Thursday, November 24, 2022
Made for Each Other
- Commentary: Under construction.
It seems that, although often praising aspects of this movie, critics also had bones to pick about it. The review attached to the title of this post takes a much kinder view than this one written by "disinterested spectator", a member of the Daily Kos community, but they both have problems with certain plot manipulations that they each consider unbelievable, including a deux ex machina ending. It's funny because, in the Daily Kos review the critic mentions that kind of ending as spoiling the film The Wrong Man. I beg to differ. I didn't even remember the deus ex machina manipulation in The Wrong Man and had to go back and review the story to see if this accusation is true. It is, but, as it turns out, this rosary scene was, and is, completely insignificant to me, obviously. Perhaps I was able to dismiss it because religion wasn't sprinkled throughout the entire film and I'm an agnostic atheist, have been for my entire life, so, you know, those things, unless they're rampant in a movie, tend to escape my notice. My understanding, from the reviews I've read, is that religion occupies a major focus in this particular movie. This heightens my desire to watch it. Soon. Despite my non-religious bent, I make no secret of my fascination with movies with lots of religion in them. Why do you think I own The Left Behind Trilogy?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Carole Lombard Jane Mason James Stewart John Horace Mason Charles Coburn Judge Joseph M. Doolittle Lucile Watson Mrs. Harriet Mason Eddie Quillan Conway Alma Kruger Sister Madeline Louise Beavers Lily, Cook #3 Ward Bond Jim Hatton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1939
Directed by John Cromwell.
Labels: dramaF, goflexA, james-stewart, louise-beavers, religion2
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: I think I've said quite a lot about our reactions to this movie throughout the main journal. We both find it entertaining and "feel good" inspirational.
There are a lot of movies, including many from this film's era, previous, post, and all the way through to now, that focus on populist vs. elitist politics. None of them, though, has yet approached the pointedness, pertinence and perceptiveness of this all time classic. I'll bet it will never, ever, not be a popular classic, because, at least in the United States, its story will always be contemporary.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart Jefferson Smith Jean Arthur Clarissa Saunders Claude Rains Joseph Harrison Paine Edward Arnold Jim Taylor Thomas Mitchell Diz Moore Beulah Bondi Ma Smith Astrid Allwyn Susan Paine Ruth Donnelly Mrs. Hopper
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1939
Directed by Frank Capra.
Labels: anti-fascist, beulah-bondi, claude-rains, dramedy2, frank-capra, james-stewart, political5, romance4, shared-favorite, thomas-mitchell
It's a Wonderful Life
- Who's watched: M & G, many times and off-season
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This movie turned me into a Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra fan. It used to irritate Mom, though, because it is so believably dark (which is what I love about it...by the time Jimmy Stewart is hanging over the bridge, you're thinking, yep, that's the only way). Now, she focuses on Donna Reed and Beulah Bondi.
I remember reading somewhere that this is the only Capra movie in which the monster does not receive his comeupance. And, Lionel Barrymore is a superb monster in this movie.
Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his "Great Movies". The review is the one linked to the title of this post.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart George Bailey Donna Reed Mary Hatch Bailey Lionel Barrymore Mr. Potter Thomas Mitchell Uncle Billy Henry Travers Clarence Beulah Bondi Mrs. Bailey Frank Faylen Ernie Ward Bond Bert Gloria Grahame Violet H. B. Warner Mr. Gower Frank Albertson Sam Wainwright Bill Edmunds Mr. Martini
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1946
Directed by Frank Capra.
Labels: beulah-bondi, Christmas, dramaC, frank-capra, james-stewart, shared-favorite, thomas-mitchell
Monday, March 26, 2018
The Philadelphia Story
- Commentary: I never thought I'd own this movie. My reaction to it, until recently, has been ho-hum. My mother loved it, so I pseudo-watched it several times while she was alive (I think she identified with Tracy Lord), but it never occurred to me to buy it while she was alive, considering that it played regularly on TCM.
