Cinema Classics: “Mrs. Miniver” (1942)

Winston Churchill once claimed that the film “Mrs. Miniver” did more for the war effort than a “flotilla of destroyers.” It is certainly a wonderful film as well as a bit of a historical relic, an American-made movie giving a glimpse into what the citizens of Great Britain were up against, right before the U.S. […]

Cinema Classics: “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947)

“Gentlemen’s Agreement” is not a favorite of mine. At times, it drags. Few of the characters are very likeable. Even director Elia Kazan later said that he didn’t care for this movie, despite winning an Oscar for it—the relationships, he believed, felt forced, and the film overall lacked passion. That much is true, but “Gentleman’s […]

Cinema Classics: “La Strada” (1954)

Italian director Federico Fellini considered “La Strada” (“The Road”) to be his most personal film. The story of two people who stay together without really knowing why came to him first in the form of vague, somber feelings, with the lead female character ultimately being inspired by his wife Giulietta Masina. Masina ending up playing that […]

Cinema Classics: “Roman Holiday” (1953)

William Wyler’s “Roman Holiday” is more than a romantic comedy; to watch it is to see a real-life fairytale unfold onscreen. The Cinderella-like plot involves Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn), the ruler of an unknown country, who embarks on a European tour. While in Rome, stifled by her sheltered life, Ann escapes the embassy for one […]

Cinema Classics: “Gigi” (1958)

From the advent of talking pictures, MGM Studios became known for producing lavish musicals. Their credits include such landmark films as “The Wizard of Oz”, “Singin’ in the Rain”, and “Gigi”, the latter being the one that many consider the last great MGM musical. “Gigi” is so French it almost parodies the lavish culture and people […]

Cinema Classics: “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” (1927)

We are one week away from the 93rd Academy Awards, so this week I’ll be counting down with some reviews of some of my favorite winners from past ceremonies. Perhaps the best way to emphasize the importance of director F.W. Murnau’s landmark film “Sunrise” is to look at the Oscars it won at the very […]

Holiday Classics: “White Christmas” (1954)

Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas” had been out for around twelve years by the time a new movie musical of the same title that revolved around his music was made. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz, the plot of “White Christmas” is derived from the 1942 musical “Holiday Inn”, which also starred Bing Crosby and […]

Holiday Classics: “Carol for Another Christmas” (1964)

“Carol for Another Christmas” is one of the most interesting adaptations of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. It was director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s first foray into television after a profilic film career, and was based on a script by Rod Serling of “The Twilight Zone” fame. The TV movie was the first in a series […]

Holiday Classics: “Beyond Tomorrow” (1940)

In the grand scheme of classic holiday films, the 1940 drama “Beyond Tomorrow” remains largely forgotten. It’s rather a shame, because it’s quite a charming story, about three wealthy but lonely businessmen—George (Harry Carey), Allan (C. Aubrey Smith), and Michael (Charles Winninger) who find themselves without guests on Christmas Eve. Each man decides to throw […]

Holiday Classics: “In the Good Old Summertime” (1949)

While its title suggests the opposite, “In the Good Old Summertime” is a musical set primarily during the Christmas season. In fact, it’s a remake of the Ernst Lubitsch comedy “The Shop Around the Corner”, which is also considered a holiday classic. The setting of this version of the story is moved from 1930s Budapest […]