Reviews

Nominated for two Oscars this 1945 movie based on George Gershwin's life is enjoyable if not for its accuracy but for its music scenes and sounds. The film received Academy Award nominations in the Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture) and Sound Recording categories. Although modern sources state that Joan Leslie's singing voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan, Leslie's voice was actually dubbed by Sally Sweetland. This film marked the motion picture debuts of Broadway actors Robert Alda and Herbert Rudley. Robert Alda is the father of TV's classic hit MASH star Alan Alda. In the film, Al Jolson sings "Swanee," the song he made famous, and Anne Brown, the original "Bess," sings "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess. Again, the movie was not wholly accurate but I did enjoy seeing this movie.

A March 1947 New York Times article described Crossfire as one of the first Hollywood films of the 1940s to "face questions of racial and religious prejudice with more forthright courage than audiences have been accustomed to expect." While RKO was producing Crossfire, Twentieth Century-Fox was making Gentleman's Agreement, another story about antisemitism. RKO raced to beat the much "ballyhooed" Fox picture to the theaters, releasing Crossfire several months before Gentleman's Agreement. In July 1947, RKO screened Crossfire for representatives of various Los Angeles religious groups. In addition, several surveys, which were designed to gauge the audience's prejudices, were conducted before and after screenings of the film. Crossfire received both praise and criticism for its depiction of antisemitism in America and was the subject of many editorials. Crossfire received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, but lost to Gentleman's Agreement. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Robert Ryan), Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Grahame), Best Director and Best Screenplay (Adaptation). In September 1947, Crossfire was named Best Social Film at Cannes. In December 1947, Ebony magazine, an African-American publication, gave the film its annual award for "improving interracial understanding." Loved this movie. If you get the chance to watch it, see it.

Three Oscars went to this movie, one for Burt Lancaster (best actor), Shirley Jones (best supporting actress) and one for Richard Brooks (best screen writing). Elmer Gantry is a 1960 drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to small town America. Adapted by director Richard Brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel by Sinclair Lewis and stars Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons. Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster) is a hard-drinking, fast-talking traveling salesman with a charismatic personality. While traveling, he's drawn to the road show of Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons) and is immediately attracted to the saintly revivalist. He soon cons his way into her good graces and joins the troupe as a fiery preacher. Gantry and Falconer develop what her manager calls a "good cop/bad cop" routine, with Elmer telling the audience members that they will burn in Hell for their sins and Sharon promising them salvation if they repent. I really enjoyed Burt Lancasters performance as a silver-tongued con man who finds himself preaching the good word of the Lord. Great Movie

A young 28 year old Diana Ross earned an Oscar nomination for this 1972 movie about Billie Holiday. "Lady Sings the Blues" is a song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday, and jazz pianist Herbie Nichols. It is the title song to her 1956 album. In my opinion I thought Diana Ross did an OK job at portraying the troubled Billie Holiday. The many ups and downs of this famous singer are brought to life with Diana's performance. A co-star in the movie who I thought did a great job was 32 year old Richard Pryor. Pryor came through really well as someone who offered much support to Billie Holiday from very early on. Although there is some doubt of the accuracy of the book in which this movie is based, I still found it enjoyable enough to watch.

The Public Enemy is a 1931 American crime film starring James Cagney and directed by William A. Wellman. The movie relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in prohibition-era urban America. The supporting players include a young 20 yr. old Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Beryl Mercer, Donald Cook, and Mae Clarke. The film, which was based on the novel Beer and Blood by John Bright, launched Cagney to stardom. A theater in Times Square ran The Public Enemy 24 hours a day during its initial release. It was the first worldwide box office hit for Cagney (age 31) and forever cast him in the public eye as a "tough guy," an image he was unable to shed despite numerous roles chosen especially to counter that image, including his Oscar-winning role in Yankee Doodle Dandy. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. In 1998, The Public Enemy was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". I was impressed by this movie's frankness regarding the life of a gangster during the prohibition era.

Flaming Star is a 1960 western film starring Elvis Presley, Barbara Eden and one of Hollywoods first Golden Age beauties, Dolores del Rio who was then about 50 years old. The film was directed by Don Siegel, and had a working title of Black Star. Elvis Presley plays Pacer Burton, the son of a Kiowa mother, played by Dolores del Rio, and a Texas rancher father. His family, including a half-brother, Clint, live a typical life on the Texas frontier. Life becomes anything but typical when a nearby tribe of Kiowa begin raiding neighboring homesteads. Pacer soon finds himself caught between the two worlds, part of both but belonging to neither. The film was released only one month after G.I. Blues but failed to ignite the charts, reaching number 12 on the Variety Box Office survey for the week. Presley's next film, Wild in the Country, also failed to impress fans or critics, and Colonel Tom Parker used this to persuade Presley that his audience didn't want to see him in straight acting roles. This led to musical-comedies such as Blue Hawaii and Kid Galahad, which set the precedent for many of his roles during the 1960s. I gave this movie 7 out of 10, mainly watched it because I wanted to see Dolores del Rio!

