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Claire Bloom and Charlie Chaplin in Limelight

Limelight

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Limelight (1952) starring Charlie Chaplin, Claire Bloom, Sydney Chaplin, Nigel Bruce, Buster Keaton

Limelight is a truly wonderful film; it swiftly became one of my favorites. In a nutshell, it’s the story of a once-great stage comedian (Calvero, a formerly great tramp clown, played by  Charlie Chaplin), who’s been failing in his career, and has become an alcoholic, who saves the life of  Terry, a despondent ballerina (played by  Claire Bloom) from a suicide attempt. The film is a juxtaposition of these two personalities, one who rallies & goes onward, the other who falls further.

Limelight
The Kid, produced & directed by Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Jackie Coogan

The Kid (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Edna Purviance

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The Kid, produced & directed by Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Jackie Coogan

Synopsis of Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid:

Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in an iconic photo from The Kid

The Kid was Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length movie. It, more than anything else to that date, made Chaplin a living legend. It took over a year to produce, and was an incredible success for Chaplin. The opening title reads: “A comedy with a smile — €and perhaps a tear.”  As a woman (Edna Purviance) leaves a charity hospital with a newborn.  She passes a church wedding, leaving her baby with a pleading note in a limousine. Then she goes off to commit suicide. She turns from suicide at the last moment to return to her child, only to find him missing. The limo had been stolen by thieves who dumped the baby by a garbage can.  Charlie the Tramp finds the baby. After failing to pass the child on to someone more suitable, raises the child himself.

The Kid (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Edna Purviance

My Favorite Brunette

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My Favorite Brunette – starring Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney Jr.

Movie review of one of Bob Hope‘s finest solo comedies, My Favorite Brunette. He plays a baby photographer who longs to be a private eye. And he’s inadvertently given the opportunity when a beautiful brunette (Dorothy Lamour) mistakes him for one. This leads him into a web of danger, deceit, and murder with spies (including Peter Lorre in a delicious performance). A very good, funny romantic movie, of that type that sadly isn’t made any more.

My Favorite Brunette

Nacho Libre

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Nacho Libre (Special Collector’s Edition) (2006)

Jack Black is at his comic best as Ignacio, a disrespected cook at a Mexican monastery that can barely afford to feed the orphans who live there. Inspired by a local wrestling hero, he decides to moonlight as the not-so-famous Luchador — €œNacho Libre — € to earn money for the monastery — €”not to mention the admiration of beautiful nun Sister Encarnacion.

Nacho Libre

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

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Around the World in 80 Days  1959 version starring David Niven and Mexican clown Cantinflas, with dozens of cameo appearances by various celebrities

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), starring  Martin Freeman, Mos Def,  Sam Rockwell,  Zooey Deschanel

Here’s the absolutely hysterical, wonderfully wild, cosmic adventure comedy THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. Based on Douglas Adams’ worldwide best-selling novel, and starring an outrageous intergalactic cast. This is one ride you don’t want to miss. Seconds before Earth is destroyed to make way for a new hyperspace express route, mild-mannered Arthur Dent is whisked into space by his best friend. He’s an alien posing as an out-of-work actor. And so the misadventures begin. He and fellow travelers, including the cool but dim-witted President of the Galaxy, the Earth girl Trillian, and Marvin the paranoid android, search for answers to the mystery of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The Super Hero Squad Show

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The Super Hero Squad Show, volume 1

I have to admit that The Super Hero Squad Show is a guilty pleasure.   For the kids, it’s a combination of action and comedy.   For us adults, however, it’s much better — €”especially if you grew up on Marvel comics like I did.

The Super Hero Squad Show

The Muppet Show episode 1.1, guest starring Juliet Prowse

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The Muppet Show, guest starring Juliet Prowse, originally aired January 29, 1976, episode 1.1

The ‘first’ episode of The Muppet Show has the Muppet performers are only beginning to find their roles, and how the show fit together.   Even so, some of the best things are already in place, such as the ‘backstage moments’, where Kermit the Frog is trying to keep things going on despite the insanity around him, the subplot (in this case, it’s the theater owner’s nephew, Scooter, who wants to do an act with the dog, Muppy, who despises Kermit), and a mixture of comedy sketches, classic songs and letting their weekly guest star strut their stuff.  

The Muppet Show episode 1.1, guest starring Juliet Prowse

Alias Jesse James

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A very funny Bob Hope movie, set in the American old west, with Bob Hope playing an inept insurance salesman.  He’s sold a life insurance police to Jesse James, and now needs to keep him alive.  But Jesse James has other plans …. Culminating in a big gun battle with cameos from virtually every western star of the day

Alias Jesse James

Avanti!

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Avanti! (1972) starring Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, directed by Billy Wilder

In short, Avanti! is Hollywood excusing adultery. Seriously. The synopsis is as follows:

Avanti!
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