Date: 1991, Length: 89 min
Genre: Drama, Romance
TMDB Rating: 66 %
Watched It On: 02-20-2024; √ Amazon Prime with HS in Niagara.
My Comments: A lovely period movie with excellent character portrayal. A nice vacation to an enchanted locale can do wonders for the soul.
ENJOYMENT RATING: 3.5 stars
Clean Rating: 4
Genre: TV, Comedy
TMDB Rating: 8.4
Clean Rating: 5
Watched It On: iTunes and DVD
Watching the entire series again, beginning April 27, 2023 following a visit to Mt. Airy. Visited Mt. Airy again Jan 2024 and thus we watched a couple of episodes that month in Venice, FL. An ongoing pleasure.
My Comments: The series ran from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968. 249 half-hour episodes across eight seasons. 159 episodes in black & white and 90 in color. The producer of The Danny Thomas Show, Sheldon Leonard, and Danny, asked writer Arthur Stander (who’d contributed several of the “Danny Thomas” scripts) to create a pilot show for Griffith. The pilot was filmed and aired. This then gave birth to Andy’s own show. The show was filmed at Desilu Studios and other nearby locations in California.
The fictitious town of Mayberry was based largely upon Griffith’s home town of Mt. Airy (Surry County), North Carolina, with some inspiration from nearby Pilot Mountain (also in Surry County), plus a good dose of imagination. A wonderful place to visit, Mt. Airy hosts The Andy Griffith Museum and many recreations of the show’s locations and some locations that really exist (such as Snappy Lunch diner). The diner is mentioned in episode 7, which aired November 14, 1960, – “Andy the Matchmaker”). You can read about the California studio set and actual town here.
There’s something very near and dear to our hearts about Mayberry and its gentle, long-suffering, sheriff. Mayberry is where we all want to live. A place of community, normalcy, pleasantness, and bygone simplicity. This is an excellent TV series to enjoy, laugh along with, and relax with.
Note: Gallery photos by Paul Singer. Do not download or use without permission.
Trivia: to come …
I give The Andy Griffith show 4.5 stars for watching pleasure and a perfect Clean5 morality rating.
Genre: Drama, Mystery
TMDB Rating: 73 % / IMBD: 7.4
Clean Rating: 4
Watched It On: DVD
ENJOYMENT RATING: 3.5 stars
√ 03-30-2023 at our place in Niagara (PS, HS). A bit choppy and awkward, but it still prevails as an iconic flick. Grant came out of retirement for this, and Kelly met Prince Rainier while filming it. Great South Of France scenery!
One of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpieces, this epic drama is a touching story about the power of life and love. The finale is sure to draw tears of happiness and heartbreak.
Sent in by email.
1952, 137 min
Genre: Classics, Drama
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
TMDB Rating: 77%
Clean Rating: 4
√ 03-25-2023 watched at our place in Niagara with NS. Outstanding humor and wit. Endearing characters. 4 star.
ENJOYMENT RATING: 4 stars
Genre: Crime, Mystery
TMDB Rating: 71%
My Comments: 03-18-2023 at our place in Niagara with NS. Watched on Netflix. Good premise, production and cast. Very good flick. Enjoyment Rating: 3.5 star.
Clean Rating: 4
Genre: Classics, Drama
TMDB Rating: 72%
My Comments:
√ Watched it 03-18-2023 at our place in Niagara (PS, HS). Excellent interaction between the film’s 3 main characters (Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Ronald Colman). It’s an excellent commentary on the interplay on law, morality, and common sense in society. There’s romance brewing, but you can’t tell right away who’s going to get the girl. A wonderful classic.
ENJOYMENT RATING: 4 stars
Clean Rating: 5
Genre: Classics, Romance
TMDB Rating: 73%
Clean Rating: 5
Watched It On: 03-04-2023 at A&C’s place. Truly a beautiful classic romance. Excellent chemistry between Ronald Colman and Greer Garson. Heart wrenching. Thankfully a happy ending.
ENJOYMENT RATING: 5 stars
Genre: Classic, Musical
IMDB Rating: 7.3
Clean Rating: 5
Watched It On: DVD
Watched at Ash’s house in two parts. First half on Easter Sunday, then finished it 04/23/2022.
My Comments: We try to watch this movie every Easter. This is a classic movie in every sense of the word. Starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford and Ann Miller. Directed by Charles Walters (known for The Unsinkable Molly Brown, 1964; and Ask Any Girl, 1959). Screenplay by Sidney Sheldon. The music is by Irving Berlin (See Britannica and his official site) and includes the songs “Easter Parade”, “Steppin’ Out with My Baby”, and “We’re a Couple of Swells.”
This is a feel good musical that isn’t so crazy full of musical numbers that you want to run for the hills. Most of them fit in quite naturally. There are two songs we usually fast-forward through because they’re a bit monotonous. Overall, the story is loveable. Each of the four main characters are well cast and do an excellent job as actors. In conclusion: the flick has a cute story, excellent cast, and gorgeous costumes! I must also mention Jules Munshin in his funny bit showing how he makes his “salade francois” – caesar salad. Toss toss, mix mix. Pure delight!
Trivia: Gene Kelly was first set to play Don, but he broke his ankle when he kicked his foot in anger after losing a volleyball game. He suggested Fred Astaire as his replacement. Cyd Charisse was to play the role of Nadine, but she had to drop out due to a torn ligament. Ann Miller was her replacement. Judy Garland had never met Astaire, and while she was a major star, she was still very shy about speaking with him until they were formally introduced.
I give Easter Parade 4.5 stars for watching pleasure and a perfect Clean5 morality rating.
Genre: Comedy, Romance
IMDB Rating: 7
Clean Rating: 2.5
Watched It On: DVD
My Comments: The main character, Max (Russell Crowe), is a London-based high flying stock trader who is a selfish opportunist. An interesting story-line is interspersed with pleasant childhood memories which take place at his uncle’s winery in France. He returns to the winery and its lush vineyards after receiving a notice that his uncle and childhood mentor has died and left the property to him. The movie weaves a pleasant and interesting storyline.
The movie has quite a few moral issues, which include an unmarried couple having sex, partial nudity and about 20 obscenities. This movie is not necessarily a show-stopper for adult viewers. not illicit and the salty language and the occasional moral oversteps do fit in with the setting of this movie. But these are the parameters to consider. This is a witty and intelligently written story that has the beautiful backdrop of vineyards and French culture, and was therefore very endearing in that regard.
ENJOYMENT RATING: I give it 4 stars. Clean rating: 2.5 (quite a few moral issues; watch at your discretion).
Dove Review excerpt: While having an interesting storyline and some fun moments, “A Good Year” is filled with objectionable material for the family in four out of six Dove categories (sex, language, drugs, nudity).