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Reviews
House M.D. (2004)
This is forever swirl
My friend...you'd better check your ratings again. Not only is HOUSE a huge hit...it maintained it's top 10 rating even after American Idol, which it followed, was over. This simply re-confirms my faith in the audience. You give them something smart, interesting and, above all else, original and they'll be there with you week after week! It only took me one watching and I was hooked. My TV watching is spotty (if that). I never plan any evening by what's on the tube. Now I find myself planning my Tuesdays (now Mondays until the new season starts) around watching HOUSE. I have to confess I work in the entertainment industry. One of the shows on which I work is broadcast on Mondays and, you guessed it is opposite HOUSE. We are now in reruns (the bottom fell out from under us when reruns began)so I don't really feel like much of a traitor by watching House instead of our show. An added note: Reruns are at an all time low. Both ABC's break-out hits (no not my Net) LOST and even DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES have dropped from top 5 to the low50s/high60s. HOUSE? It's holding tight to its ratings. Has never dropped out of the top 15. Not exactly what I'd call a show that "...no one watches...". Looks like, smells like and feels like a smash to me. BRING ON THE EMMY...especially for Laurie! And while we're at another for Zack Braf...let's save SCRUBS!
Cobra Woman (1944)
Low (unintentional)camp at its best
This has to be one of the most hilarious bad films of all time. I gave it a 5: 1 for film but 10 for the fun (equals out to a 5). It has what was well on the way to becoming Maria's "stock company" Jon Hall, Sabu and Turhan Bey (except Cobra Woman was without Turhan Bey). Mary Nash plays, I think, the high-priestess of the Cobra Temple or maybe even Maria's nanny(it's been a while since I saw it and it's not available on VHS or DVD so you must depend on the very occasional TV showings to catch it)with her very best Maria Ouspenskaya (the slowest taking woman on the screen...by the time she finished you either forget what she was talking about or no longer cared!). The 2 Marias actually appeared in one film together, The Mystery Of Marie Roget. Pity there were no more. Maria did a couple of films with the always over-the-top Gale Sondergaard. A great pairing. Montez is responsible for two of the funniest moments in screen history; one from SUDAN (again the stock company but less Sabu). Jon Hall discoveries her in the desert, dying from lack of water...BUT...her hair is perfectly coiffed and not a touch of makeup is out of place. (Old Hollywood...don't you just love it!) And the other is in Cobra Woman. After they have overthrown both the high priest and Maria's evil twin sister (is there any other kind?)the country is without a ruler. Nash pleads with her to take possession of the Cobra Throne but she refuses, preferring to go away with Hall and Sabu on their fishing boat. Nash (in her very best Ouspenskaya) says to her: "But mine chhhild, your peep-ole neeed 'chu" Then, without even changing the expression on her face (which she seldom did anyway) Maria turns to her and utters the unforgettable line: "Gif me dah Cob-bra Jo-ols." In my mind still one of the most fall-down-funny lines in the history of film.
Words and Music (1948)
Stars lack screen presence
This film could have used many more musical numbers and far less of the silly story line. Even some of the numbers chosen were far from the best of Rodgers and Hart...where the hell was Bewitched? But the thing that sticks with me is how some of these stars just wash out on screen. Garland is of course as always full-out Garland and more than welcome. Rooney is as always over-the-top Rooney but especially hard to take in the overly-dramatic scenes. Poor Lena Horne,dressed poorly but still managed to pull her songs off in top form. Perry Como just disappeared...not a film personality. And why Vera-Ellen in the Slaughter Ballet? They had Cyd Charisse! Vera-Ellen is far too much a "nice girl" to be able to pull that off. Gene Kelly isn't much help either..he's all poses and hand movements.