Last night's movie was "Theirs is the Glory"(1946), an exceptional British quasi-documentary that recreates the tumultuous Battle of Arnhem in World War 2, which was later depicted in traditional, dramatic form in Sir Richard Attenborough's "A Bridge Too Far". In this film, stock footage from the battle is combined with re-enacted scenes using soldiers who fought there. The filmmakers explain, in voiceover and title cards, that they wanted to capture the definitive story, immediately after the war was over, while the soldier's memories were still fresh, that it never be dimmed by history.
There are no stars to name, no plot to describe. Also, I'm not entirely sure we haven't seen it before. An image at the very end caused me to think that we have (overall, I'd say it's 40/60 in favor of "haven't seen it"), but if we have seen it, it had to have been in the Covid/Youtube era, because I know we've never seen it on DVD. The narrator explains that England's Ministry of Defense has come up with a strategy for their army to finally cross into Germany. One of the Germans' most brilliant accomplishments was to set up a ferocious perimeter line around their borders, with pillboxes and tanks, that until 1945 was impenetrable. Talk about defense. Those s.o.b.s invented it. And offense, too. There has never been a military like the Germans in WW2. Keep in mind that it took all of the US, Canada, Australia, England, and Russian forces to defeat them. Mostly, it was the British who got the job done, and the combined air power of England and the US, and we bombed them into the stone age, but there was no other way to stop the Nazis, and if ever a nation was diabolical, it was Nazi Germany just 85 years ago. That is why I believe they should never again be trusted to have a military. It's all very nice, very humanitarian and very NATO to let Germany back into the civilized world, but when you consider that they started World War One as well, and consider that that war was nearly as bloody and horrible as the second world war, you have to ask yourself why they deserve another chance militarily, even though none of today's Germans are responsible for the mayhem.
But still.
I also don't believe that other countries should be permitted to land on the Moon. Russia is one thing. We can't stop them, but we've at least partnered with them in the International Space Station and even before that with Soyuz. So, while Russia is nominally "the enemy", they're at least The Devil We Know. And, we've allied with them in the past, whereas we don't know the lunar objectives of China, et al. So I don't think they should land on the Moon. Just my two cents, don't get riled.
In WW2, there was no doubt about the alliances or the purpose of the war for the Allies. While Hitler was certainly financed, in part, during his rise, by Wall St. and wealthy industrialists, once he got his ball rolling, there was no one to blame but the Germans. Something was wrong with that country in the early 20th century. But they were able to back up their aggression, and astoundingly, they built a Wermacht that almost took over the world. That medium-sized country, almost landlocked, nearly defeated huge international powers. And of course they had Japan's help. Another medium sized, ultra-aggressive country that would not throw in the towel and believed their emperor was God incarnate. So no, neither Germany nor Japan should allowed a military ever again (not for at least a millennia), and it's because they've proven they can't be trusted.
All you have to do is watch this movie for proof.
The firepower that is shown has never been duplicated since. It's unreal. But the courage surpasses the weaponry. World wars can be prevented from happening again, but not if folks don't know, or care, about history. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with the younger generations nowdays, but I shant go on a tirade at the moment. This is a must watch, and God Bless England and Her Allies. They saved the world, sacrificing themselves in the process, to relentless German bombardment. The Germans are geniuses militarily. Fortunately for the world, they lacked enough personnel to achieve their aims, but they've tried twice in 110 years, and they should never have an army again. Having said that, God Bless the German people, The Scorpions, Uli Jon Roth, and the late Klaus Schulze. The picture is good-not-great. ////
The previous night, in PRC's "The Panther's Claw"(1942), veteran 1940s character actor Byron Foulger (who specialized in Fussbudget Milquetoasts) gets his chance in a starring role, as "Everett P. Digberry", a wigmaker who blackmails himself. This is creative stuff for PRC. As it opens, Digberry is caught creeping around in a cemetery at 1 a.m. Trying to explain his presence to a cop, he only digs himself deeper. Is he a grave robber? No, but he claims to be a victim of someone called The Black Panther, a mysterious extortionist who writes letters demanding money. The typed letters are ink-stamped with a paw print and the Panther's signature.
