Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Snoopy Collection’ is great for fun family viewing

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The new Blu-ray + Digital Snoopy Collection includes four popular Peanuts movies: Race for You Life, Charlie Brown, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy Come Home. Alone, these films are fun for kids and adults, but put them together and you have hours of great family viewing.

Many people think of Woodstock as the place where a big concert occurred in the 1960s. But those of us who know better know that this is the name of the little yellow bird that befriends Snoopy. Little Woodstock made his on-screen debut in the 1972 movie Snoopy Come Home. All of the Peanuts gang appear in this animated film that has Snoopy leaving his comfy home at Charlie Brown’s house and heading off to see a little girl who is in the hospital. Having had a tiff with Charlie Brown, Snoopy defiantly takes off his collar so when he goes away, Charlie Brown and Linus figure out what is going on. Apparently, the little girl who sent the letter to Snoopy informing him she was in the hospital was Lila, his first owner. She wants Snoopy to move in with her. He is in a quandary. But things finally turn out all right for him and the rest of the gang. There are plenty of songs to go along with this adorable story.

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown is a 1977 film has the gang all heading up to summer camp. It’s there they face some bullies and some character-building activities. This story is filled with some music and plenty of Peanuts antics as the gang navigate camp.

In the 1980 film Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, when two French students come to their school, Charlie Brown and Linus along with Peppermint Patty and Marci are selected to go to France as exchange students. It’s a strange situation for the two boys, who are accompanied by Snoopy and Woodstock. They stay in a mysterious chateau, which seems abandoned but there is always food for them. In the meantime Peppermint Patty and Marci are put up in a farm where Marci is taken with a boy named Pierre. This is another fun little Peanuts film with all the heart and entertainment the little fellows can muster.

The final film in this collection is A Boy Named Charlie Brown. This 1969 film is filled with a variety of Peanuts activities: baseball, Snoopy’s fight with the Red Baron, school, and their personal relationships. The Peanuts gang has entertained many generations of readers and viewers and still brings a laugh, smile, and sometimes a tear to our eyes.

A bonus feature looks at the making of Bon Voyage Charlie Brown.

Too bad this wasn’t available during the Covid lockdown, but it is available now. This collection combines four of the most delightful Peanuts films.

The four films are each rated G. They are all family-friendly and wonderful for all ages. The Peanuts films are truly multi-generational: kids, parents, and grandparents who grew up with Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Athena’ is now available on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Athena is a 1954 musical romantic comedy from MGM, the studio that brought out some of the biggest musicals from the mid 1900s. Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, Edmund Purdom, and Louis Calhern star in this colorful and musical story of the seven Mulvain sisters. Physical fitness, healthy eating, exercise, numerology, and modern thinking combine to create this entertaining story.

Grandpa Ulysses Mulvain (Calhern) and Grandma Salome Mulvain (Evelyn Varden) run a health store and a fitness retreat. It’s not really a retreat in the normal sense of the word. It is a place that is off the grid, as we would say today. It is at the top of a hill without any phones or communication with the outside world. This enclave is the place where many of the competitors for the Mr. Universe competition train, eat, and thrive. These are true muscle men. The seven sisters (Athena, Minerva, Medea, Ceres, Niobe, Aphrodite, and Calliope) have been brought up here and live a carefree vegetarian and spiritual life.

Athena (Powell) is a numerologist and when she meets Adam Shaw (Purdom), an attorney and rising politician, she immediately falls for him. Plus, their numbers add up so she is convinced he is the man for her. There are no coincidences in life and she knows they were destined to meet. But he is engaged to a stuffy socialite. He is also a tightly wound man who rarely smiles.

Then Athena meets Johnny Nyle, a famous crooner in the mold of a young Sinatra. She immediately calculates his numbers and knows he is perfect for her sister Minerva (Reynolds).

Johnny immediately takes to Minerva and is intrigued by the Mulvain way of life. But Adam is resistant and thinks they are all a bunch of wackos.

