SOME CLASSIC FILMS
THE THIRD MAN
Definitely a classic, Carol Reed's 1949 movie features a mesmerising performance from Orson Welles, a gripping screenplay from Graham Greene, the famous 'Harry Lime' theme music, a great setting [post-war Vienna] and a wonderful closing scene.
THE APARTMENT
Billy Wilder's 1960 film combines a biting satire on the business world with a really touching romance; both Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine put in wonderful performances [as does Fred MacMurray as the villain of the piece.] It would be hard to fault this movie on any count.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 movie manages to be both hilarious and genuinely exciting. Some might find its references to events in Nazi Germany to be tasteless ['We do the concentrating, they do the camping,' says the farcical commandant] but it should be remembered that the film was made before the full facts about the Holocaust came out. In any case, the film certainly has its heart in the right place, and Felix Bressart's rendition of Shylock's famous speech is really moving. Basically it is a kind of screwball comedy featuring a wonderful ensemble of actors [many of whom are playing actors].
A HITCHOCK SELECTION
I was surprised not to see any Hitchcocks among the top fifty films. How could this be? I would certainly recommend a couple of early films: THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS [1935; by far the best movie version of the story] and THE LADY VANISHES [1938] - both of which are really charming. Then there's NOTORIOUS [with Cary Grant at his best and a luminous performance from Ingrid Bergman – of whom Shri Mataji has spoken highly], which is as gripping as they get, an undeniable classic. NORTH-BY-NORTHWEST [1959] features Hitchcock's most elaborate working-out of the 'Wrong Man' theme, with Bristol-born enigma Cary Grant more or less playing 'Cary Grant', James Mason doing a great turn as a villain, the famous crop-spraying scene and a terrific score by Bernard Herrmann. It's his longest film but for me it could go on a lot longer. And what about REAR WINDOW, with the always-watchable James Stewart and Grace Kelly as the damsel who gets herself into distress? It's as suspenseful as it is a clever piece of filming. SPELLBOUND [Bergman again, and Gregory Peck] is also wonderful. There are films with a somewhat darker edge: STRANGERS ON A TRAIN [with Robert Walker doing a great turn as a psycho], REBECCA [1940; with Laurence Olivier showing what he can do], and the thoroughly intriguing VERTIGO [1958; featuring James Stewart with a somewhat harder edge.] There are also some lesser films which are eminently watchable: I particularly like TORN CURTAIN [Paul Newman and - rather surprisingly - Julie Andrews], THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY and DIAL M FOR MURDER [Grace Kelly again]. There's STAGE FRIGHT [1950] and the wartime FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. Hitchcock made a couple of versions of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, and the second [with James Stewart again and my wife's great aunt, Brenda de Banzie] isn't bad.
THE PRIZE
CHARADE
Stanley Donen's movie from the same year as 'The Prize' is also often mistaken for a Hitchcock film. With
THE LONG HOT SUMMER
Martin Ritt, 1958. With Orson Welles and Paul Newman. Splendid title song, Newman at his most Greek godlike and Orson Welles really going to town in the acting department. Strongly recommended. In some ways it resembles Richard Brooks's excellent film of Tennessee William's typically overheated drama, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Both films were made in the same year, both have Paul Newman and a 'Big Daddy' character, and both make extensive use of Southern accents. The latter film probably features Elizabeth Taylor's finest hour. Somebody once asked Shri Mataji if Elizabeth Taylor was a rakshasi. 'No...more like a vampire, I think,' replied Mother, laughing.
SMALL TIME CROOKS
A Woody Allen comedy which is an absolute hoot. Also - unusually for Allen – there's nothing here that you wouldn't want your children to see.
GAMBIT
A caper movie which again is eminently suitable for all the family. Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine [before she went off the rails]. An excellent plot; great fun.
TWO WAY STRETCH
A 1960 Peter Sellers comedy featuring some marvellous character actors: a delight.
Chris Greaves UK