SPECIAL: The Marx Brothers, Paramount Films

For Christmas I received the best gift ever: a collection of the Marx Brothers' first five films with Paramount pictures: The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup. Of course, I was thrilled. I started watching them nearly right away. I had seen all the films before, but some had been a while. And now I could watch them whenever I wanted.

The Marx Brothers hold a very special place in my heart and in the world of cinema, too. I would watch the movies when they happened to be on or when my dad was watching, but it was never really planned. Sometimes when I was home sick from school I would try to find one as watching the zany antics nearly always made me feel better. But my love affair didn't really start until I was in college and actually started paying more attention to classic films, through film classes and just voraciously watching everything.

No other performers created a bridge between the world of vaudeville and the silver screen like the Marx Brothers did. Some of the earliest films are like watching their stage shows, which is amazing to think about--we have a window into the world of vaudeville through these films. A window into a wholly different culture and time, now almost 100 years ago. Wow.

My favorite of the first five films is Horse Feathers. I love it because of the music, especially, but also because of the fantastic lines and gags. Monkey Business is my second favorite, it is nostalgic for me and has some brilliant scenes. The others are all equally great, too, just for different reasons. I can't get enough of them and am so glad I have them in my collection now.

The Cocoanuts

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Animal Crackers

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Monkey Business

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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Horse Feathers

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

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Duck Soup

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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Captain Blood

Captain Blood (Michael Curtiz, 1935)

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

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Swashbuckling, Historical, Adventure

I've been enjoying watching more classic films, especially from the early to mid-1930s. Errol Flynn will always be one of my favorites. It was a shame that he was so type casted and each of his most famous roles are very similar. But I could still watch them over and over again. Captain Blood is a great story with beautiful sets and great acting. And who can resist a renegade or pirate story? Blood is not my favorite character of Flynn's, but he has some wonderful lines. This is a fun watch that still captivates nearly a century later.

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Summer Magic, Revisited

Summer Magic (James Neilson, 1963)

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

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Comedy, Family, Coming of Age, Uplifting

I had only watched Summer Magic once and only really remembered some of the songs. This time watching was lovely--it was heartwarming to watch Burl Ives (as Osh Popum) and James Mathers (Peter) sing about caterpillars and see Michael J. Pollard (Digby) hide his adorable smiles when talking about venturing out of his small hometown. It's nice to live in a world with so much charm and light-heartedness for a few hours :)

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Pollyanna, Revisited

Pollyanna (David Swift, 1960)

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

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Comedy, Family, Coming of Age, Uplifting

Winter tends to make me nostalgic and I like returning to uplifting Disney classics. So, I've been re-watching all the animated feature films in chronological order, throwing in a few live action favorites. It had been some time since watching Pollyanna, and I'm glad I decided to watch again. Such a lovely, cheerful story! And much funnier than I remembered it. Hayley Mills is charming, Agnes Moorehead's Mrs. Snow is hilarious, and the story is timeless and brings a tear to your eye. Worth watching every so often, especially when you need a reminder that life is precious and beautiful. Hope, good cheer, and love for your fellow human beings can absolutely change everything.

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The Golden Age of Sinbad

The Golden Age of Sinbad (Gordon Hessler, 1973)

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Rating: Q=4, P=5 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Fantasy, Based on Book

I love all stories about Sinbad--a favorite film is the The 7th Voyage of Sinbad from 1953. But The Golden Age of Sinbad was...weird. While it had the escapist tone and the Ray Harryhausen visuals, it definitely felt like Sinbad in the 1970s. The story was a little outlandish and some of the characters a bit stereotypical or flat, but it's still a fun little adventure.

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Kings of the Sun

Kings of the Sun (J. Lee Thompson, 1963)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Continuing on our journey through adventure movies of the 1940s-1960s, Kings of the Sun is an interesting film. It is a story of cultures and philosophies during the time of Chichen Itza in Mesoamerica. The visuals and color are beautiful and some average performances by Yul Brynner and George Chakiris. The film isn't especially grand and the story isn't amazing, but it still left a good impression and the world was fun to delve into for a few hours.

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The Thief of Baghdad

The Thief of Baghdad (Berger, Powell, Whelan 1940)

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

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Adventure, Fantasy, Based on Book

I'm not entirely sure why I hadn't watched this film until now. A fantastic adaptation of the 1001 Arabian Nights story and a marvel for 1940. This film won many awards for its innovative cinematography and art direction. It may feel a bit goofy today, but the tone and vibrancy of this film still holds up, in my opinion. I love the music and the acting is great. I felt immersed in a world far, far away and that's exactly what I want.

