lazy sunday movie thoughts

[lagilman]

They're running a special on Cary Grant on PBS.

Now I want to have a Cary Grant film festival. I have To Catch A Thief, natch, and have seen Charade, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Topper. Oh, and Notorious. I was thinking of The Awful Truth, and maybe Indiscreet and North by Northwest. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Comments

[j-bluestocking.livejournal.com]

His Girl Friday and Holiday.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Second that on His Girl Friday, but I'd also add Philadelphia Experiment -- that was also Grant, right?

C. K. DEEEEXXXTERRR HAAAAAAVEN.

(Most people don't get it when my partner yells that at conventions, but works better than trying to yell SOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL across a crowded room, for some reason.)

[lagilman]

I've caught bits of HGF before, and for some reason (heresy, I know) it never 'grabbed' me.


And I think you're thinking of The Philadelphia Story which I have seen already, yeah, but could stand to see a third or fourth or fifth time...

"Lydia, the tattooed lady..."

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

What I liked best about HGF was the fact that--unlike most movies of its time--the lines are so wham-wham-wham, piling up on top of each other. Can't even take a breath within a line, let alone between them, which makes it a very tight and fast-feeling movie. But then, I'm a sucker for women like Rosalind Russell, with that dry tone and just a bit of a smirk. She makes a great foil for Cary Grant.

Ehhh...did you mention Arsenic and Old Lace already?

[j-bluestocking.livejournal.com]

That's okay; my heresy is The Philadelphia Story, which I find watchable only for the charm of the actors with light dialogue. I dislike the entire theme -- "Bitch goddess thinks she's too good for ordinary men! Let's toss her in the mud till she comes 'round!" -- and the apex of disbelief, for me, is when it's implied that her father's infidelity is her fault because she didn't worship him blindly enough, so he had to go out and find firm young woman-flesh who'd do that in her place.

Yes, yes, I know I'm no fun at all. I'll just go stand over here...

[j-bluestocking.livejournal.com]

But really. The Philadelphia Story strikes me like something written by the bastard love child of John Norman and Noel Coward. Freaky and disturbing, yet with moments of entertainment.

[lagilman]

Yes, yes, I know I'm no fun at all. I'll just go stand over here...

S'okay, I'll be standing there with you -- that's the reason I've never watched it more than once -- the root concept annoyed me much. But the charm is considerable, and I'm able to look at it as the product of its time...

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Riiiiiiight. Experiment. That's the one with the boats. *headdesk*

Why, yes, today has been a long one. Why do you ask? ;D

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Bringing Up Baby (where Cary Grant slides the first film use of the word "gay" to mean homosexual past the censors). Philadelphia Story is supposed to be really fantastic, but I haven't seen it yet.

[kradical.livejournal.com]

You need to watch His Girl Friday from beginning to end. Trust me, you'll like it.

[eeknight.livejournal.com]

One of my favorites of his is Father Goose (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058092/), because Grant is so good at being offbeat and rupled -- the charisma is still there but it's far, far from his usual debonair self.

Plus Trevor Howard gives a great comedic performance.

[debg.livejournal.com]

Oh gods, yes. Leslie Caron's character, dopey, drugged, telling him ever so confidentially, "I like what you did to my leg."

Context, I don't need no stinkin' context...

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

Definitely The Philadelphia Story, which I think is one of the greatest comedies ever made.

[debg.livejournal.com]

Bringing Up Baby!

[vincam.livejournal.com]

"Bringing Up Baby" and "The Philadelphia Story."

[cawriter.livejournal.com]

My Favorite Wife. Irene Dunne is lovely in this, too.

[nachtswerg.livejournal.com]

Add my vote to the Bringing Up Baby and Father Goose camps. Both are just plain fun!

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

I was named after Cary Grant. Too bad that's not particularly interesting or relevant to a film festival. Ah, well.

[gastonmonescu.livejournal.com]

I realize I'm coming very late into the game here, but I must recommend The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, and Rudy Vallee. Plus, a lot of funky wordplay.

[(Anonymous)]

An Affair to Remember, Bringing up baby, and the Bishop's Wife