What classics did you see last week? 10th Jan to 16th Jan?
Jan 17, 2021 10:38:10 GMT
spiderwort, teleadm, and 4 more like this
Post by claudius on Jan 17, 2021 10:38:10 GMT
I accidentally left out in last week’s thread my viewing parts of the Alexandre Korda documentary CHURCHILL AND THE MOGUL (2019) on Turner Classic Movies as well as watching parts of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1934) broadcast on the same channel.
Sunday 10
50 years ago, MASTERPIECE THEATRE premiered on PBS TV. In honor of that anniversary, I will spend the year watching British TV Serials that aired on the program from 1971 to about 2003 (when THEATRE was dropped from the title). Now, unless the Serial had an actual anniversary, which motivates me to watch it full, the majority of each of these viewings will be limited to several episodes. First is the premiere Serial:
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “The Chaste Nymph” Based on Winston Churchill’s Biography of his ancestor, this 13-part Serial tells about the story of John Churchill (John Neville) and his wife Sarah (Susan Hampshire), the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and their lives personal, political, and militaristic through the reigns of four monarchs. It also reunited THE FORSYTE SAGA Donald Wilson, David Giles, Hampshire, and Margaret Tyzack (who will appear in several MASTERPIECE entries like COUSIN BETTE and I, CLAUDIUS). I was first introduced to this film via Terrence Flaherty’s MASTERPIECE THEATRE: 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING TELEVISION in 1996 (where I learned Alistair Cooke was never fond of this production, thinking it a misfire that could have doomed the show). I got to see half of the Serial on DVD in October 2004. I celebrated its 50th Anniversary back in September-December 2019. Acorn Media.
THE FLASH (1991) “Sight Unseen” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (1991) “B.Y.O.B” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The Walsh parents go out for the weekend, and Brandon and Brenda hold a party at their house, with disastrous consequences. I think this was the first episode I watched, although I don’t remember if it was on premiere that January 1990 or a later repeat (I do remember the promo, with Brandon in jail, so it must have been the former). Viewed on a VHS recording of a Soap Net Broadcast (c. 2010) that retains the original songs.
FONZ AND THE HAPPY DAYS GANG (1981) “It’s A Jungle Out There” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. CBS/Fox Video DVD.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1996) “Lies and Silence” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Characterization of Kaji, Misato, Rei, and Gendo are revealed. Japanese with English Subtitles. ADV DVD.
RUROUNI KENSHIN (1996) “The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man Who Fights For Love.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Anime adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga about the adventures of a wandering pacifist swordsman in the modernization period of Japan 1878. First saw this episode- edited- on Cartoon Network in the Spring of 2003, starting a long interest in the series. Japanese with English Subtitles. Media Blaster/Anime Works DVD.
ELLEN (1996) “Ellen P.I.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY A theft at Ellen’s shop. Saw this one on ABC. A & E Home Video DVD.
ANOTHER WORLD (1988) Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast in August 1988.
THE RIFLEMAN (1962) “Dark Day at Pitch Fork” Betamax Recording of a 1988 CBN Broadcast.
Monday 11
INSPECTOR GADGET (1985) “Gadget’s Clean Sweep” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The final episode of the Time Trilogy as Gadget and family go to Victorian London. This time, the Gadget ancestor- a chimney cleaner- has a wife! Also marks one of the few times in this season Penny is captured (she gets out of it). Last appearance of Professor Van Slickstein. Cinedigm DVD.
MGM: WHEN THE LION ROARS (1992) “The Lion Reigns Supreme” Part Two of TNT’s Studio Documentary covers 1936 to 1945, focusing on Louis B. Mayer taking total control of MGM (with balanced mixture of interviews on Mayer’s Pros- Mickey Rooney, Van Johnson- and his Cons- Helen Hayes and Luis Rainer), child stars, series like THE THIN MAN, DR. KILDARE, and ANDY HARDY, the departure of its older stars (Shearer, Crawford, and Garbo) and the gaining of new ones (Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr), and World War II. This is a Betamax Recording of its premiere Broadcast in March 1992, probably the first time in a decade that I’m watching a complete uninterrupted run of the episode (the Warner DVD split this episode between two discs.). Wished I could find a recording of Part Three with footage of Fred Astaire that was later deleted by the wishes of his widow Ara. Includes promos for TNT’s “Our Favorite Movies” selection of HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962), my first viewing of that film, and the BEN-HUR Double Feature (from which I would get a VHS recording of the silent 1925 version).
Tuesday 12
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1986) “Battle of the Bands Act lll” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The conclusion of the five-part origin story. Seeing the final part was elusive back in its SUPER SUNDAY showing. Rhino DVD.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1996) “The Birth of Queen Relena” 25TH ANNIVERSARY It’s time to get the band back together! Noin and Quatre look for the other Gundam pilots, resulting in the latter getting a reunion with an amnesiac Trowa. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “The Protestant Wind” Episode Six covers the Glorious Rebellion of 1688. Acorn DVD.
