“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” is a classic Gary Cooper film that reminds me quite a bit of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” starring James Stewart—not just in title, but in premise. Longfellow Deeds is a young man who lives in a small town named Mandrake Falls. He lives a simple life as a staple of his community. He has enough for his needs but he’s not wealthy. He writes poetry for postcards and greeting cards, and plays the tuba in the town band. All in all, he’s a good fellow with a bit of a temper, living a peaceful … Continue reading →

Fred Astaire is arguably one of the most famous actors to come out of Hollywood, as is Audrey Hepburn. Put the two together in one film, and it’s bound to be magic. In “Funny Face,” Astaire plays Dick Avery, a photographer for a fashion magazine. His boss, Maggie, wants to find a new model, one that is beautiful but can also think. They decide to do a shoot in a bookstore and find just the one they want, but the employee of that bookstore makes it difficult for them. She thinks fashion is a silly waste of time and doesn’t … Continue reading →

After reviewing “Never Been Kissed” last week and seeing that it’s considered a remake of “The Major and the Minor,” I decided I’d better see this film too, and compare them. Well, they’re both about a girl who pretends to be younger than she is and falls in love with an older man who is her mentor. And that’s where the similarities stop. But I did enjoy “The Major and the Minor” on its own merits. Ginger Rogers stars as Susan Applegate, a young woman who has left small-town farm life to come to New York to try to start … Continue reading →

Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza made such a smash together in Lanza’s first film “That Midnight Kiss,” Hollywood decided to pair them up again for “The Toast of New Orleans.” This time, Grayson plays Suzette Michelene, an opera diva who thinks a great deal of herself. While out touring the bayou areas of Louisiana with the owner of her opera company, Jacques (David Niven) they happen upon a charming festival, where the fishing boats receive a blessing from the local priest, who sprinkles the decks with holy water. One of the fisherman spots Suzette and is immediately taken with her. … Continue reading →

“The Kissing Bandit” is a funny spoof on all the old bandito movies that came out of the era of the early West. Frank Sinatra stars as Ricardo, son of the original Kissing Bandit. He didn’t know of his father’s secret identity – he thought his father was an innkeeper in the territory of California. When he writes to the inn and tells Chico, his father’s good friend, that he intends to come to California and run the family business, Chico believes that Ricardo is coming to become the new Kissing Bandit. However, Ricardo has been to hotel management school … Continue reading →

This classic musical was unfamiliar to me, but I was more than happy to make my acquaintance with “It Happened in Brooklyn.” Frank Sinatra stars as Danny Miller, a young man who has been serving overseas for the last four years. It’s finally time for him to return home. He and a bunch of other military men are staying one last night in England at a nice manor house before shipping out the next day, and he meets up with Jamie (Peter Lawford) a young composer who doesn’t know how to have fun. Danny tells Jamie that there’s nothing but … Continue reading →