The Not-Quite-Broke Person's Guide to the TCM Film Festival

Last Saturday we went to the annual TCM Film Festival in Hollywood! This was our fifth year going, and every year that we've gone we've been without festival passes (wah wahhh). The festival passes allow you priority access to all of the screenings (based on which one you get). Being that we can't get the time off work to properly attend the entire festival, we usually take one day to enjoy the city, catch a couple screenings, and chat with fellow cinephiles in the very long wait in the standby line!

I was super stoked to arrive and jump in line for Rebel Without a Cause! (OMG note to self...it may have been 85 degrees in the afternoon but the second screening was late at night and I was really regretting wearing shorts. Next year, pants!)

First in line, woo! Last year we waited hours in line for Blazing Saddles, but this screening was less crowded. All the rich people were at another theater seeing special guest Sophia Loren, but our expectations were realistic. We showed up early, chatted with people in line, met a guy who's been blogging about Carole Lombard for seven years, and got into the screening no problem.

Ah, Hollywood! Beautiful weather, and plenty of time between our screenings to enjoy good walking around, checking out bookstores (Larry Edmunds bookshop is a treasure!), and pigging out!

We always go to Miceli's every year for dinner during the festival. It's really close to the Egyptian and it has the yummiest Italian food. Craig's texting our pal screenwriter Larry Karaszewski who was also enjoying the festival; he stopped by to say hello. We also chatted with fellow diners, also there for the festival (and passholders, damn them!). 

Sorry 'bout it, Gregory Peck!

Hello Egyptian! You're beautiful and I love you! Our second and final screening (we're wimps, what can I say?) was Adam's Rib at the Egyptian, with an intro by Greg Proops for his podcast Greg Proops Film Club. Craig had never seen the film but we both loved it, of course. And I feel like I could love just about any movie in a theater that beautiful.

Goodbye, TCM Film Fest! Until next year!

What's My Line?

Many of us enjoy seeing our favorite celebrities as themselves in interviews, letting us get a look at the real person behind the movie star. In the same way we now enjoy seeing celebrities play Catchphrase and lipsync on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, I love watching old episodes of "What's My Line," in which celebrities fill the spot of "mystery guest" while the blindfolded panel tries to guess who they are. Here are a few favorites:

 

LOTS more goodies to be found at the What's My Line YouTube channel HERE. Other fun episodes are Woody Allen, Rosalind Russell, Clarence Nash (the voice of Donald Duck), Salvador Dali, Lucille Ball, Raquel Welch, Jayne Mansfield, and many more!

Marty (1955)

Sometimes a film doesn't need spectacle or high drama to touch the heart. Sometimes all it takes is a simple story with a genuine performance by a talented actor. That's the case in Marty, a love story for anyone who's given up hope.

Marty (Ernest Borgnine) is a butcher in his 30s, unmarried and living with his mother. Despite being friendly and likable, he has pretty much given up on finding his special someone. In his words, he's "a fat ugly man" and he has resigned himself to being the extra guy when going out with his friends. Then one night at a party, he meets Clara (Betsy Blair). She's shy, sweet, and according to his friends, "a dog." But it's quite possible that they might be perfect for each other. 

This is not a flashy story. It's a story of boy-meets-girl, with a knockout performance by Borgnine who was never sweeter or more vulnerable. He absolutely breaks your heart...you just want to jump into the screen and give him a hug. You feel for him, you root for him, you want him to take control of his life and you want him to go for it! In spite of the story's simplicity, this film took home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Writing (Screenplay). With the usual Academy Award trend of big movies getting the big prizes, it's refreshing that this film was able to be so successful during award season. 

This film is currently streaming on Netflix, so check it out if you're in the mood for something sweet. Enjoy!