Wednesday 13
THE TRAPP FAMILY STORY (1991) “I Want To Be a Nun!” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Based on Maria Von Trapp’s memoir, this WORLD MASTERPIECE THEATER Anime focuses on the story that would be better known as THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Episode 1 has Maria come to Salzburg to become a Nun. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
THE FLINTSTONES (1961) “Anthony Quarry’s Dance Class” 60TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
DARK SHADOWS (1991) “Pilot” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Dan Curtis’ short-lived updated remake of the 1966-1971 Soap Opera, starring Ben Cross, Joanna Going, Jean Simmons, Roy Thinnes, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The Pilot episode mixes the original series’ Victoria Winters and Barnabas plotlines with HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (whose 50th Anniversary I celebrated last year). I first saw parts of the series on the SciFi Channel in 1996 (as part of a ‘Short-lived series’ showcase, with an interview by Roy Thinnes). I first saw this episode on Chiller back in 2012. This is from the MGM/UA DVD, which unfortunately used a print that lacked the added ‘Night’ filters used for the actual broadcast and VHS, exposing every ‘Night’ sequence as a bright day.
THE WESTERNERS (1960) “Dos Pinos” Betamax Recording of a WGN Broadcast.
Thursday 14
DARK SHADOWS (1991) “Episodes 2-3” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Two episodes aired together the following night of the premiere on NBC. The first episode remakes HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, with a funeral, David seeing his vampire cousin (this time new character Daphne instead of Carolyn) at the abandoned pool, David interrupting a dinner to tell everyone what he saw, the boyfriend getting attacked by his vampire girlfriend, the crucifix-wielding police hunting and staking the vampire, Dr. Julia Hoffman discovering the truth about Barnabas and later confronting him with the hope of a cure. This was the first DS’91 I saw on SciFi channel back in the summer of 1996 (having only been introduced to the original series in its 1968 year with a cured Barnabas, it was interesting to see a version of the original storyline). I thought the cops-with-crosses was a cool idea for this series, until I found out a few months later it was cribbed from HOUSE. The following episode adapts the ‘Curing of Barnabas/Woodward’ storyline (which I celebrated its 50th Anniversary back in 2017). MGM/UA DVD.
AT THE MOVIES (1985) Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert give 95% thumbs down to this episode’s selections of FLETCH (which gets the only thumb up, from Siskel), A VIEW TO A KILL (Where Ebert brings up a flaw in Christopher Walken’s plan to destroy Silicon Valley), PERFECT, and GOODBYE NEW YORK. Betamax Recording of a 1985 WGN Broadcast.
Friday 15
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “A Famous Victory” Episode 10 covers Marlborough’s victory in the Battle of Blenheim (1704). Acorn Media DVD.
AT THE MOVIES (1982) “Best of 1982” Siskel & Ebert come up with their Top Ten films of the year. Both critics share E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, MOONLIGHTING, and MEPHISTO in their lists, with individual selections of SOPHIE’S CHOICE and PERSONAL BEST. Betamax Recording of a WGN Broadcast.
Saturday 16
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1971) “Just for Lunch” 50TH ANNIVERSARY FoxVideo DVD.
SAW PARTS OF: (a lot of these ‘parts of’ viewings here were not by choice: the recordings were condensed, either by my uncle editing the recording of commercials or scenes, switching channels, recording over the previous recording, etc).
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1984) “Billy Crystal, Edwin Newman, Mayor Koch/The Cars” The last episode of the 9th Season, the first for Billy Crystal, and the final appearances of Tim Kazurinksy, Robin Duke, Brad Hall, and Joe Piscopo. This is a Betamax recording of its original Broadcast in May 1984.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS (1988) Short-Lived series with Brad Garrett. Betamax Recording of its original CBS Broadcast.
LATER WITH BOB COSTAS (1988) Interview with Linda Ellerbee. Betamax Recording of an NBC Broadcast.
THE LONE RANGER (c. 1954) Betamax Recording of a 1988 CBN Broadcast.
GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (1969) The MGM Musical with Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark. Last saw this film for its 50th Anniversary in 2019. Warner DVD.
LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (1984-1988) Interviews with Bob Costas, Steve Miller, and Richard Dominick, Don Johnson, Brad Hall, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams. Betamax Recordings of several NBC Broadcasts.
EXTERMINATOR 2 (1984) Cannon VHS.
THE GREAT WALTZ (1938) Betamax Recording of a 1992 TNT Broadcast.
SUPERMAN II (1980) Warner VHS.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1982) “Joseph Madden/Jennifer Holliday” Betamax Recording of the NBC Premiere Broadcast.
