tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87766177718794259442024-03-13T19:17:01.593-04:00They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used ToClassic movies are not just antiquated films from a bygone era...rather, they are beautiful, well-acted, well-written gems that ought not to fade into obscurity. Truly, Hollywood just doesn't make 'em like they used to!!! I hope you'll discover some must-sees by your visit here.Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comBlogger427125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-79775266481480160442015-12-11T15:48:00.000-05:002015-12-11T15:56:43.752-05:00It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)Looking for something new for your holiday viewing this year? Look no further than the little-known 1947 heartwarmer <i style="font-weight: bold;">It Happened on Fifth Avenue. </i>Directed by Roy Del Ruth, this delightful film stars Victor Moore, Don DeFore, Charlie Ruggles, Ann Harding, and Gale Storm. Since catching this 4-star charmer when it made its TCM premiere in 2009 (as one of their holiday movies), our family has included it in our own holiday viewing schedule. Although the setting is more winter than Christmas---with the exception of a small tree-trimming/Christmas Eve scene---I think the message of the movie shouts that this is a holiday movie.<br />
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The story takes place on Fifth Avenue in New York City, at the home of the extremely wealthy Michael O'Connor (Charlie Ruggles). Every winter, from November 1st to March 15th, O'Connor closes up his mansion and heads south to Virginia. What he doesn't know is that after he moves out, the homeless Aloysius McKeever (Victor Moore) moves in.<br />
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This particular year, McKeever runs into Jim Bullock (Don DeFore), whose apartment building has just been sold, sending him to the streets in search of new living arrangements. Unable to find anything, Jim is resting on a park bench when McKeever meets up with him. Telling Jim he lives alone, McKeever invites Jim to be his guest for the evening. Jim has no idea Mac (as he calls McKeever) is living in the home with the owner unaware, so he accepts the offer.<br />
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That same evening, O'Connor's daughter, Trudy (Gale Storm), who has run away from her finishing school, arrives at the house, and not wanting Mac and Jim to know of her connection to the very wealthy O'Connor, she invents a story about being in town looking for a job. She, too, is invited to remain a guest in the mansion, and very soon, she and Jim are in love with one another.<br />
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Before long, two of Jim's Army buddies---unable to find a suitable apartment---are calling the O'Connor mansion home, and then when O'Connor himself makes an unexpected early appearance, he is assumed to be homeless and, also, is welcomed into the fold.<br />
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How long can the charade be kept up? How long will Michael O'Connor be willing to be a guest in his own home? And what happens when Trudy's mother---Michael's ex-wife (Ann Harding)---shows up as well? These are the questions that play out in this very sweet little film.<br />
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According to Robert Osborne, when this film was originally being made, Frank Capra was going to direct it; however, early on, he heard about another script---the beloved <em><b>It's a Wonderful Life</b></em>---and he chose to direct that film instead, selling his rights to<em> <b>It Happened on Fifth Avenue</b></em> to Roy Del Ruth. In true<b> <em>It's a</em> <em>Wonderful Life</em></b> style, though,<b> <em>It Happened on Fifth Avenue</em></b> also features a beautiful line about friendship... <em><strong>"To be without friends is a serious form of poverty." </strong></em><br />
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This sweet film is on TCM's Christmas Day schedule---Friday, December 25th at 6:00 p.m. (ET), so if you'd like to see it (and I definitely recommend it), be sure to set your DVR. It's also TCM's lineup earlier in the month---Sunday, December 20th, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).<br />
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Happy viewing!!!<br />
<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-79529553529186333142015-12-10T17:02:00.000-05:002015-12-10T17:02:03.684-05:00I'll Be Seeing You (1944)My husband and I began our holiday viewing last week, and the first film on this year's "must watch" list was 1944's<b><i> I'll Be Seeing You</i></b>. This movie is one of my 25 all-time favorites, and though I've reviewed it here before, that was back in 2011---the first year of <b><i>They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To's</i></b> life; therefore, I'm going to re-run that article, as I think the Christmastime setting (including a singing of "O, Come, All Ye Faithful") makes this a perfect movie to add to your holiday viewing schedule.<br />
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A touching wartime romantic drama, <b><i>I'll Be Seeing You</i></b> stars Ginger Rogers and Joseph Cotten, with Tom Tully, the always-delightful Spring Byington, and a teenaged Shirley Temple taking on supporting roles. Directed by William Dieterle, this charming film just might bring a mist to your eye.<br />
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The story is about Mary Marshall (Ginger), who is on furlough from a women's prison. (You'll find out during the movie why she was sent to prison.) While on a train traveling to visit her aunt, uncle, and cousin for Christmas, she meets Zachary Morgan (Joseph Cotten), a handsome soldier who has recently left an Army hospital, where he was being treated for the effects of what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.<br />
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Mary and Zach both disembark the train at the same stop, and upon Zach's request, Mary gives him her uncle's telephone number. They begin spending time together and soon fall in love. However, since Zach's emotional state is still quite tenuous, Mary doesn't tell him that she's been in prison and will soon be going back. And with Zach working through his own personal demons, can there possibly be a future for these two hurting souls?<br />
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<b><i>I'll Be Seeing You</i></b> is a sweet and tender movie, and although it doesn't bring huge sobs, it definitely gets me misty-eyed a couple of times. I think all hopeless romantics will love it. With its Christmastime setting, it's a lovely film to watch this time of year. Out on DVD, it should be quite easy to track down; plus, it's on TCM's schedule twice this month---Friday, December 18th at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, December 25th, at 12:45 p.m. (ET). </div>
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Happy viewing!!Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-2797939563159736942015-11-20T18:25:00.000-05:002016-11-14T16:44:13.121-05:00Big Screen HappeningsNearly eighteen months! That's how long it's been since I've written anything classic film-related here at <b><i>They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b>. Although I considered abandoning this film blog and converting it to a "life" blog (and did so for three days), in the end, I decided to keep this site devoted to nothing but those great oldie goldie films of yesteryear.<br />
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There haven't been a lot of classic film happenings in my life in 2015. I did manage to catch <b><i>Double Indemnity</i></b> on the big screen back in June; it was a wonderful experience, and I'm hopeful that 2016 will bring more such opportunities into my life.<br />
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The week after Thanksgiving, for the fourth year in a row, I'll be watching <b><i>White Christmas </i></b>on the big screen of Boise's beautiful (and historic) Egyptian Theatre. Sharing this fun film together is a Christmas tradition for my daughter and me; to be honest, it wouldn't seem like Christmas without Bing, Danny, Rosemary, and Vera-Ellen. She and I used to watch<b><i> White Christmas</i></b> from our DVD copy, but ever since 2012, it's been showing at the Egyptian as part of Boise Classic Movies' Christmas film series.<br />
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I've recently discovered that Fathom Events is putting on a big screen showing of <b><i>Roman Holiday </i></b>November 29th through December 1st. Given that that adorable film is the one which began my love affair with the classics, I'm pretty sure I'll be in the audience one of those days. Check <a href="http://www.fathomevents.com/event/roman-holiday" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see if it is playing in a theatre in your city.<br />
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What about y'all? What classic films have you been able to catch on the big screen lately?<br />
<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-39697440555816376452014-06-26T11:00:00.000-04:002014-06-26T11:56:09.711-04:00The Great O'Malley (1937)Seems like Pat O'Brien spent his career playing cops or priests, and in <b><i>The Great O'Malley</i></b> nothing is anything different for him. From 1937, this touching, 71-minute, William Dieterle drama features Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, and child star Sybil Jason in supporting roles.<br />
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James O'Malley (O'Brien) is a New York City police officer with a penchant for handing out tickets. For Officer O'Malley there are absolutely no gray areas---black is always black. With his overzealous, no-room-for-discussion ways, he hands out tickets left and right. Continually citing people for old-fashioned ordinances that no one even remembers anymore, such as too many bells on a wagon or a storefront awning being the wrong length, Officer O'Malley has become a pain in the neck to the people on his beat. His superior warns him that justice needs to be tempered with mercy, but O'Malley just doesn't get it.<br />
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One day, he pulls John Phillips (Humphrey Bogart) over for having a loud muffler on his car. Although Mr. Phillips asks O'Malley to quickly write the ticket because he is on his way to the first job he's had in years, the officer takes his time about things. By the time Phillips arrives at his job, he's late, and the job has been given to someone else. With a wife and lame daughter at home, Phillips is desperate and tries to pawn his gun; however, when the pawnshop owner won't pay the amount of money Phillips wants, Phillips clobbers the man on the head and then robs the store, a crime for which he ends up being sentenced 2-10 years.<br />
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Officer O'Malley's superior believes that O'Malley's focusing on minor infractions drove John Phillips to crime...had O'Malley not stopped Phillips for something as petty as a noisy muffler, he wouldn't have missed out on the job and wouldn't have been driven to the breaking point. The police chief believes that O'Malley needs to get a heart and stop harassing people, and in an effort to either make or break the officer, the police captain demotes O'Malley to the position of school-crossing guard. And it just happens to be the school which John Phillips' daughter, Barbara (Sybil Jason), attends.<br />
