BearManor Media presents "THE BICKERSONS SCRIPTS VOL.2" (Paperback), by Philip Rapp (Author) with a foreword by Marsha Hunt and edited by Ben Ohmart.

In the editor's notes: - "The first time THE BICKERSONS was up for its own half hour series (1948), a special pilot was written, and is printed here for the first time. Perhaps the most surprising inclusions are the radio commercial scripts. Few people today realize that THE BICKERSONS were kept busy well into the 1970s when Don Ameche and Frances Langford pitched everything from General Motors air conditioning to Coffee Rich. The 30- and 60- second spots were funny and popular, and proved to be an admirable swan song to a beloved creation".

* Special footnote: -- Ben Ohmart as before, has captured the historical accuracy and true spirit of the original scripts complete with formatting. Once again you'll rediscover all the bad cooking, bourbon and of course snoring you can handle. If you're a fan or not, this book will give you "the chuckles", from page to page. Within these pages you can feel what it was like to hear and enjoy THE BICKERSONS,

Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Chapter, Title and Page Numbers)

Recalling the Bickersons by Marsha Hunt --- i
Editor's Note by Ben Ohmart --- iii
The Bickersons (Audition Show) ~ 1948 --- 1
The Old Gold Show ~ January 23, 1948 --- 23
The Old Gold Show ~ March 19, 1948 --- 43
The Charlie McCarthy Show --- 61
The Bickersons ~ June 5, 1951 (Show #1) --- 67
The Bickersons ~ Show #5 (1951) --- 91
The Bickersons ~ Show #6 (1951) --- 109
The Bickersons ~ Show #9 (1951) --- 129
The Bickersons ~ Show #11 (1951) --- 149
TV Bit (Fireman John) --- 169
Coffee Rich Commercials --- 179
GM Commercial --- 187
Pream Commercials --- 189
RTA Commercials --- 195
Xmas Show --- 197

BIOS:
1. Don Ameche [aka: Dominic Felix Ameche]
Date of Birth: May 31, 1908 - Kenosha, Wisconsin
Date of Death: December 06, 1993 - Scottsdale, Arizona

2. Frances Langford [aka: Frances Newbern]
Date of Birth: 4 April 1914 - Lakeland, Florida
Date of Death: 11 July 2005 - Jensen Beach, Florida

BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house -- Big thank you to Ben Ohmart and his staff.

A very good read - Perfect coffee-table book. Highly recommend.

Total Page: 244 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593930073 ~ (July 31, 2004)

Universal Pictures presents "BORDERLINE" (1950 - (88 min/B&W) Starring: Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr, José Torvay, Morris Ankrum, Roy Roberts & Don Diamond

Directed by William A. Seiter

Customs agents are looking for information about Pete Ritchie (Raymond Burr), who is involved in smuggling drugs from Mexico into the US. Police officer Madeleine Haley (Claire Trevor) goes undercover in order to gain Ritchie's confidence, and before long she meets him through one of his associates. As she is talking with Ritchie, another undercover agent, Johnny Macklin (Fred MacMurray) and one of his men burst in, and they provoke a violent confrontation. From then on, Haley is in constant danger as she attempts to figure out everything that is happening in the smuggling operation.

An odd blend of crime melodrama with humorous undertones

* Special footnote: -- Morris Ankrum at one time went under the name of Stephen Morris, this was during Hopalong Cassidy B-Westerns days.