MASH (1983) “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” The final episode of the series. Betamax Recording of the original CBS Broadcast, unfortunately unfinished- the recording ran out of tape right during the cast’s final Party together.
Sunday 10
50 years ago, MASTERPIECE THEATRE premiered on PBS TV. In honor of that anniversary, I will spend the year watching British TV Serials that aired on the program from 1971 to about 2003 (when THEATRE was dropped from the title). Now, unless the Serial had an actual anniversary, which motivates me to watch it full, the majority of each of these viewings will be limited to several episodes. First is the premiere Serial:
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “The Chaste Nymph” Based on Winston Churchill’s Biography of his ancestor, this 13-part Serial tells about the story of John Churchill (John Neville) and his wife Sarah (Susan Hampshire), the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and their lives personal, political, and militaristic through the reigns of four monarchs. It also reunited THE FORSYTE SAGA Donald Wilson, David Giles, Hampshire, and Margaret Tyzack (who will appear in several MASTERPIECE entries like COUSIN BETTE and I, CLAUDIUS). I was first introduced to this film via Terrence Flaherty’s MASTERPIECE THEATRE: 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING TELEVISION in 1996 (where I learned Alistair Cooke was never fond of this production, thinking it a misfire that could have doomed the show). I got to see half of the Serial on DVD in October 2004. I celebrated its 50th Anniversary back in September-December 2019. Acorn Media.
THE FLASH (1991) “Sight Unseen” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (1991) “B.Y.O.B” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The Walsh parents go out for the weekend, and Brandon and Brenda hold a party at their house, with disastrous consequences. I think this was the first episode I watched, although I don’t remember if it was on premiere that January 1990 or a later repeat (I do remember the promo, with Brandon in jail, so it must have been the former). Viewed on a VHS recording of a Soap Net Broadcast (c. 2010) that retains the original songs.
FONZ AND THE HAPPY DAYS GANG (1981) “It’s A Jungle Out There” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. CBS/Fox Video DVD.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1996) “Lies and Silence” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Characterization of Kaji, Misato, Rei, and Gendo are revealed. Japanese with English Subtitles. ADV DVD.
RUROUNI KENSHIN (1996) “The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man Who Fights For Love.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Anime adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga about the adventures of a wandering pacifist swordsman in the modernization period of Japan 1878. First saw this episode- edited- on Cartoon Network in the Spring of 2003, starting a long interest in the series. Japanese with English Subtitles. Media Blaster/Anime Works DVD.
ELLEN (1996) “Ellen P.I.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY A theft at Ellen’s shop. Saw this one on ABC. A & E Home Video DVD.
ANOTHER WORLD (1988) Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast in August 1988.
THE RIFLEMAN (1962) “Dark Day at Pitch Fork” Betamax Recording of a 1988 CBN Broadcast.
Monday 11
INSPECTOR GADGET (1985) “Gadget’s Clean Sweep” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The final episode of the Time Trilogy as Gadget and family go to Victorian London. This time, the Gadget ancestor- a chimney cleaner- has a wife! Also marks one of the few times in this season Penny is captured (she gets out of it). Last appearance of Professor Van Slickstein. Cinedigm DVD.
MGM: WHEN THE LION ROARS (1992) “The Lion Reigns Supreme” Part Two of TNT’s Studio Documentary covers 1936 to 1945, focusing on Louis B. Mayer taking total control of MGM (with balanced mixture of interviews on Mayer’s Pros- Mickey Rooney, Van Johnson- and his Cons- Helen Hayes and Luis Rainer), child stars, series like THE THIN MAN, DR. KILDARE, and ANDY HARDY, the departure of its older stars (Shearer, Crawford, and Garbo) and the gaining of new ones (Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr), and World War II. This is a Betamax Recording of its premiere Broadcast in March 1992, probably the first time in a decade that I’m watching a complete uninterrupted run of the episode (the Warner DVD split this episode between two discs.). Wished I could find a recording of Part Three with footage of Fred Astaire that was later deleted by the wishes of his widow Ara. Includes promos for TNT’s “Our Favorite Movies” selection of HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962), my first viewing of that film, and the BEN-HUR Double Feature (from which I would get a VHS recording of the silent 1925 version).
Tuesday 12
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1986) “Battle of the Bands Act lll” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The conclusion of the five-part origin story. Seeing the final part was elusive back in its SUPER SUNDAY showing. Rhino DVD.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1996) “The Birth of Queen Relena” 25TH ANNIVERSARY It’s time to get the band back together! Noin and Quatre look for the other Gundam pilots, resulting in the latter getting a reunion with an amnesiac Trowa. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “The Protestant Wind” Episode Six covers the Glorious Rebellion of 1688. Acorn DVD.
