Welcome to the 890th edition of my series. I would like to announce that I got a part in the play THE ORPHAN TRAIN and make my return to the Pulse Opera House in Warren, Indiana. This will be three weeks long being the last two weekends in April and the first weekend in May. I will have more details as time goes on. Tonight is going to be like a holiday for many with the Oscars happening. I will be paying close attention to who wins but will move on with my life whoever wins. I think I've said enough so I will move on now for my selections.
Our Town (2003): This is part two of my Paul Newman trilogy. James Naughton directed this adaptation of the classic Thornton Wilder play. Newman stars as the Stage Manager which is essentially the narrator of this show about the fictional small town of Grover's Corner in the early 20th century. This deals with general small town life and death and the routines of multiple characters typical of a small town. Jayne Atkinson, Frank Converse, Jane Curtin, Jeffrey DeMunn, Mia Dillon, Conor Donovan, Kristen Hahn, Maggie Lacey, Stephen Mendillo, Stephen Spinella, T.J. Sullivan, Jake Robards, and many others co-star in this adaptation. This is shot more like a play and keeps the limited set and lack of props which the play calls for. I was in this show last year where I got to play Simon Stimson and Howie Newsome and gave me a different appreciation for this story. This is a very simple but effective story with Newman perfect as the Stage Manager.
The Blue Lagoon (1980): Randal Kleiser directed this film based on the novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins star as stranded teens Emmeline and Richard who are Victorian era teens and have been stranded on a tropical island since they were kids having to fend for themselves. Leo McKern and William Daniels also co-star in this movie. This is a good look the naivete of these teens as they have not really had any adults to teach them anything as their hormones begin. There were a couple of other versions before this but this appears to be the most popular of them all. This is probably Shields's most known movie and works well with Atkins. This is a beautifully shot movie that deserves a look.
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991): Jon Avnet directed this film based on the novel by Fannie Flagg. Kathy Bates stars as housewife Evelyn Couch who is in a troubled marriage and finds refuge in the elderly nursing home Ninny Threadgoode, played by Jessica Tandy, while visiting her husband's aunt. Ninny tells the story of Igbie Threadgoode, played by Mary Stuart Masterson, and her friend Ruth Jamison, played by Mary-Louise Parker, who were young women in '20s Alabama. As Evelyn learns about these people, it inspires her to be more proactive in her life and form a lifelong friendship with Ninny. Cicely Tyson, Chris O'Donnell, Stan Shaw, Gailard Sartain, Timothy Scott, Jo Harvey Allen, Macon McCalman, Richard Riehle, Raynor Scheine, Grace Zabriskie, and many others co-star in this film. This is essentially a story within a story where it flashed back and forth to the modern and older era. This does a good job dealing with life's everyday issues from life, loss, friendship, and even some elements of racism being in '20s Alabama. This is a beautiful film that tugs with about every emotion.
James Baldwin: From Another Place (1973): This is my short film for the week which was directed by Sedat Pakay. This features the famous writer when he was in Istanbul, Turkey where he reflects on multiple subjects including how different it is to be in another country and the generosity of the Turks. He has a lot of other insights of life. This is only about 12 minutes long and is available on the Criterion Channel as well as a James Baldwin category.
