Slightly Late May Challenge: The African Queen & The Freshman

The African Queen (John Huston, 1951)

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Rating: Q=4, P=3 / Thanks But No Thanks

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

WWI, Africa, Boating, Romance, Philosophical

I finally watched this film--I had been putting it off and putting it off because I didn't think I'd really enjoy it based on all the things I read and already knew about the story. Well, I didn't really like it that much but I can't deny it is a classic film that will live on. Everything in this film feels false and a bit contrived--the acting is good but not moving, the effects are rough, the plot is unsurprising, the romance is expected... the interplay between Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn is the most interesting part but it isn't that interesting.


The Freshman (Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, 1925)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Silent, College, Coming of Age, Comedy, Romance

This is a wonderful, timeless, and fascinating silent film gem from 1924. Harold Lloyd dishes out his usual silly and sweet comedy persona. I love how these early films show the culture through the little things--fashion, slang, jokes, social norms, etc. And while I didn't laugh uproariously, I still laughed and smiled through the whole film. A wonderful story that still holds up in a digital age...at least in my opinion.
 

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May Challenge - 8 Classic Films I Still Haven't Seen

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of lists and film challenges. Several years ago, AFI came up with a list of 100 Years, 100 Movies. I, naturally, made it a goal to see them all eventually. I'm still working on the list and decided to designate May as my month for some classic film watching. Here's what I'm planning...though I have seen parts of most of these, never the entire film. Once I see it, as usual, I will post my impressions!

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)


The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)


The African Queen (1951)


An American in Paris (1951)


Shane (1953)


The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)


The Defiant Ones (1958)


Ben-Hur (1959)