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

I mean, I love it for lots of reasons, including the wig

I love it too, Parkin.

You are among friends here

(Our beloved) Cary Grant was born OTD in 1904. You can never have too much Cary, obviously, so here he is in Only Angels Have Wings...

This photo was posted on a fab Tumblr blog I've mentioned on here before, called We Had Faces Then - well worth checking out if you like page after page of fantastic pictures of old Hollywood stars (and who doesn't?!).

www.facebook.com/213441154663/posts/10157116733544664/

That's a sight for sore eyes Bagel

Good article on Barbara Stanwyck ahead of a new BFI season (am once again envious of metropolis dwellers!) in today's Guardian

You can never have too much Cary, obviously

So true, Parkin. No-one else comes close.

I hope anyone within reach of TP is able to be watching No Highway in the Sky right now

James Stewart is great so far as the perfect absent-minded boffin who has a theory about an inherent fault in the structure of a certain model of plane. He's so absent-minded he's going to board one of said planes and realise too late that if his theory is correct, he's DOOMED.....

Jack Hawkins, Wilfred Hyde-White and Dora Bryan have all appeared so far (oh, and a young Janette Scott - Thora Hird's RL daughter - as Jimmy's young daughter). Marlene Dietrich still to appear.

It's heaven

I am recording it, looked great on TV guide

And if anyone missed Halsall’s tip off as I did, you might be relieved to know there is another chance to see No Highway in the Sky on Tues 22 Jan at 14:35.

I love this thread. It’s the human equivalent of the Twilight Barking. 😂

Great analogy fleas

I have recorded it - looking forward to it. And Laura tomorrow!

I love the comparison to the Twilight Barking, fleas

I remembered (watching him in this aeronautical film) that James Stewart served as a pilot in WW2 and found a very informative article about him - including info on his stint based in the UK. A very distinguished career it was too; he was awarded the DFC and the Croix de Guerre.

He was. He had a pretty remarkable few months in 1940-41. Made the Philadelphia Story, won an Oscar, enrolled a month or so later and next thing he was flying missions over Europe. His pal Henry Fonda served in the Navy - he was 37, too old to be called up, but he was pretty determined to serve apparently.

In JS's biography, it talks about how when he came back from the war, he wasn't sure about making rom coms any more, because of the war experiences he'd had, they seemed too trivial. Also he was - obviously - older, and the likes of Gregory Peck had nipped in and taken a lot of those parts.

Am off to read that article now! James Stewart is my hero!!

Some of the older actors who served in WW1 had amazing war records too (as I'm sure I've blethered on about before). Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Ronald Coleman, Herbert Marshall - this is a fab article about them - same regiment.

Sister Celluloid

That's a wonderful link.
Thank you.

I love this thread. It’s the human equivalent of the Twilight Barking.

Brilliant!

Thank you for this link Parkin

Fascinating article Parkin, thank you. I've mentioned before on this thread that one of my great-aunts had a relationship with Herbert Marshall at around the time of WW1, when he was stationed nearby. She also had a baby (which, sadly, died).....I've often wondered.....

Halsall yes I remember you mentioning your great-aunt, how sad about the baby

I watched The Wicked Lady yesterday, and it was every bit as good as I'd remembered.

Why don't they make nice films like that any more?

Why don't they make nice films like that any more?

Because nowadays we know so much about the scandalous private lives of the actors that, sadly, we would never find them believable.

I was reading about James Mason after watching that film. The distribution of his estate after his death would have set AIBU alight. He left his entire estate to his second wife in the expectation that his children from his first marriage would enherit from her. However she hated them and allegedly left the whole lot to some unnamed Indian cult out of spite. They had to go to court over his ashes. Awful stuff.

WOW!

That's impressive stuff fleas! Did they get their money, I wonder?

Woof woof 🐕 🐕

Tomorrow’s offering at 6 pm is about the owner of a racing greyhound who loses faith in his dog’s ability. It’s called The Gay Dog.

Different times...

Aaaah! The innocence!

To the pure . . . .

APPOINTMENT WITH VENUS

London Live

14.45

Today

With the delightful David Niven