The More the Merrier
1943
Starring:
Jean Arthur as Constance 'Connie' Milligan
Joel McCrea as Joe Carter
Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle
Richard Gaines as Charles J. Pendergast
length: 101 minutes
The movie opens in WWII Washington D.C., when lodging is hard to get. Mr. Benjamin Dingle is searching for a room which, after much finagling, he is able to get from Constance Milligan. He rents half her apartment from her, and she sets up a very strict schedule. Which he immediately wreaks havoc on, to the point of head-on collisions in the hallway!
A day or two later, Mr. Dingle rents half of his half to a young man....without telling Miss Milligan!
The rest of this movie was mishap after misunderstanding after comedic confrontation! We found it hilarious, and very like a P.G. Wodehouse story.
I strongly suggest you check it out!
This movie was re-done in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run starring Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar, and Jim Hutton, but I haven't seen that one yet.
The More The Merrier can be bought on DVD from TCM for $24.99, and you can watch it on their cable channel on April 19th....if you'll be up at 4:00 AM.
It's being sold on Ebay in VHS, DVD, and LaserDisc forms from $6.99 (on LD) to $24.99 on VHS.
Amazon has it, too. New starting at $17.97, used starting at $18.00.
You can rent it at Netflix, as well.
So go find it!
~Kiwi~
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Stanley and Livingstone
Stanley and Livingstone
1939
Starring:
Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley
Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone
Lesser Roles:
Nancy Kelly as Eve Kingsley
Richard Greene as Gareth Tyce
Walter Brennan as Jeff Slocum
Charles Coburn as Lord Tyce
Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennet, Jr.
Henry Travers as James Kingsley
Hassan Said as Hassan
approx. 101 minutes
This is the story of Henry M. Stanley, a reporter for the New York Herald, who was sent to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1870. Livingstone had been reported dead by the London Globe, but it was without evidence. James G. Bennet wanted Livingstone to be found alive or proven dead by Stanley. Thus begins his journey deep into the heart of Africa. He travels to Zanzibar, and from there on into Tanganyika (now Tanzania).
What was nice was that this part of the movie was filmed in Africa, not on a fake-looking set.
Stanley and his team travel past antelope, lions, giraffes, and hippos, and are even attacked by some not-so-friendly natives!
When the reporter finally finds Dr. David Livingstone, he is living happily in a small village with the Africans. Livingstone has taught them some English, at least enough to sing some hymns, and is a 'circuit preacher,' traveling a hundred mile-circuit to spread the gospel.
Well, now that he has found Livingstone, how is Stanley to prove he is alive, especially since Livingstone refuses to leave? I guess you'll find out when you watch the movie.
We watched this yesterday afternoon for history class. I really enjoyed watching the trek through the real African wilderness, with the animals in the background. The movie remains somewhat true-to-life, with just a few minor deviations.
The DVD is available HERE for $14.95, but is not on TCM or Netflix.
Enjoy your Safari!
~Kiwifruit
1939
Starring:
Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley
Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone
Lesser Roles:
Nancy Kelly as Eve Kingsley
Richard Greene as Gareth Tyce
Walter Brennan as Jeff Slocum
Charles Coburn as Lord Tyce
Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennet, Jr.
Henry Travers as James Kingsley
Hassan Said as Hassan
approx. 101 minutes
This is the story of Henry M. Stanley, a reporter for the New York Herald, who was sent to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1870. Livingstone had been reported dead by the London Globe, but it was without evidence. James G. Bennet wanted Livingstone to be found alive or proven dead by Stanley. Thus begins his journey deep into the heart of Africa. He travels to Zanzibar, and from there on into Tanganyika (now Tanzania).
What was nice was that this part of the movie was filmed in Africa, not on a fake-looking set.
Stanley and his team travel past antelope, lions, giraffes, and hippos, and are even attacked by some not-so-friendly natives!
When the reporter finally finds Dr. David Livingstone, he is living happily in a small village with the Africans. Livingstone has taught them some English, at least enough to sing some hymns, and is a 'circuit preacher,' traveling a hundred mile-circuit to spread the gospel.
Well, now that he has found Livingstone, how is Stanley to prove he is alive, especially since Livingstone refuses to leave? I guess you'll find out when you watch the movie.
We watched this yesterday afternoon for history class. I really enjoyed watching the trek through the real African wilderness, with the animals in the background. The movie remains somewhat true-to-life, with just a few minor deviations.
The DVD is available HERE for $14.95, but is not on TCM or Netflix.
Enjoy your Safari!
~Kiwifruit
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I just wanted to remind you that Stanley and Livingstone is playing tomorrow at 8:00 pm, CST on the Turner Classic Movie channel.
Enjoy!
~Kiwi~
Enjoy!
~Kiwi~
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Shop Around the Corner
The Shop Around the Corner
1940
Starring:
James Stewart as Alfred Kralik
Margaret Sullavan as Klara Novak
Frank Morgan as Hugo Matsuchek
Lesser roles:
Joseph Schildkraut as Ferencz Vadas
Sara Haden as Flora Kaczek
Felix Bressart as Pirovitch
William Tracy as Pepi Katona
Inez Courtney as Ilona Novotny
length: about 100 minutes
Alfred Kralik is the head clerk at Matuschek and Company in Budapest, Hungary. While the employees are waiting for Mr. Matsuchek to arrive at the shop and unlock it, Alfred reveals to Pirovitch, a coworker, that he is corresponding by mail with a young lady whom he has never met and only knows as 'Dear Friend'.
The first thing Mr. Matsuchek does when he opens the shop that day is to show Alfred his latest purchase for the store: a cigarette box that plays "Otche Tchorniye" (Russian, perhaps? Translated, it means "Dark Eyes") when you open it. Mr. Matsuchek loves this little invention, but when he asks Alfred's opinion he's rather annoyed. Alfred thinks it's ugly and cheep and there's no way they'll be able to sell them all.
Several days pass, and they sell no cigarette boxes, when in walks Klara Novak, looking for a job as a clerk. The head clerk, Alfred, tells her there is no opening, but she won't take 'no' for an answer. When a customer walks in, Klara takes over and sells one of those difficult cigarette boxes in five minutes flat. Mr. Matsuchek sees that and hires her on the spot, to Alfred's dismay.
These things are hard to end: I'd much rather just tell you all about everything that happens in the movie! But that would spoil it, so I'm stopping here before I give it all away.
I enjoyed The Shop Around The Corner immensely. It's a slightly comedic, slightly romantic movie, and I always like Jimmy Stewart.
FOR SALE:
TCM has it available HERE and they are also playing it on January 28, at 2:00 pm.
HERE is the EBAY page with many DVDs and VHS recordings from $2.99 to $24.99.
AMAZON is selling it HERE starting as low as $13.07.
And NETFLIX also has The Shop Around the Corner HERE.
Enjoy the movie!
~Kiwifruit
1940
Starring:
James Stewart as Alfred Kralik
Margaret Sullavan as Klara Novak
Frank Morgan as Hugo Matsuchek
Lesser roles:
Joseph Schildkraut as Ferencz Vadas
Sara Haden as Flora Kaczek
Felix Bressart as Pirovitch
William Tracy as Pepi Katona
Inez Courtney as Ilona Novotny
length: about 100 minutes
Alfred Kralik is the head clerk at Matuschek and Company in Budapest, Hungary. While the employees are waiting for Mr. Matsuchek to arrive at the shop and unlock it, Alfred reveals to Pirovitch, a coworker, that he is corresponding by mail with a young lady whom he has never met and only knows as 'Dear Friend'.
The first thing Mr. Matsuchek does when he opens the shop that day is to show Alfred his latest purchase for the store: a cigarette box that plays "Otche Tchorniye" (Russian, perhaps? Translated, it means "Dark Eyes") when you open it. Mr. Matsuchek loves this little invention, but when he asks Alfred's opinion he's rather annoyed. Alfred thinks it's ugly and cheep and there's no way they'll be able to sell them all.
