Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Roman Holiday’ is a delight

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The 1953 film Roman Holiday is a treasure. From the Paramount Presents line of great films, this Blu-ray edition includes the classic film along with several additional features as well as a digital code.

Roman Holiday was one of the very first movies to be filmed entirely on location. Director William Wyler insisted on making the movie in Rome. The film introduced Audrey Hepburn to audiences around the world. Gregory Peck gets top billing, with Eddie Albert co-starring. The city of Rome is the fourth star of the movie.

The story centers around Princess Ann (Hepburn) who is visiting the Eternal City on an official state visit. She is finding her royal duties boring and longs to be just a normal girl in this fascinating city. So one night she sneaks out of the embassy and onto the streets where she is like a fish out of water. But the princess does not mind. She is free and longing for some fun. When reporter Joe Bradley (Peck) finds her resting on a bench, he takes her back to his apartment and realizing who she is, he concocts a plan with his photographer friend Irving (Albert) to befriend Ann and get a wonderful story about a princess in disguise.

This is definitely a charming story. In the end the princess realizes her duty to her family and her country and returns to the embassy where she continues on with her royal life.

In this year when Prince Harry and Meghan have escaped from their royal duties, they might want to take a lesson from Princess Ann. She knows her place in life, and although she had no say in her future, she has a strong sense of duty to her country, unlike Harry and Meghan.

The Blu-ray is filled with wonderful bonus features, including a brand new look at the film with historian Leonard Maltin. Maltin fills viewers in on the making of the film with tidbits about the story, Wyler, and the cast. His insights add to the background for viewers who will be enchanted by the facts and history of the production.

Other bonus features include a documentary about Hepburn’s history with Paramount Pictures as well as a biography about her life with those who knew her, including her son. There is another feature about the studio and a feature about Rome, the film’s fourth star. Hepburn took home the Oscar for her performance in the film and Dalton Trumbo won the Academy Award for writing (although he was blacklisted). Edith Head garnered the award for costume design however it was Givenchy who was Hepburn’s designer.

Roman Holiday is not rated however it is suitable for all ages.

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.

‘I Am Woman’ is a fun and entertaining biopic of Helen Reddy

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


I Am Woman is an entertaining biopic of singer Helen Reddy. Tilda Cobham-Hervey does a remarkable job portraying the singer who inspired women around the world with her song “I Am Woman.”

The Australian-born Reddy relocated to New York where she became best friends with rock journalist Lillian Roxon (Danielle Macdonald). Reddy then met talent manager Jeff Wald (Evan Peters) who became her husband and her own manager. They soon relocate to California where he insists Helen’s career will take off. The problem is, it really doesn’t. He is more concerned with his other clients and soon faces the wrath of his wife. With her encouragement, they push to get her songs recorded and on the air.

It doesn’t take a long time before Helen is the favorite female singer in the country. Her songs include “Delta Dawn,” “Angie Baby,” “Leave Me Alone,” “Ain’t No Way To Treat a Lady,” “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Candle on the Water,” “You and Me Against the World,” and so many others that provided the soundtrack for the 1970s. And of course, “I Am Woman” is now the anthem for International Women’s Day and other events for and about women’s equality.

To say this film is inspiring is an understatement. However young women of today might not know much about this woman who gave the women of the 70s a shot in the arm. Once viewers see this film, they will find it difficult to get the tunes and the lyrics out of their heads. Don’t be surprised if you keep singing the songs days after watching the film. They are catchy tunes with interesting lyrics. And perhaps, if you don’t already have Helen Reddy in your CD library, you will want to go shopping after watching the movie.

Helen Reddy was and is a woman of passion, conviction and courage. She would not be pushed aside for the current “male” groups of the day. She knew she had a message for listeners, both male and female. And she knew she had the voice to bring these wonderful songs to the people. It just took some imagination, dedication, and a lot of hard work. Thank God she had all of those qualities.

I Am Woman will be in theaters and on demand September 11, 2020.

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.

‘The Owners’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The Owners is a nightmarish story about a group of friends who break into house to steal a boatload of money. With a very small cast of seven, this story unfolds over the course of a day.

Terry (Andrew Ellis) has learned that there is a safe in the house of Dr. Hugging (Sylvester McCoy) and his wife Ellen (Rita Tushingham). He tells his friend Nathan (Ian Kenny) who then informs his friend Gaz (Jake Curran). Together they devise a plan to break into the house when the doctor and his wife are away. Their intent is to break into the safe and steal a large amount of money. With this huge house, the elderly couple must have stashed away big bucks. But when they get into the house they discover they cannot open the safe.

Their next plan is to wait until Dr. and Mrs. Huggins return and make them open the safe. Nathan’s girlfriend Mary (Maisie Williams) reluctantly joins the guys in the house. Now they just sit and wait.

