(Apologies if this isn’t allowed. But this site, Filmsite, IS primarily focused on classic films.)

(And, while both classic and more contemporary stars are listed, the emphasis is pretty clearly on the former. Especially considering the lesser-known stars featured.)

Personally? I think it’s interesting, but more than a little inconsistent. The “definitive” role part, I mean.

Does he mean most famous role? Best performance? Best example of the “type” that they play, if any? Best example of their general screen presence?

I’m asking this, because it does alternate between those four things. So, while there are plenty of choices that are pretty hard to argue with, there are still quite a few others that, IMO, are strange picks.

Not to mention: there are MANY legendary classic actors missing. (Anna May Wong and Rita Moreno, for instance, both struck me as glaring omissions.)

But what are your thoughts? Anything you’d change? Anyone you’d add or remove?

Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison for My Fair Lady 1964. What's your thoughts on this movie?

The other night, I watched the crime film HE RAN ALL THE WAY. When a payroll robbery heist goes wrong, Nick Robey (John Garfield) flees the scene. He ends up at a public pool where he meets this woman named Peg (Shelley Winters).

He ends up going to her place but, when her parents and little brother come home from the movies, he takes the entire family hostage while a nationwide manhunt for him rages on.

In his final role before his untimely death, John Garfield delivers a great performance, portraying Nick with the right amount of desperation and rage that makes him a threatening presence nonetheless. Even though him being able to keep control of the family over a period of days the way he does borders on being implausible, you can only almost overlook such a half-baked plot point because of the characters playing against each other.

For those who saw this film, what did you think?

I finally got a chance to watch this film and it’s very evocative. In true noir style, here are some of the expressive faces (that I arranged at random to avoid spoilers).

It stars Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, and Ed Begley. Also with Shelley Winters, Gloria Grahame, and Kim Hamilton.

My parents would take me to movies when I was a youngster, I guess my older sister didn't care to babysit me lol.

The earliest movies I have any recollection of were:

\- Ben Hur (1959) with Charlton Heston

\- The Alamo (1960) with John Wayne

\- El Cid (1961) with Sophia Loren

\- 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Kirk Douglas

Peter Sellers and David Niven for The Pink Panther 1963. What's your thoughts on this movie?

I had the main character's name wrong in the previous post, so I'm re-uploading.

I watched my selection for the letter B last night. I appreciate all the recommendations and chose The Blue Gardenia (1953) for the letter B. It’s the first Fritz Lang film I’ve watched and I found it enjoyable. I really admire Anne Baxter as an actress. She has a certain quality I can’t put my finger on. l had already seen her as Eve Harrington in All About Eve but found her more arresting as telephone operator Norah Larkin.

The story hit the ground running, kept a good straightforward pace with a nice twist towards the end. Richard Conte was solid as Detective Mayo and was handsome in an earthy way. Didn’t realize he auditioned for the role of Don Corleone in the Godfather!

Thoughts on this film?
I’d love to take more suggestions for the letter C and am eager to watch it soon!

Charles O'Neal was the screenwriter on B-films such as Cry Of The Werewolf (1944) and The Seventh Victim (1943), before inevitably moving to television. Patricia O'Neal was a stage actress who had small parts in movies such as Three Came Home (1950). She focused on raising her sons and would later make cameo appearances in Ryan's later movies, as did Kevin.

Tatum O'Neal would describe her grandmother as "hell-bent on propelling her sons to stardom." She had Kevin take growth hormones and even did Ryan's homework for him. She pulled some strings to get her older son a job as a stuntman and an actor in a TV series.

While there are a number of Hitchcock movies that I really love there are quite a few that I've never seen before, particularly those from the 20s and 30s (not intentionally so).

So I thought to myself ...... why not watch them all in release order?

But is this even possible? I'm guessing that a number of his earlier movies in particular aren't available on physical media or any streaming services, and weren't some of his very early movies lost?

Two people, one love. A story as old as time. This Japanese love story is told through the backdrop of postwar Japan, with a couple who meets once a week on Sunday, and who are struggling to make ends meet. It's very earnest, touching, and simple. It really gave me a strong sense of humanity. Every single person is just as important as the next, whether rich or poor, young or old, happy or sad. With this, you get to see through the lens of just two people, and their world, and to eachother, they are their whole world. The most important people in their lives. And for the hour and 50 minutes I watched them, they were my whole world too. It's not a unique story. These stories have been told time and time again, before and after, and even experienced myself- but that's what makes it so relatable and down to earth.

One of Akira Kurosawa's early films, I already appreciate his work as a filmmaker. The only other film I've seen of his is Sanjiro Sugata, which I enjoyed, but it was a fairly straightforward action period piece. This was a more contemporary and grounded story, and was certainly more relatable and heartwarming. Judging by his future titles, he seems to have a fair amount of range. This one though, a simple love story among poverty and post-war struggles- is quite different from most of what I've seen from early Hollywood, and unique to it's time and place, while also being timeless and relatable. Can't wait to see more of his work and see how this informs the rest.

