Film Festival: The West and Southwest: Cimarron Cimarron was the first Western film to receive an Academy Award. It’s an epic saga depicting the changes in pioneer Oklahoma through the eyes of the Cravat family. The film is considered to be an accurate representation of the times, based on Edna Ferber‘s meticulous research. In Cimarron,…
Lisa's Home Bijou
Lisa’s Home Bijou: I’ll Be Seeing You
Film Festival: Christmas classics I’ll Be Seeing You (1944) is a World War II drama brought to the screen by David O. Selznick. It’s a Christmas story and a love story starring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton, and Shirley Temple. Selznick bought the rights to the 1938 Broadway song I’ll be seeing you. The song was…
Christmas in Connecticut: Lisaʻs Home Bijou
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…
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…