One more---

---from this month:

Cedar Rapids (2011) Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche. He's from Brown Valley, Wisconsin. It's a big deal to go to a company convention in "big" city, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His roommates are veteran convention goers and he is swept up it their hi-jinks. This film is funny and while others of the genre are raunchy and crass, this one has the right touch. Many laughs from my living room. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477837/

Highlights - Preston Sturges comedy films: Romances---

---and murder most foul.   So far this month I have watched:

Million Dollar Baby (1940) Priscilla Lane, May Robson, Jeffrey Lynn, Ronald Reagan. Cinderella story with May playing the godmother and Reagan/Lynn playing the princes. Rich old lady from America, living abroad, decides to find the heir who should have benefited from the riches made from business interests of her father, long dead. He was swindled by Robson's father. Lynn is American lawyer from firm handling the search and the million dollars involved.. Reagan is piano playing guy the girl, who is the heiress, is goofy about. (?) I don't get it either. LOL 90 minutes of silliness, but Priscilla is a doll, and May - cranky and tolerable. Men are ciphers. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033910/


Sullivan's Travels (1941) Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake. A favorite, watched on a yearly basis. The first of writer/director Preston Sturges 8 nearly perfect comedies. He gathered a group of character actors for his troupe and they appeared in almost all of the films. Political satire that is still relevant today. In this one, a famous director starts out on the road to find what it's like to be homeless and poor in the Depression America. Makes it's points with quiet humor. Perfect, IMHO. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/

The Palm Beach Story (1942) Joel McCrea, Claudette Colbert, Mary Astor, Rudy Vallee. Great cast about a woman with strange ideas of how leaving her husband to find a rich man will help him out. Off she goes on a train with the "Ale & Quail Club" on the way to Florida. Some of the funniest scenes in a screwball comedy, and they are just getting started. Mary Astor almost steals the film as the rich man's crazy sister on her 3rd or 4th husband, who hones in on hubby who flew down to intercept wifey with her new rich man. The puzzled looks in the end scene is priceless. Another of Sturges films I watch yearly. Great song, Goodnight Sweetheart, still popular during WWII. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035169/

Nobody Lives Forever (1946) John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, Faye Emerson. A returning GI from WWII, who left his 50 thousand with his blond babe, finds she has 'invested' his money with her new lover at their nightclub. He gets tough and gets in back and he and sidekick, George Tobias, head to California. He connects with some of his old team of swindlers who have a rich widow (Fitzgerald) lined up. They need a smooth front man and John (Nick) is up for doing it, on his terms. Things go slightly off when he starts to fall for her. A nourish romance. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038780/

The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1947) Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison George Sanders, Edna Best. So romantic and a wonderful music score by Bernard Herrman. When I am near the ocean where it is crashing on rocks, I hear this music in my mind. Lucy and Capt. Gregg are great lovers, to never touch each other. It can be done, and this film proves it. There is an explanation for why he haunts, and then decides to help this young widow and her little daughter (early Natalie Wood). Uncle Neddy (Sanders) hits on the lovely widow and breaks her heart, but all ends well. His lovely wife, played by Anna Lee, tells Mrs. Muir "you see, it has happened before." And she takes their children and leaves him alone and blubbering at a dinner Mrs. Muir sees him at years later. Lee, in her one scene, is quiet dignity and understanding. Beautiful black and white cinematography. Another I watch yearly. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039420/

One More Tomorrow (1946) Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan. Alexis Smith, Jack Carson. Based on a Philip Barry play. Free lance photographer(Ann), turns down rich playboy(Dennis) and goes off to Mexico to work. On the rebound, he marries scheming haughty beauty(Alexis) and goes to live in the country, taking big-city pal man-Friday (Carson), with him. Friction with the Mrs. so Carson is shipped back to big town. Wife and his Dad make him miserable so when former love returns, he wants to get back together, but she says not so fast. Enjoyable ensemble acting from Warner's. Lovely title song played throughout and at the fade. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038802/

D.O.A. (1950) Edmund O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler. Exciting film about a normal guy who goes off on vacation, checks in to his hotel, has a drink with at party across the hall - and ends up murdered. Now his task is to find out who did this to him. As he races around San Francisco looking up clues and people, it is fun to see the location shots of the city the was it was in 1949 when the film was shot. I was a kid just out of high school when this came out and it was just a small filler movie, but boy it took off and was a big hit. Wonderful tension and O'Brien, in the role of a lifetime, makes us want so bad for him to live. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042369/

