King Solomon’s Mines (1937) King Solomon’s Mines (1950) King Solomon’s Mines (1985) Allan Quartermain, the great white hunter, finds himself, against his better judgment, as the guide for a rescue party into “uncharted” Africa. Their destination is the diamond mines of King Solomon, an old wives’ tale. Along the way they pick up an unusual
The Misfits (1961)
Recent divorcée Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) and her divorce-enabling friend Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter) run into Gay Langland (Clark Gable), an aging and bitterly nostalgic he-man cowboy, and Guido (Eli Wallach), a lost widower. The men immediately start competing for her. Though neither of them exhibit any qualities she’s interested in, she moves in to
La Dolce Vita (1960)
Marcello (Marcello Mastroianni) is a playboy and entertainment reporter, living adjacent to the rich and famous, and though that proximity and his own charms, he is living the sweet life. He hangs out at night clubs, bars, and parties, often with Paparazzo (Walter Santesso), his photographer, at his side. In the course of a week,
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Author Paul Varjak (George Peppard) stumbles into the life of flamboyant escort Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn). Though kept by a wealthy, married woman (Patricia Neal), he falls for Holly and tries to win her affections. But Holly, who is intoxicating to all, is scared of anything that might tie her down, and spends her time
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Charismatic British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) is meant to act as a liaison between Arabian Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and the British, but he pushes to do more. Uniting differing tribes, with leaders of differing personalities (Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn), he leads the Arabs in battle against the Turks, getting more and more obsessed
The Servant (1963)
Upper-class slacker Tony (James Fox) decides he needs a manservant, so hires the efficient Barret (Dirk Bogarde), who seems almost as anachronistic as Tony, but additionally there is something sinister about him. Tony’s sharp and disdainful fiancée Susan (Wendy Craig) is immediately antagonistic toward Barret, though to little effect. He brings his wanton sister Vera
The Lion In Winter (1968)
Aging King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) has decided to hold a Christmas court at an out-of-the-way castle in order to deal with the question of succession. In attendance, besides peasants and soldiers, will be the queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), who he has had imprisoned for the past ten years, and their three sons,
Gaslight (1944)
This is one of those movies that has made its mark on modern culture while few people of recent generations have seen it. “Gaslighting” has become a verb, used normally in a political context and often dealing with feminism. Of course the terms current usage defines something quite mild compared to what happens in the
Gone With the Wind (1939)
It’s back in the good old days when we still had slaves, because that was great. Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) is an obnoxious, mentally-deficient, self-absorbed tourette-sufferer who we should love because she has a hot bod and is a bitch, which equals sexy. In their slave paradise, she’s surrounded by people like Melanie—who’s a Madonna,
Rebecca (1940)
Rich and imposing widower, Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) quickly marries a lower class introvert (Joan Fontaine). The Second Mrs. de Winter—that’s the only name she’s given—has problems fitting in at Manderley, his ancient estate, and is constantly doubting herself, afraid that her husband can only love his dead first wife, Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers (Judith
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)
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