Thrilling Days of Yesteryear: Almost the Truth—The Lawyer's Cut

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

“So they call me ‘Concentration Camp’ Ehrhardt, eh?”


I thought we’d roll out a honkin’ big sheet cake (like I need a reason) and celebrate the 70th anniversary of To Be or Not to Be (1942), Ernst Lubitsch’s classic WW2 satire that’s a huge favorite of yours truly (the fact that one of my comedy heroes, Jack Benny, stars in it might be a reason) and a movie that is…well, it’s kind of a cliché to say it but I still find myself awed by its brilliant mix of comedy and suspense.  I wrote a little tribute to the film over at Edward Copeland on Film…and More, and I hope you’ll take a moment to check it out when you get a chance.  (If you've never seen the film...Hulu will be more than happy to accommodate you.)

Though I knew in advance what today’s “Overlooked Films” movie was going to be, my plans to work on it last night went awry and so I was very late in getting it posted, for which I humbly apologize.  I even changed the design to allow me to work on it this morning, only to find myself accompanying Ivan, Sr. to the post office early in the a.m.  (This wasn’t a total loss, in that I actually got the Life of Riley prizes out after a slight delay…but I’m telling you, don’t ever ask me to become a super villain because I swear nothing will ever get done around here.)

The Life of Riley CD sets served as a reminder that I should jog the memory banks of interested TDOY readers by mentioning that the deadline for entering the latest blog giveaway for a set of Phil Harris-Alice Faye shows (two copies of the Radio Spirits release, Private Lives, originally priced at $39.98) is creeping up on us—you need to get an e-mail with “Phil and Alice Giveaway” in the subject header to me at igsjrotr(at)gmail(dot)com before Thursday (March 8) at 11:59pm EST.  Friday morning I will choose two winners via Random.org and then—knock wood—will mail out the prizes to the lucky people…faster than I did the Rileys, anyway.

Last week I mentioned that the Classic Film & TV Café had a blogathon in the works to salute master filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger from March 25-28; there’s a post over there now that will give you a rundown on what films will be covered and which days they will appear.  (My reputation for procrastination precedes me—I’m slotted for the final day on the 28th.  I should also point out, though, that if you’re interested in participating—it’s not a CMBA event, so everyone can crash the party—the deets can be found at the Café.)

There’s also additional information available about the Gone Too Soon blogathon at Comet Over Hollywood; according to webmistress Jessica around 30 bloggers will be participating and if you’d like to get in on the action she’s even got a list of subjects that haven’t been covered yet.  (I also drew the final day in this ‘thon, so look for a post here on March 10.)

2 comments:

  1. A very nice piece on "To Be or Not to Be", but I do have to correct one slight factual error. Edwin Justus Mayer was a good friend of my father (when I was a small child, I used to visit him with my father -- unfortunately Mayer
    died before I was old enough to know his work). Although it was Lubitsch's idea to cast Jack Benny in the role, the part was actually conceived by Mayer for John Barrymore. As a huge Benny fan, I have always been grateful to Lubitsch for giving him such a magnificent part, but it is interesting to imagine the film with Barrymore in the role.

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  2. Hey, many thanks for the correction, Mr. Bazzle. Most of the sources I'm familiar with don't mention the Barrymore angle so it's always great to learn something new. And I agree that it would have been interesting with John -- a reunion with his Twentieth Century co-star Lombard.

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