Musical Monday with Azul Sierra

On the final Musical Mondal of 2020, we bring you a sweet, romantic urban fantasy cartoon that's been rescored by composer Azul Sierra. I don't know what the original music was like, but as far as I'm concerned what Sierra did here is perfect! 

Further, what we have here is basically a silent movie, and that makes Sierra's music all the more remarkable. All scores written for silent films by modern composers should be treated with the grace and attention to what's happening on the screen that Sierra exhibits here.

Take a look and listen. I'm sure you'll find it to be a good start to this last week of the year.

Paperman (2012, New Score/Silent Version 2020)

Director: John Kahrs

Rating: Ten of Ten Stars

Check out Azul Sierra's YouTube Channel for more samples of her work by clicking here.

The Growing-up of Emma Peel: Part Eight

Click on the strips for larger, more easily read versions.

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Santa Claus (1898)

Starring: Laura Bayley, the Smith Children, and Santa Claus

Director: George.Albert Smith

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Santa Claus (Himself) delivers toys to a good little girl and a good little boy.

If you ever doubted that Santa existed, this film--the earliest known film appearance of the Jolly Old Elf himself--will make you a believer! This piece of history shows that whether it's in the 19th century or in the 21st, Santa makes his rounds on Christmas Eve the same way.

All Christmas joking aside, this is a fun little film that, if it isn't already present, will spark a little Christmas joy in you. Check it out, right now!

 

  (It actually is also a bit of film history, in all seriousness. George Albert Smith was playing around with special effects in Great Britain at the same time that Georges Melies was doing it in France, and he was only one step removed from the cutting edge. This particular film was also so impressive that nearly ten years after its initial release, a review described audiences gasping in wonder at Santa's sudden disappearance from the screen. It's unclear if the reviewer was talking about kids or adults, though.)

Santa's Helpers are getting ready!

It's almost that time of year when Santa is roaming the globe, dropping off presents for all the good children. If he should fall behind, he has numerous helpers standing by to lend a hand. Ava Gardner, for example, is already suiting up in case she is called upon!

Meanwhile, Yvonne Craig is prepping the back-up sleigh.

The Avengers: Too Many Christmas Trees

Beginning in January 2021, we'll be featuring bi-weekly reviews of the final batch of episodes of "The Avengers" that were made in black-and white. As a sneak-peek--and because it's Christmas--we present this review!

Too Many Christmas Trees (1965)

Starring: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Mervyn Johns, Edwin Richfield, Alex Scott, Jeanette Sterke, Robert James, and Barry Warren
Director: Roy Ward Baker

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Top-troubleshooter for the secret services of Great Britain John Steed (Macnee) has been having strange Christmas-related nightmares. As he attends a holiday costume party with his partner Mrs. Emma Peel (Rigg), elements of his nightmares seem to be manifesting themselves in the real world.

"The Avengers" was a television series that generally focused on British secret agents working cases where other operatives had failed and been and been captured or worse. It began as a straight spy drama, but by the fifth batch of episodes debuted, with Patrick Macnee as the eccentric life-long soldier and spy for Britain John Steed; and Diana Rigg as the glamorous, multi-talented and independently wealthy Mrs. Emma Peel in the lead roles, the series had followed down the path of the James Bond films by adding more comedy and other fantastic elements into the mix. It was during 1965 - 1967 that the show was at its most popular, and it was also during this time where never quite knew what you would get. Sure--there'd be the witty banter between Steed ad Peel, but beyond that viewers might get a straight-up spy/Cold War story, a murder mystery, a sci-fi adventure, a screwball comedy, a horror-tinged thriller--or a combination of any or all of the above. 

"Too Many Christmas Trees" is part mystery and part supernatural thriller, as Steed and Peel must find the truth about why Steed's dreams seem to be prophetic... and to stop the death and mayhem they seem to predict (with their guillotines and killer Father Christmases). Eventually, the show ends up incorporating what at the time could have been viewed as science fiction: It's ultimately revealed that Steed is under mental attack by psychics working for an enemy power that are trying to weaken his defenses and literally pick his brain for the secrets he knows.

