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Reviews
The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
This movie is so bad, it's good
I've seen this movie many times, since I was a little boy. By the time I was a little older, I learned more about baseball and the Babe, and realized the movie was full of exaggerations and myths, but I didn't care. An 'innocent' movie that conveniently skips out on some of the more distasteful aspects of Ruth's life (drinking, carousing, womanizing), I think it works. It's so corny, that you've gotta love it. One of my favorite parts is when Claire yells at Babe to remember about Johnny lying sick in the hospital, who will obviously die if Babe doesn't smash a homer. Amazingly, Babe hears Claire above 50,000 other screaming fans, makes incredibly outrageous gestures pointing to the centerfield bleachers, and socks the homer with a dreadful swing that would make a 6 year old girl embarrassed. How can you not love it? When the group of kids sing 'hymns' (ie take me out to the ballgame) outside his hospital window? I absolutely love this film because I take it for what it is - a fun film that tries to serve as a tribute to one of the greatest players ever.
Holiday Inn (1942)
Best Christmas (and non Christmas) movie ever?
I was born decades after this movie was made. I enjoy movies from every era and especially like westerns, action/adventure, and scifi pictures. Yet despite this, I can honestly say that Holiday Inn has got to be in my top 3 favorite movies of all time. I've read all the other reviews and I can appreciate the other opinions rendered. But my opinion is this; Bing Crosby is the finest male vocalist ever. Fred Astaire is the finest male dancer ever. Irving Berlin is arguably the greatest songwriter/lyricist ever. Those three combined in one film practically guarantee a classic. Crosby in the early 40s was at his peak; his voice is pure gold. White Christmas and Easter Parade are still extremely popular, over 60 years after the films' release. Some thought the plot a little weak; maybe so, but it was easy to follow and entertaining to the end. Movies for most sane people are a temporary escape from life's realities, and for anyone who knows their history, one can understand why people loved this 'escapism' movie in 1942. Unlike others, I do not find the Fourth of July number with its film clips of tanks, plane production, MacArthur, and Roosevelt to be 'ludicrous flag waving' or 'propaganda'. I find it refreshingly patriotic - just what the country needed in early 1942 (and could probably use some of today as well). As for the 'controversial' Abraham number, maybe I'm naive, but I didn't even think it racist until I read some of these reviews. Black face numbers were very common in the early century years right on thru the mid 40's; to pick on this movie because of this, or worse yet to delete this section from the movie shows the ignorance of political correctness that overwhelms us today. The number to me does not insult anyone; to me it helps to highlight and celebrate the greatest achievement of our greatest president; the writing of the Emancipation Proclamation. I guess I'm just naive. I can only say that I've seen this movie well over 50 times and am always uplifted after viewing it. My family has a tradition of watching this movie the Friday after Thanksgiving every year to start the holiday season on the right foot, and get us all in the true Christmas spirit.