Categories: cinema
Date: 19 November 2008 10:47:25
I do like to go to the cinema, but I am in no way particularly knowledgeable about films and film history, nor the 'classics'. One of my favourite films is Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 The Lady Vanishes, and I have watched a few more of Alfred Hitchcock's early movies [I have a 10 film collection [1930-1939] which I am very slowly making my way through], but I'd be struggling to name any movie from that time or the decade after. So, being a member of a on-line DVD Rental Service that posts DVDs to your house, and you post them back, I decided to look at a few early films.
All About Eve (1950) was the first I rented. In the words of Bette Davis, "Fasten your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy night." -- one of the great quotes from a truly superb movie: Bette Davis shines, as do Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm and the rest of the cast. A truly fascinating look at envy, grasping and manipulation in the theatrical world.
The Lady Eve (1941) was next, and another I loved. A superb comedy, with a great deal of satire, and wonderful actors and actresses. Barbara Stanwyck is superb as the in-charge gold-digger and Henry Fonda is a great bumbling and smitten man. So many laughs, so many laugh-out-loud laughs, and a very enjoyable story I could watch again and again.
More Barbara Stanwyck next with Double Indemnity (1944). To me, this movie has everything: a superb cast, who by equally superb performances wrap you in their lives, a fantastic script, great cinematography -- and the film grabs you and takes you along with it on its fast, bumpy and dark ride. After seeing this, I must try and rent more "film noir" films from the period.
Then, The Awful Truth (1937), a great screwball comedy. Superb acting by all, particularly the leads Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Plenty of laughs in this story about a happily married couple who divorce only to discover they can't keep away from, or live without, each other.
And, last night, I watched Adam's Rib (1949). Great fun as a husband and wife take opposite sides in a legal battle, with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn showing not only what great actors they are, but that they can have a large amount of fun too. A great number of laughs in a great film.
While these films are up to 70 years old, and the fashions, norms and even language used and speech may have differed, I did not find them 'dated'. It is true that some of the concepts and themes may be, but I tried to watch them for what they are -- films. And I am loving them. I am sure I will come across some bombs soon, but so far I've been rather blessed with the choices. Great films, with great casts and great direction. I am enjoying this look at films from the 1930s and 40s.