Holiday Inn | philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

This past October, Paramount Pictures re-issued the 1942 holiday classic Holiday Inn on Blu-ray. It marked the first time ever that the movie, which starred legendary actor Bing Crosby, had seen the light of day on Blu-ray. Fittingly, PBS will release a new episode of its hit biography series American Masters featuring Crosby next Tuesday, December 2^nd. While not necessarily a companion to Paramount’s recent BD re-issue of Holiday Inn, the timing of the two releases makes them a perfect pair. Whether before taking in Holiday Inn or after, audiences will find plenty to like about American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered. The most enjoyable aspect of this new DVD is the fact that it isn’t just another typical video documentary of a celebrity. It doesn’t follow that standard formula of life to death that so many bios use in their presentations. Rather it focuses on Crosby the man, the myth, and the legend. This includes the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. The fact that American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered isn’t another standard bio is just part of what audiences will enjoy about this new documentary. The use of actual vintage footage and pictures from Crosby’s career and personal life as part of the discussion on both parts of his life makes the presentation even more enjoyable. And last but hardly least worth noting is the inclusion of interviews with those that knew him best including his own wife as well as famed biographer Gary Giddens and fellow jazz legend Tony Bennett among others. Each aspect by itself makes this episode of American Masters well worth the watch. Collectively, they show once again why PBS remains the last bastion of truly worthwhile programming today.

PBS will release another new episode of its hit bio series American Masters next Tuesday, December 2^nd. The upcoming release focuses on legendary entertainer Bing Crosby. Just as with all of PBS’ other series (both domestic and imported), it is more proof of why PBS stands as the last bastion of truly worthwhile programming. Audiences that are not so familiar with the life and times of Bing Crosby will appreciate first and foremost in this DVD the depth of information shared throughout the course of its roughly ninety-minute run time. The bio presented here isn’t the standard formulaic bio presented so often by other networks and filmmakers. It’s a fully unbiased bio that presents Bing Crosby the man, the myth, and the legend. It presents his good side and his bad. From his superstardom to his alcoholism and womanizing to his working relationship with fellow entertainer Bob Hope in the famed “Road To…” movies (apparently the duo spent nearly no time together off-screen), audiences see every angle of Crosby’s life. Audiences learn that he was hardly the easiest person to work with when it came to recording songs. And sometimes, he was just as tough to work with in live settings. Also included is the downright ugly part of his family’s life in which two of his sons took their own lives. There is much more information shared throughout the course of the program that many might never have known. For those that have always known one thing or another about Bing Crosby the entertainer or Bing Crosby the man, the information contained within this program completes the picture of the legendary figure’s history. It proves to be the fullest picture that audiences can get in regards to Crosby’s life. And in turn it proves once more why American Masters is such an important part of the whole that is PBS.

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered offers to audiences what is one of the most complete portraits of the legendary entertainer that audiences will find to date. As with the series’ previous portraits, it far outperforms any celebrity profile presented by any other major network past or present. The amount of information provided throughout the course of the documentary is just one reason that the program in whole is so impressive. The vintage video and photographs that are included with the breadth of information on Crosby and his life enhances the viewing experience even more. Audiences get to see pictures of Crosby with his family away from the bright lights of Hollywood. They get to also see snippets of his famed “Road To…” movies and much more. The combination of these elements and the story of Crosby’s life in and out of the limelight makes the overall content of this program all the more important to its enjoyment. It collectively shows once again why American Masters outperforms any celebrity-based series on any major broadcast and cable network today.

The combination of vintage footage and photos and in-depth story of Crosby’s life used in American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered make this feature more than worth the watch. The bonus videos and interviews that come as companion material make the overall presentation even more enjoyable for audiences. Viewers learn from director Robert Trachtenberg that he worked directly with the estate of Bing Crosby to bring the documentary to life. Trachtenberg and others note Crosby’s hard work ethic and his humility among so much more. There is also a full clip of Crosby performing with his sons later in his life. The clip in question is presented only in part during the primary presentation. So audiences actually get to see the full performance in this clip in question. It’s a truly moving moment taking into consideration the story of what happened to two of his sons later in their lives. And along with the bonus interviews, it becomes one more welcome addition to American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered that makes the presentation in whole a piece that any Crosby aficionado will enjoy.

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered is a wonderful piece for anyone that has ever had any interest in the life and legacy of the famed entertainer. It reveals that Crosby is more than just that guy known for having sung ‘White Christmas.’ It also debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding his life. It is a fully unbiased look at the life of one of the greatest entertainers of the 20^th century showing Crosby in his glory and even more tarnished side. The bonus interviews that were added as companion material adds even more depth to the overall presentation. All things considered, American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered proves in the end to be one more welcome addition to another wonderful piece of PBS’ overall programming schedule. It will be available next Tuesday, December 2^nd. It can be ordered online direct from PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=50703406&cp=&sr=1&kw=american+masters&origkw=American+Masters&parentPage=search. More information on this and other episodes of American Masters is available online at:

Website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmericanMasters

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Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/Samuel Goldwyn Pictures

More often than not, Hollywood’s seemingly undying hunger for prequels, sequels, and remakes has led to some of the movie industry’s worst movies in memory in recent years. However, the 2013 remake of the 1947 Danny Kaye classic The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has proven to be the rare exception to that rule. One part Death of a Salesman and one part Forrest Gump, this last movie of 2013 is also the year’s best. This is despite the fact that it is just one more on the industry’s ever-growing list of prequels, sequels, and remakes. The very first factor in the success of this updated story is its writing. Writer Steve Conrad has taken author James Thurber’s original story and updated it in a way that works even despite being changed around so much. Also to be taken into consideration is the acting of the cast. Veteran actress Shirley MacClaine (Downton Abbey), comedienne Kristen Wiig (SNL), and Adam Scott (Parks & Rec) each expertly carry out their roles and make the story all the richer. The same can also be said of surprise guest stars Patton Oswalt and Sean Penn. The last aspect of the movie to consider in its success is its cinematography. The scenes shot in Greenland and Iceland were beautiful to say the very least. The same can be said of so many other scenes that make up Walter’s fantasies and his real life adventures. That aspect comes together with the cast, its acting, and the general writing to make this movie one of the biggest surprises of 2013.

Writer Steve Conrad’s adaptation of author James Thurber’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is not the first time that the story has been adapted to the big screen. Its first big screen adaptation was in 1947. Little changed from that story–penned by writers Ken Englund, Everett Freeman, and Philip Rapp–and this latest take on Thurber’s story. The one big difference between the two stories is that the original adaptation was a rom-com. Conrad’s update is more of a human drama that centers on overcoming the fear of life’s uncertainties and taking risks. Typically, making such a drastic change is a formula for disaster. But this case is a very rare exception to the rule. Somehow, Conrad has managed to make his story work. And he has managed to do so in so many ways. What he offers audiences in this adaptation is the story of a man that sets out to find a photograph, but ends up finding himself in the long run. It’s all brought on as Life magazine, the magazine he works for is preparing to release its very last print issue before it becomes an entirely online entity. This is another aspect of Conrad’s script that makes it work so well. That’s because it is such a real story element.

The use of Life magazine transitioning from a print outlet to an entirely online entity is a hugely useful tool to advance this story. That’s because of its realism. So many branches of the print media have transitioned mainly to an online presence in order to survive in the digital age. That transition makes for a lot of uncertainty in any number of individuals’ lives including the story’s lead character. It’s that uncertainty of the future that forces Walter to make his daydreams become reality. And Stiller’s take on Walter as he grows through his adventures serves to make the story all the richer.

Steve Conrad’s updated take on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is surprisingly enjoyable despite being an update on one of Hollywood’s classic movies. The human drama that makes up the story’s main plot does so much to make the story work. The same can be said of the acting of lead Ben Stiller and his cast mates. He makes his take on his character one that is entirely believable as Walter grows from a socially awkward wallflower type of figure to a more self-confident man. His isn’t the only portrayal that makes the story work, either. Surprise guest star Patton Oswalt is spot on as a tech rep with e-harmony. He interacts with Walter solely via phone throughout most of the story. Even over the phone, those moments make for so many laughs. Just as funnier is the reveal of Oswalt’s character late in the movie. His joke of what he thought Walter would look like compared to his own looks makes for one of so many classic moments throughout the story. Adam Scott plays the story’s antagonist, Ted Hendricks, that comes in to Life as a “cleaner” of sorts responsible for downsizing the magazine’s staff. He was just as much on spot in his role as the rest of the cast in its roles. He is a completely cold, despicable figure that cares only about his own advancement. He makes audiences cheer happily for Walter both when he confronts him in his daydream and for real later in the story. That’s the sign of an actor fully grasping his character and getting the job done. The same can be said of supporting actress Shirley MacClaine as Walter’s mom. She is Walter’s only real source of support among everyone around him. And one can feel the love that Walter’s mom has for him, too. Anyone that doesn’t laugh and smile at the pair’s personal moments have no heart. That ability of the cast to reach audiences on so many emotional levels is just as important as the script itself in this story’s success. The story’s success doesn’t end here, either. There is one more aspect of this movie that makes it successful. That aspect is the movie’s cinematography.

The cinematography of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is beyond belief. From Walter’s imaginary fight scenes with Ted to his real life adventure across Greenland, Iceland, and Afghanistan, the camera crews and editors went beyond the call of duty. The contrast of Walter set against the giant magazine covers that lined the halls of Life make for their own statement. That’s because as Walter runs past the covers, audiences see the figures on each cover turn to Walter’s face. It makes for a statement of his dreams potentially becoming reality. And in its own right, it is also a foreshadowing of sorts, not to reveal too much for those that haven’t yet seen. These are just some of the examples of the expert cinematography that is exhibited throughout the course of the story. There is much more for audiences to see for themselves. And they will indeed find so much when they watch this story for themselves. And together with its casting and writing, audiences will find so much to applaud in this movie; so much in fact that they will agree that despite being a reboot, it still proves to be 2013’s best new movie.

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Audiences Will Discover A Lot To Like About “Bing Crosby Rediscovered”

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty A Surprisingly Enjoyable Story For A Reboot