For the first time ever the New Beverly is running a double bill that I requested in celebration of my birthday. I have been trying forever to get my wife Nancy to see SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS in a theater but everytime it would run she would have something else to do. No excuses this time. If anybody wishes to see it with another Preston Sturges classic MIRACLE AT MORGAN'S CREEK it will be running tonight and Saturday. Preston is starting to become a forgotten filmmaker, but outside of Frank Capra and Billy Wilder, I can't say I admire anybody more for these quirky comedies. I will be there tonight if anybody wants to say hello.
Congratulations!! SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS is a marvel of mixed emotions and THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK is very possibly the funniest film ever made. But BOTH are fully appreciated with an audience!
What a great double bill. I've never seen a Preston Sturges film in a cinema. My favourite is, The Great McGinty. I have a Sturges box set somewhere, I'll have to dig it out. The thing is not to keep waiting for the Blu-rays, & enjoy the DVD's, although Sulivan's Travels has been released on Blu-ray in the UK. Hopefully more to follow.
The last week of our play, I ran MORGAN'S CREEK for the rest of the cast. All were at least 15 years younger than I, most more than that. They had never heard of Preston Sturges. They went bananas over the film. They couldn't believe how brilliant the writing was, how everyone in the picture was perfect and how Bill Demarest took those pratfalls!
Ray, I think our beloved Bill's pratfall when he tries to kick outside the porch door may be the greatest pratfall of all time. Never fails to crack me up!
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Henry, I hope you and Nancy have a wonderful time tonight with SULLIVAN, and I'm sure you will.
Thanks to everyone! Even though no one I knew was at the screening (except the New Beverly regulars) it was wonderful to not only introduce both films but talk about them beforehand. It was decently attended and the audience responded wonderfully. Sturges rules!
Ray, I think our beloved Bill's pratfall when he tries to kick outside the porch door may be the greatest pratfall of all time. Never fails to crack me up!
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Henry, I hope you and Nancy have a wonderful time tonight with SULLIVAN, and I'm sure you will.
"But with a little sex."
Thank you very much Preston!
But the tonite I was talking about was Friday. Nevertheless Bill's pratfall came off without a hitch!
I have been a huge fan of Sullivan's Travels since the first viewing ten or more years ago. The tremendous irony of the congregation taking pity on the prisoners in chains is a brilliant scene among many. And the ending! Anyway, this past Saturday afternoon I exited the mall--and it's a lovely suburban mall--when a voice called, "Excuse me, sir?" This fairly young man explained that he is homeless and hadn't eaten in some time and...
...Hey, this wasn't one of the squeegee guys or anything and I've waved off the ones at stop lights with the signs and you know what I mean you've been there and this guy was dressed presentably for goshsakes he doesn't look the part and he must have come here on the bus but there was something humble and soft-spoken about him and he couldn't be acting or could he? and damn if I didn't pull out my wallet and hand him a fin and say, "In good health, my friend."
So I'm walking to my car wondering what made him call to me there were tons of other people around and I can't believe I gave him five bucks and then it hits me: oh man I had a Sullivan moment and what if everybody today went up and handed one of them a five can you imagine...
...Weird. I mean I had had an unscored movie moment and felt good on the drive home.
So I'm walking to my car wondering what made him call to me there were tons of other people around and I can't believe I gave him five bucks and then it hits me: oh man I had a Sullivan moment and what if everybody today went up and handed one of them a five can you imagine...
If you haven't heard it, you need to listen to the Jack Benny radio program where he gives a poor fellow (Frank Fontaine) fifty cents. One of the funniest episodes in the series.
