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

Ooh that shop sounds fab, I’m going too see if I can find out what he was doing in Crystal Palace, just seems so weird.

Having just commented on another thread about romantic films I'm now in the mood to watch an old film tonight. It's also wet and miserable here and I have some chocolate squirrelled away in the cupboard, so I think I have all the ingredients (also: wine). I'm thinking a real classic that I've seen loads of times before, Casablanca maybe, or The African Queen. It feels like a Bogey kind of evening...

Morning - The Talk of the Town (Cary Grant, Jean Arthur) is on Talking Pics today at 4.40pm, in case anyone is interested. It's another miserable day here, so I may well tune in...

I watched Summertime last night! Thought of you Parkin, with the shop. Funny to see the fireworks scene hinting at the fiery night of sex. Would be very different nowadays!

Bagel tee hee, I know! It's like a very slightly more racy Brief Encounter - David Lean all over.

It definitely would be different these days. The first time I saw Brief Encounter (probably in my mid-teens) I was completely mystified by the bit where they go to the friend's flat and hear him coming back while they're there - and Laura has to make her escape. I remember asking my mum why she had to run away for fear of being discovered, and my mum said "It's because she's been compromised" and then started laughing and said "Even though she hasn't even taken her coat off!"

Morning - this is short notice as I've only just realised, but Pygmalion with the lovely Leslie Howard, is on Talking Pics (where else?) today at 12 noon(ish?).

Talk of the Town is on again today, 1pm Talking Pics, in case anyone wanted to watch and missed it last time (like me, for example). Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Ronald Colman - what's not to love?!

Why did they put phones so high up in those days?! Jean Arthur has to stand on tiptoe just to have a conversation

LONDON LIVE shows lots of brilliant films too

I noticed that The Ghost and Mrs Muir was on Talking Pics again this week, yet I somehow managed to miss it yet again! I was so annoyed about it that I had to download it from Amazon. I absolutely loved it, but I found it a real tear-jerker, I almost sobbed out loud at the ending and I was on the train at the time, watching on my iPad!

Rex Harrison was great in his false beard, and isn't Gene Tierney absolutely beautiful?? George Sanders at his suave, rougue-ish best, plus gorgeous music. It made me laugh ("Please be good enough to shove off") and cry, so basically, it had it all. Fantastic film, thank you to everyone who recommended it

There are a few interesting oldies on TV this week: Odette with Anna Neagle, Trevor Howard (and Peter Ustinov) is on BBC2 on Tuesday at 1.20pm. The BBC website says it's "the stirring true story of a courageous Frenchwoman who returned to her occupied homeland to spy for the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War." I thought when I first read the description that it was a film that had already been mentioned on here... but that was Carve Her Name With Pride - I haven't seen either so looking forward to Odette.

The Cruel Sea is on on Monday (real Bank Holiday material there, the kind of film that always seemed to be on when I was a kid - but I do quite like it as far as war films go).

Also Whiskey Galore is still on iPlayer but finishes on Monday, I think.

Oh and thanks for the tip about London Live SubtitlesOn

You're welcome

We watched TIGER BAY on London Live this afternoon

I love John Mills films and the interaction between him and Hayley really make this film special

For those who wanted to see it, the lovely Mrs Miniver is on the TCM channel at 0840 tomorrow morning. I've just set it to record for me to enjoy next week.

Thanks, MrsCholly. Set to record but, blimey, nearly 3hrs long! I didn't remember that. Still I'll keep it to watch when DD has gone to university and I'm feeling sentimental.

Good selection of Basil Rathbone Sherlock movies during next week.

Thanks MrsCholly - I love that film.

Yes I noticed TCM was showing all the Sherlock films - including The Adventures... with Ida Lupino, who I love (she went on to become a film director) and gives me an excuse to post this photo, which I love - the body language!!

