April 29 - May 5:
This was a big classic TV week, since we were really busy and didn't find time to watch an actual film. We're deeply enjoying the brand new DVD boxed sets of Laverne & Shirley, Season 2 and The Odd Couple, Season 1 and recommend both highly. I also saw an episode of The Brady Bunch Hour, the deliciously frightening variety show they did in the '70s after they'd been off the air for a while, at the Museum of Television and Radio. This one guest starred Milton Berle and Tina Turner. WHY aren't all of these on the boxed set?
April 22 - April 28:
The Sinister Urge (1961)
Dino Fantini, Jean Fontaine
This super-bad (in a good way) Ed Wood film was made even more hilarious by the fact that we watched the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version, complete with a '50s classroom film before the main feature about grooming. I really miss MST3K, although Paul and I pretty much duplicate the robots whenever we watch a film, making smartass comments the entire way through. Hey, we only do it at home and many of these films are improved by our input! This one is Ed Wood's exploration of the early-'60s porn industry, with a serial killer thrown in for good measure.
April 15 - April 21:
Disco Godfather (1980)
Rudy Ray Moore, Carol Speed
Blaxploitation meets disco! Moore is an ex-cop-turned-disco DJ whose nephew smokes angel dust and goes berserk, so he embarks on a campaign to "Attack the Wack" and save the city. I have to confess I LOVED this movie. I re-played his entrance at the beginning of the film, boogie-ing in an incredibly tight powder blue polyester and rhinestone jumpsuit, his eyes glassy from disco mania, SEVERAL times!
Back to School (1986)
Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Ned Beatty
Strange as it will sound to anyone my age, I'd never seen this film until the other night, although I'd heard a lot about it. Dangerfield travels to his son's college for a visit, then decides to enroll. He gets A plusses in partying, but actual learning evades him until he's forced to pass or face expulsion. This is Rodney Dangerfield, so naturally it all works out. I never really "got" Rodney Dangerfield until a few years ago, but I'm glad I caught on. He really was hilarious.
Undercover Brother (2002)
Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, Aunjanue Ellis
Kristy and Geoff showed us this one during our visit to the Koala Kabana this past weekend (thanks, guys!). The Man and his organization feed drugs to a black presidential candidate to make him both drop his campaign and lose all political ambition (he instead opens a chain of chicken restaurants, where the drugs are passed on to other blacks). Undercover Brother and the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. come to the rescue and save him from life as a bland whitey. Really well done and has a great soundtrack of familiar funk tunes.
April 8 - April 14:
How to Save a Marriage (and Ruin Your Life) (1968)
Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Eli Wallach
Dean is scandalized to discover his married friend has a mistress and sets out to break it up and send him back to his wife. Naturally he botches it and causes himself a boatload of trouble in the process. Great '60s in NYC ambiance and, hey, it's Dean Martin and Stella Stevens!
Who Was That Lady? (1960)
Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh
The second of the "Dean Martin trying to save a friend's marriage" double feature. In this one he's a TV writer who gets the bright idea for his friend to tell his wife he's an undercover FBI operative when she catches him kissing another woman. Of course the FBI finds out and wants to know why this guy is impersonating an agent. They manage to almost destroy the Empire State Building before their bizarre adventure ends.
The Doll Squad (1973)
Francine York, Tura Satana, Anthony Eisley
This has been called an inspiration for TV's Charlie's Angels and I can really see the connection. It's like the R-rated version, with more butt kicking dolls for your money than the TV show. Lots of fun.
April 1 - April 7:
Francis (1950)
Donald O'Connor, Zasu Pitts, Chill Wills
The talking mule film that spawned six sequels! America was clearly ready for the cranky mule and I can see why. The character of Francis is more appealing than many human film characters and this dumb film looks like an important cinematic work next to some of the crap Hollywood is cranking out these days!
Salt & Pepper (1968)
Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford
Two nightclub owners get mixed up in a plot to overthrow the British government in swinging London. It has the feel of a Blake Edwards comedy and even has Graham Stark, of many Pink Panther films, although it was directed by Richard Donner. Although the entire film is great fun, Sammy is especially hilarious.
Click here to see what we watched in March 2007
Click here to see what we watched in February and early March 2007
Click here to see what we watched in January and early February 2007
Click here to see what we watched in December 2006 and early January
Click here to see what we watched in November 2006
Click here to see what we watched in October and early November 2006
Click here to see what we watched in September 2006
Click here to see what we watched in July and August 2006
Click here to see what we watched in June 2006
Click here to see what we watched in May 2006
Click here to see what we watched in April and early May 2006
Click here to see what we watched in March and early April 2006
Click here to see what we watched in February and early March 2006
Click here to see what we watched in January and early February 2006
