Apr 6 2012
What’s Up Doc (1972) Genre: Screwball Comedy/Romance Grade: A- Judy: Love means never having to say you’re sorry. Howard: That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. Lots of people have tried to make screwball comedies in the decades after its 30/40s heydays but very few have actually succeeded. Usually, IMO, because they try too hard [...]
Dec 30 2011
Bachelor Mother (1939) Genre: Screwball Comedy Grade: B J.B. Merlin: I don’t care who the father is, I’m the grandfather! Finding a New Year’s Eve movie is tough and I’d almost given up until I remembered this one. It’s got humor, dancing, a sweet romance, a cute baby and one determined grandfather. Polly Parrish (Ginger [...]
Apr 8 2011
The Lady Eve (1941) Genre: Screwball comedy/romance Grade B For some reason I’d missed watching this movie until recently. Preston Sturges films either work well for me or bomb and after a miss with “Christmas in July,” I hesitated on trying “The Lady Eve.” Now that I’ve seen it, I wish I’d watched it years [...]
Nov 30 2010
Dear Ms. Donovan: It is no secret that I am a fan of your early books, especially Knock Me Off My Feet and Take A Chance on Me. The quirky characters, quirkier animals, semi-farcical situations, and likeable heroines all appeal to me. It is also no secret that I have not been as enchanted with [...]
Jun 11 2010
The Rage of Paris (1938) Genre: Romantic Comedy (slightly screwball-ish) Grade: B I put this one in my Netflix queue because it was linked to another film in the “if you like that you may like this” manner. I didn’t have great expectations for it but thought, “eh, it’s only 78 minutes and it has [...]
May 14 2010
Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) Genre: Screwball comedy Grade: B+ Preston Sturges is known for his satires of the Hays Code restrictions for Hollywood films and “Hail the Conquering Hero” is one of my favorites of his. It’s got the usual group of actors Sturges liked to work with as well as his usual trademark [...]
Apr 14 2008
Dear Mrs. Arkins, My decision to try another of your books coincided nicely with Samhain’s offer of this novel. It’s longer length, screwball comedy feel and more contemporary setting are a 180 degree contrast with the historical novella “Don’t Fence Me In” and gave me a good chance to see what else your writing has [...]
Apr 19 2007
Dear Mrs Frankel, This has to be every woman’s nightmare. The details have been haggled over for months, the $$$ dress has been bought, guests are gathered, the shrimp is marinating, the ice sculpture is being chiseled into shape and the groom is a &^%$#@ no show. And if the wedding is costing her parents [...]
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