Wednesday, February 2, 2011
New Address for my blog
To all my faithful followers , I wish to apologize for the lack of recent posts here. My movie blog is now at a new domain. I am now at housesmovies.com . I have imported all the blogs previously posted here to the new site, and I updated them all with pictures and graphics. I hope to post more regularly in 2011, and I value your comments, suggestions and criticisms.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Favorite Movies of 2010
We are a week into 2011, so I'd best write of my favorite 2010 movies before starting on the new releases. I went to the movie theater about 30 times last year, mostly with free passes to preview screenings. I also made it a point of seeing “Alice in Wonderland” and “Avatar” in digital 3D in the theater. There were a lot of new releases in 2010 that I didn't get to see in the cinema; and I will have to wait until they are released on DVD before I can comment on them. There are several which made other peoples top ten lists, including: “Black Swan”, “True Grit”, “The King's Speech”,"Another Year”, “Inside Job” and “Marwencol”. Some of the 300-plus DVDs I watched in 2010, may have screened in 2009 and been on others' Best of 2009 lists, but I view most movies at home on DVD. It would be nice to get out for more big screen experiences.
My favorite for 2010 was “The White Ribbon” by Michael Haneke. This drama takes place in a small village in the north of Germany in the year before the outbreak of World War I in 1914. The movie is exquisitely shot, every frame was perfect. The movie is 2 ½ hours long and shot, appropriately, in black and white. Haneke said that the movie is about the roots of evil. He believes “that the environment of extreme, punitive and sexually repressive protestantism of the period laid the foundations for Fascism and Nazism”. The movie certainly opens a window onto a time that most of us know very little about, and I felt that it helped me understand that era better. The world of the young people in the movie was certainly black-and-white, compared to the fast paced, multi option, high tech present day.
Number 2 and 3 on my list of favorites are “Kisses” and “Fish Tank”. These are both from the UK and feature teens and preteens living in depressing working class or welfare neighbourhoods and trying to find happiness and some hope for the future in their lives. Both movies are very well crafted, with beautiful cinematography, expert direction and impressive and moving performances from their young and previously unknown actors. I reviewed both of these flicks last year in this blog.
“Winter's Bone” is a very good film. It is set in the impoverished Ozarks backcountry, and has Ree, a 17 year old girl trying to hold the family together. Her mother is withdrawn and depressed and her father has disappeared. Stills and bootlegging have been replaced by crystal meth labs. Her father has put their home up as collateral for his bail, and she needs to find him before his drug trial, a week away. No one will help her;they all have their own skeletons in the closet. It is a nasty community of dirt poor folk, who tell her in no uncertain terms to go away and keep out of their lives. Jennifer Lawrence as Ree, puts in a powerful performance. This is a gritty and sometimes depressing story; very well done, but not for everyone.
“Kick-Ass” was about as much fun as you can find in a movie. It had a great pace and was just darned entertaining. Let the kid in you loose to enjoy this one. The same holds true for “Despicable Me”.It was not just the best work of animation I saw last year; but it kept a smile or a grin on my face right through the closing credits. Watch it with your nieces and nephews. “Alice In Wonderland” was also a delight. Johnny Depp was terrific, as always, and the movie was enchanting. You must see it in the cinema in 3D.
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” from director Terry Gilliam was one of my favorite viewings last year. This fantasy was totally enchanting, and had fine acting from Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell; and of course Heath Ledger. Tragically this is the last we will see from Heath. Make sure to watch the special features on the DVD, and hear the glowing tributes to Heath from his fellow cast members. The movie is at times dark and at times funny; but it is all tinged with sadness at the loss of Heath Ledger.
“The Social Network” was definitely one of the best movies of 2010. David Fincher makes very good movies and Jesse Eisenberg gives an Oscar worthy performance. I saw him in several other movies last year, (“Holy Rollers”, “Zombieland”, “Solitary Man” and “The Living Wake”), and he has been so busy because he is very talented. The Social Network was not only very informative about the genesis of one of the biggest phenomenons and success stories in recent history; but was also well paced and entertaining.
