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

As it happens, we watched The Monuments Men, but I can't admit that here

Talking Pictures obviously have things on a loop, as I watched a bit of They Shoot Horses Don't They a couple of nights ago. I won't be able to watch The Ladykillers tomorrow as I'll be carrying a banner on the Processions march, but hope to catch it if it comes round again.

I don't really do Westerns, either. I do, though, want to see The Grapes of Wrath.

Omg that Mitchell and Webb Rebecca!! Hilarious - thanks avva. I loved the gliding Mrs Danvers!!

A fantastic reason to miss an old film Monica! Hope it goes brilliantly - it's such a fab idea.

I watched Nothing Like a Dame on iPlayer yesterday and really enjoyed it but it would have been nice to have heard more from Eileen Atkins.

The 1946 version of Great Expectations is also on iPlayer, and for me possibly the best film of David Lean's.

Ooh thankssoutheast - will download that. To add to my list!!

The original 1953 version of Indiscretion of an American Wife is on Retro channel tonight at 11:45pm. Jennifer Jones and Montgomery Clift are the leads.

Haven't seen it before but plot summary sounds interesting:
While on vacation in Rome, married American Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones) becomes entangled in an affair with an Italian man, Giovanni Doria (Montgomery Clift). As she prepares to leave Italy, Giovanni confesses his love for her; he doesn't want her to go. Together they wander the railroad station where Mary is to take the train to Paris, then ultimately reunite with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia. Will she throw away her old life for this passionate new romance?

Thanks Creme - that sounds good...

The David Lean version of Great Expectations is on the BBC iplayer at the moment.

Thanks Milly - have downloaded it. I need to take some time off work to catch up on my viewing!

I've been slacking off on the old stars' birthdays recently, but I'm reviving it again today, because I like doing it, and to mark the birthdate of Basil Rathbone born otd in 1892. I have a bit of a thing about him actually - is it just me?! See pic...): war hero, family guy and - IMHO - unsurpassable Sherlock Holmes.

I was reading a bit about him last night, and ended up ordering his autobiography, In And Out of Character as a result as it sounds really interesting and I'm a bit sad like that

He packed in a promising Stratford stage career to serve in WW1, fighting alongside his younger brother in France. His brother was killed, sadly - and there's an extract of his book online where he writes very movingly of how he, rather than his brother, should have been the first to go, and how he'll bring his brother's letters home to the family - but if he can't "for any reason" he'll leave them with a trusted friend. He conjures up this vivid image of him sitting there in his greatcoat in the middle of the night, writing a letter home. Very moving.

Anyway. He won the Military Cross for some crazy-sounding forays into No Man's Land, came home, went back to Stratford... and the rest is history I suppose. He had loads of success on both sides of the Atlantic on stage and screen, which I'd never realised before - and of course Basil the Great Mouse Detective (another favourite in our house) was named after him. What a guy!

Ooh, may I join in with the thread? I've been lurking for ages but just saw the Basil Rathbone birthday and it prompts me to note that my hairdresser mother (now in her 90s) used to do the hair of Miss Rathbone, Basil's sister. She says she looked just like him - possibly not that great for a woman!

I had no idea about Basil Rathbone's wartime experiences Private - thanks for posting! And it's definitely not just you who appreciates his talents . I absolutely love his Holmes - I think he is my favourite screen incarnation of that character.

He won the Military Cross?! Wowser, that's very impressive. You're not the only one to have a thing about him, Parkin, he's definitely got something and I loved him when they used to show all his Sherlock films on tv.

Just popped into to say hello, have been a bit out of sorts so not doing very much film watching.
Yy Basil Rathbone, was a great Sherlock & definitely has something of a brooding hero about him.
I’m kicking myself for missing the Jennifer Jones/Montgomery Clift film, I have a little thing for Montgomery 😳

Definitely enjoyed the Basil Rathbone films even if Dr Watson was a bit of bumbling oaf at times. Jeremy Brett is the No1 Holmes for me though.

Yay for all the Basil Rathbone appreciation! He's just so... commanding, or something. I don't know. Whatever it is, he's got it.

Err anyway. Hi 5000 - great story about your mum and Miss Rathbone, I love it! What a fab claim to fame.
critique yes he's my favourite Holmes too, the original and best, as far as I'm concerned... although Jeremy Brett was very good too. I've said it on here before I think, but those old Sherlock Holmes films were pretty much my introduction to old films, so I've a real soft spot for them. They're showing on TCM over the next few days, if anyone has access to that. I think that show them fairly regularly.

Hi @dontcallmelen sorry to hear that, hope you're doing ok now

I didn't manage to record Indiscretion of an American Woman either, did anyone see it? It sounds good.

Ok this is my last post for now I promise, but re Nigel Bruce... I love him as Watson, just because I love those films in general, but I was just thinking that my mum always used to point out that he was actually younger than Basil Rathbone - even though he played Watson as an old duffer. I'm still fond of that portrayal though, although it's not true to the books, I agree.

I recorded Indiscretion.. but haven't found time to see it yet.

@PrivateParkin thank you, yes feelin a bit more together now.

I always find this site useful for checking on every film showing in London. Normally quite a few oldies in the listings. Also has dates for a couple of weeks which is handy.

www.londonnet.co.uk/films/

Ooh they are showing Gilda at the BFI! I'm jealous of you Metropolis -dwellers!

Gone With the Wind is on TCM (UK) on Saturday at 10.35am until (I thought this must be a misprint at first) 3.00pm!!! I suppose that includes a lot of ad breaks, but still.

Meanwhile, I'm still musing over Basil Rathbone...

And if that's not enough, Since You Went Away is on Talking Pictures at 2.15pm this Saturday. I've never seen this - has anyone else? It sounds a bit... schmaltzy, possibly?! But with a great cast. Plot summary from Google:

When her husband leaves to fight in World War II, housewife Anne Hilton (Claudette Colbert) must struggle on alone to raise their two daughters, Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Shirley Temple). With a tight budget, Anne is forced to take in two lodgers, elderly ex-soldier Col. William G. Smollett (Monty Woolley) and handsome Lt. Tony Willet (Joseph Cotten). However, loyal maid Fidelia (Hattie McDaniel) stays on unpaid and the makeshift household pulls together through home front hardships.

Ooh Gilda, Rita Hayworth was so beautiful was it glen ford as the male lead, can’t remember much about the actual plot, just Rita singing.
Will have to google & refresh my failing memory.