Some Films

First an update. One of the few Republicans in the New York City council (my incoming councilwoman will enter this small group soon) was arrested after she was caught with a semi-concealed weapon at a protest. Turns out the weapon was inoperable so the charges were dropped. The law apparently requires the gun to be operable though part of the concern should be the fear a gun would bring. An inoperable gun could as well.

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On my Substack, I reviewed a book on the Mexican War (from the Mexicans' point of view) and a book on abortion ethics. Both were good reads. Let us now look at a few films.

This was a pretty fun film. It can't be taken too seriously. Also, the lead-up takes a bit too long. And, Megan Fox needs to look really glossy and overact some (some overheated cable potboiler vibes) until the action comes. But, once her husband is dead and she is handcuffed to him, things happen in a well put together clip. Good DVD/on-demand fare.

Trade Winds is a mystery/romance with an impressive pedigree. Dorothy Parker co-wrote the screenplay. Joan Bennett (who went brunette here and stayed that way) plays the female fatale. Ralph Bellamy plays a somewhat dim police detective (he played a bit of a patsy in His Girl Friday too). Frederich March plays the P.I. who falls in love with his quarry. Ann Southern plays his cynical girl Friday. And more.  

The bunch basically goes halfway around the world (from San Francisco to Hawaii to the Far East and back again)  -- Leonard Maltin in his film review book says the actors stayed in the studio. The whole thing is well paced and the comic relief is generally amusing. Frederick March as a love interest didn't quite work. Still, I did believe he loved her.  

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I only saw about half of That Hagen Girl with Ronald Reagan, Shirley Temple (in one of her final roles), and the actress who later played "Moneypenny" in the James Bond films. Temple later was in diplomatic service (looks like she wasn't just eye candy) but it does not look like President Reagan (as compared to Nixon and Bush) appointed her. 

Shirley Temple plays a hurt bird rather well. The film is about small-town gossip. But, the whole thing is a bit silly since it would have easily been flagged that she was adopted. We basically figured as much in the opening scene when her adopted mother comes off a train with a baby. The supposed birth mother has some sort of problem that isolates her. The supposed birth father simply doesn't act like one. There really is no "maybe" there. 

(Talk of an illegitimate daughter is risque for a 1940s film.)

I thought some shaming of an innocent teenager was enough. So, I shut things off halfway through. It was well acted for the lecture it amounts to be. I checked the Wikipedia link and it went in a way I did not expect. Not a gigantic fan of it either. A tad weird. 

Anyway, I saw it referenced in my movie review book and wanted to check it out.

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So, not a bad haul. A fourth DVD would not play. I also got out a series but did not see that one yet. Will let you know.  

ETA: Nah.