Folie-Folie

"Movie Movie" is an absolute gem that few people have even heard of. It's a throwback to the days of old when you went to the movies and stayed all day long. In this film we are treated to two short films (one in color, one in b&w) that sandwich an assortment of coming attractions and other goodies from a bygone era.

George C. Scott stars in both short films. One is a boxing movie and the other is a musical. This film is hard to find but does pop up occasionally on cable. I suggest looking for this at your local video store. It's a real gem for anyone who ever loved going to the movies then and now.

Affectionate parody of 1930's movies with Scott hamming it up perfectly in double roles. There's a boxing drama, then a corny musical, but it adds up to fun in this pleasant trip down Hollywood's memory lane.

Just wrote a review of the far, far, far, far, inferior "National Lampoon's Movie Madness," which also parodies films, though contemporary ones. I brought up "Movie Movie" as an example of the same concept which is as excellent as the National Lampoon movie is awful.

This is a delightful trip back to the movies of the 1930's. Somehow I saw this movie when it first came out. I guess I sought it out as (having been an eager consumer of Mad Magazine as a little squirt) I am a fan of parodies and mockumentaries of this sort. I remember watching it in a tiny closet-sized movie theater in a shopping mall in New Jersey. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the only movie theater in the state of New Jersey that played it. I was only 12 years old at the time, and obviously not around during the 1930's, but I had been exposed to enough old movies on television during my young life that I enjoyed the whole thing fully.

I remember noticing that both movies start off with the same stock footage of a busy Manhattan street, the first one in black and white of course, and the second one in color, both backed by a similar jaunty tune meant to evoke the bustle of Manhattan in the 1930's. Sure to provoke a big laugh even before we meet the characters or hear the first line of dialog.

Who know George C. Scott had such a facility for comedy? It's worth finding out. If you are in any way, shape or form a fan of crusty old movies, you should seek this out. A lovable way to spend 100 minutes.

MOVIE, MOVIE is a forgotten gem from the late 70's which is an affectionate spoof of a 1930's double feature (there's even a preview of coming attractions)that is divided into two separate films that run about 50 minutes a piece. The first film, "Dynamite Hands" is a black and white "Golden Boy"-type spoof with Harry Hamlin as a young boxer rising to the top with George C. Scott as his manager, Red Buttons as his trainer, Kathleen Beller as his hometown girlfriend and Ann Reinking as a nightclub singer named Troubles Moran. The second film is called "Baxter's Beauties of 1933" and is a colorful spoof of films like 42nd STREET with George C. Scott featured again as the egomaniacal director, Barry Bostwick as the idealistic young songwriter, Rebecca York (who years later would practically steal the Broadway show VICTOR/VICTORIA from Julie Andrews) as the young Ruby Keeler type and Trish VanDevere as the bitchy diva who York eventually replaces. True movie buffs and fans of these kinds of movies will be in cinema heaven here...a loving tribute to a bygone era that works thanks to spirited direction by Stanley Donen and an energetic cast.

For anyone who has grown up loving Hollywood musicals, the second half of this film is an absolute joy. Stanley Donen, who has arguably directed the greatest of these, had a chance to create an homage to them which includes every silly musical plot and song and dance device he could think of. Barry Bostwick's first number will knock your socks off and the finale (including dancers on bikes!) will put a grin on your face from start to finish. Watch for Stanley Donen's cameo as a cab driver.