Wandering Through The Stars has chosen a good one this week, always does, and this one is about being new to the city. I chose one that I love and 2 that are ok but not my favs. Let's get to it...
1. ON THE TOWN-1949
I love this comedic musical about 3 sailors on a 24 hour leave being let loose on New York City. Gene Kelly and Jules Munshin can't wait to meet a couple of dames whereas innocent(HA!) boy, Frank Sinatra, wants to see the sights of NYC. They head to the subway and Gene meets and instantly falls for Miss. Turnstiles, played by Vera-, please eat a sandwich, Ellen. The 3 dudes try to find her and meet up with a taxi driver, played by Betty Garrett, who has the hots for Frankie. The 4 end up at the Natural History Museum and meet up with an anthropologist who can tap dance like no tomorrow, played by the great Ann Miller. Now the 5 of them go looking for Vera and Gene finally finds her (yeah, in NYC...in just one day), hi-jinks ensues with a cab gone AWOL, damage at the museum and Frankie scared to make out (really??) with the amourous cabbie. This is so much fun with an excellent plot plus the songs and dancing are superb. The scene stealer is Alice Pearce, who played the original Mrs. Kravitz on Bewitched, as the roommate to Betty Garrett.
2. HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK-1992
OK, I think we can all agree Kevin's mom will never win mother of the year award for losing her kid, not once, but twice. Never mind that she will try and get back to him but WTF? OK, Kevin's family plus his aunt and uncle and their brood(I think it is his Aunt and Uncle. I haven't seen this in a few years) decide to go to Miami for Christmas. After being humiliated by his asswipe brother during the school play, the family is disappointed in Kevin (I don't get it either). Nasty words are said and Badda-Bing, Badda-Boom, the next day everyone is rushing to get to the airport. Of course, Kevin ends up on the wrong plane and winds up in NYC. He is happy about it because he is in a cold place with plenty of Christmas and he has the credit cards! He sets himself up in a swanky hotel undermining the staff, with the head played by Tim Curry who is priceless in this movie. The family are stuck in a rainy, ugly motel room as mommie dearest is trying to find her way to her missing son. Now, back in the big city, Kevin is having fun going to a great Christmas store and meeting a scary pigeon lady but he runs into the 2 dumbnuts from the first movie. They are planning to knock off the toy store but also want to knock off Kevin. The film is predictable but it has its moments especially with Tim Curry and the bumbling crooks (Joe Pesci & Daniel Stern). It is a fun Christmas movie but hardly my favourite especially since I secretly wish they would catch up with Kevin and win. I know, I am bad.
3. ELF-2003
What can I say, It's stupid in an elf outfit who creates major destruction, destroys the family Christmas tree, eats disgusting things, acts like a moron who still gets the girl and is beloved by all. I don't mind Will Farrell and this movie has some funny moments, but I can go a few years before watching it again. I have seen it more than once but, where I must watch It's A Wonderful Life, Going My Way, Miracle on 34th Street (the original), A Christmas Carol plus the classic cartoons every year, I can wait with this one. It's all about Will's elf finding out he is not an elf but a regular human (I guess he couldn't figure that one out when he was so much bigger than everyone else and couldn't fit through the doors and sit on the chairs up at Santa's village) and must go and live with his real dad. Kicking this guy out of Santa's village, making him walk thousands of miles to NYC and live in a place scary to him doesn't seem mean of Santa at all, does it? Elf finds dad, meets his half brother, meets a beautiful gal and saves the Christmas spirit that NYC lacks. I guess that is ok.
Which films would you choose? My list is not a total Christmas theme but a New York one :)
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI favor movies set in cities, and I appreciate your picks in this interesting "New to the City" category.
I know about the film On the Town but, alas, turns out it's a musical, meaning it contains singing and dancing instead of a guy in a hockey mask chasing people with a chainsaw. Therefore, I have not watched it. I admired Ann Miller and got a kick out of seeing glimpses of a very young looking "Mrs. Kravitz" in those dance numbers. I also remember watching Betty Garrett every week on the small screen playing Irene Lorenzo, Archie Bunker's neighbor and the liberal thorn in his conservative side in All in the Family.
So to review, I don't like kids, and I especially don't like kids that make faces like Macaulay Culkin. However, Macaulay redeemed himself this past year in the role of a blood drinking vampire in Red Tide, part of the season 10 American Horror Story: Double Feature.
I would probably enjoy Elf, but have not seen it. I get a little nervous whenever I see a 6-foot man in an Elf costume and, believe me, it happens more often than you might think. The late Ed Asner and Bob Newhart in supporting roles are a nice bonus.
