My Top Ten Favorite Movies of 1936
10. San Francisco
San Francisco open your golden gates, you'll let nobody wait outside your door! This movie has it all: good history, great acting, superb special effects, a Stellar cast (Gable, Tracy, and McDonald, all top stars at the time), and a great story line. The earthquake scene at the end is second to none.
9. Show Boat
What an exquisite and enjoyable film! In addition to being an honest and frank celebration of miscegenation, "Show Boat" is also a genuinely felt evocation of a stage actress, who goes from a stagestruck teen to a mature woman seriously dealing with the consequences of a marriage to a gambler.
8. Dimples
What a charming musical! Shirley Temple is absolutely adorable, as always. Her and Frank Morgan play off eachother very warmly in this film.
7. Rifraff
Riffraff is the kind of movie Hollywood forgot to make sometime during WWII; lightning-paced, fast-talking, plot-driven with only the scantest regard to any meaningful characterisation, it's the kind of 30's staple that promised - and delivered - nothing other than pure entertainment for the masses.
6. Camille
When you think of the lavish 30s films of MGM, Camille is near the top of the list. Great story and flawless production here boasting perhaps the most shimmering of Greta Garbo's ethereal performances. Familiar and much filmed story, this is nevertheless the best of them all.
5. Romeo and Juliet
The fine cast and production make this adaptation of "Romeo & Juliet" a satisfying one, both as a movie and as a realization of Shakespeare's play. Most of the cast is matched up very well with their characters, and the lavish settings provide a good backdrop for the drama. But the highlight of the cast is John Barrymore, who steals every scene, as Mercutio.
4. Follow the Fleet
This is one of the best Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers films, or at least one of my favorites. This movie features not just great dancing but likable characters and a bunch of good songs. The music is the central theme here and what's nice is the addition of a tap solo by Rogers. Also, very fun to see a young Lucille Ball.
3. Captain January
Here's another cute Shirley Temple movie with interesting characters and a decent share of good song-and-dance numbers. The story is similar to a few other Temple films in which a nasty person takes Shirley away from the good people but the good guys prevail in the end. The thing that makes this movie one of my favorite Shirley films is that dance that she does with Buddy Ebsen.
2. Libeled Lady
Harlow, Tracy, Powell and Loy in one film! There truly were more stars at MGM than in the heavens. This is one of the best screwball comedies of the 30's.
1. Swing Time
Swing Time is definitely my favorite of the ten Astaire-Rogers films. It has the best songs and the best dance numbers, and is extremely enjoyable. This was, in many ways, the zenith of the Astaire-Rogers 10-film saga.
San Francisco open your golden gates, you'll let nobody wait outside your door! This movie has it all: good history, great acting, superb special effects, a Stellar cast (Gable, Tracy, and McDonald, all top stars at the time), and a great story line. The earthquake scene at the end is second to none.
9. Show Boat
What an exquisite and enjoyable film! In addition to being an honest and frank celebration of miscegenation, "Show Boat" is also a genuinely felt evocation of a stage actress, who goes from a stagestruck teen to a mature woman seriously dealing with the consequences of a marriage to a gambler.
8. Dimples
What a charming musical! Shirley Temple is absolutely adorable, as always. Her and Frank Morgan play off eachother very warmly in this film.
7. Rifraff
Riffraff is the kind of movie Hollywood forgot to make sometime during WWII; lightning-paced, fast-talking, plot-driven with only the scantest regard to any meaningful characterisation, it's the kind of 30's staple that promised - and delivered - nothing other than pure entertainment for the masses.
6. Camille
When you think of the lavish 30s films of MGM, Camille is near the top of the list. Great story and flawless production here boasting perhaps the most shimmering of Greta Garbo's ethereal performances. Familiar and much filmed story, this is nevertheless the best of them all.
5. Romeo and Juliet
The fine cast and production make this adaptation of "Romeo & Juliet" a satisfying one, both as a movie and as a realization of Shakespeare's play. Most of the cast is matched up very well with their characters, and the lavish settings provide a good backdrop for the drama. But the highlight of the cast is John Barrymore, who steals every scene, as Mercutio.
4. Follow the Fleet
This is one of the best Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers films, or at least one of my favorites. This movie features not just great dancing but likable characters and a bunch of good songs. The music is the central theme here and what's nice is the addition of a tap solo by Rogers. Also, very fun to see a young Lucille Ball.
3. Captain January
Here's another cute Shirley Temple movie with interesting characters and a decent share of good song-and-dance numbers. The story is similar to a few other Temple films in which a nasty person takes Shirley away from the good people but the good guys prevail in the end. The thing that makes this movie one of my favorite Shirley films is that dance that she does with Buddy Ebsen.
2. Libeled Lady
Harlow, Tracy, Powell and Loy in one film! There truly were more stars at MGM than in the heavens. This is one of the best screwball comedies of the 30's.
1. Swing Time
Swing Time is definitely my favorite of the ten Astaire-Rogers films. It has the best songs and the best dance numbers, and is extremely enjoyable. This was, in many ways, the zenith of the Astaire-Rogers 10-film saga.