August & September Movies
I procrastinated about making an August post, so here it is with the September movies as well.
AUGUST
1. You Can’t Run Away from It (Dick Powell, 1956) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
2. The Young Girls of Rochefort (Jacques Demy, 1967) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
3. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Rouben Mamoulian, 1932) (DVD - Netflix)
4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Victor Fleming, 1941) (DVD - Netflix)
5. A Conversation with Gregory Peck (Barbara Kopple, 1999) (TV)
6. The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (Henry Hathaway, 1935) (DVD - Netflix)
7. The Hidden Fortress (Akira Kurosawa, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
8. In the Bedroom (Todd Field, 2001) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
9. The Americanization of Emily (Arthur Hiller, 1964) (TV)
10. Alice Adams (George Stevens, 1935) (TV)
11. Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music (Robert Elfstrom, 2008) (TV)
12. Cube (Vincenzo Natali, 1997) (TV)
13. Hotel Berlin (Peter Godfrey, 1945) (TV)
14. The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929) (DVD - Netflix)
15. One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch, 1932) (DVD - Netflix)
16. The Smiling Lieutenant (Ernst Lubitsch, 1931) (DVD - Netflix)
17. The Valley of Decision (Tay Garnett, 1945) (TV)
18. Mrs. Parkington (Tay Garnett, 1944) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
19. Julia Misbehaves (Jack Conway, 1948) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
20. The Thief of Baghdad (Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, 1940) (DVD - Netflix)
21. The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956) (DVD - Netflix)
22. Romancing the Stone (Robert Zemeckis, 1984) (TV)
23. Billy Rose’s Jumbo (Charles Walters, 1962) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
24. Hail the Conquering Hero (Preston Sturges, 1944) (DVD - Netflix)
25. Here Comes Mr. Jordan (Alexander Hall, 1941) (DVD - Netflix)
26. Les Girls (George Cukor, 1957) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
27. Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (Robert Trachtenberg, 2002) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
28. That’s Dancing (Jack Haley Jr., 1985) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
29. The Tin Star (Anthony Mann, 1957) (TV)
30. The Big Clock (John Farrow, 1948) (DVD - Netflix)
31. You Only Live Once (Fritz Lang, 1937) (DVD - Netflix)
32. The Great McGinty (Preston Sturges, 1940) (DVD - Netflix)
33. The World of Henry Orient (George Roy Hill, 1964) (VHS)
34. Man’s Castle (Frank Borzage, 1933) (TV)
35. The Seventh Cross (Fred Zinnemann, 1944) (TV)
__________________________
21 - TV (10 Pre-Recorded)
13 - Netflix
1 - VHS
35 Total
__________________________
notable films -
Ernst Lubitsch
The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929)
One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch, 1932)
The Smiling Lieutenant (Ernst Lubitsch, 1931)
A trilogy of early Lubitsch musicals. I thought I would enjoy them more than I did but in the end the only one I enjoyed at all was The Love Parade and that was entirely due to the supporting cast of Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth. Their two numbers, "Let's Be Common" and "The Queen's Always Right" were the highlight of the whole film. I watched those two scenes at least a dozen times. Maurice Chevalier maybe debonair, charming and all that but not enough to pull off the length of either one of the films. And I just can't get into the operatic style of Jeanette MacDonald's singing. I much prefer the Vaudevillian/Tin Pan Alley type of songs. Operettas are just to slow for my tastes.
Gene Kelly
Les Girls (George Cukor, 1957)
The Young Girls of Rochefort (Jacques Demy, 1967)
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (Robert Trachtenberg, 2002)
Les Girls turned out to be surprisingly satisfying. The structure of the film is broken up into three sections. Each one told from the point of view of three separated individuals, their testimony in a libel suit that les girls and Kelly are named in. It is a bit jolting when they jump from the first section to the second but by the time the final act comes about all is resolved and everyone is [fairly] happy... it is an MGM musical after all. (Actually, Gene Kelly's last for his long time studio.)
The Young Girls of Rochfort is a delightful Technicolor musical.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Rouben Mamoulian, 1932)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Victor Fleming, 1941)
I was a bit surprised after watching these two. The first version with Frederic March had so much more pathos and atmosphere compared to the glossy MGM treatment the later adaptation has. The make-up, while bordering on the ridiculous in the 1932 film was very effective while the change that Spencer Tracy under goes is almost non-existent, other than a wild-eye glare in his eyes. That being said, I usually like Spencer Tracy films, but this was a literary adaptation and I still wonder why he was cast. And I just don't believe Ingrid Bergman as the "lady of the evening."
The Thief of Baghdad (Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, 1940)
A magic carpet ride in Technicolor. Definitely a must-see. A purely fun and enchanting fantasy film.
The Seventh Cross (Fred Zinnemann, 1944)
A deeply affective drama about escapees from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. The focus is on Spencer Tracy who has become disillusioned to the world. He encounters strangers and old friends alike on his way to safety across the border who restore his faith in humanity. A very interesting story, especially for a studio like MGM to make in 1944, in the fact that it portrays Germans sympathetically.
Hotel Berlin (Peter Godfrey, 1945)
This was reminiscent of Grand Hotel in that it centers on the varied characters who live in the hotel, just add in Nazi's and the Gestapo. They are searching for an escaped resistance fighter who is hiding in the Hotel. And in the process of trying to secure his safe passage out of the city we meet the good, the bad and the ugly of the German people. Peter Lorre puts in a very good performance as a drunken professor who has lost his will to keep up the fight. After watching so many MGM films with their glamor and polish, this gritty Warner Bros. film was very refreshing.
The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956)
Fonda plays the proverbial Hitchcock character, specifically the wrongly accused man. Based on a true story, Fonda is a hard working musician trying to scrape a living for his family. One night coming home from work he is picked up as a suspect in a murder. And before he knows it he is sent away guilty as charged. The police tactics are frightening to watch. Gives you the impression that this could happen to anyone. The system swallowing you up, locked away, never to be seen again. Not your usual Hitchcock.
The World of Henry Orient (George Roy Hill, 1964)
I'm not really a Peter Sellers fan, but I really enjoyed this. That might be due to the fact that he is only a supporting character here, even though he is the title character. The film focuses on two teenage girls who become obsessed with concert pianist, Henry Orient (Sellers), following him around Manhattan and in the process, interrupts his many attempts to woo various beautiful women. The heart of the film though is the strong friendship that these two girls form so quickly and the various imaginary worlds they create to entertain each other. A delightful surprise.
The Americanization of Emily (Arthur Hiller, 1964)
I had trouble enjoying this satirical take of WWII and patriotism. James Garner is an American soldier stationed in London during the build-up to D-Day, living a very comfortable life as an aid to a General. Enter Julie Andrews as a serious patriotic English woman. Each one has their beliefs challenged while they fall in love. Paddy Chayefsky (Network) wrote the screenplay and it is loaded with some interesting monologues.
Cube (Vincenzo Natali, 1997)
Very low budget Canadian sci-fi. Seven strangers from different backgrounds awake to find themselves in a mysterious maze of various cubic rooms. The tension never lets you go. Reminds me of a very good Twilight Zone episode. Captures your attention up to the very end. David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis) co-stars.
A Conversation with Gregory Peck (Barbara Kopple, 1999)
A very interesting documentary that follows famed actor Gregory Peck on his tour of a stage show that finds him telling anecdotes of his life accompanied with film clips of his many movies and a Q&A session. Also included is his home life with his extended family, receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton (who promptly drops it) and the birth of his grandson. Highly recommended to any fan.
