Bullets for Ballots.
1936 Warner Bros.-First National Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh, Joseph King
Director: William Keighley
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or part of the Warner Gangsters Collection, Volume 2 (Formerly Tough Guys).
It's another "Warner Night at the Movies" presentation, which is an option available for viewing on this DVD. If you were alive in 1936, and wanted to go see Bullets for Ballots, here's what you would've been treated to at your local cinema:
* A trailer for The Charge of the Light Brigade, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and David Niven. Warner Bros. dubbed this one an "epic re-release". I'm sure it was back in '36. (Available for sale at Amazon here, or as a single DVD)
* Crazy Newsreel: Two "news of the weird" features in under three minutes, covering a Canadian family who won nearly a million dollars from an eccentric millionaire for having fifteen children, tiger cubs in an incubator, and a flying bicycle contraption that never gets airborne.
* George Hall and His Orchestra, a short film featuring aforementioned orchestra, as they're unable to secure lodging at a hotel, so they move into a condemned building for the night. They rehearse some numbers, and scare the wits out of a drunken intruder who stumbles in. There's also some humor that can definitely be construed as racist today.
* I'm a Big Shot Now, directed by Friz Freleng, 1936. Cartoon time! In Birdville, the citizens all go about their business until a gangster stereotype bluebird sings the title song before wreaking havoc. Birdville's crack police force get to work, complete with a car chase, a shootout, and the bird criminal locked up, and woefully singing "I'm just a jailbird now". Tough break, kid.
* Main feature:
Edward G. Robinson is detective Johnny Blake, who goes undercover in a New York City mob, befriending a gangster named Al Kruger (MacLane), who is the subject of a recent movie about racketeering produced by a newspaperman named Ward Bryant (Henry O'Neill). Bryant has turned up murdered, and Kruger's partner, Nick Fenner (Bogart) is suspected of the crime. Blake is fired from the police force, and he later gets into an altercation with a police captain, Dan MacLaren (King) at a boxing match.
Blake quickly gains the trust of Kruger, although Fenner begins to rightfully suspect that Blake is secretly tipping off the police, and it's inevitable that both men are headed for a violent showdown. Who will survive?
The DVD also includes as an extra the Lux Theater radio broadcast featuring Robinson, Bogart, and Mary Astor in Joan Blondell's role, which first was aired on April 16th, 1939. As for the film, it's a recommended movie with an excellent transfer to DVD.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Marathon Man
Marathon Man. 1976 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, William Devane, Roy Scheider, Marthe Keller
Director: John Schlesinger
Buy Marathon Man from Amazon.
"Is it safe?" Number 70 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list.
Dustin Hoffman is Thomas "Babe" Levy, a running enthusiast who is also working towards his Ph.D. in history researching the same field as his dad, who killed himself after he was investigated during the Joseph McCarthy era. His brother Henry (Scheider), or "Doc" if you prefer, poses as an oil company executive, but unknown to Babe, he is a government agent working for one Peter Janeway (Devane). Doc is in New York under the guise of visiting his brother, but in fact, he is tracking a Nazi war criminal named Dr. Christian Szell (Olivier), whose brother possesses a key to a safety deposit box containing an extremely valuable collection of diamonds (we learn later on that the diamonds were taken from Jewish victims that Szell personally executed at Auschwitz during World War II). Szell's brother dies following a road rage incident with a short-tempered Jewish American motorist. Meanwhile, Babe starts dating a fellow student named Elsa Opel (Keller), who says she's from Switzerland. One day, they're mugged in the park by two men in suits. Later, Doc takes them both to lunch, where he tricks Elsa into admitting she was lying about her past, because Doc suspects she has some kind of tie to Szell.
