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Monkey Business (1952)
Good Movie because of Talent
The movie Monkey Business could have been pretty bad. I would say that it's saving grace is the fact that the people involved are all highly talented. Howard Hawks turns in some excellent direction per usual, although I'm sure he was only paying the bills. Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers are pitch perfect. Marilyn Monroe is essentially eye candy in this movie but she still steals every scene she is in, which unfortunately isn't very many.
The script was written by the highly respected Ben Hecht , Charles Lederer (of His Girl Friday fame) and I.A.L. Diamond (Some Like It Hot etc...). With so many excellent writers involved you know the script is going to be at least decent. Granted that a monkey discovering a potion for the fountain of youth is a pretty silly premise they managed to pull it off for the most part. The dialog is a bit awkward in places but overall very good and the script certainly got it's message across.
Cary Grant's performance makes this film. He perfectly embodies what a typical teenager and child of the age would be. Of course the scenes in which he takes the potion are the highlights of the film and he does an excellent job with them. He also has considerable chemistry with his female costars particularly Ginger Rogers (Who plays his wife).
Marilyn Monroe plays Grant's bosses slightly dim but wonderfully innocent secretary. Although she has limited screen time you cannot take your eyes off of her anytime she is in the shot. The sign of a great actress.
Overall a very charming film with a feel good message. 7/10
Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn: Princess of Hollywood
A flat-out amazing movie. William Wyler, famed director of "Ben-Hur" [1959] among others, is the perfect director for this film. While not noticeable in the way some films of the 60's and 70's were, the directing technique in this movie is original and very good. Wonderful use of the camera for sure. Especially in the exciting climax of the movie. Also it was filmed in beautiful black and white that really adds to the picture.
The screenplay by Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton is very charming. With a script this good you can see why so many marquee stars of Hollywood were attracted to this project. Many memorable scenes stem directly from the witty dialog.
The acting in the film is, of course, amazing. Audrey Hepburn screen debut is the one she received her, regrettably, only Oscar for. But boy did she deserve it. As soon as I start talking about Ms. Hepburn I speak only in hyperbole. Obivously the best actress ever, bar none, Her screen presence, charm and beauty radiate off the screen. Gregory Peck does a pretty good job himself though. He slowly becomes intoxicated with Ms. Hepburn throughout the movie, as I'm sure any man would in a similar situation. Eddie Albert is thrown into the mix for some comic relief and he is quite funny but the movie is really about the two leads.
Set in the stunning beauty of Rome this is one of my all-time favorite romantic comedies. What a great film. Truly a classic.
Harvey (1950)
Harvey
What a wonderful movie. This is one of my personal favorites. Henry Koster does a good job with the direction. He settles the tricky problem of the imaginary "Harvey" by hilariously including room for him in every shot.
The Screenplay is prefect. It is handled by Oscar Brooney and Mary Chase, she was also writer of the Pulitzer Prize winning play. Excellent dialog is provided for everyone and it's just such an original idea that you have to appreciate Mary Chase for coming up with it.
The acting is top notch, particularly by James Stewart who obviously has much of the weight for this movie on his shoulders. Cast the wrong person in the lead and the entire production falls in on itself. Luckily they did not do that here. I can see no other person who could pull off Elwood P. Dowd as perfectly as Stewart does. His all-American charm endears him to the audience. Cary Grant could have done it but not as well. The supporting cast is very good. Josephine Hull particularly steps out of the background as the nervous and easily flustered sister of Stewart. She won a well deserved Oscar for her exasperated performance. Also Wallace Ford has some very memorable dialog towards the end of the film as a taxi driver.
Overall this is one of the most feel good movies I have seen. The only movie that might be able to beat it is "It's a Wonderful Life" [1946]. If you haven't seen it you should. Everyone should get to enjoy this little nugget of a movie as much as I did.
State Fair (1945)
A Fairly Average Musical
This movie is difficult to like in some ways and very easy to like in others. It is an oxymoron of a film. You dislike it because it coasts on it's songs and has very little plot to speak of. You like it because those songs are so good and the simple plot is endearing even if it is predictable. The direction by Walter Lang is typical of the period. While it doesn't take away from the movie it does not add to it either.
The screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein is very simple yet charming. In this version the script is essentially a springboard for Rodgers and Hammerstein's songs. However the songs are not to shabby. My favorites are "Isn't It Kinda Fun?", "All I Owe Ioway" and of course the Oscar winning "It Might as Well Be Spring".
The cast is also fairly charming but nothing particularly special. Charles Winninger and Fay Bainter are good as the Mom and Dad. Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine are good and their "courtship" is more interesting than the sister's. Jeanne Crain is probably the best actor in the movie but her romance is ruined by Dana Andrews. I disliked Dana Andrews in the movie and thought he was miscast. If it had been a different actor in that part and a little tighter script this may have gotten a six or seven instead of five.
However the movie is still endearing because it's simple innocent script is very charming with a couple of excellent songs. However Rodgers and Hammerstein were headed for better things in Hollywood and outside of the horrible film "South Pacific" this is their weakest Hollywood movie.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Classy Romantic Comedy
What a wonderful movie. First of all the directing, by George Cukor, is excellent. Particularly good is the opening scene, which coincidently arouses way too much controversy on this site, that is filmed in the classic style of the silent era. However throughout the whole movie George Cukor proves what a master he is behind the camera. The camera never seems obtrusive and that's the trick. He doesn't practice any kind of showy direction. You barely realize the camera is there and for this type of film that is exactly as it should be.
The screenplay is brilliant. Donald Ogden Stewart deserved the Oscar he won for it. The movie is driven by a kind of effortless comic dialouge. It occasionally slips into slapstick comedy however most of it is just very clever lines. Consider this (paraphrased) one by Cary Grant, (talking to writer James Stewart) "I thought all writers drank to excess and beat their wives, you know, I always wanted to be a writer." Of course without a good cast their really is no movie and this cast is one of the best. The trio of Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and James Stewart carry this romantic comedy. Cary Grant provides the comedy with many of the funniest lines in the film. James Stewart provides the romance with a seemingly effortless charm, with which he managed to charm the Oscar voters. Meanwhile Katherine Hepburn has the best of both worlds clashing swords with Grant while becoming interested in Stewart. The supporting cast was also very good. Ruth Hussey, John Howard and the hilarious Virginia Weidler are all nearly pitch perfect. Deserving special mention among the supporting cast is Roland Young as Uncle Willie. He takes the limited space he has in the script and steals a few scenes from the rest of the cast with some of the funniest moments of the film.
Despite the fact that the love triangle had been done before this film, and very well too, it somehow rises above the stereotypical story and creates something special. It is without a doubt one of the best romantic comedies to ever come out of Hollywood.