Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Not all heroes wear capes.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Thanks for reminding me that Van Jones needs to be slapped.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

After roe, women are no longer free.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

DeSantis transforms Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

You are here: Home / TV & Movies / Movies / Instead Of Licking My Hand, You Barked

Instead Of Licking My Hand, You Barked

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Bixby and Bailey wish you a very Merry Christmas

It’s that time again, the Weekend Movie Club from Mnemosyne, aka The Insufferable Movie Snob, via Schroedinger’s Cat fun website. She asked me to post in case Anne Laurie was super busy today. Here is her review of a sweet film, The Shop Around the Corner

One more thing you may notice: the date the film was made. It was filmed in 1939 after Hungary had been taken over by fascists connected to Nazi Germany and, under pressure, the country officially joined the Axis powers in late 1940. So this is a subtle propaganda film in addition to everything else, showing an idealized Budapest as it was before Nazi Germany invaded Poland and kicked off World War II.

The film begins with the employees gathering to wait for their employer to open the shop for the day’s work. Already waiting outside the door is Pirovich (Felix Bressart, possibly my favorite character actor), soon joined by insolent errand boy Pepi (William Tracy), the two lady clerks, and head clerk Alfred Kralik (James Stewart), who had dinner with the boss last night. The last arriving clerk, dandyish Vadas (Joseph Schildkraut) is clearly jealous of the favor that Mr. Matuschek shows to Kralik, and the rest of the employees are just as clearly wary of Vadas and protective of Kralik. Mr. Matuschek arrives to open the store, and their day begins.  Continue to read here.

Here’s a bonus kitteh:

NOTE about the Writing Group: my plan has always been two Sundays a month, but with Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, I didn’t see a good second Sunday to post. We will pick up again January 8th. The last one was great fun, so I look forward to continuing. See you in 2017!  – TaMara

Open thread!

ETA: And as if on cue, I look out the window and it’s snowing! White Christmas….

Reader Interactions

76Comments

  1. 1.

    raven

    We just came from a walk on the French Broad River in Asheville and there were two Dane’s in the dog park!

  5. 5.

    Josie

    @raven: What a lovely picture. I may have to move my computer illiterate self to figure out how to put that on my screen background. It gives such a feeling of peace and hope.

  15. 15.

    PsiFighter37

    Spending the holiday weekend in Chicago…downtown around Millenium Park is dead quiet right now. For some reason, the hotel gave us one of the top-floor grand suites, even though I booked at a cheapo rate, so I’m kind of inclined not to go outside at all…

    Today’s agenda: just finished working out. Going to grab lunch, veg out more, go see Rogue One, eat an early dinner (Chinese food) and then veg out some more.

    Hope everyone is having a happy holiday! Enjoy it because maybe we’ll have nuked the world into oblivion by this time next year…

  16. 16.

    raven

    @Denali: I think most folks around Asheville are horrified. My bride went with her family to the Unitarian gig last night and the “concern’ was palpable.

  17. 17.

    bystander

    Great Danes are so regal. TaMara’s are no exception.

    Happy Holidays, All.

    It’s a warm (40s) sunny day in northeastern Pennsylvania.

    My favorite iteration of The Shop franchise is the musical version She Loves Me. OBC recording with Barbara Cook and Daniel Massey is one of Cook’s best.

  18. 18.

    germy

    MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Supreme Court is blocking outgoing Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin from picking a successor for a court member who retires in March – at least until a Jan. 3 hearing on the matter.

    Shumlin, who leaves office Jan. 5, was expected to announce an appointment before the new year. Republicans want GOP Gov.-elect Phil Scott to make the pick.

    Shumlin spokesman Scott Coriell says state law allows the outgoing governor to pick a successor for Associate Justice John Dooley, who joined the court in 1987 and declined to apply for another term by the September deadline.

    State Rep. Donald Turner, the Republican leader in the Vermont House, had gone to court to challenge Shumlin’s authority to make the appointment.

  19. 19.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    Thanks for Bixby and Bailey’s greeting! Happy Day to you. As I said below, Happy Day everyone. Thanks for being my imaginary friends. Mr. Q once told somebody I was “having coffee with one of her imaginary friends” and the person (I can’t remember who) was quite confused.

