This movie intersperses funny and shocking. The former derives from Charlie Chaplin’s parody of the fascist leader “Phooey” (= Führer), which is quite funny even if not entirely fair; the latter is the sudden violence of storm troopers breaking things up in the ghetto. Even these scenes often have comic relief in the second Chaplin figure, the amnesic (more…)
Today is the 64th anniversary of the Allied fire-bombing of Hamburg known as Operation Gomorrah. The British part, which deliberately targeted civilians, actually involved four night-time attacks beginning the nights of 7/24, 7/25, 7/27, and 8/2 of 1943. (There were supplemental American attacks by day that aimed at military targets.) Thus, this night is actually the anniversary of the third night of bombing; but that was the one that created the fire-storm that killed tens of thousands in horror- (more…)
but for a reason opposite to that of the Semite-worshippers that are also seen to be grabbing their pistols.
My thesis is very simple: the term anti-semitism exploits an equivocation between race and religion that sets up the discourse for fallacious inferences. Moreover, the privileged status that this term has over others in its genre is itself an indication of the racism of those that recklessly purvey it. (more…)
Cary Grant is a newspaper big shot. His girl friday Hildy (Rosalind Russell) was his assistant that wrote great stories, and was also his wife before she divorced him in disgust at his preoccupation with work. She shows up at his office to tell him to stop phoning a dozen times a day, and sending 20 telegrams: she is to be married to insurance salesman Ralph Bellamy (one of the Duke brothers in Trading Places 43 years later) the very next day. But Cary Grant would like to remarry her, and makes all kinds of plots to delay Hildy’s trip to the place of the other wedding. (more…)
Perhaps the title is something of a stretch, but Wittgenstein does make numerous comments that fit within an agrarian outlook. Along with his distrust of science, his attitude towards culture, aesthetics, tradition, religion and life share much in common with Virgil, the Old South, the Inklings, the Vanderbilt agrarians, and to a certain extent, Jefferson. (more…)
The American Film Institute has came out with its most recent top 100 American movies list. Here is their top ten:
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
6. Gone With The Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler’s List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. Wizard of Oz (1939) (more…)
No, I am not talking about the 4th of July. My sentiment is directed to I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Jr. (”Libby” is allegedly a shortening of Liebowitz). We all know the story of Libby’s deeds, trial and sentencing so I won’t bother you with the details. The important thing is that Scooter is free! By a stroke of his Commander-in-Chief’s pen, Bush commuted all of Scooter’s jail time. Though this was not a pardon, so we need to get too carried away in our celebrations and toasts, it was the next best thing. Anyway, take my word for it, the day will come soon. No later than January 2009. (more…)
Since the previous post on “monsters” (The Ten Worst Monsters of American History) proved diversionary for some, I thought a similar treatment of our cousins across the Atlantic would be of interest. (more…)