The Gold Diggers of 1933
When you think of depression era musicals you should think of this, as its a depression era musical about depression era musicals about the depression. Three struggling actresses end up taking three rich men to the alter, with varying degrees of willingness on the men's part. Likable. The 'Forgotten Man' musical sequence at the end feels tacked on and clashes with the predominate mood of the film, but it really is a rather impressive Busby Berkly number. Grade: B
I Knew it Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale
Documentary on the late actor John Cazale. In addition to being a distinguished stage actor Cazale appeared in only five movies (The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter) each of which was nominated for a best picture Oscar. An intriguing looking unusually talented actor he was known for the vulnerability he brought to his performances, and the little looks and ticks he could do that just brought the soul out of his characters and added so much to his portails. Cazale became romantically involved with Meryl Streep and she was at his bed side when he died of lung cancer in 1978. Unfortunately at only forty minutes this documentary (like Cazale life) was too short. Grade: B
Zero Hour!
The plot of this 'airplane in danger' film was later lifted for the immortal comedy Airplane!. In addition to the plot about food poisoning striking the passengers and crew of a commercial airliner mid-flight, large portions of dialogue where appropriated from this film into Airplane!, making this movie unintentionally funny; even the the reluctant pilots named Stryker! Leads Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell are here on the downward slope of their carers and just look leaden and tired. Sterling Hayden in what would later be the Robert Stack role is slightly annoying, so far I've only liked Hayden in the parts he played for Stanley Kubrick. Low budget, set in Canada. Grade: C
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