No Place Like Movies at Home: Rudolph's Shiny New Year

 The conclude the mini Claymation Marathon we have Rudolph's Shiny New Year.

Rudolph is sent on a special mission from Santa to look for the baby New Year. Father Time contacted Santa saying that he had run away. See the baby has some big ears and keeps getting laughed at. He must be present at midnight of the 31st to take on the new year, and if he is not the new year will not come. So, he leaves to go the island of past years to hid. However, the big named eon is trying to find baby new year as well because once the new year happens eon will pass away because he will be older than one eon. Rudolph must find the baby new year or else the new year will not arrive.

I have to say that this one was never really one of my all time favorites but it's still really good. It's a super cute movie that continues the story of Rudolph without him saving Christmas over again. If you get a chance to watch it you won't be disappointed. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Year Without A Santa Claus

 We are now getting to my all time favorite Christmas Claymation movie The Year Without A Santa Claus. 

 This wonderful movie is about Santa Claus not feeling well near Christmas eve. When the doctor comes in and tells him he should stay home, cause he got sick last year, and there is not more Christmas spirit. Mrs. Claus doesn't think this is a good idea and sends out Jingle and Jangle elf to find some Christmas spirit to perk Santa back up. However, in the process of finding Christmas Spirit, they run into a crazy cast of characters, and they try to show Santa how much people love him and how much Christmas spirit is still left in the world.

I love this movie the best because I love Snowmiser and Heatmiser. I thik they are the funniest characters in the whole thing. I also love the fact the Mickey Rooney is the voice of Santa again. If you have never seen a Claymation Christmas movie this is the one that you need to start with. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

One of the things that is, unfortunately, falling out of popularity over the last few years is the TV channels that play Christmas movies are not showing these rounds of movies anymore. I am not entirely sure if they are working them out of the system because they are "out of date" or "not PC". However, the Claymation Christmas movies that used to be on every other hour are not on anymore. It's unfortunate because they are some of the best animation, and Christmas, movies to ever grace the screen. We are going to kick it off with Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

The movie is about the origins of Santa and how he started making toys and giving them to children. It's go great music and a great cast. The narrations is done by the wonderful Fred Astaire. I will also say they did an animation of his dancing at the start of the movie and it was great. They always wonderful added bonus that Mickey Rooney is the voice of Santa. All of these movies are easy and fun to watch and I love re-watching them every year. 

Most of these movies don't have much description they are really straight forward. They are one of the best parts of the holiday season and I am sad that they are working their way out of mainstream tv. 

  

No Place Like Movies at Home: Meet Me in St. Louis

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love it because everyone is, normally, happy and having  good time. I love it cause I love buying presents for the people that I love! I love finding them in like July and tormenting people for months about it until the wonderful morning of Christmas comes around. There are many other reasons that I love Christmas but one of them is Christmas traditions. My mom and I make these sugar cookies, that usually only get made out of this time of year, that are from my Great-Great Grandma. Another tradition is my mom makes Chicken Kyiv on Christmas Eve. However, I love watching all of the best Christmas movies from this time of year. So, I did a mini marathon. So, I will write them all and post one a day for the next four days to get caught back up!

We will start off with a true classic Meet Me in St. Louis.

This is the story of a normal family living in St. Louis in 1903. The family is very excited because The World's Fair is going to be hosted by the city the next year. The movie follows a normal family through normal life during the time. They fall in love, they get angry, they argue, but ultimately love each other no matter what. 

I mean I have said over and over again the simplicity of the story is what makes it a good story. Many people now a day think that everything has to be over dramatic, and everything as to have action and adventure. When real stories touch the heart more than the over done. This movie is also a musical and just makes it all the better me. However, it's not a Christmas movie it's usually played at Christmas because of the phenomenal Christmas segment in the movie. It's also the premiere of the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". It's memorable because it's the climax of the whole movie and it's such a wonderful movie. 

I know that I have also talked about this movie before cause I made Alaina watch way back when.  However, it's so good you can always talk about it. I also loved that I got to watch with my mom, well half of it, on Christmas wit her.  It's one of my all time favorite movies and I can't wait to watch it again!  

Jack of All Trades: The Movies

 What a wonderful year. I am one of the really rare, and very far in between people who really think that 2020 is a wonderful year. I am really proud that I was able to do all of the good work that I could. I am sad cause I had to change it so many times, and that there were some things that I couldn't do. However, I am proud of what I got to do.

One of the things that I did do this year, that I have done with every other project that I have done on here, is watch a movie that went along with my theme of the year. The movies are the reason that I started this to begin with and it was a little weird not talking them. I know that I mention like 2-3 at the start of the year but I didn't mention them anymore. So, this post is dedicated to all of the movies that I watched that some what related to what I was doing that month.

 

The first movie that I watched at the start of the year was Pay It Forward. I was looking forward to this movie. It was all about how this boy started the Pay it Forward movement and how it reached everywhere. However, it ended up being very sad because of the stupid stuff. Like I am mad that I watched it and then it ended in the way it did. However, I wanted to watch it because basically this is what I wanted out of the year. Paying it forward and doing good in the world. So, it was a nice, if not very sad, start to my year.

The month of January Nikki and I went to help out with the Knoxville Dream Food Truck. The truck provides the homeless and lower income families with fresh food. I chose The Hundred Foot Journey because it showed how food could shape and change your life. It really was a great movie that I would really like to watch again. 

I chose The Secret Garden to go with my helping of clearing out the weeds with iJams Nature Center. I chose this because the point of clearing weeds to help the other plans grow and thrive. The whole movie is about a young girl who goes to live with unknown family, and she finds a garden that hasn't been cared for in many years. She cleans in out and makes a new life for herself, and the garden. What she ends up doing is helping her new family find peace in the hardship they have had over the year and find that new, and beautiful, things in grow in the wake of heartache. Helping iJam's with this project gave the plants in the park a chance to shine and giving those who have gone to the park a more beautiful view of the lake behind the weeds that they would have missed out on before.

