Turning a Desert into Hollywood

 Last month I posted an old vintage article about the making of the silent version of Beau Geste (1926). Here is another article about the same subject. I hope you enjoy it.

This comes from a 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. If you have any trouble reading it click on the page below and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here. 

 

Family Movie Night Menus: Recipes & Films for Unforgettable Times Together (2026)

 

When I heard Leonard Maltin and his daughter Jessie Maltin put out a new book, I was not expecting anything to do with cooking or food. However, this new book is a pure delight fully up to Maltin standards. 

As well as including great recipes, this book is also a survey of 25 delightful family friendly films sure to make a great movie night for the whole family. These selections stretch over eight decades from Charlie Chaplin's The Kid (1921) to Disney's Enchanted (2007). Each movie selected is a sheer delight and the variety (while all of them are still family friendly) is excellent. In true Maltin style the writing about each movie is wonderful. It is very informative and provides a great critical insight while remaining completely unpretentious. After reading Leonard and Jessie's' writings I wanted to watch all of these films, even the ones I have seen a million times. 

I have not made any of the recipes yet but hopefully will (the ones without meat anyway) someday. The pictures of the food look delicious, and I got hungry just reading some of these recipes. While I have not made them yet, the instructions seem simple and easy to follow.

The movies included in this book are The Kid (1921), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Captain January (1936), The Wizard of Oz (1939), National Velvet (1944), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Singing in the Rain (1952), Calamity Jane (1953), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Mary Poppins (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Sounder (1972), Star Wars (1977), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), A Christmas Story (1983), The Princess Bride (1987), Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989), The Addams Family (1991), The Secret Garden (1993), A Little Princess (1995), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Enchanted (2007). 

A great book.  

Movie Review: Is God Is

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An excellent thriller. 

In this film, two sisters are on a quest for revenge. They plan to kill their father who tried to kill them and their mom when they were kids. 

This is a dark and tense ride that makes you feel uncomfortable in all the best ways. There have been many movies that have looked at how seeking revenge and the trail of violence it leaves can change a person. However, this film handles it especially well. You can not only feel and understand what makes them go down this dark path. You can also see how this path of revenge affects these two different characters. Though they are both twins who have lived, struggled and survived together while sharing everything, these are still two very different people. We can see the differences in their personalities from the opening scene. One has a massive chip on her shoulder and wants to take it out on the world, while the other simply wishes she could live a normal life. When you see the way that this plays out, the changes in these characters don't come out from thin air. Rather it simply expands on what was already there. The effect is something more shocking and real than many films that deal with a similar theme. This is all helped by the wonderful chemistry Kara Young and Mallori Johnson. They perfectly capture the deep sisterly bond between the two and capture how they can almost bond as one at times, while still having distinct personalities. Also excellent, if in the film for a briefer time is Sterling K. Brown as the father. How calm he is and how he outwardly appears like a nice easy-going guy makes him all the more terrifying. It also speaks to how people like this really are (toxic abusive, violent men) often feel that their terrifying acts are called for because they actually believe that being a man means they have a God given power to do whatever they want with women's lives. This not only makes him scary but provides some real social commentary without ever feeling preachy. All this leads up to a truly shocking and effective ending.

Unfortunately, what keeps this film from being the masterpiece it should be is that it insists on mixing its dark subject matter with some quirky comedy. The comedy is only occasionally funny (often it simply tries too hard) and never meshes with the darker and more serious scenes. This can make this feel like two movies at odds with one another. Luckily one of those movies is fantastic. 

Despite an uneven tone, this film is an excellent thriller and a great character study. 

  

Cowboy Church #268

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

Today’s musical selection begins with the King of the Cowboys and The Queen of the West, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus in the Morning. This song reminds us that we are not only to leave a small part of the day with Jesus as our focus but all day long as well as everyday. We should wake up each morning with Jesus on our mind and go to bed each night the same way. While few of us will succeed with this every day, we will find that each day we do it will be an enriching day that will makes us grow as a person. This song comes from Roy and Dale’s 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. 

This is followed by Skeeter Davis with Who Am I. This comes from her 1967 gospel album, Hand in Hand with Jesus.

Afterwards is Ricky Skaggs with The River of Jordon. This recording comes from his 1982 album, Family and Friends. The song was written by Hazel Houser, who wrote both Christian and secular country songs. Her other songs include Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus and My Baby's Gone. 

Then comes Dailey and Vincent with The Old Rugged Cross.  The song itself 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 Pokagan, 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 The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. Though it may be simple doctrine that we have heard since Sunday school, I hope we never forget how much power there truly is in the blood of Jesus. No matter what temptations and struggles we may face in life, Jesus' blood spilled on Calvary's cross has overcome all of it. With man something may be impossible but with God all things are possible. 

Next is Ricky Van Shelton with Mansion Over the Hilltop. This recording comes from his 1992 gospel album, Don't Overlook Salvation. The hymn was written by Ira F. Stanphill in 1949. It is believed that he wrote around 550 gospel songs over his career. These songs also include Suppertime (which Johnny Cash did a wonderful version of), Room at the Cross, I Walk with His Hand in Mine, Thirty Pieces of Silver and I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. 

Today's music selection ends with Jim and Jesse with Matthew 24. This comes from their 1975 gospel album, Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom. 

Now for the 11th episode of The Lone Ranger TV show. 

Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham. 

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 #280

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Cubby Bear in The Last Mail (1933). If Cubby Bear reminds you of Mickey Mouse, this is no coincidence. When Mickey Mouse hit movie screens, he was a sensation, just as popular if not more popular than the live action movie stars of the time. As always great success in the film industry led to many imitations. Pretty much every American animation studio had a character that was pretty much a copy of Mickey. 

   

Now that we saw a Mickey Mouse clone in the last cartoon, why don't we enjoy a Pluto clone in the next. Enjoy the World War 2 Columbia cartoon, Mutt 'n Bones (1944). 

Up next is Pigeon Holed (1956). This was the last theatrical cartoon to star Homer Pigeon. When this film was released in 1956 Homer hadn't appeared in a cartoon since 1943.

Now for a black and white cartoon from the Walter Lantz studio, Nellie the Sewing Machine Girl (1938). This is the first in a series of five Nellie cartoons. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Up next is one of the post golden age Looney Tunes shorts, That (Blooper) Bunny (1991). This cartoon was made as a response to many of the specials revolving around Warner Brothers marketing of the Looney Tunes characters, especially when celebrating Bugs' 50th anniversary. Warner Brothers marketing tried to frame the characters as good friends who always stood by each other. This was of course far from who these characters were. Many of them even tried to kill each other in the classic cartoons and when the characters were friends, they would often turn on each other to protect themselves. That is why at first we see these characters all smiling and getting along as best buddies here, until we see what happened behind the scenes and the friction that took place. This cartoon was meant to originally be released theatrically with the animated feature Rover Dangerfield (1991). However, Warner Brothers took a real dislike towards it (especially with the line "Warner Brothers doesn't have an original bone in its body.") and the cartoon would not be released until six years later, this time on TV instead of movie theaters. 

Next up is a very early Mickey Mouse cartoon, the fourth one in fact, The Barn Dance (1929). Unlike the previous three Mickeys (Plane Crazy (1928), The Galloping Gaucho (1928) and Steamboat Willie (1928)), Walt Disney was not able to supervise the animation very closely. This was because at this time Walt was in New York, while his main animator Ub Iwerks was in California. Though Walt asked Ub to cut corners in the animation, because of a strict deadline, when he received the first of the animation on October 22nd of 1928, he was not happy and wrote Ub a page of criticisms of the animation. However watching this film now, it is actually a very entertaining cartoon, and it is hard to see anything actually wrong with the animation. However, Walt was working to achieve a level of perfection in his cartoons and this one as good as it did not meet that requirement in his mind. There was a planned gag for this cartoon which would feature a hen and a rooster performing a lively dance number which comes to a halt when the hen lays an egg. Though that gag did not make it into this film, it would later be used in the short, Mickey's Follies (1929).  

Now for the Terry Toons short, Mystery in the Moonlight (1948). 

Let us 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. 

Resources Used

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

Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in its Golden Age by Michael Barrier

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/screen-gems-mutt-and-bones-1944/ 

https://walterlantz.fandom.com/wiki/Pigeon_Holed

https://walterlantz.fandom.com/wiki/Nellie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lRMc5dG5ZQ&lc=UgytjL2b-Q4fRbnYzSh4AaABAg.9Q3XtN1Y9gp9hIaIL3OkhM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyymtYkPD60

 

Movie Review: In the Grey

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C-

A serviceable but unremarkable action flick. 

This rather standard action flick is greatly helped by Guy Ritchie's direction. As most of us know, Guy Ritchie is simply an excellent action director. This movie lets him really show his stuff. The action scenes are pure treats. They are fun, stylish and very well paced. Putting these action scenes against such beautiful settings makes them even more visually appealing. Adding to the fun is the typically fun Guy Ritchie dialogue and a great cast (headed by Eiza González, Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhall). 

However, the movie does can like Guy Ritchie is on autopilot. The storyline isn't bad, but it is one you have seen a million times before. Nothing new or particularly interesting is done with this only serviceable plot. The characters are so underdeveloped that I can't describe their personalities to you because they are unburdened by such things.   

While it does have some stylish charm, there is nothing here to make it stand out. This is one of those films that you will forget about in a few weeks. 

 

Video Link: Why Walt Loaned His Best Artist to MGM - West of Neverland