(+JMJ+) "Learn to go see the 'worst' films; they are sometimes sublime." - Ado Kyrou, Le Surrealisme au Cinema.
*Check out my horror movie blog, too, at 1000daysofhorror.blogspot.com & my SciFi blog, 1000daysofscifi.blogspot.com
"Look when court reconvenes, I'm going to try my best to put you in jail for a good long time. That's my business, but you haven't been convicted yet, so I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy Christmas like the rest of us."
Director
Mitchell Leisen
Cast
Fred MacMurray - John Sargent Barbara Stanwyck - Lee Leander Elizabeth Patterson -as Aunt Emma Beulah Bondi - Mrs. Sargent Sterling Holloway - "Chilly" Willie Simms Willard Robertson - Francis X. O'Leary Charlie Arnt - Tom Tom Kennedy - "Fat" Mike Georgia Caine - Lee's mother
Believe it or not, it's still the Christmas season. As Candlemas approaches on February 2, I suppose it’s coming to a close as I post this.
Back in Christmas of 2024, which feels too long ago, my wife and I made it a point to check out a handful of not as popularized Christmas movies, "Christmas in Connecticut," "The Holly and the Ivy," "The Lemon Drop Kid," "It Happened on 5th Avenue," and "The Shop Around the Corner." There's one other Christmas movie Iv6e wanted to add to that list but never did until now. It's the Christmas romance movie, "Remember the Night" directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.
In this movie, Barbara Stanwyck plays shoplifter Lee Leander who's arrested after lifting some jewelry just days before Christmas.
Her prosecution falls upon Assistant District Attorney Jack Sargent (Fred MacMurray). However, the sentimentality of the holiday season may soften the hearts of the jury and lead them to decide not to acquit. So, to ensure a fair and impartial trial, Jack postpones it until after Christmas.
However, that same softness of heart that Christmas is notorious for entices Jack to post Lee's bail. He had overheard her complaining to her attorney about spending the holidays in jail. To prevent that, he asks the bondsman, Fat Mike (Tom Kennedy, not me) to post bail.
Fat Mike does that and then brings Lee over to Jack's apartment thinking he wants to, ummm, show Lee a good time...so to say.
Of course, Jack is a gentleman and a man of integrity so that wasn't his actual intention. Fat Mike just has a filthy mind, I guess. Seriously, Mike? Fat and perverted!
Anyways, Jack finds that he and Lee have some things in common, like both being Indiana natives. He also can't help but feel bad that Lee doesn't have a place to spend Christmas.
As Jack is going to be driving to visit his family for the holidays, he offers to give Lee a ride to her mother's place as it's on the way.
So, the two take a little road trip during which they park to rest in a random field for the night. They're then arrested for trespassing, and are hauled off to a cantankerous Justice of the Peace. They flee from his office thanks to Lee's expertise at evading lawful trouble.
Jack drops Lee off at her mother's house, but she wants nothing to do with her daughter. As far as she's concerned, Lee is a hopeless case.
So, Jack decides to take her to his family's place for Christmas. Lee is warmly welcomed by Jack's family. As they love having her around, she learns a lot about Jack.
As expected, a romance forms between Lee and Jack though once Christmas is over, the trial will still have to commence.
"Remember the Night" is like a Hallmark Christmas movie before Hallmark movies were a thing. And I've seen so many Hallmark Christmas movies, plus a bunch of Christmas movies from Great American Family that I recognize recycled plots faster than I can process the shame of admitting to it. I’m not proud of it or anything. My wife loves those Hallmark and Great American Family flicks. And this classic flick feels like one of them. However, despite what seems like a rather comedic premise, it doesn't have the gingerbread trauma, the kind that one feels when the poor local cupcake shop is threatened with closure due to financial troubles, that Hallmark movies have.
Nor does it beat the audience over the head with tinsel demanding they feel the tidings of comfort and joy. Rather, it comes across as genuine... somewhat.
"Remember the Night" has that Christmassy tenderness with a hint of raw feeling to it when compared with other holiday romance films.
I appreciate romantic comedies like this with a premise that consists of a budding romance between a fellow and a dame in which some sort of duty over love gets in the way. It's quite a workaround that gives the audience something to ponder.
