As much as I love discovering new films, there are many films that I consistently return to. They’re the warm, snuggle-y blanket hiding within the abyss of my many hours of move-watching each month. The following are five more of my fifteen of my favorites classics to re-watch. (This is not a definitive list of the most re-watchable classic films ever. Check out Part I, too!)
6. Gidget (1959)
Directed by Paul Wendkos
Starring Sandra Dee and James Darren
Beach film. Sandra Dee. James Darren serenading Sandra Dee. Cliff Robertson with a pet bird. Fantastic, Sally Field-starring television series to match. What’s not to love about this movie? I could literally watch Gidget every day and not get tired of it because it’s so much fun to watch. (Check out my “Favorite Things About… Gidget“ post for more of my rambling about how much fun it is!)
7. His Girl Friday (1940)
Directed by Howard Hawks
Starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell
This fantastic comedy combines five of my favorite things: Cary Grant, Roz Russell, Howard Hawks, journalism and Ralph Bellamy losing the lady. It’s one of the films that made me fall in love with Cary Grant, and I fall in love with him a little bit more every time I watch it. Great performances are given all around; it’s one of the best classic comedies.
8. The Long, Long Trailer (1953)
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
If not for a TCM shop discount special, I never would have discovered this gem. Lucy and Desi are best remembered by the general public for “I Love Lucy,” of course, but their films together are just as fun and this is the best of them. The Long, Long Trailer is an absolute riot that had me laughing out loud (and getting strange looks from my fellow university library patrons. At least I was smart enough not to watch it on the silent floor!).
9. Midnight (1939)
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Starring Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche
Yet another comedy — surprise, surprise! The entire collection of comedies produced in the 1930s and 1940s are some of the most re-watchable films in existence, and I love a whole lot of them — but I love this one even more than most. Claudette and Don are so fantastic, and the premise more than reaches its potential for wacky, silly mishaps that the characters must contend with.
10. On the Town (1949)
Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly
Starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller, Betty Garrett, Vera-Ellen and Jules Munshin
On the town is absolutely my favorite musical of all time. The wonderful ensemble cast “paints the town with joy” (that poster doesn’t lie!). From the songs to the costumes to the completely adorable couples (I’m looking at you, Hildy and Chip), it is absolutely impossible to find anything to hate about this film. This and Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief are the two films that I can put on, no matter how bad my mood is, and feel instantly better by watching.
The Motion Pictures 
So many movies to see, so little time. Really enjoying this series, Lindsey.
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Thank you! There’ll be one more installment coming at the end of the month. I’ve got a few more fun lists planned after this one’s finished, too.
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I’ll be that one guy that says I haven’t seen any of these. Also, is there a new design about on the site?
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See them! :) If you watch and hate them, you can put full blame on me ’cause they’re some of my absolute favorites.
I haven’t done much with the design lately. I did add the photo links in the right-hand sidebar a while back and moved the widgets around on the front page, but that was the most recent update.
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“His Girl Friday’s” dialouge is so memorable that in the script for “Pulp Fiction”. Tarantino wrote that characters talk rapidly ala “His Girl Friday” under the discription of the Pumpkin and Honey Bunny’s section. It’s one that I will revist. I plan to check out others from your list
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I look forward to reading your thoughts on the ones you haven’t seen!
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I’ve only seen one of these: Midnight, which I thought was fantastic. I’ll have to add His Girl Friday to my list, too! Or I guess I should add ALL of them, right? I mean, c’mon, you wouldn’t steer me wrong, would you?
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Add all of them! But definitely put His Girl Friday at the top of the list. It is one of the best from both Cary and Roz, which says a lot since they both made so many phenomenal films!
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Done!
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