The Cowsills were the real-life 1960’s singing group that inspired “The Partridge Family,” a top recording group made up of a mother and her children, ages 8-19. Their crystal harmonies and upbeat songs like “The Rain, the Park, and Other Things” and “Hair” were some of the most popular tunes of the era.
“H2O” is the delightful Nickelodeon series about three teenage girls who gain special powers after a visit to a mysterious island. And I have copies of the whole first season to give away, with a special bonus — a 90-minute feature film version. Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with H2O in the subject line and tell me what superpower you would most like to have. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only.) I’ll pick the winners at random on March 12. Good luck!
When The Three Pigs roll into town looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt builds with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation – following the wise plans from the “Master Builder’s Handbook!” Each pig has very particular ideas about what they want for their houses, but will their choices be good ones when the rains come tumblin’ down? Find out in this pig’s tale that shows kids that when we follow God’s blueprints, we can make the right choices! PLUS: Ever wonder what happened before Humpty cracked? Humpty (Bob the Tomato) is the mayor of Gooseville, a quiet little town filled with a bunch of lively characters! From Jack & Jill’s missing crayons, to the Three Bears’ lawn problems, all the way to Little Bo Peep’s lost sheep, Mayor Humpty is literally driven up the wall with this pickled pack of problems! Now far away from the gripes and complaints of his neighbors, Humpty declares “with all these neighbors in need, I’m better helping just me!” Will all the town’s heroines and all the town’s men help bring Humpty to his senses again?
Filled with the Veggie’s sunny charm, this story is a lot of fun and it has some important lessons to teach about what we need to think about in making wise choices. There’s a “Give Your Kids a Solid Foundation” discussion guide for parents and teachers, activity pages, and of course a new silly song, as well as some behind-the-scenes glimpses.
I’ve got a gorgeous prize package to give away! Send me an email with “House” in the subject line and tell me your favorite vegetable. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only). I’ll pick a winner at random on March 12. Good luck!
The Best Family Movie of All Time: The Wizard of Oz (and Other Versions)
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 3:52 pm
This week’s release of the prequel, “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a good reason to take another look at what may be the greatest family movie of all time, the classic MGM musical version of “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, and Frank Morgan. The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM tells the remarkable story of how the film was made, including four different directors and a failed attempt to borrow Shirley Temple to play Dorothy.
It wasn’t until well into production that they realized they had something very special that could be an enduring classic. That was when they decided to drop a musical number that was timely when filming but would soon be out of date.
This was not by any means the first or only attempt to film L. Frank Baum’s classic story. A very early silent version was made in 1910, just a decade after the book was first published.
Fifteen years later, silent star Larry Semon appeared in another version, with a Laurel-less Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman.
A sequel with Fairuza Balk was too creepy for kids, but is something of a cult classic.
“The Wiz” was a popular Broadway musical and a less popular movie, with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. “Wicked” is another Broadway musical, based on a book that tells the story from the witchs’s perspective.
Coming later this year is “Dorothy of Oz,” an animated film starring Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammar, Hugh Dancy, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Megan Hilty (“Smash”), Spongebob’s Tom Kenny, and Lea Michele, and based on a continuation of the story by Baum’s great-grandson.
This faith-based drama stars two top performers who give its fact-based story the sweetness and spirit that is sometimes lacking in the heartfelt but uneven script.
Lynn Collins (“The Merchant of Venice,” “John Carter”) plays author Samantha Crawford, who is devastated by the shocking death of her husband, killed in an unsolved shooting. Feeling that she has no reason to live, she resolves to kill herself on the spot where he was murdered. Just as she is about to pull the trigger, she sees a young girl hit by a car. She runs over to help her, and at the hospital she runs into a close friend from her childhood she had not seen in years, Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy of “Barbershop” and “Think Like a Man”). They are very happy to be reunited and Samantha learns that Joe is a beloved community activist, caring for the poor and neglected children in the inner city.
Samantha is drawn to join Joe in helping the children. But she has another reason for visiting him in the projects. She thinks she may have a clue to finding the man responsible for killing her husband. As she thinks about the time she spent with Joe when they were in school and learns more about where he was and what he learned that made him the kind and patient man the kids love and rely on, she feels her soul healing and expanding.
Parents should know that there are some violent scenes and some sad deaths.
Family discussion: What did Joe learn from his time in prison? Why were Joe and Samantha friends? Were you surprised by what Samantha discovered about the night her husband died? Who do you know who is like Joe?
tells the remarkable story of how the film was made, including four different directors and a failed attempt to borrow Shirley Temple to play Dorothy.
(by Baum and, later, two other authors) continue to be popular. There is a theory that the original book was 