In 1917 America entered World War I and for several years, Hollywood had already solidified itself as the entertainment capital of the world.
Mary Pickford, aka 'America's Sweetheart was the female icon of that era while Charlie Chaplin was the male entertainment icon. Both Pickford and Chaplin were also writers as well as established screen actors. With the advent of sound; dialogue in the movies, their fame withered away for what ever powers that be. Although silent movies existed in the 40S, by 1930, it was clear, sound on motion was the best combination.
From about 1910-1929 Two Reelers were the equivalent of today's sitcoms. Before the age of digital, movies were massed produced on mostly 35 mm film. One reel lasts about ten minutes. Many silent films, particularly comedies were about 20-22 minutes long, hence the term 'Two Reelers.' So begins my review of one movie from the decade of the roaring 20s, the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and one from the 21st century.
Laurel and Hardy's Two Reeler "Two Tars," released in 1928 is a must see comedy classic. Laurel and Hardy were comic genius and ruled the comedy screen in the 1920s and 30s in my mind, while others may argue it was perhaps Pickford, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, W.C. Fields or the beautiful Thelma Todd.
Regardless of the augments and discussions of opinions, "Two Tars" is still hilarious today, even though it's a silent film. Watching Laurel and Hardy, who always used their real names in the more than 100 films they made together had flawless and timeless humor. In "Two Tars" the two portray sailors on a furlough. While they are driving in town in their rented Model T, they meet two pretty women and watching them flirt with these women is a laugh riot. I laugh just as loud and longer every time I watch the duo flirting with the women. As my dad said;
"It's so ridiculous, and only these two can get away with it."
Stan (Laurel) and Oliver (Hardy) take the girls for a drive and there is a huge traffic jam on the free way because of construction. Timeless tales. The cars are literally stopped on the free way and the drivers begin arguing with each other. A comic, and very good humored look at 'road rage' starts. Each driver, including Laurel and Hardy begin vandalizing each others vehicles into shambles. No words can describe this 20 or so minute comedy, but I'd recommend this flick to anyone.
For the 1930s I'm going with another Laurel and Hardy Two Reeler. In this 1932 full on sound film, "Helpmates," Oliver Hardy's house is completely trashed after a raucous party he threw while his wife was out of town, 'timeless humor'. While extremely hung-over, in the wee hours of the morning, he gets notification that his wife is coming home that very same day. Of course it's a surprise early coming back home. Oliver calls upon his pal Stan to help clean up the house. Again, no words can describe how funny this flick is, but it's too funny watching Oliver picking up handfuls of empty booze bottles for the trash pick-up.
Whatever comedy sitcom(s) harbor in your favorites, I'd pit "Helpmates" with any episode of my particular favorites from "Sanford and Son," to "Two and a half Men" episodes. "Helpmates" indeed has withstood the ultimate test, the one of time itself.
For the 1940s, I'm recommending the 1941 feature length film "The Maltese Falcon" starring Humphrey Bogart. In this drama, detective motion picture, Bogart is private eye, Sam Spade. When his partner Miles Archer is killed, it becomes Spade's quest to find Archer's killer. While on this journey, he encounters the shady folks Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre) and Kasper Gutman (Sydney Greenstreet).
Gutman and Cairo hire Spade to help find the coveted Maltese Falcon which is a known treasure since 1539. The Falcon is claimed to have been encrusted with the rarest of jewels from beak to claw, seized by pirates hundreds of years ago from Charles the V of Spain, and its where a bouts currently unknown. The Falcon is worth millions, which translates into billions in our current modern times.
People are murdered in the quest for the Falcon and Spade is a major suspect and needs a fall guy for the police. Greenstreet delivers a classic line in movie history as far as I'm concerned. Before I quote that line, a quick explanation is in order. The fall guy is one of Greenstreets henchmen who's practically a son to him.
"One can always get another son, but there is only one Maltese Falcon," Greenstreet said in his boisterous classic accent.
For the 1950s I'm going with the 1957 war movie, "The Bridge on The River Kwai." Derived from Pierre Boullle's novel, screen writers Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson formed a marvelous true story into a Hollywood gem.
This is a tale of British Prisoners of war in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II. The prisoners commander, brilliantly portrayed by Alec Guinness, aka Obi Wan Kenobi is possessed by British pride to lead the construction in a railroad bridge which would aide the Japaneses in getting more troops and combat supplies faster to their troops. The other British prisoners are not sharing the same pride as their commander, nor do they want any part in aiding the enemy in combat. Indeed and excellent conflict for a movie and the character development is awesome while the conclusion fits the flick.
