Watchingwell 

                                 Curated classic films

Season’s Greetings!

        I am pleased to bring to your attention some holiday films to add to the list of the favorites that I have shared before and will share again at the end of the list.  I admit that I have not recommended some of them before because they did not appeal to me for some reason or other, but a lot of people are fond of them, so you can decide for yourself, -- and some I forgot about, or just discovered.

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) is one that I forgot.  The

Damon Runyan story, upon which it is based, stars Bob Hope as a con man who owes a gangster, played by Fred Clark, $10,000 that he must pay back by Christmas.  Directed by Sidney Lanfield and an un-credited Frank Tashlin, it also stars Marilyn Maxwell, with whom Hope sings “Silver Bells” the holiday favorite, introduced in this film.

Christmas Eve (1947) is another film that I forgot, having only seen it once.  Ann Harding plays a woman 

who tries to locate her three adopted sons, played by George Brent, Randolph Scott, and George Raft, whose lives have taken them far away from her and each other.  She hopes to reunite with them at Christmas to save her fortune from her nephew, who is swindling her.  Directed by Edwin L. Marin and also starring Joan Blondell and Virginia Field.

The Holly and the Ivy (1952) is a quiet British gem that I just discovered on DVD.  Ralph Richardson plays a clergyman who is spending his first Christmas without his wife.  His children, played by Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, and Denholm Elliot use this occasion to confront long-buried family tensions.  Poignant drama set in post-World War II England is beautifully acted.  Directed by George More O’Ferrall.

The Great Rupert, also known as, A Christmas Wish

(1950) is another one I just discovered.  Jimmy Durante stars in this quirky, but charming, tale that takes place in the holiday season, and his co-star is a kind of animated, squirrel puppet, courtesy of a technique devised by producer, George Pal, of science fiction fame. The squirrel, part of an out-of-work vaudeville act, has taken up temporary residence behind the wall of Durante’s apartment. A Scrooge-like landlord hides his money in a hole in the wall, and the squirrel retrieves it and gives it to Durante, a generous fellow, who distributes it to the community. With Terry Moore and Tom Drake. Directed by Irving Pichel.

3 Godfathers (1948) is a film that I have seen a number of times, but many years ago.  So, I may have forgotten the remarkable cinematography of Death Valley by Winton Hoch and how well-acted it is.  John Wayne stars along with Pedro Armendariz and Harry Carey, Jr. as outlaws on the lam in the desert with no water, who feel compelled to honor a woman’s dying wish to save her baby.  Ward Bond is the pursuing sheriff. I am not often entertained by westerns, but this one is completely absorbing. John Ford directs this parable of the three wise men, with a fine score by Richard Hageman.

 It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) seems to be  getting a revival as a holiday film.  It has a heartwarming message about class and charity. The plot

involves a hobo, Victor Moore, who annually breaks in to mansions in NYC when the owners are away for the winter and in one particular season, impersonates the owner and takes in boarders, who are struggling because of the post-war housing shortage. Because Gale Storm (if you remember, My Little Margie), the daughter of the real owner, Charlie Ruggles, falls for one of the boarders, she gets Ruggles to pretend to be homeless, too.  There are even more plot lines, but you get the general idea. Also starring Don DeFore and Ann Harding and directed by Roy Del Ruth.

Another favorite of many – The Shop Around the Corner (1940), is the story of the nearly-thwarted romance of Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart during the Christmas season in pre-war Budapest.  Directed by the masterful, Ernst Lubitsch, it has many comic moments, but many sad and bittersweet ones, too. Also starring Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut and Felix Bressart.

While I have recommended Holiday Inn (1942) over this if you have to choose, White Christmas (1954) is quite enjoyable because of Rosemary Clooney joining co-stars, Bing Crosby,  Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. They all get together to save the Vermont inn of the retired commanding general under whom Bing and Danny served. Irving Berlin songs and romance abound.  Directed by Michael Curtiz.

At some point, I have to include the classic A Christmas Carol (1951) which has been made and remade a number of times.  The one I recommend is the one starring Alastair Sim, whose amazing performance carries the whole production. His plastic facial expressions portray both the malevolent and comical, as well as the pathos of his eventual remorse. This is the dark version that evokes the world that Dickens meant us to see. Directed by Brian Desmond-Hurst.

