RJ Greatest B&W Movie commentary thread

[Long John]

So then rhd is up for 2 picks.

[rhd]

Waterloo Bridge is another tearjerker. There are 2 movies w that exact name and I love them both but I decided pick the more familiar version. The other version is from 1931 and wasnt shown for a long time because supposedly it didnt pass the Hollywood "decency" code which was instituted a few years later (I guess because of the scene where the female lead, Mae Clarke, appears in just her bra and panties). It was also remade in 1956 as the "Gaby" starring Leslie Caron, which I've never seen. The story ends very sadly and tragically as the lead female character dies, similar to La Traviata or Miss Saigon.

[rhd]

Finally I was able to pick a film noir/crime drama. In selecting "Asphalt Jungle", I considered another excellent film noir which I will mention after all the picks are done. In addition to fine acting performances, Asphalt features an early film role for Marilyn Monroe and also an uncredited cameo of Strother Martin as a guy in a police lineup (IIRC this was his first film appearance).

[rhd]

Yep, All About Eve (and many others) should have been on a while ago. After this finishes up, I will list a bunch of films that I think should have gotten on, as well as some personal favs that I would have liked to pick.

[Mithrandir]

Yep, All About Eve (and many others) should have been on a while ago. After this finishes up, I will list a bunch of films that I think should have gotten on, as well as some personal favs that I would have liked to pick.

That's what I did when I posted my list as I thought the draft was over. Will repost it after we are done.

[Long John]

jmaeroff, DMT and Gregg are up to finish this draft off.

[jmaeroff]

OK, my pick will be in shortly.

[DMT]

Hard to believe All About Eve almost went undrafted.

[DMT]

Great job fellas, I look forward to catching up on all those I've missed.

[jmaeroff]

Yep, that was fun. Here are the ones that were left on my list but didn't make the cut:

Spellbound (1945)
Red River (1948)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Advise & Consent (1962)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
The Third Man (1949)

[Mithrandir]

Yep, that was fun. Here are the ones that were left on my list but didn't make the cut:

Spellbound (1945)
Red River (1948)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Advise & Consent (1962)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
The Third Man (1949)

I picked The Third Man.

[Mithrandir]

My list of unpicked favorites in no order.

Cat people
Laura
Vampyr
Dracula's Daughter
Phenix City Story
M
Invasion of body snatchers
Bringing up baby
Christmas in Connecticut
Lady Eve
Ghost and Mrs Muir
The Public Enemy
Breathless
Picture of Dorian gray
Out of the Past
Beau Geste
Touch of Evil
Farewell my Lovely
I married a Witch
This gun for hire
Notorious
Arsenic and Old Lace

[rhd]

