Quotable 5-Star Movies By Jan
Feb 06 '05
The Bottom Line Many of these would be nice on Valentine's Day...
Released from 1932 to 2002, these ten movies share some things in common. They are profoundly quotable (the IMDb provides many for each), they are immensely re-watchable and they are supremely lovable in terms of characters and stories. Except for Trouble In Paradise and Gilda, I think most kids would enjoy them. Many have catchy tunes, impressive hoofing, sassy or romantic love stories and witty humor; while a few are more suspenseful and sexy for a more mature audience.
Like the many other lists I’ve made, these are movies I have greatly enjoyed in the past few months, but haven’t had the time or inclination to review. This does not mean I love the movies any less, but only that the movies have already been well reviewed or I am too busy with other projects.
In order of their release:
1932 Trouble in Paradise (Ernest Lubitsch, director; Aladar Lazlo for play, Grover Jones for adaptation); starring Herbert Marshall, Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis, Edward Everett Horton.
Ultra-suave thief means to rob a pretty, young lady (Lily), but he finds out she is not who she says she is and falls for her. Together they have fun robbing people and each other, then things get pretty hot for them. This is a fast-paced, black-and-white comedy set in romantic Paris with sultry lovers and goofy supporting characters.
Lily Vautier: Darling, remember, you are Gaston Monescu. You are a crook. I want you as a crook. I love you as a crook. I worship you as a crook. Steal, swindle, rob. Oh, but don't become one of those useless, good-for-nothing gigolos.
1944 Cover Girl (Charles Vidor, director; Erwin S. Gelsey for story, Marion Parsonnet for adaptation); starring Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Phil Silvers, Eve Arden, Otto Kruger, Lee Bowman)
Kelly plays a small-time manager/director of a Brooklyn vaudeville house where he and Hayworth’s actress/dancer character are in love, but she has dreams of Broadway that can come true if she leaves Brooklyn behind. There’s a lot of excellent singing and dancing (think Singin’ in the Rain but with his alter-ego) and a charming story that includes a pearl found in an oyster, Vogue magazine, and Hayworth in gorgeous dual roles.
Gene Kelly: I wanted to further the plot emotionally and not just be a musical interlude. But unless you’re in a ballet, you just can’t start to dance...so in Cover Girl what I decided to do…was not state my thesis in a song, but in a few words which came over the soundtrack as if they were my stream of consciousness and then go into a dance.
‘Stonewall’ Jackson (Vogue magazine woman about Hayworth's character the second time meeting her): You’re not leaping. Why aren’t you leaping?
1946 Gilda (Charles Vidor, director; E.A. Ellington for story, Jo Eisenger for adaptation); starring Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia.
This is considered ultimate film noir. A crime boss’s right-hand man meets his boss’s new wife and goes gaga over her. He has a very tough time staying away from her, especially when he’s supposed to protect the wild, sexy woman.
Johnny Farrell: Doesn't it bother you at all that you're married?
Gilda: What I want to know is, does it bother you?
1949 On The Town (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, directors; Adolphe Green, writer); starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Vera Allen.
Another wonderful musical, this time with sailors on leave in New York going after the ladies like Lucy and Gabey. If you’re in a bad mood, watching this can’t help but put you in a better mood. The dancing is exuberant and stylish, the songs award-winning.
Lucy Schmeeler: Did you see "The Lost Weekend"?
Gabey: Yes. I think I'm living through it.
1961 One, Two, Three (Billy Wilder, director and writer; Ferenc Molair for play); starring James Cagney, Arlene Francis, Horst Buhholz, Pamela Tiffin.
This is a rather zany political comedy in the time of the cold war. An American businessman’s daughter plans to marry a boy from East Germany, but will he become a communist or capitalist? What about their future kids?
C.R. MacNamara (Cagney's character): On Sunday, August 13th, 1961, the eyes of America were on the nation's capital, where Roger Maris was hitting home runs #44 and 45 against the Senators. On that same day, without any warning, the East German Communists sealed off the border between East and West Berlin. I only mention this to show the kind of people we're dealing with - REAL SHIFTY!
1989 Heathers (Michael Lehman, director; Daniel Waters, writer); starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk)
Hilarious teenage movie that spoofs all that’s wrong or silly with high school. Teenage angst now has a body count! It’s off-beat, fairly dark and not very romantic at all. I had a terrible time choosing just one quote and chose two.
Veronica Sawyer (teen murderess): Suicide gave Heather depth, Kurt a soul, and Ram a brain. I don't know what it's given me, but I have no control over myself when I'm with J.D. Are we going to prom or to hell?
Veronica's Mom: When teenagers complain that they want to be treated like human beings, it's usually because they are being treated like human beings.
1990 Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton, director and story; Caroline Thompson for story); starring Johnny Depp. Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Alan Arkin)
Moving story of a boy invented by a man who dies before hands can replace the boy’s scissor hands. An Avon lady discovers him, brings him home and gives him a family and friends. He tries to fit in, gives haircuts and falls in love, but his innocence gets him in trouble.
Bill (welcoming neighbor): Soup's on!
Edward: I thought this was shish kabob.
1994 Ed Wood (Tim Burton, director; Rudolphe Grey for book, Scott Alexander, writer); starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murray)
This pretty much tells the true story of Ed Wood who was a transvestite director of the lamest movies, such as Plan 9 From Outer Space, which I still need to see! Depp again amazes with his versatility. Lisa Marie cameos as Vampira.
Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I met Bela Lugosi.
Dolores Fuller: Why, I thought he was dead.
Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, he's very much alive. Well, sort of.
1997 The Man Who Knew Too Little (Jon Amiel, director; Robert Farrar for book and screenplay); starring Bill Murray, Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley, Alfred Molina)
Murray thinks he is playing a spy, but is mistaken for a real, smooth-talking one by the bad guys. It’s super funny how he impresses them when he’s not even trying to!
Wallace (Murray's character): Please don't call me by my real name, it destroys the reality I'm trying to create.
2002 The Importance Of Being Earnest (Oliver Parker, director and screenwriter; Oscar Wilde for play); starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Frances O’Connor, Judi Dench)
Great fun as two swinging bachelors (Jack and Algy) in the 1890s are friends using the name Earnest because women love the name. This leads to chaos when the one visits the other at his country home and falls in love with the man’s ward, then the man’s lady friend surprises him with a visit. Will the ladies still love them when their real names are revealed?
Jack: How you can sit there eating muffins when we're in this terrible trouble, I can't understand!
Algy: I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs.
Algy: Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?
Lane: I didn't think it polite to listen, Sir.
HONORABLE MENTION
1949 Take Me Out To The Ballgame (Busby Berkeley, director; Harry Tugend and George Wells, screenwriters); starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Jules Minshin, Betty Garrett)
Delightful musical that was a rehearsal for On The Town for most of them. Baseball players meet their new owner, a woman with advice and a good arm (and figure), and try to woo her, but she’s all business and a determined woman is after Sinatra. Her song, “It’s Fate, Baby!” is a hoot.
1988 Tucker: The Man And His Dream (Francis Ford Coppola, director; Arnold Schulman and David Seidler, screenwriters); starring Jeff Bridges, Joan Allen, Martin Landau, Christian Slater, Frederic Forrest)
Bridges brings to life the charming true story of an innovative car designer in the 40s, but he isn’t given a chance by his threatened competitors. He went after his dream and showed the locals that it could be done at least.
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Member: Jan Peregrine
Location: Lincoln, NE
Reviews written: 1561
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Peregrine 10 write-off in progress: http://www.epinions.com/content_5367242884
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