In March the whole world was sent into a dark place. Everything was canceled, and everything had changed in what felt like overnight. The one thing that everyone did at that point in time was turn to art. They turned to music and movies, and so many people have tried very hard to bring their art to others in a different way. In March I supported art watching some different bands play on facebook. Stacey Mitchhart is a music man out of Nashville whom I love. He started doing multiple facebook live shows at his house since then. I spent the month watching his shows and donating to what I could to him and his band. The Soloist is a wonderful movie about a man who is a cello prodigy who is homeless due to schizophrenia. He was set to become one of the best performers in the world, he even went to Julliard, and could not finish due to his illness. However, years later a man's life is changed by his presence and offeres to help him. He is able to give him musical instruments, and a small apartment so he can not be on the streets. This is all based off of a true story where he still plays his music on the streets of LA today. It's a great movie to give home during a time when art are in trouble and that we see we are still getting home from them.

    

When the world cracked the door open again more people needed help than before. The Salvation Army was looking for people to help pre-package meals to feed everyone who was in need. I will say, it's hard to serve others when you are struggling yourself. I am very blessed to still have my job but mentally March was very hard on me and the idea of going to help in April was something I did not want to do. However, I knew that was the very reason that I needed to do it. Same Kind of Different as Me is a beautifully told movie about a husband and wife who's marriage is struggling. When it got to the point of unbearable, Debbie says they can try again if he goes with her to help feed the homeless. He is very vocal about how he does not want to do that. While they are serving Debbie has a dream about a man who is going to lead them on an adventure. Not long after a very aggressive homeless man comes in and Debbie says that's the man she had dreamed about. Over the next two years they offer friendship to this man and he grows with them in their family. Reflecting on this film now it makes me realize that doing the very thing I didn't want to do made my year better. Everything is still not the same, Things are starting to be a little brighter again. However, going out of my way to helping people, when I didn't want to do it myself, was the thing I needed this year to make my year so much better. Just like it did for this family in the movie.

In May I did work with a very well know group called Second Harvest Food Bank. The time I spent was them was three hours of putting thank you letters into envelopes to be sent off to people who have donated. I watched I, Daniel Blake. The reason I picked this movie was because I had read there was a great scene in the movie that was in a food bank. This movie was good in the showing of how inefficient getting the help we need to get can work. What I think watching this showed me that there is a long way to go with getting people better help, and more of it, but that it really shows how many people are out there that are willing to help in anyway they can.

 In June I went to help sort out donations at a place called Ladies of Charity. They run a food pantry to give out to people in need as well as give out clothes, places to live, and donation to anyone who needs them as well. They also run a thrift shop at the front of the pantry to raise more funds. One of the jobs I had when I got there was to sort shoes. The movie In Her Shoes is about two sisters who have been disagreeing about how to live their lives for a long time. When things come to a head one leaves. The time apart really causes them to come to a reflection of themselves, and the other to find a common ground again. It liked this movie because it's another reminder that we don't know everyone's story, even if we are closely related. We need to give each other grace and help when we can.

July was met the sad realization that we would not be going to shoot off fireworks for the 4th of July. However, I was helping with Anvil shooting instead at Museum of Appalachia. I chose Indiana Jones because it's a movie that help to preserve and safe history in an unconventional way. I would dare to say that shooting anvils and a museum and draw a crowd is one unconventional way. 

August was met with the opportunity to go back to the Tennessee Theatre again. I love that place and so I made a donation and was able to get a tour. I am telling you that gong there is something I love and I can not wait to do again. The Majestic is a movie about mistaken identity, and find a new purpose. This year it's felt very much like that. We have all had to really look at lives and see what's really important and what is just taking up too much of our time. When Jim Carey's character in the film gets amnesia and ends up in a small town his life changed. He looks just like a young man from the town that lost his life in the war. He ends up helping the town fix up the theatre that has been there for a number of years and learns how to run it. When he gets his memories back he has to choose what his real purpose in life is and what is really making him happy. 

Woman in Gold is a movie about a famous work of art that was stolen from a Jewish family during World War II. After many years of struggling to research on the part of her sister, now departed, the last relative to know of the painting must now try retain the painting from Austria. She has a lawyer, who has very little experience, look into it and try to win the painting by restitution. When the claim is denied they think all hope is lost. Until they find a different law that can get the painting to the correct home. Watching this made me see that sometime we have to fight to what is correct rather than what is easy. It's not been easy for me to not have the art in my life that I have come to know. So, doing what I can has helped to find that peace that maybe soon we will be able to enjoy art again.

Getting to help out at a big event was something I didn't think I was going to be able to do this year. However, this year is full of surprises for me. Helping out with Street Rods was a way to help out Visit Knoxville, which is our go to guide for all things Knoxville. They do this gathering every year and show off classic cars. Since I am not well versed in the world of cars, I asked Carl for advice on his favorite car movie. Gone in 60 Seconds is what he told me. I watched it and it's not my thing to watch but you did get to see some impressive cars in the movie. Other than that there is not much cross over in it. I didn't steal any cars and the whole movie was about that. 

November was met with letter writing. I sent letters to soldiers all over with Friends of the Troops. I picked 84 Charing Cross Road because it was a movie about great pen pals that lasted almost 20 years. It started from an ad in a magazine that led to a great friendship. Now, I haven't gotten any letters back, and honestly I would be shocked if I did. I do like hope that maybe one day I will get a reply but if not that's perfectly alright.

 We finally made it to December. A month that is always about reflection, and about hope. Something we need every year. I said this in the post I made about this month's opportunity but working with Wreaths Across America is my favorite that I have gotten to do this year. Honoring all those who have served is something that makes our country great and never letting them be forgotten is something I will be doing for the rest of my life. I picked White Christmas because it's a movie about soldiers honoring soldiers. I am not soldier but I can not think of a better movie to have picked to remind all of us to honor those who are here and those who have gone.

Thank you for coming with me on this weird journey of this weird year with me. I do have some cool stuff coming up in the new year but I will get to that later. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.

The List:# 154- Have a Surprise Birthday Party

 It's been a while. I really thought that I wasn't going to get anything else crossed off of 'the List' this year but it looks like it's happened. The only reason that it has happened is because I have the best Friends and Family in the whole world.