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Barbara, who walks with a limp, is a kind and loving child, and she soon has stolen the heart of the gruff crossing guard. She tells him her father is working in Canada, but when Officer O'Malley escorts Barbara home one day, he sees a photo of her father and realizes that he is none other than John Phillips. At this point, Officer O'Malley is a changed man, and he seeks to undo the damage he caused the little girl's family. How everything works out is the balance of the film.<br />
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Though not spectacular, this really is a gem of a film. It's tender and touching and even gets me mildly misty-eyed. It affords the opportunity to catch Humphrey Bogart before he became the huge star that he did (this film came just after <b><em>The</em> <em>Petrified Forest</em></b>); plus, the little girl, Sybil Jason, is adorable. Also, the message of tempering justice with mercy is a good one. I actually came close to giving this 4 stars, but in the end, I went with 3, simply because in films this short, I don't feel the characters or the story are developed enough. So, this really is a "could have been 4 stars if it was a bit longer" kind of movie.</div>
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TCM will be airing <b><i>The Great O'Malley</i></b> on Tuesday, July 15th, at 1:30 p.m. (ET). Plus, the film is out on DVD as part of the Humphrey Bogart Essential Collection. I do hope you get a chance to see this, as I think it's worth it.</div>
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Happy viewing!!Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-56686151179352258312014-05-26T14:19:00.000-04:002014-05-26T14:19:07.520-04:00Because of the Brave!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted to re-run a 2-year old post, about <b><i>The Fighting Sullivans</i></b>. This 1944 tearjerker tells the story of a real-life Iowa family, who lost all 5 sons when their submarine went down in the Pacific. Watching this film is a Memorial Day tradition for our family. It's a great reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today were bought at an enormous cost---the lives of men and women.<br />
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If you've never seen <b><i>The Fighting Sullivans</i></b>, I highly recommend it. <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2012/05/fighting-sullivans-5-stars.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> is the link to my 2012 review of the film.<br />
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Happy viewing...and Happy Memorial Day!Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-61582957502957508902014-05-10T14:00:00.000-04:002014-05-10T15:09:45.516-04:00The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to give a brief shout-out about a touching little pre-code tearjerker I caught recently. <b><i>The Sin of Madelon Claudet</i></b>, from 1931, is what I call a "mommy" movie---you know, a movie in which a mother's sacrificial love for her children shines through. The film, which is adapted from Edward Knoblock's play <b><i>The Lullaby</i></b>, stars Helen Hayes, with Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton, and Robert Young taking on supporting roles. Miss Hayes' husband, Charles MacArthur, was the co-writer of the screenplay.<br />
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After her lover (Neil Hamilton) returns to America and is railroaded by his family into marrying a more suitable woman, French farm girl Madelon Claudet (Helen Hayes) gives birth to their illegitimate son. By becoming the mistress of the wealthy Carlo Boretti (Lewis Stone)--who unknown to Madelon is a jewel thief--- she is able to send money to the friends who are caring for the little boy.<br />
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A few years later, just as Carlo---who has known about Madelon's child's existence all along---is about to marry her and bring the youngster to live with them, his real identity as a jewel thief is discovered. Rather than go to jail, Carlo shoots himself, leaving Madelon unable to prove that she was not his accomplice. Convicted, she is sent to prison for ten years.<br />
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Upon her release from prison, Madelon wants to spare her son the shame of having a "jailbird" mother, so she allows him to be told that she has died. Wanting to do all she can to give the boy a good future, Madelon falls into prostitution, providing her earnings to a friend who sees to it that the young man goes to medical school. Years later, when Madelon is very old and sick and her son (now played by Robert Young) is a successful doctor, their paths cross again.<br />
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<b><i>The Sin of Madelon Claudet </i></b>is definitely worth seeing. While the subject matter (illegitimate children) is, of course, dated, the story of a mother's sacrificial love is timeless. Helen Hayes---in what is essentially her film debut---is brilliant in her portrayal of Madelon, and that is not just my opinion. The Academy thought so too, for Miss Hayes' performance graced her with a Leading Actress Academy Award win. Also worthy of mention is Lewis Stone's performance, as well as the work of the makeup artist. The job of aging Miss Hayes, who was 30-years old at the time of filming, was spectacularly done. I highly recommend this film and am going with 4 stars on it.<br />
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Out on DVD, this film ought to be fairly easty to track down. I do hope you get a chance to see it. <br />
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Happy viewing!<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-41242108528910440422014-05-07T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-07T00:00:04.709-04:00Happy Birthday, Gary Cooper!Regular readers of <b><i>They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b> know that Gary Cooper is one of my great loves. As one of my "terrific ten," he's right up there at the top of my favorite actor list. So, of course, I simply <b>must</b> acknowledge his 113th birthday. (May 7, 1901 - May 13, 1961)<br />
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To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite photos of ol' Coop.<br />
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What a profile!!<br />
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The guy could sure wear a suit!<br />
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An older Coop---still looking very handsome. Is it any wonder so many people of that generation (including all 4 of my grandparents) smoked? <br />
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Yes, Shirley, you surely have reason to smile!<br />
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So deep in thought...wonder what he's thinking about? <br />
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A man is not fully dressed without his hat.<br />
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Bow ties work for me too!<br />
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From <b><i>You're in the Navy Now</i></b>---How do you improve on Coop's fabulous good looks? Put him in Naval dress blues!<br />
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From <b><i>Souls at Sea</i></b>---a film I've been yearning to see but have not yet tracked down. Like <b><i>Abandon Ship</i></b>, which I reviewed for the Tyrone Power 100th birthday blogathon, this film is loosely based on the 1841 account of the <b><i>William Brown</i></b>.<br />
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From <b><i>The Plainsman</i></b>---a film I haven't seen in quite a few years. I just love this photo.<br />
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From <b><i>Bluebeard's Eighth Wife</i></b>---a little too slapstick/screwball for my taste, but I love this photo<br />
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From <b><i>Meet John Doe</i></b>---Coop and Barbara Stanwyck had terrific chemistry in their 3 pairings<br />
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Gary Cooper was an incredibly handsome, wonderfully photogenic man, and I have dozens more favorite photos of him. In fact, I could fill an album with favorite photos of Coop---but these dozen are among the cream of the crop, and they are my way of celebrating him on his special day. I'll also be watching <b><i>A Farewell to Arms</i></b> and <b><i>Ten North Frederick </i></b>in the coming couple of days.<br />
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NOTE: All photos obtained from Doctor Macro (<b><a href="http://www.doctormacro.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>) and Golden Age of Hollywood (<b><a href="http://www.goldenageofhollywood.ning.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>)<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-61276446585987362014-05-05T13:34:00.000-04:002014-05-07T08:15:29.516-04:00Happy 100th Birthday, Tyrone PowerHappy 100th birthday to one of my top 10 favorite actors---one of my "terrific 10"---the tremendously under-rated, incredibly handsome Tyrone Power (May 5, 1914 - November 15, 1958)<br />
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In some ways, my love affair with Tyrone Power began the day I was born. Yes, it's true---Tyrone Power has occupied a special place in my heart for over five decades now, even before I ever saw one of his films. That's because one of my grandfathers (who was 3 years Powers' senior) was always told he looked like Tyrone Power. Even though Power had been dead since 1958, he was still very much in the hearts of my grandparents' generation in the 1960's, and people of that age regularly remarked on the resemblance between my grandfather and the movie star they loved. As I grew up, conversations about the resemblance inevitably took place around the dinner table, and those conversations took root in my memory. When I watched my first Power film in 2007, I immediately saw the resemblance between him and my beloved Pap, and those long-ago dinnertime conversations were relived afresh. So, for me, Tyrone Power and my precious grandfather are somewhat one and the same. When I watch a Ty Power film, I actually think of my grandfather; similarly, when I look at a photo of my grandfather, Tyrone Power often comes to mind. So, is it any wonder that Power is among my 10 most beloved actors?<br />
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Capable in both comedic and dramatic roles, Mr. Power was an actor who never got the praise and recognition he deserved. While he gave wonderful performances in many films, not a single Academy Award nomination ever came his way. I think that is very sad...and a definite oversight on the part of the Academy.<br />
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In addition to excelling at both comedy and drama, Power was also quite adept in adventure and swashbuckling films...<b><i>Blood and Sand</i></b>,<b><i> The Mark of Zorro</i></b>, <b><i>Prince of Foxes</i></b>, to name just a few. Perhaps it was fitting that it was while doing just that, Mr. Power died. While in Spain for the filming of <b><i>Solomon and Sheba </i></b>in 1958, Ty succumbed to a sudden heart attack in the midst of a dueling scene with George Sanders. He died enroute to the hospital...an incredibly talented man gone far too soon at the age of 44.<br />
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Besides entertaining audiences with a wonderful variety of films, Mr. Power also faithfully served his country as a pilot in the Marine Corp. He saw action in the South Pacific in the Second World War, taking part in "the air supply and evacuation of wounded from Iwo Jima to Okinawa." The California State Military Museum has a page about Mr. Power's service in the Marines <b><a href="http://www.militarymuseum.org/Tower.html">HERE</a></b>.<br />
