Friday, September 21, 2012
Fifties Sci-fi Movie Relevant Today
A space alien turns out the lights worldwide to get the attention of politicians to stop nuclear madness and not blow up the universe. I love the message in this ‘50s sci-fi classic “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with Michael Rennie, Billy Gray and Patricia Neal form TCF. Like “The Man from Planet X,” aliens are abused, counter productive to our Minnesota Tourism Office’s fine efforts. Heroic efforts of the owner of the Heights Theater resulted in the showing last night of a 35 mm print of this film which is remarkable in the move to digital only. The Heights will be showing the William Castle horror movie “The Tingler” which may not be available elsewhere.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Johnny Downs Featured in Two Films
In a scathing commentary on Hollywood, the Asian actor Philip Ahn confesses that he can make more money as a valet rather than an actor if he speaks pidgin rather than English. This is part of a 1937 musical, “Something to Sing About,” from poverty row studio Grand National featuring James Cagney who was involved in a stink with Warner Bros. at the time. The attempts of the major studios to use and abuse the talent is center stage in this provocative gem. Go to www.cheezymovies.blogspot.com for more.
In another outrageous Hollywood stereotype, Franklin Pangborn is an over the top pansy who is mimicked by a radio studio employee in “High Hat” from Imperial Pictures. Pangborn portrays a fussy opera singer in this ‘30s musical.
One of the better PRC horror movies from the 40s is “Mad Monster” with George Zucco as at the disgruntled college professor seeing revenge on his colleagues by creating a wolfman monster played by Glenn Strange. Johnny Downs is the handsome hero newspaper reporter who saves the damsel in distress Anne Nagel in the last reel. Lots of fun for your Halloween viewing.
Martha Tilton headlines PRC’s 1944 musical “Swing Hostess” where she plays the equivalent of a disk jockey. Tlilton, a band singer of the ‘40s, did a live show at NBC in Burbank in the 60s with singer Morton Downey while I worked at KNBC/NBC news in ‘1963-64 as an editorial assist ant.
Johnny Downs is hilarious in drag as a college boy in “All American Co-ed” from Hal Roach United Artists in 1941. It’s a brisk, well written yarn that must have inspired Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” years lat
In another outrageous Hollywood stereotype, Franklin Pangborn is an over the top pansy who is mimicked by a radio studio employee in “High Hat” from Imperial Pictures. Pangborn portrays a fussy opera singer in this ‘30s musical.
One of the better PRC horror movies from the 40s is “Mad Monster” with George Zucco as at the disgruntled college professor seeing revenge on his colleagues by creating a wolfman monster played by Glenn Strange. Johnny Downs is the handsome hero newspaper reporter who saves the damsel in distress Anne Nagel in the last reel. Lots of fun for your Halloween viewing.
Martha Tilton headlines PRC’s 1944 musical “Swing Hostess” where she plays the equivalent of a disk jockey. Tlilton, a band singer of the ‘40s, did a live show at NBC in Burbank in the 60s with singer Morton Downey while I worked at KNBC/NBC news in ‘1963-64 as an editorial assist ant.
Johnny Downs is hilarious in drag as a college boy in “All American Co-ed” from Hal Roach United Artists in 1941. It’s a brisk, well written yarn that must have inspired Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” years lat
Friday, September 07, 2012
"Claudia" Movie Features Dorothy McGuire
Many young married woman including my mom during the war probably identified with the free spirit Claudia featured in books, movies and a play. The 1943 Fox movie of the same name recently became available for the first time on DVD and may never have been seen on TV before.
Dorothy McGuire is outstanding as the vivacious, rambunctious Claudia. Women’s movies seemed a lot more enticing in the 40s then they are now with characters that you knew. “Claudia,” the movie, is much better than the book, thanks to McGuire and proceeds like a 40s radio soap opera from one event to the next. There is an annoying bit about David misplacing his pipe cleaner and I can picture that little tool in my head because my dad had one.
Robert Young of “Father Knows Best” is David and not really the attractive character that Rose Franken wrote about in the book. Cary Grant was the studio's first choice for David but was otherwise engaged. Reginald Gardner is miscast as the visiting writer who steals a kiss from Claudia. Alfred Newman’s background music is a bit overpowering in spots. Otherwise, this is worth a view from Fox Archives.
A more contemporary telling of a similar story is the 60s “Barefoot in the Park” with Jane Fonda in a very “Claudia” kind of role.
Dorothy McGuire is outstanding as the vivacious, rambunctious Claudia. Women’s movies seemed a lot more enticing in the 40s then they are now with characters that you knew. “Claudia,” the movie, is much better than the book, thanks to McGuire and proceeds like a 40s radio soap opera from one event to the next. There is an annoying bit about David misplacing his pipe cleaner and I can picture that little tool in my head because my dad had one.
Robert Young of “Father Knows Best” is David and not really the attractive character that Rose Franken wrote about in the book. Cary Grant was the studio's first choice for David but was otherwise engaged. Reginald Gardner is miscast as the visiting writer who steals a kiss from Claudia. Alfred Newman’s background music is a bit overpowering in spots. Otherwise, this is worth a view from Fox Archives.
