• Movie Monday: Strange Cargo (1940)

    Strange Cargo is one of those films that you see one time and all you can do is replay it in your head afterwards. Although this movie is considered a classic, not many people have heard of it. That is why today’s Movie Monday is dedicated to this highly underrated movie! Strange Cargo is full of rich symbolism. It’s about right and wrong, and understanding that the right thing may not always be what is best for your specific situation. The boat scenes are symbolic of life and the waves we all go through on a daily basis. Among all of the hidden meanings in Strange Cargo are complicated characters…

  • Movie Monday: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

    Today for Movie Monday I am reviewing yet another Frank Capra classic – Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Like Meet John Doe, Capra’s leading man in this movie is Gary Coopers. However this film replaces Barbara Stanwyck with the timeless actress Jean Arthur. Like in many (if not all) of Frank Capra’s films, we see an ordinary man be put into extraordinary situations. When all hope is lost, it is the will of the people that wins out. This, in my opinion, is a very American way of thinking. The idea that one man can make such a large impact on the lives of others around him all while simultaneously…

  • Movie Monday: The Long, Long Trailer (1954)

    If you know me then you know how much I love the television show I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are one of the best comedy duos of all time, in my opinion. You can imagine my excitement when I found out that the film The Long, Long Trailer starred this iconic couple! This whole film is a series of laugh-out-loud moments, and one of my personal favorite films. That is why I am so excited to be reviewing it today! Growing up I always admired the funny ladies of Old Hollywood. From Bewitched to I Love Lucy, there was no shortage of comedic leading ladies to look…

  • Movie Monday: The Divorcee (1930)

    This Movie Monday is all about one of my all-time favorite actresses – Norma Shearer! Let’s face it, Shearer is one of the legends of old Hollywood, and she helped to revolutionize how acting is approached. We are just scratching the surface of what she did as an actress so to better explore her impact, I think it is time we review The Divorcee. The title says it all. This film is all about divorce and its many aspects, both good and bad. The Divorcee is one of Norma Shearer’s most famous films and an early talkie. Of course this is a classic, but it was pretty controversial at the…

  • Movie Monday: Meet John Doe (1941)

    Recently, I watched the film Meet John Doe for the first time and it instantly became one of my favorites! Plus, can you ever really go wrong with an inspirational Frank Capra film? Let’s review this classic! I find that Frank Capra films are chock full of symbolism and inspiration. Between Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Capra was never short of holding the “American Dream” in high esteem. Something about this film in particular, however, shows just how important the people are. The collective empowerment of how when looking out for one another you can really make a wonderful impact is one of the…

  • Movie Monday: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

    Today, I wanted to review one of my favorite comedies! Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a Cary Grant and Myrna Loy classic! Watching this movie I always get a good laugh so I thought it was time we share a laugh together! Nobody can play a humdrum, miserable man like Cary Grant! I’m not trying to say he is a boring actor, anyone who has seen his films should know he definitely is not, but I am saying that this man is talented. Naturally, Grant has a lot of swagger to how he goes about his business so when he is casted in films like this one he…

  • Movie Monday: Gilda (1946)

    For the first Movie Monday of 2019, we are starting out with a classic! The film Gilda is one of the most iconic and famous movies in popular culture. The entrance that Rita Hayworth’s character makes in this film is one referenced often, but never really recreated in the same way. You see, Hayworth that something special within her that translated with audience everywhere. It was especially impactful during the difficult World War II years. So let’s get this new year started off with the same amazing entrance that Gilda made! This was the second film I saw with Glenn Ford as a leading character (the first movie I saw…

  • Movie Monday: Rope (1948)

    Hitchcock films are always fun to watch, but they especially get the adrenaline pumping during the Halloween season! One of the best and (in my opinion) highly underrated Hitchcock movies is the cinema classic Rope. These photos are not mine. This is yet another Hitchcock film where James Stewart stars as the leading man. It is said that Stewart was Hitchcock’s ideal leading man like Grace Kelly was his ideal leading lady. People have also said that Stewart was the only actor that could ever hold his own against Hitchcock in a screaming match. I suppose the director respected him a little more because of that. Rope was based off…

  • Movie Monday: The Time Machine (1960)

    As the month of October begins, I will be dedicating the whole month of #MovieMondays to scary/Halloween themed films. The classic film I am highlighting today is The Time Machine, produced and directed by George Pal. These photos are not mine. As much as I hate to admit it, sci-fi and scary films are my guilty pleasure. I remember seeing this film for the first time and being absolutely taken with the plot as well as Rod Taylor’s acting talents. The idea of a society drastically different than ours is not all that hard to imagine, but this film really brought the fear that comes along with a doomed future to…

  • Movie Monday: The Big Heat (1953)

    If you are like me and enjoy a good drama film every now and then, The Big Heat is the movie for you! This black and white classic is real, raw, and gripping. It is no wonder critics and fans alike view it as a timeless piece of cinematic history! The Big Heat is held is such high regard that it even made it on the National Film Registry list of the Library of Congress in 2011. These photos are not mine. Before this film was made in 1953, gangster movies were always portrayed in a more Al Capone kind of light where it was the mob versus the police.…