Reviews

This was a great TV presentation of James Whitmore's one-man show about Will Rogers. He introduces the show and them becomes Rogers right before our eyes. This show, along with the Give 'em Hell, Harry! and the not-as-well-known Bully or Bully Boy (Theodore Roosevelt) is the complete list of one-man shows this fine actor has done.

This was a great filmed stage presentation of James Whitmore's one-man show about Harry Truman, written by Samuel Gallu. He becomes President Truman right from the beginning. This show, along with the Will Rogers USA and the not-as-well-known Bully or Bully Boy (Theodore Roosevelt) is the complete list of one-man shows this fine actor has done.

This little gem of a comedy (the title refers to a cartoon studio whose main character is a duck) didn't get its due. It stars Jim Carrey in his pre-crazy period as well as the wonderful Jack Gilford. The entire cast is a delight in this show that really deserved a stay of execution. I'm glad that imdb says its out on video, but I've never seen it anywhere. I'll guess I'll keep looking.

This was a very quiet comedy about a family where the two younger siblings are being raised by the older brother, their ne'er-do-well father having deserted years ago. Suddenly, the "ever lovin' daddy" returns. After a bit of resistance to having him back, the family re-unites in this quiet, warm comedy. Great reviews and rock-bottom ratings, a deadly combination, but if you have the chance to see this on tape (if someone had the foresight), catch it. There weren't too many episodes made, but those that were made were wonderful.

If this series had succeeded, it could have changed the course of movie history. It wasn't too long after that Mark Hamill did Star Wars and Gary Busey starred as Buddy Holly.

This delightful series starts slowly, but hang on--its worth the ride. When Arnie Cole first meets Maud, she seems a total snob, but then she is devastated to find herself pregnant and the father wanting nothing more to do with her. Arnie will marry her and, in exchange, she will sponsor him in his desire to enter the Flicker business, first as an exhibitor, then as a filmmaker. Other characters enter the story, but the emphasis is always on Arnie and Maud. Their relationship changes and we believe it all. We start to like Maud more and more as we watch the changes in her character. The writing is great and the performances by Bob Hoskins as Arnie and Frances de la Tour as Maude are nothing short of wonderful. I wish they'd rerun this series or release it on video. If you get a chance to see it, jump!

A couple decides to get married (finally) and we see the preparations and wedding from their point of view as well as her parents, his parents, and their other family members and friends. Originally a play with separate scenes presenting the different points of view, it was wonderfully and smoothly incorporated into one screenplay. Many memorable lines, scenes, and performances. This is another of the movies I consider to be perfectly cast, from the lead roles to the bit players. Don't see it alone--this movie was meant to be shared.

This drama is OK, nothing more, but it features a rather depressing storyline. Married man meets, beds, and impregnates a drifter, and we see the impact on his marriage.

Added note: Try to rent the video. When NBC showed the movie on commercial television, the network added additional scenes featuring a social worker looking for the drifter, and the man's co-workers. These scenes are not outtakes from the original movie that NBC restored, but new scenes that NBC filmed and added to make clearer the backgrounds of the characters. They are unnecessary and rather insulting to the audience that the network felt they needed to "improve" the movie.

This picture is worth time to see, but only if you've willing to invest the time to put in the effort to pay close attention. It is not a good choice as a movie to keep on in the background. The kidnapping goes wrong almost immediately, not from law enforcement personnel, but from within. We see the changing relationships between the kidnappers as the hours with their victim go on.

Added note: Try to rent the video. When NBC showed the movie on commercial television, the network added additional scenes featuring the brother of the victim working a police inspector. These scenes are not outtakes from the original movie that NBC restored, but new scenes that NBC filmed and added to make clearer the kidnappers' fate. They are unnecessary and rather insulting to the audience that the network felt they needed to "improve" the movie.

This film succeeds in both areas, comedy and nostalgia. It captures the period it portrays in wonderful fashion, with a very enthusiastic cast. I consider it one of the best cast movies I've ever seen, from the lead actors to the bit roles. Many classic burlesque routines are included, some of them done on the burlesque stage and some worked into the movie's dialogue. If you're in the mood for a comedy with a bit of feeling for another period in abundance, you can't do much better than this!

An absolutely dreadful "suspense" film. The worst offense? Its dull and predictable, as well as self-consciously "artsy." The filmmakers seem to think that stop-frame and, every now and then, an odious drumroll makes this a cut above your average film. No way! It just looks silly for this picture to consider itself worthwhile.