Showing posts with label petula clark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label petula clark. Show all posts

6.07.2010

goodbye, mr. chips


the year: 1969

the genre: drama

the cast: Peter O’Toole (Arthur Chipping); Petula Clark (Katherine Bridges); Michael Redgrave (The Headmaster); Sian Phillips (Ursula Mossbank); Michael Bryant (Max Staefel)


the plot: Arthur Chipping is an academic teaching at Brookfield Boys School outside of London in the 1920's. Although he does what he considers best for his students, they don't much like him, nicknaming him "Ditchy, short for dull as ditch water". His life changes when he meets Katherine Bridges, a music hall actress who affectionately calls him Mr. Chips. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to get married. She forgoes her career to be Mrs. Chips, living on campus as the housewife of a teacher at a proper boy's school. It is a world in which she will have to learn the rules, or at least bend them to her sensibilities, although she vows never to embarrass him. Katherine's arrival at Brookfield may change Chips' standing at the school. Further changes ensue for the Chips' and Brookfield with the onset of World War II.



count: how many children Chips & Katie have. All boys.

check out: the music – it’s my favorite musical soundtrack. Ever.


don’t miss: Ursula. She's just...Ursula.


listen for: “Since you cannot conceivably know what my age is, your most flattering compliment must be based on a somewhat conjectural premise.”



also listen for: the campus roll call. Compare the names for each one.


hanky rating (out of 5): 4. But it's a GOOD cry.



p.s. This is a color movie - not sure why all the images I could track down were in B&W.

4.05.2010

finain's rainbow


the year: 1968

the genre: musical






the cast: Fred Astaire (Finian McLonergan); Petula Clark (Sharon McLonergan); Tommy Steele (Og the Leprechaun); Don Fracks (Woody Mahoney); Keenan Wynn (Senator Rawkins); Barbara Hancock (Susan the Silent)




the plot: Finian McLonergan has emigrated from Ireland to the town of Rainbow Valley in the mythical state of Missitucky with his daughter Sharon. Finian is intent on burying a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox, in the belief it will grow and multiply. Hot on their heels is Og, a leprechaun intent on recovering his treasure, before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complicating matters are a corrupt senator who makes no effort to conceal his racial bigotry and the wishes made by those unknowingly in the vicinity of the hidden crock.




check out: the groovy llama maypole.






extra bonus points: if you can name the three movies that Keenan Wynn and Fred Astaire co-starred in together before FR.


listen for: “Fairyland was never like THIS!”






count: how many times The Gospeliers sing the word “begat.”

don’t miss: Og singing “When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love, I Love the Girl I’m Near.” here