Holiday Classics: “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947)

“The Bishop’s Wife” is a lovely little comedy that isn’t unlike “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which was released the year before. Only in this movie, the focus is every bit as much on the angel as it is on the man he’s providing guidance for. Cary Grant plays the angel Dudley, who answers Bishop Henry […]

Holiday Classics: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944)

The Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a standard during the holidays, and has been ever since Judy Garland first sung it in the 1944 MGM musical “Meet Me in St. Louis”. But if it wasn’t for Garland, it probably would have been a much different song. Martin […]

Holiday Classics: “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (1942)

Writers Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman based the character of Sheridan Whiteside in their play “The Man Who Came to Dinner” on real life critic and radio personality Alexander Woollcott. They were both good friends with the man, although one day Woollcott came to Hart’s house unexpectedly and instantly took it over. Hart later […]

Holiday Classics: “Tenth Avenue Angel” (1948)

“Tenth Avenue Angel” is a sweet holiday story starring Margaret O’Brien, one of the top child stars of the 1940s. In this movie, O’Brien tugs at the heartstrings as usual playing Flavia, the eight-year-old daughter of Helen (Phyllis Thaxter) and Joe (Warner Anderson). They live in a poor neighborhood in Depression-era New York City with […]

Holiday Classics: “Scrooge” (1951)

The 1951 British film “Scrooge” (released under the title “A Christmas Carol” in the U.S.) is one of the best versions of Charles Dickens’ story ever to be put on screen. It embodies everything the story is supposed to be about. Alastair Sim plays the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, as he is visited by the ghost […]

Holiday Classics: “Holiday Inn” (1942)

Don’t get me wrong, I love “White Christmas”. But there’s something special about “Holiday Inn”, the 1942 film that 1954’s “White Christmas” was a loose remake of. “Holiday Inn” follows song and dance team Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) and Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire). Jim plans to retire to his farm and marry the other member […]

Holiday Classics: “Love Finds Andy Hardy” (1938)

“Love Finds Andy Hardy” is the fourth of sixteen “Andy Hardy” movies, and the best, in no small part due to the addition of Judy Garland to the cast. This film marked the second time the soon-to-be-popular duo of Mickey Rooney and Garland appeared on screen together, and their chemistry is nothing short of perfect. This […]

Holiday Classics: “Fitzwilly” (1967)

“Fitzwilly” is a silly story told with a sophisticated sense of humor, largely thanks to Dick Van Dyke’s portrayal of classy, intelligent butler Claude Fitzwilliam, nicknamed Fitzwilly. Fitzwilly is the head of the staff working for elderly heiress Victoria Woodworth (Edith Evans). Miss Woodworth believes she is rich, her father having left her a large inheritance. […]

Holiday Classics: “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940)

Soon after he wrapped filming his romantic comedy “The Shop Around the Corner”, director Ernst Lubitsch told a newspaper regarding the movie, “It’s not a big picture, just a quiet little story that seemed to have some charm….I hope it has some charm.” The film is, in fact, overwhelmingly charming, and is Lubitsch’s best work. […]

Review: “Wander Darkly”

What was, what is, and what could have been—these things and more are explored in the metaphysical wanderings of Adrienne (Sienna Miller) following a traumatic accident. A new mother whose relationship with her boyfriend and daughter’s father Matteo (Diego Luna) is on the rocks, Adrienne re-experiences their love story—its high points, low points, and everything […]