Welcome to this week's edition of my series. We opened for OUR TOWN yesterday and was received very well. I have a performance today at 2:30 and one more tomorrow at 6:30. I have a few announcements but will save them until tomorrow.
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995): Betty Thomas directed this updated version of that popular sitcom about blended families. As most know, it's a story of a lovely lady who we know as Carol, played by CHEERS alum Shelley Long, and has three daughters in Marcia, played by Christine Taylor, Jan, played by Jennifer Elise Cox, and Cindy, played by Olivia Hack. Then that's a man named Brady who we know as Mike, played by Gary Cole, and he has three sons in Greg, played by Christopher Daniel Barnes, Peter, played by Paul Sutera, and Bobby, played by Jesse Lee Soffer. They are in the '90s but still live as though they are in '60s. Their scheming neighbor Larry Dittmeyer, played by Michael McKean, is determined to get everyone out of the neighborhood but has trouble with the Bradys. Henriette Mantel, David Graf, Jack Noseworthy, Megan Ward, Jean Smart, Moriah Snyder, Alanna Ubach, Shane Conrad, Marissa Ribisi, R.D. Robb, Steven Gilborn, James Avery, David Proval, Rupaul, and many others co-star in this comedy. Much of the cast of the original BRADY BUNCH have cameos including Florence Henderson, Christopher Knight, and Ann B. Davis. Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen, and Maureen McCormick filmed scenes but were cut. Also look for a cameo from the Monkees. This a pretty fun comedy that respected the original material pretty well and did a good job of casting. This is available to watch on Prime.
Born in China (2016): This is my documentary for the week which was directed by Chuan Lu. THE OFFICE alum John Krasinski narrates this tale of animal families in the wilds of China like monkeys, pandas, and leopards. They manage to get some amazing footage that they make stories out of the footage they have. It is hard for me to describe this any further but is very enjoyable. This can be a lot of fun for the family and is available to watch on Disney Plus.
Lakeview Terrace (2008): I went over to Stephanie's house and when I got there, she was just starting this movie. Neil Labute directed this film that is essentially about racial tension. Samuel L. Jackson stars as troubled and racist LAPD cop Abel Turner and becomes dismayed when an interracial couple in Chris and Lisa Mattson, played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, move in next door. Abel makes their lives hell as he tries to drive them away. Ron Glass, Justin Chambers, Jay Hernandez, Regine Nehy, Jaishon Fisher, Robert Pine, Keith Loneker, Caleeb Pinkett, Robert Dahey, Ho-Jung, Elizabeth Tulloch, Vincent Laresca, and many others co-star in this film. This is loosely based on a true story and this also takes place around wildfires that take place around this time. This is a pretty entertaining movie that shows the price of racial tension and controlling parenting which is also something that happens with Abel. This is available to watch on STARZ.
Asparagus (1979): This is one of two animated selections for the week. Suzan Pitt directed this independent animated short film. This is a very abstract and surrealistic short film about womanhood and sexuality. That is the best way for me to describe this short film. I found that this took four years to make and was a really good effort that deserves a look in the world of independent animation. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Behind Office Doors (1931): Melville W. Brown directed this romantic drama taking place in the workplace. Mary Astor stars as receptionist Mary Linden who is in love with salesman James Duneen, played by Robert Ames. As we would say in the wrestling industry, she politics to get James the executive position when the company president retires. James continues to take Mary for granted until the rival Ronnie Wales, played by Ricardo Cortez, takes interest in her. Catherine Dale Owen, Kitty Kelly, Edna Murphy, Charles Sellon, William Morris, George MacFarlane, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pre-code drama where Astor puts on a really good performance. This is available to watch on Prime.
He Ran All the Way (1951): John Berry directed this Film Noir which is based on the novel by Sam Ross. John Garfield stars as Nick Robey who was part of an unsuccessful heist which resulted in his partner Al, played by Norman Lloyd, getting killed. Nick hides out in a pool where he meets Peggy, played by Shelley Winters, and is able to get invited to her apartment with Peggy not knowing what has happened. This results in Nick taking the family hostage to lie low. Wallace Ford, Selena Royle, Gladys George, Robert Hyatt, Clancy Cooper, and many others co-star in this film. Nick did not seem to run as far as the title implies or however long the Flock of Seagulls ran. This movie does capture the tension very well with a good performance out of Garfield in his final film. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Heathers the Musical (2022): Andy Fickman directed this live musical which is based on the '80s classic and with the music and lyrics written by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Ailsa Davidson stars as high school senior Veronica Sawyer who is trying to survive that senior year. She falls in with the beautiful but mean Heather girls, played by Maddison Firth, Teleri Hughes, and Vivian Panka, while also meeting the new student J.D. Dean, played by Simon Gordon, who gets Veronica to resort to some extreme measures to address the bullying issues going on. Mhairi Angus, Andy Brady, Oliver Brooks, Liam Doyle, Hannah Lowther, Vicki Lee Taylor, Rory Whelan, and many others co-star in this musical. This was filmed in May of this year at the The Other Palace Theater in London, England. I would recommend watching the '80s version first but this is a very fun watch and was very well done. This is available exclusively to watch on the Roku Channel.
Bog (1979): This is my B-Movie for the week which was directed by Don Keeslar. Some fisherman are using dynamite to fish in a rural swamp. This results in the awakening of a prehistoric gill monster that must have the blood of human females to survive. Gloria DeHaven, Aldo Ray, Marshall Thompson, Leo Gordon, Carol Terry, Don Daniel, and many others co-star in this b-movie. All I have to say is that RIFFTRAX and MST3K need to give this one a look. I know one of my first thoughts was THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON upon reading the plot and this I guess was more the poor man's creature. It will likely be best to get a group of friends together and just have some fun riffing. This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and TUBI.
Angels in the Outfield (1951): Clarence Brown directed this baseball movie. Paul Douglas stars as Guffy McGovern who coaches the unsuccessful Pittsburgh Pirates team and takes his anger out on everyone around him. While alone on the baseball diamond, he hears the voice of an angel who offers help to Guffy if he promises to mend his ways. Janet Leigh co-stars as reporter Jennifer Paige who wants to do a column on Guffy and slowly takes a liking to him. Donna Corcoran co-stars as the orphaned child Bridget White who claims to see these angels that she has prayed for and becomes part of Guffy's becoming a better person. Keenan Wynn, Lewis Stone, Spring Byington, Bruce Bennett, Marvin Kaplan, Ellen Corby, Jeff Richards, John Gallaudet, King Donovan, Don Haggerty, and many others co-star in this film. There are also a few cameos including Bing Crosby and Ty Cobb. The remake in 1994 is the more known movie which was more geared to be a children's movie and did start a bit of a franchise. This is mostly a family movie but is also a tale of redemption which I think is the best element of this movie. This would make a good double feature to go along with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
The Final Joke (2020): This is technically the season finale for the first season of the animated series HARLEY QUINN which has had three seasons so far and soon to be a fourth. I decided that if I describe the episode, I'm really giving spoilers so I'll just try to go over the season in general. This is based on Harley Quinn, voiced by Kaley Cuoco, who in the first season finally breaks away from the Joker, voiced by Alan Tudyk, to make it on her own and get out of his shadow in Gotham City. She does this starting with the help of her best friend and voice of reason Poison Ivy, voiced by Lake Bell, and forms her own team in Clayface, also voiced by Tudyk, Dr. Psycho, voiced by Tony Hale, King Shark, voiced by Ron Funches, and Sy Borgman, voiced by Jason Alexander. Diedrich Bader, Christopher Meloni, J.B. Smoove, Matt Oberg, Rahul Kohli, Andy Daly, Wayne Knight, and many others provide their voice in this animated series. This is a very fun and violent show so this is not for the family by any means. It is a good look at the point of view of a villainous, maybe anti-hero, character. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Kane Hodder, Paul Rudd, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Lee, Robert Englund, Shelley Winters, Paul Sorvino, and many others.
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