Tony Curtis the blogger

This is my favorite photo of Tony, with some of his most colorful paintings.

Not only was he a talented painter, Tony was also a blogger. In the past year he had some great posts and pics on his trips to Mexico, Atlanta, and Chicago. I just love the posts where he would say, "Been a while since I posted! Sorry!".

Visit The Tony Curtis blog sometime if you haven't seen it; there are links to more photos of his fine art. (http://tonycurtisonline.blogspot.com)

Also, there are some updates on the memorial service.

None Shall Escape (1944)

Marsha Hunt's character testifies

Runtime: 1 hr. 25 min.
Theatrical Release: Spring 1944 (USA)
Starring: Alexander Knox, Marsha Hunt, Henry Travers
Director: André De Toth

Oscar nomination: Best Original Story (Alfred Neumann, Joseph Than)

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Filmed in 1944, this is a remarkable film about the Nazi atrocities made before WWII had even ended. The story focuses on one Nazi in particular, Alexander Knox's character, appropriately named Grimm. We first meet him as he returns home to his Polish village after WW1. Of German ancestry, he remains disillusioned about the German loss of WW1 (as many Germans did at the time) He tries to make a life for himself, but fails. Fails in relationships, in society (he is asked to leave the town after he commits an unspeakable crime). All the while he becomes more and more interested in the new movement lead by a certain Adolph Hitler.

Imprisoned with Hitler after the 1923 revolution, he is one of the first to learn about Mein Kampf, and champions the politics in the book. Several years later, once Hitler rises to power, Grimm becomes a leading Nazi officer.

Though a fictional story, it is not an inaccurate representation of those who were brainwashed into the ideology of Hitler. Many others like him were looking for some kind of leadership and hope to believe in after WW1, and found it in the politics of Hitler. Of course, there were those that didn't agree with Hitler's politics, including members of Grimm's family. Eventually, Grimm is faced with the decision of sending his own family to a camp.

In 1939, Grimm returns to his old Polish village, and discovers that many of his former friends are now dissidents. In the town square, breadlines are filmed for propaganda purposes; once the cameras shut down, the people are mocked, and many left unfed. And among other horrors, Grimm mandates that the women of the village be used as prostitutes for the officers, reflecting what really went on in these villages.

Marsha Hunt, age 92, autographed this
photo for me this year

This was one of the first movies to show a cold-blooded massacre of Jews. The disturbing scene is unlike anything you may have seen from this period.

Henry Travers plays a priest in the village, and he is good friends with the local rabbi. Both of them encourage Grimm to turn from his ways. It's a very impressive performance by Travers, especially the opening scenes where his character testifies in court at Grimm's war crimes trial.

Marsha Hunt is also very good in this film, and effective as Grimm's former fiancee. She is also one of the witnesses called to testify at the trial.

Very good makeup work in this film. Since the story spans 30 years, Knox, Travers and Hunt are all made to look younger and older than they really were.

The film ends with an urge to consider how the Nazis should be judged once the war is over (the film assumes the war will end), a fascinating concept for a picture at this time to propose, considering it was made months ahead of the Allies' landing at Normandy.

Alexander Knox is brutal and sadistic in this part of the Nazi officer, who later insists on defending himself in his trial. In these court scenes, he is defiant, and ridicules those testifying against him. These scenes reminded me of the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui a few years ago (video below). Moussaoui, a psychopathic anti-American terrorist, snickered at testimonials, and uttered the most unbelievable things such as what you see in the illustration.

Over 60 years later, the world still has people with a mindset like Grimm's. The question for our generation could be, how shall we handle them?

The Will Rogers Theater in Chicago

Chicago used to have many neighborhood theaters like the one shown in the photo below, the Will Rogers Theater on the North-west side of the city, near where I grew up. All my favorite memories of going to see movies as a kid were here at this theater. They showed all of the Disney re-releases and new releases in the early 1980s. I remember going to see The Fox and the Hound, The Jungle Book, Pinocchio, and more.

There was only one screen. Weekend showings of a popular film always drew a huge crowd, and I remember waiting in lines that went literally "around the block".  Because of modern multi-plexes, rarely do I ever have that experience anymore of waiting in a long line outside a neighborhood theater, but when I do, I always think back to those days.  

The Will Rogers Theater went out of business in 1987 and was demolished in 1988

A Foreign Affair (1948)

This is a really good movie from the late 1940s. From Billy Wilder.