The Innocents (1961)

Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is employed to be the governess of two precocious children in a large old house that appears to have more inhabitants than she originally thought, and they are not of this world. After she sees multiple signs of hauntings in and around the house, she decides to take matters into her own hands to protect the children and expel the spirits

This movie is scary. On more than one occasion while watching the film, I got goosebumps. I've always preferred creepy, atmospheric horror to gore and obviousness, and this movie was right up my alley. Deborah Kerr's acting is some of the best I've seen from her, as she goes from delight in her new occupation to wide-eyed terror and begins questioning her own sanity. It also looks great...the film makes very good use of space in the frame. Something that's really effective in a horror film for me is when the film exercises restraint in showing us the object meant to frighten us. Something chilling seen from a distance can be much scarier than a close up every time. This film doesn't answer every question, and leaves things up for debate long after it's over, and I LOVE that. It shows confidence in the audience, letting them decide for themselves what really happened. Criterion just released this and I'm hoping to find it in my Christmas stocking...or should we perhaps make Halloween stockings a thing?

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Today is Tony Curtis's birthday, and my Instagram feed was blowing up with pictures of the actor. One photo in particular cracked me up, featuring Curtis in his skivvies with full makeup, and it reminded me that I haven't yet sung the praises of one of my favorite comedies, Some Like it Hot.

In case you haven't seen this (and what are you WAITING for??), it's about two musicians (Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who accidentally witness a mob massacre. Fearing for their lives, they disguise themselves as women and join an all-girls band. Things get a little complicated when one takes a liking to the vivacious and sexy Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) and the other finds himself the object of a rich bachelor's (Joe E. Brown) affections. Sound like a hoot? It is!

This movie is definitely one of my favorites. I saw it in high school when I was first getting into classic film and it introduced me to the comedic brilliance of Jack Lemmon, who really runs away with this role. Curtis is restrained in his female role, but shines when in disguise again, this time as a wealthy playboy doing a hilariously over-the-top Cary Grant accent, in attempts to woo Sugar Kane. Marilyn Monroe is Marilyn, haha, playing the breathy bombshell as only she could. Her performances in this film are all memorable ("I Wanna Be Loved by You" and "I'm Through With Love") but my personal favorite is her first, "Running Wild" where she dances enthusiastically while rocking out on her ukelele. And the best part of this movie? It is so so so funny. It's one of those movies where I find myself giggling in anticipation of a favorite line or facial expression (Lemmon, again, is the funniest part of this movie). It's a comedy classic and worth a watch by just about everyone.

And if you don't like it? Hey, nobody's perfect!

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Is there really any reason to summarize this plot?

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Forget all y'all who hate this film. If you don't like this film, I don't think you're actually watching it. I think you might just be reacting to the film's reputation, because as a film it's darn near impeccable! The story is touching, the social message is important/relevant to right now, the actors are charming and the filmmaking is top-notch. There's a silent tracking shot of George at the train station after he finds out that his brother doesn't plan to go into the family business that could absolutely work in a Bresson film! Even something as deceptively simple as that opening shot of the sign reading, "You Are Now In Bedford Falls" is a stroke of genius. The film is even able to handle some pretty dark/unsettling moments with little sugarcoating. That Capra fella sure could spin a yarn and this is one that I don't have any problem seeing each year. It's A Wonderful Film!

How To Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Schatze (Lauren Bacall), Pola (Marilyn Monroe), and Loco (Betty Grable) are three models on the prowl for millionaire husbands! They shack up together in a swank apartment in New York and get busy looking. Will they be able to meet the men of their financial dreams?

This film is pure fluff, but it's still fun. It opens with an orchestra playing "Street Scene" for no reason, so you already know it's going to be over the top and very, hmm, cinematic. The leads are all beautiful, the scenarios highly unlikely, and the costumes faaaabulous. Watch it to see William Powell being suave as always, Marilyn Monroe in glasses (and trip on her own feet without them), and Betty Grable dreaming of sandwiches! No, really. This is a fun little escape of a movie, and definitely worth checking out if you're into the glamour of the 50s, or a fan of any of these three lovely ladies. Just remember: wealthy men are never old!

The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943)

Follow Clive Candy (Roger Livesey) as he lives, laughs, loves and fights his way through forty years of British military history.

