ronnie roast...

Here is a link to a Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of then Governor Ronald Reagan. It's hilarious and wonderful.
When I watch this, I lament that three things have gone from this world...
1. A good sense of humor... (in which we can laugh without being PC or destructive)
2. True entertainment stars like Dean Martin and Jack Benny...
3. And genuine communicators and leaders like Ronald Reagan.

They are all missed.
This was done in 1973, so there are a few Nixon jokes, etc. You can handle it.
Enjoy: http://www.guba.com/watch/2000936810
Hat Tip to the gang at Zoot Radio




Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

31 days of Oscar: day 28

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Original Screenplay - Nominees and Winners (part one). Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM Citizen Kane (’41)
8:15 AM Princess O’Rourke (’43)
10:00 AM The Goddess (’58)
12:00 PM Never On Sunday (’60)
1:45 PM Monsieur Verdoux (’47)
4:00 PM The Great Dictator (’40)
6:00 PM In Which We Serve (’42)
8:00 PM The Train (’64)
10:30 PM Absence of Malice (’81)
12:30 AM The China Syndrome (’79)
2:45 AM Chinatown (’74)
5:00 AM The Conversation (’74)

It would seem that we would pick Citizen Kane, one of the greatest films of all time. Normally we would, but let's do something a little different - and pick an excellent film from an equally great filmmaker- Charlie Chaplin. And our Oscar pick goes to... The Great Dictator! This famous film uses one of the strongest political and social means of commentary that exists: satire. And to great effect. Chaplin spoofs and deflates Hitler to great effect.

The Great Dictator was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a two- disc Special Edition release, or as part of the Charlie Chaplin Collection Gift Set.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world!

31 days of Oscar: day 27

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Screenplay - Nominees and Winners . This would be a difficult choice to make, as there are some really excellent films in the line-up, but we must make the hard decisions regardless. You don't have to tho'- you can watch 'em all if you want. I can sense TiVos going into overdrive! Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM Watch on the Rhine (’43)
8:15 AM The Citadel (’38)
10:15 AM The Story of Louis Pasteur (’35)
11:45 PM A Place in the Sun (’51)
2:00 PM The Bad and the Beautiful (’52)
4:00 PM Ninotchka (’39)
6:00 PM After the Thin Man (’36)
8:00 PM My Man Godfrey (’36)
10:00 PM Wuthering Heights (’39)
12:00 AM The Little Foxes (’41)
2:00 AM The Pride of the Yankees (’42)
4:15 AM Johnny Belinda (’48)

And our Oscar pick goes to... My Man Godfrey! William Powell and Carole Lombard star in what is perhaps one of the best (and my favorite) romantic screwball comedies of all time. Lombard plays spoiled and airheaded socialite Irene Bullock who finds an apparently "forgotten man" (euphemism for homeless, or resident of a Hoverville), Godfrey, as part of an elaborate scavenger hunt for a group of wealthy people. Irene desperately wants a protégé and hires Godfrey as the family butler. And what a family! The household is full of loons, and Godfrey attempts to create order out of chaos where he can. The overly dramatic Irene soon falls for Godfrey, who gently rebuffs Irene, as a relationship between employer and servant would be improper. But Godfrey has secrets and a past which he isn't divulging, and could change everything as he changes everyone.

My Man Godfrey was nominated for 6 Academy Awards; and the first film to be nominated in all four acting categories, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film has been available in several terrible public domain releases, but fortunately was also released in a good single disc Criterion release. This film is long overdue for a clean-up and the special edition treatment from Warner Brothers. Perhaps it may be available as part of the rumored William Powell (or Powell/Myrna Loy) box set.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.

Stay tuned for a special round-up- we'll be talking about the best from 2006 and look ahead to 2007. There isn't much coming out this week- so we won't be covering this week's releases. You'll want to save your cash for some great box sets coming in the next month or two anyway.



All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people.

