Category: Humor

“Fluttering Hearts”(1927) starring Charley Chase and Oliver Hardy / Z-View

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Fluttering Hearts (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Oliver Hardy, Martha Sleeper.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A young woman cannot wait to get to a big department store sale.  Her reckless driving attracts the attention of a motorcycle cop.  The woman arrives at the sale with the cop in hot pursuit.  Charley, attracted to the woman decides to help her.

Later, in an effort to get in good with the lady’s dad, Charley goes up against Big Bill, a mobster who is blackmailing her father.

Let the antics begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Fluttering Hearts was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Oliver Hardy (of Laurel & Hardy fame) plays Big Bill.

Fluttering Hearts (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Guys and Dolls” starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine / Z-View

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Guys and Dolls  (1955)

Director:  Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz; based on Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows, Jo Swerling, Frank Loesser, Damon Runyon

Stars:  Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Johnny Silver, Robert Keith, B.S. Pullym, Regis Toomey and Sheldon Leonard.

Tagline: SAMUEL GOLDWYN presents America’s Own Musical!

The Plot…

Nathan Detroit is feeling the pressure.

Detroit is supposed to put together a huge crap game.  Word went out.  The town is gonna be full of high rollers and Nathan needs to deliver.  Complicating matters are three things.  One: New York City’s finest, Lieutenant Brannigan, is watching Nathan like a hawk.  First sign of an illegal game and he plans to bust Nathan and all involved.  Two: Nathan still needs a location.  Three: Nathan’s fiancée, Miss Adelaide, is pressuring him to marry her — their 14 year engagement is just too long.

Nathan finds the perfect location.  Problem is the location’s owner wants $1,000.00 for the property’s use.  Nathan doesn’t have the needed dough.

Then he gets an idea.  Sky Masterson is in town to gamble.  Sky will be on anything.  If Nathan can get Sky to bet $1,000 on a bet Sky’s sure to lose, Nathan will have the needed cash.

But what is a sure fire bet?

Nathan comes up with the perfect wager.  Sky is a known lady’s man and proud of his reputation.  Nathan gets Sky to say he could get any woman to go out on a date with him.  Nathan then wagers that if he can pick the woman, Sky would fail to get her to go with him to dinner in Havanna.  Sky agrees to the wager.

Nathan picks Sarah Brown.  Sarah happens to be very straight laced and a sister in the Save a Soul Mission.  Sarah runs the local chapter.

Sky wants to con Sarah.  Sarah wants to “save” Sky.   Nathan wants towin the bet so the big craps game is a go.  Miss Adelaide wants to get married.  Lieutenant Brannigan wants to arrest the whole lot of ’em.

There’s no way everyone is going to get what they want.  Wanna bet?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Guys and Dolls was nominated for four 1956 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture – Jay Blackton, Cyril J. Mockridge
  • Nominee for Best Costume Design, Color – Irene Sharaff
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color –  Oliver Smith, Joseph C. Wright, Howard Bristol
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography, Color – Harry Stradling Sr.

Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando had a strained relationship during filming.  Sinatra referred to Brando as “Mumbles”.  Sinatra coveted the role of Sky Masterson and was upset that Brando, got it — especially since Brando wasn’t a singer.

Brando’s singing in the film was put together from multiple takes.  Brando approached Sinatra early on in filming to ask for help with his singing scenes.  Sinatra refused.

Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz made the decision to not shot on location and instead make the sets have the feel of a stage play.  This is a big part of the film’s charm and makes it feel special.

I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I love Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls  (1955) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Us” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Us (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  Leo McCarey, H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Margaret Quimby, Jim Mason, William Orlamond.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley dreams of flying.  Every day Charley goes to the airfield where for a small price a pilot will give you a plane ride.  Every day Charley gets in line with his money ready.  And every day, Charley chickens out.

Today is no different.  Well… except for one small change.

Charley went to the airfield.  He got in line with his money.  He chickened out.  Instead of leaving he went over to stand by one of the airplanes.  When a cute woman came by, Charley acted as if he was a pilot and the plane was his.

