Don Knotts

Don Knotts
Born: July 21, 1924
Died: February 24, 2006 (aged 81) He died of Pulmonary and Respiratory Complications

     Don Knotts is most famous for his role in The Andy Griffith Show. But have you ever watched his skits? He did this one on a nervous Weather Man. You should YouTube it. I absolutely love him. He is so charming and sweet. He could have totally shot his own foot off in the Andy Griffith Show. He knew how to make his audience laugh. He also has a scene in No Time for Sergeants. Which is a cute movie he did with Andy Griffith, his best friend. He was also in The Incredible Mr. Limpet and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. I also recommend watching these films. They are cute and funny.

     Don Knotts was also a veteran of WWII he enlisted at the age of 19, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin. He was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was the youngest of four brothers. His father was a troubled man, threatened his mother with a knife and spent time in a mental hospital. His brother Earl, nicknamed Shadow because of his thinness, died of asthma in 1942 when Knotts was still a teenager. Could you imagine Don as a chicken plucker? He did that as one of his earliest jobs because he was told that he would never become an actor. He never retired from acting. He actually received a Bachelor's degree in Education from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 1948.

     I enjoy watching him in The Andy Griffith Show. My favorite personal episode is in season 2 where Barney joins the choir. He can't sing a lick. It is said that Don Knotts sang off key on purpose, you can actually hear him sing on key in the third episode where he sings with the guest star, James Best, and his guitar. Barney was recognized as the Good Ol' 14A. LOL. Please watch this episode, it is truly my favorite. I love me some Don Knotts!

The Best Years of Our Lives

The Best Years of Our Lives
Released Date: June 17, 1947
Director: William Wyler
Actors: Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O'Donnell, Hoagy Carmichael, and Harold Russell

     I don't usually cry during movies, but this one got me. It is so inspiring. The director wanted a real war hero in this movie and he got Harold Russell. Mr. Russell lost both hands during WWII. He was truly amazing. He won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1947 and well deserved it. He also won a special award that same year for his bravery. It was called the Honorary Award, he won it for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives. This movie actually won 8 Oscars. Best Picture, Best Actor (Fredric March), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Harold Russell), Best Director (William Wyler), and more. This movie is truly great. I would recommend it to anyone, and especially to Americans. This movie also holds great actors. Myrna Loy is one of my personal favorites. She was a great actress. And Teresa Wright, who is very underrated. But she was in some of the best movies I have ever seen. Such as; The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver, The Pride of the Yankees, Shadow of a Doubt and this one. These were in her first six movies she ever made. What are the chances of being in five hits in your first six movies? She was also in a movie with Gary Cooper called Casanova Brown which was the movie she made before The Best Years of Our Lives. I hope everyone watches this, I highly recommend it.

     Al Stephenson (Fredric March), Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), and Homer Parrish (Harold Russell) are returning home after serving in WWII. Al is returning home to his wife, Milly (Myrna Loy) and two children, Peggy (Teresa Wright) and Rob (Michael Hall). Fred is returning to his wife Marie (Virginia Mayo). And Homer is returning to his girlfriend, Wilma Cameron (Cathy O'Donnell). The three men share a private plane ride home. And become great friends in that short period of time. Having the same town they lived in common. They even share a taxi home. Dropping off Homer first, who has a hard time hugging Wilma. Then Al, who gets a warm welcome from his wife and two children. And Fred, who goes home to his mother and father, who are happy to have him back but are scared to tell him about his wife who left the nest. The three men meet up later at a bar that Homer's uncle (Hoagy Carmichael) owns. Can Al return back to normal life? Can Fred rekindle his relationship with Marie? And will Homer marry his high school sweetheart? Find out by watching. You can catch it on TCM, or buy the DVD, which is well worth it in my opinion.