A-List
Old Movies That Old Movie-Haters Will Love
By Josh Spiegel
June 3, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
You know who I'm talking about. The kind of person who, when the phrase "black-and-white" is mentioned, even in passing, shudders and convulses with fear and even rage. Now, most of the people who act like this are under 30 and are so well-versed in movies that aren't old, that aren't in black-and-white; with this mindset, they're completely against films that didn't have the option to use Technicolor or choose to forego it (a good example of the latter type of movie is 1993's Schindler's List). If you're anything like me, when you hear about people railing against older films, or films shot in black-and-white, you're just about ready to burst with frustration, thinking of the many, many films that may be old but are amazing, essential cinematic viewing.
If you're in search of some movies, any movies, that fit the criteria of being old and/or black-and-white but are easily accessible to people who can't stand the thought of either type, this is the A-List for you. The five movies that will be highlighted in the following list are definitely among the best of their respective genres and are arguably among the best films ever made. Most importantly, even the more modern film viewer can find much to love here, even if they come in thinking otherwise. The movies that this A-List will discuss are those that even the most anti-old movie person will love. Keep in mind, not all of the films are in black-and-white, but all were made before 1960 and are essential films to watch, whether you like old movies or not. Let's get to the list!
It Happened One Night
Not only is It Happened One Night, the 1934 screwball comedy classic, the best of its genre (followed closely by "The Philadelphia Story" and "His Girl Friday"), but it's one of only a few films in cinematic history to boast a certain Oscar record. The film was the first ever to win the Oscars for Best Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay, and Picture. In fact, only two other movies have ever won all five awards: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Silence of the Lambs. Oscars or not, It Happened One Night is one of the great all-time comedies, pairing Clark Gable with Claudette Colbert. She is an heiress trying to disappear, avoiding her family and the threat of impending marriage. He is a journalist with roguish charm, who winds up joining her on her cross-country journey. Not only do Colbert and Gable have great chemistry with each other, but the script by Robert Riskin provides them both with plenty of memorable lines. The scene with Gable showing off his hitchhiking prowess is a classic, though, and few words are spoken. What makes this so accessible is the chemistry between the leads, the type that more mediocre entries in the romantic comedy genre can only dream of. Also, with Frank Capra at the helm, "It Happened One Night" may be the most crowd-pleasing entry on this A-List, something to cheer for.
Singin' In The Rain
Here is the only other film on the A-List that could fight off It Happened One Night for being the most crowd-pleasing. Singin' In The Rain is arguably the greatest musical Hollywood has ever made. Some say that another musical starring Gene Kelly, An American In Paris, should be at the head of the line, but for me, there's nothing like this movie. Though it wasn't as huge of a success when originally released in 1952, Singin' In The Rain is as charming as they come, filled with big laughs, memorable music, a swooning romance, and even a little suspense. Okay, there's not really any suspense here; this was the time when Hollywood movies didn't feature many surprises, so it won't do me any good to avoid mentioning that the two leads of the movie - Kelly and newcomer Debbie Reynolds - do get together at the end of the story. But, then again, to watch Singin' In The Rain isn't about watching a romance be consummated in any way. To watch this movie is to marvel at the best Hollywood can be. The story is set in 1927; Kelly stars as Don Lockwood, a big-time silent movie star who tries his best to keep up with the changing times, as movies begin to talk. He falls in love with Kathy Selden (Reynolds), a dancer who beguiles him. However, Lockwood's on-screen love interest, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) would like to put a wrench or two in his plans. The title sequence is most often mentioned, but the extended Broadway Ballet sequence at the end of the film and the boisterous "Make ‘Em Laugh" are equally unforgettable. For any and all moviegoers, Singin' In The Rain is the musical to end all others and must be seen.
