This is a lovely film. A family of scammers meets an old woman on a train and ends up being reformed by her. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Does a nice job of playing the oldest son who finds romance with Paulette Goddard's character. And his father ends up finding a place to shine as an automobile salesman, which is the straight way of being a "scammer" LOL. Janet Gaynor ends up finding true romance with someone who seems to just continue to wait until her family is respectable. And meeting the lady on the train with the pun name of Miss Fortune seems just too serendipitous. All in all the entire family learns the true value of being on the level and ends up better off than when they started. Some might think this is cheesy, but with the sort of films they make these days, it's very welcome in my book.
Reviews
18 Reviews
Satisfies my need for the Christmas warm and fuzzies!
14 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
For all the people that say the show's becoming a soap opera, it's a drama! It might have some pull on the emotions, but it really is not a true soap opera, which would sure involve more lustful activities to put it mildly. I watch this show because of the beauty of the countryside and the warm human interactions between the characters interspersed with animal stories. Even in his books the real James Herriot aka Alf Wight didn't dwell too much on the realities of war and he barely even served long enough before he was deemed unfit for duty after a health operation. It is not claiming to be tightly based on the books which I think is a good thing because the writers and producers can have some license in fleshing out certain minor characters, such as Richard Carmody, who is a great addition to the show! Given that, I personally don't like the idea of a Mrs. Hall and Siegfried romance and I will concede that the Gerald and Mrs. Hall storyline IS so soap opera-y I honestly fast-forwarded through those bits. But other than that, the interactions with Carmody and his new "family" were just lovely and heartwarming...his character arc of learning how to be more of an understanding person and less of a bookwormy-intellectual---the endgame of this episode being him slightly drunk and hugging Mrs. Hall LOL, and Helen and James being anxious about their forthcoming baby, those were nice moments! Who doesn't want their heart warmed for Christmas! A very sweet Christmas episode! More please!
Union Depot
(1932)
Romantic dramedy in a train station - pre code style
1 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I was always interested in Douglas Fairbanks Jr. As an actor, but never really got around to seeing an actual movie of his in its ENTIRETY. Glad I picked this one. And also my first pre-code watched in its entirety. Doug and Guy Kibbee make for an interesting pair of vagrants in this movie, although I really thought Fairbanks Jr. Should have made it more realistic to really talk like a true hobo, the fact that he didn't makes him truly believable as the gentleman that meets up with Joan Blondell's character, Ruth. The film does a good job showing the humanity that goes through the train station. Chick (the Douglas Fairbanks Jr character) proves himself to have some backbone morality and heroics. With some great and sometimes unexpected humor to give it a bit of lightheartedness, there's an interesting action sequence in the film. The bittersweet, romantic, and poignant moment at the end between Chick and Ruth was too much for me, I really wanted them to stay together! But alas, Ruth must go back to her reality and Chick must continue his life path hobo-ing with Scrap.
Love Is a Racket
(1932)
I was deceived
1 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
For Warner Archive to use the word "comedy" in its description on the package for this DVD is so misleading. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Is great playing the Broadway beat writer & the rest of the cast is fine. But the story was so cynical & depressing. I know pre-codes don't involve high morals so for Jimmy's character to mess with a murder scene rubbed me the wrong way. And Mary, the character played by Frances Dee, was a piece of work. At the end I felt like there should have been another movie made with Ann Dvorak and Fairbanks Jr. Only a romantic comedy to make up for the bad taste I had at the end of this film.
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater
(2020 TV Movie)
Love Niall and Ashley together. Put this on DVD, Hallmark!
8 January 2022
Stop knocking Ashley's smile. She's a great actress. Has nice chemistry with Niall. I only wish this was available on DVD. I know these movies follow a pattern, but at least this one sort of tried to be a little different. Would love to see another movie with these two. Change up the story some though for the next go round.
The Mating of Millie
(1948)
Why isn't this on on Warner Archive as a remastered DVD?
