Tuesday, December 13, 2011

For anyone interested in classic films

Robert Avrech - Hollywood writer and unapologetic conservative – is putting together a list of his 20 favorite films of the 1940s (first ten here, the next five here, the rest to come next week).

I have seen most of the movies highlighted, and Avrech opines with a sure eye and ear for quality. I was particularly glad to see Barbara Stanwyck so well represented; from screwball comedy to film noir, she could do it all.

8 comments:

  1. Wonder if Command Decision(1948) will make his last five?

    Wuthering Heights just missed by a year. My Man Godfrey was also in the thirties.

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  2. The Postman Always Rings Twice should be in there.

    Since he simply ran right over Casablanca I don't expect Key Largo to be in there.

    A great movie that probably doesn't meet his dramatic sensitivities would be The Bishop's Wife. I'm sure that's not in there either.

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  3. YoJ: Those are also outstanding picks.

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  4. I'll be looking for Out of the Past, White Heat and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

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  5. I'd ceertainly vote for Blandings!:)

    He blew by two Fonda favorites as well. Those being The Grapes of Wrath and The Ox-Bow Incident.

    Stagecoach and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington were both 1939

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  6. Glad he didn't have Citizen Kane, but I'm partial to Magnificent Ambersons.

    'Black Narcissus' - Yes, really anything by Powell/Pressburger, and I'm grateful to Kathy Shaidle for reminding me why I like 'Colonel Blimp' so much.

    Kathy here.

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  7. Bruce: I agree that Colonel Blimp is a masterpiece. I greatly admire Roger Livesey - in fact, all of the performances in that film were outstanding. Also loved him, and Wendy Hiller, in I Know Where I'm Going.

    Thanks for that link to Kathy's article.

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  8. The Third Man is coming up(1949). That may make it.

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