Susanna’s Movie Reviews Click on the links below to go directly to that movie! Adam's Rib The African Queen All About Eve Amelie An Affair to Remember The Apartment Arsenic and Old Lace The Awful Truth The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer The Big Sleep The Bishop's Wife Blade Runner Breakfast at Tiffany's Bringing up Baby Charade Citizen Kane Crossroads Double Indemnity E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial The Fugitive The General The Great Escape Gunga Din The Guns of Navarone His Girl Friday Holiday Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiscreet In Name Only It Happened One Night Jezebel The Lady Eve The Little Foxes The Lord of the Rings The Lost Weekend The Maltese Falcon Minority Report Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Smith Goes to Washington North by Northwest Notorious Only Angels Have Wings On the Waterfront The Philadelphia Story Psycho Raiders of the Lost Ark Rear Window Rebecca Red River Roman Holiday Sabrina The Shop Around the Corner Signs Some Like it Hot Spellbound Stage Door Stalag 17 Strangers on a Train Sullivan's Travels Sunset Boulevard Suspicion The Talk of the Town To Catch a Thief To Have and Have Not The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Twelve Angry Men Twelve O'Clock High Witness Witness for the Prosecution Working Girl Adam's Rib (5 Stars) - Probably the best of the Tracy-Hepburn movies, Adam's Rib is very funny and enjoyable. Excellently written, well directed by George Cukor, and (most of all) featuring great chemistry between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, this is the ultimate "battle of the sexes" movie and a must-see. Basically, Adam's Rib starts out with a wife who shoots at her husband (Judy Holliday, who does an excellent job with her important, if small, role) after finding him with another woman. At the trial, Holliday is represented by Amanda Bonner (Katherine Hepburn) who just happens to be opposed by her own husband (Spencer Tracy) who is the prosecuting attorney. The movie creatively uses the premise of the trial as a springboard for witty, funny conversations between the Bonners' about equality and the double standard (if Holliday had been a man, would she be judged so harshly). Anyhow, Adam's Rib is a fantastic film which discusses many relevant issues and is, contrary to what you might think, really quite modern in its outlook. There may be some points in the film that reflect its age but, overall, the main issue - the ever ongoing battle of the sexes - is still as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. Furthermore, the movie is so witty and well done that it would be a joy to watch even if the content was clearly irrelevant now. It features several scenes that are especially noteworthy - for instance, the scene in which Hepburn humiliates Tracy in court and the resulting scene where Tracy scares Hepburn with the licorice gun. So, overall, this film still sparkles with wit and with the chemistry between its stars...highly recommended! The African Queen (5 Stars) - I really, really loved this movie! It is a great adventure story, with a wonderful plot and great dialogue between the two stars thrown in as a bonus. Also, it features great performances from the silver screen's most legendary stars, Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart (both ranked #1 in all-time female and male legends, respectively). Essentially, The African Queen is about an uptight missionary's wife living in Africa named Rosie (Katherine Hepburn). When Rosie's brother dies, she is forced to flee the area on board The African Queen, a small boat run by the gruff, hard-drinking Mr. Alnutt (Humphrey Bogart, in a Oscar winning performance). They have many adventures together, and, pretty predictably, get to know each other much better after initially hating each other. My summary really doesn't do justice to this movie, but be sure that The African Queen is incredibly entertaining! Additionally, because this movie was actually shot in Africa, the scenery is breathtaking. All in all - practically a perfect film. Exciting adventure, romance, great dialogue, quirky characters, and Kate and Bogie! What more could you ask for in a movie?! All About Eve (5 Stars) - Now 52 years old, this movie still sparkles with wit and brilliance! A real masterpiece, All About Eve is a must-see that features a great sarcastic script (lots of one-liners) and fantastic performances from a star-studded cast. It also is a true reflection on what the theater is all about...the only other movie that comes close is Stage Door, which expresses the same sentiment about the theater but in a slightly softer way. Basically, All About Eve is about an aging prima-donna, Margo Channing (Bette Davis, in her best performance) who takes in a young girl, Eve (Anne Baxter), who claims to be a devoted fan whose only wish is to serve Margo. Fooled by Eve's seemingly naive and sweet personality, Margo helps her out, not realizing until it is almost too late that Eve's real ambitions are to make herself a star by taking Margo's place. Anyhow, this movie is still as fresh, original, and relevant as if it had been made yesterday. With great performances from Davis and Baxter and a sarcastic, biting script, this movie is a must-see. Get it soon and enjoy. Amelie (5 Stars) - Amelie was one of the best films I have seen this year. I absolutely loved it. Certain films (sadly, these days the number is very low) have the ability to give you a fresh perspective - they can change the way you look at things. Amelie is one of those films. And even rarer still, Amelie combines this ability with some really hilarious moments and some equally touching scenes! More specifically, my favorite thing about Amelie is its originality and creativity. It had a unique style that really allowed the viewer to get into the heads and hearts of the characters. This is probably due in part to the sarcastic, funny, and clever script and the remarkably effective voice over narration (which really sets the tone for the movie). Also, Amelie's originality and freshness is due to the interesting directing style. Essentially, Amelie is about a young French waitress (Audrey Tautou) who decides to help people fix up their lives. In her haste to help others, however, she does not do much about her own loneliness, and is afraid to go after what she wants. This plot summary really doesn't convey the charming quality of the movie...but believe me it was wonderful! The acting was also great, and Audrey Tautou really reminded me of the other Audrey, the great Audrey Hepburn. They share the same shy glances, pretty faces, and delicate charm. In fact, in one scene in particular (when Amelie goes to meet Nino at the merry-go-round), I was sure that the director was poking fun at a classic Audrey Hepburn movie, Charade (where Audrey and Cary Grant meet in front of a merry-go-round), by dressing Amelie up in Audrey Hepburn style clothing. Did anyone else notice this? Anyhow, I don't know how else to recommend this movie. It made my day! In one word: WONDERFUL! An Affair to Remember (3 Stars) - I can't quite figure out why so many people absolutely adore this movie. Perhaps it is simply because I am not a fan of tearjerkers at all - instead of making me cry, they make me just want to turn them off. But, if you are a fan of that type of film, this would be the ultimate film to watch. No other romance can quite equal the charm of this movie, and even though it is not my style of movie, I can recognize that it is the best of its kind. Essentially, An Affair to Remember is about an irresponsible ladies man (Cary Grant, at his most charming) who meets and falls in love with a beautiful, sincere woman (Deborah Kerr) on a boat. It describes their subsequent romance, complete with many shipboard scenes, the famous Empire State scene, and "heartbreaking" events. The last scene is famous for making people cry - although I personally didn't - it is a very emotional scene. Anyhow, even though as a rule I detest tearjerkers, the fact that I tolerate this movie, and even think it is somewhat good in parts, shows that it is really a good movie for people who enjoy romances/tearjerkers. Mainly, this is because of the fantastic stars, the glamorous and handsome Cary Grant (so talented he makes it all look so easy) and beautiful Deborah Kerr. This movie is also very innocent and has no inappropriate material, unlike some similar movies that are made now. So, I would say that if you enjoy what I consider "sappy" romances or tearjerkers, this would surely be the movie for you. If you don't then skip it and watch Bringing up Baby instead.  The Apartment (5 Stars) - This movie, directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, is one of my all-time favorites. It features a funny script, great acting, and an interesting and original plot. The Apartment is a perfect example of what is missing in Hollywood today: it is a witty, entertaining movie that relies on the script and on the acting to keep the viewer's attention and consequently does not need to use obscene language or inappropriate scenes to be amusing! Essentially, The Apartment is about a young insurance company worker (played by Jack Lemmon in an excellent performance) who is forced to allow his philandering bosses to use his apartment on dates. In exchange for allowing his bosses to use the apartment, Lemmon is recommended to receive promotions. Things get more complicated, however, when the bigger boss, Sheldrake (played by Fred McMurray) gets involved in the apartment renting. This would seem like a good thing for Lemmon - but there is one problem: McMurray (who is married and has no plans of divorcing) is dating Lemmon's dream girl, the beautiful elevator operator at the company (played by Shirley MacLaine). To say any more would be to give too much away... In addition to having an entertaining plot and a funny, sarcastic script (like most Billy Wilder movies), The Apartment features amazing performances by all of its actors, especially Lemmon and MacLaine. So I don't know how else to recommend this movie - get it soon and enjoy! Arsenic and Old Lace (5 Stars) - Arsenic and Old Lace is one of the funniest comedies of all time. Based on the hit Broadway show of the same name, it is about a drama critic who finds out that his aunts have been poisoning people (hence the title) out of a desire to help them (they only poison lonely old men) out of their misery. Anyhow, the dialogue is truly hilarious ("Insanity doesn't just run in the family - it practically gallops.") and the cast is great! Even though Cary Grant, who played the lead role, always said he disliked his performance in Arsenic and Old Lace (he complained that Capra pushed him into overplaying instead of his usual more restrained style) I think he was excellent! His expressions are priceless, and it is impossible to keep a straight face while watching his frantic movements about the house. The aunts are also quite good, as are the actors playing the other crazy brothers. All in all, this movie is a must have! If you haven't seen it already, you are in for a treat. The Awful Truth (5 Stars) - The Awful Truth is one of my all-time favorite movies! It is an absolutely hilarious screwball comedy. Essentially, The Awful Truth is the story of Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) Warriner: a rich, elegant couple that decides to get a divorce. The only problem is that they clearly still love each other. As they respectively figure this out, they do their best to sabotage each other’s relationships - resulting in incredibly funny scenes. The Awful Truth has witty dialogue in the classic screwball style, hilarious situations, and great acting. Cary Grant is wonderful as the confident and charming husband - his facial expressions and muttered comments steal scene after scene. This movie is the first one in which Grant established his extraordinary screen persona: a handsome, intelligent, and debonair man - and still a comedian more than willing to take a few pratfalls. His inspired performance makes the film work! Irene Dunne is equally excellent as his beautiful wife. She is the perfect, cool counterpart to Grant's often frantic behavior. The supporting cast also gets full honors. Overall, this movie is excellent, and can be watched over and over again. It is witty and hilarious: perfect for the whole family! I don't know how else to recommend this - get this movie, and enjoy a priceless screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age. The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (4 Stars) - Although this movie is not one of Cary Grant's best comedies, it is pretty harmless and quite amusing. By the time The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer was made, screwball comedy was winding down. Since screwball comedies were Grant's main area of expertise, he then had difficulty finding good scripts to do and was often forced to settle with somewhat inferior romantic comedies like this one (he still did make some other excellent films afterwards). But, as I said earlier, although this lacks the originality and sparkle of some of his earlier films, it is not bad. By today's standards it is excellent - and as an added bonus it contains no obscene language or inappropriate scenes. Like all Grant's films it is tasteful, innocent and good entertainment for the whole family. Essentially, this movie is a lighthearted romantic comedy that describes what happens when a debonair artist (Cary Grant) is stuck with a teenage girl chasing him (Shirley Temple). As an added bonus, the teenage girl's older sister (Myrna Loy) is also around. This movie has many funny situations, especially one where Grant is forced to participate in a childish series of races at a local fair. The acting is quite good, and, all in all, this is an amusing, cute movie. The Big Sleep (5 Stars) - It has been said that the plot of The Big Sleep is so confusing that even the director and actors had no idea who had been killed by who during the filming. It is certainly true that The Big Sleep is confusing. Admittedly, it may get somewhat frustrating if you are attempting to follow the action totally. Given the movie's other wonderful qualities, however, who cares? First of all, The Big Sleep features one of Bogart and Bacall's best pairings. They are truly magical, and their scenes together cannot be equaled - especially because of the captivating dialogue! One scene in particular, in which they are talking together at a bar/restaurant, is a true classic. Also, the atmosphere throughout the film is excellent. Even if the plot is confusing, each scene taken by itself is a classic. The acting is also excellent. In addition to being able to witness the amazing chemistry between Bogie and Bacall, viewers can enjoy one of their best individual performances. Bogart is perfect as the tough guy detective - his attitude is illustrated by one line: after the spoiled younger daughter, Carmen, tells him he is not very tall, he responds with, "I try to be." Bacall is also quite good, as is the supporting cast. Anyhow, I don't know how else to recommend this. Confusing plot notwithstanding, this movie is amazing! Get it soon and enjoy! The Bishop's Wife (4 Stars) - This movie is really quite good - nice for the holidays or for any other day, for that matter. It is very sweet, and features wonderful performances from three classic stars. Essentially, The Bishop's Wife is the story of a bishop (David Niven) who becomes overly obsessed with getting funds for a new cathedral and subsequently neglects his wife and the things that really count. After he prays for help with his project, an angel named Dudley (Cary Grant), arrives to make him see that really counts in his life and to entertain his wife (Loretta Young). An interesting fact about this movie is that, after the initial script was found too dull, several expert writers were brought in (uncredited) to improve the movie. And it worked, because this movie has many good lines and scenes. Most importantly, however, this movie depends on the great performances of its stars. Cary Grant is really the only actor who could have made a role like Dudley seem realistic and interesting, and he pulls it off with his characteristic style, elegance, and charm. Like in all his roles, he plays this one effortlessly and just right. Niven is excellent as the stressed out bishop, and Loretta Young does a nice job as the neglected wife. All in all, a sweet movie! Blade Runner-Director's Cut (5 Stars) - I have not seen the original version of this movie, so I can't compare the two. Regardless of what the other version of this film was like, however, this version was extraordinary - I've never seen anything quite like it before! Besides providing the viewer with a mesmerizing combination of a bizarre setting, appropriate music, and action sequences, this film raised many essential questions about what it means to be human... Blade Runner is, more than anything, a film noir - in many ways it is very similar to Humphrey Bogart's noir detective thrillers from the 1940s (The Maltese Falcon or The Big Sleep, for instance). But instead of being set in the dark city streets in the 1940s, Blade Runner is set in L.A. in 2019. By 2019, the movie asserts, L.A. has been transformed into a decaying mega-metropolis, and consists of multitudes of people fighting their way through constantly rainy streets (turning the idea of sunny California on its head) filled with strange shops. Great shots of this bizarre city combined with a perfectly fitted soundtrack create a nightmarish, haunting atmosphere in this film. Essentially, the plot of this movie concerns Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford, in an unusual and very, very good performance), a one time blade runner (i.e. police killer) who is forced by to track down several more replicants (androids w/a 4 year lifespan who are used as slaves but sometimes escape and are illegal on Earth). As the movie puts it, replicants "were designed to copy human beings in every way except their emotions. The designers reckoned that after a few years, they might develop their own emotional responses. You know, hate, love, fear, anger, envy. So they built in a fail-safe device...Four year life span." Anyhow, as Decker hunts down the remaining replicants, he begins to learn to feel again - at the beginning of the film, he seems even less human than the replicants he is supposed to kill. Also, along the way, he meets Rachael, a beautiful replicant who has been modified (she has been given memories) to even more resemble a human. Saying any more about the plot would give too much away...but one thing is for sure - this is a fantastic film that raises many important questions about humanity and life. Watch this soon - don't let this film's moments get lost "in time like tears in the rain." One warning: there is quite a bit of violence, but nothing too terrible by today's standards. Breakfast at Tiffany's (5 Stars) - Quite simply, this is a wonderful movie. Although its status as Audrey Hepburn's best film is questionable, it is beyond debate that it is a sweet, original, enchanting film! And it surely features one of Audrey's best performances. She truly makes Holly Golightly, both a lost little girl and stylish, elegant woman, come to life! Based on the novella by Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's is essentially about an eccentric, runaway girl living in New York City (Audrey Hepburn) who exists in a swirl of parties and lives off of the gifts of rich men. When a young author (George Peppard), who is actually supported by a wealthy woman, moves in an apartment nearby, a beautiful romance begins to blossom between the two. My summary doesn't really do justice to the beauty and charm of this film (and of its leading actress), but be sure that this is a story you won't forget. So, all in all, this is a beautiful film. Almost like a fairy tale, but more realistic because of the flaws of the characters, its only mistake is Blake Edwards' racist portrayal of the Japanese landlord. And, no matter how many times you see this charming film, you will definitely be crying at the last scene! Bringing Up Baby (5 Stars) - If you are wondering what exactly "screwball comedy" is all about, just see this movie. It highlights the best of the genre: rapid, hilarious dialogue, frantic action, and a crazy plot. Furthermore, it has the perfect example of the essential part of "screwball" - a man and a woman who really love each other, but don't know it, and fight constantly. And, even if you know exactly what screwball comedy is all about, watch this anyhow! Quite simply, this movie is totally hilarious! Every scene is great, even though you could argue that some are a little too long (but I don't mind). The plot is really bizarre, but basically it concerns a paleontologist (played by Cary Grant) who lives a dull, boring life and is about to be married to an equally dull and businesslike woman (when he asks to go on a honeymoon, she objects b/c she claims he needs to work instead - "this will be our baby," she states, gesturing at the dinosaur bones). By chance, however, he meets a madcap heiress (played by Katherine Hepburn) who turns his life upside down while taking him to Connecticut to deliver a leopard to her aunt. The performances are all excellent, and Cary and Kate are wonderful together! This is screwball at its best (it is directed by Howard Hawks, the man responsible for some of the other great screwball comedies, like His Girl Friday and Twentieth Century) - and is a must-see for the whole family. Get this movie, and enjoy! Charade (5 Stars) - Charade is one of my favorite movies - I have watched it several times and have always enjoyed it, even when I know what is going to happen! Often referred to as the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made, Charade is an suspenseful mystery which also features excellent chemistry between the two stars, a witty script, and several comic moments. Essentially, Charade is about a young woman named Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn, with her usual grace and charm) whose husband is mysteriously murdered - and who is subsequently threatened herself by several strange men. She also meets a mysterious man named Peter who offers to help her (Cary Grant, older but still debonair as ever) but whose trustworthiness is very questionable. To say any more would be to give too much away... Anyhow, this is a fantastic movie - very entertaining and enjoyable. The performances are impeccable: but then again what else could be expected from Audrey and Cary? The two stars also share several charming romantic scenes and compliment each other very well. An interesting fact is that, when this movie was being made, Cary Grant had many scenes changed to have Audrey chase him instead of the other way around (he was wary of appearing to be a dirty old man given their huge age difference). His changes resulted in many charming scenes between him and Audrey that seem completely natural, and are often very funny as well. And of course Cary Grant has some unique comic moments of his own! Furthermore, unlike many movies made in the same genre today, Charade is perfect for the whole family to watch. The combination of old Hollywood charm, a witty script, a good plot, and great acting make Charade a perfect movie - highly recommended! Citizen Kane (5 Stars) - It's truly difficult to come up with anything original to say about Citizen Kane, as it is one of the films that has been endlessly discussed, dissected, and reviewed over the years. To get to the point, though, there IS a reason for all this fuss. Admittedly, Citizen Kane may not be THE GREATEST FILM OF ALL TIME because that title really doesn't have any meaning - there are so many types of films that to compare them ALL in one category is ridiculous. Nevertheless, as stated earlier, there is a reason why Citizen Kane has been ranked as it has. Although it is easy to dismiss Citizen Kane as no longer being as groundbreaking as it once was, this is a silly way to approach film. So what if it is no longer new technologically? Watched as objectively as possible, like any other film, Citizen Kane is very entertaining and has many obvious merits. For instance, the acting is top notch, as is the insightful, cynical script. Yes, the cinematography is good too. Just in case there are people out there who aren't familiar with the plot of this film, it is a series of flashbacks on the life of Charles Foster Kane, a man who controlled numerous newspapers and a vast fortune. Many films dealing with tycoons have been made before and since Citizen Kane, but none have been able to deal with the topic as brilliantly as Orson Welles did in his remarkable debut. Anyhow, it may be that Citizen Kane has aged some, and it is hard to identify ONE FILM as the greatest of all time. But after watching Citizen Kane with an open mind it becomes clear why people might rate it as such - from start to finish, this is a beautifully rendered, interesting, and amusing film. As far as unforgettable moments go, it's tough to beat ROSEBUD! So go see what the fuss is all about and enjoy two hours of classic entertainment! Crossroads (1 Star) - Too terrible to be boring, this is one of those movies where you get transfixed staring at the screen wondering what in the world everybody thought they were doing. Every cliché in the book is used here, as is every corny line, scene and sentiment. This is only the most recent example of how Hollywood has resorted to blatantly exploiting teens by feeding them this crap! Oh yeah...just a piece of advice if you do happen to get stuck watching this film. It's so bad it begins to parody itself, so you may get a laugh or two out of its sheer stupidity. The last word: a waste of celluloid. Enough said. Double Indemnity (5 Stars) - Double Indemnity is a film noir masterpiece - chilling, dark, and very suspenseful. It features a great script with many memorable lines (for instance - "But I was wrong. You're not smarter, you're just a little taller."), an interesting plot with many good twists, and fantastic performances from two classic stars (especially Stanwyck, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the evil wife). Basically, Double Indemnity is about a less-than-brilliant insurance salesman, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who falls for a beautiful married woman (Barbara Stanwyck) who wants to use him to get rid of her husband for the insurance money (hence the title, Double Indemnity). Although he resists her at first, Neff