So, I have told by Best Friend Alaina in the past that I wanted to have a surprise party. However, the thing about surprise parties is that you can't you throw them for yourself. I mean you can but how embarrassing is that. I also know that I am hard to surprise because people usually give me too many hints or hints are too easy to guess. So, Alaina was brilliant and came up with the long game. Almost immediately after my birthday last year Alaina was already talking about the plans that she had this year. Which is odd cause she doesn't usually have anything that far in advance planned. Then a few months later, COVID hit and still she was adamant that her plans were going to go through. I was also very confused because she couldn't change the day of this thing happening. So, I was very very lost. The only hints that I got out of here were: a bird was involved, food was involved, and was a fan of delicious flavor? If you don't know, that last hint is a Psych reference.... which totally threw me off more. 

So, after I have spent my day at the Tennessee Theatre with my mom and with my family for lunch I went home and chilled out for Alaina to come and pick me up. She walks in totally decked out in 1920s garb. I mean I was shocked cause I did not expect her to be dressed like that at all. Then she tells me that there are presents that I have to open before I leave and I did. From her I got the gorgeous dress with a Peacock on it, thus the bird hint, and from her mom I got a peacock feathered headband. 

   After this we got into the car and she blindfolded me. That way I could not figure out where we were going. We are in the car talking having a good time, trusting my life in her hands cause being blindfolded in the passenger seat is always weird, and she is driving all around. I followed for a good potion of the way and then I lost were I was. We finally park and get out of the car. When I get out a hear people talking so I am thinking we are some sort of restaurant or something. Then Alaina knocks on a door and someone asks for a password which Alaina responds "Mickey sent me". When we get in she tells me that I can take off my blindfold and my whole small group was there yelling surprise! Not gonna lie I didn't see it coming!

 There was food, and my mom made a wonderful cake, my dad was there! We had Shirley Temples, which are my favorite! We had pineapple Jell-O desserts and there were silent movies playing in the back while 20s music was also playing. It was a lot of fun! 

All I have to say is that I love Alaina for doing this and I love all of my friend for helping her to pull it off. Alaina told me on the way to the party that she wanted to do it this year and not next was because 2020 is the first year of the 2020s and 2020 would be the start of the last year of my 20s.

Is the world what I thought it was going to be like right now? No, has my life still been good an blessed? Yes! All the time! I have a good God, good family, good friends, and I love that I got to spend my whole birthday weekend with some of the people I love most in the world! I know 29 is going to be better than 28. Since it started with a surprise I am ready for all of the surprises that are in store! 

Jack of All Trades: December

 We finally made it folks! It's finally happened! 12 organizations that I have helped with this year. 12 Organizations that were very hard to keep up with this year because of how crazy everything has been. However, I am so glad that even with how hard it was to keep up and find things to help out with I am glad that this was the year I was able to help to give back in a lot of way. 

The grand finale of the Jack of All Trades year is actually something I was so honored to do last year that I am so thankful that I got to do this year too.

The December I worked with Wreaths Across America. 

Wreaths Across America is an organization that raises money to Honor those who have served out country. If you have ever been to a National Cemetery around Christmas time and have seen all of the Wreaths that are laid there this is the organization that puts it together. I actually found out about this group of fine people on Facebook last year and volunteered. When I told my mom she said she wanted to be apart of it too. So, we went and we loved it. This year I was worried that it wasn't going to happen because of COVID. I was worried because they didn't allow the placing of the flags on the 4th of July either and it made me sad. However, they did do it.

This year we had to sign up for groups at a certain time and we also had to do wear a mask. They had trucks that they used to load boxes to the different sections of the Cemetery and they also what time slot was doing what section. I was really scared that I wasn't going to have as great as an experience this time as I did last year because I thought everyone was going to be so afraid of COVID that people were not going to do the amazing and wonderful work. I have never been more happy to be proven wrong. Yes, it was different. I didn't like that not everyone could come in at once and help. I did like that volunteers used truck to spread out the boxes of wreaths cause that made things easier than having many people lug boxes over 25 acres to get all of the wreaths where they needed to go. 

What I loved was the most this time around was saying the names out loud of those buried there. I didn't fully understand why it was encouraged last year but this year I got it. One of the people with the organization was a veteran himself and his brother is buried in the cemetery. He said that there are two deaths: the first is when you die and the second is when no one remembers your name. So, laying the wreaths out and saying the name of the person gave a meaning to me this year that it didn't last. It was touching. When I started doing it did get emotional because there are so many unknown soldiers buried in our cemetery. So, placing a wreath on a flat and not having a name did get emotional. It got me thinking about the loved ones back home who would maybe find out where that person was buried but have no idea were they were there. That hits different when you do that. 

 

The other reason that it felt better connected to it this year is because last year when I was laying wreaths I placed one on an interesting headstone.

It's hard to see the name here, but this is the resting place of Frank Anthony Romano. Last year I placed a wreath on his headstone and realized that him and I share the same birthday of December 5th. He died on my best friend Alaina's birthday, February 7th. Over the last year I have done some research on him, not sharing it on here, but I found out that this many had a great life and and interesting one. As far as I can tell, he doesn't have anyone living in Knoxville to visit him or to decorate his stone one important days that we honor those who served. So, I have "adopted" his resting place. So, I was honored to place another wreath on his stone this year. 

I know that I have said this about a few of the other volunteering stuff over the year but I think this one is my all time favorite. It's the one that meant the most to me. I am happy to make this a yearly tradition for Christmas time for as long as I live.

No Place Like Movies at Home: Von Ryan's Express

Yes, another! Another Frank Sinatra movie. I hate to say it but I have had opportunities over the last few weeks to watch another movie and I haven't because I am over watching so many sad, long, dull Frank Sinatra films. Thankfully there is a small light starting to shine at the end of that tunnel. 1. Von Ryan's Express was not that bad. 2. There are only 4 more Frank Sinatra films for a while. I have a few others but I will finally be out of the that collection soon. 3. of the four movies I have seen 2 of them in the past. I liked them in the past. So, hopefully this means that It's not going to be as dreadful as I am thinking it is going to be. 

However, let's talk about Von Ryan's Express.

Colonel Ryan is a pilot that was shot down over Italy and taken to a POW Camp. When he arrives to the camp he finds that he is the senior most commander there and takes over the command of the soldiers in the camp. When he finds out that they are wanting to escape the camp, and have been planning to do so, Ryan shuts them down. He tells them that Italy is close to surrendering and doesn't want to make an escape plan. When they do surrender, the guards of the camp flee and Ryan finds that all of the men are now in danger because the Germans are closer to the camp. They leave and make it as far as the countryside when they are captured by the Germans. The questions then becomes, can they escape the Germans and make it freedom?

I am so glad to say that I really did like this movie. I think it was funny, and had a good story. It wasn't boring, it was a little slow but that's about it. I would watch it again. I would also recommend it. I am still glad that Frank Sinatra films are almost done.

Jack of All Trades: November

Another month and yet another down to the wire volunteering. 

The month of November I decided that I was going to volunteer with Friends of the Troops. It's a great program were veterans, and current enlisted, soldiers are giving cards for various different reasons. It's a lot a birthday but some are get well soon cards, and thank you cards, or just cards to be encouraging during whatever is going on in their lives. You can also sign up to adopt a soldier. That part of the program is great because you get to send them a box every month and you all can have more one on one contact with each other. I have not participated in that part of the program as of yet. I hope to one day. What I did do was send two birthday cards and a letter to some soldiers. 

I was very excited about doing this but it almost feels like I cheated a little bit. I didn't have to leave my house in order do this but it was really worth it. It's weird that reminder that doing something to volunteer doesn't mean having to spend a whole lot of money, or driving hours out of the way. It just takes a little a little heart and a little time. 

If you are interested in volunteering with Friends of the Troops please check out the link below. I should also note that you will have to do a background check:

https://www.friendsofthetroops.org/

Jack of All Trades: October

 It's the busiest time of the year! I am so far behind on everything in life right now! Thankfully, I have like three seconds to string together a few things. So, let's get right to it!

In October the organization that I decided to work with was Visit Knoxville. It's Knoxville own tourist guide to all things that are awesome and lovely about Knoxville! Every year they do a car show where all of these fabulously old cars get to show off their stuff. It's called Street Rod! They still held it even with COVID. Which made me happy. Was I happy that they made everyone wear a mask while we were all standing outside? No. Was it cold? Yes, it was an unseasonably cold day in Knoxville. However, it was a lot of fun. 

I did one of the things that I really only have gotten to do this year is take temps and count people. Thankfully, everyone was really excited and didn't mind the the two extra seconds that they had to stand in the entryway to get in. The hardest part was trying to get the stupid thermometer to work because it was so cold outside. I had a lot of fun. I was really happy that I got to work with Visit Knoxville because they are an awesome group that are dedicated to showing off Knoxville and all of her wonders! 

If you would like to volunteer, or would actually like to visit the great city of Knoxville, check out the link below:

https://www.visitknoxville.com/

 

No Place Like Movie at Home: Elf

 If think if you don't know where this is going you should be ashamed.

Yes, I watched Elf. Yes, my tree is up and everything is decorated. I well even go one further and say that all of my Christmas presents are already bought, shipped to my place, and are currently wrapped under my tree. I regret nothing.

Now, on to Elf.

An orphan gets into Santa bag on Christmas and is taken to the North Pole by mistake. Upon getting home, Santa discovers him and an older elf decides to adopt him and raise him as an elf. However, things change when he discovers he is really human at about the age of 30. When he finds out who is family is, Buddy goes to New York to find his father, and hopefully get him off the naughty list. 

There are not many movies that come out during your lifetime and you know that it's going to be a classic film that many will watch for years to come. Elf is one of those really rare and wonderful exceptions. It's one that I love to watch every year and since I got my Christmas stuff up last weekend i watched this to keep me from getting annoyed about hanging lights by myself. No matter how many times I see this moive It makes me laugh and I am very happy to watch it again!

No Place Like Movies at Home: Hocus Pocus

 This one is a little bit weird because I do own this movie but I did watch it in the theaters. I love Regal's movie theater and they opened for a few months and then closed back down again. I am still bitter about it because I love going to the movies. I love eating the popcorn. I love just sitting there and watching something that is going to enrapture me for just a few hours. When we got the word that they were shutting down again I went to see one last movie before they closed. They closed like on Thursday and I was super busy that week and could only go on Monday after work. The movie I went to see was Hocus Pocus.

Three witches are trying to steal the lives of children so that they may live forever as young beautiful maidens. However, their plans get foiled when they take Emily Binx. he older brother, Thackery, followers her to try and saver her but he gets there too late. When he is discovered he fights the witches and tries to prevent anymore deaths. For is actions they turn him into a cat that can never die. Right after they seal is fate, the villagers find the witches and kill them for their crimes but not before a prophecy is told. In 300 years they will return when a virgin lights the black flame candle. 

My mom hates this movie. She thinks is very annoying. I love this movie because it's funny, cute, and the cast is wonderful! I hate scary movies so watching this brings me great joy every Halloween. This year it did hit a bit different. I was mad when I went to see the movie because I knew this was the last movie for who knows how long. So, I wanted to sit away from everyone and pout a bit and watch this happy movie. I got my seat before I went to the theater, picked the back row in the corner away from everyone else and was set to go. When I got there two people ended up in my row. I should explain how this theater was set but was it's a split back row so there are two shorter back rows against the wall. Anyway, I got there and people were sitting with me. I was just going to ignore them and be on my phone until the movie started. However, movie theaters are magical places. The two people were a young couple, about my age, and the girl asked me if I had seen this movie before. I told that I did and it's one of my favorites, and I watch it every year at this time but I had not seen it in the theater. She then tells me that her boyfriend has never seen it. We got a little conversation about it in before the movie. I start to feel less angry and just to sad about the movies leaving for a while by the end of the film. It was great being near them because She had not seen it in a very long time and because they both were not as familiar with it they laughed really head, and had a great time seeing the movie. I enjoyed them enjoying the film so much. 