A more contemporary telling of a similar story is the 60s “Barefoot in the Park” with Jane Fonda in a very “Claudia” kind of role.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
"Look In Any Window" Features Paul Anka
“Look in Any Window” is a slow moving 1961 Allied Artists movie about suburban morality featuring teen idol Paul Anka, Ruth Roman, Jack Cassidy and Gigi Perreau. The 40 minute interview on the DVD with a the director, a giggling, mumbling William Alland, is worthwhile.
Alland was the producer of successful scifi horror movies at Universal-International in the 50s including “It Came From Outer Space.” Before that he was a behind the scenes guy for Orson Welles on “Citizen Kane” at RKO and radio dramas.
Anka’s agent didn’t want him to make “Look in Any Window” but it went ahead and was completed in seven days. Anka sings the title song.
The DVD includes an interview with Alland’s second wife Helen about his role as a “friendly” witness for the House Un-American Activities Committee. In fact, Helen maintains that Alland was too friendly of a witness resulting in the end of their marriage and the family was shunned by the community.
Not much money was spent on wardrobe for “Look” with Anka and Roman in swim suits through much of the movie. The Anka character jumps from rooftops in a mask which one suspects involved a stunt double. The irony of Alland's career is that he started with “Citizen Kane” and ended with a teen drive-in drama. Anka recnetly appeared in the remake of "Shake Rattle and Rock," which originally was an American-International drive-in effort.
Alland was the producer of successful scifi horror movies at Universal-International in the 50s including “It Came From Outer Space.” Before that he was a behind the scenes guy for Orson Welles on “Citizen Kane” at RKO and radio dramas.
Anka’s agent didn’t want him to make “Look in Any Window” but it went ahead and was completed in seven days. Anka sings the title song.
The DVD includes an interview with Alland’s second wife Helen about his role as a “friendly” witness for the House Un-American Activities Committee. In fact, Helen maintains that Alland was too friendly of a witness resulting in the end of their marriage and the family was shunned by the community.
Not much money was spent on wardrobe for “Look” with Anka and Roman in swim suits through much of the movie. The Anka character jumps from rooftops in a mask which one suspects involved a stunt double. The irony of Alland's career is that he started with “Citizen Kane” and ended with a teen drive-in drama. Anka recnetly appeared in the remake of "Shake Rattle and Rock," which originally was an American-International drive-in effort.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Footnote and Hercules Reviewed Here
A seriously dysfunctional Jewish family with academic credentials gets into a big stink over Talmud research in the 2011 film “Footnote” from Israel. The angry dad in this movie views his son as a rival Talmud expert. The U.S. version would feature father-son bond traders or pro-wrestlers.
With U.S. film choices meager at best, I needed to turn to foreign fare this week including “Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon” which kind of relates to “Footnote” in that the Talmud has Babylon references. The movie stars muscle man Rock Stevens who is actually Peter Lupus, featured on the “Mission Impossible” TV show. Here he is the strong man who frees the beautiful nymph slaves from the evil Babylon clutches. Being an Italian movie from the 60s the dubbing into English is sloppy (dialogue is heard but the lips don’t move). It is not known if Rock/Peter made any other movies where bulging biceps were a requisite. One can only hope. American International Pictures takes credit/blame for this Hercules.i
With U.S. film choices meager at best, I needed to turn to foreign fare this week including “Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon” which kind of relates to “Footnote” in that the Talmud has Babylon references. The movie stars muscle man Rock Stevens who is actually Peter Lupus, featured on the “Mission Impossible” TV show. Here he is the strong man who frees the beautiful nymph slaves from the evil Babylon clutches. Being an Italian movie from the 60s the dubbing into English is sloppy (dialogue is heard but the lips don’t move). It is not known if Rock/Peter made any other movies where bulging biceps were a requisite. One can only hope. American International Pictures takes credit/blame for this Hercules.i
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Where’s The Bathroom Dick Daring?
Guided by pure greed, the talented writer Merle Miller in the 1960s thrust himself into the network television meat grinder with gay abandon. That train wreck is chronicled in his 1964 book “Only You Dick Daring” which I read in 1965 on the recommendation of Jim McLaughlin when we both were working the copy desk at the Idaho Evening Statesman. Thank you Jim..
The show that Miller researched and marketed to devious United Artist and CBS executives was called “Calhoun” -- an hour-long drama featuring former child star Jackie Cooper as a county extension agent. A pilot may have been filmed but the show was DOA.
The cast of evil characters in the drama about the drama is difficult to keep straight but Skippy Jim James Aubrey, CBS president at the time, was the chief gate keeper of American television cultural enhancement. The premise that CBS would launch a show dealing with social justice and other challenging issues in the age of the Beverly Hillbillies is side splitting funny.
Having worked eight years in the Agricultural Extension Service, I can testify that it’s all about brucellosis, creep feeding pigs and bloated cows for the agricultural agent. As for the home economist, it’s how to avoid botulism while canning beans. Unless the town gets wiped out by poisonous beans every week, I don’t see how you can sustain a series about an extension agent. But Miller persevered in the face of insurmountable odds.
The jargonized dialogue of the TV executives as reported by Miller is hilarious and sounds like the script of the adults in “The Graduate.” At one meeting, a United Artist executive observes: “We’ve got to tell the audience where the bathroom is.” Behind his back, the executives observed that Miller was having a nervous breakdown and Cooper may have been hiring other writers for the ill-fated show while professing his love of Miller’s script with several “God bless yous.”
Miller got precious little money for his efforts except his well kept diary allowed him to write a hilarious book that no doubt was a best seller. Unrelated in this volume are chapters on Miller returning to Iowa for his high school reunion and his writing a script for the TV movie “The American” about Ira Hayes, the Marine who may or may not have raised the flag at Iwo Jima in World War II.
The show that Miller researched and marketed to devious United Artist and CBS executives was called “Calhoun” -- an hour-long drama featuring former child star Jackie Cooper as a county extension agent. A pilot may have been filmed but the show was DOA.
The cast of evil characters in the drama about the drama is difficult to keep straight but Skippy Jim James Aubrey, CBS president at the time, was the chief gate keeper of American television cultural enhancement. The premise that CBS would launch a show dealing with social justice and other challenging issues in the age of the Beverly Hillbillies is side splitting funny.
Having worked eight years in the Agricultural Extension Service, I can testify that it’s all about brucellosis, creep feeding pigs and bloated cows for the agricultural agent. As for the home economist, it’s how to avoid botulism while canning beans. Unless the town gets wiped out by poisonous beans every week, I don’t see how you can sustain a series about an extension agent. But Miller persevered in the face of insurmountable odds.
The jargonized dialogue of the TV executives as reported by Miller is hilarious and sounds like the script of the adults in “The Graduate.” At one meeting, a United Artist executive observes: “We’ve got to tell the audience where the bathroom is.” Behind his back, the executives observed that Miller was having a nervous breakdown and Cooper may have been hiring other writers for the ill-fated show while professing his love of Miller’s script with several “God bless yous.”
Miller got precious little money for his efforts except his well kept diary allowed him to write a hilarious book that no doubt was a best seller. Unrelated in this volume are chapters on Miller returning to Iowa for his high school reunion and his writing a script for the TV movie “The American” about Ira Hayes, the Marine who may or may not have raised the flag at Iwo Jima in World War II.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Trouble in River City
MASON CITY, IOWA -- Anvil and trombone salesmen have left River City. Marion no longer minds the books at the library and cute little Winthrop is a bald movie director now.
But life goes on in Mason City where at the turn of the century it was such a sweet slice of Americana with lovable Midwest yokels that it inspired Meredith Wilson's "Music Man" which gave us the song "You Ought to Give Ioway a Try.”
Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) gave Iowa a try and may have struck a discordant note by designing an avant garde building for the city in 1910. A few years later the locals slapped a plastic sign, “European Hotel,” on the front obscuring Wright’s good intentions.
The structure was designed in the shape of a strong box to house a hotel, bank and law office. All hell broke loose soon with the Great Depression. The bank failed, the lawyers moved and the hotel faltered. In the '30s, mayhem and anarchy American style were the new tradition . Long before Mr. Jamie Dimon became banking’s poster boy, one sexy Mr. John Dillinger and his buddy Baby Face Nelson were the country’s recognized banking mavens.
Heavily armed, Dillinger’s gang arrived in 1936 to make an unauthorized withdrawal from the First National Bank totaling $52,000, across the street from the FLW building. Lawlessness was in the air and River City was no exception.
In the ‘30s Iowa gave the FLW Prairie School architecture building an ill advised devastating remodel, knocking huge holes in walls for store front windows and destroying the arch shaped bank vault wall. No one could recognize this eyesore as the great man’s vision. The bank and hotel were gone so it housed a cigar store, finance company, radio station and a flop house for derelict souls before being abandoned to the pigeons and rodents. Naturally, this prompted a discussion of leveling the whole mess for a parking lot.
Iowans of stature came to the rescue of the Wright building in the nick of time by getting state funds and private donations totaling more than $20 million to restore the building to Wright's vision, aided by his sketches. The exotic boutique Historic Park Inn Hotel was reborn in 2011 and it is part of our architectural heritage.
Meanwhile, Mason City is now “Music City” honoring their native Meredith Wilson who is remembered for the “Mom, Apple Pie and Flag Waving” love poem to Midwest America, “The Music Man.” River City is recreated at Music Man Square with wonderful photos from the Wilson career including the 1962 movie’s premier at Mason City’s Palace Theater. That theater has been leveled. You can’t save everything.) Photos show Wilson’ during his stint on NBC Radio in the early ‘50s on “The Big Show” as Talullah Bankhead’s straight man. Who can forget that as the love theme, “Till There Was You,” which rings in my ears.
But life goes on in Mason City where at the turn of the century it was such a sweet slice of Americana with lovable Midwest yokels that it inspired Meredith Wilson's "Music Man" which gave us the song "You Ought to Give Ioway a Try.”
Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) gave Iowa a try and may have struck a discordant note by designing an avant garde building for the city in 1910. A few years later the locals slapped a plastic sign, “European Hotel,” on the front obscuring Wright’s good intentions.
The structure was designed in the shape of a strong box to house a hotel, bank and law office. All hell broke loose soon with the Great Depression. The bank failed, the lawyers moved and the hotel faltered. In the '30s, mayhem and anarchy American style were the new tradition . Long before Mr. Jamie Dimon became banking’s poster boy, one sexy Mr. John Dillinger and his buddy Baby Face Nelson were the country’s recognized banking mavens.
Heavily armed, Dillinger’s gang arrived in 1936 to make an unauthorized withdrawal from the First National Bank totaling $52,000, across the street from the FLW building. Lawlessness was in the air and River City was no exception.
In the ‘30s Iowa gave the FLW Prairie School architecture building an ill advised devastating remodel, knocking huge holes in walls for store front windows and destroying the arch shaped bank vault wall. No one could recognize this eyesore as the great man’s vision. The bank and hotel were gone so it housed a cigar store, finance company, radio station and a flop house for derelict souls before being abandoned to the pigeons and rodents. Naturally, this prompted a discussion of leveling the whole mess for a parking lot.
Iowans of stature came to the rescue of the Wright building in the nick of time by getting state funds and private donations totaling more than $20 million to restore the building to Wright's vision, aided by his sketches. The exotic boutique Historic Park Inn Hotel was reborn in 2011 and it is part of our architectural heritage.
Meanwhile, Mason City is now “Music City” honoring their native Meredith Wilson who is remembered for the “Mom, Apple Pie and Flag Waving” love poem to Midwest America, “The Music Man.” River City is recreated at Music Man Square with wonderful photos from the Wilson career including the 1962 movie’s premier at Mason City’s Palace Theater. That theater has been leveled. You can’t save everything.) Photos show Wilson’ during his stint on NBC Radio in the early ‘50s on “The Big Show” as Talullah Bankhead’s straight man. Who can forget that as the love theme, “Till There Was You,” which rings in my ears.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Skinheads and Indians in Cultural Clashes
There’s more that binds us to other cultures then we realize. For instance take the plots of “This is England” and “Monsoon Wedding.” Substitute Yiddish for Hindu and “Monsoon Wedding” becomes “Yonkers Wedding” with similar generational and cultural clashes. Likewise, substitute Tea Party radicals for angry racist British Skinheads and “This is England” becomes “This is Wisconsin” as the working class struggles with with joblessness, poverty, lack of opportunities and education and rampant capitalism. Try this with other movie plots. It’s fun.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
"Barney's Version" is Engaging Cinema
For the past month I have been trolling Blockbuster for the title that would knock me on my ass. I struck the mother load with “Barney’s Version,” a tour de force made for Paul Giamatti as the hapless Canadian television producer of the usual shlock. And how ironic that Dustin Hoffman is cast as his father but then Hoffman got his start in the iconic black comedy “The Graduate.” So here’s another black comedy based on a a best seller from Mordecai Richler who gave us “The Apprenticeship of Dudey Kravitz” which I must see again. Most memorable is the manic Jewish wedding scene with the bride Minnie Driver and the dubious groom Giamatti hoisted in the air on chairs which was done in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Depp, Thompson: Compatible, Entertaining
The camaraderie and special relationship that existed between Johnny Depp and the late journalist Hunter S. Thompson is developed in documentaries on the DVD with the movie “Rum Diaries.”
This is a good reason to get the DVD from Netflix if you missed it at the theater. I was a fan of Thompson’s work before Depp made Gonzo and I attended his lecture in St. Paul at St. Catherine’s University. I only remember him refreshing himself from a bottle of scotch and showing up late. I believe that Bill Murray was Thompson in “Where the Buffalo Roam.”
“Rum Diaries” deals with the dark side of American politics and business and although it took many years to make, I feel it was worth the effort. Depp is great at fleshing out renegade fringe characters and those that enjoyed “Ed Wood” will find “Rum Diaries” rewarding. Since it’s filmed on the beaches of San Juan, it will could be a favorite winter movie.
This is a good reason to get the DVD from Netflix if you missed it at the theater. I was a fan of Thompson’s work before Depp made Gonzo and I attended his lecture in St. Paul at St. Catherine’s University. I only remember him refreshing himself from a bottle of scotch and showing up late. I believe that Bill Murray was Thompson in “Where the Buffalo Roam.”
“Rum Diaries” deals with the dark side of American politics and business and although it took many years to make, I feel it was worth the effort. Depp is great at fleshing out renegade fringe characters and those that enjoyed “Ed Wood” will find “Rum Diaries” rewarding. Since it’s filmed on the beaches of San Juan, it will could be a favorite winter movie.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
NASCAR Dudes Target In German Movie
Dudes who avoided seeing “The Vow” will want to have a look at the 2008 German high testosterone movie “Fast Track: No Limits.” The esteemed Lee Goldberg of Diagnosis Murder and Monk is the writer and producer. (For more, go to www.cheezymovies.blogspot.com.)
