Tikisoo

I just watched a Ginger Rogers double feature recorded last month on TCM First movie was 1940's LUCKY PARTNERS: Ginger was in typical form as a no nonsense gal working in her mother's storefront bookstore. Spring Byington played her ditzy but insightful Mother perfectly, they even share some resemblance. Ginger's engaged to Jack Carson who's all business. Ronald Coleman's character moves into a storefront opposite the bookstore & casually wishes Ginger good luck in passing. She receives a gorgeous gown by chance when home delivering some books and immediately credits Colman. Then Ginger asks Colman to go halfsies on a sweepstakes ticket, thinking they're a lucky pair. Colman agrees, but only if she take an elaborate platonic vacation with him if they win. Naturally, no one likes this scenario, but they go along with it. Screwball hilarity should follow but instead the movie comes to an awkward thud. I'm not sure why this misfires, all the performances are good. Something about the dialogue just falls flat. I was never quite convinced Ginger was her typical smart, wisecracking nice girl...she often came across as dull & callous, especially to Carson. I've never liked Colman, but he did a fine job as a suave rich guy as always. Like I said, it must have been the dialogue. Next was 5th AVENUE GIRL '39. I had seen this several times before but in comparison to the first movie, this print looked awful, like a Xerox copy. Too bad because it's a great movie-just as silly a premise as Lucky Partners, but somehow this one gels perfectly. Ginger is her typical wisecracking Depression era girl, having a 5¢ apple for dinner in the Park. She meets wealthy Walter Connolly who has left the house in disgust that no one in his self absorbed family remembered his birthday. He & Ginger exchange some banter & he offers her a job to play "the other woman" just to jolt his wife, son & daughter into noticing him. This time it works-screwball hilarity ensues. Maybe Ginger does better with a better leading actor like Connolly. All the supporting actors are excellent - especially fave Franklin Pangborn having more screen time & zingers than usual. This was the first time I noticed Tim Holt of MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS playing the spoiled son & Veree Teasdale Menjou playing the unfaithful but repentant wife. A great fun screwball comedy that deserves restoration! Funny note-Jack Carson stands out in a bit role in 5th Ave Girl as a sailor singing to his girl on a park bench.

I see Fred Willard too. Fred was a handsome funny man. That guy reminds me Charles Lane, at least in that picture.

Bump for recommendation... Great insights of both their careers during this time period- Thanks TCM!

And THIS is why comic book/action movies FAIL. Sure, this is absolutely a beautiful picture, but it has nothing our brains can recognize as "place" as setting for charactors. I know in contrast this is boring & unimaginative, but our brains recognize this as a solid, real place. A setting for a story. I like movies that bring you "where no man has gone before" - imaginary times & places as much as the next guy. But I also know much needs to be grounded in what we recognise & can relate with. How else can we become interested in a fantastical story? And follow fantastical charactors in the story? The other big FAIL is making the charactors move (fly) too fast. We can't focus on the movement, nor focus on the setting therefore missing the eye/brain/stomach drop effect you get from just watching a rollercoaster video.

Because the rental dictates broadcasting a certain number of times within a dictated time period.

Surely illustrates the term objectifying a woman for her body.

At least I've seen excerpts from it. Richard Barrios presented a fabulous Busby Berkeley number with all the girls in prison wearing striped uniforms at a rare film festival! What a HOOT! (I believe a number taking place on a giant spiderweb was from GDoBW too, possibly a different lost film?)

REEFER MADNESS is the grandaddy of demonization "warning" about the disastrous effects of ganja. I still think the proliferation in the 50's-60's of JD (& silly monster) movies has much to do with the fall of the studio system and the rise of the independent filmmakers.

Agree with that. I should have known he had passed seeing all the suggested clips of him on YT. I barely recognised him with white hair-he was always the "good looking" comedic actor, somewhat resembling James Garner. When people say there are no great character actors anymore, they've forgotten gems like Fred Willard, he elevated so many movies/TV even in the smallest roles. I did not realize Spiñal Tap was his first role, I certainly recognised him from TV. Thanks for the memories, Fred! Rest In Peace.

Yes, other eras had them- The Bowery Boys popped in my head first- then Boys Town- both already mentioned. Let's not forget BLACKBOARD JUNGLE and HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL for big studio JD movies. I love JD movies and agree the genre seemed to explode in the 50's-60's. I would venture a guess it was a common theme knowing that teens were an emerging target audience in theaters & especially drive-ins. This was the era of the smaller, independent movie company, like Ed Wood & king Roger Corman. What could be easier/cheaper than a movie starring teens with townie locations, everyday clothing & no special effects? You put a buxom gal & hot rod car on the poster, a naughty double entendre/suggestive title and you've got a drive in classic! Funny, I just came across my complete Something Weird collection including such great titles as A Smell Of Honey- A Swallow Of Brine, Murder A La Mod, Indecent Desires & A Good Time With A Bad Girl.

