It Takes a Thief "The Lay of the Land" #1.16 (1968) (TV)

Worth watching just for Hermione Gingold, 16 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Mundy’s mission is to steal an aging duchess’ manuscript which may contain information sensitive or embarrassing to the West.  However, there are other unfriendly operatives working to get their hands on the document first.

What a great way to round out Season 1!  The Lay of the Land is such a fun episode.  Mundy gets to go through his entire arsenal of tricks, from safecracking and fighting to schmoozing the ladies.  The entire episode is packed with one nice scene after the other. Director Don Weis does an excellent job of holding it all together and keeping the pace up for the entire runtime.  Easily one of the shining stars of Season 1.

But what really sets The Lay of the Land apart from some of the other episodes is the supporting cast – in particular Hermione Gingold.  She is an absolute delight as Duchess Christina. What an actress! Eccentric and funny with a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face – she brings real life to the episode.  Everyone else, including Robert Wagner, comes off poorly in comparison. Ms Gingold is something of a force of nature and gives one of the more enjoyable performances I’ve seen in the series thus far. 

7/10

Gold Rush Maisie (1940)

Maisie does The Grapes of Wrath, 15 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  On her way to a gig in Phoenix, Maisie’s car breaks down in the middle of the desert.  She finds herself stranded in an old mining town. When gold is rediscovered, Maisie helps a dirt poor family in their attempt to strike it rich.

I’ve got to agree with what a lot of others have written on the internet - Gold Rush Maisie definitely has a Grapes of Wrath feel to it.  For me, that’s one of the films biggest flaws. I enjoy these Maisie films for their comedy and ridiculousness. And while Ann Southern gets in a good one-liner here and there, the overall tone is terribly somber.  When you’re dealing with dirt farmers who have no idea where their next meal is going to come from, laughing at Maisie’s hijinks just doesn’t feel right. Gold Rush Maisie wasn’t the kind of entertainment I was expecting or looking for.

My other big complaint is with the ranch owner, Bill Anders, played by Lee Bowman.  My problem Isn’t with Bowman (in fact, there’s something about him that I like more than any of the other male leads Sothern played opposite in the first three Maisie films).  Instead, my problem is with the character, Lee Anders. One minute, he’s in love with Maisie – the next, he can’t stand her. One minute, he wants to help the farmers – the next, he wants to throw them off his land.  The wild swings the character goes through make no sense at all. It’s a pretty poor job of writing. 

So far, all I’ve talked about are the negatives.  Based on my rating, it should be obvious that I didn’t find Gold Rush Maisie a total wash-out.  When the script allows Maisie to be Maisie, those moments really shine. Southern is such a joy to watch as Maisie with her perfect comedic timing and infectious nature.  Maisie is always a treat.

5/10

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries "Will the Real Santa Claus...?" #2.12 (1977) (TV)

I may have to stop watching this show, 14 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  A series of robberies is blamed on a drifter who claims to be Santa Claus.  Nancy Drew sets out to find the real criminal. 

I really hope that the rest of The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries episodes are better than the last two I’ve watched.  After back-to-back duds, I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. There are so many problems I could write about, but my single biggest issue with Will the Real Santa Claus…? is the plot.  It’s just so stupid. The entire series is based on either Nancy or the Hardys using real clues, logic, and science to solve their mysteries. That all gets chucked out of the window. Here, with a completely straight face, we are supposed to believe that this hobo really is Santa Claus.  His disappearances in front of witnesses, the sleigh tracks in the snow, and the constant references to his life as Santa are all too much. It’s horrible writing. Add to that some painfully stiff acting on the part of guest Rick Springfield, the worst ADR imaginable, and a secondary plot that never goes anywhere, Will the Real Santa Claus…? is easily one of the worst episodes I’ve run into so far.

Looking back on what I just watched, I really can’t come up with many positives.  I suppose I did enjoy the scene where Nancy is chased through the house by the real robber.  It’s a fairly tense moment. Equally enjoyable were Pamela Sue Martin’s skin-tight jeans. They’re definitely worth mentioning. 

