Family Movie Night
Do you ever get on a kick to watch certain types of movies?
I have had weeks in which I only watch movies based on Jane Austen books or Jack Black movies.
Sometimes, the only thing I want to watch is musicals or animal stories or something I know will make me cry my eyes out.
Lately, I have wanted to watch nothing but classic movies. I am talking about movies that were made during the 40s and 50s with actors who brought a certain something with them to the silver screen.
Movie Poster image from IMDb.com
Case in point – the other night we watched Casablanca (1942). Our 14-year-old stopped to watch the movie with us. I kept saying things like “look, there is Humphrey Bogart. He was a great actor.” Or “look, there is Sydney Greenstreet. He was one of the best character actors around, in his day.”
I made him wait for Ingrid Bergman, one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the planet. I wanted him to hear her voice and look at her face to see that glow that only Bergman possessed.
But more importantly, I wanted him to hear the script with lines that are ageless. We know the color of Ilsa’s dress when the Germans invaded Paris. We know Rick has a heart despite his front of disinterest. We know that Claude Rains plays the captain with an air of insouciance.
He is shocked to find there is gambling going on at Rick’s just moments before he is handed his winnings. The Germans sing their anthem proudly until the French citizen comes back strong, even those women willing to go out with German soldiers.
There are strong moments throughout that remind me what made this movie making so great. Moments that are presented by strong actors such as Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Paul Henreid and S.Z. Sakall.
It makes me think about current actors who are just as good. My mind lists quality people such as George Clooney, David Strathairn, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Nicole Kidman, and Richard Gere. I think of Angelina Jolie, one of the few Hollywood stars that still glow. Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush and Brendan Gleeson get me excited. Alan Rickman has been thrilling in performances for over 20 years.
Pamela Anederson is "Barb Wire," Image from IMDb.com
Could I see a re-make of Casablanca? I could and there have been remakes of this movie. My favorite is Barb Wire, a so-bad-it-is-good Pamela Anderson vehicle set in a post-apocalyptic world. Good idea, poor execution. I could see a number of men – or women – pulling off the role of Rick.
Directed by Michael Curtiz, this movie is a wonderful balance of fear and hope, of passive behavior and aggressive assertiveness. I enjoy watching Victor’s continued show of strength and Major Strasser’s determined path for the Furher.
Next classic movie I plan to watch is Rear Window (1954) starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. The director is Alfred Hitchcock.
Do you have a favorite classic?
Until next week, see you in the rental aisle.
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
My favorite classic is The Philadelphia Story. My favorite scene is Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart together at Grant’s place, Jimmy having had too much to drink.
That is a great movie that I have not seen for a long time. Turner Classics shows silent movies but our cable system no longer carries that station.
I have very fond memories of Casa Blanca: the first time I saw it was as part of an all-day Bogart festival when I was fourteen. I desperately wanted to go, but no one wanted to accompany me. My cousin Alex, who was a bit older than I and could drive, offered to take me. He also sat with me through Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Key Largo, and The Maltese Falcon. We went to a burger joint afterward so we could talk about what we’d seen, and got in BIG trouble for staying out so late! Alex died in an accident a few years later, and I always think of him when I watch classic movies and wonder what conversations we might now be having if he were still around. Thanks for bringing all that to mind! 🙂
I love The Philadelphia Story, too, which reminds me: I get to watch Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby next week on the big screen! We have a lovely old movie house in town that shows classic films once a week and hosts film festivals now and then. Later this month, they’ll be showing Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire as part of a film festival. I plan to bring an extra box of tissue, because I know hearing and seeing Peter Falk is sure to push me wa-a-a-a-ay over the edge.
I tried to buy Casablanca just last month and couldn’t find it. Amazon has it, but they can’t ship that particular film to Canada, for some crazy copyright reason.
One of my favorite classics is 12 Angry Men, with too many great actors to name. The remake was a disgrace, and made the original seem even better.
Great post, Rumbly.
The shipping issue intrigues me. But then again, videos on YouTube are constantly being yanked for copyright issues.
Back in the day when life was very busier, I made it a point to “celebrate” sick days at home with an old classic on the tv. Daughter #1 or #2 lay on the couch, and we watched what I considered “must sees”. My daughters laugh and still remember doing that. Some titles we watched…real chic flicks…”My Fair Lady”, “Gigi”, “Dr. Zhivago”, of course “The Sound of Music”, “The Parent Trap” (both versions), “The Shaggy Dog”, all the Disney animated ones, “Son of Flubber”, and yes, James Bond to name a few. They weren’t sick that often, btw.
Many years ago, we were watching “Angel on My Shoulder”, Claude Rains and Paul Muni. When they came up from hell on a freight elevator, I said something about not having a lot of special effects back in the 40’s. Son answered “No, but they had real stories” That is why we like to watch old movies. Humphrey Bogart, Zachary Scott, Alan Ladd, Joseph Cotton and Clark Gable.
I have been on a classic movie kick lately. I was pretty sick this summer and had to stay in bed so what better way to spend my time, right?
I finally saw North by Northwest and was mersmerized! Love Cary Grant. The scene where he is knock-down drunk and calling his mother at the police station and then crawling on top of the table had me in stitches.
And I noticed right away that Hitchcock made his little cameo appearance right in the beginning of the movie.
You’ve put me in the mood for a classic movie now! 🙂
But which one?