2. Casablanca - [blind spot] This and Gone with the Wind are probably my biggest film blind spots. And I do plan on watching Gone with the Wind, but it's like 4 hours long, so I just keep pushing it down the list. My one takeaway from Casablanca is that I never, ever, ever want to hear "As Time Goes By" again. It's played through the entire movie so much so that I wanted to die by the end. However, I did get amusement by all of the classic dialogue that I knew was from this movie, but I never really had any context. It's insane how many lines have become part of our everyday dialogue even 80 years later. "We'll always have Paris", "Of all the gin joints in all the world", "Here's lookin' at you, kid", "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship". There are just so many!!! I liked this movie a lot, and I'm surprised by what the actual plot is. I just don't think it's, like, the greatest movie ever made or anything even close. Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman are flawless, though.
3. The Blob (1958) - [blind spot] I've definitely seen the 80s version, but never the original and let me tell you, this movie is HILARIOUS. It's weird that I was deciding between watching this or Bullitt not even realizing that Steve McQueen is in this too! I always thought his first big movie was The Magnificent Seven. I think of all the old school classic male movie stars, McQueen might be my favorite. He's just so effortlessly cool and a genuinely good actor. And also, people always said that my grandfather resembled him (he had those piercing blue eyes and ash blonde hair - he was also effortlessly cool). Although it's weird that he's supposed to be 28 in this and he definitely looks about 45. But back to this movie being hilarious - the actual blob is just so funny. Obviously, they did the best they could with the technology at the time, but I just couldn't stop laughing. I did enjoy all of the classic Americana locations like the movie theater, diner, supermarket, etc.
4. The Producers (1967) - [blind spot] Another one that I've seen the remake of, but not the original, and I didn't really like it. But this is SO much better. Gene Wilder as Leo Bloom, is just such a naturally funny person - and he plays so well off of the actor who plays Max (Zero Mostel). On a side-note, I really do need Jeremy Allen White to play Wilder in a biopic, like NOW. And it's almost embarrassing that they cast Timmy as a young Wonka when someone like Jeremy exists - looks like him, and can actually act. ANYWAY, I found this movie very funny and entertaining even knowing the whole story. And the actual play that they produce is obviously offensive, but I can totally see how an audience can eat it up. There is definitely some underlying commentary about having mass audiences fall into "hive-mind" mentalities (paralleling with the hive-mind that allowed for the holocaust to happen), but it is very subtle and I don't even know if audiences in the late 60s realized it. I definitely don't think the remake shares this commentary - instead it feels far more slapstick.
5. King Kong (1933) - [re-watch] I love all the King Kong movies (except maybe the Naomi Watts one? Which I don't really remember, but I know that I watched it). I watched this original one for a film class - I believe it was for a film technique class, so we focused more on the making of the film as opposed to the impact it has had on modern sci-fi films. I think for most of the population if you asked who the original "scream queen" was, most would site Janet Leigh (or even a more recent person like her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis), but Fay Wray is absolutely the FIRST "scream queen" (I was actually surprised that googling "the original scream queen" does give the correct answer). I would also say that this film has one of the most undeniably classic scenes in film history with the empire state building. The effects for Kong, are obviously terrible, but for 1933 they are actually quite stunning - especially the close-up stationary shots (the motion shots are where it's hard for a modern audience to adjust to, I think).
6. Bullitt - [blind spot] I love watching a classic movie for the first time and seeing how many modern movies took inspiration from it. I've already mentioned Steve McQueen, but he really shines in this, and I think Brad Pitt stole his entire persona based off of watching this. There are so many films that went through my head as I watched this - like The Fugitive, The Italian Job (which I know the original came out around the same time as this), Drive, To Live and Die in L.A., the Bourne films, I could go on and on. This definitely paved the way for car chase sequences - and it was wildly invigorating to watch those classic cars speed through the streets of San Francisco. Loved it.
7. Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) - [blind spot] This is another one that I've seen the remake without seeing the original, or in this case, even knowing that there was a previous version - the only one I knew existed is the one with Renee Russo! But unbeknownst to me, the original starred LUCILLE BALL! It's very cute, and obviously inspiration for The Brady Bunch (I'm assuming? This film was released a year before). There's a lot I like about this - Lucille is hilarious (obvi) - the scene with her eyelashes is very Lucy. Plus, her laugh is infectious. I also like how genuinely good this man is - he cares a lot for her, but also shares responsibility (of 18 kids! LOL what a nightmare), makes her feel wanted, etc. - everything a husband should be but I don't think was often portrayed especially in the late 60s. I do think the narration is terrible and feels so awkward that it ultimately ruined the film for me. Also, I think the saying "only the good die young" is a horrific saying for many reasons and I've always hated the Billy Joel song, but it's interesting that the saying actually dates back to ancient Greece (fun fact!).
8. Rosemary's Baby - [blind spot] I thought that I had seen this, but I definitely have not. I'm not sure what movie I thought was this?? So weird. But it's even weirder because this is my mom's favorite horror movie. So I assumed that I watched it. I can understand why my mom had such a connection with it (she has a history of being manipulated and in abusive situations). It's not exactly scary for most of it, though. It's pretty much a drama (with a few creepy moments) until the last 25 minutes. But, man, those last 25 minutes are spectacular. Roman Polanski is a rapist but also an incredible filmmaker (two things can be true a the same time). Mia Farrow really got shafted, didn't she? She should have had a Michelle Pfeiffer level career. She's incredible in this - crazy that she wasn't nominated for an Oscar for this performance (but I guess the Academy ignoring actresses in horror films dates waaaaaay back). I also loved the pixie haircut and Peter Pan collars she wears. What a fashion icon.
9. The Seven Year Itch - [re-watch, I think] I'm pretty sure that I watched this before, but I just don't remember much of it. Obviously, I remember its most famous scene with Marilyn Monroe in the white dress standing over the steam vent. But honestly, I think that's really the only scene worth remembering. Although, it is definitely entertaining and has some very funny moments. Seven years isn't very long for someone to start getting bored of their partner, so I always thought this sentiment was stupid. Like, if you're bored after just 7 years then you should definitely just get divorced (it's not going to get better??). It's obviously a little sexist, but definitely a product of its time. And also, Tom Ewell looks about 55 in this movie and he's supposed to be 38 (I looked it up because it's baffling, and he was 46 while filming this) and he definitely could not get a woman as hot as Marilyn Monroe so you kind of have to suspend belief for this plot to work (sorry facts are facts). It's also crazy that Monroe is considered "curvy" when her waist is that small. And once again, she steals every scene - her dipping her potato chip in the Champaign is so perfect.
10. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - [blind spot] Wow, what a gorgeous movie! I was a little thrown off by the sing-songy dialogue, but once I got used to it, I adored every second of it. It's a little crazy that as I was watching this I thought in my head "uhhhh is this the original La La Land?" and, yes, indeed it is. Obviously, La La Land is an "original" film, but the similarities and "inspiration" from this is stunningly obvious (it's my biggest issue with Damien Chazelle - I have LOVED all four of his films. Like, absolutely LOVED. They are so well-made and beautifully detailed, but they are all referential. And I don't think Chazelle has a style of his own. He's still so young, though. I think he's going to blow everyone away once he stumbles into some originality). Anyway, back to this movie, it's beautiful - and it's one of those films that the more I think about it, the more I love it. I love the production design, I love the first shot, I love Catherine Denueve (and her makeup!), I love the story, I love the ending, I love how the outfits matched the wallpaper, I love the whimsical feeling. Just all of it. Love.
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