The Golden Age: Classic Movie Thread

[margojata]

Apr 29, 2010 11:28:20 GMT -4 @jettrink said:

One of my all time favorites is Shadow of a Doubt. I love Hitchcock anyway but Joseph Cotten is just amazing as Uncle Charlie. And in Gaslight playing somone SO different than Uncle Charlie he is just as good. Man, I love me some Cotten.

Love him! But he aged so badly, and so early. He was already looking like crap in his 40's. Check out Niagara if you haven't already. He's the crazy jealous husband of Marilyn Monroe.

[Shalamar]

I was just about to post about All About Eve! The scene in which Addison deWitt smacks down Eve was absolutely brilliant:

Addison deWitt:Is it possible, even conceivable, that you've confused me with that gang of backward children you play tricks on, that you have the same contempt for me as you have for them?
Eve Harrington: I'm sure you mean something by that, Addison, but I don't know what.
Addison deWitt: Look closely, Eve. It's time you did. I am Addison DeWitt. I am nobody's fool, least of all yours.

Delicious.

[Deleted]

I watched Holiday for the first time last night. I don't think it will pass The Philadelphia Story as my favorite Hepburn/Grant film, but I think I liked it better than Bringing Up Baby (which, while awesome, is still a little too zany for my taste). I loved seeing Cary Grant's acrobatic skills... I'm assuming he learned them during his days in the circus troop? God, that man was amazing.

[kateln]

Yes, Cary Grant did learn all of those acrobatic skills while in the theater/circus troop.

Love. Him.

I think "A Philadelphia Story" will always be my favorite Hepburn/Grant movie because it also has Jimmy Stewart in it (who I LOVE despite hating "It's a Wonderful Life"). Though my favorite movie gaff ever is in "Bringing Up Baby". When Hepburn's character breaks the heel of her shoe while in the woods and quips "I was born on the side of a hill" while walking lopsided...that was totally Hepburn. Her heel wasn't supposed to break, it just happened and she went with it.

[LAX]

Last night was For Me and My Gal with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. As much as I love Judy Garland it seemed like she was an awkward swan dancing next to Gene Kelly. He is so beautiful when he dances. That being said, I found myself hoping Garland dumped him and ended up with the George Murphy character. This is the first time in my recollection seeing George Murphy in a film and I thought he was great.

There are a few oldie movies I don't like, but I haven't developed an active hate for a classic film until I saw The Fountainhead last week. Seriously, a guy gives a horrible, long speech about the individual and the jury completely forgets he is on trial for what today would be considered a terrorist act, and he is let off scott free. Yeesh. Almost two hours of blah, blah, blah and towards the end I just wanted to tell everyone involved to STFU.
ETA: I was also wondering at the end if Dominique even waited until her husband's body was in the ground before running off to marry Rourke.

[groovethang]

I'm not sure if this is considered a classic but I've always had a soft spot for The Out-Of-Towners. I love a befuddled Jack Lemmon.

David Niven is another favorite classic actor but I sadly haven't seen enough of his movies. Thanks to this thread, I'm about ready to create a Netflix account and queue up a bunch of classic movies I haven't seen in a while.

I remember once seeing a Cary Grant movie where Deborah Kerr played his wife and she leaves him after having an affair with Robert Mitchum. I believe it was called The Grass is Always Greener. I remember thinking, "What?? You're leaving Cary Grant?!?"

[Deleted]

May 12, 2010 20:01:34 GMT -4 groovethang said:

.

David Niven is another favorite classic actor but I sadly haven't seen enough of his movies.

I mentioned it in another thread but if you like Niven ( or are in love with him like I am lol) then you must see Enchantment if you havent already. That is my favorite film and one I can watch over and over again and still be incredibly moved.

Bachelor Mother is another fave I have mentioned. He and Ginger Rogers have terrific chemistry and the film is absolutely hysterical.

[Deleted]

Grovethang have you seen A Matter of Life and Death with David Niven? Absolutely wonderful and technologically advanced for its time. Glorious!

[LAX]

My Netflix queue grows! For a while I was mistaking David Niven for William Powell. D'oh.

Ages ago I read David Niven's biography after I found it in the free bin at my local library. He seemed like a straightforward, all around good, fellow. I liked how he recounted his conversation with Lauren Bacall the night Humphrey Bogart died. He made her seem sweet and human.

[groovethang]

Thanks for the suggestions, K. Barrett and winkcat!

I will ALWAYS love David Niven for this.