Jerry Day (Gary Cooper) and Toni Carstairs (Carole Lombard) are globe-trotting thieves, traveling the world together and falling in love. The two are just leaving Shanghai when Jerry gets word from his hometown and there’s trouble regarding his daughter, Penny (Shirley Temple). Jerry’s wife passed away, and he left Penny with her family. Now they want permanent custody. Jerry considers taking the money offered by … Continue reading Now and Forever (1934)
Jeff Dawson (Gary Cooper) and Dutch Peterson (Ward Bond) are down on their luck, stuck somewhere in South America until they can scrounge together the money to get back to the States. When Dutch is shot during one dangerous transport job, and then both men are cheated out of the money they were supposed to earn from it, Jeff is desperate. He reluctantly agrees to … Continue reading Blowing Wild (1953)
In addition to being this month’s “Favorite things about…” feature, this post was written for the Barbara Stanwyck Filmography Project, my quest to watch every single film Barbara Stanwyck ever made! For more reviews from the project, visit the dedicated index page. The favorite film: Meet John Doe, a 1941 dramedy/societal critique directed by Frank Capra The synopsis: When publisher D. B. Norton takes over … Continue reading Favorite things about… Meet John Doe (1941)
Eight men in New York City have come together for a noble purpose: to compile an encyclopedia of all human knowledge. Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) has decided his latest contribution will be to research modern American slang for addition to the encyclopedia. The men work slowly but diligently, in a house they share, which is kept up by Miss Bragg (Kathleen Howard). Their financial … Continue reading Second Looks: Ball of Fire (1941)
Money can’t buy happiness, and Mary Smith (Merle Oberon) knows this fact all too well. She comes from a very wealthy family. Her father, Judge Horace Smith (Henry Kolker), is a candidate for president. To outsiders, her life seems charmed, but in reality, she’s terribly bored. Many expectations are placed on Mary as a potential member of the country’s next First Family, but she just … Continue reading The Cowboy and the Lady (1938)
The film: Meet John Doe, dir. Frank Capra starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper Rating: Recommended | HIGHLY RECOMMENDED | Must-See TMP favorite Barbara Stanwyck stars in 1941’s Meet John Doe, the latest film to be featured in our “One year, one film” spotlight series! Stanwyck is columnist Ann Mitchell, who is about to be laid off from her job and is working on her … Continue reading One year, one film: 1941 – Meet John Doe
Welcome to day two of TMP’s coverage of the TCM Greatest Classic Films: Romance DVD set! As you’ll know if you saw yesterday’s review, the four films in this set are re-watches for me, and I’m reviewing them in the order in which they appear in the set. Yesterday’s film: Splendor in the Grass FILM #2: Love in the Afternoon (1957) Directed by Billy Wilder … Continue reading TCM’s Greatest Classic Romances: Love in the Afternoon
“This is the story of a hero of the peaceful paths of everyday life. It is the story of a gentle young man who, in the full flower of his great fame, was a lesson in simplicity and modesty to the youth of America. He faced death with that same valor and fortitude that has been displayed by thousands of young Americans on far-flung fields … Continue reading The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Biff (Gary Cooper) is a dentist who leads a fairly quiet life with his wife. It seems like a pleasant existence, but Biff isn’t completely happy, because he feels he may have lost the love of his life years ago. Head back in time and Biff is plotting with his friend Hugo (Neil Hamilton) to win over a few ladies, Virginia Brush (Fay Wray) and … Continue reading One Sunday Afternoon (1933)
Howard Roark is an independent and unique architect. He’s the subject of this film, penned by none other than Ayn Rand, who also wrote the famed novel of the same name. King Vidor directs this wonderful celluloid adaptation, originally released in 1949. Gary Cooper stars as Roark. He is a man completely unwilling to compromise his vision or individuality in his work, despite being warned … Continue reading The Fountainhead (1949)