What Charley didn’t know is the woman is a pilot and the plane is hers.  She thought Charley was cute by trying to impress her as a pilot when it was so clear, he wasn’t.

But she played along.  She asked Charley to take her up for a ride.  At that point Charley couldn’t refuse.

Better buckle up.  It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Us was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Us is a play on the title of Charles Lindberg’s account of his solo flight across the Atlantic, titled We.

Us (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“La Cage aux Folles” (1978) / Z-View

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La Cage aux Folles (1978)

Director:  Édouard Molinaro

Screenplay: Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret; adapted from the play La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret

Stars:  Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Serrault, Claire Maurier, Rémi Laurent, Benny Luke,  Carmen Scarpitta, Luisa Maneri and Michel Galabru.

Tagline: The comedy that comes out of the closet!

The Plot…

Renato Baldi and Albin Mougeotte are a gay couple. They’ve been together for twenty years and share ownership of La Cage aux Folles, an extremely popular gay night club.  Renato manages the club.  Albin is the star attraction where he performs in drag as Zaza Napoli.

Renato and Albin’s life is turned upside down when Laurent, Renato’s son (from a brief hetersexual fling), comes home to announce his engagement. Laurent wants to marry Andrea. Andrea’s father is a leader in the Union for Moral Order, a super conservative political party.

Because Andrea was afraid that her parents wouldn’t approve of her marriage to Laurent if they knew he was raised by gay parents, she lied.  She told her parents that Laurent’s father was a political attache and his mother was a housewife.

Andrea’s parents are coming to dinner to meet Laurent’s parents — a nice middle-aged heterosexual couple.  Renalto and Albin are going to do their best to not disappoint.  Andrea’s parents will have dinner with – Renalto and Zaza.

Raise the curtain, the show is about to start!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

La Cage aux Folles was nominated for three 1979 Academy Awards…

  • Nominated for Best Costume Design – Piero Tosi, Ambra Danon
  • Nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret
  • Nominated for Best Director – Édouard Molinaro

When La Cage aux Folles was released in the United States it became the all-time highest grossing foreign film.

La Cage aux Folles opened on Broadway in August 1983.  It went on to win the 1984 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Book and Score.

La Cage aux Folles was remade as The Birdcage in 1996.  Mike Nichols directed Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Dianne Weist in this Americanized version.

La Cage aux Folles (1978) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Blazing Saddles” Alt Poster by Roger Motzkus!

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Blazing Saddles is undisputedly one of the all-time funniest comedies ever made.  Roger Motzkus created an alt poster worthy of it.

“What do you want me to do, sir?” – Taggart
“I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. Take this down.” – Hedley Lamarr
[Taggart looks for a pen and paper while Hedley talks]
“I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists.” – Hedley Lamarr
[Finds pen and paper] “Could you repeat that, sir?” – Taggart

“The Round Up” (1920) starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Wallace Beery and Buster Keaton / Z-View

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The Round Up (1920)

Director:  George Melford

Screenplay: Tom Forman; adapted from the play by Edmund Day

Stars:  Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Wallace Beery and Buster Keaton.

Tagline: Nobody loves a fat man.

The Plot…

Slim Hoover is the Sheriff of the frontier town Lonesome Pine.  Although adept with a gun, Slim often uses his quick wit to get the drop on the bad hombres.

Dick Lane is almost ready to head back to Lonesome Pine after success prospecting alone in the desert.  Once home Dick plans to marry Echo Allen.  Unfortunately, that is not to be.  Mexican bandits led by the “half-breed” Buck McKee shoot, rob and leave Dick for dead.

When Dick doesn’t return, Jack Payson tells Echo he will ride out and find him.  As Jack is about to go Buck McKee rides up. Buck says he was prospecting with Dick when they were attacked by Mexican bandits.  He says that he and Dick put up a fight, but there were too many.  Dick was shot.  Before he died, Dick asked Buck to escape and bring word to Echo.

