A 7 Up Christmas

Christmas Time Is Here

     Nothing evokes  Christmas memories like Vince Guaraldi's magical and wonderful score to the holiday chestnut "A Charlie Brown Christmas".  This was Christmas to me, and it hasn't lost one bit of its charm .  It simply wouldn't be Christmas without Charlie Brown, and that's all I have to say about it.

Fallen Angel

     Tonight on the Late Show is the excellent film-noir "Fallen Angel", directed by Otto Preminger.  Although it wasn't a hit upon its initial release in 1945, it is now rightly considered a true noir classic that looks simply smashing on DVD today.  It stars hunky Dana Andrews (in maybe his finest performance...), Alice Faye, and Linda Darnell, and tells the tale of a drifter named Eric Stanton who gets off a bus in a small California town and falls in love with a sultry waitress named Stella.  Before long, Eric is madly in love with the saucy Stella, and desperate to get money to marry her,winds up marrying another woman, (Alice Face) with plans to swindle her and take the money.  But of course, something goes wrong in typical noir fashion and before you know it, you've got yourself totally immersed in a wonderful little mystery that snaps and crackles right along perfectly.

     This is film-noir at its finest and under-appreciated.  There's something very alluring about this movie.  It's got atmosphere you could cut with a knife, excellent acting, a rather intriguing plot, and excellent cinematography and lighting.  This was Otto Preminger's follow-up to his hugely successful "Laura", and this film is primarily remembered as the last film Alice Faye would make for another 20 years or so, as she was so angered at her screen time cut in favor of the more sexual Linda Darnell.  But it's an underrated noir that deserves a better reputation, if you ask me.  It moves along briskly and I found myself totally lost in it. It's stylish and sexy and although not quite as good as "Laura", it's still well worth a look.  It's a nice little mystery that really strings you along while watching.  It's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon with nothing else to do.

The Bell That Couldn't Jingle by Burt Bacharach

      Yes, December is upon us, and this is the most marvelous time of the year- the holidays mixed with hot toddies and cheer never fail to put a glow in my cheeks and a twinkle in my eye.  And neither does this wonderful chestnut from the fabulous Burt Bacharach.  It is most delicious...  Cheers!