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Reviews
Joy to the World: A Celebration of Christmas (1984)
Lovely Christmas card from the Granada people, with one puzzling piece
This was a delight (almost!). It takes place on Baker Street, I'm assuming, with Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson passing out goodies to the Victorian street singers. Dr. Watson sings a verse of a Christmas carol, as does Sherlock Holmes, who has a beautiful voice. The odd note is that there is a scene in this short piece where Jeremy Brett (as Holmes) gathers the children and they circle around a pentagram he has drawn in the snow and he and the children disappear! Now what that is doing in a Christmas card like this is anybody's guess! I'm sure somebody had a reason, but I can't figure it out! Otherwise it's a lovely thing, with beautiful music and the whole Victorian Christmas vibe. I wish somebody could unravel this mystery!
BBC Play of the Month: Love's Labour's Lost (1975)
Delightful romp that isn't boring or embarrassing!
The beautiful garden setting in Glyndebourne definitely helps--this is NOT a stage play! Of course, Jeremy Brett's sensuality helps, too! Berowne is the main character in this play, but only Brett could put that much soul in it! I thoroughly enjoyed this production of Love's Labour's Lost. I know that some of Shakespeare's dialog has been cut, but I don't think I've ever seen ANY Shakespeare play that wasn't hacked up! It didn't hurt this one. In the play, 4 high-minded men decide to swear off women for 3 years, but then they are blind-sided by 4 beautiful women, fall instantly in love, and go through all the agonies of courtship. Lots of fun!
Angel in My Pocket (1969)
One of my favorites of all time
This story of a preacher who is handed a dysfunctional church in a town that is controlled by warring factions and still makes a difference is about as good as it gets. Dealing with a drunk brother-in-law, a trial of a mother-in-law, 3 kids and another on the way, this preacher is still the kind I would love to have! Truly a man of God, but no plaster saint! One of the most feel-good movies I've ever seen.
Desperate Search (1952)
Not as good as the book!
This film shows the age-old problem of trying to transfer a good book to film. Too many changes were made that shouldn't. In the book Janet is only 2 and a half, not much more than a baby and still in diapers. She is not easy on the trip, but not bad either. The ex-wife is not a rival pilot but an actress who has custody of the children but doesn't really care about them. When she goes up with her ex-husband as a spotter, she falls asleep and misses seeing them. The love interest is a girl reporter. If they hadn't made these changes the movie would have been so much better!