Fav OLD (B&W) Movie - let's make it pithy, eh?

[janetcatbird]

Well, have not seen "Citizen Kane" but I know the secret of Rosebud. I too am busy with the tourney--argh! State and Carolina both out?!?! All I'm saying is Go Georgia Tech, I cheer for spite. Sorry, back to topic.

If anybody is interested, www.mrcranky.com has some wonderfully snarky reviews. SOmetimes they're a bit crude for my taste, but he has some great ones on there--"Wizard of Oz", "Citizen Kane", "Vertigo" (which I can't stand, so I cracked up at: "Take 30 years off their ages and a full-grown Jimmy Stewart is kissing a fetus"). Also, cartoons such as Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, etc. have some terrific tributes/spoofs.

--Catbird

[LOCIfan]

Michael, you're not alone in your view of CITIZEN KANE. I've seen it many times (twice in theaters -- big screen, other people, popcorn, the works), and have always found it icy cold. Beautifully made, technically impressive, but frigid.

But it's been a while since I've seen it, so maybe I'll watch it again before the discussion. Or maybe I'll just shoot from the hip and discuss anyway.

Nikki, you're so right about THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. I watch this movie about once every couple of years, and never, ever tire of it. Wyler at his best. It is so moving to see the characters deal with the reality of peacetime after having dreamed of it for so very long during the war. That thud of disappointment at a desire fulfilled -- it's just gets me every time.

I'd like to add MONSIEUR VERDOUX, 1947, to the Chaplin list -- his last great film (I think). Very dark comedy about a bank teller who gets laid off and starts his own "business" -- marrying and then murdering wealthy widows for their fortunes. Martha Raye as the widow Chaplin just can't kill is very funny. Also, a rather scathing swipe at capitalism.

THE GRAND ILLUSION, 1938, directed by Jean Renoir. Deals with the Great War. French POWs in Germany -- the first prison escape movie. The film is technically (some -- me included -- argue even moreso than KANE, particularly with the depth of focus shots -- and it was done earlier) and narratively brilliant, the acting superb (especially Erich von Stroheim, Jean Gabin, & Pierre Fresnay) -- and this movie's got heart. Lots of it. Always moves me beyond words, no matter how many times I see it.

[Techguy]

For LOCIfan and any other interested members: "Grand Illusion" is on Turner Classic Movie's upcoming Essentials list. This movie will be broadcast on Saturday April 16 @ 8PM Eastern, with a repeat on Sunday April 17 @ 6PM Eastern.

Speaking of TCM's Essentials--as of March 5, Peter Bogdanovich is the new host for 27 classic movies hand-picked by him to be included in the series.

For Metella and anyone else interested in checking out "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" it will be on TCM on Saturday April 16 @ 3:30PM Eastern and Friday May 13 @ 3:30AM Eastern (the actual date and time correcting for TCM's broadcast day).

[LOCIfan]

Thanks, Techguy, for the head's up.

A few more picks (since I'm way past any hope of pithy) for those who enjoy screwball comedies, in addition to BRINGING UP BABY and MY MAN GODFREY there's IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (though considered by some to be among the first in the genre, it doesn't really feel "screwball" to me):

HIS GIRL FRIDAY: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, newspaper setting. Also directed by Howard Hawks (who directed BRINGING UP BABY);

THE AWFUL TRUTH: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne and the little dog from THE THIN MAN movies (called Asta in those films, he's Mr. Smith in this one, and is also the subject of a custody battle);

SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS: Joel McRea, Veronica Lake. Preston Sturges at his finest, and the source of the title used by the Coen Brothers for O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU. Hey, they could've gone with "HEY-HEY IN THE HAY STACK"...;

THE TALK OF THE TOWN: Jean Aruthur, Ronald Coleman, Cary Grant. A charming fugitive, a beautiful teacher and an uptight law professor share a house in the country;

And, let's not forget Lubitsch: THE MARRIAGE CIRCLE, THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING, TROUBLE IN PARADISE, THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, are my faves.

I could go on like this all day! Why must something as pesky as employment always interfere?!

[Metella]

thanks; but I am a cableless dude. I'll have rent Treasure after Kane.

Gee, I am rethinking this cableless position now ...

[Patcat]

Cable is worth having, if only for TCM and the USA Network.

THE LITTLE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER is a little, perfect gem of a film. If anyone wants to know how great an actor James Stewart was, just watch this film. It's a lovely performance--understated, moving, great--all the more remarkable because Stewart is playing a good man. It's hard to play good without being boring.

But the basic story of this film is blessed--there's been several adaptations--the Judy Garland film IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, the musical SHE LOVES ME, and the recent film YOU'VE GOT MAIL--and all are pretty good at the least and wonderful at best.

