Classic Films - A Goal for 2011

One of the things that I am attempting for 2011 is to watch classic films. Unless they were on television, I never really watched them before. I thought I would share my progress so far.

Some Like it Hot

When musicians Jerry (Jack Lemmon) and Joe (Tony Curtis) accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, they get out of town the only way they know how -- dressed as women. But things heat up on the road when they meet a curvy blonde (Marilyn Monroe) who plays the ukulele. This legendary screwball comedy reveals dark, hilarious roots with its transvestitism, palpable sex and winning performances that helped it earn classic status.

This was my first Marilyn Monroe movie and it was very entertaining!

Casablanca

In this Oscar-winning classic, American expat Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) plays host to gamblers, thieves and refugees at his Moroccan nightclub during World War II ... but he never expected Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) - the woman who broke his heart -- to walk through that door. Ilsa hopes that with Rick's help, she and her fugitive husband (Paul Henreid) can escape to America. But the spark that brought the lovers together still burns brightly.

For some reason I wasn't crazy about this movie... I think I might have to try it again at some point.

My Fair Lady

In this classic cinematic version of the Broadway smash, Audrey Hepburn is at her most radiant as Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl transformed into a poised duchess by Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison, reprising his Broadway role). The restored and remastered special edition includes an audio commentary with crew members and Doolittle's singing voice, Marni Nixon. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

I wanted to love this movie, but the bad singing and the horrible ending didn't do a lot for me... I wrote a longish review of this one here.

Funny Face

Fred Astaire's inimitable dancing feet come full circle in George and Ira Gershwin's airy 1957 musical gambol about high-fashion photography in Paris, co-starring Audrey Hepburn as a newly discovered fashion model. Paris (and Hepburn) have rarely looked better thanks to Ray June's luminous cinematography, and the classic score includes songs such as "S'Wonderful," "He Loves and She Loves" and the title tune.

This was a good movie. I was starting to think that I wasn't crazy about Audrey Hepburn, but there was something about this movie that really appealed to me...

The Philadelphia Story

Socialite Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) prepares to remarry, but her ex (Cary Grant) and a tabloid reporter (Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner James Stewart) have other ideas as they converge on her home for a fateful visit. The three stars form an incomparable trio in one of the most tantalizing screwball romances ever. And under the direction of George Cukor, this once-urbane Broadway comedy springs to life with precision and wit.

I loved this movie! The wit was fantastic! I think I like Katharine better than Audrey so far. It was brilliantly done.