"Remember the Night" is a perfect example of such a romance. Other movies such as "The Lady Eve" (1941) and "Ball of Fire" (1941) have a similar law or love premise.
"Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife" (1938) and "Meet John Doe" (1941) also have similar plots but with reversed roles in which the male leads are boggled down by their misdeeds while romance is on the horizon.
"Remember the Night" also reminds me a bit of "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in that it's a romance that isn't really "supposed" to occur.
The chemistry between Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck hits the audience as soon as they're on screen together. Their respective performances give the story enough screwball comedy elements that doesn't get in the way of the story's subtle melancholy tone because despite how much the audience wants to see these two characters hook up, there's that pesky legal matter that can't just go away.
Though she's technically a criminal, Lee is still a genuinely sympathetic character. Something is clearly at the root of her poor decisions, and her mother doesn't have any hope for her own daughter.
It's worth mentioning that Stanwyck and MacMurray would go one to star in "Double Indemnity" in 1944. "Remember the Night" may not have the emotional impact that "It's a Wonderful Life" has, or the triumph of something like "White Christmas," or the glorious conversion of "A Christmas Carol," it works well to deserve an annual slot in the Christmas movie rotation. It has its own little conversion premise worthy of some appreciation around the holidays.
Cast Jon Heder - Nate Skoog Kim Matula - Gretchen Jay Pichardo - Will Luna Sawyer Williams - Oswalt Amanda Bearse - Ramona Skoog John Ratzenberger - Tom Roan Gina Gershon - Dot
George Psarras - Glenn Gratton
Paul Psarras - Ben Gratton Billy Zane - Stoney Tarwater Chad Dukes - Nelson Tarwater Jacob Tyler Kemp - Philip Tarwater
I think the 2004 movie "Napoleon Dynamite," directed by Jared Hess, is overall an original funny movie despite my initially trying to figure out what the point of it was. As I mentioned in my previous comments about "Napoleon Dynamite", the movie's appeal comes the relatability younger audiences find with the story and characters, especially when it comes to the awkward quirks of teenager and high school life. The humor, the quotable lines, and the likeability of Napoleon and the other characters makes it appealing.
While I found the pacing a bit weird and the general plot of "Napoleon Dynamite" attempting to help his buddy, Pedro, get elected as student body president over at Preston High School tacked on in the middle of the movie, "Napoleon Dynamite" is a film about how loyal this odd teenage kid, played by Jon Heder, is to his friends. But the biggest take away for me is its quirky humor and memorable characters.
I bring up "Napoleon Dynamite" because I couldn't help noticing that the 2024 movie "Tapawingo," written by Brad DeMarea and Dylan K. Narang, and directed by Dylan K. Narang is similar in style and tone. Even the movie's deliberately eclectic, retro synth-pop sounding soundtrack, mixed with a little jukebox variety of rock tunes is similar to that of "Napoleon Dynamite." Plus, "Tapawingo" also stars Jon Heder in the lead role.
In this movie, Heder plays Nate Skoog, a 30-something year old guy living in a small Midwest town with his protective mother, Ramona (Amanda Bearse) and works a dead-end job in a mail room. He regularly attends his tornado watch class and is a devoted reader "Mercenary International Quarterly" magazine which he checks out at the public library. He's also a little miffed that Ramona's new boyfriend, Tom (John Ratzenberger) is inching his way into his life as he moves in with Ramona.
Jon Heder and Jay Pichardo in "Tapawingo."
The mundanity of Nate's day-to-day life changes when his boss asks him to pick up his son Oswalt (Sawyer Williams) each day from school. So, he gets into his car - something between a hot rod and a dune buggy or go-cart - and gives Oswalt a lift.
At Oswalt's request, he drops him off at Gretchen's (Kim Matula) house as he's tutoring her. She's a
the non-conformist type, to say the least. But she still wants good grades!
Nate is instantly smitten by Gretchen and her subversive demeanor and no-crap attitude.
Meanwhile, Nate takes it upon himself to protect Oswalt from his bullies, seeing it as an opportunity to utilize his mercenary knowledge and tactics.
He convinces his buddy and fellow "mercenary" Will Luna (Jay Pichardo) to assist in taking down Oswalt's bullies.
He also seeks the aid of two awkward brothers, Glenn (George Psarras) and Ben Gratton (Paul Psarras) who pride themselves in being experts in fighting and combat. They're both all too eager to help. It's an opportunity to show off their skills and tactics, and do some good.
And these aren't just any bullies. They're the town's notorious family of bullies, the Tarwaters.
What starts as Nate's simple warning leads to a huge confrontation Nate isn't completely prepared for but takes on anyways. It's a matter of principle, and love.
Very much to its credit, "Tapawingo" has a much more solid storyline compared to "Napolean Dynamite." I should mention both movies are unrelated despite similarities in style.
The film blends quirky humor with sincere small-town charm as this unhopeful crew takes on a crew of tough guys who are much too sure of themselves.
It also has an abundance of deadpan humor, dark with a mundane absurd element that's hilarious to watch because the characters are sincere and take themselves seriously which brings laughs. The whole situation is depicted believably as everyday life in this town.
Though it's a comedic style very similar to "Napoleon Dynamite," I found myself laughing much more with "Tapawingo." I hate to keep comparing the two movies, but I couldn't help think "Tapawingo" would have made a great sequel. The characters could have easily been pulled out from Preston, Idaho, where "Napoleon Dynamite" was filmed. "Tapawingo" even utilizes similar wide shots and camera angels. Nevertheless, even as it is, it's an appealing comedy. And I liked it better!
The "dark" element flows from the seemingly failed ambitions and emotional detachment save for
Kim Matula as "Gretchen" in "Tapawingo."
Nate's concern for Oswalt. There's also social rot with Gretchen's general rebellious disdain, and the Tarwaters overall callous demeanor they share as a family.
They strike me as a more frustrated family in this smalltown who are forced to be the way they are because there's not much else for them to amount to.
Nate and the rest of the characters have the same issue, but deal with their frustrations differently.
Nate's enchantment over Gretchen, is hilarious. Plus, there's some elements to all of it that I didn't see coming!
John Ratzenberger and Amanda Bearse, both of whom have a very noteworthy acting career, fit their supporting roles perfectly within the tone of the movie.
Also, Billy Zane stars in this movie as one of the Tarwaters, which cracks me up. It's obvious he's enjoying his role in the movie.
I was pulled in fairly quickly watching this. It flows satisfyingly well with a welcomed comedic plot that knows what it wants to do rather than trying to find its footing as the story is rolling. It doesn't seem made up on the spot.
To me, the plot morphs its way to something a little similar to "West Side Story" (or, I guess, "Romeo and Juliet") minus the singing and the pretty feelings. Instead, it's more like "The Bodyguard."
It's slightly predictable but certainly not as much as I thought it would be. I still had to watch it all play out. I wasn't disappointed either even as the movie culminates to a shrug.
There's a satisfying satirical feel to it.
Heder is great in this role as he doesn't try to sell the jokes. Rather, he puts the humor in his character's general disappointment in life, living with his mom, and keeping restrained with his mom's boyfriend intruding into his adult life. He uses his signature deadpan delivery hilariously well. And then Gretchen enters his life which gives him something to hope for.
"Tapawingo" is a comedy that deserves to catch on and acquire a large following, even if it slowly obtains all that over time.
Cast Dan Stevens – Charles Dickens Morfydd Clark – Catherine Dickens Jonathan Pryce – John Dickens Ger Ryan – Elizabeth Dickens
Justin Edwards – John Forster Christopher Plummer – Mr. Scratch/ Ebenezer Scrooge Miriam Margolyes – Mrs. Fisk Simon Callow – John Leech Anna Murphy – Tara Donald Sumpter – Mr Haddock
Watching the 2017 movie, "The Man Who Invented Christmas" is a welcomed change of pace after sitting through eight versions of "A Christmas Carol" this year.
Oh, by the way, I finally did have the opportunity to watch the 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol" with Reginald Owen which I mention in my last post.
I wrote up a quick review, but readers will have to wait until next Christmas to read it.
I've seen this biographical movie, "The Man Who Invented Christmas" back in 2018. With Scrooge's holiday redemption fresh in my mind, again and again, this seemed like a suitable film to comment on next.
In this movie, Dan Stevens plays Charles Dickens. The story begins four years after publishing his last novel, "Oliver Twist."
