Movie #3075 ........................."Poker Face" (Peacock - Season 1)

Movie #3075 "Poker Face" (Peacock - Season 1)  What an intriguing show this is....,.  we liked it from the opening episode which was offered free, and the rest we think you have to belong to Peacock premium (it's cheap, like 4.99 a month) or just do a trial of 7 days, which is enough  to get through season 1.  This isn't giving anything away, but Natasha Lyonne plays this woman who has an ability that is handy in Poker -- she can tell when people are lying.  And in the first episode, some mob bosses of a casino in Vegas want to use her ability to their advantage --- that starts the whole ball rolling and she ends up on the run for the rest of season 1 --- and while she is traveling through the U.S. and working at several jobs, she meets up with different people in each episode and solves crimes --- but everything has to be on the down low, because she can't be in the limelight anywhere or the mob will find her.  So there are various guest stars who show up in each episode -- like Nick Nolte, Adrien Brody, Cherry Jones --- really good actors that you don't see that often in this kind of show...... we really recommend this one, but at times it is violent --- but Dave watches it, so it can't be too bad.... 5 out of 5 for season 1.

"POKER FACE"     2023 - 58 MIN, 11 EPISODES   Peacock

Charlie has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying.  She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can't help but investigate and solve.

Creator :  Rian Johnson

Actors:  Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Helberg

 

Movie #3074 ........................."Somebody Somewhere (HBO) Season 2

 Movie #3074 "Somebody Somewhere (HBO - Season 2)  there are lots of highs and lows in this season so we went through it pretty fast -- plus they are short shows, always full of lots of laughs to go along with poignant moments and, of course, the easy going dialogue by all the actors --- There is an "explosive" episode you don't want to miss --- a one-of-a-kind.  And a wedding, funeral, break up and make up, and lots not forget the intrigue and the everyday events in the building of friendships.  I'd give it a 5 out of 5.

"SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE"     HBO     2023     Season 2, 7 episodes, about 30 mins each

Sam is a true Kansan on the surface, but, beneath it all, struggles to fit the hometown mold.  Grappling with loss and acceptance, she discovers herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in but don't give up.

Creator:  Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen

Actors:  Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison

Movie #3073 ........................."Ted Lasso" (Season 3, Apple)

Movie #3073 "Ted Lasso (Season 3, Apple)  I saw the last show several days ago, but I  had writer's block in writing this blog because I was grieving the ending of a show that I didn't want to end.  We had enjoyed all the quirkiness that went into this show - quirky characters, quirky situations, quirky conflicts --- all of it, and the last show took its time for us loving  fans to be able to say goodbye to all the quirkiness this show exuded.  I don't want to give anything away to all those who might be reading that haven't gotten to see the end, or are waiting to see the end, but each of the characters had huge or mini arcs, and I was quite satisfied how they  all were neatly tied up.  There were oohs, ahs,  some tears and jeers, and surprises all in that last episode.   And yes, it left a possible door opened to a possibility of a spin off  --- we can only hope!  5 out of 5 and highly recommended.

'TED LASSO'   (season 3, apple)      2023        30 min episodes, 12 episode

American college football coach Ted Lasso heads to London to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League football team.

Creators:  Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence

Actors: Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt 

Movie #3072 ........................."King of the Hill" (Netflix DVD)

Movie #3072 "King of the Hill" (Netflix DVD)  I saw this in the movie theater quite a while ago, and it was in my Netflix DVD Queue because I wanted to see it again, so I got it before they take the DVD section of netflix away.  And I'm glad I did.  It's a really good film with a very strong lead from a young kid at the time, Jesse Bradford -- who I'm happy to note has gone on to bigger and better things, but this is an amazing "win" right  out of the gate for him because he truly IS this film.  Soderbergh is at his best, too, in this one --- it truly shows a family struggling during the Depression-era in the midwest, and there's one single shot in the film that was so good I had remembered it from the first showing --- the boy is so poor and so hungry, that he cuts pictures out of a magazine he finds in the street and puts them on a plate and eats the pictures.  Oh my, it is so so powerful.  If you get a chance to see this one, it is good and I recommend it -- but it is a tough one to find, which is why I made sure i got the chance to watch it before netflix shuts down their DVD dispensing.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5.

"KING OF THE HILL"            1993       PG-13       1 hour and 43 minutes

A young boy struggles on his own in a run-down hotel after his parents and younger brother are separated from him in 1930s Depression-era Midwest.