Doc is later stabbed by Szell, and he manages to make it back to Babe's apartment where he dies before telling him anything. The police interrogate Babe for hours, until Janeway and his men arrive. Janeway informs Babe of Doc's past as a government agent, and is convinced that Doc made his way back to Babe's apartment to share vital information. Later, Babe is abducted by the same two men who attacked him and Elsa in the park, who bring him to Szell, and Babe is tortured by the Nazi who repeatedly asks "Is it safe?" Babe denies any knowledge of what's happening, and is rescued by Janeway. After informing him of Szell's intentions for the cache of diamonds, and after Babe again stresses that Doc did not share any information with him before dying, Janeway reveals he is in cahoots with Szell. Szell had agreed to inform on his fellow Nazi war criminals in return for immunity. Babe is sent back to Szell, who is surprisingly gentle in his explanation why he's being held captive: he suspected Doc would attempt to seize the diamonds, or inform the authorities, and Szell wants to know if it's "safe" to withdraw the diamonds. Babe again says he knows nothing, and following more torture (dental torture!!), Babe escapes, outrunning Janeway and Szell's henchmen.
After this, Babe formulates a plan for revenge, and it could prove fatal for more than one person involved.
Laurence Olivier was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role as Dr. Szell, and he won a Golden Globe in the same category. Olivier was also suffering from cancer at the time of filming, and Paramount initially didn't want to use him during production, but producer Robert Evans called on his friends Merle Oberon and David Niven to meet with the House of Lords in England to convince them to urge Lloyds of London to insure Olivier. In the end, Olivier's cancer went into remission, and he lived for another thirteen years.
Highly recommended thriller, thanks to the performances of Hoffman and Olivier, although some might find the dental torture scenes a little too hard to watch. Be forewarned!
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, William Devane, Roy Scheider, Marthe Keller
Director: John Schlesinger
Buy Marathon Man from Amazon.
"Is it safe?" Number 70 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list.
Dustin Hoffman is Thomas "Babe" Levy, a running enthusiast who is also working towards his Ph.D. in history researching the same field as his dad, who killed himself after he was investigated during the Joseph McCarthy era. His brother Henry (Scheider), or "Doc" if you prefer, poses as an oil company executive, but unknown to Babe, he is a government agent working for one Peter Janeway (Devane). Doc is in New York under the guise of visiting his brother, but in fact, he is tracking a Nazi war criminal named Dr. Christian Szell (Olivier), whose brother possesses a key to a safety deposit box containing an extremely valuable collection of diamonds (we learn later on that the diamonds were taken from Jewish victims that Szell personally executed at Auschwitz during World War II). Szell's brother dies following a road rage incident with a short-tempered Jewish American motorist. Meanwhile, Babe starts dating a fellow student named Elsa Opel (Keller), who says she's from Switzerland. One day, they're mugged in the park by two men in suits. Later, Doc takes them both to lunch, where he tricks Elsa into admitting she was lying about her past, because Doc suspects she has some kind of tie to Szell.
Doc is later stabbed by Szell, and he manages to make it back to Babe's apartment where he dies before telling him anything. The police interrogate Babe for hours, until Janeway and his men arrive. Janeway informs Babe of Doc's past as a government agent, and is convinced that Doc made his way back to Babe's apartment to share vital information. Later, Babe is abducted by the same two men who attacked him and Elsa in the park, who bring him to Szell, and Babe is tortured by the Nazi who repeatedly asks "Is it safe?" Babe denies any knowledge of what's happening, and is rescued by Janeway. After informing him of Szell's intentions for the cache of diamonds, and after Babe again stresses that Doc did not share any information with him before dying, Janeway reveals he is in cahoots with Szell. Szell had agreed to inform on his fellow Nazi war criminals in return for immunity. Babe is sent back to Szell, who is surprisingly gentle in his explanation why he's being held captive: he suspected Doc would attempt to seize the diamonds, or inform the authorities, and Szell wants to know if it's "safe" to withdraw the diamonds. Babe again says he knows nothing, and following more torture (dental torture!!), Babe escapes, outrunning Janeway and Szell's henchmen.
After this, Babe formulates a plan for revenge, and it could prove fatal for more than one person involved.