31 days of Oscar: day 26

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Original Motion Picture Story and Best Motion Picture Story - Nominees and Winners . Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

5:45 AM The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (’46)
7:45 AM The Stranger (’46)
9:30 AM The 49th Parallel (’41)
11:45 PM Destination Tokyo (’43)
2:15 PM Action in the North Atlantic (’43)
4:30 PM None Shall Escape (’44)
6:00 PM Here Comes the Groom (’51)
8:00 PM The Private War of Major Benson (’55)
10:00 PM Hondo (’53)
11:30 PM The Sniper (’52)
1:00 AM Naked City (’48)
2:45 AM Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (’47)
4:30 AM Mystery Street (’50)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Hondo! Starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page, in her screen debut, this film is a gripping western drama. Hondo Lane (Wayne) is a US Calvary Scout who happens upon a mother, Angie (Page) and her son living in hostile Apache territory. Hondo looks out for them, not understanding why they would live in such a dangerous area. Her no good husband has gone to town, where he has a run-in with Hondo, who doesn't realize who he is. Hondo is forced to kill him. It isn't long until the Apache capture Hondo, and Angie attempts to save him by convincing the Apache leader, Vittorio, that Hondo is her husband. The film was based on Louis L'Amour's short story, "The Gift of Cochise". Interestingly enough it was originally presented in 3-D, and movie goers were given 3-D glasses to use in theater.

Hondowas nominated for two Academy Awards; for Best Actress and Best Writing/Original Screenplay, but did not win. The Writing nomination was disqualified when L'Amour and the producers asserted it was not an original screenplay, but (of course) based on the short story. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc special edition release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




That dog don't take to pettin', son.

31 days of Oscar: days 22-25

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Thursday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 25, is a weekend-long marathon of a single category. The Category for the weekend marathon is Best Picture Winners . Although many of the films are easy selections, we’ll give you one film per day that is definitely a “Shelf Favorite”. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, but these are films that we will be sure to sit in front of with a bowl of popcorn. Here's the schedule for the weekend (all times are EST):

Thursday, Feb. 22
8:00 PM Ben-Hur (’59)
12:00 AM The Best Years of Our Lives (’46)
3:00 AM Mrs. Miniver (’42)

Friday, Feb. 23
5:30 AM Cimarron (’31)
8:00 AM Mutiny on the Bounty (’35)
10:30 AM It Happened One Night (’34)
12:30 PM You Can’t Take it With You (’38)
3:00 PM The Life of Emile Zola (’37)
5:00 PM The Great Ziegfeld (’36)
8:00 PM The Greatest Show on Earth (’52)
11:00 PM An American in Paris (’51)
1:00 AM Gigi (’58)
3:00 AM Annie Hall (’77)
4:45 AM The Lost Weekend (’45)

Saturday, Feb. 24
6:30 AM On the Waterfront (’54)
8:30 AM All Quiet on the Western Front (’30)
11:00 AM From Here to Eternity (’58)
1:00 PM The Bridge on the River Kwai (’57)
4:00 PM Lawrence of Arabia (’62)
8:00 PM A Man for All Seasons (’66)
10:15 PM Out of Africa (’85)
1:00 AM Kramer vs. Kramer (’79)
3:00 AM American Beauty (’99)

Sunday, Feb. 25
5:30 AM Hamlet (’48)
8:15 AM West Side Story (’61)
11:00 AM My Fair Lady (’64)
2:00 PM Gone With the Wind (’39)
6:00 PM Casablanca (’42)


Here are our Shelf Oscar picks:

Thursday: Ben-Hur
Friday: It Happened One Night
Saturday: A Man for All Seasons
Sunday: Casablanca

Ben-Hur is, of course, a sprawling epic is biblical proportions…literally. It was nominated for an astonishing 12 Academy Awards, of which it won 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. It Happened One Night is a perfect screwball comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. It was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and won all, including Best Picture.
A Man for All Seasons is an excellent historical drama which was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 6. Casablanca is one of my favorite films of all time. It was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 3, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing.

You can watch the films this weekend on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. Ben-Hur is available as a single disc release, or as a fantastic 4 disc Collector's Edition. It Happened One Night is also available as a single disc release or as part of the recent Frank Capra Box Set. A Man For All Seasons was just re-released as a Special Edition this week. And Casablanca is available as a 2-disc Special Edition.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.

By the way, enjoy the Oscars this Sunday night. I don't watch them any more. I just don't have a pony in this race, unless it's for a long overdue Best Director win for Martin Scorsese or a win for Peter O'Toole. And only then because they deserve to win an Oscar.



Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand."