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My all-time favorite Ty Power film continues to be <b><i>Witness for the Prosecution </i></b>(reviewed <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2012/05/witness-for-prosecution-5-stars.html">HERE</a></b>). Besides this being what I deem possibly the very best performance of Mr. Power's career, it is also his final completed film, as he would die while making his next movie.<br />
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Rounding out my list of five favorite Tyrone Power films are:<br />
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2. <b><i>Abandon Ship! </i></b> (with Mai Zetterling and Lloyd Nolan---reviewed <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/05/abandon-ship-1957.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>)<br />
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3. <b><i> The Eddy Duchin Story </i></b> (with Kim Novak---reviewed <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2012/01/eddy-duchin-story-4-stars.html">HERE</a></b>)<br />
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4. <b><i>I'll Never Forget You</i></b> (with Ann Blyth---reviewed <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2012/02/ill-never-forget-you-4-stars.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>)<br />
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5. <b style="font-style: italic;">The Mark of Zorro </b>(with Linda Darnell and Basil Rathbone)<br />
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Quite honestly, <b><i>Blood and Sand </i></b>and <b><i>The Long Gray Line</i></b> could also occupy the #5 position. I enjoy them both as much as I do <b><i>Zorro</i></b>. I also have high hopes for <b><i>Untamed</i></b>, Power's second pairing with Susan Hayward. A blog friend provided me with a copy of that film, and I'm hoping to watch it this week.<br />
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While I don't count it among my top-5 Power films, I just have to make mention of <b><i>The Black Swan</i></b>. As part of Maureen O'Hara's 93rd birthday bash last August, <b><i>The Black Swan</i></b> was shown on the big screen of Boise, Idaho's historic (and very beautiful) Egyptian Theatre. (Miss O'Hara currently lives in Boise.) As a Boise resident, I attended the event and was able to catch <b><i>The Black Swan</i></b> in this incredible environment. I'm tellin' you, until you've seen Tyrone Power "up close and personal" on the big screen, you are missing out. Truly, that is how he was meant to be seen!<br />
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There is a movement underway to bring about a Tyrone Power postage stamp. <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/TyronePowerStamp2014">HERE</a></b> is the Facebook page for more information about how to help the dream become a reality. I would definitely love to see Mr. Power honored with a postage stamp, and should that happen, I can assure you, it's the only stamp I will be using for as long as it is available.<br />
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So, Mr. Tyrone Power, here's to you on your 100th birthday. You were a wonderful, completely under-rated actor, and you will always be one of my favorites. And, in the words of George Eliot, <b><i>"Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them."</i></b> Since we have not forgotten you (nor will we ever!), you do, indeed, live on! Thanks for enriching my life with so many incredible films!!<br />
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NOTE: This article is part of the Power-Mad, Tyrone Power 100th birthday blogathon being hosted by<b><i> The Lady Eve's Reel Life</i></b> and<b><i> They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b>. Go <b><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2014/05/power-mad-tyrone-power-centenary.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> or <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/05/welcome-to-power-mad-blogathon.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> to check out all the other fantastic entries.Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-70817692562081475432014-05-05T00:00:00.002-04:002014-05-05T13:16:34.781-04:00Abandon Ship! (1957)Near the top of the list of my favorite Tyrone Power films and what I deem one of the absolute best performances of his career is 1957's <i><b>Abandon Ship!</b></i>. A meaty, intense British drama---also known as <b><i>Seven Waves Away</i></b>---<b><i>Abandon Ship!</i></b> features Mai Zetterling, Stephen Boyd, and Lloyd Nolan in supporting roles. Produced by Tyrone Power and directed by Richard Sale, the film is loosely based on the 1841 incident of the <b><i>William Brown</i></b>.<br />
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After hitting a mine in the waters of the South Atlantic, a luxury liner explodes, and in seven minutes, all but just over two dozen of its 1,156 passengers perish. Those few had managed to get into one of the ship's dinghies before the ship went down. One of the survivors is ship's officer, Alec Holmes (Tyrone Power), who is given command of the small boat just before the captain dies. With the words, "Save as many as you can," Holmes becomes the captain and assumes responsibility for the lives of his passengers.<br />
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The small craft, which was meant for nine passengers, is filled far beyond its capacity. A total of 26 people are depending on the tiny vessel for life...some of them are in the water and desperately hanging onto the side of the craft. Since there had not been time to send a distress signal, reaching the African coast---1,500 miles away---is their only hope. Overloaded as they are, and with only one gallon of water, a tiny amount of canned food, several serious injuries, and an upcoming storm, can they possibly reach land?<br />
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Although some of the people believe that it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak, a well-respected ship's officer counsels Alec to evict the tenants who cannot pay the rent, to save half of them instead of losing them all. Much as it horrifies him to do so, Alec may just have to begin choosing which passengers will remain in the boat and which ones will not.<br />
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This is an incredibly powerful, thought-provoking, "discussion piece" kind of movie---you know, the kind that makes you really think about the hard questions in life. Was Holmes right in his actions? Or was he wrong? What would you do if you were in his shoes? Tyrone Power is totally stellar in this role; in fact, I think this is up there with <b><i>Witness for the Prosecution</i></b> and <b><i>The Eddy Duchin Story</i></b> as one of his absolute best performances. He is thoroughly believable as the reluctant captain who was forced to make the hardest decisions anyone could ever make. For those who say Power couldn't act, see this film, and your mind will be changed.<br />
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As stated above, <b><i>Abandon Ship!</i></b> is loosely based on an actual incident. In 1841, the <b><i>William Brown </i></b>departed Liverpool for Philadelphia, 65 passengers aboard. After hitting an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland, the ship sank, taking nearly half its passengers to their watery graves. The entire crew (including one Alexander Holmes) and the remaining passengers took to two boats, but before their eventual rescue, many of them would be sacrificed in order to lighten the load. For more information about the incident, check out this<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brown_(ship)" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Wikipedia</span></a></span> article or this article from the <a href="http://www.cotyroneireland.com/ships/WilliamBrown.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">County of Tyrone Ireland</span></a><b>.</b><br />
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To my knowledge<em> <b>Abandon Ship!</b></em> is not available on DVD; however, it is available in VHS format and is on YouTube in its entirety <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y_YQ_PPq-0" target="_blank">(HERE</a></b>). Also, TCM does air it periodically. Definitely catch it if you can. When comparing this film to the similar <em><b>Lifeboat</b>, <b>Abandon Ship!</b></em> easily comes out on top for me. In fact, in my opinion, it's a 5-star, gem of a film.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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NOTE: This article is part of the Power-Mad, Tyrone Power 100th birthday blogathon being hosted by<b><i> The Lady Eve's Reel Life</i></b> and<b><i> They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b>. Go <b><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2014/05/power-mad-tyrone-power-centenary.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> or <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/05/welcome-to-power-mad-blogathon.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> to check out all the other fantastic entries.Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-46149451764332475762014-05-03T16:00:00.000-04:002015-11-19T20:12:20.906-05:00Welcome to Power-Mad, The Blogathon Celebrating Tyrone Power's 100th Birthday<br />
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After several weeks of planning and anticipation, Power-Mad---the eagerly-awaited Tyrone Power 100th birthday blogathon---is finally upon us. Monday, May 5th, we'll be celebrating one very under-appreciated actor, and I, for one, am thrilled. Mr. Power <b>so</b> deserves the honor and recognition. (Participants, please include a link to <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">this</span></b> page somewhere in your post, and then either leave as a comment or email me or my <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com" target="_blank">co-hostess</a> (Patty, the Lady Eve) the link to your article, so we can include it on the page.)<br />
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Participating in the event are two dozen Tyrone Power enthusiasts. With swashbucklers, romantic comedies, Westerns, and dramas being highlighted, we're sure to get a great cross-section of Power's film career---hopefully, you'll discover several titles you want to track down. Also, Maria, of the Tyrone Power website, will be giving us a glimpse into her incredible memorabilia collection. This is sure to be a fantastic event, so I hope you get a chance to visit all the entries (even if it takes all week to do so!). <br />
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The contributors are as follows:<br />
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Barry Bradford---<b><i><a href="http://barrybradford.com/razors-edge-frustrating-fascinating-film/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Razor's Edge</span></a></i></b><br />
Citizen Screen---<span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://aurorasginjoint.com/2014/05/05/power-mad-for-the-black-swan-1942/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>The Black Swan</b></span></a></span><br />
Citizen Screen---<a href="http://aurorasginjoint.com/2014/05/04/tyrone-power-on-the-radio/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Tyrone Power on the Radio</b></span></a><br />
Classic Film Freak---<b><i><a href="http://www.classicfilmfreak.com/2014/05/04/mark-zorro-1940-tyrone-power/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Mark of Zorro</span></a></i></b><br />
Critica Retro---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://criticaretro.blogspot.com.br/2014/05/lloyds-de-londres-lloyds-of-london-1936.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lloyd's of London</span></a></b><br />
Greenbriar Picture Shows---<a href="http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/2014/05/one-hundred-years-of-tyrone-power.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">100 Years of Tyrone Power</span></b></a><br />
