Welcome to the 898th edition of my series. I am right now in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Brewing Company where later I get to perform a duet with my friend Katie Jo Robinson. This will be my first time performing at a music show so I am very excited. I will shut up now and get on with my selections for the week.
A Streetcar Named Desire (1984): This is part two of my trilogy of the late Treat Williams. John Erman directed this tv movie that is based on the play by Tennessee Williams. Treat Williams stars as Stanley Kowalski who is expecting a child from her wife Stella, played by Beverley D'Angelo. They get a visit from Blanche's sister Stella, played by Ann-Margret, and tension mounts as Stanley is suspicious of Blanche's motives. Randy Quaid also co-stars in this tv movie as Stanley's friend Mitch who becomes interested in Blanche. This is a pretty good adaptation of the classic play with Williams doing really well as Stanley. I found a version of this to be available on Youtube. Stella!
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021): Michael Showalter directed this biopic of the evangelical world. Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield star as evangelist couple Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker who created the biggest religious broadcasting networks. This empire would soon come crumbling down through scandal and Jerry Falwell, played by Vincent D'Onofrio, wasting no time to take over the network which the scandal occurs. Cherry Jones, Mark Wystrach, Sam Jaeger, Louis Cancelmi, Gabiel Olds, Fredric Lehne, Chandler Head, Jay Huguley, and many others co-star in this biopic. This takes a good look into the life of the complex Tammy Faye where Chastain became her in her portrayal. There is also a 2000 documentary of the same name that could be a really good double feature. This could also go along with THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT as a double feature.
Boulevard (2014): Dito Montiel directed this film that was written by Douglas Soesbe. Robin Williams stars as literature professor Nolan Mack who is in a marriage of convenience with Joy, played by Kathy Baker. He must confront his secret life when meeting a man named Leo, played by Roberto Aguire. Bob Odenkirk, Giles Matthey, Eleonore Henricks, Henry Haggard, and many others co-star in this drama. This is toward the end of Williams's career and life for matter. This was a very deep role for Williams as he digs into his more serious side more than he ever did. This is a more unknown movie from Robin and also really deserves a look as this might rank in his best performances. This is available to watch on Plex, Tubi, and the Roku Channel.
The Case of the Cunningham Heritage (1954): This is my short film for the week though it is technically the first episode of the 1954 series SHERLOCK HOLMES. Ronald Howard stars as the famed detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as he meets his partner Dr. John Watson, played by Howard Marion-Crawford. They team up to solve a mystery that has Inspector Lestrade, played by Archie Duncan, stumped. Meg Lemonnier and Ursula Howells co-star in this episode. This was a good episode of the two main characters meeting up. This series is available to watch on Crackle, Pluto TV, and other free streaming platforms.
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939): This is my western for the week which was directed by John Ford and takes place during the revolutionary war. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert stars as newlywed couple Gilbert and Lana. They move to Gilbert's farm in upstate New York but get caught up in the war as some British soldiers and Indian allies invade their territory. Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradine, Dorris Bowdon, Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields, Robert Lowery, Roger Imhof, Francis Ford, Ward Bond, and many others co-star in this western. I think Oliver might have been the standout in this film as the tough Mrs. McKlennar. This also has a really good story that is based on true events. This is a pretty good entry in part of the Golden Age of Cinema.
Heroes (1977): This is part two of my five-part Harrison Ford series. Jeremy Kagan directed this film that takes a look at Vietnam veterans. Henry Winkler stars as veteran Jack Dunne who suffers from PTSD and breaks out of the VA clinic on a road trip. Along the way, he meets sympathetic traveler Carol, played by Sally Field, goes along for the ride while also being engaged to marry. Val Avery, Olivia Cole, Hector Elias, Dennis Burkley, Tony Burton, Michael Cavanaugh, and many others co-star in this film. Ford has more of a supporting role as one of Jack's Vietnam buddies that he stops to see. This came out the same year he would become famous for playing Han Solo in STAR WARS. Winkler shows a lot of his dramatic side in this movie after years of playing Fonzie in HAPPY DAYS. Field also added another road movie to this era of her career. This is available to watch on Netflix.
Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005): David Moore directed this tv movie which is based on the novel by Thomas Hughes. This is a drama about a rugby school in Victorian England. Alex Pettyfer stars as the new student in Tom Brown who has a hard time adjusting with all the bullying happening. Stephen Fry co-stars as Headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold who struggles to keep order within the school a lot of which is thanks to Flashman, played by Joseph Beattie. Julian Wadham, Jemma Redgrave, Harry Michell, Clive Standen, Amanda Boxer, Georgia Tennant, Gerard Horan, and many others co-star in this movie. This is based on a classic novel that have had many adaptations and this is the only one I have seen. This does take a good early look at the price of bullying. Pettyfer does great as the title character of the story as well as Fry being perfect for his role. This could get rather intense at times but was also pretty moving.
Black Angel (1946): This is my Film Noir for the week which was directed by Roy William Neill and is his last feature film to direct. June Vincent stars as Catherine Bennett whose adulterous husband is wrong convicted for the murder of singer Mavis Marlowe, played by Constance Dowling. Catherine sets out to prove her husband's innocence with the help of the victim's ex-husband Marty, played by Dan Duryea. Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford, Wallace Ford, Hobart Cavanaugh, and many others co-star in this film. This was a really good movie to piece together. Vincent and Duryea made a great partnership in trying to prove a man innocent. This is a really good entry into the Noir genre.
Watership Down (1978): This is my animated film for the week which I got to see at the Muncie Public Library as part of the Cinemuncie series. Martin Rosen and John Hubley directed this adult oriented film which was based on the novel by Richard Adams. This takes place among a group of rabbits lead by Hazel and Fiver, voiced by John Hurt and Richard Briers. Fiver has a very dark vision and they try to lead their group to a safer land but find the other rabbits are not favorable of what they are doing which leads to a lot of violence. Ralph Richardson, Michael Graham Cox, John Bennett, Simon Cadell, Terence Rigby, Roy Kinnear, Richard O'Callaghan, Denholm Elliott, Lynn Farleigh, Zero Mostel, and many others co-star in this animated film. This is not for everyone and may not be for young children. It is a compelling film where rabbits commit such violence against each other and there are a lot of political messages. This is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.
Alex's Dream (2018): I end the week with this short film which was written and directed by Jack Cooper Stimpson. Alex Lawther stars as Alex Morin who arrives overdressed to a private party to help a friend and feels very awkward in general. While there, the other guests get him to open up about a strange dream he had. Sam Haygarth, Emma Corrin, Camille Ucan, Olivia Popica, Simon Manyonda, and Chris New co-star in this short film. This is a good look at social awkwardness and could say an introvert in a room full of extroverts. This is only about ten minutes long and can be found on Youtube.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next one in two weeks which so far includes Christopher Walken, and many others.
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