The Milkman

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

This 1950 movie, starring Donald O'Connor as Roger, is about a young man from a wealthy milk delivery company who just wants a job.  But because of a night disguised as a duck during the war, he starts quacking whenever he gets excited - literally.  So his father has done everything to protect him and keep him rested.

But Roger is tired of long vacations and just sitting around doing nothing.  With the help of an old milkman friend, Roger lands a job with the rival milk company.  But he makes one mistake after another - falling into a petunia bed, trapping a women in a dumbwaiter, kissing girls - not the least of which is falling in love with the rival's daughter Chris and getting involved in the middle of a criminal operation.

But Roger's naivete gets him out of the problems it got him into, and with songs sung by him and Jimmy Durante as well as some dance numbers, the movie comes to a successful and amusing ending.

Because of the premise and Roger's personality and the silly problems that inevitably follow, this could be considered a ridiculous movie.  Personally, I feel this movie is adequately balanced.

I give this movie 10/10 and it is rated A, although there is an attempted murder, so some may feel that it is not appropriate for all children.  I encourage you to enjoy this film.

~Meggy

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

A Movie Review by Magdalen Aithne Arkwright

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barret is a cute children's picture book.  Movies based on children's books are not always satisfactory however.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs may be an exception.  "Made by a lot of people", the movie is a PG rated comedy for the family.  It's rated for brief mild language, which is not noticeable by most people unless they are looking for it.

Flint Lockwood is a misunderstood inventor with a fisherman father.  His mother died, the only person he felt ever understood him, and now he's trying to make something that will improve life for Swallow Falls, a "small island hidden under the A in Atlantic", but no one supports him in his efforts.  When his new invention destroys Sardine Land, the whole town is mad at him, including a visiting junior weather analyst called Sam Sparks.

But when the invention turns out to be better than even Flint imagined, the tables are turned.  Food rains from the sky and turns the fortunes of the town upside down.  Tourists from around the globe come to see the amazing town of Swallow Falls, unfortunately just in time for things to go wrong.

Flint, Sam, Flint's monkey Steve, Sam's cameraman, and Brent the x-town-celebrity have to follow Flint's last minute plan to shut down the machine and put things back the way they were, with a little help from Flint's pre-techno dad.

Some viewers might find some things a little uncomfortable so parental previewing is advisable for younger kids.  Even so, I found the worst part of the movie was just watching Brent in a diaper and then as a chicken for much of the movie.  This is rated D and receives 9/10.  I highly recommend it for a family movie, but only those with the right sense of humor will get the most out of this film.

~Meggy

Good Old Manners

I read the following post about manners, and it reminded me of a time not to long ago when I saw 'Easter Parade' for the first time and I couldn't figure out what Fred Astaire was doing.

http://mrsrabbitsmusings.blogspot.com/2011/10/lessons-in-etiqutte-from-more-genteel.html

It didn't take me long to realize that he was waiting for the lady.  This made me think about all the nice things that guys - and girls - used to do just on a regular basis.  Now, when I approach the church door with a heavy guitar case in my hand, it's a rare occasion for someone to hold the door for me.  Many have excuses and I don't blame them, but how wonderful would it be for someone to catch up with me to hold the door open, or to wait for me at the door so they could hold it open when I got there.  I generally hold the door open for others, even if I am loaded with a guitar, because I've been doing that as long as I can remember.  I also have a life-long obsession with impressing older people.

And what if the men stood back and waited for the women to go before them.  My dad waits for the family to go before him - always has.  What if you saw that more often?  It's more common in older generations, but what about in the current coming-of-age generation?

What if men held the lady's chair for her?  What if children didn't talk over their parents?  What if they were taught they're not the center of everyone's universe?  How glorious would it be if everyone had a kind of etiquette script to use for each occasion?  I often find myself in a room with someone I don't know entirely well, and I wonder if it's polite to ask them something or if I should say something first.  I don't know if I should go on talking about me or if I should switch the conversation over to them.  Perhaps I'm overly self-conscious.  That has long been one of my faults.  Still, wouldn't it be nice to know that what you're doing pleases others?  Wouldn't you like to do something that seems polite and know that you're not being over the top?  Or under the bar?

There must be a least one scene from a movie in your head of a guy holding a door, or offering to help carry something, or standing when a lady enters the room.  That would be a lovely little addition - for men to stand when ladies enter the room.

Oh, and how splendid it would be to have the pressure of introducing myself!  Wouldn't it be lovely if someone you knew introduced you to the others and instead of taking on the task yourself?

We're in a new age, and some people seem to think that means that using old manners and techniques would be backtracking.  Maybe you don't think you'd like to get all that "special attention".  When I think of how little attention people get these days, I feel a little down.  Each individual has value only from his own self.  Manners are declining.  It's each man for himself first, others second.

And while we're in the past, how would you like to see people dressed as nicely as they once were?

I think the vests and such are so attractive.  People today use their dress as an expression of self, and use this excuse to dress the way they do.  However, I charge you find an age when that has not been true.  These people, such as the ones in the pictures, were respectable and respectful.

I have nothing against jeans.  I'd be foolish and a hypocrite if I said I did.  Jeans are my most often donned attire.  Oh, but how I long to wear dresses like the left photo without seeming out of place!  Why can't it all be clothes of today instead of things of today and things of yesterday?

So those are my thoughts on all of this.  How I could fall in love with a man in a sweater and tie, with his hair combed neatly back.  I've been attracted to men with long hair of course.  The style in these photos aren't the only ones that are acceptable to my tastes.  But they certainly are nice, aren't they?

~Meggy