[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqGiPiDnA4c?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]

BALL OF FIRE (1941)

starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. Released by R.K.O.

I just saw this movie and consider it the “crowd-pleasing” kind. It entertains as it exaggerates the stereo-types of it’s era. From the 1940s, and all about style—-of speech. It’s a comedy-crime-romance about a group of daffy professors living together like the 7 dwarfs in the story of “Snow White” because they are hard at work, writing new encyclopedia entries. And, one of them decides to write about the funny slag words that many were using at the time, and to do this, a shady, wise-cracking club singer becomes his subject of study. It’s almost like a 1940s twist on the “Snow White” fairy-tale, except funnier and with jazz music!

NOTE: In addition to the excellent stars of this film, it is worth seeing for it’s top-notch supporting cast, featuring some of the finest character actors of the time! One even went on to become the voice of Droopy the dog in the MGM cartoon shorts, if I’m not mistaken.

8/10.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dTBvvSnKPs?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]

MEET JOHN DOE (1941)

starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper, released by Warner Bros.

December isn’t over yet, so one last Christmas movie is in order! I recommend Meet John Doe, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. It’s the 1941 predecessor to It’s a Wonderful Life and the perfect alternative! In fact, I like it 10 times better!

Yes, MEET JOHN DOE is without a doubt my new favorite movie (excluding my childhood fav, Mary Martin’s Peter Pan, of course) the film I love the best, top’ a the list, number one!! The full film is here, for those of you who are all burnt out on the better known classics.

I think if you like movies with a message of love, movies that make you smile, those that resonate with human longing, and enthusiasm, and reconciliation, you’ll love this! And, if you are a Stanwyck fan as I am, this is a must-see!

1941 was a big year for Stanwyck, who starred in three of the most well-received hits of her career—-Meet John Doe, The Lady Eve, and Ball of Fire. So successful was this string of movies that they caused Miss Stanwyck’s career to hit a high that wouldn’t be topped until three years later, with the release of Paramount Pictures’ film-noir triumph, Double Indemnity.

Meet John Doe was the second of that 1941 trio of hits, and the most heartwarming. So, keep warm this winter the movie way, with Meet John Doe!

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKrrAa2o9Eg?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]

DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

Double Indemnity = one of the best films of all time! Barbara Stanwyck, Fred McMurray = great leads! If you like beauty, if you like mystery, if you like rainy nights and lovely Spanish-style homes, if you like twists and turns, and a touch of sweetness through all the trouble, watch this, watch this, watch this!!

WARNING: This film is accompanied by a wonderfully fitting musical score that is so smooth and yet dramatic, that it will even haunt your daydreams!

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

80 Years, 80 Movies: The Project

How eclectic are you in your movie-watching?

How familiar are you with the distinctive styles of each respective decade that characterized the movie-making of the times?

What’s *really* your favorite movie-making period? Do you have one?

You can answer these question for yourself by considering all the movies you can remember ever seeing and when they were made. And, from there, list one movie per year, and you will begin to discern just how historical your viewing habits are.

NOTE: Because there are so few Silent-era films available for viewing, start your list at 1930—-the first year of all “talkies”.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 80 years, 80 movies PROJECT:

1. Make a list numbered from 1 to 80 (and from 1930 to 2010)

2. See which years are missing movies, watch movies for those and fill-in-the-blanks.

3. Once your list is full, share it with your friends,

3a post trivia about one film a day, starting from 1930 onward. You can post on Facebook, your blog, anywhere!

3b To get the trivia, visit IMDb or other movie sites, like TCM.

4. Once you reach 2010 again, you will have taught yourself and others a wonderful lesson in cinema, covering 80 years in less than 2 months!

So, let’s get started! Re-blog this, to inspire your friends to get started too!

[Look for my own posts for the project, beginning later this week.]