Laura wrote a nice review of A Foreign Affair on her blog a while back.

Gloria Stuart (1910-2010)

Here's a nice tribute from Leonard Maltin

Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theaters

I'll say Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It came out in the summer of 1984 and it was one of the biggest hits of the year. That summer I went to see Ghostbusters, Top Secret, Muppets Take Manhattan and Gremlins but not that one.

Then came the first day of school in September of 1984.

I was waiting at the school bus stop with some other kids and we were all talking about the movies we saw over break. Aaron asked me if I saw Indiana Jones. I said "No, I didn't see it". Then he says to me, "you're dumb." I never forgot that. So I suppose if I DID go to see it in the theaters, he wouldn't have called me a name. Kids.

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Day 1- Favorite foreign film
Day 2- Most underrated film
Day 3- A film that makes you happy
Day 4- A film that makes you sad
Day 5- Favorite love story in a film
Day 6- Favorite actor/actress
Day 7- The best plot twist/ending
Day 8- The best opening/closing credits
Day 9- The best soundtrack/score to a film
Day 10- Favorite classic film
Day 11- A film that you hate
Day 12- A film that changed your opinion about something
Day 13- A guilty pleasure
Day 14- A film that you used to love but now hate
Day 15- Favorite film sequel
Day 16- Film character you relate to the most
Day 17- Favorite film quote
Day 18- A film that you wish more people had seen
Day 19- The most hilarious film you've seen
Day 20- A film you wish someone would make
Day 21- Favorite film from your favorite actor/actress
Day 22- Favorite documentary
Day 23- Favorite animated film
Day 24- Favorite film based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 25- Favorite film villain
Day 26- A film that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theaters

Day 28- Favorite film from your favorite director
Day 29- Favorite film from your childhood
Day 30- Your favorite film of all time

Runaway Train (1985) starring Jon Voight and Eric Roberts

Voight and Roberts play escaped convicts who board a train which makes its way through the mountains of Alaska.

They enjoy their freedom until the train almost collapses a bridge and then crashes into another train.

Meanwhile, a group of train dispatchers try to track them while the prison warden goes after them via helicopter, adding to suspense.

Rebecca De Mornay plays another passenger on the train.

Danny Trejo has a brief role as a boxer who goes against Roberts in prison.

Read a blog post by Avvaganda.com here

Return to Oz (1985)

This is one of those films that I like but almost everyone hates it, or dislikes it. I always found it really quirky and liked seeing new characters in Oz. I saw it first on a black-and-white TV in the late 80s, and it really captivated me. I still enjoy it. Starring Fairuza Balk, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Nicol Williamson, and Jean Marsh. 

World's Oldest Man

Here are some words of wisdom from the world's oldest man Walter Breuning, 114 years old, an American. This is a You Tube video someone shared with me. He talks about how he feels radio and TV were the greatest inventions of his lifetime.



(5 minutes, 41 seconds)

Eddie Fisher (1928-2010)

Legendary singer Eddie Fisher has passed away at the age of 82. [LA Times story] His huge hits in the 1950s include:

1951: "Any Time" (#2 hit)
1952: "Tell Me Why" (#4 hit)
1952: "Wish You Were Here" (#1 hit)
1953: "I'm Walking Behind You" (#1)
1953: "Oh! My Pa-pa" (#1 hit)
1954: "I Need You Now" (#1 hit)

He acted in only two films, the drama Butterfield 8 (1960) and the musical-comedy Bundle of Joy (1956). Dawn posted a nice tribute today on her blog Noir & Chick Flicks.

Some of you youngsters might not remember his hit songs, so have a listen to a few of them...

Movies based on comic strips that I like

Not counting superhero films, these big screen adaptations of comic strips are among my favorites.

I did go to see "Marmaduke" this summer, but it wasn't all that great.

Mickey Rooney turns 90

Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney celebrates a milestone birthday today - 90 years young. He was born September 23, 1920, and still makes many public appearances and conducts interviews. Not only is he the last surviving male superstar from the Golden Age of Hollywood, but he is also a veteran of WW2, a hero off screen as well. Younger movie-goers today have never heard of him, but in 1939, 1940, and 1941, he was the #1 box-office star at the movies.