Having said all that, you might be pleasantly surprised by Scrooge (1971), the musical version starring Albert Finney.  Directed by Ronald Neame, with a moving score by Leslie Bricusse, it also stars such notables as Alec Guiness, Edith Evans and Kenneth More.  Finney is pretty convincing as the cynical miser.

Many more people than me really like The Bishop’s Wife (1947) starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven, and directed by Henry Koster.  However, I’ve recently seen it again, and, actually, I always seem to watch it when it appears, unless there’s something better on, and Loretta Young is so lovely and Cary Grant is so --- well, Cary Grant, so I understand how it appeals. The message of the film: re-discovering the value of the spiritual over the material existence is done with a touch of humor. Also the Christmas tree scene is nice.  I love tinsel.

Which brings us to Holiday Affair (1949), starring Janet

Leigh, Robert Mitchum, and Wendell Corey. Not one of my favorites, but other people like it. Directed by Don Hartman, the story centers around war widow, Leigh, inadvertently getting Mitchum fired, and inviting him to Christmas dinner to atone, where he proposes to her in front of in-laws and fiancé, Wendell Corey. To many, the son trying to return the train set to give Mitchum the money is sweetly seasonal in spirit, but I find the kid a little whiney.  Actually, the only really likable character in this drama is Wendell Corey, who, in the end, and correctly, in my opinion, observes that he deserves better than Leigh.

And if you are still not sure of what seasonal fare will satisfy your mood, and you don’t want to watch any of my all-time faves (see previous blog posts for descriptions): 

*The Cheaters (1945)
Joseph Schildkraut, Billie Burke, Eugene Pallette

                            

                      *Remember the Night (1940)
             Barbara Stanwyck,Fred MacMurray

*Christmas in Connecticut  (1945)

Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan

                                   *I’ll be Seeing You (1944)

                                   Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten

*Holiday Inn (1942)

Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby

                                     * Desk Set (1957)
           Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy

*Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara

                                      *We’re no Angels (1955)
                    Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray

and of course, 

*It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), 
James Stewart, Donna Reed






don’t forget,

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), where Charlie tries to find the true meaning of Christmas in a cynical world.  Directed by Bill Melendez.

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Watchingwell 

                                 Curated classic films

I’ve Been Watching…

      I don’t know if you’re like me but my movie tastes are pretty eclectic.  Sure, I have my ‘go to’ comfort genres, and films that I am somehow compelled to watch every time they appear on a screen, but I can be engrossed or entertained by all categories of film. Although, I think I have mentioned previously that I don’t watch your run-of-the-mill western, whereas I would watch run-of-the-mill everything else. So, let’s see what I’ve been watching lately.

     Speaking of run-of-the-mill, I saw two of the mutated-insect-monster films of the 1950s. Generally cheesy, laughably illogical, why are they so entertaining? I always watch Them! (1954),  directed by Gordon Douglas, whenever it comes on. The “them” of the title are giant ants and we know they are horrible by the poor little girl that James Whitmore finds in the desert, who is mute from shock and fear. I really enjoy watching the special effects of the fifties, before the slick CGI of current films. They seem so human when the audience can see how they did it with toy buildings and the scaled-up insects. 


    I also got to see  The Black Scorpion (1957). These were really disgusting monster scorpions terrorizing Mexico.  Directed by Edward Ludwig, and starring reliable genre actors, Richard Denning (The Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954) and Mara Corday (Tarantula in 1955), my truly favorite part was when the scorpions picked up the train and tossed the cars around – and then the passengers all ran screaming!  I would have thought they would have been somewhat injured, but, hey, that’s part of the fun.

   
     More fun last month was the Turner Classic Movie channel’s retrospective of the James Bond 007 films. It was interesting to look at these big hits of the 60s,
and reflect on the elements of their success. First, clearly, Sean Connery was an inspired choice –although challenged at the time by author, Ian Fleming, creating a modern, often imitated, hero who is suave, cynical, definitely up to the physical demands of the job, and who is so cool that he can joke when he is about to be dissected. This comes to define the action hero for decades. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis owe something to Bond, James Bond.


