Anatomy of an Entertainment Center (2009)

Where do you watch movies? When I'm not at the Brattle, Harvard Film Archive or my parent's house (they have digital cable!), I'm lounging on my big red sofa watching films from my entertainment center. I mostly watch Netflix rentals but also have a budding inventory of DVDs. I also have a massive secret collection of taped movies from TCM. I don't have a DVR or TiVo, so I tape on good old-fashioned VHS tapes.

I have always wanted to do a sort of follow-up to my post Work: My Classic Film Nest with an ode to my entertainment center.

Here she is. Isn't she a beaut? You can see my big red sofa from the reflection of the TV. This entertainment center consists of 500+ pieces and I assembled this monstrosity all by myself. It's my crowning achievement.

Here is another look at my television set. Nothing fancy here. No HDTV, Plasma screen or flat-screen. Believe it or not, she is a color TV! I have that at least.

This is my DVD player which I've had for close to 10 years now. I love the unusual shape because it's cool and it takes up very little room. It's got interchangeable cards so I can make it red, blue or gold whenever I want.

Now here's a peek at my DVD collection. You'll be surprised at some of the films I own. I usually only buy films that I want to watch over and over again like Good News, Pillow Talk and A Patch of Blue. Also, some of these DVDs are presents from friends.

Here is the second shelf. On the right you'll see some earlie Talkies on DVD that my good friend and partner-in-crime Jonas from All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing! sent me!

I had a stereo here before but got rid of it to fill the space with boxed sets, TV collections and music CDs. Unfortunately, now it's quite full and I have 3 new boxed sets to add to it.

Here is the piece de resistance! My secret stash of taped movies. I have hundreds of films in here including my extensive collection of Norma Shearer movies.

Calling all fellow bloggers to participate! What does your entertainment center look like? What films are in your personal collection?

[Participants]

Jonas @ All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing!

Laura @ Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

Bookyeti - 1st Pic - 2nd Pic - 3rd Pic (Temporary)

King of Jazz - 1st Pic - 2nd Pic - 3rd Pic (Temporary)

Sarah @ Cinema Splendor

Casey @ Noir Girl

Kate Gabrielle @ Silents and Talkies

Nicole @ Classic Hollywood Nerd

Good Heavens: Pennies from Heaven (1936) Bonus Round!

When I started the Good Heavens series and came up with my 5 films, my good friend Mark made sure to let me know that there was a film I was over-looking: Pennies from Heaven (1936). At first I thought I'd watch the film, but not write about it. Then I thought, why not cap off the series with a final bonus round? So here it is!

Pennies from Heaven is a feel good movie that tugs at the heart strings. It's good ole Great Depression fare. Bing Crosby stars as Larry, a free-spirited wanderer who travels across the country with his 13th-Century lute. He finds himself in jail (a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time of course) and serenades a fellow jailer with his lute and beautiful singing voice. The jailer, on his final walk to the execution, thanks Larry and asks that he do him the one favor of delivering a letter to a family in New Jersey. Once Larry is released from prison, being the kind soul he is, he sets out to find the family.

This is where he gets in trouble of the very best kind. He befriends an orphan girl Patsy (Edith Fellow) and her Gramp, both of whom are destitute and being hounded by social worker Susan (Madge Evans). They go on an adventure, trying to find a situation that will make Susan leave the family alone. They even go as far as taking an abandoned, haunted home and turning it into a Haunted House Cafe complete with special Halloween effects, chicken dinners and live music.

There are several reasons to watch this film. It's a heart-warming story, Bing Crosby is downright charming and his songs are beautiful. However, the biggest reason to watch this film is Louis Armstrong! Crosby and Armstrong were sort of a musical duo and this is one of their many acts together. Armstrong has a wonderful musical number called "Skeletons in the Closet" which is worth the rental of this film alone.

This film is available on Netflix but the DVD has gone out-of-print since it's release in 2003.

Now I leave you with my favorite Crosby-Armstrong duet for your listening pleasure...

Winners of the TCM 31 Days of Oscar Giveaway

And the Oscar goes too... Oops! I mean... The winners of my TCM 31 Days of Oscar giveaway are...

1) Frank A. ~ Guest Blogger & The Avenger's Enthusiast
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: The Apartment (1960)

2) Wendy Moon ~ Movie-Viewing Girl and fellow L.A.M.B.
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: Sunset Blvd (1950)

3) Lisa R. ~ Screwball Comedy & Hitchcock Afficianado
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: Amadeus (1984)

4) Mercurie ~ A Shroud of Thoughts
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: Citizen Kane (1941)

5) Kate Gabrielle ~ Silents and Talkies
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: You Can't Take it With You (1938)

6) Casey K. ~ Noir Girl
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: Rocky (1976)

7) Caitlin ~ Fire & Music
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: All About Eve (1950)

8) Millie ~ Classic Forever
Favorite Oscar-Winning Performance: Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend (1945)

9) Nicole ~ Classic Hollywood Corner
Favorite Oscar-Winning Performance: Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier (1943)
Favorite Oscar-Winning Movie: Rebecca (1940)

10) DKoren ~ Sidewalk Crossings
Favorite Oscar-Winning Performance: Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou (1965)

Winners shall be receiving this splendid TCM University Composition Notebook in the mail!