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Here Comes Peter Cottontail, starring Danny Kaye, Vincent Price, Paul Frees

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

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Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971), starring Danny Kaye, Vincent Price, Paul Frees

Editorial review of  Here Comes Peter Cottontail courtesy of Amazon.com

 Have you ever wished for a classic Easter special to show your kids? Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a Rankin & Bass production that bears a marked similarity to the beloved Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. Narrator Seymour S. Sassafrass, voiced and sung by Danny Kaye, takes young viewers on a tour of the mythical April Valley and relates the story of how Peter Cottontail almost failed in his quest to become Chief Easter Bunny. Sassafrass peers into his magic egg, and viewers are introduced to Peter Cottontail–a spunky, ingenious young rabbit who is boastful, is prone to fibbing, and lacks a sense of responsibility.

In order to become Chief Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail must defeat the evil Irontail (Vincent Price) in a contest to deliver the most eggs on Easter Sunday. Through his trials, Peter Cottontail discovers the value of ingenuity, the importance of placing duty before pleasure, and the folly of self-conceit. Here Comes Peter Cottontail features catchy songs, great 1970s stop-motion animation, and a fun Easter tale. Parents will find themselves reminiscing over holidays gone by or wondering how they missed this show in their own childhood. The 2 and up crowd will be begging for another showing long after the Easter candy is a distant memory

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

The Thief and the Cobbler

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The Thief and the Cobbler, starring Vincent Price, Matthew Broderick,  Jennifer Beals,  Clive Revill,  Jonathan Winters

Editorial review of  The Thief and the Cobbler courtesy of Amazon.com

 Directed by Oscar-winning animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit), The Thief and the Cobbler began production in 1968, so it actually predates 1992’s Aladdin. Also known as The Princess and the Cobbler and Arabian Knight, Fred Calvert completed the film after Williams lost the rights to his dream project. Narrated by Matthew Broderick (replacing Sean Connery) as Tack the Cobbler, the CinemaScope-shot story takes place in ancient Baghdad. When Tack upsets Zigzag the Vizier (Vincent Price), the wizard drags him off to the royal castle, where Princess Yum Yum (Jennifer Beals) falls for the bashful boy and saves him from execution. Unfortunately, Zigzag plans to marry the princess in order to succeed her father, King Nod (Clive Revill). The Thief (Jonathan Winters), meanwhile, is more interested in gold than love and takes off with the protective orbs topping the palace. The Thief and the Cobbler

Master of the World

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Master of the World, starring Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, Mary Webster, David Frankham

Synopsis of Master of the World

 In Master of the World, four individuals use a lighter-than-air craft to investigate strange activity from a mountain. They fear a volcano. Instead, they find Robar, master of the Albatross, a massive heavier-than-air craft. He takes them aboard as he tries to end all warfare – by force.

Master of the World

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), starring James Mason, Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas

The classic Walt Disney adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,00 Leagues under the Sea, starring James Mason, Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Lust for Life

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Lust for Life (1956) starring Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, directed by Vincente Minelli

 In short, Kirk Douglas shines in his performance as Vincent van Gogh. Kirk Douglas gave many great performances in his career, but none better than in  Lust for Life. He portrays the Dutch painter, a brilliant artist that was tragically tormented by depression and mental illness.

Lust for Life

Desiree

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Desiree (1954) starring Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando, Michael Rennie,  Merle Oberon

 Like all Hollywood biographies,  Desiree needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Especially regarding historical accuracy. Having said that, however, it’s a very interesting film. It weaves the lives of four people and two countries together.

Desiree

Man of Steel

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Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon

 There are some good things to be said about the  Man of Steel movie, and some negatives as well.

Let’s start by listing the positives:

Man of Steel

The Delicate Delinquent

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The Delicate Delinquent (1957) starring Jerry Lewis, Darren McGavin

 The Delicate Delinquent is Jerry Lewis’ first solo film without Dean Martin – but it’s worth watching for more than that.   In the title role, Jerry Lewis plays the part of Sidney Pythias. Sidney is mistaken for a gang member during a police round-up. Then a caring police officer named Damon, played by Darren McGavin, intercedes in the directionless young man’s life. For the better.   The movie was originally written for the team of Martin and Lewis. The title characters’ names referring to the Greek myth of Damon and Pythias, inseparable friends.   Darren McGavin does excellently in the role of Officer Damon, who is “bucking the system”. By trying to rehabilitate delinquents.

The Delicate Delinquent

Red Planet Mars

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Red Planet Mars (1952) starring Peter Graves, Andrea King, Herbert Berghof

Synopsis of Red Planet Mars

In Red Planet Mars, an American scientist (Peter Graves) contacts Mars by radio and receives information that Mars is a utopia — which causes massive uncertainty on Western civilization, since their technology could disrupt farming, oil, coal, medicine, and other industries. A later message tells that Earth’s people can be saved if they return to the worship of God.  Revolution sweeps the Earth, including the Soviet Union. But there remains doubt about the messages being genuine, as an ex-Nazi claims he was duping the Americans.

Red Planet Mars
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