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tobisteiner62
Reviews
Almost Live! (1984)
Unique combination of great writing and top-notch performing
NOTE: Though I checked the "Contains Spoiler" box, I have no intention of posting said spoilers, nor indeed any clear idea what would constitute a spoiler on a program of this sort. Call it a precaution...or insurance. ;-)
To the posters who claim that AL was too Seattle-centric to appeal to non-Washingtonians, I (Tobi) wish to state that my sister and I are both native-born Californians who have never set foot in Washington State, let alone in Seattle, and we LOOOOVE this show! I saw some episodes on Comedy Central, back when that network still showed really funny stuff much of the time, but when my sister sent me some VHS tapes of AL she had painstakingly made from her local cable channel, I played those suckers to *death*.
Since I had two little boys back then (mid-'90's), my husband and I were pretty selective as to what we watched in their presence (I would fast-forward past "Worst Girlfriend in the World" for example), but you can bet we all got a huge charge out of such hilarious fare as "High-Fivin' White Guys", "D.J. Waiter", "Speedwalker", "Mind Your Manners With Billy Kwan/Quan" and "The Lame List"--imagine if you will a six-year-old solemnly quoting "Mired in a sweaty mass of lameness", while his two-year old brother was hair-tossing and chanting "Yame! Yame! Yame!" (Pardon the digression, but I feel I should point out that their father and I reared our boys on the Masters of Comedy: e.g., Stan Freberg, Spike Jones, early Bill Cosby and George Carlin, Jay Ward & Company... the finest of the classics.)
It's a crying shame that while SNL continues its run unabated, and automatically gets archived on DVD, we fans of AL have to make do with deteriorating VHS tapes and YouTube clips--grateful as I am to have both of those. Here's hoping that NetFlix and/or KING-5 will release DVDs of AL *soon*, so that my younger son can brush up on his "Lame List" impressions before he heads off to college. *Sigh*
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)
The title (especially the British version) says it all.
A winner in every way. Lush Technicolor costumes and sets (featuring matte work by Peter Ellenshaw), crisp pacing, convincing--i.e., non-hammy--acting, all highlighted by vivid dialogue.
Now, as to specifics, here are some of my favorite aspects of this undeservedly overlooked classic. First (and most obvious, but hey, it's pretty important): Richard Todd's Robin. I fell in love with him when I saw the movie on Wonderful World of Disney (I was born the year it was released, 1952), and have followed his career with interest ever since. His archery and other swashbuckling actions are persuasive but not gimmicky, his romantic aura is compelling but not slick, his leadership qualities are authoritative and incisive but not overbearing. And he has a sense of humor!
Some of the less obvious reasons I rate this film a "10": The framing device of Allan-a-Dale (and the lovely singing/playing of Elton Hayes); within that, I love the small, unassuming, sweet-natured dog who follows the minstrel wherever he goes. The dialogue and business shared by the Archbishop of Canterbury (Anthony Eustrel, I believe), Prince John (Hubert Gregg), and Queen Eleanor (Martita Hunt). The childhood friendship of Robin and Marian that gradually ripens into romance. Thus, when she disguises herself as a page in order to seek out Robin Fitzooth to prove his loyalty to king and country, her emotional stake lends sympathy and believability to her actions. The economical scene-shifting that takes Robin from his quarterstaff skirmish with Little John to his brook-side battle with Friar Tuck--which in turn leads, seamlessly, to an ambush by the Sheriff of Nottingham and his goons. Spoiler Alert (in case another is needed)! Check out the grisly but tastefully handled demise of the Sheriff--getting squashed and/or bisected between an inexorably closing drawbridge and the castle wall! No matter how many times I see this film (and it's been quite a few), this scene always makes me rub my hands and cackle gleefully.
I could cite many other reasons why I love this film, but if you ask for one quality that sets it apart from every other Robin Hood film I've seen--including one very famous (and in my opinion, vastly overrated) supposed classic--I would say: Heart. As in warm, true, and loyal. And it will warm the hearts of viewers not jaded by overblown yet hollow swashbucklers and pompous, pretentious epics.