My favorite part of the movie has always been Bette Midler singing 'I Put a Spell On You'. I also am a sucker for musicals so that's not the shocking at all. However, the reason I say this is because that song is played twice in the movie. Once at the party scene where every knows, and again when the credits are rolling. I forgot about the second time it plays. So, I am asking the couple what they thought of the movie and talking to them for a bit as the movies ends and the last fun scene of the parents finally leaving the party, and then the song starts playing. as I am walking down the stairs and our to the exit, the end of the song that says "say bye-bye" comes on. I really did stop and had to make sure that this wasn't me hearing something. In my life movies are a major plot that is played. So, anytime I have a moment when the soundtrack that happens to fit in live perfectly is an amazing moment. In that moment, this is going to sound stupid and cheesy I know, the movies were say "bye" to me. 

It's been just over a month and I am still sad that my Movie Mondays have not happen. I am so ready for them to open again and I hope that it's soon. However, that one moment of "movie magic" I got in real life will hold me over for a while. 

 

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Manchurian Candidate

 When you start doing a deep dive into Frank Sinatra's career this movie becomes almost mythical. Frank Sinatra made many films in his day but few and far between did he make something that everyone knew was special. This is one of those films.

This thriller will have you guessing what is going to happen next all the way through. When a platoon is captured and taken to communist China, the men are hypnotized to believe that one many is a great hero, when in reality he has been made into a sleeper agent and doesn't even know it. When Sinatra begins to believe that something wasn't right about this situation he decides to investigate what happened during their capture. After years of questioning with no proof, another man comes forward to tell what he remembers and identifies a couple of nasty men that are known communist government figures. This mystery unfolds in a few ways that now one sees coming.

This movie seems to be one of those movies in his career that is a must see... however, it's also rarely heard of now a days. you almost really have to be a fan of his in order to know this movie or watch it. I was looking forward to it and dreading it because, I am so tired of watching dramas. This is a drama but I was thoroughly impressed. It was interesting, mysterious, sad, and full of emotion! I would recommend to anyone who was a Sinatra fan or a drama fan!

No Place Like Movies at Home: Can-Can

 We are back to the musical roots of Frank Sinatra. Here we are with a movie that I don't think get enough love, Can-Can.

A Paris nightclub performs a indecent dance called the Can-Can every night. One night the chief of police shows up and sets up a sting to arrest everyone in the building. However, the great legal mind of Frank Sinatra keeps getting the performers released. How long can he let that go on?

I love this movie! I know that most Sinatra fans don't come to this movie first but I love how fun it is! Also, the fact that Shirley Maclaine is in it makes it just that movie fun! It's been a very long time since I last saw this movie and I very happy that it was just as fun as I remember.

  

No Place Like Movies at Home: Hole in the Head

So, after watching so many Frank Sinatra movies in a row I see where there are not as many sweet movies as I thought there were. I tend to be on the Musical and Sweet Side of movies as a whole but I always thought he had more of those than he did drama. However, I find that's not really the case. I finally came back to one that I had almost forgotten about. Hole in the Head was one of the first Sinatra films that I saw that wasn't a musical. Yes, there is singing in this film but I would not classify it as a musical. 

This movie is about a man who is just trying to do the best for his son. He runs a hotel in Florida and is trying to keep it a float. However, things are not going well. He get desperate and contacts his brother for the money. Thing get hairy when they end up flying down there to see him in person. They try to convince him settle down and not continue to go out with wild women and stop chasing after harebrained schemes. Sinatra goes along with this for a little bit until he sees another opportunity when an old, rich, buddy of his comes to town.

I really loved Frank Sinatra in this role. There are not many movies that really show the "dad" side of him. His daughter, Nancy, was in Marriage on the Rocks with him and he played her dad, but she was older in that role and we never saw him play a dad at the same time his children were young. I think that this movie show more of that side of him. I remember this movie fondly and I am very excited that it still holds up. It was a very welcomed break drama after drama from the last few weeks.

No Place Like Movies at Home: Kings Go Forth

 I have to say I am over it! I have done a very, very long streak of Frank Sinatra movies. I really have enjoyed most of them but I have just hit a rut in his movie career. I am also so close do moving on from Frank Sinatra movies that I am getting antsy to get to the next set of movies! However, I am I feel like I am very far away from getting there. This next movie didn't that wait feel any shorter. 

Look I know that I normally do a summery but I honestly there is not point. This movie had such great potential because not only did it star Mr. Sinatra, but it also had Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. I was bored. I was easily distracted, and really had nothing to catch my eye to want to really watch it. It was slow and just nothing what I thought it would be like to have all of those stars in the film. Better luck next time I guess...

Jack of All Trades: September

 I have already stated how challenging it has been to find opportunities where I am of need during this time. Everything is closed, or they have had to change how they do things in order to make events or daily duties happen. I am very thankful that this next opportunity fell into my lap. 

I volunteered with an organization called Keep Knoxville Beautiful. It's help to clean and improve the great outdoors of our fair city. One of the the projects that needed help was painting a new mural on the basketball court at Cal Johnson Park. I did not stay terribly long, I had something unexpected come up that prevented me from stay, but it was a great experience.

The group of people in charge were very helpful and very kind. They had the design already sketched out and we basically did the court like a giant paint by numbers. I hope that it's finished soon and I can go back and see the design. I felt terrible that I had to leave early but they were very kind that I did and were very happy that I came for any amount of time. I think that if they have another need I will go back and do a full shift. it's was a very easy project to be apart of and one that many people got to do. There was lots of space to work and people talking or doing their own thing. I was very impressed with how organized everyone was and how well equipped. 

If you would like more information about this organization, please see the link below.

www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Pride and the Passion

Every successful actor and actress also seems to have terrible movies under their belt. We have already seen some not so glamorous ones when we speak of Frank Sinatra. However, this the first time that I must say we have gotten a terrible movie from high. I mean a down right fink of a movie. The Pride and the Passion stars Carey Grant and Sophia Loren and none of them could have saved this film is they wanted to. 