Michael Caine did a wonderful job in “Is Anybody There?”, as a grumpy old codger who moves into a small family run old folks home in 1980's seaside England. There he meets a 10 year old who is obsessed with ghosts and the after-life. This movie may be hard to find, but the reward for your search is truly delightful.
“Tony Manero” is a crime drama from Chile. The movie is set in 1978, at the height of Pinochet's reign of terror. The lead character is obsessed with 'Tony Manero', the disco dancing character portrayed by John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”. He watches the movie endlessly in the theater and memorizes the dialogue and practices the dance steps. He dresses as Tony Manero and hopes to win a local TV look-a-like contest. The twist is that he is actually a very sick and violent psychotic. His sickness mirrors the disturbing and unsettling atmosphere in the streets of Santiago. Unexpected and very brutal violence occur from out-of-the-blue. It paints a very grim portrait of a psychopath, and is certainly not for everyone. (I loved it !) Another similarly interesting movie is “The Killer Inside Me”. It stars Casey Affleck as a mild-mannered sheriff's deputy in a 1940's Oklahoma oil town. Beneath his the facade of a gentleman lies a sadistic, violent disturbed man. The bodies pile up ; the violence is brutal; the sex is sometimes nasty and the planned revenge gets messy. This will be a difficult movie for most women to watch. My favorite movie about a psychopath is “Nothing To Lose” from the Netherlands in 2008. The movie has very little on-screen violence; it is quite subtle and is brilliantly filmed and acted.
Britain produced two excellent crime TV mini series which were released on DVD this past year. “The Red Riding” trilogy follows a journalist and the police over a period of years as they try to solve a series of child murders by the Yorkshire Ripper. It deals with corruption in the police ranks and their ties to organized crime. The 3 DVDs are approximately 90 minutes each. “The Take” is also a 3 episode TV mini-series. This series focuses on a crime lord and his family and associates. This is very well done and I recommend it highly; be prepared for violence far beyond that shown on television in North America.
“A Prophet” is also a violent crime drama that is very well done. This one comes from France. It is top notch for the genre. Also from France comes “Mesrine:Killer Instinct” and “Mesrine:Public Enemy Number One”. These two films tell the story of the legendary French gangster Jacques Mesrine. He was responsible for many robberies, kidnappings and murders through the 1960's and 70's until his death at the hands of the police in Paris in 1979. Vincent Cassel does a fine job in the lead role.
My favorite music release this past year was “The T.A.M.I. Show”. This long awaited DVD is of a 1964 TV show of a concert in Santa Monica with a slew of stars including: Chuck Berry, Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, Jerry and the Pacemakers, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye. We'll have fun,fun,fun........
My favorite 'black comedy' was “Terribly Happy” from Denmark. It is not strictly a comedy but more of a 'noir' with much black humour. Hollywood is remaking it. Best you watch the original before they screw it up.
My favorite piece of cinema viewing was a 20 minute short called “Eve”. It was written and directed by Natalie Portman, and starred Lauren Bacall and Ben Gazzara. This romantic comedy pulls no punches. Ben Gazzara is there, post-cancer and post-stroke with his speech clearly affected. Laurens character goes on a date with this 'hot catch', at home at the end of the story she sits at her bedroom mirror and unabashedly removes her makeup. I thought this was one of the most daring, poignant and moving moments that I have experienced in movies. Lauren Bacall in her glory in her senior years, and Ben in the naked spotlight of his declining years. Wow; such courage.
My favorite for 2010 was “The White Ribbon” by Michael Haneke. This drama takes place in a small village in the north of Germany in the year before the outbreak of World War I in 1914. The movie is exquisitely shot, every frame was perfect. The movie is 2 ½ hours long and shot, appropriately, in black and white. Haneke said that the movie is about the roots of evil. He believes “that the environment of extreme, punitive and sexually repressive protestantism of the period laid the foundations for Fascism and Nazism”. The movie certainly opens a window onto a time that most of us know very little about, and I felt that it helped me understand that era better. The world of the young people in the movie was certainly black-and-white, compared to the fast paced, multi option, high tech present day.
