Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

Old Hollywood Movie Reviews: Musicals, Westerns, Comedies, Dramas, Mysteries - all the classic movies that make the Golden Age of Hollywood magical!

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: More Than Just a Favorite… Kind of An Obsession!

September 15, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Lobby Card

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet FrankensteinOne of my favorite things in the world is to watch old movies with my husband and one of my favorite things to watch are Abbot and Costello movies. There are few things any better than kicking back with Bud, Lou, and Michael (that’d be the husband).

One of my favorite of their movies is Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (Amazon link to the dvd). It is nothing short of Entertainment Heaven, each and every time I watch it.

I love this one to distraction – in spite of the fact it is the most inappropriately named movies of all time! Meet Frankenstein? Old Frank is seldom actually onscreen (especially when compared to Dracula or the Wolf Man) and doesn’t have much to say for himself when he is! I can only assume that since Frankenstein was big at the time, they went with Frankenstein over Dracula or the Wolf Man, both of whom are onscreen a lot more.

Title aside, I love everything about this movie. When you sit down to watch an Abbott and Costello movie, you do so with the intentions of leaving everything behind – work, chores, headaches, news, politics, crazy drivers, and so on. You have to just let yourself have fun and enjoy the laughs – you also have to remember that this particular movie was made in 1948, so the effects are going to be…. wellll, you can see more realistic effects on Scooby Doo, but Frank-ly I absolutely do not care.

Truth be told, they’re part of what makes this movie (and all classic movies, as far as I’m concerned) so darn special. I wouldn’t change a thing about this movie – not even the title, because in its own way it’s part of what makes Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein deliciously unique.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein features a wonderful cast. Count Dracula is deliciously played by Béla Lugosi. The Wolfman is brought to furry life by Lon Chaney Jr., and Frankenstein is played by veteran monster Glenn Strange.

At the end of the movie, watch (and listen) for an appearance by the Invisible Man. You’ll recognize the voice as that of Vincent Price. This was actually before he went on to superstardom.

Trivia:

The movie was originally titled, “The Brain of Frankenstein” (apparently they were adamant that Frankenstein appear in the title somewhere!)
The director was Charles Barton, a close friend of both Abbott and Costello’s. Most people consider him to the the duo’s best director.
One of the funniest scenes in the movie involves Wilbur (Costello) unknowingly sitting on Frankenstein’s lap. The scene required multiple shots because Costello was allowed to improvise, which caused Glen Strange (Frankenstein) to constantly break out laughing!
Charles Barton also directed 1959’s classic The Shaggy Dog .
Lenore Aubert (Sandra) was born in present-day Slovenia. She teamed up with the duo again 1949’s Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff.

Quotes:

Chick: I don’t get it. Out of all the guys around here that classy dish has to pick out a guy like you.
Wilbur: What’s wrong with that?
Chick: Go look at yourself in the mirror sometime.
Wilbur: Why should I hurt my own feelings?

Larry Talbot (Wolfman): You don’t understand. Every night when the moon is full, I turn into a wolf.
Wilbur: You and twenty million other guys.

Chick Young: You’re making enough noise to wake up the dead!
Wilbur Grey: I don’t have to wake him up. He’s up.

You can buy Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the hilarious perfection on Prime Video.

Lenore Aubert and Lou Costello

Lee Remick and George C. Scott: Anatomy of a Murder

August 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lee Remick and George C. Scott, Anatomy of a Murder

One of my favorite movies is Anatomy of a Murder (1959, directed by Otto Preminger), starring James Stewart, Arthur O’Connell, Eve Arden, Ben Gazzara, Lee Remick, George C. Scott,
Kathryn Grant, and Brooks West. It’s simply one of the best movies ever made, in my movie-fanatic opinion.

One of the most bumfuzzling things to me involves the wonderful actor (and scene-stealer extraordinaire) Joseph N. Welch who plays the role of the judge in this movie. This was his only film! He made this movie in 1959 and tragically died the following year.

I mean, granted, if you’re going to make ONE film, make it an iconic classic with James Stewart and George C. Scott but dang… we were robbed from so much brilliance from this actor.

This is such an extraordinary movie and, if you love great courtroom drama, it’ll be right up your alley. The script and direction from Preminger are outstanding but the movie gets its real magic from the cast.

James Stewart is outstanding as an unconventional small town lawyer and gives one of my favorite James Stewart performances. The always perfect Eve Arden and Arthur O’Connell are on his team and (as both stars always do) add a GREAT deal to the movie.