Laurence Olivier was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role as Dr. Szell, and he won a Golden Globe in the same category. Olivier was also suffering from cancer at the time of filming, and Paramount initially didn't want to use him during production, but producer Robert Evans called on his friends Merle Oberon and David Niven to meet with the House of Lords in England to convince them to urge Lloyds of London to insure Olivier. In the end, Olivier's cancer went into remission, and he lived for another thirteen years.
Highly recommended thriller, thanks to the performances of Hoffman and Olivier, although some might find the dental torture scenes a little too hard to watch. Be forewarned!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Alfie
Alfie. 1966 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Julia Foster, Jane Asher, Alfie Bass
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Buy Alfie (1966) from Amazon.
Yes, this one was remade in 2004 starring Jude Law and Marisa Tomei.
The original, however, stars Michael Caine as Alfie Elkins, a promiscuous young man who seems to be shagging most of the female population of London when he isn't breaking the fourth wall trying to justify his actions. Usually, what Alfie tells the audience is the opposite of what we see him doing onscreen. Alfie is seeing Siddie (Martin) for little more than romps in parked cars, while his live-in bird Gilda (Foster) waits at home
Alfie's life begins to change when he ends his relationship with Siddie, and subsequently gets Gilda pregnant. Fatherhood seems to mellow Alfie out a little bit, but his reluctance to commit to Gilda drives her to marry a bus driver (Graham Stark). Alfie is then diagnosed with "shadows on the lungs", which means that he won't be able to go near his son. Checking into a convalescent home, Alfie meets another patient named Harry (Bass), whose wife he gets pregnant in a one-night stand. Harry's wife chooses to terminate the pregnancy, which devastates Alfie.
Having met an older, American woman named Ruby (Winters) while taking holiday pictures, Alfie decides to abandon his carefree ways, and settle down. Alfie chooses Ruby, but the day he finally tries to tell her, he finds Ruby in bed with a younger man.
Alfie was based on Bill Naughton's novel and play of the same name, and it earned several Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Michael Caine. Recommended movie!
Starring: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Julia Foster, Jane Asher, Alfie Bass
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Buy Alfie (1966) from Amazon.
Yes, this one was remade in 2004 starring Jude Law and Marisa Tomei.
The original, however, stars Michael Caine as Alfie Elkins, a promiscuous young man who seems to be shagging most of the female population of London when he isn't breaking the fourth wall trying to justify his actions. Usually, what Alfie tells the audience is the opposite of what we see him doing onscreen. Alfie is seeing Siddie (Martin) for little more than romps in parked cars, while his live-in bird Gilda (Foster) waits at home
Alfie's life begins to change when he ends his relationship with Siddie, and subsequently gets Gilda pregnant. Fatherhood seems to mellow Alfie out a little bit, but his reluctance to commit to Gilda drives her to marry a bus driver (Graham Stark). Alfie is then diagnosed with "shadows on the lungs", which means that he won't be able to go near his son. Checking into a convalescent home, Alfie meets another patient named Harry (Bass), whose wife he gets pregnant in a one-night stand. Harry's wife chooses to terminate the pregnancy, which devastates Alfie.
Having met an older, American woman named Ruby (Winters) while taking holiday pictures, Alfie decides to abandon his carefree ways, and settle down. Alfie chooses Ruby, but the day he finally tries to tell her, he finds Ruby in bed with a younger man.
Alfie was based on Bill Naughton's novel and play of the same name, and it earned several Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Michael Caine. Recommended movie!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Planes, Trains and Automobiles. 1987 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Edie McClurg, Ben Stein
Written, produced and directed by John Hughes
Available from Amazon (Those Aren't Pillows edition).
