Category: Humor

Texas Carnival (1949) / Z-View

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Texas Carnival (1949)

Director:  Charles Walters

Screenplay by:  Dorothy Kingsley, George Wells (story)

Starring:  Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn, Paula Raymond,
Tom Tully and Glenn Strange

Tagline:  FOR THE MILLIONS WHO LOVED “THE GREAT CARUSO” AND “SHOW BOAT” ANOTHER BIG MGM MUSICAL!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Cornie Quinell (Skelton) and his partner, Debbie Telford (Williams) run the dunk tank at the Texas carnival.  When Cornie sees a drunk man (Wynn) being taken advantage of by two of the carnies, Cornie comes to his rescue.  It turns out the drunk is Dan Sabinas, a rich cattleman.  Dan tries to give Cornie several thousand dollars for his help.  Cornie refuses the cash.  The Dan tries to give him his car.  Again Cornie refuses and instead gets drunken Dan into a cab to take him home.  As the cab leaves, Dan invites Cornie to visit the hotel he’s staying in.

Cornie and Debbie drive Dan’s car to the hotel where Cornie is mistaken for the rich cattleman.  Because of Dan’s invite they stay in his hotel suite waiting for Dan to arrive. Cornie meets Sunshine Jackson and a mutual attraction develops, meanwhile Debbie and Dan’s foreman, Slim Shelby (Keel) begin to hit it off.  Cornie ends up loosing $17,000 in a high stakes poker game meant for Dan.

When Dan arrives, he’s sobered up and doesn’t remember meeting Cornie! Cornie has a plan though…

Texas Carnival rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Neptune’s Daughter” (1949) / Z-View

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Neptune’s Daughter (1949)

Director:  Edward Buzzell

Screenplay by:  Dorothy Kingsley, Ray Singer (additional dialogue), Dick Chevillat (additional dialogue)

Starring:  Esther Williams, Red Skelton Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat, Mike Mazurki and Mel Blanc

Tagline:  With a Great Cast of Stars! Bathing Beauties! Songs and Spectacle!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

It’s a case of mistaken identity when Betty Barrett (Garrett) falls for Jack Spratt (Skelton) thinking he is super-suave, Jose O’Rourke (Montalban).  When Betty’s sister, Eve (Williams) finds out that the Latin lover has her sister in his sights, she steps in only to find herself falling for the real Jose O’Rourke!

Meanwhile, gangsters plan to kidnap O’Rourke who is in town for a polo match. They figure to make a bundle with the star player out.  Of course there’s that little problem of mistaken identity…

Red Skelton has some funny scenes.  “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” gets a new meaning when Williams & Montalban followed by Garrett and Skelton perform it.  Mike Mazurki is great as the dumb thug and Keenan Wynn makes every movie better.

Neptune’s Daughter rates 3 of 5 stars.

I Dood It (1943) / Z-View

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I Dood It (1943)

Director:  Vincente Minnelli

Screenplay by:  Sig Herzig, Fred Saidy

Starring:  Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, Sam Levene, Lena Horne, Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra and Butterfly McQueen

Tagline HAPPY DAYS AND SWEET MUSIC WITH RED SKELTON AND ELEANOR POWELL

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

By day Joseph Rivington Renolds (Skelton) works at a hotel’s dry cleaning shop.  By night, Renolds “borrows” a tux from the shop and attends a Broadway show.  It’s the same show every night because Renolds is in love with the show’s star, Constance Shaw (Powell).  Through a misunderstanding when Renolds and Shaw meet, she thinks he’s a mining tycoon.  They end up getting married!  Things become strained when the truth comes out and the stakes are raised when Renolds discovers a bomb hidden in the basement of the theater!

Red and Eleanor make a great couple.  Lena Horne performs!  Butterfly McQueen has a small role that I wish had been expanded.  Eleanor Powell performs a memorable dance with lariats that is worth the price of admission.  I Dood It rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Paul Coker Jr.

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Paul Coker Jr. died on July 23, 2022 after a short illness his family has confirmed.  Mr. Coker was 93.

If you don’t know Paul Coker’s name, my guess is you would recognize his art.  Mr. Coker’s art regularly appeared in MAD magazine beginning in 1961 and continuing for decades.  He was known for his recurring cartoon Horrifying Cliches as well as film and television parodies which included Star Trek, Jurassic Park, Twister, and Frasier.  Mr. Coker also illustrated eight MAD paperbacks.

Even if you weren’t a reader of MAD magazine, you probably would remember Mr. Coker’s art from his work as a production designer on Rankin/Bass Specials which included: Frosty the Snowman; Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town; Here Comes Peter Cottontail; ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas; The Year Without a Santa Claus; Frosty’s Winter Wonderland and Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July to name just a few.

