Strange Bargain

Flipping through the channels the other day I discovered the 1949 movie "Strange Bargain". It's about an accountant who accidently gets involved in his boss's murder/suicide. In the end, he is vindicated; the boss's wife did it. The interesting thing is that almost 40 years later the TV show "Murder She Wrote" used the story and the original actors(!!) as the basis for Jessica Fletcher's case (thank you, IMDB trivia). In this version, though, the initial ending has been changed. The accountant has just been released from prison after 30 years having been convicted for the murder of the boss. Of course, Jessica re-solves the case and figures out who the real murderer was. Don't you think TV producers were more clever in the '80s?

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Don't ask how I found out that Bewitched fans have a Book Club!

Throughout the series, books added to the comedy on Bewitched through action (Darrin levitating a novel with his gifted powers), amusing titles (The Stephens’ burglar finds their book on “the criminal mind”), or as a source of Tabitha’s storybook playmates and adventures (Bobby the Dodo Bird, Sleeping Beauty, Jack & The Beanstalk, Hansel & Gretel).

At times, books also added to the supernatural element (Clara’s ancient book of curses & spells, and the Apothecary’s dusty old book of remedies).

With the advent of digital remastering of Bewitched episodes for DVD, more and more of the Stephens’ omnibus has become easier on the eyes and various titles have been spotted by viewers.
by Arfies, Maurine, Wizzy, Ling Ling, CosmosCotillion and Joe

In # 15 "A Vision of Sugar Plums," Samantha reads the classic fairytale "Tom Thumb" at bedtime to her Christmas guest, Michael. This German story titled "Daumesdick" was included in the collections "Kinder und Hausmarchen" (Children's and Household Tales, 1812-15) by brothers Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. The book is translated by Mrs. EV Lucas, Lucy Crane, and Marian Edwardes. It is illustrated by Fritz Kredel of the Junior Library, and published by Grosset & Dunlap, NY, MCMXLV.

Mrs. EV Lucas was the wife of the prolific writer I met on July 21st, EV Lucas. Coincidence?

30 Rock

I still think it's a stupid show.

Ab-Fab(ulous)?

I love discovering something i never knew existed. That's what "The Comic Strip Presents" is- was- one of those Brit skit humor spoofs (like a panto) that only they get. You may love it (or may think it's totally ridiculous). It depends how much of an Anglophile you are. I've only seen the first one and haven't reached a verdict yet. I'm thinking it may be an acquired taste. Here's a description from BBC:

From the moment the first film Five Go Mad in Dorset: a hilarious and merciless Enid Blyton parody screened on Channel 4's opening night it was plain that there was a new force in comedy, concentrating on matters social and political and steering clear of the then comedic standbys of sexism and racism.

In the ensuing episodes and series (many written by Richardson and Richens), The Comic Strip Presents... would cover everything from criminals on the run (Gino – Full Story and Pics) and the life story of an evil South African chatshow host (Eddie Monsoon – A Life?) to a Hollywood portrayal of the Miner's Strike (Strike).

After several series and specials for Channel 4, The Comic Strip... moved to the BBC in 1990

And yes, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are in it.