Classic Film Guide

Philadelphia Story The (1940)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Philadelphia Story The (1940) Katharine Hepburn‘s comeback role after being labeled box office poison earned Jimmy Stewart his only Best Actor Oscar and also won the Best Writing Screenplay Oscar. Directed by George Cukor (Oscar nominated) this Oscar nominated film contains the famous scene with Cary Grant shoving Kate down through the front door of the house. Hepburn plays an heiress who threw out her husband (Grant) after a short time a [...]

Station West (1948)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Station West (1948) Directed by Sidney Lanfield with a screenplay by Frank Fenton and Winston Miller this noir-like Western stars Dick Powell and Jane Greer and features a cast which includes Agnes Moorehead Tom Powers Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams Raymond Burr and Burl Ives (uncredited) among others. If you like Powell’s wisecracking film noir persona you’ll love the twist on the setting; if you don’t and/or you’re a fan [...]

In Cold Blood (1967)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

In Cold Blood (1967) A hard to watch film which is definitely worth it. Robert Blake & Scott Wilson play the two murderers in this true story – filmed in the actual locations; John Forsythe plays "the law" and Paul Stewart plays the reporter (Truman Capote in real life). The film received four Oscar nominations including one for director Richard Brooks. Added to the National Film Registry in 2008. Purchase this DVD now at or [...]

Blackboard Jungle (1955)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Blackboard Jungle (1955) Opens with (Bill Haley and His Comets’) "Rock Around the Clock" ushering in rock n’ roll as well as a cast of new young actors and would-be stars (e.g. Jamie Farr & Vic Morrow’s film debut). Directed by Richard Brooks who also adapted the Evan Hunter novel this above average drama features Glenn Ford as Richard Dadier the teacher in "the jungle" of students which includes Sidney [...]

Holiday (1938)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Holiday (1938) An entertaining comedy that makes you think directed by George Cukor and starring Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn. The screenplay was written by David Ogden Stewart (The Philadelphia Story (1940)) and Sidney Buchman (Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)). Self made man Johnny Case (Grant) is about to marry Julia Seton (Doris Nolan) but then learns that she is rich. He proceeds to meet her sister Linda (Hepburn) father (Henry Kolker) [...]

Set-Up The (1949)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Set-Up The (1949) Directed by Robert Wise this highly thought of relatively short boxing film (which plays out in real time) stars Robert Ryan as an aging boxer (‘Stoker’) whose wife played by Audrey Totter hopes she can convince him to quit before he’s badly beaten again. She can no longer stomach watching his being battered. Against her pleadings Stoker thinks he can win another fight to relive that thrill at least one more time. [...]

Americanization of Emily The (1964)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Americanization of Emily The (1964) Directed by Arthur Hiller (Love Story (1970)) with a screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky (Marty (1955)) that was based on William Bradford Huie’s novel this essential anti-war comedy drama stars James Garner Julie Andrews (in the title role her only B&W film) Melvyn Douglas James Coburn Keenan Wynn as an old sailor Judy Carne Sharon Tate (uncredited) and more. It was nominated for B&W Art Direction-Set [...]

Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The (1939)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The (1939) A love story really between two “heavyweights”: Elizabeth I (Bette Davis) and the Earl of Essex (Errol Flynn). Essex has returned victorious from Spain but the success of his mission is questioned by the Queen who drained the treasury and taxed her people to support him only to have him return and earn the people’s favor without the needed spoils (funds) of war. Therefore he is a [...]

McLintock! (1963) – full review!

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

McLintock! (1963) – full review! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen with an original screenplay by James Edward Grant (The Sheepman (1958)) this John Wayne-Maureen O’Hara comedy Western will have you laughing out loud. Besides being another successful pairing of these two the film also boasts a deep cast of familiar character actors including Wayne’s son Patrick Stefanie Powers Jack Kruschen Chill Wills Yvonne De Carlo Jerry Van [...]

Saddle the Wind (1958)

August 29, 2014 // 0 Comments

Saddle the Wind (1958) Directed by Robert Parrish (who’d won an Oscar for editing Body and Soul (1947)) with a screenplay by the future multiple Emmy winner (and TV’s Twilight Zone creator) Rod Serling this slightly above average Western stars Robert Taylor as a reformed gunfighter come rancher whose kid brother wants to walk in his former footsteps. John Cassavetes plays the younger brother and Julie London plays the brother’s [...]

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