BIOS:
1. William A. Seiter Director)
Date of Birth: 10 June 1890 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 26 July 1964 - Beverly Hills, California

2, Fred MacMurray
Date of Birth: 30 August 1908, Kankakee, Illinois
Date of Death: 5 November 1991, Santa Monica, California

3. Claire Trevor
Date of Birth: 8 March 1910 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 8 April 2000 - Newport Beach, California

4. Raymond Burr
Date of Birth: 21 May 1917 - New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Date of Death: 12 September 1993 - Sonoma, California

5. José Torvay
Date of Birth: 28 January 1909 - Durango, Mexico
Date of Death: 1973 - Mexico

6. Morris Ankrum
Date of Birth: 28 August 1897 - Danville, Illinois
Date of Death: 2 September 1964 - Pasadena, California

7, Roy Roberts
Date of Birth: 19 March 1906 - Tampa, Florida
Date of Death: 28 May 1975 - Los Angeles, California

8. Don Diamond
Date of Birth: 4 June 1921, Brooklyn - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 19 June 2011 - Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 88 min on DVD ~ Universal Pictures ~ (October 21, 2003)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) presents "ESCAPE" (1940 - (104 min/B&W) Starring: Robert Taylor, Norma Shearer, Conrad Veidt, Ala Nazimova & Felix Bressart

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy

Based on a novel by Ethel Vance, Robert Taylor plays a young American who is the son of a widowed European woman (Alla Nazimova). The mother has been imprisoned in a German concentration camp, compelling her son to ignore America's neutrality and attempt a rescue. Sneaking into German-occupied Europe, Taylor is befriended by a countess (Norma Shearer) who is the mistress of a Nazi general (Conrad Veidt).

This is an underrated film, MGM doesn't pull any punches on their feelings about Hitler, and his concentration camps of Nazi Germany. Not the run of the mill you are use to from MGM during that time in Hollywood.

Shearer gives one of her best performances, also Veldt's character as the charming but ruthless Nazi General, still gives us chills.

This was a gutsy move on MGM's part, as we were not at war with Germany for over a year.

BIOS:
1. Murvyn Leroy Director)
Date of Birth: 15 October 1900 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: 13 September 1987 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Robert Taylor [aka: Spengler Arlington Br ugh]
Date of Birth: 5 August 1911 - Willey, Nebraska
Date of Death: 8 June 1969 - Santa Monica, California

3. Norma Shearer [aka: Edith Norma Shearer]
Date of Birth: 10 August 1902 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date of Death: 12 June 1983 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

4. Conrad Midterm [aka: Hans Walter Conrad Weidar]
Date of Birth: 22 January 1893 - Potsdam, Germany
Date of Death: 3 April 1943 - Hollywood, California

5, Alla Nazimova [aka: Mariam Leventon]
Date of Birth: 22 May 1879 - Yalta, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire [now Crimea, Ukraine]
Date of Death: 13 July 1945 - Los Angeles, California

6. Felix Bressart
Date of Birth: 2 March 1892 - Eydtkuhnen, East Prussia, Germany [now Chernyshevskoe, Russia]
Date of Death: 17 March 1949 - Los Angeles, California

* Special footnote: -- Because of the quality of this DVD - am giving this a 3 1/2 star rating, although
the cast, screenplay and direction is five star performances.

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 3 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 104 min on DVD ~ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ~ (July 7, 2010)

Silva Screen Records presents "MUSIC FROM THE TRANSFORMERS TRILOGY" [Soundtrack] -- All music composed by Steve Jablonsky, instrumental excerpt from "New Divide" by Linkin Park on Track #7 -- Plus all tracks performed by London Music Works except Tracks #6 & #12 performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James Fitzpatrick.

* Special footnote: -- Joblonsky's score for the Transformers movie was released 4 months after the movie's premier. Fans of the score and the composer, started a petition when there were no news for the soundtrack album, and more than 5000 people signed the on line petition when it was announced that the score will be released. although the composer told in interviews that an album was in production, the petition indeed helped to move things forward.

Steve Jablonsky is an American music composer for film, television and video games, you've probably seen or heard some of his work.

