Something for the Weekend? Try Witness for The Prosecution.

Just for these peculiar times, yesterday we mentioned that YouTube was a good source of movies or online, if you get bored with TV or indeed, Netflix. A lot of them are free, especially classic movies.

Yesterday we talked about Billy Wilder's 'Double Indemnity' so here's another, 'Witness for The Prosecution'.

Marlene Dietrich a german anti-Nazi star of the silent era, steals the show but so too Charles Laughton (Mutiny on the Bounty, Night of the Hunter)) as the typical Rumpole of The Bailey defence barrister and that's not to take away from the murder accused, Tyrone Power (who died at 44 and this his last film). The housekeeper is Una O'Connor from Belfast. 

They're all great in this 1957 Courtroom drama.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, you don't know the real story until the shocking very end and theatre goers then, were asked not to reveal it. Because it's a great, great ending to a superb picture. You'll never guess it...Duckie....

Another Billy Wilder classic. And classic it is, if you're looking for something different to take your mind off things. This one will. 

A movie deadlier than the virus...The Amazing Double Indemnity.

We all think TV and Netflix, but few of us ever remember to go to free YouTube and there's lots of movies there, that you don't get anywhere else! Lots and free. 

Notably classic movies and film noir. So go on a search of discovery on YouTube and you'll hopefully find this one because it's one of the greatest and considered the first film noir. 

Double Indemnity is the clause in some insurance policies that doubles the payout in unusual deaths - like falling off a train....

It's 1944 directed and written by the great Billy Wilder of course (The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard, Some like it hot, etc) and the great film noir writer Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe books) a recovering alcoholic at the time. Although they didn't get along on this film, Chandler has a cameo in the film looking up from a magazine as Neff walks past. 

(If you want to see another Billy Wilder superb film noir classic, go to 'Witness for The Prosecution' on YouTube - Marlene Dietrich/Tyrone Power. It's fab too.)

Edward G is Walter Neff the insurance chief but gets little screen time. Fred Mac Murray is the insurance salesman and Barbara Stanwyck (one of the most popular Hollywood actresses IN Hollywood) is the femme fatale.

There's lots of dark techniques like the Seitz 'venetian blind' lighting and you'll see it in the trailer above.

But go looking on YouTube because sometimes, an Insurance salesman can be more dangerous than a virus....but DO NOT miss it. 

Something for the Week? Netflix, The Politician.

Bored? Want to watch something really good on Netflix? Try this.

The first season went out in September 2019 and you need to start there. Then series two because there's two series up there.

Created in part by Ryan Murphy ('Glee', 'Pose', 'Nip Tuck') raised by an Irish catholic family no less and paid an estimated 300m usd by Netflix for 5 years....

It starts with a student body presidential race but watch the real life parallels....it's one step on a dream to be President of the USA. 

Ms.Paltrow is probably the best known actor in it (although Barbara Streisand, Jessica Lange were cast) but beautifully produced and put together. Beautifully shot in LA. Bette Midler makes a guest appearance.

Nominated for two Golden Globes it's a terrific series. You will just need to get past the first episode but it's so worth it.

Everyone we've told has said thanks and the thumbs up thing they do on text. 

Stick it on tonight and let your mind drift. 

A book for these troubled times from other troubled times?

Looking for a good read during these times?

Dresden is a super book, not just about the WW2 dramatic bombing, it is that, but also about the impact on the real people on the ground. The obliteration of a beautiful city and the people who lived there.

McKay comes at it differently with real human stories that make it unput downable. So well written it really brings a whole new dimension to war.
And we read a lot of war books....but this one is a true stand out. Max Hastings, perhaps the greatest war writer of them all, said,

'Powerful . . . there is rage in his ink. McKay's book grips by its passion and originality. Some 25,000 people perished in the firestorm that raged through the city. I have never seen it better described' Max Hastings, Sunday Times

It's for everyone too - it's not a 'manly' war book but a great insight into devastation and how people cope. Smashing read that takes the mind off things.