Welcome to the 873rd Edition of my series. Today is a football day for me as I root for my own team of the San Francisco 49ers and I focus on my fantasy teams. We're getting closer to putting on OUR TOWN at the New Castle Public Library and this is a free show. To those in or near the area, maybe consider a day to come see our show and visit https://nchcpl.librarycalendar.com/ to register a seat as seating is limited. I will get on with my selections for the week.
Morris From America (2016): I start the week out with one of them coming of age movies which was directed by Chad Hartigan. Markees Christmas stars as the 13 year old Morris Gentry who along with his father Curtis, played by THE OFFICE alum Craig Robinson, are living in Germany. Morris struggles to fit in with the German kids and falls for the older Katrin, played by Lina Keller, who encourages him to open up more and even share his rap lyrics. Carla Juri, Eva Lobau, Jakub Gierszal, and many others co-star in this film. This has a good blend of comedy and drama with a more serious performances out of Robinson. This simple but effective film has gone a bit overlooked so maybe this will get it on the radar. This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and Showtime.
Toby Tortoise Returns (1936): This is my Disney animated short for the week and is a sequel to the animated short THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE. Max Hare and Toby Tortoise return and this time take each other in a boxing match. Like in the first one, Max underestimates Toby and gets more than he bargained for. These are both really fun to watch. The character of Max Hare did not go onto become one of the iconic Disney characters but was the basis for Warner's icon Bugs Bunny. These are both available to watch on Disney Plus.
Psycho (1960): Alfred Hitchcock directed this film based on the novel by Robert Bloch. Anthony Perkins stars in his most iconic role of Norman Bates who owns the Bates Motel and seems to have a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. Janet Leigh co-stars as Marion Crane who is on the run for embezzlement and hides out at the Bates Motel which might not have been the best decision. Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Lurene Tuttle, John Anderson, and many others co-star in this classic film. I got to see this on a bigger screen at an outside viewing in my town of Muncie. This has quite a few iconic scenes and lines like the shower scene which I think just about everyone knows what I am referring to. It also has a legendary music score from Bernard Herrmann who Hitchcock credits with a lot of the film. It has also inspired quite the franchise of pretty decent sequels, a remake and the tv series BATES MOTEL. This is available to watch on Peacock.
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous from Radio City Music Hall (2018): Alex Timbers directed this comedy special which features stand-up comedian John Mulaney as many might have guessed. Mulaney goes into a lot of serious subjects and is able to make comedy out of it. He talks a lot about his childhood, his family, going to church and a few other things. Jon Brion is his organist that goes along well with the special. Carole Shelley has an amusing cameo in the beginning. This is available to watch on Netflix.
The Seventh Veil (1945): Compton Bennett directed this psychological film. Ann Todd stars as concert pianist Francesca who has amnesia and with the help of Dr. Larsen, played by Herbert Lom, tries to piece together what has happened. Through flashback we learn that Francesca has a very controlling guardian in Nicholas, played by James Mason, and forbade a relationship with artist Maxwell Leyden, played by Albert Lieven. Hugh McDermott, David Horne, Manning Whiley, John Slater, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty dark film at times. Mason plays the controlling guardian and kind of reminded me of him in his later classic of LOLITA which could be a good double feature. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
Nope (2022): This is Jordan Peele's latest horror effort as writer and director and has us all talking again. This takes place in a small California town. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as siblings O.J. and Emerald who look to prove there are UFOs out there with the help of tech salesman Angel Torres, played by Brandon Perea and documentariann Antlers Holst, played by Michael Wincott. This happens after they see random objects falling from the sky that get progressively worse through time. Steven Yuen, Wrenn Schmidt, Keith David, Devon Graye, Terry Notary, Barbie Ferreira, Donna Mills, Oz Perkins, Eddie Jemisom, Jacob Kim, Sophia Coto, Jennifer Lafleur, Andrew Patrick Ralston, Lincoln Lambert, and many others co-star in this horror film. There are some out there that are just like "nope" when it comes to this movie. It has also earned a lot of praise. I felt it was quite different that Peele's other movies and even has an M. Night Shyamalan feel to it. There was a slow progression but I thought worked well for this movie.
This Property is Condemned (1966): Sydney Pollack directed this film based on a play by Tennessee Williams and the screenplay was co-written by a young Francis Ford Coppola. This takes place in depression era Mississippi where Natalie Wood stars as Alva Starr whose mom, played by Kate Reid, owns what is essentially a brothel. Robert Redford stars as railroad official Owen who falls for Alva and tries to get her out of her bad situation. Charles Bronson, Mary Badham, Alan Baxter, Robert Blake, Jon Provost, and many others co-star in this film. I through this was really of interest to see Mary Badham and Jon Provost who were still in their youth but a little older from their famous roles. Badham is most known as Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and Provost is most known as Timmy in the tv series LASSIE. I liked seeing them in darker roles. The movie as a whole was very good and very well written. With Tennessee Williams being attached, I would not expect anything really upbeat. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Thief (1981): This is part nine of my ten-part James Caan series. Michael Mann directed this film based on the novel THE HOME INVADERS by Frank Hohimer. Caan stars as Frank who has spent his life as a safe cracker but ends up in prison. Upon getting out, he wants to get out of that industry and start a family with his girlfriend Jessie, played by Tuesday Weld. Frank agrees to one more big heist for a gangster and will retire after that is all done. Unfortunately, like any who want to do "one more" find themselves in a very complicated situation due to betrayal and deception. Willie Nelson, Jim Belushi, Robert Prosky, Tom Signorelli, Dennis Farina, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very well written film with some good action involved. This goes on the lines some of the later film DRIVE which would make a good double feature. This is available to watch on Prime.
Room For One More (1952): This is part two of my Cary Grant trilogy. Norman Taurog directed this film based on the novel by Anna Perrot Rose. Grant and Betsy Drake star as married couple George and Anna Perrot Rose who have already built a family. When Anna learns that that are a lot of kids out there in foster care, she decides to become a foster home bringing in the troubled and suicidal Jane, played by Iris Mann, and the aggressive and disabled Jimmy John, played by Clifford Tatum Jr. Lurene Tuttle, Irving Bacon, Mary Treen, George Winslow, Gay Gordon, Larry Olsen, and many others co-star in this film. This is some lesser known Grant who was usually in some sort of romantic comedy or an adventure film and this was quite a bit different. This is a good and early look at the foster care system and is a very touching story. Thanks to those that step up and try to make a better life for our troubled youth. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
Papaya (2019): I end the week with this short film which was written and directed by Kayleb Lee. This slice-of-life short film takes a look at Asian cultures and maintaining cultural identity. This is a non-linear short that shares the common theme of papaya salad. This is a little too deep to really explain any further and I believe that is what the director wanted in discussing the interpretation. This is available to watch on Prime.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Gwyneth Paltrow, M. Emmet Walsh, Cary Grant, Kurt Russell, and many others.
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