Hamlette's Soliloquy---<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://hamlette.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-sun-also-rises-1957-review-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Sun Also Rises</span></a> </span> </span></b>(she's having a giveaway of this film)<br />
Immortal Ephemera---<b><a href="http://immortalephemera.com/51416/tyrone-power-and-alice-faye/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tyrone Power and Alice Faye</span></a></b><br />
Kevin's Movie Corner---<b><i><a href="http://kevinsmoviecorner.blogspot.com/2014/05/tyrone-power-blogathon-son-of-fury.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Son of Fury</span></a></i></b><br />
The Lady Eve's Reel Life---<a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2014/05/tyrone-power-and-loretta-young-romantic.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Tyrone Power and Loretta Young</b></span></a><br />
Lasso the Movies---<b><i><a href="http://www.lassothemovies.com/jesse-james-1939-henry-king/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jesse James</span></a></i></b><br />
Laura's Miscellaneous Musings---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2014/05/tonights-movie-this-above-all-1942.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">This Above All</span></a></b><br />
Movie Classics---<b><i><a href="http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/witness-for-the-prosecution-billy-wilder-1957/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Witness for the Prosecution</span></a></i></b><br />
The Nitrate Diva---<b><i><a href="http://nitratediva.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/day-time-wife/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day-Time Wife</span></a></i></b><br />
Old Hollywood---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.claytonology.com/old-hollywood.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">King of the Khyber Rifles</span></a></b><br />
Shadows and Satin---<b><i><a href="http://shadowsandsatin.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/the-power-mad-blogathon-blood-and-sand-1941/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Blood and Sand</span></a></i></b><br />
Sidewalk Crossings---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://fencernanowrimo.blogspot.com/2014/05/crash-dive-1943.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Crash Dive</span></a></b><br />
Silver Screen Modes---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://silverscreenmodes.com/?p=330" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Johnny Apollo</span></a></b><br />
Slightly Shabby---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://slightlyshabby.blogspot.com/2014/05/marie-antoinette-celebrating-tyrone.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slightlyshabby+%28SlightlyShabby%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Marie Antoinette</span></a></b><br />
They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/05/abandon-ship-1957.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Abandon Ship!</span></a></b><br />
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear---<b><i><a href="http://thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2014/05/power-mad-tyrone-power-centennial.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Nightmare Alley</span></a></i></b><br />
Twenty Four Frames---<b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/rawhide-1951-henry-hathaway/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Rawhide</span></a></b><br />
Tyrone-Power.com---<a href="http://moviememories.net/tyrone-power-king-of-the-disaster-movies/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tyrone Power, King of the Disaster Movies</span></b></a><br />
Tyrone-Power.com---<b><a href="http://moviememories.net/memorabilia-thou-glittering-baubles/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Very Special Memorabilia Collection</span></a></b><br />
Tyrone-Power.com---<a href="http://moviememories.net/brangelina-meet-tybell-and-linrone/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Supercouples:</span></b> <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tyrone Power and Annabella, Tyrone Power and Linda</span></b></a><br />
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Have fun celebrating the great Tyrone Power!<br />
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A huge thanks to my co-hostess, Patty, of <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Lady Eve's Reel Life</a>. Actually, Patty was much more than a co-hostess---she did the lion's share of the work for this event, including creating the blogathon's beautiful banners. It was a real joy getting to know her better these past few weeks. Thanks also to each person who spread the word about the event, each person who contributed an article, and each one who visited the blogs and read the entries. This celebration would not have happened without the participation of <b>all</b> of you!!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-42654510359265364522014-04-15T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-15T10:39:14.684-04:00The Jackpot (1950)<div>
This article is part of the James Stewart Blogathon hosted by the Classic Film & TV Cafe. You can view the complete blogathon schedule <b><a href="http://www.classicfilmtvcafe.com/2014/03/announcing-james-stewart-blogathon.html">here</a></b>.<br />
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<em><b>The Jackpot</b></em>, from 1950, is a little-known Jimmy Stewart comedy which I discovered on Fox Movie Channel a couple years ago. It's a film I had never even heard of, let alone seen, but since my family adores Jimmy Stewart, when I saw this on the FMC schedule, I just had to set the DVR. It's really a charming movie, and even I---drama-lover that I am---enjoyed every minute of it. The film also stars Barbara Hale, while James Gleason and a young Natalie Wood have minor roles. </div>
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Bill and Amy Lawrence (Stewart and Hale) are just an average, everyday family---that is, until bandleader Harry James changes their life for the worse. Of course, it wasn't Harry James's fault--- his name just happened to be the answer to a radio show's "Mystery Husband" contest. Though Bill at first thinks his phone number being chosen to play the game is nothing more than a gag, he soon discovers it is all very real, and he more than gets into playing along. When, by the flip of a coin, Bill decides that Betty Grable's husband is the mystery husband and that by knowing that, he has won $24,000 worth of prizes, total mayhem descends upon his formerly mundane life.<br />
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Bill and Amy's prize package includes an assortment of goodies, some practical, some hilarious---a diamond ring, a palomino pony, a complete home makeover, a grand piano, several thousand cans of soup, a trip for two, a portrait appointment with an artist, and on and on. The chaos begins when the Lawrences are informed that they are responsible for the income tax on everything.<br />
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When all is said and done, they owe $7,000 in taxes for all their loot, and that's where the fun of this film comes in. Adding to their dilemma of trying to sell their winnings in order to raise the money for the tax, Amy begins to suspect that Bill is having an affair with the French artist painting the portrait. How it all plays out is the balance of the film.</div>
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<em><b>The Jackpot</b></em> is just a sweet, loads-of-fun movie. It's certainly no Academy Award winner, but it's a delightful film the whole family can enjoy . . . yes, even the little ones ought to get a huge kick out of this. Jimmy Stewart is his usual, totally wonderful self; I feel quite sure that all Stewart fans will want to see this 4-star, little-known gem.<br />
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While this film is not out on DVD, it is on VHS. Additionally, it is available on YouTube, in its entirety (<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4h1h1hfy54">HERE</a></b>). Definitely try to see this if you can...I'm sure you will enjoy every minute of it.<br />
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Happy viewing!!</div>
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Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-46147135679962315822014-04-13T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-29T12:38:55.009-04:00Right of Way (1983)---Better Late Than Never, The One and Only, Late-Career Pairing of Bette Davis and James StewartImpossible as it may be to believe, it wasn't until they were both 75-years old, that screen legends Bette Davis and James Stewart ever made a film together (both were born in 1908). While both are extremely beloved, iconic stars of the golden age, it took until 1983 for their film paths to cross for the first (and only) time. That film, an emotional, heart-tugging, made-for-Cable-TV drama called <b><i>Right of Way</i></b>, also stars Melinda Dillon. Based on Richard Lee's play of the same name, <b><i>Right of Way</i></b> is my addition to the "Diamonds and Gold Blogathon" hosted by <b><i>Wide Screen World</i></b> and <b><i>Caftan Woman</i></b>. This event---dedicated to celebrating stars who were working well into their senior years---is sure to have a multitude of terrific entries. You can access all the other articles <b><a href="http://caftanwoman.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-diamonds-and-gold-blogathon-day-2.html">HERE</a>.</b><br />
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Elderly and long-married Teddy and Minnie Dwyer (Stewart and Davis) have recently learned that Minnie is afflicted with a terminal blood disorder. Although there are complex treatments which could possibly buy her a bit more time, Minnie's prognosis is bleak, and the couple, who have lived together as one for years, have determined that they will die together as one. Wanting to inform their daughter, Ruda (Melinda Dillon), of their plans, Teddy phones her and requests that she come for a visit. <br />
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Shocked by her parents' suicide plan---yet unable to talk them out of it---Ruda contacts Human Services, and after a social worker visits the Dwyer's unkempt home, Teddy and Minnie are rendered unable to care for themselves. Knowing it is only a matter of time until they are under the state's care and no longer free to do as they please, the couple realize they will have to act quickly if they hope to be in control of when and how they die. How it all plays out is the balance of the film.<br />
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It seems amazing to me that the only pairing of these two screen legends did not take place until the tail-end of both their careers. While I don't know how they got along on set (<b><i>Bette Davis, Larger Than Life</i></b> doesn't say), they gave every appearance of being a loving, devoted, decades-married couple. The tender scenes between them easily reminded me of my own parents, grandparents, and in-laws. I found Jimmy and Bette both to be wonderful and very believable in their roles. Bette was typical Bette---sharp-tongued and not inclined to tolerate any foolishness. Jimmy, too, was his usual self---lovable, slightly confused, somewhat-stammering. If I closed my eyes and just let my mind go, I would have thought Margo Channing and Elwood P. Dowd had come together. What a testament to both of them that their iconic <b><i>All About Eve</i></b> and<b><i> Harvey</i></b> characters could still be envisioned at the end of their careers.<br />
