Classic Movie Friday!

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Cary Grant   Jean Arthur

Bonnie Lee (Jean Arthur) is an American traveling abroad, going here and going there. She stops in Barranca, for a few hours, to have a look around where she is happy to meet some American flyers. They’re pilots who fly over the mountains in Peru to deliver the mail, or whatever is necessary. The flight over the pass isn’t safe. The elevation is 14,000 feet and it experiences a considerable amount of fog and bad weather. Geoff Carter (Cary Grant) is the manager and operates Barranca Airways with a strictness that was probably necessary considering the conditions the pilots were flying in. Bonnie falls in love with Geoff and decides to miss the boat and stay in Barranca. Geoff isn’t happy with her decision. He wants to remain in his dangerous life, flying over the mountains. The situation is plenty complicated, but when Bat McPherson (Richard Barthelmess) arrives with his wife Judy (Rita Hayworth) a difficult situation becomes even more tense. Bat was the cause of another man dying a few years earlier.

This film has a little of everything ~ loss, grief, fear, good friendships, happy times, concern for the safety of others and a whole lotta flying. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the movie when I started watching it, but I did. It was a good film. I love Jean Arthur. She’s a good actress. She’s so cute and I call her, the lady with the squeaky voice. She’s adorable. I can usually count on Cary Grant to do something funny.  🙂

Enjoy!

Death In The Family by Tessa Wegert

A Shana Merchant Novel

On Sale ~ February 18, 2020

A BIG thanks to Berkley Prime Crime!  🙂

“When a young woman wakes to find that not only is her boyfriend missing from their bed, but a pool of blood has been left in his place, local detective Shana Merchant is called to the scene. As she tries to make sense of the family’s intricately woven lies, a storm rolls in and progressively worsens. Trapped with a group of people she distrusts more with every passing minute, Shana must face the uncomfortable truth of a murderer being in the midst, especially when the unknown culprit strikes again.” ~ Berkley Prime Crime

There was so much about this mystery I liked. A group of people stranded on a private island. A storm prevents anyone from coming or going in the wind, high waves and sheeting rain. What an atmosphere! And! Most of these people are related. Dysfunctional family! However, the profanity was terrible. And! This is a mystery for adults. There are some very messy people in this mystery and an extremely messy crime scene.

But, this book really captured my attention and held it. It was difficult to put down. It was a riveting read with so much atmosphere, the presence of danger, the threatening climate inside the house, the pace, the storm’s presence and the trapped people all worked together nicely.

The detective Shana Merchant was dealing with her own stuff. An incident in her past caused her to doubt herself and an insane fiancé wasn’t helping her at all. Throughout most of the book, I wasn’t sure about her partner, Tim Wellington. Mmmm??? I don’t want spoilers, so, that is all!

Happy Reading!

Ramblings And What Not ~

Good morning Peoples! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  🙂  Rick and I went out for breakfast. It was so cold! Oh! My! Word! There was a monster wind-chill. After we finished eating, we drove home and stayed home for the remainder of the day. That horrible wind-chill kept us in the house. I didn’t feel well, so, in the afternoon I napped. I’m ready for spring.  🙂  However, today it is beautiful outside. The sun is shinning and it’s in the mid-thirties. Come on spring!!!

 

As many of you know, I joined the Classics Club. I’m off to a good start. I’m going to read 50 classic reads in five years! If you would like to check out the classics club, the link is below ~

https://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/

The next book I will be reading is ~ drum roll please! Persuasion by Jane Austin. *applause applause* I read this book a few years ago and I don’t remember much about it, so, I decided to read it as a book for the classics club. I’ll be starting it in about a week. Have you read Persuasion? Did you like it? What are your thoughts?  🙂

It was nice chatting with you. Have a pleasant day.

Much love ~

Kathy

Classic Movie Friday!