Cast A Dark Shadow (1955) Dirk Bogard, Margaret Lockwood, Kay Walsh, Kathleen Harrison. Dirk is the charmer who has married an older woman but seems genuinely fond of her as the story begins. She has called the estate attorney to the home to have her will revised to leave everything to her young husband. But things go bad and from from her death for the rest of the story, we are never quite sure what this scoundrel will do. Or whether he is a bit nuts or just diabolical. Dirk is always fun to watch, but this is not one of his best. The three women are very good. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050233/

Ransom! (1956) Glenn Ford, Donna Reed, Juano Hernandez, Leslie Nielsen. Another favorite I watch yearly. Loosely based on the early '50s Greenlease kidnapping In Kansas City, of the young son of the rich car dealership family, who was killed before the ransom was even requested. I live in the area and heard and read about the case daily for months. Ford has never been better and he and Hernandez in the breakdown scene is so good, I cry to this day. I still cannot believe Hollywood did not recognize Glenn before he died. A great star. 9/10  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049656/

Dear Heart (1964) Glenn Ford, Geraldine Page. Angel Lansbury. Lovely little romance between mature people. She is attending the annual convention of the Postmasters, and he is coming to a job in NYC after living on the road for years. She is like a big puppy, friendly and getting into everything and everyones way. He is brimming with good feelings. They meet and they meet and they meet. And eventually he realizes what she has known for a while - it's love. They are both just marvelous with this little sweet story. And Lansbury steals her scenes and has one of my favorite lines "I just want to pick up the phone because Phillis is done with doing!" 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057999/

Breakout (1975) Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid. Based on a true story of a rescue from a Mexican prison out in the countryside. A copter is set down in the exercise yard. Truth is stranger than fiction. How true the actors are to the real people is questionable but who cares? There are chases, explosions, and so forth. Bronson plays it light with good humor. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072737/


My viewing of films later than 1975 will be posted soon.

Van Heflin---Gene Kelly, Brynner and Bronson

Three men I like to watch even if the film isn't much----Van had the most wonderful voice.  I used to listen to the dramatic shows he was on, on old time radio, just for his volce whether as a detective, a lover, a murderer - it didn't matter.  His use of his voice made it all real, listening as a young girl. 

The Three Musketeers(1945) Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, Van Heflin, June Allyson. Gorgeous technicolor and Kelly doing sword fights like dances, Lana never more beautiful and Van's sexy voice saying wonderful lines. Dumas tale has been filmed many times, but with MGM at the height of it's ability to fill each role with a suitable and if some cases, inspired, actor, this is my favorite. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040876/


Green Dolphin Street (1947) Lana Turner, Van Heflin, Donna Reed, Richard Hart. Episodic film based on a popular novel by Elizabeth Goudge. Clipper ships, settling new far off places - this time New Zealand, earth quakes, uprisings by the natives; we get some of it all. Everyone suffers beautifully. Gorgeous sets and costumes. And love lorn Van, with his wonderful voice, always there when she needs him. Wonderful picture for women - and men. 8/10   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039437/

Triple Cross (1966) Christopher Plummer, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard, and Yul Brynner. A TCM Yul Brynner day film. A confused spy/triple spy story with Plummer as a bank robber in prison who agrees to work for one side, and then the other side, throughout the war. I could not get interested in him or the story. 6/10     http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061647/

Breakout (1975) Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Robert Duvall. Bronson rescues Duvall from a Mexican prison by flying a helicopter in to the small exercise yard. Based on a true story. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072737/

Have watched a few more but will catch up later.

May films

All Repeat Viewings:


Summertime (1955) Kathryn Hepburn, Rosano Brazzi. Annual visit to beautiful Venice and the beautiful theme music set the tone of romance and longing. Perfect film for me. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048673/

A Stolen Life (1946) Bette Davis, Glenn Ford, Dane Clark, Charles Ruggles, Walter Brennan, Bruce Bennett. A womans film written by women. Bette's most successful film up to that date. She plays twins, Kate and Patricia, both fall for Bill, and the one he chooses makes a drama. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038984/


In The Heat Of The Night (1967) Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant. Good performances by all. 9/10    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061811/

Foul Play (1978) Goldy Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Dudley Moore. Dudley and Goldy are still screamingly funny to me, in their scenes together. Even Chevy is kinda romantic and sweet. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077578/


