Will you be up at 1AM Thursday? Please watch Turner Classic Movies.

[Pale Blue Dot]

You'll be treated to an unjustly neglected classic, "Miracle of Morgan's Creek", starring my grandfather Eddie Bracken (RIP) and directed by Preston Sturges. It is one of the funniest films of all time (it even made AFI's top 100).

In the film, my grandfather plays a meek man in love with Betty Hutton. She loves serviceman, and cons my grandfather into taking her to an army party, at which she gets knocked out and wakes up pregnant (and this was made in 1944!) My grandfather's character takes the blame, leading to the title event.

The film is hysterical, with great performances from my grandfather, Betty Hutton, and especially William Demarest as her father.

Click the link for more info on this classic American film (and check out Hutton's character name for an idea of this film's humor). If you watch, please PM me and let me know what you thought!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037077/combined

[Nikepallas]

1. I will tape it! I have to be at work early on Friday BUT I can watch it

when I get home.

What other movies did your grandfather appear in?

[WI_DEM]

3. Eddie Bracken was a huge comedy film star during the 40's

but more contemporary audiences may recall him from "National Lampoons Vacation" as the head of Walley World.

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. Here's his listing from the Internet Movie Database

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0102787/

He acted with many greats, including Judy Garland, Veronica Lake, Gene Kelly, Ronald Reagan(sic), Mickey Rooney, and Ashley Judd.

He was an excellent comic actor and a wonderful, warm human being. He showed up at my wedding wearing a "Home Alone 2" jacket (he played Mr. Duncan, the toy store owner, in that movie).

Most people my age know him as Roy Wally, the owner of Wallyworld, from "National Lampoon's Vacation".

[CBHagman]

11. Remember: that's late tomorrow night.

Not late Thursday night. :-)

By the way, you can check when Eddie Bracken movies are on on TCM by doing a search at the TCM website. The better to plan your taping!

www.turnerclassicmovies.com

[WI_DEM]

2. Your grandfather was one of the best

comic actors in films in the 40's and his films for Sturges were particular delights. "Miracle of Morgan's Creek" is a genuine classic. But as great as that one is, I love "Hail the Conquering Hero" even more.

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. Thank you. "Hail" is a great movie, too.

Because of problems with the censors, "Miracle" (which was made in '42) and "Hail" were released within months of each other. My grandfather was convinced that he failed to get an Oscar nomination because nominators were divided between the two performances. It may have just been ego, but if you've seen the two films, he probably had a point.

[Lex]

13. "Hail" has a little blurb and pic of your grandfather

at this site:

http://www.tvguide.com/movies/database/showmovie.asp?MI=29403

Nice picture of him there.

Very cool!

[whalerider55]

5. Bracken is one of the best

i assume he was as nice a person as he projected in his roles...

we don't have tcm anymore on our cable...

whalerider55

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. He was an extremely nice person.

Unfortunatly, he was a poor judge of character, which lead to him a) losing most of his savings, and b)being a Republican. He was a hero worshipper of Ronald Reagan (who he made a movie with), but Reagan, the jerk, couldn't give my grandfather the time of day.

It was easy to forgive my grandfather, though. He was a wonderful human being. I miss him.

[candy]

7. God---Eddie Bracken was your grandfather?

I'm 72 and remember him well-----What a great actor!!!

I can't believe I "know" Eddie Bracken's grandchild.

[CBHagman]

8. "The spots! The spots!"

What a great film! It's been called a "one-man assault on the Hays Office."

Thanks for the heads-up, Finnfan, and of course we will remember your grandfather fondly.

[Left Is Write]

9. Eddie Bracken was your grandfather?

He was absolutely delightful. I'm going to make it a point to watch the movie.

[Lex]

12. Here's a picture of Eddie Bracken from "Miracle of Morgan's Creek"

Way cool that he was your granddad.


and also a later picture

[SPQR]

14. Wow. Your grandfather was one of the greats.

I had the privilige of seeing him in "Follies" at the Papermill Playhouse a few years ago. Too bad Dimitri Wiseman (the part he played) wasn't bigger role. He was really an original.

[Pale Blue Dot]

15. He did a lot at the Papermill.

His great-grandson saw him there in his final role, in "Carousel". My grandfather had 70,000 Professional stage performances, which apparently is a record. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1979 for his performance in a revival of "Hello, Dolly!" with Carol Channing.

[Pale Blue Dot]

16. Kick for the morning crowd.

[Lavender Brown]

17. Wow

That is incredibly cool! I will try to stay up or at least tape it. :toast:

[terrya]

18. Your grandfather did a hilarious movie with Bob Hope.

"Caught in the Draft". It's shown up from time to time. :-)

I'll TRY to stay up...but I may not make it. :-(

Thanks...and Merry Christmas.

T

[The Zanti Regent]

19. I saw him in a road show of Sugar Babies with Jaye P Morgan

oh, he was funny.

I remember Jaye P. coming out to sing a number and folks kept yelling GONG SHOW and WHERE'S CHUCK? Your grandfather came out on the stage with a gong, whacked it and brought the whole house down in a laughing fit that went on for 15 minutes!

[bleedingheart]

20. I will see if we can tape it...

that is way cool!!!

[Pale Blue Dot]

21. Kick for the afternoon crowd.

:kick:

[Pale Blue Dot]

22. Final kick.

Enjoy the show!

[enigmatic]

23. Eddie Bracken's your Grandfather??

I've seen "Miracle.." 6 or 7 times and laughed my ass off; how was he as a person?