Several days pass, and they sell no cigarette boxes, when in walks Klara Novak, looking for a job as a clerk. The head clerk, Alfred, tells her there is no opening, but she won't take 'no' for an answer. When a customer walks in, Klara takes over and sells one of those difficult cigarette boxes in five minutes flat. Mr. Matsuchek sees that and hires her on the spot, to Alfred's dismay.
These things are hard to end: I'd much rather just tell you all about everything that happens in the movie! But that would spoil it, so I'm stopping here before I give it all away.
I enjoyed The Shop Around The Corner immensely. It's a slightly comedic, slightly romantic movie, and I always like Jimmy Stewart.
FOR SALE:
TCM has it available HERE and they are also playing it on January 28, at 2:00 pm.
HERE is the EBAY page with many DVDs and VHS recordings from $2.99 to $24.99.
AMAZON is selling it HERE starting as low as $13.07.
And NETFLIX also has The Shop Around the Corner HERE.
Enjoy the movie!
~Kiwifruit
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Prisoner of Zenda
Prisoner of Zenda
1937
Starring:
Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V
Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau
Raymond Massey as Duke Michael
Lesser roles:
C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Zapt
David Niven as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Mary Astor as Antoinette de Mauban
Length: about 100 minutes
Major Rudolf Rassendyll is vacationing in 'Ruritania' (a fictional country in Europe), when he meets the soon-to-be king, Rudolf the Fifth while fishing. They find that they are distantly related, which explains their strikingly similar appearances.
Rudolf the Fifth invites Major Rudolf back to his hunting lodge, where they drink, drink, and are merry for some time on into the night. Rudolf the Fifth [this is hard, writing about two people with the same name!] tells the Major about how he rather dreads the coronation on the following day. He's sure his (evil) stepbrother, Michael, is going to do his best to keep Rudolf from being crowned King of Ruritania. They drink and drink, until Rudolf (the Major), Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt, the King's guards, finally fall asleep. Rudolf the Fifth takes one last drink from a new bottle, then drops to the floor.
The next morning--Coronation Day--Major Rudolf is rudely awakened by a pitcher of water in the face. Captain von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt have found the king lying on the floor and are sure Michael is behind all this....which, of course, he is.
So what do they do? The man who is to be crowned that day has been drugged, who knows when he'll wake up. If Rudolf the Fifth doesn't arrive, Duke Michael will find a way to crown himself king.
Hmmm. I wonder....
I enjoyed this movie. It has good acting and the plot is easy to follow, most of the time, except when the Rudolfs get mixed up. No mushy love scenes. A lot of action and sword fighting, a few deaths (nothing gruesome).
1937
Starring:
Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V
Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau
Raymond Massey as Duke Michael
Lesser roles:
C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Zapt
David Niven as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Mary Astor as Antoinette de Mauban
Length: about 100 minutes
Major Rudolf Rassendyll is vacationing in 'Ruritania' (a fictional country in Europe), when he meets the soon-to-be king, Rudolf the Fifth while fishing. They find that they are distantly related, which explains their strikingly similar appearances.
Rudolf the Fifth invites Major Rudolf back to his hunting lodge, where they drink, drink, and are merry for some time on into the night. Rudolf the Fifth [this is hard, writing about two people with the same name!] tells the Major about how he rather dreads the coronation on the following day. He's sure his (evil) stepbrother, Michael, is going to do his best to keep Rudolf from being crowned King of Ruritania. They drink and drink, until Rudolf (the Major), Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt, the King's guards, finally fall asleep. Rudolf the Fifth takes one last drink from a new bottle, then drops to the floor.
The next morning--Coronation Day--Major Rudolf is rudely awakened by a pitcher of water in the face. Captain von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt have found the king lying on the floor and are sure Michael is behind all this....which, of course, he is.
So what do they do? The man who is to be crowned that day has been drugged, who knows when he'll wake up. If Rudolf the Fifth doesn't arrive, Duke Michael will find a way to crown himself king.
Hmmm. I wonder....
I enjoyed this movie. It has good acting and the plot is easy to follow, most of the time, except when the Rudolfs get mixed up. No mushy love scenes. A lot of action and sword fighting, a few deaths (nothing gruesome).
