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Reviews
Last Date (1950)
It was Even Funny 50 Years Ago!
I saw this in driver's ed, a bit over 50 years ago, and it was hilariously campy even back then!
The story concerns Jeanne, a young lady trying to decide between two boys, one of whom, Nick, is portrayed by Dick York (the first "Darrin," in "Bewitched"). Jeanne eventually goes for a ride with crazy driver Nick and ends up in a horrific accident (the details of which, of course, are not seen).
The highlights include the disc jockey who makes interminable speeches about "teen-o-cide"--"...the fine art of killing yourself, and maybe somebody else, before you reach the age of 20. You do it with an automobile!" Dig the swinging (sarcasm) music that he plays on the radio! Larry (the safe driver) looks like a total dork, and Nick acts like the guy you would want to keep your daughter away from--especially if you lived in 1950!
The entire 18-minute film is a letter from Jeanne to her friend Margo, lamenting, "Who would want to go out with me now?"
And the final message? "Drive safely! Or you may lose your good looks--and that's worse than dying!"
Fatman (2020)
An ADULT Santa Claus story
First and foremost, make no mistake: This is an ADULT movie. The violence and profanity alone exclude this movie from the pre-teen set.
Having said that, the entire Santa Claus mythos is presented with a completely straight face, so to speak: His factory is near the North Pole; his entire crew consists of elves, who subsist on nothing but cookies; the reindeer are housed in a barn and are well cared-for; Santa knows all about you as soon as he looks into your eyes; and Santa is presumably immortal--or at least heals very quickly. Played straight as it is, all of this alone makes it quite entertaining.
Santa is in financial trouble and has to take on a government contract to make ends meet. In the meantime, spoiled--and rich--brat Billy has received a lump of coal, and contracts a hitman to take out Santa Claus in revenge.
During the financial crisis, Mel Gibson plays a suitably grouchy Santa--who later shows that familiar "twinkle" in his eye. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is a delightful Mrs. Claus, who eventually shows us that she has an "edge" too.
Any adult who delighted in the Santa Claus story as a child--who can put up with the profanity and vilence--should enjoy this.
But wait until the kids are in bed to watch it!
The Four Poster (1952)
A New Look at an Old Favorite
It has been quite a few decades since I had last seen "The Four Poster." In that time, I grew up, got married, and saw the musical adaptation, "I Do! I Do!"--which has its own beauty. But there is something special about this movie, which was originally released a few days before I was born.
I found a copy of "The Four Poster"! The print from which it was struck was in less-than-pristine condition, but it was certainly watchable. My life has changed considerably since I last saw this little gem: After nearly 39 years of marriage, my wife passed away, and I have been a widower for almost two years now.
Young people are unlikely to "get it." For myself, I recognized bits and pieces of my own marriage--and even some individual conversations. "The Four Poster" is a lovely study of a husband and wife, from their wedding night up to the very end--which, the ending title card points out, is actually a beginning.
If one is a person of faith, "The Four Poster" will be easier to understand. But what will make it more comprehensible is having lived a few decades of marriage to a person whom one deeply loves.
I liked it when I saw it many years ago. Now, I feel as if I've "lived" much of it.
If you didn't like it, wait a few years, and give it another chance!
Inspired Guns (2014)
Take it for what it is!
First of all, you should be aware that this is a movie made BY faithful Mormons ABOUT Mormons--but it IS a comedy!
Two Mormon missionaries--the guys in the suits--are misidentified as mafia by members of the mob itself, and by the feds.
Is it a low-budget film? Yes. Is it devoid of any actors whose names are familiar to you? Yes. But it does a nice job with what was available!
Yes, you will see the Mormon faith treated with great respect, but the "preaching" that some have referenced is really very sparse; given the plot point of the missionaries trying to convert two members of the mob, it's nearly unavoidable.
There is no sex, and no offensive language. There is a bit of violence, but nobody gets killed...and in the end, the "good guys" win anyway.
If you can put up with a very little bit of Mormon teaching and preaching, some punches being thrown, and a few non-lethal gunshots, it's a pretty good family comedy.
It Happened One Christmas (1977)
Absolutely Charming
Make no mistake: Marlo Thomas is still a most attractive woman; but 35 years ago, she was just the right age for the role of Mary Bailey Hatch. Probably more damaging than anything else in 1977 was the fact that "That Girl" was only six years off of network, and likely in wide syndication, leaving Marlo typecast as the ditzy "Ann Marie," a character far removed from the young businesswoman in "It Happened One Christmas." Perhaps that was one of the reasons why Marlo took the part.
Remaking "It's a Wonderful Life" is kind of like repainting the Mona Lisa: It is doomed to be compared to the original, and inevitably, less than favorably. Having said that, standing on its own, "It Happened One Christmas" simply glows.
It's difficult not to fall in love with Marlo as Mary Bailey Hatch, to cheer for her when she flourishes, and to cry with her when she believes that life isn't worth living.
The supporting cast is adequate. Wayne Rogers likely had the same problem as Marlo, having recently left the cast of "MASH," but in the supporting role of George Hatch--almost a background character--he played well. Cloris Leachman, as the angel Clara, was cute, but succumbed to the temptation to overact. For Orson Welles, it was about the era when he was known for the phrase, "We will sell no wine before its time" (in a popular television commercial for Paul Masson wines), and his performance as villain Henry Potter was almost an extension of that. Doris Roberts as Ma Bailey had yet to find the spark which she would later exude as Ray Romano's mother. And Christopher Guest, as younger brother Harry Bailey, was simply wooden, even in the classic signature line in the final scene.
The biggest strike against "It Happened One Christmas" is that it was what those in the business refer to as a "madefor"--that is, it was a made-for-television movie, putting severe restrictions on length and budget. Many elements of the story were either condensed or eliminated, and it simply has the "look and feel" of a "madefor." If you've seen and loved "It's a Wonderful Life," you will surely say that "It Happened One Christmas" falls short...
But Marlo will steal your heart.