Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Sidney Lumet directed this film about a bank-heist gone awry based on a true incident. Al Pacino (Sonny) and John Cazelle (both from The Godfather) decide to rob a bank and take it over, holding everyone inside hostage. The robbers use guns to scare and intimidate but Pacino's character doesn't want to hurt anyone. It's a great performance and you are convinced that he's this character, who wants the money to pay for his lover's sex change surgery. Chris Sarandon plays the lover who calls Sonny on the phone a few times; it's a small part but memorable. Charles Durning is also good as a cop who wants to negotiate and deal with Sonny to let the people out. Meanwhile, the local crowd outside gathers and even cheers on Sonny as a hero, and the hostages inside are getting hungry. In one of my favorite scenes, Sonny decides to order a pizza and cokes; the pizza delivery guy comes and you get the sense that this is his greatest claim to fame so far in life. The ending is sad, as the police follow Sonny and Cazale to the airport where they think they are going to be let go and fly away. It's an interesting film that shows how one criminal incident can grow into a cultural and news media sensation. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

A classic film adaptaion, and box-office smash hit for MGM, from Tennesse Williams' Pulizer Prize winning play, with great performances by leads Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie the Cat) and Paul Newman (Brick Pollitt). They are tormented souls, but nonetheless in love, regardless of Brick's lack of effection. The film (and of course, the play) is filled with so many complexities that it leaves you breathless literally and figuratively : Brick and Maggie visit his father, "Big Daddy" for his birthday, but he's dying of cancer. There's talk about inheritance and sibling rivalry. Brick is an alchoholic, temporarily disabled from an injured ankle, and is tormented by a past (his friend committed suicide) and as is non-effectionate with his wife. Maggie has demons of her own, including a revealed relationship with Brick's friend. Williams wrote the character of Brick to be gay, but this aspect was toned down in the film version. Williams had been known to say that he wrote this play to reconcile himself with his own father. Burl Ives plays "Big Daddy" in the movie, and Judith Anderson is "Big Mamma". Very good drama with two of the hottest movie stars of all time.

Going My Way (1944)

Sentimental. Sappy. Syrupy. Inspiring. Happy-go-lucky. This movie can be called all of those things.

Inspiring film comedy directed by Academy Award-winning director Leo McCarey ("The Awful Truth"). The theatrical trailer said it best, "For a world that needs the lift of its wonderful story": Bing Crosby plays happy-go-lucky young priest Father O'Malley, a new kid in town who comes to help out a struggling church shepherded by a curmudegionly old Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), who is initially threatened O'Malley's optimism and enthusiasm. As the new priest settles into the neighborhood, he helps to reform some unruly neighborhood kids by getting them involved with the church. Proven to be a peacemaker in the community, he also helps out numerous other locals in need and also arranges a long overdue reunion between crusty Fitzgibbon and his elderly mother, in a very touching scene at the end. Academy members found it to be a sentimental favorite impossible not to love, and voted for it as the year's Best Picture, worthy of the honor in my opinion. Co-starring legendary Metropolitan Opera star Rise Stevens (in one of her only movie roles - she's wonderful) and Frank McHugh. 1944 was a great year for movies: "Laura", "Since You Went Away", "Double Indemnity". "Going My Way" should be seen at least once, along with its sequel, "The Bells of St. Mary's". Oscar trivia: Barry Fitzgerald was actually nominated twice this year for the same role: Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor! After this year, the rules were changed, and an actor could only be nominated once for a movie.

Read Becky's post on this movie at her blog Classic Film and TV Cafe.

Read Matt's review of Going My Way on his blog.

His Girl Friday (1940)

Howard Hawks directs this screwball comedy with a variation on "The Front Page". Cary Cary Grant is a hardboiled Managing Editor for a city newspaper, and his star reporter is Hildy, played by Rosallind Russell. (She's also his ex-wife, and wants the quiet life with a new husband (Ralph Bellamy), but can't resist the big story, nor Grant. This clever script with overlapping dialogue and simultaneous conversations has inspired many films and TV shows. (Was one of the films screened at the Chicago Outdoor film fest in Grant Park in 2004)

The Birds (1963)

Another blog post from Two Dollar Cinema here

Susanne Pleshette

Tippi Hedren stars as a carefree socialite enjoying a brief flirtation with lawyer Mitch (Rod Taylor). During a birthday party for Mitch's younger sister, a flock of birds attacks the children in what seems to be a random incident. In fact, it signals the beginning of a massive assault on the residents of the town by ordinary birds. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Co-starring Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette as the local schoolteacher. (Part of the 2004 Outdoor Film Fest in Chicago's Grant Park)

"Nosferatu" (1922)

Starring Max Schreck.