Recently, though, I've noticed several videos on YouTube, most notably one by Camille Paglia, which is no longer available [note to self, see if someone else has posted it], which intrigued me, so I borrowed the movie from the library and watched it closely a couple of times. It not only jump-started me to prowl through all the Kathatine Hepburn movies I own, but, by the end of my considerations, I decided I wanted to own it.
I've come to deeply appreciate the movie, and Kathatine Hepburn, as a particular type of womanhood that at least three generations of women (my mother's included) glorified and after which they wanted to model themselves. What Camille Paglia says about this movie, including the research she's done on it, is important and, I think, should have more attention paid to it. I don't always agree with Paglia, but, in the case of this movie, I do, and would further say that it was this portrayal of womanhood that led directly to second wave feminism, through the daughters of all the admirers of Tracy Lord.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart Macaulay Connor Cary Grant C.K. Dexter Haven Katharine Hepburn Tracy Samantha Lord Ruth Hussey Elizabeth Imbrie John Howard George Kittredge Roland Young William Q. Tracy John Halliday Seth Lord Mary Nash Margaret Lord Virginia Weidler Dinah Lord Henry Daniell Sidney Kidd Lionel Pape The Footman Hilda Plowright Librarian
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1940
Directed by George Cukor.
Labels: cary-grant, comedy1, Criterion2, james-stewart, journalism, katharine-hepburn, romance1, satire1
Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Vertigo
- Commentary: Believe it. The first time I saw this movie, in my life, was late last year. What can I say, part of my Alfred Hitchcock ambivalence, I guess. I was driven to check out the movie and watch it when I was watching a review of old films on YouTube and saw a cut of Jimmy Stewart's face from this movie looking very much like that cut of horror on his face in It's a Wonderful Life when he is on the brink of suicide. Hmmm... I thought. I'd like to see more of that. I always enjoy a Jimmy Stewart performance that pits his nice-guy image against his horrified image, even if it was a Hitchcock film and, thus, previously a point of avoidance for me.
Well, I was riveted from the beginning. Firstly, it's a treat for me to watch a movie for the first time that is decades old and made with completely different techniques across the board. This movie was not a disappointment. Secondly, it's a fucking good movie! In fact, I understand why it's considered a great movie. Thirdly, the swing of the movie is so active and masterful that it completely involved me right up to the end. There wasn't a second, from the benign beginning to the surprisingly melodramatic ending, that allowed me to look away. It was a no-brainer that I would add this movie to my collection. I've already watched it twice since it entered my house. I just can't get enough of it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart John Ferguson Kim Novak Judy Barton/Madeleine Elster Barbara Bel Geddes Marjorie Wood Tom Helmore Gavin Elster Henry Jones The Coroner Raymond Bailey Ferguson's Doctor Ellen Corby McKittrick Hotel Mgr. Lee Patrick Car Owner mistaken for Madeleine
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up on this film.
Release Date: 1958
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Labels: alfred-hitchcock, drama4, film-noir3, henry-jones, james-stewart, melodramaC, popcorn-and-soda2, suspense1, thriller1, tragedy1
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
How the West Was Won
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of my parents' historical favorites. I remember watching it in the theater but discovered, upon rewatching it (I got it for my mother's birthday this year) that I'd misremembered quite a bit of it and apparently mixed it up with another movie that featured the great prairie land grab, which isn't covered in this film. My mother, who has become much more sophisticated about the depictions of Native Americans in movies, although there is actually little in this film but N.A. hearsay, was unsettled enough by what it included to voice her objections. Otherwise, we both enjoyed the sprawl, became surprisingly involved in the stories, loved some of the individual performances (Will Geer's, in particular, as the patriach of a river pirate family and Carroll Baker's surprisingly subtle performance as a pioneer wife). I was intrigued by the Civil War sequence, as well. My mother devoured the entire movie and breathed a satisfied sigh through a satisfied smile when it was over. "Let's start that again," she said. Luckily, we had another movie which she was equally anticipating, Jeremiah Johnson. This movie will be one of those "snowy/rainy day when I'm baking" movies, I'm sure. I don't think I'll become as fascinated with it as I have The Ten Commandments, of which I often find myself needing a fix, but I don't think I'll ignore it when I'm playing it for Mom, as I do some movies.
