"South of East Jesus" by G. Bernstein (2014)

The cover of Glenn Bernstein’s newest novel, “South of East Jesus”, speaks volumes about the dual nature of human beings. The silhouette depicts a man and a woman; one in portrayed in light; and the other in darkness. You can see through them both. Even the title contains a message of sorts; as if we are all a bit shy of the mark when it comes to perfection.

I don’t know whether my assessment has any validity to it, or if I have conjured up this explanation as a result of Mr. Bernstein’s tale, which explores these very questions. He does so through the character of Renny, a woman who finds herself alone and pregnant after the suicide of her husband Parker.

When an emergency terminates the pregnancy of one of her twins, Renny finds herself in the care of Dr. Thomas Ryan, a widower, and a man with a reputation to uphold. Renny, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and everything to gain as she finds herself drawn to this kind, empathetic professional.

But lines get blurred when simple acts of kindness become more than simple, and Renny stokes the fires of passion with her every move. Soon, they both face the biggest single dilemma of their separate lives. What happens as a result of having crossed those lines becomes something which consumes them both.

Steamy dialogue and fast paced writing make this a compelling read for fans of romance novels. I could hardly keep the book out of my wife’s hands long enough to read it myself, without searching for it each time I went to pick it up. This is Mr. Bernstein’s 2^nd book, and I would suspect that it will not be his last.

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Mickey Rooney - RIP

Word just came in that Mickey Rooney; iconic force of entertainment; has passed away at age 93. An accomplished professional in all aspects of show business, his passing represents yet another loss to the golden days of vaudeville, radio, movies and television. 

We shall not see the likes of him again; which makes you tube all the more worthwhile. For a good example of his powerful dramatic acting skills hit the following link;

http://robertwilliamsofbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-comedian-with-mel-torme-and-mickey.html

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" - James Cagney (1942)

In this finale from the film “Yankee Doodle Dandy” about the life of the legendary song and dance man George M. Cohan, James Cagney kicks out all the stops in his exuberant performance of the title song. Towards the end he even teams up with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney to bring new life to a very old song.

The movie is mainly the story of the Cohan’s family vaudeville act, “The Four Cohan’s”, and their precocious child George, who is very much full of himself. He has no doubts that he was born to do something big. And he did. As a triple threat entertainer; one who could compose, sing and dance; he had few contemporary rivals. The film chronicles his life as a child star and then his triumphant return to the stage, culminating in his receiving a Presidential medal for his achievements and patriotism. That medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, which was awarded in 1936, is a civilian award and was presented to him by FDR for his song “Over There” which was written for the First World War.

James Cagney was one of the most versatile performers to ever work in the film industry. From his early roles as a gangster in films such as “Angels with Dirty Faces”, Mr. Cagney went on to more dramatic work, as in the film “The Seven Foys”, also a true story of vaudeville. And, after shooting it out in gangster films, dancing up the walls in this film; a feat which Gene Kelly would later replicate in his films; he went on to produce some of the most underrated films of his career using his own money. A good example of that would be William Saroyan’s “The Time of Your Life” in 1948. After proving to himself that he could do it all, he made one last gangster film, “White Heat”, in 1949.

If you have any doubts about Mr. Cagney’s enormous talents then just hit You Tube and watch the stairway scene from the “Yankee Doodle Dandy” film. In it he has just received his medal from the President and then dances down a stairway without looking at anything but the audience and holding onto nothing but his dignity. This is a perfect film to watch if you really want to be in the mood for the 4^th of July. Here is the link to that little dance down the stairway;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LwCXLx0SyM

"The Comedian" with Mel Torme and Mickey Rooney (1957)

Playhouse 90 was one of the greatest shows ever on television. With a weekly format of 90 minutes, this show offered first rate entertainment from some of the leading; and also upcoming; writers of the era. This classic episode was written by Rod Serling and Ernest Lehman; and directed by John Frankenheimer; and aired on February 14, 1957; fifty-six years ago today. If you have never seen it, you should. You can watch it here, or on You Tube. Naturally, I would prefer you watch it here.

In it, Mickey Rooney plays TV Comedian Sammy Hogarth, who may be a top notch entertainer, but is a lousy human being. Mel Torme plays his brother-in-law, and assistant, which only places him in Sammy’s crosshairs at all times. He is meek, and condescending, bowing to the financial reward of working for Sammy. But with that position comes a price, which is something he must learn the hard way.

Edmond O'Brien, one of the most underrated actors ever, plays Al Patterson, Sammy’s lead writer who is almost driven to the brink of suicide by the utter insanity and impossible demands of his browbeating and sadistic boss.

Richard Joy and Kim Hunter, along with a whole cast of talented and capable thespians; that’s right, true thespians; round out the cast, and make this a must see for any serious student of drama. This is television the way it was meant to be; with the performance captured live,and uncut. The clear kinescope in which it was shot, and preserved, also make it a joy to watch.

