At The Cocoanut Grove

I'm back after taking last week off. I'm here with January's schedule.  Highlights For January Patricia Neal is Star of the Month airing Tuesdays.  TCM Spotlight features The Roaring '20s airing Wednesdays. TCM Special Theme: Overlooked African American Performances airs January 20th and 23rd.  TCM Special Theme: Holocaust Remembrance airs January 13th and 27th. SAG Life Achievement Award to Robert De Niro airs January 16th with 3 films.                                                 Films Airing This Month to Check Out                                                            The Major and the Minor (1942) airs 1/5 at 12:15 p.m./11:15 a.m. Some Like it Hot (...

So for this post I decided I'd post about my favorite Christmas movies I loved as a kid. These are movies from the 80s and 90s, so they aren't completely classic but they have the theme of Christmas and they are still fun to watch.  Prancer (1989) Directed By: John Hancock Starring: Rebecca Harrell, Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman Running Time: 103 Minutes The Nutcracker (1993) Directed By: Emile Ardolino Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel Running Time: 92 Minutes Home Alone (1990) Directed By: Chris Columbus Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern Running Time: 103 Minutes The Santa Clause (1994) Directed By: John Pasquin Starring: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson Running Time: 97 Minutes To Grandmother's House We Go (1992) Directed By: Jeff Franklin Starring: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Jerry Van Dyke Running Time: 96 Minutes Until N...

This post is late and I apologize! Last year I made a post about animated Christmas specials and a few years ago another one . Since it's the holiday season and I'm someone that loves watching holiday specials even animated ones. Here's five more to check out.  Mr. Magoo's Christmas Special (1962)  Note: The link is for the opening.  Care Bears: The Nutcracker (1988) Ziggy's Gift (1982) The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973) The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow (1975) Until Next Time, Ashley A. 

It's officially December and we are getting closer to Christmas. While I have made three playlists in the past I found out there are still several songs that I've never added to my playlists. Here are parts one , two and three incase this playlist doesn't suit you or you want more music.  It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Frank Sinatra Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Nat King Cole Up On the Housetop by Gene Autry Twelve Days of Christmas by Perry Como We Three Kings by The Beach Boys Angels We Have Heard on High by Andy Williams I'll Be Home for Christmas by The Carpenters The Christmas Song by Mel Torme Jingle Bells by Ella Fitzgerald Winter Wonderland by Dean Martin Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses  O Holy Night by Nat King Cole It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Johnny Mathis   Until Next Time, Ashley A. 

Highlights and Monthly Picks For December: Highlights For December: Joan Blondell is Star of the Month airing Thursdays.  TCM Spotlight features Remakes airing Mondays.  TCM Special Theme features Pets On Sets aring Wednesday nights.  Christmas Double Feature airs Sunday nights.  Im Memoriam airs December 17th paying tributes to Julie Adams ( Creature From The Black Lagoon) , David Hedison ( The Fly) , Carol Channing ( Throughly Modern Millie) , Tim Conway (McHale's Navy) , Rutger Hauer (Eureka) , D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop) , Bibi Anderson (Wild Strawberries) and Franco Zeffirelli (The Taming of the Shrew) Films Airing This Month to Check Out: Johnny Belinda (1948) airs 12/6 at 12:45 p.m./11:45 a.m. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) airs 12/7 at 8/7 p.m. O. Henry's Full House (1952) airs 12/8 at 3:45/2:45 p.m. and 12/25 at 12 p.m./11 a.m. The Philadelphia Story (1940) airs 12/9 at 8/7 p.m. High Society (1956) airs 12/9 at 10/9 p.m. Cro...

It's that time of year again, next week is Thanksgiving and the annual Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals launch. I thought I'd go on ahead and make a post this week to give anyone who reads this blog some inspiration on a gift for the classic TV, movie or music fan.  For The Golden Girls Fan Golden Ladies Trinket Tray For the Universal Horror Monster Fan Glow in the Dark Universal Studios Monsters Collage Unisex Tee For the How The Grinch Stole Christmas fan How The Grinch Stole Christmas LP For the Peanuts Fan Charlie Brown Christmas Crew Socks For the Jaws Fan Jaws The Board Game For the Leading Female Fan Dynamic Dames: 50 Leading Ladies Who Made History by Sloan De Forest For the Pin-Up Girl Fan 2020 Pin-Up Girls Calendar Until Next Time, Ashley A. 

Forgive the not quite interesting title but I really couldn't come up with anything better. November is Family Stories Month and we are getting closer to the holidays so I thought I'd make a post on movies about families. Here are a few to check out.  Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) Directed By: Melville Shavelson Starring: Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson Running Time: 111 Minutes  With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) Directed By: Howard Morris Starring: Doris Day, Brian Keith, Barbara Hershey Running Time: 95 Minutes *Note: This is the opening to the film, not the actual trailer. Life With Father (1947) Directed By: Michael Curtiz Starring: William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor Running Time: 118 Minutes The Parent Trap (1961) Directed By: David Swift Starring: Hayley Mills, Brian Keith, Maureen O'Hara Running Time: 128 Minutes *Note: The above is a clip, not the actual trailer. Father of ...

