John Ford is one of America’s foremost Academy Award-winning film directors. His impressive and influential directing style has included adaptations of classic 20th century American novels like The Grapes of Wrath along with some of the most exciting Westerns in motion picture history. Ford’s impressive directorial career includes more films than could possibly be listed here and his use of stunning cinematography is legendary.
Starring – Ronald Colman (Smithy), Greer Garson (Paula), Philip Dorn (Dr. Jonathan Benet), Susan Peters (Kitty), Henry Travers (Dr. Sims), Reginald Owen (Biffer).
Description – A touching story of a World War I veteran who, as a result of being shell-shocked, is an amnesiac seemingly destined to a life in a mental institution.
After wandering from the institution into town he meets and is befriended by Paula a music-hall entertainer. With no memory of his previous life, Paula gives him the name Smithy and, even after learning of his stay in the institution, decides that he is a gentle, harmless man to whom she is attracted.
Paula arranges for Smithy to join her traveling entertainment troupe, but learns that the authorities consider him to be an escapee and are looking for him. Paula decides to take Smithy to a secluded village where they marry, have a son, and appear to have found true happiness.
It is here that Smithy displays a literary talent and decides to go to London to apply for a writing job with a newspaper. While in London, Smithy is involved in an accident.
It is here where fate takes a cruel turn. As a result of the accident, Smithy now has regained the memories of his life before the war and forgotten everything about his life with Paula.
One man has now disappeared, and another long missing has returned.
NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for seven Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Director (Mervyn LeRoy), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ronald Colman), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Susan Peters), Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Music,Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Writing, Screenplay.
Greer Garson, who gave an excellent performance, was unable to receive a Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination due to the fact that she was already nominated in that category for Mrs. Miniver.
The role of Paula was reported to be the favorite of actress Greer Garson.
December, 1942 – Tyrone Power stars in this months Twentieth Century-Fox release of The Black Swan. Directed by Henry King and co-starring Maureen O’Hara, Laird Cregar, and a snarling GeorgeSanders this pirate adventure is one of the very best.
Beautifully filmed in glorious Technicolor, the film provides some spectacular and Oscar worthy action sequences featuring full-size Spanish warships and a handsome, dashing, swashbuckling hero played to perfection by Tyrone Power.
Murder and betrayal sail these seas as the beautiful Lady Denby (Maureen O’Hara), the engaged daughter of Jamaica’s previous Governor, falls for her kidnapper, the handsome pirate Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power).
Sit back and relax as The Black Swan provides all the action, adventure, and romance that make this type of film so much fun.
Starring – Tyrone Power (Jamie Waring), Maureen O’Hara (Lady Margaret Denby), Laird Cregar (Capt. Sir Henry Morgan), Thomas Mitchell (Tom ‘Tommie’ Blue), George Sanders (Capt. Billy Leech).
Description - With England and Spain now at peace, reformed pirate Capt. Henry Morgan is made Governor of Jamaica. His first order of duty is to rid the Caribbean of the remaining pirates using whatever means are necessary. Out of friendship to Morgan, pirate Jamie Waring gives up his illegal ways; however, not all choose to do so.
Jamaica’s former governor, Lord Denby’s beautiful daughter Lady Margaret has caught the eye of Waring, but she is already engaged. Unknown to her, fiance Roger Ingram is providing information on ship sailings to the remaining pirates.
The public begins to suspect Governor Morgan of still being involved in the pirateing, forcing Morgan to enlist the aid of his friend Jaime Waring to find out where the leaking information about the shippings is coming from.
Waring’s investigation also provides him with an opportunity to kidnap the beautiful Lady Margaret.
NOTABLE: This film won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color and was nominated for two more; Best Effects, Special Effects and Best Music.
Starring – Fred Astaire (Robert ‘Bob’ Davis), Rita Hayworth (Maria Acuna), Adolphe Menjou (Eduardo Acuna), Isobel Elsom (Mrs. Maria Castro).
Description – American dancer Bob Davis is in Argentina both looking for work and gambling away his money. A bandleader friend invites him to perform at the wedding of a local nightclub owner’s daughter with the hope that this might lead to a job.
At the wedding Bob meets Maria another of the nightclub owner’s daughters. He is immediately attracted to her, but she brushes him off.
Maria then begins to receive a series of flowers and love notes from an unknown suitor who she believes to be Bob. It isn’t, so just who is the mysterious suitor and will Bob ever get a chance with Maria?
NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Music, Original Song, Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture, and Best Sound, Rocording.
The beautiful music in the film was composed by Jerome Kern who was unhappy with the selection of Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. However, after production ended, Kern was so pleased with Cugat’s work that he presented him with a silver baton.
Rita Hayworth’s performance in the movie firmly established her as one of Fred Astaire’s premiere dance partners.
Rita Hayworth has stated that this film was her favorite.
Starring – Claudette Colbert (Geraldine ‘Gerry’ Jeffers), Joel McCrea (Tom Jeffers), Mary Astor (Princess Centimillia), Rudy Vallee (John D. Hackensacker III).
Description – A fast-paced screwball comedy about a married couple down on their financial luck. Tom Jeffers is an inventor with, what he believes is, a great idea. It’s Tom’s plan to build an airport suspended over the city by wires.
Tom’s wife Gerry has a solution to help finance this grand plan; divorce Tom and marry a millionaire.
On a train to Palm Beach, Gerry meets the wacky and eccentric John D. Hackensacker III one of the richest men in the world. After learning of his wife’s plan, Tom also heads to Florida in the hope of saving his marriage.
When he arrives, Gerry still intent on completing her plan, introduces Tom as her brother. Things start to get a little crazy when Hackensacker falls for Gerry, his man-hungry sister Princess Centimillia chases after Tom, and her former suiter still desires the Princess.
But, is everyone who they say they are? It turns out Gerry is a twin and so is Tom. So who is really married to who?
NOTABLE: Don’t miss the opening sequence where Claudette Colbert is seen tied up in a closet and one minute later in a wedding dress.
The Palm Beach Story was singer Rudy Vallee’s first comedic role. He did such a good job that Paramount offered him a film contract.
This film is #77 on AFI’s list of 100 Films…100 Laughs.
The motion pictures original title was to be Is Marriage Necessary? However, this title caused some problems with the Production Code.
Starring – Bing Crosby (Jeff Peters), Bob Hope (Orville ‘Turkey’ Jackson), Dorothy Lamour (Princess Shalmar), Anthony Quinn (Mullay Kasim).
Description – The third of the famed ‘Road to…’ movies to star Crosby, Hope, and Lamour has the boys cast away on a desert shore where Bing sells Bob into slavery, and both competing for the hand of a beautiful princess.
However, there is a third suiter for the hand of the princess; the dangerous desert chieftain Mullay Kasim.
How bad can being a slave to Dorothy Lamour be? Especially, after she immediately offers to become his wife? If this sounds too good to be true, it is. The reason for the marriage offer is a prophet’s prediction that the first husband of the princess will be killed within a few days of the marriage.
So, hitch yourself a ride on a camel and join the boys for a Moroccan adventure.
NOTABLE: In 1996 this motion picture was added to the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.
The film received two Oscar nominations; Best Sound, Recording, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
The scene where a camel spits in Bob Hope’s face was the camel’s own doing with Bing Crosby’s reaction proving to be so funny it was left in the picture.
In 2006, Premiere voted The Road to Morocco as one of “The 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time.”
Personal Note: Another of the very entertaining Road pictures and possibly the best of the bunch.
Starring – Bud Abbott (Chick Larkin), Lou Costello (Mervin Q. Milgrim), Patric Knowles (Jimmy Turner), William Gargan (Lt. Lou Moran), Louise Allbritton (Jane Little), William Bendix (Det. Brannigan).
Description – Chick and Mervin are two soda jerks who dream of becoming writers for their favorite mystery radio show. While attending a show with one of the writers and a producer the networks president is mysteriously electrocuted.
Could this tragic occurance provide an opportunity? Believing that it just might, Chick and Mervin pretend to be detectives and attempt to solve the crime.
Two big problems with their thinking. First, Moran and Brannigan are two real detectives who consider the boys fakes and think they are the prime suspects; and second, the real killers who believe the boys are detectives and wish to add them to a growing list of bodies.
How does an eavesdropping Nazi spy fit in? You’ll have to watch to find out.
NOTABLE: This popular Abbott & Costello film includes two references to their famous “Who’s On First” routine.
Following the production of this flm Abbott & Costello began a successful cross-country tour promoting the sale of War Bonds.
This was the first Abbott & Costello film to not include musical numbers.
This film is included in The Best of Abbott & Costello Vol. 1