This is not just your basic fast women, loose cars or babes, boobs and BMWs sidebar to a six pack of Grain Belt and Dominoes pizza. No, it features some creative photography and street racing of the classic variety. I am well versed in the genre having recently viewed “Trucking on the Track” with Tommy Kirk and “Fireball 500” with Fabian and Frankie Avalon. In this contemporary version, BMWs that we associate with dotty suburbanites here are the mean machines of the street.
Those who hope to see Angela Merkle topless on the streets of Berlin will be disappointed. The lady has front burner issues with the bank mess in Spain. Cut her some slack.
For maximum FT enjoyment pair it with Lou Arkoff’s “Jailbreaker” with underwear model Antonio Sabato Jr. reminding us of why our hearts went aflutter a few years back. In a retread of a 60s American International epic, Sabato plays a James Dean high school greaser bad boy who Shannon Doherty can’t resist. (She never showed good judgment in the Beverly Hills show as well.)
In a somewhat unrelated discovery, “The Bitch in Apt. 23” actually is wonderfully subversive with Dawson Vanderbeek as a has been teen heart throb doing commercials in Vietnam. This ABC sitcom is worth another view.
This is not just your basic fast women, loose cars or babes, boobs and BMWs sidebar to a six pack of Grain Belt and Dominoes pizza. No, it features some creative photography and street racing of the classic variety. I am well versed in the genre having recently viewed “Trucking on the Track” with Tommy Kirk and “Fireball 500” with Fabian and Frankie Avalon. In this contemporary version, BMWs that we associate with dotty suburbanites here are the mean machines of the street.
Those who hope to see Angela Merkle topless on the streets of Berlin will be disappointed. The lady has front burner issues with the bank mess in Spain. Cut her some slack.
For maximum FT enjoyment pair it with Lou Arkoff’s “Jailbreaker” with underwear model Antonio Sabato Jr. reminding us of why our hearts went aflutter a few years back. In a retread of a 60s American International epic, Sabato plays a James Dean high school greaser bad boy who Shannon Doherty can’t resist. (She never showed good judgment in the Beverly Hills show as well.)
In a somewhat unrelated discovery, “The Bitch in Apt. 23” actually is wonderfully subversive with Dawson Vanderbeek as a has been teen heart throb doing commercials in Vietnam. This ABC sitcom is worth another view.
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Making Lemons Out of Lemonade
Lemons are life and everyone is a prisoner who suffers tremendous losses in the 2008 award-winning Israeli film “Lemon Tree” about contemporary life on the West Bank.
In the closing scene, the Israeli defense minister stares forlornly into the ugly wall that separates him from his Palestinian neighbor with the contested lemon grove. “LIfe Behind The Wall” would have been a more appropriate title for this provocative film. The plot is somewhat similar to that of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” where protagonists are asked to walk a mile in the other guy’s shoes.
Once the defense minister moved next to the lemon grove, the Palestinian woman whose family owned the grove must have known that nothing would be the same, one could conjecture. Either you feel a sense of immense helplessness over this mess or you see the movie as a hopeful sign. See the movie and decide for yourself.
In the closing scene, the Israeli defense minister stares forlornly into the ugly wall that separates him from his Palestinian neighbor with the contested lemon grove. “LIfe Behind The Wall” would have been a more appropriate title for this provocative film. The plot is somewhat similar to that of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” where protagonists are asked to walk a mile in the other guy’s shoes.
Once the defense minister moved next to the lemon grove, the Palestinian woman whose family owned the grove must have known that nothing would be the same, one could conjecture. Either you feel a sense of immense helplessness over this mess or you see the movie as a hopeful sign. See the movie and decide for yourself.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Spirit Lake, Idaho Theater Memories Recalled
It started at the Spirit Lake, Idaho, movie theater in 1947 where the Zarkins and Barers would go while on summer vacation at Sedelmeyers Resort. So I have been carrying around a snapshot in my head of a movie scene where Victor Moore emerges from underground in a manhole. Those Spirit Lake days were an impressionable time for a lad starting a lifetime as a movie maniac.
By dumb luck I was reunited with the scene when last night I watched the 1947 Allied Artist movie ‘It Happened on Fifth Avenue” with Gale Storm, Charles Ruggles, Victor Moore and Dan Defore. Briefly, it’s a sentimental Christmas yarn about a returning GI coping with the housing shortage and a self-absorbed captain of industry and his daughter (Storm) who falls in love with the GI played by Defore. With high production values and a good script, it is quite enjoyable.
Spirit Lake’s theater was small and with primitive folding chairs or some other unusual seating arrangements. The theater also featured “Luck of the Irish” with Tyrone Power which we also saw. I have fond Spirit Lake memories.
By dumb luck I was reunited with the scene when last night I watched the 1947 Allied Artist movie ‘It Happened on Fifth Avenue” with Gale Storm, Charles Ruggles, Victor Moore and Dan Defore. Briefly, it’s a sentimental Christmas yarn about a returning GI coping with the housing shortage and a self-absorbed captain of industry and his daughter (Storm) who falls in love with the GI played by Defore. With high production values and a good script, it is quite enjoyable.
