Daily Archives: December 31, 2021

Lovin’ the Ladies (1930)

Posted on December 31, 2021 | 2 comments

Lovin’ the Ladies
Directed by Melville W. Brown
Written by J. Walter Rubin from a play by William Le Baron
1930/US
RKO Radio Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime rental

There are many harsh lessons to be learned from the gambling experience, but the harshest one of all is the difference between having Fun and being Smart. — Hunter S. Thompson

Sometimes watching a silly drawing room comedy is just what the doctor ordered.

New York City is one big party for the young and wealthy. After a conversation about the fickleness of love, Jimmy Farnsworth bets his equally wealthy friends that he can get any two people engaged within a month. It just so happens that electrician Peter Darby (Richard Dix) has been called in to fix something. Darby is self-educated, making him the smartest man in the room. He agrees, on the condition that he will receive half the $5,000 bet.

Jimmy selects wallflower/intellect Betty as the other half of his dream pair. Unfortunately for Jimmy, neither of his players is exactly cooperative. Much mayhem and misunderstanding ensue.

I had a really good time watching this. Kept me laughing – sometimes at just how ridiculous it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uzz5SM5yAQ

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Posted in 1930, Pre-Code Reviews

2021 In Review and New to Me Favorites

Posted on December 31, 2021 | 2 comments

I can’t lie, 2021 was a hard year with my husband’s second heart attack and my brother’s stroke.  My viewing for this year began in mid-1973 and ended in mid-1978 before taking a long leap backward into pre-Code films.  I have no idea when I will get back to the 1970s.  Whenever the urge strikes I suppose.  It’s easy and comforting to watch these old films.  I watched around 189 films during the year.

I saw many great films.  Since I’ve been seeking out classic movies for a long time, many of the best were re-watches.  Still there were many gems that were new to me. I have pondered why there are not more Hollywood films on these lists.   My explanation is that I was going out to the movie theater a lot at that time so I had already seen the best Hollywood films from these years.  This is in chronological order until we get into a couple of films from the 20’s

The Wicker Man (1973) – directed by Robin Hardy

Scenes from a Marriage (1974) – directed by Ingmar Bergman

Swept Away (1974) – directed by Lina Wertmuller

Alice in the Cities (1974) – directed by Wim Wenders

Barry Lyndon (1975) – directed by Stanley Kubrick

Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven  (1975) – directed by Ranier Werner Fassbinder

The Story of Adele H. (1975) – directed by Francois Truffaut

Cria Cuervos  (1975) – directed by Victor Erice

KIngs of the Road (1976) – directed by Wim Wenders

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)- directed by John Cassavetes

A Special Day (1977) – directed by Ettore Scola

Eraserhead (1977) – directed by David Lynch

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – directed by Philip Kaufman

Lucky Star (1929) – directed by Frank Borzage

Wings (1927) – William Wellman

7th Heaven (1927) – directed by Frank Borzage

I’m behind on my review writing.  Since watching Lovin’ the Ladies, I have watched People on Sunday (1930); M (1931); The Cuckoos (1930); Madam Satan (1930); and The Public Enemy (1931).

Wishing one and all a 2022 filled with peace, love, understanding, health, happiness, and prosperity.

 

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Posted in Top Ten Lists