Casablanca (1942)

Why it's here:
Few classic films are better known or better made. Cassablanca represents a perfect moment in cinema that should be experienced.

Specs:
About 2 hours, black and white.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.0

More about the movie and our reaction to it:
If there is anything more beautiful than Ingrid Bergman's face, I certainly have not seen it. All I need to know about the world of romantic love and tension can be read in it. Her relationship and chemistry with Humphrey Bogart are so strong that they steal my heart without effort; in fact, I imagine they could get to the heart of pretty much anyone who watches -- kids included. There is no question that the power of this movie is the underlying romance.

But the even cooler thing, is that Casablanca goes far beyond romance to pull in its audience. Full of intrigue that will grab your family from the beginning, its an exciting picture about war and politics, with fabulous uniforms, nationalities, threads of international politics and patriotism. The characters are nuanced enough that you can't always tell who to root for. Thus, its an accessible plot that makes you feel adult when you watch it.

My kids love Peter Lorre (who we also enjoyed in the Maltese Falcon) as a strangely exciting and eccentric character and were thrilled to also see Sydney Greenstreet again. Among the film's stellar performances is that of Claude Rains as a kinda funny, cool, unknown entity. And once again, Bogart plays an extremely cool main man -- someone you can't tear your eyes from and whose every move seems important. He is fabulous.

As with pretty much all old movies, there's lots of drinking and smoking -- and plenty of seedier topics. The nice thing with old movies, is that the seedier aspects of life are glossed over and nothing is too explicit; although a great deal may be implied. And also, as with many old films, the one-liners are awesome. The kids laughed aloud at lines like "round up the usual suspects" and "'this gun is pointing at your heart' 'that's my least vulnerable spot.

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Maltese Falcon (1941)

Why it's here:
Suggested by a friend as a must see for our festival. Boy was she right.

Specs:
1 hr 40 minutes, black and white. Available on dvd

Our family's average rating on a 1-10 scale:
8.5

More about the film and our reaction to it:
There's something about star power. Regardless of the era, regardless of the genre, regardless of color, black & white, sound or silence, and regardless of whether you are 10 or 40, you know it when you see it. And Humphrey Bogart had it. The man just controlled the screen. His voice, his smile, his cool demeanor and great hats...all adds up to one sweet gumshoe.

This film was mesmerizing and compelling, even though we didn't always follow the clever plot,; we were spellbound by the drama. Its enough to say this is your basic detective story. Murder, intrigue, twists and turns, satisfying conclusion and, by the end, a wish that this were a series rather than a single movie. Because you just can't get enough of lines like "he's so full of holes he couldn't have gone far," "when I slap you you'll take it and like it," "keep on riding me and they're gonna be picking iron out of your liver," or the classic "I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But if you lose a son its possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon."

Talented actors fill the cast - Mary Astor gives an incredibly interesting and believable performance as the apparently distraught sister who hands Bogart's Sam Spade the case and then turns out to be much much more. Fabulous Sydney Greenstreet is the big man sitting back and pulling all the strings. But most of all, the boys loved Peter Lorre as the wheezy-voiced, tightly-wound, nevertheless polite gangster Joel Cairo, with whom Spade has some tremendous interactions.

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The Lady Eve (1941)

Why it's here:
To include something from Barbara Stanwyck. This was directed by Preston Sturges and was supposed to be hilarious

Specs:
Hour and a half, black and white. Available on dvd

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
6.63

More about the film and our reaction to it:
Though billed as a screwball comedy, this one really wasn't laugh aloud funny or charming to us. Although there were some funny parts, the movie had the overarching theme of card sharps taking our sympathetic hero for a ride. Worse still, Barbara Stanwyck's character spends much of the movie stalking Fonda to torment him, with vengeful and cruel motives. These don't add up to side-splitting humor any more than say, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction did (and no, that's not on the list).

The movie was well-made, obviously, and the performances were good throughout -- leading us to appreciate the talent behind the movie, its just that none of us really liked it all that much. On top of that, because the film delves into unpleasantries in romantic relationships and spends a good deal of time at the beginning with seductive and passionate interactions that might be a little much, we really wouldn't recommend it for family viewing.