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The sheer visual power of this film is something that simply cannot be denied. It's a style so lush and enveloping that there is no way to escape it. The colors and emotions are so intense that they are able to leap from the screen and take you over, both body and soul. Those simple shots of floating leaves near the end of the film are just as powerful and resonant as anything Yasujiro Ozu ever concocted. Add to this the stellar performances on display and resistance is futile. I know people love to trumpet The Dark Knight as the high water mark in terms of cinematic adaptations of comics, but this film did it better. Twenty-seven years before  Christopher Nolan was even born, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were able to create a cinematic masterpiece by taking a "silly" two-dimensional comic-strip character, and making him both human and tragic. 

You laugh at my big belly, but you don't know how I got it. You laugh t my mustache, but you don't know why I grew it. How do you know what sort of fellow I was when I was as young as you are, 40 years ago?

Watch this movie and you will understand.

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

I've been trying to watch more Hitchcock recently. Some of his films are absolute favorites of mine that I watch annually (The Birds, Psycho, Rear Window), others are also undeniably great (Vertigo, North by Northwest, Dial M for Murder), and some I've had just a "meh" reaction to (Suspicion, To Catch a Thief). The other night Craig suggested we watch Shadow of a Doubt, one of those films whose title I of course was familiar with but hadn't seen for some reason or other. And I kinda loved it.

Shadow of a Doubt is about a sweet family whose Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) comes to stay with them, trailed by two mysterious men. He's deliberately vague about his sudden arrival or what he's been up to, and his beloved niece Charlie (Teresa Wright) begins to notice his oddly secretive and sinister behavior.

I love the tension in this film. Hitch was so good at creating tension...it's obvious in this film (his personal favorite) that he was a master at it. He also had a great sense of humor, juxtaposing Joseph Cotten's foreboding presence with young Charlie's father and his friend gleefully discussing hypothetical situations in which they murder each other. An eerie waltz connects the scenes, the two Charlies have an almost incestuous chemistry. She loves him but she's afraid of him...this film is DARK. Oh Hitchcock, you did it again!

If you're a Hitchcock fan and you haven't seen this one, get on it! Hitch's trademarks are all here, and I highly recommend you give yourself an evening to enjoy it!

Funny Face (1957)

Ummm...how have I not written about this movie yet? It's one of my absolute favorites! Audrey Hepburn stars as Jo Stockton, a bookstore beatnik yanked into the world of modeling by Quality Magazine editor Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) and fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire). They take gorgeous pictures, sing songs, frolic around Paris, and generally be fabulous. Could a fashion-loving cinema freak ask for anything more?

This film is a love letter to 50s fashion photography. The character of Dick Avery is based on renowned photographer Richard Avedon, and Maggie Prescott is based on legendary editor, eccentric, and icon Diana Vreeland (who I gushed about here). The film also features appearances by real models Dovima and Suzy Parker among others. But let's get back to the film. It's eye candy of the very best kind. The "Think Pink" number alone is just too fantastic! Add Hepburn's famous cafe freestyle dance, the photography montage, the grand reveal of her makeover, and the songs by Gershwin, and you've got yourself one chic and fabulously fun movie!

Here's a sneak peek at the "Think Pink" number...if you want more, it's streaming on Netflix right now! And do you really need an excuse other than looking at Hepburn's gorgeous face? I didn't think so!

Peter Pan (1953)

I have a confession: I am a slave to the Disney vault! I am one of those people who knows the exact date when Disney will release a beloved film from my childhood, and then I go snatch it up before it disappears again. I was super excited at the prospect of finally owning Peter Pan, so I thought I'd sing its praises here.  I'm not telling you the plot. If you don't know the plot of Peter Pan, I pity you.

My favorite thing about this film is Captain Hook vs The Crocodile. I will never not find Captain Hook bellowing "SMEEEEEEEEEEE!" hilarious. Add a drunk Smee, a murderous Tinkerbell, kids dressed as animals and the bitchiest mermaids EVER, and you've got yourself a pretty awesome cast of characters. I guess Peter Pan and the kids aren't terrible either, haha. And yes, there's that cringeworthy "What Makes The Red Man Red" sequence, but I guess you can't exactly rip that scene out of history.