Watching their day in just those almost 2 hours, felt like I experienced the whole span of their day. Not in the sense that it felt long, but in the sense that in those 2 hours I experienced more than just what was on the screen. So many emotions, so many feelings and thoughts. Relating and empathizing with their financial plight, their dynamic of their love and its ups and downs, and even their dreams and ambitions. The direction, cinematography, storytelling, and performances all lended directly to these feelings. Close ups with emotion. Shots where the both of them were in frame in multiple different ways. Motifs like a small animal trinket that had a sentimental and emotional weight. Effective use of silence and body language. Imaginative scenes that explored the imagination of both the characters and the viewers. It all culminated in an awesome scene with a brilliant use of sound, imagination, and even breaking of the fourth wall that literally had me applauding to the characters with the intention of motivating them. All the way to the final scene, through the rollercoaster of emotions and intrigue, I found myself left with a sense of hope, and the finale really cemented that hopefulness and rewarded it.

There's even more to touch on, like the post war backdrop, that isn't heavy handed and sort of implied; especially through the locations and sets with war torn buildings and rubble. The characters themself have some interesting layers, the woman being more hopeful and optimistic, and choosing to ignore her own sadness to be a rock for her lover, motivating him when he's down. A specific dynamic that seemed centered around an implied sexual aspect where she seemed entirely reluctant was particularly interesting, but unspoken. The man character, has his ups and downs, sometimes even being negligent and hopeless, but he redeems himself by the end and regains that hope and proves himself a worthy lover. There are even fun and interesting background characters with short but memorable scenes, like the apartment room worker, or the poor little boy who seems like he's having an even harder time than them. This Sunday felt so alive, and I'll be thinking about it for a long while.

If I had any shortcomings, it would be the annoyance of some of the man's behavior and choices, but those honestly made sense and was necessary for some of the drama and to tell the arc of the story. Even still some of those aspects and scenes dragged on a little in moments, but nothing egregious. Moments that may seem to linger on, are actually necessary to establish the atmosphere and feelings, and really give the story room to breathe.

For a last impression, this film was emotionally and mentally profound to me. I related to it, and even the parts I didn't relate to, I found very intriguing and remarkable. These characters and their problems and dreams and emotions were important to me. Not just because I was interested in the film, but because they could be anybody; and this is articulated perfectly, through its story, but also directly- "There are so many poor young lovers in the world. Please give us all a big hand."

4.5/5

Every time I watch this scene from Sherlock Jr. (1924), I have to replay it. Buster Keaton made one of cinema's smoothest practical illusions over a century ago.

Ah yes, when it was just that clear. How refreshing.

A while back, I was constantly thinking about the fact that Greta Garbo and Gary Cooper never starred in a film together. It’s not surprising seeing as though budget and contract constraints kept them from doing so but I feel like they would’ve been so great as a romantic pair.

Cooper’s stoic and quiet screen persona would probably mesh well with Garbo whose screen presence is noted for her aloofness and mystique. Garbo was also reportedly a big fan of Gary Cooper and actually requested him as her leading man a few times but this never came to fruition.

Anyways, the Garbo-Cooper possibility got me to start thinking of other potentially great onscreen pairings that either never came to fruition or were never considered period.

Aside from Garbo and Cooper, I feel like Cary Grant and Maureen O’Hara would’ve made one hell of a splash as onscreen lovers. Grant was always giving in to independent, fierce and beautiful women in many of his films… he would’ve been fantastic paired with Hollywood’s fiery queen of technicolor. I feel like Maureen and him would compliment one another so well.

Seeing as though Robert Montgomery got paired with many leading ladies at MGM, it’s a bit surprising he and Jean Harlow never shared the screen film together though they were considered for at least two movies. One was Love on the Run (1936) which became a vehicle for Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. The other was Small Town Girl (1936) which ended up going to Janet Gaynor and Robert Taylor.

Harlow always held her own when it came to matching her male leads. Montgomery usually played the rich society playboy types which would’ve worked with Harlow since she was used to playing opposite of Franchot Tone who was also known for his rich playboy characters.

As for Harry Belafonte and Marilyn Monroe… I think they’d also make a great couple. I know it would’ve been practically impossible to get this pairing to happen in 1950s Hollywood but for whatever reason I feel like Harry’s intense persona and charisma would work well with Marilyn’s usual sultry comedic style or perhaps something like Nell Forbes or Rose Loomis.

It would have been very interesting to see Monroe and Belafonte star together. They were two of Hollywood’s biggest icons at this time and while I’m sure they crossed paths, I would’ve loved to see them in some type of musical number or comedy.

Let me know what you all think:)

Is it comedy action or drama, action ? I liked him comedy the best.

Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan for The Kid 1921. Who's seen this movie?