what if someone woke up in a world where no one had heard … Continue reading Origins: Yesterday
Page To Screen: Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen's single most famous novel is, of course, Pride and Prejudice. All six of her novels are famous, but there's something about P&P that puts it above the others. It's been adapted more than any other Austen novel, that's for sure. I toyed with the idea of asking the Twitterverse which versions of Pride and Prejudice were their … Continue reading Page To Screen: Pride and Prejudice
You Oughta Be In A Lifetime Movie
And here we go... It's hard to believe the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been married for almost eight years now and have three kids. Who doesn't remember all the excitement leading up to the wedding? There were Will and Kate masks, Will and Kate dolls, Will and Kate teaspoons, and let's not forget … Continue reading You Oughta Be In A Lifetime Movie
Origins: Mary Poppins Returns
Full disclosure: I was all set to announce that this would be the last installment in the Origins series, because there are only so many ways to say today's Hollywood mostly stinks. However, that was before I peeked at what's lined up for next year. Put it this way: 2019 may reveal whole new levels … Continue reading Origins: Mary Poppins Returns
Taking Up Room 