Fun Night Monday January 9th at 6:00PM - Mr Mom

After he burst off the screen in Night Shift, Michael Keaton was given his first leading role in this film. He plays Jack Butler who designs and builds cars for a big Detroit auto maker. 

Due to cutbacks, he is laid off from his job. His wife, played by Teri Garr, has been a housewife to their three kids and hasn't worked in years. Jack and her make a bet as to who will get a job first. 

Of course she does and Jack is forced to stay at home and watch the kids. He obviously has no idea how tough the job is and the film goes through his transformation from an inept house dad to a growing into the role. 

Some hilarious scenes include a trip to the supermarket gone awry, Jack's addiction to soap operas and his confrontations with his wife's smug boss played with oily charm by Martin Mull. 

Teri Garr is very funny as is Ann Jillian as her best friend. The real star is of course Mr. Keaton, who shows he cannot only be funny, but touching and caring. a first rate performance.

Fun Night Monday December 12th at 6:00PM - Miracle on 34th Street

What an interesting find! I didn't know this version existed, and it seems that for many decades nobody else did either. Although it is Black and White it is fun to watch.

It is a snappy 46 minute version made for television in the 1950s, closely modeled on the 1947 movie. It was never intended to be preserved beyond that one showing. 

For such a fleeting almost throwaway product, I am very impressed with the care taken with its production and the excellent casting. 

I'm not saying it is "better" than full length movie versions of the story, but it is a 

well done TV version. 

I can't really call it an adaptation as it so closely copies the film version. I suppose television at this time was still finding its own place is the entertainment industry and experimenting with its relationship to feature films. 

How great that the Library of Congress unearthed the only copy of this production and we're able to see it after so long lost.