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While patient suicide and euthanasia generate much controversy here in the 21st century, back in the early 1980's, they did even more so, making <b><i>Right of Way</i></b> quite bold for its time. I want to make clear that while I enjoyed this film and give it 4 stars, because of my faith, I absolutely cannot condone euthanasia or patient suicide. However, the subject is handled with dignity and sensitivity and makes for a powerful discussion-piece kind of film. Also, with many of us Baby Boomer/Generation X'ers currently watching our own parents age, <b><i>Right of Way</i></b> will probably hit close to home for the bulk of us.<br />
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Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that <b><i>Right of Way</i></b> is out on DVD; it is, however, available on VHS, as well as on YouTube (<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRSerwv_ps0">HERE</a></b>). I do hope you get a chance to see it, especially if you are a Bette Davis or Jimmy Stewart fan.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-75047374990652371742014-03-31T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-31T00:00:04.601-04:00March's "New to Me" Viewings (Part 1)This past month, I was back in my classic-film-viewing groove. After not watching many classics in February, it was a real thrill to have enjoyed one at least four nights each week this month. I was able to catch many "new to me" films, nine of which were 3-star or higher.<br />
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1. <b><i>Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde </i></b> (1931) Truth be told, I started this film well over a year ago; however, at somewhere around the 20-minute mark, the disc glitched and I was unable to finish. I forgot all about watching it until I saw it on the TCM schedule during 31 Days of Oscar. So, I'm calling this a "new to me" film; however, it isn't totally. The classic story of the good Dr. Jekyll and his alter-ego, the evil Mr. Hyde, this film is amazing. The transformation scenes (from Jekyll to Hyde) are absolutely terrific---hard to believe this is a 1931 film. Fredric March's performance is outstanding, very definitely Oscar worthy. I'm going with 4 stars on this, but that's because this is not my genre. I don't do horror at all, and while this may be considered mild horror to some people, I have to admit that it frightened me. In fact, after getting out of bed around 2:00 a.m. on the night I had watched it, I nearly <b>ran</b> back to my bedroom (and the safety of my husband) because the memory of Mr. Hyde came to mind while alone downstairs. So, though, 4 stars from me, if I liked horror, I'm sure this would be a 5-star film.<br />
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2. <b><i>Tenth Avenue Angel</i></b> (1948) Starring Margaret O'Brien, Angela Lansbury, George Murphy, and Phyllis Thaxter, this is a sweet, sentimental, heart-tugger about a little girl's faith in God and her family. When she learns that the fantasy stories her mom has been telling her are just stories and not truth, and when she discovers that a beloved family friend has been in prison and not on an extended trip as she had been told, the little girl's heart is hardened and her faith in God and her family grows cold. How she gets it back and brings love to those around her plays out in the remainder of this very touching film. (I was brought to tears on several occasions). The climax of the film takes place on Christmas Eve, making this a delightful addition to one's Christmastime viewing. I'm going with 3 stars on this, but it's close to 4<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">.</span><br />
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3. <b><i>Whirlpool </i></b>(1934) Starring Jack Holt, Jean Arthur, and Donald Cook. Petty crook Duke Ralston receives a 20-year prison sentence for manslaughter. Wanting his pregnant wife, Helen, to get on with her life, he forges a letter from the warden, informing her that Duke had been drowned in an attempted prison escape. Sometime after giving birth to Duke's daughter, Sandra (Jean Arthur, when grown), Helen marries a successful lawyer. Years later, Sandra happens upon Duke, recognizing him at once from the photo her mother has. Father and daughter are reunited, but for a variety of reasons, the future for them is bleak. An interesting, exciting, 3-star film.<br />
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4. <b><i>The Hook</i></b> (1963) Starring Kirk Douglas, Robert Walker, and Nick Adams, this meaty drama tells the story of three U.S. soldiers who are ordered to execute their Korean prisoner in the waning days of the Korean War. (I reviewed this 4-star film <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-hook-1963.html">HERE</a></b>)<br />
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5. <b><i>Pushover</i></b> (1954) This <b><i>Double Indemnity</i></b>-style noir stars Fred MacMurray and introduces Kim Novak, with Phil Carey, Dorothy Malone, and E.G. Marshall offering support. Directed by Richard Quine, <b><i>Pushover</i></b> finds the usually-affable Fred MacMurray, once again, pulled from the straight and narrow due to his attraction to a beautiful woman. This time, rather than an insurance agent, he's a cop, assigned to follow the girlfriend of a gangster who just pulled a huge heist. Fred's passion for the moll, coupled with his desire to fill his own pockets with the stolen funds, are his undoing. I'm between 3 and 4 stars on this, so I'm calling it 3.5.<br />
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Later this week, I will share four more "new to me" films I watched in March, one of which joins <b><i>I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang</i></b> as a 5-star film discovery of the year.<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-36967475544488023562014-03-28T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-03T23:33:14.684-04:00Let's Celebrate Tyrone Power's Centennial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey classic film bloggers, are you ready for one more blogathon?! I hope so, because Monday, May 5th, is the 100th anniversary of Hollywood mega-star Tyrone Power's birth, and Lady Eve of <b><i><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Lady Eve's Reel Life</a> </i></b>and I will be hosting <b>Power-Mad</b>, a one-day-only event in celebration of the actor's life and career.<br />
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Participants are invited to review Mr. Power's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000061/">films</a> (one blogger per film, please), post a photo spread or a biographical essay (you might cover his life in general or strictly his movie career, his military service during World War II or his post-war stage career, or...) - basically, feel free to get creative.<br />
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This blogathon is not limited to CMBA members, so any and all of you are welcome to participate. (The more the merrier). If you'd like to be involved, you can get in touch in one of two ways---either leave me a comment on this post, or send an email to my co-host (Lady Eve, at <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com">ladyevesidwich@gmail.com). </a>In your email, please include your name, your blog's name and address, and the title/subject of your entry.<br />
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100th birthdays deserve parties and fanfare, so Lady Eve and I are hoping for a huge turnout for <b>Power-Mad</b>. We look forward to having you celebrate with us.<br />
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Lady Eve has created these four gorgeous banners to advertise the event. Please grab one for your blog, and help us spread the word.<br />
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Here is the list of participants:<br />
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Barry Bradford---<b><i>The Razor's Edge</i></b><br />
Citizen Screen---<b style="font-style: italic;">The Black Swan</b><br />
Classic Film Freak---<b><i>The Mark of Zorro</i></b><br />
Critica Retro---<b style="font-style: italic;">Lloyd's of London</b><br />
Girls Do Film---<b><i>The Black Rose</i></b><br />
Hamlette's Soliloquy---<b style="font-style: italic;">The Sun Also Rises</b><br />
Immortal Ephemera---Tyrone Power and Alice Faye<br />
Kathleen Nemec---<b><i>The Long Gray Line</i></b><br />
Kevin's Movie Corner---<b><i>Son of Fury</i></b><br />
Lasso the Movies---<b><i>Jesse James</i></b><br />
Laura's Miscellaneous Musings---<b style="font-style: italic;">This Above All</b><br />
Movie Classics---<b><i>Witness for the Prosecution</i></b><br />
The Nitrate Diva---<b><i>Daytime Wife</i></b><br />
Old Hollywood---<b style="font-style: italic;">King of the Khyber Rifles</b><br />
Shadows and Satin---<b><i>Blood and Sand</i></b><br />
Sidewalk Crossings---<b style="font-style: italic;">Crash Dive</b><br />
Silver Screen Modes---<b style="font-style: italic;">Johnny Apollo</b><br />
The Skeins---<b style="font-style: italic;">Prince of Foxes</b><br />
Slightly Shabby---<b style="font-style: italic;">Marie Antoinette</b><br />
They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To---<b style="font-style: italic;">Abandon Ship!</b><br />
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear---<b><i>Nightmare Alley</i></b><br />
Twenty Four Frames---<b style="font-style: italic;">Rawhide</b><br />
Tyrone-Power.com---A Very Special Memorabilia Collection<br />
Tyrone-Power.com---Supercouples: Tyrone Power and Annabella, Tyrone Power and Linda<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Tyrone-Power.com---Tyrone Power, King of the Disaster Movies</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">NOTE: To access all of the blogathon entries, go <b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/05/welcome-to-power-mad-blogathon.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.</span><br />
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Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-1659960381678713182014-03-19T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-19T00:00:16.784-04:00The Old Maid (1939)Working my way through the titles highlighted in <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, I recently enjoyed a re-watch of <b style="font-style: italic;">The Old Maid</b>, a period drama starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. George Brent gets third billing, although he is only around for the first fifteen minutes or so. Based on Zoe Akin's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, <b><i>The Old Maid </i></b>features Donald Crisp and Jane Bryan in supporting roles.<br />
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Misses Davis and Hopkins portray cousins, Charlotte and Delia Lovell. As the film begins in the early 1860's, Delia (Hopkins) is about to be married, and on her wedding day, her former love, Clem Spender (George Brent), arrives back in town and stops by for a visit. Clem had left town a few years before---off to make his fortune---and when he didn't return, Delia assumed he no longer loved her and, thus, made plans to marry another man---one who was wealthy and socially prominent. When Clem, who is still in love with Delia, declares his intent to make a scene at the wedding, cousin Charlotte (Bette Davis), in love with Clem herself, sets off to reason with him. Wanting to comfort him, she ends up spending the night with him; the next day, however, Clem, now part of the Union Army, sets off for war...and he never returns, having been killed in battle.<br />
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Fast forward a few years...Charlotte, now engaged to Delia's husband's brother, is running a home for war orphans. It is expected that when she marries, she will give up the home; however, there is one particular child---a girl named Tina---whom Charlotte has no intention of giving up.<br />