Mad props, as usual, go to the artists (especially Mary Blair!)...it's so colorful and magical. The kids soaring over the clouds with the city beneath them, the golden ship lifting off into the air with a trail of pixie dust behind it, the children's parents at the end of the film gazing into the sky at the cloud-ship providing whispers of the childhood they left behind long ago...it all gives you that memory of being a kid and the wonderful mysteries that only the child's imagination can wonder and dream about. There may not be a real Neverland (or is there?) but this film definitely captures a slice of that magic for future generations to enjoy.

But seriously, Tinkerbell tried to have Wendy killed. I don't think she ever felt sorry for it, and she's the Disney mascot. That's kinda awesome.

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

Forget Aladdin! Okay not really, that movie is awesome, but if you're looking for a visually stimulating film based on "The Arabian Nights," this one is for you. I remember seeing this on TV all the time as a kid, and it was pure magic to me: flying horses, flying carpets, a murderous multi-armed mechanical woman, blue roses, a thief-turned-dog, a HUGE genie, two soulmates, and gorrrrrgeous color.

Prince Ahmad (John Justin) has been stripped of his rightful place of king and blinded by the evil Jaffar (Conrad Veidt, whose penetrating stare alone could kill you). Ahmad teams up with the scrappy young thief Abu (played by Sabu...that's funny, right?) to reclaim his place on the throne, win the heart of the beautiful princess (June Duprez), and have awesome adventures!

This is pure fantasy at its finest. Sabu is really charismatic, the whole film is colorful and beautiful, and it's a real treat for anyone used to the Disney treatment of the story. Criterion released this film a few years ago and they did a fantastic job (as usual). Let this film take you over sideways and under on a magic carpet ride, a whole new wooooooorld....oh damn.

Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

Wax sculptor Ivan Igor (Lionel Atwill) is devastated when his partner burns down their wax museum to collect insurance money, and his hands are ruined in the incident. Years later when his exhibit is reopened, he can no longer sculpt but instead directs other artists. When people start disappearing (including a body from the morgue that looks suspiciously like the new Joan of Arc statue) and Igor develops an obsessive interest in his assistant's fiancée (Fay Wray), reporter Florence (Glenda Farrell) gets mighty interested in the case.

No, this isn't the better-known House of Wax (1953) starring Vincent Price. In fact, this film was believed to be lost until the sixties, and has since been eclipsed by the flashier 1953 remake. The only reason I saw this film at all was that it was included on the House of Wax DVD. But I think this film deserves recognition in its own right. The plots are almost identical except for one obvious difference: the wisecracking reporter! She's smart, she can hold her own in a room full of men, and she's the ONLY one who sees what's going on. The remake is filled with helpless women, but in this original Florence saves the day! Why they eliminated this character I'll never know. And get a load of that two-strip Technicolor! Oh, to live in a world so pink!

Yes, the film is dated and a little silly at moments (see: cheesy tacked-on ending and wax figures that flinch), but it's still entertaining. Watch it if you're a fan of early horror, or just watch it for Glenda Farrell's scene-stealing performance. Either way you'll have a good time!

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

An old review from my personal blog, Perfectly Swell.

 Yesterday I watched The Most Dangerous Game (1932) starring Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, and Leslie Banks. I watched this immediately after seeing Joel McCrea in Bird of Paradise with Delores Del Rio and Most Dangerous Game is way better. And at just over an hour, it gets to the point and doesn't drag its feet. Avid hunter Bob (Joel McCrea) gets shipwrecked and finds himself on an island inhabited by the bizarre piano-playing, hunting-obsessed Count Zaroff (Leslie Banks) and his other shipwrecked "guests." It's eventually discovered that Zaroff has grown tired of hunting conventional targets, and is moving on to a more "dangerous game" (get it? get it?): man! It seems that this nutcase Zaroff arranges these accidents at sea and makes a deal with the survivors: if they can survive from midnight until dawn without getting caught, they are free to leave. Count Zaroff hasn't lost yet. Aaaaaand go! Joel McCrea is pretty awesome ("This world's divided into two kinds of people: the hunter and the hunted. Luckily I'm the hunter. Nothing can change that."), and it turns out that Fay Wray is even hotter as a brunette, and she does that early-30s acting so well (make your eyes wider! Now tremble, dammit, TREMBLE!). But dude, Leslie Banks as Count Zaroff. This guy's face is insane. Don't stare too long, or you'll go absolutely mad! This film used many of the same sets as the classic King Kong, but I almost enjoyed this more than that old gorilla movie. Is that blasphemous? You have to admit...a crazy guy hunting people is a little more interesting than a giant monkey. Besides being an enjoyable, if not predictable, 30s romp in the woods (jungle?), it has a relevant message against hunting. As Joel McCrea says as he flees for his life, "Those animals I hunted: Now I know how they felt…" Hunting for sport is not cool, people. Hey! I've got a scathingly brilliant idea (thanks Haley Mills): why don't we put Sarah Palin on an island with a loony hunter and see how she likes it? Who's with me?! Netflix this little treasure, you'll enjoy it!