For whatever reason, alot of movie fans don't like Mickey Rooney, even classic film bloggers. Maybe it's because he was in Breakfast at Tiffany's and his performance in that. I've always enjoyed him in his films from the 30s and 40s; during that period he could do drama just as well as comedy, but I loved him best in the comedies and musicals. His breakthrough film was Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1935, and showed alot of promise. He had alot of energy in those days. I've seen only a few of the Andy Hardy films; most of them are hard to find. There are some great moments in those films. My favorites of his are Babes in Arms, National Velvet, The Human Comedy, Love Finds Andy Hardy, and of course, Boys Town. He also did a sequel Men of Boys Town which I have not seen yet. The Academy awarded him a Special Oscar in the early 1980s for Lifetime Achievement.

Monty has a very nice birthday salute to Mickey on his blog Singin' & Dancing Back in Time.

I wish I had a bottle of Mickey Melon soda to celebrate. This was a watermelon-flavored carbonated beverage that was sold in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was put out by Canfield's and I wish I had a picture of the label because it featured a picture of a young Mickey as Huck Finn. It said, "This Is Mickey Rooney's Favorite Soft Drink".

Happy Birthday Mickey Rooney!

Day 23- Favorite animated film

The Snowman

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Day 1- Favorite foreign film
Day 2- Most underrated film
Day 3- A film that makes you happy
Day 4- A film that makes you sad
Day 5- Favorite love story in a film
Day 6- Favorite actor/actress
Day 7- The best plot twist/ending
Day 8- The best opening/closing credits
Day 9- The best soundtrack/score to a film
Day 10- Favorite classic film
Day 11- A film that you hate
Day 12- A film that changed your opinion about something
Day 13- A guilty pleasure
Day 14- A film that you used to love but now hate
Day 15- Favorite film sequel
Day 16- Film character you relate to the most
Day 17- Favorite film quote
Day 18- A film that you wish more people had seen
Day 19- The most hilarious film you've seen
Day 20- A film you wish someone would make
Day 21- Favorite film from your favorite actor/actress
Day 22- Favorite documentary
Day 23- Favorite animated film

Day 24- Favorite film based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 25- Favorite film villain
Day 26- A film that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theatres
Day 28- Favorite film from your favorite director
Day 29- Favorite film from your childhood
Day 30- Your favorite film of all time

The Apartment (1960)

Jack Lemmon plays an office worker who offers up his apartment to his boss and other upper management for their extra-marital affairs.

All goes well until he falls for his boss' (Fred MacMurray) ladyfriend, played by Shirley MacLaine.

In a small role is Jack Kruschen as Jack's doctor neighbor who helps MacLaine recover from swallowing too many sleeping pills. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Director Wilder took home three Oscars for this cleverly written movie, as he was also the producer and one of the writers.

For another review of this movie, see Emma's post at the All About My Movies blog.

Jack Lemmon in The Apartment

"Making of" Star Wars tv specials

I love any "Making of" documentary or featurette, especially when they show how they did the special effects. These two I remember watching on TV when I was a kid, the making of Empire Strikes Back and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Top 10 American Movie Stars of 1957

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

The rankings come from Quigley Publishing Co.'s annual list (since 1932) of top money making stars in the USA, which based on a poll of hundreds of theater executives. The list does not rank stars only on how much cash their films made, but on what theater owners say about who attracts audiences on their star power alone.

1. Rock Hudson

2. John Wayne

3. Pat Boone

4. Elvis Presley

5. Frankie Sinatra

6. Gary Cooper

7. William Holden

8. James Stewart

9. Jerry Lewis

10. Yul Brynner

1932| 1933| 1934| 1935| 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948| 1949 | 1950 |

1951 |1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959|1960 |
1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977-present

Day 20- A film you wish someone would make

As as huge fan of the Muppets, I'm patiently waiting for the next Muppet movie to be released. I understand one is in the works.


As as site note, the travelling museum exhibit, Jim Henson's Fantastic World is finally making its way to Chicago this week and will be at the Museum of Science & Industry until January 23, 2011. From the website: This exhibition features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that demonstrate Henson’s talent as a story teller. The exhibit also documents Henson’s process of “visual thinking” through renderings, photographs, documents, puppets and film.