Looks I am not even going to waste my time even writing a description. There is a large cannon, there is a war, there is trying to save the cannon, and it was all terrible. The worst part is that you didn't even have to watch the whole movie to know I was terrible. You think that it will be good because Mr. Grant is in the film but once you meet Mr. Sinatra in his character you find that you are already sunk. The first look at Mr. Sinatra's hairpiece makes you wince and then the accent he uses is so bad you wish you never started the movie. 

I ended up being rather distracted with other things and the movie just played in the background. Here's hoping the next one will be better...  

Jack of All Trades: August

Let me tell you, trying to keep these going has been trying in the last few weeks. Just as we start to open things but everything is still getting canceled. I don't even remember what I was supposed to be doing for the month of August originally, but what I ended up doing was great. 

I made a donation to the Tennessee Theatre. 

I know it sounds like a bit of a comp out.... and in a way it was. There was nothing available to volunteer for that didn't conflict with my work schedule. I knew that I would have to donate money somewhere. Then the Knoxville History Projected ended up hosting a tour of the Theatre as part of a donation. Now, you are speaking to one of the Tennessee's biggest fans and I had to go. So, really that was helping both KHP and the Tennessee. I think preserving history is a good cause. I think that places that movie palaces are great holder of the past, Knowing that they have lost 95% of their revenue by not holding performances, any amount of money can help. 

It also didn't help that I have not been allowed to enter into the Tennessee in 6 months. So, I jumped at the first chance I had to get back in.  

I did really enjoy my time in those walls and seeing other people go one their first tour. I can not wait to get the chance to go again!

If you would like to donate to the Tennessee Theatre please see the link below.

https://www.tennesseetheatre.com/support/individual-gifts/

No Place Like Movies at Home: 4 for Texas

 It feels like it's been forever and a day since I last caught up with the adventure of my movies. I am glad to say that I haven't watched ten a row and now have to catch up on that many. I am only one behind and I am about to watch another. This post will conclude the Rat Pack Collection. Now, it's not all of the rat back movies but it's all of the ones I have. 

Partnerships are formed in the strangest of places when money is involved. A showdown in the desert starts everything off with a bang with Sinatra and Martin fight each other for a big bag of money. Sinatra has plans to open a casino with the loot and Martin liked the idea enough he came down and open one of his own. They both thought that their plans were working until they find that Martin came to Sinatra's hometown and took his idea. However, both of them have to fight off a band of outlaws to make a profit. Will they end up with big money or dead?

I was very nervous about this movie. I love the other two Rat Pack movies so much that I didn't want this one to be a let down. I knew in the first 15 minutes of the movie that it was going to be great. I dialogue between Martin and Sinatra when they kept shooting each other and going back and forth with the money was gold. It was one of those moment where is seemed like in was improved rather than scripted. It was very natural and and funny. The whole movie had that feel to it. It was like they were pulling pranks on each other in western style garb rather than playing rivals in the movie. Yet again, Sinatra's performance was great but over shadowed by the charms of Mr. Martian. The whole movie was just funny and a great enjoyment to watch!

No Place Like Movies at Home: Robin and the 7 Hoods

Sometimes things come full circle in a weird way. The movie we are going to be talking about today is one that I have reviewed on here once before in a different capacity. That lovely movie is Robin and the 7 Hoods. The reason that this comes full circle for me at the moment is that the last time I spoke about this movie I was making my best friend, Alaina, watch it when I had a list of classic films that I was making her watch. Well, when we talked about it last that was the first time I felt her first kid move. She gave birth not that long after. Well, Alaina's second kid was just recently born and this movie shows up again. This movie has always been one of my favorite since the first time I watched it, but it just keeps getting closer to my heart as time goes on.

 The premise of the story is really rather simple.... It's a movie about a man named Robert who steals from the rich and gives to himself.... Ok, the more complicated way of saying it is Colombo, yes the detective, becomes the leader of all the gangs and orders everyone to pay protection money to the police. Rob, Sinatra, and his gang don't like that Colombo killed the leader, his friend, and then doesn't join Colombo's gang. So, Colombo, with the police help, try to put Rob out of business and ends up making it look like Rob is a Robin Hood figure and not really a gang member. Oh, and it's a musical.... yes you read that right it's a musical. 

Honestly, you think that is complicated you should watch the movie. Peter Falk, who plays the Colombo and the grandfather in The Princess Bride, is in this film and it's super weird to see! I mean really it strange seeing him in this role. Then you have the Rat Pack that is just doing whatever feels natural. I don't even think there was a script for this movie because of how wacky it is! Sammy Davis Jr., again, steals the show. It's a comedy, gangster, musical that you don't really know existed until you watch it. If you can handle just how screwy this movie is you will enjoy it. There are some great numbers in it that are performed by all of the cast. There is some singing done by Mr. Falk himself which is interesting to watch. Then you have a phenomenal number done by Sinatra, Martin and Bing Crosby that always puts a smile on your face!

If you are a Rat Pack fan I highly recommend this film.. if you love gangster movies..... be prepared because it's nothing like you think it's going to be.

No Place Liker Movies at Home: Ocean's 11

 One of the best parts about Frank Sinatra's career is working along side some of the most famous people in Hollywood. Actors, actresses, and all sorts of singers had the honor of withing when The Chairman of the Board. We have discussed some of them on here so far but we have yet to get to the his most well known posse, The Rat Pack.

If you are not familiar with who the Rat Pack are let me inform you. You have to start with the man himself, Mr. Frank Sinatra. It was actually created by him, although he did not give the group it's name. The origins of the Rat Pack actually start why back when Humphrey Bogart was alive and was married to Lauren Bacall. Mr. S and Mr Bogart were hanging out with several other people drinking and carrying on one night when Ms. Lauren Bacall walked in on them and said "Well don't you all look like a Rat Pack". Thus the name is born. Unfortunately, most people don't know Mr. Bogart as one of the original members or the group because he passed not terribly long after the group "formed". 

There are several members of the Rat Pack, but with every year that passed members were excommunicated, or were simply forgotten to history. The members that lasted until the very end are still being forgotten with every passing year. There were five main members of the group (after the death of Bogart). The three that are forever remembered are the already aforementioned Mr. Sinatra, the wonderful "drunk" Dean Martin, and the always cool Sammy Davis Jr. 

