Week 11. Destry Rides Again (1939)

3.7 STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“I liked it a lot, but I thought that Frenchy was too dramatic…wait…who am I to talk?”  --Syd

“You gotta love Jimmy Stewart--so cute when he was young..” --Stacy

The Film:  The Western town of Bottleneck is run by saloon owner, Kent, with the help of his heavy-handed henchmen.  He runs a crooked card game, cheating a local rancher out of his land, aided by the saloon chanteuse, Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich).  When the town sheriff goes to investigate, he’s apparently killed.  But Kent puts out the story that sheriff suddenly had to leave town.  The corrupt, tobacco-chewing mayor, appoints the town drunk, “Wash” Dimsdale,” sheriff, hoping not
to have any trouble out of him. 

But Dimsdale sobers up and sends for Thomas Jefferson “Tom” Destry, Jr. (James Stewart) to be his deputy and help him clean up the town.  Destry is the son of a much-respected former sheriff, but trouble is, he doesn’t believe in carrying a gun.  Worse yet, on stepping out of the stage to town, he's holding a parasol and parakeet cage.  The rough townspeople attempt to humiliate him, but Destry handles their attacks--verbal and physical--with calm and wit.  Then he starts wondering what happened to the recently departed sheriff….

Week 7. It’s a Gift (1935)

3½ STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“I felt sorry for him, and no wonder why he seemed to drink in many scenes.”--Kenz

The Film:  A classic W. C. Fields’ sight gag comedy.  A henpecked shopkeeper dreams of chucking it all, moving to California and buying an orange grove.  Each scene is a mini-comedy unto itself, rivaling many an SNL skit.  Several are painfully funny classics--the shaving scene, blind man crossing the street, sleeping on the porch, picnic on the mansion lawn.  Do you have QUMQUATS?!!!

Week 4. Grand Hotel (1932)

3 ½ STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“It was a little boring through the middle because they went blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.”--Kayla

The Film:  Five strangers check in at the extravagant Grand Hotel in Berlin all for different reasons, but their lives come to intersect and entwine.  A charming ladies man and jewel thief (John Barrymore) falls for Russian ballerina (Greta Garbo), who is depressed over her fading career.  A desperate businessman (Wallace Beery) who is verging on bankruptcy, has hired a young stenographer (Joan Crawford) who must fend off his attentions.  And dying retiree (Walter Beery) has come to the hotel to spend his last days and life savings in luxury. 

Week 3 - Double Feature. Frankenstein (1931)

3 STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“Poor Frankenstein!  They were so mean to him!” --Kenzie

The Film:  The familiar story, of course:  Brilliant, driven scientist creates life from death, but something goes horribly awry, and no one is prepared to deal with the tragic consequences.  The movie and the monster, sympathetically played by Boris Karloff, was much imitated for years to come, even by the comedic re-make, “Young Frankenstein” (1974).  It’s interesting that “Frankenstein” and “Dracula” were so popular in this Depression year.  It was an era dominated by rich vs. poor comedies, crime thrillers, and horror flicks--all good ways to deal with the tough times created by high finance.   The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Week 3 - Double Feature. Dracula (1931)

3 ¼ STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“Somehow it made me stick to the couch.”--Syd

The Film:  The classic Bram Stoker story, in it’s first film version (not counting the 1922 “Nosferatu,” a German version that violated copyright laws.)  A Transylvanian count requiring fresh feeding ground moves to England.  Bela Lugosi forever set the standard for creepiness in the title role, and Dwight Frye, as Renfield, his crazed, once-bitten assistant, helps amp up the creepiness factor even more.