Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise (2020)

 

Scott Eyman is becoming one of my favorite film historians. After reading his biography of Cary Grant, I am even more of a fan. This biography is a gripping read that I always hated to put down. It is incredibly well-written, very informative and always fair when examining its subject. 

One of the main points this book makes is that the persona of Cary Grant was a creation of Grant himself. While it did not fully resemble the man who was born Archie Leach and would later bare the name of Cary Grant, it was the creation of the star not the studio. As well as digging into Cary Grant and his movie career, this book also greatly discusses who Archie Leach was. Probably the highlight of this book is the early chapters discussing Archie's life before becoming Cary Grant. As most writings about the Hollywood star tend to focus on his movie career, this is where I learned the most about the man born as Archie Leach. These early chapters are not only very well researched and informative but also where Scott Eyman's writing is at its best. We feel completely engrossed in this bygone world of English Music Halls and American vaudeville. The picture painted of a very vivid picture of this world, and it is easy to understand how it shaped Archie Leach, well into the years he would be known as Cary Grant. 

As well as starting strong, this book also finishes very strong. Most movie star biographies tend to wind down when the reach the years when the star retired. That is far from the case here. Eyman digs heavily into these years painting a very vivid picture of an older man, who finally find much of the peace and joy that he looked for through much of his life (especially due to the love he felt for his daughter Jennifer). These chapters give us probably our greatest understanding of who the man is. 

Though the middle section may not be as strong as the start or finish, it is still quite well worth the read. This is especially true because of the chapters when it talks about Grant's working and personal relationships with his three favorite and possibly best directors, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks and Leo McCarey. The book provides a very well-researched look into the making of his best work. It also provides a very smart and well-written critical examination of his filmography as a whole. Eyman argues that Grant's reluctance to take risks with many of his roles, hurt his career at times causing him to make inferior films while passing up movies that would have been perfect for him. At the same time Eyman is not short in his praise of Grant's best work, acknowledging that his best films are true cinematic masterpieces of the highest order.  

This book is highly sympathetic to Grant and often times paints a positive picture of the man. However, this does not mean that it overlooks or excuses Grant's worst flaws. Still for every story about his ego or selfish behavior, there are two more about how he took chances with newcomers he believed in or how much he truly loved his daughter. 

This is a must-read biography.    

Movie Review: Now You See Me Now You Don't

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C

An enjoyable but instantly forgettable movie.

I have seen the previous two movies in this series. I remember enjoying them but remember next to nothing else about them. I thought that those two previous films would come back to me as I watched this third entry, but they did not. I feel this third movie is most likely going to suffer the same fate for me. I enjoyed watching it, but I doubt that even a few months from now, I'll be able to tell you anything that happened in it.

Everything about this movie is simply average. There is nothing that bad about it but there is nothing that great about it either. The characters are pleasant, but they hardly have anything to make them stand out from countless similar characters. The action scenes are fun, but they still feel like we have seen them a thousand times before. The humor may make you chuckle or smile, but it will never make you laugh out loud. The visuals are fun but again in our minds they will simply blend in with visuals from a million other movies. The only thing about this movie that stands out is that the cast has good chemistry with each other. 

There is not much more to say about this movie other than that it is extremely average. 

Video Link: Donald Duck's Hilariously Chaotic Guide to Thanksgiving Dinner - West of Neverland

Video Link: The Chaos Queen of Classic Horror - Universally Me

Cowboy Church #243

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Thank You God. This is the A-Side of a Little Golden record the husband-and-wife team made in 1956. The B-side was Let There Be Peace on Earth. 

This is followed by The Charlie Daniels Band with the southern gospel classic, I'll Fly Away. This comes from their 2001 gospel album, How Sweet the Sound (which I highly recommend to all those who love country gospel music). With its fast paced and joyful sound, it is hard to think of a gospel song better suited to The Charlie Daniels Band and they perform it to near perfection here. The song itself (first published in 1932) has become one of the most (if not the most) recorded gospel song in the world. This song's writer, Albert Edward Brumley, had spent much of his early life planting and picking cotton on his family's farm. This was tough and exhausting work and Brumley admitted that he wrote this song with the thought of "flying away" from the cotton field. He also admitted that he had taken inspiration from The Prisoner’s Song. This song reminds us that any troubles of this world are temporary, yet the blessings of God are eternal. It does not pretend that life is easy but reminds us that there is a beautiful hope that has overcome all the problems we face in life.

Afterwards is Brenda Lee with The Old Rugged Cross. The song dates back to 1913 and was written by evangelist, George Bennard. Actually, the first verse was written in 1912. It was written while Bennard was a part of a series of revival meetings in Albion, Michigan. He was worried about the complete disregard for the gospel around him and wrote this verse as a repose. Of writing it Bennard said, "I seemed to have a vision ... I saw the Christ and the cross inseparable." The song wouldn't be completed for several months, when he was leading meetings at a local church in Pokagon, Michigan. He played it for Rev. Leroy (the sponsoring pastor) and his wife, Ruby Bostwick, both of whom found themselves moved to tears. It was then incorporated into a service at that church on June 7, 1913. The song has the same effect today as it must have back then.

Then comes Washington Phillips with his 1927 recording of Lift Him Up.

