Saturday

Aug. 7, 2010

Of

Eden

(1955)

Synopsis:  Cal Trask is a particularly unhappy young man. He sees himself as the black sheep of the family and is always competing with his brother Aron, who seems to be perfect in almost every way. Aron is also their father's favorite and Cal desperately wants his father's love and affection. It's the period leading up to America's entry into World War I and these are tumultuous times. After his father loses most of his fortune trying to ship refrigerated lettuce to New York, Cal decides to speculate on a crop of beans and makes a small fortune but he soon realizes that he can't buy his father's loves either. Cal's discovery that his mother is alive - he and Aron were told that she had died - and that she is a madam leads to a final, tragic result for all three of the Trask men.

Saturday

Sept. 4, 2010

Angry

Men

(1957)

Synopsis: 

"12 Angry Men" focuses on a jury's deliberations in a capital murder case. A 12-man jury is sent to begin deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of an 18-year-old Latino accused in the stabbing death of his father, where a guilty verdict means an automatic death sentence. The case appears to be open-and-shut: The defendant has a weak alibi; a knife he claimed to have lost is found at the murder scene; and several witnesses either heard screaming, saw the killing or the boy fleeing the scene. Eleven of the jurors immediately vote guilty; only Juror No. 8 (Mr. Davis) casts a not guilty vote. At first Mr. Davis' bases his vote more so for the sake of discussion after all, the jurors must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. As the deliberations unfold, the story quickly becomes a study of the jurors' complex personalities (which range from wise, bright and empathetic to arrogant, prejudiced and merciless), preconceptions, backgrounds and interactions. That provides the backdrop to Mr. Davis' attempts in convincing the other jurors that a "not guilty" verdict might be appropriate.

Saturday

Oct. 2, 2010

(1950)

Synopsis:  When I first saw this movie I didn't think I would like it.  I didn't think it was my "type" of movie.  I was wrong.  HARVEY will make you laugh and at the same time show you the power of kindness.  JAMES STEWART makes you believe someone is there even though his friend is a 6-foot tall rabbit (an evil spirit in the form of an animal).  It is easily one of the best movies ever made!  If you don't know what this movie is or haven't seen it for any reason, all I have to say is "GO SEE IT!"  Even if you don't like black and white movies, there is something in this movie for everyone.  If you like drama, comedy, or just films that make you feel good inside, this movie is for you.

"If ELWOOD P DOWD, played by James Stewart is crazy, I don't want to be sane."

The classic stage hit gets the Hollywood treatment in the story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.

Elwood P. Dowd is a mild-mannered, pleasant man, who just happens (he says) to have an invisible friend resembling a 6-foot rabbit.