The Gay Divorcee, 1934, RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. Directed by Mark Sandrich. B&W, 107 minutes. Traveling from Paris to London, Guy Holden (Fred Astaire) meets Mimi Glossop (Ginger Rogers) in a most unfortunate manner. Mimi’s dress …
Tag: 1930s
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939, Columbia Pictures. Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains. Directed by Frank Capra. B&W, 130 minutes. The U.S. Senator of an unnamed state has died, and the pressure is on Governor Hubert “Happy” Hopper …
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 …
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 …
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
For the first time in fifty-eight years, the Brookfield school's opening assembly is lacking one important participant, former headmaster and beloved teacher Mr. Charles Chipping. While he's been ordered to rest in bed, Mr. Chipping manages to sneak out, but …
Double Wedding
Double Wedding, 1937, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring Myrna Loy, William Powell. Directed by Richard Thorpe. B&W, 85 minutes. Margit Agnew (Myrna Loy) is an accomplished, take-charge woman with not only her professional life under control, but her sister Irene’s (Florence Bates) personal …
Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Eight, 1933, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Billie Burke. Directed by George Cukor. B&W, 113 minutes. This pre-code dramedy of a group set to gather together for a dinner honoring a …
Twentieth Century
Twentieth Century, 1934, Columbia Pictures. Starring John Barrymore, Carole Lombard. Directed by Howard Hawks. B&W, 91 minutes. Oscar Jaffe (John Barrymore), renowned Broadway producer, has made a new discovery, a young woman barely passable as an actress, one Mildred Plotnik …
Shall We Dance (1937)
Shall We Dance, 1937, RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton. Directed by Mark Sandrich. Music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin. B&W, 109 minutes. Ballet dancer Petrov (Fred Astaire), aka Peter P. Peters, is …
Holiday (1938)
Holiday, 1938, Columbia Pictures. Starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn. Directed by George Cukor. B&W, 95 minutes. Johnny Case (Cary Grant), a hard-working, successful man, is engaged after knowing Julia Seton (Julie Nolan) for ten days. The two met while on …
Classic for a Reason 