Bringing these men into the Mulvain way of life is a challenge, but everyone on the hill knows it is their destiny. And who can argue with the stars?

While the girls and the muscle men work together to bring Johnny and Adam into the fold, plenty of cute and musical scenes bring the story together. Besides the music there is plenty of muscle flexing and acrobatics.

Bonus features include outtake musical and dance numbers with Damone, Purdum, Reynolds, and Powell.

Athena is not rated however it is suitable for all ages. It can be purchased from the Warner Archive website or other online outlets.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Bring home ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is a pure delight. It is now available on Blu-ray and DVD as well as 4K. This story is entertaining for all ages as it is fun for kids as well as adults.

The main lesson in the film is that teamwork and trust go a long way in solving discourse. Raya’s father, Chief Benja, has a dream to unify the separated regions of the once-thriving land of Kumandra. Unfortunately, things do not go according to his plan and things get even worse than before. It is up to Raya to find Sisu, the last dragon, and get help in restoring peace to the people and all the lands.

Once Raya locates Sisu, their journey just begins. Along the way they interact with several interesting characters, including an adorable little baby named Noi, who is a conniving little thief, but an adorable one nonetheless. There are others who come to Raya’s aid, like a cute little street smart boy named Boun, and more, while she tries to retrieve a special item from each of the regions (Heart, Spine, Tail, Fang, and Talon), to unite them and get the magical power to vanquish the evil force and bring harmony back to the land.

The Blu-ray includes many bonus features. First of all, there is a new short titled Us Again. This enforces the thought that youth is a state of mind. There is no talking in this film but the characters are able to express their thoughts and feelings through expressions. Plus, there is plenty of dancing. As a matter of fact, the filmmakers use dancing as the force of the story.

Another bonus is called “Taste of Raya.” In the movie there are plenty of scenes involving food. The filmmakers and Kelly Marie Tran (the voice of Raya) virtually reminisce about making the movie while eating some of the food that is represented in the film. The papaya salad will make viewers want to run out and get some for themselves. It looks delicious. Anyway, the pandemic forced the filmmakers to move the production to their individual homes, but they managed to do so and create a wonderful new Disney movie.  That is the focus of another bonus titled “Bringing it Home.” The process of making the film from hundreds of individual locations was a challenge however they did it!

The martial arts scenes were choreographed then animated and a bonus feature looks at this aspect. They made sure the fight scenes were correctly presented.

“We are Kumandra” is an interesting look at how the film represents the Southeast Asia countries. This is a diverse are of the world and the cultures as well as the scenery were diligently examined to embody this area. Like they do when setting a story in a specific location or area, the filmmakers and animators took research trips to the countries to correctly and honorably represent the region.

Over 450 people worked on this movie. The story behind making the film with all aspects of storyboarding is examined. This is a bonus that will definitely be interesting to viewers who love animation and filmmaking.

Outtakes and deleted scenes round out the bonus features.

Raya and the Last Dragon is yet another instant Disney classic. It is rated PG for some violence, action, and thematic elements.

There are plenty of products to enjoy as well. Go to the shopDisney.com website to check them out.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Hindenburg: The New Evidence’ settles an unsolved mystery

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In 1937 the airship Hindenburg burst into flames while landing in New Jersey. The new NOVA documentary, Hindenburg: The New Evidence, uses modern technology to finally put to rest the reason for this disaster.

Up until relatively recently, all the film footage of the crash was from one angle. But a newly discovered piece of film shows the incident from a different side. “Thanks to this stunning new footage, we were able to revive a cold case investigation surrounding one of the most iconic disasters of the 20th century,” said Hindenburg: The New Evidence Executive Producer Gary Tarpinian.

While many thought it was sabotage that destroyed Germany’s popular airship, there were others that thought there was a more natural reason for the disaster. The ship was filled with hydrogen gas. Helium would have been preferable since it does not explode, however it was limited to the United States and not allowed to be sold outside of the country. So the Germans stayed with their standby modus operandi – hydrogen gas. Although other Zeppelins had exploded, for the most part the country had a good history when it came to their airships.

So, what exactly happened on that fateful day?

With careful examination of the new footage as well as technological experiments with recreations of the material that was used on the Hindenburg, the conclusion is clear. They finally put to rest the mystery surrounding the explosion of the Hindenburg. And it is really quite simple, when looking at it from today’s perspective. A confluence of circumstances took part in this historic disaster.

“For over 80 years, experts have debated how and why the fire began,” added Writer/Producer Rushmore DeNooyer. “Using the tried and true scientific method, we were able to unravel a key part of one of history’s most famous and captivating unsolved mysteries.”

I could go into detail and thoroughly explain what the conclusion is, however you should watch the film for yourself and see how they came to solve the mystery.

“We went to a lot of places in search of answers—from the crash site in Lakehurst, New Jersey, to the Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen in Germany,” said Director Kirk Wolfinger. “This film not only reveals new insights into how this tragic event unfolded, but also illustrates the enormous scale of the disaster.”

Hindenburg: The New Evidence premieres May 19, 2021 on PBS.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Bring home ‘The Legend of Hei’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The Legend of Hei is an entertaining story that is a statement on humanity. It is done in the Chinese anime style called guoman.

Hei is a cat/boy spirit and really a cute character to watch. When he is forced from his home he finds another spirit named Stormend who makes him feel safe and gives him a new home. But when someone named Infinity kidnaps little Hei, Stormend vows to get him back.

Infinity is part of The Guild, a group that has kept the peace between humans and spirits. They live in harmony. Hei has the idea that Infinity is the bad one and he wants to get back to Stormend, the spirit he thinks is on the good side.

Little Hei goes through a journey that opens his eyes to the human/spirit relationship. As Infinity imparts on him, there are good and bad humans as well as good and bad spirits. Stormend is a bad spirit. But Hei refuses to believe that.

The Guild knows how to keep a low profile when among the humans and to keep humans safe from evil. Hei gradually learns about the good and bad aspects of both worlds.

Hei has great powers he knows nothing about. But he soon starts to understand how he can use his strength.

When the ultimate confrontation between good and evil, and between Infinity and Stormend, comes to a head, it is up to Hei to chose on which side he will be. He has love for Stormend, however when he sees that Stormend does not want to coexist with the humans, he makes his decision.

This is a nice story and something fans of anime will certainly enjoy. It is not rated and does have some scenes that might be worrisome to very young viewers so for that it should not be shown to the very young. The Legend of Heiwas nominated for several awards at film festivals in China and by the China Film Critics Association. While most fans of anime are familiar with the Japanese anime, guoman is very similar and the animation and scenes are beautifully done.

Hei is a sweet character that will capture the hearts of viewers of all ages.

The Legend of Hei is available on DVD and a Blu-ray Combo Pack.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘The Tender Trap’ from Warner Archive Collection

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, David Wayne, and Celeste Holm star in the delightful comedy The Tender Trap. This 1955 film has some great musical numbers but also a fun story.

Reynolds is Julie Gillis, a young actress who has no desire to have a big career. Acting is just a way to bide her time until she gets married. Marriage is her ultimate goal. Remember – this was filmed in the mid 1950s when women aspired to being a wife and mother. Well, most women. Or at least that is what they were told they should do with their lives.

Julie has her life all mapped out. She knows exactly where she will live and where her kids will go to school. To say she is kind of whacky is an understatement. But that is the way she is living her life.

Sinatra is Charlie Reader, a talent agent whose agency signs Julie. She has a lot of talent for singing and acting. But when he delivers a contract to her, she is not excited. Most women would be excited about getting a run-of-the-play contract for a Broadway show. But Julie only wants a limited time contract. Why, you may wonder? Well, she feels – no, she knows, she will be getting married and does not want to have a career once she says “I do.”