Director:  Steven Soderbergh

Writers:  A. E.  Hotchner, Steven Soderbergh

Actors:  Jesse Bradford, Jeroen Krabbe, Lisa Eichhorn

Movie #3071 ........................."Born Yesterday" (TCM)

 Movie #3071 "Born Yesterday" (TCM) This is one of my favorite movies, and it was on TCM the other day so I sat and watched it ---again. I rarely rewatch films unless they are as good, and classic, as this one. What makes it so good?  Judy Holliday, who had  impeccable comic timing in this and every film I have ever seen her in --- she was always a favorite to watch.  She developed wonderful characters in all of her movies --- this one she did on stage first, and then re-created the part when it hit the silver screen.  In this one she plays a mob boss's moll, traveling companion, whatever you want to call her.  She signs all of the papers she is asked to sign to make the guy she's with look legit, but he isn't.  When she embarrasses him with some politicians, he decides to hire William Holden (a very favorite of mine) to be her teacher so she doesn't appear dumb.  She becomes a quick learner and starts to question everything she is signing and everything the boss is doing, illegally.  Because she spends so much time with Holden (and who can resist him, right?) , they fall in love and due to some hijinx on their part, they are able to get out from under all the illegal stuff so they can both live together in a more legal truthful life.  A nice love story, and you have to see this one, if just for one major scene --- when Holliday plays gin rummy.  And every entrance  for her when the boss calls her is a foghorn "what?"  that just cracks me up every time.  She is wonderfully funny to watch, and she alone gives this movie a 5 in my books.

"BORN YESTERDAY"   1950            1 hour and 43 minutes

A tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette, with unexpected results.

Director:   George Cukor

Writers:  Garson Kanin, Albert Mannheimer

Actors:  Judy Holliday, William Holden, Broderick Crawford

Movie #3070 .........................."The Barkleys of Broadway" (Amazon Prime)

Movie #3070 "The Barkleys of Broadway" (Amazon Prime)  This is the one that starts with a dance!  And it has the wings on the shoes dance, choreographed by Hermes Pan. There are also two special performances of Oscar Levant on the piano  (I am a big fan of his and loved the Sean Hayes'  biopic play on Broadway right now on Oscar Levant entitled:  "Good Night, Oscar.")   They did another rendition of "They Can't Take That Away From Me"  --- and the best part of this last movie to me, is that the last number is the best and they seem to be telling each other through dance what they have meant to each other -- and they end the film continuing to tap and never stop (like the ending to "Chorus Line.")  I liked the story, too, where they start out married --- so it is something different for this duo.  I'd give it 4.8, and my second favorite one.  

The Barkleys of Broadway

1949
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
Musical theatre duo Josh and Dinah Barkley are about to open a new show when an argument brings up old resentments. A playwright scoops Dinah away for his new play; but can big wig producer Ezra Miller bring them back together?
Available on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu

Movie #3069........................."The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (Amazon Prime)

Movie #3069 "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (Amazon Prime) This is a historical one, a semi truthful biography of the two dancers Vernon and Irene Castle.  They have a meet-cute both helping a dog they think is drowning, and then he tells her he is a star of the show in town, and she says she has musical talent, too.  And then as he dries out, she performs for him --- he impresses her at the train stop with his tap dancing so she assumes he is a dancer in the show, so when she sees the show, she is negatively surprised that he is playing a "clown" in a dentist comic scene --- because she so much believes in his dancing, she convinces him to go on his own, and he thinks she is talented so he says he wants her as a partner -- What an adorable love story --- there are ups and downs, with a best friend as Walter Brennan, and the tap dancing and humor are both delightful in the film.  And this is the one film out of the 10 that is very sad because it follows the truthful story line of the Castles.  What I liked about the film?  Flirting works really well in this, like whistling to the dog scene, looking out of viewfinder with their heads together, and  their first audition, which  was full of very physical "clown" steps which I had never seen them dance like that before (perhaps that was style of the Castles, at first?)  The dog is adorable in the film and a companion to them both --- used really well in the film.  The costumes were ugly and at odds with Ginger Rogers, because she always okayed the beautiful dresses she wore, and she didn't like these.  The film had Maggie, the agent, who was a lesbian, but the Hayes office okayed that.  Ginger danced in the ballroom scene with big fur ringlets on each arm, ugly and hard to dance in.  Fred was disappointed with this movie because he didn't think it got across  ragtime or jazz the way he wanted it  to.  If you know the true story here, you know the ending -- but if you don't , it is quite emotional, esp. with the final dance.  I'd give this a 5 out of 5.  It was my favorite.   But I know it probably isn't the most favored because there are few popular, academy award-nominated songs in this one that they dance to.

