mcade Reviews

CBS Schoolbreak Special: The Exchange Student (1985) Season 2, Episode 3

Looking for a copy of this episode

[9/10 · 4 June 2008]

I saw this only one, when it originally came out in 1985, and it has remained with me ever since. I don't believe it has ever been rebroadcast, which is just a shame because it was a well done production.

This particular afterschool special deals with the problems faced by a girl from India coming to stay with her host family in America and the cultural differences that the girl shares with the host family. This results in conflict when the girl's American counterpart wants to start changing her, trying to "americanize" her and the girl resists the change.

The special ends with everyone learning to accept and appreciate each other's differences instead of trying to change them.

If anyone has a copy of this available, please contact me via private message as I would be very interested in getting it.

Wonder Valley (1953)

Does anyone have a copy of this presumed lost film?

[19 March 2008]

If anyone happens to hold a copy or surviving footage of this film, please send me a private message or email.

I am working with Ms. Jean's biographers to try find a copy of the film but so far we cannot determine if it has survived.

It is the only color film that she ever appeared in and Governor Sid McMath was featured as well. The film was shot entirely in the state of Arkansas and was produced by Viva Ruth Lyles for her own independent production company, Liles State Motion Pictures Company.

The only known copy to exist was deteriorated so badly that it couldn't be saved.

Neptune's Daughter (1914)

Neptune's Daughter

[7/10 · 21 September 2005]

I was fortunate to learn that a portion of this film exists in two worldwide archives. I have seen 20 minutes of film footage which I purchased from one of the archives. I am in talks to get the footage from the other one.

Since originally writing this, I was lucky enough to obtain additional footage from the other archive and to date, about 26 minutes of this film has been located. Hopefully, more will be found in the future.

The surviving footage shows what a wonderful film this must have been to see in its entirety. Ms. Kellerman has a graceful quality in her swimming & diving that kind of reminds me of when I see a figure skater like Peggy Fleming or Dorothy Hamill do a skating program. However, she also has the plucky quality displayed by Mary Pickford in her many tomboyish and childlike roles.

Maybe one day more surviving footage or a surviving copy of this film in its entirety will be located. It is fortunate that some of this film exists so silent fans can see what magic the Kellerman/Herbert Brenon productions had in them.

Holiday Inn (1942)

Holiday Inn - Truly Classic

[9/10 · 12 September 2005]

I always feel that a true classic is either a film or a song that within a few feet of film or a few bars of a tune, you know exactly what the song or film is and in most cases the cast or artist who was involved with it.

This film, in my opinion, is no exception. The casting of this film (Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy and Fred Astaire as Ted Hanover) is pure genius. Both stars were really at their professional peaks at the time and they show it in this movie musical.

Both Marjorie Reynolds as Linda Mason and Virginia Dale as Lila Dixon were not as well known, but I feel they both more than proved themselves in holding their own against the talents of Astaire & Crosby.

The supporting cast were fine too. Louise Beavers as well as Walter Abel gave some comedic relief in their roles as Mamie & as Danny Reid.

The firecracker dance sequence with Astaire is well worth the price of admission alone! I also enjoyed the dancing sequence between Astaire & Dale during the "Your Easy to Dance With" number and between Astaire & Reynolds during the "Be Careful Its My Heart" number.

Truly a wonderful film despite the controversy surrounding the "Abraham" black face routine.

When I first saw this film, I never thought about it as being filmed to offend anyone, I just considered it was the only way to explain in the plot why Ted & Danny don't recognize Linda since Jim has been hiding her from them. I have never changed my feelings on this and still feel the same way some 35 years later after my original viewing.

The Original Mermaid (2002)

The Original Mermaid

[9/10 · 31 August 2005]

This is a wonderful documentary about Ms. Kellerman that gives many little known facts about her and shows some rare clips & footage not otherwise available.

I had to obtain a copy of it from the production company out of Australia in order to see it, but it was well worth the wait.

There is very little information that exists about Ms. Kellerman in the modern era but during her lifetime she was a swimmer, stage performer, author, fitness personality, and shrewd businesswomen, which was really not common for most women at that time.

Most women were homemakers and tended the children at that time and did not earn the right to vote until 1920. By 1920, she had been on the stage; swam great distances; acted in the motion pictures; wrote several books and started her own fitness clubs.

Anyone that would like to find out more information about this interesting woman should check this out!

Siren of the Sea (1911)

Siren of the Sea

[6/10 · 31 August 2005]

I was fortunate enough in my research of silent film to find that this short film existed in a European archive. I was able to get my hands on a copy and see it.

The photography is quite primitive when viewed now, but it serves as a promise of things to come. When it was made, for the most part only one and two reel films were being made, but in as little as four or five years, features took over much like the way the sound film took over from the silent film a decade later.

It is a shame that most of Kellerman's work is lost to us, but this short film along with a couple of her other films still exist and are available for the modern viewer. It is easy to see why she was so popular during the early years of the 20th century. She had kind of a tomboyish quality while still retaining her femininity that comes across in her acting.

Hopefully one day someone will discover that her films she made with Herbert Brenon exist in a private collection or archive and will be released to the public.

Family Affair (1966–1971)

Family Affair on DVD

[25 July 2005]

This show I grew up with and would love to see again. It was about a different time when children were much more naive and not nearly as jaded as they are today.

It taught family values and showed how tragedy (death of the siblings parents in a car accident) brings people together. The show did have moments of being cheesy but I would much rather see that then some of the current garbage being forced on everyone on network television. Anissa Jones, playing Buffy, specifically in the first episode, is the most underrated child actress of her time. She is so natural.

I guess what really bothers me is that whenever you turn on the television today, all you are forced to see are these reality shows with the dog eat dog mentality. Everyone will stomp on everyone else to get what they want no matter what the cost. It seems that a show like The Simple Life (Paris Hilton) or The Surreal Life with C list celebrities gets released on DVD five minutes after it comes out but these truly classic shows, like Family Affair; Alice and One Day At a Time are never shown and haven't been seen for years.

TV Land shows Leave it to Beaver all the time, why not change the lineup and show Family Affair; Alice & One Day at a Time so people can see something that hasn't been on for years?

Gilligan's Island (1964–1992)

Truly classic television appropriate for anyone to see

[5 May 2003]

I have always been a fan of this show and I grew up with it.

I have to say that being in my late 30's now, I still enjoy watching it. There is nothing in the show to offend anyone and you don't have to worry about something inappropriate for young viewers. Not too many shows nowadays are around that you can let a child watch that doesn't have something that is either offensive or has objectionable content.

Oftentimes, if I come home after a hard day at work, not physically tired but mentally exhausted, the perfect thing for me is to turn on a television show that doesn't require too much thinking, its just fun and that is what Gilligan's Island is for me. It is a very welcome stress reliever to come home and spend thirty minutes laughing and getting rid of the stress of the day.

It is truly a classic television show because of the stories; the theme song and the cast and their chemistry. Everything is a perfect blend.

Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)

Excellent acting performances in this silent film!

[8/10 · 27 February 2003]

This premiered on Turner Classic Movies on February 26, 2003 and I got to see it for the first time. The story is engaging but the film comes to life because of Lon Chaney's heartbreaking performance. The pain he feels because he cannot tell the orphan girl who has grown into a woman that he is in love with her while all the time being told by his partner that he has to "Laugh Clown Laugh" to make people laugh is heartrenching. You can feel his pain and longing for Loretta Young's character. Eventually the pain overcomes him leading him to commit suicide. Loretta Young, who was only 15 in this film, turns in a remarkably performance for being a newcomer.

All in all a very enjoyable silent film. This is one worth catching if it is shown again.