Weekiend At Bernies (1989) Andrew McCarthy, Joel Silverman, Catherine Parks, Terry Kiser. Still laugh at Terry as Bernie. Can't help it. One of the all time best corpses. And Catherine as 'the girlfriend' being satisfied by Bernie is amazing. She plays it perfectly! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098627/

Monte Carlo (2011) Background noise and the beautiful scenery. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067774/

Eight more from '81 to last year---

Blow Out (1981) John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow. Brian de Palma's thriller that builds from a mild evening out, recording sounds. Jack is a movie sound effects technician He is near a bridge over a stream and all of a sudden a car comes careening over that bridge, through the railing, into the stream. Jack runs to the edge and jumps in and is able to rescue a girl from the car. He gets her to a hospital, but she seems less than grateful. Later in running his tape of the scene, he realizes there is a shot just before the car goes through the rail. The rest of the film is him trying to save his life and the girl because some one is destroying everything in his studio looking for anything about the accident. Enjoyed revisiting dePalma's stylish film. The last act at the Philadelphia train station and the fireworks, as Jack frantically tries to find Sally, is hold your breath stuff. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082085/

Mercury Rising (1998) Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Miko Hughes. Hughes steals the film from Willis, as a 9 year old autistic boy who is a savant at solving puzzles. He just has to look at them and they are clear - to him. He is given a new puzzle book and solves the puzzle and calls the number to give the answer. It is a test the NSA is conducting of their new super code, thinking no one could possibly solve it. Now the head of the agency (Baldwin) sends assassins to kill the family, which they do - except for the boy, Simon. He is hiding and the FBI is called in by local police to take charge of a missing child case. Art Jeffries is assigned the case, not exactly a plum but he grudgingly goes to the house and he finds the kid. From that point on, it is how Art defends and manages to keep Simon alive. Miko is so good as this strange little guy, I really thought he WAS autistic. Bruce has real rapport with him and their adventures are believable. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120749/

Le Divorce (2003) Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Leslie Caron. Merchant/Ivory film about the marriage of a Frenchman and an American woman that is ending. Her half-sister comes to Paris to be with her and promptly finds guys to have sex with. I really disliked almost all the characters in this film. Usually, there is at least one person in a Ivory film that you can like and/or admire. Not so here. The cinematography of Paris and the country is pretty. 5/5 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306734/

Doubt (2008) Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis. 1964 in a working class Catholic School, with a strict Head Nun and a relaxed Priest. The contention between them is modernization versus tradition. The catalyst is the first black student, Donald Miller, who is lonely and unhappy and who Father Flynn tries to help. Which is misunderstood by the young and naive Sister James. When she brings her concerns to Sister Aloysius attention, it soon becomes war. The scene between Sister.A and Mrs Miller is great acting. You feel the mothers fear and pain, and the sister's shock and single mindedness. A bleak and sombre look back. I am not a catholic so have no idea how much truth is in the film, but I was a young woman during that time and it reflects the control and guilt institutions were able to exert on people. Marvelous acting by the entire cast. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/

Unstoppable (2010) Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson. Rewatch. The engineer and young conductor must find a way to stop a runaway train before it derails on a sharp curve in a city and causes a toxic spill. Nicely done action. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/

Unknown (2011) Liam Neeson, January Jones. Rewatch. A scientist and his wife arrive in Berlin for a conference where he is to deliver a research paper. Getting out of the cab he discovers his briefcase is missing and hops back in the cab to get it, letting his wife register at the hotel. There is an accident on the way on a bridge and the cab hurtles into the water. The driver is able to get hem out, but he is taken to a hospital where he is unconscious for 4 days. His trials getting his identity back and the mystery solved is interesting up to the last 15 minutes. Then it gets too far fetched. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/

Monte Carlo (2011) Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester, Andie MacDowell. Three girls go to Europe. Most beautiful shots of the Riviera I've seen since To Catch A Thief. Only reason to see this is the clothes and scenery. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067774/

Horrible Bosses (2011) Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Dale Arbus, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston. Only laugh I got was in the outtakes with the end credits of Colin Farrell. Jen Aniston was good. I put this in The Hangover territory - stupid men doing ridiculous things. Oyvey! 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1499658/

