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Movie Monday: You Can’t Take It with You (1938)
Today’s Movie Monday is another classic starring James Stewart with one of his best co-stars Jean Arthur. Another similarity to last week’s film is You Can’t Take It with You was directed by the talented Frank Capra! This film is the perfect movie to watch if you are wanting to start the New Year out on a the right note! Despite there being a lot of chaos going on in each scene, You Can’t Take It with You one film that has a lot of heart. Like so many other Frank Capra movies, the overall storyline focuses on the greater good of the community. With strong leading characters like Lionel…
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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: 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: The Mummy (1932)
Halloween is the time of year where you see all of the usual suspects: vampires, zombies, werwolves, and mummies. Whether these typical characters are for costumes or decorations one thing is for sure, it makes for a spookier holiday. It only makes sense that having the story of these supernatural types in films create a great feeling of fear and fun Halloween spirit! Today’s Movie Monday is another Halloween appropriate classic movie for October. I am reviewing the 1932 edition of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff. It would seem to me that Boris Karloff had the knack of creating legendarily scary characters. Not too long before becoming the mummy, Karloff…
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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: A Woman of Affairs (1928)
Movie Monday was created to celebrate all of the classics, and cinematic history. Today is no exception. A Woman of Affairs is the perfect example of why cinema history is so important to understand and appreciate. This film has two legendary actors starring in it — John Gilbert and Greta Garbo. If you have been reading Movie Monday posts for any length of time, you probably are familiar with my love for all things John Gilbert and Greta Garbo! This duo are easily my favorite silent film couple, and they are two actors who I consider legendary talents. It should come as no surprise that I believe A Woman of…
