​Okay, so I get obsessed at the drop of a hat. So what? My current obsession happens to be a little, cinematic jewel directed and starring Jack Webb. You remember Jack Webb aka Joe Friday in both incarnations of Dragnet. This undiscovered treasure features quite a cast. Janet Leigh, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Edmond O’ Brien, Andy Devine, and one of my all-time favorites, Lee Marvin and is worth a viewing or two by anyone interested in the performances of those above, the music of the twenties or simply wanting to enjoy a good old fashioned gangster yarn. 
 
When not crusading against underage marijuana or LSD use in the mid 1960s, Webb was often seen drinking bourbon and listening to jazz in his Universal Studio bungalow. His love for the genre is clearly on display here in this well-executed musical drama written by screenwriter Richard L. Breen.  Based on the radio play, also starring Webb, this story is notable for the cinematography, the authentic musical compositions, and the Academy Award nominating performance of Lee.  The usually wooden Webb is a bit looser here and it shows in not only his performance but in a smooth directing style that while like his other work, manages to surpass his other projects.  Hell, you can see his dedication for the project in his trailer. Not sure how it did when it came out, but to my way of thinking it’s a classic.  
 
And that’s just the facts, ma’am.

Don’t get me wrong, I have seen every film in the Marvel Universe and have enjoyed some more than others. Black Panther and Thor Ragnarok even border on greatness. However, as the stories get bigger and more stars join in on an already impressive line-up, the movies become more like cotton candy, disappearing like wisps of woven sugar shortly after consumption. 
 
Even the latest television offerings on Disney Plus have been, eh, disappointing to say the least. Starting off with the promising, WandaVision and declining with each subsequent incarnation. Thank the stars that Hawkeye arrived in the Big Apple, kids in tow and with a deep yearning to have just to have a normal holiday with his kids before returning home to the Midwest. This series succeeds because it has heart. Not the artificially engineered heart of killing off a beloved character, but by finding an emotion that all of us can identify with and exploiting it in an original and creative way.  I give credit to the writers Katie Mathewson, Tanner Bean and, of course the excellent cast headlined by Jeremy Renner and Haillee Steinfeld. The unique chemistry these two talented actors share will no doubt carry the storyline all the way to a satisfying conclusion.
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Bullseye!

So, I am a self-confessed podcast junkie. I listen to them all the time and, if you have followed this blog for a while, most likely know my preferred programs of choice. If you were paying attention, you know that I mentioned a few of them last week.  
 
I did happen to stumble across a new one that I think is well worth recommending.
 
Batman: The Audio Adventures is the brainchild of Saturday Night writer Dennis McNicholas. A strange hybrid of 60’s television Batman and the more recent Batman: The Animated series, this is a great holiday gift for all fans of the Caped Crusader.  Writer/Director McNicholas has created a strange hybrid of radio drama, comedy and podcast that is totally original.  Several storylines thread through each episode and include newscasts, commercials and even nightclub acts. Jeffrey Wright is as great as you would expect as Batman and rounding out the cast are an eclectic combination of Saturday Night Live cast members and other television and movie notables. 
 
Notables besides Wright are narrator Chris Parnell and Melissa Villasenor as Robin (Yes, you read it correctly), and Brent Spiner as the Joker.
 
 
There is a downside, if you want more than the first two chapters, you will have to subscribe to HBO Max.  I am sure purists will find something to squabble about. Based on the creator’s intent above, I think they hit the bullseye.