What Buck doesn’t know is that although Dick was near death, Mexican Federales saved him.  It will take years for Dick to recover enough to return home.  Meanwhile Jack and Echo fall in love.  After three years pass, Echo agrees to marry Jack.

On the night Echo and Jack are to be wed, Dick returns.  It turns out the bandits didn’t get all of Dick’s gold.  Dick has enough cash to pay Jack the $3,000.00 he owes him.  Jack and Dick meet.  Jack accepts the $3,000.00.  Dick learns that Echo and Jack are about to be wed.  Since no one else has seen him, Dick leaves.

Meanwhile, Buck McKee decides the wedding will provide cover to rob the express agent’s office which is full of cash. The robbery goes sideways when Buck kills the express agent.  Buck takes the money.  He then heads to the wedding so he will have an alibi.

The robbery and murder are discovered.  The wedding guests are shocked.  Buck falls under suspicion. But Buck has seen the large amount of cash Jack has hidden. Buck tells everyone about it. Suddenly Jack becomes the number one suspect.  Jack can’t explain the cash without admitting that Dick is still alive.  That could cost him Echo.

Buck incites the crowd to get justice NOW.  The mob gets worked up for a necktie party.

It will be up to Sheriff Slim to save Jack and see justice is served.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Round Up was Fatty Arbuckle’s first feature film.  Arbuckle had made over 120 comedy shorts prior to this film.

The Round Up was first a successful Broadway play that starred Fatty’s cousin Macklin Arbuckle.  Tom Forman adapted the play and co-starred as Jack.  Because Fatty’s next comedy wasn’t ready, he was tapped to play Sheriff Slim.  The role earned him some of the best reviews of his career.

The Round Up was the first film to be shot in Lonesome Pine, California.  Over 300 more westerns would use the location.

Buster Keaton appears (uncredited) in two scenes as one of the attacking Indians.

The Round Up (1920) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“A Day’s Pleasure” (1919) written, directed & starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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A Day’s Pleasure (1919)

Director:  Charlie Chaplin

Screenplay: Charlie Chaplin

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Jackie Coogan.

Tagline: “A DAY’S PLEASURE”. You’ll say so!

The Plot…

Charlie just wants to take his family out for a day’s pleasure.  And he will if…

  • he can get his jalopy started
  • get his family on a boat, enjoy the sailing through the waves, the crowded dance floor, and the big man who is upset
  • and make it home past roadwork and an angry cop.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Way back in 1919, Charlie Chaplin does the “leaning” move that Michael Jackson would make famous in his Smooth Criminal video.

A Day’s Pleasure (1919) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Mayday” starring Ryan Reynolds & Kenneth Branagh – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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When I saw the poster for Mayday, I had negative feelings.  I’m not a big Ryan Reynolds fan.  I initially thought he and Kenneth Branagh were making snow angels.  Ah, another dumb buddy comedy.

I think I was wrong.

Yeah, Mayday is a comedy… but it is an action comedy.  The trailer makes it look like the right mix of action and comedy.  Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh (who I didn’t recognize) look to have good chemistry.   And Branagh makes for a tough guy! (Who’d have thought that?)  Oh, and in the poster, they’re not making snow angels, they are sliding down a mountain!

Deal me in!

Kenneth Branagh’s steely eyes alone could’ve ended the Cold War.

Mayday on ‪@AppleTV‬.

“An Eastern Westerner” (1920) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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An Eastern Westerner (1920)

Director:  Hal Roach

Screenplay: Frank Terry, H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Noah Young. 

Tagline: A Riot of Rollicking Fun!

The Plot…

Harold is the son of wealthy parents.  Harold parties all night and sleeps during the day.  In an effort to toughen up his son, Harold is sent to his Uncle’s ranch out west.  Harold arrives in the frontier town of Piute Pass.

Almost immediately Harold becomes smitten with a beautiful woman.  The girl, along with her father are seeking work from Tiger Lip Tompkins.  He’s the hardcase that runs the town.  When the girl refuses Tiger Lip’s advances, he kidnaps her father.

