Its a Wonderful Life

 I felt like this would be the perfect movie for Thanksgiving. "It's a Wonderful Life" is a heart touching story about a man named George Baily,(James Stewart)and his life in his hometown of Bedford falls. The movie shows George's life growing up in the small town all the way until he becomes an adult.
George has done so much for the town, but when he falls on hard times, George wishes he never existed. An angel hears George and grants him his wish. When he walks back to town, Bedford Falls is a dirty trashy mess. Finally George realizes his mistake and understands how one person can make such a difference.

The film was directed by Frank Capra and produced in 1946. It was nominated for five Oscars and won five other awards.
This movie was shot in California, but something that is kind of cool is in the movie, there is a scene at a high school dance, where George meets his future wife, Mary Hatch (Donna Reed). In the scene, everyone is dancing and someone presses a button that makes the dance floor open up into a swimming pool. Every one dancing jumps in, and the high school this was filmed at was Beverly Hills High School in CA.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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This is the High school where the swimming pool scene was shot.

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The Greates Show on Earth

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North by Northwest

This movie, I believe is Alfred Hitchcock finest accomplishment. If you like a good plot, talented actors, and films with wit and suspense, this is your answer.

In the film, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), becomes mistaken as a man named George Kaplan. Mister Kaplan was involved with some, shall we say, dangerous men, and is about to be "knocked off". When Grant tries to make since of this misunderstanding, he gets accused of murder and is wanted by the police and men he was already running from. Little does Grant know that he has just stepped into a web of lies laid out by the government to catch the bad guys. Thornhill never existed, but now Grant gets to play the bait for the government. By the end of the movie, Grant and his leading lady (Eve Marie Saint as Eve Kendell), are dangling from Mount Rushmore.

North by Northwest (1959) won several awards and was nominated for three Oscars. Starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in Alfred Hitchcock's best film.

Always,
Avery


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

All About Eve

 A young aspiring actress wiggles her way into the tight circle of a famous actress, Margo Channing, (Betty Davis) and becomes her biggest fan. Eve (Anne Baxter) fallows Margo around, doing anything she wants or needs. Eventually she steals Margo's fans away and gains the trust of influential directors, play writes, and friends. Without Margo, Eve would have remain unnoticed.

All About Eve was produced in 1950 and won seven Oscars! The whit and humor is outstanding. I have watched this movie at least 5 times and I never tire of it. The acting is superb and the movie as a whole is wonderful.

Always,
Avery


Sources used:
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http://www.imdb.com

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