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Reviews
Murder, She Wrote: Tough Guys Don't Die (1985)
Slick Take-off
I just recently saw this episode for the first time in a long time. It is the first episode in which Jerry Orbach appears as private detective Harry McGraw.
Jessica is researching an old murder case and uses the services of McGraw's detective agency 'Miles & McGraw' to help her uncover new information in said case and, as usual, she is drawn into a murder mystery which she helps to solve.
The bit that really struck me is the similarity of Harry's detective agency to that of Humphrey Bogart's in 'The Maltese Falcon'. On the TV show, the agency is called 'Miles & McGraw' and Harry's partner, Archie Miles, is killed in the first few minutes. In the Bogart movie, the detective agency is called 'Spade and Archer' and the partner's first name is Miles and he is killed in the very beginning of the film.
This episode is also a chance for any General Hospital (or Santa Barbara) fan to see a very young Nancy Lee Grahn in a bit part.
All in all, an engaging episode.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Terrific movie - terrific casting
I have to disagree with Sue Lee comments on this movie - I think that Jean Simmons and Marlon Brando did extraordinary work in this film. Both actors are usually seen acting in serious roles (for example: their boring pairing in the previous year's film "Desiree") and looked as if they were actually having a good time.
I also have to disagree with the comments on their singing. I think they did extremely well for two non-singers who had to hold their own in a movie with Sinatra, Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye. I've heard worse caterwauling by other big name stars in other movies.
Lastly, in your trivia section, you reference Jerry Orbach in an uncredited role in the barbershop during the number 'The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game'. He is kind of hard to miss but I must disagree with your statement that his one sung line was probably sung by someone else -- anyone with ears can tell that the voice you hear belongs to Jerry Orbach -- in fact, that's how I first realized that it was him in the seen.
The Opposite Sex (1956)
Who's responsible for the musical score?
I recently saw this movie on the AMC Movie Channel. Who wrote the score for this movie? A better question would be who is responsible for planning who sings and who doesn't? June Allyson, a big MGM musical singing/dancing star sings a few incidental numbers but when they come to the big dreamy ballad of the film, her voice is dubbed. The only song worth listening to is a re-make of an earlier movie version of a June Allyson song titled "Young Man with a Horn". Also, why did the studio think that casting a good comedy actor like Dick Shawn as a singer in a show was a good idea? As for Joan Blondell, she might as well not have even been in the picture for all the screen time she had. What a waste of talented people!
Oscar (1991)
Totally hilarious!
This movie has become one of my all-time favorites.
Sylvester Stallone and most of the rest of the cast aren't especially known for comedic acting, but they all pull it off brilliantly. The most well know comedy actor in the group, Tim Curry, plays one of his funniest characters on screen.
The stars of the movie should all consider doing more of this genre, especially Stallone! I don't understand how anyone can see this movie, and even if they're not crazy about it, at least appreciate the great comic timing each actor brings to their role, not to mention, all the very funny throw-in lines that grace the dialogue.
Don't limit actors like Stallone and Chazz Palminterri to action or heavy drama. Fans should always try to embrace new things.