    @raven: Pretty! Thanks for that.

  20. 20.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    remember when they told us Obama supporters were a cult of personality?

    WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chair Sharon Day released the following statement celebrating Christmas:

    “Merry Christmas to all! Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world, a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind. Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King. We hope Americans celebrating Christmas today will enjoy a day of festivities and a renewed closeness with family and friends.

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    I should have known that you jackals would turn a movie post into a dog post. ? But this is why I hang around here with you.

    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Cool Yule!

  24. 24.

    germy

    12 Days of Christmas:

    The 1780 version has “four colly birds”—”colly” being a regional English expression for “black”. This wording must have been opaque to many even in the 19th century: “canary birds”, “colour’d birds”, “curley birds”, and “corley birds” are found in its place. Frederic Austin’s 1909 version, which introduced the now-standard melody, also altered the fourth day’s gift to four “calling” birds, and this variant has become the most popular, although “colly” is still found.

  28. 28.

    zhena gogolia

    @Mnemosyne:

    I liked this line: “Some critics split Stewart’s performances into pre-WWII (sweet and uncomplicated) and post-WWII (dark and complicated) but, frankly, he had that darkness in him the whole time.” His acting in this film is so subtle and multi-dimensional — just his facial expressions say volumes. It’s a brilliant performance.

  29. 29.

    zhena gogolia

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I read the whole thing — I think it’s just an inartful way of referring to Christmas. But why would a political party be doing that in our supposedly freedom-of-religion state?

  31. 31.

    germy

    “Celebrate the good news of a new king”

    Schooley ‏@Rschooley 1h1 hour ago

    Thought this had to be fake, but it’s not. Imagine if the DNC had literally equated Obama and Jesus.

  33. 33.

    bystander

    I’m on the “it’s hype” team when it comes to LaLaLand. Left me bored. Navel gazing music like “One” tricked out in Jacques Demy’s sets.

  37. 37.

    brendancalling

    Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Vengeful Festivus for everyone.

    I’m in Philly for the holidays, and get my son tomorrow. We’re not very Christmasy in this household: my Mom was the Christmas nut, and now that she’s gone my Jewish, atheist father is doing his part. No tree this year: instead he set up an aluminum pole. It’s not a Festivus pole (he says), probably because my squabbling siblings and I have so many grievances with each other the holiday would last two weeks, and the Feats of Strength would leave us all pulverized.

    Today, I’m heading to Chinatown for dim sum. I expect that should put me in a good food coma for the rest of the day.

  38. 38.

    Brachiator

    @bystander:

    I’m on the “it’s hype” team when it comes to LaLaLand. Left me bored. Navel gazing music like “One” tricked out in Jacques Demy’s sets.

    I wasn’t bored, but I wasn’t bowled over. I liked Emma Stone and the way various locations were combined to create a fantasy city.

  41. 41.

    Another Scott

    @germy: Seems legit. They haven’t taken it down or edited it yet.

    It would explain a lot, if they think the election was for a new King of the USA.

    :-/

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  44. 44.

    Diana

    @Baud: too perfect.
    I’m visiting the Republican brother and if it weren’t for the 6-hour $500 plane ride purchased before election results came in and too expensive to change I would’ve turned around & gone home by now. I came out here with a cold which has now deepened into bronchitis from stress and & from sleeping in the unheated basement next to the garage. We have studiously avoided talked politics, but Republican brother is clipping the “made in China” tags off the ornaments before he hangs them on the tree. (Does he think that stops them from being made in China, or something? I cannot afford to be homeless with this cough so I’m not going to ask.) I cannot wait for this holiday to be over.

  45. 45.

    Steve in the ATL

    Was hoping for a white Christmas but instead it’s sunny and 70 degrees. Thanks for ruining Christmas, climate change. Can’t wait until you are outlawed next month!

  46. 46.

    Mnemosyne

    @germy:

    I haven’t, but I have it on my list. I think that story has been re-made approximately 60 billion times, with the most familiar version being The More The Merrier with Joel McCrae.

    @zhena gogolia:

    Thanks! I think the difference between pre-war Stewart and post-war Stewart is maturity — he can be pretty feckless and irresponsible in his pre-war movies, but he played a lot fewer of those post-war. Same thing with John Ford. After what he saw during the war, his films became a lot more emotionally and morally complex.

