This week's edition of media roundup is brought to you by the letter "W" as in - "Wait a couple of weeks and then there will be some great classic movie releases." (Given Cookie Monster's recent troubles, we thought we'd give him some part time work! That's how we roll at the Shelf- always looking out for fellow cookie monsters.) For now- this week is "W" as in "weak." But - that depends on your thing. For example:
If British whodunnit is your thing then you'll be excited to know that todays releases include:
The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection
Ten Little Indians
Easter and Passover are coming, and when I was growing up that meant not only classic animated specials- but also airings of movies that fall in the sword and sandal genre, like Ben-Hur or the relgious epics genre, like The Ten Commandments. If that is your thing - as well it should be for some great classic cinema- then some lesser known flicks are hitting the streets:
David and Bathsheba
The Story of Ruth
(One of my personal favorites, which is not yet on DVD, is Samson and Delilah starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamar. Don't know why- just was fascinated by it as a kid despite VM's slight penchant for overacting)
If classic TV is your thing then well, by all means, head out and purchase:
I Dream of Jeannie, The Complete First Season
The Flintstones, The Complete Fifth Season
Otherwise it's a very light media roundup folks.
On the Telly: (check local listings for all times)
CBS action block: last week we extolled the virtues of The Unit, along with stalwart favorites: NCIS and The Amazing Race- if you haven't already check it out tonight. The Amazing Race teams are leaving my beloved Brasil and headed for Russia. They always have some funky challenges in Russia. The Mighty Phil K. never disappoints!
TCM this week:
March 14th: The Palm Beach Story (1942): Joel McRae and Claudette Colbert star in this great Romantic comedy from Preston Sturgess.
March 15th: Footlight Parade (1933) starring Jimmy Cagney and Joan Blondell. Cagney shows he's quite the dancer in this film. Blondell was also Greenbrier Picture Show's Monday Glamour Starter this week. Check it out! Also
42nd Street (1933) The quintessential backstage musical.
March 16th: Boy Meets Girl (1938) Another Cagney starrer - this time with pal Pat O'Brien and Ralph Bellamy. It'll be on in the wee hours, so set the TIVO or VCR.
March 17th: The Wreck Of The Mary Deare (1959) Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston star in this excellent drama in which the Ship Captain stands trial for negligence.
March 18th: WOW - now this is a great line up of Westerns, including some of The Shelf's Favorites. Can you handle it?
Winchester '73 (1950),Thunder Bay (1953), Flying Tigers (1942),The Rare Breed (1966) and Rio Grande (1950). Oh yeah- throw in The Quiet Man (1952) for good measure. Good thing its a Saturday.
March 19th: For Sunday Silents some great Charley Chase silent comedy shorts:Fraidy Cat (1924), Bad Boy (1925), What Price Goofy? (1925), Dog Shy (1926), Mums the Word (1926) and Be Your Age (1926). Many aren't aware of Mr. Chase - this is a great chance to get aquianted.
Go Forth and enjoy.
On the Web:
Speaking of Turner Classic Movies: They have started a great classic movie database. Very comphrensive and informative. A must for any classic film fan. Not flimflam man.
Re-Imagineering is a blog by professionals at Pixar/Disney concerned with the current state of the Disney parks. What's wrong you may ask? Well, if you haven't been since you were a kid- plenty. It may sound a little too overboard until you realize just how many things you loved about Disney when you were a kid are different. People have even gone to lengths to archive old photographs and catalog experiences of the parks so as not to loose them. Change isn't bad, and even Uncle Walt was constantly improving and adding to things; but his philosophy was to keep it in tune with the overall themes of the park and to make them better. That's just not happening. Disney fans got a ray of hope when Pixar came back on board and when Disney reaquired the rights and ownership of one of Uncle Walt's first characters: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Maybe some of that leadership will extend over to the parks. In the meantime check out what some of the people in the know have to say.
And Lastly for you Peanuts fans:
The Peanuts Animation and Video Page and
Aaugh.com
Two great comphrensive sources on all things Peanuts. Enough talkie- go lookie.
That's it for today's roundup. See you next time: Same Shelf Time, Same Shelf Channel.
The oldest trick in the world. Silk trap, baited with a woman.
1 comment:
I loved Samson and Delilah. Victor Mature was great! Also The Robe and Demetrius and the Gladiators. These were great films that were always around on TV when I was younger. Too bad they don't show films like that anymore- Perhaps we'll see them on TCM next month.
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