There was another Basil Rathbone film on last week which I meant to mention: Love From A Stranger. It was a strange film but quite compelling - it felt very old in terms of the production, ott make-up etc (1937), but the storyline was quite modern (it was based on an Agatha Christie play). It was about a woman who won the lottery, which changed the dynamic in her relationship with her fiancé. He moved out and she had to find a lodger, Gerald (played by BR). At first all was fine (despite the doubts of her best friend and her ex) until it all got a bit sinister/strange and it becomes clear that Gerald has ulterior motives.. It was quite suspenseful and creepy. Joan Hickson (future Miss Marple) was also in it, playing a fairly daft maid. Worth a try if it's on again (it was on Talking Pictures, of course!)

Bagel I hope all goes well for you and your DD starting university

Thank you, Parkin. Had a trip to buy some of the essentials last week, she's in Amsterdam for a week now and then more stuff to buy (bank balance is wincing). The big moving in day is 22 Sept, so this month will fly by, but it's only 1 1/2 hrs away by car.

Bagel I can imagine - we foolishly went to Ikea at the weekend, and it was full of students/parents buying absolutely loads of stuff! Hope it all goes well.

Leslie Howard fans, there's a documentary about him on Talking Pics today at 10.20 - it should be pretty interesting I think. dontcallmelen it might explain the Crystal Palace connection!?

Popping back on quickly to say happy heavenly birthday Ingrid Bergman born otd in 1915. Casablanca; Notorious; Gaslight etc etc - I love all of those.

But here she is in my fave of all her films The Bells of St Mary's - can odd couple Sister Mary Benedict and Fr O'Malley work together to save the school?! NB showing at the Bedford Falls Theatre on Christmas Eve, that's how wholesome it is!!

Ingrid&Bing

Having a very welcome afternoon off and so it was the perfect chance to watch The Wicked Lady finally, the first time I've seen it. The wigs! The dresses!! The derring-do!!! V v enjoyable - perfect film for an afternoon's happy viewing. Incl the wonderful James Mason, of course. And now I have eyebrow envy (Margaret Lockwood's, not James' btw).

Thanks to everyone who recommended it

Aaah, great film, Parkin. I have it recorded from a month or so ago and still haven't watched it. I do remember her eyebrows from many, many years ago when I first saw the film.

Cheaper by the dozen 1 and 2
Happy Feet
Alvin and the Chipmunks 1 and 2
Step up 1 and 2

I watch ITV a lot. Some of the films I have never seen before while I definitely recognise others. The other day I rewatched the first ever HP movie. But all of the films I listed above are my childhood favourite films. I’ve also seen Avatar. I love ghost movies and films about spies etc. Especially when it’s Halloween.

You're getting very modern by my standards there spinabifidamom! I do love the HP films. They'll definitely be described as classics (and probably already are, to be fair). They were mentioned on Mark Kermode's programme The Secrets of Cinema, when he did coming of age films.

I'm thinking of trying to revive this thread a bit over the autumn - the nights are definitely "drawing in" around here, which seems the perfect time for old movie watching.

Has anyone got any recommendations or anything good they know of that is coming up on TV? I've made my way through most of my mammoth "to watch" list of recordings now, so I'm looking for something new (well, old - but new to me... You know what I mean).

I watched Rear Window the other day as it was on Film4. Such a great film - despite the age difference between James Stewart and Grace Kelly!!

Just following up on your comment about ghost/spy films spinabifidamom. That could be a good theme for the next few weeks, very seasonal

Oldie spy films - off the top of my head: The 39 Steps (brilliant), The Man Who Knew Too Much (is about spies, right?), Notorious, and North by Northwest (almost all Hitchcock).

Ghostly oldies: already mentioned on here are - The Ghost and Mrs Muir (not exactly creepy ), The Spiral Staircase (terrifying!), The Hound of the Baskervilles, Rebecca (a sort of ghost... more of a presence, maybe). There must be loads more.

What have I missed?

@Halsall I'm just watching Since You Went Away on Talking Pictures... although I'll have to watch the end later as we're going out soon (am recording it also) - it's really long isn't it?! Am enjoying it though. Loving the Hattie McDaniel character.

Hi PrivateParkin, sorry, I dropped off the thread a bit again but I'm still watching Glad you were enjoying Since You Went Away.....but goodness yes - it IS long! They believed in giving good value in wartime!