Movie Review: Love Me Tender (1956)

This is Elvis' first movie, and he is surprisingly good.  It is also the only movie in which he played that he did not receive top billing.  The title of the movie was changed so as to accept Elvis' new hit single.  Elvis, Clint, is the younger of four brothers, who has stayed behind to mind the farm, while the other brothers go to the Civil War.  Those brothers are part of a confederate group which steal a federal payroll at the end of the war.  Not knowing what to do with the money, they take it home, and the oldest brother, Vance, (Richard Egan) plans to marry his girl, Kathy (Debra Paget).  However the family heard that the oldest brother had been killed, then the younger brother married the girl.  There is some quick adjustment, which doesn't go very well, because the love flame is still there between Kathy and Vance.  Added to this is the federals coming to get the money from the payroll.  Some of the other men involved in this heist get inside Clint's head, and turn him against Vance.  They want to get the money and run out West.  however Vance wants to turn the money over so as to negotiate their freedom.  As luck would have it, Clint shoots Vance, but his heart wasn't in it and it is not a fatal wound.  Clint comes running to his brother with grief, but ends up getting shot and killed by the men who had gotten inside his head.
 

Musical Movie Review: State Fair

I finally sat down to watch this movie, an found it delightful.  Jeanne Crain stars as Margy Frake, a young woman who just knows there is something better than her expected life with the farmer next door, and perhaps at the fair she will meet someone; and her brother Wayne (Dick Haynes) who is let down as his girl can't go to the fair.  I love the portrayal of their parents as they participate at the fair.  Mrs. Frake in the mince meat and pickle contest, and her husband in the swine contest.  It provides a very nice background.  Well of course both siblings meet people at the fair.  Margy meets Pat Gilbert (Dana Andrews) a reporter who is covering the fair, and writes about the mince meat competition.  Wayne meets Emily Edwards (Vivian Blake) a singer with a traveling group at the fair.  Harry Morgan, portraying a fair barker is instrumental in their meeting.   Wayne learns that sometimes city life and country life don't mix, as there are different values.  Only one relationship spills over into a relationship that lasts after the fair, which shows that sometimes things work out, and sometimes they don't.  However, this may be for the best as Wayne meets up with his girl.  Some of the music for this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is lovely.  "Our State Fair" leads off, but then there is also "It Might As Well Be Spring" in which Margy sings of her expectation that something new is coming.  "It's a Grand Night for Singing" is a favorite.

Book Review: The Last Apprentice 11: Slither

The Last Apprentice: Slither by: Joseph Delaney, illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith, (2013)

In this story we are introduced to new characters.  Way to the north live creatures who prey on humans for the most part, using their women as slaves for breeding and drinking their blood.  (Their favorite meal is blood.)  Slither is a Haizda Mage, meaning he controls an area to the south, where humans live, and feeds off the blood of the farmer’s children and animals.  He has incredible skills, to make himself large and small, as well as fighting skills, and he uses magical powers he derives from souls and from blood.  He has formed an agreement with one farmer where he only feeds from the animals, and leaves the daughters alone.  However when the farmer dies in an accident, things change.  He gives his oldest daughter to the mage as a slave, for an agreement to take the two young daughter to safe keeping.  Thus a traveling adventure begins. 

However things do not go well.  They are all taken captive.  Nessa, the oldest daughter saves the life of Slither, for which he rescues them.  However in doing so he kills a couple formidable foes.  Now he is sent to trial by fighting against a beast which has never been defeated.  Grimalkin joins him in this fight.  She is drawn to the area by a meteor with special metal. 

In this book, Delaney is more naturalistic than most of his other books, although he tend to this flavor.  This book, the description of the effects of a disease carried by poison in the talons of the beast is just too much.  It gets beyond disgusting.

Final Osmond Family Concert (2008)

This is an excellent concert which features some old Osmond songs, some spiritual songs and The Mormon tabernacle Choir.  Marie seems to have some costume and mic issues but other than that it goes off without a hitch.  The highlight is the last two numbers where the older Osmond Brothers join in with ASL while the rest of the family sings.  This is a 50 year tribute to the Osmonds in entertainment.

Seals & Crofts - Full Concert - 11/02/72 - Hofstra University (OFFICIAL)

Even though this says full concert, it is only three songs, "Summer Breeze," "Humming Bird" and an instrumental country stomping song with Jim Seals on violin.  Even though short, these songs are plenty of fun.

Now 48: That's What I Call Music (2013)

If this is an example of where music is headed, I am disappointed.  So lets start with the good.  Katy Perry does a great job with "Roar."  This song will be played over and over.  There is another number one, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke.  I did not care for this as much.  "Everything Has Changed" by Taylor Swift is also acceptable.  however the rest comes off to me as noise.  It is interested how music has changed.  As for Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus I just don't get them.  Miley Cyrus sings "It's my body and I'll do what I want to."  She sounds like a spoiled two-year-old.

Picture Book Review: In a People House by Theo. LeSieg

In a People House, by Theo LeSieg (Dr. Seuss) illustrated by Roy McKie, Bright and Early Books,  Random House, New York, 1972.
This Dr. Seuss book is published under his pseudonym, Theo. LeSeig, his birth name spelled backwards.  The goal of this book was to introduce children to new words.  In this book a mouse invites his bird friend into a people house to see what is inside the house.  The see many wonderful things, clock, ball, broom, door and many more.  There viewing ends with a big crash, and then they remember there are people in the house who don't care for birds and mice in their house.  This book has the Dr. Seuss rhyming magic, and simple illustrations from Roy McKie although Seuss usually illustrated his own books.