Number 2 and 3 on my list of favorites are “Kisses” and “Fish Tank”. These are both from the UK and feature teens and preteens living in depressing working class or welfare neighbourhoods and trying to find happiness and some hope for the future in their lives. Both movies are very well crafted, with beautiful cinematography, expert direction and impressive and moving performances from their young and previously unknown actors. I reviewed both of these flicks last year in this blog.
“Winter's Bone” is a very good film. It is set in the impoverished Ozarks backcountry, and has Ree, a 17 year old girl trying to hold the family together. Her mother is withdrawn and depressed and her father has disappeared. Stills and bootlegging have been replaced by crystal meth labs. Her father has put their home up as collateral for his bail, and she needs to find him before his drug trial, a week away. No one will help her;they all have their own skeletons in the closet. It is a nasty community of dirt poor folk, who tell her in no uncertain terms to go away and keep out of their lives. Jennifer Lawrence as Ree, puts in a powerful performance. This is a gritty and sometimes depressing story; very well done, but not for everyone.
“Kick-Ass” was about as much fun as you can find in a movie. It had a great pace and was just darned entertaining. Let the kid in you loose to enjoy this one. The same holds true for “Despicable Me”.It was not just the best work of animation I saw last year; but it kept a smile or a grin on my face right through the closing credits. Watch it with your nieces and nephews. “Alice In Wonderland” was also a delight. Johnny Depp was terrific, as always, and the movie was enchanting. You must see it in the cinema in 3D.
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” from director Terry Gilliam was one of my favorite viewings last year. This fantasy was totally enchanting, and had fine acting from Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell; and of course Heath Ledger. Tragically this is the last we will see from Heath. Make sure to watch the special features on the DVD, and hear the glowing tributes to Heath from his fellow cast members. The movie is at times dark and at times funny; but it is all tinged with sadness at the loss of Heath Ledger.
“The Social Network” was definitely one of the best movies of 2010. David Fincher makes very good movies and Jesse Eisenberg gives an Oscar worthy performance. I saw him in several other movies last year, (“Holy Rollers”, “Zombieland”, “Solitary Man” and “The Living Wake”), and he has been so busy because he is very talented. The Social Network was not only very informative about the genesis of one of the biggest phenomenons and success stories in recent history; but was also well paced and entertaining.
Michael Caine did a wonderful job in “Is Anybody There?”, as a grumpy old codger who moves into a small family run old folks home in 1980's seaside England. There he meets a 10 year old who is obsessed with ghosts and the after-life. This movie may be hard to find, but the reward for your search is truly delightful.
“Tony Manero” is a crime drama from Chile. The movie is set in 1978, at the height of Pinochet's reign of terror. The lead character is obsessed with 'Tony Manero', the disco dancing character portrayed by John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”. He watches the movie endlessly in the theater and memorizes the dialogue and practices the dance steps. He dresses as Tony Manero and hopes to win a local TV look-a-like contest. The twist is that he is actually a very sick and violent psychotic. His sickness mirrors the disturbing and unsettling atmosphere in the streets of Santiago. Unexpected and very brutal violence occur from out-of-the-blue. It paints a very grim portrait of a psychopath, and is certainly not for everyone. (I loved it !) Another similarly interesting movie is “The Killer Inside Me”. It stars Casey Affleck as a mild-mannered sheriff's deputy in a 1940's Oklahoma oil town. Beneath his the facade of a gentleman lies a sadistic, violent disturbed man. The bodies pile up ; the violence is brutal; the sex is sometimes nasty and the planned revenge gets messy. This will be a difficult movie for most women to watch. My favorite movie about a psychopath is “Nothing To Lose” from the Netherlands in 2008. The movie has very little on-screen violence; it is quite subtle and is brilliantly filmed and acted.