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On Charlotte's wedding day, Delia discovers that Tina's full name is Clementina and that she is Charlotte's own child, from a man who died in the war; putting two and two together, Delia realizes that Tina is Clem's child...a fact that enrages her. To think that Charlotte had been with Clem---<b>her</b> love---is more than she can stand; determined to make Charlotte pay, she lies to her brother-in-law and he calls off the wedding.<br />
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After Delia's husband dies several months later, Charlotte and Tina are invited to come live with her. Since Charlotte was never married and cannot publicly call Tina her child, Tina calls her "Aunt Charlotte." Delia becomes rather a mother to the little girl, and once, to Charlotte's incredible heartbreak, she even calls Delia "mommy."<br />
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Fast forwarding several more years, Tina has become a young woman (played by Jane Bryan), and Delia, not Charlotte, receives her love, praise, and affection. Aunt Charlotte, who has sacrificed for years, is despised and mocked by the girl. Yet to tell Tina the truth---that the unwed Charlotte is her mother---would destroy all hopes for a legitimate beau, so Charlotte says nothing, all the while being totally brokenhearted because the daughter she loves has rejected her and now calls Delia "mother." Will Tina ever change? Will Charlotte's broken heart ever heal? These are the questions which will play out in the balance of the film.<br />
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Pairing two such strong, formidable actresses, who already had hatred/jealousy issues between them, found director Edmund Goulding <b><i>"more often refereeing than directing; filming went slowly, as each woman fought for every scene she was in. One co-worker said "Working with these two ladies is a slow drag." Goulding himself was to say, "There were times when they behaved like perfect little bitches". . . However, the women's intense dislike for each other did have a positive side, for it not only added to their pleasure in making the picture but also proved so mutually stimulating that Warners production chief Hal Wallis planned to team them again."</i></b> [1] The women <b>were</b> paired again, in <b><i>Old Acquaintance</i></b>.<br />
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A huge Bette Davis fan, I enjoy having the opportunity to catch Bette in a sympathetic role for a change. She's terrific here---as she is always. What I find so impressive about Bette is that beyond her brilliant acting, she was always willing to take on unglamorous roles and be seen as dowdy, ugly, and unsophisticated. Her acting was so great that she didn't have to get by on looks alone.<br />
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<em><b>The Old Maid</b></em> is a lot like one of my top 25 films, <em><b>Stella Dallas</b></em>, in that it is the story of a mother's sacrificial love for her daughter. However, while I give <b><i>The Old Maid</i></b> 4 stars, I do prefer <em><b>Stella Dallas</b>,</em> mostly because of the daughters' character. Here in <b><i>The Old Maid</i></b>, Tina is selfish and obnoxious, whereas Lolly, Anne Shirley's <em><b>Stella Dallas</b></em> character, is loving and caring. Because of Clementina's attitude, I just never had the affection for her that I had for Lolly. <br />
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Out on DVD, <b><i>The Old Maid</i> </b>should be fairly easy to track down. I hope you get a chance to see it.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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[1] <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, by Mark A. Vieira, Running Press, 2013.Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-13332831231062671912014-03-15T16:02:00.001-04:002014-03-15T17:13:42.553-04:00Ingrid Bergman As You've Never Seen Her Before---The Visit (1964)It's Ingrid Bergman as you've never seen her before---icy, hard, and incredibly vindictive--- in 1964's <b><i>The Visit</i></b>. Also starring Anthony Quinn, this gripping drama features supporting help from (among others) Claude Dauphin, Irina Demick, and Valentina Cortese. Based on Friedrich Durrenmatt's play<b><i> Der Besuch der alten Dame</i></b>, <b><i>The Visit</i></b> received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. (For the record, I think Ingrid ought to have received a Lead Actress nomination.)<br />
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Two decades after leaving her small European hometown, Carla Zachanassian (Ingrid Bergman) returns for a visit---but it is not any kind of happy reunion she's seeking. Rather, she has returned to destroy the man who disgraced her when she was a teenager. Serge Miller (Anthony Quinn) had been her boyfriend/lover, but when Carla found herself pregnant, he refused to marry her. Beyond that, he bribed two men to testify that they had had relations with her, implicating her as a promiscuous woman. Driven out of town because of her reputation and pregnancy, Carla fell into prostitution.<br />
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Now a rich and powerful widow, Carla wants revenge on Serge, and the way she accomplishes it provides for a powerful, riveting film---tackling such issues as greed, corruption, and hypocrisy.<br />
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As expected, this is not a feel-good film. In fact, it's rather difficult to watch, especially as one by one, the townspeople, corrupted by greed, turn on Serge. While both Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn are fantastic in their roles, Ingrid's performance is absolute mesmerizing. I have never seen her this icy, hard, bitter, and unforgiving. Wow! She really "blew me away" with her portrayal of the revenge-minded Carla. Her acting is what takes this from 3 stars to 4.<br />
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Made available on DVD in late 2012, <b><i>The Visit</i></b> is part of the inventory of Classic Flix. It is also periodically on Fox Movie Channel (which is where I caught it). If you like Ingrid Bergman (as I do), you will want to track this film down to catch her in what I feel is probably her most evil role. Her fabulous performance will not disappoint.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-41177176208743466792014-03-09T13:00:00.000-04:002014-03-09T15:41:00.973-04:00The Hook (1963)Regular readers of<b><i> They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b> know that within the last year, Kirk Douglas began his ascent up my favorite actor list. Once I discovered what sensational work he does, I began seeking out more and more of his films. Last August, during Summer Under the Stars, TCM had a day for Kirk Douglas, so I set my DVR for several of the titles, and now, over six months later, I finally had the chance to watch one of them---1963's <b><i>The Hook</i></b>. Also starring Robert Walker (Jr.) and Nick Adams, with Nehemiah Persoff and Enrique (Pancho) Magalona in support, this George Seaton Korean War-era drama is meaty, powerful, and incredibly gripping. <br />
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In the waning days of the Korean War, a small group of American soldiers is responsible for loading oil onto a neutral freighter. Before the job is completed, an enemy plane shoots at them, killing one of the GI's. The remaining three soldiers capture the downed bomber, taking him aboard the freighter with them. Speaking with his South Korean headquarters, Sgt. Briscoe (Kirk Douglas) receives an order to execute the prisoner, and with 19 years of service under his belt and a military pension on the line, Sgt. Briscoe is determined that the orders be carried out; he instructs Private Dennison (Robert Walker) to do the job. <br />
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Insisting that killing a man out of combat is murder, Pvt. Dennison refuses to do as commanded, which puts him at odds with his superior. Having seen a fellow GI refuse to kill a Japanese soldier at Guadalcanal during the last war, Sgt. Briscoe insists that to refuse to kill the enemy is to be soft and that being soft will result in one's own death at the hands of the enemy. Besides, he tells Dennison, an order is an order, and it must be obeyed. But Pvt. Dennison will not be swayed---he will not execute the prisoner, whom he has come to see as a man like himself, with a name, a wife, a child.<br />
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Sgt. Hackett (Nick Adams), too, begins to suffer an agony of conscience and will not obey the command to kill the prisoner. If the man is to die, it will be at the hands of the one given the order---Sgt. Briscoe. But will he do it? Or will Privates Dennison and Hackett be able to convince him that such an order is one not to be obeyed? How it all plays out is the balance of the film.<br />
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Based on the French novel<b><i> L'Hamecon</i></b>, <b><i>The Hook</i></b> is a gripping, wonderfully-acted film. Kirk Douglas gives a terrific, mesmerizing performance. He is absolutely superb. Nick Adams is very good too, as is Robert Walker, in his first film appearance. Though billed as Robert Walker, this is Robert Walker, Jr., son of Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker. Wow, does he look like his dad. Enrique (Pancho) Magalona is also terrific. Because of the language barrier between the men, his character speaks very little---at least with his mouth. His eyes, on the other hand, speak volumes.<br />
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One word of warning---the racial slur "gook" is used dozens of times in this film. Of course, given that it is a war film and was made in the 1960's, that is to be expected, but I always want to point out those things which viewers will find offensive. The final line of the film---"Any day a war ends is a good day"---is as meaningful and powerful now as it was then. <br />
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A great discussion-piece kind of film,<i style="font-weight: bold;"> The Hook </i>may, unfortunately, be a little difficult to track down. I don't believe it is out on DVD, nor is it on the TCM schedule anytime soon. I think it's well worth keeping an eye out for, though. For me, it is easily a 4-star film.<br />
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Happy viewing!!Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-29828725151431153562014-03-03T22:00:00.000-05:002014-03-03T22:39:29.782-05:00Best Film Discovery for February---The Slender Thread (1965)When I see Sidney Poitier's name among a cast, I know I am in for an incredible treat. Mr. Poitier excels at meaty, hard-hitting, dramatic roles, and since those are some of my favorite kinds of films, I always set the DVR, whether I've ever heard of the film or not. Looking through the TCM February guide, I discovered one such film---a never-heard-of Sidney Poitier title called <b><i>The Slender Thread</i></b>. Also starring Anne Bancroft, with supporting help from Telly Savalas, this 1965 Sydney Pollack drama was my best film discovery for the month of February. It's a 4-star film for me.<br />
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When her husband refuses to forgive her for a premarital indiscretion, Inga Dyson (Anne Bancroft) sees no point to go on living. She downs a bottle of barbiturates, then, wanting someone to talk to while she waits for death to come, she calls the local crisis center, where college student Alan Newell (Sidney Poitier) volunteers once a week. On this particular night, Newell is alone when the crisis call comes in; he soon discovers that the voice on the other end of the line is not the usual "prank call," but is, indeed, a woman in dire need of help. With only a short time left before the pills take their effect, Alan engages the troubled woman in conversation, desperately yearning to find out why she has chosen to end her life. (Her story plays out through the phone call.) Meanwhile, after a trace is put on the call, the authorities race against time to reach Mrs. Dyson before her life is snuffed out. How it all plays out is the balance of the film.<br />
