The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

In 1873, the Amberson’s are at the height of society. Nearly undefined daughter Isabel (Dolores Costello) is wooed by the young men of the town, in particular bland (though we’re not supposed to think he’s bland) Eugene (Joseph Cotton). Though we are told she loves him, sticking with the old ways, she marries some guy

Battleground (1949)

Battleground (1949)

During the Battle of the Bulge—December 1944—the 101st Airborne Division is moved to Bastogne. We follow a number of soldiers (Van Johnson, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, George Murphy, Herbert Anderson, Ricardo Montalban, Don Taylor, John Hodiak, Marshall Thompson) as they fight, suffer, die, and try to survive in the days they are trapped, surrounded by

Johnny Belinda (1948)

Johnny Belinda (1948)

We are in the far off dark land of post-war Canada, where a deaf-mute is assumed to be unable to think and feel by the primitives that live there. Enter Doctor Noble Dogoodery (Lew Ayres). He wanders about, doing good, until he meets virginal deaf-mute Belinda (Jane Wyman). She has never been taught anything in

An American in Paris (1951)

An American in Paris (1951)

American expatriate painter Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is picked up by a wealthy divorcée (Nina Foch).  She becomes his patron, with an eye to becoming his lover, but he falls for Lise (Leslie Caron), an anonymous young shop girl. However, she has a secret: She’s engaged to a successful singer (Georges Guétary) who also happens to

Cat People (1942)

Cat People (1942)

Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon), a Serbian immigrant, falls in love with Oliver Reed (Kent Smith), and they quickly marry. Irena refuses to consummate the relationship, believing that arousal would turn her into a panther. Eventually, Oliver persuades her to see psychologist Louis Judd (Tom Conway), but he is more interested in getting his hands on

Contact (1997)

Contact (1997)

Faithless, and therefore unhappy, astronomer, Dr. Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster), searches for years for signs of extraterrestrial life.  Along the way, she is thwarted by shortsighted scientist Dr. David Drumlin (Tom Skerritt), and she meets  man-of-faith, Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), who will later become an advisor to Bill Clinton.  Finally, she discovers a broadcast from space

Hamlet (1948)

Hamlet (1948)

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Laurence Olivier), upset that his mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) has married his uncle Claudius (Basil Sydney) just two months after the death of the old king, is informed by his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet vows revenge, but moves slowly, feigning madness, rejecting and abusing the young Ophelia (Jean

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Mildred Pierce (1945)

It’s not the mystery, or the emotional impact, or the philosophical theme that make this film a pleasure, as it has none of those. It’s the humor. This is a movie to laugh at (not with), and occasionally just to stare at in disbelief.

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Housewife Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her self-absorbed husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move to an apartment next to a strange old couple (Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer). Rosemary becomes pregnant, but this happy event is also the beginning of her paranoia and fear that witches want her baby. Along with The Omen and The Exorcist, Rosemary’s

Touch of Evil (1958)

Touch of Evil (1958)

In 1958, Film Noir was no longer original. Either by design (like Sunset Blvd.) or by mistake (like  Touch of Evil) Noirs had been reduced to parodies. And this parody documents the fall of Orson Welles. Few have fallen farther.