Ad exec Neal Page (Martin) is stuck in a meeting that seems to drag on forever, which may mean that he won't be able to catch a taxi to JFK to connect to his flight to Chicago, two days before Thanksgiving. Neal plans to be at home "by nine". That ain't happening. He first encounters Del Griffith (Candy) when the latter inadvertently gets into the cab that Neal hailed for himself. Neal does get to JFK just in time, only to find out two things:
1. The flight to Chicago is delayed, thanks to the mother of all snowstorms, and
2. While waiting, Del recognizes Neal. To Neal's annoyance, he's stuck in coach right next to Del!
The flight to the Windy City is diverted to Wichita due to the storm, which not so coincidentally clears up shortly after Del and Neal land, and settle into a crummy hotel in a rough part of town. Being robbed of nearly a thousand dollars by an unidentified thief does not help matters. Neal and Del are stuck together, and they gradually overcome their differences after much arguing, and they pull together to make their way back to Chicago over the course of the next three days, using just about every method of transportation they can. Once they make it back home, Neal realizes that Del, the seemingly happy-go-lucky kind of fella, actually is a widower (he has been carrying around a framed picture of his deceased wife Marie), and he has nowhere to go home to.
Highly recommended film, perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday.
...those aren't pillows!
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Edie McClurg, Ben Stein
Written, produced and directed by John Hughes
Available from Amazon (Those Aren't Pillows edition).
Ad exec Neal Page (Martin) is stuck in a meeting that seems to drag on forever, which may mean that he won't be able to catch a taxi to JFK to connect to his flight to Chicago, two days before Thanksgiving. Neal plans to be at home "by nine". That ain't happening. He first encounters Del Griffith (Candy) when the latter inadvertently gets into the cab that Neal hailed for himself. Neal does get to JFK just in time, only to find out two things:
1. The flight to Chicago is delayed, thanks to the mother of all snowstorms, and
2. While waiting, Del recognizes Neal. To Neal's annoyance, he's stuck in coach right next to Del!
The flight to the Windy City is diverted to Wichita due to the storm, which not so coincidentally clears up shortly after Del and Neal land, and settle into a crummy hotel in a rough part of town. Being robbed of nearly a thousand dollars by an unidentified thief does not help matters. Neal and Del are stuck together, and they gradually overcome their differences after much arguing, and they pull together to make their way back to Chicago over the course of the next three days, using just about every method of transportation they can. Once they make it back home, Neal realizes that Del, the seemingly happy-go-lucky kind of fella, actually is a widower (he has been carrying around a framed picture of his deceased wife Marie), and he has nowhere to go home to.
Highly recommended film, perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday.
...those aren't pillows!
Friday, November 27, 2009
At the Circus
At the Circus. 1939 MGM/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo), Kenny Baker, Florence Rice, James Burke, Margaret Dumont, Nat Pendleton, Eve Arden
Director: Edward Buzzell
Available as part of the Marx Brothers Collection from Amazon.
Circus owner Jeff Wilson (Baker) is in danger of losing his business to a crooked creditor named Carter (Burke) and his two accomplices Goliath the Strongman (Pendleton) and Little Professor Atom (Jerry Maren). Wilson's assistant Antonio (Chico) takes it upon himself to enlist the help of an attorney called J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho), as well as another circus performer, Punchy (Harpo). Carter and his men aren't the only ones looking to take over the circus; aerialist Peerless Pauline (Arden) has also aligned herself with them. Wilson is mugged in the animal car and robbed of $10,000 with only one witness: a gorilla. It's up to Loophole, Antonio and Punchy to save the circus as only the Marx Brothers can...and that does involve Groucho running rings around a slightly bewildered Margaret Dumont (who plays Wilson's wealthy aunt, Mrs. Dukesbury). Will the gorilla come into play?
One of the film's musical numbers is "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", which became one of Groucho's signature songs, and it also references Captain Spaulding from Animal Crackers. Buster Keaton also worked on the film, contributing various sight gags, which did not mesh well with the Marx Brothers' style of comedy. During an argument, Keaton told Groucho that he's only doing what he's being paid to do, and that "you guys don't need help".
Recommended, of course, but it isn't the greatest Marx Brothers movie out there.
Starring: The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo), Kenny Baker, Florence Rice, James Burke, Margaret Dumont, Nat Pendleton, Eve Arden
Director: Edward Buzzell
Available as part of the Marx Brothers Collection from Amazon.
Circus owner Jeff Wilson (Baker) is in danger of losing his business to a crooked creditor named Carter (Burke) and his two accomplices Goliath the Strongman (Pendleton) and Little Professor Atom (Jerry Maren). Wilson's assistant Antonio (Chico) takes it upon himself to enlist the help of an attorney called J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho), as well as another circus performer, Punchy (Harpo). Carter and his men aren't the only ones looking to take over the circus; aerialist Peerless Pauline (Arden) has also aligned herself with them. Wilson is mugged in the animal car and robbed of $10,000 with only one witness: a gorilla. It's up to Loophole, Antonio and Punchy to save the circus as only the Marx Brothers can...and that does involve Groucho running rings around a slightly bewildered Margaret Dumont (who plays Wilson's wealthy aunt, Mrs. Dukesbury). Will the gorilla come into play?
One of the film's musical numbers is "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", which became one of Groucho's signature songs, and it also references Captain Spaulding from Animal Crackers. Buster Keaton also worked on the film, contributing various sight gags, which did not mesh well with the Marx Brothers' style of comedy. During an argument, Keaton told Groucho that he's only doing what he's being paid to do, and that "you guys don't need help".
Recommended, of course, but it isn't the greatest Marx Brothers movie out there.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
MST3K: Mr. B's Lost Shorts
Mystery Science Theater 3000 presents: Mr. B's Lost Shorts.
Available on the sixth MST3K collection.
Featuring for your perusal...
Mr. B Natural, from experiment 319, War of the Colossal Beast.
X Marks the Spot, from experiment 210, King Dinosaur.
Hired! (Part One), from experiment 423, Bride of the Monster.
Design for Dreaming, from experiment 12 to the Moon (also available on Shorts, Volume 3).
Johnny at the Fair, from experiment 419, The Rebel Set.
Are You Ready for Marriage?, from experiment 616, Racket Girls.
Next to Manos, Mr. B Natural is arguably MST3K's most memorable film, and just about every MSTie is very familiar with Betty Luster's over the top performance as the androgynous "hep pixie" embodying the spirit of fun in music. Evidentally, his/her day job is shilling for the now-defunct C.G. Conn company, and persuading awkward teenagers named Buzz into taking up the trumpet. As you all know, playing an instrument increases confidence around teenage girls. Or something.
Sadly, Mr. B doesn't appear in the rest of the shorts, so we do not get to see his/her influence over short films concerning reckless driving in New Jersey (and death), learning how to become a more efficient Chevrolet salesman, surreal showcases for new General Motors products, Johnny getting lost at a fair, or helping a young couple in love recognize that waiting to get engaged would definitely be a good idea. But, you know, Mr. B Natural is there, subtlely influencing everyone involved. Why did Johnny get lost? Blame Mr. B! How did Joe Doakes from New Jersey die in a car accident? That was Mr. B's doing.
This disc is definitely the best of the MST3K shorts collections, so get it while you can. Highly, highly recommended!
The mini Turkey Day marathon is over. My next post will be a review of an actual movie.
Available on the sixth MST3K collection.
Featuring for your perusal...
Mr. B Natural, from experiment 319, War of the Colossal Beast.
X Marks the Spot, from experiment 210, King Dinosaur.
Hired! (Part One), from experiment 423, Bride of the Monster.
Design for Dreaming, from experiment 12 to the Moon (also available on Shorts, Volume 3).
Johnny at the Fair, from experiment 419, The Rebel Set.
Are You Ready for Marriage?, from experiment 616, Racket Girls.
Next to Manos, Mr. B Natural is arguably MST3K's most memorable film, and just about every MSTie is very familiar with Betty Luster's over the top performance as the androgynous "hep pixie" embodying the spirit of fun in music. Evidentally, his/her day job is shilling for the now-defunct C.G. Conn company, and persuading awkward teenagers named Buzz into taking up the trumpet. As you all know, playing an instrument increases confidence around teenage girls. Or something.