When Digberry produces his letter, in trying to prove his story, the cops notice a typographic imperfection: the H is slightly crooked. Having already determined the chemical composition of the letter paper, they go looking for a typewriter with a crooked H. Meanwhile, they search for other recipients of The Black Panther Letter, all of whom turn out to work for an opera company. The tenor, "Enrico Lombardi" (Thornton Edwards), a histrionic man who refers to himself in the third person, is outraged to be named a suspect. "Yes-a, Lombardi is-a passionate! Lombardi-a love his leading ladies! Lombardi even-a kill if-a somebody provoke him. But Lombardi he's a-never-a crook." And if that's not enough ethnic caricature for you, Billy Mitchell is on hand as "Nicodemus J. Brown", aka "8-Ball", the elevator man at Everett Digberry's apartment building. 8-Ball proves valuable as a witness: "Yassuh! I done saw Mistah Digberry actin' mighty strange all that evenin'!" I have to cut in to say that I detest (absolutely detest) after-the-fact decriers who put down these characterizations and the actors who portray them. I always use Spike Lee as an example, because he wasn't even born when these kinds of movies were released, nor were all the woke Ultra Left Wing college professors who promote divisive cultural politics. C'mon: it's a movie, people. The actors were getting paid, and the Black actors in these films made them willingly, and most importantly: They Made People Laugh. As did the white actors parodying egotistical Italian Opera Tenors. Why do you think Don Rickles was so popular? And I didn't even like Rickles, because his style was obnoxious. But it's human nature to caricature, and in that way, we exaggerate and Celebrate The Difference! And what higher calling can there be than making people laugh?
So yes, Viva la Difference, I say. And "bravo" to humor. This movie is good because it laughs at human weirdness and foibles. Sidney Blackmer, who plays "Police Commisioner Thatcher".....wait a sec, let me turn the italics off.....beams throughout the movie, as if he's the director's best friend and is in on some joke, or as if he's letting the audience know it's a hilarious movie.
But it's Byron Foullger's show, all told. His character is in outraged wimp, in spiteful competition with a rival wigmaker, both selling their wares to the opera company. The soprano turns up dead, and Digberry turns out to be the Black Panther letter writer, but he was only setting up the scheme to blackmail himself, so he would look like a victim, also. He did this because he loaned a thousand dollars to the opera diva, and if his Amazonian wife found out, she'll kill him. But he swears he's not the murderer.
Again, it's above-average stuff for Producer's Releasing Corporation, the kings of Poverty Row. Byron Foulger is a riot throughout, as evidenced by Sidney Blackmer's grin. Two Big Thumbs Up for "The Panther's Claw". The picture is very good. ////
And that's all I know. Well, Joe Burrow did play tonight, and the Rams couldn't hang on. Matthew Stafford has got to stop throwing interceptions. Other than that, they've been competitive in both of their losses, so I'm not too worried. Do pizzas, you say? That's easy. In no particular order: Angela's Onion & Garlic, Morigi's Sausage & Pepperoni, Ravenelli's Hawaiian (Canadian Bacon & Pineapple), Chi Chi's Garden Veggie, and Donofrio's Cheese Pizza. What's Donofrio's? Donofrio's was a very small pizza joint (just a kitchen and a take-out windum, really) that was on Saticoy near Louise in the same building (or next to) what is now Mimi's Shampoodle. It was the first pizza I ever had, just cheese, no toppings, but boy was it ever good! It probably went out of business in the 1970s, but I've always remembered it. Honorable mention goes to Dugout Pizza for their garlic pizza (a white aeoli base instead of tomato sauce) with various toppings. And pizza is like ice cream, in that there's no such thing as a bad one, so Pizza Hut, Dominoes and all the chains should get their due, and even frozen pizzas like Celeste and Totino's. What are your favorites?
My blogging music is (yes, again) Klaus Schulze "La Vie Electronique #1", my late night is Wagner's "Gotterdammerung". I hope your week is off to a good start, I've got a cricket in my apartment and I hope I can catch him before I go to sleep, and I send you Tons of Love, as always.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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