Classically Quotable

Must-See Movie: High Society

High Society (1956)
With a stellar cast and some catchy tunes, this is a no-brainer to see...but there are still some cons that go with the pros of how "must-see" this movie is.

Here's the story:  Jazz musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby) still holds a torch for his ex-wife, Rhode Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly). He stays at a neighbor's house, bringing his full jazz band (including Louis Armstrong) to disrupt Tracy's upcoming nuptials to to a boring but wealthy man (John Lund).  But that's not the only conflict.  Reporter Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Celeste Holm) from Spy Magazine, a fictional tabloid newspaper, are there to cover the wedding.  They are essentially blackmailing their way in, holding on to some embarrassing information about Tracy's father.  So to prevent the tabloid from getting the true story, Tracy begins an elaborate charade, pretending to be overly snobbish and frivolous, as well as introducing the tabloid to the wrong people.  To make matters even more confusing, Mike falls in love with Tracy, and she wakes up on the day of her wedding confused and unsure of what to do.

Must-See Movie: Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet (1958)
I got the chance to watch this movie over the weekend (as Dyno watched football). It's yet another Doris Day comedy where a man pretends to be someone else after he finds out she hates him, although she's never met him.

James Gannon (played by Clark Gable), the gruff city editor of a newspaper, believes that the only way to learn the business is by doing, and so thinks college education is superfluous. Thus he's not pleased when he's invited to lecture at a college journalism class. He turns down the invitation and writes a nasty letter to the instructor. Yet his editor-in-chief orders him to go. When Gannon shows up to confront Professor Erica Stone (played by Doris Day), he finds her attractive. Before he is able to introduce himself and apologize for the letter, Erica reads it aloud and mocks Gannon before the entire class.

Humiliated, he decides to join the class to show her up, posing as a wallpaper salesman named Jim Gallagher. As they circle around their mutual attraction, they both begin to gain respect for each other's approaches to reporting news.

I found myself laughing out loud many times during the movie. Especially whenever the character of Dr. Pine was on-screen. Played by Gig Young, the character is the successful doctor that Gannon sees as his competition for Erica's affections. Young has played these types of characters before (especially in Doris Day movies), and he's always hilarious. His role in this film, however is different in that we don't know what kind of relationship he has with Erica.

Gable is great in this comedic role (much like his gruff It Happened One Night character), and his reactions are priceless. The only thing distracting is the obvious age difference between Gable and Day. Apparently the movie was deliberately filmed in black & white in an attempt to disguise Clark Gable's age and weight. And other actors turned down the role, seeing that there was such a huge age difference (Cary Grant and James Stewart, allegedly -- although it didn't seem to bother Grant in That Touch of Mink). But all in all it was a fun movie to watch and laugh along with.

Happy Birthday, Jimmy Stewart!

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a Jimmy Stewart imitation myself."

"I'd like people to remember me as someone who was good at his job
and seemed to mean what he said."

"I don't act. I react."

"I'm the inarticulate man who tries. I don't really have all the answers, but for some reason, somehow, I make it."

"If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, speed it up a little."

Crushing on Jimmy Stewart

[Legendary Men MySpace page]

Must-See Movie: Bell, Book and Candle

Bell Book and Candle* (1958)
Kim Novak and James Stewart reunite the same year they did Vertigo to play a witch and a human man trying to figure out romance among magic.

Gillian Holroyd (Novak) is a witch living in a modern (1950's) Manhattan apartment with her Siamese cat, Pyewacket. Feeling lonely, she asks Pyewacket to give her for Christmas her upstairs neighbor Shep Henderson (Stewart). She doesn't seem to mind that he's marrying an old nemesis from college; Gillian easily casts a spell over Shep and he is entranced. But now she must wonder if she's being taken over by a larger power: Love.

The supporting cast is outstanding. Jack Lemmon plays a fantastic role as Gillian's wild bongo-playing brother Nicky, and Elsa Lanchester plays their Aunt Queenie.

But what I found most bewitching is Kim Novak herself: her sultry voice, her fantastic wardrobe fashioned by Jean Louis, and her stunning eyes that are more cat-like than Pyewacket's.

Director Richard Quine captures Stewart and Novak's chemistry perfectly. A scene starts with a shot of their bare feet entwined and pans out to reveal them canoodling on a couch; the sexiness and romance of their relationship is palpable. Quine also directed How to Murder Your Wife - another great Jack Lemmon movie that will definitely be a future Must-See Movie.
*The way the title is punctuated is debatable...some use the commas, others don't. We're going by IMDb.

Must-See Movie: Harvey

Harvey (1950)
Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, a simple man who frequents bars and makes friends with derelicts (sounds like my buddy Lou). But even more unusual is his invisible friend, a 6' 3 1/2" white rabbit named Harvey.

Those most affected by Dowd's tall furry friend are his sister and niece that he shares a house with. Josephine Hull (also from Arsenic and Old Lace - another Must-Rent Movie) plays his frantic sister who's trying to put him in a mental institution. But when she drops him off, the medical staff thinks that she's crazy and comedy ensues.

This movie was adapted from a play, and is therefore very conversational - there aren't real action scenes - but it's fast-paced due to it's quick wit and comedic timing. Especially good are the moments when Dowd and Harvey are together, as the camera has allowed enough room for both to be in the frame.

One of the best lines from the movie that I strive to live by is spoken by Jimmy Stewart:

Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me.

We will, Jimmy. We will.