Ben Gazzara stars as a husband accused of killing the man who allegedly raped his wife (played to perfection by Lee Remick). He claims he was out of his mind when he did it… but was he? James Stewart is the lawyer who has to keep his hothead client out of prison while keeping his hotblooded wife from blowing everything sky high!

Brooks West and George C. Scott are the prosecutors who are trying to put the husband away by exposing the wife as a liar… among other things.

Brooks West was married to his co-star Eve Arden during this film (they remained married until his death in 1984). Remarkably, as was the case with Joseph N. Welch, this would be the only film Brooks West made. When you watch this movie, you’ll be as astounded by this as I am. These men should have given us many more films!

I simply can’t say enough wonderful things about this cast. Lee Remick, as she did in Sanctuary as Temple Drake, takes her character in many directions – often at the same time and it’s mesmerizing to behold. She created a complex character who was (at once) vulnerable, scared, self-destructive, loving, and flippant. In one particular courtroom scene she went from “devil may care” to “I care more than anything in the world” in two seconds flat.

Mesmerizing.

As a den chair film historian and dining room movie reviewer, nothing gives me greater joy (in the world of films, that is) than seeing an excellent actor or actress sinking their teeth into a great role. This particular film gives MULTIPLE instances of this and is one of the reasons I love it so much.

One of my favorite scenes is pictured above – George C. Scott, as ruthless prosecutor Claude Dancer, is interrogating Lee Remick’s character, Laura Manion. You can get a hint of the levels of talent these two possessed by their expressions. Her look of fear is palpable. He also gives another memorable performance when cross-examining another witness. Phenomenal actor.

I also appreciate the edge-of-your-seat scenes in the courtroom, mixed perfectly with humor (often coming from the wonderful Joseph N. Welch as well as James Stewart).

Due to the subject of rape, this isn’t anywhere near a “family film,” but it is one you will greatly, greatly enjoy.

You can find Anatomy of a Murder on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it right away on Prime Video. Personally? I’d recommend both. You’ll very much want this one in your collection.

James Stewart and Lee Remick

Between Two Worlds: Deliciously Unique, Edge of Your Seat Movie

August 18, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

I’ve already written about Between Two Worlds (1944) once or twice on the old Hollywood blog… but it’s so outstanding I’m here to do it all over again! To save myself from repeating myself too many times (something I am wont to do!), I’ll link to the most recent review I did of this extraordinary movie: Between Two Worlds Reminds Us Why We Fell In Love With Movies in the First Place.

The movie’s excellent cast includes John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Eleanor Parker, Sydney Greenstreet, Faye Emerson, Edmund Gwenn, Sara Allgood, George Tobias, Dennis King, and George Coulouris. Each one gives a flawless performance… absolutely flawless.

Between Two Worlds (Amazon link) is on dvd and will every now and then show up on TCM. It isn’t on Prime Video, yet, but I hope it will be one day soon.

James Stewart… A Favorite Actor in a Favorite Movie

April 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

James Stewart and Harvey

One of my absolute favorite actors is James Stewart. In fact, at any given time you can find me either watching or getting ready to watch a James Stewart movie or listening to/getting ready to listen to James Stewart’s radio show The Six Shooter.

He has been one of my favorites since I first saw him as a little girl in It’s a Wonderful Life and, over the years, I’ve only come to adore him more.

Have you ever seen Harvey (1950)? In spite of adoring the main actor, I somehow only saw it (for the first time) in the past year. Where have I been?!

Plot: James Stewart plays the lovable Elwood P. Dowd who has a constant companion named “Harvey.” This companion causes a host of problems for Elwood because he’s a 6 foot rabbit that only Elwood can see! Understandably, his family believes him to be insane – but is he? Or… is he more “in the know” than any of them?!

Harvey was masterfully directed by Henry Koster. He (brilliantly) took a suggestion from James Stewart that, in my opinion, worked to perfection – he changed many shots (making them wider) so that “Harvey” would be in the frame. It works like a charm… so to speak.

James Stewart later declared in an interview that Josephine Hull (who gave a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award-wining performance ) had the most difficult role in the film, because she had to believe and not believe in the invisible rabbit at the same time!

Director Henry Koster worked very well with his star, James Stewart. Koster said working with Stewart was “without any doubt one of the most pleasant experiences of my life…It must have been his spirit. There was very little friction, ever, only ambition and craftsmanship and precision, just doing it right professionally. On top of that he put the whipped cream of great talent…He was always the first on the set.”

The entire film experience must have been joyful – the entire cast and crew seemed to have a jovial time. As a joke, they would often set a chair for “Harvey”at lunch and order him something to eat. Love that!

