Thursday Movie Picks-Small Towns

This week it is all about small towns...No blabbing away here (well, not much) so head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to find out what other movies take place in a small town. Here are my 3...

1. THE GREAT RUPERT-1950

This is also known as A Christmas Wish which stars Jimmy Durante as the head of the household who move into an apartment that is attached to another home. Durante's family are down on their luck while the other family are quite wealthy. The miser dad from the wealthy family has hidden his money in the walls because he's a bit ....squirrely (sorry). His son soon falls for the poor but pretty daughter next door. The fun part comes from Rupert, a squirrel that a vaudeville man can no longer afford to keep. The squirrel doesn't like living the rough life with the other squirrels so he makes his home..you guessed it, in the home of these 2 families. His bed...the money, but the squirrel decides he just has too much of this money so he lets it "rain down" just when the poor family pray for a break. Hijinks ensues all because of this squirrel. It is a silly but charming story with a very fun squirrel created by the Oscar winning George Pal. In fact, many people wrote in asking how someone could train the squirrel to do the stunts.

2. WHITE CHRISTMAS-1954

I hope everyone has seen this holiday classic with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. It is a fun musical with an over the top ending that I don't think one would ever find in an Inn. It begins  during WW2 with Bing and Kaye entertaining the troops. You meet their leader who is a stern but kindly general who treats his men right. After the war, the 2 become big entertainers who decide to see 2 sisters (at the behest of an old soldier friend of theirs) work their magic. Well, the sisters do and somehow all 4 end up going to a small inn where the sisters are to perform. The 2 men find out the Inn is run by their old general who sank all his money into it and is close to bankruptcy. Of course, they decide to put on a show. You see many dance numbers which has a Bob Fosse look about it. The ending is sweet and almost makes me cry. My favourite scene-when Bing and Kaye play the sisters and sing...Bing Crosby could not hold a straight face because of Kaye's antics so he is really laughing and it was kept in. Oh..and check out Vera-Ellen-a great dancer who only wears turtle necks and seems painfully thin. The rumours are that she had anorexia.

3. A CHRISTMAS STORY-1983

"You'll shoot your eye out!" This is such a fun film that brings back an era from the late 40's or 50's in a small town about a family with 2 boys. The older boy wants a BB gun but not just any BB Gun, he wants a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. He dreams about owning one but everywhere he goes, everyone, even Santa, tells him it is too dangerous. We get to know this boy, his younger brother who is too wrapped up (by mom) in his snow outfit to walk anywhere, his mom and his old man, who loves his new lamp. You have to laugh at the antics as we can all relate...I was the kid dying in my snow suit. I also put my tongue against a pole..yup, I did do that but I just cupped my hands around and kept breathing on my tongue (attached to the pole) and I was free. This movie was filmed partly in my home town:)

Bonus...

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946

Come on! You know I would choose this as well since this is my favourite film and I truly believe in what it conveys. If you haven't seen it, you are living under a rock somewhere. Remember, No man is a failure who has friends.

What are your 3....

Thursday Movie Picks-Ugly Duckling to Beautiful Swan

I’m in the busy days leading up to Christmas so I’m bad with posting my cards etc...This week it’s all about turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan and I would love to have someone professional do me up and wear some fancy couture gown with a dazzling sapphire necklace. Ok, so I’m in my pajamas with my blue robe, glasses and no make up....very comfy:) I picked 2 classics and a guilty pleasure. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves and see what other swans were chosen.

1. PYGMALION-1938

This film is about the closest to Shaw’s play and it is my favourite rendition because of the brilliant acting of Leslie Howard and Dame Wendy Hiller who was perfect as Eliza Doolittle. A renowned professor makes a bet with his friend and colleague that he could make a common guttersnipe a lady passing her off as a Dutchess at a ball. The professor is brutal, condescending, rude but brilliant with his creation. Eliza is stubborn, willful, brilliant and a beauty. It was remade as a musical with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn( Julie Andrews would have been better in the role she originated) called My Fair Lady but I find this comedic version better and the ball gown and look is much more fetching than the one Audrey wore.

2. NOW, VOYAGER-1942

This is one of the most famous of make-over films with Bette Davis as the mousy gal who is stifled by her domineering mother and sent away to get some mental help by the kindly doctor played by, the always great, Claude Rains. She comes back healed, not only within but outside as well. She takes a cruise and meets a man played by hubba Paul Henreid. They share a sleeping bag together and he often lights 2 cigarettes and gives one to her which was the epitome of sexual innuendo back in the day and made many women swoon. Another great film that is romantic but is more bout a woman who breaks free from being dominated and finds her purpose in life.

3. MISS CONGENIALITY-2000

This is my guilty pleasure that is shown often on tv and I still get a kick out of it especilly when poor Sandra Bullock has to undergo major treatment to make her look like a beauty pageant contestant. Yes, Sandra is too old for this role and the plot is silly but it’s funny and has no real meanness. She is an FBI agent who goes undercover to find out who wants to destroy the Miss USA pageant. She enters the contest with a preconceived opinion about the girls and finds out they are more than just fake everything. I love Michael Caine as her guru who does the impossible...makes her beautiful. It’s silly but I enjoy this flick.

What would you choose?