The war is on, and Dave Stewart has been on active duty for over a year with his buddy Fixit Gilman. They’re finally being given a short leave to visit California. While on their three-day pass, Dave and Fixit head to Pasadena, where Dave went to college. On the bus, they meet Cora Colton (Faye Emerson) and Janet Wheeler (Eleanor Parker). Girl-crazy Fixit is instantly … Continue reading The Very Thought of You (1944)
Dascom Dinsmore (Robert Montgomery) is a telegraph operator working and living in an isolated cabin in the snowy north. His only human contact is with his occasional Eskimo assistant, Kimo (Otto Yamaoka). Dascom’s cabin is about to get a lot more social, though. Sir James Felton (Reginald Owen) has had to make an emergency landing nearby in his small plane. Accompanying Felton in the flight … Continue reading Petticoat Fever (1936)
As much as I like to be a grump on Valentine’s Day, there’s no doubt I’m a total sucker for romantic films. Romance is one of my most-watched genres, and one of the most-represented genres in my film collection. From the rom-coms of my youth to heartbreaking classic melodramas to screwballs starring Cary Grant, I’ve come to love a lot of films about love. Back … Continue reading Collector’s Corner: Favorite romance purchases!
The favorite film: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a 1947 romantic fantasy directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz The cast: Gene Tierney as Lucy Rex Harrision as Captain Daniel Gregg George Sanders as Miles “Uncle Neddy” Fairley Edna Best as Martha Huggins Robert Coote as Mr. Coombe The synopsis: Since the death of her husband, Lucy Muir has been living with his family, but she and … Continue reading Favorite things about… The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
Blacky Gorman (Joel McCrea) and Marje Harris (Ginger Rogers) are young and in love. They’ve been casually dating for a couple of years, and Blacky is finally ready to propose, having found success as a gas station owner. Their future is set. One day, though, Glory Franklyn (Marian Nixon) comes veering into Blacky’s life. She visits his gas station, nearly tearing the place down with … Continue reading Chance at Heaven (1933)
Lorry Evans (Constance Bennett) and Minnie Brown (Pert Kelton) have been released from jail and are boarding a boat for New Orleans. They’re short on money and prospects, but hope they’ll have some luck in the city. When they run into trouble on the boat, Lorry jumps overboard to avoid being arrested again and is pulled from the water by cotton barge skipper Dan (Joel … Continue reading Bed of Roses (1933)
Susan (Ava Gardner) doesn’t have the ideal marriage. Wed to Sir Philip Ashlowe (Stewart Granger), a British noble, she feels neglected as he spends his time fulfilling stately duties. Desperate to reconnect, Susan convinces Philip that they should take a vacation on their yacht. Several friends are invited along, including Henry Brittingham-Brett (David Niven), with whom Susan incessantly flirts in attempt to make Philip jealous. … Continue reading The Little Hut (1957)
Nora Hunter (Laraine Day) is a very wealthy woman, but also a very mysterious one. Choosing not to let herself be seen by the general public, whenever there’s work outside of the home office that must be done, she sends her assistant Sylvia Lockwood (Marsha Hunt) out in her place. Nora’s trouble is that she doesn’t want anyone to know she’s rich. It tends to … Continue reading Bride By Mistake (1944)
Alan Quinton (Joseph Cotten) is an officer on the front in Italy during World War II. A fellow officer, Roger Morland (Robert Sully), has enlisted Alan’s help with a personal project. Before heading off to war, Roger met a girl named Victoria (Jennifer Jones), and he needs help coming up with romantic things to say to her in his letters. Alan writes the letters in … Continue reading Love Letters (1945)
The favorite film: Rebecca, a 1940 romantic thriller from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock The synopsis: When a shy young woman meets and falls in love with the wealthy Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo, they quickly marry before heading back to his Cornwall estate, Manderley. But after arriving, the bride finds that the memory of Maxim’s first wife still looms large over Manderley. … Continue reading Favorite things about… Rebecca (1940)
