Gentle Friends, last night was a double feature... staring off the evening with...
..."National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" 1989. It's a film I see large chunks of every year as it is shown on many channels at many times throughout the season. I rarely watch it all the way through and really haven't in many years. It was a treat to just sit and watch the hijinks!!
_________________
I followed up Christmas Vacation with...
"A Christmas Carol" 1999 with Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge. It's a fine interpretation and Stewart does his usual top-notch job throughout.
_________________
There you go sports fans. So... I'm off for the next two weeks on a little staycation. But, with me working at the dining room table will I really be off.... probably not, as I can't help but answer the voicemails and emails and whatnot. I'll be posting here off and on so stay tuned!! and Stay Safe!!
"The Bishops Wife" 1947 - a winner every time, a great cast, a super story, and Gladys Cooper warms up at the end... who could ask for anything more! Highly recommended if you get the chance!
Gentle Friends, last night after fiddling between two wrapped films... luck had that I got to unwrap...
... "Remember the Night" 1940, starring Fred MacMurray , Babara Stanwyck, and Beulah Bondi. I really enjoyed this film and have for the past few years after discovering it on TCM. I think it is superior to "Christmas in Connecticut" which, BTW, I also really enjoy! But, where CiC is a kinda typical screwball film, RtN is warm and really tugs at the heart as you see Barbara's character grow. My only complaint is the end, as it leaves you a tiny bit hanging but that's alright. Directed by Mitchel Leisen and with strong performances by Sterling Hollway and Elizabeth Patterson you just can't go wrong with this wonderfully written (screenplay by Preston Sturges) film!!
Gentle Friends, over the past week I've been watching quite a few films, both my "wrapped" films and some on TCM..... let's talk about the unwrapping... First up is a film I saw originally when it released...
Santa Claus the Movie - 1985 - a fun film with lots of back story about Santa, an evil toy maker played by John Lithgow and Dudley Moore as an elf. I can't remember the last time I watched it but it was a fun film to unwrap!!
You know how I love the Nutcracker and I've got multiple versions...
...the one I unwrapped was a beautiful version... the 2009 Royal Opera House production with Miyako Yoshida as the Sugarplum Fairy and Steve Mcrea as the Prince.. a lovely production with little variations to the story here and there that make it special.
Next to unwrap ...
... the 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street.. a classic if ever there was one!!
__________________________
Then I pulled a newer film called "The Man Who Invented Christmas" 2017... a fictionalized version of the writing of "A Christmas Carol" a fun film with lots of Charles Dickes (mostly correct) backstory... then on Friday I pulled out...
"White Christmas" 1954 a real Christmas favorite of mine that I can watch over and over!!
Last night's pick was...
... Disney's "A Christmas Carol" 2009... one of my favorite stories of Christmas and I've so got many versions of ACC that this will be popping up again... I really like this poster image for this film the use of the flame of the Ghost of Christmas Past to create the image of Scrooge so effective!
___________________
Right now as I type this Post on TCM is playing "Meet me in St Loius" 1944 a film I've seen dozens of times... and which wraps up with that iconic song...
__________________
There you go sports fans. A Sunday Post to catch up on movies...
I'll post again in the morning some stitchin' so stay tuned! and Stay Sfae!
Gentle Friends, last night I pulled the first of the wrapped films for Christmas... what I pulled ...
... it's a super way to start off the season as I find this and Barbara's other Christmas film "Remember the Night" - both top of the heap fun Christmas viewing in my book!
____________________
I had quite a few questions about one of the pies we had... the Marionberry Pie. The berry was the question as most folks have never heard of them. The berry comes from the northwest and was developed in 1956 at Oregon State in Corvallis. It is a cross between Chehalem blackberry and an Olalliberry.. is a very sour-sweet berry and just delicious. The pie comes from a Lee Farms in Tualatin near Portland called
___________________
I received an email today from Sajou Paris.... that lovely store will be closing its doors. It's very sad for me as it was a store I always got to whenever I was in Paris... bright and colorful and just packed with fun stitching things. Now when in Paris I'll have to head over to the Bon Marche as there is a Sajou area there on the 1st Floor.
___________________
That's about it for today's sports fans. Thanks for stopping by do stop again!
Gentle Friends, so I saw this on FaceBook...and you know you can only take FB with a grain of salt... but I really liked this idea...
..... now, you know how much I love Christmas films...
and I've got dozens of Christmas related DVD's and BluRays... so .....
... I wrapped up a bunch of them and now have some surprises waiting to watch. The problem I've faced often in the past is there are so many things to choose to watch that I just take forever to decide. This way I'll let destiny choose what to watch.... and enjoy the ride!