Spirit Lake’s theater was small and with primitive folding chairs or some other unusual seating arrangements. The theater also featured “Luck of the Irish” with Tyrone Power which we also saw. I have fond Spirit Lake memories.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Woman in Black: Unusual Choice for Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe makes an agreeable hero in the Gothic ghost horror movie “The Woman in Black” from the Hammer Studios which gained fame in the 60s and 70s with Gothic horror stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
Children are the victims in this British film and the lad who plays his son in the movie is in real life his God son. Problem is he’s as blond as Mamie Van Doren in “Sex Kittens Go to College.” Radclliffe with the soulful eyes makes this film somewhat enjoyable. Also it reintroduces the Gothic horror genre to an audience reared on teen slasher horror. I kind of liked it. Interesting that 21-year-old Radlcliffe was cast in a mature role after being the Harry Potter boy hero for so many years. Given the fact that some of the Glee high schoolers are old enough to have kids in high school you would expect Radcliffe to be hanging out at the drive in with the other “kids” in post Potter movie roles.
Children are the victims in this British film and the lad who plays his son in the movie is in real life his God son. Problem is he’s as blond as Mamie Van Doren in “Sex Kittens Go to College.” Radclliffe with the soulful eyes makes this film somewhat enjoyable. Also it reintroduces the Gothic horror genre to an audience reared on teen slasher horror. I kind of liked it. Interesting that 21-year-old Radlcliffe was cast in a mature role after being the Harry Potter boy hero for so many years. Given the fact that some of the Glee high schoolers are old enough to have kids in high school you would expect Radcliffe to be hanging out at the drive in with the other “kids” in post Potter movie roles.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Lewis Book Helps Explain Current Market Scandal
What a timely read: The best seller by Michael Lewis, “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine,” is required reading to understand the current scandal with the missing $2 billion at J. P. Morgan Investment Bank. Lewis tells the story of hedge fund managers in the early 2000s who went to Securities and Exchange Commission officials with the impending collapse of the lousy bad credit mortgage bond market. They laid out the story for the SEC. The SEC “doesn't dare or bother to” investigate and “the smart people who understood what was or might be happening were paralyzed by hope and fear.” Crooks and stupid people were running the markets and the rating services, S&P and Moodys, were afraid of losing business by asking the right questions. The AAA bond rating meant nothing. We know how that turned out. The book will put you on edge as the current mess unfolds. So who else has $2 billion unaccounted for?
Friday, May 11, 2012
“Best Hotel,” Republic Pictures and Monogram’s Judy Garland
A lot of gray heads could be seen at the matinee at the Edina Theater for the British/Indian/Dubai film, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Some of our favorite actors from PBS/BBC , Maggie Smith and Judi Dentsch, star in this charming story that takes British seniors on a journey to India.
Dev Patel, who was featured in "Slumdog Millionaire", plays the young hotel owner. So few films focus on seniors that this was like finding an oasis in the Sahara. The character played by Maggie Smith voices inspirational words to live by related to dealing with disappointment, moving on and being open to change. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Colin Covert in the Tribune panned the movie but Chris Hewitt in the Pioneer Press gave it three stars. Wisely, it was promoted on PBS where it is most likely to find an audience. Elsewhere . . .
Gale Storm, best known for the inane 50s sitcom “My Little Margie”, was a talented singer and comedienne and was Monogram Pictures' Judy Garland in the ‘40s. For her story, read “I ain’t down yet: autobiography of Gale Storm”. Details are lacking about working at Monogram and Allied Artists except for her dislike of Roy Del Ruth but she made her best best movie with him, “It Happened on 5th Avenue” . Some of her other Monogram screen credits include “Swing Parade of 1946” with Phil Regan, “Let’s Go Collegiate” with Frankie Darro and “Revenge of the Zombies” with John Carradine which is marvelously bad. (Veda Ann Borg steals the movie as the walking dead).
Storm also made a horse opera at Republic Pictures which is the focus of a scholarly book, “Republic Studios: Between Poverty Row and the Majors” by Richard M. Hurst. Prominent Republic historian Jack Mathis, who is decreased, had an extensive film collection extensive which includes “Captain America” serial that’s not available for purchase. Mathis' collection is at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dick Purcell stared in Captain America and died of heart attack shortly thereafter doing his own stunts. Dick is remembered as the handsome lead in “King of the Zombies” at Monogram. Hopefully some day the Captain America serials will be available on DVD.
Dev Patel, who was featured in "Slumdog Millionaire", plays the young hotel owner. So few films focus on seniors that this was like finding an oasis in the Sahara. The character played by Maggie Smith voices inspirational words to live by related to dealing with disappointment, moving on and being open to change. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Colin Covert in the Tribune panned the movie but Chris Hewitt in the Pioneer Press gave it three stars. Wisely, it was promoted on PBS where it is most likely to find an audience. Elsewhere . . .
Gale Storm, best known for the inane 50s sitcom “My Little Margie”, was a talented singer and comedienne and was Monogram Pictures' Judy Garland in the ‘40s. For her story, read “I ain’t down yet: autobiography of Gale Storm”. Details are lacking about working at Monogram and Allied Artists except for her dislike of Roy Del Ruth but she made her best best movie with him, “It Happened on 5th Avenue” . Some of her other Monogram screen credits include “Swing Parade of 1946” with Phil Regan, “Let’s Go Collegiate” with Frankie Darro and “Revenge of the Zombies” with John Carradine which is marvelously bad. (Veda Ann Borg steals the movie as the walking dead).
Storm also made a horse opera at Republic Pictures which is the focus of a scholarly book, “Republic Studios: Between Poverty Row and the Majors” by Richard M. Hurst. Prominent Republic historian Jack Mathis, who is decreased, had an extensive film collection extensive which includes “Captain America” serial that’s not available for purchase. Mathis' collection is at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dick Purcell stared in Captain America and died of heart attack shortly thereafter doing his own stunts. Dick is remembered as the handsome lead in “King of the Zombies” at Monogram. Hopefully some day the Captain America serials will be available on DVD.
Friday, May 04, 2012
Outer Space Travel Can Be Hazardous
Frightening similar to the killing in Sanford, Fla., in February of an African American teenager is the plot of the 1951 independent film, “The Man from Planet X”. Did director Edgar Ulmer plan a parable on race relations in 1951? Who knows but this gem from United Artists is quite provocative with the earthlings taking the attitude, “If it doesn’t look like me, destroy it.” One of the characters in the film observes: Too bad we never got to know him. He may have been a nice person. That pretty much sums it up.
So before he became famous film director Peer Bogdanovich cobbled together a Soviet sci-fi space adventure with Mamie VanDoren and similar babes in clam shell bras and skin tight pants on a California beach. The result is the amusingly bad 1969 movie “Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women”. Dubbed dialogue allows for some amusing banter amongst the Soviet cosmonauts visiting a planet inhabited by the voluptuous ladies. “If you don’t like it here why don’t you get on a bus and go home? I would if I could find one,” is the response.
In Allied Artists’ campy 1958 hit “Queen of Outer Space” the stateside astronauts are smitten by the beautiful ladies who are sole inhabitants of Venus. Zsa Zsa Gabor plays a “scientist” who is smartly attired. In fact Venus ladies are ready to party in revealing cocktail dresses except for the evil “queen” who is horribly disfigured. Costuming must have been inspired by Vegas musical reviews. The male lead is Eric Fleming from “Rawhide” and he catches the Zsa Zsa roving eye. Painfully atrocious acting. Edward Bernds, a mainstay of cheesy movies, directed this mess which was probably filmed at the Allied Artists sound stage.
So before he became famous film director Peer Bogdanovich cobbled together a Soviet sci-fi space adventure with Mamie VanDoren and similar babes in clam shell bras and skin tight pants on a California beach. The result is the amusingly bad 1969 movie “Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women”. Dubbed dialogue allows for some amusing banter amongst the Soviet cosmonauts visiting a planet inhabited by the voluptuous ladies. “If you don’t like it here why don’t you get on a bus and go home? I would if I could find one,” is the response.
In Allied Artists’ campy 1958 hit “Queen of Outer Space” the stateside astronauts are smitten by the beautiful ladies who are sole inhabitants of Venus. Zsa Zsa Gabor plays a “scientist” who is smartly attired. In fact Venus ladies are ready to party in revealing cocktail dresses except for the evil “queen” who is horribly disfigured. Costuming must have been inspired by Vegas musical reviews. The male lead is Eric Fleming from “Rawhide” and he catches the Zsa Zsa roving eye. Painfully atrocious acting. Edward Bernds, a mainstay of cheesy movies, directed this mess which was probably filmed at the Allied Artists sound stage.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Broadcast Hall of Fame's Watson Feted
Hugs were exchanged and stories told Sunday in St. Paul Forepaugh’s at retired KUOM Radio Manager Marion Watson’s 90th birthday party and the reunion of the KUOM staff. Many wonderful friends from my year at KUOM (1981) were on hand including Andy, Carol, Vicki, Betty, Stuart and more. It was like 30 years hadn’t passed and we were in Rarig Center on the university campus.
Connie Goldman approached me and I know that I have a connection to Connie and the wheels started turning in my head, finally mentioning my ex-wife’s Aunt Gae who is Connie’s cousin. So we made that connection and I was good to see Connie who was prominent at KUOM and NPR where she did a series on the pop psychology of Northern California, possibly in the 60s or 70s.
And then I had a flash that I should know Andy Marlowe’s mom and so I asked his wife, Phyllis, about her. Yes, she worked as a secretary for 4-H at the same time I was an information officer on the campus doing public relations for 4-H. So of course I knew Eleanor Marlowe.
Charles Brin was there who still can be heard on KFAI Radio and had a bit part in the Coen Brothers’ film “A Serious Man.” He and I are members of the same congregation.
Curt Oliver hadn’t changed much and I reminded him of some of his witticisms. Steve Davis was also quite imposing and he still has that deep baritone that served him well as he spun classical music.
The event concluded with Betty's homemade cakes, which were an office tradition on birthdays, Flashes flashed for group shots.
