I occasionally get the urge to make light of things. The following is a completely fictional simulation of the current political debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In the interest of being funny, I have used some " references" to Irene Dunne movie titles in the mix of jargon between the two political candidates.
I am first and foremost a true fan of Irene Dunne. Irene was a republican to the best of my knowledge, but Irene was never about being politically negative, so it was very hard ( believe me) to keep the tempo upbeat. This is meant to be comical, and should only be construed that way. So, to any Irene Dunne fan, please have some fun reading this and watch for the movie title references!
WOLF BLITZER: Welcome to tonight's Presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, together once more for this, the 262nd debate of the 2008 campaign. Let's begin with Senator Obama.
SEN. OBAMA: Wolf, thank you.
BLITZER: Senator, who would have thought 4 years ago, a guy named Barack would have been this close to the Democratic presidential nomination?
SEN. OBAMA: Well, this is still an unfinished campaign, but I believe we are at a defining moment in our history. Our nation is at war, our planet is in trouble. Families across the country are struggling to pay their mortgages. But I think my candidacy offers the silver lining to the clouds on our horizon.
BLITZER: Senator Clinton, for nearly 8 years now, your claim to the presidential nomination has been all but a foregone conclusion. Yet, you are now faced with an uphill battle to overcome Senator Obama's lead.
SEN. CLINTON: Well, Wolf, both Senator Obama and I would make history. It's a ground-breaking event to have a lady in a race for the presidency. But only one of us is ready on Day One to move into the Oval office. As a Democrat, I look forward to either Barack or I raising our hand and swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States. But when the celebrations are over, the awful reality is that the next President will walk into the Oval Office and face a stack of problems. What the American people don't need right now is the mudslinging that typically happens in a tight race.
SEN. OBAMA: Yes, I agree - there will be no stingers from me either!
BLITZER: Senator Obama, how do you account for the significant support you've been able to attract from women during your campaign?
SEN. OBAMA: I owe much to that particular group of voters: the white, middle-aged women of Dover, Wisconsin! Not to mention, the magificent Oprah Winfrey and other high profile celebrity women speaking out in my favor.
BLITZER: Senator Clinton- your health care plan is estimated to cost $110 billion annually. You want to tax the rich to pay for that, is that what you're saying?
SEN. CLINTON: Well, let me say the way I would pay for this is to take the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire on people making over $210,000 a year - about $55 billion would come from that. The other $55 billion would come from modernization and the efficiencies that I believe we can obtain.
BLITZER: Senator Obama- it's the age of illegal aliens. What is your position on immigration status in this country?
SEN. OBAMA: There is no doubt, we have to get control of our borders. We can't absorb the saturation of six million people coming over to the U.S. without us having any idea who they are. If I were President, I'd crack down on those employers that are taking advantage of the situation, hiring folks who cannot complain about worker conditions and so on...
BLITZER: This race for the Democratic nomination is winding up as virtually too close to call. The polls from Texas and Ohio indicate a difference of thirteen delegates!
SEN. CLINTON: I'll take them!
SEN. OBAMA: This nomination is mine!
BLITZER: Any chance of a consolation vice-presidency for either of you?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Foreign Correspondent
Next on my list of " to sees": another Alfred Hitchcock movie- "Foreign Correspondent", starring Joel McCrea. This movie airs this Wednesday, February 6, on TCM at 5:45pm EST.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The 39 Steps
This movie played this morning on TCM. It was an Alfred Hitchcock film I have never seen before. Though I was looking for Mr. Hitchcock for his notorious personal appearance at the outset of the movie, I missed him.
First of all, I am inexplicably attracted to these early British films. Recently, I've seen " I Know Where I'm Going"...."Brief Encounter"....."The Man Who Knew Too Much"....."Pride & Prejudice".
I love the accents , even though I have a devil of a time deciphering what is being said. See? I just used a British expression!
So this was an early one of Hitchcock's suspense films. I wouldn't call it a "thriller". The plot was a little far-fetched: A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent, and is soon finding himself in one jam after another. Well, it was nearly a little comical - the jams Robert Donat as " Hannay" finds himself in. In fact, this was as close to a 'farce' as I have seen a Hitchcock movie be. I did enjoy watching Robert Donat, the British actor, and some of the witty dialogue at times ( "Are you married? Yes, but don't rub it in). It's just that I was never clutching my seat . This film isn't even nearly as suspenseful as " Strangers On A Train" - a Hitchcock masterpiece. But I do enjoy watching even a mediocre British movie, for some reason.
