4 Classic Films to Watch
Tons of days off + Social Distancing = Lots and lots of old films being watched and consumed by me on a daily basis. I have a Criterion Collection subscription. I enjoy binging TCM OnDemand or watching the channel live. I peruse Youtube (here is a great playlist of old films in good quality) and Kanopy (free with your library card information) as they sometimes have some hidden gems. I watch everything from film noir to epic musicals to foreign classics. I love Hitchcock, Wilder, Kurosawa, Sembène, Hawks, Preminger, Minelli, and everyone in between. I have a film recommendation for every mood, month, holiday, and food/cocktail combination. OK, maybe I am consuming too many films at once but I can't think of a better way to spend this time in isolation. I keep an old black and white or Technicolor film on in the background while I cook, sew, exercise, etc. So I am giving you four recommendations of films to watch that I've watched within the past two weeks!
1. Sorry Wrong Number (1948) starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster. This classic 1940s film noir directed by Anatole Litvak is suspenseful, unexpected, and carries a unique storyline. While the film is in real time, most of the story telling is done in flashbacks leading up to a surprising ending. Barbara Stanwyck (one of my all-time favorite actresses) plays Leona Stevenson who is a spoiled daughter of a wealthy businessman. She is bedridden for reasons unbeknownst to the viewer until much later in the film. The film opens with her on her telephone when somehow her call gets cross-connected to another call. She overhears two men planning a murder at 11:15pm and is frantic to get access to a police. At the same time her husband, Henry (played by Burt Lancaster), has not arrived home yet at the time he was supposed to but called off the housekeepers for the evening, leaving Leona at home alone.
Throughout the film, Leona is feeling scared and paranoid after the call she heard. She makes a number of phone calls frantically trying to figure out Henry's location which unbeknownst to her leads her to solving the mystery. Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster make an excellent pairing and we are able to see the unraveling of their marriage through the flashbacks. This movie was one that I could not wait to see how it ended. The captivating storyline against a Manhattan backdrop with the usual noir tropes makes this a great film to watch with a classic dry martini.
2. Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. (1946) starring Francine Everett and directed by Spencer Williams. This film was a surprising new discovery for me that I am so glad I stumbled across. Criterion Channel currently has a film section in the app called "Pioneers of African American Cinema" featuring a plethora of race films during 1920s - 40s directed by black directors with all black casts made for black audiences. This film is a precursor of Carmen Jones (1954) and was inspired by W. Somerset Maugham's story "Rain" which had other adaptations from mainstream white filmmakers. The film deals with a woman named Gertie LaRue (played by Francine Everett) who is a racy nightclub entertainer from Harlem. She is a headliner for the Paradise Hotel on a Caribbean Island and causes much controversy from missionaries who want to stop her risqué show.
Francine Everett is absolutely stunning and charming. Obvious inspiration for the likes of Dorothy Dandridge as Carmen Jones. She flirts with all of the men around town and even goes so far as to share the affection of two friends who are a soldier and sailor, who don't seem to mind being shared. She wears great outfits that complement her body in sophisticated 1940s silhouettes with eye-catching costume jewelry. The camera loves Francine and thus the viewer is captivated. Much like Dorothy Dandridge's Carmen Jones, you can't help but hope she ends up in an okay predicament in the end and that she won't be punished for her actions.
This film showcases voodoo and fortune telling, sex, comedy, and tragedy all lumped into one. Director Spencer Williams was also an actor (most famous for playing Andy in the TV series Amos 'n' Andy) and has a cameo role in Dirty Gertie in drag as a fortune teller. Spencer Williams' story is an interesting one as he sought to direct a number of films during the 1940s and I have to say, this one was a success. I highly suggest giving this hidden gem a watch! I recommend this film with a classic frozen daiquiri or an orange blossom.
3. The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) starring an all-star cast: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, and so on. This film was directed by Vincent Minelli and is a melodrama picture all about Hollywood show business based on real-life Hollywood producers, directors, and film companies. Film imitates life. The film begins with three people in the business--movie star Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), and screenwriter James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell)--whom all turn down a phone call from Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) who is attempting to offer them the chance to work together again on a new film production.
Movie producer Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon) has a meeting with the three and each one breaks down why he/she never wants to work with Jonathan Shields again. This is another film that utilizes flashbacks as the way of storytelling.
The film showcases nods to B-list films specifically Val Lewton's production of Cat People (1942) directed by Jacques Tourneur and it is rumored that Douglas' character is based on Hollywood legendary producer and executive David O. Selznick. The film showcases Jonathan Shields' tyrannical behavior and his ability to build up a talent only to shut him/her down later and replace them with another talent.
Lana Turner's performance was absolutely captivating. She had a complex role as an alcoholic wannabe actress who becomes famous (as seen throughout the flashbacks). She depends heavily on her relationship with Shields and is the most let down in the end by his actions but loves him nevertheless. It doesn't hurt that her glamorous costumes by Helen Rose are to die for! I recommend this film with a simple gin and tonic or Lana Turner favorite a vodka and cranberry juice.
4. You'll Never Get Rich (1941) starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth directed by Sidney Lanfield. I had to throw in one light musical comedy for you all to enjoy! This film is a wartime themed stereotypical 1940s musical flick with all of the usual musical bells and whistles. A somewhat ridiculous storyline, the film deals with a theatre owner Martin Cortland (played by Robert Benchley) who is quite a womanizer. He gets his manager Robert Curtis (Fred Astaire), to help him win over the affections of dancer Sheila Winthrop (Rita Hayworth). Martin's wife Julia (Frieda Inescort) is onto his schemes. Sheila doubts Robert's intentions are good, but goes along with it. An old friend who is a Captain in the Army returns into Sheila's life and is another potential suitor for her. He invites her and her family to his Army base. Later on Robert (Astaire) pretends to be a Captain to fool Sheila as he ends up getting imprisoned in a guardhouse.
This story leads to a web of lies, romance, and of course dancing! It is a silly little film that is good for some laughs and to be mesmerized by the wonderful dancing of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Fred Astaire stated that Hayworth was his favorite partner to dance with and it shows. The two seem to enjoy dancing together and Rita Hayworth keeps up with Fred's rhythmic tapping (but in heels)! Her dancing is underrated and I wish that she had more opportunity to show off her talents. In real life, Rita Hayworth's beginnings as a performer involved her and her father as a dancing duo when she was only 12-years-old at nightclubs and bars around Mexico. So Hayworth had danced during her adolescent years and it shows as she is really great on her feet.
This is another film that showcases great costumes. I love the 1940s looks especially on Rita Hayworth. I recommend this film with my favorite, a champagne cocktail!
(Fun fact: Her and Astaire only played in one other film together titled You Were Never Lovelier (1942) which is their better film together. I recommend giving that film a watch as well!)
I hope you all enjoyed this double posting and I will see you next Friday.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the photographs/gifs in this post.