Happy Birthday Al Jolson and John Wayne.
TCM celebrated John Wayne’s birthday. I watched Trouble Along The Way. John Wayne plays a football coach recruited by a dean who is a priest, Charles Coburn, of a religious college. The college is bankrupt and Charles thinks the best way to raise money is with football. When the priest comes to recruit him John Wayne is playing pool and a small time bookie. He has a daughter and an ex-wife who is petitioning the courts to get visitation rights and/or sole custody of the child. He is a very protective father (he watches her out the window as she walks to school and is with the college boys getting ready for the game) but gives his daughter a freedom and independence. Donna Reed plays the social worker for the state. He seems more nervous giving her a dress and hat and explaining that she has to spend the day with her mother than upcoming game. “Stay out of trouble and kick on third down” is the advice he gives to his daughter as she is taken away to spend the day with her mother.
John Wayne is witty, sarcastic, caring, argumentative, hostile, loving and smart. I like the film. The actors are talented, the story is creative and even though there is not much football action there is enough to be entertaining
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