Britain produced two excellent crime TV mini series which were released on DVD this past year. “The Red Riding” trilogy follows a journalist and the police over a period of years as they try to solve a series of child murders by the Yorkshire Ripper. It deals with corruption in the police ranks and their ties to organized crime. The 3 DVDs are approximately 90 minutes each. “The Take” is also a 3 episode TV mini-series. This series focuses on a crime lord and his family and associates. This is very well done and I recommend it highly; be prepared for violence far beyond that shown on television in North America.
“A Prophet” is also a violent crime drama that is very well done. This one comes from France. It is top notch for the genre. Also from France comes “Mesrine:Killer Instinct” and “Mesrine:Public Enemy Number One”. These two films tell the story of the legendary French gangster Jacques Mesrine. He was responsible for many robberies, kidnappings and murders through the 1960's and 70's until his death at the hands of the police in Paris in 1979. Vincent Cassel does a fine job in the lead role.
My favorite music release this past year was “The T.A.M.I. Show”. This long awaited DVD is of a 1964 TV show of a concert in Santa Monica with a slew of stars including: Chuck Berry, Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, Jerry and the Pacemakers, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye. We'll have fun,fun,fun........
My favorite 'black comedy' was “Terribly Happy” from Denmark. It is not strictly a comedy but more of a 'noir' with much black humour. Hollywood is remaking it. Best you watch the original before they screw it up.
My favorite piece of cinema viewing was a 20 minute short called “Eve”. It was written and directed by Natalie Portman, and starred Lauren Bacall and Ben Gazzara. This romantic comedy pulls no punches. Ben Gazzara is there, post-cancer and post-stroke with his speech clearly affected. Laurens character goes on a date with this 'hot catch', at home at the end of the story she sits at her bedroom mirror and unabashedly removes her makeup. I thought this was one of the most daring, poignant and moving moments that I have experienced in movies. Lauren Bacall in her glory in her senior years, and Ben in the naked spotlight of his declining years. Wow; such courage.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
More 2010 Music Favorites
One of my favorite singer/songwriters hadn't been heard from for a while until Elton John called him up and asked him if he'd like to make a record with him. Leon Russell was delighted and together they put together “The Union” which debuted this past fall to much critical acclaim. Elton said that he owed a lot to Leon who was a strong influence on his piano playing when he first started out. Leon was blown away by Elton's invitation, and said that this gesture 'saved his life'. He had been playing little bars and lounges far from the national spotlight and felt reborn during their time together in the studio. Leon's “A Song for You” , from way back in 1970,is one of my favorite love songs. Elton was also very moved when Leon wrote a song for him. It is the final track on the album, “In the Hands of Angels”; Elton said no one had ever written a song for him before.
Robert Plant also brought out a fine CD this year, ”Band of Joy”. Robert is best known as the singer in Led Zeppelin but has also enjoyed a successful solo career . Last year's “Raising Sand” with Alison Krauss was a great record; and this new release is also stellar. Plant worked with a group called 'Band of Joy' back in 1960; and on and off through a few different lineups before his Zeppelin days. This new lineup has toured in America since the CD came out. The album has 12 tracks ,including one written by Richard Thompson , and one by the late Townes Van Zandt. Here is "Angel Dance" from "Band of Joy" in a live performance.
In November this year, Arcade Fire appeared on Saturday Night Live, and played two songs from their latest album “The Suburbs”.They are an indie-rock band from Montreal with nine members who are all multi-instrumentalists. They shift from tune to tune to play on various instruments including: guitar,drums,double bass,piano,violin,viola,cello,french horn,accordion,glockenspiel and others. They have appeared on many top ten lists this year and topped the favorites of Jian Ghomeshi on his show 'Q' on CBC radio 690 AM. 'Q' is a very interesting show on CBC radio, running weekday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30. Jian is a great interviewer with guests from all of the arts and frequent in-studio musical guests performing live every week.His show has turned me on to many books, movies and musical artists. I really enjoyed Arcade Fire's performance on SNL. You can see their performance here of the two songs they did from “The Suburbs”; “We Used To Wait” and “Sprawl II”.