12 Angry Men
As pure drama, nothing compares with 12 Angry Men, one of the greatest cinematic insights into what it means to be human. Though the film does star, as the title would suggest, 12 men, the discussions they have are universal throughout race, gender, and creed. What would happen if you were a juror on a murder trial? What if the defendant was of a different ethnic background than you? Would you bring your prejudices to the table? What if all the evidence pointed one way, but you felt differently? Would you stick up for yourself? All of these questions, and many others, are asked in the 1957 Sidney Lumet courtroom drama 12 Angry Men, adapted from the television play by Reginald Rose. With a diverse cast, featuring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman, and Martin Balsam, this film takes place almost entirely inside the claustrophobic jury room in a New York courtroom. 12 jurors finish hearing both sides of a murder trial and begin deliberations. All the evidence, plus some faulty assumptions, make it seem like the defendant is guilty of killing his father; one juror (Fonda) chooses to vote not guilty, and spends the next 90 minutes trying to convince everyone else that he may just be right. It may not sound like an exciting way to spend 90 minutes, but thanks to the crafty direction by Lumet, a fantastic script, lasting performances, and even some suspense, 12 Angry Men makes it worth your while. This is not a movie with an easily assumed ending, not initially. Still, as Fonda's nameless juror (all of the characters are only known by their juror numbers) is able to sway even the most prejudiced and hateful man in the room (Cobb, dominating and scary), you can't help but pray for the best. For the averse moviegoer, this old film packs as much a punch today as it did over 50 years ago.
Double Indemnity
When I was a kid, the only time I'd ever see Fred MacMurray was on a worn-out VHS of his roles in The Absent-Minded Professor or Son Of Flubber, where he played a kindly but scatterbrained scientist who created a strange goo that bounced very high. So, you can imagine the surprise I registered when I first even heard about the 1944 classic film noir Double Indemnity, where he starred as Walter Neff, a sleazy insurance salesman who helps a femme fatale off her husband for the money. What's more amazing is how easily MacMurray, who did time as a villainous type in some films before he stepped over to making family movies, is able to hold up against one of the great sirens, Barbara Stanwyck. As Phyllis, the gorgeous but evil woman who convinces Walter to go to the dark side, Stanwyck is icy yet completely convincing. In one moment, you completely understand why Walter falls for this beauty, and in the next, you want him to run as far as he can from her. Everything about this movie is quality, from the script by director Billy Wilder and famed noir novelist Raymond Chandler, to Wilder's slick helming, to even the supporting performance from well-known baddie Edward G. Robinson, who's on the good side here. As Neff's friend and boss, Robinson does a lot with a little, even in the final scene. This is a friendship for the ages, even if it may not last. As an entry into the genre of film noir, Double Indemnity is perfect for those of you who don't like either the classics or black-and-white.
The General
This last entry is about as daring as I can get. Not only is 1927's The General a very old film that is shot in black-and-white, but it's also a silent movie. Hopefully, very few of you have run for the hills. I realize that most people have a special dislike for movies with no spoken dialogue, but how can you pass up great comedians like Buster Keaton? Usually, I favor Charlie Chaplin over Keaton, but in this case, I think that The General is a slightly better choice than even City Lights. Like that 1931 Chaplin comedy, The General has a love story, as Johnnie Gray (Keaton), our lead character, has a fiancée whom he loves very much. Gray is a Confederate in the Civil War and would love to fight, but is considered too valuable as a train engineer; this turns into a big misunderstanding that makes everyone around him think he's a coward, so Johnnie goes off on his train. Eventually, some major complications arise and...well, silent or not, you can guess the ending is happy, even if the lead was on the losing side of the Civil War. The politics of that war don't come into play; Keaton is all about big laughs. One classic scene features him accidentally derailing a train with soldiers on his side of the fight and being helpless to fix this mistake. The only drawback to talking about silent movies is that it's much better to see them than to describe them. Let me say this much: if you love comedy of any kind, you can bet that it owes a debt to Buster Keaton. Even modern comedies owe this debt of gratitude; for just straight comedy with only a hint of romance, The General is a great place to start.