The comment about psychics being at the root of the problem in this episode could possibly be viewed as a spoiler, but it's a minor one at best. Although the enemy psychics are key to the storyline, they are revealed early on... and Steed and Peel (and the viewers) have many more mysteries to solve and threats to confront during this episode and it's virtually impossible to predict where it's going to end up. 

Highlights of "Too Many Christmas Trees" are the sequences showing Steed's nightmares; Peel's discovery of a murder victim under very spooky circumstances and the fight scene that follows shortly afterward; and just the over all flow of the plot that keeps viewers guessing until the end. (The chilling atmosphere in many scenes is not surprising when one considers this episode was directed by Roy Ward Baker, a gentleman who helmed a good number of chillers and thrillers from British production companies such as Hammer Films and Amicus. He directed a total of seven episodes of "The Avengers" with the Macnee and Riggs in the lead roles, and they are among the best of the batch.)

One very funny fourth wall inside joke happens when Steed is going through his Christmas cards and happily remarks on one from his former partner, Kathy Gale, that was sent from Fort Knox, U.S.A.. The character had been played by Honor Blackman, who, at the time this show originally aired had just co-starred in the smash-hit James Bond film "Goldfinger" which featured an attempt to rob the gold depository at Fort Knox.

This is just one of the many very funny moments that exist along side the very dramatic, very high-stakes action of this episode... but this easy co-existence of the goofy and self-referential  or satirical material alongside deadly serious plot elements is among the things that makes "The Avengers" episodes with Macnee and Rigg so much fun. 

Pre-Christmas Wonder Woman Wednesday

Every year, the lovely ladies at Shades of Gray help Santa Claus with making his rounds, ensuring that all the good boys and girls out there get their gifts. This year is extra special, because Wonder Woman is also lending a hand!

Christmas is almost here...

... and Bebe Daniels has an innovative idea for those of you who haven't gotten your Chirstmas Tree decorated yet: Just dress yourself like one. It's even more festive!

Nat King Cole brings 'The Christmas Song'

Christmas is almost here. Here's a performance of "The Christmas Song" from Nat King Cole in 1961 that even fills Krampus and the Grinch with the Spirit of the Season when they hear it.

And this year, everyone can all use a little extra Christmas cheer, so we at Shades of Gray hope this classic will bring you some.

This Swiss Trick is no Swiss Miss

A Swiss Trick (1931)

Starring: Anonymous Voice Actors

Directors: John Foster and George Stallings

Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

World-travelers Tom and Jerry are stranded in Switzerland, where learn about the strange local culture and discover the side effects of eating too much Swiss cheese.

"A Swiss Trick" is one of handful of entries in the "Tom and Jerry" series that see our heroes traveling to faraway lands and meeting the people and creatures that dwell there. This one starts a bit weak--with an extended Alps-related train gag that is more repetitive than amusing--but gets funnier and more surreal as it goes. By the time we get to the end, with our heroes having angered the Swiss villagers and having learned an unpleasant secret about their much-celebrated cheese, this emerges as one of the best entries in the series. The catchy music throughout and the nutty musical routines add greatly to the entertainment value.

This is another of those Tom and Jerry cartoons that needs to be experienced, and the longer I go on the greater the chance of me spoiling something. So... why don't you grab a soda, click on the embedded video below, and lean back for seven minutes of Swiss-inspired weirdness? 

Trivia: On the day this review was originally posted--December 19, 2020--it was exactly 89 years since "A Swiss Trick" originally appeared in theatres.

The Growing-Up of Emma Peel: Part Seven

Click on the panels for larger, more easily read versions.

Before the next episode of this serial, swing by on December 24 to read a review of "The Avengers: Too Many Christmas Trees", one of the strange cases the future Emma will work as a secret agent for the British government..