---star in the films I watched recently:
High Pressure (1932) William Powell, Evelyn Brent. We see promoter, fast-talking 'idea' man, Gar Evans(Powell) passed out in a saloon in the first few minutes of the story. His associates frantically try to get him sober and presentable so they can get him interested in promoting their latest scheme, artificial rubber made from sewage. They have the 'chemist' who discovered the process holed up in Brooklyn. After Gar gets his former fiance back on board as his receptionist in the lavish offices he promotes them into, and gets salesmen selling stock, problems start and it seems someone will end up in jail. Early pre-code film with speakeasy's, dives, dames, thugs, and assorted con-men, all on the make, and it makes a fast, funny film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023007/
Slightly Honorable (1939) Pat O'Brien, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Ruth Terry, Claire Dodd. Pat is a lawyer, Crawford his lawyer side-kick, trying to get the goods on Boss Arnold who has his graft in anything and everything. When there are a couple of murders, there are clues leading to suspicion that O"Brien in involved. Night club singer Terry gets her nose into all Pats business, and he is annoyed but also flattered. She is only about 18 to his middle-age. Terry is very annoying, but maybe that is the way the director wanted her to play it. Not great, but a good little noirish mystery. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033062/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley. Yearly favorite. Grant is the answer to the Bishop's prayer. He says he is an angel. Loretta, the title character, is so lovely and the story so nice, it is a perfect way to start the Holiday season. The Bishops message at the church evening service, about "all the shining gifts" of the season, makes me tear up every year. And the boy choir's song is beautiful. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
East Side, West Side {1949) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, James Mason, Ava Gardner. Barbara, Van and James in a melodrama about a philanderer, his wife, his lover and her new friend who helps get them out of a dilemma. Ava is spectacular in her fashions of the day. A super star in the making. The whole cast is wonderful in a film for the 'matinee' ladies. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041327/
The Pelican Brief (1993) Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington. A favorite Grisham book made into a satisfying film. Commented on previously. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107798/
Elizabeth I (2005 TVmini-series) Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons. 2 parts. The story of the great queen in her middle years. Her favorite from her youth, Dudley, is still with her at the beginning and her adviser's who want her to marry to keep Spain and France from waging war. Well done version and Helen is wonderful, as usual. Irons is also. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465326/
Counting down to Christmas Day...
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