What classics did you see last week, June 18 to June 24?
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spiderwort — 2 years ago(June 24, 2023 01:43 PM)
First Viewings:
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923):
When a young woman thinks her fiancé has jilted her, she runs off to Paris and a life of sin. Not starring, but written and directed by Charlie Chaplin with a remarkably delicate touch, it’s a moving parable with serious, unusually naturalistic performances by the cast (Edna Purviance, Adolph Menjou and Carl Miller). Occasionally a bit sentimental and ever so slightly melodramatic, but mostly it’s a serious work of art. Chaplin was truly a genius. Highly recommended.
The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935):
In his film debut, Henry Fonda plays a farmer in the 1850s who works on a barge on the Erie canal to earn money to buy a farm. He falls in love with a cook (Janet Gaynor) on a canal boat, but she won’t consider leaving the exciting life on the canal for a boring life on a farm. Excellent direction by Victor Fleming. A sweet, sentimental film with a wonderful cast (Charles Bickford, Andy Devine, Slim Summerville, Jane Withers, John Qualen, et al). Worth a look for the cast alone.
The Dr. Takes a Wife (1940):
An enjoyable comedy about a writer (Loretta Young) and a doctor (Ray Milland) who realize that pretending to be a married couple will advance their careers. Good support from Edmund Gwenn and Gail Patrick and excellent direction by Alexander Hall. Recommended for those who enjoy the cast and are looking for a good time.
Re-watches:
I Never Sang for My Father (1970):
A man living in the shadow of his aging father finds it difficult to start a new chapter in his life by marrying his girlfriend and moving to California. Adapted by Robert Anderson from his play, with wonderful performances by Gene Hackman, Melvyn Douglas and Estelle Parsons. Solid direction by Gil Cates. Received 3 Oscar nominations (Best Actor, Melvyn Douglas, Best Supporting Actor, Gene Hackman, and best screenplay by Anderson). Highly recommended.
The Celluloid Closet (1996):
Filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s ground-breaking depiction of homosexuality in film. A superb production narrated by Lily Tomlin. Highly recommended.
Stage Door (1937):
Nominated for 4 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Andrea Leeds). A wonderful adaptation of the Edna Ferber/George S. Kaufman play, with great performances by all the cast, and stellar direction by the underrated Gregory La Cava. A joy from start to finish. Highly recommended. -
PygmyLion — 2 years ago(June 24, 2023 04:08 PM)
Stage Door
(1937) is very good.
10th Academy Awards List (March 8, 1938):
The Life of Emile Zola (winner)
The Awful Truth*
Captains Courageous*
Dead End
The Good Earth
In Old Chicago
Lost Horizon*
One Hundred Men and a Girl
Stage Door*
A Star is Born*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Academy_Awards
I can only recall seeing 5 of those movies (*). Generally, I an not too high on biographies, but I guess I should give the Emile Zola movie a shot at some point. -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(June 24, 2023 05:47 PM)
And I saw
The Life of Emile Zola
about 60 years ago, so I don't remember it very well, though I suspect it's a good one to see.
Of the others on your list that you haven't seen yet, I would
strongly
recommend
Dead End
! It's terrific. I liked
The Good Earth, In Old Chicago
and
100 Men and a Girl
, but for me
Dead End
tops them all.
Wow, I do believe I saw all the films nominated that year! -
unex — 2 years ago(June 24, 2023 11:18 PM)
Gunga Din (1939)
Uncut Gems (2019)
In a contemporary review for Gunga Din cited by Wikipedia
they complain about too many remakes and sequels coming out of Hollywood
:
Up to 1938, the cinema industry was occupied with an erratic progression from its beginning in nickelodeons to its last phenomenon, screwball comedies. In 1938 the industry stopped going forward, began going backward. The retrogression took three forms: 1) a series of revivals of old pictures, from The Sheik to Dracula; 2) a series of remakes, from If I Were King to The Adventures of Robin Hood; 3) a series of disguised remakes and delayed sequels like Going Places, The Chaser, Tarzan's Revenge.
Nothing ever changes. -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(June 25, 2023 01:48 PM)
Too often sad but true. I think it's worse now though, just because of the monumental deluge of productions. And because people don't – or aren't permitted to – tell stories that are born out of their own experiences, which in some way would make them unique and personal.
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PygmyLion — 2 years ago(June 25, 2023 02:41 AM)
Holiday
(1938) - Cary Grant, Catherine Hepburn, Lew Ayres - 10
Smilin' Through
(1932) - Leslie Howard, Frederic March, Norma Shearer - Another WWI era movie - 7
The White Sister
(1933) - Helen Hayes, Clark Gable - WWI Italy tearjerker - 7
War Nurse
(1930) - Robert Montgomery, June Walker, Anita Page - Nurses at the front in WWI - 7
Play Girl
(1932) - Lorreta Young, Winnie Lightner, Norman Fraser - 7
Millie
(1931) - Helen Twelvetrees, Joan Blondell, Lilyan Tashman - 7 -
Rufus-T — 2 years ago(June 25, 2023 06:20 AM)
The Batman (2022)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877830/reference/
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488589/reference/ -
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ZolotoyRetriever — 2 years ago(June 25, 2023 07:07 AM)
Watched these on Father's Day, courtesy of TCM programming:
The Courtship of Eddy's Father
(1963) [FTV]
Life with Father
(1947)
Father of the Bride
(1950) [FTV]
Later on TCM saw:
Bay of Angels
(1964) [FTV]
Pitfall
(1948)
No Marriage Ties
(1933)
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
(2004) [FTV]
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
(2018) [FTV]
…and lastly, DVR'd off of TCM last September, finally getting around to seeing it:
I Love Trouble
(1948) [FTV]
*FTV = First time viewing