15 July 2019
This is a lovely gem of a romantic comedy. Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes play well off each other and the plot gives enough twists. Mr. Ford has quite a way with comedy, one of which involves breaking the 4th wall. Can see why the scriptwriters were nominated for a Writers' Guild of America award. The story is deftly penned with the right touches of humor! A 10!
Hilarious teleplay as usual by Stephen Cannell - one of my fave episodes!
1 December 2018
Patrick Hasburgh had a great story and the teleplay is hilarious as Ralph has to deal with essentially having become a human magnet. The 4th wall is broken at one point in the episode with Ralph saying "he can deal with it". William Katt played this whole episode perfectly. This is creative storytelling at its best and the deep character-based writing was what made this episode one of my favorites!
A Wrinkle in Time
(2003 TV Movie)
Better than Ava Duvernay's movie
17 April 2018
This adaptation was more faithful to the book than the recent Ava DuVernay version. They left all of the best bits in pretty much, except Calvin didn't get to kiss Meg! The young cast were pretty flawless and had good chemistry together!
A Wrinkle in Time
(2003 TV Movie)
Much better than Ava DuVernay recent filmed version
13 April 2018
This TV production at least stuck much closer to the book than the recent Wrinkle in Time directed by Ava DuVernay. I'm 98% certain Ms. DuVernay's version would have been more successful if they had left in all of the plot from the book. This TV production is great with the cast. Gregory Smith makes an excellent Calvin! David Dorfman is an excellent Charles Wallace. Only thing that isn't right is Meg...they didn't give her glasses and messed up hair like in the book.... Anyway, this TV version is good for what it is. Oh and one last thing...I hate that they didn't remaster this on DVD in its original aspect ratio.....I have this feeling I'm not seeing the full picture in each shot.
A Wrinkle in Time
(2018)
Dear Ava DuVernay and Jennifer Lee
28 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I admire the director and production team for the colorblind casting. I give this film 4 stars for the great cast. I only wish they had spent more time highlighting why the book was so good to begin with. They didn't have to put it all on Meg rescuing everyone. In the book it's a team effort out of love and friendship, so the parts of the book where they cut out the other characters sacrificing themselves or offering to sacrifice themselves for each other and the total unselfishness of characters like Calvin or Meg's father could have helped pack the emotional punch of this movie. Calvin had much more to do in the book, why cut that out? Giving him nothing to do didn't help develop why he is there to help Meg. He and Meg had growth in their character arcs in ths book. Why just show 1 scene of Calvin having problems with his father, why not develop that a bit more. Develop Charles Wallace being continuously teased or show a montage of it if you're short on time. I really really really hate they didn't have Aunt Beast in there, the ending was totally silly and half-cooked. And developing the three Missuses much more...maybe DuVernay should have picked the TV miniseries format with a longer running time with more room for character motivation and development and had a screenwriter writing more true to the spirit of the actual novel.
I truly admire the colorblindness the film tried to be, but it would have helped to have more meaty story on this film's bones and kept in more of the best things about the book than focusing on the CGI. Way too watered down for my tastes. Respect the audience! We are smarter than you think we are!
Best episode of the show ever!
24 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This episode I watched in its original entirety. Rewatching on the remastered DVD boxset I feel as if there is one specific scene missing where Adam shows Mary how to "see" with her hands using a sculpture. Remembering that these 2 part episodes sometimes had 1 part that was about 90 minutes, I was wondering whether something had been cut from Part 2.
Nevertheless, Melissa Sue Anderson and Linwood Boomer are both excellent in the most highly rated episode of Little House to air ever! From self-pity and bitterness Mary emerges to a new life. The buildup to the actual revealing point is done so very well and is very poignant. The scriptwriters, Carole and Michael Raschella penned one of their best episodes. Everything from the script, actors, direction, and the melancholic underscore David Rose composed for Mary and Adam makes this episode a forever A+++ in broadcast TV history. A perfect episode! Wish they all could have been like this in subsequent seasons!
