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THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIES FATHER


They go to see RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY

Glenn Ford watches MOGAMBO on TV

On hiatus...

Hi, in case you're wondering, I haven't abandoned the idea for this site. What you see posted below was a test of sorts for me and I plan to return to the concept one day. Meanwhile, watch some movies!

Mike

Stumbling across an article on my About.com site, I realized there are some film recommendations which might help you program your own double features related to Elvis Presley. While I'm not a big fan of the art of his films, to this day I find myself drawn to them, watching him in action again and again. That's a testament to his presence and talent.

Here are my selections for Top 4 Elvis Presley Comedy Movies. If I were to pick a fun combo, I'd run #1, followed by #4. You'll see what I mean.

And just as soon as I can locate a widescreen copy, I'll finally see his western, "Charro!" I've been chasing that one down since original release. Oh, and I have a hankering to revisit "Girls! Girls! Girls!" Three guesses of what it's about.

Shop: Elvis Presley DVDs | VHS

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Now Showing on Our Other Screen: I had the good fortune, recently, to see Elvis at a drive-in theatre in "Jailhouse Rock" and "Viva Las Vegas," a pleasurable 35mm pairing. You might enjoy this four-part, tongue-in-cheek remembrance, My Night With Elvis.

More: Elvis Presley Humor

"Blazing Saddles" (1974) -- Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks; directed by Mel Brooks. After three decades, this explosively satirical, in your face, anything for a laugh western is still the funniest and, probably, most beloved spoof around. Tackling bigotry and beans, the cast and crew tear up the scenery and a studio to deliver the surreally silly tale of Black Bart, our new, um, sheriff. A comedy feast with Slim Pickens, "authentic American gibberish," and cattle roaming Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it's wild and whoopie, and heady.

Sorry. That's "Hedley!"

"Destry Rides Again" (1939) -- Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy; directed by George Marshall. One of the best movie westerns is an engaging drama loaded with colorful characterizations and humorous flourishes. The film is obviously a major influence on "Blazing Saddles," too. With its grand saloon set, mysterious lawman of curious ways, and the mob of townsfolk to the rescue, there are strong parallels in Mel Brooks' farce. Most notably, Dietrich's undulating, sexy dancehall singer, Frenchy, is the bigger than life target of Madeline Kahn's blisteringly hilarious send-up as Lili Von Shtupp.

Theme: Attack of the Clone

''The Ladykillers'' (2004) -- Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J. K. Simmons; directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Not exactly Forrest Gump meets Obi Wan Kenobi, but it makes for an interesting concept to ponder as Hanks essays the droll Alec Guinness character from the great Ealing Studios classic of five decades ago. The setting changes to contemporary Memphis and the boys fixate their bumbling minds on a casino heist, although their landlady once again proves to be problematic. Louder and bolder, and probably unnecessary with that perfectly good original version readily available.

::::: Buy: "The Ladykillers" DVD | VHS

::::: Watch: Trailer

"The Ladykillers" (1955) -- Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Katie Johnson; directed by Alexander MacKendrick. From Turner Classic Movies: ''A delightful black comedy ... The clever script by William Rose (it was nominated for an Oscar) is so impeccably British, conjuring up a portrait of postwar London that is both idealized and satiric. And the central premise is hard to top. A gang of thieves ... pretend to be a practicing string quartet as a cover for their true intention -- a security van robbery. ... The criminals are eventually undone by their own greed and their various, unsuccessful attempts to murder their meddling landlady who remains oblivious to their crime -- or does she?'' Read more...

::::: Buy: "The Ladykillers" DVD | VHS

Theme: Diane Lane's European adventures.

"Under the Tuscan Sun" (2003) -- Diane Lane, Lindsay Duncan, Sandra Oh; directed by Audrey Wells. Suddenly single, a middle-aged American vacations in Italy, where she buys a dilapidated villa on a whim, immersing herself into a new world of beauty, characters, and love. Based on Frances Mayes' autobiographical book, although the film takes liberties with events. Lighthearted entertainment, drenched in sumptuous cinematography.

::::: Buy "Under the Tuscan Sun" DVD | VHS

::::: Watch Trailer

"A Little Romance" (1979) -- Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, Thelonious Bernard, Arthur Hill, Sally Kellerman, Broderick Crawford; directed by George Roy Hill. Lane won many hearts in her screen debut at 14, as a schoolgirl in Paris experiencing first love, teen pains, cinema, Venice, and an elderly con man. This film is often referred to as "a charmer" and that it certainly is.

An interesting aside, the young couple enjoys screenings of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting," the two biggest hits from their "A Little Romance" director.

::::: Buy "A Little Romance" DVD | VHS

"La Dolce Vita" (1960) -- An alternate, tongue-in-cheek selection to double feature with "Under the Tuscan Sun" is this Federico Fellini classic, featuring a memorable dance in a fountain by Anita Ekberg. In her Tuscan village, Diane Lane meets an eccentric Englishwoman and former lover of Fellini, who reenacts images from the earlier film.

::::: Buy "La Dolce Vita" DVD | VHS

Here's an amusing diversion from the folks compiling The Top Five List. Beware, it's a bit naughty: The Top Five Interesting Movie Triple Features.

Theme: In "Identity," frantic characters note a string of grisly murders may be part of a methodical plan to eliminate them all, like in "that movie," referring to one of the many versions or copycats of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians."

"Identity" (2003) -- John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Rebecca De Mornay; directed by James Mangold. On a dark and stormy night, 10 strangers are stranded at an isolated motel. One by one their bodies begin to pile. Are the killings random or is there a deadly connection?

::::: Buy "Identity" DVD | VHS

"And Then There Were None" (1945) -- Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young; directed by Rene Clair. The most famous and best remembered of the film versions derived from Christie's novel. Ten weekend guests are lured to an island, where they face systematic deaths and a mysterious killer.

::::: Buy "And Then There Were None" DVD | VHS

Triple Giggle: "Murder by Death" (1976) -- Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith; directed by Robert Moore. An A-list cast dines on Neil Simon's droll spoof of convuluted mysteries, especially those of Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade, Miss Marple, Nick Charles, and Charlie Chan. Ten houseguests, including five of the world's most brilliant detectives (Milo Perrier, Sam Diamond, Miss Marbles, Dick Charleston, Sidney Wang), are lured to a castle to solve a murder at midnight -- perhaps, their own.

::::: Buy "Murder by Death" DVD | VHS

Theme: Love Thy Brother or The Bod Couples.

"Stuck on You" (2003) -- Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Cher, Meryl Streep; directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. Gross-out writer-director team, the Farrelly Bros. ("There's Something About Mary," "Kingpin"), sprinkle sweetness on the comic tale of Siamese twin burger flippers who go Hollywood, finding love, success, and separate lives. Cher is fun spoofing her image. Streep would fare better sewn to Liza Minnelli. The best moment is actor Kinnear's one-man Truman Capote tribute, while Damon lurks "inconspicuous" on stage.

::::: Buy "Stuck on You" DVD | VHS

"The Thing With Two Heads" (1972) -- Ray Milland, Rosey Grier, Don Marshall, Chelsea Brown; directed by Lee Frost. Schlocky exploitation melodrama from cheapskate American International was plenty bad when first released; now it's deliciously ridiculous. Academy Award-winner Milland is a brilliant surgeon/white racist who schemes to have his brain live on in a new body. Presto! He awakes to discover his head has been grafted onto hulking black Death Row convict Grier. Ludicrous effects and stunt work make for fine snickering.

::::: Buy "The Thing With Two Heads" DVD