One clear highlight of the picture that needs mentioning though was Stanwick's glorious wardrobe, designed by superstar Edith Head.

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Citizen Kane (1941)

Why it's here
Often spoken of as the best film ever made, Citizen Kane seemed to be an important film to put on the list.

Specs:
About 2 hours, black and white, available on dvd

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
7.25

More about the movie and our reaction to it:
Well here we are, at what is probably the most acclaimed classic of all time. Orson Welles' masterpiece, molded upon the life of William Randolph Hearst, and thereby incurring Hearst's ire and campaign of mass negative publicity until the film struggled to simply get seen. This amazing backstory, in heady shades of detail that I won't even try to get into, is so fascinating it almost rivals the film for dramatic appeal.

Almost. There was no doubt while we watched this film that we were watching something simply,  palpably and profoundly well made. We are not experts and we don't have the background and terminology to explain what makes it so good. But even to laypeople like us, you can just tell when you're watching greatness. Citizen Kane was clearly made by someone who had a profound vision for the story he was telling.

If I knew what I was talking about, I'd speak of the editing choices, the way the shots were framed, the use of shadow and symbolic light, the cutting back and forth through different timeframes, the specific use of sound effects - echoes, bird squawks, yelling, whispering; the miraculous ability of the makeup team to convincingly age our lead man, the way the plot unfolds though interviews, the complex characterization of Charles Foster Kane, his various relationships, and his depressing, tortuous descent. But luckily there is really no need for me to do this. It is clearly complex and artfully made. . . the question is: should you and your family watch it?

As a family film choice, kids under about 13 are unlikely to respond to the movie. Kids above that age might -- but even then, it is probably not a safe bet. With such intelligent, grown-up themes and a plot that is intricate and made harder to follow by the constant moving back and forth through time, this would not be the easiest film choice for families. But, that said, my family did get a lot out of the film. We all admired the work, though its hard to say that the kids enjoyed it. They were, however, moved and saddened by the fascinating ending and were certainly able to take away from the film the sense that what caused this very powerful rich man the most regret and longing were thoughts of his empty childhood. That message is such a good one for young people to see.

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The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Why it's included:
Directed by George Cukor and starring not just Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, but Jimmy Stewart as well. What's not to love.

Specs:
About 2 hours, black and white. Available on dvd. Our library had a copy

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
8.33

More about the film and our reaction to it:
I do get star-struck, I can't lie. Halfway through the movie I was sitting there watching Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart sharing the screen and felt giddy and goose pimply. Here were three enormous talents with enough star power to light up the sky for a week, together in a smart, sophisticated, beautifully filmed production. It is really almost more than words can get around.

This is a brilliant picture -- in the bright sparkly wonderful sense of the word. I've seen it several times and wanted to share it with my kids, but after having done so, I do have to say that on the whole this might not have been the best movie choice for families.  The film really is over the head of most kids with its adult themes (divorce, philandering husbands, heavy social drinking and its after-effects, the intrusiveness of the press, blackmail, etc. etc.) not to mention its witty, ironic tone. But the performances are wonderful throughout and one of our favorites was the 13 year old actress, Virginia Weidler, who played Hepburn's little sister in a charming and very funny way. The humor in the film is more grown up and glittering, than some of the screwball comedies we've been watching of the era, so we appreciated a slightly different style of movie.

While both of my kids liked the movie, their 11 year old friend who was over only gave it a "3"! My kids are a bit more used to classics and already knew the three leads from other film appearances, which always adds to the experience, but overall, it is probably less accessible for family viewing than some others we've watched.

That said, it is cool that shortly after watching this, we caught a reference to the film in an episode of the TV show Phineas and Ferb! "My she was yar!" is a line exchanged a couple of times as the characters reminisce over their happier days on a yacht designed by Grant's character CK Dexter Haven. ("Yar" meaning particularly well-built, seaworthy and fine.) We spent a fair amount of time discussing the idea of "yar". So we nearly swallowed our gum when Phineas said the same about about an ocean liner he'd just built for his friend: "My she's yar!" An homage to The Philadelphia Story for sure. One of the neatest things about watching classics has been noticing that references to classic film is all around us in pop culture.  We are pretty sure that most other viewers of Phineas and Ferb did not pick up on this one.

