Belle of the Nineties 1934  N/R, 73 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: Leo McCarey
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, Johnny Mack Brown, John Miljan, Katherine DeMille, James Donlan, Stuart Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward Gargan, Libby Taylor, Warren Hymer, Benny Baker, Morrie Cohan, Frederick Burton, Fuzzy Knight
Despite attentions from many men, St. Louis cabaret blues singer Ruby Carter (Mae West) falls in love with boxer Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor). When Tiger's manager Kirby (James Donlan) wants Ruby out of Tiger's life, she agrees to go and moves to New Orleans. More problems between Ruby and Tiger lie ahead involving the theft of Ruby's jewels. But, by story's end, Ruby ends up with her true love. Duke Ellington and His Orchestra perform, and West sings; the songs include "My Old Flame," "St. Louis Woman," and "Memphis Blues."
|  | |
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse 1921  N/R, 114 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Rex Ingram
Cast: Rudolph Valentino, Alan Hale, Alice Terry, Jean Hersholt, Wallace Beery, Nigel De Brulier, Josef Swickard, Mabel Van Buren, Stuart Holmes, John St. Polis
This anti-war epic is about an Argentinean (Rudolph Valentino) who fights for France during World War I and learns that his cousin is fighting on Germany's side.
| | |
Man in the Attic 1954  N/R, 81 min.
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Hugo Fregonese
Cast: Jack Palance, Constance Smith, Byron Palmer, Frances Bavier, Rhys Williams, Sean McClory, Leslie Bradley, Harry Cording, Isabel Jewell, Lester Matthews, Tita Phillips, Lisa Daniels, Lilian Bond, Stuart Holmes, Ben Wright
In this tale of horror, Jack Palance takes on the role of Slade who just might be psychotic killer Jack the Ripper who kills showgirls in London during the 19th century. Slade rents a flat from Helen and William Harley (Frances Bavier and Rhys Williams) and falls in love with their daughter Lily (Constance Smith), but she ignores his advances. Now, Helen begins to suspect that Slade is Jack the Ripper and gives information to Scotland Yard Inspector Paul Warner (Byron Palmer) who attempts to uncover the facts about who Jack the Ripper really is. This is the second remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1926 film, "The Lodger."
| | |
 The Man Who Laughs 1928 N/R, 110 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul Leni
Cast: Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, Olga Baclanova, Josephine Crowell, George Siegmann, Brandon Hurst, Cesare Gravina, Stuart Holmes, Sam De Grasse, Charles Puffy, Julius Molnar Jr.
Gwynplaine (Conrad Veidt) is doomed to life as a circus freak after his nobleman father offended the King–resulting in the father's death and Gwynplaine's mutilation by having a grin permanently carved on his face. He and a blind girl (Mary Philbin) had been taken in by an itinerant performer and grew up to love each other. But life takes a turn when the King dies and the Queen brings him back to the fold on advice of the King's evil jester. Based on Victor Hugo's book. One of the last great silent dramas.
| | |
 Singin' in the Rain 1952   N/R, 102 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno, Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, Millard Mitchell, Madge Blake, King Donovan, Kathleen Freeman, Mae Clarke, Stuart Holmes
This is the film featuring Gene Kelly's memorable dance through the rain-splattered street. Kelly plays 1927's silent film star Don Lockwood who has teamed up professionally with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), but he prefers spending his personal time with aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Now, Don and Lina are set to film their first talkie. Don has no problems, while Lina's shrill voice does not adapt to the microphone. Don finds the solution to the problem by dubbing in Kathy's voice to replace Lina's. This film represents one of the best musicals ever. The songs include "Singin' in the Rain," "You were Meant for Me," "You are My Lucky Star," and "The Broadway Melody." Jean Hagen was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | As Good as it Gets | 1fatts 07/22/2007 | The script is funny. The music is great. The Gene Kelly/Donald O'Connor dancing duets are magic. Debbie Reynolds looks younger than Princess Leia ever did. Jean Hagen steals every scene she is in -- Steals it? She picks it up, tucks it under her arm and carries it away.
Best Line: "I make more money than Calvin Coolidge . . . put together!"
Favorite Trivia: At the end of the film, Debbie Reynolds is supposedly dubbing a song which the Jean Hagen character is mouthing because she cannot sing. In reality, in this one song in the film, Debbie Reynolds is being dubbed by . . . Jean Hagen!
This one is on everyone's list of top ten musicals ever made. But if you know anything about movies, you already know that. |
|
| | |
| 1. Belle of the Nineties (1934)
2. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
3. Man in the Attic (1954)
4. The Man Who Laughs (1928)
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
In The News
|