History is Made at Night (1937): Frank Borzage directed this romantic drama. Jean Arthur stars as divorcee Irene Vail who manages to leave her domineering husband Bruce, played by Colin Clive. She falls for the charming Parisian man Paul Dumond, played by Charles Boyer, but Bruce does not accept divorce and makes life difficult for his ex-wife and her new love. Leo Carrillo, Ivan Lebedeff, George Meeker, Lucien Prival, George Davis, and many others co-star in this film. Clive is most known as Henry Frankenstein in the Universal films from the era and shows he can play obsessive people very well in this one. This has gone onto be a a very underrated film with a great duo of Boyer and Arthur. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Rebecca (1940): This is part two of my Alfred Hitchcock trilogy. Hitchcock directed this film based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier. Joan Fontaine stars as a young woman who marries a widowed aristocrat in Maxim de Winter, played by Laurence Olivier, becoming the new Mrs. de Winter. While there she must contend with the memories of Maxim's late wife Rebecca and the scheming Mrs. Danvers, played by Dame Judith Anderson. George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper, Florence Bates, Leo G. Carroll, Leonard Carey, Lumsden Hare, Edward Fielding, and my others co-star in this film. This was a bit different for our Master of Suspense. Usually he specializes in a bit of dark comedy with people being put in realistic horrid situations. This is more of a psychological thriller and is very atmospheric and dark.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023): I made my way to the locally owned theater in Alexandria to see this one. Peyton Reed directed this entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To make a long story short Scott Lang, reprised by Paul Rudd, Hope Van Dyne, reprised by Evangeline Lilly, Hank Pym, reprised by Michael Douglas, Janet Van Dyne, reprised by Michelle Pfeiffer, and Scott's daughter Cassie, played by Kathryn Newton. Cassie has taken on her own suit and her curiosity of the Quantum realm leads them into it where Janet's past comes to haunt her a bit. Jonathan Majors co-stars as Kang the Conqueror who has made life difficult for those in the quantum realm. Bill Murray, Katy O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, Jamie Andrew Cutler, David Dastmalchian, Randall Park, and many others co-star in this film. This has quite the STAR WARS feel to it. I doubt I'm going to rank this extremely high in the MCU but I still had fun though I am a sucker for the universe. I loved the quantum world and the diverse characters within it. There are mid-credit and end-credit scenes so stay tuned.
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949): Dennis the Library Menace showed us this dark British comedy at the Cinemuncie series at the library. Robert Hamer directed this crime comedy based on the novel by Roy Horniman. Dennis Price stars as Louis who is a distant and poor relative of the D'Ascoyne family and looks to take the title of Duke. For this to happen, he must murder eight other heirs, all of which played by Alec Guinness, in his way of succession. Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Audrey Fildes, Miles Malleson, Clive Morton, John Penrose, Cecil Rampage, Hugh Griffith, and many others co-star in this comedy. This is very dark and dry to say the least but does deliver some laughs. Guinness is great in his multiple roles. This is great for those that love the dry British humor.
The Glass House (1972): This is my tv movie for the week which was directed by Tom Gries and based on a story by Truman Capote. Alan Alda stars as college professor Jonathan Paige who has been convicted of manslaughter and beginning the first day of his sentence. Clu Gulager co-stars as Brian Courtland who is beginning his first day on the job as a prison guard. They both see corruption happening in the prison and try to address it. Vic Morrow, Billy Dee Williams, Kristoffer Tabori, Dean Jagger, Scott Hylands, and many others co-star in this tv movie. This movie is far more complex than what I described. This takes a look at the flaws in the prison system with both the employees and some of the prisoners that are enabled by corrupt employees. This took place in real-life prison and much of the extras were actual inmates. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017): This is part three of my six-part Kate Winslet series. I end the week with this Studio Ghibli anime film which was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and based on the book THE LITTLE BROOMSTICK by Mary Stewart. Mary, voiced by Ruby Barnhill, is a young country girl that follows a mysterious cat and comes across an old broomstick that was supernatural. This leads her to a magic school run by headmistress Madam Mumblechook, voice by Winslet, and Doctor Dee, voiced by Jim Broadbent, and finds bad things are happening at this school. Ewen Bremner, Lynda Baron, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Morwenna Banks, Teresa Gallagher, Rasmus Hardiker, and many others provide their voice to the American version of this Anime film. This is a very beautiful film visually. It is also a good movie for the family to watch.
Well, that is it for this week but keep on reading for my segment "The Short End of the Stick" where I feature a documentary short. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Hugh Grant, Faye Dunaway, Alfred Hitchcock, Joaquin Phoenix, and many others.
THE SHORT END OF THE STICK
Stranger at the Gate (2022): I unexpectedly came upon this Oscar nominated documentary short last week with a post from my friend Zach and it takes place in my own town of Muncie, Indiana. Joshua Seftel directed this documentary short that as mentioned was in my town and was not aware of until recently. A marine veteran sets out to blow up the Islamic Center of Muncie being convinced that Muslims are all terrorists. Things took an unexpected turn when coming face to face with those he set out to kill. This is really an inspirational story that I think everyone needs to see. I am not just saying that because I live in Muncie, I am saying it because it is a great story of one man's hate being overcome by love. This is available to watch on Youtube.
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