For my picks, I would name King Kong and all its sequels and remakes, Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan in Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942), Crocodile Dundee (1986), and one of my favorite movies of any genre - Neil Simon's The Out-of-Towners (1970) starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.
I hope you are well and in good spirits, dear friend BB. Enjoy the rest of your week and I hope to see you again soon!
Yes, that kid annoys me but that fit Christmas and a new city being New York although I would have gone Tarzan if my brain remembered that fun movie...one of my favourites also. You should watch just the bits with Alice Pearce in this film because she is funny and sweet. I love King Kong, the Fay Wray and Naomi Watts versions and this is another great pick. Crocodile Dundee is a good movie that I love watching. I hope you had a good weekend...mine was busy, shopping and wrapping.
DeleteOn The Town looks fun, I'll have to add that to my list. I've seen your last two picks. My son has been watching the Home Alone movies over and over all month. I feel like I have them memorized.
ReplyDeleteI hope you see the 2 I mentioned. I think I would be going out of my tree if I had to watch those 2 films over and over.
DeleteHi Birgit - the last two I'm not too keen on - the first I haven't seen ... but sounds a fun watch. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYeah...I don’t watch those last 2 every year like the others I mentioned before. You will like the first one
DeleteHi there Birgit, haven't seen Elf, but the other two I enjoyed. Hoping all is well with you and yours, keep safe Kate x
ReplyDeleteElf is fun even though I don’t watch it every Christmas and Will Ferrell can grate on me in this particular movie but I will watch it again.
DeleteI've not seen On the Town but Elf and Home Alone 2 are great picks!! I don't know how I didn't think of Elf. lol
ReplyDeleteI thought they fit the bill.
DeleteOh Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, how'd you get so not cute anymore? Perhaps your parents didn't leave you home long enough.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Elf either, but my beau and I might watch it this season. I'm told I must see it.
Hugs and sleep to you, my friend.
Yes, that kid turned out pasty ugly..poor guy. May you enjoy your time off and I hope your Hanukkah was special.
DeleteMy kids loved Elf.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling well.
It is a good kid’s movie for sure.
DeleteI have not seen any of these. I just can't with Elf, but I hear lots of people love it. Considering my questionable taste in some movies, I figure it's best not to say anything.
ReplyDeleteYes, Elf is not a favourite Christmas movie of mine but it’s ok and has some moments. I hope I find. Christmas song/carol or movie you do like.
DeleteI have actually seen ONE of the movies this week. I've never seen Elf or On the Town, but I've seen both the Home Alone films when they were on TV.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas movie, Die Hard, would also work for this theme. Bruce Willis is definitely new to LA and he definitely causes enough mayhem to rival with anything Kevin could think up!
Hope you are feeling better every day, dear.
I am one who feels Die Hard is not a Christmas movie..lol. That is a big discussion this year like that dress from a few years back. I am feeling great!
DeleteOn the Town is big and brash and fun. Not my favorite musical but a rollicking good time.
ReplyDeleteJust the thought of Home Alone 2 gives me the heebie-jeebies! Trying to be a good Uncle I took my two nieces, my nephew and five of their friends to see it at a matinee for the girls birthday. All the kids in my charge were good (thanks to a blunt laying down of the law before we went into the theatre) but the rest of the packed theatre was a zoo! When it was over I swore never again!! I still took my three but no more large groups or Saturday kiddie matinees!!!
I've yet to see Elf despite the fact that I loved the stage show. It's the Will Ferrell aspect that keeps me away.
I jumped around a bit for my three.
Baby Face (1933)-Lily Powers (Barbara Stanwyck) is being pimped out by her scumbag father (Robert Barrat) in his grimy small time Pennsylvania speakeasy. When he’s killed by a still explosion Lily, along with friend Chico (Theresa Harris), jumps on a freight train to New York City. Espying a woman emerging from a tall office building in furs Lily decides that’s where opportunity lies and gets a secretarial job by screwing the hiring manager. She proceeds to work her way up (illustrated by the camera panning up several floors of the building at intervals) using her horizontal skills until she’s the mistress of the head of the company. But there’s a price to pay! Originally there was no price, but the film was considered so salacious that along with several other (The Story of Temple Drake, Convention City (which was deemed so scandalous the studio destroyed ALL copies of the film) She Done Him Wrong, etc.) it caused a major clampdown of the Production Code and an alteration of this film’s finale.
Footloose (1984)-Moving from Chicago to the small town of Beaumont teen Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) comes up against a real culture shock when he discovers that dancing and rock music are illegal thanks to the town’s close-minded preacher Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow). But with the help of his newfound friends Willard Hewitt (Christopher Penn), and the rev’s daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) Ren is determined to rock this town back to life!
