Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1990)

Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1990)

directed by Kenneth Bowser

76 minutes

This is a documentary about the life and career of Preston Sturges, writer and director of Sullivan's Travels (1941) and The Lady Eve (1941). It originally aired on PBS and is included with the Criterion Collection version of Sullivan's Travels. There are extended clips of a number of the movies he wrote and/or directed. There is very little of Sturges himself in the documentary, other than in stills, but there are interviews with a number of friends, family, and people who worked with him.

I found this to be interesting. It makes me want to see more of the movies he wrote and directed that I have not seen yet. I believe that I have only seen three of his movies, the two I mentioned above and Unfaithfully Yours (1948).

Doctor Who (1963) 11.02.05

Invasion of the Dinosaurs - Part Five

General Finch has the Doctor arrested. The Doctor and the Brigadier learn that Captain Yates is the traitor in UNIT's ranks. It isn't long before the Doctor escapes with some help from Sgt Benton, who stays behind.

Sarah Jane puts her own escape plan into motion. She explores and learns that what they are on is not a spaceship. She leaves the "spaceship" and escapes back to UNIT command post. Hardly anyone is there. Most people are out searching for the Doctor.

The Doctor leads the soldiers on a wild chase into a wooded area. He eventually gets the upper hand and loses the soldiers.

General Finch finds Sarah Jane while she is writing a note for the Doctor. She tries to tell him about what she has discovered, unaware of his role in the minister's plot. She leads him there only to discover her mistake.

The Doctor drives back into London just as more dinosaurs are brought forward from the past.

Abbott Elementary 1.08

Work Family

Janine gets upset when she learns for the first time that Jacob has a boyfriend who he's been dating for 2 years. Janine tries to get the other teachers to bond with her. Janine admits to the other teachers that she and her boyfriend have been together since 8th grade. Barbara and Melissa try to get Gregory to loosen up with his students.

Thoughts

This is a decent episode. It has a nice mix of serious and silly moments. It didn't blow me away but I like it.

The Tick (2001) 1.04

The License

The Tick gets into trouble for not having a superhero license. He runs into problems when he applies for a license because he doesn't know his real name or his date of birth. Captain Liberty tries dating a civilian. Arthur considers quitting his superhero gig. Batmanuel looks into getting a publicist.

Thoughts

This was another fun one. It doesn't really go anywhere but it is still a fun ride.

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

starring Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake

directed and written by Preston Sturges

91 minutes

Movie director John Sullivan goes undercover and pretends to be a hobo. His first attenpts end prematurely. He meets a young woman (Veronica Lake) who insists on hanging out with him and going where he goes, after she finds out who he really is. The head of the film studio is concerned for Sullivan's well being because despite his wacky idea he has made the studio a lot of money. He sends some people to keep an eye on Sullivan.

Sullivan learns about what it is like to be homeless but he naively assumes that he has learned enough. In a moment of vulnerability he is struck down by a hobo who is later hit by a train and who's body is mistaken for Sullivan's. Meanwhile, Sullivan lands himself in prison after he loses his memory and hits an employee of the railroad. In prison Sullivan first fights back but eventually learns some more.

Better Call Saul 3.06

Off Brand

Nacho start to hate his job, working for Hector Salamanca. He tries to let one of Hector's men off easy when he comes up short but Hector overhears the conversation and does not approve. Nacho is forced to administer some punishment.

Jimmy gets off easy. His license is suspended for a year. He has to call all his clients and tell them about it.  He also has television ad time that he needs to offload but the agreement he signed prevents him from selling the ad time. Kim wants to ditch the office. She thinks it is too much since Jimmy won't practicing law for the next year. Jimmy insists that they need to keep it and that he will pay his portion of the rent.

Russian Doll 2.07

Matryoshka

Nadia and Alan argue in the bathroom over what to do. She wants to keep the younger version of herself. He insists that she needs to return her younger self. She opens the door and sees the birthday party. She closes it and reopens it and sees a classroom of Jewish boys.

Nadia, Alan, and the baby (which he is now holding) wander through the classroom and make it back to the party where they continue to debate. Nadia is steadfast until Ruth shows up. Everything seems kind of normal until Alan notices that there are multiple Ruths. Nadia gives in and agrees that they need to return the baby, in order to set things right again.