SEPTEMBER
1. Bad Day at Black Rock (John Sturges, 1955) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
2. Big Deal on Madonna Street (Mario Monicelli, 1958) (TV)
3. The Wedding Night (King Vidor, 1935) (TV)
4. The Vikings (Richard Fleischer, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
5. The Hucksters (Jack Conway, 1947) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
6. Lone Star (Vincent Sherman, 1952) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
7. Ossessione (Luchino Visconti, 1943) (DVD - Netflix)
8. ‘Til There Was You (Scott Winant, 1997) (TV)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass, 2007) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
10. Miracle on 34th Street (Les Mayfield, 1994) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
11. That Uncertain Feeling (Ernst Lubitsch, 1941) (TV)
12. No Reservations (Scott Hicks, 2007) (TV)
13. Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960) (DVD - Netflix)
14. The Leopard (Luchino Visconti, 1963) (DVD - Netflix)
15. The Fugitive (John Ford, 1947) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
16. Journey Into Fear (Norman Foster, 1942) (TV)
17. Mad Max (George Miller, 1979) (TV)
18. The Best Man (Franklin J. Schaffner, 1964)(TV - Pre-Recorded)
19. The Last Hurrah (John Ford, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
20. If Only You Could Cook (William Seiter, 1935) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
21. Adventure in Manhattan (Edward Ludwig, 1936) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
22. More Than A Secretary (Alfred Green, 1936) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
23. The Two of Us (Claude Berri, 1967) (DVD - Netflix)
24. Le Boucher (Claude Chabrol. 1969) (DVD - Netflix)
25. The Damned (Luchino Visconti, 1969) (DVD - Netflix)
26. Jewel Robbery (William Dieterle, 1932) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
27. The Man from Laramie (Anthony Mann, 1955) (TV)
28. One Way Passage (Tay Garnett, 1932) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
29. Queen Christina (Rouben Mamoulian, 1933) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
30. Two Faced Woman (George Cukor, 1941) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
31. The Parent Trap (David Swift, 1961) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
32. The Ruby in the Smoke (Brian Percival, 2006) (TV)
33. The Shadow in the North (John Alexander, 2007) (TV)
34. Garbo (Kevin Brownlow/Christopher Bird, 2005) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
_________________________
25 - TV (13 Pre-Recorded)
6 - Netflix
31 Total
_________________________
Notable Films-
Bad Day at Black Rock (John Sturges, 1955)
I love this film. Spencer Tracy is great as the handicapped vet who runs into a very unfriendly desert town in the middle of nowhere trying to hide some horrible event. So satisfying. I can watch this anytime.
‘Til There Was You (Scott Winant, 1997)
This was very uneven all around. But still a slightly enjoyable romantic comedy. It's no Sleepless in Seattle, though. Jeanne Tripplehorn was charming as the female lead but the rest was just out of sorts, like the supposedly slapstick moments. Just too much.
The Best Man (Franklin J. Schaffner, 1964)
Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson are campaigning for the presidential nomination, both wooing the party and trying to get a former president's endorsement. Adapted by Gore Vidal from his own play, its an interesting look into the underbelly of politicking. And, remember, this is 1964. Reminds me of something Aaron Sorkin might have penned. Highly Recommended.
The Last Hurrah (John Ford, 1958)
Another Spencer Tracy film. Here he plays the mayor of a "town like Boston" running for re-election. But he is of the old school of politics while another candidate with unlimited monetary backing runs against him. Worth a look just for Tracy's portrayal of the Old Guard politician.
The Man from Laramie (Anthony Mann, 1955)
A Stewart and Mann western. Already a good sign. Jimmy is a stranger in town who runs afoul of the local cattle baron. Even though his business is finished he sticks around anyway searching for answers from his own past. I love the vengeful Jimmy that Mann brings out in their westerns together. And this is another that doesn't disappoint.
The Parent Trap (David Swift, 1961)
The original Disney film with Haylee Mills, Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara. I remember seeing this as a kid but I don't think I had seen it all the way through before. I remember the remake much more vividly since seeing it several times on TV. Each one has its virtues. But there are some changes in the remake that I do enjoy more than the original. Like Lisa Ann Walter as the housekeeper, although, nothing against Una Merkel.