Meanwhile Harold is literally dealing with cardsharps, roughnecks and gunslingers.  When Harold learns of the girl’s problem, he decides to win her over, by saving her dad.

Mount up!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Harold Lloyd made this film after an accident that cost him his right thumb and index finger.  For the rest of his career Lloyd wore a flesh-colored prosthetic glove.  Despite the loss of fingers, Lloyd was able to continue his acrobatic stunts.

This film is made in 1920, but it’s obvious that Cowboy movies had already established many of the troupes we expect to see: evil gunslinger who runs the town, damsel in distress, saloon card games and card sharks, barroom brawls, etc.

One of the John Wick 2 posters pays homage to the poster for An Eastern Westerner.

An Eastern Westerner (1920) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Immigrant” (1919) directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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The Immigrant (1917)

Director:  Charlie Chaplin

Screenplay: Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell. 

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Charlie, The Little Tramp, is on a freighter to America.  On the journey Charlie sees a young woman traveling with her mother.  He’s attacted to her.  She seems interested in him.  Perhaps a new life together in America is in their future.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In The Immigrant Chaplin creates a nice mix of humor and romance.  Highlights include the Little Tramp in a card game with roughnecks, Charlie helping the woman and her mother by secretly slipping money into her belongings but being caught with his hand in her stuff and then accused of attempting to steal, plus an extended bit coming up short of cash in a restaurant.

Because The Immigrant wasn’t properly copyrighted, many inferior copies are out there.  Be aware!

The Immigrant (1917) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Massacre Mafia Style” (1974) written, directed and starring Duke Mitchell / Z-View

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Massacre Mafia Style (1974)

Director:  Duke Mitchell

Screenplay: Duke Mitchell

Stars:  Duke Mitchell, Vic Caesar, Lorenzo Dodo, Peter Milo, Louis Zito, Cara Salerno, Jimmy Williams and George ‘Buck’ Flower. 

Tagline: You’re IN… or… you’re IN THE WAY!

The Plot…

Mimi Miceli’s father known as The Padrone, was once a powerful and respected mafia crime boss.  That was before The Padrone was tried, convicted and deported.  Mimi tried to live a good life.  But when Mimi’s wife unexpectantly dies something in him snaps.

Mimi decides to get back into “the life”.  He heads to LA where he reconnects with his old time crime partner Jolly Rizzo.  Together Mimi and Jolly plan a move to take over west coast organized crime.  Step one: kidnap west coast Godfather Chucky Tripoli.

After that it’s top of the world, ma!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Duke Mitchell co-produced, wrote, directed and starred in Massacre Mafia Style.  Before this, Mitchell was best known as the cartoon singing voice of Fred Flinstone or one half of the Mitchell / Petrillo nightclub act.  Mitchell and Petrillo were a knockoff of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  Mitchell sang and Petrillo acted goofy.  Mitchell and Petrillo appeared with Bela Lugosi in the low-budget Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla.

Mitchell went on to have a solo nightclub career.  Mitchell often crossed paths with many celebrities including Frank Sinatra.  Mitchell would use money he saved from singing in an attempt to make low-budget movies.  Most were never completed or released.  Massacre Mafia Style was the exception.

Duke Mitchell died in 1981.  In 2011, a work print of Mitchell’s next film Gone with the Pope, was discovered.  It was restored and released on dvd by Grindhouse Releasing.  Grindhouse Releasing was co-founded by Academy Award winner Bob Murawski and Sage Stallone (Sylvester Stallone’s son).  Grindhouse Releasing also remastered and released Massacre Mafia Style in 2011.

Massacre Mafia Style was released under the following titles: The Executioner, Massacre Mafia Style and Like Father, Like Son.  Mitchell preferred Massacre Mafia Style.

Frank Sinatra reportedly responded to Mitchell’s request to appear in his film by saying, “Duke, I love you, but I get real money to make real films.”

Massacre Mafia Style (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“High and Dizzy” (1920) starring Harold Lloyd & Mildred Davis / Z-View

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High and Dizzy (1920)

Director:  Hal Roach

Screenplay: Frank Terry, H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis. 

Tagline: The Cleverest and Most Rollicking Comedy Ever Produced

The Plot…

Harold is a young doctor with a new practice.  He goes to great lengths to appear busy.  When an older man brings his grown daughter in, Harold is smitten. So is the young lady.   She needsa cure for sleepwalking.   Unfortunately her father isn’t impressed with Harold.  Dad and his daughter leave.

Harold decides to take out his frustration with a few (too many drinks).  After a few close calls with a cop, Harold ends up in a high rise.  Wouldn’t you know it, the sleepwalking beauty lives there.

Rise and shine!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Harold Lloyd and his co-star, Mildred Davis were married three years after the release of High and Dizzy.  They would have three children and remain married until her death on August 18, 1969.  Harold Lloyd died on March 8, 1971.

High and Dizzy (1920) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Take a Chance” (1918) starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels and ‘Snub’ Pollard / Z-View

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Take a Chance (1918)

Director:  Alfred J. Goulding

Screenplay: Alfred J. Goulding

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard, Bud Jamison. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harold sees a girl (Bebe) and is smitten.  Before he can make any headway, Bebe’s boyfriend, Snub, pulls up. She gets in the front seat while Harold sneaks in the back.

Harold secretly influences Bebe and Snub into an argument. They arrive at the park. Harold continues to try to woo Bebe.  When two escaped convicts show up, one knocks Harold out and exchanges clothes with him as well.  Then the police chasing the escaped cons show up, they see Harold in prison clothes.

The chase is on!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Don’t go in to Take a Chance looking for a sensible story… even by early film standards.  Take a Chance feels like two partial films stuck together.  The first, a romantic comedy and the second, a slapstick chase.  It’s not Harold Lloyd’s finest but at this stage in his career, Harold Lloyd wasn’t yet Harold Lloyd the silent film star.

Take a Chance (1918) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Marathon” (1919) starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard and Bud Jamison / Z-View

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The Marathon (1919)

Director:  Alfred J. Goulding

Screenplay: H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard, Bud Jamison. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A rich young woman has her pick of possible suitors.  Her stern father, a retired heavyweight boxer, oversees her choices.  When a slick potential boyfriend butters up to her daddy, he becomes the father’s choice.  Harold, another suitor, is willing to fight for his chance to date the young lady.

Put up your dukes and may the funniest man win!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The mirror gag appears in this film.  Harold and his brother Gaylord (who also plays the Chief of Police) pull off the famous routine.  It’s interesting to note, that Charlie Chaplin was the first to do the mirror comedy skit on film in Floorwalker (1916).  But it was Duck Soup starring The Marx Brothers that made the routine famous.

Bud Jamison, co-star of dozens of Three Stooges shorts, appears uncredited as The Rich Girl’s Father.  Jamison was just six years older than Bebe Daniels, the actress who played his daughter.

The Marathon (1919) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Bumping into Broadway” starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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Bumping Into Broadway (1919)

Director:  Hal Roach

Screenplay:  Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd; titles by H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard.

Tagline: Two thousand feet of girls and giggles with a kick like moonshine.

The Plot…

A “girl” dreams of being an actress.  The “boy” in the room next door dreams of being a playwright.  Neither have found success.  When the boy learns that the girl is going to be evicted for not paying her rent, he gives her the last of his money.  All he has to do now is avoid his tough landlady and her big bouncer until he can raise the cash for his rent.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bumping into Broadway is the final film made/released before the accident that cost Harold Lloyd is right thumb and forefinger.  During a photo shoot a prop bomb exploded causing Lloyd’s injury.  In his future films Lloyd wore a glove or keep his right hand hidden.

Bumping into Broadway is the first two-reel film that featured Lloyd’s “glasses” character.

Bumping Into Broadway (1919) rates 4 of 5 stars.