---finds frigid cold temps but the sun is shining. The past week has has snow and frozen fog. So it is a dead car in the garage, and me by the fire watching these films:
Fracture (2007) Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Cat and mouse game. Assistant D.A. Willy Beachum gets assigned a murder case of a wealthy man, Ted Crawford, who has shot and killed his wife. Who is innocent and who is guilty? As in most cases involving humans, all are a little bit of both. Proving that Crawford should be behind bars is not easy. Or pretty. Good. Easily keeps you watching the old pro and the new kid do their roles. A companion film on 'cheating' and the consequences is "Shattered" with Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler and Maria Bello. There the 'cheated on' get their revenge without any killing, but it is just as devastating. Fracture I rate a 7/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488120/
Seven Sweethearts (1942) Kathryn Grayson & Van Heflin. This was filmed before we entered WWII but was released after. And even then seemed out of place. But it was one of MGMs vehicles to introduce lots of their contract players to an audience. They were especially wanting to see if Grayson could take Jeanette MacDonalds place as the queen of musicals for the studio. Van Heflin won an Oscar in '42 for Johnny Eager, but was wasted here as a reporter romancing the youngest daughter.. The setting at a tulip festival is quaint, but there really are such festivals in Dutch/German communities to this day. In Iowa, too. I went to one. Pleasant. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035309/
Two Sisters From Boston (1946) Kathryn Grayson & June Allyson. Very proper turn of the century young women go to New York. One to study and become an opera singer. When she ends up in a saloon singing with Jimmy Darante, the other sister has to go to her rescue. Funny scenes, good music and cast, make an enjoyable time at the movies. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039054/
Bachelor Mother (1939) Ginger Rogers, David Niven. Enjoyable romantic comedy about a saleswoman mistaken for a baby's mother. Much superior to the remakes. Screenplay by Norman Krasna from an original story by Felix Jackson(Oscar), and directed by Garson Kanin, it bubbles along with chuckles and laughs from beginning to end. There is a wonderful scene of Times Square on New Years, intercut with the sound stage recreation. All in all, a wonderful holiday film. Charles Coburn as the would-be grandpa is a delight. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/
In Name Only (1939} Carole Lombard, Cary Grant. One of the few dramas Lombard made. She is very good as a young mother who falls for a wealthy married man (Grant). As the wife from hell, the great Kay Francis is sweet and manipulative, and uses her guile on his parents and her friends to keep her husband in line. Cary is Cary - and gorgeous. Top supporting cast, production values, make an above average melodrama. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031477/
Four days to go for the big HOLIDAY. Since it is going to be bitterly cold, we are going to be playing getogethers by ear. On the day, we will decide. That fireplace will be going every day.
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