dog Archives - Page 3 of 17 - Author K. Williams

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

Fionn Shagbottom as Peter Joshua with Audrey Hepburn in the role of Regina Lampert.

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Mr. Shagbottom Builds His Dream House

August 14, 2020 By Captain Maiel

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

August is the time of year that makes me think of home. It might have something to do with my dad’s birthday during the month, or the horse racing in my hometown (though I do not support it), or maybe it’s the shifting weather–semi-hot to fall. I’m starting to think of apple season, too!

When Fionn and I reflected on what Grant film we were going to choose for this month, in his year long homage to the late-great film star, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is the perfect fit. There are many echoes to hear here from all our lives, and it reverberates with the ideas of home and fatherhood.

I really like this story because Poppy built our home, finishing it just in time for my arrival. There was a lot of work involved in the process, too. My dad is no Jim Blandings, however. He built the house with his hands. Certainly, there were workers–those who poured the foundation and other heavy work. My dad has always been a capable carpenter, plumber, electrician, and automotive mechanic; one handy fella.

Mr. Shagbottom thought he would pay some respect to both Mr. Grant and his Poppy because of these things. So without further ado, let’s have the understandably frustrated dad, Mr. Blandings…

Mr. Shagbottom Builds His Dream House

Jim Blandings: It’s a conspiracy, I tell you. The minute you start they put you on the all-American sucker list. You start out to build a home and wind up in the poorhouse. And if it can happen to me, what about the guys who aren’t making $15,000 a year? The ones who want a home of their own. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you – -against every boy and girl who were ever in love.

Source: IMDB.com

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Fionn-o-delphia Story

July 10, 2020 By Captain Maiel

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

An all time classic, Philadelphia story has delighted audiences on stage and screen for decades. It’s always a joy to view the Hepburn-Grant-Stewart production. The best part? Dinah. Virginia Weidler steals the show with her rendition of Lydia. In fact, she pulls off what could have been an annoying and pointless part, making it a highlight of the entire show.

July is the perfect month to bring this wedding-gone-wrong tale to the theater. I wouldn’t think of producing it in June and freeze out any already cold feet. We should be safe to share this following the fourth. As Fionn is focused on honoring the late Cary Grant, he was quite in agreement.

Without further rambling…

The Philadelphia Story by Donald Ogden Stewart (The Play is written by Phillip Barry)

Dinah: Uncle Willie, isn’t it my duty to tell George?

Uncle Willie: He might want to marry her anyway.

Dinah: But she can’t. If she marries anyone, it’s got to be Mr. Connor.

Dex: Why, Dinah. What makes you think she should?

Uncle Willie: Apparently the little cherub has heard or seen something.

Dex: That’s Dexter’s own Dinah.

Uncle Willie: You have a certain amount of cheek walking in here on this of all mornings.

Dex: Do I?

Uncle Willie: Yes.

Dex: What’s all this about Mr. Connor, Dinah? Did the party last night
give you bad dreams?

Dinah: It wasn’t any dream.

Dex: I wouldn’t be too sure. It’s hard to tell once you’ve gone to sleep, isn’t it?

Dinah: Is it?

Source: https://www.scripts.com/script/the_philadelphia_story_15844

Shagbottom Boat

June 12, 2020 By Captain Maiel

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

Fionn is carrying on the year of Cary Grant with Houseboat (1958), which co-starred the lovely Sophia Loren. This is a fun family centered film from the mid-twentieth century. Of course, by today’s standards, with so many scandals around men abusing their station with nannies…it has some connotations you might not want your kids to catch on to.

And, that is probably why Fionn likes this film. Personally, I like this scene he chose because it reminds me of my childhood imagining the Gods bowling in the sky. (Now, I tell my daughter it’s just Thor, because she loves the Thunder God’s films.) My cheeky boy just loves these intertexts.

Let’s get to it! Check out the snippet Fionn has prepared for you as part of his year of Cary Grant.

Tom Winters: Come on, darling. Take it easy. Remember what l used to tell you? Thunder is just two bodies of air coming together after an electrical disturbance.

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Fionn’s Favorite Wife

May 8, 2020 By Captain Maiel

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

I’m so glad it’s May! The weather has warmed and Fionn is getting more exercise. Now that the cold has mostly receded, along with April muddy paws, it’s time for a new production with new energy…

That energy got Fionn to decide on his next Shagbottom Theater project. Although June is the traditional month of marriage, his grandparents were married in May. Since he’s doing a year of Cary Grant, it was perfect to go with My Favorite Wife (1940). I’m not certain why this particular film. My parents have had a fantastic marriage. No one has gone missing and returned to claim us years later. But, there must be something about this special film that struck Fionn as perfectly May. Oh, yes! That’s right! It was released on May 17 of 1940. There’s a little movie trivia for ya!

Let’s check out the clip Fionn has prepared for us of his production…

Nick Arden: I beg your pardon, Judge Bryson—but, she is legally dead, Your Honor. You declared her legally dead yourself in this very courtroom. Your decision is on file. And, yet here she stands, seven years on with the same man she’d been disappeared with on an island. The same island. Alone.

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