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Day 1- Favorite foreign film
Day 2- Most underrated film
Day 3- A film that makes you happy
Day 4- A film that makes you sad
Day 5- Favorite love story in a film
Day 6- Favorite actor/actress
Day 7- The best plot twist/ending
Day 8- The best opening/closing credits
Day 9- The best soundtrack/score to a film
Day 10- Favorite classic film
Day 11- A film that you hate
Day 12- A film that changed your opinion about something
Day 13- A guilty pleasure
Day 14- A film that you used to love but now hate
Day 15- Favorite film sequel
Day 16- Film character you relate to the most
Day 17- Favorite film quote
Day 18- A film that you wish more people had seen
Day 19- The most hilarious film you've seen
Day 20- A film you wish someone would make

Day 21- Favorite film from your favorite actor/actress
Day 22- Favorite documentary
Day 23- Favorite animated film
Day 24- Favorite film based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 25- Favorite film villain
Day 26- A film that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theatres
Day 28- Favorite film from your favorite director
Day 29- Favorite film from your childhood
Day 30- Your favorite film of all time

Hellzapoppin (1941)

This is a really funny movie. It's a zany, madcap musical-comedy that was unlike other films at the time. The style is similar to Airplane movies of the 1980s. In fact, some of the jokes in this film were used again in that movie 40 years later, such as a scene where a guy says, "I want to take some pictures" and then removes some framed photos from the wall.

In another funny gag, my favorite in the film, two actors are forced to pause in the middle of their scene when a surprise "announcement" summons a delinquent kid from the movie theater audience to get up, leave, and go home. I saw this in a theater screening with a crowd of people including some children, so this scene worked well.

The film is based on an interactive theatrical comedy show of the same name.

So in the movie, characters talk directly to the camera, and they are always acknowledging that they are in a motion picture.

The brainchildren of this show are a team know as Olsen and Johnson, who are best remembered for this play and film version. Also starring Martha Raye, Mischa Auer, and Shemp Howard, who plays the bumbling projectionist of the film, which explains why some scenes are out of focus at times. Very funny - you have to see it to believe it.

I don't think this is officially on DVD yet, but it really should be.

Another blog post about this movie from For It Is A Man's Number here. 

No Way Out (1950) with Sidney Poitier

No Way Out is a really great, underrated film from 1950. It features the film debut of Sidney Poitier, who plays a young doctor who has to treat Richard Widmark's racist character. I think it was ahead of its time in tackling race and racism on screen; few other movies in this same period were touching the subject. There are quite a few uses of the N word, also surprising to hear back in 1950 in movies. 

Sidney playing a doctor in his first film is something truly groundbreaking.  The movie, even though it is a bit dated, is still watchable today, and holds up better than many films of the same era. 

Also starring Linda Darnell. Available on DVD/Netflix.

Day 17- Favorite film quote(s)

Ha ha.

Probably any line from Airplaine!

Do you have any favorites?

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Day 1- Favorite foreign film
Day 2- Most underrated film
Day 3- A film that makes you happy
Day 4- A film that makes you sad
Day 5- Favorite love story in a film
Day 6- Favorite actor/actress
Day 7- The best plot twist/ending
Day 8- The best opening/closing credits
Day 9- The best soundtrack/score to a film
Day 10- Favorite classic film
Day 11- A film that you hate
Day 12- A film that changed your opinion about something
Day 13- A guilty pleasure
Day 14- A film that you used to love but now hate
Day 15- Favorite film sequel
Day 16- Film character you relate to the most
Day 17- Favorite film quote
Day 18- A film that you wish more people had seen
Day 19- The most hilarious film you've seen
Day 20- A film you wish someone would make
Day 21- Favorite film from your favorite actor/actress
Day 22- Favorite documentary
Day 23- Favorite animated film
Day 24- Favorite film based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 25- Favorite film villain
Day 26- A film that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27- A film you wish you had seen in theatres
Day 28- Favorite film from your favorite director
Day 29- Favorite film from your childhood
Day 30- Your favorite film of all time

Celebrity Autograph Show in Chicago: Update

Regarding the upcoming autograph show (September 25 -26) in Chicago:

Unfortunately, Hollywood legends Margaret O'Brien and Oscar/Emmy winner Patty Duke have both had to cancel their appearances. I was really looking forward to meeting them. Oh well. Maybe another time.

