RICHARDS REVIEWS Movies/tv network

For those unaware there is a free movie network called MOVIES tv network which airs a wide variety of movies from musicals,dramas to horror among its' wide variety.

This past month I have had a chance to take in several of their movies and I thought I would share my reviews of these movies.

First up is David and Lisa, a movie that starred a younger Keir  Dullea as David and a young Janet Margolin  as Lisa.

The movie premiered December 26th 1962 and was a film about two troubled teens in a system that seemed distant and illusive in being able to understand them, much less be able to help treat them.

David has a fear of being touched, he is convinced if he is touched that he will die, he also has a fear of time.

He comes from a upper class family with a mother (played by Neva Patterson) who thinks his problem can be cured by more advanced teachers, she sees him as someone with great potential but really knows nothing of her son.  

His father (Richard McMurray) is a milktoast, a man who hardly knows himself and does not know how to really communicate with his son.  He makes himself available to David but has really no idea how to reach his son.  

Because of this envinroment we understand why David feels so terrified to any sense of touch much less intimacy.

Lisa Bowen on the other hand at first is silent, not willing to speak at all.  She writes a note to David asking him to play.

A complex and compelling relationship begins and we see two people trapped inside their walls beginning to come together.  

Lisa has an alternate personality, one who is appreciative of art (Melanie) and Lisa who when she communicates it is all in rhyme.

David begins to rhyme with her and they begin to trust.

I could easily give away the ending but I will not spoil it.  

The film was an independently produced film and was not a box office block buster, but it set a style that was different and saw people with mental issues in a very different manner.

It was also a movie based on case records of people who inspired these characters.

It is well worth watching and adding to your collection of movies

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A to Z challenge M and N are for

Well hello once again, I think I'm finally back on track again.

Today I'm only doing two letters because because I don't feel I need to do more than two right now because I am pretty much caught up for this week.

So let's begin today we start off with the letter M.

M is for.

Barry Manilow.

Barry Manilow released his first record in 1973, his music has been pop music soft rock with occasional big band music.

One of his first hit pieces of music what is was The Ballad Mandy, which which follows.

M is for
Glenn Miller.
Glenn Miller was a composer arranger ,and band leader.

He was born in 1904 and died in 1944 at the age of 40.  He began his musical career in the 1920s as an arranger for other big band leaders.

He began his recording career in 1937 however his first band (s) were not successful but by 1938 he had finally put together a group of musicians that founded is big band that lasted until 1942.

In 1942 Glenn Miller join the United States Army Air corps and formed a band and in December of 1944 he was in transit to Europe to lead his band in a Christmas concert when when his plane vanished while crossing the English Channel.

In singles he had 63 top 10 recordings more more send Elvis Presley or the Beatles.

In the mood was one of his most popular recordings and follows.

M is for Montovani.

Mantovani was born in Italy by the time he was twelve he and his family moved to London

Eventually he formed his own Orchestra and created his own style of music. In 1959 he had 39 episodes all the television program that had been recorded recorded in England aired in the United States.

He was very successful with his orchestra and recordings through the 1970s.

He died in a care center in England it 1980.

What follows is one of mantovani Arrangements of a popular piece of the 1960s the song is titled simply More.

N is for

Rick(y) Nelson.

Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and was it popular rock singer he started his own career as a rock and roll country singer in 1957.

In the early 1960s he dropped the Y from his last name and just went by Rick Nelson.

His last successful song came out in 1973 called Garden Party

By 1973 his career was over he was not able to have a following because he was no longer able to draw an audience.

One piece more unique songs with one that came out in 1971 it was titled thank you Lord.  See above for video.

N is for Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson began his professional career as a singer in 1958 in his early days he performed conventional country

In 1973 Willie Nelson joined up joined with other artists in  outlaw country movement, these artists were performing music but was in many ways a form of protest of the standardization of conventional country music that was being mass-produced with a cookie cutter pattern and no true original format.

Here is one of Willie Nelson's veteran-known song 

Let it be me

Nena. Outlaw

Nena is the stage name of a German singer who came to prominence is 1983 what's the song titled 99 Luft balloons.