AUGUST
1. You Can’t Run Away from It (Dick Powell, 1956) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
2. The Young Girls of Rochefort (Jacques Demy, 1967) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
3. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Rouben Mamoulian, 1932) (DVD - Netflix)
4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Victor Fleming, 1941) (DVD - Netflix)
5. A Conversation with Gregory Peck (Barbara Kopple, 1999) (TV)
6. The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (Henry Hathaway, 1935) (DVD - Netflix)
7. The Hidden Fortress (Akira Kurosawa, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
8. In the Bedroom (Todd Field, 2001) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
9. The Americanization of Emily (Arthur Hiller, 1964) (TV)
10. Alice Adams (George Stevens, 1935) (TV)
11. Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music (Robert Elfstrom, 2008) (TV)
12. Cube (Vincenzo Natali, 1997) (TV)
13. Hotel Berlin (Peter Godfrey, 1945) (TV)
14. The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929) (DVD - Netflix)
15. One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch, 1932) (DVD - Netflix)
16. The Smiling Lieutenant (Ernst Lubitsch, 1931) (DVD - Netflix)
17. The Valley of Decision (Tay Garnett, 1945) (TV)
18. Mrs. Parkington (Tay Garnett, 1944) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
19. Julia Misbehaves (Jack Conway, 1948) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
20. The Thief of Baghdad (Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, 1940) (DVD - Netflix)
21. The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956) (DVD - Netflix)
22. Romancing the Stone (Robert Zemeckis, 1984) (TV)
23. Billy Rose’s Jumbo (Charles Walters, 1962) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
24. Hail the Conquering Hero (Preston Sturges, 1944) (DVD - Netflix)
25. Here Comes Mr. Jordan (Alexander Hall, 1941) (DVD - Netflix)
26. Les Girls (George Cukor, 1957) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
27. Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (Robert Trachtenberg, 2002) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
28. That’s Dancing (Jack Haley Jr., 1985) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
29. The Tin Star (Anthony Mann, 1957) (TV)
30. The Big Clock (John Farrow, 1948) (DVD - Netflix)
31. You Only Live Once (Fritz Lang, 1937) (DVD - Netflix)
32. The Great McGinty (Preston Sturges, 1940) (DVD - Netflix)
33. The World of Henry Orient (George Roy Hill, 1964) (VHS)
34. Man’s Castle (Frank Borzage, 1933) (TV)
35. The Seventh Cross (Fred Zinnemann, 1944) (TV)
__________________________
21 - TV (10 Pre-Recorded)
13 - Netflix
1 - VHS
35 Total
__________________________
notable films -
Ernst Lubitsch
The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929)
One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch, 1932)
The Smiling Lieutenant (Ernst Lubitsch, 1931)
A trilogy of early Lubitsch musicals. I thought I would enjoy them more than I did but in the end the only one I enjoyed at all was The Love Parade and that was entirely due to the supporting cast of Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth. Their two numbers, "Let's Be Common" and "The Queen's Always Right" were the highlight of the whole film. I watched those two scenes at least a dozen times. Maurice Chevalier maybe debonair, charming and all that but not enough to pull off the length of either one of the films. And I just can't get into the operatic style of Jeanette MacDonald's singing. I much prefer the Vaudevillian/Tin Pan Alley type of songs. Operettas are just to slow for my tastes.
Gene Kelly
Les Girls (George Cukor, 1957)
The Young Girls of Rochefort (Jacques Demy, 1967)
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (Robert Trachtenberg, 2002)
Les Girls turned out to be surprisingly satisfying. The structure of the film is broken up into three sections. Each one told from the point of view of three separated individuals, their testimony in a libel suit that les girls and Kelly are named in. It is a bit jolting when they jump from the first section to the second but by the time the final act comes about all is resolved and everyone is [fairly] happy... it is an MGM musical after all. (Actually, Gene Kelly's last for his long time studio.)
