Encores:

Alice Adams (1935) Katheryn Hepburn, Fred MacMurray, Fred Stone, Ann Shoemaker. Hattie McDaniel.   Marvelous story from the book by Booth Tarkington, of a small town girl who is trying to keep up appearances among her former friends, as her family sinks farther into poverty. One of her 'friends' invites her to the party of the season, at the mansion of her former girlfriends family, and she has to wear a 2 year old out-of-season gown. And go with her reluctant brother as her escort. There she meets a wealthy young man who dances with her and she is smitten. From this set up of the social order in this town, we have scenes of the home life of the Adams family. When the beau comes calling, Alice won't ask him in; she is too embarrassed about her home. Finally, he challenges her to meet the rest of her family; and her Mom keeps wanting her to have him for dinner. So she does. In a scene that is so funny it is heartbreaking, on the hottest night of the year; serving hot food when they are all melting; and melting aspic and ice cream, it is a disaster. Alice tells Arthur she knows he just wants to get away from this place. With a side story of her father and his problems and why the family has lost its' middle class existence, the film winds down to a happy ending when Arthur comes back and he and Alice make up. The book has a harsher end for Alice, but this is Hollywood. Good film anyway, with scenes that break your heart if you have ever been embarrassed by who you are, or by so-called friends. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026056/

Johnny Eager (1941) Lana Turner, Robert Taylor, Van Heflin(Oscar), Edward Arnold.   Lana and Bob get career boosting roles - Lana a brainy college student, Bob a nasty mob boss - in good Mervyn Leroy directed film. But Van wins all the marbles, as the boozy best friend of 'da Boss'. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033774/

All-time favorite -

Now Voyager (1942) Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Clause Rains, Gladys Cooper, Bonita Granville, Ilka Chase, John Loder.   Never tire of the players or the score.

Jerry lights two cigarettes and hands one to Charlotte.

"And will you be happy Charlotte? Oh Jerry, let's not ask for the moon. We have the stars." Music swells, fade on the stars. Wonderful schmaltz. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035140/