ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (203)

Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Merrie Melodies Bugs Bunny cartoon (featuring Yosemite Sam,) the 1954 Captain Hareblower, directed by Friz Freleng.



This is the only Yosemite Sam and Bugs Bunny cartoon in the classic Looney Tunes era where Sam and Bugs both lose in the end. (Unless Ballot Box Bunny counts)


Before the start of our feature presentation, ACME Eagle Hand Soap wants to suggest a late Christmas gift.



This album should be in everyone's home.


We hope you are doing well with your self quarantines - the programming department of The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour have been vigorously scrubbing themselves with ACME Eagle Hand Soap - If your eagle's hands are dirty, we'll wash them clean! and sanitizing themselves for your protection. We are also engaged in social distancing - we are communicating with each other via hollowed out pumpkins and Ikea product names.

We've picked another entry from the excellent reference book, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Steven Jay Schneider for today's feature. Today's choice is another Ealing Studios production of a marvelous chocolate confection with a poisonous creamy center, the 1949 Kind Hearts and Coronets, showcasing the brilliant talents of Alec Guiness. So we would like you to relax (quick, find the most comfortable seat on the sofa,) get a snack (perhaps, some watercress sandwiches and crumpets,) and a beverage (a pot or two of tea,) and join The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour in watching this classic film, Kind Hearts and Coronets.



Agatha's death in the movie caused some consternation for Alec Guinness. The scene in question, a hot air ballooning accident filmed in a field next door to Pinewood Studios, prompted him to ask the producers if he was well insured. They told him that he was, to the tune of ten thousand pounds sterling, but Guinness didn't think that was enough. He then declared that the balloon could not be raised any more than fifteen feet unless they raised the insurance to fifty thousand pounds sterling. Ealing Studios was renowned for being very penny-pinching, and it naturally refused Guinness' demand, pointing out that he would be accompanied in the balloon by a well-qualified Belgian balloonist hidden in the basket with him. Guinness was undeterred in his refusal to perform the stunt, so the scene in the finished movie is not him, but the Belgian balloonist wearing Agatha's dress and wig. Guinness had the last laugh, however, when a high wind pulled the balloon off course. The Belgian balloonist was found fifty miles away, having had to jump into a river.



Demand Euphoria!