The Young Girls of Rochfort is a delightful Technicolor musical.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Rouben Mamoulian, 1932)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Victor Fleming, 1941)
I was a bit surprised after watching these two. The first version with Frederic March had so much more pathos and atmosphere compared to the glossy MGM treatment the later adaptation has. The make-up, while bordering on the ridiculous in the 1932 film was very effective while the change that Spencer Tracy under goes is almost non-existent, other than a wild-eye glare in his eyes. That being said, I usually like Spencer Tracy films, but this was a literary adaptation and I still wonder why he was cast. And I just don't believe Ingrid Bergman as the "lady of the evening."
The Thief of Baghdad (Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, 1940)
A magic carpet ride in Technicolor. Definitely a must-see. A purely fun and enchanting fantasy film.
The Seventh Cross (Fred Zinnemann, 1944)
A deeply affective drama about escapees from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. The focus is on Spencer Tracy who has become disillusioned to the world. He encounters strangers and old friends alike on his way to safety across the border who restore his faith in humanity. A very interesting story, especially for a studio like MGM to make in 1944, in the fact that it portrays Germans sympathetically.
Hotel Berlin (Peter Godfrey, 1945)
This was reminiscent of Grand Hotel in that it centers on the varied characters who live in the hotel, just add in Nazi's and the Gestapo. They are searching for an escaped resistance fighter who is hiding in the Hotel. And in the process of trying to secure his safe passage out of the city we meet the good, the bad and the ugly of the German people. Peter Lorre puts in a very good performance as a drunken professor who has lost his will to keep up the fight. After watching so many MGM films with their glamor and polish, this gritty Warner Bros. film was very refreshing.
The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956)
Fonda plays the proverbial Hitchcock character, specifically the wrongly accused man. Based on a true story, Fonda is a hard working musician trying to scrape a living for his family. One night coming home from work he is picked up as a suspect in a murder. And before he knows it he is sent away guilty as charged. The police tactics are frightening to watch. Gives you the impression that this could happen to anyone. The system swallowing you up, locked away, never to be seen again. Not your usual Hitchcock.
The World of Henry Orient (George Roy Hill, 1964)
I'm not really a Peter Sellers fan, but I really enjoyed this. That might be due to the fact that he is only a supporting character here, even though he is the title character. The film focuses on two teenage girls who become obsessed with concert pianist, Henry Orient (Sellers), following him around Manhattan and in the process, interrupts his many attempts to woo various beautiful women. The heart of the film though is the strong friendship that these two girls form so quickly and the various imaginary worlds they create to entertain each other. A delightful surprise.
The Americanization of Emily (Arthur Hiller, 1964)
I had trouble enjoying this satirical take of WWII and patriotism. James Garner is an American soldier stationed in London during the build-up to D-Day, living a very comfortable life as an aid to a General. Enter Julie Andrews as a serious patriotic English woman. Each one has their beliefs challenged while they fall in love. Paddy Chayefsky (Network) wrote the screenplay and it is loaded with some interesting monologues.
Cube (Vincenzo Natali, 1997)
Very low budget Canadian sci-fi. Seven strangers from different backgrounds awake to find themselves in a mysterious maze of various cubic rooms. The tension never lets you go. Reminds me of a very good Twilight Zone episode. Captures your attention up to the very end. David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis) co-stars.
A Conversation with Gregory Peck (Barbara Kopple, 1999)
A very interesting documentary that follows famed actor Gregory Peck on his tour of a stage show that finds him telling anecdotes of his life accompanied with film clips of his many movies and a Q&A session. Also included is his home life with his extended family, receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton (who promptly drops it) and the birth of his grandson. Highly recommended to any fan.
