Classic B&W in order of viewing (ongoing)
My fascination with Classic Cinema, from the start.. Films from Hollywood's Golden Age in approx. order of viewing, NOT in order of preference.. Black & White films from the Silent era 'til the early Fifties, mainly Romance or Drama, with a sprinkling of Musicals, Screwball and Crime also..
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- DirectorNorman FosterStarsLoretta YoungWilliam HoldenRobert MitchumA widowed farmer takes an indentured servant as his new wife, but the arrival of his old friend threatens their burgeoning relationship.I blame it all on Loretta! I stumbled across this Western/Romance on some minor channel while "revising (!)" my final exam 6 years ago. Since then I've seen many of her wonderful films, and while this is by no means her most outstanding work, the sweetness and honesty of the simple romance bring me back to rewatch it often.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsClark GableClaudette ColbertWalter ConnollyA rogue reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops along the way.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsLaurence OlivierJoan FontaineGeorge SandersA self-conscious woman juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat's wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife's spectral presence.
- DirectorJean CocteauRené ClémentStarsJean MaraisJosette DayMila ParélyA beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.
- DirectorPreston SturgesStarsBarbara StanwyckHenry FondaCharles CoburnA trio of classy card sharks targets a socially awkward brewery heir, until one of them falls in love with him.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsMargaret SullavanJames StewartFrank MorganTwo employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal.
- DirectorSam TaylorStarsMary PickfordCharles 'Buddy' RogersSunshine HartA department store's stock girl falls in love with a co-worker, the son of the store's manager; the feeling is mutual though he is engaged to a debutante and focusing on becoming successful without the influence of his father.I was lucky enough to find this on YT at one point (since taken down). My first silent film, I was stunned by the emotion and warmth portrayed just through facial expressions and little gestures. I'd definitely recommend this as an introduction to Silent film - it's adorably sweet, but mostly without the melodrama of some other Silents. My favourite scene: Mary & Buddy's lunch in the crate - adorable!
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersEdward Everett HortonAn American dancer comes to Britain and falls for a model whom he initially annoyed, but she mistakes him for his goofy producer.As the first Fred & Ginger movie I ever saw, Top Hat had me so hooked I just had to watch their other 9 films together (as you see below). This unequalled dancing pair have such charm and chemistry that you don't even notice the usually nonsensical plots. And how infectious is it just watching them move around the floor?!
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersVictor MooreRoguish gambler/dancer "Lucky" Garnett is challenged by his fiance's father to come up with $25,000 to prove he's worthy of her hand. But after he falls in love with a dance instructor, Lucky'll do anything to keep from earning the bucks.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersEdward Everett HortonA ballet dancer and a showgirl fake a marriage for publicity purposes, then fall in love.
- DirectorWilliam A. SeiterStarsIrene DunneFred AstaireGinger RogersAn American jazzman and his buddy woo a Russian princess and a fake countess in Paris.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersRalph BellamyA psychiatrist falls in love with the woman he's supposed to be nudging into marriage with someone else.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersRandolph ScottA Navy sailor tries to rekindle a romance with the woman he loves while on liberty in San Francisco.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersAlice BradyA woman thinks a flirting man is the co-respondent her lawyer has hired to expedite her divorce.
- DirectorH.C. PotterStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersEdna May OliverThe story of the dancing team who taught the world to two-step.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsHumphrey BogartAudrey HepburnWilliam HoldenA playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur, but it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her.
- DirectorWilliam WylerStarsGregory PeckAudrey HepburnEddie AlbertA bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome.
- DirectorDon HartmanRudolph MatéStarsGinger RogersCornel WildePercy WaramA woman is noted for leaving her bridegrooms at the altar until a dashing fireman walks into her life.After watching all the Fred & Ginger movies above, I started looking up Ginger's other films, which range from the silly but sweet (like this one and "Rafter Romance" below) to touching stories dealing with deeper issues, such as "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Bachelor Mother". Ginger was certainly far more than "Fred's partner". I don't know how to describe "It Had To Be You" - the plot would look ridiculous written down, but somehow I find myself watching it often and loving the humour, the very palpable chemistry between Ginger & Cornel, and even the crazy concept..
- DirectorWilliam A. SeiterStarsGinger RogersNorman FosterGeorge SidneyA man and a woman share an apartment on a shift basis, never seeing each other; she dislikes him until they actually meet.I know Norman Foster's voice and acting talents are not to everybody's liking, but I just adored him and Ginger in this boy-meets-girl tale based in the big city. Plus it's a charming peek into urban life, work and flirting in the Thirties! I've been looking for any similar work by Mr Foster for a while, but haven't come across anything yet. Funnily enough, I discovered recently that the film which got me started watching B&W Cinema was directed by none other than Norman Foster (see #1!)
- DirectorMitchell LeisenStarsClaudette ColbertDon AmecheJohn BarrymoreA chorus girl stranded in Paris is set up by a millionaire to break up his wife's affair with another man, while being romantically pursued by a cab driver.
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsMiriam HopkinsKay FrancisHerbert MarshallA gentleman thief and a lady pickpocket join forces to con a beautiful perfume company owner. Romantic entanglements and jealousies confuse the scheme.
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsGinger RogersCary GrantWalter SlezakIn Europe at the start of World War II, a woman notices that wherever her husband goes, the Germans seem to follow. Meanwhile, a charming reporter is following them.
- DirectorAlexander HallStarsLoretta YoungMelvyn DouglasAlan MarshalIn Paris, the estranged wife of a wealthy banker hides a fiery communist fugitive in her apartment.
- DirectorJohn M. StahlStarsIrene DunneRobert TaylorCharles ButterworthThe life of spoiled rich Robert Merrick is saved through the use of a hospital's sole resuscitator, but because the medical device cannot be in two places at once, it results in the death of Dr. Hudson, a selfless, brilliant surgeon and generous philanthropist. Merrick falls for Hudson's widow Helen, although she holds him responsible for her husband's demise. One day, he insists on driving her home and makes a pass at her. She gets out of the car and is struck by another car, then goes blind. Merrick talks to a friend of Dr. Hudson who tells him that her husband had a philosophy: to help people, but never let it be known that you are the one helping them. Only then, he believed, could there be true reward in life. Merrick watches over Helen and visits her during her recuperation, concealing his identity and calling himself Dr. Robert. When he finds out that she is nearly penniless, he secretly pays for specialists to try to restore her vision. Finally, she travels to Paris and is told that her eyesight is gone forever. Robert follows her, confesses his true identity, and proposes marriage. She forgives him but leaves, not wanting to be a burden to him. Years later, Robert puts himself through school and becomes a brain surgeon. He learns that Helen urgently needs an operation, which he performs. When she awakens, her sight has miraculously returned.
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsIrene DunneCharles BoyerMaria OuspenskayaA French playboy and an American former nightclub singer fall in love aboard a ship.