The Sea Hawk, 1940, Warner Bros. Starring Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains. Directed by Michael Curtiz. B&W, 128 minutes. It is 1585, and Spain is in the process of overtaking and ruling the world. King Philip II of Spain …
Another Thin Man
Another Thin Man, 1939, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring William Powell, Myrna Loy. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke II. B&W, 103 minutes. Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) Charles are back in New York with their faithful pup Asta and infant …
Heaven Can Wait (1943)
Heaven Can Wait, 1943, 20th Century Fox. Starring Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, Charles Coburn. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Technicolor, 114 minutes. An elderly Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) has met his demise, and believing he is not fit for heaven, …
Lover Come Back
Lover Come Back, 1961, Universal Pictures. Starring Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall. Directed by Delbert Mann. Technicolor, 107 minutes. Hard-working advertising executive Carol Templeton (Doris Day) has met her nemesis in laid-back advertising executive Jerry Webster (Rock Hudson). Jerry …
Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder, 1954, Warner Bros. Starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Technicolor, 105 minutes. One time professional tennis player Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) has discovered his wealthy wife Margot (Grace Kelly) …
Mrs. Parkington
There is no family wealthier than the Parkingtons, and the clan has gathered together for Christmas. The youngest of the family, Jane, confides in her great-grandmother, Susie Parkington, that she plans to elope with one of her father's employees, Ned. …
The Bells of St. Mary’s
The Bells of St. Mary’s, 1945, RKO Pictures. Starring Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman. Directed by Leo McCarey. B&W, 126 minutes. Father Chuck O’Malley (Bing Crosby, in a reprisal of his role from Going My Way) has been assigned to pastor …
Imitation of Life (1934)
Note: unlike most of my reviews, this one contains a spoiler. Imitation of Life, 1934, Universal Pictures. Starring Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers. Directed by John M. Stahl. B&W, 111 minutes. Bea Pullman (Claudette Colbert) is a widow struggling to make …
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins, 1964, Walt Disney Productions. Starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke. Directed by Robert Stevenson. Technicolor, 139 minutes. The wind’s in the east and mist’s coming in, causing jack-of-all-trades Bert (Dick Van Dyke) to look to the sky. In …
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946, RKO Radio Pictures. Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore. Directed by Frank Capra. B&W, 130 minutes. Colorized version also available. Local boy George Bailey (James Stewart) is at a crossroads, and how he got …
Classic for a Reason 