Tracks on 'Music of the Transformers Trilogy'

TRANSFORMERS
1. Autobots [2:30]
2. The All Spark [3:38]
3. Optimus [3:12]
4. Bumblebee [3:52]
5. Arrival To Earth [4:07]
6. Optimus Vs. Megatron [3:56]

REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
7. Nest [2:04]
8. Infinite White [3:51]
9. Tomb Of The Primes [2:47]
10.Forest Battle [2:00]
11.Matrix Of Leadership [3:50]
12.Prime/I Rise, You Fall [4:59]

DARK OF THE MOON
13.Dark Side Of The Moon [3:47]
14.Sentinel Prime [3:10]
15.It's Our Fight [6:37]
16.Our Final Hope [3:41]

BIOS:
1. Steve Jablonsky
Date of Birth: October 9, 1970
Date of Death: Still Living

Hats off to our wonderful staff of top brass Reynold D'Silva (executive producer), James Fitzpatrick and Rick Clark (producers), as we travel into the realm of the TRANSFORMERS, from director Michael Bay and film score by composer Steve Jablonsky -- thank you Silva Screen Records for another amazing winner!

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Mixing: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Arrangements & Song Selection]

Total Time: 58 min on 16 Tracks ~ Silva Screen 1365 ~ (October 11, 2011)

BearManor Media presents "THE BICKERSONS' LOVE LETTERS" (Paperback), by Ben Ohmart (Author).

Listen to his own words from 'An Editor's Note' - "These passionate exchanges evolve through the entire time of their meetings, dating and marriage, finally passing into passion of a different nature, as you shall see. Always there is strength between these two. Like an alligator against a gorilla. who Wins? Who Knows".

Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

* Special footnote: -- They say good things come in small packages, THE BICKERSONS' LOVE LETTERS, falls into that category, this brings back so many memories from the 40s right up to the 60s, with humor that is as fresh today as it was then.

Love the section on 'An Interview with Jules Bickerson' (the only son of the famous duo) - "I was brought up in a loud household full of cats and dead bottles where I learned to sleep during the day and eventually pull my right eardrum completely out, a feat I'm still proud of to this day".

The author Ohmart is somewhat an authority on the brilliant writings of Philip Rapp, mostly THE BICKERSONS, which also is a love of mine.

Big thank you to Ben Ohmart and his staff at BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house, but thru his own books, such as this one.

Good read and a perfect coffee-table book, for all of us 'Old Time Radio' fans - Highly recommend

Total Page: 78 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593935344 ~ (June 3, 2010)

Republic Pictures presents "THE QUIET MAN" (1952) - (125 min/Color) -- Starring: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen & Mildred Natwick

Directed by John Ford

Irish-American boxer John Wayne, recovering from the trauma of having accidentally killed a man in the ring, arrives in the Irish village where he was born. Hoping to bury his past and settle down to a life of tranquility, Wayne has purchased the home of his birth from wealthy local widow Mildred Natwick, a transaction that has incurred the wrath of pugnacious squire Victor McLaglen, who coveted the property for himself. By and by, Wayne falls in love with McLaglen's beautiful, high-spirited sister Maureen O'Hara. Her insistence that Wayne conduct his courtship in a proper Irish manner-with puckish matchmaker Barry Fitzgerald along for the ride as "chaperon"--is but one obstacle to their future happiness: the other is McLaglen, who spitefully refuses to give his consent to his sister's marriage, or to honor the tradition of paying a dowry to Wayne. Wayne could care less about dowries, but the tradition-bound Maureen refuses to consummate her marriage until McLaglen pays up.

The Perfect Movie Experience, there has never been another like it.

Special footnote: -- Brother of actor Arthur Shields, with whom he performed in several films, most notably John Ford's The Quiet Man (1952).

Oscar Winner for Best Director & Best Color Cinematography

Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Victor McLaglen), Screenplay, Sound Recording & Art Direction.