Editorial Review:

James Stewart gives one of his finest performances in this lighthearted film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Stewart stars as the good-natured Elwood P. Dowd, whose constant companion is Harvey, a six-foot tall rabbit that only he can see. To his sister, Veta Louise, Elwood’s obsession with Harvey has been a thorn in the side of her plans to marry off her daughter. But when Veta Louise decides to put Elwood in a mental hospital, a hilarious mix-up occurs and she finds herself committed instead. It’s up to Elwood to straighten out the mess with his kindly philosophy, and his “imaginary” friend, in this popular classic that features a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award-wining performance by Josephine Hull.

You can watch Harvey on Prime Video or add the wonderful dvd (Amazon link) to your collection.

James Stewart

The Strawberry Blonde: Movies Do NOT Come Any More Perfect Than This One

November 15, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth, James Cagney, and Olivia de Havilland

One of the cutest, most enjoyable, best-written, all around BEST movies ever made starred three of Old Hollywood’s brightest stars: Rita Hayworth, Olivia de Havilland, and James Cagney. The Strawberry Blonde (1941, directed by Raoul Walsh) is one of the handful of films I call a “perfect movie.”

There is absolutely nothing that would keep this film from being called flawless. Many movies come close to perfect… as in thisclose… but they have one or more “throwaway” scenes or “filler” storylines. There is no scenes – not a single one – in The Strawberry Blonde that is a throwaway scene. Not a one.

How remarkable is that?!

Most of us know that, even with our very favorite films, there is a scene or more where… by gosh, if you need more salt on your popcorn, wait for that particular throwaway scene and make your run to the kitchen. The Strawberry Blonde has no such scene from the moment it begins to the moment it (perfectly) ends.

Flawless. Perfect.

Some movies fall short of perfection because of a kink in the casting. Again, that certainly isn’t the case with The Strawberry Blonde.

(Continued Below the legends…)

Rita Hayworth and James Cagney

Rita Hayworth and James Cagney are perfectly wonderful in their roles (as they were in every role they ever stepped into), but… and this is coming from Rita Hayworth’s biggest fan… this film gets its magic from Olivia de Havilland and her mesmerizing portrayal of Amy Lind. The character is written so wonderfully – she’s ahead of her time, feisty, fiery, daring, unique, and deliciously original.

Who in the world could play her other than an actress who was all of those things as well?! Olivia de Havilland was as perfect of a fit in the role of Amy Lind as anyone has ever been fit for a role. She knocked it out of the park and seemed to relish the role.

The only hint of a problem is that we are supposed to believe that Amy isn’t quite as attractive as Rita Hayworth’s Virginia (The Strawberry Blonde). Poppycock! Olivia de Havilland was as beautiful as anyone. Yes, EVEN Rita Hayworth.

The Strawberry Blonde is also perfectly directed – as in every scene, every “extra,” every line, every expression. Raoul Walsh was an extraordinary director and this was one of his greatest accomplishments.

In spite of loving Rita Hayworth as much as any star has ever been loved by anyone, I only fairly recently saw The Strawberry Blonde. I think I, ridiculously, kept putting it off because I didn’t think it’d be too good. Seriously, I looked at the costumes and I looked at James Cagney who seemed to me (THEN…not NOW!) to be out of place and I thought, “I’ll save this one for another time.” I had zero idea it would be as hilarious, colorful, and wonderful as it is.

Halfway through the third scene, I told myself, “Girl, you were a perfect twit to wait this long to see this one!”

If you’ve never seen The Strawberry Blonde… please, whatever you do, don’t be a twit like me and put if off another day. It is outstanding.

You can watch The Strawberry Blonde on Prime Video or add to your private collection and buy the dvd on Amazon!

The Strawberry Blonde

I Met Him in Paris, Starring Claudette Colbert, Melvyn Douglas, and Robert Young

August 29, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

I Met Him in Paris with Melvyn Douglas, Claudette Colbert, and Robert Young

Sometimes… not always, but sometimes… when two or more of your favorite stars hooked up in a movie, magic ensued. This is what happened with I Met Him in Paris, starring three of my very favorites Melvyn Douglas, Claudette Colbert, and Robert Young (though, admittedly, I spend the entire movie wanting Robert to get out of Melvyn’s way!).

This is an especially cute romcom from 1937 (directed by Wesley Ruggles). The film’s plot is somewhat of a love triangle between the three main characters: Kay (Claudette Colbert), George (Melvyn Douglas), and Gene (Robert Young). The problem is, one is concealing quite a secret.

The chemistry among the three stars is palpable and the writing is timeless.

