Classic films appreciation thread - come and join us!

[PrivateParkin]

Following on from the recent thread about favourite actors from old films, @FatBallsAndSunflowerSeeds had the fab idea of an old movies appreciation thread... So here it is! If you like old films and actors of any kind, come and join us.

old thread

We thought we'd look out for any classic films being shown on TV, post them on this thread and then discuss them afterwards... But if you want to post about any of your favourite old films and actors at any time, that would also be fab. Basically, this is just a place to chat about old films - please come and join us!

I'm off to check the TV schedules for any potential gems coming up - I will post again with anything that looks good.

Meantime, here's James Cagney tap dancing down the stairs in Yankee Doodle Dandy - happy bank holiday everyone
m.youtube.com/watch?v=xlvB4xk4LNQ

Oh creme I know! Although I did want to shake them when they told Beulah Bondi the truth about their income, I was willing them to lie and say they were still solvent - she seemed to just take everything at face value, I'm sure they could have got away with it! I never did get round to watching Blithe Spirit the other night, but I think that will be just the tonic, and will try and watch it this week.

none of this radioactive cheese on a tray business that you get now

In defense of our cinema, the cheese we get is a rather nice selection that comes on china plates

I'm not sure I could face Penny Serenade.

I've just had a lovely afternoon, sneaking off to our local independent-ish cinema (also a converted Art Nouveau theatre) to see Nothing Like A Dame. I do recommend it (both the sneaking off and the film).

All this talk of running a cinema reminds me of the little b/w gem The Smallest Show on Earth:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smallest_Show_on_Earth

Everyone should see Citizen Kane even if you get bored by the story, the cinematography is brilliant and innovative for the time.

Yy avva it does go on a bit, but the cinematography is superb.
Was it Orson Wells who directed that & the thin man? Or am I getting them mixed up ( has been known aka Dora Bryan/Beryl Reid😳)

@PrivateParkin thank you, oh do watch blithe spirit it will lift your mood Margaret Rutherford is a riot.

Orson Welles was in the The Third Man, as was Joseph Cotton

I love The Third Man and Graham Greene generally - Richard Attenborough in "Brighton Rock" was scary.

Agree about "Citizen Kane", excellent cinematography but a bit long winded and self indulgent. Much like Welles himself possibly

We don't seem to have a classic film cinema near us. The arts centre sometimes shows some classics but that's a 1960's monstrosity (like a very small Barbican) so not much atmosphere.

But The Thin Man is also a great film (albeit of a very different type), @dontcallmelen . It stars William Powell and the divine Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. The clothes and sets are swoon-worthy. Well worth catching if you possibly can!

Ooh yes - there was a series of them wasn't there? Myrna Loy's wardrobe was incredible. And they had a cute dog.

Halsall, I'm sure the cheese in your local is lovely - I was thinking of those bloody nachos you get in multiplexes.

DH and I were watching the funniest old film I've seen in an age this afternoon (not a comedy!) it was called the Blue Parrot. the acting was diabolical , the accents! . Only Le Mesurier was any good , it was 1951 and could 've been silent for all the horrendous expressions!!!

@Halsall ooh I so agree swoon worthy wardrobe, they were great together.

those bloody nachos you get in multiplexes ugh yes and they stink the place out!! Eee, modern life has a lot to answer for!

Chink such a good film! Dame Margaret R is all over this thread!

Klaxon Advance warning! Hitchcock's
Rebecca - Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, Nigel Bruce - is on Talking Pictures, 27 May at 9pm - v excited for this, haven't seen it in ages and it's one of my favourite stories ever. Anyone else looking forward to this one?

Oh yes! That’ll be good - it’s a long time since I saw it too. I also remember the tv adaptation in the 1970s. —Am ancient.—

Happy heavenly birthday Henry Fonda born otd 1905. Here he is in his best ever role, IMHO, as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. How could he have not won an Oscar for this?! (He didn't win until On Golden Pond in 1981).

Today would also have been Margaret Sullavan 's birthday, Fonda's first wife (or he was her first husband, whichever). The Shop Around the Corner which she stars in with James Stewart is one of my favourite oldies, but I've mentioned that enough already!

I love your anniversary updates, PrivateParkin. Where do you find them?

Although I read the book ages ago, I’ve never seen The Grapes of Wrath. Another omission.

The birthdays are just courtesy of the wonders of Google Monica !

I love The Grapes of Wrath, it's hard going in a lot of ways... but I think it's also very life-affirming in that it's about the strength of the tight-knit family struggling to survive the most awful situation. Beautifully acted, especially by Fonda and Jane Darwell (as mentioned up thread). I think you definitely need tissues to hand to watch it, but I still find it kind of uplifting.

The book is uplifting too, I guess, but quite a difficult read.

Private I love that film but as I said earlier in the thread, I thought that the more recent Charles Dance version of Rebecca was better.

The 27th is our anniversary we'll be away but get back in time to see it (maybe we'll record it anyway!)

*ppeat yes I do like that version as well. Charles Dance is an old-fashioned sort of actor I think - that very clipped delivery. He was a really good Maxim.

Congrats on your anniversary!

Thank you I agree with you about C.D. he's lovely! I thought Faye Dunaway was good too, she was a great big mouthed American!

I've never seen the Grapes of Wrath either; I'll add it to my list

Ooooh Hitchcock's "Rebecca" - thanks Private. I will certainly be recording that. I haven't seen it in ages. I always thought Larry was a bit cardboardish in it though. The general consensus is that he was much better on stage than in film. I would have loved to have seen him on stage.

Ventress I reckon L.O. could be quite cardboardish, I suppose it was because he was bought up in the silent era. I always remember him in the film of Emma with an American lead and neither of them was quite right. Though tbh Gywneth was n't a huge amount better!!

I love the book though.