Film Festival: The Holidays DURING WORLD WAR II, citizens tightened their belts by raising vegetables in Victory Gardens. And because of war rationing, it was difficult to get staples such as sugar and butter. With all this self-denial, vicarious pleasure could be had by reading about scrumptious gourmet meals home-cooked in cozy settings. Barbara Stanwyck’s…
Movies
Call Me Mrs. Miracle: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Christmas Fantasy Call Me Mrs. Miracle (2010) is based on a novel by Debbie Macomber. It’s a sweet, romantic fantasy story of how a little boy’s Christmas wish comes true. It’s Christmas in New York City. Gabe is a ten year old who lives with his Aunt Holly (Jewel Staite). His widowed father…
In the Good Old Summertime: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Christmas classics In the Good Old Summertime is named for the old song from 1902. It’s actually a Christmas story, with Judy Garland and Van Johnson competing at the music store where they work, while they are getting to know each other as pen pals. The story begins in Chicago in the early…
You Were Never Lovelier: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Latin Flavor In You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Rita Hayworth plays a Buenos Aires princess in the style of “Taming of the Shrew.” Margarita Cansino was a dark-haired beauty who first was noticed as her father Eduardo’s ballroom dance partner. In her late teens she made a few movie appearances (Charlie Chan in Egypt). Then…
Zou Zou Josephine Baker musical: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Divine Divas Zou Zou, made in 1934, is one of the few performances of the woman lovingly known as “La Baker” preserved on film; a showcase for Josephine Baker’s comedic persona and her emotional singing. A child of the streets of St. Louis, she made her way to New York and into show…