Sadly, Mr. B doesn't appear in the rest of the shorts, so we do not get to see his/her influence over short films concerning reckless driving in New Jersey (and death), learning how to become a more efficient Chevrolet salesman, surreal showcases for new General Motors products, Johnny getting lost at a fair, or helping a young couple in love recognize that waiting to get engaged would definitely be a good idea. But, you know, Mr. B Natural is there, subtlely influencing everyone involved. Why did Johnny get lost? Blame Mr. B! How did Joe Doakes from New Jersey die in a car accident? That was Mr. B's doing.
This disc is definitely the best of the MST3K shorts collections, so get it while you can. Highly, highly recommended!
The mini Turkey Day marathon is over. My next post will be a review of an actual movie.
MST3K #604: Zombie Nightmare
Mystery Science Theater 3000 experiment #604: Zombie Nightmare.
Original Comedy Central airdate: November 24, 1994.
Available on the fifteenth MST3K collection.
Back in the olden days before South Park and Jon Stewart, Comedy Central used to have MST3K marathons on the Thanksgiving holiday, and this episode debuted during 1994's marathon.
Canadian bodybuilder and heavy metal musician Jon Mikl Thor starred in (and contributed music to) this 1986 film about a muscular, long-haired teenage baseball player named Tony, who one night, falls victim to a hit-and-run by a car full of teenagers. Those teenagers also include Tia Carrere (as Amy) in her first film role, and are led by a practicing sociopath named Jim (Shawn Levy).
After the death of Tony, his mother seeks out the neighborhood voodoo priestess (Hey! Every neighborhood has one!), who revives Tony as a zombie. Tony theBlack Lanternzombie goes on a killing spree, hunting down and murdering the teenagers who ran him down late one night. As the body count goes up, the local police captain, Tom Churchman (Adam West) begins taking a particular interest in the case, especially after learning that aforementioned voodoo priestess is somehow linked to the deaths. We also learn that Churchman and Jim's father killed Tony's dad long ago after he foiled their attack on the girl who grew up into a life of voodoo.
We open on the SOL with Crow and Tom as Secret Service agents relentlessly protecting Mike (and predictably causing him more harm than good), until they learn that they too could fall victim to an assassin's bullet. The Mads have embraced voodoo, and send up a voodoo kit to the satellite, which Mike and the bots use to do nice things for people like Jimmy Carter and Cokie Roberts. We won't even mention the naughty things they do to Dr. Forrester, though. Later, Crow falls victim to a hit-and-run courtesy of Tom Servo, but they do make up enough for the next scene, where they go hot tubbing. No one told them that Mike was also in the tub, fishing! Crow's Batman play is next for rehearsal, with Mike as a gigantic Robin and Servo as a dimunitive Batman, but Crow neglected to tell them he had scrapped the project. After the movie, the 'bots read letters to Adam West, and TV's Frank accidentally turns Dr. F. undead. Oh no!
Recommended episode, especially if you're a big fan of Hank Peters, Italian grocer, not to mention endless jokes about Canada.
Original Comedy Central airdate: November 24, 1994.
Available on the fifteenth MST3K collection.
Back in the olden days before South Park and Jon Stewart, Comedy Central used to have MST3K marathons on the Thanksgiving holiday, and this episode debuted during 1994's marathon.
Canadian bodybuilder and heavy metal musician Jon Mikl Thor starred in (and contributed music to) this 1986 film about a muscular, long-haired teenage baseball player named Tony, who one night, falls victim to a hit-and-run by a car full of teenagers. Those teenagers also include Tia Carrere (as Amy) in her first film role, and are led by a practicing sociopath named Jim (Shawn Levy).
After the death of Tony, his mother seeks out the neighborhood voodoo priestess (Hey! Every neighborhood has one!), who revives Tony as a zombie. Tony the
We open on the SOL with Crow and Tom as Secret Service agents relentlessly protecting Mike (and predictably causing him more harm than good), until they learn that they too could fall victim to an assassin's bullet. The Mads have embraced voodoo, and send up a voodoo kit to the satellite, which Mike and the bots use to do nice things for people like Jimmy Carter and Cokie Roberts. We won't even mention the naughty things they do to Dr. Forrester, though. Later, Crow falls victim to a hit-and-run courtesy of Tom Servo, but they do make up enough for the next scene, where they go hot tubbing. No one told them that Mike was also in the tub, fishing! Crow's Batman play is next for rehearsal, with Mike as a gigantic Robin and Servo as a dimunitive Batman, but Crow neglected to tell them he had scrapped the project. After the movie, the 'bots read letters to Adam West, and TV's Frank accidentally turns Dr. F. undead. Oh no!