Coyote Ugly (2000)-Having just turned 21 Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo) moves to New York with hopes of becoming a songwriter. To get by she takes a job as a barmaid at the happening watering hole of the moment, Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as the media refers to them perform outrageous antics while serving up drinks and Violet finds her dreams sidelined as she gets caught up in the whirl. Foolishly undemanding.
You will hate, I repeat, hate Elf because I like Will Ferrell but there are a couple of times I even want to strangle him and I like him even though his comedies are stupid. I avoided the Home Alone movies until just a few years ago because my hubby likes them. They are better than I thought but that is because I have had decades to let the brouhaha go down. I never would have gone to the theatre to see it never mind with kids..nightmare city! I can’t believe you don’t mind Coyote Ugly because just the thought of watching it makes me cringe. Even though I love dancing, I never wanted to see Footloose. I do want to see Babyface and hope to.
DeleteI've seen all of your picks and I'd agree about your ratings of those.
ReplyDeleteThe other night my wife and I watched Tarzan's New York Adventure and that was fun. It was always one of my favorites when I was a kid and it holds up pretty well.
One of my top three favorite films is Fellini's Roma which is a sort of fanciful autobiographical film about the director's first arrival in the city of Rome. Such a wonderful film!
It's been a while since I've seen it, but Sunrise (1927). I seem to remember scenes about the farmer's visit to the city. It's a great film that I need to see again one day.
I know there are many picks for this category and I'm sure more will pop into my head later.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I have not seen Roma but I wish I would have remembered the Tarzan movie which is one of my favs and inspired to see Sunrise! This is a great film with such brilliant cinematography.
DeleteWell, my first thought was On the Town, but then I went brain dead. I've seen all your picks. Wasn't crazy about 2 and 3 either.
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen 'On The Town' in dog years! I need to see that one again.
And I've never seen 'Home Alone', let alone 'Home Alone 2'. No thanks.
I actually saw 'Elf' for the first time ever about two weeks ago, and even though I normally find that goofball Will Farrell more annoying than funny, I was greatly surprised to find I really enjoyed 'Elf'. It was fun and even Farrell didn't annoy me too badly in this. As soon as I saw Bob Newhart was in it, I knew there was some hope for 'Elf', and I expect to watch it again some Christmas season in the future.
My three cherces for this topic are:
'BLAZING SADDLES'
The Western town of Rock Ridge, where Bart (Cleavon Little) is installed as the new sheriff from out of town. Actually, he pretty much went straight from quicksand in the desert to sheriff of Rock Ridge. IMO, this is quite possibly the funniest movie ever made, which could *NEVER* be made today because everyone is so-ooo se-eeeeeee-nsitive.
'SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF'
Another Western cherce for me is when Jason (James Garner) winds up as sheriff of Calendar, Colorado, while he's simply "passing through" on his way to Australia.
I thought about making my 3 cherces a Western trinity by also selecting The Earps arriving in 'Tombstone'. But, nah, it's more fun (and funny) if I go with...
'DEFENDING YOUR LIFE'
Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) dies and meets Julia (Meryl Streep) in Judgment City - a kind of way station between Earth and Heaven. It's a very funny Rom-Com in which Rip Torn, playing Bob Diamond - Daniel's defense attorney - pretty much steals the show!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Elf is one where Will Ferrell does annoy me even though I will watch it again, just not this Christmas. I am loving your choices choosing Blazing Saddles which, you are right, would not be made today, sadly because it’s hilarious and...it’s a parody!! “Randolph Scott”. Support your Local Sheriff is priceless with James Garner and so many great character actors including your old acting “chum” Harry Morgan. I almost chose Tombstone but I wan5ed to do NYC and some Christmas movies.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDelete"On The Town" looks like a fun movie. I like the Home Alone movies with Macaulay Culkin. His character is a bit bratty but it's still enjoyable. The two bad guys Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are perfectly paired as the bubbling idiots that they are in these films. We haven't watched the two original movies in a few years. Maybe, it's time to see them again. "Elf" is a movie we can't get into. I blame that mostly in part because we're not huge Will Farrell fans. Thanks for sharing your picks. Continue to have an fun, blessed Christmas season, my dear!
I do like the bumbling boobs in Home Alone which remind me of the Looney Tunes cartoons. I generally like Will Ferrell and his low brow comedy but this one actually grated on me a bit like the breakfast moment. Oh well, Merry Christmas to you!
DeleteWhat about Kevin's dad, wasn't he just as negligent.
ReplyDelete