Bell Book and Candle was released in December 1958 and features James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon. and Ernie Kovaks. This film had James Stewart and Kim Novak in their second on-screen pairing (after the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo, released earlier the same year). This was Stewart's last film as a romantic lead as he was deemed too old at age 50 to play that sort of part anymore. The movie is about a witch played by Kim Novak who is attracted to a mortal played by James Stewart. She puts a spell on him and he falls head over heels in love with her. I enjoyed the movie and its cast. This movie at the time was a moderate success which was nominated for a Golden Globe for best Movie Comedy. GimmeClassics

Mogambo is a 1953 film directed by John Ford, featuring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Donald Sinden. The film was adapted by John Lee Mahin from the play by Wilson Collison. Kelly won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (1954), and the film was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gardner), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kelly). Mogambo is a lavish remake of the classic film Red Dust (1932). The earlier movie also featured Gable in the lead role. I enjoyed this movie about love in the deep of Africa. You have a 52 year old Clark Gable falling in love with a young 24 year old Grace Kelly while 30 year old Ava Gardner fights too for his attention. My favorite scene is when all of them are in a boat going down river and they see a elephant with his ears fanned out and his truck rising high above its head and Ava Gardner say that it reminds her of somebody (Clark Gable), the camera cuts to him and he smirks. The scenery at times is pretty good and the story is fun to follow. GimmeClassics

Released in December of 1957, Sayonara went on to earn 8 Oscar nominations and would pull in 4 wins. Red Buttons won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in his role as airman Joe Kelly who falls in love with a Japanese woman while stationed in Kobe during the Korean War. Oscar nominated for Best Leading Actor, Marlon Brando plays Major Lloyd Gruver, a Korean War flying ace reassigned to Japan, who staunchly supports the military's opposition to marriages between American troops and Japanese women and tries without any success to talk his friend Joe Kelly out of getting married. Ironically Marlon Brandos character soon finds love of his own in a woman of Japanese descent. This movie highlights the prejudices and cultural differences of that time. Filmed in beautiful color and with stunning backgrounds I found this movie to be well worth watching just for these effects alone. Good movie, gimme more...GimmeClassics

Released in July of 1945 shortly before the war ended this movie follows real life war correspondent Ernie Pyle played by Burgess Meredith. For his first assignment on the front he joins up with Company C of the Army's 18th Infantry, also on its virgin mission, in the North African desert. Through some tough battles Ernie earns the respect of the men. Sometime later, after victories in Sicily and elsewhere, Ernie rejoins Company C in a camp in Italy where the men this time are happy to see him. The men of Company C are led by Lt. Bill Walker, played by Robert Mitchum. Mitchum was lent from RKO to United Artists for this William Wellman directed movie. The extras in the film were real American GIs, in the process of being transferred from the war in Europe to the Pacific. Many of them were killed in the fighting on Okinawa - the same battle in which Ernie Pyle was killed by a Japanese sniper - never having seen the movie in which they appeared. On April 18, 1945, Pyle died on Ie Shima, an island off Okinawa Honto, after being hit by Japanese machine-gun fire. He was riding in a jeep with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Coolidge (commanding officer of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division) and three other men. The road, which paralleled the beach two or three hundred yards inland, had been cleared of mines, and hundreds of vehicles had driven over it. As the vehicle reached a road junction, an enemy machine gun located on a coral ridge about a third of a mile away began firing at them. The men stopped their vehicle and jumped into a ditch. Pyle and Coolidge raised their heads to look around for the others; when they spotted them, Pyle smiled and asked Coolidge "Are you all right?" Those were his last words. The machine gun began shooting again, and Pyle was struck in the left temple (however, the Ernie Pyle State Historic Site in Dana, Indiana, contains a telegram from the Government to Pyle's father stating Pyle was killed by a sniper).The colonel called for a medic, but none were present. It made no difference—Pyle had been killed instantly.

This film released in 1964 was the first horror movie ever to be nominated for 7 Oscars. Nominated for best supporting actress, Agnes Moorehead was great in her role as Velma the maid and care taker. A Golden Globe did go to her that year for this role. Bette Davis at the time 56 years old played an aging woman, Charlotte Hollis, who is haunted by the death of her former boyfriend when she was a younger woman. Charlotte has become a recluse, living with her housekeeper, Velma (Agnes Moorehead), in the deteriorating Hollis mansion. Now she seeks help in her fight against the Highway Commission, so she calls upon Miriam (played by two time Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland), a poor cousin who lived with the family as a girl, to help her in her fight to keep the house. Upon returning, Miriam renews her relationship with Drew Bayliss (Joseph Cotten), the local doctor who jilted her after the murder. This movie directed by Robert Aldrich who also directed the earlier film "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" a movie which also starred Bette Davis is a fun movie to sit and watch on a dark rainy night. Gimme more....GimmeClassics!

