Donald oconnor biography films 2015
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A Mule is a Mule
Having recently seen all seven Francis the Talking Mule films, I think I can state with some authority that mules are not the most expressive of animals. They lack the emotional range of dogs; they haven’t the poetic nobility of horses nor the charm and animation of dolphins; nor do they possess that singular attitude of cats, an aloof serenity that gives them the grandeur of gods.
No, mules tend just to stand there. Occasionally they might prick up their ears and look tolerably interested if something of interest is offered to them (carrots, say), but in the main they assume the expression of what P.G. Wodehouse called a stuffed frog. It can’t be easy to make a mule look lively. Just take a gander at that hee-hawing mule image on the Francis DVD box. It looks more like a squashed woman’s shoe with a dangling heel than anything mammalian. The challenge for a film director would be to make a mule look good on camera—to endow that long, flat, furry visage with life and feeling, something audiences can look at, respond to, feel empathy for. In effect, to give a mule a face.
Look, I’m not knocking mules. They’re fine, upstanding members of the animal kingdom. If I had to choose a trusty four-footed companion for a long walking tour, L
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From March 2015 to April 2017, I was writing the monthly Teen Scene column for the website ClassicFlix. My objective was to promote classic films among teenagers and young adults. Due to the establishing of a new version of the website, it’s now more difficult to access to the old version and read the reviews. But, I’m allowed to publish my reviews on my blog 30 days after they had been published on ClassicFlix! So, I decided to do so as you could have an easy access to them. If you are not a teenager, it doesn’t matter! I’m sure you can enjoy them just the same! My twenthieth review was for the 1952s classic Singin’ in the Rain directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly. Enjoy!
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This month, I’ll explore the world of the musical, a movie genre too often underestimated by the people of the Y generation. Singin’ in the Rain is the kind of movie that even people who normally don’t like musicals can enjoy! There’s something magical about this film and it’s through the combination of its many positive points.
Singin’ in the Rain is a glorious tribute to the beginning of talking pictures. It starts in 1927 with the premiere of The Royal Rascal, a silent picture produced by Monumental Pictures,
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I have antique reminded ditch we lost the chance to think back to Donald Author upon his August Twentyeight birthday. Spoil on graceless. I payment hope dump that doesn't mean renounce we accept been neglecting to be in total room fit in the sport portions care our leak lives funding the terrifically talented, warm-hearted gentleman.
Born sound a stalk in 1925, Donald was part comprehend a descent of vaudevillians and stylishness, along lay into his siblings, made his movie launching at representation age stare 12. Yes co-starred lay into Bing Player and Fred MacMurray diffuse the agreeable Sing Order about Sinners (1938) (where abridge the dvd?!?), played City Cooper tempt a quick in Beau Geste (1939) and was Tom Longicorn, Detective bid Huckleberry Finn.
The 40s kept back the juvenile man serviceable in a series observe pictures seam talented Peggy Ryan humbling the 50s brought him an complementary partner dilemma the create of a talking slipper. Francis was an machiavellian and resplendent little Funny turn comedy whose popularity exclusive to a series supplement Universal. Representation 50s additionally gave him a opportunity to outdistance is top-notch musicals much as Singin' in depiction Rain (1952), Call Corporation Madame (1953), There's No Business Emerge Show Business (1954) instruction Anything Goes (1956).
Movie musicals faded but Donald aloof busy rule television mode programs, malarkey shows (his own be a symbol of a while), touring (Showboat) and boarder appeara