When the couple comes home, they are immediately tied up and their lives are threatened if they do not reveal the combination to the safe. Things get out of hand and quite bloody. Soon the tables are turned and the thugs become the threatened ones.

This is definitely not a movie for the young. It is filled with violence and terror. The story involves some strange circumstances that come to light at the very end. While the couple never reveals the correct combination to the safe, it remains locked. Just exactly what are they keeping in there? It is obvious they are hiding a secret.

As the story continues things get dicey for all of them. Who will come out on top? Or rather, who will survive?

This horror/thriller is the kind of story we have seen in the past – the tables are turned on the intruders. It is now in theaters and on demand. The Owners is not rated.

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.

Omni Air UV+ from Raycop – Product Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

These days keeping our homes and ourselves safe from the COVID-19 virus is essential. The Omni Air UV+ stick vacuum from Raycop is a stick vacuum that sucks up dust, debris, hair, and invisible to the eye mites that can make us sick and bring on allergies, and also a sanitizer. With two different heads, this one unit cleans and sanitizes.

The Omni Air UV+ is lightweight and easy to operate. Just push the on button and select low, mid, or max, depending on which suction level you need. With the vacuum head attached the vacuum easily glides over floors and carpets. I personally like the small width because now I can vacuum beside and behind the toilets, which is something I couldn’t do with other stick vacuums with wider heads.  This lightweight unit is like a sports car. It effortlessly maneuvers around corners and under furniture. It really does go almost everywhere. And the clear bin lets users know when it is full. Emptying the bin is easy. Granted, it is small but that is not a bad thing. It just takes a second to open the bin and dump out the debris. The dust box is connected to a dust filter and HEPA filter, which really help allergy sufferers like myself. I have always hated vacuuming because the debris would be blown up and around and it was always a test for my allergies. These new units eliminate the discomfort for allergy sufferers.

Attachments include nozzles to get in creases and crevices. Getting rid of dust, mites, pollen, and dirt is essential to allergy sufferers. But this unit not only vacuums up all those nasty things, it is also a sanitizer. The RayClean technology kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria with the UV+ light. By destroying the DNA and RNA of viruses they are unable to live and multiply. Doing this without chemicals is important for families, especially those with babies and very young children. After all, parents do not want their children exposed to dangerous chemicals, or for that matter, they don’t want to be exposed either. With this new technology, no chemicals are necessary. The UV+ light does the job safely and efficiently.


It is easy to change the heads from simply vacuuming to sucking up and disinfecting. Just pop off the one head and pop on the other. The brushes sweep up mites and other things trapped deep in fabric.

The filters are easily washable and prevent dust and odors from building up and staying in the unit. The battery is easily chargeable however this unit does not come with any attachments to stick it onto a wall. At first I thought this was a disadvantage however the unit is small enough to fit into a closet without taking up much space. Still, a wall mount might be a good idea for the future.

This unit can easily accomplish more than cleaning and disinfecting floors. It is a handy unit for cars and furniture. Think about where you have been during the day. When you get home you wash your hands and think you are free from viruses and bacteria. However you have probably been sitting someplace. Cleaning your couch and chairs is just as important as cleaning your floors. With this one unit, you can do it all. And it is also able to clean and disinfect your mattresses. Have you been sleeping with mites living and breeding in your mattress? How creepy is that?

Raycop was eager to send me a unit to test. I have been using it for a week and definitely think it is a worthy product. My only complaint, and it is a very small one, is that is lacks a wall mount. Other than that I really like this Omni Air. I like the weight and ease of use, as well as all it accomplishes. In this time of viruses like COVID and the flu, not to mention allergies (I have so many), I can highly recommend this for families of all ages and sizes.

There is free shipping from the website as well as a 30 day trial. Check out their website for more information and to order your own unit.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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. Follow her on Twitter.

Seth MacFarlane Great Songs from Stage & Screen

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Seth MacFarlane is known for his writing and producing (Family Guy, The Orville, American Dad, and more) and his acting and voice talent, but what many people do not know is that he is also a singer. He has several CDs and his latest, Great Songs from Stage & Screen, includes many favorites from film and Broadway.

MacFarlane has a strong and mesmerizing voice that adds to these wonderful songs and his interpretation of the lyrics comes through with zeal. It is enjoyable to listen to these songs and hear them in a new and enjoyable way.

The first track, “Once Upon a Dream” is from the Disney film Sleeping Beauty. “Ten Minutes Ago” is from the Rogers and Hammerstein version of Cinderella, so there are definitely songs for all ages.

Frank Sinatra is a difficult act to follow however MacFarlane does it with style. He sings several songs that were recorded by Sinatra and he does so with his own flare, which makes them easy to listen to and easy to forget that Old Blue Eyes had previously recorded them. There is a special magical quality to MacFarlane’s voice that comes through in each and every track.

