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Showing posts with the label 1940s

Dumbo

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                                                                                  Dumbo, the story of a cute, flying, baby elephant... it could only be Disney Dumbo, the Disney film about a baby flying elephant has brought joy and laughter to millions of children and adults since it was first released in 1941, a good old fashioned underdog story about a sympathetic character who is first picked upon, ridiculed and shunned, is then separated from his mother whose only fault was to protect her child and is then forced to make a public spectacle of himself for the pleasure and greed of others, is it any wonder this cute little guy has won our hearts? We were routing for him right from the start. Dumbo was one of Disney's earliest successful movies, and only their fourth film release,...

The Ghost Train

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    The film Ghost Train isn't about a scary funfair ride nor is it really a horror film despite being labelled as one, what it is, is a 1941 comedy starring Arthur Askey an English actor who first made his name on radio and in Music Hall performances and whether you enjoy the film or not will largely depend on whether you enjoy his brand of slapstick comedy. Arthur Askey Doesn't Look Too Spooked By The Ghost Train Slapstick comedy is something I personally enjoy, but what is it? It's a particular form of humour that involves over the top physical reactions, exaggerated mannerisms, think Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, two of the more well known names of the genre, over here in good old England we had actors such as George Formby, Norman Wisdom, Will Hay and yes Arthur Askey. All these names except for Norman Wisdom found fame before the 1950's and the style today is a little harder to pinpoint but if you are watching a comedy and the actor or indeed actress is ma...