IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly

Today I'm reviewing one of the best, in my opinion, screwball comedies of the 30s.

PLOT:  Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) runs away from her father (Walter Connolly) after he finds out that she has eloped with King Westley (Jameson Thomas).  She runs into fired newspaper man Peter Warne (Clark Gable) who tells her that if she gives him an exclusive, he'll lead her to Westley.  Ellie agrees and the two set off on a journey together.

Ellie and Peter fall in love during the course of the journey. At the wedding ceremony, Ellie runs away to find Peter and marry him.

REVIEW: Witty one-liners and funny jokes make up the bulk of this movie, starring two people that are often viewed as serious actors.  This is simply a funny film and it's great fun for the whole family (minus the leg show by Colbert).  5/5

Trailer:

1984 (1984)

Director:  Michael Radford
Cast:  John Hurt, Suzanna Hamilton, Richard Burton, Cyril Cusack

I've been wanting to watch this film for about a week now, after having read the novel and enjoyed it.  I've heard it's very accurate, so let's see how it goes!

PLOT:  Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a thirty-nine-year-old depressed, oppressed citizen living in Airstrip One (the UK) in the super state of Oceania, which combines the Americas, New Zealand and the British Isles.  He works for the Ministry of Records, producing goods for INGSOC, English Socialism, headed by Big Brother.  The government is totalitarian, with two-way "telescreens" that watch an Outer Party citizen's every move, scarce food and awful living conditions.  He meets a fellow Outer Party member, Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), and the two fall in love, using sex as rebellion.  Eventually, however, they are captured and tortured and Winston loves Big Brother, and Julia no longer loves him.

REVIEW:  As with any film adaptation, if you haven't read the book, do so before watching the movie.  The beginning of the film is absolutely haunting and serves to drive home the message that Orwell sought to tell.  The music is amazing, one of the most beautiful film scores I've ever heard.  The settings are dark and depressing, setting the mood.  There are some funny moments, hard to believe, such as Winston's dejected Napoleon Dynamite-ish face when he wakes up in the morning to do his morning exercises.  The film is a bit scary at times due to its dark imagery and attention to face detail (see:  the prostitute Winston visits).  All in all, the film stays true to the book and really puts into vision the picture of this totalitarian society that Orwell had in mind. 5/5    

Trailer (the entire film is available on Amazon Prime Instant):

My Fair Lady (1964)

Director:  George Cukor
Cast:  Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Jeremy Brett

First saw this film in my freshman year of college.  We watched it for my Linguistics class, and as you'll see, there's a good reason why.  The film is based on George Bernard Shaw's play, Pygmalion.  The musical theater version starred Julie Andrews.

PLOT:  Uppity professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) bets his rival, Zoltan Karparthy (Theodore Bikel) that he can transform girl-from-the-slums Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) into a lady by teaching her proper English and grooming her.  This, obviously, is a difficult task, but Eliza finally makes it by some miracle ("the RAIN in SPAIN stays MAINLY in the PLAIN"), and even manages to fall in love along the way.

REVIEW:  This musical is one of my favorites; great songs and a great cast.  A very unexpected role for Audrey Hepburn to take, and her singing voice IS dubbed, but she is funny and does well.  Of course, no one expects Rex Harrison to be able to sing, so his solo is mostly him talking, but it is funny nonetheless.  The film is basically a classy version of NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE, except without teenagers.  4 out of 5 stars.

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)

Director:  George B. Seitz
Cast:  Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Judy Garland

Well, Happy New Year, everyone!  Sorry, I haven't been reviewing in a while, but I'll be reviewing two films today.

PLOT:  The film starts off interestingly.  I say that because the film fades into an opening scene of Andy (the now late and great Rooney) sleeping next to a magazine featuring his crush, socialite Daphne Fowler (Diana Lewis), as the front page.  Interesting for a post-code picture.

Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) has to go to New York to work on a case involving an orphanage and decides to take the whole family.  Andy is reluctant to go because Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) and Beezy Anderson (George P. Breakston) printed the story about how he knows Daphne in the school newspaper.  Typical high school drama, even in the 40s!

While in New York, Andy runs into an old friend, Betty Booth (Judy Garland).  However, desperate to find Miss Fowler, he asks his mother (Fay Holden) to write a letter of recommendation for Miss Fowler.  He takes the letter to Daphne, but her mother pushes him away.

Andy goes to a restaurant and is unable to pay the bill.  Meaanwhile, Judge Hardy is able to solve the orphanage case.  By some luck, Betty knows Daphne, so she takes Andy to a high-society party where he finally meets her and shuts his gigantic mouth.  They kiss, even though they don't want to and promise to write to each other.

REVIEW:  As with any Andy Hardy film, this film is funny and light-hearted.  It's always fun to see Andy come of age and, in this film, fail miserably at Roman history.  Judy, who I normally find unbearable, sings 2 songs:  "Alone" and "Nobody's Baby" beautifully.  4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer: