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….
raven
We just came from a walk on the French Broad River in Asheville and there were two Dane’s in the dog park!
TaMara (HFG)
@raven: What color?
raven
Early morning mountains.
raven
@TaMara (HFG): One grey one dapple (is that a color?)
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.
Patricia Kayden
@raven: Beautiful photo!
And love those Great Danes in the post.
rikyrah
The doggies look fabulous
schrodingers_cat
@Josie: Right click on the picture, one of the options will be select as a desktop background, choose that and you are done.
TaMara (HFG)
@raven: That would be a Blue and a Merle (which can be a Merle blue, brown or black – so pretty)
Love your mountain photo!
Raven
I found this coffee shop that was open today. It’s called “Edna’s” after a pug that passed away. These guys are involved in doggie hospice!
http://www.ednasattheriver.com/doggie-hospice.html
Raven
@TaMara (HFG): cool!
Josie
@schrodingers_cat: Got it. Thanks.
Baud
Damn, those are some might fine looking dogs, TaMara.
Denali
I miss the Smokies. Now I wish they were not in North Carolina. Not that Tennessee is any better.
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…
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.
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.
germy
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.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
remember when they told us Obama supporters were a cult of personality?
rikyrah
@PsiFighter37:
Sounds like a good day
germy
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
That can’t be real. It has to be a parody, right?
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!
germy
12 Days of Christmas:
germy
@Mnemosyne: Have you ever seen the pre-code film Rafter Romance? I saw it recently, and it reminded me of what young people today are facing with high rents and alternative living arrangements.
debbie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
At least our personality has an actual heart and brain.
Schlemazel
@raven:
If it is stripy or spotty browns the AKC says that is ‘brindle”. FWIW, which aint much
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.
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?
schrodingers_cat
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: They want a theocracy, then?
germy
“Celebrate the good news of a new king”
debbie
@zhena gogolia:
They should have read twice.
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.
NotMax
@Jim, Foolish Literalist
Lo, they traveled far, bearing gifts of gold, debentures and bearer bonds.
PaulW
@germy:
we tried to, but they kept returning the velvet paintings of Obama-Elvis we kept gifting them.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m looking forward to the crucifixtion.
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.
Brachiator
@bystander:
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.
catclub
@NotMax: Why did the wise men have ashes on their feet?
They came from a far.
Pogonip
@catclub: The far must have been in eastern Kentucky. I hope the wise men bought flares for Mary while they were there.
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.
Another Scott
@catclub: rofl.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
Mary G
That’s so offensive, RNC.
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.
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!
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.
Major Major Major Major
@Diana: you should ask him if he clipped the made in china notices off all his Trump merchandise before he wore/used it.
Oldgold
Just showed this GOP Christmas message to my Trumpy religious relatives.
Pussy grabbing did not phase them, but this did.
NotMax
Sort of a time capsule curiosity, the complete “Judy Garland Christmas Show” from 1963 (with a 17-year-old Liza Minelli).
rikyrah
@Mnemosyne:
From the time George asked about Mary, until he said”I want to live again’…. Should have won him an Oscar.
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.
debbie
@rikyrah:
I thought his playing a quietly stifled man through the whole movie was also award-worthy.
L&DinSLT
It’s 18* in South Lake Tahoe, a foot of powder on the ground and in the trees. A perfect “Bluebird” day!
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.
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.
Major Major Major Major
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: reads to me like they’re saying that this year, like every other, we celebrate the birth of Christ the king. Except they don’t write very well and the ambiguity makes it sound like they might be referencing Trump.
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.
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
If they insisted that Obama didn’t know how many states there are because he once said “57,” I have no problem mocking them for this.
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:
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.
Major Major Major Major
@Mnemosyne: have you met the sort of cretins who thought “57 states” was funny for more than a day? I’d rather not be the liberal version of that.
zhena gogolia
@debbie: @Mnemosyne:
It says it’s previously unaired footage. But we have guests coming and I don’t know how to DVR.
Baud
@Major Major Major Major: Has it been more than a day?
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.
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
There are people on the left who still bring up “57 states.”
But, as other people have said, this is something the RNC just posted today, so I think we get a week or so to mock it.
Another Scott
@Mnemosyne: The 57 states things was a slip that shows Obama really is a Muslin, you know…
:-/
Cheers,
Scott.
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.
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.
Major Major Major Major
@gene108: not planning to graduate high school again? Sad.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@gene108: I gather people go to charity shops to get Halloween costumes, probably high school theatre groups, too.
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.
BillinGlendaleCA
@gene108: Ours were just rentals, turned ’em in after the festivities.
gene108
@Major Major Major Major:
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.
Another Scott
@Tazj: Its sad & disappointing you are politicizing such a holy day.
Aren’t you ashamed, politicizing such a holy day?!?!?!!!! Sad!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Major Major Major Major
@gene108:
Strong fundamentals are fundamental, though.
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.
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 ?