I don't find any of those amusing ^^^ It already feels like all of us are living in a disaster/horror film. (and we stupidly signed for a portion of the profits instead of movie star pay)

Hope your eyebrows are better trimmed than ^^^^

Don't allow the White House to stream that....

Agreed. She holds high regard among Cinephiles, but remains mostly undiscovered to average classic movie fans. I was most impressed with her after seeing Julie Christie ruin the same role Keyes played in HEAVEN CAN WAIT and HERE COMES MR JORDON respectively. Oops, sorry. I don't have a cel phone, so I misunderstood what you were saying.

I understand Hibi's reticence. Watching a movie on my computer isn't an option, I want to be in a comfy chair a good distance away, not sitting at a desk in my office. How anyone could possibly watch a movie on their phone is beyond me. Streaming free movies on your TV is ok, some uploads are rather poor quality, but at least the picture is bigger. But if I fall asleep, there's often no way to reverse to the last chapter remembered, like a DVD, especially if you've paid for the viewing! (I'm a snoozer even in a theater) I do find streaming a great alternative for TV series, though. I'm rewatching CYBILL and TubiTV puts 2 commercial breaks in-where they belong. Pluto TV also offers CYBILL, but their commercial breaks are "timed" and can actually interrupt a punchline! Boo!

The Simpsons....America's educator. Actually, I'd like to make the point that "guessing" more salacious aspects of a movie plot is often far better than actually seeing it. It allows you to watch a movie with your teen or grandma without embarrassment. You don't have to know what trouble a woman is in, just that she's in trouble.

ISHTAR is a movie I've always wanted to see. Like you, I often see & like something the critics don't. Remember, critics are evaluating based on the average schlub of a movie-goer. Comedy can be esoteric, especially more subtle black comedies. Another "worst disaster of a movie" was DEATH TO SMOOCHY 2002, which I knew someone who had worked on it. Everyone at the CFB tossed it around as a total embarrassment, wouldn't include it in their filmography, etc. I just HAD to see it. Within the first 20 minutes, I was howling with laughter, couldn't understand why they didn't like the jokes, the tone, even the "message". Like I said, comedy is like that. And comedy is best played straight (not childlike goofy) and when played straight it's often harder to get in the groove. I do think that's why Bob Hope often talked to the camera, bringing the audience into the joke.

Re: No Maps On My Taps I had a very good co-worker friend that revealed in passing he had suffered years of tap dancing lessons as a boy. I was impressed and asked if he still could do it. He was completely ashamed of it and said he NEVER would tap dance again because he felt it was a "black stereotype". Isn't that sad? Wish I knew how to tap dance.

Some people (me included) won't use Google because of the relentless tracking & targeting. I do agree though, that inquiry belonged in INFORMATION PLEASE section. I never understand why people won't use the correct section devoted to their post.

Did anyone mis-read the little rhyme in their head like I did? "When Jayne decides to rival Helen of Troy... It's a madcap marathon for Olympic heroes & a Grecian GOY!"

My Mother once told me she had watched "the funniest movie ever" and after the description, figured out it was SPACEBALLS. My Mom had never seen Star Wars, but thought Mel Brooks' parody was hilarious. I still haven't seen SPACEBALLS, nor several other of Brooks' films. Guess it's time to catch up...

I loved Stiller & Meara. As a kid I thought Ann Meara was so pretty and couldn't understand why she'd marry such a little toad like Stiller. Then, I got older....and absolutely discovered the appeal of Jerry Stiller. Not only was he a gem of a guy, he was packed with talent. So glad he landed on Seinfeld for another generation to discover his immense comedic talent-and they wrote him the greatest lines! Rest In Peace. You made the world a better place, Jerry!

I want to know about the "new marvelous screen technique"?

If typos are any indication of your internet skills, you probably should refrain from posting pictures! 😉 (a winking emoticon, meaning I'm just razzing you) Thanks for letting us know the 3 parts....I'll skip Pt3. Uninterested.

Wow! That's amazing! Even attending the weekly classic film group screenings, I only see about 60 movies/yr in a theater. I wonder about that too. It could go either way: the movie companies may just decide streaming is "easier" or people rediscover the fun of "social" activities. I understand there is a new enthusiasm for attending Drive-Ins this summer! I was amazed at the popularity of multiple trailers when first attending a Bollywood screening- the audience whooped & applauded at the appearance of their favorite hero/heroine and sang & danced along musical snippets. I soon discovered 20-30 minutes of upcoming movie trailers for South Asian screenings are like a warm up for the feature film. (as if a 3 hour movie isn't long enough)