I loved Paul Coker’s work in MAD magazine.  I’m also old enough to remember watching Frosty the Snowman when it premiered.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Paul Coker Jr.’s family, friends and fans.

Lovely to Look At  (1952) / Z-View

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Lovely to Look At  (1952)

Director:  Mervyn LeRoy

Screenplay by:  George Wells, Harry Ruby, Andrew Solt (additional dialogue) based on Roberta by Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach

Starring:  Kathryn Grayson, Red Skelton, Howard Keel, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Ann Miller and Zsa Zsa Gabor

Tagline: One of the Grandest Romantic Musicals in Years!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Three buddies, Al Marsh (Skelton), Tony Naylor (Keel) and Jerry Ralby (Champion) are having no luck raising money to back their musical.  Their luck seems to have changed when Al gets a letter from France informing him that his Aunt died and left him 50% ownership in dress salon.  The boys go to France to sell Marsh’s percentage and use it for their musical.  That’s the plan until they meet Stephanie (Grayson) and Clarisse (Champion) the ladies who own the other 50%.

Lovely to Look At didn’t resonate with me.  The production numbers were okay, but not great.  Even Skelton’s bits felt flat.  For these reasons Lovely to Look At rates 2 of 5 stars.

Ship Ahoy  (1942) / Z-View

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Ship Ahoy  (1942)

Director:  Edward Buzzell

Screenplay by:  Harry Clork, Irving Brecher (uncredited),Harry Kurnitz (uncredited) from a story by Matt Brooks, Bradford Ropes, Bert Kalmar

Starring:  Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Virginia O’Brien and Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich

Tagline:  “Red”, Radio’s Bad Boy, Is Good In This One!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Tallulah Winters (Powell) is a dancer who performs with Tommy Dorsey.  As they are about to leave on a ship bound for Puerto Rico, Tallulah is duped by Japanese spies into carrying a prototype magnetic mine with her.  Tallulah thinks she is working for the US government.  On board the ship Tallulah meets Merton K. Kibble (Skelton), a prolific writer of pulp stories.  They are well on their way to falling in love when she overhears Kibble dictating a story and believes he is talking about her.  Confusion ensues as the Japanese try to get the prototype and Kibble tries to get the girl…

If you’ve never seen a Red Skelton movie, this is one I’d recommend to try first.  It’s a lot of fun.  There are love story and spy subplots.  Bert Lahr provides comedy relief — he and Skelton make a great team.  Plus you get Frank Sinatra singing in his movie debut!  (I also learned that Buddy Rich was with Tommy Dorsey and that the word “groovy” was in use in 1942!)  Ship Ahoy is a fun trip and rates 4 of 5 stars.

Killer Joe (2011) Starring Matthew McConaughey / Z-View

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Killer Joe (2011)

Director:  William Friedkin

Screenplay by:  Tracy Letts (based on his play of the same name)

Starring:  Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon and Marc Macaulay

Tagline: A totally twisted deep-fried Texas redneck trailer park murder story.

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Chris Smith (Hirsch) is debt to Digger Soames (Macaulay) to the tune of $6 grand.  If Chris doesn’t raise the cash soon, he’s a dead man.  Then Chris gets the idea to have his mother killed for her life insurance.  Chris talks to his dad, Angel (Church), who quickly comes on board. He has no love for is ex-wife, but plenty of love for the idea of quick cash.  Likewise, Angel’s wife (Gershon) is in.  The tough sell is going to be Dottie (Temple), Chris’ sister.  They’re right, it takes about a minute for Dottie to like the idea.

Chris and Angel know of a hitman called Killer Joe (McConaughey).  Killer Joe agrees to the hit, for $25,000 paid up front.  When Chris and Angel can’t come up with the money, Killer Joe agrees to keep Dottie as a retainer.  As the time for the hit gets closer, Joe’s relationship with Dottie takes a turn.  Chris begins to have doubts about the plan, but it’s too late… too late for a lot of folks.

Killer Joe is a surprisingly dark, violent, funny (at times) tale of murder for hire. It is well written, well cast and well directed.  Thomas Haden Church plays the stupidest man in one of the stupidest families I’ve ever seen.  I like the twist in regard to who started the idea of the hitman murder.  With that said, I’m rating Killer Joe just 2 of 5 stars.  There’s a scene involving Angel’s wife, a fried chicken leg and Killer Joe that goes way over the line.  Killer Joe was released with an NC-17 rating for “graphic disturbing content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality.”  This is a movie that divides audiences.  I can see why people would really like it, and also why people would be turned off to it.  That’s not a bad thing, just be aware that your mileage may vary.