The excommunicated member was Peter Lawford. You might remember him from when we talked about It Happened in Brooklyn. He is the man who fell in love with Katherine Greyson. The long and short of why he was excommunicated is because of politics. Yes, politics is what broke up the Rat Pack. Like I said it's a long story but Lawford pissed off Sinatra during the JFK election and that was the end of it.

The "forgotten" member is Mr. Joey Bishop. I believe the reason he is forgotten is because he is not a singer. He was an actor but not really remembered for much. Which is crazy because in truth Mr. Bishop is the actual leader of the Rat Pack. He was the one that got things done, and moved things forward. He was also a brilliant leader because he made everyone think, including Sinatra, that Sinatra was the actual leader of the group. 

The reason they are so well known is because of their comedy act they did in Vegas. It's not a scripted act, it's always kinda loose when they did it. Also, it's was almost always impromptu. When the Casino's had one of the members there on contract they got to a point where they had to put on the signs out front "Starring Sammy Davis Jr" and in slightly smaller letters "along with maybe Frank Sinatra, maybe Dean Martin and maybe Joey Bishop". Outside of the comedy they were able to get two movies with all 5 members of the Rat Pack together. Ocean's 11, from 1960, is the most popular one of all.

Danny Ocean and Jimmy Foster are a couple of men who want to make it big. However, they really don't want to work hard at doing that. They want to make money and fast. What's the best way to do it? Rob this 5 biggest Casino in Vegas that's how. They know they need to be cunning and clever in order to pull this off. They need precise military like tactics in order to pull off the heist. Fortunately, they have people who are very good with the military tactics, it's the other members of the 82nd Airborne. They call all of them to meet in California to convince them to do the job. After a little bit of reluctance, they job is underway. The question is will they really be able to get away with it?

Now, if you are one of those people who love the remake with George Clooney and say that you don't need to see this movie. Then you really need to get your act together and watch this movie. Yes, there is not as much action in the movie (no ninja men that pop out and avoid lasers to get the money sorry) but it's seems to be more realistic. Not to today's standards of security no, but from the time of the 60's and doing the research you need to do to get it done, and the racial issue of the day. This seems like it really was attempted at one point. I will also say that this has one of the best movie endings in movie history. It's not anything big like The Prestige but if you like unexpected endings you will like this movie. 

So, what is the other movie that the Main 5 star in? It's a movie called Sergeants 3. Unfortunately, I don't own that movie yet. It only came to DVD in 2008. It's not a very popular release but I do want to own it. The next movie does have 4 out of the 5 main members and a few wonderful actors that you might be surprised that star in the same movie. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Tender Trap

 If you haven't already figured out how much I am in love with movies then this is going to sound a little bit confusing. I had to trash this movie. I had 45 minutes left of my DVD and it totally stopped working. I was heartbroken to say the very least. However, the internet is, sometimes, a wonderful thing. I was able to buy another copy and was finally able to re-watch the movie and enjoy the wonderful ending that I remembered fondly. What is this movie that sent me on an unexpected emotional roller coaster? It's none other than Frank Sinatra starring in The Tender Trap.

Once again Frank Sinatra, named Charlie in this film, is a playboy who can make any girl swoon. He has scads of women or he can call at any time for a date, dinner, to clean his house, to kill some time with, but not to marry. He enjoys the single life too much. In between the women he is seeing he keeps up with his day job as a theatrical agent. He is trying to find the perfect gift for a new play coming up and that is how he meets Julie Gillis, played be the ever lovable Debbie Reynolds. She is perfect in ever way... except she refuses to do the show after a certain point because she is going to get married. When trying to discuss the contract, and trying to convince her to convince her fiance to keep doing the show, he finds that she is not engaged. She is not even dating anyone. She just knows when she is going to get married, and has her whole life planned out but doesn't know who the man in her life is yet. She claims that when she meets him she will know. One day she is late to rehearsal and Charlie tracks her down a a home show and, to appease Julie, sits in a chair and it hits her that Charlie is her man. Charlie being the playboy that he is, wines and dines her thinking he can get this girl to be a casual dater, and her thinking she can make him commit. Love is never easy cause it really is a Tender Trap.

This is one of my personal Frank Sinatra favorites. This is the movie that I realized that I really did love Frank Sinatra as a singer. When I saw this film for the first time was about the time I discovered my parents Capitol Records Frank Sinatra CD in their CD collection. The CD had the song "The Tender Trap" on it. I fell in love with the song from the first time I heard it and had to watch the movie that shared it's name. You add the fact that one of my favorite actresses from Singing in the Rain starred with him in this movie, I was hooked. This is your traditional romantic comedy story lines that you can't help but love. It's got some good lines, and all the feel good feelings you want. It's not Mr. Sinatra's best performance of his life but it's memorable to me. You never really forget when and where you fell in love with Frank Sinatra. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: Some Came Running

There are just some movies that no matter how many times you see it.. it never really gets any better. I have the grave misfortune to say that about Some Came Running. 

When an army vet comes home to his small town, he starts to stir up trouble. When arriving he finds that his intoxicated self invited a girl along. He stirs up trouble almost at the moment he gets home.

In all of the wonderful film of Mr. Sinatra's there are some that are hard and too dull to watch, some that are flops, and some that become some of the best classics you will see. Some Came Running is one of the long and dull ones. There really ins't much here to really be interested in. I think it mainly because you can tell that Frank Sinatra doesn't really want to be doing this film himself. Yes, it's got Dean Martin, and the ever wonderful Shirley MccLaine, but it never really takes off. This is a great piece if you are wanting to watch more of what the Director, Vincent Minnelli, can do. However, there really isn't much more to say other than it was long, and slow. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: None but the Brave

So far in this Frank Sinatra journey we have seen many different sides of him. We have seen the shy boy next door, steady married man, a baseball player and the drug addict. However, Mr. Sinatra does have several movies under his belt that are war films. No, not the solider on leave, or coming out of the service for good. I mean he plays a soldier in a war zone. However, he play another role in this film, this is his directorial debut as well, from 1965, None but the Brave.