31 days of Oscar: day 21

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Sound - Nominees and Winners (part two) . Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM So This is Washington (’43)
7:30 AM Dodsworth (’36)
9:30 AM Lost Horizon (’37)
11:45 AM Green Dolphin Street (’47)
2:15 PM T-Men (’47)
4:00 PM The Bells of St. Mary’s (’45)
6:15 PM Vivacious Lady (’37)
8:00 PM Three Smart Girls (’37)
9:30 PM That Touch of Mink (’62)
11:15 PM Ball of Fire (’41)
1:15 AM Batman Forever (’95)
3:30 AM Backdraft (’91)

And our Oscar pick goes to... The Bells of St. Mary’s! The films with priests or nuns as heroes are yet another genre that has perhaps gone the way of the dodo. I'm afraid Pat O'Brien wouldn't get much work if he were alive today. I also doubt if anyone's agent would even let them think about doing a film like Boy's Town. What a shame, but this is the world we live in, or rather, that we have made for ourselves. The Bells of St. Mary's is actually a very warm, gentle and funny film, and the kind of "faith" film (if there is such a thing) that is sorely absent in Hollywood today. The cynacism and politically correct leftist Hollywood could never even begin to try and make a film like this. The characters are, in addition to being religious, are genuine and believe in what they do. They are presented as good, sincere people and the kids and parents they are trying to help are regular people with problems, who want to do the right thing in the end. Faith and compassion and a few humorous hijinx make postive changes. All without the legal system or government intervention, or movie stars telling them how to live. Who woulda thunk it? Do yourself a favor, kick off your shoes and check it out, and remember a time when such things were possible.

The Bells of St. Mary's was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Best Actor for Bing Crosby, Best Actress for Ingrid Bergman and Best Director for Leo McCarey. The film won the Oscar for Best Sound. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Just remember, if you're ever in trouble, just dial O for O'Malley!

31 days of Oscar: day 20

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Sound - Nominees and Winners (part one) . Some excellent films again today, with several making their premiere on TCM. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:30 AM Not as a Stranger (’55)
9:00 AM Captain Caution (’40)
10:30 AM The Men in Her Life (’41)
12:00 PM The Southerner (’45)
2:00 PM I Want You (’51)
3:45 PM Our Very Own (’50)
5:30 PM Sayonara (’57)
8:00 PM Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (’57)
10:15 PM The Eddy Duchin Story (’56)
12:30 AM Kotch (’71)
2:30 AM The Patriot (’00)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Gunfight at the O.K. Corral ! Yes, another western for today's pick. And we can do that- it's the Shelf's Oscar pick after all. I've never been a huge Burt Lancaster fan, but I am a big fan of Kirk Douglas, who turns in an interesting performance here as Doc Holliday. Lancaster and Douglas would pair up again for a decent comedy in 1986's Tough Guys. Gunfight is a rousing action film, but not a historical look at the legendary event. In fact, few of the "Wyatt Earp" films, of which there are many, ever really take a documentary approach, instead preferring character development and action over facts. That's OK - this is Hollywood we are talking about. There are plenty of books and information on the real thing. That being said, one of my favorite "Wyatt Earp" flicks is 1993's Tombstone with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. I'll be your huckleberry.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound and Best Film Editing, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




There's always a man faster on the draw than you are, and the more you use a gun, the sooner you're gonna run into that man.

31 days of Oscar: day 19

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Costume Design - Nominees and Winners. Some excellent films again today, with at least four making their premiere on TCM. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM Pal Joey (’57)
8:00 AM Bell, Book and Candle (’59)
10:00 AM Pepe (’60)
1:00 PM Flower Drum Song (’61)
3:15 PM The Hawaiians (’70)
5:30 PM Funny Lady (’75)
8:00 PM The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (’62)
10:15 PM The Slender Thread (’65)
12:00 AM The Solid Gold Cadillac (’56)
1:45 AM The Talented Mr. Ripley (’99)
4:15 AM Pennies from Heaven (’81)

And our Oscar pick goes to... The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ! It's been quite a while since westerns were serious contenders for any Academy Award. In fact the western is undergoing a serious renaissance, one that Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck have championing on television, and that Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner was able to bring back to the big screen with Open Range. In fact, there are several westerns slated for release this year, including a remake of 3:10 to Yuma. I am excited by that film in particular. Here's hoping fans will go in droves and bring back even more westerns to the big screen. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance stars James Stewart and John Wayne, and was directed by John Ford. It's a tight, almost psychological, western and character study about what who makes a hero and what makes a up the true character of a person.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




This is the west, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

31 days of Oscar: day 18

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Score - Nominees and Winners (part two). If you love musicals, this is your day! Some really excellent films, in fact, so many that I was tempted to choose several. My advice is to make it another lazy Sunday marathon. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM Oklahoma! (’55)
8:30 AM South Pacific (’58)
11:15 AM Singin’ in the Rain (’52)
1:00 PM Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (’54)
3:00 PM Paint Your Wagon (’70)
5:45 PM Night and Day (’46)
8:00 PM The Glenn Miller Story (’54)
10:00 PM Blue Skies (’46)
12:00 AM The Band Wagon (’53)
2:00 AM The Goldwyn Follies (’38)
4:00 AM The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (’64)