Killer Joe rates 2 of 5 stars.

RIP: David Warner

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David Warner died yesterday from a cancer-related illness.  He was 80.

David Warner was an actor who worked on the stage, television and in feature films.

Some of David Warner’s television appearances include: Holocaust, Hart to Hart, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, Murder She Wrote, Twin Peaks, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Larry Sanders Show, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Babylon 5 and The Alienist.

Features films on Mr. Warner’s resume include: Tom Jones. The Ballad of Cable Hogue, Straw Dogs, The Omen, Cross of Iron, Time After Time, The Island, Time Bandits, Tron, The Man with Two Brains, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, In the Mouth of Madness and Titanic.

When I think of David Warner, I think first of his role in Time After Time.  His played his role as Jack the Ripper perfectly,  Of course, David Warner was an actor that could play any role to perfection whether it was heroic, villainous, serious or comedic.  I always knew that he would make a show or movie better.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to David Warner’s family, friends and fans.

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) / Z-View

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The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)

Director:   Alan Rafkin

Screenplay by:  James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum and Andy Griffith (uncredited)

Starring:  Don Knotts, Joan Staley, Liam Redmond, Dick Sargent,  Skip Homeier, Reta Shaw and Charles Lane

Tagline: G-G-GUARANTEED! YOU’LL BE SCARED UNTIL YOU LAUGH YOURSELF SILLY!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Luther Heggs (Knotts) is a typesetter for the local newspaper.  He dreams of being a reporter.  Luther also dreams of having Alma Parker (Staley) as his girl.  Unfortunately Luther becomes an easy target for jokes when his reports of a murder turn out to be just a drunk knocked unconscious by his wife.  Ollie Weaver (Homeier) a reporter for the newspaper is especially cruel to Luther and to make matters worse, Ollie is dating Alma!

Luther gets a chance at redemption when his boss assigns him a story — Luther will spend the night in a haunted house where a brutal murder occurred years ago.  Despite his fears, Luther spends the night.  Strange things happen that could lead to solving the murder mystery… if anyone will believe Luther!

Don Knotts starring in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a natural.  Knotts was built to play Luther.  Luther’s dream girl, Alma was played by Joan Staley and she was also built — she was a Playboy playmate of the month!  Fans of The Andy Griffith Show will recognize the similarities between The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and an episode of the tv show.  It was Andy Griffith who suggested that the episode would make a great feature film starring Knotts if the idea was expanded for a new character.  Knotts recruited James Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, writers on The Andy Griffith Show to come up with a screenplay.  Knotts also suggested Alan Rafkin (who directed several episodes of the tv show) to helm the feature.  There are also cast members in the movie who appeared on the tv series.

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken rates 4 of 5 stars (and higher if you’re a kid).

“Bathing Beauty” (1944) Starring Esther Williams & Red Skelton / Z-View

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Bathing Beauty (1944)

Director:   George Sidney

Screenplay by:  Dorothy Kingsley &Allen Boretz and Frank Waldman, adaptation: Joseph Schrank,  based on a story by Kenneth Earl & M.M. Musselman and Curtis Kenyon / uncredited George Oppenheimer

Starring:  Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Basil Rathbone, Jean Porter,  Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, Lina Romay, Donald Meek and Margaret Dumont

Tagline: M.G.M’s Mammoth Technicolor Musical Spectacle!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

New York producer, George Adams (Rathbone) is afraid that he’s going to lose his number one song writer, when Steve Elliott (Skelton) marries Caroline Brooks (Williams).  So Adams hires a woman to show up to the wedding claiming she’s married to Steve.  The woman brings three red headed boys as proof!  The ruse works even though Steve and Caroline both said, “I do.”  Caroline runs out saying that she’s getting an annulment.

Caroline returns to the all-girl college where she was a gym teacher.  Using a technicality to enroll in the all-girl college, Steve plans to prove his innocence.

Bathing Beauty was advertised as M.G.M’s Mammoth Technicolor Musical Spectacle and lives up to it’s billing.  The movie is heavy on song & dance broken up by short comedy scenes highlighting Skelton’s clowning ability.  Bathing Beauty is also the film that features one of the most copied water dance numbers. It’s the one with dozens of bathing beauties doing a side dive into the pool as the camera glides past.  Ester Williams is easy on the eyes (so is Jean Porter) and Red Skelton is just plain likeable.   If you’re looking for light hearted fun, you could do a lot worse than Bathing Beauty which rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Day Shift” Starring Jamie Foxx – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and the trailer for Day Shift looks like fun.  Deal me in.

