......fun with pros:
Ringside Maisie (1941) Ann Southern, George Murphy, Robert Sterling. Our gal gets mixed up in the fight game, a boxer who hates it, his mother and his manager, Murphy. The usual ups and downs but as always, Maisie saves the day. Southern is just darling and spunky is a word made for her Maisie. As an aside, Sterling and Southern were married for 6 years during the 1940s. Good entry into the series. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034110/
No Time For Comedy (1940) Rosalind Russell, James Stewart, Charles Ruggles, Genevieve Tobin. Classic story of a country boy who writes a play, has a great success on Broadway, marries the star, and then.... He is discovered! By a pretentious society woman of little or no talent, who is going to bring out the great playwright in him - her great discovery. The stars have fun with this, and Stewart especially, going from happy-go-lucky guy writing comedies for his famous wife to do, to a demented 'great' man doing the bidding of a silly dolt. All comes right in the end, but for a farce, this has a serious undercurrent. With WWII looming, we had 'serious' and could do with some comedy. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032846/
More later.....
April 26, 2010
April 25, 2010
Robert Taylor & Broadway Melody
...another of the early MGM musicals:
Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) Eleanor Powell, Robert Taylor, George Murphy; and a teen age Judy Garland singing "Dear Mr. Gable..." to his picture. That is the scene most often referenced of this film although it has lots of song and dance stars of the stage. Story of a guy, Steve, who wants to have a big Broadway show but is saddled with a leading lady who is the main backers "friend" and neither can be counted on. Works out by "the end" and lots of old and new songs and Eleanor tap dances and looks pretty good doing it. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028665/
Con't......
Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) Eleanor Powell, Robert Taylor, George Murphy; and a teen age Judy Garland singing "Dear Mr. Gable..." to his picture. That is the scene most often referenced of this film although it has lots of song and dance stars of the stage. Story of a guy, Steve, who wants to have a big Broadway show but is saddled with a leading lady who is the main backers "friend" and neither can be counted on. Works out by "the end" and lots of old and new songs and Eleanor tap dances and looks pretty good doing it. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028665/
Con't......
April 24, 2010
Catching up on posting .....
....the films I have seen recently:
High Wall (1947) Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy Patrick. Taut film noir of a returned soldier who is suffering what we used to call battle fatigue. He is accused of killing his wife in a fit of rage which he thinks he did, but has no memory of doing so. Judged criminally insane he is locked up in a state hospital under the care of Dr. Ann Lorrison who begins to think he is innocent. Interesting look at the beginning of modern treatment of brain injury and psychosis. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039464/
That Touch Of Mink (1962) Doris Day & Cary Grant. For those that don't remember what it was like before The PILL! Funny - and the clothes Doris wears!! Cary was 58 and Doris 40, playing people at least a decade younger. And it worked! Gig Young almost steals the show, playing a neurotic lawyer. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056575/
To be continued......
High Wall (1947) Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy Patrick. Taut film noir of a returned soldier who is suffering what we used to call battle fatigue. He is accused of killing his wife in a fit of rage which he thinks he did, but has no memory of doing so. Judged criminally insane he is locked up in a state hospital under the care of Dr. Ann Lorrison who begins to think he is innocent. Interesting look at the beginning of modern treatment of brain injury and psychosis. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039464/
That Touch Of Mink (1962) Doris Day & Cary Grant. For those that don't remember what it was like before The PILL! Funny - and the clothes Doris wears!! Cary was 58 and Doris 40, playing people at least a decade younger. And it worked! Gig Young almost steals the show, playing a neurotic lawyer. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056575/
To be continued......
April 06, 2010
Easter Parade-----
--and 4 more films I watched recently:
Easter Parade (1948) Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford. Great singing and dancing. A happy film for the Holiday. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040308/
Giant (1956) Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Mercedes McCambridge, Carroll Baker, Dennis Hopper, Chill Wills. Edna Ferbers novel gets a George Stevens directed epic retelling. The stars are gorgeous to watch, and the character actors all interesting. Worth seeing, but bogs down at times. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049261/
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Robert Downey Jr, Michelle Monaghan, Val Kilmer. What's with the title? Right off, I never would have watched this except for discussions I read on IMDb. A funny, droll and off beat story told with tongue firmly in cheek. About a guy who is trying to get into movies and the doll from his hometown who has been in Hollywood trying for years, and can't make it. The plot has crooks, shootings, fist fights, etc. It makes just enough sense to keep you watching. But that title! Eeeeek 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/
Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant. New Yorkers sent to Wyoming in the witness-protection program, and how they cope. Or not. A fish out of water story. Hugh is beginning to irritate with his halting delivery. But it wasn't awful. Amusing. 6/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1314228/
Beautiful few days and then storms, but rain instead of snow. Halleluia!
Easter Parade (1948) Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford. Great singing and dancing. A happy film for the Holiday. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040308/
Giant (1956) Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Mercedes McCambridge, Carroll Baker, Dennis Hopper, Chill Wills. Edna Ferbers novel gets a George Stevens directed epic retelling. The stars are gorgeous to watch, and the character actors all interesting. Worth seeing, but bogs down at times. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049261/
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Robert Downey Jr, Michelle Monaghan, Val Kilmer. What's with the title? Right off, I never would have watched this except for discussions I read on IMDb. A funny, droll and off beat story told with tongue firmly in cheek. About a guy who is trying to get into movies and the doll from his hometown who has been in Hollywood trying for years, and can't make it. The plot has crooks, shootings, fist fights, etc. It makes just enough sense to keep you watching. But that title! Eeeeek 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/
Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant. New Yorkers sent to Wyoming in the witness-protection program, and how they cope. Or not. A fish out of water story. Hugh is beginning to irritate with his halting delivery. But it wasn't awful. Amusing. 6/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1314228/
Beautiful few days and then storms, but rain instead of snow. Halleluia!
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