And our Oscar pick goes to... The Glenn Miller Story! Although some of my favorite musical were on the list, I had to go with a sentimental favorite. The Glenn Miller Story stars James Stewart as Glenn Miller and the beautiful June Allyson as his wife, Helen Miller. The biopic traces the beginnings of Miller's music career and his search for his signature sound. The film's heart, however, is the story of Glenn and Helen's romance and marriage. The film doesn't flinch from Miller's tragic disapperance over the English Channel during World War II in 1944. The music is fantastic, and was performed by members from the Glenn Miller orchestra.

The Glenn Miller Storywas nominated for three Academy Awards, including for Best Music and Best Screenplay. The film won the Oscar for Best Sound. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release. You can also check out last year's It Came from the Bargain Bin! review of The Glenn Miller Story from The Shelf.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Honestly!!

31 days of Oscar: day 17

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Score - Nominees and Winners (part one). Some very different films on tap for today, but different is good. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM Way Down South (’39)
7:30 AM Girl’s School (’38)
8:45 AM Cheers For Miss Bishop (’60)
10:30 AM Way Out West (’39)
11:45 AM The Man in the Iron Mask (’39)
1:45 PM The Fighting Seabees (’44)
3:30 PM The Wind and the Lion (’75)
5:45 PM A River Runs Through It (’92)
8:00 PM Tommy (’75)
10:00 PM Sleuth (’72)
12:30 AM Shaft (’71)
2:15 AM Poltergeist (’82)
4:30 AM Tanks a Million (’41)


And our Oscar pick goes to... The Fighting Seabees! The film tells the story of the beginning of the Seabees unit at the beginning of World War II. The Navy first relied on civilian contractors to build advance bases on Pacific islands starting in 1940, but after the fall of Wake Island it became important to train construction workers to also be soldiers. John Wayne stars with Susan Hayward.

The Fighting Seabeeswas nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Who wouldn't give you guns?

31 days of Oscar: day 16

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Art Direction - Nominees and Winners. Some excellent films, including some fairly recent ones, are in today's lineup. Who would have thought they would be watching Men in Black on TCM? Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM Captain Fury (’39)
8:00 AM My Son, My Son! (’40)
10:00 AM The Princess and the Pirate (’44)
12:00 PM The Adventures of Mark Twain (’44)
2:15 PM The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (’38)
4:00 PM The Son of Monte Cristo (’41)
6:00 PM The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (’65)
8:00 PM Close Encounters of the Third Kind (’77)
10:30 PM Men in Black (’97)
12:15 AM Logan’s Run (’76)
2:30 AM Legends of the Fall (’94)
4:45 AM The Spoilers (’42)

And our Oscar pick goes to... The Princess and the Pirate! Comedies are not regularly in the Oscar contention nowadays, and it's nice to see that comedies were still considered for awards back then. Today, Oscar seems to have been kidnapped by the self-important, the political, the smug, and the socially self-righteous. That's why it's still important to look back at a time when good movies were actually nominated and remember that the Academy Awards are the industry's way of awarding itself. I love Bob Hope and he made some really great films in the 40s and 50s. Some of my favorites are The Ghost Breakers, Paleface, Son of Paleface, and My Favorite Brunette. I have never seen The Princess and the Pirate, so I am looking forward to seeing today's pick. The plot (as usual) features Hope as the unlikeliest of heroes, trying to help a beautiful Princess (Virginia Mayo) who has been kidnapped by real pirates. The film costars Walter Brennan, so expectations for plenty of laughs and entertainment is high.

The Princess and the Pirate was nominated for 2 Academy Awards; Best Music and Best Art Direction, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




If you don't tell anybody I'm not a gypsy, I won't tell anybody you're not an idiot.

31 days of Oscar: day 15

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Actress- Winners. There are a bunch of great classic films on the rotation today, including quite a few "must see" flicks. There are several films that could easily be today's pick. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM Coquette (’29)
7:30 AM Min and Bill (’30)
8:45 AM The Good Earth (’37)
11:15 AM Kitty Foyle (’40)
1:15 PM Born Yesterday (’50)
3:00 PM I Want to Live! (’58)
5:15 PM Funny Girl (’68)
8:00 PM Coal Miner’s Daughter (’80)
10:15 PM Children of a Lesser God (’86)
12:30 AM Hud (’63)
2:30 AM Jezebel (’38)
4:30 AM Two Women (’60)


