Nicky-43

One doesn't expect much from a Monogram movie, and Hot Rhythm is no exception. However, those of us who enjoyed Irene Ryan as "Granny" on The Beverly Hillbillies TV series will get a kick out of seeing Ryan in her younger days in a different role. She plays a goofy (a la Gracie Allen) secretary to her boss, played by her real-life husband Tim Ryan, who's the head of a radio jingle production company. And movie buffs may not recognize silent-movie comedian Harry Langdon in one of his final roles before his death. An OK film for late night bouts of insomnia.

Director Ridley Scott and writer Roselyne Bosch play fast and loose with historical accuracy in this white-washed telling of Christopher Columbus' adventures.

Rather than seeing the Columbus of history plundering other lands in search of gold while brutally enslaving and mass murdering the natives, we are presented with a kind, gentle, benign Columbus (portrayed by the surrealistically cast Gérard Depardieu) who's surrounded by unscrupulous characters. Scott's Columbus is an idealistic visionary who only wants "a new world," yet is a pawn caught between bad people doing bad things. Poor Columbus ... all he wants to do is explore.

Of course, this calls for *a lot* of historical revisionism for the screenplay, which re-arranges events and the instigators of them (atrocities are shifted to the work of others rather than Columbus, and for different reasons; otherwise, it's omitted from the story).

But why fictionalize history (reality is always more interesting) with this pabulum, and then pass it off as "history"? Either no research was done, or they intentionally fabricated the story; there is no other option.

"Life has more imagination than we carry in our dreams," we are told just before the closing credits. Indeed. Too bad the writer didn't follow this advice. The truth would have made far better drama.

At 100 years of age, Ruth C. Ellis is the oldest living lesbian activist. In this lovingly produced video/film documentary, Ms. Ellis life is traced from her birth, her family, relationships and her experiences throughout the 20th century as a black, openly gay woman.

One cannot help but be endeared by her personality, charm and forthrightness. Her agility and alertness is evident in her interviews, which serves as the narrative thread that runs throughout the program.

Ms. Ellis not only gives history a voice (one that should be heard), but a heart as well.