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 Always,
Avery

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Old Yeller

A family of four live in Texas after the Civil war ends. With no money, the dad goes on a cattle drive for a few months, leaving his oldest boy, Travis (Tommy Kirk) in charge. While the dad is away, the family adopts a yellow dog known as "Old Yeller". The youngest boy, Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) loves the dog and comes to depend on it. Travis originally didn't trust Yeller, but after awhile Yeller helps Travis with the cows and keeps racoons away from the corn field.

Later in the movie, Yeller gets in a fight with a wolf and Travis shoots the wolf when the coast is clear. Yeller makes it out of the fight with a few bit marks which worries Travis and his mother, because it could lead to rabies. So they lock Yeller up for a few weeks to make sure nothing is wrong with the dog, but Yeller begins to act aggressive. First Yeller tries to bite Travis, then later Arliss.

Its a sad ending, which im sure you can guess. The movie was made in 1957 and directed by Robert Stevenson.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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Wuthering Heights

Based on the book, Wuthering Heights is based on the story of how Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and Cathy (Merle Oberon) fell in love. Heathcliff is a servant for Cathy and her family. When Cathy's father dies, her brother takes over the estate.
Cathy and Heathcliff fall in love as they grow up, but can't get married because Cathy's brother wouldn't allow it. Cathy ends up marrying a rich neighbor and Heathcliff runs away. Years later, Heathcliff returns a rich man, but do the two end up together?
Watch and see.

Wuthering Heights won the Oscar for best black and white film, and was nominated for seven other Oscars. It was directed by William Wyler in 1939.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto are swept up into a tornado and land in another world. This world is know as the Oz. In order for Dorothy to go home, she must seek out the the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) in Emerald City. On the way there, Dorothy meets a scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who needs a brain, so he too must ask the Wizard for a favor. As they follow the yellow brick road they meet a lion (Bert Lahr), and a tin man (Jack Haley). The tin man needs a heart, and the lion needs courage, so the group travels together to find the Wizard.

The group runs into trouble with the Wicked Witch of the West and her crazy flying monkeys. Dorothy finally makes it home after clicking her sparkly red shoes and saying "there is no place like home".

The Wizard of Oz is a fantasy world which creates fun for the viewers. The movie was made in 1939 and directed by Victor Fleming. It won two Oscars for best music and effects.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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Gone with the Wind

An American classic, Gone With the Wind was made in 1939, directed by Victor Fleming. It won eight Oscars.

Scarlett O'Hara, (Vivien Leigh) is a sassy, beautiful, southern bell living during the Civil War. She is faced with problem after problem, never giving up. When her house burns down, or her father dies, she just deals with it. Scarlett loves a man named Ashley, (Leslie Howard) but Ashley loves Scarlett's cousin, not her. Nobody ever told Scarlett no, so she chased and chased Ashley until they finally kissed, which is when she realizes that she didn't like Ashley at all.

Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) seems to be the only one who can help Scarlett. Rhett loves her because of her fire and independence, but that's exactly why he hates her too. Scarlett ends up marrying Rhett, because, well, Rhett has money and Rhett doesn't let her make the rules. They balance each other out. I wont tell you how it ends, I'll just say that it surprised me the first time I watched the movie.

Its  fun, interesting story everyone needs to watch. Ive never seen anything like it. The story is written beautifully and the acting is terrific. I also have to add that the costumes are gorgeous.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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An Affair to Remember

Its another love story! Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) is traveling on a ship to meet his fiance in New York City. Nickie is charming and just loves women. He can't understand why a man should spend his entire life with one women when there are so many other women he has yet to meet! Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) is also traveling on the ship, only she is taking a trip while her boyfriend is off working. The two meet and start falling in love during the cruse, with photographers trying to catch anything that might look "suspicious".

Nickie and Terry decide that if they still love each other after six months apart, they will leave their significant others and get married. They plan to meet on top of the empire state building, but it doesn't turn out according to plan. Terry gets hit by a car trying to reach the empire building and doesn't see Nickie waiting for her. Terry can no longer walk, and has no way of connecting with Nickie, all the while Nickie believes he was stood up.

A year goes by before the two run into each other again, and Nickie is still hurt after waiting for Terry to show up, when she never did. Terry is too independent to tell him what really happened to her, believing that Nickie couldn't afford to take care of her.

I'm not going to tell you how the movie ends, your just going to have to watch it. The movie was made in 1957 and directed by Leo McCarey. It was nominated for four different Oscars and won a gold medal.

Always,
Avery

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Rebecca

Rebecca was directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. So of course, its a great movie. A young women (Joan Fontaine) marries a rich widowed man named Maxium' de Winter, (played by Laurence Olivier), and moves into his mansion. His previous wife, Rebecca, has her personal touches throughout the entire house, and nothing has change since her death. The new Mrs. de Winter has a hard time living up to Rebecca, in every way. The house maid was very close with Rebecca, so when the newly married couples move in, she convinces Mrs. de Winter that Maxium doesn't love her. Eventually, the bride becomes jealous of a dead women, and uncovers secrets that were never meant to be found.

