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Reviews
Covidland (2021)
More Alternative Facts
A huge disservice to the men and women who have carried the world through the pandemic. In a time when our country should have come together to keep Americans from dying, it is people like those in this propaganda film who continue to politicize and downplay the 700,000+ deaths our country has suffered through disiniformation and conspiracy theories.
The Dreamer of Oz (1990)
Wish You Had A Copy of This To Show Fans of The Wizard of Oz?
This sentimentalized biography of Oz creator L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) stars John Ritter in the title role. Richard Matheson's teleplay accurately depicts Baum as a business failure with the singular gift of being able to communicate with children. In keeping with Matheson's grounding in fantasy and the supernatural, Baum's characters occasionally come to life to palaver with the author and bring him inspiration. Annette O'Toole co-stars as Mrs. Baum, while Charles Haid is seen in the dual role of "Badham" and the Cowardly Lion. Also on hand as a Munchkin is Jerry Maren, who played one of the Lollipop Guild in the 1939 Hollywood adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Made for television, Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story debuted December 10, 1990.
If interested in a DVD copy of this film email sojourn (at) frodelius (dot) com
The Mudlark (1950)
Mudlark on DVD
This one is a genuine classic, though many people will never have heard of it. It should have been elevated to near "Oliver Twist" mythos, but it might have been thought "Even more English," and been dismissed. It tells of a time when people lived within the class system, and could see grace and nobility in it. By this, it shows us how human dignity does not reside in classes, but within the souls of every individual.The story takes place in 1875 London and is about young Wheeler, the very "Mudlark" himself. Mudlark was a name given street children who survive by scavenging on the banks of the River Thames. Wheeler there finds a cameo of Queen Victoria, which he thinks to be so beautiful he risks his life to save it.
When he presents the cameo for inspection to an older friend he is told that "she is the mother of all England," and Wheeler, who had no mother adopts the idea that she is his mother. He becomes obsessed with meeting her. Victoria , however, has adopted a seclusionary lifestyle, despite advice from the likes of the savvy Benjamin Disraeli.
He argues that her seclusion is hurting the crown and she must get out for the people to connect with her in at least the slightest way. Somehow the child gets past all of guards and walls to see his beloved mother. This, despite the fact that Windsor castle is in preparations for a state dinner. What happens then is sparkling and wonderful. The cast is full of magnificent performances by the likes of Irene Dunne & Alec Guiness. This one has just about everything you could want from a film, and a little bit more.
If you're interested in a DVD copy of this film, please contact sojourn (at) frodelius (dot) com
Yellow Submarine (1968)
A psychedelic trip into my childhood
This is a movie that encapsulates my childhood. When I was a kid(in the late 1960's-early 1970's), you either saw movies in the theatre at a Saturday matinee; or you saw them on TV. Yellow Submarine was one of the TV movies that I grew up with. I never missed a chance to see it. I had no idea who the Beatles were, but in 1975 I decided to look for the soundtrack to the movie. Lo and behold! The Beatles were a real recording group! I bought the soundtrack (now sadly replaced by an updated version without George Martin's beautiful score), and continued from there. If I were to list the three movies that influenced me the most while growing up, they would be "Willie Wonka", "The Wizard of Oz" and "Yellow Submarine". Thank God the people at Apple decided to re-release this film to a new generation of kids. Mine love it!