And our Oscar pick goes to... Born Yesterday ! Judy Holliday pulled off a great performance and won the Best Actress Oscar in the face of some incredibly competition from equally strong performances by Bette Davis in All About Eve and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. The film truly belongs to Judy from beginning to end, as she plays Billie Dawn, a "businessman's" girl, who accompanies him on a trip to Washington D.C. The "businessman" Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford), is really a crook and he's in D.C. to buy friends and influence people. The problem is, although Billie is beautiful, she's lacking in the manners, speech, and diplomacy departments. So Brock hires a cynical newspaper reporter, Paul Verrall (William Holden) to tutor Billie, and prepare her to be a worthy companion for making the rounds in D.C. Brock gets more than he bargains for when Billie really takes to her lessons and wises up about herself and Brock, and falls in love with Verrall.

Born Yesterday was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Director for George Cukor. It won the Oscar for Best Actress for Judy Holliday. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The film is available as a single disc release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




A world full of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.

old school croonin' for valentine's day

Take my advice, pal. If you are trying to really create the romantic atmosphere for the evening, you can't go wrong with a little mood music. And fellas, that means you need to break out the old school crooners. You need to put down that heavy metal, even though it has that wicked cool love ballad about hearts of steel and fire or something. And forget about John Mayer. Just...forget about it. Save the Red Hot Chili Peppers for tomorrow. Tonight is about heart, it's about soul, it's about romance. Show the love of your life that not only do you have class, and a romantic soul, but you also have depth. Break out the old school crooners. The ones who sang the standards. The hip, the cool and the smooth. These were (are) guys who didn't take any crap, could romance the ladies and didn't worry about that "sensitive 90s guy" stuff. These are some of the guys who sing with heart and who sing with soul. No namby, pamby whiney types here. Real men. Real singers. Real music.
So we present to you, in no particular older, the top ten of our favorite singers for creating the romantic mood for your lady on Valentine's Day. We also offer just a suggested song or two, but you can certainly consider many more according to your taste. And guys? Don't forget the flowers and to tell what she means to you. I dedicate this post and these songs to my own valentine: Mrs. Loophole.

As always let us know what you think? Do you have any favorites? Ladies- if you have any other suggestions, please help us out in the comments section.

Let's start with: the Chairman of the Board.

Frank Sinatra:
Any number of songs, really. But you can't go wrong with
The Very Thought of You or The Way You Look Tonight.

Marvin Gaye:
Ahem. Let's Get it On. Do I need to say more?
Ok, how about Sexual Healing?

Lou Rawls
Lady Love and one of the greatest soul ballads:
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.

Al Green
Here I Am and Let's Stay Together

The gentleman swinger Tony Bennett
The Shadow Of Your Smile and This Can't Be Love

The incomparable (and personal favorite) Dean Martin
I'll Always Love You and, just for fun:
Ain't That a Kick in the Head

Barry White
Wanna bet how many guys are going to do the lowest voice
they can muster and greet their girl with a "Hey, Baby..."?
I'm Gonna Love You, Just A Little More Baby
Uh huh. Out of sight.
And a couple of guys keeping the tradition alive:


Harry Connick, Jr.
I Only Have Eyes For You and Charade

Michael Buble
For Once In My Life and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

And for two of the best Valentine's Day Songs, you have to go with:

Another one of my favorites, Nat King Cole.
My favorite Valentine's Day songs of all time?
Stardust and When I Fall in Love.
All time best romantic songs. Ever. Period.

Gotta comment? Did we miss your favorite? Who sets the mood for you? Let us know by sounding off in the comments section.



Though I dream in vain, in my heart you will remain/My stardust melody/The memory of loves refrain.

31 days of Oscar: day 14

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Actress Nominees. As you would expect, there are quite a few sappy love storys in the lineup. My advice? Skip Bridges of Madison County for sure, and TiVo most of the rest. You need to spend quality time with your honey, right? But if you need a romantic film- today's pick is perhaps one of the most romantic films you could pick. Besides, it gives me an excuse to post Greta Garbo pictures. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:00 AM Mourning Becomes Electra (’47)
9:00 AM Ship of Fools (’65)
11:30 AM One Night of Love (’34)
1:00 PM The Way We Were (’73)
3:00 PM Since You Went Away (’44)
6:00 PM Sabrina (54)
8:00 PM Breakfast at Tiffany’s (’61)
10:00 PM The Bridges of Madison County (’95)
12:30 AM Love Letters (’45)
2:15 AM Camille (’36)
4:15 AM Sorry, Wrong Number (’48)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Camille! Starring the legendary Greta Garbo and directed by the also legendary George Cukor, this film is the story of a young 19th century French courtesan who is dying. She is also generous with her friends and lifestyle to the point of being in debt. Seeking to marry a wealthy nobleman, she ends up falling in love with Armand (Robert Taylor), whom she intially mistakes for a baron. Once she discovers that he lacks wealth and title, she tries to rebuff him and pursue the real baron. However, real love prevents her from being able to follow through. Tragedy and sacrifice round out this beautiful film.