Charlie is a player in New York. He has all kinds of women in his life. And when his childhood friend Joe (Wayne) comes to town for a visit, Joe is understandably overwhelmed with Charlie’s life and his women. Holm is Sylvia, a member of the philharmonic who has charm, class, talent, and intelligence. Why she is hanging onto Charlie is a mystery to Joe.

Well, things go along and then get out of control. With parties, booze, women, and song, this movie is filled with a delightful story and cute characters. And when Julie sets her sights on Charlie Reader, well, you can only imagine what transpires.

The bonus features include a wonderful documentary about Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. In the 40s when he was rising to superstar fame as a singer, he had to have breakaway suits made for him because young girls would tear his sleeves and his clothes. He was the first big musical idol. The documentary also describes his ups and downs as both a singer and an actor, and how he made his big mark on Hollywood with his Academy Award-winning role in From Here to Eternity. The 1950s was the decade when he moved away from trite musicals and mostly into dramas.  This documentary is a good look at the man and his career.

Two other bonus features include chapters from the MGM Parade. First, Debbie Reynolds talks about making The Tender Trap, and the second looks at the film itself and the songs.

The Tender Trap is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered from their website or other online outlets. It is not rated however could be considered PG due to the alcoholic consumption.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Alice’s Wonderland Bakery’ will be ready for viewing in 2022

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Production has begun on Disney Junior’s Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, a fantastical animated series for preschoolers and their families inspired by the beloved world of “Alice in Wonderland.” Slated to debut in 2022, the series centers on Alice, the great-granddaughter of the original heroine and a budding young baker at the enchanted Wonderland Bakery, where treats bring a new generation of characters together. The announcement was made today by Joe D’Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming, and general manager, Disney Junior

“The magic and mischief of Alice in Wonderland has been treasured by millions for over a century, and we are delighted to introduce this version of a young Alice and her charming friends to a whole new generation,” D’Ambrosia said.”Inspired by the sense of connection that food brings about—and recipes filled with enchantment and heart—the series will showcase whimsical stories with relatable themes for our Disney Junior audience.”

Geared to kids ages 2-7 and their families, each episode will feature two 11-minute stories about Alice’s recipe adventures with her best pals—Fergie, a white rabbit; Hattie, her madcap friend; and Rosa, the Princess of Hearts. The series will celebrate the culture and creativity of food, highlight self-expression and impart age-appropriate social and emotional lessons about friendship, collaboration and community.

 

 

‘Here Today’ tackles a sensitive subject

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Billy Crystal directed, co-wrote, and stars in the dramedy Here Today, a story of two unlikely people who form a friendship that will change them both.   Tiffany Haddish costars with Crystal in this heartening tale of life, love, family, and death. Note: This article contains some spoilers because the author wants readers to know what to expect. With this subject some people cannot handle seeing it unfold as they might have experienced the same thing in the past or are living with it today.

Crystal is Charlie Burnz, a veteran comedy writer for a TV show based on SNL. He still has his charm, wit, and intelligence, however he is losing his memory. Charlie is suffering from dementia. He and his doctor are the only ones who know about his condition, and Charlie wants to keep it that way. He does not have the best relationship with his daughter Francine (Laura Benanti) or his son Rex (Penn Badgley), however he does have a loving relationship with his granddaughter Lindsay (Audrey Hsieh).

Through a strange event, Charlie meets Emma Payge (Haddish). She is an outgoing woman with a lot of love and spunk. She calls him “old man” and insinuates herself into his life. They have a mutual respect and grow on each other. He even invites he to be his date at Lindsay’s Bat Mitzvah.

Dementia is something that cannot stay a secret for long. After awhile people start noticing things about Charlie and he is told by his doctor that the disease is progressing rapidly.  This is the impetus that further binds Emma with Charlie. But will it be the thing that reconnects him with his family or will they pull away from the upcoming and inevitable downfall of their father?

Throughout the film Charlie daydreams about his beloved dead wife Carrie (Louisa Krause) who was tragically killed in a car accident when the kids were young. Their scenes together are sweet and viewers see the love between them.

Sharon Stone, Kevin Kline, Barry Levinson, and Bob Costas have fun cameos and Crystal is wonderful in both the comedy scenes and the dramatic ones. This might be the role that leads to an award for this actor/writer/director. And Haddish is equally delightful as the effervescent woman who is the saving grace for the entire family.

With the population aging, more and more families are confronting a relative with some form of dementia. It is a difficult diagnosis to deal with for not only the patient but also the family. Why do our brains fail us? Hopefully there will be an answer and cure in the near future. In the meantime, dementia is part of life and this film brings it front and center. The comedy scenes are a good way to balance the tragedy of the disease with some laugh-out-loud moments. We can all use some laughs, and this film delivers plenty of them, along with the sentimental story.

Here Today is rated PG-13 and will be released May 7, 2021.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Donkey Hodie’ comes to PBS Kids

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The new preschool show Donkey Hodie is absolutely adorable and will definitely be a popular series for kids, between 3-5. This Donkey Hodie is the granddaughter of Donkey Hodie from the original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

This show is done with puppets rather than pure animation, which is the format in which Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is produced. This presented a little difficulty for the show due to the Covid restrictions, which is why it was postponed a little, however it is now showing on PBS Kids with all the fun and flavor of the adorable characters.

I had a chance to talk with some of the members of the team. When I enquired about making this a puppet show rather than an animated one, Haley Jenkins who is the puppeteer for Donkey Hodie, responded, “I’m so happy that the show is done with puppets, of course, because I love puppeteering.  But, also, if you think about what are all of the children’s shows or characters that you really feel nostalgic for, when you really come down to it, so many of them are puppets.” She also said that puppets are more accessible to kids than an animated 2D character. “Because as a viewer, you realize that that character actually exists.  It’s real.  It’s not an animated character that you can’t actually hug in real life.  Somebody could meet, potentially, Purple Panda or Donkey or Bob Dog.  Pet Bob Dog on the head.  Like that’s a real thing, and kids really relate to that.”

Adam Rudman, series executive, producer, director, writer, and puppeteer added, “Then you’ve got a real world, too.  You have a real world that these characters live in that’s all hand—made.  Everything — you can see the texture, you can see the fabrics that go into it.  Not only can you hug the characters, but you also feel like you could go to someplace else.  You could go to this world.” That is definitely something that differs from animated locations. This is why the creators went with this format, and its something kids will favorably respond to.

So, will there be an online presence so kids and their parents can continue to learn and enjoy the characters after watching the show? Chief Creative Officer of Fred Rogers Productions and series executive Ellen Doherty said there will definitely be more to do and explore with the characters.

“There will be a gorgeous website which features the puppets and has — it’s going to have a bunch of games.  It’s going to have activities and video, of course.”

We all know that merchandising is a big part of today’s world. When I asked about plush characters for kids to hug and play with, Doherty told me there would be that aspect of merchandising along with other things. Parents, get out your wallets because your kids will undoubtedly ask for these characters. They are so adorable, even I would like one.

Donkey Hodie now airs on PBS Kids.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

’22 VS Earth’ is a delight

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


For those who have seen the Academy Award-winning film Soul from Disney/Pixar, the new short 22 VS Earth is an adorable little film that takes place prior to the events of Soul.  It focuses on the cute little soul known as “22.”

22 is a happy little soul that has no desire to go to earth. It simply cannot get the appropriate emotions to be sent to the planet. The problem is that all his friends eventually do get sent to earth. So this little fellow devises a plan to keep the other souls from going to earth. But can he/she do it? That is the conflict he/she comes up against.

22 VS Earth is so cute but only lasts a few minutes. It would be fun to have this go on a little longer. But alas, a short is a short, so this is all we get of the energetic and cunning little 22.

22 VS Earth is available now on Disney+.  Enjoy!

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

 

Courtesy photo