Like most brilliant writers, he's going through financial difficulties and mounting debts. So, he needs to write another novel and he wants to write a story set at Christmas.
However, his publishers aren't thrilled at the idea of a Christmas novel. And Dickens will likely not meet his publication deadline before Christmas. With that being the case, he decides to self-publish.
Dickens struggles as he goes through the writing process for what will ultimately become, "A Christmas Carol."
Dickens pulls inspiration for his holiday redemption story from people and experiences he encounters or lived through in his younger days. The movie is a depiction of the process Dickens undertook to give the world the best Christmas ghost story ever told.
"The Man Who Invented Christmas" is the story behind the sweat and frustration that ultimately led amazing and unforgettable holiday specials like "A Flintstones Christmas Carol," "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and that one with Mr. Magoo.
It's an engaging and fascinating movie which is kind of remarkable as it's all about a guy writing a book. To make it as engaging as it is, is a respectable accomplishment.
It's also a believable illustraion of Charles Dickens's methods which involves him engaging with his imaginary characters all inside his head. Meanwhile he has to address his unrelenting self-doubts. Writers can be a frustrating and frustrated bunch.
Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer in "The Man Who Invented Christmas."
The first thing to talk about so I can get it out of the way is the title, "The Man Who Invented Christmas." It sounds clever. It's not, though.
Some of my Catholic acquaintances don't like it because, obviously, Charles Dickens didn't invent Christmas. It's a misleading title for sure.
Obviously, it isn't implying that Charles Dickens actually came up with the whole concept of Christmas as a holiday - the day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. And I really don't believe it's a malicious title. It sounds awkward though. It either needs something to clarify it, or it needs to be tweaked.
Either way, I see where the title is coming from.
First, the movie is based on Les Standiford's 2008 non-fiction book "The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits."
I think that title explains the purpose a lot more but still doesn't quite make sense as far as the word "invented" goes. How does that relate to Dickens rescuing his career and reving our holiday spirits?
I think the real implication is that "A Christmas Carol" did play a part amidst many other traditions and customs before and after its publication in shaping how the modern world treats and celebrates Christmas and the Christmas season.
I'll add here that one of the joyous perks of being a Catholic is that the celebration of Christmas doesn't end on December 25th. There are 12 days of Christmas following Christmas day, mind you. The liturgical calendar celebrates the Christmas season all the way to February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple.
Eight days after Christmas, January 1, is the Feast of our Lord's Circumcision. And the 12th day after Christmas is the Feast of the Epiphany. So, the celebration and glad tidings carry on when the rest of the world whines about being exhausted and takes all the decor down December 26th. It's disappointing to see people shedding Christmas as soon as possible after the 25th.
As far as England goes in the 1840s when the film takes place, and the decade when "A Christmas Carol" was published, Christmas didn't have the celebratory status and morale quite like it does today. Keep in mind, Catholic readers, that the Church of England was the guiding moral compass of England. That's not to say Christmas and the Christmas season wasn't important in Victorian England. People had their wassailing among the leaves so green, and their feasting, and all that.
The elements in Dickens's story really hammered in ideas such as generosity toward the poor during the holidays outside of government poor laws and workhouses. There wasn't quite the emphasis during the era on spending time with the family around Christmas, nor widespread consideration that the season is a time for generosity and charity.
I guess its celebratory status back in Dickens's day depended on regions and classes. Industry workers certainly didn't get a day off on Christmas, I don't think. No wonder Bob Cratchit was thrilled that Scrooge finally gave him a day off on Christmas. That one small act of generosity on Scrooge's part, I like to think, is what prompted Heaven to send the spirits in that very night to nourish that small ounce of selflessness so it could grow and flourish within old Ebenezer.
No doubt Dickens's book helped give the Christmas holiday such elements that can be shared across classes and social statuses.
"A Christmas Carol" made quite a lasting impact where all these things are still synonymous with Christmas.
So, again, I can see where the title is coming from. There's even a line in this movie when Dickens's publisher says in so many words that Christmas is not really an important holiday, and there's not much of a market for Christmas books as hardly anyone actually celebrates it. I don't think that was quite the case in Victorian England, and the proof is in the pudding. My apologies for the cliche but it seems to fit. Still, Dickens's book certainly has a place behind modern Christmas inspirations.