Dr. No (1962), directed by Terence Young,

From Russia With Love (1963), directed by  Terence Young,

Goldfinger (1964), directed by Guy Hamilton, 

                       and Thunderball (1965), directed                            by Terence Young.      

     The second thing that struck me was how much the 007 image depended on John Barry’s iconic themes. I am reminded of an episode of the TV sitcom, Frasier, when Frasier, brother, Niles, and dad, Martin, try to bond with a song in the local bar, and realize that the only song they know in common is the theme from Goldfinger.  You’re singing it to yourself now, aren’t you?

     I watched most of the 007s, including ones I had never seen, and I have to admit that my attention may have drifted once in a while so that I can’t necessarily remember who was in which.  Although I think I fell asleep before the very end, I nevertheless would recommend Moonraker (1979), directed by Lewis Gilbert, with Roger Moore as a competent Bond, with Lois Chiles looking lovely and competent. After watching several films

where the plots and the evil geniuses and beautiful women, good and evil, all seemed to blur together, Moonraker kept me up with its stunning visuals. Sets, scenery, special effects are all outstanding, starting with the pre-titles sequence in the air. For the score, the producers turned again to John Barry, and Shirley Bassie for the title song.

     On the subject of films that I get drawn into every time I happen upon them, two of the three mysteries I saw are in that category, and the third is one I have not seen often enough, because it is pretty exciting.

 

The first is Lady in the Lake (1946) which was adapted from one of my favorite Raymond Chandler novels, and has Robert Montgomery directing himself in the Phillip Marlowe role, although the audience doesn’t see him, except in the mirror, and in an unfortunate added-on scene at the end to please the studio. It has a nice, black and white grittiness to it and Montgomery’s voice is appropriately cynical. 

The other film is also an adaptation from Raymond Chandler, one in which reading the book is the only way to make sense of the movie plot.  The Big Sleep (1946)starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, is strangely involving, even if you can’t figure out what’s going on, thanks to the moody direction

by Howard Hawks. There are many characters who lead Bogart’s Marlowe around a plot which begins with a blackmail attempt on Bacall’s nutty sister.

The third mystery drama was The Big Clock (1948) starring Ray Milland, with Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Sullivan.  Directed by John Farrow, the film keeps up a  good pace from the beginning when a murder is committed, as Ray Milland tries to find the truth when he realizes he is being framed.  Good mystery.

     Other films that I always watch:  anything with the Marx Bros.  So last week I saw the very ancient

Cocoanuts (1929) about the real estate boom in Florida, sort of. Plot was never a strong moving force in Marx Bros. films. The brothers had performed this George S. Kaufman play on Broadway before making the film, so there are some hilarious bits of dialogue in this early talkie. Directed by Robert Florey and Joseph Santley.

     Then I watched Duck Soup (1933) as I tried to do other things, but kept wandering back to see

particularly favorite scenes. There are so many classic lines in this that never fail to make me laugh even though I know them so well. Directed by Leo McCarey, with Margaret Dumont in her victim-of-Groucho role, trying to keep Freedonia out of war after Groucho’s character, Prime Minister, Rufus T. Firefly, takes over. Hail, hail, Freedonia!

     And anytime there is an Astaire/Rogers musical, I must watch. Last week, I happened upon Top Hat

(1935) unexpectedly. Can’t find much of a plot there , but the music by Irving Berlin and Fred and Ginger dancing “Cheek to Cheek” is dreamy. Directed by Mark Sandrich.

      Dodsworth (1936) has lately become that kind of film.  I enjoy so much the real pathos in the

performances of Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton that I feel compelled to watch it through to the satisfying end.  Directed by William Wyler, with Mary Astor.

     There’s a film that I don’t particularly love as a whole, but enjoy very much the individual parts, so I still watch every time.  With a rather painfully-dated script, The Philadelphia Story (1940) is still enjoyable for the humor and the performances of Cary Grant, Ruth Hussey, James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, and Virginia Weidler. Directed expertly by George Cukor, it's such a pleasure to watch this bevy of big stars doing what they did so well.