Wednesday 13
THE TRAPP FAMILY STORY (1991) “I Want To Be a Nun!” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Based on Maria Von Trapp’s memoir, this WORLD MASTERPIECE THEATER Anime focuses on the story that would be better known as THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Episode 1 has Maria come to Salzburg to become a Nun. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
THE FLINTSTONES (1961) “Anthony Quarry’s Dance Class” 60TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
DARK SHADOWS (1991) “Pilot” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Dan Curtis’ short-lived updated remake of the 1966-1971 Soap Opera, starring Ben Cross, Joanna Going, Jean Simmons, Roy Thinnes, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The Pilot episode mixes the original series’ Victoria Winters and Barnabas plotlines with HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (whose 50th Anniversary I celebrated last year). I first saw parts of the series on the SciFi Channel in 1996 (as part of a ‘Short-lived series’ showcase, with an interview by Roy Thinnes). I first saw this episode on Chiller back in 2012. This is from the MGM/UA DVD, which unfortunately used a print that lacked the added ‘Night’ filters used for the actual broadcast and VHS, exposing every ‘Night’ sequence as a bright day.
THE WESTERNERS (1960) “Dos Pinos” Betamax Recording of a WGN Broadcast.
Thursday 14
DARK SHADOWS (1991) “Episodes 2-3” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Two episodes aired together the following night of the premiere on NBC. The first episode remakes HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, with a funeral, David seeing his vampire cousin (this time new character Daphne instead of Carolyn) at the abandoned pool, David interrupting a dinner to tell everyone what he saw, the boyfriend getting attacked by his vampire girlfriend, the crucifix-wielding police hunting and staking the vampire, Dr. Julia Hoffman discovering the truth about Barnabas and later confronting him with the hope of a cure. This was the first DS’91 I saw on SciFi channel back in the summer of 1996 (having only been introduced to the original series in its 1968 year with a cured Barnabas, it was interesting to see a version of the original storyline). I thought the cops-with-crosses was a cool idea for this series, until I found out a few months later it was cribbed from HOUSE. The following episode adapts the ‘Curing of Barnabas/Woodward’ storyline (which I celebrated its 50th Anniversary back in 2017). MGM/UA DVD.
AT THE MOVIES (1985) Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert give 95% thumbs down to this episode’s selections of FLETCH (which gets the only thumb up, from Siskel), A VIEW TO A KILL (Where Ebert brings up a flaw in Christopher Walken’s plan to destroy Silicon Valley), PERFECT, and GOODBYE NEW YORK. Betamax Recording of a 1985 WGN Broadcast.
Friday 15
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “A Famous Victory” Episode 10 covers Marlborough’s victory in the Battle of Blenheim (1704). Acorn Media DVD.
AT THE MOVIES (1982) “Best of 1982” Siskel & Ebert come up with their Top Ten films of the year. Both critics share E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, MOONLIGHTING, and MEPHISTO in their lists, with individual selections of SOPHIE’S CHOICE and PERSONAL BEST. Betamax Recording of a WGN Broadcast.
Saturday 16
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1971) “Just for Lunch” 50TH ANNIVERSARY FoxVideo DVD.
SAW PARTS OF: (a lot of these ‘parts of’ viewings here were not by choice: the recordings were condensed, either by my uncle editing the recording of commercials or scenes, switching channels, recording over the previous recording, etc).
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1984) “Billy Crystal, Edwin Newman, Mayor Koch/The Cars” The last episode of the 9th Season, the first for Billy Crystal, and the final appearances of Tim Kazurinksy, Robin Duke, Brad Hall, and Joe Piscopo. This is a Betamax recording of its original Broadcast in May 1984.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS (1988) Short-Lived series with Brad Garrett. Betamax Recording of its original CBS Broadcast.
LATER WITH BOB COSTAS (1988) Interview with Linda Ellerbee. Betamax Recording of an NBC Broadcast.
THE LONE RANGER (c. 1954) Betamax Recording of a 1988 CBN Broadcast.
GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (1969) The MGM Musical with Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark. Last saw this film for its 50th Anniversary in 2019. Warner DVD.
LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (1984-1988) Interviews with Bob Costas, Steve Miller, and Richard Dominick, Don Johnson, Brad Hall, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams. Betamax Recordings of several NBC Broadcasts.
EXTERMINATOR 2 (1984) Cannon VHS.
THE GREAT WALTZ (1938) Betamax Recording of a 1992 TNT Broadcast.
SUPERMAN II (1980) Warner VHS.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1982) “Joseph Madden/Jennifer Holliday” Betamax Recording of the NBC Premiere Broadcast.
MASH (1983) “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” The final episode of the series. Betamax Recording of the original CBS Broadcast, unfortunately unfinished- the recording ran out of tape right during the cast’s final Party together.
