It's time to watch The Majestic. With the kids.
Open this up. Jim Carrey's speech to the House Un-American Activities court is SPECTACULAR. Embedded within with snippet of Roger Ebert review.
Jim Carrey . Martin Landau . James Whitmore . Hal Holbrook . Gerry Smith . David Ogden Stiers . Lauren Holden . Bob Balaban
Ebert begins:
“The Majestic” is a proud patriotic hymn to America, sung in a key that may make some viewers uncomfortable. At a time when our leaders are prepared to hold trials that bypass the American justice system, here is a film that unapologetically supports the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is set in the early 1950s, but the parallels with today are unmistakable and frightening.
Synopsis: It’s the McCarthy era. Peter Appleton, screenwriter, is accused of being a communist and called to testify. He blows L.A. On the way up the coast and blind drunk he narrowly misses a possum and goes over the bridge. He wakes up without his memory. He’s walked into a small town by a kindly old guy. Every says he looks familiar.
Turns out that Lawson lost 62 boys in WW2 and Peter is a dead ringer for one of them. Completely at a loss, he “inherits” a father, a girlfriend, and a whole adoring town, which slowly comes to life around the miracle of the reappearance of “Luke Trimble.” Slowly Peter begins to believe that’s who he is. The whole town pitches in when Luke Trimble’s father decides to revive The Majestic, a fantastic old movie house. Peter recovers his memory just as the Feds arrive to drag him back to the piranha in a public trial.
When he gives testimony, it’s brilliant. It’s a speech for all of us RIGHT NOW. Enjoy, then watch the whole movie with the people you love. Free on Amazon prime.
I believe this was filmed in the charming town of Ferndale, CA. A friend of mine was visiting her daughter at the time they were filming this. While walking in town, near the theater, my friend tripped and fell in the street. She said she felt hands liftinging her and to her surprise, when she looked up, who did she see but Jim Cary. She said he was very kind and it impressed her that of all the people around there it was him that rushed to help her. It's nice to know that stardom doesn't go to everyone's head.
Thank you for this very prescient recommendation! I believe art and film can teach us so very much; screenwriters are very bright and not beholden to politics to get a message heard/seen. ❤️🕊️🥰