3/10

Congo Maisie (1940)

Loved the showgirl routine,  14 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Maisie finds herself stranded in an African jungle.  If that’s not bad enough, Maisie will have to use all her skills as a showgirl to deal with the local witchdoctors. 

Watching Congo Maisie can be a bit jarring at first as there is no continuity from Maisie, the first film in the series.  Well, actually there’s no continuity other than Ann Sothern in the title role. Here, she’s just as delightful, energetic, cute, and funny.  Maisie is a fantastic character and Sothern plays her perfectly. Sothern’s comedic time is in top form. In Congo Maisie she even gets a chance to do a bit of her showgirl routine.  The final scene where she does her song and dance number for the dazzled and confused natives is a real highlight. Funny stuff. The supporting cast is decent enough, but no one really stood out.  As with Maisie, Congo Maisie moves at a relatively good pace throughout most of the movie. The exception is when the film gets bogged down in its romance angle. Unfortunately, in Congo Maisie, it’s a poorly written love triangle (a love square might be more appropriate) that annoyed me more than anything.  Still, this bit couldn’t ruin the overall film. Congo Maisie is a winner. 

7/10

Maisie (1939)

Looking forward to more Maisie, 13 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Maisie is a fast-talking, New York showgirl who ends up stranded in a one horse Wyoming town.  She weasels her way into a job at a local ranch and into the heart of the ranch foreman.

I’m not sure how I missed the Maisie series, but I’m awfully glad I stumbled on it last night.  Man, did I ever have fun watching Maisie! It’s not perfect, but it’s got a lot to offer. Ann Sothern is the sassy Maisie.  She’s absolutely perfect. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a role so tailor-made for an actor. She’s funny, smart, and about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.  Her comedic timing is spot on. And she equally capable of handling the physical bits also. I really can’t say enough positive things about Ann Southern’s Maisie.   I’m really looking forward to see what Maisie gets up to next. 

But, as I indicated, Maisie isn’t perfect.  I’ve got two big grips that I think are worth mentioning.  First, things really slow down toward the end of the second act.  There’s too much schmaltzy romance drama and too little of Maisie being Maisie.  Other than that, I had no real problems with the plot. Second, I’m not much of a fan of Robert Young.  He’s too stiff, with his pants pulled up to his armpits, to play the romantic lead next to Sothern. It never felt right to me.

One final thing about Maisie – and really a lot of movies from the 30s and 40s.  The “cowboys” in these movies never seem or look real. They’re all too clean, pressed, and starched. 

7/10

Marlowe (1969)

“That’s your exit line, Marlowe.  Follow it out.”, 12 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Marlowe is hired by a young woman from Kansas who is trying to find her lost brother.  However, Marlowe doubts the wisdom of taking his new client when he gets mixed up with a gangster named Steelgrave and a couple of deadly ice picks.

I’m really shocked at how much I enjoyed Marlowe.  Contrary to most of what I’ve read on the internet, I found Marlowe fantastically entertaining.  I’ve never read the Raymond Chandler novel this is based on so I don’t have that comparison – which is probably a good thing.  The plot is a bit convoluted, but if you’ve seen the better known The Big Sleep, it’s about what you would expect from a Chandler adapted novel.  It’ll keep you guessing throughout. The film has really groovy 60s vibe to it that I found especially appealing. The opening credit sequence and theme really set 60s stage just right.  Director Paul Bogart may be best known for his work in TV, but his direction here is on-point. He keeps things moving at a brisk pace. He filled Marlowe with plenty of action, mystery, witty dialogue, and interesting set-pieces.  In fact it’s got all the ingredients I need for a good time.

I found most of the acting in Marlowe to be top-notch.  James Garner is just so cool in the title role. His Marlowe seems so natural – it’s like he’s not even acting.  I’ve never seen the Rockford Files, but after watching Garner here, I might have to change that. Rita Moreno sizzles in her supporting role.  Her chemistry with Garner is so believable. The rest of the cast is more than adequate. I had no idea that Bruce Lee was in the film. When he popped-up, I couldn’t have been more surprised.  He doesn’t really do much other than bust-up Marlowe’s office, but that overhead light fixture kick was amazing. 

I’m not going to bother with the few minor quibbles I had with Marlowe.  When a movie is this much fun, why bother?

8/10