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 this is a long thread so apologies if people have already mentioned the following .

Passport to Pimlico
Kind Hearts and Cornets (or Coronets)
The Lodger (only saw that the other day)
The Ladykillers
Whistle Down the Wind
Gone with the Wind
and my favourite This Happy Breed

@WhentheRabbitsWentWild

All of those films are in my favourites (except Whistle Down the Wind, just can't cope with Hayley Mills) but This Happy Breed is absolutely top of the list. Love it!

Anyone mentioned Random Harvest, with Greer Garson? Another treat.

I know I keep saying it but I do love this thread, it's so warm and friendly. (Not like the scarey end of the playground that is much of Mumsnet...)

Bookmarking this thread for future reference. We've just started watching all the Hitchcocks. I'd never seen Psycho before, amazingly. Was so scared I had to watch several episodes of The Good Life afterwards to recover. DH went and had a shower straight after!

Do you guys get the monthly emails from TP?

@HebeMumsnet

I was like that with The Lodger . Had heard it spoken of for years but never watched it . Found it on YouTube the other day and gave it a watch . Glad I did .

I had never seen anything with Merle Oberon in before The Lodger .
What a beauty she was.

Welcome WhentheRabbits and Hebe! We're a friendly lot here indeed if slightly obsessed

I'm just watching a great little British thriller on TP called Wanted for Murder (1946). Eric Portman is the son of a hangman who's murderously fixated on his father's profession. He's after lovely young Dulcie Gray. The police are after him and it's all winding up to the big final chase in Hyde Park. There are loads of just-post-war London location shots too

Halsall sounds just the ticket!!

I had a lovely day of film viewing planned for today as I was home alone for most of it, but pesky tasks got in the way.

Hi Hebe and Rabbits. There are lots of Hitchcock fans here - and Rabbits I'm sure Random Harvest has been mentioned as a favourite by a PP - I haven't seen it though, will add it to my list!

Wasn't she just, Rabbits?

"Old" film stars do seem much more physically gorgeous (and certainly considerably more glamorous) than the ones we have now.

Thank You @Hallsall

@SchadenfreudePersonified . I have no sexual leanings toward women, but I find its ok to say other women are beautiful, if they are or were, and when she first appeared on screen it took my breath away if that makes sense ? Same as Marilyn Monroe . Think if I met either, in real life, I would be struck dumb at such beauty

I'm not attracted to women either Rabbits, but like you, I can acknowledge the sheer physical gorgeousness of someone of my own sex (or the opposite!).

I also think that the male stars of the B&W era were bloody lovely - Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Herbert Lom, Charles Boyer and many many others.
We had a small discussion about Men in Monochrome and how much more attractive they were early on in the thread.

BTW - thanks for the tip-off about "The Lodger" on Youtube. I've just watched it - it was great! The sheer melodrama! (And I'd forgotten what a fabulous voice George Sanders had . . . )

My all time favourite old film has to be,imitation of life. Was my granny's favourite film and I remember her introducing it to me when I was 13. It's simply beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time.

A reminder that A Matter of Life and Death is on BBC 2 at 1.50pm. Beautiful film.

Thanks Eve! I keep remembering about the film but forgetting to actually set the box - have just done it now. But might try and watch "live"!

@thatsmyspace

Imitation of Life was Lana Turner's come back after the scandal involving her daughter, Cheryl, killing Lana's boyfriend , gangster Johnny Stomponato .

@Schaden Glad you enjoyed it . Was very melodramatic . I do like the black and white movies for that.

DAVID NIVEN in conversation on BBC2 in 10 mins @ 1pm

subtitles thanks for the tip off about Talkingpics emails, I've just signed up

You're welcome

Thanks Subtitles and everyone for the various tip offs I've signed up for TP emails as well.

I noticed from the film types I follow on Twitter that Ida Lupino was born OTD in 1918. There is a great episode of the You Must Remember This podcast about her, and how she began directing films when there were barely any women directors in Hollywood - I think in the 40s there was a gap of a good few years when no films at all were made by women. So she is really interesting to me for that reason - but also she was in The Adventures of Sherlock's Holmes so naturally I have a soft spot for her anyway!

Also: look at her hair!! Beautiful. This pic is from the You Must Remember This website, v v highly recommended if you haven't listened before.

I meant to say that 4 Feb was also Nigel Bruce's birthday, a nice Sherlock Holmes connection with Ida

I love Nigel's Dr Watson - I know he was nothing like the character in the books, but he just made him so funny and loveable. He was always my favourite when we watched those films as kids. Here is is looking very dapper.

Very disappointed with "A Matter of Life and Death" - I saw it years ago and loved it; this time round I thought it was dire (liked the guy who played the doctor who acted as David Niven's counsel, though.)

Oh - thanks for the website recommendation Parkin

Also - I like Nigel Bruce, too.

I've been really getting back into You Must Remember This again too, PrivateP . I especially enjoy listening at night in bed and lying in the dark being enthralled by Karina Longworth's voice - it's hypnotic!

Yes, her voice is great ("Join us, won't you?"). I think she's on a kind of hiatus at the moment, but there are loads of old episodes. I think the Star Wars series was my favourite (not about the George Lucas films - but about stars and WW2).