You are invited to a day-long marathon of Danny Kaye films at The
Buttery on Saturday, May 31, 2008

Danny Kaye has been dead for 20 years now, but these movies hold up
well.  I have chosen five of my favorites: two silly comedies, two
musicals, and one bitter-sweet war story.   It was very difficult to
choose just five from the nearly 30 films he made for theatres and TV!

SCHEDULE:
1 pm: First set
   Wonder Man (1945) This is one of the three top-rated films starring Danny Kaye, according to reviews on the IMDB.  Kaye plays both Buzzy Bellew (who is killed after witnessing a gangland murder and spends most of the film as a ghost) and his bookworm twin, Edwin.
   Hans Christian Anderson (1952) A totally unhistorical biography of
writer H. C. Andersen, in which Kaye sings several of the stories
(Thumbelina, Ugly Duckling, Emperor's New Clothes).  Anderson plays well
with other children but has problems relating to adults.  Not as
saccharine as you might expect.
   Knock on Wood (1954) Kaye plays a ventriloquist whose dummy Clarence spikes all his love affairs. This was a Cold War era film, so Kaye gets mixed up in a Spy vs. Spy attempt to get the Secret Plans that someone else stuffed into his dummies.  While trying to escape the spies and the police (who think he's a murderer), Kaye impersonates a British car salesman and unintentionally joins a ballet troupe.  In my opinion, this film has one of the best last lines ever, right in there with "Nobody's perfect" and "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
6:30 pm: Dinner break
7:30 pm: Second set
   Me and the Colonel (1958)  The least typical Kaye film: no musical
numbers, no klutzy physical comedy.  Kaye plays a resourceful Jewish man
trying to escape from Paris before the arrival of the Nazis.  In this
effort he is uncomfortably partnered with a Polish Colonel who detests
him.  The humor is subtle, the resolution sweet.
   The Court Jester (1956).  Perhaps the best-loved of all Kaye's
movies.  Of course you know that the pellet with the poison's in the
flagon with the dragon… One of the funniest sword fights in any movie
pits Kaye against Basil Rathbone in a spoof of Errol Flynn vs.Rathbone
in Robin Hood.
Estimated end: about 11 pm

The films each run about 100-110 minutes and there will be short breaks
between films.  Popcorn and some soft drinks will be provided throughout
the day.  After seeing Hans Christian Anderson we will choose our dinner
orders from a pizza/sub place, collect money for them, and arrange for
them to be delivered by 6:30 pm.

This is a family-friendly event.  Polite children of all ages are
welcome; but if your children have short attention spans for movies or
problems sitting still, please bring something to amuse them quietly in
another room while the rest of us watch the films.

RSVP's appreciated but not required.  Questions? Write to
marian@buttery.org or call 617-461-3747 before May 31.  For directions
and maps, please go to www.buttery.org/directions 

Please feel free to extend this invitation to individuals for whom it might be of interest; however, I'd rather you didn't post it to whole lists.

Thanks, and hope to see you then!