The film was nominated for Best Actress Academy Award for Greta Garbo, but she did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. Camille is available as a single disc, or as part of the Greta Garbo Signature Collection.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mrs. Loophole! Garbo may be today's Shelf pick, but you will always be mine...

Let me love you. Let me live for you. But don't let me ask any more from Heaven than that - God might get angry.

31 days of Oscar: day 13

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Supporting Actress - Winners. There are some really excellent films on tap for today, including quite a few more "modern classics". Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM None But the Lonely Heart (‘44)
8:15 AM Separate Tables (’58)
10:00 AM Written on the Wind (’56)
11:45 AM Harvey (’50)
1:30 PM Zorba the Greek (’64)
4:00 PM Hannah and Her Sisters (’86)
6:00 PM Tootsie (’82)
8:00 PM Cactus Flower (’69)
10:00 PM Murder on the Orient Express (’74)
12:15 AM Prizzi’s Honor (’85)
2:30 AM Reds (’81)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Zorba the Greek! Anthony Quinn is phenonmenal in this film as Zorba, a middle aged Greek man with an insatiable lust for life and optimism. A Englishman, Basil (played by Alan Bates), whose own outlook is bleak, receives an inheritance on the small greek island of Crete. Soon Zorba's own optimism and attitude becomes infectious and Basil begins to see joy and hope in life, despite the tragedies and difficulties that beset them both.

The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director for Michael Cacoyannis. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actress for Lila Kedrova. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The Zorba the Greek DVD is part of the Fox Studio Classics Collection and has several bonus features.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and look for trouble.

31 days of Oscar: Day 12

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Supporting Actress - Nominees. Today's schedule features quite a bit of Romance mixed in with dashes of tragedy, irony and politics; all including some great performances from some fine actresses. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

5:45 AM The Spiral Staircase (’46)
7:15 AM The Bachelor Party (’57)
9:00 AM Birdman of Alcatraz (’62)
11:30 AM Lonelyhearts (’58)
2:30 PM Sunset Boulevard (’50)
4:30 PM Merrily We Live (’38)
6:15 PM The Mating Season (’50)
8:00 PM Barefoot in the Park (’67)
10:00 PM Fat City (’72)
12:00 AM The Big Chill (’83)
2:00 AM Silkwood (’83)
4:15 AM Shampoo (’75)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Sunset Boulevard! Billy Wilder's masterpiece is film noir that isn't remembered for being film noir. It's an iconic film which in many ways has transcended itself. Many people have heard the line "I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille." How many know where the line is from, or that it is from a movie, or who Mr. DeMille is? The film features great performances from William Holden and Gloria Swanson and is superbly directed by Billy Wilder. One of the interesting things about this film is its intersection with Hollywood. Several celebrities and personalities play minor roles or in some cases, themselves. Cecil B. DeMille plays himself, and the scene where Norma Desmond visits him on set, is the set of an actual movie DeMille was working on at the time. The intersection with real Hollywood is so interesting given the film's biting commentary on Hollywood.

The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including the 4 acting categories, Best Picture and Best Director for Billy Wilder. It won the Oscars for Best Writing (screenplay) and Best Music (musical score). You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. Sunset Boulevard is available as a single disc release and is also part of the The Billy Wilder DVD Collection Box Set.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




There's nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you're trying to be twenty-five.

31 days of Oscar: day 11

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Special/Visual Effects - Nominees and Winners (part two). Even more action and adventure is on tap for today, with a little bit of comedy thrown in. I think today's choice was the hardest to make yet. In fact, why not make it a lazy Sunday marathon? Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

5:30 AM Tulsa (’49)
7:00 AM The Long Voyage Home (’40)
9:00 AM Air Force (’43)
11:30 AM Torpedo Run (’58)
1:15 PM Flying Tigers (’42)
3:00 PM Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (’44)
5:30 PM They Were Expendable (’45)
8:00 PM The Absent Minded Professor (’61)
10:00 PM The Story of Dr. Wassell (’44)
12:30 AM Wonder Man (’45)
2:15 AM Portrait of Jennie (’48)
3:45 AM Foreign Correspondent (’40)


