The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

I have not read the short story nor have I seen the new film from Ben Stiller of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” But I did just check out the original cinematic take with Danny Kaye as the mother-heckled, day-dreaming hero whose flights of fancy get him in trouble, from running a car over a curb to getting caught up in a murder conspiracy plot that plays as a satirical stab at Hitchcock. That’s not a complaint, not with Kaye -– absolutely one of the most lovable and talented souls ever to grace the screen -- as the good guy and Boris Karloff as an evil doctor who tries to shove Kaye out a high-rise window. (Kaye is playing the anti-Cary Grant hero here, a scared wet-eyed puppy.) Story author James Thurber hated the film. Changes were made and blah blah blah. Sorry for him. Truly. Because it’s Danny Kaye, we have song and dance, and not to discount Thurber, I smiled huge. Sure, it’s corny, but it’s joyful, even if the finale feels random, missing. Watch it. Smile. B+

The Muppet Movie (1979)

“The Muppet Movie” is perfection. This is one of the first movies I saw in a theater. The very Jim Henson fourth-wall tweaking story has Kermit the Frog making his way from his tiny swamp to Hollywood, meeting his felt gang (Fozzie, Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, and even Big Bird) along the way, and outsmarting Charles Durning as a seller of fried frog legs. Yikes! The kick, so to speak, other than seeing the Muppets move freely, ride bikes, and drive cars: Henson’s unparalleled love of entertaining children with no pandering still warms my soul. He celebrates each child in the audience, upholding above all the joyous wonder, curiosity, imagination, and intelligence of the very young. No studio does that now. Not one. “Rainbow Connection” truly is one of the greatest film songs, that final verse saying you -– the children -- make all this possible. For the adults, the humor – loner Rowlf takes himself for a walk -- and guest stars –- Richard Pryor! -– never tip toward concession or ridicule. I can drone on forever of my love for “Muppet Movie.” I love it now as I did at age 5. A+

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

“The Wizard of Oz” is the absolute Hollywood classic. Every fantasy film starts here. The story is simple: A Kansas farm girl is knocked unconscious during a storm and -– it’s a dream -- but let’s say she is taken by a twister to a Technicolor land of witches, scarecrows, tin men, wizards, and Munchkins, far from her sepia-toned world of dirt. To get back home, the girl must steal the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West, played in the greatest villain turn ever by Margaret Hamilton. Judy Garland is the girl, Dorothy, who within 10 minutes sings “Over the Rainbow” and makes us forget the world’s problems. Check the date on this post and deny thinking this week we all wanted to be someplace else, escape our world. It’s the childhood film that gets better watching as an adult. At 70+ years, this is go-to film of optimism, not a drop of cynicism or snark, where everything can go right if you have friends, and you can be home again if only you click your heels thrice. Yes, it’s wishful thinking. Garland OD’d. But we need a bit of “Oz” and often, even the Flying Monkeys. A+