According to the latest e-mail I recieved, here's the updated lineup, in alphabetical order:

SUNDAY ONLY:

Carl 'Cubby' O'Brien (“Westward Ho The Wagons!” & “The Mickey Mouse Club”)

SATURDAY and SUNDAY:

Maud Adams (“Octopussy”, “Jane & The Lost City” & “Emerald Point N.A.S.”)
Meredith Baxter (“All The President's Men”, “Family” & “Family Ties”)
Ruth Buzzi (“Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In” & “Sesame Street”)
Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes (“Yellowstone Kelly”, “77 Sunset Strip”)
Robert Dix (“Five Bloody Graves”, “Young Jesse James”, “Rebel Rousers” & “Wild Wheels”)
Britt Ekland (“After The Fox”, “The Bobo”, “The Night They Raided Minsky's” & “The Man With The Golden Gun”)
Taina Elg (“Les Girls”, “Gaby” )
Michael Gross (“Tremors”, “Big Business” & “Family Ties”)
David Hedison (“The Fly”, “Live & Let Die”, “License To Kill” & “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea”)
Joyce Hyser (“Just One Of The Guys”, “Staying Alive” & “Wedding Band”)
Tim Kazurinsky (“Betaville”, “8 Of Diamonds” & “Saturday Night Live”)
Shirley Knight (“Sweet Bird Of Youth”, “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs” & “Endless Love”)
Jennifer 'Lacey Summers' Korbin (“The Red Chair”)
Charlotte Lewis (“The Golden Child”, “Pirates”, “Men Of War” & “Embrace Of The Vampire”)
Larry Manetti (“Exit”, “Scrambled Eggs”, “Hijack”, “The Alternate”, “Time Served” & “Magnum, P.I.”)
Lisa Marie (“Sleepy Hollow”, “Ed Wood”, “Chasing The Dragon”, “Planet Of The Apes” & “Mars Attacks!”)
Cindy Morgan (“Caddyshack”, “Return Of The Shaggy Dog”, “Falcon Crest” & “Tron”)
Roger E. Mosley (“Leadbelly”, “The Greatest” & “Magnum, P.I.”)
David Naughton (“An American Werewolf In London”, “The Boy In Blue” & “My Sister Sam”)
Denise Nickerson (“Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”, “The Electric Company”)
Barbara Parkins (“Valley Of The Dolls”, “Breakfast In Paris” & “Peyton Place”)
Paul Picerni (“To Hell & Back”, “The Young Philadelphians”, “House Of Wax” & “The Untouchables”)
Marc Price (“Trick Or Treat”, “Little Devils: The Birth” & “Family Ties”)
Cathy St. George (“Beverly Hills Brats”, “Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind” & “The Man Who Loved Women”)
Mia St. John (“Extreme Dodgeball” & “Workout With A Knockout”)
Frank Vincent (“Goodfellas”, “Casino” & “The Sopranos”)
Marcia Wallace (“The Bob Newhart Show”, “Teen Witch” & “The Simpsons”)
Lana Wood (“Diamonds Are Forever”, “The Searchers”, “Grayeagle” & “A Place Called Today”)

There's still time to make your arrangements to come to Chicago if you want to meet any of these people!

For more information, visit the website http://www.hollywoodcelebritiesshow.com/

One of my favorite film sequels - Back to the Future III

This essay from Den of the Geek pretty much echoes all of my thoughts about Back to the Future III. It's a really fun movie and I watch it from time to time. 

I went to see the movie Titanic four times in 1998

Looking back, I can't believe I did.

I went to see it because everyone else my age was going to see it. I was in college. It was the hot movie to see, the #1 film for months.

I remember my older cousins didn't go to see it - I probably should have listened to their advice. They said, "why are they making this and exploiting this event?" One of my cousins said, "There's no better version than A Night To Remember (my cousin was so right - I love that movie).

I like the score by James Horner, any of his scores are brilliant. But that's about it. The story? Please. There's a reason the writers were not nominated for an Academy Award.

Over 10 years later, I can't watch it without being critical of it. Almost everything about it bothers me. Let's start with the length. Too long. 3 hours. And no intermission. Did they need to have all those boring sea expedition scenes with Bill Paxton? And what happened to Leo DiCraprio's friend, the one he got on the ship with? You never see him again. I wanted to learn more about him; would have made for a better story.

The movie Unsinkable Molly Brown was even a better "Titanic" movie; in that film, you just see a few quick scenes showing the ship sinking; it's not all drawn out and over-the-top like Cameron stretched it out to be, showing people slamming against the propellers, Poseidon-esque.

