Excited About These New Stamps

Tomorrow, May 23rd, the United States Postal Service will be making available four beautiful new stamps.  The "Great Film Directors" stamp series features portraits of John Ford, Frank Capra, Billy Wilder, and John Huston, with each director's face flanked by a scene from one of his iconic works.  (The Searchers for Ford, It Happened One Night for Capra, Some Like It Hot for Wilder, and The Maltese Falcon for Huston).

Should your post office not have these stamps on hand, they can be ordered directly from the postal service's website (HERE).   "Forever stamps," they will be sold in sheets of 20 (5 of each design) at the current postage rate of .45 per stamp.

You can bet I'll be buying them...and finding many reasons to send a card with one of those fabulous directors' faces affixed to the upper right-hand corner of my envelope.  

It Happened One Night (5 stars)

In honor of the Academy Awards, last night saw me having my own little Oscar party, which included a viewing of the adorable 1934 romantic comedy It Happened One Night. Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and directed by Frank Capra, It Happened One Night cleaned up at that year's Oscars, taking home the Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Writing awards.  This delightful film is easily one of my five favorite films of both stars, and with it being Clark's birthday month as well as the Academy Awards, last night was the perfect time to enjoy this film again.

Socialite Ellie Andrews (Colbert) has made a marriage her father does not approve of and which he intends to have annulled.  Accustomed to controlling Ellie's life, the wealthy Mr. Andrews has taken his daughter aboard his yacht, where he is trying to talk some sense into her.  Ellie, though, will not back down, and before anyone can stop her, she has jumped overboard and made the short swim to the Miami shore, where she purchases a bus ticket to New York.

On the same New York-bound bus as Ellie is New York newspaper reporter, Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who has just been fired from his job. Vowing to prove to his employer just what a fine newspaperman he is, Peter intends to "wow" his editor with the story of all stories...although just what that is, Peter doesn't know yet.

The first meeting between Peter and Ellie is anything but pleasant, as Ellie takes the seat Peter had intended for himself.  Although they bicker with one another for many miles, eventually things calm down between them; when the bus makes a rest stop and Peter obtains a newspaper, which has a headline story of the missing heiress,  Ellie begs him not to get in touch with her father.  Realizing he has come upon that story of all stories, Peter agrees to keep Ellie's secret and help her get to New York (and husband King Westley) in exchange for an exclusive.  Ellie agrees, and the two of them, with little money in hand, continue to make their way north, trying, all the while, to evade the detectives who are now searching for the missing woman.  Posing as a married couple, they take a room at a motor lodge one evening, a blanket strung across the room serving as "the walls of Jericho" between them.

The closer they get to their destination, the more things change between them, until finally, Ellie doesn't want to reach her husband at all.  She would rather stay with Peter.

What are Peter's feelings, though?   Is he interested in Ellie for more than a story?  Or maybe he has his eye on the reward money her father has offered for information about Ellie's whereabouts?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

It Happened One Night is a completely adorable, totally delightful film.  Both Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert were wonderful in their roles, and the chemistry between them was fabulous.  Really, they ought to have made more films together.  (To my knowledge, they only made two...this one and Boom Town.)  There are several very comical scenes, especially the one in which they are being questioned by some detectives.  With Clark screaming "Quit bawlin'!" at her, Claudette is brushing her hair down over her face to avoid detection, all the while the police are looking on in confusion.  I get a huge kick out of the very dashing Mr. Gable in that scene.  Also hilarious is the hitch-hiking scene, as the know-it-all Mr. Warne demonstrates the different ways of flagging down a ride.  In the end, his thumb isn't nearly as successful as the shapely leg of his companion.

This film is a joy from beginning to end, and I highly recommend it.  Since it's out on DVD, it should be very easy to track down.  Additionally, it is available in its entirely on YouTube.

Happy viewing!!

A Hole in the Head (4 stars)

A Hole in the Head, directed by the fabulous Frank Capra, is a delightful little film starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Edward G. Robinson, Thelma Ritter, and a sweet little boy named Eddie Hodges.  Part comedy, part drama, it also has a few sentimental moments.

Tony Manetti (Frank Sinatra), a widower with a young son, owns and operates a run-down hotel in Miami.  Since business isn't all that good, Tony is constantly having to worry about the mortgage and an assortment of other bills.  A gambler, Tony is always sure that his big moment is just around the corner, that very soon, he will hit the jackpot and his financial worries will be over.  All he needs is a short-term loan, just to tide him over until his riches come in. 

Tony's brother, Mario (Edward G. Robinson), and his sister-in-law, Sophie (Thelma Ritter), are quite comfortable financially, and since they've helped him out in the past, Tony is sure they'll be willing to help him out again...especially because of their love and concern for Tony's son, Ally.  Mario, though, doesn't want to enable Tony to continue gambling and living on dreams.  He wants him to settle down, to get a real job and a wife.  He wants a real home, not a hotel, for his nephew, so he tells Tony he won't give him a dime.  Unless Tony is willing to marry and settle down, there will be no money from Mario and Sophie.

