I have loved watching movies for as long as I can remember. I consider getting paid to watch and report on movies a real dream job. Writing movie reviews has become second nature to me after all of these years. Yet, I remain amazed at the number of different nuances I pick up each and every time I watch a movie. It's truly fascinating what we, as audience members, sometimes fail to recognize about our favorite Hollywood films. As a movie critic, I try to look at films in different ways as I view them. Of course I examine the overall film, the actors, the screenplay, etc. Those are the normal things that critics are supposed to recognize. Recently, I've been asked to “categorize” movies for certain types of reviews. Because I love classic films, I automatically start there and then move forward to the more contemporary pieces. However, I thought it might be interesting to share information on some of the lesser known classic movies that shouldn't be overlooked. Bell, Book, and Candle with Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Elsa Lanchester, is an unusual romantic comedy with real magic involved. Stewart plays Shep Henderson, a man that lusty witch Gillian Holroyd wouldn't normally give the time of day. However, when she finds out that her old college nemesis, Merle Kittiridge, is interested in him, Gil decides to win him away from her old friend- - by casting a spell.
As often happens in romance, however, the witch gets caught up in her own net of deceit and falls for her prey. Unfortunately, by that time Shep has caught on to her and has engaged another witch to remove the spell.
This is a highly sophisticated and funny comedy with hilarious performances delivered by everyone. However, Lemmon and Lanchester will literally make you roll in the aisles with laughter. Never was deception, deceit, and black magic so much fun!
This is one of two movies in which Novak and Stewart appeared together in 1958. The other one, Vertigo - - a Hitchcock mystery - - is also included in this list. This duo proved to be magic on screen with lightning striking gold for both films.
The Day the Earth Stood Still with Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal is a science fiction classic. The 1951 film didn't rely on fancy special effects, ugly alien monsters, or flesh eating creatures. Instead it relied on a smart, sophisticated story that forced people to think about their own prejudices and fears and how they can affect others.
The premise of the story is that an alien ship lands on Earth. At first nothing happens, but eventually a metallic robot emerges to take up guard. Then, a human-like alien emerges and is almost immediately shot by accident. Once taken to the hospital he makes it clear that he has a message to deliver to all the leaders of the world simultaneously. The more the powers-that-be try to make him give the message to them alone, saying they will “pass it on,” the more determined the messenger becomes not to cooperate.
Klaatu (Rennie) eventually escapes and takes up residence in a boarding house, where he meets Bobby Benson and his mother Helen (O'Neal). It is here that he finally begins to see the potential value of human life. The boy helps him make contact with someone who can get his message delivered, while his mother becomes enamored of the mysterious “scientist.”
This is a first class movie with an obvious science fiction background. However it is much more than that. It is really an important morality tale. The first rate acting and photography in this film is not to be missed. And although, by today's standards, the spaceship and robot may seem tame, for that day and age they were quite good. In truth, I think they still stand up darn well today.
Dial M for Murder with Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Robert Cummings, is a fabulously deceptive Hitchcock great. The 1954 film is a wonderful blend of suspense and sophistication.
Tony Wendice (Milland), after finding out that his wife (Kelly) had an affair, decides she has to pay for it - - with her life. But he wants to include the “lover” in his scheme so he waits until Mark Halliday (Cummings) comes to town. Wendice then blackmails someone into committing the perfect mirror; ridding him of his wife and framing her lover at the same time. But something goes wrong and suddenly the police have a real mystery on their hands.
The master of the “cat and mouse game” turned out yet another masterful mystery with this amazing movie. It will keep you wondering right to the end.
Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, is a sprawling epic equal in size to the state it represents - - Texas. The film follows the budding romance and marriage of Bick and Leslie Benedict (Hudson and Taylor).
Leslie, a Southern belle from Virginia, and Bick, a cow puncher from Texas, seem an unlikely match at first. But love can't always be categorized and often is misunderstood. Although the movie focuses mostly on the Benedict family as it builds, grows, and changes, it also deals with a variety of subjects including morality, racism, and the oppression of women; all of which were risky topics in 1956 when the film was made.
James Dean, as Jett Rink, almost manages to steal this film right out from under the noses of its two premiere stars. However, the entire cast is quite exceptional. And the makeup that allowed the audience to believe the aging of Hudson and Taylor was outstanding. Of course, we can't leave out the exquisite cinematography. In fact, there is virtually nothing about this film that isn't spot on perfect!
The Great Imposter , with Tony Curtis, focuses on the true story of Ferdinand Waldo Demera, Jr.; a man that succeeded in impersonating a professor, a surgeon, a monk, a schoolteacher, and a prison warden before being captured and imprisoned himself.
Curtis is the center of this film and gives a truly amazing performance that shouldn't be missed. Notable as well is Karl Malden as the one of the few people who understands Demera's need to transform himself into so many different individuals.