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Prince of Foxes

Prince of Foxes (Henry King, 1949)

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Rating: Q=7, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

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Action, War/Intrigue, Renaissance

A beautiful film set in 1500 Italy--done completely on location at the sites of the story. What a feat! The acting here is wonderful and somewhat overlooked, I feel--Orson Welles, Tyrone Power, Wanda Hendrix, and Everett Sloane. All had great performances with such an inspiring background to work in. This story of man caught in the world of Cesare Borgia is intense and full of intrigue and wickedness and redemption. Worth watching!

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The Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk (1940)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

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Action, Swashbuckling, War/Intrigue, Late Renaissance

I'm not sure how I managed to go for so long without having seen this classic film. I have always loved Errol Flynn and the dashing hero character of the late 1930s through WWII that he helped create and popularize. Captain Thorpe is the seafaring Robin Hood and he simply oozes charm. His crew all love him from the moment they meet him and would happily die for him. The sets in The Sea Hawk are incredible and stunning, especially today when so many action films rely on CGI. I loved the adventure and intrigue of this story, the acting, and the time period. An inspiring film.

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Nightmare Alley (1947)

Nightmare Alley (1947)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Film Noir, Carnival, Crime, Thriller

I can't believe I hadn't seen this film before--really? A film noir that escaped me when I was in film school? Well, I was compelled to watch this original before I saw the new remake that got so many award nominations.

This film wasn't a huge success at the time it was released but it has since become a classic. The lighting, editing, dialogue--all of it works so well at pushing you along and building up the suspense. Not a lot actually happens in this film--subtle things, slow build--but that works. At the end you are left with such a bittersweet and solemn feeling. A timeless story.

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10 Years Ago: A Short List for Snow-bound Viewers

I started this blog in December 2011--now ten years ago! It's hard to believe. I thought that this year I'd do some revisiting to posts I made during that first year. Here's one that included tons of films that fit particular moods.

Originally posted on January 23, 2012:

Feel like watching something to fit a very specific mood? I've compiled a list of not-so-typical categories and matched each with a show or movie that you will hopefully enjoy. Pile the blankets on, brew another cup of tea, and wait for those snow and ice storms to pass!

Animated: Ponyo (Hayao Miyazaki, 2008)

British Comedy: Black Books, seasons 1-3 (Dylan Moran, 2000-2004)

from China: The King of Masks (Tian-Ming Wu, 1997)

with intense Dialogue: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981)

Epic: East of Eden (Elia Kazan, 1955)

Fantasy: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009)

with a Group of Guys: Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982)

Historical: The Way We Live Now, miniseries (David Yates, 2001)

Illuminating/Inspiring: Water (Deepa Mehta, 2005)

with a Journey: The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)

with a King: The Tudors, seasons 1-4 (Michael Hirst, 2007-2010)

with a Love Story: Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Julio Medem, 1998)

from Mexico: Like Water for Chocolate (Alfonso Arau, 1992)

about Nature: Life in the Undergrowth, miniseries (David Attenborough, 2005)

Outlandish: Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)

Psychological Thriller: Gaslight (George Cukor, 1944)

Quiet: Babies (Thomas Balmes, 2010)

Rebellion: The Wild One (Laslo Benedek, 1953)

about a Sleuth: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, seasons 1-4 (John Bowen & David Cook, 1996-1998)

Tear-jerker: Biutiful (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2010)

Understated Classic: The Last Picture Show (Peter Bogdanovich, 1971)

Vivid Imagery: Raise the Red Lantern (Yimou Zhang, 1991)

Whimsical: Antonia's Line (Marlene Gorris, 1995)

eXhilarating: Man on Wire (James Marsh, 2008)

about Youth: My Life as a Dog (Lasse Hallstrom, 1985)

Zany: Micmacs (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2009)

If you ever want a specific recommendation or personal suggestion, send me a message. Eventually, I hope to create a little interactive quiz/questionnaire to do this- keep on the lookout!

Miracle on 34th Street, revisted

Miracle on 34th Street (George Seaton, 1947)

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

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Classic, Holiday, Feel-good

It had been many years since I watched this classic holiday film--the story of what happens when Santa Claus actually does come to town. The Christmas and holiday spirit shines in this one and leaves the viewer feeling that there is hope for humanity. We need more feel-good drama films like this one now more than ever.