A musician friend of mine chose “High Violet” by “The National” as his favorite CD for 2010. This alt-rock band out of Ohio has been together since 1999. Their dour brooding flavour was nicely showcased in a recent appearance on the David Letterman show in their performance of “Afraid of Everyone”.
KT Tunstall brought out “Tiger Suit” this year, and I saw her sing a track from it on “Later...Live With Jools Holland”; a great musical showcase on BBC in the UK. Jools' show is not easily seen in North America, but can be found on the internet. He has a good variety of artists each week , and introduced me to a lot of musicians that I hadn't heard of. KT is a singer-songwriter from Scotland . She plays guitar and sings folk and pop tunes,sometimes solo and also with a band. She is a real sweetheart with a big smile and a lot of bounce in some of her material. Check her out here on Jools' show this past September.
Jools' show introduced me to two R&B/soul musicians whose music I really enjoyed. Janelle Monae is a bundle of energy. This little gal is very stylish. She wears a starched white shirt with string tie and black tuxedo jacket and saddle shoes. Her hair is a distinctive plumed coif with a 50's feel. She has a powerful voice and dances a storm. She seems to be streaming the late James Brown at times; he was definitely a strong influence. Her 2010 CD “The ArchAndroid” kicks and you will find your feet looking for a dance floor when you listen to it. You must see her perform. Here she is on a recent Letterman appearance with her big backing band.
I first saw Cee Lo Green on 'Later...Live with Jools Holland', and he is also very striking. He is a big man with a big voice and a great feel for showmanship. He was dressed in a baggy bright pink suit and his band was four hot ladies (keyboards,drums and bass and guitar) dressed in black leather pants and satiny pink blouses... and these ladies got rhythm! His new album “The Lady Killer” is best known for the hit single “F#ck You”. This hit tune is gone viral on the internet and will probably be on a lot of answering machines and cell phones in the new year. If you haven't already, check it out in the official music video; and here in the slightly sanitized version in his appearance on Jools' program. Cee Lo was previously best known for his work in the collaboration "Gnarls Barkley" and their number one hit "Crazy".
From the other side of the soul stage comes a wonderful new release from Mavis Staples. Mavis and her siblings were taught to sing by their father and they started singing in the local church when Mavis was only 5 years old. In 1950, when Mavis was 11 years old they formed the family group,“The Staple Singers”, and performed in churches around the country; had their own radio show; and later started making records. Although she has sung some R&B, Mavis career has mostly been singing gospel. Bob Dylan was quite infatuated with her at one time, and asked her to marry him! Her new record “You Are Not Alone” is a beautiful listen. Enjoy this performance of the title track with Jeff Tweedy.
I also enjoyed the latest from Joan Armatrading, “This Charming Life”. I had forgotten Joan since seeing her at The Orpheum in Vancouver back in the 70's. I had enjoyed her somewhat jazzy singing style back then, but lost track of her. I was surprised to find she was not only still making music; but that she was also an excellent blues guitarist. Her record “Into The Blues” in 2007, blew my mind. Her singing and guitar work are both stellar. Here she is on Jool's show this past spring.
Scotland's Susan Boyle followed up her acclaim on 'Britain's Got Talent', and her CD “I Dreamed A Dream” in 2009, with the release this year of “The Gift”. The album is almost all Christmas tunes, and although she has a beautiful voice, it may not be 'your cup of tea'. It might make a nice gift for your mom or grandma though.
Just in time for Christmas came a couple of posthumous releases. “Michael” was released on December 14. The ten tracks are previously unreleased songs from Michael Jackson, including collaborations with Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz. There has been controversy and mixed critical response, but several of the tunes are quite good.