Often, when I watch a Hitchcock movie, I am reminded of how Hitchcock had ( in my opinion) a slightly bizarre imagination. Maybe "bizarre" is too strong a word. Many of his works have depicted a darker side to the human mind. Sometimes, it's a primal fear; sometimes it's a view of our baser instinct. In the scene where Hannay takes refuge in a Scottish country farm, eerily the farmer's suspicions are clandestinely aroused. He turns to an almost evil antagonist with the small screen time allotted him.
I knew when he saw the woman on the train, she was much too pretty to be given just a bit part. Sure enough, she shows up as the climax to the film is unveiled.
One last thing, I loved the photography of the Scottish hills and countryside. I can attest to the mob of sheep that they ran into. I saw plenty of hillside sheep during a recent train ride in Scotland.
First of all, I am inexplicably attracted to these early British films. Recently, I've seen " I Know Where I'm Going"...."Brief Encounter"....."The Man Who Knew Too Much"....."Pride & Prejudice".
I love the accents , even though I have a devil of a time deciphering what is being said. See? I just used a British expression!
So this was an early one of Hitchcock's suspense films. I wouldn't call it a "thriller". The plot was a little far-fetched: A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent, and is soon finding himself in one jam after another. Well, it was nearly a little comical - the jams Robert Donat as " Hannay" finds himself in. In fact, this was as close to a 'farce' as I have seen a Hitchcock movie be. I did enjoy watching Robert Donat, the British actor, and some of the witty dialogue at times ( "Are you married? Yes, but don't rub it in). It's just that I was never clutching my seat . This film isn't even nearly as suspenseful as " Strangers On A Train" - a Hitchcock masterpiece. But I do enjoy watching even a mediocre British movie, for some reason.
Often, when I watch a Hitchcock movie, I am reminded of how Hitchcock had ( in my opinion) a slightly bizarre imagination. Maybe "bizarre" is too strong a word. Many of his works have depicted a darker side to the human mind. Sometimes, it's a primal fear; sometimes it's a view of our baser instinct. In the scene where Hannay takes refuge in a Scottish country farm, eerily the farmer's suspicions are clandestinely aroused. He turns to an almost evil antagonist with the small screen time allotted him.
I knew when he saw the woman on the train, she was much too pretty to be given just a bit part. Sure enough, she shows up as the climax to the film is unveiled.
One last thing, I loved the photography of the Scottish hills and countryside. I can attest to the mob of sheep that they ran into. I saw plenty of hillside sheep during a recent train ride in Scotland.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Talk of the Town
This movie is playing this Sunday, 1/13 on TCM. I will probably be watching football, so I'll miss it then. However, it plays again on Feb 26th at 8 pm EST on TCM....until then, Ronald Colman.
Brief Encounter
As it turns out, I do recall having seen this film once before. I remembered the final scene preceding the telling of the story. David Lean was the director - no wonder the layout of the action of the film was so well done. His cinematography was evident as well. The opening scene of the train rushing through was very picturesque , such vivid black & white lighting.
It was also a interesting move to tell the story from Laura's point of view. The audience is pointed toward her face, her eyes, her emotions. You don't see Alec's face all that much; you see more of his profile. I liked Trevor Howard in his younger days. He plays " everyman" pretty well. I also like his Britishness. Trouble was, however, with the accent and speaking fast, I have a hard time catching everything that gets said. What I also liked was that the dialogue was efficient. It didn't beat around the bush, yet it was sensitively put together. Alec is quick to be candid and heartfelt with Laura. Their "smitten" stage of love reaches the boiling point in just the right amount of cinematic time.
To the comment " They were both tormented with guilt, yet they constantly brought it on themselves. The pain of separating was almost like their penance for their sin". I would agree, but she was more tormented than he was.
At one point, Alec quotes John Keats to Laura from his poem " When I Have Fears":
"When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance...."
I am sure he is referring to the painful anticipation that his passion for Laura was something not meant to be...as is the poem further describes...
"And think that I may never live to trace Their shadows,
with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!
That I shall never look upon thee more..."
There isn't any guesswork in how it ends. The title is " Brief Encounter". The marvel of the film is in showing how they come to grips with the reality that they must never meet again. Just as the final moments come to a climax, there is the absurdity of the interruption by the tattle-taling female. Does that poor on more pathos or take the edge off of the pain?
Throughout, the theme is one of rushing here and there to catch a train, since they met and continue to meet in the train station. The subliminal message is " Haste"," Rush", like the flick of a cigarette lighter . Their affair is only destined for the " Spark", which is just as quickly snuffed out.
Laura loves her husband, and though she strays she realizes her happiness with him stands the test of this temptation "spark". The ending lines are designed to assure the audience that all has ended well:
" You've been a long way away"...." Thank you for coming back to me".
