2. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - [blind spot] Uhhh so this might just be one of my favorite movies of all-time??? It's so funny and sarcastic and witty - and the screen presence of Jane Russell/Marilyn Monroe as a comedic duo is absolutely incredible. They have fantastic chemistry together. I've always like Marilyn, but I haven't actually seen a lot of her films. I have seen, and also love her in, Some Like it Hot (another favorite of mine) and I think I've seen The Seven Year Itch too (that's the one with the famous white dress that blows upwards right?). But this, officially, makes me a huge fan of hers. And yet, as much as I love Monroe, Russell is definitely the highlight of this - her facial expressions are beyond hilarious and she is STUNNING. It's always so weird to me when I know all of the lyrics to songs but haven't watched the movie/stage production. I think this is a product of being a drama major & being in show choir in Junior High (I'm pretty sure we sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" as part of a USO performance). But it was fun actually seeing the original versions of these songs. And the costumes are perfection - so many iconic, recognizable looks. It's such a cute story, too!
3. Marnie - [re-watch] I didn't remember liking this Hitchcock and I was right! It's not bad; just not among Hitch's best. There are some classic Hitchcockian shots - like with her in the bathroom stall, and the one where she's stealing from the safe with the cleaning lady in the next room. Just perfect blocking and angles. But it's way too long and there's just not enough story to warrant the length. The score is also very overwhelming (and not in a good way). I love Tippi Hedrin though (and I didn't actually realize that she's still alive until I looked it up. 93 and still going strong! Sean Connery was an awful actor, though (and an even worse human being!). I'm baffled as to how he had such a successful career.
4. Murder! - [re-watch] Another Hitch that I've seen, but rated very low. It's not as bad as I remember, and there is actually a lot I like about it. It's very early Hitch, but the intrigue and suspense is there - just not as expertly crafted as most of his filmography. Also, this just had to be inspiration for 12 Angry Men, right? There's something really off about the sound, which bothered me (maybe just the streaming service? But it sounded muffled and echoed). I was also definitely not expecting the end. Chilling.
5. A Streetcar Named Desire - [re-watch, mostly] This is one of those films that I never watched the full movie in one sitting, but I definitely watched (and analyzed) scenes of it for one of my Drama classes (It was a course on Stage to Screen films) and I've seen the play performed (I think it was an off-Broadway production? I don't really remember but I remember the stage design being really cool because it was designed in a circle), and I've read the Tennessee Williams play several times. The movie is ok; not great. I like the production design here too, but it does still feel like a play instead of being more cinematic. I've never really been a fan of Marlon Brando (I mean, except in The Godfather, of course), but it is so stupidly weird how fucking hot he was when he was younger. Ugh his hotness combined with the crisp white tee *heart eyes emoji*. SO HOT.
6. The Searchers - [blind spot] I actually think I've probably seen this with my grandfather but I was probably, like, 8 years old, being forced to watch another western with John Wayne. They all bleed together in my mind so I think watching them as an adult might have a different effect (maybe?). I picked this one to watch first because of Natalie Wood. I just adore her. She's not in this very much, but definitely the highlight. I definitely went into the film expecting the blatant racism, so no surprise there, but it's still sort of horrifying to watch. It's also weird, and a bit disappointing, to watch an older classic like this and realize that a more modern film that I love is basically just a copy of this (Bone Tomahawk).
7. The Trouble with Harry - [re-watch] There will probably be a lot of Hitchcock films on these retrospective posts, because I love watching his movies. Even the ones that I don't like are still worth multiple watches. I actually didn't really remember much about this one, which is why I added it to my list. I really liked it - and there are some incredible moments, especially the beginning - what a stunning opening shot with the kid standing over the body with his toy gun. It's also a very funny movie. I mean darkly funny, but still funny nonetheless. Also, Shirley MacLaine's film debut! I accidentally did a Shirley double-bill with this and this next movie on my list.
8. The Apartment - [blind spot] This definitely was not what I was expecting, but I liked it very much. I think I was expecting something much more laugh out loud funny, but it's actually super dark and the subject matter is certainly not funny. I think it would have a completely different vibe if someone tried to remake this (although, the concept of the "hooking up" apartment has been used with The Loft). It's about a man who rents out his apartment to his co-workers so they can cheat on their wives. And then he stalks one of his co-workers (he even brags to her about knowing her social security number LOL), and then she attempts to commit suicide in his apartment! Just super...not funny. It is impeccably made, though - and that one office scene is a classic (that I have also seen and analyzed before, and I completely forgot about it until I started watching this). Plus, Shirley MacLaine is a national treasure! It's clear, from this, why she became such a big star. I've always liked Jack Lemmon too - just genuinely funny and had great screen presence. Also, can we talk about how this apartment that is outside Central Park in NYC costs $85/mo to rent? 60 years later and that apartment now costs about $14,000/mo (and that's a low-ball figure).
9. Funny Girl - [blind spot] I can't believe that this is a blind spot for me, considering that I belt out "Don't Rain on my Parade" and "My Man" REGULARLY. That's mostly thanks to Glee though. I thought I would be first in line to see Lea Michele back on Broadway when Glee ended, but there were so many horrible things reported about her and I just can't support someone like that. I thought, at first, that maybe she was just young and misguided (and she let her early celebrity ego get the best of her), but there's just no excuse for some of the things that came out about her. But, that doesn't take away from the fact that she is talented and is probably the only person who can do Barbara Streisand justice (sorry, I have nothing against Beanie Feldstein, but almost every review said that she didn't have the vocal chops for the role). Anyway, as far as the film goes - I LOVED it. First, Streisand is HILARIOUS. Like, I've seen her in more modern roles (and of course Beaches), but this feels like a sort of rebellious funny, and I LOVE IT. Second, I love the fact that it's a feminist story, but also not black & white - she's a big star, with talent, money, fame, power, the whole shebang, but she's also in love and wants to make the man in her life happy. The lesson is that he's never going to be happy, though, unless he's the more accomplished person in the relationship. And if someone isn't championing you and your successes, then they don't truly love you. It's a tough lesson to learn, but this film tackles it really well. And last, the costume design is so stellar. That leopard coat and pillbox hat - iconic.
10. Hello, Dolly - [blind spot] I didn't really like this one. I thought I might enjoy it since I liked Funny Girl so much and Barbara Streisand. But this just didn't capture my attention at all. Although it does have another iconic fashion moment with the lavender dress and matching feather hat. It feels a little too whimsical to me, and definitely inspired by Mary Poppins (maybe I should add that to my retrospective considering I've never seen the whole thing in one sitting?). I knew every single song, which, again, is due to being a theater geek. But the actual "Hello, Dolly" number is like an entire hour long, which is mind-numbing. I was singing along at first, but then it just keeps going and now I hate the song with all my heart and I hope to never hear it again.
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