This monthly wrap-up will be rather brief, as I’m in the midst of studying and doing coursework for finals week. I’ve still managed to watch a movie between all the work though! Also, instead of showcasing the usual 5-6 top favorites of the month, I’m just going to highlight 3 that really stood out to me.
New-to-Me: 30
Re-Watched: 8
New-to-Me Films by Decade:
- 1920s – 2
- 1930s – 10
- 1940s – 5
- 1950s – 6
- 1960s – 5
- 1970s – 1
- 1980s – 0
- 1990s – 0
- 2000s – 0
- 2010s – 1
List of New-to-Me Films:
- The Racket (1928)
- Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
- Send Me No Flowers (1964)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)
- The Swan (1956)
- Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1960)
- The Moonlighter (1953)
- Escape from Fort Bravo (1953)
- Honolulu (1939)
- Neptune’s Daughter (1949)
- Never Let Me Go (1953)
- His Brother’s Wife (1936)
- Show People (1928)
- Hide-Out (1934)
- Lola (1961)
- Golden Boy (1939)
- Family Plot (1976)
- On an Island with You (1948)
- Bunny Lake Is Missing (1966)
- Carnival Boat (1932)
- Merrily We Live (1938)
- Big Brown Eyes (1936)
- Day-Time Wife (1939)
- Midnight (1939)
- Lola Montès (1955)
- Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
- The Long Voyage Home (1940)
- The Tender Trap (1955)
- The Naked Kiss (1964)
Monthly Tallies
- Best Picture Nominees Watched: 2
- Movies Watched from The Criterion Collection: 4
- Movies Watched via the Watch TCM app: 21
- Movies Watched on TCM: 2
- Movies Watched on Hulu: 1
- Movies Watched in theaters: 1
Trends and Notes
- Watched 3 films from the year 1953, 2 of them in a row.
- Watched 4 films from the year 1939, 2 of them in a row.
- Watched 2 films directed by Edward Buzzell in a row (though I had a re-watch in between).
A Few Favorite Discoveries:
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), directed by Robert Hamer
I’d only heard great things about this movie, so I had to watch it in honor of Sir Alec Guinness’ centennial! And it really exceeded my expectations, I loved the dark, British humor in this. Guinness did a brilliant job playing eight(!) distinct characters. Dennis Price also gave a really great performance and was able to hold his own when sharing scenes with Guinness.
Lola (1961), directed by Jacques Demy
This is only the second film I’ve seen from Jacques Demy, and so far he’s had a great track record with me, I look forward to seeing more of his work (and getting my hands on that Criterion box set!). It’s amazing that this was his directorial debut, I loved the story and how different subplots paralleled each other. Anouk Aimée is also just lovely in this.
Midnight (1939), directed by Mitchell Leisen
I had a great time watching this film, everyone in the cast is just delightful. I haven’t seen John Barrymore in too many movies, but so far this is my favorite role of his, he was hilarious! Claudette Colbert worked well alongside him and Don Ameche. The only other film I’ve seen Ameche in is Heaven Can Wait, and I just thought he was so charming in that, and he was equally great here, so it’s a sign that I need to see him in other films. I also can’t forget to mention Mary Astor, who is great as the high society wife of Barrymore. Another great screenplay by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder!
