"Gabriel Over the White House" (1933)

Just finished up this bizarre movie called "Gabriel Over the White House" (1933). It is a pre WWII, pre-FDR movie about the angel Gabriel possessing the idiot President of the US played by Walter Huston. This heavenly possession results in the POTUS going nuts and becoming a popular dictator, who dismisses Congress and creates public works projects programs and pays off a group of unemployed that look like the "Bonus Army" of historical fact. He then threatens all the rest of the powers of the world with war/destruction over repayment of WWI (Great War if you prefer) debts--while repudiating the various Naval Treaties that limited the Battleship Race of the period. Which works...and makes him even more popular at home in the USA! He then signs a treaty for repayment and some sort of utopian arms control package. He then dies, without explanation! This movie was frightening in it's seeming promotion of anti-Democratic, un-Constitutional actions as a solution to the depression. I guess one could say that FDR's actual administration was a milder version of this? Read "FDR's Folly" if you don't believe me. This movie actually seemed to be advocating fascism...and was pulled from release after a little-known politician, Chancellor Hitler, pulled similar shennanigans in Jan 1933. The Great Depression and the 30s and 40s in general were a bizarre period.

Look Back in Anger (1959)

"Look Back In Anger" (1959)...british movie staring richard burton, claire bloom, and mary ure. great cast. good acting. but, why is this play and movie so well liked/reviewed? it's 2 hours long, and is basically the story of a total jerk guy, richard burton's Porter, who is a total dick for the entire duration. he is not pathetic in the end because he is such a total cock.

this play & movie were the origin (mentioned in review) of the "angry young man" meme.

i say: meh!

you wanna see richard burton and mary ure? watch them with clint eastwood in an awesome movie: "Where Eagles Dare" (1968)

I just finished watching Mad Men season 3. It is still a great show...interesting period design and topics, great writing and acting. Season 3 really makes me want to watch season 4...but makes me wish that season 4 will be the last. The standard dramatic arc of "intro to character and conflict" leading to "horrible trials and conflict for the heroes" has no lead at the end of season 3 to the beginnings of a "lessons learned and life and hope spring anew". Let's face it...this is the classic arc...we've just been thru the sort of "Empire Strikes Back" portion after the original delight of "Star Wars" and now we just have our "Return of the Jedi". Let's hope there's no prequels or "yubb-chubb" songs.

I would allow for 1 feature length re-visit to the Mad Men...would love to see where they all land in 1974 or so...write it and shoot it, my people!