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The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Why it's included:
We wanted to see Henry Fonda at various stages of his long career. The Grapes of Wrath -- a wonderful adaptation of a poignant novel -- was a perfect choice. My only concern was weather the kids could handle the pain of the Great Depression and the power of the movie's themes. The answer was 'yes'.

Specs:
Just over 2 hours, black and white. We watched on a dvd from the local library.
The film is set during the Dust Bowl

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
8.33

More about the film and our reaction to it:
This is an extremely powerful and well made movie about an important and very real topic in American history. Although it is probably better suited to the 12+ crowd, for its themes, my 10 year old got a lot out of it too.

For any one who doesn't know, the film, based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name,  opens with Tom Joad (Fonda) getting out of prison and returning home to find his family and neighbors in the throes of the dust bowl in Oklahoma. Sharecroppers, they are forced off their land by wealthier landowners attempting to put more acreage under mechanized farming. The Joads move west toward what they hope will be greener pastures, in response to advertising pamphlets that have overstated the land of opportunity that is California. The story chronicles their difficult journey west and the conditions of life they meet and endure once there.

This is beautifully acted, directed and photographed. The landscapes are so starkly gorgeous, they are highly evocative. The performances of Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell, as Tom's mother are simply phenomenal and director John Ford, has a clear knack for how to just back off and tell a story. This makes for an exceedingly heart-wrenching and moving tale that will give your kids a powerful understanding of what was going on in our country at this time. We highly recommend it -- but only for those who can handle these themes.
The film ultimately has an uplifting message of hope and fighting injustice (with Henry Fonda's famous "I'll be there" speech to his mother at the end), but there's no getting around the idea that the movie is a serious downer.

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His Girl Friday (1940)

Why it's here:
Cary Grant may be the reason it got put on our list, but truly, the reason should be Rosalind Russel. Russel is amazing in this great fast-talking, sharp-witted power roll.

Specs:
1 and 1/2 hours - Black and white. And very much a talkie :)

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
8.25

More about the film and our reaction to it:
Welcome to 1940! Its hard to believe we're in the 40s already, but what better way to welcome them in than with one of my favorite Cary Grant films, His Girl Friday.

I love Cary Grant. I do, but in this film, the powerhouse attraction is truly Rosalind Russel. I am not sure, but I'd bet she has more screen time than Grant. She certainly fills my mind till it is spilling over and, when all is said and done, feels like the true the star of the film. Though Grant is undoubtedly essential to its greatness.

They say that this is the first film where actors overlapped their lines so that one started talking while the other was still speaking. That touch adds immeasurably to the intense dynamic feel of the film. So too does the press room with fast-paced phone calls and reporters barking out their stories. This is a fast furious funny movie, directed by Howard Hawkes to a perfect pitch.

Be aware that the fast pace and quick witted dialog makes it pretty hard to follow the action (for adults as well as kids). And although there probably are all sorts of adult themes buried in the dialog, there's no way anyone can understand them well enough to be bothered by them : )  Just strap on a seatbelt and enjoy as much of the picture as you can get your ears around.

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Stagecoach (1939)

Why it's here:
We needed to watch John Wayne. I'd heard a lot about this one as the first pairing of John Wayne with John Ford the famous director of Westerns -- and as the movie that made John Wayne a star.

Specs:
About an hour and a half long, black and white. Available on dvd.
The film is set in 1880.

Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
8.0

More about the movie and our reaction to it:
It's always a good sign when immediately after watching a movie the kids get up and start playing. Whether its grabbing bows and arrows after Robin Hood, or climbing the walls (literally) after Buster Keaton, or pulling out the Nerf guns and having a shootout after tonights entry, it makes me smile a gratified smile.

