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 …
Tag: Film Review
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, …
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 …
Notorious
Notorious, 1946, RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. B&W, 101 minutes. After her father is convicted of being a Nazi spy, Alicia Hubermann (Ingrid Bergman) is drinking and ignoring the mysterious guest …
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953, Twentieth Century Fox. Starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell. Co-starring Charles Coburn. Directed by Howard Hawks. Technicolor, 91 minutes. Sassy showgirls and best friends Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) are boarding the ship …
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946. Samuel Goldwyn Productions, released by RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Myrna Loy. Directed by William Wyler. B&W, 172 minutes. A wonderfully crafted film that explores the plight of …
Classic for a Reason 