SEPTEMBER
1. Bad Day at Black Rock (John Sturges, 1955) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
2. Big Deal on Madonna Street (Mario Monicelli, 1958) (TV)
3. The Wedding Night (King Vidor, 1935) (TV)
4. The Vikings (Richard Fleischer, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
5. The Hucksters (Jack Conway, 1947) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
6. Lone Star (Vincent Sherman, 1952) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
7. Ossessione (Luchino Visconti, 1943) (DVD - Netflix)
8. ‘Til There Was You (Scott Winant, 1997) (TV)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass, 2007) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
10. Miracle on 34th Street (Les Mayfield, 1994) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
11. That Uncertain Feeling (Ernst Lubitsch, 1941) (TV)
12. No Reservations (Scott Hicks, 2007) (TV)
13. Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960) (DVD - Netflix)
14. The Leopard (Luchino Visconti, 1963) (DVD - Netflix)
15. The Fugitive (John Ford, 1947) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
16. Journey Into Fear (Norman Foster, 1942) (TV)
17. Mad Max (George Miller, 1979) (TV)
18. The Best Man (Franklin J. Schaffner, 1964)(TV - Pre-Recorded)
19. The Last Hurrah (John Ford, 1958) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
20. If Only You Could Cook (William Seiter, 1935) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
21. Adventure in Manhattan (Edward Ludwig, 1936) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
22. More Than A Secretary (Alfred Green, 1936) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
23. The Two of Us (Claude Berri, 1967) (DVD - Netflix)
24. Le Boucher (Claude Chabrol. 1969) (DVD - Netflix)
25. The Damned (Luchino Visconti, 1969) (DVD - Netflix)
26. Jewel Robbery (William Dieterle, 1932) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
27. The Man from Laramie (Anthony Mann, 1955) (TV)
28. One Way Passage (Tay Garnett, 1932) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
29. Queen Christina (Rouben Mamoulian, 1933) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
30. Two Faced Woman (George Cukor, 1941) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
31. The Parent Trap (David Swift, 1961) (TV) [Repeat Viewing]
32. The Ruby in the Smoke (Brian Percival, 2006) (TV)
33. The Shadow in the North (John Alexander, 2007) (TV)
34. Garbo (Kevin Brownlow/Christopher Bird, 2005) (TV - Pre-Recorded)
_________________________
25 - TV (13 Pre-Recorded)
6 - Netflix
31 Total
_________________________
Notable Films-
Bad Day at Black Rock (John Sturges, 1955)
I love this film. Spencer Tracy is great as the handicapped vet who runs into a very unfriendly desert town in the middle of nowhere trying to hide some horrible event. So satisfying. I can watch this anytime.
‘Til There Was You (Scott Winant, 1997)
This was very uneven all around. But still a slightly enjoyable romantic comedy. It's no Sleepless in Seattle, though. Jeanne Tripplehorn was charming as the female lead but the rest was just out of sorts, like the supposedly slapstick moments. Just too much.
The Best Man (Franklin J. Schaffner, 1964)
Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson are campaigning for the presidential nomination, both wooing the party and trying to get a former president's endorsement. Adapted by Gore Vidal from his own play, its an interesting look into the underbelly of politicking. And, remember, this is 1964. Reminds me of something Aaron Sorkin might have penned. Highly Recommended.
The Last Hurrah (John Ford, 1958)
Another Spencer Tracy film. Here he plays the mayor of a "town like Boston" running for re-election. But he is of the old school of politics while another candidate with unlimited monetary backing runs against him. Worth a look just for Tracy's portrayal of the Old Guard politician.
The Man from Laramie (Anthony Mann, 1955)
A Stewart and Mann western. Already a good sign. Jimmy is a stranger in town who runs afoul of the local cattle baron. Even though his business is finished he sticks around anyway searching for answers from his own past. I love the vengeful Jimmy that Mann brings out in their westerns together. And this is another that doesn't disappoint.
The Parent Trap (David Swift, 1961)
The original Disney film with Haylee Mills, Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara. I remember seeing this as a kid but I don't think I had seen it all the way through before. I remember the remake much more vividly since seeing it several times on TV. Each one has its virtues. But there are some changes in the remake that I do enjoy more than the original. Like Lisa Ann Walter as the housekeeper, although, nothing against Una Merkel.