Bob Cummings' first sitcom had a flimsy set up - he's a real estate agent who'll do anything for a sale. This one he's required to play golf with Reginald Denny who plays himself.
The acting is fine but the show is too silly. Cummings wears a variety of disguises including a bald cap and he puts on an accent. In one scene smoke comes out of his ears when a girl kisses him. It's not based in any sort of reality and floats away.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
TV review - "My Living Doll - pilot" (1964) **
Bob Cummings' fourth TV show wasn't a success despite a concept and set up very close to I Dream of Jeannie. Cummings is a shrink who has to look after a beautiful robot (Julie Newmar); he has a lecherous best friend (Jack Mullaley) who tries to have sex with the robot.
It doesn't work. In part because of the set up - Cummings has no real investment in the robot, a friend just asks him to help out and he agrees because he wants to teach her to be the perfect woman and not talk back. That's a horrible goal, not very funny - and doesn't feel real coming from a character played by someone as likeable and breezy as Cummings.
It's also weak because the robot has no agency. She's got some robot powers but basically does what she's told. Jeannie wanted to be with Master - she had powers but wanted to be there. Samantha in Bewitched wanted to be with Darrin.
I think this could've worked if the set up had been adjusted slightly so Newmar tracked down Cummings, who was shy and retiring, and demanded he teach her how real humans work - the Pinocchio story. You didn't need the scientist character.
The key actors are good - Cummings, Newmar and Mullaley. This could've worked but it doesn't because there's no warmth at the heart of it.
It doesn't work. In part because of the set up - Cummings has no real investment in the robot, a friend just asks him to help out and he agrees because he wants to teach her to be the perfect woman and not talk back. That's a horrible goal, not very funny - and doesn't feel real coming from a character played by someone as likeable and breezy as Cummings.
It's also weak because the robot has no agency. She's got some robot powers but basically does what she's told. Jeannie wanted to be with Master - she had powers but wanted to be there. Samantha in Bewitched wanted to be with Darrin.
I think this could've worked if the set up had been adjusted slightly so Newmar tracked down Cummings, who was shy and retiring, and demanded he teach her how real humans work - the Pinocchio story. You didn't need the scientist character.
The key actors are good - Cummings, Newmar and Mullaley. This could've worked but it doesn't because there's no warmth at the heart of it.
Movie review - "Let's Live a Little" (1948) *
Terrible, dim romantic comedy despite starring (and being co produced by) Bob Cummings, normally adept at light comedy... and actually his performance is fine, but it's an incredibly dopey story with unimaginative handling.
It's got an agonisingly weak concept - Bob Cummings is an ad man who is meant to be a misogynist (Cummings is never believable as this) and has romance troubles with his girlfriend (Anna Stein) and winds up being treated by a shrink who's written a book, Hedy Lamarr.
Two European accented women feels weird. No one has a character - struggled to get a fix on any of them. Sten and Lamarr can't play comedy. I love that Lamarr invented blue tooth or whatever it was but she wasn't a comic genius. There aren't any good lines or scenes or a strong support cast... there's some half baked satire of psychiatry.
I never cared about any of the characters or the central relationship. I didn't laugh. It doesn't even look good.
It's got an agonisingly weak concept - Bob Cummings is an ad man who is meant to be a misogynist (Cummings is never believable as this) and has romance troubles with his girlfriend (Anna Stein) and winds up being treated by a shrink who's written a book, Hedy Lamarr.
Two European accented women feels weird. No one has a character - struggled to get a fix on any of them. Sten and Lamarr can't play comedy. I love that Lamarr invented blue tooth or whatever it was but she wasn't a comic genius. There aren't any good lines or scenes or a strong support cast... there's some half baked satire of psychiatry.
I never cared about any of the characters or the central relationship. I didn't laugh. It doesn't even look good.
TV review - "The Bob Cummings Show" (1957) ***
Watched a random episode from 1957 - one with Angie Dickinson. She wants to date Bob but he's cockblocked by his secretary (Ann B Davis, Alice from The Brady Bunch) his widowed sister (Rosemary De Camp) and her son (Dwayne Hickman).
Cummings starred in four sitcoms of which this was the only hit - but then it was the only one with (a) a simple relatable if aspirational concept (bachelor photographer chases women) and (b) a strong family component. People could envy Cummings' lifestyle and laugh when he failed to get the girls.
My Hero was too vague and silly - ditto The New Bob Cummings Show and Living Doll.
The playing from Cummings, Davis and Hickman is first rate and de Camp doesn't wreck things. It's a good solid sitcom. Lyle Talbot guest stars.
Cummings starred in four sitcoms of which this was the only hit - but then it was the only one with (a) a simple relatable if aspirational concept (bachelor photographer chases women) and (b) a strong family component. People could envy Cummings' lifestyle and laugh when he failed to get the girls.
My Hero was too vague and silly - ditto The New Bob Cummings Show and Living Doll.
The playing from Cummings, Davis and Hickman is first rate and de Camp doesn't wreck things. It's a good solid sitcom. Lyle Talbot guest stars.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Script review - "A Quiet Place" by Bryan Woods and Scott Beck
This was an original version of the script - I haven't seen the film yet. Clocks in at 69 pages - apparently it was changed because John Krasinski put his name on it as author, and considering he directed it, that would be a lot of changes... and you wonder why because this script is brilliant. Tight, emotive, scary.
It's also a treat to read - the writers do things like change the size of the font, devote a page to one word or sentence, replicate a game of monopoly which becomes an important plot point.
It's not an inherently super cheap film - there are only four main cast and a few bit players in flashback, and a few locations, but there is an alien and a slam bang finale involving a wheat silo.
But it's gripping, clever, tough. It's really great.
It's also a treat to read - the writers do things like change the size of the font, devote a page to one word or sentence, replicate a game of monopoly which becomes an important plot point.
It's not an inherently super cheap film - there are only four main cast and a few bit players in flashback, and a few locations, but there is an alien and a slam bang finale involving a wheat silo.
But it's gripping, clever, tough. It's really great.
Friday, April 13, 2018
TV review - "Love" (2016-18) *** (warning: spoilers)
The first two seasons of this show I loved - insightful, funny, smart. Some very good writing and playing, typically strong Judd Apatow casting, and delightful in jokes (i.e. the depiction of the show 'Wichita', like at a talk back radio station, the erotic thriller.) All the actors are fantastic.
I feel the series went a season too long. You had two people with plenty of flaws and they eventually got past them to form a relationship by the end of season two - season three was just consolidation. I thought they'd blow up story bombs but they don't - she kind of cheated but it never comes out, she's sick and I thought she'd be pregnant but she isn't, she finds out some stuff in his past but it isn't that bad.
I mean I guess that's more interesting but it isn't as compelling. I liked them as a couple - she's too hot for him really but they show enough of her dud exes to indicate why she'd go for someone like this. I liked that both improved each other. I liked that they got married.
I loved the first two seasons, the last was a bit of a slog but I enjoyed the ending.
I feel the series went a season too long. You had two people with plenty of flaws and they eventually got past them to form a relationship by the end of season two - season three was just consolidation. I thought they'd blow up story bombs but they don't - she kind of cheated but it never comes out, she's sick and I thought she'd be pregnant but she isn't, she finds out some stuff in his past but it isn't that bad.
I mean I guess that's more interesting but it isn't as compelling. I liked them as a couple - she's too hot for him really but they show enough of her dud exes to indicate why she'd go for someone like this. I liked that both improved each other. I liked that they got married.
I loved the first two seasons, the last was a bit of a slog but I enjoyed the ending.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Script review - "Rio Bravo" by Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman
The central set up is great, I recognise the strength of its opening sequence, there's memorable characters - John T Chance, Dude, Stumpy, Colorado, Feathers - but it's not a great script. It's a series of scenes some of which are memorable (eg tracking down the killer with muddy boots, the Feather-John banter) others of which are repetitive (eg Dude being captured twice).
There's no build of tension - or suspense - I mean Chance sleeps in the hotel, and is always wondering off for a chat. It didn't make sense why the baddies would shoot Wheeler (the head baddy is supposed to be smart), the baddies aren't very memorable, Colorado doesn't get an end to his story.
I mean there's good stuff, and some great dialogue, and everyone is very tough and Hawksian and talking about being independent and professional. But I can't see why others love it so.