"West Coast Seattle Boy” is a 4 CD set of previously unreleased material from the Jimi Hendrix archives. The first CD is from the early days before he went out and formed 'The Experience'. It has tunes where he played guitar for 'The Isley Brothers', 'Little Richard' and 'King Curtis'. The other 3 CDs are outtakes, demos and live tracks from throughout his career. Some are great and some are so-so. The highlight of the boxed set is a DVD of the critically acclaimed documentary “Jimi Hendrix:Voodoo Child” narrated in Hendrix's own words, read by Bootsy Collins. Die hard fans will have to get this. Preview it here
Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, after 20 years absence got together and put out “Bachman and Turner”. (What a novel album name !) There are a few good foot-stompin' tunes and some forgettable ones. This sounds like it could have been made 35 years ago. BTO fans will probably enjoy it.
Johnny Reid Is a Scot who moved to Canada in 1988 at the age of 13. He has gone on to become an award winning country singer and this year released “A Place Called Love”. It is a good record with some romantic ballads that are a big favorite with a lot of female fans.(And no; although Johnny still has a strong Scottish brogue in his speaking voice, it is not noticeable in his singing voice.)
My favorite discovery on the internet this year was “Live From Daryl's House”. Daryl Hall of 'Hall and Oates' started inviting various musical guests to come and play in his big in-house studio in his neat country home on his beautiful rural acreage in Maine Three years ago he started streaming the show live on the 15th of every month. His house is a beautiful 1700's post and beam construction that he took apart and lovingly restored. Each month he has a guest chef come in to prepare a sit-down meal for them all to enjoy after their time making music together. The shows are all archived at the site to be viewed at your leisure. His guests have included Todd Rundgren, Smokey Robinson, the Door's Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, Nick Lowe and KT Tunstall. My favorite episode was this past May. It was called “Remembering Tommy” T-Bone' Wolk”. Tommy can be seen on Daryl's right, with his big infectious smile, playing some stellar guitar licks in the first 29 episodes before his sudden and tragic passing. He is missed very much by Daryl and the band members and this episode is quite a moving celebration of T-Bone's life. It brings a tear to my eyes.
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| Daryl Hall |
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| Tommy "T-Bone' Wolk |
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| T-Bone |
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| Neon Trees singer |
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| Eli Reed |
This season Daryl introduced me to several groups that I was happy to discover. Sharon Jones is a funk/soul singer who fronts Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Their 2010 album “I Learned the Hard Way” will get you snapping your fingers. Eli 'Paperboy' Reed is a terrific soul singer. When you see him it's hard to believe this young man didn't just step out of the 60's. This guy is the real deal and “Come and Get It" is a fine CD. I am not a fan of electronic music but I really enjoyed the duo Chromeo. They have great vocal harmony and some neat innovations that make their “Business Casual” well worth listening to. Neon Trees came on the show and played a couple of cuts from their new CD “Habits”. Their singer has a terrific voice and the female drummer really kicks the beat out.
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| Neon Trees drummer |
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| Neon Trees |
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| Chromeo at Daryl's House |
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| Tommy'T-Bone'Wolk |
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| Eli'Paperboy'Reed |
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| Sharon Jones |
Adele will follow up her debut CD “Nineteen” with a release early in the new year of her sophomore effort “Twenty One”.I look forward to seeing how she has grown. Elvis Costello released “National Ransom” this past fall, and Rufus Wainwright brought out “All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu” this past spring. They are both good albums , but they are both an acquired taste that won't appeal to everyone. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy Neil Young's latest “Le Noise” produced by Daniel Lanoise. I love Neil's body of work and wanted to like it, but it just didn't find me. I hope you have found something interesting here. It's time for me to get back to writing about movies. 2010 favorites are up next. Happy New Year all.
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
The holiday season can get a little overwhelming and the world of movies can provide a welcome escape. I settled on a little known gem that I had only very recently discovered, even though it was released way back in 1953. Dr.Seuss's “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.” is a weird musical fantasy in glorious technicolor. It was a box office flop when it first hit the theaters, but has been revived with TV screenings since 1986; and DVD issues in 2001 and 2008. I found a copy in my local library, and it was the perfect antidote to frenetic shopping mall madness.The movie features 10 year old Bartholomew Collins (Tommy Rettig) who is getting a lesson at home from his stern and authoritative piano teacher Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried). Bart is not happy either with learning the piano, or with Terwilliker's stern teaching methods. After the lesson his mother, the beautiful widowed Eloise (Mary Healy), tells him to stay at the piano and practice his lesson while she does some shopping. The local plumber August Zabladowski(Peter Lind Hayes) is in the kitchen working on their sink. Bart falls asleep on the keyboard, and the rest of the movie plays out as his nightmare about the mad, tyrannical Dr.T.
