I Remember Mama (1948)
Sentimental but lovely film about a Norwegian family now living in San Francisco in the early 1900's. Mama (Irene Dunne) is the real strength of the family and does the difficult things as Papa defers to her. He's not weak, just soft-hearted and when he hesitates, she'll go through with things, like having to deal with the youngest daughter's sick cat. It's a slice-of-life about this immigrant family and how they deal with the everyday trials of life. Also, there are three aunts, two of whom are busybodies and one of whom is sweet. She's played by Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) and does a very good job. Her suitor is played by Edgar Bergen and he is well-off and treats her very well, unlike her sisters. There is also Uncle Chris (Oskar Homolka) who intimidates members of the family, but only because he's loud and boisterous, and has a very kind heart that he rarely shows.
The movie is told to us, the audience (by breaking the fourth wall) by Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes, Miss Ellie from Dallas). She is a writer and has written about her family, which is the movie tale we watch. Irene Dunne is excellent as the matriarch, and although she was fifty-years-old at the time, she hardly looks it. Dunne kept her youth very well. I highly recommend this film, which was nominated for five Oscars.
Tom Jones (1963)
Fun comedy with Albert Finney as the lusty young man, Tom Jones, who is raised by the wealthy Squire Allworthy, to the chagrin of his snooty jerk of a cousin, Master Blifil (David Warner), who, when Allworthy gets sick, sets his mind on Allworthy's estate. Meanwhile, Jones gets in trouble when a local floozy he's been, um, "seeing," gets pregnant. This causes trouble with Sophie Western, the beautiful young woman he adores (Susannah York). Co-starring in the film are the great Hugh Griffith as Squire Western, Sophie's father, who goes back-and-forth in his estimation of Tom, Dame Edith Evans as Squire Western's snobbish sister, and Diane Cilento as Molly Seagrim, the loose woman that Tom has been carousing with.
Often hilarious film that breaks the fourth wall quite a few times, with romance, sex, some action, some drama, and all's-well-that-ends-well. Plus, it was nominated for ten Oscars, winning four, including Best Picture and Best Director, Tony Richardson. What more could you ask for in a movie?
Captain Blood (1935)
Terrific swashbuckler with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill, Basil Rathbone, and Guy Kibbee heading up the cast. Flynn is Doctor Peter Blood, who is unjustly jailed for tending to a rebel who opposes the King. They are saved from the gallows when the King is informed that the convicted men would serve them better by being slaves. So, while they are slaves, Blood is bought and paid for by de Havilland, who is the niece of Colonel Bishop (Atwill), who treats the slaves cruely and earns their hatred. By circumstance, Blood becomes the personal doctor of the Governor of the island, and in the process plots his escape. Of course, he plans to take along most of the prisoners in the stockade. All of this takes up the first hour of the film...the rest is almost pure action on the seas.
This was Flynn's first real "pirate" film and it's awesome. He wields a foil with the best of them, having a grand duel on the beach with Rathbone. There is an epic battle of ships near the final third, with Blood's British ship against two French ships. Cannons, swords, clubs, and fire abound. Very much recommended. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz.
Sentimental but lovely film about a Norwegian family now living in San Francisco in the early 1900's. Mama (Irene Dunne) is the real strength of the family and does the difficult things as Papa defers to her. He's not weak, just soft-hearted and when he hesitates, she'll go through with things, like having to deal with the youngest daughter's sick cat. It's a slice-of-life about this immigrant family and how they deal with the everyday trials of life. Also, there are three aunts, two of whom are busybodies and one of whom is sweet. She's played by Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) and does a very good job. Her suitor is played by Edgar Bergen and he is well-off and treats her very well, unlike her sisters. There is also Uncle Chris (Oskar Homolka) who intimidates members of the family, but only because he's loud and boisterous, and has a very kind heart that he rarely shows.
The movie is told to us, the audience (by breaking the fourth wall) by Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes, Miss Ellie from Dallas). She is a writer and has written about her family, which is the movie tale we watch. Irene Dunne is excellent as the matriarch, and although she was fifty-years-old at the time, she hardly looks it. Dunne kept her youth very well. I highly recommend this film, which was nominated for five Oscars.
Tom Jones (1963)
Fun comedy with Albert Finney as the lusty young man, Tom Jones, who is raised by the wealthy Squire Allworthy, to the chagrin of his snooty jerk of a cousin, Master Blifil (David Warner), who, when Allworthy gets sick, sets his mind on Allworthy's estate. Meanwhile, Jones gets in trouble when a local floozy he's been, um, "seeing," gets pregnant. This causes trouble with Sophie Western, the beautiful young woman he adores (Susannah York). Co-starring in the film are the great Hugh Griffith as Squire Western, Sophie's father, who goes back-and-forth in his estimation of Tom, Dame Edith Evans as Squire Western's snobbish sister, and Diane Cilento as Molly Seagrim, the loose woman that Tom has been carousing with.
Often hilarious film that breaks the fourth wall quite a few times, with romance, sex, some action, some drama, and all's-well-that-ends-well. Plus, it was nominated for ten Oscars, winning four, including Best Picture and Best Director, Tony Richardson. What more could you ask for in a movie?
Captain Blood (1935)
Terrific swashbuckler with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill, Basil Rathbone, and Guy Kibbee heading up the cast. Flynn is Doctor Peter Blood, who is unjustly jailed for tending to a rebel who opposes the King. They are saved from the gallows when the King is informed that the convicted men would serve them better by being slaves. So, while they are slaves, Blood is bought and paid for by de Havilland, who is the niece of Colonel Bishop (Atwill), who treats the slaves cruely and earns their hatred. By circumstance, Blood becomes the personal doctor of the Governor of the island, and in the process plots his escape. Of course, he plans to take along most of the prisoners in the stockade. All of this takes up the first hour of the film...the rest is almost pure action on the seas.
This was Flynn's first real "pirate" film and it's awesome. He wields a foil with the best of them, having a grand duel on the beach with Rathbone. There is an epic battle of ships near the final third, with Blood's British ship against two French ships. Cannons, swords, clubs, and fire abound. Very much recommended. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz.
__________________
"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."
"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."