The film is a top notch quality Western. Whether you love the genre or put up with it, Hollywood Westerns are a force of nature that should be sampled and you can't go wrong with this one. The film builds tension to a slow steady burn, creating a sense of drama though almost nothing "happens" through 2/3 of the movie. The last half hour, when Apache Indians (played to Ford's credit by Native actors) start to fire upon the stage is thrilling stuff.

So, yes, the movie does have some tough violent themes. It also has talk of prison and social ostracism and reference to the leading lady's character and repute (treated with a light brush, but treated). There is a good deal of drinking hard alcohol -- humorously, and by one character in particular. All these elements are present, but the overwhelming impression is just of a good, well-told story in a beautiful Western surrounding. (It was shot on location in Monument Valley).

The film draws on the natural dramatic tension that arises when a disparate group of folks are thrown together in some situation - here, riding together on a stagecoach through dangerous territory. All the lead performances are impressive and add greatly to the production. But John Wayne's performance is simply profound. He had an extensive body of work in B movies, but was not generally known before this film. Stagecoach is said to be the movie that made him a star and you can surely see why. He comes on screen with so much presence and charisma you can't look anywhere else.

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Wizard of Oz (1939)

Why it's here:
Like most everyone, we've seen the Wizard of Oz many times. Its here in our festival, because we wanted to see it in its proper time.

Specs:
Just over an hour and a half. Color - with a black and white beginning and ending. Available on dvd with tons of special features.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.5

More about the film and our reaction to it:
Seeing The Wizard of Oz "in" 1939 in our festival made it just that much better. 1939 was a profoundly good year for film. In that year alone we watched The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Ninotchka, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Stagecoach! With so much competition from these and other great films that year, it is perhaps not surprising that the Wizard of Oz did not actually take the world by storm when it was released. It was only a modest success.

However, its popularity endured and continued to grow after it started to be aired on TV every year. It is now probably the best known and most watched of all classic film and has been enjoyed by people for generations. What makes it so good? and so enduring? A mix of excellent musical numbers, a wonderfully appealing story, a fantasy element, an element of close friendship and the important bonds of family, along with a great plot full of danger, adventure and magic. And on top of all that, there are incredibly great performances from Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Man and Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion  -- not to mention Margaret Hamilton's intensely frightening Wicked Witch of the West. These performances and characters are iconic for a reason.

At its core, the movie is great because the central idea is so compelling. The idea of a twister picking up a child and transporting her to a fantasy world is so appealing that it is bound to continue to enthrall for decades.

We enjoyed the film immensely -- especially the very clean, beautiful and painstaking restoration that has been done on it. The dvd we checked out from the library contained enough special features to keep a fan busy for many hours.

This is, obviously, the quintessential classic movie for families and not surprisingly rated as one of our very favorites in the festival. It is tailor-made for families to enjoy together.

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Gone With the Wind (1939)

Why it's here:
I went back and forth on this a long time. GWTW is one of my favorites and I knew it intimately. I wasn't sure whether it would be too tense for the boys, too racist, too long, too romantic. . . I just wasn't sure. Ultimately, I thought, why not just put it in the player and see.

Specs:
4 hours long. We recommend watching over two nights. There is a perfect stopping point at intermission. Glorious Technicolor

The film is set in the Civil War era.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.75, making it our second favorite film in the festival.

More about the film and our reaction to it:
One of my favorite anecdotes to share with people about our film festival has to do with this film. After having watched over 30 years of film and about 40 titles, when we got to Gone With the Wind, we were all astounded by its quality. You just can't realize the full power of a film sometimes if you haven't placed it in the context of what comes before. GWTW is simply an amazing landmark film, so grand in scope and sweep, so extraordinarily beautiful to look at and with such a big story, that we could not help but be very impressed. Had I simply popped this in to the player back in May and asked my family to enjoy it "cold", I doubt whether they would have been able to.

As it is, we loved learning about the Civil War, the genteel South just before war hit, and the protracted period of Reconstruction after it. GWTW allows you to see the toll of war on people in a powerful way. Beloved characters die, people lose their land and struggle simply to eat. Characters make hard choices and undertake ruthless acts that they might not have ever done before the war. Babies are born, people struggle with love, and life goes on. We were all deeply moved by the drama. There is cruelty and kindness in relationships and some pretty tense, grown-up themes. But my kids loved the movie, because it is so brilliantly made.