A small group of Japanese solider left forgotten on an island has some unexpected visitors. They are a group of crippled American Marines that are trying to get home when their plane crashes on the island. It doesn't take long for the fighting to start. Both sides loose more men of the very few they both started with. Nothing can be done at the time because both sides have lost radio contact with their counterparts. However, peace comes for an unexpected reason, to save a life. One of the Japanese men was injured, before the Americans showed, and the wound in now infected. While spying on the Americans they learn that there was a Doctor on board the flight that crashed and he survived. In order to try and save one life in all of the bitterness of war, they broker a peace for the doctor to come and see him and hopefully save his life. Here is the problem, the doctor is not a doctor. He is actually a pharmacist, who has some basic first aid knowledge, that makes him look like a doctor. He goes to have a look anyways and says he can remove the leg. He does successfully. In return both sides work together to survive, that is until the American fix their radio and get in contract with a vessel to come to the rescue. Will they all make it off of the island or will there be more pointless bloodshed?

War films is that genre of movies that I really don't have a straight opinion on. Like every movie is I love and I will watch it again, or I hate it and it shall never experience it again. This is the first time that I have no opinion either way. I wasn't overly thrilled watching this. It had some great moments but nothing to really recommend to others on. I think that if you are a Frank Sinatra fan, you should watch it because it is his first time directing, but other than that. I don't really have much to say on it.    

Jack of All Trades: July

Yes, I am already done with July's and I am very happy to be! This month we are celebrating patriotism and all of it's glory! I spent the first part of July 4th, at the Museum of Appalachia. Every year they do an Anvil Shoot. It's a wonderful affair that includes food, activities, and shooting anvils of course. 

Every few hours they sing a patriotic song and sent an anvil flying through the air! It's really a site to see and something you can't believe you just heard. I was not expecting it to be that loud but it was. The Museum has a wonderful restaurant on site and lots of different historic cabins to go look in, learn from, and see what life was like way back when. They had blacksmiths, and a few different ceremonies going through the day. You also do the self guided tour of the museum. 

They ended up having to do things differently this year due to Covid. Usually anyone who has a ticket comes when they want all day and just hangs out for as long as they would like. This year to practice social distancing, they had to limit who got to come in. I was the clicker. Meaning that I had to keep count off all of the people in the cars as the other volunteers were taking tickets. It was very hot. However, there was a lot of shade for me to stand in. 

I did this for 4 hours, and two shooting anvils. 

It was a fun and interesting way to spend the morning of my 4th of July. I am still recovering. 

If you would like to know more about the Museum of Appalachia see the like below:

https://www.museumofappalachia.org/

Jack of All Trades: June

Ah, the wonderful month of June. I really thought I was going to be struggling to find somewhere to volunteer. I won't lie when I went online and was shocked to find that Lades of Charity was looking for a ton of volunteers at all times of the day for almost every single day! 

I really wanted to do it right away, however, I had surgery at the beginning of the month. So, I wasn't able to do anything really for a week, and I was on some restrictions for while too. So, I did this literally last weekend, right at the tail end of the month. 

I signed up to be a sorter. Not really knowing what I was really getting into. I was in for a little bit of shock when I got there. So, from the very brief conversation that I had with my mentor there, they run a thrift store, than gets tons of donations everyday. There is a constant meet to sort, fix, sell, and do all over again. What really touched me was that they sell all of their stuff at really good prices, and 93% of the profits goes to the food pantry that they run on site. That is not all that they do though. They give new born needs, provide housing, and clothing donations. They have also been serving in Knoxville since 1942. The fact that I have lived here for over 20 years and only just now hearing about them is very upsetting. That is a great organization! 

The staff members that they have are fantastic! Most of the people working that day when out of their way to say hi to me when they got the chance. There is constant movement from the time that I got there to the time that I left. I spent about  hours there. My job as sorter that day had be going through and separating different bags, and then paring shoes to go out onto the floor. I worked on an extremely small portion of the whole floor. It took me the whole three hours I was there to get it all sorted and organized. 

It's not because it was left unsorted by any means, it just they have just that much stuff that need to always be going through! It's amazing to see just how much is already on the floor and then all of the stuff that it's sorted yet! All I want to do now is keep going to do more organizing. I love making order out of chaos and that is what that corner felt like. 

I did get to help out financially as well. I saw a Glen Miller record that I had to have as I was walking in, and sorting though purses there was this 50's style purse that I have been looking for online that someone donated. I got that at an AMAZING price and can not wait to use it! I 

I really love this organization and how they are running things, and helping out community. I hate that they are not as well known in my area, like West Knoxville, I am sure plenty of people who live closer to Downtown know them well. However, I have already told all of my friends about them, and my family. I am hoping to go back there soon to look purchase more things so I can help them out! 

If you would like to know more about Ladies of Charity, or to volunteer or donate see the like below:

https://www.ladiesofcharityknox.org/

No Place Like Movies at Home: Marriage on the Rocks

For a very long time when I thought of Frank Sinatra this was the movie that came to mind first. Marriage on the Rocks is a lighthearted musical that features another famous Rat Pat member Dean Martin. 

After 19 years of marriage things are starting to get dull between Valerie (Deborah Kerr), and Dan (Sinatra). Dan thinks that since he has been married for so long that he doesn't need to go above and beyond anymore. Most of the romantic gifts that he sends her have been picked out by the friend of the family, Ernie (Martin). When Dan is finally convinced tear himself away from work to go on a second honeymoon, to Mexico. However, it's nothing as they expect it to be. Instead of enjoying themselves they wind up divorced. They quickly realize their mistake and try to go remarried before they go home. However, an emergency takes him back to the states for a few days while Valerie plans a wedding. When Dan can not get back on the day of the wedding he sends Ernie to try and explain in person. Well, in all of the confusion of the moment Ernie and Valerie end up married. The question becomes who stays married to who and who lives as the bachelor for the reset of their days?

Like I said when I was younger this was "the" Frank Sinatra film that I thought of. I loved it because it was funny and cute. I still love it for those reasons. I have learned to love some of his other movies more. I think that, while this is a good movie, there are many others that he is none better for. That is was good reason.