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<b><i>The Slender Thread</i></b> is an engrossing, exciting, mildly suspenseful film, with the usual superior performance I've come to expect from Sidney Poitier. Anne Bancroft, as well, gives a brilliant performance. Featuring a Quincy Jones score, this meaty drama features future stars Ed Asner and Dabney Coleman in bit parts. A recipient of Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction, <b><i>The Slender Thread</i></b> was Sydney Pollack's film debut, and it's easy to see why he would go on to enjoy the success he did.<br />
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Although not on the TCM schedule anytime soon, <b><i>The Slender Thread</i></b> is out on both DVD and Blu-Ray. If you are a fan of Sidney Poitier, Anne Bancroft, Sydney Pollack, or hard-hitting dramas, you ought to enjoy this. I hope you get a chance to see it.<br />
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Happy viewing!<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-51248169029161309692014-02-28T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-09T16:11:45.608-04:00February's "New to Me" ViewingsSometimes, you just don't get to watch as many classic films as you would like. In fact, sometimes, you feel like you're going into withdrawals for want of a great classic. That's how this past month has been for me. With the Olympics taking the bulk of my TV viewing time in February, I found myself watching only seven classic films the entire month. All seven were "new to me" titles.<br />
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1. <b><i>Harriet Craig</i></b> (1950) Starring Joan Crawford and Wendell Corey. An overbearing, controlling woman seeks to run her household and her husband. She lies, she manipulates, and she doesn't care if she ruins her husband's career...just as long as everyone in her life remains under her thumb. Wendell Corey seemed like an odd choice for a leading man, but I think he did fine in the role. Joan is her usual, wonderful, dramatic self. A solid, interesting, 3-star film.<br />
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2. <b><i>The Shining Hour</i></b> (1938) Starring Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan, Robert Young, and Melvyn Douglas. A nightclub singer (Joan) marries society man Douglas, encounters opposition from his family (especially from his older sister, portrayed by Fay Bainter), then falls in love with his brother (Robert Young). This wasn't a "hate-it, turn it off" film, but I wasn't overly interested in it and found it difficult to get through, so I'm giving it 2 stars.<br />
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3. <b><i>Stagecoach </i></b> (1939) Starring Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, and Thomas Mitchell. Yes, I finally caught this much-raved-about classic, which sees a a pregnant woman, an outlaw, a prostitute, a gambler, the town drunk, and a few others traveling together on a stagecoach through Indian country. I'm going with 3 stars on this, but it's more like 3.5, and I will admit that I am beginning to see John Wayne in a more favorable light (which I began to do after catching <b><i>The Quiet Man </i></b>last August).<br />
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4. <b><i>Mother Carey's Chickens </i></b> (1938) Up until yesterday, this touching dramedy was my best film discovery of the month. Featuring the terrific ensemble cast of Anne Shirley, Ruby Keeler, James Ellison, Fay Bainter, Walter Brennan, and Frank Albertson, this charmer is definitely one I want to write about in a bit more depth, so expect a brief review in the next week or so. I'm going with 3 stars on this, but it's very close to 4...definitely 3.5 stars.<br />
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5. <b><i>The King and Four Queens </i></b> (1956) Starring Clark Gable and Eleanor Parker, with Jo Van Fleet (and others) in support. After learning that there is gold on their property, a con man moves in on a widow and her four widowed daughters-in-law. Starved for a man's attention, all four women are drawn to the stranger, and that suits our hot-blooded Clark just fine. Mother-in-law Jo Van Fleet, however, is determined that her daughters-in-law will not succumb to the man's charms. Although I <b>love</b> Clark Gable as he aged, I didn't care for this movie and give it only 2 stars Just an aside...Jo Van Fleet is terrific in this role. I caught her in <b><i>Wild River</i></b> last year, and her acting took the film from 4 to 5 stars for me. She's not one of the well-known supporting players...but she ought to be!<br />
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6. <b><i>Wuthering Heights</i></b> (1939) This is one of the films in the<b><i> Majestic Hollywood</i></b> book, so while I don't overly care for the story, nor do I care for Laurence Olivier, it was a film I had to watch. It's the tragic story of Heathcliff (Olivier) and Cathy (Merle Oberon), who love each other passionately but who are kept apart because of Heathcliff's low social standing and Cathy's desire for status. I am very middle of the road on this. While the acting is terrific, especially that of Olivier, I never cared about either of the lead characters. Cathy is incredibly selfish and proud, and Heathcliff is so brooding and angry that it's hard to have much sympathy for him. I'm giving this film 3 stars---solid, enjoyable, liked it okay.<br />
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7. <b><i>The Slender Thread </i></b> (1965) Starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft, this was my best film discovery of the month. It's a meaty drama which brings a crisis line volunteer and a suicidal woman together on the phone. The acting is terrific---as is typical of anything starring the great Sidney Poitier. I'm going with 4 stars on this. (Read my review<b><a href="http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2014/03/best-film-discovery-for-february.html" target="_blank"> HERE</a></b>)<br />
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With the Olympics behind us and a DVR full of several dozen unwatched titles, I expect that March will find many "new to me" films crossing my path. I hope so anyway, because while I love watching tried and true faves over and over again, there is something quite exciting about catching a film for the first time.<br />
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Happy viewing!Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-79610409344599485202014-02-16T18:00:00.000-05:002014-03-18T14:44:46.512-04:00Golden Boy (1939)Another of the films highlighted in <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939</i></b> is <b><i>Golden Boy</i></b>, a boxing drama starring Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, and---in one of his earliest film appearances---William Holden. Based on Clifford Odets' 1937 play, this Reuben Mamoulian film, which features Lee J. Cobb, Joseph Calleia, and Sam Levene in support, garnered a Best Music Academy Award nomination.<br />
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Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) is a sensitive young violinist, who lives with his father (Lee J. Cobb), sister, and brother-in-law above the family's grocery store. Although Joe plays the violin beautifully and could possibly have a future in music, he wants to make money quickly and, therefore, begins boxing for Tom Moody (Adolphe Menjou).<br />
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Joe becomes an overnight sensation in the boxing ring, but since a violinist needs his hands and he could possibly injure his hands boxing, he talks about backing out. Moody knows that he has a money-maker in Joe, though, so he's not about to let him walk away and, therefore, instructs his secretary/mistress, Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck), to change Joe's mind. Joe has fallen in love with Lorna, and after she leads him to believe she loves him too and that there can be a future for them, Joe returns to the boxing world, much to the disappointment of his father.<br />
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Because Joe is such a sensation, he quickly attracts the attention of another promoter, one who promises him bigger and better things. Joe jumps at the opportunity and leaves Moody's organization, which infuriates Moody and sends Lorna, once again, to Joe's side in an attempt to change his mind.<br />
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Joe soon becomes disillusioned with boxing....but does he quit? Does he return to the violin? Does he really love Lorna? Does she really love him? Those are the questions which play out in the balance of the film.<br />
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Though <b><i>Golden Boy</i></b> is not one of my favorite Bill Holden films (or even one of my favorite boxing films), it is a solid, interesting, well-acted drama, and it gives an opportunity to catch Mr. Holden before his star had begun to rise. Although it's easy to see why he went on to become the star that he did, at the outset, it would have appeared that Holden's career was over even before it began. The seemingly-endless boxing lessons, violin lessons, and dramatic coaching were exhausting to Holden; according to<b><i> Majestic Hollywood</i></b>,<b><i> "It was a dreadful period for the young actor, and he expected to be replaced at any time. However, Barbara Stanwyck believed in Holden and went to bat for him. Telling Columbia boss Harry Cohn that he hadn't given the young man a chance, she promised to work with him. With Miss Stanwyck coaching him, Holden regained his confidence and was able to take direction from Mamoulian; after <u>Golden Boy</u>, Holden was suddenly in demand and on his way to a successful, Academy Award-winning career. He never forgot Barbara Stanwyck's support and help; in years to come, he would always send her flowers on April 1, the anniversary of <u>Golden Boy's</u> first shooting day."</i></b> [1]<br />
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Beyond Bill Holden's performance, is that of Lee J. Cobb. He is absolutely terrific! He would reprise his role in 1952, when <b><i>Golden Boy</i></b>, again, played on Broadway. Interestingly, in that production, one of my other great loves---John Garfield---would take on the Joe Bonaparte role. <br />
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Barbara Stanwyck is my #3 gal (sometimes even #2), and William Holden is one of my "terrific 10," so even though <b><em>Golden Boy</em> </b>isn't a favorite, I <i><b>do</b></i> enjoy their pairing here. They have great chemistry together. I'm calling this 3 stars, but it's more like 3.5<br />
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Out on DVD, <b><i>Golden Boy</i></b> should be quite easy to track down.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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[1] <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, by Mark A. Vieira, Running Press, 2013.<br />
<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-23236513369717910772014-02-11T16:53:00.000-05:002014-02-11T16:53:25.574-05:00Rest in Peace, Darling Shirley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First thing this morning, I learned the sad news that Shirley Temple had passed away at the age of 85. America's little darling---especially through the difficult years of the Great Depression---Shirley brought a charm all her own to the big screen. Audiences loved her, and she was a top box-office draw for several years. In fact, from 1935 to 1939, she was said to be the most popular movie star in America, with Clark Gable a distant second. Her films are sweet and sentimental, and they always make my heart smile.<br />
