Classic Films

[dookeyXXX]

MY MAN AND I (1952)
This romantic melodrama is teeming with a stellar cast and some insanely sharp dialogue (the screenplay was co-written by John Fante). The story gets a little heavy-handed at times, but leading man Ricardo Montalbon absolutely commands the screen (Shelley Winters is no slouch as a drunken waif, either) and there is so much wonderful wordplay that I forgot most of it: it was hard to remember one witty turn of phrase because it was usually followed by two or three others.
One of the coolest devices utilized by director William A. Wellman is the continued use of the song “Stormy Weather” throughout the film; it pretty much sets the tone.
It’s also cool to see legendary offbeat character actor Jack Elam in a rather subdued and serious role from early in his career.

Here’s a clip courtesy of TCM:
https://www.tcm.com/video/240569/my-...ington-ramirez

[dookeyXXX]

FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO (1943)
I caught this a few days before it left Prime.
It’s a nifty little WWII melodramatic thriller directed and co-written by Billy Wilder.
Taking place during Rommel’s Western Desert Campaign, the film moves along at a deft pace, is littered with snappy and witty dialogue, and contains two bravura performances by Peter van Eyck and Erick von Stroheim, both playing Nazi baddies.

For what it’s worth, Tarantino often lists this as one of his favorite films and you can see some shades of it lurking in Inglourious Bastards…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV-k1FVpS2I

[dookeyXXX]

<p>
MICKEY ONE (1965) This early Warren Beatty starring vehicle is a strange mix of noir and existential surrealism, definitely influenced by Fellini. Beatty plays a mob-owned comedian on the lam. Or is he just having a mid-life professional crisis? The lines between reality and imagination are continually blurred to the point that one doesn&#39;t really know if this is a straight forward noir or a pointed social comedy. Whatever your take, it&#39;s an entertaining endeavor that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iXptTXjbk </p>