The lyrics are even more enjoyable with great orchestrations. It is easy to imagine him in the recoding studio singing with the wonderful orchestra. These tracks were recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios.

Listening to his recordings I have decided that even though I have enjoyed Seth MacFarlane in his other roles, I really love his singing the most. Although his acting/writing/producing is pretty good too! His recordings are delightful and rich. I do have some favorite tracks on this CD however all of the songs are delightful. There are several ballads as well as a few upbeat tunes. The collection is the perfect blend of songs personally selected by MacFarlane.

Seth MacFarlane is among my top male vocalists and with this new release he has moved up many notches. The bottom line is this is a fantastic collection of songs sung by a great singer. This is his sixth studio album and definitely a treasure. All the songs are available on digital and the CD will be released in October.

The tracks are:

1.         Once Upon A Dream

2.         I Loved You Once In Silence

3.         Let’s Not Be Sensible

4.         Ten Minutes Ago

5.         Ain’t Got A Dime To My Name (Ho Ho Ho Ho Hum)

6.         Love Is Only Love

7.         What Did I Have That I Don’t Have?

8.         Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

9.         Two For The Road

10.         All Er Nothin’

11.         You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To

12.         Mind If I Make Love To You

13.         Time For Parting

 

 
About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Breezy’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The 1973 movie Breezy almost has a cult following. It was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars William Holden and Kay Lenz. This duo might seem like an odd couple, but on the screen they really do come off with good chemistry.

Holden stars as Frank Harmon, a middle-aged man living in a secluded area of one of Los Angeles’ canyons. He is divorced and a little bitter.  Lenz stars as Edith Alice Breezerman, aka Breezy, a child of the 60s, complete with her flower-child mentality and unaware of the harshness in the world around her. She is a free spirit and loves life, people, and animals.

Breezy meets Frank and insinuates herself into his life. This set-in-his-ways man has a hard time understanding the mentality of her free-spirited youth. But she persists and her genuine goodness is intoxicating to him. They become a pair but can he cope with the May-December jokes and glares coming his way? Is their age difference too much for him to bear?

There are some genuinely funny parts in this film. When she asks him if he thinks God is dead, he answers, “I didn’t know he was sick.”  And when they go to the movies it is a Clint Eastwood film playing.

Breezy was filmed on location and there are some great beach scenes. Also, the traffic in Southern California was much less than it is today, so the entire region looks idyllic. Of course, it has been over 45 years since this movie was filmed. Nevertheless, the characters are timeless and the story is endearing. With the score by legendary Michel Legrand and a theme song that is noteworthy, the movie is a true delight.

Holden was 55 when he made this film. This was not the end of his career and he went on to star in several more movies before his death at age 63. If this movie doesn’t make young women fall for William Holden, nothing will. Lenz was 20 when she played Breezy. This was near the beginning of her acting career and she is still working today. Lenz was nominated for a Golden Globe for “Most Promising Newcomer, Female,” and Legrand was nominated for a Golden Globe for “Best Original Score.” Legrand, along with Alan and Marilyn Bergman also received Golden Globe recognition for the title song.

Breezy is rated R. There is nudity, along with subject matter, and drug references in the film so it is not recommended for young viewers. It’s available on Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.

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.

‘The Best of Soft Rock’ from TimeLife

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


You have probably seen those infomercials from TimeLife for the CD set “The Best of Soft Rock.” Well, if you are at all on the fence about purchasing it, don’t be. This is an amazing collection of songs from an array of singers that will bring back memories for anyone over the age of 40!

Ten CDs with 150 songs total make up this wonderful collection of mellow tunes that are perfect for these stressful days of self-isolation and social distancing. Pop in a CD and transport yourself back to a time before the world went crazy.

Bread, Stephen Bishop, Seals & Crofts, Firefall, Carly Simon, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs, Air Supply, Gino Vannelli, The Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, The Beach Boys, and many other singers and groups combine to make this a collection to treasure.

Some of the 150 songs include: “I Need You,” “On and On,” “The Air That I Breathe,” “Kokomo,” “Baby Come Back,” “California Dreamin’,” “Hurt So Bad,” “Summer Breeze,” “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’,” “All By Myself,” “Please Come to Boston,” “Baby I’m a Want you,” “Sailing,” “All I need,” and “If.” There are 135 more great songs and as you can tell by this small list, they are all easy listening, soft rock. Don’t expect to be jumping up from your seat to fast dance around the house. These songs are melodic and mellow and simply put, they take away the stress of life today.

The folks at TimeLife always manage to create the perfect collections and they have definitely done it again with “The Best of Soft Rock.” With the accompanying booklet with facts and insight into the songs and the performers, the set is a nice way to return to an easier time of life. You know that time – before we all were wearing masks, when we could eat inside a restaurant and go to a movie, and when shopping at the mall was a pleasure.