Patcat

[Metella]

Yes, but cable cost ~35 per month; that is about my gas bill for each month; not a cost I can easily absorb at my financial level. A one time cost, sure; but not monthly.

if I was a rich girl .......

[MelTex]

OOo.. thanks Patcat for telling me the name of the original that "You've Got Mail" was based on. I'd forgotten and I need to see it.

*Mel must expand her "old Movie " classics experence*

[LOCIfan]

35 clams a month for basic cable! Seems kinda steep, but I guess when you figure in all the various taxes, it probably does get up there. I paid 19.99 for basic and I thought THAT was bad.

Have we delved into the great area of classic black & white westerns yet? Although many of the best in the genre are in color (my fave is THE SEARCHERS), there are many terrific black and white films:

STAGECOACH: John Wayne, Claire Trevor. My favorite John Ford Western after THE SEARCHERS. He was an amazing director. Nine strangers in a stagecoach travelling through Apache territory. Wayne's first Western -- Claire Trevor was billed above him.

HIGH NOON: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelley, and a ticking clock. And, made in 1952, Zinnemann made a conscious choice to shoot in in black & white.

RED RIVER: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru. Directed by Howard Hawkes (versatile and sometimes underrated. He directed lots of films that are viewed as best in their genre.)

Oh, and mentinoning Claire Trevor made me think of William Trevor, which brings to mind BRIEF ENCOUNTER -- David Lean's beautiful, delicate love story.

And I've just gotta mention a few others:

MILDRED PIERCE: Melodrama at its finest (I'm not being sarcastic). Same with Joan Crawford.

HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY: Another terrific Ford film -- won best picture in 1941. Touching family drama starring Walter Pigeon, Maureen O'Hara, and Roddy McDowall during his child star years.

IN A LONELY PLACE: Somewhat forgotten film noir Hollywood on Hollywood movie with Humphrey Bogart, in an ironic bit of casting, as the alcoholic screenwriter with a nasty violent streak who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young woman. Gloria Grahame (Violet from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and Ado Annie from OKLAHOMA) in her best performance -- so sultry she sizzles. It's a very dark movie. Great dialogue, fantastic performances and a good deal of menace. When this film was made in 1950, Bogie was already an iconic figure, and certainly the leading protagonist of the film noir genre. Nicholas Ray, the director (and, at the time, husband of Grahame), turns that image inside out, and the effect is fascinating.

[michael]

Just a few more that I think we have omitted:

"No Time For Sergeants" (The forerunner to "Gomer Pyle", but don't hold that against it--wonderfully funny roles by Andy Griffith and Nick Adams.)

"Psycho" (Classic Hitchcock with Anthony Perkins in a breakthrough performance)

"Midnight" (Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche in a well--scripted comedy romance)

"Double Indemnity" (Fred MacMurray's first-person narration of infidelity and murder)

"It Happens Every Spring" (Not a classic, but a funny/clever comedy about a college professor (Ray Milland) who loves baseball and the college president's daughter, in that order...)

In the words of the Kenny Rogers song, "they don't make them like they used to..."

[Cassie]

You guys and gals, got both my hubby and I, checking out the old movies again.

This past weekend, we watched, The Lost Weekend(1945) with Ray Milland, he won an Oscar for his role, It also stars Jane Wyman.



Other old movies that I would highly recommend are:

The Suspect (1944) with Charles Laughton, ----Spoiler Alert ---
the only time, I had true sympathy for a man killing his wife. It's a great thriller ;D

Payment Deferred (1932) Charles Laughton, I liked him in this also

Niagara (1953) with Marilyn Monroe, and Joseph Cotton. What a performance by Monroe!

Seconds (1966) with Rock Hudson. The critics loved him, but his fans, did not. They, his fans preferred that he only did comedies. Good Sci-fi storyline

[janetcatbird]

Sorry for the short notice, but tonight TCM is doing a tribute to Fritz Lang. (For those of you who ahve seen "M" with Peter Lorre, Lang's the director who did it.) Starting at 8:00 PM and running into the wee hours of the morning, films are:

"Ministry of Fear" "Western Union" "Fury" "You Only Live Once" "Moonfleet" "Clash By Night".

As I have not seen them I cannot make reccomendations, but I just thought I'd put them out there.

[NikkiGreen]

Looking for chills?

I'd recommend In Cold Blood, starring Robert Blake.

[LOCIfan]

THE HAUNTING with Julie Harris and Claire Bloom (who was a LOCI guest star in UNREQUITED) is a spookfest, too.

[Patcat]

THE UNINVITED is a very creepy ghost story. It stars Ray Milland, and isn't explicit at all. It used to show up on AMC quite frequently.

Patcat