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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 8, 2011 8:29:19 GMT -6
From 1950, we watched the classic Three Little Words starring Fred Astaire, Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl, and Vera-Ellen. The musical-comedy about tin pan alley and two composers who tried to change the face of music in the 50's. Really a very good musical, and very enjoyable to watch and sing along to the songs.
Then, after the grand kds were in bed we watched The Crimson Pirate starring Burt Lancaster. One of my favorite swash-buckling adventures.
;D
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Post by Midge on Apr 8, 2011 12:14:52 GMT -6
Bill, I've got Three Little Words (love Vera-Ellen), but have never seen The Crimson Pirate. I hear it's great fun!
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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 14, 2011 14:18:02 GMT -6
With the recent passing of Elizabeth Taylor, we watched a couple of her movies last night. The first one was National Velvet, which is one of my wife's favorite films.
Our second choice was a little more obscure film called Elephant Walk (1954), Directed by William Dieterie, and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Dana Andrews, and Peter Finch.
Taylor portrays a young lady from an English family who is swept off her feet and married to Peter Finch, who takes her home to Elephant Walk, Ceylon. She grows more and more concerned for her safety when she realizes that the Elephants have been on sporadic rampages, and being the only other white person in Elephant Walk she becomes more and more agitated.
Vivien Leigh was originally in this movie, but her well- publicized mental breakdown that year caused the company to replace her with Miss Taylor. To save money, they kept all the long-shots, and night scenes, so they could save time since the production was running behind schedule.
On the Junkie Movie Meter I would give this film a strong 3 for the story line, but some of the effects are quite dated. One reviewer said that if Tarzan really existed, this would be his favorite movie.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 15, 2011 12:53:20 GMT -6
Watched Father of the Bride (1950) starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor. Just a very funny movie and Spencer Tracy is the perfect harried father as his daughter (Taylor) prepares to get married.
We laughed so hard, we had to watch the lovable sequel Father's Little Dividend (1951) with the same cast and the comic antics of Tracy as he tries to come to terms with the fact that he going to become a grandpa. Funny movies and so much better than those garbage-films with Steve Martin that took the idea and really trashed both movies.
Nothing beat the originals.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 18, 2011 17:16:26 GMT -6
We had a great night last night watching a couple of classic comedies. First we watched It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which featured an all-star cast headed by Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Phil Silvers, and many, many more of Hollywood's best, with tons of cameos from everyone from Jerry Lewis to The Three Stooges. This film never fails to tickle the funny bone.
Our second film was 1980's Operation Petticoat, starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. A very funny WWII story about a submarine sent on one more mission, and ending up with some rescued Navy Nurses and being painted Pink. The funniest sight in the world is this Pink submarine in the water. This movie always makes me laugh and Grant and Curtis provide the bulk of those laughs.
Two highly recommended films, especially if you haven't watched them in a while.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 23, 2011 8:07:21 GMT -6
Getting ready for the release of last year's Academy Award nominated remake, we watched True Grit (1969) on Blu-ray starring John Wayne, Kim Darby and Glen Campbell. While I really liked this version of the movie, and not saying the Jeff Bridges is a better actor than The Duke, I think I like the new version directed by the Coen Brothers better. It seemed to tell the story a lot better than the Wayne version. However, this is the film that they gave John Wayne the Academy Award for Best Actor for and we can't take that away from him. As Rooster Cogburn, he was as big in the saddle as they come and with a good supporting cast this movie stands tall above other westerns of its genre.
The Coen Brothers version of "True Grit" will be released on June 7, 2011.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Apr 27, 2011 11:13:47 GMT -6
The other night in the Junkie Home Theater we watched Hopscotch (1980), Directed by Ronald Neame, who also introduces us to this little known screen gem. It is only available on a Criterion Special Edition and it is out of print at this time. The movie stars Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Sam Waterston, and Ned Beatty (he's the villain in this one). A great comedy about a CIA agent who taken out of the field and given a desk job, who revolts and decides to write an expose on the Company. Really great cat-and-mouse love story with a unique twist in the end. If you can find this one, rent, or buy it. You won't be sorry you did. A truly 5-Star movie!!!
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