Recommended episode, especially if you're a big fan of Hank Peters, Italian grocer, not to mention endless jokes about Canada.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
Original CBS airdate: November 20, 1973.
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or part of the Peanuts 1970s Collection, Volume 1.
We open our first review in quite some time with one of the three best known Peanuts holiday specials, which opens with the time honored tradition of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, a tactic that you just never see in any football game these days, professional, collegiate, high school, or just playing for fun in the backyard.
Charlie Brown and his sister Sally have plans to go to their grandmother's place for Thanksgiving. Then, Peppermint Patty calls the Brown residence, inviting herself over to the Browns' for dinner, followed up by two successive calls where she tells Charlie Brown that her two neighborhood friends Marcie and Franklin are also coming by. As usual, Charlie Brown can't bring himself to say no, and agonizes over what to do...until Linus simply suggests that they hold an earlier dinner at home before it's time to visit Grandma. Unfortunately, all Charlie Brown knows how to make is cold cereal and "maybe toast". Recruiting Snoopy and Woodstock, the boys do the best they can.
The feast at the Brown residence consists of cereal, toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans. This does infuriate Peppermint Patty, who is oblivious to the fact that she invited herself over until Marcie reminds her. Apologies are given out, and Charlie Brown realizes that they're running behind, and they're supposed to be at Grandma's house very, very soon. Fortunately, after calling her to explain what happened, Charlie Brown's grandmother cheerfully suggests that everyone can tag along and come over for a real Thanksgiving feast. After everyone leaves, Snoopy and Woodstock have their own dinner, complete with all of the staples that were missing from Charlie Brown's first attempt at hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
The Warner Bros. reissue of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving also includes "The Mayflower Voyagers", the first episode from the 1988-89 miniseries This is America, Charlie Brown as an extra. Recommended disc, although the entire This is America, Charlie Brown series is available separately on a two DVD set.
Original CBS airdate: November 20, 1973.
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or part of the Peanuts 1970s Collection, Volume 1.
We open our first review in quite some time with one of the three best known Peanuts holiday specials, which opens with the time honored tradition of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, a tactic that you just never see in any football game these days, professional, collegiate, high school, or just playing for fun in the backyard.
Charlie Brown and his sister Sally have plans to go to their grandmother's place for Thanksgiving. Then, Peppermint Patty calls the Brown residence, inviting herself over to the Browns' for dinner, followed up by two successive calls where she tells Charlie Brown that her two neighborhood friends Marcie and Franklin are also coming by. As usual, Charlie Brown can't bring himself to say no, and agonizes over what to do...until Linus simply suggests that they hold an earlier dinner at home before it's time to visit Grandma. Unfortunately, all Charlie Brown knows how to make is cold cereal and "maybe toast". Recruiting Snoopy and Woodstock, the boys do the best they can.
The feast at the Brown residence consists of cereal, toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans. This does infuriate Peppermint Patty, who is oblivious to the fact that she invited herself over until Marcie reminds her. Apologies are given out, and Charlie Brown realizes that they're running behind, and they're supposed to be at Grandma's house very, very soon. Fortunately, after calling her to explain what happened, Charlie Brown's grandmother cheerfully suggests that everyone can tag along and come over for a real Thanksgiving feast. After everyone leaves, Snoopy and Woodstock have their own dinner, complete with all of the staples that were missing from Charlie Brown's first attempt at hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
The Warner Bros. reissue of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving also includes "The Mayflower Voyagers", the first episode from the 1988-89 miniseries This is America, Charlie Brown as an extra. Recommended disc, although the entire This is America, Charlie Brown series is available separately on a two DVD set.
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