Thursday, July 9, 2026

Geprge Arliss Day -- July 9, 2026

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Since I got out of the hospital, I have been watching a lot of movies on TCM. Wednesday was George Arliss day. I don't think I had seen any of these movies before. My wife was impressed with his comic touch. 

1:45pm PDT

A Successful Calamity (1932)

1 hr 15 mins|Comedy|TV-G


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A Successful Calamity was a fun movie, although I thought many people reacted too nicely to the news that Arliss had gone broke. Also, Mary Astor seemed rather young to be married to him. John G Adolfi directed.

3:00pm PDT

Central Park (1932)

1 hr|Comedy|TV-G


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I am always happy to see Joan Blondell, but I did not see a trace of George Arliss. Like most Warner Brothers/First National B movies, Central Park moved rapidly. The plot was screwy, but I enjoyed it. Guy Kibbee was a cop losing his vision. Wallace Ford was a homeless, jobless guy who was trying to get an even break. Henry B Walthall had a small but important part. The tiger cubs were cute. John G Adolfi directed this one too.

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4:00pm PDT

The King's Vacation (1933)

1 hr 30 mins|Drama|TV-G

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I did not get much out of The King's Vacation. It was a slow one. I did like the part where the exiled king refused to have anything to do with a coup to bring him back, because he agreed with the rebels. Another one directed by John G Adolfi. Maybe it was really John G Adolfi Day.

5:15pm PDT

The Working Man (1933)

1 hr 30 mins|Comedy|TV-G

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I enjoyed The Working Man. Bette Davis played a supporting role. I don't like the way Arliss is leering at her on the poster. The plot was preposterous, but it held my interest.  Guess who directed.

Perhaps Central Park was nestled among the George Arliss movies because it was directed by John G Adolfi.

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Happy Independence Day 250 -- July 4, 2026

Motion Picture Magazine, August, 1928

Happy Fourth of July to all.

Actress Myrna Loy, one of my favorites, ignores the sign prohibiting fireworks.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

The Barber of Seville -- June 25, 2026

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On Saturday we went to a matinee performance of Rossini's The Barber of Seville. I liked the stage design, which was minimal, the performances and the sports car at the end. We both had trouble sitting through the whole thing. The couple in front of us left at the intermission. 

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

All the King's Men (2006) -- June 2, 2026

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Today is election day.

"If you don't vote, you don't matter." -- Governor Willie Stark (Sean Penn)

Monday, June 1, 2026

Marilyn Monroe 100 -- June 1, 2026

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Actress Marilyn Monroe would have 100 years old today. She had a tough life, but she gave many wonderful performances. I have always known who she was, but I didn't see many of her movies until I was in college. 

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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

In The Story Millions Wanted Her to Make -- April 1, 2026

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A MAE MORE GLORIOUS THAN YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN
IN THE STORY MILLIONS WANTED HER TO MAKE

Produced in Paramount's big-picture
tradition ... in every way worthy of
your No. 1 star! With all the warmth,
tenderness and beauty of this story
loved the world over .. and the Mae
who revealed a new and deeper appeal
in "Belle of the Nineties" ... touch-
ing the full depths of your heart in the
picture you'll always remember her for!

Mae
WEST
in
HEIDI

with
JEAN HERSHOLT
and
ARTHUR TREACHER - HELEN WESTLEY
PAULINE MOORE - THOMAS BECK
MARY NASH - SIDNEY BLACKMER
MADY CHRISTIANS - SIG RUMANN

Directed by ALLAN DWAN
Associate Producer Raymond Griffith

From the famous story by Johanna Spyri. Screen play
by Walter Ferris and Julien Josephson. Song
"I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Riding Now" by
Shelton Brooks. Dances
staged by Sammy Lee

Adolph Zukor in Charge of Production

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Larry Semon Has One at Last That is Funny -- March 1, 2026

Chicago Tribune, 03-March-1926

Larry Semon's recent comedies had been flops, especially his notorious feature-length adaption of The Wizard of Oz. His feature, based on a Broadway musical, Stop, Look and Listen, seems to have indicated a comeback. Only part of the film survives. 

Brooklyn Chat, 06-March-1926