The year I was born was when the Beatles came to America and the civil rights act was passed. 1964's "A Shot in The Dark" was a hit comedy that has stood the test of time. If you like the original Pink Panther movies written by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers, "A Shot in The Dark" is a must see comedy.
In this color classic, the beautiful blond, Elke Sommer plays Maria Gambrelli, a widow whose rich husband was murdered. She is the prime suspect in his death and along the way, others get killed, and again she is the targeted suspect. Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Sellers) is the only one convinced of her innocence. In his rumbling stumbling and bumbling comic way, Clouseau proves her innocence and finds the real criminals. "A Shot in The Dark is a farce that works well with the funny bone.
For the 70s, the hockey comedy "Slap Shot" is an adult comedy that is no good unless it's dirty. In other words, it's meant to be viewed in it's original uncut version, not meant for regular TV.
In "Slap Shot" Paul Newman plays and ageing hockey caption of his semi pro team the Charles town Chiefs. Much like the 90s "Major League", the owner of the Chiefs wants the team to fail, as it's more profitable for all business hands. The three men who play the Hanson Brothers are a key factor in making "Slap Shot" a comedy classic.
The movie deals with romance and lust in an intelligent and very funny manner. Even if you don't understand or like the sport of hockey and don't mind the F-word, some female nudity and comic violence, this movie is right up your alley of laughter.
"The Hidden," a science fiction drama / comedy released in 1987. "The Hidden" is about unseen aliens, both good and evil that harbor in human bodies. Both the good and naughty aliens have a thirst for sleek and fast cars. The evil alien however has no regard for human innocence, the well being of the young or old, much like the world leaders of yesteryear, today and forever. The evil alien only seems to care about loud heavy rock music and fast cars, and has no conscience when it comes to killing someone over money or music.
"The Hidden" is a bizarre blitzkrieg into the realms of weirdness, but despite all the questions the first time viewer has while watching, all the answers are fulfilled in a smart and interesting manner.
My 90s must see is "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, it's clear why he received the MTV Movie Awards best new film maker award.This off the wall film that inspired Ritchie's latter movie "Snatch" with Brad Pitt. "Snatch" is great, but "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is way better.
My brother Eddie once said to me, just because you think it's better, it is for everyone else? At the time he was talking to me, he was referring to many of my various 'opinion' blogs I propel upon the Internet. I seriously thought about what he was saying to me, and after serious thought to what he was asking me and what other people's opinions might be, I replied 'yes' to his question.
"If I think something sucks or is fantastic, or anywhere in between, I'm 100 percent right all the time," I said.
"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" in a nutshell is a tale of four men who devise a way to steal a massive amount of cash from some harden criminals. Their plan is clever and if it fails they risk being tortured to death by hard core thieves or going to federal pound me in the butt prison. This is a movie that has to be viewed from start to finish with no interruption or intrical parts of the plot will be lost. The end leaves the viewer with an interesting 'what if' thought for the mind.
If your still reading, wow, I'm flattered, and thank you. Regardless, I'm only reviewing one more movie for this way too wordy blog. "Chicago" released in 2002 is a musical that has been done several times by the movie industry since the 1920s or 30s. The 2002 version with Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere is truly awesome. I say this because I hate musicals, but I love this movie.
"Chicago" really deserves credit to the many writers of this Hollywood extravaganza. Bill Condon wrote the 2002 screenplay, but his phenomenal feats were because of Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb who wrote the book of this musical probably before Condon was even born. The 2002 version of "Chicago" is also derived from a stage play written by Maurie Dallas Watkins whose writing genius should not go unnoticed.
"Chicago" is about women on death row for killing their beaus. Roxy Hart (Renee Zellweger) is one of these women who also has dreams of becoming an iconic singer on the big stage. Catherine Zeta-Jones is Hart's idol. Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) is an established singer and is the first to get arrested for killing her man. Richard Gere is the shady high priced lawyer Billy Flynn who for the right price can get any women acquitted from murder.
Queen Latifah is the prison guard who can help with acquiring Billy Flynn as Harts defense lawyer and also a very talented singer. For the most part, the best picture of the year award is wrong, but the Academy Awards got it right for "Chicago." This movie is a very funny and a tastefully twisted look at women getting the ultimate revenge on cheating boyfriends or husbands. The musical performances are a fantastic journey into 20s and 30s music.