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Happy Birthday, Sarah...

"Boys Town" with Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney and Henry Hull (1938)

Spencer Tracy became the first actor to win 2 consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor when he mouthed the line, "There is no bad boy", in this moving, and somewhat rose colored account of the founding of Boys Town, just outside of Omaha, Nebraska.

When Father Flanagan, played by Tracy, visits a death row inmate he is told that if the man had only been befriended as a child, mentored in some way, his life would have turned out differently. His only concern now is for his kid brother, "Whitey" Marsh, played by Mickey Rooney. He wants Father Flanagan to go and see him, to take him under his wing and save him from a life of crime. This is a burden which he readily accepts.

Father Flanagan also has his hands full in his local Parish, where the children are largely neglected and left to their own devices. Most are poor, working class kids with severe family problems at home. Some are abused, some merely neglected. He has a dream to someday build a home for these boys, removing them from the temptations of the street, and a life of crime.

Beginning with a rundown rented house, the Father manages to obtain much of what he needs from the local town store manager, Dave Morris, played by Henry Hull. Although it is not specifically mentioned, Mr. Morris seems to be Jewish. How Father Flanagan gets him to become involved in the eventual financing of Boy's Town makes the story that much better. Though skeptical at the beginning, Mr. Morris backs Father Flanagan all the way, eventually securing 3 mortgages for the construction of the actual Boy's Town, on 200 acres of land, just outside of Omaha. The boys actually help to build the school and dormitories, each one learning a trade as the construction progresses.

When "Whitey" Marsh arrives at Boy's Town, he has nothing on his mind except escape. But with no prison walls, or fences, to keep him in, he is confused. He begins to come around to a new way of thinking. But, after bonding with the school's mascot, a little boy named Pee Wee, played by Bobs Watson, he runs away. When he becomes involved with his older brother, and a foiled bank robbery, his actions place Boy's Town in jeopardy. Through the guidance of Father Flanagan, Whitey is able to see reason and returns to Boy's Town, where he is elected Mayor by the other boys and becomes a mentor to little Pee Wee.

So many of these older films espouse a message of tolerance and religious diversity which is lacking today; even while portraying the Jewish pawnbroker, Henry Hull does so in a way that lends dignity to his faith. And as Father Flanagan, Spencer Tracy is the penultimate Priest, the one who understands that our differences unite, rather than divide us as individuals. The mess hall scene, in which all the boys of different faiths say grace in their own way, is, for me, one of the highlights of the film. Based loosely on the actual story of Boys Town, this is a real "feel good" movie for these troubled times.

"Captains Courageous" by Rudyard Kipling

I have had this book since June of 1963. It says so inside the front cover. I loved Kipling that far back. He weaves a story so subtly, until you find yourself mesmerized by his words. His use of dialects to capture the social, and physical places in which his stories take place, is unequaled.

This story takes place in the early part of the 20th Century and begins aboard a luxury liner bound for Europe. One of the passengers is a young boy named Harvey. To term him irrascible would be an injustice to the word. More accurately he is the spoiled product of a rich and arrogant family. He terrorizes and abuses all who come his way.

On a foggy night off New England, Harvey falls overboard and is rescued by a fishing dorry out of Glouchester. They expect to be gone for 4 months or more. Harvey is apalled. He offers a reward equal to the value of their lost catch should they return him to the mainland. Thinking him a bit unstable they refuse and continue on their journey. Outraged, Harvey refuses to work and as a result he is shunned by most of the crew, with the exception of Dan, the Captains son, and Manuel, a Portuguese fisherman with a carefree attitude about life. They seem to think that there is good in Harvey somewhere, and they set out to bring it forth. Through them he learns the value, and joy, of doing an honest day's work and the feeling of earned respect.

His attachment to Manuel is deep. His own father has never taken the time to teach him anything. Manuel becomes his world and he is crushed by his death in a storm. Subsequently he finds his first real friend in Dan. They were both in awe of Manuel and his death affects them deeply.

When his father finally arrives to take him home, Harvey is no longer the spoiled boy he was at the start. He has matured and learned to place his faith in things other than money. He discovers, through the death of Manuel, his love of something larger than himself. This is an epithany for him. And the reader as well. Kipling's ability to condense so much emotion, and plot, into less than 200 pages is simply brillant.

Adding to the beauty of this book is the faithful 1937 adaptation of it on film. With Lionel Barrymore as Captain Disko, Mickey Rooney as Dan, John Carradine as Long Jack, Freddie Bartholomew as Harvey, and last, but not least, Spencer Tracy as Manuel, it is a film not to be dismissed. Well paced and directed, and done with all the respect due this remarkable book, it is a film not to be missed.