Ashes and Cinders

 Ashes and Cinders was the name of the girl

            With the lovely complexion and the golden curls.

            Ashes and Cinders in dirt would she sleep

            Without out a complaint, without a peep.

            ‘Ashes and Cinders!’, her sisters would jeer,

            Then turn up their noses and show off a sneer.

            To Ashes and Cinders and her family too

            Came an invitation to a royal ball soon.

            Ashes and Cinders was left at the house.

            Her family left her with only the mouse.

            Ashes and Cinders, with magic unknown

            Became Splendor and Beauty and then left her home.

            So Splendor and Beauty went to the ball

            And deeply in love did she suddenly fall

            Splendor and Beauty heard the clock strike twelve

            And into the dark of the night did she delve.

            Splendor and Beauty reached her front door

            And then became Ashes and Cinders once more.

Two Short Movie Reviews

The Court Jester (1956)

When the royal family is massacred, only the baby prince is rescued. The Black Fox, the rebel who rescued the child, sends the silly Hubert Hawkins disguised as the court jester to recover the key that would solve every problem, but when you throw in a lovesick princess, a clever witch, a couple assassins, and a purple pimpernel birthmark, you have a movie that was listed at #98 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Years... 100 Laughs.

This hilarious film starred all the famous actors of the day, including Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast), Glynis Johns (Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins) and Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles) and has music written by Hollywood composer Vic Shoen. The acting and music are both terrific, and Danny Kaye was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his performance in The Court Jester.

            After I watched this movie, I was laughing so hard, and I declared that it was the best movie I had ever seen. The more I think about it, this movie delivered laughs, but also good clean comedy that is hard to find these days. So promise me now that you will watch The Court Jester, and I guarantee that it will become one of your favorite movies right away.

Arsenic and Old Lace

A Movie Review by Seth Larson

            In 1944, Frank Capra (director of It’s a Wonderful Life and You Can’t Take it With You) finished directing one of the most hilarious black-and-white film to ever be released, Arsenic and Old Lace. This Broadway Play-based movie was a wild success with the public and the paper, as seen from this quote from the New York Times, "As a whole, Arsenic and Old Lace, the Warner picture which came to the Strand yesterday, is good macabre fun."

                The film begins as famous drama critic Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant) drives his new bride (Priscilla Lane) to her house on Halloween, telling her to pack her bags so they can leave for their Niagara Falls honeymoon soon.  Mortimer then visits his Aunt Abby (Josephine Hull) and Aunt Martha (Jean Adair) to tell them of his recent marriage and honeymoon. Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha are very kind ladies; they donate toys to orphanages, cook soup for invalids… and poison lonely old men to “put them out of their misery” and bury them in the cellar. Mortimer discovers this supposed act of kindness, starts to question his Aunt’s sanity… and that marks the beginning of a hectic, hilarious, and slightly scary Halloween night.

            I was immensely pleased with this film, though some parts did give me the chills. My nine-year-old sister had to go upstairs and watch another movie as I finished it downstairs. The movie is not rated, though my recommended age is ten and up. Overall, though, it’s a film that will set even a gray and gloomy ghost laughing it’s head off. From critics to cronies, from weddings to wickedness, Arsenic and Old Lace delivers enough laughs and chills to give you the ultimate Halloween movie experience.

Elegance Part VI

                Frank had always dreamed of being a rich man who got all of his shirts tailored. Now he wasn’t so sure.

                Archie had taken Frank to Johnson’s Tailor Shop two hours ago, and Frank was still being measured. Johnson took exact measurements, and eventually, he let Frank go. Frank burst out of the shop joyfully, screaming, “Free! Free!” until Archie dragged him back into the store.

                “Frank, stop acting like a child! I have a reputation, and I shouldn’t be around people like you!”

                Frank shrugged. “It was very nice to get off that stand and away from that ridiculous tailor,” he replied.

                “Well, your clothes will be finished soon. I will warn you. Specially tailored clothes are not to be jumped around in.”

                After another hour, Frank’s suit was ready. Frank stared at it for one whole minute, basking in its glory. It was olive green with miniscule purple stripes, (but Frank didn’t notice, he was relatively color blind) with a matching hat. Archie said that it looked splendid (though it looked atrocious. Archie had chosen it because it was the cheapest) and Johnson beamed (but on the inside, he was thinking These men have the taste of blind buffaloes). Then Archie paid the bill and he and Frank left.

                “Do you think Betty will like it?” asked Frank, suddenly fearful.

                “She will adore it, Frank,” said Archie warmly.

                When they reached Archie’s mansion, Archie stopped at the gate.

                “Women are incredibly gullible, Frank. I bet you could convince Bessie or Betty or whatever her name is that walking to the restaurant is elegant.”

                “Why would I do that?” asked Frank.

                Archie turned and walked into his house, letting the gate slam behind him. “Because I don’t want to pay the bill for a hack,” he called back irritably.