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

[LOCIfan]

Excellent suggestion, Techguy! This was a lot of fun when we did it before. Count me in!

[janetcatbird]

I'm in! I was sorry I missed out on last summer's stuff. Thing is, we probably need to get something that is pretty classic/common/famous, so we have a fighting chance of finding it at the rental places.

"The Maltese Falcon" is always fun.

--Catbird

[madger]

I,m in.
There are so many good ones...
I'll try to compile some kind of suggestion list we can choose from and if I miss any, which i
Im sure I will, feel free to add to it. This will be my homework for the next week.
Please start listing suggestions.
madger

[Techguy]

In no particular order of preference, only alphabetical, here are some suggestions (b&w only) for consideration:

All About Eve
A Streetcar Named Desire
Casablanca
Dr. Strangelove
Double Indemnity
On the Waterfront
Psycho (b&w original)
Raging Bull
Schindler's List
The Apartment
The Grapes of Wrath
The Maltese Falcon
The Manchurian Candidate (b&w original)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
To Kill a Mockingbird

[LOCIfan]

Techguy, this is a great list. My top three choices, in no particular order, just because I keep going back and forth:

1. Raging Bull
2. Dr. Strangelove
3. On the Waterfront

While every film on the list is fantastic, I kind of made my picks based on films that I think would generate interesting discussion, from both a content point of view as well as a cinematic point of view. But then, when I look back over the list, sheesh, so many of them seem to fit the bill. In fact, "The Apartment" is my very favorite Billy Wilder movie of all time (even over Some Like It Hot and Sunset Boulevard, and yes, Double Indemnity). But, since we discussed Some Like It Hot last year, maybe we should make way for another director -- though Double Indemnity, as a prime example of film noir, would generate a very different discussion than Some Like It Hot did. Still, maybe we should go for a different director?

Anwyay, I'm very excited about this, and whatever the group decides on, I'm sure it'll be very interesting and generate a wonderful discussion!!!

[Metella]

I'm in - I really loved it as it finally kicked me into watching Citizen Kane.

I'm not going to pick this time - so in a few weeks you all can decide.

[madger]

As if there weren't enough choices:
• The Bank Dick, WC Fields
• My Little Chicadee
• King Kong (original of course)
• Metropolis
• Nosferatu
• Harvey
• Desk Set
• The Trouble with Harry
• Key Largo
• Spellbound
• The Gentleman's Agreement
• The Man in the White Suit
• The Lavender Hill Mob
• The Ladykillers
• Kind Hearts and Coronets
• Topper
• Gunga Din
• Beau Gest
• The Four Feathers
• Notorious
How could everyone forget Sir Alec Guiness? or W. C. Fields for that matter.
Did you watch to kill a mockingbird last year? it seems to be many people's favorite or should we watch one of the lesser knowns?

[LOCIfan]

Ooooh, madger, gread list. My favorite that you've brought up is GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT. Great director (Elia Kazan -- and certain to be a hot topic of discussion given the way his art intersected with history and politics -- he "named names" during the McCarthy hearings and consequently was not black-listed), great subject matter (anti-semitism).

I'd also add to the list another, early Kazan film called A FACE IN THE CROWD. It is a melodrama about pop culture, and features an amazing performance by Andy Griffith (pre-television). For anyone who only knows Griffith through his work as Opie's dad, this would be a revelation. And, the subject matter is so relevant now, not only regarding the pop culture that surrounds us, but also to some of the rumors, etc... we see on this very site. It is very interestingly directed, so it's visually interesting, and it is political (not partisan political, but political in the broader sense). Patricia Neal also gives a wonderful performance. I haven't thoght of, or watched the movie in years, but I would love to see it again and have a chance to discuss it with the intelligent and insightful folk on this board. And, though it's not a well known title, I believe it's readily available for rental. I was able to rent it at a local blockbuster when I was in a rural, nowhere town as a law student (where I first saw it), and I know it's available on netflix.

In fact, Techguy, Grand Poobah, if I may... Could I revoke my earlier list of recommendations and suggest A FACE IN THE CROWD as my one and only contender instead?

[SarahIvy]

Wow, great lists! My favorites for discussion of what has been suggested so far would be:

-To Kill A Mockingbird
-All About Eve
-A Streetcar Named Desire

I would like to toss in for consideration:

-Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
-Lolita (the b/w Kubrick version, of course!)
-Sunset Boulevard

[Techguy]

Keep the cards and letters coming!!! Decisions, decisions!

We still have some time to choose, as I am allowing for the excitement of the USA CI marathons to pass before we can seriously devote some time to movie night.

But as for the matter of choosing our movie, how does everyone feel about this? Should we try to narrow it down to 3-5 choices from what's been proposed and put it to a vote? I've thought about what to pick, and as a means of narrowing it down, I'm leaning toward making a choice based on diversity.

Because last year we did the Billy Wilder comedy "Some Like It Hot," I agree with LOCIfan that a good choice for variety would be a non-comedy with a director other than Billy Wilder.

Any other thoughts?

[LOCIfan]

Good idea, Techguy. Honestly, I can't think of a single choice that wouldn't be fun to watch & discuss. I think it's a good idea to narrow down the field, vote, then watch. This is going to be a lot of fun!

[Techguy]

As if we need any more titles. However, I will put forth one I neglected on my original list--In Cold Blood which was directed by someone with perhaps lesser name recognition than other directors--Richard Brooks. In addition to writing the screenplay for ICB, Richard Brooks also wrote the screenplays for The Blackboard Jungle, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. and Elmer Gantry among others. He also co-wrote, with John Huston, the screenplay for Key Largo.

Other Richard Brooks credits (from IMDb): he directed 10 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Lee J. Cobb, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster, Shirley Jones, Ed Begley, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Jean Simmons and Tuesday Weld. Lancaster, Jones and Begley won Oscars for their performances in one of Brooks's movies.

[Sirenna]

How are we going to pick a winner? Should we make a shortlist of five and then have a poll vote?

[janetcatbird]

I'm sure we could get in a couple movies over the summer, it's not like we can only do one. Are we going for films that are new to most people, or old favorites that we can really get into?

Like I said, just remember the issue of accessibility. I'll try anything once!

--Catbird

[Techguy]

So far the only criteria for the next movie is that it be easily found to rent, plus the suggestion by LOCfan which I agree with. As a departure from last year's pick we do a non-comedy by a director other than Billy Wilder. If this is agreeable to those who plan to participate, then that's one way of narrowing down the field.

The tricky part is coming up with a list of finalists that all participants will be comfortable with. I suggest all who wish to participate should EACH submit a list of five preferences. Perhaps there will be duplicate entries of several films from which we can come up with the five finalists to vote on.

If someone has any other ideas to make the pick fairly with everyone contributing, please post your suggestions.