There's no build of tension - or suspense - I mean Chance sleeps in the hotel, and is always wondering off for a chat. It didn't make sense why the baddies would shoot Wheeler (the head baddy is supposed to be smart), the baddies aren't very memorable, Colorado doesn't get an end to his story.
I mean there's good stuff, and some great dialogue, and everyone is very tough and Hawksian and talking about being independent and professional. But I can't see why others love it so.
Monday, April 09, 2018
Script review - "The Nice Guys" by Shane Black and Anthony Bagarozzi
Jaunty shaggy dog buddy detective flick from Shane Black, very much in the vein of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. There's two down and out blokes who can nonetheless punch around - one of them's got a young teen daughter which is reminiscent of The Last Boy Scout.
There's clever reversals, a decent mystery, some charm, well done outbursts of action. This draft is set in the present day, has a role for Michael Sarrazin as himself, and ends with a political assassination - I understand it was changed. Enjoyable romp.
There's clever reversals, a decent mystery, some charm, well done outbursts of action. This draft is set in the present day, has a role for Michael Sarrazin as himself, and ends with a political assassination - I understand it was changed. Enjoyable romp.
Sunday, April 08, 2018
Script review - "The Untouchables" by David Mamet
Art Linson's done a lot of great things as producer, but few better than hiring David Mamet to adapt the classic TV show for the big screen. Most film fans know the classic monologues - there's plenty of them and they're all great.
There's a couple of decent characters - Capone of course, but also Ness (honorable but made interesting by loquaciousness) and Malone. The other two Untouchables and other characters weren't as good (Stone, the account) and the wife is just a wife.
Structurally it's also very solid - act one Ness tries to bust crime, act two forms untouchables, act three loses accountant and things get tough, act four Malone dies, act five the trial.
It's interesting to read this to see what didn't make the final film - there's a sequence involving a chase at a race track that feels kind of pointless (doesn't change anything). And the shootout on the steps in the film took place on a train.
But a remarkably large amount of this made it to screen, which made me really wish Mamet and Brian de Palma had worked together more often.
Friday, April 06, 2018
Script review - "48 Hours" by Walter Hill and Larry Gross
I consider myself a fan of Walter Hill and Eddie Murphy but I ever actually never really liked this film much - some good action but it was too heavy, too serious.
I didn't like the script much either. It's got a great high concept and the story is structured well enough but there's all this tiresome and unpleasant race baiting - Cates calling Reggie "n*gger" and "spearchucker".
The big print is written in tight Walter Hill style but there's a lot - a lot - of chat. There's dreadfully long scenes that go on forever - was this Gross? In particular there's an early agonizingly dull chat between Cates and his girlfriend, who could be entirely removed from the script and it wouldn't affect the story. Why wasn't she threatened or killed or something?
The two villains are good - Ganz and Billy. There's some more racism though about how Billy is an idiot who just follows people.
The story is a collection of scenes really rather than a complex narrative. Few memorable support characters - a whingeing police captain, a few hookers. I really didn't like it.
I didn't like the script much either. It's got a great high concept and the story is structured well enough but there's all this tiresome and unpleasant race baiting - Cates calling Reggie "n*gger" and "spearchucker".
The big print is written in tight Walter Hill style but there's a lot - a lot - of chat. There's dreadfully long scenes that go on forever - was this Gross? In particular there's an early agonizingly dull chat between Cates and his girlfriend, who could be entirely removed from the script and it wouldn't affect the story. Why wasn't she threatened or killed or something?
The two villains are good - Ganz and Billy. There's some more racism though about how Billy is an idiot who just follows people.
The story is a collection of scenes really rather than a complex narrative. Few memorable support characters - a whingeing police captain, a few hookers. I really didn't like it.
Thursday, April 05, 2018
Script review - "Sons of Anarchy pilot" by Kurt Sutter
Excellent pilot. Rich world, solid dramatic situation taken from Hamlet, interesting characters (the king, the prince, the Jewish biker, the guy who wants out), lots of intriguing back story to be played out (Opie having gone to prison), sets up interesting threads, intriguing females (ex biker chick doctor, druggie mother).
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