Jamie Foxx stars as a hard working blue collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income, hunting and killing vampires as part of an international Union of vampire hunters. #DayShift #Netflix

RELEASE DATE: August 12th on Netflix

CAST: James Franco, Snoop Dogg, Dave Franco

“The Munsters” TV Show Trivia!

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Sara Snow at CBR.com posted 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Munsters.  Before you click over, here are my top three and comments on each…

The Addams Family Coincidence:  …As a coincidence, The Munsters and The Addams Family premiered on their respective networks on the same day.  While this does appear as if CBS was completing ABC, the networks were unaware they were both producing spooky-themed family sitcoms. (I find it hard to buy that either network wasn’t aware of what the other was producing. – Craig)

Mel Blanc Was The Voice Of The Raven: The man behind the raven was famed voice actor and radio personality Mel Blanc, “The Man of 1,000 Voices.” (Who doesn’t love Mel Blanc? – Craig)

Why The Munsters Was Shot In Black & White:  the main one was cost; it was cheaper to film a show in black and white than in color… execs were concerned kids would find the show too scary if the spooky characters were in color… <Black and White> worked in the show’s favor since it felt like the classic black and white Universal monster movies… (I liked it for exactly the last reason.  It reminded me of the classic horror movies. – Craig)

RIP: Larry Storch

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Larry Storch, actor and comedian, has died.  Mr. Storch was 99.  Below is the Facebook post that appeared on Mr. Storch’s page…

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight. We are shocked and at a loss for words at the moment. Please remember he loved each and every one of you and wouldn’t want you to cry over his passing. He is reunited with his wife Norma and his beloved F Troop cast and so many friends and family,”

Larry Storch attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx where Don Adams was one of his classmates. (They became life-long friends).  Mr. Storch quit high school before graduating and began working as a comedian.  During World War II, Larry Storch served in the Navy where he was a shipmate with Tony Curtis!

After the war, Larry Storch returned to comedy and his versatility led to work on stage, television, feature films, voice-over work and comedy records!  Mr. Storch’s IMDb resume lists 249 credits!

Some of the television programs that featured Larry Storch include: The Phil Silvers Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Car 54 Where Are You?, Underdog, Gilligan’s Island, Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (regular, voiced Phineas J. Whoopee), F Troop (regular, Cp;. Agorn), I Dream of Jeannie, Garrison’s Gorillas, Get Smart, That Girl, Gomer Pyle, The Batman/Superman Hour (regular, voiced The Joker), The Flying Nun, The Name of the Game, Groovie Goolies (regular), The Doris Day Show, All in the Family, The Brady Kids (regular), Love American Style, Mannix, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Columbo, Police Story, The Love Boat, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider and Married with Children.

Feature films include: Stalag 17 (uncredited, played Sgt. Bagradian), The Great Race, The Great Bank Robbery, Airport 75 and SOB.

I probably first saw Larry Storch in one of his many television appearances before his best known role as Corporal Randolph Agarn on F-Troop.  But THAT is the role I think of when Larry Storch’s name is mentioned.  He was so good that he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series.  When Don Adams won for his role on Get Smart, Mr. Storch reportedly told Don Adams, “You kept it on the block.”

Unlike some actors/actresses who attempt to distance themselves from roles that they had years ago, Mr. Storch embraced the part that brought him so many fans.  It speaks to Mr. Storch’s talent that he was so versatile that he could stay busy acting on stage, television, feature films and providing voice-overs for 60 years!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Larry Storch’s family, friends and fans.

“Double Whoopee” (1929) Starring Laurel & Hardy / Z-View

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Double Whoopee (1929)

Director:  Lewis R. Foster

Screenplay by:  H.M. Walker (titles), Leo McCarey (story)

Starring:  Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Jean Harlow

Tagline:  None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers

Stanley (Laurel) and Ollie (Hardy) show up for their temp services jobs at a posh hotel when they are mistaken for visiting dignitaries.  Things go downhill from there once they begin their jobs as a doorman and bellman.  Jean Harlow who was just 17 during filming appears in one of her earliest roles.

“You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928) Starring Laurel & Hardy / Z-View

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You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928)

Director:  Edgar Kennedy

Screenplay by:  H.M. Walker (titles), Hal Roach (story)

Starring:  Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy

Tagline:  None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers

Stanley (Laurel) and Ollie (Hardy) are already behind in their rent when they are fired from a band.  Desperate to raise money they begin playing on the street, hoping for donations.  Things take a turn for the worst when they raise the ire of a local policeman.  Soon enough they’re having problems with uncovered manholes, sewer workers, and each other!

The final scene is Laurel and Hardy at their best.  They are upset and strike out at each other.  Before it is over they’ve caused a riot with everyone getting de-pantsed!