Deanna Durbin, Ann Sheridan,

This week I watched:

My Collection:

First Love (1939) Deanna Durban, Robert Stack, Helen Parrish, Eugene Paulette. Retelling of the Cinderella story. The wicked step sister played with relish by Parrish makes our heroine miserable, but Deanna(Connie) is so good-hearted and chipper, we just know, with the mice's (butler, maids, cook and cop boyfriend) help, she will go to the ball and win the Prince/Ted's hand. Paulette as Dad, is wonderful. His final explosion and takedown of the lazy doofus of his son, played with bored stupidity by Lewis Howard, is a joy to watch. And Deanna singing Amapola (my pretty little poppy), an aria or two, Home, Sweet Home, and a lovely Strauss Waltz, makes this a must have for her fans and lovers of great singing. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031311/

TCM's Ann Sheridan Day:

City For Conquest (1940) Ann Sheridan, James Cagney, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, George Tobias, Frank McHugh, Elia Kazan. Kids grow up among tenements and the mean streets and promise they will always be there for each other. Older brother Danny boxes to keep his brother Eddie having music lessons and off the streets. Girlfriend Peggy has dreams of having a career dancing. One night the couple are out and there is a contest. Murray Burns (Anthony Quinn) is the local star, and asks Peggy to partner with him. They win, and are offered a contract for a tour. Peggy see the bright lights and can't say no. She leaves without telling Danny. He decides to go for the big time and tells manager(Crisp) that he wants to get a title fight ASAP. Which results in Danny losing his sight. From there on the melodrama of how Peggy and Danny get back together, and Eddie having a successful concert, is gripping, even if it is pure corn. Annie, baby, sure can dance. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/

George Washington Slept Here (1942) Ann Sheridan, Jack Benny, Charles Coburn, Percy Kilbride. I was struck by how much I liked this film. I remember seeing it when I was just a kid and thinking it was stupid. Actually, it reminds me somewhat of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and since it was quite a few years before that one, I wonder if they 'borrowed?' Anyway, New Yorkers are continually asked to move from apartments because of their dog. Finally, Connie Fuller gets hubby Bill, to agree to move to the country. To a ramshackled house - with no water. Scenes of big machinery digging a well. Neighbor informs them they have no access to the road because he owns the land. So they have to jounce over hill and dale through the woods. Finally move in and have scene where he finds out the commuter train leaves at 5:30 am instead of 7:30. So it goes. Amusing and loved Ann trying to work things out. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/

The Set Up (1949) Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Wallace Ford. I saw this on its' first run and left the theater knowing I had seen a great little film. Ryan was always on my radar ever after. Boxing films are not my favorites, and usually I have to squint to watch the more brutal parts. However, somehow they managed to make the most intense fighting not too unsettling. Perhaps because the director used the whole ring and long shots more that closeups? Don't know, but it was more palatable. The story of the wife and her angst waiting for the fight to be over, and her walk around the seedy arena area, intensified our anxiety. Great character actors in all the secondary roles. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041859/

Inglorious Basterds (2009) Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz (Oscar), Melanie Laurent, Diane Kruger. O.M.G. is it wrong to be BORED by this film? What has happened to my cute Brad baby? Can ya tell? I hated this movie. The two women were the only redeeming factors for me. Tarantino is a juvenile fan-boy of violence and shows it lovingly on the screen, in close up and long takes. But his fan base loves it all too, so he will keep getting funds to make these piles of dung. The opening sequence at the farm house is suspenseful and starts things off well. We dread what we know will happen to the Jews hiding under the floor boards. But by the time the young woman is running across the field, and it just ends with the officer yelling at her, things have already started to go wrong. At least to me. So much of the rest is just disjointed and makes you want to scream - get on with it! - too many long meaningful looks, too many in jokes that I for one didn't get. 4/10 only for his good actors doing their best. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/

A couple of cooler days and last night a lot of rain. Days are getting shorter too. Lots of light hearted films to watch.