Paramount leased the land owned by a local Sun Valley silver prospector, Gus Anderson, for 500 dollars and built the set for I Met Him in Paris… complete with a Swiss-like lodge! Gus Anderson and his family apparently moved into the lodge after filming was completed.

A few of the skiing scenes call for us old movie lovers to do what we do best… tell our high falutin’ expectations to take the day off. Is it perfectly believable? No. But as we all know, old movies are about entertainment and fun – and, come on, we wouldn’t have them any other way.

You can find I Met Him in Paris (link to the dvd) on Amazon.

And say it one more time with me… Get out of the way, Gene!

I Met Him in Paris: Melvyn Douglas and Claudette Colbert

Call Me Bwana with Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg

August 11, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg, Call Me Bwana

My husband doesn’t watch a lot of my beloved old movies with me, but he IS always game to watch any of these:

Rio Bravo or El Dorado
Bob Hope Comedies
Charlie Chan Movies
Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters Films
Some Elvis Movies

That’s about it… but, I’ll take it. My cats and I enjoy all of the others without him. If it’s a musical, we have to watch it without him even in the house! He just does not “get” the whole musical thing. Unless, of course, it’s Elvis, then it’s usually accepted.

He watched a fun Bob Hope movie with me a few weeks ago, Call Me Bwana with Anita Ekberg and Edie Adams as Hope’s leading ladies. We both enjoyed the movie a lot – truth be told, I’m not sure what sort of person wouldn’t enjoy a Bob Hope movie… but I darn sure know it isn’t anyone I would have married!

Bob Hope is his usual fast-with-the-jokes, lovable self. I also really liked Anita Ekberg in the role of Luba, but I loved Edie Adams as Frederica – I wish she had been in the movie even more than she was. Her chemistry with Hope was so natural and they played off of one another perfectly – nothing was “forced” about it at all.

Watch Call Me Bwana on Prime or buy the dvd on Amazon – either way, if you’re a Bob Hope fan, you’re in for a great time.

The Mad Miss Manton: Quirky Comedy Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda

May 17, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda Star in The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton (1938) is an especially fun film. When one sees that it stars two of the greatest talents of all time (Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda), they’d be inclined to think it might be a dramatic film – perhaps even bordering on film-noir.

One would be mistaken and it wouldn’t take them long to realize it!

Don’t get me wrong – I love it. I can’t think of anything either of these stars could be involved in that I wouldn’t love, though, so be warned – I may be biased. Having said that, films that allow you to escape into their madcap world of laughs and adventure are the heroes we need right now, aren’t they? Movies that don’t CAUSE extra stress or anxiety but help to ERASE any that may already exist – from… oh, I dunno… a global pandemic?!

Directed by Leigh Jason, The Mad Miss Manton delivers exactly what it sets out to – FUN.

Plot: Barbara Stanwyck plays the beautiful, lively socialite Melsa Manton who discovers a body. When said body disappears, police (as well as the press) think she’s nuts (“mad”) until she proves them wrong.

The chemistry between Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck is palpable – studios would capitalize on this chemistry again in 1941, when the pair made The Lady Eve together.

Every now and then, with my movie reivews or book reviews, I like to remind my readers why mine are so short when others create Literature 101-worthy productions.

This Old Hollywood and Classic TV Blog is only one of my blogs – the others require just as much attention… especially my cat blog. Very clingy blog, that one.
I don’t EVER like to give anything away. I want you to enjoy the adventure of the book, movie, or tv series just as I did.
I don’t play the “long content for Google advantages” game. It’s painfully obvious, kind of pathetic, and an insult to readers.
Mostly… what I think isn’t what’s important. What you think is. And the longer you spend reading what I think of books and movies, the less time you have to enjoy them yourself!

You can find The Mad Miss Manton (Amazon dvd link) on Amazon. I highly recommend it! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Harry Belafonte: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (1959)

February 1, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Harry Belafonte: The World the Flesh and the Devil

If you’ve never seen The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (Amazon dvd link) from 1959, don’t feel too badly. It’s a very difficult movie to find on tv and the dvd isn’t too easy to find either… but, my goodness, is it ever worth the effort.

Harry Belafonte does a phenomenal job in this film (as he does in all his films). He stars as Ralph Burton, a trapped miner who frees himself only to find that all of humanity has been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust.

Or has it?

He travels to New York City only to find it seemingly deserted.

The movie is at its absolute best when it is just Harry Belafonte’s Ralph – all alone in the world. It’s amazing just how entertaining it is to watch these scenes. It’s so enjoyable, in fact, that you kind of resent the other two characters showing up – especially Mel Ferrer’s jerk character Benson. Inger Stevens (Sarah) is likable enough to forgive her for intruding on Ralph’s world, but not Mel.

