Quick takes on 5 CLASSIC films

Since I’m not reading any classical books at the moment, I thought I’d go back and watch some of the classic movies. Some of these I’ve seen before, but most I have not. Just some short blurbs of some of the greats.

Barry Lyndon is regarded as one of Stanley Kubrick’s greatest works. A period film taking place in the 18^th century, it is a fictional biopic of the life of Redmond Barry. Born to a poor family in Ireland, Barry lies and cheats his way to high society in England. What the movie lacks in action, it more than makes up for in brilliant acting and even more brilliant film-making. The cinematography is breathtaking, as you’d expect from a Kubrick film, and you should read up on some of the techniques he used in making this movie, it is truly groundbreaking stuff for its day. A long film by today’s standards, at over 3 hours, but well worth it for film lovers. The quiet, slow-building tale is engaging from the start. A true masterpiece.

The Big Sleep is a classic Humphrey Bogart mystery, based on a book by Raymond Chandler. Philip Marlowe is a P.I. hired to find out what is plaguing the spoiled daughter of a rich man, a daughter who seems to be caught up in a blackmail scheme. The bodies start hitting the pavement soon, and Marlowe finds that the strings lead longer the more he pulls. The backdrop of the film is the relationship between Bogart and fellow lead Lauren Bacall, who had met on their previous film, were dating during filming of this one, and married before it hit theaters (months after Bogart left his former wife). The steamy tension between Bacall and Bogart is felt through the screen, but the real highlights of this film are the twists and turns of the plot.

The Grand Hotel, always the same. People come, people go, nothing ever happens. Of course, a great deal happens. Grand Hotel is an early sound film, dating back to 1932, with some of the times greatest stars, including John Barrymore, Greta Garbo, and a spicy pre-code Joan Crawford. This film shows the lives of a various people staying at the expensive, premier hotel in Germany over the course of a couple days, and how their lives interconnect for a short time. Funny and well written, this movie is even better today as a glimpse at a time long before many of us were born. Must-see territory for classic film lovers.

How the West Was Won is a beautifully filmed, decades-spanning epic, the likes of which you just don’t see made anymore, with a truly all-star cast (look it up!). It follows the Prescott family and their kids over the course of 40-50 years, starting with them going down the newly built Erie Canal, and their subsequent splintering and going in different directions across the great frontier. It has the feel of a genuine epic tale from the first few minutes, and over the course of nearly 3 hours, loosely shows some of the great events of western expansion, including homesteading, railroads, the gold rush, and cattle ranching. You don’t get to find out the fates of everyone at the conclusion, but for a film that takes place in a time where you might never see a loved one again once you set out on your own, even that aspect feels right.

Marlon Brando got his big film break on A Streetcar Named Desire. Released in 1951, it is a fantastic film based on the incredible play by Tennessee Williams. Three-fourths of the leads came over from the original Broadway production (Brando, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden), with Vivien Leigh taking over Jessica Tandy’s original part (Leigh had performed in the London production, and was obviously a bigger Hollywood name at the time than Tandy). Three-fourths also won Oscars for their parts, only leaving Brando out, though the then-unknown was nominated as well. The film tells the story of Blanche DuBois going to visit her younger sister Stella and Stella’s new husband Stanley in New Orleans. From the start we see that Blanche is a bit on the edge of sanity, and makes up lavish stories about herself, which her sister humors but Stanley derides. Leigh and Brando each shine in their respective roles, with Brando just starting his illustrious career and the aging Leigh finding it tougher to find roles on the big screen (she made just 3 more films after this over the next 15 years, though still had plenty of jobs on the stage). A wonderful piece of cinematic history.