What Classics Did You See Last Week (January 18–January 24)
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spiderwort — 2 months ago(January 26, 2026 02:37 PM)
All re-watches:
Brief Encounter / David Lean
(1945). A married British woman (Celia Johnson) and a doctor (Trevor Howard) meet at a train station, fall in love, then decide to part. Another David Lean masterwork, based upon Noel Coward’s play, it’s a sensitive, beautiful, deeply meaningful film. Nominated for three Oscars: Best Actress, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay. Highly recommended. (On several streaming services and on TCM through February 22)
A Letter to Three Wives / Joseph L. Mankiewicz
(1949). One of their friends sends a letter to three wives (Jeanne Craine, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern), announcing that she will be leaving town with one of their husbands (Kirk Douglas, Paul Douglas, Jeffrey Lynn). The wonderful Oscar winning screenplay by Mankiewicz, along with his superb Oscar winning direction and its exceptional cast make this a joy to see. Also Oscar nominated for Best Picture. Highly recommended. (On TCM through January 31st, and there’s a high quality version on YouTube LINK)
The More the Merrier / George Stevens
(1943). A working girl (Jean Arthur) shares a D.C. apartment with two men (Joel McCrae, Charles Coburn) during WWII, in which complications arise. This is one of my favorite screwball comedies, as well as one of my favorite George Stevens and Jean Arthur films. It was nominated for six Oscars in all major categories, with Cobern winning as best supporting actor. Beautifully written, performed and directed, it’s a joy to see. Highly recommended. (On TCM through January 30, and there's a high quality version on Youtube)
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman / John Korty
(1974). A 110 year old former Louisiana slave (Cicely Tyson) reminisces about her life and society from the Civil War to the beginning of the cilvil rights battle. Won 9 primetime Emmys in all the major categories. Tyson is absolutely brilliant in it, andTracy Kennan Wynn’s script and John Korty’s direction are remarkable. Highly recommended. (On several streaming services and on TCM through February 18)
Rich and Famous / George Cuckor
(1981). A modern updating of John Van Druten’s 1940 play “Old Acquaintance” filmed in 1943 and starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. In this version, two women evolve from college friends (Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen) into fierce rivals in Manhattan's literary world as the pressures of fame, money, and relationships push their bond to the breaking point. This was George Cuckor’s final film at the age of 82, and although it’s certainly not without its flaws, its still an entertaining endeavor, with a particularly good performance by Bisset. (On TCM through February 16.) -
PygmyLion — 2 months ago(January 27, 2026 04:10 PM)
I watched
Brief Encounter
about a year ago. I was expecting a lot from it given its 8.0 rating on IMDB. I found the movie slow and boring and gave it a 6.3.
I have viewed
A Letter to Three Wives
several times in the past, and always enjoy it. Jeane Crain is especially good as the younger of the 3 women, who especially worried about losing her husband.
Like you, I watched
The More the Merrier
this past week. It is always fun to watch. -
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CoriSCapnSkip — 2 months ago(January 26, 2026 11:44 PM)
The Brave One
(1956) on January 18
Take Me Home: The John Denver Story
(2000) on January 19
Heidi
(2015) on January 22
The Rescuers Down Under
(1990) on January 23
A Little Princess
(1995) on January 24 -
spiderwort — 2 months ago(January 27, 2026 01:58 PM)
The only one of yours I've seen, Cori, is
The Brave One
, which has been a personal favorite since I first saw it when I was a kid and it was first released. I've seen it a few times through the years and have always loved it just as much as I did then.
The Oscar winning screenplay was written by the then blacklisted Dalton Trumbo, who used a pseudonym (a "front") for screen credit at the time. He didn't get personal credit for it until 1975 when the Academy's president, Walter Mirisch, personally delivered a belated Oscar to Trumbo for that wonderful script, now officially recognized by AMPAS as his creation. And eighteen years later, the Academy awarded him a posthumous Oscar for his
Roman Holiday
(1953) script. What a life. -
spiderwort — 2 months ago(January 27, 2026 09:37 PM)
I suspect the versions of
Roman Holiday
we see today were updated by the studio later after the Blacklist, though I can't be sure how it all came down. But the original film was credited to his front: Ian McLellan Hunter. I've only seen it with Trumbo's credit since I first saw the film in the sixties, but I know that it wasn't that way when the film was first released during the Blacklist. He didn't get screen credit again until Kirk Douglas hired him to write
Spartacus
and Otto Preminger hired him to write
Exodus
, and they both gave him screen credit, which effectively put an end to the Blacklist. Kudos to them for doing that. -
spiderwort — 2 months ago(January 28, 2026 01:22 AM)
That seems right. I'm probably misremembering my early viewings. In any case, I'm glad his credit got restored.
Roman Holiday
is one of my favorite films. I love the script, Audrey Hepburn's wonderful debut performance, and William Wyler's great direction. And what an ending! It's absolutely perfect and so beautifully done. -
CoriSCapnSkip — 2 months ago(January 28, 2026 05:43 PM)
Roman Holiday
was one of my mom's favorite films and we watched it countless times over the years. She had a VHS copy I was used to and the writer's name didn't mean much to me. Then when we watched it once on TCM I was shocked to see Dalton Trumbo's name, with which I
was
familiar! I remember remarking on this at the time. -
MissMargoChanning — 2 months ago(January 27, 2026 10:20 PM)
It was a Clifton Webb week!
I just felt like happier times with a dose of old fashioned laughter!
Sitting Pretty
Cheaper By The Dozen
You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night! -
MissMargoChanning — 2 months ago(January 28, 2026 02:47 PM)
Each week I look forward to this thread or ones like it. We share some good choices.
I definitely want to revisit Roman Holiday soon!
You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!