Libeled Lady (1936)

A newspaper editor (Spencer Tracy) about to walk down the aisle finds himself in a heap of trouble when his paper publishes a false story about a society girl (Myrna Loy) and she threatens to sue. The solution? Use his feisty fiance (Jean Harlow) and his lawyer pal (William Powell) in a scheme to make the false story true. Scandal!

Would you just look at that still above? Such glamour! I can't handle it! This is 1930s comedy at its best. The dialogue crackles, the pacing is perfect, and all of the leads have great chemistry together, especially Powell and the ladies. This was Powell and Loy's fifth of fourteen films together, and he and Jean Harlow were a couple in real life.  Oh William, you slick handsome man you.

This film is stylish, funny, and an all-around joy to watch. These four leads were stars for a reason.  They burned bright on the silver screen and they're untouchable. It's especially bittersweet to see Harlow in such a vibrant role because Libeled Lady was her third to last film, and she died a year after this was released. In her short career she lit up the screen and secured her place as a cinematic legend. I just adore the spice that she brought to her comedies, and there will never be another quite like her.

See this film for the laughs, the memorable scenes (Powell being dragged down a river by a fish? Yes please!), and to marvel at a group of very talented actors. Enjoy!

The Man Who Came To Dinner (1942)

The Man Who Came to Dinner is one of my favorite December movies and I look forward to watching it all year!

When cranky and acid-tongued critic Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) slips on the stairs of a businessman 's home after visiting for lunch, he uses his injury to take over the house, along with his secretary Maggie (Bette Davis) and all of their, uh, "interesting" friends. Convicted killers visit one day, penguins are delivered another day, and Mr. Whiteside's constant jabs and meddling drive the whole family (and his poor nurse) absolutely batty!

Meanwhile, Maggie falls for cutie-pie newspaper owner Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis). Sensing he is about to lose his beloved secretary, "Sherry" Whiteside is determined to break it up through any means necessary! The result? A pretty hilarious little movie.

This performance from Bette Davis is unlike her usual roles, but even in this downplayed role, she shines. Other performances worth mentioning are Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside (it's SO funny and perfect, he verbally bitchslaps just about everybody), Ann Sheridan as the golddigging actress Lorraine Sheldon, and Jimmy Durante as Banjo (enough said!). All of the actors are lovably insane, and there are so many good one-liners.




Enjoy!

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Disclaimer: I wrote this a few years ago on my other blog, but I'm sharing it here because it's a holiday weekend and I don't want to do any real writing, haha!

This is probably my favorite and most beloved Christmas movie from my childhood. If you've seen it, I think you'll agree that this movie is pretty special.

When the Macy's Santa gets good and soused before the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mrs. Walker (Maureen O'Hara), the no-nonsense chick in charge, grabs the next best thing: Santa Claus himself! Or so he claims...

The new Santa is a huge hit, and he's offered a spot as the in-store Santa during the holidays. But when his mental health is questioned, he has to prove to everyone, Mr. Macy, the psycho shrink, Mrs. Walker and her daughter Susan and everyone else, that he really is Santa Claus and that it's important to believe in other people.

Whoever was in charge of casting this film got it spot-on...Edmund Gwenn IS Kris Kringle. I can't imagine a more perfect Santa! He looks the part, he's sweet, he's just absolutely perfect! A young Natalie Wood plays Mrs. Walker's skeptical daughter Susan, who never believes in fairy tales or Santa Claus or fantasies of any kind. John Payne plays Fred Gailey, Mrs. Walker's neighbor and friend, who ends up being Kris Kringle's lawyer and hero in trying to legally prove that Kris Kringle is the one and ONLY Santa Claus!

