Happy Birthday to Kermit De Frog. 50 years ago today the green amphibian was born.

Oscar video pick of the week: A well written, wonderfully acted film from 1930 with an all star cast. My pick this week is A Free Soul which stars Leslie Howard (Mr. Ashley Wilkes himself), Norma Shearer (fresh from her Oscar win for The Divorcee the previous year), a young Clark Gable, and an almost unrecognizable Lionel Barrymore in his only Oscar winning performance. Barrymore plays Stephen Ash, a drunken defense attorney whose daughter, Jan (played by Shearer), meets gambling playboy Ace Wilfong (Gable). Ash is appalled that Jan has become enamored of Ace. Ash, and everyone else, are hoping that Jan will wed stable and honorable Dwight Winthrop (Howard). The two make a pact; he'll give up drinking if she gives up Ace. Needless to say that pact doesn't last very long. Jan eventually sees through her lust for Ace and realizes she's not the kind of man she needs or wants. What happens next forces Ash to come out of hiding and sober up quick to defend his possible future son-in-law. The courtroom scenes are terrific and Shearer, once again, is riveting. She brings an honesty to the role and gives herself over completely. Barrymore brings a vulnerability to this role. His role in It's A Wonderful Life is no longer his most memorable; not in my mind anyway. And there are less than 5 months until the 2005 Academy Awards.

Enjoy your day,

paul