10 of My Favourite Classic Film Tribute Videos

This is just a quick post showcasing 10 of my favourite classic film tribute videos. I hope you enjoy watching them and, if you do, please go and comment on the videos on YouTube! 

Classic Hollywood - Forever Young (made by my wonderful friend Sara)

Classic Hollywood Stars - Memories Remain (made by my fellow blogger Clara)

Everything - Tribute to Myrna Loy and William Powell (made by my amazingfriend Kari)

Marlene Dietrich - Rolling in the Deep (made by Sara)

Feels Like Home (made by Kari)

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - From Here To Eternity (made by fantabulany)

Barbara Stanwyck Tribute (made by my fellow blogger, Kate Gabrielle)

Learning to Breathe - The King and I (made by fantabulany)

Dirk Bogarde Tribute (made by Kate Gabrielle)

Greer Garson (made by Sara)

And a bit of shameless self-promotion (because I have no shame) in the form of the video I am most proud of from my own tribute videos.

Box Set Monday #5: Carole Lombard

The star of today's "Box Set Monday" post is Carole Lombard, the gorgeous, tremendously talented Queen of Screwball Comedy.

Contains:

Twentieth Century, 1934

My Man Godfrey, 1936

Nothing Sacred, 1937

True Confession, 1937

Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 1941

To Be or Not To Be, 1942

I saw Twentieth Century for the first time today and just had to put it in the box set (it knocked out No Man of Her Own). Carole plays a lingerie model who is turned into a huge theatrical star by Oscar Jaffe (incredibly played by John Barrymore), a Broadway impresario. It encompasses everything a screwball comedy should and does so with such ease that you become entirely engrossed in the crazy and hilarious goings-on.

My Man Godfrey is the quintessential Lombard film, I think. If you don't end up loving dizzy, scatter-brained heiress Irene Bullock, then there's something wrong with you. William Powell also gives a smashing performance as the butler and only sane member of the Bullock household. MMG one of the most perfect examples of screwball comedy you will ever see, and I would not hesitate in using this film to lure people into the Old Hollywood downward spiral of obsession. ;D

The third film in the box set is Nothing Sacred, the first screwball comedy to be filmed in colour and Carole's only technicolour film (and yes, she is just as flawless in colour as in black and white!). Carole plays Hazel Flagg, a woman dying of radium poisoning. As such, she is invited to New York and becomes the talk of the town. Everything is smooth sailing until it's discovered that Hazel isn't actually dying...

True Confession is a wonderful comedy about husband and wife Helen and Ken Bartlett (Fred MacMurray). Helen is a writer and pathological liar, and Ken is a very honest lawyer. Going against against her husband's wishes and behind his back, Helen gets a job as a secretary. However, she soon finds herself in a bit of a pickle. I can't recommend this highly entertaining little film enough.  On a side note, Carole and Fred are one of my favourite '30s on-screen couples.  

One of Hitchcock's few comedy films, Mrs. and Mrs. Smith is a lively little film about a happily married couple who one day find out that they aren't actually married. Will they remarry or... ? The combination of Carole's perfect comedic timing, Robert Montgomery's pure brilliance, and Hitch's peerless skills as a director, makes this one of my all time favourite films.

To Be or Not To Be is a comedy drama (with an emphasis on drama) of the highest caliber. Most of the films in  this box set see Carole in slightly crazy comedic roles, but for the character of Maria Tura in this you have a chance to see her exercise her dramatic chops whilst still maintaining that glorious touch of Lombard comedic genius that we all know and love. TBONTB was the last film Carole made before her tragic death in a plane crash on January 16, 1942.

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Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back for next installment of "Box Set Monday". 

As always, if you would like to contribute to this series please drop me a line either here, on twitter, by email or wherever else you may be able to find me online, and we'll hopefully be able to work something out. :)

After the Thin Man (1936)

After the Thin Man (1936)

Nick and Nora return to their home in San Francisco on New Year's Eve and are expected to have dinner with Nora's family, most of whom strongly dislike Nick as they believe that he isn't good enough for Nora. Nora's cousin Selma's husband, Robert, has been missing for a few days, and the family want Nick to do a little sleuthing to find out where he is. Cue: several murders, men in shadows, and many other things vital to a great detective story! After several twists and turns to the story, the identity of the murderer is revealed...and once again, he is the one whom you least suspect.

If it's possible, I think I loved this film even more than the first Thin Man film. As with the first film, After the Thin Man combines a pretty substantial plot with a stellar cast, humour...and Asta, the dog.

I adore Asta. He can do everything. I want him :D

See!? How adorable is he!? ♥

There's really not all that much I can say about this film, it's not the sort of film one can write a detailed review about, and I'm no good at that type of thing anyway. All I can say is, I highly recommend you watch it. There's no way you won't adore it! :)

Stay tuned for Greer's birthday tomorrow, and Deborah's on Thursday! It's so exciting! :D

The Thin Man (1934)

So, here I am with the promised review of the first film in The Complete Thin Man Collection box set.

Basically, everyone should see this film. It's witty, fun, has a really cute dog AND a plot. YOU DON'T GET FILMS LIKE THIS ANY MORE.

The plot of The Thin Man revolves around the disappearance of a man named Clyde Wynant (the "thin man" )...but not really. It revolves around William Powell - who plays Nick Charles, a retired detective - and Myrna Loy - who plays his wife, Nora. At the request of Wynant's daughter, Nick reluctantly takes on the case, and, a few dead bodies - and more than a few drinks - later, Nick triumphantly outs the murderer in a hilarious dinner party scene.

Nick and Nora Charles are just perfection. If you don't adore both of them, then, to be frank, you need your head checking. Also, they have the cutest dog ever, Asta.

Frankly, even if this film didn't have a plot, I would watch it over and over just to hear the immense quipping between Myrna and William. ONE OF THE BEST FILM COUPLES EVER, PEOPLE!!

I am aware that this isn't much of a review, but, in all honesty, you need to see it to appreciate it. Some films you can do justice by writing about them, others...you really can't. Trust me, if you watch The Thin Man, you will not be disappointed. :D

The Complete Thin Man Collection

I ordered this the other day, and, as I haven't seen all of the Thin Man films (shocking, I know!) and haven't seen any of them for a long time, I'm rather excited about getting it! Everyone I know who owns this box set has told me it's super, so I can't wait for it to come in the post! :D Anyway, the main purpose of posting this is that I thought I'd perhaps post a review of each of the films once a week. I'm almost certain that said reviews will only contain sentiments along the lines of "SUPER DUPER FANTASMAGORICAL AMAZINGNESS" because, come on, we're talking about Myrna Loy and William Powell. ;D So, stay tuned for Thin Man fantasticality! ;)