Recently viewed----

Theodora Goes Wild (1936) Irene Dunne, Melvin Douglas. Theodora is a small town woman who writes a best seller under an assumed name. She lives with her two fuddy duddy aunts and is a pillar of every club and church group. Enter her book cover illustrator who seems to want to make her over into a playgirl. He follows her back to town after she visits her publisher on business. Becomes the handyman. Has a room in the garage. Makes a fool of himself and her. Not a favorite of Dunne's many films for me. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028355/

Without Love (1945) Katheryn Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn. A favorite I watch whenever it comes on TCM. Story of the housing shortage in Washington D.C. during WWII. Scientist needs place to set up his experimental oxygen tank for high altitude flying. When he shares a cab (also a must in D.C.) with a drunk, it turns out to be the cousin of a woman who owns a house with a large cellar, perfect for his equipment. The next morning he is mistaken by the owner for a caretaker sent by the agency. From there we are off on the two eventually deciding to marry "without love." Among the things I like is the side story of Ball and Wynn's romance, and Dizzy, the dog, who keeps the sleep walker from too much trouble. 9/10   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038256/

The Fallen Idol (1948) Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henry, Michelle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel. Wonderful English film about a little boy who lives in a foreign embassy. The butler, Baines, weaves adventure stories to keep the boy amused, both parents being gone. Baines' wife is a shrew and makes both miserable. Baines find solace with another employee, a young pretty woman. The 3 have a great time together one day while the Mrs. is supposedly visiting in the country. But she is really spying on them. That night she appears and a terrible row begins. The boy hides and sees only the end when Mrs. Baines falls down stairs. From then on the film becomes a police investigation that seems to point to Baines as a killer. As the boy tries to help, he just makes things worse. Great atmosphere created by Carol Reed, the director. Henry is such a wonderful natural kid and we really care for him. Rest of the cast is first rate. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040338/

Small Town Girl (1953) Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller, Bobby Van. MGM pulled out a couple of their musical stars, threw in a 50's heart throb in Granger, and dusted off an old story about the big city snobby rich guy who gets arrested in the perfect little town where the judge puts him in jail for speeding. I kept waiting for a tune I could enjoy humming along with but no such luck. The Van hopping number, I had to fast forward through. In fact I did a lot of that in this film. Even Millers big number goes on too long. I did not enjoy this one. 5/5 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046330/

She Couldn't Say No (1954) Jean Simmons, Robert Mitchum, Arthur Hunicutt, Edgar Buchanan, Wallace Ford. An old favorite. Simmons is darling and Mitch is fine. The character actors who make up the citizens of this small Arkansas town (pop. 200) are all done to perfection. Especially Hunnicut as the town drunk. Simmons' Corby, an oil heiress, comes to town to try to repay those who saved her life when she was a toddler and her father was broke and couldn't pay for a doctor. By throwing large sums of money to a few and then sending checks to everyone, her generosity lands the town on the TV news and soon everyone who can, heads for Arkansas. It was Doc Sellers father who saved her as a baby, and now he ends up saving her as the mob is out to get "some money too." Doc is paid with chickens, hogs, ect. Is this where that woman in Arizona got the idea we can go back to barter as a way out of the health care crisis in America? Egads! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047476/

Written On The Wind (1956) Lauren Bacall, Rock Hudson, Dorothy Malone, Robert Stack. The melodrama to end all melodramas. Rock Hudson and Lauren Bacall are the sane ones trying to cope with the nutty Dorothy Malone (won Best Supporting Oscar), and Robert Stack (nominated for best supporting Oscar), chewing the scenery. Texas oil family with too much money and lots of booze. Two oil men from Texas come to NYC and promptly fall for a secretary in high fashion duds. She picks the rich one and for a year are happy. He is on the wagon. But then when he is told by a doctor that he is the reason they haven't conceived, he goes on a bender and eventually his jealous sister causes him to suspect his childhood friend has betrayed him with his wife. Whew! It gets worse. Sis is mean drunk and tells lies to ruin the marriage and try to keep Hudson who she has loved since childhood. The music, the color cinematography and the actors, make this one to see. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049966/

Hanna (2011) Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchette. The opening segment filmed in Finland in a winter landscape is beautiful (if real). A girl and her father live a primitive life. He is teaching how to be completely self sufficient. She can kill and butcher a deer and bring it all home. But assassins are looking for her and they must leave their home and go out into the world. That is when we get to the evil Marissa (Blanchette) and her band of merry men set on killing Hanna. Some parts do not make much sense, but with the action and the good actors, and that opening sequence, we play along. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/

More later.