He recorded the song in English with the title of 99 Red Balloons.

The song was a huge success both in Europe and in the United States.

Nena is still active at this time writing and singing.

A to Z challenge I is for J is for K is for an L is for

I am back and today it's only been less than the day between my post so that's a good thing!

Today I'm doing I through L

I is for

Billy Idol was one of the most well-known pop rock singers who came out in the 1980s he had many number one hits including Rebel Yell Eyes Without a face and White Wedding.

Here is one of his lesser-known songs It's so cruel.

J is for Joel

Billy Joel has been one of the longest most successful Rock and pop singers since he began singing in the 1970s and has had several successful albums from the very beginning which include

Piano Man, Turn Style and later hits such as 52nd Street River of Dreams has kept him on the charts.

No one expected that he would still be performing and recording at in 2020. 

One of his most beautiful and romantic songs he he ever wrote and continues to perform to this day is the standard 

Just the Way You Are.

J is for George Jones

George Jones was a popular country music performer who started his career in 1953 and was still on the charts until his hospitalization in death in 2013.

One of his most popular songs was Kiss an Angel Good Morning.

K is for Kalapana

Kalapana is a group that was formed in 1973 and it still performing today in the Hawaiian Islands and other parts of the world.

They are a pop rock group whose music is definenned by their Hawaiian heritage.

One of their first major hits was their song titled What do I do which which follows

L is for Liszt.

Franz Liszt was a Pianist and composer who lived  from 1811 until 1866, in 65 years he was able to write a variety of music.   One of his most famoush composition were the Hungarian rhapsodies

What follows is Liszt composition Love Dreams

A to Z challenge e e f g h

So sorry for the delay in posting, but posting, but I've really been under the weather for the last week.

So here I am Sunday morning trying once again trying to get caught up.

So E is for Edward Kennedy Ellington AKA Duke.

Duke Ellington from 1922 was a composer a Pianist and leader of his own Orchestra.

He was tremendously successful with various composition such as Moon indigo It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing and take the age rating among others.

In 1971 he released an album titled afro-eurasian eclipse, the overall thought behind the title was that the the world was beginning to move towards more of an Asian mindset and that all of our individual aspects would end up being absorbed into more of an Asian Eurasian construct.

Ellington released the studio album of the same title afro-eurasian eclipse the reflected this belief through the tracks of music it was a a suite in 8 parts

One track off the album is called didgeridoo.

E is also for Enya 

Enya is a Celtic singer who had been a member of the Celtic folk group Clannad 

She wants solo and has produced 42 albums on her own.

Her music reflects both her Irish heritage and her ability to also sing in English as well, besides singing she also plays piano and also things without accompaniment.

One of the most beautiful songs that she has recorded is evening Falls. Hope you enjoy.

F is for

Pink Floyd Has been one of the most Progressive rock bands in England, with a combination of their stage performances that are anything but normal, the powerful music that they have done throughout the years each time challenging their listeners more and at the same time challenging the BBC in in regards to how much further they can push against the wall.

Although this song doesn't fit the alphabetical pattern but I've been using his perhaps one of pink Floyds most powerful songs of last several years the song is on the Turning Away and it cameand it came out on their album a momentary lapse of reason in 1987.

This song since the late 1990s and even more correctly from 2016 onward has become an Anthem for me because of my own personal experience having been homeless.

G is for...

Gateway music, Gateway music is a group who performs at Gateway Church in Dallas Texas.

They sing contemporary Christian music and have recorded and numerous albums under their title.

Dean contemporary Christian group gateway's music is always upbeat and positive.

here is one of the more recent songs titled greater than

I

H is for 

George frideric Handel.

Handel was born in Germany in 1685.  By 1705 he was living in Italy em had composed 3 operas.

By the time does Handel was 25 years old 1715 he living in London and was part of the Royal Academy of Music. In 1727 Handel broke away and formed his phone Academy which was the new Royal Academy of Music.

He composed several well-known pieces his most famous being that of the Messiah he also wrote The Royal the Royal fireworks music.

A to Z challenge my favorite music music music

Hello my my name is Mark Paul Richards and it's been awhile since I've posted here on Blogger.