I sympathize with those who are bothered by the title. The Church has known for centuries how to celebrate Christmas. Some Catholic customs are still very much practiced to this day. For instance, it was St. Francis of Assisi who began the tradition of the nativity scene. Look it up! It's quite a heroic story, actually.
Perhaps "invented" is the wrong word because it gives Dickens way more attribution than he actually accomplished with his book when it comes to the origins of Christmas. Even with all that, he didn't invent anything except the story itself as far as Christmas is concerned.
Maybe "The Man Who Changed Christmas" is a better title? Well, no as that basically sounds lame. Reawakened Christmas? Maybe. Or "The Man Who Wrote Christmas?" I know, "How Dickens Saved Christmas Before Ernest Did!"
Anyways, aside from the title, the movie is enjoyable. I particularly found it engrossing as I who would never dare even think of comparing myself to Charles Dickens, can relate to the writing process seen in the movie. Though I have started a few books here and there, I've never yet had anything published...let alone actually finished.
The way Dickens is consumed by his own thoughts, considerations, and the people around him who inspired characters in his story is something I could connect to. Plus, the difficulty of where to take one's own story, and most importantly how to end them, is so spot on thanks to the movie's writing and Stevens's acting.
Personally, I think the best way to come up with ideas isn't to sit at a desk and stare at a monitor, or typewriter, or blank sheet of paper. It's going out, listening to the public, experiencing things, and actually using it all as writing tools.
You know, I once sat in a diner in Council Grove, Kansas during breakfast one morning with my wife and not only listened to all the small-town banter around me, I also wrote down topics of conversation and phrases I eavesdropped on to save for later.
The movie is almost ideal as an instructional film in writing a novel. I've scrolled through a number of fiction writing courses with lessons in understanding your character and their goals and wants, or what'll happen to them so they'll develop through the story. I also recall lessons in pulling inspiration and ideas from personal experiences and things that you know. So, the writing process isn't as far-fetched in this movie despite all appearances and eccentricities.
From what I read, the movie stays pretty well on track as far as accuracy is concerned. I admit the only source I'm using to compare facts versus fiction is historyvshollywood.com.
It seems, based on this one source, that the majority of what's depicted in the movie is spot on at least as far as the major details are concerned. It's even accurate when it comes to showing how long it took Dickens to write the story. Six weeks.
One liberty the movie does take occurs when Dickens revisits the Warren's Blacking Factory while he's an adult, where he was sent as a child to work. It was a miserable and scarring experience for him; one he's clearly haunted by in the film. However, according to "Dickens's Victorian London: 1839-1901," the building was torn down in the 1830s. But another source, liamofarrell.com claims it was demolished in the 1860s to "to make way for Charing Cross railway station and the railway bridge, built in 1863."
Anyways, I loved this movie for both its performances, and on a more personal level for its relatability. While I am certainly not even close to Dickens when it comes to writing, I've had my own struggles in the art of book writing. I've started a few. I've also never finished a single one. Not yet. Time is running short. But like every other novel writer, I understand the stress, frustration, the journey through self-doubting and the hang-ups on details and getting it all just right.
The best part of Dan Stevens's performance as Dickens is his ability to jump from one emotion to another so fluidly. He's burdened by financial hardships in one scene and then acting silly for the sake of children in the next, then screaming in absolute frustration at this one book of his later on after swimming in his own thoughts and imagination for a bit too long.
The real drawtakes place when Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) converse through the movie trying to figure each other out. Dickens tells Scrooge what he wants to put him through, while Scrooge antagonizes him. Their on-going confrontations culminate as Dickens tries to think of an ending to his story. The resolution drops on him as he imaginges Scrooge in a lonely empty grave while Scrooge relents to his creator's will, lamanting that he doesn't want to die alone. I find it an iconic scene that arouses a bit of sympathy for Scrooge. It's the moment Dickens's character realizes he's wasted so many opportunities more priceless than money.
It's not solely the historical accuracy, or any lack thereof that makes or breaks this movie. It's watching the writing process. Sure, Dickens was suffering financially and did have a few pieces flop before embarking on "A Christmas Carol." But the aftermath of having a book, let alone several books, withstand decade after decade and still be just as renowned and respected is simply amazing for lack of any better words.