Then comes Johnny Cash with I Call Him. The song was written by John himself and comes from his 1959 gospel album, Hymns By Johnny Cash. This was John's second album for Columbia records.  John would state that his main reason for leaving Sun Records and moving to Columbia is because producer Sam Phillips would not allow him to record a gospel album. This was especially important to John because he never set out to be a country singer or a rock and roll singer, but a gospel singer. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that as soon as he left Sun, he would set out to make a gospel record. Hymns By Johnny Cash became his first of many gospel albums and proved to be a success with his fans.

Afterwards is Megan Fowler with It is Well with My Soul. Though this is a hymn of hope and peace it was written in a time of great sadness. The song was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. He had planned a European trip for himself, his wife and four daughters, however because of his work he was unable to go, and he let his family go without him and after he finished his work, he would meet them there. However, the ship was hit and quickly sank. Though his wife was saved all four of his daughters had gone down with the ship. Amazingly he wrote this hymn when approaching an area near where his daughters had sunk.

Today's musical selection ends with Sons of the Pioneers asking that great theological question, Will There Be Sagebrush in Heaven with a delightful 1947 recording. 

Now for a sermon from Al Green. 

Today's movie is Texas Gunfighter (1932).

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,

    for I am poor and needy.

2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

    save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,

    for I call to you all day long.

4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

    for I put my trust in you.

5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

    abounding in love to all who call to you.

6 Hear my prayer, Lord;

    listen to my cry for mercy.

7 When I am in distress, I call to you,

    because you answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;

    no deeds can compare with yours.

9 All the nations you have made

    will come and worship before you, Lord;

    they will bring glory to your name.

10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;

    you alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, Lord,

    that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

    that I may fear your name.

12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

    I will glorify your name forever.

13 For great is your love toward me;

    you have delivered me from the depths,

    from the realm of the dead.

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

    ruthless people are trying to kill me—

    they have no regard for you.

15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;

    show your strength in behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

    just as my mother did.

17 Give me a sign of your goodness,

    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy Trails to you until we meet again, 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #256

 Hello, my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Disney short, Old MacDonald Duck (1941). This cartoon was directed by Jack King, a fine director who directed many delightful Donald Duck cartoons at this time. As expected of a Disney cartoon from this era, this short film boasts some very fine character animation that fully shows, how much great talent was at the Disney studio during this time period. A brief scene from this short was used in the Disney feature film, The Reluctant Dragon (1941) when a live action Robert Benchley is getting a look at how cartoons are made. This cartoon would make its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that would air on October 1, 1957. The following is an exhibitor's review from Motion Picture Herald. "OLD MacDONALD DUCK: Walt Disney cartoons - It doesn't take a good reel to have the audience applaud Disney. The mere title of "Don Duck" - and heaven help the stoic. The usual dilemmas - the repetitious finale. Sir Duck is prostrated by a beastly insect, the paying audience is prostrated with the much needed delight. Running time, 8 minutes. - Gene Rothgeb, Haven Theatre, New Haven, Ind. General Patronage." 

Next comes the Terry Toons short, Felix the Fox (1948). This short film benefits from one of the best Groucho Marx impressions I have heard in a cartoon as well as a very effective twist ending. 

Now for the Van Beuren cartoon, A Cat-Fish Romance (1932).

Now we join Porky Pig in Porky's Phoney Express (1938). This cartoon was directed by Cal Dalton and Cal Howard, both of whom received their first director's credit with this film. A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "Here is another Porky cartoon replete with the usual clever animation and serio-comic effects that make it an easy item to sell to a wide audience." A review in the Motion Picture Herald referred to the movie as "An amusing and clever cartoon takeoff on the hard riding heroics of 'Wells Fargo.'" 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now for Felix the Cat in Felix Monkeys with Magic (1924). 

Now for the Mickey Mouse Works short, Pinball Mickey (2002). This short was used in the House of Mouse episode, Pete's One-Man Show (2002). This is just a really charming and fun cartoon and one of my favorite Mickey Mouse Works shorts. 

Next is Little Roquefort in Cat Happy (1950). This marked the first appearance of the character. Here the character is voiced by Dayton Allen, and this was the only time Allen voiced the character. In fact, in many of his future cartoons, Little Roquefort would be a pantomime character. In the future cartoons where Little Roquefort would have a voice, he would be voiced by Tom Morrison. The storyline of this film is very similar to that of the Tom and Jerry short, Part Time Pal (1947). 

Now to close with a song. 

THanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used


Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin.

Donald Duck: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

 

Movie Review: Rental Family

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A lovely and moving dramedy.

In this movie an American actor living in Japan gets a job where he fulfils roles missing in client's lives. When he plays the missing father in a young girl's life, he becomes too emotionally attached. 

This is a truly heartfelt and moving film. In lesser hands this could be overly shmaltzy and cloying. However, in the masterful hands of director/writer Hikari and actor Brendan Fraiser, ever moment feels completely sincere. It is this sincerity that makes this movie truly special. I expected to enjoy this movie coming in but I was surprised by just how much this pulled on my heartstrings. I found myself deeply moved by this film and left the theater with a greater appreciation of my life and the friends and family I get to share it with. Every character here is very well defined and I felt an emotional connection to all of them. There were times when my heart broke for them and other times when I felt great joy for them. One thing they never felt like to me were characters in a movie. I felt like I was looking at real people through a window that showed into their lives. 

Of course, I can't talk about this film without talking about the performance of Brendan Fraiser. I really love the current stage of his career that he is in. He is leaning into more mature and challenging roles, where he gets to show how great of an actor, he actually is. There was a time when people made fun of him as an actor (though I have always like him a lot), and now those people can directly see just how wrong they are. 

What a great movie.