Follow The Fleet (1936) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard. On TCM. Bit parts by Lucille Ball and Betty Grable. Amazing that six years after this film, Betty was the top box office star in the country; and Lucy would be the top TV star in the 1950's. And cute Harriet would become part of The Ozzie and Harriet Show with hubby and their two sons, Ricky and David, which was another top TV show for years, 1952-66.
Music by Irving Berlin with the lovely song "Lets Face The Music And Dance" a standout. I've never been a fan of the sailor suit and don't like it on Fred, a guy who looks like he was born to wear a tux or tails. Story is usual guys getting girls; losing girls; and silly mixups. The role for Scott was all wrong. He is kind of a cad, but changes to a good guy by fade out. He is better as a strong, silent hero, IMHO. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027630/
The Harvey Girls (1946) Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O'Brien, John Hodiak, A favorite musical. Watch often, this time on TCM. The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe number was shot in one take by Judy. Amazing. Of course, there were lots of rehearsals but it is still quite a feat. Judy, in her white apron carrying the guns across the dusty street to get the meat back after it was stolen is still one of my all-time faves. The big cowpoke that is bemused and gets everyone out of her way is a riot. The beautiful waltz that they "learnt way back east in Kansas City" always makes me laugh, being as we are the Heartland and center of the USA. A good time at the movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038589/
The Caine Mutiny (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Jose Ferrer, Robert Francis. From a very popular book by Herman Wouk, which won the 1952 Pulitzer Prize. I devoured it when I got my book club copy. It sold more books, $5 million world wide, than any novel except Gone With The Wind, up to that time. It spawned a play "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" that was hugely successful on Broadway and toured the country for a year or so. Lloyd Noland played Capt. Queeg in the version I saw in 1953. It became a giant industry, and even spawned byproducts, e.g., the manufacture of "Queeg balls," modeled on the two steel bearings the Capt. rolls obsessively. All this info to underscore the importance of this film to people in 1954. The film gave Johnson, Bogart and MacMurray change or pace characters and enhanced their careers. The story of the rust bucket mine sweeper The Caine and its' crew and captain starts when the ship gets a new Commander and Ensign and joins a convoy in the Pacific Theater. Their job is to escort landing craft to the beaches during invasions. The crew and the officers realize Queeg has made some bad mistakes during gunnery practice and then their first escort duty. So when a storm makes the ship list so far they are afraid of foundering and sinking, 1st officer Maryk relieves Queeg of command, in effect a mutiny. All involved are arrested and indicted. It takes reluctant lawyer Greenwald to ferret out the real reason for what has happened. His speech to the group after the trial is the payoff and just feels good. Loved the book, the play and still think the movie is fine and dandy. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/
The A-Team (2010) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson. Hopelessly juvenile, but I had to watch because of Liam. He is just so darned good in any role handed to him. Follows the silliness of the TV series, and makes little sense, but that is not the point. Explosions, car chases and mayhem are what fans are paying for and it delivers. The guys are Army Rangers in Iraq who have had 80 successful missions. But the CIA comes and wants them to take on the recovery of the $100 bill plates that were stolen in the explosion at the end of their last mission, which they were tried for, and imprisoned. Double crosses and bad things happen. I stayed awake. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/
Up In The Air (2009) George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman. A rewatch. This is a film about the worst part of corporate America. And the people who get paid enormous sums to do the dirty work. Very well done but a bit depressing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/
Cool, fall weather is already here with need for the comforter back on the bed, and sweaters and jackets for the mornings and evenings. Feels good after the long hot summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment