Movie Recs

[thedeadlyhook]

More for National Movie Recommendation Day...

The Greatest Show on Earth: Huge old fave of mine, an extremely broad, colorful, and scenery-chewing Cecil B. DeMille extravaganza about the life of the circus! Of course, this is circus done Hollywood - Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey get the full-on melodrama treatment, complete with stenotorian voiceover about the hardship of life on the circus road (you see a big top construction scene that virtually mirrors the one in Disney's 1941 circus movie Dumbo - little visual plagarism on DeMille's part, if you ask me), plus complicated love triangles, witty dialogue, snarky banter, spectacular high wire acts, Cornell Wilde in tights with ze cheeziest Lothario accent of all time!, abrasively funny Betty Hutton, extremely likable Gloria Grahame, and Charlton Heston (sue me, I heart the guy - his voice just makes me swoon) looking particularly young and dishy in an Indiana Jones leather jacket and hat. Rowr. There's also a very famous actor, whom I also heart with all my heart, in full makeup throughout the film as a clown. He's identifiable by voice alone, which I won't give away, because I still remember the little thrill I got when I figured it out, all those years ago. God, I love that movie.

Destry Rides Again: Ever wonder about that trope of New Sherriff Rides into Town and Shows Baddies the Door, Often Helped by Outsider Character Who is Also Insider Character With the Baddies and Who May be a Whore With a Heart of Gold? This is the original movie of that story, filmed in 1939. With James Stewart and Marlene Dieterich. It's way better than you'd expect. And I dare you not to cry at the ending. For bonus points, watch this film and see what I thought was wrong with the ending of "Chosen."

The Band Wagon: Because this list needs a musical, and although I adore Singin' in the Rain - you may have noted by now I love cheese, and haven't even gotten into my passionate lurve for Gene Kelley - The Band Wagon (1953) is a much more obscure movie, only available as far as I know on VHS but worth tracking down. Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. Directed by Vicente Minnelli. You also get Oscar Levant, for those who are always amused by the guy and his hair-throwing piano performances, like a mad alcoholic Beethoven. It's the story of a troupe putting on a stage show, and the challenges they face - Astaire is the fading star on the comeback trail, Charisse the up and coming ballerina breaking into modern for the stage. A modish new director thinks musicals are easy - hah! It's wry, dry, hilarous, and romantic by turns, with some fab dance numbers and corny stage acts. It's a regular candy box of a movie, a '50s sampler of everything vibrant about the theater and movie art. (The Private Eye dance scene at the end is a show-stopper, as is the hysterical "Triplets" number - listen to the lyrics carefully.)

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

The Greatest Show on Earth. Did you know that the role of Holly was originally played by Lucille Ball but she became pregnant and dropped out? And of course I know who played Buttons as well.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I thought Lucille Ball was going to play the elephant-rider girl Angel, but I may be getting them mixed up because Gloria Grahame is also a redhead. I do remember hearing stories about how agressively Betty Hutton went after the role, learning trapeze and doing an athletic performace to convince DeMille. Reminded me of those stories about Sean Young going after the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns.

Dear, dear Buttons. My teenage heart had quite the crush. (sigh...)

[paratti.livejournal.com]

The triplets number is indeed a classic.

Unlike the exercrable last scene of Chosen, which was so foul and offensive there are no words to express it's sheer level of appallingness.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Like I said, Destry does it right. The look in Stewart's eyes could melt through plate steel in that scene. And then the bittersweet little coda with the kids singing... I tear myself up just thinking about it.

And thinking of Marlene Dieterich as the Spike character really does give you an interesting spin on that film.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

I lurve Destry Rides Again . But I love My Darling Clementine even more, and, embarrassing though it is to admit it, I love Rio Bravo even more than that. {sigh} They just don't make Westerns like they used to any more.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

My guilty pleasure in this category would probably be something like Winchester '73, so I don't know how embarrassed you should be. ; )

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Winchester '73? Oh, yum! Hmm, maybe it's time for a new icon...

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Be still my heart. That oh-so-intense glare...

[asta77.livejournal.com]

There's also a very famous actor, whom I also heart with all my heart, in full makeup throughout the film as a clown.

That was my favorite part of the movie. Amidst all the melodrama and glitz, you had this simple, heartbreaking story.

Because this list needs a musical, and although I adore Singin' in the Rain - you may have noted by now I love cheese, and haven't even gotten into my passionate lurve for Gene Kelley

I don't know if my love is passionate, but I do adore Gene Kelly. Singin' in the Rain is my favorite movie musical. I don't think it's possible to watch that movie, even if you are in a horrible mood, and not find yourself with a smile on your face. :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

So true. I usually lose my bad mood by the time that guy pops up in the film premiere audience to scream "Zelda! Zelda!' in the opening scene. And then where can you go but up, especially with Kelley hamming it up to the max. "Dignity. Always dignity." : )