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Movie Monday: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
To end this year’s countdown of holiday films, I want to end on a undeniable classic. It’s a Wonderful Life was directed by one of my absolute favorite directors, Frank Capra. Like so many of his films, James Stewart acts as the leading man in this movie alongside Donna Reed. There are only a handful of films that remain as necessary to see at least once a year. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of those films that, no matter what holiday you celebrate, should be on your list of must see films. Why is this movie so important to see? Because it has a message and meaning that goes…
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Movie Monday: The Holly and the Ivy (1952)
Today’s Movie Monday is going to be a review of a film that is regarded as a classic in some circles, and in others it is not even known. The Holly and the Ivy (1952) is a British film that has echos of other classic holiday movies that are still loved today. However, there is a large population of people that have never seen it before and I was one of those people until I stumbled upon it. There are no household known Old Hollywood actors or actresses starring in The Holly and the Ivy, but maybe that why is it all too often ignored during the holiday movie season.…
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Movie Monday: The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
The month of December is here which means the marathon of holiday film reviews will begin! Today’s special holiday edition of Movie Monday is focused on The Shop Around the Corner starring Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart. Although the lines between whether this movie is a Valentine’s Day film or a Christmas movie, I am team holiday film with this one! So, here we go! Last year was the first time I watched The Shop Around the Corner for the holiday film list, and instantly it became one of the must see movies of the season! I am not sure why, but it sure seems that James Stewart had a…
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Movie Monday: Strangers on a Train (1951)
Movie Mondays have covered several different genres of film, actors, and directors in the time this series has ran. However, there is one director who Movie Monday has not highlighted quick enough. That legendary director is Alfred Hitchcock. This week’s Movie Monday is all about the classic film Stranger on a Train. The most important part of this movie is the plot. There are no superstar, celebrity actors starring in this Hitchcock classic and that really helps to keep the focus on the storyline in this movie. Another reason it was crucial to the plot of Strangers on a Train to not have any well known actors is because there…
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Movie Monday: The More the Merrier (1943)
There are a few boy meets girl films out there that remain forever a classic. Romance movies are sometimes even the ones that first pop into our minds. Meanwhile, there are other classic romance films that are forgotten by the popular culture which is such a shame. The More the Merrier is one of those forgotten films, and one that I would like to bring back to light in today’s Movie Monday! Jean Arthur stars alongside Joal McCrea in The More the Merrier to create one of the most underrated classic romantic comedies of all-time. Now, you already know that I am a pretty big fan of the Frank Capra…
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Movie Monday: Nosferatu (1922)
What better way to end out annual Halloween film celebration than with a classic movie that has fundamentally influenced how the horror/science fiction genre operates today. Nosferatu is one of the most notable films within the horror genre, and it is seen as the foundation for a lot of future stories. So, without further ado, lets get into this Halloween review! If you are comfortable with reading translated subtitles of the subtitles from this film, Nosferatu is the perfect Halloween film for you! Nosferatu is a silent film with the lines being shown in German because this movie also happened to be made in Germany. Therefore, if you are an…
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Movie Monday: Blithe Spirit (1945)
In keeping with the spirit of Halloween, today’s Movie Monday is all about one highly underrated technicolor film that is absolutely perfect for this time of the year. I’m reviewing the classic film Blithe Spirit from 1945! Something about Blithe Spirit seems to stick to the audience watching whether that be via this film or on the stage. Maybe it is the acting or maybe it is because of the science fiction storyline. I like to think it is because of the hint of comedy this particular story likes to sprinkle into the character’s personalities. Kay Hammond is a real highlight for me in this movie! The irony is that…
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Movie Monday: Waterloo Bridge (1940)
Today I want to review a classic film that is highly underrated in many ways. Waterloo Bridge (1940) is a sleeper of a classic movie, and it has a lot of love story elements that would later be used in films to follow. There are a lot of other interesting aspects to this storyline that I want to dig into on this review, so lets get started! If you are looking for a feel good film, Waterloo Bridge is not the movie you are going to want to watch. I hate to be the one to point the story for you, but since this movie was made in 1940, I…
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Movie Monday: Special Birthday Edition!
Today is a very special edition of Movie Monday because it is my birthday! Don’t worry, this is not the new formula for our film review series here every Monday. Today is 20th birthday and it happened to fall on a Monday this year so I thought I would do something to mark this day. So I am giving you all a list of my top ten favorite classic films that have been reviewed here on Faintly Familiar! #10. Paris When It Sizzles (1964) You are all probably wondering how an Audrey Hepburn film made it to number ten on this list, but I just have to say that the…
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Movie Monday: Nothing Sacred (1937)
Ever since I watched My Man Godfrey, Carole Lombard has been one of my favorite comedic Old Hollywood actresses. Not only is she funny, but Lombard is also able to play off the dramatic side of things while still keeping her cool. Today I am going to review another Lombard classic called Nothing Sacred that features a bit of her comedic style as well. What I like most about Nothing Sacred is the dynamic between Carole Lombard and Fredric March. It isn’t quite like the chemistry Lombard had with William Powell on screen, however, that is the reason I think it is so refreshing. In my opinion, it seems that…