The film is long, but I can't say that it is "too long", because the pacing is so good and so strong throughout that it ends up feeling just right. We couldn't wait to cue it back up the second night. The Technicolor is beyond breathtaking. This has to be one of the most beautiful films ever made. The costumes and landscapes are rich, but not too jarringly colorful. Scenes are muted, with wonderfully appropriate lighting. The film is stuffed with extras and deep acting as well as richly scored. It has massive spectacle value.

As for parent concerns: there are several scenes of violence - two of the most intense come when a soldier's leg is amputated and when Scarlett shoots a man in the face. There is a fair amount of implied sexuality - and allusions to a woman of ill-fame, though nothing overt is shown. And, there are multiple issues of racism. Obviously, the picture deals with the Civil War, there are issues of class, wealth, snobbery, and ruthlessness.  But none of these is necessarily as problematic for family viewing as the problem of unfamiliarity with slower-moving, lushly dramatic story telling. We got a lot of value out of GWTW, but another family without the backdrop of experience with classics might not.

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Ninotchka (1939)

Why it's here:
We wanted to include something by Greta Garbo, the iconic, elusive figure of the silent era who transitioned well to talkies despite her accent. We went for this one, an unusual Garbo comedy.

Specs:
Almost two hours, black and white.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
7.0
Noteworthy that everyone in the family rated it a "7."

More about the film and our reaction to it:
This is a funny story that is well-acted and enjoyable. The word "solid" comes to mind. It wasn't our favorite; it wasn't remarkable; but it is very good and fun to watch. Garbo is funny as the wooden Russian who comes to Paris to check up on the sale of crown jewels that has been delayed. Ninotchka is a comedy/romance about the clash of cultures and ideology that ensues -- which is deepened after she falls in love.

Garbo's performance here must have been the prototype for Seven of Nine in Star Trek Voyager. They share the same clueless, deadpan, lack of emotion and humanity. It is a nice performance.

The plot is a bit hard to follow, but it doesn't matter. The charm comes down to the very nice comedic performances and to the great contrast between stark Bolshevik ideology and the lush Paris lifestyle.

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Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Why it's here:
An American government lesson wrapped inside a wonderful film.

Specs:
Just over two hours, black and white. Available on dvd.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
7.5

More about the film and our reaction to it:
The movie starts out funny, then graduates, slowly, to a story that is tense, a bit unsettling and very powerful. We liked all the phases of the film, especially the fantastic and earnest performance of Jimmy Stewart.

Stewart plays Smith, an innocent and idealistic youth-leader with a strong local following who, for odd reasons, ends up being called up by the governor of his state to replace the state senator who has died unexpectedly -- at a very sensitive time. A pork barrel measure regarding a dam, is about to go to ballot and the powers that be needed the deceased senator to get the measure through. Now, they are simply hoping that Smith will act as a puppet and not cause trouble.

But they weren't banking on Smith's deep commitment to the honor of the role and the integrity of the political process. Smith wants to do something important. Unfortunately, what he wants to do conflicts directly with what the powerful forces in his state expected of him. Luckily, Smith has the help of Saunders (played by Jean Arthur) a woman who despite living in a man's world, is a real politico who knows how to work the system.

The kids were fascinated with the political theater -- and the movie, knowing that it is providing a special glimpse into our government, plays that up to the hilt. We had a lot of great conversations about power and politics and techniques like filibusters. The film is beautifully filmed with a sense of love and respect for our Capital, even though the story is rooted in the harsh realities of politics.

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Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Why it's here:
We have seen this movie many times before and we love it. Because we watched the 1922 Douglas Fairbanks version in the festival, it seemed only right to nod to Errol Flynn (again) as well.