Mexican Hayride (1948)

Bud Abbott   Lou Costello   Virginia Grey   Luba Malina   John Hubbard

Harry Lambert (Bud Abbott) is a con man and seems to get Joe Bascom (Lou Costello) into all kinds of trouble with his illegal practices. After Joe wins a dance contest for the money, so he can pay back the victims of Harry latest scheme, the two men run away to Mexico with the law on their trail. Joe changes his name to Humphrey Fish to keep from being arrested. There they meet Montana (Virginia Grey). They know her from the United States. Montana is now a bull fighter. That certainly has disaster written all over it ~ at least for Joe Bascom.  🙂  Joe Bascom wins an award, Amigo Americano, when he catches a hat at a bullfight. He is to represent his country as a goodwill ambassador. Crazy antics, shenanigans and tomfoolery abound in this hilarious comedy, but all works out in the end. I shake my head.  🙂

Enjoy!

Murder In The White House by Margaret Truman

A Capital Crimes Novel #1

Murder In The White House is one good murder mystery. Lansard Blaine, the Secretary of State, is found murdered in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House. Not good. It is one messy, nasty, gruesome crime scene. The President asks, Ron Fairbanks, an attorney and White House Counsel to investigate and solve this bloody crime.

What a challenging mystery to write. The murder is inside the White House. Not everyone has access to the White House, especially the Lincoln bedroom at 2:00 am! With that information, the suspects are definitely narrowed down. The first family was in the White House at the time of the murder and everyone is a suspect! It doesn’t take strength to kill in the manner in which he was murdered, just determination. So, who wanted the Secretary of State dead and who was determined enough to get the job done, in the White House, in the early hours of the morning??? Well-written! Good pace! Complicated! A whole lot goin’ on in this mystery and the personal lives of the nation’s politicians are revealed.

This is a mystery for adults. 4 **** stars!

Classic Movie Friday!

Across the Pacific (1942)

Humphrey Bogart   Mary Astor   Sydney Greenstreet   Victor Sen Yung

Rick Leland (Humphrey Bogart) is dishonorably discharged from the military. After he is tossed out of the Army, he acquires passage on a Japanese ship for the Orient in 1941. He’s traveling on a freighter, so there are very few passengers, however, one of the passengers is Alberta Marlow (Mary Astor). The two meet and have an instant connection. Alberta is a great character. She’s fun and amusing. Her and Rick have an interesting romantic relationship. He also meets Lorenz (Sidney Greenstreet). He usually plays a man who cannot be trusted, so, I didn’t trust him in this film either. So, the stage is set. This is espionage and it’s good! Here we are on a Japanese ship, bound for the Orient with a crew of Japanese men, a few random passengers and the date is December 6, 1941!!! Oh my!!! I was especially interested in Alberta Marlow. I wasn’t sure why she was traveling on this particular ship and how she fit into the story. She was an enigma with a sense of humor! I liked her. I was really full of hope she was one of the good guys!

Enjoy!

Murder In The Smithsonian by Margaret Truman

Capital Crimes #4

Dr. Lewis Tenney, a well-respected historian, was unexpectedly murdered at a party at the Smithsonian. Heather McBean, Dr. Tenney’s fiancé, travels to the United States from Scotland, to investigate the crime. She wants answers and she won’t quit until she discovers the identity of the one who killed her fiancé. Mac Hanrahan of the Metropolitan Police, is in charge of the case. He becomes concerned for her safety when two more bodies are discovered murdered.

Margaret Truman, the author of this mystery, was the daughter of our former President, Harry Truman and First Lady Bess. I didn’t know we had a President’s offspring who wrote mysteries. I found this book while I was perusing the shelves at the bookstore. And! I personally liked it. It’s a quick read and moves along at a good pace. I thought it had an espionage feel to it with international intrigue. There was information about the Smithsonian and the artifacts inside. If you would like to know how to shrink a human head, like the head hunters do, I suggest you read this book.  🙂   I don’t think it’s a cozy mystery. I thought it was a little gritty for a cozy.

I liked Hanrahan. I thought he was a good investigator. I was glad the book ended when it did, I was getting tired of his pest of an ex-wife. She was getting on my nerves. *rolls eyes* Heather was grieving. She lost her uncle and her fiancé. She was careless in investigative pursuits. I don’t know if she was usually like that or if the grief was effecting her judgment. I do recommend this book for adults.  4 **** stars!