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

1939
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver
In the years leading up to the first World War, vaudeville performer Vernon Castle realizes he shares a love for dancing with Irene.

Available on: Amazon Prime, Vudu 

Movie #3068 ........................."Carefree" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3068 "Carefree" (Amazon Prime)  I saw only two big dance numbers in this one (there are only 4), and two funny bits for Ginger Rodgers showing off her acting chops, but this seemed to be the weakest in plot of any of the movies they made together --- ugh!  Beneath their abilities --- we are expected to believe that he hypnotizes her NOT to love him and then back to loving him.    It crossed the stupid line for me. Yet, Carefree is often remembered as the film in which Astaire and Rogers shared a long on-screen kiss at the conclusion of their dance to "I Used to Be Color Blind," all previous kisses having been either quick pecks or simply implied.  There's no doubt this is the one I least liked of the 10.  I'd give it 3, because their dances together are still mighty fine and I liked Ralph Bellamy.  

Carefree
1938
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ralph Bellamy
A “marriage-shy” woman falls for her therapist. Dancing ensues!
Available on: Amazon Prime

Movie #3067 ........................."Shall We Dance" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3607 "Shall We Dance" (Amazon Prime)  The opening is set pretty quickly but hard to believe that Astaire is a ballet dancer with a strict reputation --- really?  He always looks so sweet to me.  Anyway, Instead of black face "Bojangles" there is actually a dance to a black chorus rendition of "Slap that Bass" (these are all Gershwin tunes) , and then a cute "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" on roller skates  --- Of course, the two big numbers are "They Can't Take That Away from Me"  and a huge dance at the end with a chorus of women with masks that are Ginger Rogers' face - symbolically saying that if Fred can't dance with Ginger, then he would make them all look like her...........one observation I made of this movie is that they never kissed --- at least I don't remember seeing it --- and they were ironically, pretending to be married a big portion of the film, and actually married.  I'd give this one a 4 --- it's al ways great to see the duo perform with Gershwin tunes.

Shall We Dance

1937
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton
A ballet dancer and a showgirl fake a romance for publicity, but then they fall in love.
Available on: Google Play, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu

Movie #3066 ........................"Follow the Fleet" (Amazon Prime)

Movie #3066 "Follow the Fleet" (Amazon Prime)  - there's not a lot of dancing together at all --- this is where the studio thinks we need two stories going on at the same time and bring in other famous studio actors to do a side story in addition to the Rogers and Astaire one -- (I'm glad they drop that idea) G & F were partners before war and now he and his friend (Randolph Scott) are docked and Fred starts to look for his old dancing partner because he thinks he still cares for her.  The Conflict here is that he feels bad he left so he keeps trying to get her jobs, but he instead keeps hurting her chances to get one.  That story is different and is ongoing, but then we have Randolph Scott falling in love with Harriet Nelson (of Ozzie and Harriet t.v. fame) -- her songs are just stuck into the film --- why?  And she doesn't sing well at all!  Ginger sings and dances a lot by herself in this one --- hmmm.  But she's much better!  One thing I noticed is that both times she dances with Fred she wears pants!  another hmmmm.  They tease each other and compete a lot so that adds to the humor in the movie, which is good because the other love story is pretty flat!  There's an esp. fumny dance where they are fighting and it appears spastic, goes fast, then slow down, back and forth and has 10 endings!  The whole movie ends on a big number "Let's Face the Music and Dance" --- there's a slapstick rehearsal, a possible double suicide (in a musical?) , an adorable monkey, and a see-thru sequined long gown --- It looks like they threw all the stops into this ending!  3.5 out of 5 

Follow the Fleet

1936
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott
A sailor wants to reunite with his former flame and dancing partner.
Available on: Amazon Prime, Vudu

Movie #3065 ........................."Swing Time" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3065 "Swing Time" (Amazon Prime)  Here's another one that is just plain silly for the first 25 minutes until the first dance number  -- there is  nice set up possibility in that she tries to teach him to dance having no idea who he is --- the "Start All Over" song is nice and bouncy, one of the better ones they do together.  "The Way You Look Tonight is my very favorite here --- the conflict is a bit silly riding around in a convertible car in winter weather with the top down.  In the dance in the middle of the film, her dress is main focus because it makes her look like a poodle with fur around her wrist and legs.  The "Bojangles" black-faced number is just in here --- does not propel the plot, just a number, and perhaps it isn't necessary any more?  unless there's a disclaimer at the beginning reminding us just how old this movie is...... the end wasn't an effective one here, either....just laughing?   I'd give this one a 3.  Not one of my favorites , at all.

Swing Time
1936
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore
A dancer tries to make it big to prove he’s worthy of his fiancée.
Available on: YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu

Movie #3064 ........................."Top Hat" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3064 "Top Hat" (Amazon Prime)  Now, here is the most popular of all 10 of their films together, the one critics say "defines" the series.  And I can see why --- they seem to "speak" while "dancing" -- and that is the major magic through all their work -- but it is clearly delineated in this one --- And maybe this is the one I have seen the most since it is the one on TCM on New Year's Eve every year!  But I just think the story is boring...... It doesn't take off until at least 20 minutes into  the rain song "Isn't it a lovely day to be out in the rain."  (in the gazebo) The story uses a lame storyline -- mistaken identity --- she thinks the guy upstairs who tap dances and prevents her from sleeping in the hotel is her friend's husband --- and he's been flirting with her, and we wonder just how long it will take for them both to figure that out????  And the 11 o'clock number is boring in that she just sings and there'a a big chorus full of Busby Berkley stuff behind her .  You can tell they were trying to keep us all awake in this one because it is a two-slapper film --- even her real hubby gets a black eye --- this film definitely has more violence than the others ! BUT there are lots of  "TOP" stuff going on in this film: :  the "Top Hat" song allows Astaire to shine; "Heaven" she's got the feathery dress we have all seen her wear - and we are reminded that no one dances together like these two, and this number cinches that!  And the film strikes a sublime final chord when the two of them dance at  the very end through the titles.... nice idea.      You can really see the famous quote about this duo come out in the film:  "Fred Gives Ginger Class, she gives him sex."  I'd give it a 4.

Top Hat

1935
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
Often considered the duo’s best dancing film, the movie with a score by Irving Berlin follows a woman who mistakenly thinks her best friend's husband is in love with her.
Available on: Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play

Movie #3063 ........................."Roberta" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3063 "Roberta" (Amazon Prime)  There's so much talent in this one, but the movie is not seen much --- that's because MGM bought it, redid it with Kathryn Grayson and shoved this  one in a vault.    This movie  has a lot to applaud --- the human hands piano number was really cool, dancing on the floor is great because it's the only time they danced on a wood floor so it made lots of noise!  Astaire and Rogers FINALLY do one of their elegant numbers to "Smoke Gets in your eyes" and a fun "Can't Dance" tapping number -- lots of fun, some of the best dancing and she had to hold her long dress up through the whole tap number.  He played the guts out of the piano in another number.  So this would have been my favorite up until now except for the soprano (high) numbers of Irene Dunne (ordinarily not a singer) and the 15- minute couture runway thing toward the end of the film.  I liked this one a lot.  4.5 out of 5.

Roberta
1935
Starring: Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott
The film version of the 1933 musical, the movie features songs like “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “I’ll Be Hard to Handle” with additional songs just for the movie like “I Won’t Dance” and “Lovely to Look At.”
Available on: Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play

Movie #3062 ........................."The Gay Divorcee" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #31062 "The Gay Divorcee" (Amazon Prime) This movie's gain to fame is that  it won five Academy nominations and the first Oscar for Best Song: "The Continental," a 17 1/2-minute production number.  The musical number "The Continental" was  the longest number ever in a musical until Gene Kelly's 18 1/2-minute ballet at the end of An American in Paris (1951) 17 years later. It is also the longest musical number in all of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' films together.  50 minutes in  "Night and Day" is in this one --- truly a glorious number --- but the film has a dated story --Mimi Glossop (Rogers)  wants a divorce, so her Aunt Hortense hires a professional to play the co-respondent in apparent infidelity. American dancer Guy Holden (Astaire)  meets Mimi while visiting Brightbourne (Brighton) and she thinks he is the co-respondent. The plot is really an excuse for song and dance (but this is an early one -- the stories get a tad better!)  When you count up the amount of screen time dancing these two do in this one (minus the Continental) it was only about 10 minutes.   But the 10 minutes are dazzling.... I would give this one 4.5 out of 5)