soon falls for the scheming woman and decides to help her plan the perfect murder. The movie itself starts after the murder has been completed with Neff leaving a message for his boss confessing what occurred and then goes back in time to the beginning of the scheme. Double Indemnity is a great film - the idea behind it, interesting in itself, was brilliantly executed by the legendary director Billy Wilder. Consequently, Indemnity is a true film noir classic and must-see! E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (5 Stars) - E.T. is unquestionably among the top films ever made. It's hard to describe its unique appeal - it does not stem from any one aspect of the film in particular, but more from the overall spell of innocence, wonder, and magic the movie weaves. Perhaps E.T. is best described as a modern fairy tale of sorts. But regardless of what one calls it, E.T. is a movie everyone should see at least once - in an era of slickly made commercial films, it is a rare thing - for it is a blockbuster that actually deserves its ongoing popularity because of the real sentiment that runs through it. As most people know, E.T. is the story of the encounter between a lost alien and a young boy, who is also lost in a world where, he has discovered, adults no longer believe in anything. Spielberg uses the story, which is very compelling, to create some of the most memorable moments on film - ranging from the humorous to the genuinely touching. For instance, scenes such as the bicycle ride or E.T.'s departure. Anyhow, this is a wonderful film - for those of you who haven't seen it (probably not many) you really should! It's a great, heartwarming story that did indeed move the world, and it is perfect for children. See this and enjoy a magical classic! The Fugitive (4 Stars) - This movie kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire time and was great fun! It is a clever, well-directed thriller that also features great performances, especially from Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The Fugitive, which is based on a TV series, is the story of a Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), a man wrongly convicted of brutally murdering his wife. After the bus carrying him to prison manages to crash into a train (impressive special effects on the crash scene), Kimble escapes then attempts to solve the mystery of who actually killed his wife. At the same time, however, he has to keep on the run from an obsessive detective (Tommy Lee Jones) who is as determined to find him as he is to stay free. There are many exciting twists and turns in the plot, which involves a one-armed man and a medical fraud...and to say any more about it would be to give too much away. Anyhow, this is one of the best recent thrillers - it has some great scenes, good action sequences, some comic moments, great acting (Ford and Jones are perfect...you simply root for whoever is on screen at the time), and is not TOO violent (although be warned that some of the initial scenes which show the wife being murdered are pretty gruesome). This is one of the few recent Hollywood blockbusters that actually deserves its popularity. The General (5 Stars) - Quite simply, The General is HILARIOUS! Although I am generally not a huge fan of silent movies (I prefer the classic sound films), The General is an exception. Way ahead of its time, this film was not initially well received and was a big flop, but it is now considered by many to be Buster Keaton's finest film. Overall, the General is truly a showcase of Keaton's brilliance as a comedian and stuntman. The General is set in the Civil War. Basically, it is the story of an engineer named Johnny Gray who, after being rejected from serving in the Southern army and consequently not being able to marry his sweetheart (she will only have him if he is in the army), finds himself engaged in a huge chase to get his train back after it is stolen from him by a small group of Northerners. The chase is hilarious - it has often been imitated, but nothing can compare to the original - and Keaton's expressions, especially his famous deadpan expression, are hysterical. Anyhow, this classic comedy is a must-see. Keaton's antics are great, and it is amazing to think that he did all his daredevil stunts in an era where special effects were nonexistent (if you wanted to crash a train off a bridge, you actually had to do it)! The General is perfect for the whole family (this is my 11 year old brother's favorite movie, he has seen it at least 100 times) and is a real treat to watch. I don't know how else to recommend this - get it and enjoy! Gunga Din (4 Stars) - Gunga Din is truly a classic adventure movie. Furthermore, in addition to being very exciting, it is quite humorous and is perhaps the original "buddy" movie. Often imitated but never surpassed, Gunga Din is essentially the story of three British Army men stationed in India who get involved with an evil cult known as the Thugees (I'm not quite sure on the spelling), which worships their god, Kali, by strangling people. The movie features many exciting and funny scenes - and it also has splendid black-and-white cinematography. And it is well acted: Cary Grant is hilarious as the clownish Sgt. Cutter, and Victor McLagen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. are very good as his brave companions. The other actors give good performances as well, especially the actors playing Gunga Din himself and the evil leader of the cult. My only complaint about this movie is that it condones, if not totally supports, British Imperialism in India and to some extent presents the natives as savages. Although this view is not totally surprising given that the movie was made in 1938 - before the days of politically correct movies - it is somewhat irritating to see the British Imperialists portrayed so heroically. Nevertheless, the sheer entertainment value of Gunga Din balances out its Imperialist tendencies and political incorrectness. It is a fun adventure movie the whole family can watch and enjoy! The Great Escape (5 Stars) - The Great Escape is one of those films in which many elements combine seamlessly to produce a very entertaining and thrilling experience. In addition to the fabulous all-star cast that includes Steve McQueen, the film features great cinematography, music, and a thrilling plot complete with interesting characters. To make a long story short this is one of the most enjoyable adventure films out there. As one might guess from the title, The Great Escape is about a punch of POWs attempting to break out from the camp - a pretty common theme in war movies. Their attempt, however, is anything but commonplace. For in this case the Nazis have the brilliant idea of concentrating all the escape artists into one supposedly perfect camp (as the Commandant so eloquently puts it - "putting all the rotten eggs in one basket.") Naturally, this allows these brilliant men to quickly form a tight organization to create a scheme to match the camp. Giving away any more details about the plan would be taking a lot of the fun of out the movie, for part of its appeal lies in the way it demonstrates the enormous resourcefulness of the men. Besides that, though, many particular scenes, such as the motorcycle chase at the end or various pieces along the way, stand out. Anyhow, overall, The Great Escape is a very memorable film and deserves a viewing. Have fun! The Guns of Navarone (5 Stars) - With a few exceptions, it seems like Hollywood filmmakers today have forgotten how to make great action/adventure films. Instead of presenting complex, interesting characters making their way through difficult situations and using plot twists and cinematic techniques to provide the suspense, filmmakers today often get stuck on the action and special effects components. Even more depressing still, many people seem to think that this is the only kind of action/adventure movie nowadays. But, enough of bashing Hollywood today and on with the review. So, to see a first-rate, exciting, intelligent action/adventure movie that does NOT rely on special effects to entertain, watch The Guns of Navarone. Although the special effects seem quite primitive, everything else about this movie puts current Hollywood blockbusters to shame. It features excellent actors, complex characters, a compelling plot, good cinematography, and is overall one of the finest action/adventure films out there. In The Guns of Navarone, a group of highly skilled men are put on a seemingly impossible mission: to, in a few days, make their way through the ocean, over a cliff, and go and destroy two huge heavily-guarded German guns on the island of Navarone, which are preventing the escape of British prisoners on a nearby island. If they fail, all the prisoners will be killed - but if they succeed, they will save two thousand lives! Besides the thrilling action sequences, The Guns of Navarone presents several fascinating characters, played by Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn, who all give excellent performances, and offers some interesting insights on the nature of leadership and whose responsibility it is when men are killed. So, this is a must-see for anyone curious about what truly great action-adventure films are. Enjoy! His Girl Friday (5 Stars) - This is a priceless, brilliant comedy from 1940. Although several movies were made based on the hit play The Front Page, a sarcastic comedy about the newspaper business, none was as successful or is as hilarious as His Girl Friday. Made by expert director Howard Hawks, His Girl Friday is one of the most entertaining and hilarious films ever! The film was the first to use overlapping dialogue, and it is probably the fastest talking film in history! It can be watched again and again, because every time you find new things to laugh about that you missed the last time! The cast is fantastic as well. Cary Grant, especially, though usually very good, gives one of his best performances in His Girl Friday as the amoral and manipulative newspaper editor Walter Burns. He is spectacular! Every scene he is in is hilarious because of his funny expressions and clever way of saying his lines. He also contributes greatly to the film by several "in jokes", such as the Archie Leach line and the part in which he describes Ralph Bellamy's character as looking like "uhh…that fellow in the movies...you know, Ralph Bellamy." Rosalind Russell is excellent as well as Hildy Johnson, the star reporter who wants to quit, and she and Cary make a wonderfully spunky pair! Ralph Bellamy does a good job with his role as Hildy's fiancé, the bumbling insurance guy. The rest of the cast is just as good. Anyhow, this movie is a must have! Make sure to get a good copy of the DVD though - personally, I would recommend the His Girl Friday/Cary Grant on Film version because of its clarity. Holiday (5 Stars) - This is truly an enchanting movie - and one of my absolute favorites! It features a witty script, hilarious moments and excellent performances from two Hollywood legends. Furthermore, unlike..say..The Philadelphia Story (which I also greatly enjoyed), this movie has a much sweeter and more genuine tone, even though it is not as slick and polished. Essentially, Holiday is about a bright young man (Cary Grant) who rose from poverty into a career in finances (while still maintaining a lighthearted and normal attitude towards the accumulation of money) - and his encounter with a very rich family and its two daughters. When he meets the eldest daughter at a resort, he begins dating her, having no idea of her immense wealth. He faces many difficulties from her family, who is obsessed with money and finances. Finally, he is accepted among them because of his promising future...but he knows that he does not want to devote himself to business alone. Along the way, he also meets the magical younger sister (Katherine Hepburn) who is the rebel among the family, a self-proclaimed black sheep. To say anymore would be to give too much away... Anyhow, Holiday features great performances from both stars. Cary Grant is funny, charming, and believable as Johnny Case - perhaps especially so because his real story was so similar to that of his character (Grant also was a self-made man who reached Hollywood after escaping from his lower class home in England and joining the circus). Katherine Hepburn is energetic and spunky as Linda, and she and Grant are perfect together. All in all - this movie is wonderful and very enchanting. Cary Grant even shows off his acrobatic training and does a few flips in it...what more could you ask for in a movie? Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (5 Stars) - After watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, I was somewhat apprehensive about Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Often, movies in a trilogy get successively worse as the filmmakers find fewer and fewer original ideas to use. Given that, in my opinion, Temple of Doom was pretty bad, I was concerned that this movie would be even worse. This, however, was not the case! I REALLY enjoyed The Last Crusade, and feel that it is the best of the three movies (which says a lot because I also really liked Raiders of the Lost Ark)! The Last Crusade features many of the elements that made the first in the series so attractive: well done action sequences, humor, and excitement. If you aren't already familiar with Indy's adventures (which is doubtful) I will assure you that they are very entertaining and can be seen by the whole family. Although I am not usually a big fan of action movies, I think the Indiana Jones series (except for the second movie) are really fantastic movies - perfect for relaxation and lighthearted entertainment. Additionally, what makes this movie my favorite in the series is that many of Indy's trademark characteristics (the hat, the whip, the name, etc.) are explained and you learn more about his past. His father's presence also makes him seem more human and realistic. Essentially, the plot of this movie concerns a search for the Holy Grail, which Indy has to get before the Nazis do. Overall, the movie is very exciting, humorous, and well acted. Top honors go to Harrison Ford (of course) as Indy, whose funny expressions and sarcasm are great and to Sean Connery, who does an excellent job portraying Indy's eccentric father. I don't know how else to recommend this...it is the ultimate adventure movie! Have fun! Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (3 Stars) - I was somewhat disappointed with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. After having seen the first in the series, Raiders of the Lost Ark, I was looking forward to more lighthearted entertainment. Sadly, however, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom had several elements that really annoyed me. First of all, although it had its funny and exciting moments (especially the first scene in the nightclub when Indy is searching for the antidote to the poison he drank), this movie was essentially too violent for its own good. I don't mind a good action movie, but when the action element is excessive it becomes aggravating. I feel that Raiders, which had less action (and less gruesome action) was far better. Some may disagree...but I think this movie had TOO MUCH violence for an Indiana Jones movie (I expect less violence, more humor). Most importantly, the basic premise of the movie was pretty racist. Essentially, Spielberg based this movie on a 1938 classic adventure, Gunga Din, which starred Cary Grant. I have seen Gunga Din: it is a movie that condones, if not fully supports, imperialism. In many ways, it is still a good movie - but the ideas in it have to be ignored completely. Now, that movie was made in 1938. Although not great, having imperialist propaganda in a movie made in 1938 is SOMEWHAT understandable. But this movie was made in 1984! Things should have improved...the view of foreign countries as barbaric and savage is no longer acceptable! Don't get me wrong - I like Indiana Jones movies. But Temple of Doom is my LEAST favorite because it has 2 big flaws: too much violence, and the idea of foreign countries as inferior. That is why I could only give it 3 stars. Come on...let's not be stuck in the 1930s...there are dozens of other, non-offensive, plots that Spielberg could have used. Oh well. Luckily we have the other 2 Indy movies to remind us how much fun adventure movies can be! So don't get this movie, get the other 2. Indiscreet (4 Stars) - Although this is not one of my all-time favorites, it is still a funny and charming film. In many ways, it is not as good as many of Cary Grant's earlier screwball comedies...but that can also be a matter of personal taste. The script is not as witty and frantic as the screwball comedies, but the movie is more romantic and is given a real sense of warmth by the affectionate behavior of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Essentially, Indiscreet is the story of a romance between actress Anna (Ingrid Bergman) and diplomat Philip (Cary Grant). There are several surprising twists and turns, and to explain anything more would be to give too much away. Anyhow, one reason Indiscreet is such a nice film is that the real life friendship and warmth between Cary and Ingrid comes though very well, and they are very believable together! Indiscreet also has several funny scenes, especially the one in which Cary does a hysterical tap dance at a fancy ball. The two stars seem to be having fun, and you will too while watching them. This film is good for the whole family, and is very enjoyable: highly recommended. In Name Only (5 Stars) - Generally, I am not a big fan of "mushy romantic movies." This, however, is one of the few romantic movies I really enjoy. It is very sweet, charming, and for the most part believable, mainly because of the great performances of the two stars, Cary Grant and Carole Lombard. Essentially, In Name Only is the story of a debonair and wealthy man named Alec Walker (Cary Grant) stuck in a loveless marriage with a woman interested only in her husband's social position and money (Kay Francis, in another excellent performance). When he meets innocent and sweet Julie Eden (Carole Lombard), Alec decides to divorce his wife and remarry. The evil wife, however, has no intention of allowing her husband to leave her without money and influence. Although this movie could easily have been too sentimental, it is saved by the wonderful performances of the stars. Ironically enough, Grant and Lombard, the greatest screwball comedians of the era, were only together in this one movie - which is a serious drama, not a screwball comedy. Still, Grant and Lombard's wit and talent shine through in this movie, and it is touching and at times quite funny. There are not many strictly romantic movies I would recommend, but this is one of them! It is good for the whole family. So, get this movie and discover a little known gem from 1939. It Happened One Night (5 Stars) - Made in 1934 by Frank Capra, It Happened One Night was the first romantic comedy that would later be put into the genre of "screwball comedy." It is also one of the best screwball comedies ever made (actually, I think it is one of the best comedies ever made, in general)! Anyhow, It Happened One Night is basically the story of a willful heiress named Ellie Andrews, played by Claudette Colbert, who escapes her father's protection to find and marry the man she loves. Along the way, however, she meets a reporter named Peter, played by Clark Gable, who sticks with her in order to eventually write a story on her adventures. Both Colbert and Gable give excellent performances, and the dialogue between the two characters is really sweet and funny. So, if you haven't seen this - what are you waiting for? It Happened One Night is a perfect example of the kind of movies that have pretty much disappeared today: movies with captivating and original plots, good dialogue, and great acting - and without obscene language or inappropriate scenes. The DVD is great - I don't know how else to recommend this! Jezebel (4 Stars) - Jezebel is a very entertaining and interesting movie which invites a lot of comparisons to Gone With the Wind, for both are about headstrong girls in the old South. Although not as well known as Gone With the Wind, Jezebel should be, for it is at least as good, if not better. In Jezebel, Miss Julie (Bette Davis), a headstrong and somewhat spoiled Southern girl, intentionally flaunts the conventions of her time and manipulates people for her own amusement. But, after she humiliates her fiancé, Preston (Henry Fonda) by wearing a red dress to a ball to which unmarried women only wear white, he feels she has gone too far with her selfishness and insensitivity to others and breaks off the engagement. Finally, Julie/Jezebel is able to redeem herself for her actions when Preston falls ill with yellowjack, a deadly fever. Anyhow, even though the plot of Jezebel may make it seem like an average melodrama, the movie is far better than most because of Bette Davis' brilliant performance as Miss Julie (which won her an Oscar), the script, which mixes in other themes about the old South, and the direction, by William Wyler. The Lady Eve (5 Stars) - This is a fantastic screwball comedy! Like all of Sturges films, it is very witty and fast paced. Additionally, like many of the other Sturges films, it manages to get away with a lot for a movie made in the 1940s (when movies were still under the Hays production code). Essentially, The Lady Eve is the story of a naive (but very wealthy) adventurer right out of the Amazon, played by Henry Fonda (in his only screwball performance) who meets a sly and sexy girl named Eve, played by Barbara Stanwyck on a boat and immediately falls for her. When, however, he realizes she and her father are really professional gamblers who roam around getting money from people by playing card games, he is furious and leaves her. The rest of the movie deals with her hilarious efforts to win him back under a different name - that of the Lady Eve Sidwich. This movie keeps the laughs coming at a frantic pace! The DVD is great - this is a must have. If you haven't seen it yet, get ready for a great time! The Little Foxes (4 Stars) - The Little Foxes is by no means an uplifting and heartwarming film, but it is certainly entertaining and offers some interesting insights on how far some greedy people are willing to go to obtain what they want. Additionally, The Little Foxes features an excellent performance from Bette Davis (as well as the rest of the cast), and some fabulous black-and-white cinematography which shows the Southern home in all its elegance. Basically The Little Foxes is about the ultimate Machiavellian woman, Regina Gibbons (Bette Davis) who will stop at nothing to gain control of the family business - including sacrificing the health of her sick husband and alienating her naive younger daughter (Teresa Wright). In fact, much of the drama in the film stems from the fact that the daughter slowly begins to realize what is going on in her home and moves from a meekly submissive girl to a more assertive and aware young woman. Anyhow, this film is by far the best adaptation of the original play and is very interesting. Although the topic has somewhat mellowed with age, the acting, meticulous direction (by William Wyler, who collaborated with Davis twice and drew remarkable performances from her each time), and cinematography make The Little Foxes continue to shine even after all these years. The Lord of the Rings (2 Stars) - I really, really did not like this movie. Saying this when almost all the other reviews are well written explanations of why this movie deserves 5 stars is very difficult indeed. Nevertheless, after seeing this movie I felt very disappointed. I am a fan of both fantasy and science fiction, and I read and enjoyed (to some extend) one of the books in the Lord of the Rings series. So it is not that I just dislike fantasy/sci-fi. The reason I disliked this movie is that when I saw it in the theaters I almost fell asleep. There was no dramatic tension at all. Although I have to admit the opening sequences were very good, and the special effects and scenery were great - I would claim that the filmmakers got totally carried away with special effects. Once the hobbit and company started fighting computer generated monsters, I grew less and less interested until I was at the point of walking out of the theater! I mean, I have nothing against fighting in movies, especially fighting with well-done special effects - but enough is enough! After a point there is no more excitement, and it becomes monotonous and dull. Honesty, the sad thing about movies today is that the reliance on special effects has led to a decline in the quality of the other aspects of the film, such as dialogue, creativity, etc, etc. In my opinion, there is nothing interesting in watching hours of computer generated fighting scenes. Come on - where is the excitement in that? In addition to the excessive fighting, I feel that this movie was badly acted. In one scene, there was a close up on the hobbit's face after somebody was killed (the fact that I don't remember who shows how much I really cared at that point) - and the whole theater began laughing out loud. I don't think that this was the desired effect, somehow. Anyhow, this is only my personal opinion. After viewing the movie, I felt that it was very bad due to the excessive fighting (and subsequent lack of creative dialogue, character development, etc, etc.) and poor acting. Hollywood really needs to go back to watching some classic movies - which did not use any special effects - because it seems that filmmakers have lost the ability to entertain audiences without massive doses of special effects. And even worse, as proved by this movie, sometimes even special effects cannot make a dull movie interesting... The Lost Weekend (5 Stars) - The Lost Weekend is one of Billy Wilder's best films, and it was also the first film to treat the subject of alcoholism seriously. Its impact on American audiences in 1945 must have been tremendous - and, even now, after this movie has been imitated several times (the best similar movie being Leaving Las Vegas), its effect on audiences is undiminished. Quite simply, The Lost Weekend is a great film that does an excellent job treating a very tragic and serious issue. Anyhow, as you might have guessed, The Lost Weekend is about a failed writer and alcoholic, played by Ray Milland ("I'm not a drinker," he explains, "I'm a drunk."), who goes on a drinking binge when his brother leaves for the country without him. In his subsequent quest for alcohol (after his money runs out) he is forced to suffer humiliation and despair, finally ending up in the alcoholics ward at a local hospital. Even though his loyal girlfriend (Jane Wyman) attempts to help him, he refuses and only looks for more ways to get alcohol. So, The Lost Weekend is very good for several reasons, but the ones that are most important include the direction of Billy Wilder, the thoughtful and clever script, and, most of all, Ray Milland's acting, which won him an Academy Award (one of the 4 Academy Awards this movie won). This movie is a very good portrait of how alcohol can totally destroy a person's life and ruin their relationships. In fact, it is such a good portrait that when the movie was first shown the alcohol companies offered to pay the studio 5 million dollars (an enormous amount in those days) to not show the picture. Luckily, the studio refused and now this classic can and should be seen! One warning: as you might expect from the subject matter, this movie is pretty depressing. It is still worth seeing, but it probably wouldn't be good for younger kids or people who have a low tolerance for sad movies. The Maltese Falcon (5 Stars) - The Maltese Falcon is one of those often imitated but never surpassed films. It has set the standard for years for detective movies, but its dark atmosphere, fantastic script, and gripping tension have never really been achieved (possibly The Big Sleep, another Humphrey Bogart mystery, comes close) since. The plot is rather complicated, and to explain it in detail would be to give away the point of the movie. Still, the movie mainly deals with two elements: one is a seemingly innocent girl whose appeal for help to Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) and his partner leads to several mysterious murders, and the other is the web of crime relating to the priceless Maltese Falcon. As the movie progresses, the relation between the two elements becomes clearer and clearer...but to say anymore would be to spoil too much! But even though the plot is very interesting and thrilling, what really makes this film special is the atmosphere, the script, and the acting. The black-and-white cinematography is great, and the scenes, which are kept shadowy, give the movie a chilling, dark atmosphere - it really is a film noir. The script is fantastic, and Humphrey Bogart brings the wisecracking, tough Sam Spade to life. He is the perfect incarnation of the streetwise, cunning detective - always ready to fight, but smart enough to not have not do so very often. In another of Humphrey Bogart's films, The Big Sleep, in which he plays a similar character, a girl tells Bogart that he is not very tall. His response is typical, and is the epitome of his attitude - yes, he admits, I'm not very tall, but "I try to be," he explains. His comment says it all: he is not tall, but he projects a fantastic tough guy image nonetheless. Anyhow, his performance is wonderful - it is his quintessential role! The other actors, especially the girl he deals with, are good as well. All in all, this is a must-see film - and it is OK for the whole family, although it may be a little hard to follow for younger children. I don't know how else to recommend this...get it soon! Minority Report (5 Stars) - What a comeback for Spielberg! Wow! I really enjoyed Minority Report - it was the best movie I have seen in the commercial theaters this year by far. In Minority Report, Spielberg finally achieves the perfect balance between thought-provoking material and suspense and action. Essentially, he created a synthesis between the style of A.I. (which tries to be thought-provoking but is too long and boring) and of Indiana Jones (which is pure entertainment). AND IT WORKS - this is both an interesting and meaningful movie and an action packed thriller. Essentially, Minority Report deals with a near future in which PreCrime, a form of police that relies on the PreCogs to predict future murders and stop them, is being tested for national implementation in Washington DC. Believed to be perfect, the PreCrime system allows police to arrest people for murders before they occur. More specifically, in Minority Report, John Anderton (Tom Cruise, in a very good performance), a PreCrime cop, is forced to run when it is predicted that he will commit a murder. There is only one problem - he has never heard of the man he is supposedly going to kill. To say any more would be to give too much away... Still, I can say one thing for sure: Spielberg uses the intricate plot to not only give the audience a great thrill ride, complete with fantastic special effects and a cool vision of a future world - but also to raise questions about the validity of predetermination and the price of security. So, I don't know how else to recommend this - go see it soon - because this movie is both entertaining, original, and thought-provoking (a rare combination in Hollywood these days)! Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (5 Stars) -Often imitated but never quite surpassed, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a classic comedy about a topic still as current now as it was in the 1940s. Silly but very funny, this movie is really great - featuring the ever hilarious Cary Grant, and Myrna Loy. Essentially, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is about a family that decides to move to the country and get away from the overcrowding in the apartment. Instead of making life easier, however, their decision to move causes disaster after disaster. This movie is a hilarious example of how whatever can go wrong will! Although the topic could have easily degenerated into stupidity, the script, the directing and, most of all, the cast, turn the movie into a classic. The script is witty and very funny, and it is directed with style - but mainly, Cary Grant is terrific! His double takes and reactions will never be equaled...any scene that he is in is pretty much guaranteed to be hysterical. Myrna Loy does a good job of cooling balancing Grant's screwball character, and the supporting cast is good as well. Anyhow, this is a funny movie for the whole family - it is highly recommended! Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (5 Stars) - When I heard that a remake was being made of this movie, I was totally outraged. Remakes are made for three reasons, in my opinion: a director sees a good concept that is carried out badly and wants to improve it, a director wants to honor a movie he likes, or HOLLYWOOD HAS NO NEW IDEAS SO DECIDES TO REMAKE A CLASSIC! Okay, this is somewhat off topic, but the point is that in the case of Mr. Deeds it has to be the third option because there is NO WAY the original can be improved upon. This is how highly I rate this movie (also, if an improvement were to be made, it would not be made by casting Adam Sandler, of all people, as Mr. Deeds - the part is NOT AT ALL right for him). Anyhow, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is essentially the story of a small town boy (Gary Cooper) who inherits a fortune and then decides to give it away to the poor. He is charged with being insane as a result and is forced to prove his sanity in court (which he does in a priceless scene). Also, he meets a seemingly innocent girl (Jean Arthur) who is actually a reporter trying to get a story on him, which complicates matters to some extent. This is one of Capra's masterpieces. It is a sweet and intelligent movie - one the whole family can watch and enjoy. So, instead of going to the theater to see the terrible remake, buy this classic today on DVD (or VHS)! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (5 Stars) - This movie is perfect for 4th of July, or for any day, for that matter. It is funny and heartwarming, and shows the true meaning of democracy in our country. Basically, it is the story of Jefferson Smith, a young and naive Boy Scout leader who is chosen to replace one of his state's Senators for a short time. Essentially, Smith is chosen as the replacement because the corrupt officials in his state just want someone they think they can manipulate easily. Unluckily for them, however, it turns out that Smith is not the easily controlled weakling they thought he would be. Instead of simply listening to his superiors, Smith begins to figure things out for himself and to fight for what he believes in regardless of the consequences. Along the way, he is helped by Saunders, a cynical secretary, played by Jean Arthur. This movie also features fantastic performances, especially by Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur. Anyhow, this is a wonderful movie that really shows what our democracy should be all about. Although this movie was made in the late 1930s, it could have been made yesterday, for the issues it deals with are still very relevant today. The DVD is great - really worth getting! Enjoy! North by Northwest (5 Stars) - North by Northwest is one of my all-time favorite movies. From start to finish, North by Northwest is a roller-coaster ride you'll want to watch again and again. It is thrilling, exciting and at times totally hilarious. Essentially, it's about Roger O. Thornhill, a confident and charming advertising executive, who is mistaken for a government agent and is consequently chased across the country. He is set on the road drunk, forced to hide in train compartments, crop-dusted (a classic sequence), trapped in auction, and finally chased across Mount Rushmore. Movies don't get any better than this. As for the cast, it is excellent! Cary Grant gives a perfect performance as Roger O. Thornhill - and he is hilarious and charming, as ever! Eva Marie Saint is also very good, as the mysterious and glamorous girl Cary meets on the train. James Mason does a wonderful job playing the debonair but evil villain. Directed by Hitchcock, this is a great comedy/thriller - in my opinion, it is Hitchcock's best movie! Additionally, it is a good idea to get the DVD, because the movie is astonishingly sharp and clear and there are plenty of special features. 100% worth your money! If you haven't seen this, by all means do, and if you have, get a DVD you can watch again and again! Notorious (5 Stars) - Notorious is truly one of Hitchcock's greatest films. In addition to combining incredible suspense with romance, it features excellent black-and-white cinematography and a phenomenal cast. This movie is a must-see! Anyhow, Notorious is basically the story of Alicia Hubermann (Ingrid Bergman), a young woman of questionable morals, whose father is revealed to be a Nazi agent. When he dies in prison, Alicia is hired by the US government to help investigate another agent, Sebastian (Claude Rains). To do her job, she must work with Devlin (Cary Grant), a mysterious and seemingly unfeeling American agent - who she falls in love with. The movie deals with the investigation of Sebastian's plans AND with the romance between Alicia and Devlin, which is hurt greatly (surprisingly enough) by Alicia's marriage to Sebastian (done in the name of duty). Hitchcock uses the interesting plot to build almost unbearable suspense and to present an interesting romance between Alicia and Devlin, who at first does everything to ignore his love for Alicia. The acting is truly amazing: Ingrid Bergman is perfect as Alicia, Cary Grant reveals his darker side as Devlin, and Claude Rains makes Sebastian charming in an evil sort of way. Ingrid and Cary are perfectly matched - in real life, they were very close friends, and their mutual respect and warmth is evident in their love scenes, which are amazing (especially the famous scene in which they kiss nonstop while picking up the phone, etc, etc.). This movie is perfect - every scene is breathtaking! If you haven't already seen this 1946 classic, what are you waiting for? The DVD is excellent and has many special features - but you don't need to buy it on account of that - the movie alone is a must-have! Only Angels Have Wings (5 Stars) - Only Angels Have Wings is a perfect example of an often ignored, but excellent, classic movie. Directed by Howard Hawks, and with a great cast, Only Angels Have Wings is half exciting adventure movie and half romantic comedy. The sense of setting and atmosphere is very good as well - you almost feel as though the movie transports you to the imaginary South American port town of Barranca. The movie describes the adventures of a group of pilots working in a very dangerous location - mountains hem them in, and constantly face bad weather conditions. More specifically, it focuses on Bonnie Lee (Jean Arthur), a chorus girl staying in the town, and her encounters with the tough boss of the business, Jeff Carter (Cary Grant). The cast is very good. Cary Grant, though not playing his usual role, is excellent as the tough boss, who only flies when it is too tough for anyone else. Jean Arthur is sweet and believable as the stranded chorus girl, and the supporting cast, including a very young Rita Hayworth (in her first A-movie) is perfect. Anyhow, if you haven't seen this hidden classic from 1939, what are you waiting for? The DVD is very good - the movie is very clear and sharp, and there are a few interesting special features as well (previews for other movies and old advertisement posters, for instance). But the movie alone is worth