YOU BET YOUR LIFE!

Wise quote by an often quoted Groucho Marx!

STAN LAUREL (1890 - 1965)

As we do every year on February 23rd, we take a moment to pay tribute to one of the greatest  comedians to ever grace the silver screen: Mr. Stan Laurel!

                                                You can check Stan's entry on IMDb here:

                                                                         STAN LAUREL

LESLIE NIELSEN : FROM DRAMA TO COMEDY

BORN ON THIS DAY:

Leslie Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor, comedian, and producer. He appeared in more than 100 films and 150 TV programs. He worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He made his acting debut in 1950.

His performances in the films include Forbidden Planet, The Poseidon Adventure, Creepshow,  Airplane!, Dracula - Dead and Loving It, The Naked Gun film series, plus many others. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

Although his notable performances in the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him standing as a serious actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film Airplane! In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings. Nielsen's performance in Airplane! marked his turning point, which made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert, and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As Francis Marion in THE SWAMP FOX (1959) 

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)

CREEPSHOW (1982)

                                                          

AIRPLANE! (1980)

Nielsen passed away on November 28, 2010 at age 84.  His body was interred in Fort Lauderdale's Evergreen Cemetery. As a final bit of humour, Nielsen chose "Let 'er rip" as his epitaph.

"I'm Mr Hardy; Oliver Norvell Hardy!"

              Every January 18, I remember one half of the greatest comedy team in movie history!                                                                                    Bless you, Oliver Hardy!

OLIVER HARDY

GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST!

 Here is an array of Christmas themed cartoons I've posted before over the years, now coming back for seconds!

"'Twas Christmas Day in the Poorhouse,

and the boys were feeling blue!

The boys in grey were fightin',

A Merry Christmas to you!"

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Coming through the rye!

I wish you a Merry Christmas, 

Even as you and I!"

"Merry Christmas, mother,

Merry Christmas, mom!

Hi, mommy, mommy,

And a hot cha-cha!"

MY FAVORITE CARY GRANT

 Cary Grant made 73 films from 1932 to 1966. His thematic range went from high adventure, action thrillers, and screwball comedies, to romance and drama. He is chiefly remembered for his collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock on four of his best films: SUSPICION, NOTORIOUS, TO CATCH A THIEF and NORTH BY NORTHWEST, and also from his screwball comedies of the late thirties and early forties. Some of his best works combined romance, drama and comedy, such as HIS GIRL FRIDAY, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS, GUNGA DIN, PENNY SERENADE and CHARADE and in all of them, the unmistakable Cary Grant persona and sophisticated charm always came through.

Out of his enormous output, I have chosen these 30 films, which are the ones I revisit and enjoy over and over again.

MY FAVORITE CARY GRANT list on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls557970806/

Remembering STAN LAUREL

 

Stan Laurel along with his partner Oliver Hardy, were the greatest comedy team ever to grace the silver screen and on this date, I always honor Stan's memory by listening to the music from his films and watching several of his best shorts and long features. I've been repeating this ritual for several years and I never get tired of admiring Stan's artistry and comic genius, over and over again!

JERRY LEWIS and the Typewriter Bit

                       

Jerry Lewis was certainly a flawed comedian and many of his films seen today are bound to fall flat in some spots while seeming overly dated in others. However, taking all his limitations into account, the truth is, he was a very funny personality. The fact is that he should be judged by his best work which is, 

in some cases, positively hilarious.  In any case, I remember him fondly and his typewriter skit always brings a smile to my face!

Incidentally, this gag appeared in his 1963 film WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?, which came out when Lewis' popularity was at its peak.

OLIVER HARDY remembered on his birthday.