[What 10 films define Britain]

Without going into specific titles, I'd say that the Ealing Comedies are probably the most British of all British films.

[Carl Ballantine dies at 92; comedy magician was in 'McHale's Navy' cast]

Many's the time I'd encounter Ballantine in the checkout line of my local supermarket here in Hollywood. He'd always be ready with a wisecrack, and enjoyed being remembered.

 

Now that the obituary has acquainted me with details about the man's life I never knew, I have to say that...a daughter called Saratoga? Now there's a man who surely loved the ponies.

[Favorite Movies with a Great Soundtrack]

> {quote:title=lzcutter wrote:}{quote}

> *Gunga Din* great theme.

 

Sly old Alfred Newman clearly wrote that theme to the meter of Kipling's poem, "Gunga Din." I've always wondered if George Stevens, or anyone else back then (or since), ever noticed.

[Victory!]

> {quote:title=JakeHolman wrote:}{quote}

> *Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! VICTORY! The New York Yankees are World Champions!*

 

Real baseball isn't played in the American League. The Designated Hitter makes it a welfare state for grown men who're too old, slow, inept or stupid to play a defensive position and pitchers who are too delicate or terrified to face an opposing pitcher with a bat in their hands.

 

Like every other AL team, the Yankees -- who give plenty of other reasons to be hated -- are just masters of this legalized cheating.

 

In any case, unless both teams in the so-called World Series finish the regular season with the best regular-season record in their respective league, that "Series" has no validity. The Dodgers finished the season with the best NL record but, thanks to a pointless playoff system that penalizes excellence and rewards mediocrity, they didn't face the Yankees (and, in case you're wondering, I don't care for the Dodgers or the Phillies).