BIOS:
1. John Ford [aka: John Martin Feeney] Director)
Date of Birth: 1 February 1894, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
Date of Death: 31 August 1973, Palm Desert, California, USA (stomach cancer)

2. John Wayne aka: Marion Robert Morrison)
Date of Birth: 26 May 1907 - Winterset, Iowa
Date of Death: 11 June 1979 - Los Angeles, California

3. Maureen O'Hara (aka: Maureen Fitzsimons)
Date of birth: 17 August 1920 - Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland (now Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland)
Date of death: Still Living

4. Barry Fitzgerald [aka: William Joseph Shields]
Date of Birth: 10 March 1888 - Dublin, Ireland
Date of Death: 14 January 1961 - Dublin, Ireland (heart attack)

5. Ward Bond [aka: Wardell E. Bond]
Date of Birth: 9 April 1903 - Benkelman, Nebraska
Date of Death: 5 November 1960 - Dallas, Texas

6. Victor McLaglen (aka: Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen)
Date of Birth: 10 December 1886 - Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK
Date of Death: 7 November 1959 - Newport Beach, California

7. Mildred Natwick
Date of Birth: 19 June 1905 - Baltimore, Maryland
Date of Death: 25 October 1994 - New York City, New York

8. Arthur Shields
Date of Birth: 15 February 1896 - Dublin, Ireland
Date of Death: 27 April 1970 - Santa Barbara, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 125 min on DVD ~ Republic Pictures ~ (October 22, 2002)

BearManor Media presents "THE PHILIP RAPP JOKE FILE" (Paperback), by Philip Rapp (Author) with a foreword by Gary Owens, edited by Ben Ohmart.

Guaranteed to pull out every chuckle that lurks within your sobering body. As the foreword implies - this book will give you a nifty cross-section of Rapp's voluminous joke file. (Gary Owens)

Editor Ohmart is somewhat an authority on the brilliant writings of Philip Rapp, mostly THE BICKERSONS, which also is a love of mine.

Enjoy the paragraphs within the Editor's Note: "Few writers are given the opportunity I was: total access to a comedy writer's infinite output. More than 20 boxes of material, scripts, notes ideas, more scripts, including Phil's complete joke file, which he used to spice up the likes of scripts for Eddie Cantor, Danny Kaye, Fanny Brice, Frank Morgan, and of course, Don Ameche and Frances Langfford. As soon as I saw the joke file, I knew it would make a great book. I'm sure you'll agree".

Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

* Special footnote: -- Warning!! - Some of the jokes or gags are dated, which readers today may find offensive. It was a different world 70 years ago.

Big thank you to Ben Ohmart and his staff at BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house, but thru his own books.

If you want a laugh minute, this book (or Joke File) is right up your alley.

Highly recommend - a good read! Perfect coffee-table book.

Total Page: 160 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593931025 ~ (October 10, 2007)

VCI Entertainment and The Rank Collection presents "THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS" (1978) - (102 min/Color) -- Starring: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Simon MacCorkindale, Alan Badel, Michael Sheard, Jurgen Anderson, Hans Meyer, Wolf Kahler, Olga Lowe

Directed by: Tony Maylam

British Invasion has returned to VCI, with this release from their vault.

Two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself. This has spy thriller written all over it.

This is a wonderful film, with scenic cinematography. There is a sequence with fog and our lead characters are about to close in on the bad guys, the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. Although in the book there were only male lead characters, but Jenny Agutter spices up the screenplay with a welcomed appearance.

The director achieves what the book was trying to convey, making this a classic with an outstanding cast.

Would like to add this is one of the most beautiful films from the UK during the 1970s, almost feel as if you're sailing away in this atmospheric tapestry with a colorful backdrop.

In these shifting sands, men can disappear without a trace...and their secrets with them.

