Category: Timeless Principles

‘An Innocent Affair’ From 1948: The Importance of Honesty

Commentary If you are familiar with old movies, you probably know about the big-name pictures like “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca,” and “The Maltese Falcon.” If you’re something of a fan, you know the names, faces, and biggest hits of the major stars from the 1930s-50s or whatever time period of films you consider to…


‘I Want You’ From 1951: The Korean War on the Homefront

Commentary If you look up movies about World War II, the list is endless. Whether made during the actual war or since then, focusing on Europe or the Pacific, depicting training or combat, and showing military life or wartime on the Homefront, the Second World War has provided an inexhaustible fountain of content for screen…


‘Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry’ From 1937: A Boy and His Horse

Commentary The concept of a story about a child and a horse is a time-honored one. The bond between any young person and a beloved pet, such as a dog in the “Lassie” movies or any number of wild animals in 1960s live action Disney movies, is a touching premise for a film. Add to…


‘Bedtime for Bonzo’ from 1951: Aping Good Behavior

Commentary The film “Bedtime for Bonzo” from 1951 became a joke after actor turned politician Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States. After all, how many U.S. presidents can say that they starred in a movie opposite a chimpanzee? However, this comedy is a very entertaining picture with a valuable message. I always…


Vacation in Billings: A Refreshing Family Adventure

Commentary “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine wrote this now-popular travel quote before the fall of the Roman Empire, which I’m sure most people would offhandedly acknowledge as true. However, a poignant experience can reinforce a concept you’ve frequently heard and make its significance…


‘The Song of Bernadette’ from 1943: The First Golden Globe Winner

Commentary The 2023 Golden Globes was recently broadcast from Beverly Hills on NBC. The award ceremony was back for its 80th anniversary after a year of absence from television because of its members’ controversial lack of diversity. If you’ve stopped watching award shows and following current Hollywood news, I can’t blame you. Hollywood hasn’t had…


Victimhood’s Badge of Honor

Commentary I’ll never forget her face. It was objectively beautiful, but hardly perceptible, masked by contortions of anger and revenge. We met on the sidewalk outside the local abortion clinic. I can’t remember her name, but I will never forget her face and her rage. She was pregnant with a baby conceived by a faithless…


‘Good News’ (1947): College Football, Musical Style

Commentary Football is a major topic of discussion right now, as fans process Damar Hamlin’s startling medical emergency and anticipate the finals later this month. If modern football is too much for you, but you still enjoy the game, you may want to escape the news cycle with a classic film about the beloved sport….


‘Pocketful of Miracles’ From 1961: Frank Capra’s Holiday Finale

Commentary Frank Capra is remembered as one of the most beloved directors of all time. His movies from the 1930s to 50s captured the American spirit with touching sentiment and truthfulness, which have made them enduring classics to this day. At this time of year, “It’s a Wonderful Life” from 1946 is played on television…


‘Amahl and the Night Visitors:’ An Opera about a Shepherd, Three Kings, and the Spirit of Christmas

Commentary From October through December, department stores, television, merchandise, and popular tunes remind us that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Disagreeing with the jollity is a sure-fire way to declare yourself a modern-day Scrooge, but the secular commercialism can become cloying to those who are sensitive to Christmas’s Christian significance. Even families…