The Gay Divorcee
1934
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
Based on the Broadway musical Gay Divorce by Cole Porter and Dwight Taylor, the story follows Mimi, who wants a divorce from her geologist husband—but the “appropriate” circumstances for her to get one need to be arranged.
Available on: Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play

Movie #3061 ........................."Flying Down To Rio" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3061 "Flying Down to Rio" - Well, this movie was not a good indicated of a "their" movie  because   Fred and Ginger are secondary people (assistants) in this one.  The first number they dance together is 45 minutes in -- The "Carioca" number has a cute head to head moment, and it's very physical, but  that dance went on and on, with a huge chorus dressed in ugly costumes and they just seem to "let in" Astaire and Rogers" for a small bit... The whole movie seemed silly (other than the dancing with Astaire and Rogers)  -- silly idea to get out of their silly conflict , and ended up with the silliest movie scene I've seen in a long time -- chorus girls dressed in angel- type attire propped on tops of planes as they "fly" to Rio.  ugh!  I'd give this one a 3 out of 5.

Flying Down to Rio   1933

Starring: Dolores del Río, Gene Raymond, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

Down in Miami, composer Roger Bond and his band play alongside singer Honey Hales. Roger becomes smitten with a woman in the audience, Belinda, and, despite his assistant Fred’s warnings, can’t help his attraction.

Available on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, iTunes

 

Movie #3060 ........................."Somebody Somewhere" (HBO) season 1

 Movie #3060 "Somebody Somewhere" (HBO)  Season 1  -- This is such a natural, easygoing show, that centers around a young woman, going through grief , trying to find her niche in life -- she has a few friends, but one in particular, who happens to be gay.  Her being a product of a very conservative (somewhat homophobic)  farm community that  doesn't recognize her love for music makes her want to be the somebody who is searching for her somewhere.  You have to put up with a lot of language and raunchy  comments and situations, but to me it is well worth it because of the universality of the major storyline.  This show has a lot of HEART along with HUMOR -- we are always laughing out loud at either what is said or the situations she and her outsider friends are  put into.  This show isn't for everyone --- I know that --- but we have enjoyed each of the episodes so much, we are now almost done with Season 2 already --- they are short episodes, and that makes it a fun watch, too.    I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

"SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE"      HBO      7 episodes, 30 mins each    2022

Sam is a true Kansan on the surface, but beneath it all, she struggles to fit the hometown mould.  Grappling with loss and acceptance she discovers herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in but don't give it.  (that last line is so true --- they are outsiders, trying  to make the best of it!)

Creators:  Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen

Actors:  Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison

Movie #3059 ........................."The Last Thing He told Me" (Apple)

Movie #3059 "The Last Thing He Told Me" (Apple)  Some surprises along the way, but one that isn't giving anything away is that the last thing he told her was :  "Protect Her" ----" Her" is the step daughter of Jennifer Garner --- her husband, and the father of the young girl has disappeared, and the rest of the show is piecing the puzzle together if where ge went and why. .  Having read the book, I can say that the  book is A LOT like the show --- they changed very little, that I can remember.  The book seemed long when I read it, and the show seemed a bit stretched out, too.  But then many of these shows feel that way --- what's wrong with a 4 episode show?  why are they all 7,  8, 9 or 10?  Anyway, it's a very competent cast, and I might have stopped watching if I didn't like the two women and found out halfway through that David Morse was playing a key character in the back end of this show.  He's one of my favorite actors, someone who can play good or bad guys or one on the fence..... I said the book and show dragged a bit, but I must say that the show was better in pacing --- it seemed to have  more focus to get to the end, and once again, it could be the trimmed down script and  the two female actors in the leads.  I have always been intrigued with the mother/Stepdaughter relationship in how it works, and this one shows you how much trust must be won before it does.   The ending is a good one, , and it is well worth the wait --- esp. the last episode -- very poignant, full of surprises, I thought.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

"THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME"    Apple     7 episodes,   about 40 mins each

A woman forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

Creators:  Laura Dave, Josh Singer

Directors:  Olivia Newman (3), Deniz Gamze Ergüven (2), Lila Neugebauer (1), Daisy Von Scherler Mayer (1)

Actors:  Jennifer Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Angourie Rice, David Morse

  

Movie #3058 ........................."You're Bacon Me Crazy" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3058 "You're Bacon Me Crazy"" - Hallmark -- you're kidding!  With a title like that?  Couldn't pass this one --- food truck story line --- cute couple --- stage business was a lot of cooking (my favorite!) and these two are so passionate about food  in that they live and breathe for food.  It moved along smoothly, and I'd give it a 4 out of 5.,

"YOU'RE BACON ME CRAZY"       Hallmark     2020     1 hour and 22 mins (a bit short?)