In fact, after he had been on the scene for just 3 minutes, I was yelling, “Why did you have to survive?!” at the tv. What can I say, I get into my movies – plus it entertains the cats, so it’s a win-win.

Don’t get me wrong, the movie is still good even after these two show up… BUT it is a perfect 10 before they arrive… a solid 9-1/2 after Inger arrives.. and a solid 8 when oh what’s-his-name comes dragging along. It’s not Mel Ferrer’s fault, mind you – great, great actor. It’s just that his character is about as likable as a two week stent with a stomach virus, topped off with pneumonia, pink eye, and a fractured kneecap.

Oh yeah, he’s a joy.

Having said all of that, I still give this movie a HUGE thumb’s up and a very high recommendation. Harry Belafonte is such an excellent actor and is always so compelling to watch – I’m honestly shocked he hasn’t been given the chance to headline more films. Inger Stevens is also a beautiful and talented actress and their chemistry is outstanding.

Until “he” shows up like a bucket of ice water on a fire the viewers are very much enjoying.

Movies From the 1950s

Many people who are fans of “Old Hollywood” tend to pick a decade (sometimes two) to focus on. Experience has taught me that (with obvious exceptions) there are a couple of “main” camps in the Old Hollywood crowd:

those who love the ’30s
those who love the ’40s
those who love silent films
those who love the ’30s and ’40s
those who love silents and the ’30s
those who love the 50s
those who love the 60s
those who love the 50-60s
those who love the 70s

Very few of us seem to love, embrace, and pretty much obsess over everything from silents through the 70s. I recently saw a poll on Twitter that asked you to name your favorite decade of films. NO WAY! I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to three… let alone two.. and LET ALONE (all caps) one. Seriously, the best I could do would be to go with a 4-way tie (30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s) and, even then, I’d do so begrudgingly.

For whatever reasons, movies from the 50s are often overlooked and left out of the hoopla. This is a total sham and a shame because there were some amazing movies in this decade. Absolutely, the 30s-40s were glamorous and mesmerizing and the 60s were gloriously colorful and over the top… but do not, not, not ever sell the 50s short.

The films they left behind is as wonderful as the music they left behind.

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil is just a wonderful movie and Harry Belafonte is especially phenomenal. If you aren’t already a fan of this ridiculously talented man, you will be after this film.

I happened to already be a fan of his (thanks to his music, Bright Road and Carmen Jones – which I watch probably 6 times a year), but this movie made me an even bigger fan. He bolted up into the ranks of Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Melvyn Douglas, Henry Fonda, and Robert Montgomery for me. My mind occasionally pauses to think what could have been had he been given the roles the other gentlemen enjoyed.

But then I get the blues and have to eat cookies to snap me out of it.

Please see The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (Amazon dvd link) as soon as you can.

Ava Gardner, The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

January 6, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner, The Barefoot Contessa

Ava Gardner’s The Barefoot Contessa (Amazon Link) is one of her more popular movies and roles. She’s breathtaking in the film and, itself, is a beautiful masterpiece. While it isn’t one of my favorite of her movies (simply because of the ending – I will fall out of love with a movie in a heartbeat if it doesn’t give me a happy ending!), it is one I highly recommend watching. I also, of course, recommend owning the dvd if you (like me) collect all of Ava and/or Humphrey Bogart’s films.

Obviously, given the fact that the movie begins at a funeral, I knew the unhappy ending was coming, but ever-the-optimist, I was hoping for a big reveal. Had that been the case, this would be among my favorites movies.

The story and the acting are truly enjoyable and, as I said earlier, it’s a visual stunner.

With both of these stars (Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart) being favorites of mine, it may seem unusual for me to say this, but (in my opinion anyway), yet another actor steals this film. Edmond O’Brien (as Oscar Muldoon) gives a wonderful, often hilarious performance and literally steals scenes left and right.

Plot: Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner) was a beautiful star who touched many people’s lives. At her funeral, several of these people remember her and the impact she left on their life. Humphrey Bogart plays Harry Dawes, a fairly washed up writer/director ho was hired by rich producer Kirk Edwards to use Maria Vargas in a film and make it a hit.

Oscar Muldoon (played to perfection by Edmond O’Brein) is a stereotypical PR man who adds so much more to this film than I can convey.

The fast-paced, larger than life world that Maria finds herself in… in the end… destroys her.

Again, this isn’t a “feel good” movie but it is a “FEEL” movie as it will move many of your emotions, often simultaneously.