It was also a interesting move to tell the story from Laura's point of view. The audience is pointed toward her face, her eyes, her emotions. You don't see Alec's face all that much; you see more of his profile. I liked Trevor Howard in his younger days. He plays " everyman" pretty well. I also like his Britishness. Trouble was, however, with the accent and speaking fast, I have a hard time catching everything that gets said. What I also liked was that the dialogue was efficient. It didn't beat around the bush, yet it was sensitively put together. Alec is quick to be candid and heartfelt with Laura. Their "smitten" stage of love reaches the boiling point in just the right amount of cinematic time.
To the comment " They were both tormented with guilt, yet they constantly brought it on themselves. The pain of separating was almost like their penance for their sin". I would agree, but she was more tormented than he was.
At one point, Alec quotes John Keats to Laura from his poem " When I Have Fears":
"When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance...."
I am sure he is referring to the painful anticipation that his passion for Laura was something not meant to be...as is the poem further describes...
"And think that I may never live to trace Their shadows,
with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!
That I shall never look upon thee more..."
There isn't any guesswork in how it ends. The title is " Brief Encounter". The marvel of the film is in showing how they come to grips with the reality that they must never meet again. Just as the final moments come to a climax, there is the absurdity of the interruption by the tattle-taling female. Does that poor on more pathos or take the edge off of the pain?
Throughout, the theme is one of rushing here and there to catch a train, since they met and continue to meet in the train station. The subliminal message is " Haste"," Rush", like the flick of a cigarette lighter . Their affair is only destined for the " Spark", which is just as quickly snuffed out.
Laura loves her husband, and though she strays she realizes her happiness with him stands the test of this temptation "spark". The ending lines are designed to assure the audience that all has ended well:
" You've been a long way away"...." Thank you for coming back to me".
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Coming in February - TCM
I found another movie to add to the "to be seen" list:
"Foreign Correspondent", 1940 directed by Alfred Hitchcock
It is playing on TCM on Feb.6, 2008 5:45 ( not sure if am or pm) ET
"Once Upon A Honeymoon" is playing on 2/13/08 at 10:15 am ET
"Ninotchka" is playing on 2/20/08 at 4:00 pm ET
"Foreign Correspondent", 1940 directed by Alfred Hitchcock
It is playing on TCM on Feb.6, 2008 5:45 ( not sure if am or pm) ET
"Once Upon A Honeymoon" is playing on 2/13/08 at 10:15 am ET
"Ninotchka" is playing on 2/20/08 at 4:00 pm ET
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Starting off
The beginning of a new year - what better time to start an adventure in writing? I would like to say first of all, I have always been a fan of classic movies - those from the 'golden age of hollywood' - which is typically centered around the year 1939. That year has been called the most prolific time of classic film production. Over the past 15 years or so, I have 'morphed' from being a fan to being somewhat of a student of classic films. When you start noticing things like the film nuances of certain directors, how well written many of those scripts were, and those unforgettable 'character' actors, you have attained a superior level of film education.
At this stage, I have seen quite a number of the very well known classic movies , some more than once. However, the wonderful thing about those old movies is that there were so many, many good ones - even those which are not well known - that, perhaps, you need to look harder for, but they are there. I have listed many of my favorite movies on my web page " Favorites" - see Carolyn's Cafe. To reflect on classic movies that I know I haven't seen as of yet, which would appear to be interesting, these come to mind:
> Talk of the Town
>A Letter to Three Wives
>Brief Encounter
>Made For Each Other
>The 39 Steps
>Quality Street
>It's Love I'm After
>Friendly Persuasion
>Separate Tables
>Once Upon a Honeymoon
>The Petrified Forest
>Of Human Bondage
>Lifeboat
>Laura
>East of Eden
>Ninotchka
As I get the chance to see these, and any other movies, I will discuss them.
At this stage, I have seen quite a number of the very well known classic movies , some more than once. However, the wonderful thing about those old movies is that there were so many, many good ones - even those which are not well known - that, perhaps, you need to look harder for, but they are there. I have listed many of my favorite movies on my web page " Favorites" - see Carolyn's Cafe. To reflect on classic movies that I know I haven't seen as of yet, which would appear to be interesting, these come to mind:
> Talk of the Town
>A Letter to Three Wives
>Brief Encounter
>Made For Each Other
>The 39 Steps
>Quality Street
>It's Love I'm After
>Friendly Persuasion
>Separate Tables
>Once Upon a Honeymoon
>The Petrified Forest
>Of Human Bondage
>Lifeboat
>Laura
>East of Eden
>Ninotchka
As I get the chance to see these, and any other movies, I will discuss them.
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