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Arabesque

Arabesque (Stanley Donen, 1966)

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Rating: Q=4, P=4 / Average OJ

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Mystery, Crime, Noir, Thriller

From the same director famous for Charade, Arabesque is a swirling mystery/crime film. We follow Gregory Peck's character, Mr. Pollock, as he is forced into a mess he tries to understand but no matter what he learns and reveals he just never gets the full story. Sophia Loren is also absorbing to watch. A good number of tense and silly moments balances well to make the film a fun escape. Excellent score by Henri Mancini, too!

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Suddenly

Suddenly (Lewis Allen, 1954)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

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1950s, Crime, Action, Drama

A spine-tingling story with superb dialogue. The great script makes this film feel like you're in the theater watching a play. And because the film only has one scene (the living room) it makes the viewer feel a part of the claustrophobic and tense situation. So much anxiety! Frank Sinatra is amazing and keeps your attention in every way--interestingly, his character, Baron, was the only villain he ever played. A great classic crime/noir film.

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October Thrillers Challenge: Frankenstein

Frankenstein (James Whale, 1931)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

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Classic, Thriller, Suspense, Based on Book

It was fun to watch Frankenstein in its entirety, since there are so many classic scenes and lines. I especially found it fun to compare it to the many, many other versions of the tale that I have seen over the years (a personal favorite will always be Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein).

From this little challenge, I've discovered that my new favorite classic actor is Dwight Frye. I'll be investigating more from this exceptional character actor soon!

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October Thrillers Challenge: Dracula

Dracula (Tod Browning, 1931)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

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Thriller, Vampires, Horror

It was fun to watch this classic, especially after having seen other versions of the story and reading the book (one I read and studied in graduate school). Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula is iconic, strange, almost comical. Dwight Frye as Renfield is even creepier: "He came and stood below my window in the moonlight. And he promised me things, not in words, but by doing them."

It's interesting to think about how much influence this film has had on multiple film genres--especially vampire films. While I liked this classic, I still prefer Coppola's 1992 version of the book. It's more detailed and complex. Plus Gary Oldman is fantastic.

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October Thrillers Challenge: King Kong

King Kong (Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933)

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Rating: Q=4, P=4 / Average OJ

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Classics, Thriller, Adventure

The original thriller, some critics have written, was a fun escape for me. The thrills are still there even after 85 years, though certainly not to the same extent as in the 1930s. I can imagine that this film, back then, would have been miraculous and even terrifying. Certainly awe-inspiring on a big screen. The brutal and violent moments surprised me--even made me gasp. And the Empire state building ending scene is still one of the best in film.

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Swing Time

Swing Time (George Stevens, 1936)

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

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Musical, Dance, Romance

What a great American classic. Swing Time is considered one of the best musicals ever and is part of the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The story is sweet and cheerful and captures a time and place--1930s New York City. It has witty dialogue, a few hilarious moments, incredible and captivating dances, and beautiful songs. What's not to like?

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Boys Town

Boys Town (Norman Taurog, 1938)

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Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Can't Get Enough

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Coming of Age, Masculinity, Tearjerker

Instant love. Had I chosen to write my thesis about classic Hollywood films, I would have included this film. Watching this one in 2018 America was unfortunately, very relevant. Just like Father Flanagan, I believe that all people have good in them and there is "no such thing as a bad boy." Bad men, certainly, but not boys. I'm reminded of the many books I read about masculinity and coming of age in film- a favorite quote, by Guy Austin, is “Masculinity has nothing to prove yet somehow needs constantly to prove itself." This statement has been ringing in my ears for several years now, as I see more and more angry and violent men in the news. I wish our society would do more to help boys from an early age--teach them to be kind, respectful, and worthwhile. I know without a doubt that it starts with love.

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Gunga Din

Gunga Din (George Stevens, 1939)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Action, Based on Book, India, late-19th Century

If there was a category for "the ultimate action-adventure flick," this one might earn the title. Or at least it was one of the first greats. Gunga Din is also hilarious and has some great suspenseful moments. While watching, I couldn't help but wonder if Stephen Spielberg was influenced by this story and film for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I looked it up later and, of course, Spielberg's screenwriters wrote the screenplay based partly on Gunga Din. Points for the film student! :) It's definitely a fun escape.

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