And our Oscar pick goes to... They Were Expendable (’45)! This World War II classic stars Robert Montgomery and John Wayne as PT Boat Captains fighting the war in the Pacific. In the film Montgomery plays the office who came up with and championed the idea of using PT Boats to fight in the war. Initially the brass doesn't believe in them much, and deems them much more useful for delivering messages. Eventually the war brings more of the fight to them and Montgomery and Wayne and their crews demonstrate the effectiveness of the quicker and more agile PT Boats; but not without casualties. The film also stars the lovely Donna Reed and Ward Bond. The film was directed by the great John Ford. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, but did not win.

You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. They Were Expendible is available as a single disc release and was released last year on DVD as part of the John Wayne/ John Ford Film Collection Box Set.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




I used to skipper a cake of soap in the bathtub, too.

31 days of Oscar: day 10

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Special/Visual Effects - Nominees and Winners (part one). If you are a fan of Ray Harryhausen, Batman, Raquel Welch or action and adventure in general, today is your day. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM Secret Command (’44)
7:45 AM Dr. Cyclops (’40)
9:15 AM Krakatoa, East of Java (’69)
11:30 AM One Million B.C. (’40)
1:00 PM A Thousand and One Nights (’45)
2:45 PM 2001: A Space Odyssey (’68)
5:30 PM Marooned (’69)
8:00 PM 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (’54)
10:30 PM Batman Returns (’92)
12:45 AM Only Angels Have Wings (’39)
3:00 AM Starship Troopers (’97)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Only Angels Have Wings! Howard Hawks takes a script and turns it into a tense, dramatic tear jerker of an action film about airmail pilots in South America. Cary Grant plays Geoff Carter, the lead pilot, in an excellent dramatic performance. Jean Arthur also stars as Bonnie Lee, a tourist who meets Carter while between boats. She falls for him, but he tries to remain distant and avoid falling for her. Later Carter's old flame Judy (Rita Hayworth) returns and things get complicated. Thomas Mitchell turns in another great performance as veteran pilot Kid Dabb. The constant danger these pilots are in flying in and out of the South American fog and mountains is palpable and the tension is a constant presence throughout the movie. The effects are well done and only add to the atmosphere, and never take away or distract from the story. That makes it a winner for Best Effects in my book.

Only Angels Have Wings was nominated for two Academy Awards; for Best Effects and Best Cinematography, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. Only Angels Have Wings was previously released as a single disc some time ago under the Columbia Classics Label. It was also rereleased last year on DVD as part of the great The Cary Grant Box Set.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




Look, fella, I'm knee-deep in friends around here, but you're one guy I can send out in any kind of weather on any kind of job, and only worry about the ship getting back.

31 days of Oscar: day 9

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Song - Nominees and Winners. Today's schedule includes one of the most eclectic line up of films on the TCM schedule yet. From comedy to drama, muscial to kids film- today has it all. Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

5:45 AM Second Chorus (’40)
7:15 AM All-American Co-Ed (’41)
8:15 AM Flying with Music (’42)
9:30 AM The Caddy (’53)
11:15 AM Alfie (’66)
1:15 PM For Love of Ivy (’68)
3:15 PM It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (’63)
6:30 PM Benji (’74)
8:00 PM The Muppets Take Manhattan (’84)
10:00 PM Foul Play (’78)
12:00 AM Philadelphia (’92)
2:15 AM Nashville (’75)
5:00 AM The Lady Objects (’38)

And our Oscar pick goes to... The Caddy! Today's pick goes right in line with today's theme. The Caddy was nominated for Best Song for Dean Martin's classic song, That's Amore. The song also featured prominantly in another Oscar nominated film, Moonstruck in the 1980s. The Caddy stars one of America's top comedy teams of the time, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Lewis plays Harvey Miller, son of a golf pro who wants his son to follow in his footsteps. Although Harvey is good, the only problem is that he is afraid of crowds. So his girlfriend suggests that Harvey become an instructor, and his first student is his girlfriend's brother Joe, who is played by Dean Martin. Joe becomes so good under Harvey's instruction that he begins to compete... and, as you probably guessed, hijinks ensue. The film also co-stars the lovely Donna Reed. The song That's Amore is such a recognizable and iconic song, it and Martin and Lewis's comedy antics make this film a must see.

The Caddy was nominated for only the Academy Award for Best Song, but did not win. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The Caddy was released last year on DVD as part of the Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection, Vol. 1 Box Set. It is not currently available as a single release.