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My 5 favorites of Shirley's films are:<br />
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1. <b><i>I'll Be Seeing You</i></b><br />
2. <b><i>Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm</i></b><br />
3. <b><i>The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer</i></b><br />
4. <b><i>A Little Princess</i></b><br />
5. <b><i>Now and Forever</i></b><br />
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Rest in peace, darling Shirley. You will be missed!! But you will not be forgotten---thanks to all your wonderful films, you will be forever in our hearts!</div>
Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-20115693710328760382014-02-03T00:00:00.000-05:002015-11-15T18:22:44.779-05:00Celebrating 3 Years of Classic Film Blogging<br />
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This past Saturday, <b><i>They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To</i></b> celebrated three years of life. Though I've been blogging since early 2006, it wasn't until February 1, 2011, that I made the jump into classic film blogging, with a review of the lovely romantic drama <b><i>Random Harvest</i></b>. Prior to then, I had been sharing a weekly classic film review on my homemaking/decorating blog; however, desiring to write about classic films more often than once a week, I determined that a second blog was in order. Alas, it is hard enough to keep up with one blog, let alone two; my homemaking blog ended up falling by the wayside in order for me to focus more on my classic film passion.<br />
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Sharing these great classic films, and all the elegant stars of old, has not only been an enormous pleasure, but it has afforded me the opportunity to connect with dozens of other classic film enthusiasts, some of whom have become very good friends. While I've gotten busy with a genealogy/family history project and can't devote as much time to classic film blogging as I've done these past three years, I definitely intend to stay a part of the blog world and the wonderful classic film blogging community. I love being here, and I enjoy all the friendships I've made.<br />
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A huge thanks to all my readers for making these last three years of blogging so enjoyable. Interacting with all of you has been such a pleasure. I look forward to sharing more classic films with you---as I am able---in the months ahead.<br />
<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-29749930018349849412014-01-29T09:00:00.000-05:002014-01-29T09:56:55.566-05:00Best Film Discovery for January---I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)New for 2014---the "Best Film Discovery of the Month" series, in which I will highlight the best "new to me" film I watch each month. For January, that film is 1932's <b><i>I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang</i></b>, starring Paul Muni and featuring Glenda Farrell and Helen Vinson in supporting roles. Not only is this pre-code drama the best "new to me" film I saw in January, it is also my first 5-star film "discovery" of the year. Based on Robert Elliott Burns's autobiography, <b><i>I Am a Fugitive from a Georgia Chain Gang</i></b>, this Mervyn LeRoy film received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Mr. Muni.<br />
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After being convicted of a crime he did not commit, WWI veteran James Allen is sentenced to 10 years of hard labor on a Southern chain gang. When he is unable to cope another minute with the horrid conditions and the brutality of the guards, James convinces another inmate to break his chains, then he sets out on the run.<br />
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Escaping to Chicago, James changes his name to Allen James and eventually becomes a successful, respected businessman. When his landlady (Glenda Farrell) discovers his past, she blackmails him into marrying her; it's a union void of love, however, and a few years later, in a fit of jealousy because Allen/James has fallen in love with another woman (Helen Vinson), the wicked woman turns him in to the authorities.<br />
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Although Allen/James had not committed any crime and has been a model citizen for years, he is returned to the chain gang, with the promise that his sentence will be for a period of only 90 days. Because he had spoken out about the inhumanity of the chain gangs, however, the "establishment" has no intention of honoring that promise, and once again, the man is forced to break his chains and live a life on the run. How everything plays out is the balance of the film.<br />
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<b><i>I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang</i></b> is a masterpiece of a film. It's gritty, meaty, powerful, deeply troubling and features an absolutely brilliant performance by Paul Muni...and the final line of the film is about as haunting an ending line as there ever was.<br />
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This film is out on DVD; however, I believe it is only available as part of the Controversial Classics Collection, which is a spendy $79.98. Adding to the nearly cost-prohibitive price, TCM doesn't seem to air <b><i>Chain Gang</i></b> very often, so it might not be an easy film to catch. Keep your eye out for it, though, as it is a spectacular must-see.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-19541183499510404312014-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-16T18:29:26.827-05:00Bachelor Mother (1939)First up in my focus on the films highlighted in <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, the Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, is <em><b>Bachelor Mother</b></em>, a sweet romantic comedy starring Ginger Rogers and David Niven. Co-starring Charles Coburn and Frank Albertson, this delightful movie, which received a Best Writing Academy Award nomination, garners 4-stars from me. The film was remade in 1956, as the musical <b><i>Bundle of Joy</i></b>, with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher in the starring roles.<br />
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The movie begins with Polly Parrish (Ginger), being let go from her job as a seasonal salesclerk for the John D. Merlin & Sons Department Store. While walking home after her final day at work, Polly passes by the local foundling home, where she sees a woman leaving a baby on the doorstep. After ringing the bell of the home, the woman turns to leave, but Polly scolds her for abandoning her baby. Denying that the child is hers, the woman rushes away, leaving Polly with the baby in her arms as the foundling home door is opened. Of course, the directors of the home assume that the baby belongs to Polly, and though she tries to convince them otherwise, they don't believe her and keep insisting that she not abandon her baby.<br />
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When the directors of the foundling home learn that Polly was recently let go from Merlin's Department Store, they assume her lack of employment is why she wants to give up her child, so they approach the store owner David Merlin (David Niven) about giving Polly her job back. Of course, David is happy to enable Polly to keep her baby and offers her full-time employment.<br />
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Satisfied that Polly will now be able to keep "her baby," the foundling home directors deliver said child to Polly's apartment, letting her know that because Mr. Merlin gave her her job back, she can keep "her baby." However, knowing it's not her baby, plus having plans that evening, Polly delivers the child to Mr. Merlin's home, telling his butler that "Mr. Merlin got her into this mess and that the child is his responsibility." The young man Polly is with overhears her words to the butler and assumes that David Merlin is the father of Polly's baby, and in a moment of jealousy, lets the senior Mr. Merlin (Charles Coburn) know that he has a grandchild.<br />
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As the movie continues, senior Mr. Merlin is convinced his son is the father of the baby, and junior Mr. Merlin is convinced that the baby really <b>is </b>Polly's. How everything plays out is the balance of the film.<br />
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<b><i>Bachelor Mother</i></b> is not a profound film---and it's totally predictable---but it really is very sweet and lots of fun, plus it gives Ginger Rogers an opportunity to show that she was much more than just a dancer. She's lovely here, and delightfully funny, clearly establishing herself in <i><b>"a new career as a comedienne."</b> </i>[1] My husband quite adores Ginger---she's his #1 gal---and this is the film which began the love affair.<br />
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According to <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, the Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, just days before production of<b><i> Bachelor Mother</i></b> was to begin, Ginger Rogers complained about the script. Producer Pandro S. Berman attempted to assure her that the script <i><b>"was better than 90 percent of Hollywood scripts going into production;"</b> </i>Ginger disagreed, however, and refused to begin the film. After being put on suspension, she eventually backed down, made the film, and even said she <b><i>"loved working with David Niven and the precious baby."</i> </b> In the end, Ginger's hesitancy about doing <b><i>Bachelor Mother</i></b> was proven wrong, for audiences were wild about it. In fact, it was said to be <i><b>"the best comedy of the year."</b></i> [1]<br />
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Out on DVD, <b><i>Bachelor Mother</i></b> should be fairly easy to track down; plus, it's on the TCM schedule for Friday, March 21st, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). I hope you get a chance to see it.<br />
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Happy viewing!!<br />
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[1] <b><i>Majestic Hollywood, the Greatest Films of 1939</i></b>, by Mark A. Vieira, Running Press, 2013.<br />
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<br />Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776617771879425944.post-68133106688512548432014-01-18T12:21:00.001-05:002014-10-08T11:24:33.180-04:00A Classic Film Christmas Gift<br />
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Classic Film Santa---in the form of my daughter---gave me this wonderful book for Christmas. It highlights 50 films from Hollywood's most glorious year---1939. (For me, 1937 is neck-and-neck with 1939 as my favorite film year.) While I've seen several of the titles highlighted in the book (including beloved favorites <b><i>Gone with the Wind</i></b> and <b><i>Dark Victory</i></b>), many more I've never seen (<b><i>The Women </i></b>and <b><i>Of Mice and Men</i></b> to name just two), and there are even a few films I've never heard of (such as <b><i>Hollywood Cavalcade</i></b> and <b><i>Confessions of a Nazi Spy</i></b>).<br />
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One of my film goals for 2014 is to watch all 50 films highlighted in this book. No, I won't be reviewing them all, but I hope to review at least twelve of them---one per month.<br />
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What about y'all? What is your favorite year for films? And what is your favorite of the 1939 releases?Patti http://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.com