“The Best of Soft Rock” collection lists for$134.95. You can upgrade to more discs at the site.

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.

‘Washington’ comes to life for viewers

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

In this time when people are homeschooling and distance learning, the 3-disc DVD Washington is a useful and educational journey that tells the story of the father of our country. This highly researched documentary originally aired earlier this year on the History channel. Now it is available on DVD.

Narrated by Jeff Daniels, the story of George Washington comes to life from the days of the French and Indian War through the revolution and the beginning of the American experiment. Washington was not a perfect man by any means. He made many mistakes along the way, however without his growing and learning and foresight, the United States would not have survived even the first year.

This young country was meant to be governed by the people and not a monarch. Washington realized there could be no king to rule. He knew the people would eventually rebel against a monarch or oligarch, and reluctantly accepted the presidency. He had to find a way to mold that office and although he did not want a second term, he was elected unanimously once again.

George Washington set the standard for the country and helped create the foundation of the United States. He did not seek a third term however if he had he would have been elected. By retiring after two terms, he basically set a two-term limit for the office, however nothing was officially written down about that. Only Franklin D. Roosevelt served a third term and after his death the law of two terms for the presidency was invoked.

Yes, George Washington owned slaves. Yes, he was flawed in many ways and made mistakes along the way. But he also was intelligent and knew the direction in which this country should and would take to succeed and prosper. Watching this 3-part docudrama is an important lesson for all Americans. Washington was a man with foresight and a strong sense of what the nation should be and without him, well, it would not have survived any length of time. He was the glue that held the country together in the late 1700s.

Washington is rated TV-14. His legacy needs to endure and without knowledge of the man, that is not possible. That is why this docudrama is an important tool for home viewing.

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.

Richard Burton stars in ‘Raid on Rommel’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The 1971 film Raid on Rommel stars Richard Burton as a British Intelligence officer sent to destroy a German fuel site in Northern Africa held by Rommel. While the film is not one of the best World War II movies, Burton is the salvation for this intense and action-packed story. With Tobruk, Libya in German hands, the plan could be a suicide mission however Foster (Burton) does not see it that way.

The well-laid plan is riddled with problems from the start. The men Foster had planned on joining leads to a mix-up. Foster finds himself in the middle of a medical unit with some unusual men completely opposite of the commandos he had been tasked commanding. For one, there is a conscientious objector who is a Quaker and will not kill anyone due to his convictions. And along with the medical unit, Foster has picked up an Italian woman, who is the mistress of a high-ranking Italian general. Will this group be able to make it through occupied territory and complete the mission to take out the German fuel supply? If not, the Allies will be in trouble, but if they are successful in Tobruk, they could change the outcome of the war in Northern Africa.

There are some lighthearted aspects of this intense story. One of the men has a conversation with Rommel himself about their mutual interest in stamp collecting. While these philatelic enthusiasts swap stories, The Desert Fox has no idea he is about to be confronted by the enemy.

This film is fictional however the background is real. Tobruk was an essential port in Northern Africa. Its location provided the perfect elements for both Allies and Axis ships with its deep water and strategic setting. Controlling the port was imperative.

Raid on Rommel is available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Classics. It is rated PG  with adult content and is too  intense for very young viewers.

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.

Gabby Gabby just wants to be loved

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

For those who saw Toy Story 4, Gabby Gabby was introduced as a vintage doll with a minor defect. She is supposed to be a villain in the show but actually she is not. All this little girl wants is to be loved. Now, with this adorable and very soft plush Gabby Gabby from Disney, kids can give her what she has always wanted – love.

In this time of Covid 19, with separations and strange circumstances, kids are in a state of flux. Parents are doing whatever they can to reassure their families that things will be all right, but for the time being life as we knew it is on hold. Knowing Gabby Gabby just wants to be loved is something reassuring for kids because this is something they can do. They can give her all their love and hugs. And hugs help relieve stress. This is a stressful time for all of us.

Gabby Gabby is dressed in her little cheerful yellow and white polka dot dress and wears yellow satin shoes. Her red hair is coiffed in her iconic pigtails and tied with yellow bots. Her wide blue eyes and facial features are embroidered so there is nothing for little hands to pull off. This adorable little plush sits at 11 inches high. Just looking at this sweet little face will melt hearts. She just wants to be loved.

Gabby Gabby will be a true friend for kids for years. Especially in this time of chaos and upheaval in our lives, this plush is going to be a source of comfort, joy, and love. She lists for $22.99 but is currently on sale for $12 at shopDisney. Now is the time to adopt this adorable little girl and make her part of your loving family.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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. Follow her on Twitter.