For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review

SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:
1. Poster Gallery

BIOS:
1. Tony Maylam Director)
Date of Birth: 1943 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: Unknown

2. Michael York [aka: Michael York-Johnson]
Date of Birth: 27 March 1942 - Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Date of Death: Unknown

3. Jenny Agutter
Date of Birth: 20 December 1952, Taunton, Somerset, England, UK
Date of Death: Unknown

4. Simon MacCorkindale
Date of Birth: 12 February 1952 - Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 14 October 2010 - Marylebone, London, England, UK

5. Alan Badel
Date of Birth: 11 September 1923 - Rusholme, Manchester, England, UK
Date of Death: 19 March 1982 - Chichester, England, UK

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 102 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment #8740 ~ (September 20, 2011)

VCI Entertainment and The Rank Collection presents "FLAME IN THE STREETS" (1961) - (93 min/Color) -- Starring: John Mills, Sylvia Syms, Brenda De Banzie, Earl Cameron, Johnny Sekka, Ann Lynn, Wilfrid Brambell, Meredith Edwards

Directed by: Roy Baker

VCI has restored and brought from their vaults another film from the British Invasion.

A liberal minded union leader battles against racial discrimination in the factory work place, and then must face a deeper test when forced to confront his own personal prejudices.

John Mills as always gives a stalwart performance.

Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best British Screenplay (Ted Willis)

For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review

SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:
1. Photo
2. Poster Gallery

BIOS:
1. Roy Baker (Director)
Date of Birth: 19 December 1916 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 5 October 2010 - London, England

2. John Mills [aka: Lewis Ernest Watts Mills]
Date of Birth: 22 February 1908 - The Watts Naval Training College, North Elmham, Norfolk, England, UK
Date of Death: 23 April 2005 - Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

3. Sylvia Syms
Date of Birth: 6 January 1934 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: Still Living

4. Johnny Sekka
Date of Birth: 21 July 1934 - Dakar, Senegal
Date of Death: 14 September 2006 - Agua Dulce, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 3 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 93 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment #8739 ~ (September 20, 2011)

BearManor Media presents "DON AMECHE: THE KENOSHA COMEBACK KID" (Paperback), by Ben Ohmart (Author) with a foreword by John Landis.

In depth account, one of the most beloved and under-rated actors ever to grace radio, stage, screen and television.

Ameche made his film comeback in 1983 in the comedic hit "Trading Places". Two years later, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Cocoon".

In the authors (Ohmart) own words: "Don Ameche's career lasted a sturdy 60 years, an impressive feat that was only strengthened into longevity by his eager, often perfectionists versatility. even today, whenever a "Cocoon" shows up on cable, or a BICKERSONS CD is sold to someone who was not even born before Don died, the work he tried so hard to perpetuate into something "good" and meaningful will continue to live, cheer, sing and smile".

Loaded with studio stills, family photographs and behind the scenes pictures, which is just the way I like it.

Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Chapter, Title and Page Numbers)

Foreword by John Landis --- 1
Introduction --- 2
CHAPTER ONE: The Kenosha Kid --- 5
CHAPTER TWO: Radio Star --- 19
CHAPTER THREE: Movie Star --- 33
CHAPTER FOUR: " You're Wanted On The Ameche!" --- 71
CHAPTER FIVE: Heaven Can Wait --- 102
CHAPTER SIX: Hollydon't --- 120
CHAPTER SEVEN: TV MC --- 146
CHAPTER EIGHT: The Comeback Kid --- 152
CHAPTER NINE: It's Showtime --- 163
CHAPTER TEN: The Lean years --- 169
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Return of the Comeback Kid --- 183
CHAPTER TWELVE: The Final Years --- 198
Credits --- 210
Index --- 219

BIOS:
Don Ameche [aka: Dominic Felix Ameche]
Date of Birth: May 31, 1908 - Kenosha, Wisconsin
Date of Death: December 06, 1993 - Scottsdale, Arizona

Big thank you to Ben Ohmart and his staff at BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house, but thru his own books.

Highly recommend - a good read! Perfect coffee-table book.

* Special footnote: -- An interesting remark in the beginning introduction: Don Ameche may have found everlasting financial and artistic success through his now-classic movies, but, like Peter Sellers, he acted foremost with his voices and never lost that subtle radio skill that could be all but understated when the shouting began. His was not the most expressive of faces, but his vocal ability was without question. Could not have put it any better, and to that I say, A-men!

Total Page: 220 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593930455 ~ (February 28, 2007)