  

      This represents a fraction of the classic and not-so-classic films that are now available on television.  There are channels with movies all over the place. Probably, geared to the aging-boomer market, (you know who you are.) There are also a lot of classics available on streaming services, for minimal charges. So much to watch, so little time.

Watchingwell 

                                 Curated classic films

Space Travels

     While we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, let us also celebrate the filmmakers who took us to the moon and other heavenly bodies decades earlier by way of their creative imagination.

    The first film to explore space travel was literally the first film – George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon from 1902. It is simply a creative masterpiece that still charms and it is only thirteen minutes long.

     Although the Méliès film is the most famous, there were other notable science fiction silents I should mention, even though I usually restrict my talk to talkies.

      A Trip to Mars (original title: Himmelskibet or Heaven Ship) from 1918 is a film from Denmark and, as opposed to the Méliès film, this is a serious and less fantastic story of space travel. Scientists discover a peaceful civilization when they take a rocket to Mars. Directed by Holger-Madsen, this film has been carefully preserved by the Danish Film Institute and they have issued a DVD version. *

*The Danish Film Institute (Det Danske Filminstitut) web pages at dfi.dk with 'Himmelskibet' to get more info.

   

Woman in the Moon (Frau im mond) from 1929 was directed by Fritz Lang.  Not as well-known as his other science fiction classic, Metropolis (1927), this film is one of the most realistic about some aspects of space travel since Lang consulted with scientists for technical details.  

Aelita:  Queen of Mars (1924)

        Alita is the daughter of the ruler of a totalitarian society on Mars.  Los is an earthling who builds a space ship and travels to Mars, where he and Alita lead a revolution. An early film from the Soviet Union, one could see this as propaganda for the noble, working class, but worth watching if only for the set design and costumes. Directed by Yakov Protozanov.

Mars Attacks the World (1938)

    Flash Gordon and his friends travel to Mars to battle Ming the Merciless and his ally, Queen Azura.  This is an edited version of the multi-part Flash Gordon serial “A Trip to the Moon”.  Directors:  Ford Beebe, Robert F. Hill.

Rocketship X-M (1950)

      Astronauts on their way to the Moon end up on Mars. Dated by lack of technology, it has a serious mood, real actors like Lloyd Bridges, and a terrific score.  Directed by Kurt Neumann.

Destination Moon (1950)

        Based on the book by Robert Heinlein, dean of science fiction writers, this film is remarkable for predicting many of the procedures that NASA used 19 years later in its actual launches. Directed by Irving Pichel. 

Flight to Mars (1951) 

      Four men and a woman blast off for Mars and find a Martian civilization.  They seem friendly, but they are hiding their secret desire to invade Earth.  Fun 50s sci-fi.  Directed by Leslie Selander.

Cat Women of the Moon (1953)

       Well, this may have been on one of my so-bad-it's-good lists. This is not a serious scientific efffort to describe a space mission to the moon. The cat women are all in black tights and speak English. Originally in 3D. It provokes the question: Why would Marie Windsor and Victor Jory agree to appear in this? Directed by Arthur Hilton.

Conquest of Space (1955)

        A rather competent sci-fi effort from George Pal with high production values and luscious Technicolor. The captain of a mission to Mars leaves a space station with questions about the ethics of the mission. Directed by Byron Haskin.

Missile to the Moon (1958)

      This is possibly a comedy. Or a cheap remake of Cat-Women of the Moon. As opposed to the high production values of the previous film, this one has characters standing in front of a cardboard rocket ship and rock monsters whose actor faces are visible. Directed by Richard Cunha.

  

First Spaceship on Venus (1960)
(Der Schweigende Stern) 

       The special effects are better than most of its time in this East German production.  A thoughtful story of an international group of scientists traveling to Venus to investigate whether aliens from that planet could have visited Earth. Directed by Kurt Maetzig.

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

    Authentic look despite its dated hardware, this adaptation of the classic novel was carefully crafted.  Still holds up even when compared to super-accurate, modern versions. Directed by Byron Haskin.

  

First Men in the Moon (1964)

          H.G. Wells story of a Victorian mission to the moon wrapped in a modern plot. Good performances in a film that is a visually interesting adaptation with a good score by Laurie Johnson. Directed by Nathan Juran.