Nevertheless, Melissa Sue Anderson and Linwood Boomer are both excellent in the most highly rated episode of Little House to air ever! From self-pity and bitterness Mary emerges to a new life. The buildup to the actual revealing point is done so very well and is very poignant. The scriptwriters, Carole and Michael Raschella penned one of their best episodes. Everything from the script, actors, direction, and the melancholic underscore David Rose composed for Mary and Adam makes this episode a forever A+++ in broadcast TV history. A perfect episode! Wish they all could have been like this in subsequent seasons!
The Sound of Children
2 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I was and still am a huge Adam and Mary fan from LHOTP. This episode was so humorous in the way Mary gives Adam the news that he is to be a father. So cute was the scene where little Eli asks for the toolbox to go unlock Mrs. Terhune from the water closet. All Adam thought about was dinner before Mary relayed the baby news to him.
Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson had the best chemistry playing a married couple and it shows. All their scenes together just give one the romantic feels. This is an episode where they each had some meaty stuff to play and involved Adam's interactions with his errant unkind father. Wished they could have explored that more in other episodes, it would have been a great dynamic to develop. This episode had me wondering also what had happened to Adam's mother and the back story there was with her, Adam as a child, and his father.
Anyway, the denouement where both Mary and Adam admit they would rather stay in Walnut Grove was a very O Henry like ending. Though Adam was obviously in tears and upset from his parting with his father, he was so noble in shielding Mary from the real reasons his father decided to leave without them.
A very sweet and good episode! If all of Adam and Mary's story lines could have been as positive as this one!
Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson had the best chemistry playing a married couple and it shows. All their scenes together just give one the romantic feels. This is an episode where they each had some meaty stuff to play and involved Adam's interactions with his errant unkind father. Wished they could have explored that more in other episodes, it would have been a great dynamic to develop. This episode had me wondering also what had happened to Adam's mother and the back story there was with her, Adam as a child, and his father.
Anyway, the denouement where both Mary and Adam admit they would rather stay in Walnut Grove was a very O Henry like ending. Though Adam was obviously in tears and upset from his parting with his father, he was so noble in shielding Mary from the real reasons his father decided to leave without them.
A very sweet and good episode! If all of Adam and Mary's story lines could have been as positive as this one!
Blind Journey (Part 2)
2 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I love Carole and Michael Raschella. They were the perfect husband and wife writing team to write Adam and Mary's story lines and they were always my favourite writers on Little House.
The blind school must relocate from Winoka to Walnut Grove. I thought this was a good plot / story idea as it added another facet to Walnut Grove. I was just upset when it was not developed on in future seasons, having a steady stream of different students coming to Walnut Grove would have made for a great evolution of stories and ideas, but alas it was not meant to be.
The main part about Part 2 that I love is Adam's character development. Not many episodes were dedicated to finding out about his side of the family. In this episode, we finally find out about the accident which caused his blindness. Linwood Boomer does such a great job here showing Adam's extreme fear of the rapids and his vulnerability in sharing with Mary the story of the accident. Those particular scenes make me cry every time I watch this episode. Melissa Sue and Linwood always rocked the scenes they played as Adam and Mary.
Also Mrs. Oleson is so sweet when she finally makes amends with Samson and Joe Kagan and sticks up for them at the end of the episode.
The blind school must relocate from Winoka to Walnut Grove. I thought this was a good plot / story idea as it added another facet to Walnut Grove. I was just upset when it was not developed on in future seasons, having a steady stream of different students coming to Walnut Grove would have made for a great evolution of stories and ideas, but alas it was not meant to be.
The main part about Part 2 that I love is Adam's character development. Not many episodes were dedicated to finding out about his side of the family. In this episode, we finally find out about the accident which caused his blindness. Linwood Boomer does such a great job here showing Adam's extreme fear of the rapids and his vulnerability in sharing with Mary the story of the accident. Those particular scenes make me cry every time I watch this episode. Melissa Sue and Linwood always rocked the scenes they played as Adam and Mary.
Also Mrs. Oleson is so sweet when she finally makes amends with Samson and Joe Kagan and sticks up for them at the end of the episode.