Another film that took place on the ship was a version with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Wagner - that movie was even better because you didn't just have one sappy teenage puppy love story but you got to know other, more mature characters. Oh don't get me started with that so-called love story. How phony. Nobody falls in love in just a few hours like that. That's not love. It's lust. That movie is like a bad relationship.

Ahh. There's my rant about Titanic for the year.

North Carolina road trip (photos)

These are some photos from my trip to North Carolina on Labor Day weekend. I stayed in the Ashville-area for a few days and saw some interesting things. (I stopped at the Roy Rogers on the way home)

Rattlesnake summit, Ridgecrest, North Carolina (near Black Mountain, NC)

Brevard, North Carolina, about 40 minutes south of Ashville.

Interestingly, Brevard, NC was named the "3rd Coolest Small Town In America" by Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine (September 2010 issue)

I first stopped off at Rocky's Ice Cream Shoppe.

Rocky's is certainly an authentic 1950s Soda Fountain and Diner, the kind you might see in the movies. The restaurant is connected to a gift shop called "Old Bullwinkel's". Inside Rocky's were photos inside of Elvis, Marilyn, JFK, and Roy and Dale.

There used to be some "Woolworth" stores in Chicago years ago; I remember the sandwich shops that used to be in them. This reminded me of those days.

I thought about getting a chocolate malt, but what I really wanted was a scoop of Superman ice cream. Have you ever had Superman? It's just plain vanilla ice cream, but it has a buttery/nutty flavor and it's colored Blue, Yellow, and Red. This has been my favorite ice cream since I was a kid when I first had some on Mackinac Island, Michigan in 1985.

It's so hard to find; whenever I come across some I have to get a scoop or two.

Then when it melts it turns purple. Ha ha ha.

Next door is a nice little bakery and the bread in the window looks like the kind Aunt Bee might make.

Here I stumbled across a radio studio of WSQL with a DJ spinning gospel bluegrass tunes in the window; don't see that everyday. There was an old fashioned "CBS" microphone in the window, and you could hear the broadcast as you walked by the storefront.

Here is the town's little movie theater, the "Co-Ed Cinema". Nice to see veteran star Robert Duvall's name at the top of the marquee. I hear that's a pretty good movie, too.

Very Mayberry-esque downtown, evident by the "Mayberry's Soup and Sandwiches" eatery....

...and the O.P. Taylor's Toy store!!

Guilty pleasure movies

OK, So I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but some of my favorite "guilty pleasure" movies are the Police Academy series, the Problem Child movies, and Nothing But Trouble.

I know some of you like these films too. LOL

Police Academy series (but I like parts 3-4 the best)



Problem Child 1 and 2



Nothing But Trouble

United 93 (2006) directed by Paul Greengrass

This film is about the passengers in the fourth hijacked plane of September 11, 2001, based on cell phone calls, and other sources.

This film made me think about this entire day differently because the passengers banded together tried to stop the hijackers. When so many movies today are about superheroes or  A-Teams and Expendables it's nice to see some real heroic efforts.

I recently watched another doomed airline movie called The High and the Mighty which was terribly dated and doesn't hold up well at all.

This movie is pretty impressive.

This weekend Cinematic Sara wrote a review of this film.
Defiant Success also blogged about this movie here.

Available on DVD/Netflix.

The Roy Rogers restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio (photos)

While driving through Cincinnati on Labor Day, I came across a place I had always wanted to go. No, not the WKRP studios. A "Roy Rogers" fast food place (check out their website) I guess I'm a sucker for a fast food place named after a cultural icon.




Watch my amateurish travel log here:

(3 minutes long)

I've known about these places for years but have never been to one nor seen one.  They are mostly in the south. I think Ohio is one of the few Midwestern states with one.



I first saw the bare parking lot and dark interior. "Oh, no", I thought, "the place must had gone out of business". But to my relief they were just closed for the day. I could not resist taking a peek inside.



Thought I wasn't expecting Planet Hollywood-type costumes or props, I was happy to see the interior walls of the dining room adorned with some photos of Roy, Dale, and friends. I bet alot of kids sat in there asking their moms and dads, "Who's Roy Rogers?"





Time to get back on the road. I've got another 4 -1/2 hours to go until I'm back home...

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Related Post: Trigger Is Sold, published July 14, 2010