Tony agrees to meet Eloise Rogers (Eleanor Parker), a kind-hearted widow his sister-in-law knows, but he's really not sure he wants to give up his carefree existence to marry her...even if it means that Mario and Sophie take Ally back home to live with them.  So, he tries once more to get the big payoff, this time asking an old friend to finance him, but when that doesn't work out, Tony is forced to make some tough decisions.

There are some very tender moments in this film...I even get lightly misty-eyed a couple of times.  There are many lighthearted moments, though, and even some hearty laughs.  I am so used to Eddie G. as a gangster, so I was unprepared for just how funny he could be.  And the way he and Thelma Ritter played off of one another was great.  She is always fabulous, and she certainly doesn't disappoint here.  Also, the chemistry between Frank Sinatra and little Eddie Hodges was amazing.  I loved watching the two of them together.  Yes, their characters had a strong bond, but I believe that bond was off-screen as well.  They just connected in a wonderful way.

Also in this movie, Frank has a chance to show his musical abilities with the delightful "High Hopes."  It's always a treat to hear Ol Blue Eyes sing.

Anyhow, this sweet movie is out on DVD and should be quite easy to track down.  I hope y'all get a chance to see it.  Happy viewing!!

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (5 stars)

Right behind William Holden on my all-time fave list is Gary Cooper, and, easily, my favorite Coop movie is the sweet romantic dramedy, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, from way back in 1936.  This film, which also stars the under-rated Jean Arthur, was directed by Frank Capra, who won an Academy Award for his work here.  Mr. Deeds Goes to Town was nominated for four other Oscars, including Best Picture and a Lead Actor nod for Mr. Cooper.

The story begins when Longfellow Deeds (Coop), an unworldly, down-to-earth man who writes poems for greeting cards, inherits $20 million from an uncle he barely knew. When his uncle's lawyers track him down at his New England home, he is totally unimpressed by the news of his inheritance. After all, he's comfortable and happy as he is, so he has no need of all those millions.

When the lawyers whisk Longfellow off to their New York offices, they see him as a total pushover, one whom they will be able to manipulate to do exactly what they want him to with all his money. Alas, though, Mr. Deeds is NOT as easy to push around as they think he is!! And his plan for the money is MUCH different than the lawyers' plans, for he intends to use it to help out the less fortunate, since he himself is already adequately provided for and quite comfortable. (This movie was released in the middle of the Great Depression and takes place during that time period.)

The local newspaper sees Mr. Deeds' inheritance of his uncle's fortune as a sensational story from which they can benefit.  Therefore, one of the ace reporters, Louise "Babe" Bennett (Jean Arthur), determined to get "the scoop," hatches a scheme of deception. Pretending to be an unemployed woman looking for work, Babe, strolls in front of Longfellows' New York residence, fainting dead away just as Mr. Deeds exits the house. Thinking he has rescued a hungry, down-on-her-luck woman, Mr. Deeds takes her (now calling herself Mary) out to dinner and then spends a sweet evening with her. Feeling that Mary is sincere and kind-hearted, Longfellow talks openly and honestly with her.

The next morning, when the lead story in the newspaper refers to Mr. Deeds as "The Cinderella Man" and recounts stories about him which make him appear to be a simpleton, he is confused as to how they got such information. He has no idea that "Mary" is not what she appears to be, and he continues to see her, eventually falling in love.

Meanwhile, Mr. Deeds has determined that he will use his $20 million to give a helping hand to hundreds of farmers who have lost their farms in The Depression. However, this idea infuriates the lawyers, who see their grip on the money loosening, and they attempt to have Mr. Deeds declared insane, thus allowing his inheritance to fall back into their hands.

Eventually, Longfellow discovers that Mary is really the reporter who has been writing all the negative stories about him, and since he has fallen in love with her, he is quite devastated by her deception, so devastated, in fact, that at his sanity hearing, he refuses to open his mouth in his own defense.

Will Mr. Deeds be declared insane by the court?  Will his inheritance be awarded to another?  Will he ever forgive Mary for deceiving him and making him appear "simple" in her news articles?  Those are the questions which play out in the balance of this charming film.



Mr. Deeds Goes to Town really is a sweet movie, directed by none other than Frank Capra, of It's a Wonderful Life fame. This is my favorite Capra film (even more than It's a Wonderful Life) and my favorite Gary Cooper film. It's just a tender and touching story...a little sappy and sentimental, yes, but sweet nonetheless.

FYI...this movie was remade in the early 2000's, under the name of Mr. Deeds, and starring Adam Sandler in the title role. I have not seen the remake, nor do I ever intend to. For me, Adam Sandler cannot hold a candle to Gary Cooper, and I have no desire to see him try. Additionally, the remake is rated PG-13 for "Language including sexual references and some rear nudity." Well, I've seen the original---and loved it---and such things were not necessary for it to be a good movie. I'm not sure why the makers of the newer version felt compelled to add unnecessary junk.

 Out on DVD, this film should be readily available and quite easy to track down.  Hope you get a chance to watch it...and that you enjoy it.

Happy viewing!!