getting - it is a must have! On the Waterfront (5 Stars) - Marlon Brando's performance alone justifies watching this movie. Without mentioning any of On the Waterfront's other merits, it could be given 5 stars simply because of his brilliant interpretation of his role as Terry Malloy, the confused and inarticulate former prize-fighter. In addition to Brando's performance, On the Waterfront features great performances from the other actors, a compelling and realistic situation, and some really moving scenes and speeches. In On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) moves from an apathetic, cynical bum to a fighter who stands up for what he believes in. At first, in order to get work, Malloy cooperates with the corrupt union (it really is more like a gang) that runs things in the waterfront area. Although the union has murdered several people, the police cannot break it up because nobody has the courage to stand up and testify against it. But by the end, through the guidance of a passionate priest and the beautiful, idealistic daughter of his murdered friend (Eva Marie Saint, who gives an excellent, Oscar winning performance in her first movie), Malloy finds the courage to testify against the union's boss, Johnny Friendly. Admittedly, the film does have its faults - the soundtrack, for instance, is overdone, and sometimes the director, Elia Kazan, gives the impression that he is trying to make certain scenes very deep (which strangely enough takes away from them). Overall, however, On the Waterfront is a great film - a classic in the true meaning of the word. Again, it is worth seeing for Brando's performance alone! The Philadelphia Story (5 Stars) - If you haven't already seen this movie, get it right away! The Philadelphia Story is an excellent and intelligent comedy full of witty dialogue and amusing situations. For some reason, movies like this one seem to be in short supply now. The quick, hilarious dialogue used so well in The Philadelphia Story has, for the most part, been replaced by special effects, violence, and obscene language. Anyhow, as for the cast, it couldn't be any better. Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart - that says it all. Furthermore, they each give performances in TPS that could be considered among the best in their respective careers (which says a lot). Cary Grant adds surprising depth to the role of C.K. Dexter Haven - his sly, funny glances and quick comebacks steal scene after scene! He is a talented comedian who made it look easy: but, as usual, the Academy Awards ignored him. Katherine Hepburn also does a wonderful job. She, with her aristocratic voice and haughty, proud looks, is perfectly suited to the role of Tracy Lord. Last, but not least, Jimmy Stewart is very funny as the sarcastic reporter. The DVD is great, but you don't need to get it for the special features. The movie itself is a must have! Psycho (5 Stars) - Generally, I really don't like horror/slasher movies. Especially now, these movies are usually guaranteed to be bloody, stupid, not scary, and in the worst possible taste. Psycho, however, is the one exception, and it comes as no surprise that it is the original horror movie (all the crappy movies we are stuck with now are simply rip-offs). I really enjoyed watching Psycho, and boy, was it scary! The reason Psycho is so superior to all other horror films made since, perhaps with a few exceptions, is that all the suspense and terror is created without any truly bloody scenes. Horror films nowadays are guilty of terrible overkill (ironic choice of word) in terms of bloodshed - people are killed left and right, and all the blood and gore is shown. Hitchcock has far too much taste to do anything of the sort: instead, he uses his amazing abilities as a direction to create almost unbearable tension and suspense without actually showing much blood. Psycho is the ultimate illustration of how effective scary movies rely on the atmosphere that is created using music, lighting, etc, etc. - blood is simply not necessary and actually detracts from the suspense factor! Anyhow, all in all, this is a classic film, and it is one of Hitchcock's masterpieces. If you are in the mood for a REALLY scary movie, not a stupid slasher film, but a truly frightening and chilling film (that has some interesting psychological stuff thrown in for good measure as well), then get this film, and enjoy being scared! Raiders of the Lost Ark (5 Stars) - Raiders of the Lost Ark is, quite simply, the best action/adventure movie ever made! Often imitated, but never surpassed, Raiders of the Lost Ark drew on decades of B-pictures and Saturday Morning Serials and combined their influences into a big budget version that is pure excitement and entertainment. Raiders features great action sequences, some truly wonderful scenes, lots of humor, and great performances by the stars, especially Harrison Ford as the inimitable Indy. Essentially, Raiders of the Lost Ark is about Indiana Jones' (Harrison Ford) quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. After finding the ark, however, it is taken away from him, and he must chase after the Nazis in the hope of getting the ark back from them. To say any more about the plot would be to give too much away... Admittedly, the plot of this movie is somewhat ridiculous, but given how entertaining and funny it is - who cares? For instance, in a very funny scene, Indy is faced with an impressive Arab swordsman in Cario - the man does all this fancy swordplay (oh no...Indy's met his match) and then, with an exasperated look, Indy simply shoots him. This scene actually was created by accident, when Harrison Ford, who was sick during the filming, asked if the scene could be shortened. Anyhow, this movie is pure entertainment. In general, I'm not a huge fan of action/adventure movies, but Raiders is an exception. I really enjoyed watching this non-stop thrill ride (which, incidentally, is OK for the whole family to watch) and am sure you will have just as much fun! So, if you haven't already seen this, grab this movie, some popcorn and enjoy! Rear Window (5 Stars) - Rear Window and North by Northwest are my favorite Alfred Hitchcock films and rank very highly on the list of my favorite films overall. Although they are very different films, they both share great suspense, creative plots, some humor, and wonderful stars - what more could you ask for in a movie? Additionally, Rear Window offers some interesting insights into human nature and shows that, like L.B. Jeffries, we (as movie watchers) are essentially voyeurs. Basically, Rear Window is about photographer L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) who, not being able to move due to a cast on his broken leg, starts to use his powerful camera lenses to observe people in the neighboring apartments. While watching, he notes the strange behavior of one man...and then begins to believe that the man murdered his wife. With a beautiful girlfriend (Grace Kelly) at his side, Jeffries investigates the situation, creating a great deal of suspense. The movie has a wonderfully clever conclusion which I am NOT going to describe: watch it and find it out for yourself! Anyhow, this is a true thriller, Hitchcock style. It features classic actors (James Stewart, especially, is amazing in this film), a creative, original plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and interesting thoughts about voyeurism, etc. As a last point, Rear Window has a real sense of atmosphere - it really transports the viewer to the apartment building in the hot summer. All in all - this is a FANTASTIC film - I don't know how else to recommend it! Rebecca (5 Stars) - Rebecca was the first Hitchcock film I ever saw, and it inspired me to watch all of his other films. In other words, I really enjoyed watching this movie, and it is one of my favorites. The most remarkable thing about Rebecca, in my opinion, is the atmosphere - chilling, haunting, indeed it is almost gothic. Although Rebecca is in many ways different from most Hitchcock films, it is a perfect illustration of Hitchcock's amazing ability to create almost unbelievable tension and suspense out of the most commonplace scenes. Essentially, Rebecca is the story of an innocent, naive young woman (played by Joan Fontaine) who falls in love with a mysterious, eccentric rich man named Maxim DeWinter. After being brought to DeWinter's enormous mansion, Manderley, the young bride begins to fear the former mistress of Manderley, the famous Rebecca, who died years ago. This explanation does not do justice to the incredible suspense in the film, but be certain that Rebecca is a thrilling and haunting movie. So, all in all, this is a chilling but wonderful movie! Highly recommended - unlike most movies today, Rebecca proves that the atmosphere is the key element and that suspense and fear can be created without blood and gore. Red River (5 Stars) - Red River is easily one of the greatest Westerns of all time, and it is surely the definitive cattle-drive movie. Even though its script has some flaws (especially the ending, which I find somewhat unrealistic), the fantastic scenery, music, acting and direction by Howard Hawks more than makes up for it. In Red River, Tom Dunson (John Wayne) builds a ranch from scratch alongside his adopted son, Matthew Garth (Montgomery Clift). By the time Matt returns from the war, Dunson has built a huge ranch, but is unable to sell his cattle in the South, because there is no demand for it. Consequently, Dunson plans the largest, longest cattle-drive ever attempted. As they progress, however, the normally strict yet somewhat tolerant Dunson becomes a tyrant, and Matt is eventually forced to take over command, leaving the angered Dunson behind, vowing to kill him. Anyhow, this movie features wonderful performances from Wayne as the tyrannical leader and from Clift (in his first movie) as the milder son. But the real star of this movie is the landscape, and it is a must-see if only for the beautiful shots of the American West and the cattle progressing across it. Roman Holiday (5 Stars) - This movie is one of my all-time favorites, and always leaves me in a good mood. It features two wonderful classic actors, Gregory Peck (though Cary Grant would have been better in the role - he was offered it first but turned it down) and Audrey Hepburn (in her first starring role, which won her an Oscar). Additionally, it is a wonderfully romantic, sweet story, with a good script and many funny moments! Essentially, Roman Holiday is about a young Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) who gets tired of her sheltered life as a princess and decides to run away and explore the world for herself. She leaves the palace and stumbles along until falling asleep on a park bench in Rome, where she is found by a cynical newspaper reporter (Gregory Peck) who reluctantly takes her home. As soon as he realizes who she is, however, he decides to take her around Rome and use his experience with her to write a tell all article on the princess and her life. Accompanied by a hilarious photographer, they go on a tour of Rome - creating many hilarious and romantic scenes along the way! All in all, this movie is really wonderful, and is perfect for the whole family to watch. If you have not already seen this, what are you waiting for? Sabrina (5 Stars) - This is really a magical and enchanting romantic comedy. Essentially, it is about a young girl named Sabrina (surprise, surprise) played by the ever-wonderful Audrey Hepburn who is totally obsessed with the younger son of the family her father works for as a chauffeur. The younger son, named David Larabee and played by William Holden, is irresponsible and totally ignores Sabrina, which causes her to get very depressed. Then Sabrina is sent to Paris, where she is magically transformed into a sophisticated and charming woman. When she returns, the caterpillar turned butterfly enchants both David and his older brother Linus, the dedicated businessman, played by Humphrey Bogart. Hilarious complications ensue...anything else would be giving away the whole point of the movie! Anyhow, the acting is great...all in all the movie is really sweet and funny! It is one of those quintessential Audrey Hepburn movies - the innocent, sweet girl transformed into a princess - and like all her films it is great! I don't know how else to recommend this, it is a great film the whole family can watch and enjoy. The Shop Around the Corner (5 Stars) - Recently, The Shop Around the Corner was remade as the more modern You've Got Mail. Although You've Got Mail was a pretty enjoyable movie, it certainly did not come close to the perfection of the original, made in the 1930s by Lubitsch, who was the master of romantic comedy. Overall, this movie is wonderful - charming, sweet, original and witty! It is one of my favorites. Essentially, The Shop Around the Corner is about an ordinary worker at a small department store (Jimmy Stewart) who is looking for the perfect girl. He begins to correspond with a fascinating woman by mail, without knowing that she is actually the new coworker at the store (Margaret Sullavan) he detests face-to-face. With a cleverly original plot, lots of great dialogue, and wonderful performances by two classic stars, James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, The Shop Around the Corner is a must-see. It is a very enjoyable movie - perfect for the whole family - get it and enjoy! Signs (4 Stars) - Quite frankly, it's very difficult to make a very good film about invading aliens. Usually directors get caught up in the special effects or the action, and don't pay attention to what is most important: the reactions of the characters and the effect such a shocking event would have on their community. So, even though M. Night Shyamalan's Signs has significant flaws, it deserves credit for approaching the whole "alien invaders" thing in, for the most part, an original, clever, and entertaining way. In Signs, a mid-western family, consisting of a former priest and widower (Mel Gibson), his children and his brother (Joaquin Phoenix), is faced with mysterious occurrences and then an actual alien invasion. As stated previously, Signs really isn't about the actual alien invasion, for few details about the aliens are provided and the only coverage of their attack on the world comes through the family's TV set. Instead, it's about peoples' reactions to the unknown and mysterious. Consequently, some people, especially those people who walk in expecting some slam-bang action/horror spectacle, may be disappointed. This, however, is unfortunate, because Signs really does have many admirable qualities. Its highlights include a terrific soundtrack (reminiscent of Hitchcock's soundtrack for Psycho) and good performances from the actors. As for the directing, it is somewhat uneven. Although Shyamalan is clearly able to generate good "Hitchcock-esque" suspense and does have an ability for capturing the small details that create the atmosphere, he does sometimes become a little heavy-handed. The script is also uneven - it has patches of humor and genuine insight into the characters - but also often falls short and resorts to Hollywood clichés which make the characters seem shallow. Overall, however, Signs is quite good. Its biggest flaws are its message about spirituality, which is overly stressed, and the fact that the script sometimes becomes corny. Nevertheless, among the many junky summer blockbusters, Signs is one movie that is worth seeing regardless of its flaws, as its original take on the alien invasion idea and its creepy atmosphere, which keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, make it well worth the money. Some Like it Hot (5 Stars) - Recently this movie topped the list of the American Film Institute's top 100 funniest movies ever made. After having seen this a few times I am inclined to agree with them. This movie, quite simply, is the funniest movie ever made! Directed by the legendary director Billy Wilder, with great performances by Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and with a fantastic plot and script, movies don't get any better than this! Essentially, Some Like it Hot is about two musicians who are forced to flee after having witnessed a gang murder. In order to get jobs and escape the gangsters, they dress up as women and participate in an all-girls band. The results are sidesplitting as the two men attempt to maintain their act in the midst of a trainful of beautiful girls, having to dance with really strange guys, and finally when around the beautiful Monroe. The acting is great, the script is hysterical, and the situations can never be equaled. This is really America's funniest movie, and if you haven't already seen it - what are you waiting for? Spellbound (4 Stars) - This movie has several flaws, but the great performances of its stars and Hitchcock's clever direction make it a classic, and great fun, anyway! First off - even though most of Hitchcock's films have aged well, this one hasn't. Its biggest problem is that the silly psychology reminds you constantly when the movie was made. Additionally, if you are a big Hitchcock fan, be forewarned that this is not as thrilling as some of his other films. Instead, it is more oriented towards romance and bad ideas about psychology. Pretty much, Spellbound is about a icy, analytical psychologist (Ingrid Bergman) who runs off with a patient who was posing as the new director of the mental institute (Gregory Peck). As they attempt to keep away from the police, who want to arrest Peck, Bergman tries to "cure" him using psychoanalysis (it's tough not to laugh during these scenes). Anyhow, all in all, this is great entertainment. The Salvador Dali dream sequence, which is famous, is rightly so - and the music, acting, and cinematography combine to make a great atmosphere. The movie is still pretty exciting and Bergman and Peck give great performances and make a nice couple. Even though this is not Hitchcock at his typical best, it's a good movie and deserves a viewing regardless of its silly ideas. Stage Door (5 Stars) - In the past few years, many movies have been made about aspiring actresses, ballerinas, singers, etc, etc. None of these recent movies, however, have been able to even come close to the wit and energy of Stage Door. Made with an all-star cast led by Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, this in an excellent movie: it is moving, sweet, and has a great script. Essentially, this movie describes the lives of many aspiring actresses living at The Footlights Club in New York. More specifically, it deals with Terry (Katherine Hepburn), a rich girl who enters the Footlights Club, and is initially rejected by the poorer girls there because of her arrogance. Terry is not made to be an actress, and she only eventually becomes one because of her fathers influence and a tragic event. Also important in the plot are the adventures of the other girls and their efforts to find employment, especially those of the spunky and sarcastic character played by Ginger Rogers. The acting is amazing - Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, especially, are perfect for their roles and bring them to life. Overall, this is a great movie about the ruthlessness and injustice in the world of acting - it is witty, interesting, and moving. I don't know how else to recommend this - if you haven't already seen it, what are you waiting for?! Stalag 17 (5 Stars) - Stalag 17 is one of the best war movies ever, and it is probably the second best film ever made about prisoners of war (The Great Escape would be the best). Directed and co-written by the great Billy Wilder, Stalag 17 features an exciting plot, great performances, especially from William Holden, and many humorous moments. All in all - very entertaining! Essentially, as Cookie, the narrator, explains, the movie is about what happened in a certain barrack in Stalag 17, a German prisoners of war camp. Because of several failed escape attempts and their horrible luck in concealing secrets for the Germans, the inhabitants of the barrack conclude that there must be a traitor in their midst. Their suspicions turn towards the character played by William Holden, who is an extremely cynical loner who spends his time trading with the Germans and running projects to earn money from his fellow prisoners. In addition to the exciting plot about the traitor, Stalag 17 paints an accurate and often humorous, sometimes serious, portrait of the men in the camp and how they deal with their situation through joking around. Anyhow, Stalag 17 is a classic war movie and is very entertaining - highly recommended! Strangers on a Train (5 Stars) - Because it does not features any big name stars like Cary Grant or James Stewart, Strangers on a Train does not have the same popularity as some other classic Hitchcock films, such as North by Northwest or Rear Window. This is too bad - Strangers on a Train is just as good, even if it does have lesser known stars. Strangers on a Train is very entertaining - it is suspenseful, clever, even humorous (at times), and has some truly memorable sequences. Basically Strangers on a Train is about a tennis star (Farley Granger) who meets a strange man on a train (Robert Walker). The two speak about murder, and Walker's character proposes that they swap murders, because this would make it impossible for the authorities to figure out. Granger laughs, but he soon realizes that Walker wasn't kidding... Anyhow, this movie is very cleverly made and very exciting. Even though it is not as well known as North by Northwest, it should be - see it soon and enjoy. Highly recommended! Sullivan's Travels (5 Stars) - Sullivan's Travels is an excellent example of the great movies from the 1940s. In addition to being really, really funny, it makes a really good point about Hollywood films and even about life in general. Basically, Sullivan's Travels is about a young, rich director (Sullivan, played by Joel McCrea) who, after spending several years making rather silly comedies (such as "Ants in Your Pants of 1938") decides to make a serious movie that will reflect on serious issues like poverty and unfairness. When his bosses, who are less than thrilled, point out that he knows nothing about misery and poverty, instead of giving up, he decides to go out in search of trouble. Although, on his first two adventures, he ends up back in Hollywood, only with Veronica Lake at his side, on his third he accidentally gets the trouble he had been hoping to find. At times hilarious, and then turning serious towards the end, Sullivan's Travels is a great defense of comedy. Using clever satire, Sturges points out that people do not want to watch movies about their own unhappiness -instead, they want to laugh (which he certainly makes you do). Anyhow, this is a great movie - so see it, and enjoy! Sunset Boulevard (5 Stars) - Generally, Hollywood on Hollywood movies are pretty bad, but Sunset Boulevard is one of the few exceptions. This movie is really as close to perfect as movies can get! In fact, it's even difficult to pinpoint the elements that make it so good, but a few of the highlights include the dark sets, appropriate music, very clever direction by Billy Wilder, and the brilliant performances of Gloria Swanson and William Holden. Sunset Boulevard is the tale of an aging silent-movie queen (Gloria Swanson) who lives locked away in a huge palace, alone except for her butler/chauffeur/former director/ex-husband and her dreams of her former glory. When a financially troubled screenwriter (William Holden) stumbles into her grasp, he is caught by her madness and riches like a fly on flypaper. Although, from the first shot of the movie, one knows how it will all end, like the screenwriter, it is easy to stay enthralled by the darkly chilling power of the story! Anyhow, this is a must-see! It offers many wonderful insights into the world of the Hollywood that was, and the life of those have-beens who were part of, and destroyed by, the star system. Most importantly, however, this noir masterpiece is gripping, entertaining, and still sparkles with wit and sarcasm 52 years after its original release! Enjoy! Just as a sidenote, keep a lookout for some famous people - Buster Keaton, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, and others - playing themselves. Suspicion (4 Stars) - Suspicion is a good film, as are most Alfred Hitchcock films. It features two talented classic stars, Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, and is very suspenseful and chilling. Although this film could have been much better had the ending been different, it is still quite good as it is, especially because of Grant's amazing (but much ignored) performance as Johnny. Essentially, Suspicion is the story of a bookish, shy English girl (Joan Fontaine) who falls in love with a charming but irresponsible man named Johnny (Cary Grant). As the film progresses, the audience begins to suspect Johnny of more than simply gambling and being irresponsible, which raises the question - are the suspicions justified or is "Monkey Face" (what Johnny calls his wife) just being paranoid? The film progresses, building to a seemingly unforgettable conclusion - but then suddenly, and very unconvincingly, Johnny is vindicated! This ending, while still making Suspicion a great film and enjoyable to watch, really detracts from the overall effect. By contrast Hitchcock's original ending, in which Johnny gives his wife the poisoned milk, she drinks it, but writes a letter beforehand saying that she knew he was going to murder her, would have been far more effective. Sadly, however, because of Grant's matinee-idol appeal, the studio did not allow Hitchcock to cast him as a murderer (they feared it would hurt his popularity). Anyhow, even though it is frustrating that Grant was so constrained by the studios and by his own persona, Suspicion is still a good film as it is, and is totally worth seeing! The Talk of the Town (4 Stars) - Sometimes I am tempted to describe this movie as having split personality disorder. On one level, it seems to be a lighthearted comedy with a love triangle between Cary Grant, Ronald Coleman, and Jean Arthur. And on another level, it aims to deal with deeper issues like the role of the law in society, etc, etc. But, actually, I think a more accurate way to describe this movie would be as a late screwball comedy. During the WWII years, screwball comedy, which had been so carefree in the depression, began to take on more serious issues, leading to movies like this one - strange mixes of the screwball spirit and deeper concerns. Regardless of its strange synthesis of screwball and serious issues, however, The Talk of the Town is a classic, and a great movie! Essentially, it is about a small town rebel (Cary Grant, in an uncharacteristic role) who escapes from prison after being wrongly accused of arson and murder. He comes across a former friend (Jean Arthur) and stays with her, posing as the gardener when a law professor (Ronald Coleman) comes to rent her house. There are many hilarious situations in the house, but the movie also discussed the role of the law in society and whether law should be interpreted coldly and to the letter or have a more personal application. The acting is very good. Cary Grant, though in a strange role, proves his talent as a more dramatic actor (and also shows off his incredible comedic skills). Even though he was ignored by the Oscars for years, Grant really was a spectacular actor - he just wasn't given enough credit because he tended to make it all look so easy. Ronald Coleman is also good as his urbane, cold rival, and Jean Arthur is great - her reactions steal scene after scene! Anyhow, this movie is very good. Although it is somewhat of a strange mix, it is quite enjoyable and typical of the semi-screwball comedies from the war years. Get this and enjoy! To Catch a Thief (5 Stars) - Although not one of Hitchcock's best films, To Catch is Thief is still a very entertaining comedy/thriller. I really enjoyed watching it (and have actually seen it several times). Its features include a clever plot, great acting, several comic moments, and wonderful chemistry between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Essentially, To Catch a Thief is about a retired "cat burglar" (Cary Grant, charming as ever) who must clear his name after being accused of committing several more robberies. As he sets out to prove his innocence by catching the real thief, he comes across several intriguing characters - including a cool, sexy young American (Grace Kelly), her mother, and a beautiful French girl. To say any more would be to give too much away... So, even though, as I said earlier, this is not one of Hitchcock's best (compare it with North by Northwest, for instance), it is still a very enjoyable and exciting film, greatly because of the wonderful performances and nice scenery. I don't know how else to recommend this - get it and enjoy! To Have and Have Not (5 Stars) - In my opinion this movie, which is often compared to Casablanca, is the better of the two. It is fantastic - the atmosphere is perfect, the script is witty and entertaining, the plot is interesting, and, most of all, as has already been remarked, the chemistry between young Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart is incredible! The two stars actually fell in love during the filming, and you can feel this in the movie. Bacall is stunning and looks far older than her 19 years, and Bogart is as always perfect in his role. The origin of this movie is also quite interesting. It is said that, one day, while fishing together, director Howard Hawks told Ernest Hemingway that he could make a hit movie even out of his worst story. Annoyed, Hemingway responded by inquiring which story Hawks considered to be his worst. When Hawks explained that it was To Have and Have Not, Hemingway expressed skepticism that the story could ever serve as a successful movie. But Hawks clearly proved otherwise (although he cheated a little b/c the adaptation is pretty different from the story). Anyhow, this movie is very similar to Casablanca in the sense that it is about a cynical American who gets drawn into helping French Resistance fighters get free. It is a great movie - good for the whole family. I don't know how else to recommend this: enjoy! The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (5 Stars) - It's tough to decide what Humphrey Bogart's best film is, but this one is definitely in the top three. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, ranked by the American Film Institute as #30 on their all-time greatest films list, is a truly wonderful film that offers, in addition to two hours of great entertainment, some real insights on greed an how gold can turn a relatively innocent bum into an insanely suspicious and dangerous man. Basically, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is about Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), who is stuck in a small town in Mexico, broke. That changes when he wins a substantial prize in the lottery. Sick of his poverty-stricken life, Bogart decides to go searching for gold in the mountains. He teams up with a friend and an older and more experienced man, and the three pool their savings, buy equipment, and set off to hunt for the treasure of the Sierra Madre. Anyhow, as surprising as it is given his image and his appeal as a box-office star, Bogart intentionally made his character become increasingly disagreeable as the film progressed, proving that the old man, who had spoken about the effect of gold on men’s' souls before they set out, was right in his prediction. Bogart's performance is truly brilliant, regardless of the fact that it may have bothered audiences when the film was first released, leading to its failure at the box-office. Additionally, the film benefits from an insightful script, a great director, and wonderful shots of the actual Sierra Madre mountains (it was filmed on location). So, from the very beginning to the masterful, ironic final shots, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a true classic in every sense of the word! See it and enjoy! Twelve Angry Men (5 Stars) - To be perfectly honest, the scenario for this movie actually doesn't sound very appealing. A common reaction would be to think - just watching 12 men in a room for the whole movie? How exciting can that be? Well, believe it or not, when the 12 men are impeccably cast, able actors and are given interesting and insightful things to say it can be VERY entertaining. Additionally, besides managing the seemingly impossible feat of holding the rapt attention of the audience in such a limited setting, 12 Angry Men is an inspirational, perceptive movie with much to say about the power of democracy and our court system. Anyhow, the basic plot, as indicated earlier, may appear dull - basically the film is about the meeting of a jury in which 11 out of the 12 men, for various reasons later explored, ranging from the sensible to the silly, vote guilty. The particulars of the case are really not as important as the way the characters of the men are explored in the discussion that follows after one of the men refuses to back down in his vote of not guilty. So, this is truly a memorable film - and not just because of the way it handles a potentially uninteresting topic with great skill. 12 Angry Men is just, quite simply, wonderful entertainment that leaves one thinking afterwards! Lastly, one other thing that is worth noting again is the cast - Henry Fonda is excellent, but the overall effect is only as good as it is because of the combined work of the experienced character actors involved. Enough raving already - just go ahead and see the film! Twelve O'Clock High (5 Stars) - Twelve O'Clock High proves that the best war movies are suspenseful and exciting without having to resort to shots of brutal fighting or the bloody aftermath. Although this movie makes the viewer keenly aware of the horrors of combat and its effect on people, it does not actually depict things the gory detail so common today. This is a great movie - perhaps the best war movie ever - and it is good mainly because of its fabulous cast and clever, insightful script. Twelve O'Clock High is about a struggling squadron of American precision air bombers in Europe. After their benevolent, compassionate commander (Gary Merrill) cracks under the stress of having to send young men up to die, the normally understanding and reasonable General Savage (Gregory Peck) is called in to take over. In order to restore the morale of the group and instill them with pride and honor, Savage becomes incredibly strict and works the group very hard - which leads to some astonishing successes. But before long, the stress of leadership begins to get to Savage as well... Anyhow, this is a very exciting movie! It even uses actual footage from WWII airplane battles. Furthermore, besides being entertaining, Twelve O'Clock High makes many interesting points about the responsibilities of leadership and the toll those responsibilities take on men. Unlike many similar dramas from the time, it has aged well and is just as relevant today as it was when it was first made. What is maximum effort, it also asks. To find out, watch this true classic - and enjoy! Witness (4 Stars) - Witness features one of Harrison Ford's best performances, and it proved once and for all that he was capable doing more than action movies. Overall, Witness is an entertaining movie and a well-done combination of a love story and a thriller. Additionally, it does an excellent job of making a contrast between the innocence and simplicity of Amish life and the grime and violence of the city. In fact, if anything, the movie's only fault is that it exaggerates the contrast and paints the city too darkly. In Witness, Samuel (Lukas Haas in a very impressive performance), a young Amish boy, witnesses a murder in the mens' room of a train station on his first trip to Philadelphia. When the boy and his beautiful mother, Rachel (Kelly McGillis), speak to the police about the matter, police chief John Book (Harrison Ford) explains that, because the boy was a material witness to a homicide, the law demands that he stay and help identify the killer. When he does, however, Book realizes they are in danger and, even after being shot badly, drives the boy and his mother all the way to their farm before collapsing. Consequently, he is forced to stay with the Amish, and, while recovering and hiding from the killers, he learns about the Amish lifestyle and falls in love with Rachel. Anyhow, Witness has a compelling story, is well directed, and also has some very nice shots of the Amish countryside and lifestyle. With a wonderful performance from Harrison Ford (and the rest of the cast, for that matter), this movie is very entertaining - see it soon! Witness for the Prosecution (5 Stars) - Quite simply, this film is brilliant. In addition to being one of Billy Wilder's best films, this is one of the best courtroom dramas ever made! It is cleverly directed, has a compelling plot, features great performances (especially by Marlene Dietrich), and is all in all very exciting and entertaining. This is a film you won't forget. This plot of this film, which was based on a play by Agatha Christie, is your basic courtroom drama: a series of witnesses testify about the murder of a wealthy widow. Tyrone Power plays the young man accused of the murder, Marlene Dietrich gives an amazing performance as the key witness in the case, and Charles Laughton plays the lawyer determined to unravel the mystery. This film has some terrific, very surprising, twists and turns, so to say any more about the plot would give too much away! Anyhow, this film is really suspenseful, captivating, and memorable. It's a true classic by the brilliant director Billy Wilder, and has been imitated countless times since its release. But no imitation has come close to the original, which is why this film is a must-see. Highly recommended! Working Girl (4 Stars) - Working Girl is a very pleasant and entertaining movie. It is well directed and features a funny script and excellent performances by Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver. Melanie Griffith is quite good as well, although she sometimes appears a little more childish than would be expected given her ambition to rise to the top. Essentially, Working Girl is about Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith), an ambitious secretary eager to move up in the working world. After having several problems with her male bosses, Tess is relieved when she is transferred to work under the confident and seemingly friendly Katherine Parker (Sigourney Weaver). After Parker breaks her leg and Tess realizes she was planning to steal one of her ideas, however, Tess takes matters into her own hands and, posing as Parker, joins with successful executive Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) to promote the deal herself. Anyhow, the results of Tess McGill's attempts to advance in her job are very entertaining and often very funny. The scenes with Tess and Jack are especially humorous - for instance, as they walk towards the elevator in one scene, Jack repeatedly asks Tess for a date, but she refuses. When he insists, she responds, "You know, maybe I just don't like you." Jack looks up in surprise and, as the elevator doors close, says, "Me? Nah!" So, overall, this is a very delightful and fun movie that shows the obstacles people sometimes face in the workplace. In it, Harrison Ford shows his ability for light comedy, Weaver is perfect as the calculating and evil boss, and Griffith is pretty good as Tess. On another more serious note, this movie has some of the most beautiful images of the World Trade Towers and the New York City skyline I have ever seen. These images are sadly moving in a way that could never have been imagined when the movie was first made.