Whether foolish, spiteful, wise or sentimental, a person's Last Will and Testament can have far-reaching consequences.
This short film memorably illustrates some unusual final bequeaths & depositions. The viewer will meet a modest goldfish, a most fortunate spaniel, a surprised wife and a tenderhearted killer. The film ends with the beautiful & poignant will of Charles Lounsberry, a hobo who left to the world the joy of life.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann, this was part of the MGM series John Nesbitt's Passing Parade, and was narrated by Mr. Nesbitt. Movie mavens will recognize a snippet from DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935), featuring an unbilled Fay Chaldecott as a joyous Little Em'ly.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
This short film memorably illustrates some unusual final bequeaths & depositions. The viewer will meet a modest goldfish, a most fortunate spaniel, a surprised wife and a tenderhearted killer. The film ends with the beautiful & poignant will of Charles Lounsberry, a hobo who left to the world the joy of life.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann, this was part of the MGM series John Nesbitt's Passing Parade, and was narrated by Mr. Nesbitt. Movie mavens will recognize a snippet from DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935), featuring an unbilled Fay Chaldecott as a joyous Little Em'ly.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
