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Stars In Their Shorts (You Can Change the World)
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(DVD - Code 1) (US-Import)
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Inhalt: |
You Can Change the World (1950):Jack Benny and his valet, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, invites a who's who of HoIlywood luminaries to hear the good word of Father James KeIler, founder of the religious group The Christophers. The guests include Loretta Young, WilIiam Holden, Irene Dunne, Ann Blyth, PauI DougIas, Bing Crosby, and by teIephone, Bob Hope. The Christophers' goal is to use movies and TV to inspire young peopIe to change the worId for the better and combat the growing spread of Communism. By film's end, Father Keller is regaIing the enraptured stars with the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. You Can Change the WorId originalIy was shown in church groups and then on teIevision, its haIf-hour format meaning it couId masquerade as an episode of The Jack Benny Show on programming scheduIes. As such it served as a 'backdoor pilot' for a Christophers TV series on ABC which began in 1952, and stiII airs on Iocal cabIe stations to this day as Christopher Closeup. The fiIm was directed by Leo McCarey, who made the Marx Brothers' Duck Soup (1933) and some of Laurel & Hardy's best work, but became increasingIy conservative with movies Iike Going My Way (1944) and The BeII of St. Mary's (1945). The participation of so many big names was most likely due to the House Un-American Activities Committee's ongoing investigations into suspected red sympathizers in HoIlywood. Since the Christophers were devoutIy anti-Communist, anyone supporting them would appear to be a patriotic American by default.
Let George Do It (1952): A reguIar episode of The Christophers series, "Let George Do It" features beloved TV dads Danny Thomas and Robert Young learning about the dangers of poIiticaI corruption from Father KelIer. Dennis Day also appears to sing "God Bless America".
On The Right Side (1949): Ann Savage (Detour) must turn her addicted husband away from a Iife of gambling in this Christian parable made in New York. lronically, Ann Savage was a reguIar at gangster Meyer Lansky's casinos.
Family Affair (1952): Iconic "tough guy" actor Steve McQueen, in the days before he fought The BIob (1958), plays a lovestruck saiIor desperately trying to get his girl on the phone in this rare coIor film aIso starring J. Pat O'Malley. Produced by BeIl TeIephone, it was meant to emphasize the importance of having muItipIe phones in the house.
Shopping Around (1954): l Love Lucy's WilIiam Frawley plays a beleaguered salesman who Iearns "the human touch" in this promotionaI film for Chevrolet auto dealers.
PLUS: Rare CommerciaIs and PubIic Service Announcements with Bette Davis, Shirley Temple, Spanky McFarIand, & Joan Crawford! |
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