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Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket
I keep reading my own thread as 'Miscellaneous Movie Mushings'. 
I'd like to reiterate my utter devotion to the film 'The Philadelphia Story'. It is superb. Watched it again last night. Faboo, baby!
Does anyone have a favorite period for movies?
I do. I love the movies of the 30's and 40's. I guess that period was heavy with films based on popular plays, maybe that's the attraction. Something glamorous and ideal about those pics. |
1920's to 1940's with some great 1950's tossed in. The glamour certainly has appeal, oh those Adrian gowns!
The silent era for me is very special. Not merely the Valentino connection, although that was a major attraction. Some very good films in this period, very effective and very absorbing.
I have to confess, of the studios in this era, my favorite, by leaps and bounds would be Warner Brothers. As much as I love MGM films, there is a level of sheer superficilality and also self-importance to an MGM film that is not found in a WB flick. Let me qualify, MGM post Thalberg was pretty sticky.
Warners had much more snappy dialogue (always a plus to me), sillier plots in the b-pics, but the gritty more realisic world of Warners is more satisfying. Not to mention the Busby Berkely musicals, pre-code and delicious.
Fox runs a real distant third for me, surprising since Zanuck came to fame at WB, but Fox was all fluff. As pretty as Tyrone Power was, very little substance in a Fox flick, unless it was made by John Ford.
Paramount was a giant in the 20s, though they made more than their share of crap. Bigger stars than anyone in the 20s, lost focus in the sound era and relied too heavily on DeMille (a very successful hack). Dietrich and Von Sternberg were just too weird, however marvelous the films look today, he Scarlett Empress and The Devil is a Woman are still total messes of film, but eye candywise, they're great.
RKO was good, too. How can you not love a studio that brings King Kong and Fred & Ginger?
Now, if you ask about favorite directors..... Billy Wilder, George Stevens, John Huston immediately come to mind. Favorite genre, hmm, that is tougher, but I lean toward noir. It's the snappy dialogue that is the hook for me.
Gah! What got me on my soapbox?
To put this back on track, I'm behind the times and all that, so I just saw Transamerica and Brokeback last night. Quite a double feature!