Beetlejuice (1988)

Beetlejuice (1988)

starring Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Geoffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara

directed by Tim Burton

92 minutes

Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis) die in a vehicle accident. Charles (Jeffrey Jones) and Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara) buy the home that used belong to the Maitlands, unaware that the two former residents are still there. Lydia (Winona Ryder), Charles daughter by a previous relationship, is the only one who can see Adam and Barbara. The two ghosts try haunting the house but Charles and Delia either ignore them or think that what the Adam and Barbara are doing is wonderful.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.24

The Perfect Murder

starring Hurd Hatfield, Mildred Natwick

written by Victor Wolfson, Stacy Aumonier

directed by Robert Stevens

Brothers Paul (Hurd Hatfield) and Henri make plans to murder their Aunt Rosalie (Mildred Natwick) after she inherits a tidy sum of money. Paul is much more proactive than Henri but both of them contribute to the murder attempt. Paul's eagerness to do away with his aunt causes him to be a bit too over confident and costs him dearly.

Thoughts

This was fun although I don't think it had enough of a twist for me to call it a favorite. I very much enjoyed the performances by the two lead actors. I'm not sure if everyone would agree with me. 

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 2.17

Playing God

Arjin, a Trill host candidate, comes to Deep Space Nine to be mentored and evaluated by Jadzia Dax. Chief O'Brien deals with an infestation of voles aboard the space station. Jake admits to his father that he's in love with a Dabo girl.

Jadzia's initial evaluation of Arjin is that he isn't a good candidate to be a host. He seems to just be telling her what he thinks she wants to hear. Together they go into the wormhole, aboard the Mekong and pick up something on the outer hull of the runabout that Jadzia describes as space seaweed.

Jadzia studies the thing attached to the Mekong once they get back. It seems to be a proto-universe. It is expanding and threatens to destroy Deep Space Nine. There is some debate over what to do about it. Ultimately, despite not knowing what will happen, Sisko decides that it needs to be returned to the Gamma Quadrant.

Amazing Stories (1985) 1.08

Mr. Magic

starring Sid Caesar

written by Joshua Brand, John Falsey

directed by Donald Petrie

The career of stage magician Lou Bundles (Sid Caeser) is spiraling downward, after years of success, when he finds a deck of magic cards. They briefly revive his career but then he decides that it is time to retire.

Thoughts

There isn't much to this episode. The central conflict is internal as Lou struggles with aging and accepting that he is no longer the stage magician that he once was. The special effects probably looked very impressive in 1985 when this episode first aired but 41 years later they don't look all that special.

The Phil Silvers Show 4.X

The Phil Silver Pontiac Special: Keep In Step (1959)

21 minutes

This TV special starred the cast of The Phil Silver Show. It plays a bit like an episode of the show but it is incomplete. Bilko gets Lanny Langford, a singer, who has just been drafter into the army transferred to Camp Fremont. Bilko's plan is to have Langford be the star of a stage musical that he will produce. The 21 minute clip of the special ends after Langford has been transferred to Camp Fremont but before he arrives.

The quality of the picture is not up to the standards of the rest of the episodes of the show. According to IMDb this episode also starred Diana Dors but she did not appear in the clip that was on the DVD. From the looks of it there are three separate listings for this special on IMDb. My guess is that's an error.

Un Village Français 6.12

Libération

or Liberation

6 Sep 1940

Antoine gets Marchetti to the police station. It isn't long before word gets out that Marchetti has been apprehended. Bériot is ordered to drive him to Dijon for trial but the people of Villeneuve want him tried in Villeneuve. Bériot manages to get Marchetti out of town in a car. The mob turns on Antoine and kills the remaining militia men who were not executed. Most of them are gunned down but Alban is hung in the schoolyard.

Daniel Larcher and Hortense try to get away but they are stopped by another mob. The mob knocks him down but forgets about him when they recognize Hortense. She is dragged through the streets with another woman who is similarly accused of sleeping with German soldiers. They are taken to the schoolyard. Gustave is there. She begs him to help her but he spits in her face. Someone takes a pair of scissors and cuts off all the hair on her head. Lucienne is there and watches it happen without saying a word.

Teen Titans 5.02

Homecoming - Part 2

The Teen Titans are eager to team up with the Doom Patrol but the Doom Patrol continue their quest to stop the Brotherhood of Evil on their own. Mento insists that Beast Boy come with them. Robin tries to prevent Mento from forcing Beast Boy to go with the Doom Patrol but Beast Boy decides to go with the Doom Patrol.