That was fun. Here are some more that I either feel should have gotten on or are personal favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - Unbelievable that out of 92 films selected this classic wasnt selected. It is #25 on AFI's 100 greatest movies list.
Der Blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) (1930) - This is the film that brought Marlene Dietrich to international attention. It was shot in both German and English, including some of the song lyrics. Dietrich had virtually no pro experience singing before this but "Falling in Love Again" went on to become a classic.
City Lights (1931) - I wish I could have gotten this one on myself. I dont go in much for silent films but I really liked this one. It has one of the best endings of any film. #11 on AFI's list.
The Last Picture Show (1971) - Really surprised this didnt get on since it's relatively contemporary so most movie buffs should have seen it. #95 on AFI's list.
A Raisin in the Sun (1961) - Another one I wish I could have gotten on.
Inherit the Wind (1960) - There have been several productions of this but the 1960 version w Spencer Tracy is my favorite.
The Miracle Worker (1962) - Great human story about the life of young Helen Keller and the teacher that helped her learn how to communicate. Great Oscar-winning performance by Anne Bancroft.
The Killers (1946) - This was the other crime drama/film noir that I was considering. It was Burt Lancaster's film debut.
Sergeant York (1941) - Charming film loosely based on a real story.
How Green Was My Valley (1941) - Charming, nostalgic tale of life in 19th-century Welsh mining town.
Baby Doll (1956) - I love Tennessee Williams' works and this was based on one of his plays. Features some scenes considered sexually suggestive and indecent for the times and altho it was set and filmed in the South ironically it was banned many places in the South, as well as elsewhere, including some entire countries. It was Eli Wallach's film debut.
The Three Faces of Eve (1957) - Great performance by Joanne Woodward switching back and forth between 3 personalities for which she won an Oscar. BAsed on a true story.
Anna and the King of Siam (1946) - This is the earlier, non-musical version of "The King and I". BAsed on a real story. It's more true to the book than "King and I". Strange casting, tho, w Rex Harrison and Lee J. Cobb as Siamese.
Camille (1936) - This is basically a film version of "La Traviata". It's one of the all-time greatest tearjerkers and one of the great stories of ultimate self-sacrifice.
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) - This was the other film I referred to before that has one color scene in it. Hard to classify this film - it has elements of film noir, horror and sci-fi.
The Fugitive Kind (1960) - Another film based on a Tennessee Williams play. Dark and powerful story starring Marlon Brando.
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942) - Great western crime drama showing the evils of vigilantes taking the law into their own hands.
Cape Fear (1962) - This is the original - much better than the remake. Robert Mitchum gives a riveting performance and I think should have been nominated for an Oscar.
A Face in the Crowd (1957) - Powerful performance by Andy Griffith in his film debut. Another performance that I think deserved Oscar nomination.
Oliver Twist (1948) - One of Charles Dickens' classic stories. There are many versions of this but this one is my favorite, w Alec Guinness as Fagin.
Pygmalion (1938) - This is the earlier, non-musical version of "My Fair Lady".
Murder, Inc. (1960) - This is a somewhat obscure film noir/crime drama that is based on true events. Great performance by Peter Falk early in his career.
So Long At the Fair (1950) - I guess you could call this a personal "cheeseball" of mine. It's about a visit to Paris by a brother and sister during which there is a "disappearance" of not only the brother but also his hotel room. It's a fascinating mystery which has a happy ending. Stars a young Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde.
The Night My Number Came Up (1955) - This is another "cheeseball" of mine. Pretty obscure, it is about a plane that crashes in the wilderness. A guy has a dream about it and the rescue operation is undertaken based on his dream, which ends up being successful.
Ride the Pink Horse (1948) - Another "cheeseball". This is a somewhat obscure, charming film starring Robert Montgomery. Thomas Gomez gave a great performance and was nominated for an Oscar.
Goodbye, My Lady (1956) - Still another "cheeseball". This is a charming "boy and his dog" story that has a sad but satisfying ending. Walter Brennan gives an excellent performance, and the other actors are very good as well.
Solaris (1968 Russian TV version) - I wanted to include this one, too. I dont go in much for science fiction but I love this production. It was remade as a regular Russian movie and also a Hollywood movie but this version is my favorite. The love story is touching and explores the fascinating subject of love between humans and human-looking inanimate beings.

So many more that I could list here that I didnt, including some in my personal top 100. Some of these are available on YT for free.

[Long John]

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) - Cagney and Bogart in the same movie. Also, the inspiration for the fake movie Angels with Filthy Souls used in Home Alone.
D.O.A. (1949) - Edmond O'Brien is poisoned and spends the movie trying to figure out who killed him before he dies.
Ed Wood (1994) - Not surprised it didn't go. Johnny Depp at his silliest.
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) - Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, a 17-y.o. Scarlett Johansson and an uncredited Jennifer Jason Leigh sighting. Do you really need another reason? Ok. It's a Coen Brothers movie. Originally shot in color. Both b&w and color versions exists.
Detour (1945) - When hitchhiking was still in vogue...

[Long John]

I'm angry that I forgot about the original Cape Fear. I probably would have taken that over Good Night, and Good Luck.