February 25 - March 3:

Star of Midnight (1935)
William Powell, Ginger Rogers
Although William Powell is supposedly an attorney in this mid-30s offering, he ends up detecting, which was par for the course for many of his films of this era. No Myrna Loy in this one, but we love Ginger Rogers, too, so that's okay. It's amazing how many films they cranked out in this era and it's even more amazing that many of them are so good.

February 18 - February 24:

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001)
Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson
I'd heard a lot about this movie, both good and bad, before I saw it, so I was prepared for anything. It's a spoof of '50s B sci-fi films and it's absolutely hysterical. They didn't quite capture the clothes and makeup, but it doesn't matter, because they completely captured both the spirit and the dialogue, from the square-jawed scientist and his wife who just happens to be along for the ride to the aliens who, amazingly, look just like humans. It even features a cranky talking skeleton and a googly-eyed monster. Rent this one. You won't regret it.

Glen or Glenda? (1953)
Bela Lugosi, Lyle Talbot
Ed Wood's cinematic plea for tolerance and understanding of the transvestite lifestyle. He himself knew a thing or two about cross dressing, but it's impossible to take this lesson in psychology seriously with Bela Lugosi acting all creepy and weird as a godlike character screaming about green dragons and "pull(ing) the strings." The montage of stag films, which have nothing to do with transvestitism, is certainly interesting, but kind of adds to the confusion. I don't mean to sound like I don't recommend this film. It's (unintentionally) hilarious and you'd be hard pressed to find acting this bad on any elementary school stage.

Walk the Line (2005)
Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
I love Johnny Cash, so I'm surprised it took me so long to see this biopic. It's well done and I really enjoyed it. Poor Johnny Cash, though. Even though he wasn't present when it happened, his father blamed him for his brother's death when he was twelve and (according to this film) proceeded to give him grief his entire life. I'm now interested to learn more about the Carter Family.

February 11 - February 17:

Anything But Love (2002)
Isabel Rose, Andrew McCarthy
I expected to like this movie, but if I'd known how much I would really love it I would have bought it ages ago. It's a tale about a cabaret singer in NYC who is into all things vintage and retro and "wants her life to be a technicolor musical." She has to choose between marrying the rich attorney everyone wants her to marry, but who wants her to give up her singing, and the poor pianist who loves her the way she is. It's full of goofy supporting characters and her reality check is finally delivered by none other than Eartha Kitt. I need to buy this DVD ASAP. It's destined to become one I watch all the time.

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
Paul Lynde, Margaret Hamilton and a zany cast of thousands
Paul remembered seeing this gem on TV in 1976 and, sure enough, it's among the Museum of Television & Radio's holdings. I watched it this week and there are no words for the experience. Margaret Hamilton plays Lynde's housekeeper, who turns out to be a witch (in full Wicked Witch of the West regalia). Her sister is Billie ("Witchiepoo") Hayes and Witchiepoo's butler is Billy Barty, whose main function in the special seems to be to kick Lynde in the shins. The "chamber music" in her mansion is KISS, who kick out three numbers. Their terrible lip synching only adds to the amazement. But the fun doesn't end there. No way. We're also treated to Florence Henderson belting out a disturbingly soprano disco version of "That Old Black Magic," Roz "Pinky Tuscadero" Kelly (that's how she's credited) as a slutty truck stop waitress, Donny and Marie stuffing Lynde into a trash can and, in perhaps the most bizarre aspect of a really bizarre hour of television, Lynde sings a Halloween-ized version of his "Kids," from Bye Bye Birdie, which features the lyric "they burn your lawns," while one of the background dancers dances by in a white hood and horns. Bruce Vilanch and Alan Thicke are both credited with writing this masterpiece of television.

February 4 - February 10:

The Naked Kiss (1964)
Constance Towers, Anthony Eisley
I loved this movie! Constance Towers plays a hooker named Kelly, who honestly gives up her career and goes straight, but the detective who's secretly in love with her doesn't believe it and conspires to break up her engagement to his wealthy friend. He doesn't succeed, but she ends up killing the fiance anyway when she finds him molesting a child. Can a former prostitute beat a murder rap if she has a really good reason? I won't spoil the end, but rest assured that Kelly is tough enough to take care of herself.

3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964)
Mamie Van Doren, Tommy Noonan
I didn't expect much from this one, but it was hilarious! Mamie Van Doren is a stripper who lives with an angry, woman-hating actor and an alcoholic car salesman and they hire an unemployed actor to visit an expensive psychiatrist on their behalf, spending twenty minutes of each $300 an hour visit on each one's problems. The psychiatrist doesn't believe he's seeing help "for a friend" and becomes convinced he's one of history's most compelling cases of schizophrenia. Zany mayhem ensues.

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

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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

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