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For this Sunday Kino Night, first up is Ivan the Terrible, Part Two (1946), a historical drama from renowned Soviet auteur Sergei Eisenstein, the guy behind Battleship Potemkin (1925) and Alexander Nevsky (1938), among others. As with the first part, which we watched two weeks ago, this film follows the rise of Ivan IV (1530-1584), as he outmaneuvers the treacherous nobility surrounding him to unite the Russian people under a single domain. A web of ruthless intrigue and backstabbing follows from there. Einstein intended to make three parts, but only managed to make two; this is often considered superior to the first. Critics regard as one of the best Soviet movies, as does Letterboxd.

After that is Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988), the extra-long Christmas edition of the legendary Paul Reubens series Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986), following the surreal adventures of a manchild who gets up to all sorts of strange adventures, often involving celebrity cameos and talking objects. This one in particular is noted for its wide array of celebrity appearances, including Cher, Magic Johnson, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Little Richard, Grace Jones, and Joan Rivers, among others. Reviews describe it as “The Star Wars Holiday Special, but good”. Okay, we’ll watch it.

After that is Holiday Inn (1942), a Christmas musical generally considered to be one of composer Irving Berlin’s crowning works, featuring the debut of one of his most famous songs, “White Christmas”. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star as a singer and tap-dancer who chase each other’s lady-friends, competing with each other in rival musical numbers along the way, that conveniently their talents both to the audience and the women they hope to woo. This is one of those films that has been aired on TV every year for more-or-less as long as TV has been a thing, though often with its infamous blackface number (see below) cut. Director Mark Sandrich is otherwise best-known for making several Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers team-ups, such as Top Hat (1935) and The Gay Divorcee (1934). Still considered a classic, and often better than its successor White Christmas (1954), despite its notorious scene.

We’ll start at 8PM EST on Blorptube, right here:

https://blorp.bot.nu/o/visual_cuisine

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

Doesthedogdie.com links:

CWs for Ivan the Terrible, Part Two:

  • Ableism.
  • Death of parent.
  • Babies.
  • Blood and gore.
  • Alcohol.
  • Stabbing.

CWs for Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special:

  • Ableism.
  • Slapstick violence.
  • Surrealism.
  • Abuse of neurodivergent person.

CWs for Holiday Inn:

  • Blackface. Bing Crosby decides to sing a number in terrifying minstrel makeup, though he just sings in his usual style, rather than in dialect. The scene lasts about 3 minutes. One of the most infamous cases ever, since it occurs in the middle what is otherwise one of the most clean-cut movies out there. Modern TV airings often cut it altogether.
  • Said musical number contains a racial slur.
  • Misrepresentation of minority.
  • Stalking.
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • Car crash.

Links to movies: