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Essential Films

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Million Dollar Baby (2004)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Million Dollar Baby (2004) Co-produced & directed by Clint Eastwood and based on stories by F. X. Toole (“Rope Burns”) which were adapted by Paul Haggis this powerful boxing drama becomes something else in its final third with an emotional impact that snuck up on this reviewer. Starring Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry (1999)) in the title role as a determined “white trash” waitress with a dream and co-starring [...]
POCKET MONEY (1972) – FULL REVIEW!

Pocket Money (1972) – full review!

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Pocket Money (1972) – full review! Paul Newman plays a nerdy geeky cowboy? From his voice to the way he walks the actor gives a most unusual performance in this rather obscure character study-buddy picture that pairs him with an equally obtuse Lee Marvin. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg with a screenplay by Terrence Malick (that explains it!) that was based on J.P.S. Brown’s novel “Jim Kane” which was adapted by John Gay [...]
STREET SCENE (1931)

Street Scene (1931)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Street Scene (1931) Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning Elmer Rice play this is a very good film by director King Vidor about tenement city life gossip an affair and even a murder. It stars Beulah Bondi Estelle Taylor Sylvia Sidney John Qualen and several others a classic film fan will recognize. Vidor’s direction and use of camera angles makes the one set piece of the film watchable along with the characterizations performed by the veteran [...]
Shadow on the Wall (1950)

Shadow on the Wall (1950)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Shadow on the Wall (1950) Directed by Pat Jackson with a screenplay by William Ludwig (Interrupted Melody (1955)) this above average thriller features 9 year old Gigi Perreau as the daughter of a man (Zachary Scott) falsely accused and convicted of killing his wife her stepmother. She witnessed part of the event causing her to go into shock until a psychiatrist (Nancy Davis) attempts to get her to recall what happened while the real killer (Ann [...]
West Point Story The (1950)

West Point Story The (1950)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

West Point Story The (1950) As opposed to a story about the United States Military Academy this musical romance comedy gave James Cagney a chance to return to the genre since his Best Actor Oscar performance as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) though one does get a sense of West Point’s storied history and tradition. Ray Heindorf’s Score received an Academy Award nomination. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth with a [...]
Bridges at Toko-Ri The (1955) – full review!

Bridges at Toko-Ri The (1955) – full review!

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Bridges at Toko-Ri The (1955) – full review! Directed by Mark Robson with a screenplay by Valentine Davies (Miracle on 34th Street (1947)) that was based on James Michener’s novel this above average Korean War drama not only features Oscar winning Special Effects but also earned editor Alma Macrorie her only Academy Award nomination. The cast include solid performances from William Holden Fredric March & Mickey Rooney and a rather [...]
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Produced and directed by Frank Capra with a story by Lewis R. Foster and a screenplay by Sidney Buchman this essential political comedy drama features James Stewart in the title role as Jefferson Smith (AFI’s #11 hero) who’s appointed to the Senate by his state’s Governor Hubert ‘Happy’ Hopper (Guy Kibbee) on the advice of his children (the Watson brothers) when one of their Senators dies. [...]
HIGH NOON (1952)

High Noon (1952)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

High Noon (1952) Shown in real time surely a challenge for director Fred Zinnemann this Gary Cooper classic also stars Grace Kelly and a terrific supporting cast. "Coop" won his second Best Actor Oscar on his fifth (and final) nomination playing Will Kane (AFI’s #5 hero). The film also won for Editing Musical Score and Song ("Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’" – #25 on AFI’s 100 Top Movie Songs of All [...]
The-Girl-Said-No_-1930

Girl Said No The (1930)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Girl Said No The (1930) … not to be confused with the 1937 film of the same name … Directed by Sam Wood with dialogue by Charles MacArthur this A.P. Younger story was adapted by Sarah Y. Mason into a below average romantic comedy that’s likely to offend men and women alike. It’s not only sexist in the worst way but lead actor William Haines’s character practically forces the object of his desire (played by Leila Hyams) [...]
LUST FOR LIFE (1956)

Lust for Life (1956)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Lust for Life (1956) A standout performance by Kirk Douglas as painter Vincent van Gogh is what makes this film great but it was Anthony Quinn (Viva Zapata! (1952)) as Paul Gauguin who won his second Supporting Actor Academy Award; Douglas’s intense portrayal was only Oscar nominated. Norman Corwin’s Screenplay was also nominated representing his only Academy recognition; he adapted Irving Stone’s novel. Vincente Minnelli [...]
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