Specs:
About an hour and a half, gorgeous Technicolor. Available on dvd.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.33

More about the film and our reaction to it:
The Robin Hood story is such a compelling one and has to be one of the most frequently adapted tales ever. I haven't seen every single adaptation out there, but can still say with certainty that Errol Flynn's version is the best. :)

The level of intensity and violence is checked with a good deal of humor and joyous bounding through the forests, so that it feels good to watch. The audience is left in no doubt that times are difficult and people are facing harsh conditions (both political and financial). These themes aren't glossed over, but the overwhelming impression is that of good-hearted people doing the right thing and overcoming adversity while still retaining their good cheer. For these reasons, it makes great family viewing, especially for families who want to experience Robin Hood but aren't going to go the PG-13 (i.e. the Russel Crow, British TV series, or Kevin Costner) route to the story.

Even for those who do enjoy the more graphic modern versions of Robin Hood, there is still a great deal to love about this early one. For starters, this is one of the best early examples of a  Technicolor film. It is absolutely breathtaking to enjoy in vibrant color. Then, there is the great energy and joy with which the Robin Hood story is told. There is a deep talented cast (including Alan Hale, Claude Rains, Olivia de Havilland, and Basil Rathbone). But probably best of all, is Errol Flynn's exuberant star-turn as Robin. Flynn is a compelling presence. He makes Robin cheeky, smart, confident and exciting.

There is a reason this is a classic - it is an extremely well made film.

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Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Why it's here:
We'd seen this film before and knew it was fantastic; we included it in the festival to enjoy it again and to help spread the word.

Specs:
About an hour and a half, black and white. We found it on VHS tape from the library. Oddly there was a long waiting list for the title. So clearly others have good taste too!

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.5

More about the film and our reaction to it:
This is truly a great movie!  Laugh aloud funny throughout, it is fast-paced, silly and surprising. It benefits from Katherine Hepburn in a ditzy role and Cary Grant in a nerdy one. The two are always good together and this film showcases their individual and collective appeal to tremendous advantage. The whole cast is deeply talented and everyone seems to get into the absurdness of the film.

The plot turns on the paleontologist David (played by Grant), seeking a huge donation from a Mr. Peabody, and tracking him to a golf club where David instead encounters Susan (Hepburn). As she blazes into his space, playing his ball and crashing, then taking, his car, David realizes he is seriously in over his head and wants only to get away. But for her part, Susan falls in love quickly and does all in her power to keep him around. When her brother sends her a beautiful tame leopard ("Baby") they all end up at Susan's aunt's country home attempting variously to keep track of the leopard, find David's "intercostal clavicle" dinosaur bone, deny David's identity, and stay out of the crazy house, or the big house. It's good stuff.

One of the more amazing things about the movie is the beautiful leopard "Baby," played by Nissa who seems really quite gentle and reportedly got on splendidly with Hepburn - who clearly was not afraid of the cat. The movie made use of optical effects (split screen and rear screen projection) and puppets in order to portray the cast interacting with Baby. These effects are really well done and never distracting.

It is extremely family friendly a picture -- kids (and grown ups) are bound to enjoy it. My kids were laughing fit to burst and we can't wait to watch it again. We recommend it highly.

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Heidi (1937)

Why it's here:
Shirley Temple was one of the biggest movie stars ever. And Heidi is a classic and well-loved children's story. It seemed like a winning combination.

Specs:
An hour and a half, black and white. (Also available in "colorized" on the dvd we watched.)

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
7.38

More about the film and our reaction to it:
I was pleasantly surprised by the film. Shirley Temple (here at about age 9) is a consummate performer and, though precocious, is not irritating at all. She is actually cute as can be, and her relationship with her grandfather is quite moving.

The story, which starts out as a very affirming tale of warm family bonds, as Heidi overcomes gruff grandpa's barriers, becomes surprisingly tense part way through when Heidi's aunt kidnaps her and Heidi is forced to live with a rich family and kept from her grandfather. I'm sorry to say that we were not familiar with the plot of the story, so I can't speak to how closely this follows the book, but the movie is dramatic, nerve-wracking and at times a bit frightening. I was certainly surprised by its intensity, having expected something much more juvenile.