Adam Kendall's only case that made it to screen
30 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Always thought it was a mistake to give Adam on Little House his sight back, mostly because the main draw at his introduction was that he had made something of himself even with the disability of being blind. So basically when his sight returned it was really disappointing to see that his first case would be in Walnut Grove and drew a lot of questions from me as to why he even moved away from a more bustling city as of course you would expect NO litigation in a small town. Anyhow, he and Mary decide to go back to Walnut Grove and his first case involves Edgar Mills who gets the citizens involved in a land purchase scheme.
The whole case is pretty interesting until the end when we find out about Mr. Mills' health issues....would have been much more interesting if this had been a two parter with a serious case not involving an easy out the way this episode had. I rue this episode because it was the only episode where we see Adam as a practicing attorney. Linwood Boomer's excellent talents as an actor were severely underused on the show from Season 6 onwards, as were Melissa Sue Anderson's. No wonder she left.
The show I think would have lasted much longer if they had written Adam and Mary into the milieu or ventured to go outside the box and cover episodes outside of Walnut Grove interwoven with episodes in Walnut Grove. Sad.
The whole case is pretty interesting until the end when we find out about Mr. Mills' health issues....would have been much more interesting if this had been a two parter with a serious case not involving an easy out the way this episode had. I rue this episode because it was the only episode where we see Adam as a practicing attorney. Linwood Boomer's excellent talents as an actor were severely underused on the show from Season 6 onwards, as were Melissa Sue Anderson's. No wonder she left.
The show I think would have lasted much longer if they had written Adam and Mary into the milieu or ventured to go outside the box and cover episodes outside of Walnut Grove interwoven with episodes in Walnut Grove. Sad.
Writing Adam and Mary into a corner
24 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this episode in its original broadcast and felt so sucker- punched as a kid. I rewatched this episode recently as an adult and still wonder what possessed Michael Landon into writing this story. Short answer: Networks Sweeps Month. After having Mary first miscarry and then become pregnant again, seemed way too cruel to have her lose the 2nd baby as well so soon after its birth. Unless Michael Landon was trying to prove that bad things happen unexpectedly...these bad episodes happen every once in awhile on LHOTP.
I wonder if it was discussed what long term effects there would be on Adam and Mary's storyline. Killing off their 2nd baby meant they weren't going to play out the concern Mary expressed in "The Wedding" about raising a sighted child. It's as if the setup occurred for a great Mary and Adam storyline with no follow through.
Also silly that the school had to burn down and later when Adam's father is supposed to donate to the rebuilding...because of the his father's money mismanagement...all that's left is that silly plaque in Alice's and Adam Jr.' name.
And agree with all the opinions that Mary and Adam leaving their baby in their room and putting their other students before their own baby's safety was plain stupid! This is pretty much the episode that made me hate Michael Landon as a writer for the show.
Also since Albert was the one with Clay to play with the smoking pipe...I don't see how easily Adam and Mary could forgive the loss of their precious 2nd baby without a long long long healing period.
Not realistic at all and seeming to favor the cliché of guilt ridden children running away only to be later rescued by Pa and told they don't have to feel bad anymore and everything is okay?? Strange strange episode! A good example of a badly plotted and poorly thought out episode.
I wonder if it was discussed what long term effects there would be on Adam and Mary's storyline. Killing off their 2nd baby meant they weren't going to play out the concern Mary expressed in "The Wedding" about raising a sighted child. It's as if the setup occurred for a great Mary and Adam storyline with no follow through.
Also silly that the school had to burn down and later when Adam's father is supposed to donate to the rebuilding...because of the his father's money mismanagement...all that's left is that silly plaque in Alice's and Adam Jr.' name.
And agree with all the opinions that Mary and Adam leaving their baby in their room and putting their other students before their own baby's safety was plain stupid! This is pretty much the episode that made me hate Michael Landon as a writer for the show.
Also since Albert was the one with Clay to play with the smoking pipe...I don't see how easily Adam and Mary could forgive the loss of their precious 2nd baby without a long long long healing period.
