From the DVR: The Wonderful World of Disney

The Starz/Encore people have managed to acquire some feature film titles from Walt Disney Pictures of late, because I was afforded an opportunity to catch up with two of the studio’s animation releases that had eluded me for a good while: The Princess and the Frog (2009; I liked this one) and Frozen (2013; not…

“I christen thee ‘The High Chaparral’—the greatest cattle ranch in the whole territory…the whole world!”

In the House of Yesteryear, we adhere to a standard (and arguably, fairly predictable) schedule when it comes to mealtimes—primarily because my father is diabetic and if he doesn’t eat regularly Mom goes into her ZaSu Pitts-number (“Oh, dear...”).  She arranges for us to have supper around 6pm, and we enjoy this repast in front…

Starz and stripes

The folks at DISH—sensing that it might be a sensible idea to remain on my good side—offered up what they call "Kids Binge-a-Palooza" in the latter part of July this month.  (Apparently this is their second year of sponsoring this, having had a month-long celebration previously in 2017.)  What this entails is offering subscribers gratis…

All the Starz

DISH gave us a freeview of Starz last week...and normally, this isn't a huge deal because we're still subscribed to the Starz Encore channels (the discount is supposed to end Tuesday...but I have decided to maintain radio silence only until Mom asks me why the satellite bill has suddenly gone up).  A good many of…

Encore! Encore!

If you’re a regular visitor to this ‘umble scrap of the blogosphere you’re probably aware that I’d had issues with the DISH people from time to time.  Since the current Rancho Yesteryear the ‘rents and I occupy is located just outside the town limits of Winterville (a.k.a. City of Marigolds) in neighboring Oglethorpe County, we…

Guilty Pleasures: Sssssss (1973)

You might remember Phil Hall as the author of an excellent book that I reviewed back on the blog in August of 2016 entitled In Search of Lost Films; Hall, a film critic/journalist who has contributed to the likes of Film Threat and American Movie Classics Magazine, also wrote The Greatest Bad Movies of All Time, published in 2013 through BearManor Media—the…

Guilty Pleasures: Friday Foster (1975)

In the 1988 Blaxploitation movie spoof I’m Gonna Git You Sucka the film’s villain is revealed to be character great John Vernon (no slouch in the cinema bad guy department, by the way) …and Vernon has a little fun winking at the camera with an explanation of why he’s taking the money and running.  “I know you're surprised…

Buried Treasures: Frontier Gal (1945)

Johnny Hart (Rod Cameron) comes a-ridin’ into the town of Red Gulch after successfully eluding a posse…and no sooner has he entered the town saloon when he’s engaged in a barroom brawl.  (It will not take us too long to suss out that Monsieur Hart has anger management issues.)  His attentions are quickly drawn toward the “Boss…

Buried Treasures: Cattle Empire (1958)

In the sleepy little hamlet of Hamilton—a cow town (literally) named after cattle baron Ralph Hamilton (Don Haggerty)—the townsfolk are taking ex-con John Cord (Joel McCrea) for a drag through the burg’s dusty streets.  The populace of Hamilton has a bit of a beef (apologies for the pun) with Cord; five years earlier, drovers from a…

Movies I’ve stared at recently on TCM #69

I shall take you into my confidence right now and let you know it’s going to be a busy April.  There’ll be a goodly number of items up on the Radio Spirits blog within the next week or so, and I’m also hard at work writing liner notes for one of their upcoming releases.  In addition, I’m trying to…