One particular scene in the movie takes place on Halloween, and the de Winter's are throwing a party. The maid suggests that Mrs. de Winter dress up as a previous family member, whose painting hangs on the wall.When Mrs. de Winter makes her grand entrance to the party, her guests are shocked and stare with their jaws on the floor. She cant figure out what is wrong, until she learns Rebecca had worn the same costume the previous year. That is when things really start to get interesting. Everything unfolds and gets more exciting as the audiences starting piecing information together.

Rebecca won the 1941 Oscar for best picture as well as best cinematography. This movie is interesting and contains drama and mystery. The end is truly creative, and your heart breaks for Mrs. de Winter. Maxium is a good husband, but doesn't pick up on the manipulation between the maid and his new wife.

This movie is somewhat similar to Gaslight (1940) because of the mind tricks and a women going mad. Other than that, nothing is similar. Rebecca truly is a one of a kind movie, and a must see. The scenery and details are special while the story line and actors keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sorry this post is so long. But it really is a good movie.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
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Gaslight

  

In London a newly married couples move into a new town house. Everything seems normal, until the neighbors hear rumors that the wife is crazy. Stealing her husbands things and hiding picture frames at random. When the couple goes out in public, the wife throws fits and starts crying hysterically.What could possible be wrong with her?

The wife's name is Paula (played by Ingrid Bergman) and the husband Gregory (Charles Boyer) who have moved back into her old home. Previously, Paula's aunt owned the town house in London but was murdered mysteriously. The audience soon finds out that the murder killed the women for some precious jewels, but never found them. Seeking what he never got, the killer searches the London home every night looking for the jewels.

Paula is kept in her room most of the time, and truly believes she is insane. At night she hears strange noises, and watches the gaslight dim and brighten as someone comes and goes in a home that is supposed to be empty. What little she knows.


Gaslight was produced in 1940 but remade in 1944 with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. The stories are similar but I prefer the 1944 version because it adds more details and information, which helps tell the story. It won two Oscars and had five other nominations. I like this movie because of the suspense and it keeps you interested in trying to solve the puzzle of Paula and her strange husband.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
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Rear Window

Rear Window was directed by the best man ever, Alfred Hitchcock! It was made in 1954 with Grace Kelly (I think she is so pretty) and James Stewart who you might know from "Its a Wonderful Life". The movie is a mystery and thriller. Stewart is temporarily in a wheelchair and lives in an apartment complex. Being in a wheelchair, he gets bored and people watches. As he starts taking an interest in his neighbor behind him, he comes to believe that the man has killed his wife!

As the weeks go on, Stewart is convinced that he has seen a murder, and even has his maid and girlfriend (Kelly) worried he might be right. It's not a scary movie like the ones made today are, but it does have suspense and keeps you glued to the screen. As the movie unfolds, you cant decide if Steward is right, or just bored and making things up until he goes crazy. Its a good, satisfying movie that actually has an ending, it doesn't leave the audience to make up their own mind.

Rear Window was nominated for four Oscars in 1955. The film is in color for those who don't like black and white.

                                            (The movie clip is only around 3 minutes long)

Always,
Avery


Sources Used:
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.imdb.com

Singin' in the Rain

Singing in the Rain was produced in 1952 featuring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O' Conner. The movie is about a film crew who transition between making silent movies to ones with sound in 1927. The group decides to make a musical as their first film with sound. This movie is a happy funny silly movie with many dance numbers. 

I actually started watching this movie when I was in grade school along with seven brides for seven brothers. I loved watching the musicals and dance numbers as a little girl, but now I watch this movie and think about the transition between sound and silent movies.

Personally I cant stand to watch silent movies because I feel like the actors are very dramatic to get the plot across. Also because the flow of the film is choppy due to the fact that the screen flips from the film to the text to let the audience know what is going on. Some people don't mind silent movies but they dislike black and white movies. Its a personal opinion but I love black and white movies if you didn't already catch onto that.

Always,
Avery

Sources used:
http://www.imdb.com
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"Everybody has a heart. Except some people"- Betty Davis

Betty Davis was an actress from the late 30's through the 50's. She was hired by Universal and then signed a contract with Warner Brothers (1932). Davis won the Best Actress Oscar in 1935 for her performance in Dangerous, and later Jezebel (1938).  It was said that the only role she didn't get that she wanted was for Scarlett O' Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939). Personally I do like Betty Davis but I think Ann Rutherford did an amazing job as Scarlett.

During the 40's Davies performances got worse with every movie she was in. In 1950 she made a comeback and an Oscar nomination for All About Eve (1950). Ive watched that movie maybe five times and still love it. At one point in the movie Davis is hosting a party and she says to her guests "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night" which I just love because its so perfect in the movie.

Davis played Jane in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" Which she received an Oscar Nomination. In 1977 she won the AFL's Lifetime Achievement Award.  I personally have not seen the movie but I really want to! Betty Davis accomplished a lot over her life time. Shes recognizable and I always get a kick out of her, but I have to admit it drives me crazy when her character tries to act flirty or sexy because it just doesn't look good on her. She really was talented but towards the end of her career you could tell she was a smoker, non the less an amazing actress.She had a unique laugh and would have made a perfect Halloween witch (not in a bad way). In 1989 Davis passed away from caner.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
http://thinkexist.com