  51. 51.

    rikyrah

    @Diana:
    To be blunt… Should have taken the L on the plane ticket and stayed home. At this moment still, I would not be able to be in a room with a known Cheeto Benito voter.

  53. 53.

    L&DinSLT

    It’s 18* in South Lake Tahoe, a foot of powder on the ground and in the trees. A perfect “Bluebird” day!

  54. 54.

    Mnemosyne

    @rikyrah:

    Stewart was up against Fredric March in The Best Years of Our Lives that year, so it was partly bad luck. That film holds up really well and gives the lie to the current claims that the “Greatest Generation” didn’t have any problems after coming home from WWII.

  55. 55.

    debbie

    @Mnemosyne:

    That is another of my very favorite movies. The scene with Mirna Loy and Frederick March telling their daughter that they do in fact know about the difficulties of love. Dana Andrews pondering his life in the nose of that bomber. And on and on.

    OT — It’s not listed as a rerun, but 60 Minutes will have a segment on Hamilton tonight.

  57. 57.

    James Powell

    @Mnemosyne:

    It’s a great film and Frederic March is one of my all-time favorites.

    The Cold War required that the reality portrayed in Best Years be hidden and never spoken of again.

  59. 59.

    Mnemosyne

    @debbie:

    We may be off at the movies later, but I suspect it’s probably a re-run of the previous “Hamilton” segment. Either that, or Les Moonves ordered them to be stupid and do a segment on Pence getting booed.

    @James Powell:

    The Cold War required that the reality portrayed in “Best Years” be hidden and never spoken of again.

    Yep. People really underestimate in retrospect how conservative the Production Code was and how many times it was used to censor political opinions, not just sex or violence.

  63. 63.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Baud: she was talking about the people who did it for more than a day… at any rate. I found the RNC note offensive because it blatantly and intentionally ignored other holidays happening right now, including one celebrated by the GOP’s best friend Israel.

  66. 66.

    Diana

    @rikyrah: he assured me that he did not vote for Trump and that we would not talk politics before I came out. I think he may have voted for Evan McMillen because he voted for Romney before. We’re not religious so he’s comfortable with Mormons.

  67. 67.

    gene108

    What does one do with old caps and gowns?

    I am going through my stuff, as my mom will move from her current house of 31+ years, to a smaller condo.

    I have come across my high school and college graduation cap and gown. I’d like to somehow have them be reused to recycled rather than throwing them away.

  70. 70.

    Tazj

    @germy: I’m really shocked that the statement is not fake. Aren’t conservatives in love with the “founding fathers”, freedom and liberty and all that. Now they’re praising tRump and as the new “king”? Wasn’t President Obama a dictator who destroyed the Constitution? Christians did not compare anyone to Christ let alone tRump.

    Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! I hope everyone is able to enjoy themselves today.

    My husband picks today to go over all the bills-great. I’ve had to account for all my “sins and transgressions”. I don’t spend like a crazy person. I stick to a budget but I have been known to misplace the occasional receipt. Luckily, everything is accounted for.

    I remember teasing my mom as a teenager because she had once misplaced a game of Monopoly for me and my younger sister when we were much younger. What do you know, Santa had mistakenly put it in the hall closet and we got it a week after Christmas. My poor mom, and she had a much bigger family to deal with than I do.

  72. 72.

    gene108

    @Major Major Major Major:

    not planning to graduate high school again? Sad.

    I wish I could take what I know now and get a do over…of course I’d have to filter out things like what I know about modern tech, because I’d be very fidgety for a quarter century waiting for my iPhone and iPad.

  75. 75.

    Tazj

    @Another Scott:LOL, no. I know what they meant, but I’m really happy when anyone criticizes anything they say. Since they parse every statement Democrats make and consider liberals heathens and religious opressers I’m happy they’re taking some heat for this even if it’s really silly.

  76. 76.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Tazj: I feel like the RNC might need a democrat to run everything by to make sure it doesn’t accidentally sound like they’re, I don’t know, hailing Trump as the return of Christ.

    On the other hand, the fact that this slipped through suggests they might have one ?

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