Not realistic at all and seeming to favor the cliché of guilt ridden children running away only to be later rescued by Pa and told they don't have to feel bad anymore and everything is okay?? Strange strange episode! A good example of a badly plotted and poorly thought out episode.
Patrick Collins
23 April 2016
I loved Patrick Collins as Mortimer.
This was a funny episode, though bit unrealistic when seeing how Mort and the bad Professor ended the episode. Eliza Jane was not acting in her usual personality and I wish Laura had just come out and told her what the Prof was up to!
Interesting to see Leslie Landon again as an extra character. Also love the period detail.
Darlene Conley was sufficiently mean as the dishwasher boss. Wish there had been more to Eliza Jane finding out the daisy giver was Mort. A sweet episode. Interesting look into harassment at the time, but as mentioned before, not realistic in resolution of the serious issues at hand. Looked to be more like a Walnut Grove style fight vs two adults with a serious disagreement over grading.
This was a funny episode, though bit unrealistic when seeing how Mort and the bad Professor ended the episode. Eliza Jane was not acting in her usual personality and I wish Laura had just come out and told her what the Prof was up to!
Interesting to see Leslie Landon again as an extra character. Also love the period detail.
Darlene Conley was sufficiently mean as the dishwasher boss. Wish there had been more to Eliza Jane finding out the daisy giver was Mort. A sweet episode. Interesting look into harassment at the time, but as mentioned before, not realistic in resolution of the serious issues at hand. Looked to be more like a Walnut Grove style fight vs two adults with a serious disagreement over grading.
Adam's Woman
(1970)
Adam's Woman--Warner Bros. should release this on DVD
6 October 2005
This is a LOVELY film. The perfect meshing of a good story, actors, and a gorgeous Australian setting. I agree that this is one of Beau Bridges' best roles, as I've never seen a character that's fit him so well as Adam Beecher. And Jane Merrow is wonderful and beautiful as his convict bride. Their scenes together are imbued with real warmth and feeling.
Also the other actors, such as John Mills and Andrew Keir were respectively great as the governor and the sergeant who is Adam's "guardian angel". The movie's alternate title of "Return of the Boomerang" was most fitting, given what happens with Adam's character. And the soundtrack/score grew on me, as I found myself humming it for days afterwards.
Warner Brothers, are you listening? Release this on DVD!!!
Also the other actors, such as John Mills and Andrew Keir were respectively great as the governor and the sergeant who is Adam's "guardian angel". The movie's alternate title of "Return of the Boomerang" was most fitting, given what happens with Adam's character. And the soundtrack/score grew on me, as I found myself humming it for days afterwards.
Warner Brothers, are you listening? Release this on DVD!!!
Dragonfly
(1976)
Dragonfly (aka One Summer Love in the U.S.)
10 September 2005
I saw this movie recently on an old VHS tape and thought Beau Bridges did a wonderfully intense job portraying Jesse, the young man trying to find out the real truth about why he was institutionalized in his early teens. Film is good about not revealing the truth until the uttermost end, so there is a lot of suspense in finding out whether what you guessed is the reason is the real reason.
The story and scenes between the characters could have been developed much better than they were. Also the powers that be on this film could have developed the relationship scenes a bit better (as in MORE scenes) between Susan Sarandon's (who is very good in this too with what she is given) and Beau Bridges' characters.
All in all an okay movie which could have been so much better if the writers/producers had tried harder at scene development.
I give it a 5 overall and an almost 8 or 9 for Beau Bridges' GREAT acting---really made me feel for his character, plus I have a huge bias for him at this age---so darn cute!
The story and scenes between the characters could have been developed much better than they were. Also the powers that be on this film could have developed the relationship scenes a bit better (as in MORE scenes) between Susan Sarandon's (who is very good in this too with what she is given) and Beau Bridges' characters.
All in all an okay movie which could have been so much better if the writers/producers had tried harder at scene development.
I give it a 5 overall and an almost 8 or 9 for Beau Bridges' GREAT acting---really made me feel for his character, plus I have a huge bias for him at this age---so darn cute!
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