Archive for the ‘AFI’ Category

Duck Soup (1933)

Monday, July 6th, 2009

This is truly one of the Marx Brother’s best films (Can you name all 4?1). I love a good movie that even 75+ years after it’s made, it still can make anyone young to old laugh. I had a teenager and several adults laughing with me as we watched these silly, witty men do what they did best. Comedy!

What strikes me as odd was how true this movie is today. This is a policital comedy made in 1933. Yet, I could hear echoes of the bankrupt Feedonia today. Haven’t we all heard about the money woes of GM and the big auto companies, AIG and the banks and even our own government?

I found it even more interesting when a rich widow decides to loan the poor bankrupt country bail out money. Is this the US government, now freshly widowed from a free market into the world of socialism2, bailing out the big companies? Or is this China, being the largest holder of US bonds, bailing us out? Maybe I’m pushing my creative license just a bit.

Even politics aren’t spared Groucho’s witty remarks. Groucho as Rufus T. Firefly is the only person capable of saving Freedonia, at least according to the rich widow. Is this the sound of November 2008? Was there only one man that could bail out the Unites States? Maybe it’s not fair comparing Grouch to President Obama. Groucho isn’t around to defend himself. I’m kidding!3 I do have to admit I had a good laugh when Grouch with his large eyebrows and even larger cigar sang, “If you think this county is bad off now. Just wait until I get through with it.”

We are all doomed!

1 Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Zeppo
2 That is what the talking heads on several news programs have claimed.
3 Go Obama!

As always, please leave a comment! It’s free and there is no registration.

Posted in AFI, Comedy | 1 Comment »

Singin’ In the Rain (1952)

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

I’m not a fan of musicals. I do have to admit, this wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. It was funny and the dance routines were really good. If you don’t mind musicals, this is worth seeing.

Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are famous silent movie stars. Unfortunately, a new innovation, the talkie, is invented. Of course no one believes anyone would fall for that crazy scheme. That is until the “Jazz Singer” is a big hit. Don and Kathy make their first talkie. A big problem arises; Kathy has a very high pitch and irritating voice. With the help of Don’s best friend, Cosmo (Donald O’Conner) and Don’s love interest, Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) they turn the horrible film into a smash musical. To sum it up, it’s a musical about making a musical.

Gene Kelly, Donald O’Conner and Debbie Reynolds were phenomenal singers and dancers. The dance routines were fantastic and the tunes were catchy. And the comedy routines made the movie worth watching.

Posted in AFI, Musical | No Comments »

Casablanca (1942)

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Ranking #3 on the AFI film top 100 movies, Casablanca deserves to be on the list. This is a phenomenal movie. Humphrey Bogart (Rick) and Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) were at their best during this film. Of course, no one can forget Dooley Wilson as Sam and the very famous song “As Time Goes By”.

Rick runs a bar in, where else, Casablanca during World War II. The Germans have occupied France and refugees from Europe try and sometimes succeed in escaping to America through the unoccupied French Casablanca. Two unfortunate refugees are Ilsa (Rick’s x-girlfriend) and underground resistance leader Victor. The Germans want him to stay and pressure the Captain of the police to force him to stay. The only way out is to have the letters of transit stolen from two murdered Germans. Rick’s got the papers and Victor has the girl. And the Germans and French have a contest on who can sing their anthem the loudest (great scene).

The rights to for the film were bought for $20,000 and the film cost a little over $1 million to make.

I love how old black and white movies use shadows to accent the actor’s eyes. It’s a quality that is missing from newer movies. There was a colorized version of the movie in the 1980’s but was unpopular.

No sequels were made, but there were two books that continued the story (one office and one unofficial). Two TV shows and a two radio dramas were also made. But nothing is like the movie!

Signature Quotes:
• “Here’s looking at you kid.”
• “If you can play it for her, you can play it for me.”
• “We’ll always have Paris.”
• “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Directed by:
Michael Curtiz

Staring:
Humphrey Bogart
Ingrid Bergman

Posted in AFI | No Comments »

Gone With The Wind (1939) – Movie Review / Comments / Thoughts

Monday, May 11th, 2009

I was not prepared for this movie. The fantastic acting, the overwhelming story and the pure grandeur of it! Its 4 hours long! My only previous knowledge of this movie was references from movies, TV or books. I was surprised to that the movie was not about what I always believed it was about (southern romance with the Civil War in the background). It was so much more! Even the famous line has more meaning.

Scarlet O’Hara is a truly remarkable character. She flirts, abuses, lies, schemes and manipulates to get what she wants. She’s a strong willed women and nothing stands in her way! If she needs to marry someone to get what she wants (which she does several times). The southern gentlemen of the movie line up to marry her (except the one she’s in love with). If you have not seen the movie, this is a spoiler. It’s not Rhett Butler, but a respectable southern gentleman named Ashley Wilkes (poor fool).

Trivia:

At the beginning of the movie a young George Reeves (Superman) is one of Scarlet’s suitors.

She’s the daughter of a prosperous plantation owner. Without a care in the world, she spends her days flirting with the boys. War changes all of it. She struggles with the horror of war and the loss of loved ones. She swears to never go hungry again (very inspirational scene). She deceives her way back into prosperity, only to lose it again and again. Her strength drives her through the movie.

Rhett Butler is very single minded in his pursuit of Scarlet. He’s shrewd and bold, and like Scarlet, always getting what he wants. Nothing stands in his way! He’s also patient, which ultimately gets him his prize (Scarlet!). He survives the war and gets the girl (sort of).

In the end they both got what they thought they really wanted (or did they?).

The movie is funny, sad, shocking and tragic. The characters are alive on the screen; you can feel their struggle, pain, happiness and loss. I am happy to say that I took the time (4 hours!) to watch this amazing movie.

Starring: Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.

Ranked #4 on the AFI top 100 best movies.

Posted in 1930, AFI, Drama, Review, War | No Comments »