November is Aviation History Month, in honor of that I thought I'd make a post of films that are about aviation. Here's six (including a more recent biopic) to check out.  Hell's Angels (1930) Directed By: Howard Hughes Starring: Ben Lyon, Jean Harlow, James Hall Running Time: 131 Minutes Wings (1927) Directed By: William A. Wellman Starring: Clara Bow, Gary Cooper, Richard Arlen Running Time: 111 Minutes (original) 144 Minutes (restored) The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)  Directed By: Billy Wilder Starring: James Stewart, Murray Haminton, Barlett Robinson Running Time: 135 Minutes Bombers B-52 (1957) Directed By: Gordon Douglas Starring: Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Marsha Hunt Running Time: 106 Minutes The Dawn Patrol (1938) Directed By: Edmund Goulding Starring: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven Running Time: 103 Minutes The Aviator (2004) Directed By: Martin Scorsese Star...

Here is monthly highlights and films to check out for November.  Highlights For November Bette Davis is Star of the Month airing Tuesdays.  TCM Spotlight features 100th Anniversary of American Society of Cinematographers airing Wednesdays.  TCM Special Theme featues Dennis Miller and Friends airing Fridays.  TCM Memorial Tribute to Nancy Gates airs November 4th.  24 Hour Veteran's Day Tribute airs November 11th.  Sterling K. Brown is this month's Guest Programmer airing November 14th.  Films Airing To Check Out: Of Human Bondage (1934) airs 11/5 at 8/7 p.m. The Red Shoes (1948) airs 11/13 at 8/7 p.m. and 11/21 at 2/1 p.m. Waterloo Bridge (1940) airs 11/15 at 6/5 p.m. A Little Romance (1979) airs 11/17 at 6/5 p.m. The Corn is Green (1945) airs 11/19 at 8/7 p.m. Page Miss Glory (1935) airs 11/22 at 6/5 p.m. Crossing Delancey (1988) airs 11/23 at 10/9 p.m. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) airs 11/24 at 4:15/3:15 p.m. ...

Forgive me for making yet another post about horror movies to watch but I have writer's block and there still is time before Halloween to watch these movies. As usual Part One , Two and Three are here if none of these interest you.  What's the Matter With Helen? (1971) Directed By: Curtis Harrington Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Winters, Dennis Weaver Running Time: 101 Minutes    Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971) Directed By: John Hancock Starring: Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kevin O'Connor Running Time: 89 Minutes When A Stranger Calls (1979) Directed By: Fred Walton Starring: Carol Kane, Charles Durning, Collen Dewhurst Running Time: 97 Minutes Dracula's Daughter (1936) Directed By: Lambert Hillyer Starring: Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden, Marguerite Churchill Running Time: 73 Minutes Son of Frankestein (1939) Directed By: Rowland V. Lee Starring: Basil Rathbone, Boris Karlof...

In the past I've made posts about autobiographies/biographies to check out. It's fall and what better time to curl up with a good book than now. Here are 3 autobiographies and one biography to check out.  Me by Elton John Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton Face It: A Memoir by Debbie Harry The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton Until Next Time, Ashley A. 

October 12th is National Farmer's Day in honor of that here's a roundup of a few flicks about farms or farming.  The Grapes of Wrath (1940) Directed By: John Farm Starring: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine Running Time: 129 Minutes The Green Promise (1948) Directed By: William D. Russell Starring: Marguerite Chapman, Walter Brennan, Natalie Wood Running Time: 93 Minutes * Note: The above is a clip from the film, not the actual trailer. Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) Directed By: Roy Rowland Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Agnes Moorehead, Margaret O'Brien Running Time: 105 Minutes The Southerner (1945) Directed By: Jean Renoir Starring: Zachary Scott, Betty Field, J. Carrol Naish Running Time: 92 Minutes The Good Earth (1937) Directed By: Sidney Franklin, Victor Flemming (uncredited) and Gustav Machaty (uncredited) Starring: Paul Muni, Luise Rainer, Walter Connolly Running Time...

If there's a genre I love (aside from musicals and romantic comedies) it's biopics. Sure, the majority of them leave out important events that happened or fib about certain details but in all I enjoy them. Here's a few I like to check out.  Rocketman (2019) Directed By: Dexter Fletcher Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell Running Time: 121 Minutes Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) Directed By: Michael Apted Starring: Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo Running Time: 125 Minutes Riding in Cars With Boys (2001) Directed By: Penny Marshall Starring: Drew Barrymore, Brittany Murphy, Steve Zahn Running Time: 132 Minutes Saving Mr. Banks (2013) Directed By: John Lee Hancock Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti Running Time: 125 Minutes Grey Gardens (2009) Directed By: Michael Sucsy Starring: Jessica Lange, Drew Barrymore, Jeanne Tripplehorn Running Time: ...

