The Viewing Files: 365 Movies in 365 Days - Week Twenty Five

Back to the oldies this week and a mix bag of musicals and film noir's with a melodrama and a comedy through in just to keep it interesting..  Next lot of viewing is going to be all about Christmas.  You have been warned.

The Philadelphia Story
Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart
Original release: 1940
Synopsis: When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage disaster is sure to happen.

Pretty good on the whole.

Hepburn is at her sarcastic fiery best - and I say this as someone who generally finds her annoying at times - with Grant being more than an equal match for her and Stewart managing to hold his own against them both.

Only downside were the parents and the whole it's okay to have an affair because if she's a good wife she'll totally understand and put up with it.

High Society
Starring: Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and FrankSinatra
Original release: 1956
Synopsis: A spoiled heiress must choose between three suitors: her jazz musician ex-husband, a stuffy businessman, and an undercover tabloid reporter. 

Basically a remake of the above but with songs.  Sparkly and light like a glass of champagne but without the wit and snap which made the original so good.  Grace Kelly does her usual aloofness while Bing is just so laid back about the whole thing that you really wonder if he loves her at all.  

Lovely clothes and some neat songs but not much else beyond that.

The Wicked Lady
Starring: Margaret Lockwood and James Mason
Original release: 1945
Synopsis: A noblewoman leads a double life as a highwayman.

Completely silly plot about a spoilt brat of a woman who does everything she can to get what and who she wants.  Gothic melodrama at it's silliest and best.

Margaret Lockwood does the high arch eyebrow and pout so well.  I seriously need to watch some of her other movies.

The Big Steal
Starring: Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer
Original release: 1949
Synopsis: An army lieutenant accused of robbery pursues the real thief on a frantic chase through Mexico aided by the thief's fiancee. 

Not as good as Out of the Past but still not to bad either.  I've definitely developed a bit of a weak spot for Robert Mitchum in these 1940's film noir's.  Maybe it's the hat.

The Asphalt Jungle
Starring: Sterling Hayden and Marilyn Monroe
Original release: 1950
Synopsis: A major heist goes off as planned, until bad luck and double crosses cause everything to unravel. 

I'd heard good things about this movie and it didn't disappoint.  Sterling Hayden was just brilliant as hired muscle who gets pulled into a heist.  Bad boys have always been my weakness.  Another actor that I definitely need to see more of.

Pickup on South Street
Starring: Richard Widmark
Original release: 1953
Synopsis: A pickpocket unwittingly lifts a message destined for enemy agents and becomes a target for a Communist spy ring. 

And the hits just keep on coming.  Film Noir is so my kind of thing.  Another great movie and another great actor.

You'll Never Get Rich
Starring: Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth
Original release: 1941
Synopsis: A chorus girl catches the eye of her choreographer and a battle of wits and dancing ensures.

After all the bad boy smoked filled crime spree's I needed something light to watch and came across this purely by accident.

I had no idea that Rita Hayworth could dance so good.  The dancing in it is amazing.  Just watch this scene and you'll see what I mean. 

You Were Never Lovelier
Starring: Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth
Original release: 1942
Synopsis: The daughter of a rich man falls for a dancer.

More great dancing.

The plot in itself is pretty much incidental in any of these movies.  It's all about the clothes, the songs and the dancing.  Fred and Rita really were a great pairing.  Who knew.