I love EDGE OF DARKNESS! I have recommended it to so many people - none of whom listen to me or even like old movies - because I think it is a great, underappreciated gem. I created a list on Letterboxd called Hidden Gems, and it was specifically for movies like that. Douglas Sirk's 50s melodramas are really fricking good. They also look fantastic on Criterion's Blu-rays. ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS is my favorite of the bunch. It's beautifully shot, and man...are Jane Wyman's kids awful! About SANTA FE TRAIL - I guess with me being Southern, the story element of John Brown being a terrorist isn't too alien a concept, and with the knowledge that matters of race were handled differently in the 40s in mind, those things tend to not bother me as much in older movies, unless they show egregious blackface or Stepen Fetchit-like characterizations. I don't agree with the 40s mindset on race, but growing up, there were older people I knew who thought and spoke differently about such things, so again, the opinions are not an alien concept to me. I love old movies, and occasionally those things are sprinkled in.
Became a huge Dorothy Malone fan after seeing her Oscar-winning work in "Written on the Wind" (she won Best Supporting Actress). I think she's even better in "The Tarnished Angels," another classic Douglas Sirk, with Rock Hudson and Robert Stack again costarring alongside Malone. And if you haven't seen them, I highly recommend Gina Lollobrigida in 1956's smash hit "Trapeze," (which really raised her profile in America), wherein she excels as both movie star and actress opposite Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, and 1968's "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell," (the basis for "Mamma Mia!") with Gina leading a fantastic cast. I have a tribute to Malone on my channel, and wrote about Gina in "Trapeze" on my blog (And Your Little Blog, Too) after her passing.
Yes, keep it going! Very often, my motivation for visiting any channel is simply to be introduced to new things to watch. The randomness of the monthly review suites my interests perfectly; I would guess that they do the same for others. Because I have already seen some of the movies on in your lists, ranking them helps me make my own comparisons. Definitely keep this going!
Been enjoying your videos, I love your enthusiasm, motivates me to try watch a movie every once in awhile. Do you think on these types of videos in the future you could put a list of the movies your covering in description? It would make it easier to write the movies down that sound good, just a suggestion, thanks.
What a great month! makes me feel I have some catching up to do as there were quite a few I haven't seen (in any format) starting with the 2 Bennett/Grant outings. Even if they're not perfect, I always love a good Joan Bennett performance. Definitely my favorite of the Bennett sisters. Interesting that their billing changed between the two movies with Cary Grant's star on the rise. Even though they both had long successful careers, this is the era Grant starts to move into the rare megastar tier that Bennett never quite achieved. Enjoyed when you pointed out that Frances Drake's asset, her "giant eyes that bug out with terror," might not be perfectly suited to the romantic comedy genre. Just thinking about her trying to sneak her calling card into scenes where it's not welcome makes me laugh. I have to admit I am curious to watch even Santa Fe Trail now to see just what they got wrong. I think you had said last month it was, in part, about John Brown who was an actual historical abolitionist figure and considered a hero (to the North) at the time. Maybe they have introduced a revisionist viewpoint? have to have a look (even if it's "gross" haha 🤣). Great post.
Love this comment! Yeah there’s nothing bad about those two Grant/Bennett movies, and I did quite enjoy Big Brown Eyes. They just don’t stand out a great deal, but that’s ok. Nothing wrong with movies being only “good”! Yeah I don’t discourage checking out Asante Fe Trail for yourself and seeing what you think! It’s at least a bizarre part of film history that would never happen again. lol
I love EDGE OF DARKNESS! I have recommended it to so many people - none of whom listen to me or even like old movies - because I think it is a great, underappreciated gem. I created a list on Letterboxd called Hidden Gems, and it was specifically for movies like that.
Douglas Sirk's 50s melodramas are really fricking good. They also look fantastic on Criterion's Blu-rays. ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS is my favorite of the bunch. It's beautifully shot, and man...are Jane Wyman's kids awful!
About SANTA FE TRAIL - I guess with me being Southern, the story element of John Brown being a terrorist isn't too alien a concept, and with the knowledge that matters of race were handled differently in the 40s in mind, those things tend to not bother me as much in older movies, unless they show egregious blackface or Stepen Fetchit-like characterizations. I don't agree with the 40s mindset on race, but growing up, there were older people I knew who thought and spoke differently about such things, so again, the opinions are not an alien concept to me. I love old movies, and occasionally those things are sprinkled in.
haha Her kids in ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS are a nightmare. Great movie, though!
Became a huge Dorothy Malone fan after seeing her Oscar-winning work in "Written on the Wind" (she won Best Supporting Actress). I think she's even better in "The Tarnished Angels," another classic Douglas Sirk, with Rock Hudson and Robert Stack again costarring alongside Malone. And if you haven't seen them, I highly recommend Gina Lollobrigida in 1956's smash hit "Trapeze," (which really raised her profile in America), wherein she excels as both movie star and actress opposite Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, and 1968's "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell," (the basis for "Mamma Mia!") with Gina leading a fantastic cast. I have a tribute to Malone on my channel, and wrote about Gina in "Trapeze" on my blog (And Your Little Blog, Too) after her passing.
Yes, keep it going! Very often, my motivation for visiting any channel is simply to be introduced to new things to watch. The randomness of the monthly review suites my interests perfectly; I would guess that they do the same for others. Because I have already seen some of the movies on in your lists, ranking them helps me make my own comparisons. Definitely keep this going!
Well that’s all I need to hear! haha Really appreciate the encouragement, I will definitely keep it going.
Been enjoying your videos, I love your enthusiasm, motivates me to try watch a movie every once in awhile. Do you think on these types of videos in the future you could put a list of the movies your covering in description? It would make it easier to write the movies down that sound good, just a suggestion, thanks.
Excellent quick reviews! I look forward to this series. 🙂
Much appreciated!
The classic movies have dry nonchalant pointed insults without using vulgar language.
I just bought Written on the Wind yesterday! Loving these Douglas Sirk films
Nice! Glad to know you’re another Sirk fan!
What a great month! makes me feel I have some catching up to do as there were quite a few I haven't seen (in any format) starting with the 2 Bennett/Grant outings. Even if they're not perfect, I always love a good Joan Bennett performance. Definitely my favorite of the Bennett sisters. Interesting that their billing changed between the two movies with Cary Grant's star on the rise. Even though they both had long successful careers, this is the era Grant starts to move into the rare megastar tier that Bennett never quite achieved. Enjoyed when you pointed out that Frances Drake's asset, her "giant eyes that bug out with terror," might not be perfectly suited to the romantic comedy genre. Just thinking about her trying to sneak her calling card into scenes where it's not welcome makes me laugh.
I have to admit I am curious to watch even Santa Fe Trail now to see just what they got wrong. I think you had said last month it was, in part, about John Brown who was an actual historical abolitionist figure and considered a hero (to the North) at the time. Maybe they have introduced a revisionist viewpoint? have to have a look (even if it's "gross" haha 🤣). Great post.
Love this comment! Yeah there’s nothing bad about those two Grant/Bennett movies, and I did quite enjoy Big Brown Eyes. They just don’t stand out a great deal, but that’s ok. Nothing wrong with movies being only “good”!
Yeah I don’t discourage checking out Asante Fe Trail for yourself and seeing what you think! It’s at least a bizarre part of film history that would never happen again. lol