The Long Voyage Home recently published a great piece on this movie. Check it out here.

Also, Kendra has a very good post about this movie on her blog Viv and Larry.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1966)

Italian film about the life of Christ, it's a very faithful version, but, shot in grainy black and white, not as visually appealling as other big-budget films about the life of Christ: The Greatest Story Ever Told and The King of Kings.

Nonetheless the film is not bad, and it was nominated for Academy Awards for best Score, Costumes, and Art Direction.

Beautiful music score by Luis Enríquez Bacalov.

A very interesting temptation sequence with Christ and the devil.

Another review from the blog Film Fanatic:

Adam's Rib (1949)

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn as husband and wife lawyers on opposing sides of the same murder case. One of Hollywood's greatest comedies about the battle of the sexes. Co-starring Judy Holiday. Directed by George Cukor.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Based on a Tennessee Williams play, this searing drama is a multiple Oscar winner. It is most memorable fro the Oscar-winning turn by Vivien Leigh, as the fragile Blanche Dubois. Who could forget Marlon Brando, in one of his greatest roles. Kim Hunter as his wife and Karl Malden as Blanche's naive suitor complete the picture. Intense and tremendously moving.

Day of the Dolphin (1972) with George C. Scott

Might be enjoyable if you are into dolphins or aquatics, but I found it to be a bit dull overall, and not very believable. Surprised that it was directed by Mike Nichols; I'd be interested in reading more about why he directed it. George C. Scott (I think miscast) plays a research scientist who teaches Dolphins to communicate with humans in dolphin-like voices. One day two of his dolphins are kidnapped and they are involved in a spy plot to assassinate the President of the US. Very outlandish, and the noises they dolphins make are annoying after awhile. (Was nominated for the Best Sound Oscar, but should have been Worst Sound).

The screenplay was written by Buck Henry, which suggests some comedic elements, but there isn't any comedy to be found in it. Co-starring Paul Sorvino and Edward Herrmann.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

A Shakespeare classic adapted for the screen......a big-budget all star spectacular from MGM featuring an all star cast and fantastic scenery in glorious black and white. It's one of the first films of both Olivia de Havilland (Hermia) and young Mickey Rooney, who was only 15 when he played Puck. The young whippersnapper is amusing in the part, he really hams it up for the camera. deHavilland is good in one of her first films, as is James Cagney, who plays "Nick Bottom".

Also in the cast:
Joe E. Brown: "Francis Flute".
Dick Powell: "Lysander"

Two Academy Awards: "Best Cinematography", "Best Film Editing"

The Three Little Dwarfs - Hardrock, Coco, and Joe

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The movie poster's tagline reads: "A Hollywood Story". It certainly is one of the most famous and best movies ever made about Hollywood life, even though fictional, and brilliantly co-written by Billy Wilder, who also directed. Much like "Streetcar Named Desire", it's a film that is just as much about the emotionally-needed and mentally-troubled leading lady (Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond) as it is about the man in her life who feels trapped and caught in the middle of something he never asked for (William Holden). Holden is an unemployed Hollywood screenwriter who accidentally enters the life of has-been silent film actress Norma Desmond, who lives in her own world and pays Holden to write her comeback film. Co-star Nancy Olsen has never been better as Holden's love interest, completely unaware that Holden has moved into Desmond's home and treated like a king while being smothered by the reclusive's love hungry tendencies. A morality play, about jealousy, neediness, fame, wealth. Billy Wilder was able to recruit some well known silent stars to appear in cameos: HB Warner ("Lost Horizon") and Buster Keaton, as well as director Cecil B. DeMille, who plays an important role in the story. Arguably, DeMille is probably most remembered for his role in this film than any of his other movies outside of "The Ten Commandments". Gloria Swanson herself was a silent film star, and this also her most famous role. Holden and Wilder worked together again in one of my favorites: "Stalag 17" two years later.