In this surrealistic paranoid fantasy, Bart finds himself in Dr.T.'s huge prison-like institute from which there is no escape. There are many big guards and barbed wire surrounds the compound. The main room has an immense two storey piano; big enough for 500 boys to all play together. Although Bart is the first arrival, Dr.T. Intends him to be joined by 499 other ten-year-olds. They will be forced to practice together 24 hours non-stop and learn to play Dr.T.'s masterpiece creation “Ten Happy Fingers”.Bart finds tunnels throughout the institute and begins to explore the compound. He discovers his mother has been put into a sinister hypnotic trance and imprisoned by the evil doctor. He finds August hired to install sinks in the school and asks him to help him free his mother and find a way to escape. They are caught by the guards and locked in the dungeon and it starts to look like none of them will get out of there alive. Zabladowski makes Bart a magic potion that he hopes will foil the doctors grand scheme , but he warns Bart “It might be dangerous. It might even be atomic. If it starts smoking, you get away fast.”
This is not a movie for little children, but some people of all ages will enjoy it. It has a magnificent spacious set with many levels; the incredible curving two level piano; towering columns and ornate portals; and an exotic cast of guards; including Siamese twins Judney and Whitney joined by a long rope like beard; and a crowd of musical prisoners with their oddball instruments and roller skates on their feet. The colours are strong, solid and bright; reds, blues, yellows and purples. The costumes are weird and outrageous; especially on Dr. T.; and the boys wear a cute little blue beanie.
Dr. Seuss wrote much of the screenplay and all of the strange lyrics to the musical numbers.
“Search the alleys, beat the bushes, comb the turrets, shake the trees.”
“Hurray for us, we're rough, we're tough, we're on the ball.
We're gruesome one, we're gruesome all.
Unthinkable, stinkable horrible us.”
There's the “Dream Stuff” song....'grasp that world you've been to....
and also “Lullabyes For Little Criminals”
There are some great lines like Bart's “C'mon there's no time for any mush stuff.” and “Is it atomic? Yes sir, VERY ATOMIC.” There's also the very powerful 'vintage pickle juice' and the poison ivy covered walls! This movie is a rare treat.
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| Zambrowski and Bart |
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| Dr. T. |
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| Dr. Seuss |
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| Jeff with Lassie |
Hans Conried puts in a strong performance as Dr. T. (You may know him as the voice of Captain Hook in Disney's animated “Peter Pan”. Mary Healey and Peter Lind Hayes, who are romantic interests in this movie were actually a real life couple. They were married in 1940 and remained together for 58 years until Peter's death in 1998. The sad part in watching this movie comes when you recognize the young actor playing Bart, Tommy Rettig, who went on a year later to win the role of Jeff in the first “Lassie “ series on TV in 1954. He won the job when they had narrowed the casting down to three finalists. They decided to let Lassie pick the actor to play Jeff. She walked directly to Tommy. He played the part for four years until the new series, when Lassie got a new family. The sadness comes in knowing how Tommy Rettig's life turned out after he graduated from his life as a busy child actor. He never grew beyond 5'4” and had trouble landing adult film roles. He led a troubled life which included drug arrests and convictions for growing pot and importing cocaine; bankruptcy and divorce. He remained an advocate for the legalization of pot until his death in 1996. He won the part of Jeff in Lassie in '54; he grew to 5'4” and he died at the age of 54. He brought us a lot of pleasure in his work as a child actor. It.'s sad that life didn't work out better for him.
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| Musical prisoners |
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| Hayes and Healey |
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| Dr.Seuss |
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| Dr. T. |
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