Miracle on 34th Street is a very special movie with a lot of special moments...Kris Kringle picking bubblegum out of his beard, Kringle singing in Dutch with a little girl who can't speak English, the pile of letters to Santa on the judge's desk, little Susan finding her dream house...oh, and keep an eye out for Thelma Ritter in a small role as a cranky mom trying to do some Christmas shopping!

Happy Holidays! They're upon us!

Dracula (1931)

Today is Bela Lugosi's birthday, which means of course I have to write a little blurb about Dracula. I don't know where to start...I watch it every year on his birthday because I'm a huge nerd. It's not a perfect film by any means, but it's got a mesmerizing quality to it that keeps me coming back year after year.

The plot isn't important...vampire stalks victims, basically. But it's got such style! Bela Lugosi is perfect...he's so refined and creepy and peculiar. Definitely a step up looks-wise from the human rat Nosferatu. He slinks around with his shiny hair, gives the best dirty looks, and can turn into a bat. Or a wolf. Or mist! I never saw or read Twilight, but I'll bet Edward doesn't have those mad skills! The film relies a lot on the audience's imagination...we don't see any actual attacks, and some of the creepiest moments aren't seen but described by a character. It works very well and I wish more films would let the audience create their own images.

Can we talk about Dwight Frye, who plays Dracula's deranged henchman Renfield? He's fantastic. I wish he was better known! He also appeared in Frankenstein as Fritz, the lab assistant. He has the best crazy laugh, and he's funny and scary and pitiful. He makes this movie for me.

This film has stayed a classic throughout the years for a reason. It's spooky and entertaining and doesn't get old for me. If you're open-minded I suggest giving the version with the Philip Glass score a watch. And if you really want to get in the spirit of things, read the book (it's awesome)! Don't forget the garlic and the crucifix!

The Haunting (1963)

This is one of the great classic haunted house films. It doesn't rely on flashy special effects or boo-scares to send shivers down your spine!

Dr. Markway is conducting an experiment in paranormal activity. He is spending time in the dark and foreboding Hill House with three other individuals: the bright-eyed and sarcastic Luke, the mysterious and alluring Theo, and the timid and repressed Eleanor, who believes that the house wants her in some way. Strange things begin to occur, and Eleanor falls deeper into the house's spell, eventually wanting to stay there forever.

Loud booms echo throughout the house. Doors slam and lock and unlock by themselves. Unfamiliar muffled voices are heard through the walls. The spiral staircase. The bending door. Sometimes you just can't beat simple effects and stark black and white to convey a mood! Eleanor's frightened inner monologue gives the audience a feeling of uneasiness. Is it all in her mind? What really happened here?

This film is great for this time of year...dim the lights and get comfy for this one. It's moody and beautiful and unnerving. But please, don't try and tell me that the 1999 remake with Catherine Zeta-Jones is better.

I will slap you.

Gidget (1959)

It's July. Our apartment is a sauna. It's too hot to sleep. Naturally, I've got summer movies on the brain!

Today's offering is the original Gidget, starring Sandra Dee. Francie's friends are busy spending the summer boyhunting while the, erm, lesser developed and somewhat tomboyish Francie would rather spend her time at the beach snorkeling. She's a bit of an outcast. When she gets tangled in some seaweed and is rescued by a dreamy surfer, she becomes immediately addicted to the thrill of surfing. She befriends the local surf-bums who call her Gidget (girl-midget, get it? GET IT??) and the rest writes itself.

This movie is kitschy, cute, and even a little creepy sometimes (old beach bum, STAY AWAY from Gidget! She's, like, fifteen or something!) but it's definitely fun. Gidget has about a thousand different swimsuits, James Darren as Moondoggie is totally adorable and even has a little song, and the luau scene is just too hokey and fun. Good times by all!

Also, a heads up that I'll be writing about Gidget Goes Hawaiian soon...it's the sequel and probably my favorite in the series, but I thought I'd start at the beginning!

Happy summer!