Bette Davis then only 30 years old, won an Oscar for best actress for this movie in 1939. Directed by William Wyler, Jezebel is one of Hollywoods best from its Golden Age. Jezebel was released in 1938 and also stars a young Henry Fonda who at times had to take leave from production because of the birth of his daughter Jane. The picture tells the story of a headstrong young Southern woman during the Antebellum period whose actions cost her the man she loves. Bette Davis plays the young woman whose name in the movie is actually Julie, but because of her conniving and the hurt that results from it her Aunt Belle, played by Fay Bainter tells her that she is acting like Jezebel from the bible. Fay Bainter would go on to win the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in this movie. Fay Bainter by the way also was nominated this same year for best leading actress for her role in another movie titled "White Banners". I really enjoyed this film that went on to earn a nomination for best movie of 1938. Frank Capra's "You Can't Take it With You" eventually won that year. Jezebel is a great movie with a great cast. Gimme more....GimmeClassics

Garbo is great in her role as a stolid socialist. She plays the role to perfection in finding nothing good with capitalism and all that it represents. The movie must have gave people some insight into what was going on with the Soviets at that time. She eventually begins to soften a little with some work by her co-star Melvyn Douglas who happens to be falling in love with her. The story is somewhat basic but does have quite a bit of humor that brought on more than a few chuckles. Eventually Ninotchka eyes begin to open and she sees that she's been wrong in thinking that socialism is the way of the future. This is one of the last films that Garbo ever made, she made one more. Another great movie from Hollywoods Golden Age...GimmeClassics

Enjoyed this movie a lot. The many stars that are in this movie at different times kept me on my toes. There was Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck and many others all doing their part, big or small, to make this movie into a great western story. I really like how this movie begins with one family who has decided to go out west sometime in the early 1800's and how it continues following this same family over different generations all through the Civil War and beyond. The movie tells the story of their lives and loves as they struggle to make a life for themselves and for future generations. The movie was filmed in CinemaScope and would best be seen on a wide movie screen but don't shortchange yourself by not watching it on television if you get a chance. GimmeClassics!

Another great musical from Hollywoods Golden Age! I liked this movies story about a trio of friends who are performers at a small nightclub that is far from Broadway and all its glitter. Although not the big time they are very content with their lives and the small club where they perform. Gene Kelly plays the owner of the small club and is also the boyfriend of one of its dancers, Rita Hayworth who happens to garner some attention when she's given an opportunity to be on a cover of a magazine. Trouble begins for Gene Kelly as his girlfriend is now the talk of the town. Phil Silvers plays one of the three friends and does a good job. Of course there is the music and the dancing. One dance performance by Gene Kelly stands out. He is walking along the street at night alone and he see his reflection in a shop window. His reflection soon starts dancing along with him in the streets, great cinematography. Don't miss this one, great entertainment.

I really liked this movie a lot. Have seen many but not all of Hitchcock's movies and have to say that this is one of my favorites. This is a great story that comes together perfectly. Woman meets agent, woman falls in love with agent, agent asks woman to marry other man for reason of cracking case. Sounds simple enough but there are many turns and curves along the way. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergnman are at their best in this film. Claude Rains is the man with whom Ingrid Bergman is asked to infiltrate and he is absolutely great in his role. My favorite scene occurs when Cary Grant meets Ingrid Bergman on the sly at a horse race where she shares recent developments with him. I love the back and forth that takes place between them. Another great film from Hollywood's Golden Age. GimmeClassics

This is a great documentary that takes viewers back to a time when the musical was popular in cinema. With different hosts in the film you get a chance to go back in time and look at Hollywood's Gold Age and the stars that made some of the most highly regarded films ever. They don't make them like this anymore thats for sure. There is one part in the film where Frank Sinatra is talking about the dance performances of yester-year and he says you can wait forever but you will never see performances ever again like these, and with that the film cuts to a dance routine by Fred Astaire that has to be one of the greatest dance routines I've ever seen. When you think of all the planning that went into these routines it is just mind-boggling. The steps we see in this film seem to be so perfectly choreographed. An amazing film about an amazing time in Hollywood history.

What more can be said about this great classic. Anyone who wants to be known as a classic film buff has to have seen this movie. The movie stars Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart in one of his most famous roles as Fred C Dobbs a down and out American on the bum in Mexico. Through chance he meets up with two other characters played by Tim Holt and Walter Houston and decide between them to take their chance on prospecting for gold. Walter Houston's character warns the other two of the potential for problems within the trio once gold is found and his warning is right on the mark. They have to overcome not only problems from within but from outsiders too, such as the Mexican bandits who cause havoc where ever they go. It is during an encounter with these bandits that we get one of Hollywood's most famous movie lines. Bogart's character asks a bandit to show him a badge if he is a Federale as the bandit claims. The bandit responds, "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!" This is a great movie from Hollywood's Golden Age.

Recently got a chance to see this movie and thought the performances by Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine were great. Especially like the part that Shirley MacLaine played. I am not to used to seeing Robert Mitchum in roles like this but thought he did well. He plays a man going through a divorce who meets a younger woman played by Shirley Maclaine. Having both different life experiences they somehow try to make their new relationship work. I gave this film an 8 out 10 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was this good. Read in another post that at the time of this films release critics didn't think that Mitchum's role was believable enough because of perhaps the age difference. I had no problem with buying into this story and the actors that portrayed the characters. Good Movie!