classic movies Archives - Author K. Williams

Destination Shagbottom

December 11, 2020 By Captain Maiel

It’s time again for another episode of Shagbottom Theater!

It’s Christmastime again… and that means nostalgia to Fionn. With this year of Cary Grant coming to a close, he couldn’t help but pick something that may pull a bit at your heartstrings. Nothing could do that better than considering the sacrifice some make in service to their country, especially those who gave time , if not all, during the Second World War. Fionn and I both have veterans from that era in the family. His many times great grandsire was a mine detecting dog in the Royal Marines. I had family in the Merchant Marine and Navy.

After cleaning up the script, Fionn thought Destination Tokyo would make a nice closing homage to his idol. Being a product of its time, there were some word choices that Fionn was less comfortable with, but he neither wanted to dismantle historical accuracy nor upset the audience. It was a delicate, often surgical, maneuver.

Below is a short excerpt of Fionn performing one of the opening scenes. It uses the frame of the holidays and the sacrifice our forebears to pull at the heart as promised. We at Shagbottom Theater hope you’ll enjoy the presentation, and have warm holiday season that brings a prosperous New Year to you all.

Capt. Cassidy: Hello! Hello! Sweetheart, we’re shoving off ahead of schedule. Something urgent. I tried to telephone earlier, sorry I’m calling so late to wish you and the children a merry Christmas. Wanted to tell you I’m now wearing three stripes on my sleeve and some embarrassingly shiny scrambled eggs on my cap. I hope you like the nylon stockings, darling. Don’t ask me how I got them. Hey, tell Michael I couldn’t find a toy submarine. Tell him it’s the war. He’ll understand. There’s even a shortage of teddy bears, but I found one for Debby. I hope her chickenpox didn’t leave any marks on that sweet face.

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The Awful Shagbottom

November 13, 2020 By Captain Maiel

It’s time again for another episode of Shagbottom Theater!

Fionn selected Cary Grant’s The Awful Truth (1937) for a few reasons. The film was a success that year, despite the cast feeling it would be the awful fail. Part of why they felt that way may have been the improv heavy production style. However, Fionn feels this really introduces viewers to the talent of his acting hero. Cary Grant remains an unprecedented leading man. Women still fall in love with him and his performances still rank high as a delight. He was skilled. Fionn tells us, this film shows why.

Sure, it’s a bit subtle. Yet, when you realize that the majority of the film is improved, you see how talented Grant was. Fionn is honored to take on this project, with the knowledge that he’s got a script in place. He hopes to one day have the level of ability to create as Grant did.

I promise to keep him off LSD. Fionn’s veterinarian wouldn’t be happy if I let him slide off the rails.

Jerry Warriner: Well, how can you be glad to know me? I know how I’d feel if I was sitting with a girl and her husband walked in.

Line 2:

I wish Lucy would go out and get some fun for herself now and again. It would do her good. That’s the trouble with most marriages today. People are always imagining things. The road to Reno is paved with suspicions. And the first thing you know, they all end up in a divorce court.

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Fionn and the Old Maids

October 9, 2020 By Captain Maiel

It’s time again for another episode of Shagbottom Theater!

Happy Halloween! Because, you know it goes all month and most of September, right? At least it does in my house. Nothing is sadder than the gloomy day in November that all the decorations have to come down. The house always feels less warm, a bit empty.

Since joining us at the theater, Fionn has shown he’s a real fan of Halloween, too. Naturally that was going to converge on this year of our Cary Grant homage. What better film to hit, too? Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) is a fan favorite for sure! Capra’s hit has been performed on stage regularly since the film.

The play was written by Joseph Kesselring, son of German immigrants and a former professor at Bethel College, a pacifist Mennonite college. It was written in the antiwar atmosphere of the late 1930s.^[14] Capra scholar Matthew C. Gunter argues that the deep theme of the play and film is the conflict in American history between the liberty to do anything (which the Brewsters demand), and America’s bloody hidden past.^[15]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For many years, me and my mom try to sit down and have a watch. Having my own family now, the tradition continues! I’m so glad Fionn is excited to share this and maybe introduce a whole new group of viewers to the film. Let’s watch this snippet…

Shagbottom Theater: Fionn and the Old Maids

Mortimer Brewster: Aunt Abby, how can I believe you? There are twelve men down in the cellar and you admit you poisoned them. Look, you can’t do things like that! Now, I don’t know how I can explain this to you. But, it’s not only against the law, its wrong! It’s not a nice thing to do. People wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t understand. What I mean is… Well… This is developing into a very bad habit!

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Fionn’s Charade

September 11, 2020 By Captain Maiel

It’s time again for another episode of Shagbottom Theater!

Charade (1963) is one of the finest spy thrillers I’ve had the pleasure to watch. Not only does the film boast Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, but it’s a well-written piece of cold war hijinks. Walter Matthau also makes an appearance. It’s been sometime since I last watched the film, so this offering from the theater is definitely going to precipitate a watch with Fionn.

Charade is exactly why Cary Grant is so cool, and it’s why Fionn idolizes him so much. Much like Notorious, you have a cool character of whom you can’t be sure. Throughout, you’re going to wonder if Regina Lampert (Audrey) is falling victim to a nefarious scheme by Peter Joshua (Cary). A lot of critics called it the best Hitchcock film he never made. That’s right, it was actually directed by Stanley Donen (Singin’ In The Rain – 1952) and written by Peter Stone (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three – 1974) and Marc Behm (Help! – 1965). No Alfred to be found there.

It’s an interesting mix of talent, though. Help! is one of my all time favorite films that you’ll hear me quote from time to time (gah! I’m going to need to watch that now, too!) As a classic of the early 1960s, Charade came in a period of great films: Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, The Great Escape, The Misfits, Spartacus and so many more. Fionn is rightfully excited to present this work on stage at the theater this month.

For a special treat, check out the outtake from the production below…

Charade