Here is October's schedule and monthly highlights: Monthly Highlights: Paul Muni is Star of the Month airing Mondays.  TCM Spotlight features Short and Sweet airing Wednesdays.  Halloween Themed Movies air Thursdays. Monster of the Month features Godzilla, airing Fridays.  AFI: Life Achievement Award: Denzel Washington airs 10/8 at 8/7 p.m. and 11:45/10:45.  Films Airing This Month to Check Out: All About Eve (1950) airs 10/1 at 11:45/10:45 p.m. and 10/28 at 3:15/2:15 p.m. Rebel Without A Cause (1955) airs 10/5 at 6/5 p.m. Imitation of Life (1959) airs 10/6 at 1:30/12:30 p.m. The Curse of the Cat People (1944) airs 10/13 at 12p.m./11a.m. Splendor in the Grass (1961) airs 10/13 at 3:30/2:30 p.m. Shadow of The Thin Man (1941) airs 10/15 at 1:30/12:30 p.m. The Thin Man Goes Home (1945) airs 10/15 at 3:30/2:30 p.m. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) airs 10/27 at 5:30/4:30 p.m. Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) airs 10/29 at 8/7 p....

September is Women's Friendship Month and in the past I've made posts on TV shows and TV characters who are female friends or focus or have women as the main cast. I've never done a post on movies that feature female friendships. Here are 5 to check out:  The Women (1939) Directed By: George Cukor Starring: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell Running Time: 133 Minutes Stage Door (1937) Directed By: Gregory LaCava Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball Running Time: 92 Minutes How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) Directed By: Jean Nagulesco Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable Running Time: 95 Minutes 9 to 5 (1980) Directed By: Colin Higgins Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton Running Time: 110 Minutes Now and Then (1995) Directed By: Lesli Linka Glatter Starring: Demi Moore, Christina Ricci, Thora Birch Running Time: 100 Minutes ...

A few years ago I put together a classical music playlist and September is classical music month. So here's another playlist with more songs to enjoy!  Eine Kleine Nactmusik 'Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major' - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  Fur Elise - Ludwig van Beethoven  Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach  Overture from The Marriage of Figaro - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Nino Rota Palladio - Karl Jenkins Kinderszenen Op. 15 'Scenes from Childhood' - Horowitz  Barcarolle 'The Tales of Hoffmann' -  Jacques Offenbach  The Flower Duet Leo Delibes  O Mio Babbion Caro Giacomo Puccini  Peer Gynt 'Morning Mood' - Edvard Grieg  Aquarium - Camille Saint-Saens Flight of the Bumblebee - Rimsky Korsakov Can Can - Jacques Offenbach  Until Next Time, Ashley A. 

Image Via  As someone who is a fan of The Mary Tyler Moore Show I felt it only fitting to make a tribute post for Valerie Harper.  On August 30th the news broke that actress Valerie Harper had died after a long battle with cancer at age 80. Valerie is probably best known for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on the series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and it's spin-off series, Rhoda.  Upon first viewings of The Mary Tyler Moore Show I found Rhoda Morgenstern not only funny and likeable but very relateable. Sure Mary Richards had her own apartment, a decent job and a stylish fashion sense but I found despite the fact I am neither a native New Yorker nor Jewish, I had a lot in common with Rhoda- we both are weight-conscious and can be self-deprecating and always pull the forever alone thing. However, I've learned like Rhoda to use humor in all situations. As for Valerie, I have to applaud her for her courage during her cancer battle. Despite the fact she was first dia...

Here's monthly highlights and what's airing this month on TCM.  Highlights For September Sidney Poitier is September's Star of the Month, airing Tuesdays.  TCM Spotlight features College Football airing Fridays.  TCM Special Theme: 100 Years of United Artists airing Wednesdays.  TCM Special Theme: James Bond airing Thursdays.  TCM Special Theme: Disability in Movies airs September 23rd and 30th.  TCM Memorial Tribute to Peter Fonda airs September 15th.  Treasures From The Disney Vault airs September 2nd.  Films Airing This Month to Check Out: Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949) airs 9/9 at 4:15/3:15 p.m. Heidi (1937) airs 9/9 at 8/7 p.m. A Patch of Blue (1965) airs 9/10 at 12 a.m./11 p.m. The Great Dictator (1940) airs 9/11 at 4/3 p.m. Light in the Piazza (1962) airs 9/12 at 6:15/5:15 p.m. Summer Stock (1950) airs 9/15 at 2/1 p.m. Sex and the Single Girl (1964) airs 9/16 at 12:30 p.m./11:30 a.m. Guess Who's Com...

For decades now tv shows set in other decades have been airing, like Happy Days and The Wonder Years. There have been quite a few shows recently made set in other decades. Here's a few to check out.  Mad Men (2007-2015) Decades Covered: 1960s and 1970s  The Crown (2016- Present) Decades Covered: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s (and later decades as the series continues) Downton Abbey (2010-2015)  Decades Covered: 1910s and 1920s Agent Carter (2015-2016) Decades Covered: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s That '70s Show (1998-2006) Decade Covered: 1970s State of Grace (2001-2002) Decade Covered: 1960s  Until Next Time, Ashley A.