Nothing reminds me of my joy quite like Roman Holiday. That’s why, even with its moments of melancholy, it’s one of my comfort movies. It’s actually the number one comfort movie for me, as well as my all time favorite. Each time I watch is like the very first time – and that was ten…… Continue reading Today’s gonna be a holiday.
Here’s a movie I love even though it’s somewhat boring, with its visuals far outweighing the story. This is MGM’s lavish star powered biopic of composer Jerome Kern (Robert Walker), who penned some of the most famous musicals of all time – Show Boat being the most well known. If you consider yourself a fan…… Continue reading Favorite films: Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
The phrase make way for tomorrow is a little deceptive. Consider the lyrics to the Jerome Kern song: Let’s keep on singing, “Make way for tomorrow!” The sun is bringing a new day tomorrow It can mean the promise of a new day, but ‘make way’ also means to move out of the way. Move…… Continue reading Film diary: Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
To celebrate Halloween, my blind spot for the month is the James Whale Universal horror classic, Frankenstein. Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) is mad with one singular purpose: to create a man with his own hands, to play God essentially. He has built a man with assorted dead body parts and the brain…… Continue reading 2017 Blind Spots: Frankenstein (1931)
“I don’t know whether or not I particularly like that kid. But she sure is cute.” -Dick Powell Dick Powell and I are not the same. I liked June Allyson right away. I watched Good News (1947) and found her to be overflowing with charm. She was cute and tiny and bubbly. She had a…… Continue reading Junebug’s 100th birthday
The fact that not one, but two classic Hollywood films exist about grown women impersonating 12 year olds is weird? Amazing? Decide for yourself. The Major and the Minor (1942) starred Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. Susan Applegate pretends to be a 12 year old so she can buy a discount train ticket. In the…… Continue reading June Allyson is Too Young to Kiss
Peter Lawford and John Hodiak were both charming and handsome. They were not, however, Van Johnson. But why make this distinction? I love all three men. Peter Lawford was a better actor than most people remember and John Hodiak simply isn’t remembered enough. To be honest though, Van was special. He just had that certain…… Continue reading Van Johnson’s big break: A Guy Named Joe (1943)
