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Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records (2021)
A few groups omitted but there is much more here.
I grew up with Herb Alpert and saw him and the Tijuana Brass live in concert. I read everything printed on the album covers and figured out that A&M was Alpert & Moss. And yet I still learned much here.
Before going on about the pluses I wanted to mention two omissions in the early days. 1) The original Tijuana Brass was actually the studio musicians named "The Wrecking Crew" and they came up with some of the memorable music cues on the albums, but no mention here! Fortunately there is a wonderful documentary on them to learn more. 2) Julius Wechter and the Baja Marimba Band was one of the early A&M bands I listened to along with Herb and Sergio, not even mentioned. In the honorable mentions at the end.
That said I did find this very interesting. It wasn't until the past decade that I learned that A&M was using the old Charlie Chaplin Studios which made it easy for them to produce music shorts and music videos, many of which are included in this documentary.
I also didn't realize all of the stars of the 1980's what were under the A&M label and the reason why so many artists sought out A&M to be their studio.
13 Washington Square (1928)
Zasu Pitts comedy relief makes the movie.
I saw this on the big screen at the Broncho Billie Silent Film Fest and was pleasantly surprised. I confess I went to see it for Zasu, and she did not disappoint.
***Some minor spoilers about the beginning of the movie setting up the situation***
This is intended to be a comedy-melodrama, poking fun at the genera. It starts out heavy, with a social-aware society mom who forbids her son from dating a common daughter of a grocer.. "We will be taken off of the Social Register"
.
Mom is planning on enjoying an ocean voyage with her son and keep him away from that girl. The fun begins when the son defys his mam and stays behind to marry his girl. Mom finds out about this plan and leaves the boat with her maid (Zasu).
The society press catch wind of the family rift and the defiant marriage, so they hang outside the mansion waiting for the family to return. Both the son and later the mom return and decide to sneak in and not use the room lights to alert the press. Neither the mom & maid nor the son & his fiance know that each other is in the house creating havoc.
Zasu Pitts steals the show with her scrambling of the English language: "If we don't get air soon, well sophisticate!", and her handling of physical "haunted house" reactions.
The melodrama may seem heavy, but it is a spoof of melodramas and this just adds to the humor.
If you are a Zasu Pitts fan,this is a "Must See".
The Honeymooners (1977)
Lost forgotten special still unavailable.
First let me say that the other review posted for this show is incorrect, it is talking about the second Christmas Special (1978).
This 1977 Christmas Special has not been seen since it first aired in 1977, and I saw it then. At that time I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. But my opinion would be tainted by the joy of seeing my favorite TV characters in a new story after a decade of being off-air.
In the story: the confusion that went on as Norton directed a play put on by Ralph's boss brought me to the floor laughing. Everyone seemed to be spot-on with their performances, as if the series never stopped. Their characters were existing even though we were not able to watch them. But now some 35 years later I wish I could see this special again to see how it holds up. With all of the old shows readily available on DVD to compare this show to, it is frustrating not to see this again.
I can say that the other three specials were a bit of a let down when viewed again on DVD over 30 years later. As I have been seeing some of the live 1950's segments on DVD for the first time, these reunion specials no longer held that joy of something new. Now these final specials seem a bit tired with routines re-cycled from the 'good-old-days" of the early Honeymooners.
I am glad these were produced, as it was nice to see the gang again for one last group of hurrays. But they are just not up to the top-notch 1950's programs (neither were the color shows of the 1960's).