Movies

The Elegant Life of Mr. Everyman (1963) Sharply satirical Japanese version of the '60s office comedy. The protagonist can't find anyone to go drinking with him after work because he becomes ranting and argumentative, but those are the qualities which attract the attention of the editors of a popular magazine, who compel him to write a column for them. His wandering tales of his inept life and pathetic family become a surprise hit and win a literary award. Finally in a position where people will listen to him, he becomes a tediously babbling jackass boring the hell out of everyone with his inane blather. Innovative technique and presentation help brighten up the story, and it is quite amusing at times. 7/10

Queen Bee (1955) I got this Joan Crawford film to watch with Donna, but misfired again as it seems she likes Crawford films that require her to act, rather than simply be herself, as she does here. It's an over-the-top Southern Gothic melodrama with a neutral innocent arriving at a moss-draped manse (sans southern accents) to plunge into a maelstrom of raging passions. I thought this was the perfect Joan Crawford film - she is so sweet and kind you just can't understand why everyone obviously hates her so, until the claws come out and she goes around the room ripping the guts out of everyone, one by one. Blunt and deranged story which provides everything required and more. Crawford starts the film draped in soft furs, all sweet and bright, and ends it wrapped in shining satin and stiff, glittering metallic gowns like a fierce deadly black-eyebrowed machine. She is utterly inhuman throughout. Donna didn't care much for it but to me it was just right. 10/10

The Astounding She-Monster, poised for the kill.

Uncle Joe (1941) Mild Poverty Row comedy in which pert young Gale Storm is sent by her soap-magnate father to live in the country with eccentric inventor Uncle Joe, to keep her away from her beau, a painter of Metaphysical Abstractions. She pretends to play accordion with the local hillbilly jazz combo, and they all conspire to help the local widow (Zasu Pitts) save her home by winning the limerick contest sponsored by pater's soap company radio show, which provides the excuse for simply dropping in a few unrelated songs by unfamiliar performers. Overall quite watchable and amusing. 7/10