P.S. There are so many stars in this movie that I almost considered only listing one per section. The point of these listings, though, is to highlight actors in whose work I might like to luxuriate on, say, a couple of back-to-back snow or monsoon days. Leaving this movie out would be a travesty to that desire.
Thus, in order to make the listings a bit less jumbled, I'm setting them up as did Wikipedia, by section in the multiple tables below.
The movie is narrated by Spencer Tracy.
The Rivers Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart Linus Rawlings Carroll Baker Eve Prescott Rawlings Debbie Reynolds Lilith Prescott van Valen Karl Malden Zebulon Prescott Agnes Moorehead Rebecca Prescott Walter Brennan Col. Jeb Hawkins Brigid Bazlen Dora Hawkins Lee Van Cleef River Pirate
The Plains Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gregory Peck Cleve Van Valen Robert Preston Roger Morgan Thelma Ritter Agatha Clegg David Brian Lilith's attorney John Larch Gambler Grimes Clinton Sundberg Hylan Seabury
The Civil War Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role George Peppard Zeb Rawlings Andy Devine Cpl Peterson Harry Morgan Gen. Ulysses S. Grant John Wayne Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman Russ Tamblyn Confederate Deserter Raymond Massey President Abraham Lincoln Ken Curtis Cpl. Ben Jay C. Flippen Huggins
The Railroad Actor Role Actor Role Henry Fonda Jethro Stuart Richard Widmark Mike King
The Outlaws Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Lee J. Cobb Marshal Lou Ramsey Eli Wallach Charlie Gant Carolyn Jones Julie Rawlings Mickey Shaughnessy Deputy Stover Harry Dean Stanton Member of Gant's Gang Jack Lambert Member of Gant's Gang
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1962
Directed by Henry Hathaway, John Ford and George Marshall.
Labels: carroll-baker, dad-favorite, debbie-reynolds, eli-wallach, gregory-peck, harry-dean-stanton, henry-fonda, james-stewart, karl-malden, lee-j-cobb, mom-favorite1, spectacle2, spencer-tracy, thelma-ritter, western
Monday, February 07, 2005
Rear Window
- Who's watched: M
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I know, I said there isn't a movie in our collection I haven't watched, and this is it! I got this movie because Mom's mentioned it off and on throughout the years and it appeared one day on sale at Costco. The day I bought it, some weeks ago, she was excited when I told her, settled in with it zestily, then, about ⅔ of the way through decided, without warning, to take a nap. She has watched it again, since then.
Roger Ebert wrote two reviews of this film, his initial review, linked to the title of this post, and another when he christened it one of his Great Movies.
Update 2/9/18: I have, as well, watched this movie since my mother's death. I find it mildly engaging but it isn't close to my favorite Hitchcock movie. That badge of honor belongs to Vertigo, a movie I've watched more than a few times since my mother's death. Just for the record, my second favorite Hitchcock movie is The Birds, mainly because I saw it when I was a kid. Its astonishingly dark ending really made an impression on me. I should note, I read the book before seeing the movie. Ah, the good old days of multi-literacy! I should also note, I have not seen nearly all of Hitchcock's movies, although all members of my family were devotees of his television show Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart L. B. Jefferies Grace Kelly Lisa Carol Fremont Wendell Corey Thomas J. Doyle Raymond Burr Lars Thorwald Thelma Ritter Stella Judith Evelyn Miss Lonely Hearts Ross Bagdasarian As the Songwriter Georgine Darcy Miss Torso
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Labels: alfred-hitchcock, dramaC, james-stewart, melodramaC, mystery2, popcorn-and-soda6, suspense2, thelma-ritter
