Bennett 1932 to Brando 1966---

FIRST VIEWINGS:

Two Against The World (1932) Constance Bennett, Neil Hamilton, Helen Vinson. Connie is a playgirl, Dell. Neil is a do-gooder attorney, David Norton. It's pre-code and a compact on a bed is naughty. Bennett's brother shoots a guy who he thinks has betrayed his sister, but it is the other sister who is involved with the man he shoots. The attorney has to prosecute and grill his secret love, and she is just protecting her family. Their scenes with them having a meal of beans to bring her down a peg, are fun. Of course, Connie wears Hattie Carnegie hats and Orre-Kelly gowns and looks smashing. Just what the shopgirls of the time wanted. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023625/combined

ENCORES:

Gold Diggers Of 1933 (1933) Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon, Warren William, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks. Jewel of a film about 3 showgirls and how they wind 3 guys around their little fingers. Great musical numbers created by Busby Berkeley and gowns by Orry-Kelly. The last number "My Forgotten Man" once seen is unforgettable and could be about the returning veterans of today, with no jobs to be had. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024069/combined

Alice In Wonderland (1933) Charlotte Henry, Gary Cooper, W.C. Fields, Edna May Oliver, May Robson, Cary Grant. Curiouser and curiouser why they put all the stars in such heavy makeup that you only recognise them by their voices. Somewhat interesting version of the Alice books, but I was not as enthralled this time as when I first saw it as a youngster in the 1940's when it was rereleased. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023753/combined

The Very Thought Of You (1944) Eleanor Powell, Dennis Morgan, Dane Clark, Faye Emerson. The title song became a danced to classic of the WWII years and later. Story of war time romance of women parachute factory workers and soldiers on leave is nice and during the dark days of 1944 was much loved. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037428/combined

The Jolson Story (1946) Larry Parks, Evelyn Keyes, William Demarest. In 1946 my high school friends and I had never heard of Jolson except once in a while on radio or parents talking about him. Then this film came out and we went mad for his songs and Larry Parks. Story is not really about his life but a way to get as many of his famous numbers into a film as they could. Enjoyed it very much on CineMoi this week. The production is still as gorgeous to look at as it was in 1946. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038661/combined

The High Wall (1947) Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy Patrick. A man with a sever head injury that makes him black out at times, is accused and confesses to murdering his wife. He is committed to a mental hospital and assigned to Dr. Ann Lorrison who eventually comes to believe he is innocent. Moody drama, with dark rain soaked streets, shadows and dream sequences make a highly watchable film noir. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039464/combined

The Chase (1966) Marlon Brando, Angie Dickenson, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford. A small Texas town and its' sheriff discover that bad boy Bubber has excaped with another convict and have murdered a man in the process. The sheriff thinks Bubber will come home to see his wife and get help, so he has her come into the office and tells her he wants to get the boy to give himself up so he won't be hurt. All the characters of a small town and the prejudices and social strata are shown and exagerated for dramatic effect. Brando is fine. Redford and Fonda are great to look at, and the rest of the cast vary from good to bad. But it goes way over the top by the end. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060232/combined