TCM: This movie is for sale on TCM.com, but you have to buy it either with the 1952 version here, $16.99, or with The Three Musketeers (1948), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), and Madame Bovary (1949) right HERE, for $50.99.
Netflix: available HERE.
Ebay: you can buy the double-sided DVD with both the 1937 and the 1952 versions on it for between $10.99 and $17.75. There are also the same two movies on laserdisc for $21.21 to $40.00.
Amazon: Once again, there are the two versions being sold together for from $8.78 to $39.99, or the same five-DVD set offered by TCM.
Aparently you can't get one movie without the other. I have not seen the 1952 movie, and so can not recommend it to you at all.
Happy movie watching!
~Kiwifruit
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Matchmaker
The Matchmaker
1958
Starring:
Shirley Booth as Dolly 'Gallagher' Levi
Anthony Perkins as Cornelius Hackl
Shirley MacLaine as Irene Molloy
Paul Ford as Horace Vandergelder
Lesser Roles:
Robert Morse as Barnaby Tucker
Perry Wilson as Minnie Fay
Length: 100 minutes
This movie takes place in Yonkers, NY and New York City, NY in 1884. Dolly Levi, an older widow, has decided to play matchmaker for an older man --Horace Vandergelder. Who just so happens to be rich. She finagles a way to get him into New York to meet two girls: Irene Molloy, a milliner and the lovely Ernestina Simple.
Before leaving, Mr. Vandergelder promotes his clerk, Cornelius, to the position of Head Clerk, which has the same perks as clerk. After Mr. Vandergelder leaves with Dolly, Cornelius and Barnaby, the other clerk, decide to have a 'day on the town' and just do whatever they please. But you have to have a good reason for closing the store. How do you do that? exploding cans of tomato sauce works.
The boys take off for New York City, spending their last dimes on the fare to get there. While sitting and talking about what to do next, Cornelius decides that they shouldn't leave until they've 'had a good meal, been in danger, almost been arrested and kissed a girl.' So what do they do? Go into a millinery shop in search of a girl or two.
Much more happens here, of course, including several near run-ins with Mr. Vandergelder.
I'm not sure where to end this short teaser, because I'd much rather tell you all about it than let you find out what happens, so I'll finish up right here.
I loved this movie. It's a romantic comedy, yet perfectly clean, and not really mushy like many other romances. I highly recommend watching it sometime, even if you're not a big fan of romances. It would be a good addition to your old movie library.
TCM: The Matchmaker is not on the play list, and not for sale.
Netflix: Available HERE.
Ebay: for sale in Laserdisc form HERE for the next eleven hours at $40.00, on DVD right HERE for $40.00 for the next day and a half. The next one is on VHS for $16.99 through December 17th. Lastly, there is another DVD for sale for only $25.00 until November 26th.
Amazon: 9 used from $2.79 to $19.95 and 6 collectible copies ranging in price from $14.95 to $59.99.
Enjoy!
~Kiwifruit
1958
Starring:
Shirley Booth as Dolly 'Gallagher' Levi
Anthony Perkins as Cornelius Hackl
Shirley MacLaine as Irene Molloy
Paul Ford as Horace Vandergelder
Lesser Roles:
Robert Morse as Barnaby Tucker
Perry Wilson as Minnie Fay
Length: 100 minutes
This movie takes place in Yonkers, NY and New York City, NY in 1884. Dolly Levi, an older widow, has decided to play matchmaker for an older man --Horace Vandergelder. Who just so happens to be rich. She finagles a way to get him into New York to meet two girls: Irene Molloy, a milliner and the lovely Ernestina Simple.
Before leaving, Mr. Vandergelder promotes his clerk, Cornelius, to the position of Head Clerk, which has the same perks as clerk. After Mr. Vandergelder leaves with Dolly, Cornelius and Barnaby, the other clerk, decide to have a 'day on the town' and just do whatever they please. But you have to have a good reason for closing the store. How do you do that? exploding cans of tomato sauce works.
The boys take off for New York City, spending their last dimes on the fare to get there. While sitting and talking about what to do next, Cornelius decides that they shouldn't leave until they've 'had a good meal, been in danger, almost been arrested and kissed a girl.' So what do they do? Go into a millinery shop in search of a girl or two.
Much more happens here, of course, including several near run-ins with Mr. Vandergelder.
I'm not sure where to end this short teaser, because I'd much rather tell you all about it than let you find out what happens, so I'll finish up right here.
I loved this movie. It's a romantic comedy, yet perfectly clean, and not really mushy like many other romances. I highly recommend watching it sometime, even if you're not a big fan of romances. It would be a good addition to your old movie library.
TCM: The Matchmaker is not on the play list, and not for sale.
Netflix: Available HERE.
Ebay: for sale in Laserdisc form HERE for the next eleven hours at $40.00, on DVD right HERE for $40.00 for the next day and a half. The next one is on VHS for $16.99 through December 17th. Lastly, there is another DVD for sale for only $25.00 until November 26th.
Amazon: 9 used from $2.79 to $19.95 and 6 collectible copies ranging in price from $14.95 to $59.99.
Enjoy!
~Kiwifruit
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Boy of the Streets
Boy of the Streets
1938
Starring:
Jackie Cooper as Chuck Brennan
Maureen O'Connor as Norah
Kathleen Burke as Julie Stone
Bill Elliot as Dr. Allan
Lesser Roles:
Marjorie Main (Mrs. Mary Brennan)
Guy Usher (Fog Horn Brennan, aka 'Foggy')
Robert Emmett O'Connor (Police Officer Rourke)
Boy of the Streets takes place in the slums in New York (?) around 1938, when it was made.
Norah's mother is ill, and is sent away by the very nice Dr. Allan to recover in the country. Teenage Nora is afraid the child services will find her living alone and send her away from the place she has lived her whole life. Chuck (methinks he likes her ;-) tries to help her find a job, singing at a local cafe. She secures the job, but after the first song, the child protection services discover that she lied about her age and decide to send in an Investigator in the morning to talk to her parents and possibly take her away. But alas, Norah's father died years ago, and her mother's in the country!
In the mean time, Chuck finds that his father is not employed, like he said he was, and so falls in with bad company.
And now I'll leave it as a cliff hanger, as I always do. =D
I enjoyed this movie, except I thought the ending was rather...interesting. You had rising action, a great climax, and then I thought it fell rather flat at the end. But don't take my word for it. Go out and watch it! I think y'all'll like it.
This movie is available on tcm.com for $9.99 (link) or Ebay (link) for between $6.38 and $7.14. Netflix also has this movie.
1938
Starring:
Jackie Cooper as Chuck Brennan
Maureen O'Connor as Norah
Kathleen Burke as Julie Stone
Bill Elliot as Dr. Allan
Lesser Roles:
Marjorie Main (Mrs. Mary Brennan)
Guy Usher (Fog Horn Brennan, aka 'Foggy')
Robert Emmett O'Connor (Police Officer Rourke)
Boy of the Streets takes place in the slums in New York (?) around 1938, when it was made.
Norah's mother is ill, and is sent away by the very nice Dr. Allan to recover in the country. Teenage Nora is afraid the child services will find her living alone and send her away from the place she has lived her whole life. Chuck (methinks he likes her ;-) tries to help her find a job, singing at a local cafe. She secures the job, but after the first song, the child protection services discover that she lied about her age and decide to send in an Investigator in the morning to talk to her parents and possibly take her away. But alas, Norah's father died years ago, and her mother's in the country!
In the mean time, Chuck finds that his father is not employed, like he said he was, and so falls in with bad company.
And now I'll leave it as a cliff hanger, as I always do. =D
I enjoyed this movie, except I thought the ending was rather...interesting. You had rising action, a great climax, and then I thought it fell rather flat at the end. But don't take my word for it. Go out and watch it! I think y'all'll like it.
This movie is available on tcm.com for $9.99 (link) or Ebay (link) for between $6.38 and $7.14. Netflix also has this movie.
Happy movie watching, peoples!
~Kiwifruit
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