For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.




You're positively stunning. So what if you left your dinner jacket at home?
I left it in Kansas City, but I can show you the pawn ticket.

going the right way

Strap in Ladies and Gents, this is the beginning of a great year for classic films out on DVD. And we start off with several excellent choices. Some have already made their debut on previous discs that weren’t exactly up to snuff. Hopefully they will now receive their due with excellent prints. Going my way? Well then, here we go…

DVD
Top Shelf Pick of the Week!
Universal Cinema Classics
All Quiet on the Western Front,
Arabian Nights, Going My Way, The Heiress.
Although this may be a double dip in the case of Going My Way, the very fact that the Universal catalog is releasing these important films, and at least providing a decent presentation gives one hope for the great classic film library Universal produced. In the past we’ve had mixed feelings about the Universal classics. Some titles like Double Indemnity, To Kill a Mockingbird and most of the classic horror monsters received the special edition treatment; and we couldn’t be happier. Then franchises like Abbott and Costello get a somewhat complete set and nice prints, but the compression and the presentation on double sided discs wasn’t anything to write home about. The affordable price made up for most of its shortcomings. Then some films were released on terrible bare bones discs, or, for some reason not at all.
These DVDs are also bare bones, save for an introduction by Robert Osbourne and the usual theatrical trailers. Perhaps if film fans show their support through their purchases, Universal will be more willing to dip further into its library and continue to bring us great films on excellent DVDs, and perhaps they will be may enrich their releases with contextual extras.

It appears that they have taken further steps towards treating their library with respect and perhaps they even understand that there is a market for the classics. It would seem to me that by judging the success that Warner Brothers has had with the wonderful discs and sets they have produced, Universal wants a piece of the pie. For what ever reason there may be, classic film fans should be encouraged. It seems that Universal is going the right way. Fans should also support Universal and add these great titles to their library. I mean if you don’t have Going My Way, well… what kind of film collection could you possibly have? You really can’t go wrong with any of these titles. Going My Way with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald and The Heiress starring Olivia de Havilland are favorites.


The Alfred Hitchcock Box Set:
Speaking of encouraging releases, there seems to be a plethora of Hitchcock titles on DVD, but this set features some of his earliest works. While Hitch may have not been pleased later in life with some of the conventional aspects of these films, one can trace the early evolution of the filmmaker. Titles include: The Ring, The Manxman, Murder!, The Skin Game, and Rich and Strange.

Charmed Season 7
Mrs. Loophole and I have been watching the seasons from the beginning and have really enjoyed this show about 3 sisters who just happen to be witches. And not just any witches either; they are the Charmed Ones, witches defending the world, magic, and all that is good from evil and all kinds of baddies. The show ran a total of eight seasons so this season winds up several story arcs.



Here comes Mr. Jordan
If you’ve seen Heaven Can Wait, then you need to see the original: Here Comes Mr. Jordan. This films was long overdue to appear on DVD and its finally here. Starring Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains and Evelyn Keys. This is the story of Boxer Joe Pendleton who died 50 years too soon due to a heavenly mistake. In order to fix this oversight, the angelic bureaucrats provide Pendleton with the body of recently murdered millionaire, Bruce Farnsworth. The problem is that the millionaire wasn't exactly squeaky clean. Pendleton takes this chance to remake Farnsworth's life. If the story sounds familiar, it should. It's been redone and reworked several times. Do yourself a favor, see the original

Hellboy: Sword of Storms
I really enjoyed the Hellboy movie with Ron Perlman and have been looking forward to the promised sequel. While this isn't the sequel to the live action film, this will do great until that time. The continuing adventures, so to speak, in animated form. The film originally appeared last year on Cartoon Network. Thankfully they've pulled in most of the original actors to provided the voices to their characters. This story follows Hellboy and Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense as they investigate a Professor of Mythology who has mistakenly opened an ancient scroll which brings all sorts of uninvited guests to earth.

Music:
Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked Ladies are Men
Last year's new release, Barenaked Ladies are Me was only the first half of a two album set. This is the second disc of even more original Barenaked goodness. If you love the Ladies, then I am wasting my breath because you have already purchased the CD and have it on repeat on your player. If you don't know too much about them, then take my advice- take the plunge and try out some of the older albums. You'll really enjoy them and this new album even more.


What? No TCM again? Well since we are posting daily TCM 31 Days of Oscar posts, it seems redundant. So check those out daily and come back for even more Shelf madness.




A golf course is nothing but a poolroom moved outdoors.