loyaltubist

These were internment camps, not concentration camps. Actually the authority that started up this terrible program wanted to call them concentration camps, until it came out what the Germans were doing at their camps in Europe. While these were not pleasant places and people were forced from their homes, giving up all their worldly possessions, there was no intended malice. I suggest you read some of the material by Milton Eisenhower.

About this movie, it was typical of the made for TV fare that existed from the late 1960s to the late 1970s--90 minutes long, not much budget. I think they actually filmed this on the site of the center, just south of Independence, California (the former site of Manzanar is in an area called "Alabama Hills.") The movie moves very similarly to the book, without all the details.

An interesting note is that Louie Frizzell (the late actor Lou Frizzell [1920-79]) took a job in Manzanar as a music teacher. In the movie he plays himself, although he was only in his early twenties when he was at Manzanar. He didn't take the job because of any patriotism or because he thought the Japanese-Americans were getting a raw deal. Rather, he needed a job!

For other information about Manzanar, I suggest anyone to take a visit. For many years, the site only had the dirt roads and "pads" where buildings used to be. About 3 or 4 years ago, the National Park Service began rebuilding the camp. I was last there in July 2004--a museum was built on the site of the Manzanar High School auditorium/cafeteria, which was where the center had special meetings, entertainments, and regular meals. There is also some interesting information about the center at the Eastern California Museum in Independence. It was here that I read about Louie Frizzell. At the museum you can also see what a typical room in the camp looked like.

I, too, was a fan of the radio and TV series (via recordings--I'm was born after the movie was made). The problem with this movie, the TV series, and the later episodes of the radio series was that the cast was getting too old. The story is not so disappointing. And if they used another group of actors to be the same characters, that would be disappointing.

Many years later, when the cast of the Saturday morning TV series, Saved By the Bell, became too old looking to be high school students, they graduated them and put in different students.

Maybe it's like the proverbial soap opera storyline: An egg takes two days to fry. A pregnancy lasts two weeks. A baby remains a baby for five years. And Helen Trent still hasn't found a husband.

As a lover of Old Time Radio, I think this TV program is awful. Jim and Marian Jordan were not interested in doing the TV series. But the producers did assemble some names famous old names of show business:

Bob Sweeney, as Fibber. He had a natural comedic talent about him. He wasn't Jim Jordan. And I don't think he was trying to be Jim Jordan, either. He was part of the great Sweeney and March comedy team for many years.

Cathy Lewis, as Molly. She was much too serious for the role. She was a great actress. She made the perfect "straight man," and Molly McGee was a straight man, but not that straight. If you remember My Friend Irma, Cathy Lewis, as Jane Stacy, never was funny. Molly McGee, played by Marian Jordan, was funny on radio!

Barbara Beaird, as Teeny. If you remember the radio series, Teeny (or the Little Girl) only came in the house when Molly left the room, because Marian Jordan was Teeny. Barbara Beaird was too old (or too young).

Fred NItney was only talked about on the radio program. Seeing him on the TV show only made things more complicated. But it is nice to see Jack Kirkwood!

And Harold Peary as Mayor La Trivia... Hal Peary was Mr. Gildersleeve on the radio show, then that became radio's first spin off. Harold Peary was Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve... until he decided to have another radio show on another network (Honest Harold, the Happy Homemaker). Then Willard Waterman became T.P. Gildersleeve. And he tried it on radio a couple of years before this came out. Mayor La Trivia will always be Gale Gordon!!!!

I don't mean to be so harsh with my comments. It's just that the Fibber McGee and Molly show on radio was very special. And it should have been left alone. Still, though, if you are curious, it's worth looking at LIKE HOME MOVIES!!!