Search Results for: blog and thats why theyre called classics

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Starring Disney movie staple Fred MacMurray, “The Happiest Millionaire” is the movie in which Lesley Ann Warren made her big screen debut. Playing Cordie Drexel-Biddle, the oldest child and only daughter of an eccentric millionaire, she brings to life the real Cordie, who wrote a book about her childhood memories upon which this movie is based. Mr. Biddle (MacMurray) is an unusual man to say the least. He teaches a Bible school/boxing class in a converted stable in the back yard, and a whole room of his house is dedicated to his pet alligators. Mrs. Biddle (Greer Garson) is a … Continue reading →

You’ll Never Get Rich (1941)

“You’ll Never Get Rich” is a lesser known Fred Astaire movie, this time pairing him with the lovely Rita Hayworth. Fred plays Robert Curtis, choreographer and performer in a theater run by Martin Cortland, who is a womanizer to the max. When caught by his wife, Julia, Martin uses Robert as an alibi, and Robert takes the brunt of many a tall tale. When Sheila Winslow (Rita Hayworth) joins the act, Martin goes after her, as is his tradition, and she turns him down flat, but Julia doesn’t buy it. Once again Robert comes to the rescue, pretending that the … Continue reading →

Father Goose (1964)

Walter Eckland is a filthy beast. He admits it himself and is rather proud of the fact. Catherine Freneau is a goody-two-shoes, and she, too, is proud of it. So what happens when you take a filthy beast and a goody-two-shoes, strand them on an island in the middle of a war, and throw a handful of homeless girls into the mix? A great movie, of course. Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) is an irresponsible wanderer who spends his life puttering around in his boat. Disenchanted with the structured life he used to lead as a college professor, he has put … Continue reading →

A Damsel in Distress (1937)

Fred Astaire is known for his fast footwork and graceful moves. George Burns and Gracie Allen began their careers on the radio, soon finding a place in motion pictures. “A Damsel in Distress” casts George as Fred’s press agent with Gracie as the secretary, and the combination is a winner. Jerry Halliday (Fred Astaire) is a famous movie star who hates his own press. George and Gracie (playing under their own names) have concocted a wild publicity stunt which portrays Jerry as a dashing ladies’ man, a new woman on his arm every night, romances left and right, when nothing … Continue reading →

Kiss Me Kate (1953)

This charming movie is one of my all-time favorites. Fred (Howard Keel) and Lilli (Kathryn Grayson) used to be married and spent a lot of time on stage together, starring in opposite roles. They’re divorced now, but when Cole Porter gives them a call to talk to them about a new musical version of “The Taming of the Shrew,” they are willing to put their differences aside for the sake of art. In fact, Fred decides to use the play as his opportunity to win Lilli back, and it would have worked, too, if not for the fact that he’s … Continue reading →

Calamity Jane (1953)

“Calamity Jane” is the story of a girl (Doris Day) who doesn’t quite know she’s a girl. She has dressed in buckskins her whole life, knows how to shoot better than most men, can lasso, ride, and drink just like a man. But beneath all that bravado beats the very real heart of a woman – she’s in love with Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey, who later went on to play Asa Buchanan on “One Live to Live.”) After all, didn’t she ride in and save him from a band of Indians? But no matter what she does, she just … Continue reading →

Two Weeks With Love (1950)

My family happened upon this movie rather accidentally. It was showing at the Avalon Theater (mentioned in another blog) as the second feature to another movie we were excited to see, and to this day, none of us can remember what that other movie was. “Two Weeks With Love” captured our hearts completely. Jane Powell plays Patti, a seventeen-year-old girl teetering on the brink of womanhood. Her lifelong sorrow is that she is not yet allowed to wear corsets. Her father is absolutely dead-set against them and will not hear of it. Melba, Patti’s younger sister (played to the hilt … Continue reading →

San Francisco (1936)

In the year 1906, the city of San Francisco was rocked with the worst earthquake it had ever seen, and it still holds the record for the most destructive. In 1936, Hollywood decided to memorialize that event with the movie “San Francisco,” starring Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The most amazing thing about the movie is the use of special effects. Today we have computers to digitally enhance the images and create spectacular effects, but in 1936 they didn’t have those luxuries. Nevertheless, the effects are quite astounding. Gable plays Blackie Norton, a casino owner with a taste … Continue reading →

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Perhaps you’ll remember the scene in “Sleepless in Seattle” where Tom Hanks is having dinner with his friends and his real-life wife Rita Wilson talks about the movie “An Affair to Remember” (it is also prevalent throughout the movie as well). I couldn’t help but be intrigued by what was so special about this movie, so I rented it to find out for myself. This movie is a classic for a reason. It is romantic and smart. The back-and-forth between the leads, Cary Grant (Nickie) and Deborah Kerr (Terry) is priceless and much of it was improvised: Nickie: But you … Continue reading →

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1957)

One of my favorite movies of all time, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” tells the story of Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel), oldest brother in a family of seven, who decides that what his farm needs is a woman. He can get sugar at the general store, and feed, too, so why shouldn’t he head to town and pick out a wife? The movie opens with a jovial song sung in Howard Keel’s velvet voice, the lyrics of which are: “Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be. We ain’t met yet but I’m willin’ to bet, you’re the gal for … Continue reading →