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

Cabaret is on tonight. One of the best films ever.

bird I don't think I've ever seen Cabaret - another one to add to my list!

I missed loads of star birthdays over the weekend. It would have been John Wayne's birthday, but as well as that: Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee would have all had their birthdays within a couple of days of each other strangely enough, and following on nicely from the earlier discussion of horror films on this thread. Here they all are with John Carradine - whose birthday it wasn't, but I do like this picture, and also JC was in The Grapes of Wrath so obviously he deserves to be included IMHO...

What a great picture!

Cabaret is a great film, although the Sally Bowles of the screen version isn't much like Christopher Isherwood's original. But the choreography and staging are wonderful.

Harolds, interesting what you say about the Debussy prelude used for Rebecca - when they made a BBC version in the late 70's, with Joanna David and Jeremy Brett, they had a Debussy soundtrack. Jardins sous la pluie was this insistent theme running through it - really used to marvellous effect. It was a very good adaptation. And Anna Massey was a chilling Mrs Danvers.

I love Cabaret, too. We're now watching Rebecca and I confess I'm rather shocked that my husband has never seen it.

The holiday place we are staying in has a magazine (Country Life! I had a look at the property prices as well, which was v entertaining!! ) with an article about Daphne du Maurier and this rather lovely poster advertising the film. I love the sinister Mrs Danvers figure in the background.

There's a film on the Talking Pictures Channel at 12:30 called Demi-Paradise. I've never heard of it but cast includes Laurence Oliver and Margaret Rutherford.

I've set it to record, has anyone seen it before?

No, but it sounds promising, Creme! Thanks for the spot - I’ve put it to record too (I see it also has the excellent Felix Aylmer in it, who in his non-acting life was an expert on Charles Dickens - random fact there!)

That does sound good, but I think I’m going to drag myself out to the shops. I did love Rebecca last night, and dear old Larry wasn’t as hammy as I’d feared! (I also love magazines like Country Life for planning fantasy house moves after I win the lottery!)

In case anyone hasn't noticed, Nothing Like a Dame is on TV this very evening - BBC2 at 9pm.

Argh Halsall is it?! I wonder if it'll make it on to iPlayer? I'm still away so can't set it to record. Pesky holidays!!

That's my evening settled, then!

Mine too

Loved it!

It is on iPlayer - yippee!

I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! At least, I hope so, after we’ve given it the big build-up here!

I'm sure I will Monica - I think we are very like-minded on here!

Is anyone planning to watch The Farmer's Daughter on Talking Pictures this evening? I've never seen it, but it sounds lovely - stars Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten and Ethel Barrymore.

Ah. Saw this too late. Was it any good?

So The Farmer's Daughter was absolutely fab, did anyone see it? I'd never even heard of it before, but it was a lovely, sweet - but not twee - story with a touch of Mr Smith Goes to Washington about it. Loretta Young is on her way to train as a nurse but (without giving the story away too much) that doesn't quite work out, so to make ends meet she ends up working for a Congressman (Joseph Cotten) as a sort of housekeeper/maid, but needless to say, she branches out a bit from that! The sets are great in this, as is Loretta's hair and it has the most fantastic ice-skating scene I've seen on film (one of which looks like Joseph Cotten performs his own extremely impressive moves!). Ethel Barrymore is also brilliant in it.

Highly recommended and what's more, it's repeated on Talking Pictures this Thursday - I think at 1.30 but best check. A real feel-good film with a bit of bite. Loved it.

Also happy belated heavenly birthday to Tony Curtis who was born 3 June 1905. Here he is in The Sweet Smell of Success...

Thanks for the review of The Farmer's Daughter, Private. I'd seen it but hadn't recorded, will do this time. Sounds very sweet.

Is it just me or are there less classic films being shown on terrestrial TV these days. I used to remember the days when you could guarantee that BBC2 would show some black and white oldies on a Saturday afternoon. Then there was Alex Cox and the Moviedrome series. Perhaps I'm showing my age.

None at all! I have very fond memories of Sat afternoon matinees when there was only sport on the other channels.

It annoys me as there are so many dodgy repeats during the day and they should realise they have an audience sitting at home who would probably love some Old/classic films. Season of musicals, classic bodice ripper type things like The Wicked Lady. An opportunity missed. The BBC must still have some in their archives!

I can't imagine they would cost the channels that much to show. Certainly no more than the dodgy TV movies and straight to DVD sci fi films with a special effects budget of a fiver that seem to be everywhere these days.