And I might be mistaken, but I think there is only one musical number in the whole movie. It doesn't view at all like a musical - and is almost more like an adventure story. And therein probably lies its continuing appeal. The scenery is beautiful -- even in black and white. (In fact, we actually started viewing the colorized version first and hated the artificial look it gave to the scenery. It really was better in its original form).

This is a good story that all but the youngest and most sensitive in your family are likely to enjoy if they keep an open mind.

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My Man Godfrey (1936)

Why it's here:
We added My Man Godfrey after watching The Thin Man. We wanted to see more William Powell. And I remembered how much I'd loved this film years ago, especially the charming performance of Carole Lombard.

Specs:
An hour and a half, black and white. Available on dvd. I got it from my local library.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
8.25

More about the film and our reaction to it:
This is a really funny movie. Actually, just reading the premise on IMDB makes me chuckle: "a scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as the family butler." I mean, seriously. That's some good stuff. This is a "screwball" comedy, probably a better example of the style than It Happened One Night - the action is fast-paced, the dialog witty, the characters do silly, absurd (screwbally) things and you sit back and watch in a bit of a daze.

Carole Lombard was such an enormous talent. Here she is ditzy and very sweet and also reeks of "substance", even though she plays and airhead. She is an interesting mix of qualities and I found myself really mourning that she had died young and deprived us of her incredible comedic talents. There is an interesting backstory here between Lombard and William Powell (who plays the butler with whom she falls immediately in love - as does pretty much every other woman in the household). Although they were divorced in real life, Powell actually recommended Lombard as the perfect woman for the lead in the film! Talk about amicable. And they have a great chemistry. Incidentally, Lombard was then married to Clark Gable and I told the boys the story of how after Lombard died in a plane crash, Gable was distraught and joined the air force himself.

But, back to the movie...This was my husband's clear favorite in the festival. The acting is just astonishingly excellent throughout all the main and supporting roles. (We especially loved Lombard's parents. The mom, played by Alice Brady, is the funniest character in the whole movie and Eugene Pallette as the dad is sweet and sympathetic.) The dialog is hilarious and though it contains serious messages about the depression and snobbery and class divisions, it doesn't hit you on the head with them.

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San Francisco (1936)

Why it's here:
I had seen this movie years ago and found it exciting and powerful. The depictions of the San Francisco earthquake are so realistic you have to remind yourself that they aren't actual footage of the event. Very evocative.

Specs:
2 hours, Black and white. I couldn't find the dvd anywhere so we had to rent it on Amazon.
The film is set in 1906.

Our family's average rating (on a scale of 1-10):
7.25

More about the film and our reaction to it:
Unfortunately, the film wasn't quite as good as I'd remembered. But it's still well worth watching. The problem is that it can't quite decide what it wants to be: a rough and tumble Gable male-bonding film, a romance, a musical, or a disaster film. It does all four very well, but your family isn't likely to respond to all the parts equally. In our family, for instance, the music numbers were too many and too long, the dramatic romance also was a bit much. But, once the earthquake happened, well then we were riveted. Families should know that the story is very sad. This is a disaster film and people are shown screaming for lost family members and mourning their dead. Although it has a religious-themed uplifting ending, it will likely inspire some tears.

San Francisco is a lush epic of grand scale and as such provides large scale entertainment value! The scenes of the earthquake are simply incredible. It had to have been a very expensive picture to make judging alone from the number of buildings brought to rubble.

One of the best parts of the movie is its talented cast. MacDonald (as Mary Blake) and Gable (as Blackie Norton) reportedly had trouble getting along off camera, but you would never know it from their chemistry in the film. They have to overcome their class divisions and a variety of misunderstandings in order to find each other, but they are appealing and sympathetic and you want it to work out for them. MacDonald had an incredible voice and belts out the tune San Francisco so many times that we have that permanently scored in our memories now. The film also benefits from Spencer Tracy's touching performance as the priest who is both Blackie's childhood friend and a pillar of support to Mary.

Though the film is long and gets bogged down a bit at times, it is excellent viewing.

Iconic shot: