What's on David's Mind...: April 2011

Watched a great movie this weekend. "The King's Speech". Very compelling story about King George VI. This was current Queen Elizabeth's father.

Good Movie to Rent... Jazz Singer (both versions)

Jazz Singer 1927 - Al Jolson
The story of a young Jakie Rabinowitz defying the traditions of his devout Jewish family by singing popular tunes in a beer hall. Punished by his father, a cantor, Jakie runs away from home. Some years later, now calling himself Jack Robin, he has become a talented jazz singer. He attempts to build a career as an entertainer, but his professional ambitions ultimately come into conflict with the demands of his home and heritage.

Jazz Singer 1980 - Neil Diamond & Luci Arnaz
In New York City, Jess Robin (Neil Diamond), whose real name is Yussel Rabinovitch, is a young Jewish cantor performing at the synagogue of his imperious father Cantor Rabinovitch (Sir Laurence Olivier). Yussel is married to his childhood sweetheart, Rivka (Catlin Adams), and has settled down to a life of religious devotion to the teaching of his faith. But on the side, he writes songs for a black singing group, and when a member of the quartet gets in trouble with the law, Yussel covers for him at one of their gigs by wearing blackface. The nightclub engagement is a success, but a patron at the nightclub (An unknown Ernie Hudson a few years before his Ghostbusters role) notices that Yussel's hands are not black and incites a riot. A fight ensues and the band is arrested. Cantor comes to the jail to bail them out, but finds there is not a Yussel Rabinovitch there, only a Jess Robin. His son explains it is just a stage name he uses when performing. Cantor reminds him that his singing voice was to be used for God's purposes, not his own. Yussel/Jess decides to relent and do whatever his father wants...at least for now.

Both are great stories of family, religious beliefs, life, and a look into Judaism & their tradtions.
Both have a strong "prodigal son" theme.

Good Movie to Rent...

1952, The Winning Team. Starring Ronald Reagan & Doris Day. The story is about a professional baseball player named Grover Cleveland Alexander. Played from 1911 to 1930.
The remarkable thing about this man and his story is that he had epilepsy. He not only played professional baseball with this disorder but set records, won World Series games, etc.
He was great! Was also a WWI veteran.

http://www.allsands.com/history/people/grovercleveland_spq_gn.htm

When I was a kid I had a table baseball game called "Superstar Baseball", made by Sports Illustrated then. Later it was sold to a game company called Avalon Hill. AH specialized in table war games such as Richtofen's War, 3rd Reich, Origins of War, etc...
I remember being particularly fond of GCA in this game because when I played the game for the first time, I chose him as my starting pitcher and won. Beginners luck? Maybe.
GCA and Walter Johnson became my favorites of all time. Probably 2 of the best pitchers to ever play the game.
Watch this movie. Its an incredible, heart warming story and RR & DD aren't too bad as actors either. ;) And yes, this is the same Ronald Reagan that went on to become a U.S. President.

What's on David's Mind...

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Monday, April 25, 2011

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