Marion is rightfully concerned about the KUOM legacy and the many priceless tapes that are in University Archives care. Can the archives be trusted with this priceless treasure? Apart from my KUOM job, as a student I had transcribed World War Two news broadcast electrical transcriptions to tape from KSTP Radio in about 1970 so I volunteered to lend my support to efforts to chronicle the progress of this archive project.
There never will be another reunion like this, certainly not at the Grain Exchange and the Medical Foundation, which were dramas that didn’t end well for me in the 80s. Then again if the Idaho Statesman wants to gather old hands together, I would welcome it.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
“Macabre”, “Three Stooges”, “Moneyball”
“Macabre” is a low budget Allied Artist horror movie that I hadn’t seen in more than 50 years at the art deco Spokane Fox Theater so when it was reissued by Warners this month I bought it in a nano second. William Castle directs this black and white graveyard chiller with D list actors, a fog machine and skeletons cued by creepy music. AA insured our lives for $1,000 if we died of fright in the theater during the movie. (Chocking on popcorn or falling asleep from boredom didn’t count).
It was good to get in touch with my boyhood obsession for scary movies after avoiding them in my early childhood (too many nightmares). I can’t say that “Macabre” was all that scary compared to ”Psycho” but then I won’t spoil the plot.
Juvenile slapstick humor brought me to the multiplex here Friday night for a showing of the new “Three Stooges” movie from the Farley Brothers, one of which is quite buff. Anyhoo, my friend Jack and I nearly wet our pants from laughter. There’s nothing like a little eye gouging and a sledge hammer over the head to put you right with the world. Long live the Stooges, saviors of western civilization as we knew it.
Who would have known that the Oakland Athletics had a general manager named Billy Beane (thought he ran a mail order catalog) and who cares? Actually the Brad Pitt film was quite riveting and I don’t know why. I was actually disappointed when they lost to the Twins in the playoffs and no one is chagrin when the Twins win here. So what’s with that?
Watch this space for a review upcoming on “Cabin in the Woods” which should bring back fond memories of summer days at Loon Lake, WA.
It was good to get in touch with my boyhood obsession for scary movies after avoiding them in my early childhood (too many nightmares). I can’t say that “Macabre” was all that scary compared to ”Psycho” but then I won’t spoil the plot.
Juvenile slapstick humor brought me to the multiplex here Friday night for a showing of the new “Three Stooges” movie from the Farley Brothers, one of which is quite buff. Anyhoo, my friend Jack and I nearly wet our pants from laughter. There’s nothing like a little eye gouging and a sledge hammer over the head to put you right with the world. Long live the Stooges, saviors of western civilization as we knew it.
Who would have known that the Oakland Athletics had a general manager named Billy Beane (thought he ran a mail order catalog) and who cares? Actually the Brad Pitt film was quite riveting and I don’t know why. I was actually disappointed when they lost to the Twins in the playoffs and no one is chagrin when the Twins win here. So what’s with that?
Watch this space for a review upcoming on “Cabin in the Woods” which should bring back fond memories of summer days at Loon Lake, WA.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
MOVIE “GIRLS' TOWN” GETS NO RESPECT
Hollywood gossip monger Sheilah Graham refuses to mention it while jazz singer Mel Torme devotes a paragraph to the teen exploitation drive in movie “Girls’ Town” in his autobiography.
Albert Zugsmith produced several salacious thrillers at MGM, Universal and Allied Artist with Mamie Van Doren topping the bill. Ms. Graham played a sympathetic nun at a girls reformatory in “Girls’ Town” and Torme was a bad boy who dukes it out with singer Paul Anka and the son of film icon Charlie Chaplin. In the scene with Charles Chaplin junior the actor was to slug Torme and actually did, loosening a few of the singer’s front teeth.
If Ms. Graham suffered any indignities or loose teeth we may never know because in all the books written about her and her lover F. Scott Fiitzgerald there are no references to GT. Too bad. Then again Torme makes no reference in his book to Lana Turner with whom he is alleged to have an affair. Discretion is the better part of valor, I guess.
Interesting that by the mid 50s the once distinguished MGM had fallen on such hard times that it was catering to the drive in crowd as was Warner Bros., who distributed the Mamie musical effort “Untamed Youth” as well as "Teenagers from Outer Space" in the 50s.
Albert Zugsmith produced several salacious thrillers at MGM, Universal and Allied Artist with Mamie Van Doren topping the bill. Ms. Graham played a sympathetic nun at a girls reformatory in “Girls’ Town” and Torme was a bad boy who dukes it out with singer Paul Anka and the son of film icon Charlie Chaplin. In the scene with Charles Chaplin junior the actor was to slug Torme and actually did, loosening a few of the singer’s front teeth.
If Ms. Graham suffered any indignities or loose teeth we may never know because in all the books written about her and her lover F. Scott Fiitzgerald there are no references to GT. Too bad. Then again Torme makes no reference in his book to Lana Turner with whom he is alleged to have an affair. Discretion is the better part of valor, I guess.
Interesting that by the mid 50s the once distinguished MGM had fallen on such hard times that it was catering to the drive in crowd as was Warner Bros., who distributed the Mamie musical effort “Untamed Youth” as well as "Teenagers from Outer Space" in the 50s.
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