Do you realize that practically most of the trouble in the world comes from people lying to people? Just take Hitler, for instance. -Dingle on morals
This funny and VERY well-written romantic/screwball comedy, directed by George Stevens (A Place in the Sun, Giant) is a MUST-SEE for any fan of classic film! I saw it for the first time (on TCM) last week, then wondered why I’d never heard of it before.
Damn the torpedoes – full steam ahead! –Dingle on seizing the moment
In WWII era Washington, DC, there is a housing shortage and “8 women for every man,” BUT Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur) ends up w/ TWO unwanted roomies. First, there is retired industrialist, Benjamin Dingle (James Coburn- Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner), then mechanic-turned-soldier, Joe Carter (Joel McCrea). Mr. Dingle sublets half of his room to the younger man, considering him “a high type, clean cut, nice young fellow.” When Dingle plays (unlikely) matchmaker, hilarity and romance ensue!
There are two kinds of people – those who don’t do what they want to do, so they write down in a diary about what they haven’t done, and those who are too busy to write about it because they’re out doing it!-Dingle on life
This box office smash (the BIGGEST of Bette Davis’ career) is loved by MANY, maligned by a few (including film critic Pauline Kael, who referred to it as “schlock”). The premise is nothing new- an ugly duckling (w/ extra pounds, thick eyebrows, dowdy clothes, and VERY low self-esteem) turning into a beautiful (and more importantly, confident) swan.
The heroine- neurotic Charlotte Vale (Davis)- is helped by her sister-in-law Lisa, a pioneering psychotherapist named Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains), and eventually- a friend who becomes more- Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid). The villain in this film is Charlotte’s mother, Mrs. Vale (Gladys Cooper), a widow of considerable wealth in Boston. She is a domineering woman, displeased by everyone, though her harshest criticism is for her youngest child- Charlotte.
If the psychological elements, glamorous clothes, or music don’t draw you in- there is also a BIG love story element. But learning to love (and accept) oneself is a key theme in this tale. As Charlotte tells the depressed preteen Tina: “You can have a kind of beauty… one that comes from within, because you are kind to people.”
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. -Chapter 2, Verse 15, Song of Solomon, King James Bible
This film’s screenplay was adapted from Lillian Hellman’s stage play by herself. A few others, including Dorothy Parker, worked on it also. The film was helmed by William Wyler- a director that needs NO introduction.
In turn of the 20th century, small town Southern aristocrat, Regina Hubbard Giddons (Bette Davis- NEVER one to shy away from unsympathetic roles), wants more freedom (travel to Chicago) and access to money (her older brothers inherited ALL their businessman father’s money). Regina’s brothers (bachelor Ben and abusive husband Oscar) are ALMOST as ruthless as her! Oscar’s wife, Birdie, comes from a former wealthy planter family, but she is disrespected by almost everyone (aside from her black servants and niece).
You can flout society’s rule and be Regina, or you can ‘toe the line’ and be Birdie, who is blissfully ignorant of the political meaning of anything happening around her. She requires the charity of men to even survive. -IMDB commentator
Regina also wants her sweet/clueless teen daughter, Alexandra (Teresa Wright), to meet more eligible men in high social circles. However, the girl already has a steady presence in her life- David, the local newspaperman. (This character was created for the movie to provide a caring ally for Alexandra.) Oscar’s son, Leo (Dan Duryea), has had his eyes on his cousin for a LONG time.
You can’t make a picture without a villain . . . it pays well and you last. -Dan Duryea, actor
One day, Regina decides that her daughter is the BEST person to go and fetch her father, Horace (Herbert Marshall) from Baltimore where he has been recuperating for SOME time.
First of all, Oprah is NOT the star of this show (SOME will be disappointed by this fact); she is a recurring character- Mavis, a bar owner and older sister of the Greenleaf family matriarch, Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield). The show, focusing on a black family running a megachurch in Memphis (where Oprah grew up), was created by Craig Wright (a former pastor). Yes, he’s a white man, but also a close friend of Oprah. Wright calls the show a “collaboration,” where he takes in feedback from regular church-going consultants and the lead actors.
The viewer is put in the shoes of the main protagonist, Grace (AKA GiGi), played by theater veteran Merle Dandridge (check out this fun interview on Live! w/ Kelly). She is tall, elegant, and a single mom; she is also a journalist (by profession). As a very young woman, she used to preach at Calvary (as the town car driver recalls). GiGi returns home from Phoenix (after 20 yrs away) w/ her teen daughter, Sophia (Desiree Ross), for the funeral of one of her younger sisters (Faith). The house (or estate) has changed a LOT from that of her childhood, she tells Sophia. At the gates, she is surprised to find her (very handsome) old flame, Noah (Benjamin Patterson), who is head of security for Calvary.
The prodigal daughter returns… -Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) greets his daughter with these words, a big smile, and long hug
You’re not here to sow discord in the fields of my peace? -Lady Mae asks GiGi
We see that Faith’s funeral is just family; also, she’s NOT buried in a graveyard. Hmmm… At the family dinner (served by uniformed staff a la DowntonAbbey), Gigi endures a trial by fire, which is lead by her sister-in-law/principal of a private charter school, Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne). Her mother backs up Kerissa (as seen in the clip below from the pilot ep).
One viewer called this show “a gospel version of Empire.” As the FOX drama takes music seriously, THIS show takes religion (Christianity) seriously. From the eps so far, religion is NOT the problem, it’s the covering up of (ugly) truths. Saving face is also a big theme in this show; people will go to GREAT lengths to preserve their positions and respect w/in the church/family. OK, so maybe that reminds you of soap operas? BUT those would never cover Black Live Matter (as we see in Episode 4). I’m not calling this MUST-SEE, but there are issues in this show that I feel are worth considering.
SPOILERS: This post contains major spoilers from the season finale of the show.
10) The large bell is flung across the road by the force of the explosion, crushing several men.
9) The suspenseful lingering on Tommen’s window before he throws himself out of it (even before the dust can settle).
8) Sansa moving out of the way when Littlefinger tries to kiss her in the godswood. Of his vision of the future, she says: “It’s a nice dream” (which is NOT a rejection or acceptance).
7) Cersei’s stone-cold confession speech to the shackled Septa Unella (after pouring wine over her face.)
6) Davos confronting Melisandre (w/ Jon Snow as witness), revealing that she had Shireen (“I loved her like she were my own!”) burned alive.
5) Lady Lyanna Mormont’s speech chastising some of the other Northern lords for NOT fighting against Ramsay’s armies (“…you refused the call”) before she declaring that Jon Snow is the “King in the North.”
4) Arya killing Walder Frey (in exactly the same way that her mother, Catelyn, had been killed) after baking his two eldest sons into pies.
3) Dany pins the small silver brooch on Tyrion and names him Hand of the Queen. Their conversation brought out the emotional side of the Lannister outcast- he was close to tears.
2) Sansa and Jon’s conversation atop the Winterfell battlements, esp. the part where she states that he is IS a real Stark in her opinion.
1) Cersei is crowned queen (by Qyburn, now her Hand of the Queen). The look on Jaime’s face is unlike anything we’ve seen before! Is he doubting her finally?
Knightleyemma 