This is one of my very favorite movies; partly because of Curtis's performance, which is outstanding. However, also because of the true story aspect of the film. I found it fascinating how Demera managed to pull off so many different cons, fooling some highly intelligent experts in their individual fields.
Ivanhoe with Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, and George Sanders, is based on the Walter Scott classic by the same name.
This beautifully done period piece focuses on Wilfrid of Ivanhoe (R. Taylor), a knight disowned by his family for his belief that the rightful king of England is Richard and not his brother the evil Prince John. But the focus of this 1952 film is on the ongoing fight between the Anglo-Saxons and Normans.
While fighting in the crusades, Richard the Lionhearted is captured and held captive to make room for John's ascension to the throne. To raise money for Richard's ransom, Ivanhoe enters a tournament in Ashby where he is severely injured.
Coming to Ivanhoe's rescue is a beautiful Jewish girl named Rebecca (E. Taylor). Ivanhoe's competitor, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert (Sanders) loves Rebecca and wants her for his own. He detests Ivanhoe because Rebecca loves him. But Ivanhoe, unaware of Rebecca's adoration, simply pines for his love, the Lady Rowena.
If you can suspend reality long enough to get away from the oddity of Robert Taylor in the role of a knight, this is a darn good film as its Best Picture of the Year nomination indicates. It was at the height of Liz Taylor's talents and beauty and features a first rate villain in George Sanders.
Laura with Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews was a smart, sophisticated mystery. The 1944 film focuses around the death of famous advertising executive, Laura Hunt (Tierney). But detective Mark McPherson (Andrews) becomes mesmerized with her portrait and falls in love with her as he reads her letters and diary.
Halfway through the investigation, something unusual happens that throws the entire murder case into turmoil, making the detective and everyone else question what really occurred.
This film is a classic mystery for those who like “whodunits” with a whimsical twist. It also doesn't hurt that both Tierney and Andrews turn in first-rate performances.
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House with Carry Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas, is a comedy classic. Cary Grant, as Jim Blandings, is the perfect poster boy for homeowner angst when he and his wife, Muriel, decide to build their own Connecticut home in this 1948 film.
Tired of their cramped Manhattan apartment, the Blandings decide building a house is the ticket until everything that can go wrong, does. As the problems - - and costs - - mount, the Blandings marriage becomes strained and suddenly family friend, Bill Cole's, visits seem too frequent. With all of the confusion, Blandings can't come up with an idea for his advertising client Wham Ham and his entire life seems to slip out of his control.
The cast of this movie elevates it above the norm. Myrna Loy was never more perfect in demeanor, voice, or delivery. Grant is hilarious as well, delivering as much frustration and fluster with a raised eyebrow and a set of his mouth than many could with dozens of words.
This is one of my husband's favorite movies and I admit that I love it as well. It is witty and warm and more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
No Way to Treat a Lady with Rod Steiger, George Segal, and Lee Remick, comes from the master of suspense, novelist William Goldman. The 1968 film focuses on a string of New York murders that detective Morris Brummel (Segal) can't seem to get a handle on.
Although the “calling card” left by the killer would indicate the same person committed all of the murders, the descriptions of the possible perpetrators are totally different. Steiger is the psychotic killer who plays cat and mouse with the police. Remick plays a witness who shares insight about the killer with Brummel, thereby making herself a murder target, especially after she and the detective become an item.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I loved the chemistry created between these three characters and the tour de force performance of Steiger. I even enjoyed Eileen Heckert's take on the Jewish mother role. Most of all, however, I loved Remick. She lit up the screen in this movie, exuding so much charm and grace that it would have worth watching it for her performance alone.
Vertigo with James Stewart and Kim Novak is considered by many to be Alfred Hitchcock's best film. This 1958 movie focuses on an detective from San Francisco who is afraid of heights. This fear plays a major role in the premise of the film.
Scottie Ferguson (Stewart) is asked by a wealthy friend from his college days to follow his wife, Madeleine (Novak) because he believes she is mentally ill and might be contemplating suicide. The detective reluctantly agrees and begins to shadow the beauty, only to find himself obsessed with her.
When tragedy strikes and Madeleine dies, Scottie is inconsolable. That is, until he finds another woman that looks much like his lost love. He convinces her to let him “help” her and slowly begins to turn her into an exact duplicate of Madeleine. Or is she something more?
The brilliance of the two actors are key in this film because it goes for long periods without any dialogue. Music also plays a key role in that silence. Luckily both Stewart and Novak were capable of saying so much with facial expression and body language, that the audience hardly even notices the lack of dialogue. This is one of Stewart's finest movie performances, particularly since he is cast in a bit of a voyeuristic role.
Hitchcock invented the simultaneous use of forward zoom and reverse tracking shot specifically for this film in order to convey Scottie's vertigo. It was just one more of the several components that come together to make this film a true mystery classic.
There you have it, ten classic films with which you might not be acquainted but all of which deserve your attention. Go forth, rent, and enjoy! |