Cleo Morelli, an aspiring Portland chef, tries to win a food truck competition while the competition tries to win her heart.  (ooh!  that's called conflict!)

Director:  Allan Harmon

Writers:  Christopher Sen, Suzanne Nelson

Actors:  Natalie Hall, Michael Rady, Michael Karl Richards

Movie # 3057 ........................."Doc Martin - Season 9 "(Netflix DVD)

 Movie #3057 "Doc Martin - Season 9" (Netflix DVD)  - Well, since Netflix is going to do away with the DVD circulation part of their service, I culled about 30 DVD's from my cue of 500 (yep, it was kind of a big list) that I would like to see delivered to me in the next couple of months, mostly because they are really hard to get without paying a lot of money --- and this is one of them --- I know, I can get an Acorn subscription, but it would probably be just for this show, so season 9 was available through netflix, so we watched them.  After watching 8 seasons already, you would think there is nothing new in Port Wenn , but you are wrong --- this series has Martin's job on the line because of that blood thing with him (that is, he throws up whenever he sees blood, so being a doctor causes problems in that area) -- also, Martin and Louisa are discovering that their child James is looking a lot like Martin when he was young, being antisocial and all, so they decide he should have a sister --- that always adds humor to the show.  Of course, there are tons of medical issues in this small town -- on a daily basis!!!! -- which are hard to believe, but I feel I learn about a lot of diseases and medical problems that I don't want to ever have! (so  If you are a hypochondriac you may not want to watch this show!!!!) I love these characters, and there's one more season, and I will sadly have to say goodbye to this show, too!  Yikes!  Can you suffer grief from your t.v. watching?  is that a malady Doc Martin can fix?  I'd give this a 5 out of 5, too!

"DOC MARTIN - SEASON 9"    2004-2022       46 minutes, 8 episodes in season 9, 2 discs

The trials and tribulations of Martin Ellingham, a brilliant but socially challenged doctor who moves from London to the picturesque village of Port Wenn in Cornwall, England.

Creators:  Dominic Minghella, Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson

Actors:  Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice

Movie #3056 ........................." A Small Light" (Apple)

Movie #3056 "A Small Light" (Apple)  I'm afraid this month of May has been full of goodbyes to wonderful shows we have been streaming --- and there will be and have been a lot of 5's in a row, which is really different for these blogs, but here is still another one.... this was only 8 episodes, but I could have continued to watch it for days;  it was that well done.  It was the story of the Anne Frank and her family's hiding in the Amsterdam work building for several years before their capture just days before the end of the war.  Most of us know the story, but we know it from Anne's point of view because of her beautiful diary she wrote while in hiding (a staple of h.s. reading, esp.) But this point of view that is offered with " A Small Light" is different -- it is from Miep's point of view, the girl who was in charge of bringing the Frank's food and running the small business downstairs while the Franks lived upstairs in the same building.  Her story includes a bunch of other activities she engaged in working to save and shelter jews from the occupied Nazis in her country.  Most importantly, she's the reason we have the diary because she is the one that goes back upstairs and gathers it together and cleverly hides it from the Nazis, and then she gives it to Mr. Frank, who is the only survivor of the Annex.  After experiencing the Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam in April, and after walking through the Annex, and seeing the actual place Anne and her family hid, I found this even more intriguing, and I recommend very highly.  5 out of 5.  Sometimes I feel people don't watch Holocaust movies or t.v. shows because they think there's all this violence involved, but really the first time a gun is truly drawn in this show is the very last minute of episode 7 --- oh, we know what they are doing, and we see fear, but we become so learned in the tactics the dutch people used to save the jews from harm -- and it is truly inspiring!  This one is worth the watch!

"A SMALL LIGHT"        Apple 2023    8 episodes       about 50 mins each

Follows the remarkable story of Meep Gies, a Dutch woman who risked her life to shelter Anne Frank's family from the Nazis for more than two years during WWII

Creators:  Tony Phelan, Joan Rater

Actors:  Bet Powley, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Caroline Catz (Dr. Martin's Louisa)