The last time I posted this was a couple years ago and I focused only on Christian music.

What I'm going to do this time for the A to Z challenge is to list some of my favorite music of all genres and all my favorite groups

Since I'm poor days behind I will combine a through d on this one page.

So let's begin

A is for

Abba: .This group from Sweden had a a series available rooms in the early 1970s and the music was featured in the motion picture Mamma Mia .

Abba had several songs that begin with the letter A, one I am choosing is the song titled as good as new oh, that one of their better known pieces

The group began in 1972 and broke up in 198.

There is good news however for the last 2 years the group has been reunited and is currently doing concert tours once again.

So keep your eyes open you may be able to see Abba in concert.

check your local Ticketmaster for more information on concert information for Abba.

B ia for

Ludwig van Beethoven

I have always loved classical music and Ludwig van Beethoven was always one of my favorite composers.
Beethoven was able to write nine symphonies in his life the last a witch the 9th Symphony the Ode to Joy he was deaf by the time he completed composing the peace and yet he completed it .

Beethoven Lives only fifty-seven years and yet besides riding the nine Symphonies he's best known for he wrote 38 to piano sonatas including his most famous the Moonlight Sonata, one Opera and several other works.

Beethoven's music influenced other composers of his time and has an impact on contemporary thematic pieces of Music in Motion Pictures today.

C is for

Casting Crowns contemporary Christian

Casting Crowns started off as a student worship band in Daytona Florida in 1999 its original leader Mark Hall was a youth pastor at the time.

Thei music is continue to evolve. Weather most recent popular songs is only Jesus.

One of the most powerful songs in in the past several years is one called courageous and this song will will get you up on your feet and you will get up on your feet and feel like dancing to the power of this song it is so remarkable

D is for

John Denver country and pop music

John Denver was the stage name a John Henry Dutchendorf Junior he was a military brat his father was in the Air Force and he began his singing career with many other groups including the new Christy minstrels, and the Starland Vocal Band among others

Altogether he recorded over 300 songs of which he wrote at least 200 of those.

He had many number one hits and he also was a poet laureate as well as a humanitarian and an an activist

The song I am listing here is titled Dreamland Express

Sources are from Wikipedia and from the official Casting crowns website.





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Vegas one title two different series.

In 1978 a TV series premiered starring Robert Urich in the series was titled Vegas.

The original cast included Judy Stevens as sergeant Bella Archer of the Metropolitan Police Department in the first Season her character was a major player in the stories and was always giving Dan Tanna (Utich)  ,
him information concerning the case that Tanna was investigating.

After season 1 her character was played down tremendously and and she became a background character primarily.

Julie Landers played the character of Angie Turner this character was very much a ditz who ended up causing more problems then being able to help.

At times her character was Dan Tanna's secretary and sometimes she was a showgirl.  Her character was phased out at the end of season one because you did not add anything to the series.

Tony Curtis was Philip Roth an an owner of the major casinos, again he was a major player in the series in the first season and he was once again made a background character or supporting character in The Following seasons.

Phyllis Davis play the part of Beatrice Travis who in the beginning other series was still a director of the show Girls at the Dunes Casino which was the primary setting for some of the action  in the first season.

By season 2 Beatrice's character became Dan Tanna's secretary And her character became less intelligent and more of the background woman in danger character.

Greg Morris Lieutenant David Nelson,  became the principal character at the Metropolitan Police Department.

Unlike Bella's character in season 1 David Nelson was more of a concerned friend and supervisor to some degree, in many ways he had a similar personality to the character Barney Cauler I'm Mission Impossible.

The storyline

In season 1 many of the episodes spoke to issues such as sex trafficking and rape among others.

The first season was so different from what Vegas became, after season 1 the series became a typical detective series, with the standard type of detective episodes it appeared on every other detective series such is Dan Tanna having to stop an assassination of someone to be killed at a secret conference concerning the impact of change at one of Roth's casino's.

When Vegas went off the air in 1981 the title was still there and some of the actors are still there but in all honesty it it wasn't the same series.

What started off as a interesting powerful and dramatic series it ended as just one more detective series on the air.