I just finished watching Tootsie, which I had never seen before, partially because I thought it might be boring. I often avoid movies that I think will be boring, especially if they’re a little bit older. I don’t know why, and it looks like I’m doing myself a disservice, because this movie is hilarious! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much at a film.
Here are some other recommendations, in no particular order or theme:
Harold and Maude :Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.
Auntie Mame: An orphan goes to live with his free-spirited aunt. Conflict ensues when the executor of his father’s estate objects to the aunt’s lifestyle.
Some Like It Hot: When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.
The Apartment: A man tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.
Double Indemnity: An insurance rep lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator’s suspicions
What other movies am I missing out on?
12 replies on “Classic Movies you should watch (or re-watch)”
Wait, has HK commented on this yet? This is right up her alley.
All About Eve — Bette Davis at her bitchy finest. Plus, a small walk on role from a very young Marilyn Monroe and some of the best dialog Hollywood has ever produced.
His Girl Friday
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – I’ll take this over Some Like It Hot any day. There, I said it.
The Big Sleep — Don’t stay for the plot, which makes little narrative sense. Stay for Bogie and Bacall.Then go read the book.
LA Confidential — Practically perfect modern noir
Ooh, Tootsie is the best! I freakin’ love that movie.
The Philadelphia Story is awesome; it’s got Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart in a love triangle of sorts. It got remade as a musical called High Society starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra.
I tend to assume that everyone has seen Singing in the Rain; if not, that must be remedied immediately!
Barefoot in the Park with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda is very cute, as is The Odd Couple. (Basically, it’s hard to go wrong with anything by Neil Simon. HIghbrow? No. Fun? Yes.)
Soapdish has a totally ridiculous cast; seriously, everyone is in that damn movie! Haven’t seen it in ages but I loved it.
Mel Brooks. All of them. And Airplane and its sequel are freaking brilliant if you somehow haven’t seen them.
Other random movies: Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, Roman Holiday, pretty much anything with Fred Astaire, Romancing the Stone; I’m sure I could name dozens more but my brain is freezing up right now!
Some Like it Hot is by far my favourite movie of all time. I watch it every year or two quite happily. The Apartment is also a movie I recommend to others. Jack Lemmon cracks me up.
My suggestion to movies to watch again, for some fun fluff, Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. The concept of a party line is so outdated but I just love it.
I also have a soft spot for Cary Grant. An Affair to Remember gets a lot of press and I do love it, but for laughs… how about Brining Up Baby with Katherine Hepburn.
I still have not seen the end of H & M, I keep falling asleep. Weird, huh?
I will make recommendations regarding the main actors of the listed films, in vehicles that may be overlooked, but should garner attention.
(1) Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer and Jessica Lange in Frances
(2) Bud Cort in Brewster McCloud–a must see for Robert Altman fans–and Ruth Gordon in Rosemary’s Baby
(3) Rosalind Russell in anything, okay The Trouble With Angels
(4) Tony Curtis in The Boston Strangler and Jack Lemmon Irma La Douce (Billy Wilder again)
(5) Shirley MacLaine in Can-Can and Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome
(6) Barbara Stanwyck in everything, okay Baby Face–“Got experience?” “Plenty.”–and Fred Mac Murray in The Caine Mutiny
HA! 50% of your choices Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote. Excellent as Bill and Ted would declare. I have too many recommendations. Am a classic fanatic myself, so how could you not mention Hitchcock?!
Oh wow, the only one of these I’ve seen is Harold and Maude! Yikes. I better get on with my movie-watching…
For lighter classics, I’d recommend Doris Day’s Don’t Eat the Daisies and the original Yours, Mine, and Ours, which starred Lucille Ball.
My dad loved Doris Day. As a kid I did not get her appeal. As a middle-aged woman I adore Doris.
You can’t forget Anchors Aweigh! Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra as two soldiers on shore leave who encounter a gorgeous woman – Aunt Suzie – when her nephew runs astray. Frank Sinatra is terrible with the ladies, so Gene Kelly tries to hook him up with her but falls for her himself in the process. Hilarity ensues, including an underwater dance scene with Jerry the cat of Tom and Jerry.
Oh I’m going to check it out!
If you like Eugene and Francis together there is also Take Me Out to the Ballgame too.
And the runaway tyke is a very cute Dean Stockwell. That number was immortalized on Family Guy with Stewie subbing for Jerry. The back story on the Jerry & Gene number was Uncle Walt would not loan out Mickey Mouse, so Jerry was brought on board. Movie magic was made.
I love love LOVE that movie! I have had the biggest crush on Gene Kelly since I was really little. Brigadoon warmed my teeny cynical 5th-grade heart!