Sunday, May 16, 2021

NATIONAL CLASSIC MOVIE DAY: 6 Films - 6 Decades Blogathon

National Classic Movie Day is supported annually by its founder Classic Film & TV Cafe hosting a blogathon. The 6 Films 6 Decades Blogathon invites participants to list one favourite film from each decade from the 1920s to 1970s or 1930s to 1980s. The goal is to highlight the incredible movies that were made during cinema's classic era. Let the May 16th festivities begin here!



The Mary Pickford Company presents the 1927 romantic comedy My Best Girl directed by Sam Taylor based on a story by Kathleen Norris with a screenplay by Tim Whelan and Allen McNeil.

Charles "Buddy" Rogers is Joe Grant, the boss's son who goes to work in the shipping department of the family's department store. Joe falls for a co-worker the poor, but honest and totally beguiling Maggie Johnson played by Mary Pickford. The fact that Maggie's beau isn't who she thinks he is may be the least of the complications on their road to a happy ending. They have to deal with Joe's high society mother and fiancee. Maggie's problematic family includes her theatre-mad flapper sister, overbearing mom, and indolent pop.

My Best Girl is sweet without being cloying, and funny in its ring-true characterizations. The chemistry between Mary and Buddy is touching and joyful.



Twentieth Century Fox presents the 1937 musical comedy On the Avenue directed by Roy Del Ruth based on a story by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Gene Markey and William Conselman.

Dick Powell stars as the writer and star of a Broadway revue not dissimilar to Irving Berlin's As Thousands Cheer. A popular skit lampoons the wealthy Caraway family and Mimi, "the richest girl in America" played by Madeleine Carroll is not amused. Sparks fly between the heiress and the entertainer. Can movie romance and its inherent misunderstandings be far behind? 

On the Avenue introduced the standard I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and a lovely ballad for Alice Faye in This Year's Kisses. The Ritz Brothers are hilariously awesome in the dance number He Ain't Got Rhythm. Cora Witherspoon, George Barbier, Alan Mowbray, and Walter Catlett are among the outstanding comedic supporting cast.

In a decade filled with outstanding musicals, On the Avenue with its humour, songs, and outstanding performers should take its place among the best remembered.



Twentieth Century Fox presents the 1941 drama How Green Was My Valley directed by John Ford based on Richard Llewellyn's novel with a screenplay by Philip Dunne.

Leaving his hometown young Huw Morgan narrates the story of the life he has known in a Welsh mining town, his strong and loving parents, his brothers and sister, and the tumultuous times, personally and historically that affect them all. 

John Ford's movie is filled with those big and small moments that create life. How Green Was My Valley is worthy of its ten Oscar nominations and five wins including Best Picture. If it had not won a single award, it would still be remembered and rediscovered as a true classic. Let the singers take you away.



J. Arthur Rank Organisation and Sirius Productions present the 1953 comedy Genevieve directed by Henry Cornelius on a story and screenplay by William Rose.

"For their patient co-operation the makers of this film express their thanks to the officers and members of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain. Any resemblance between the deportment of our characters and any club members is emphatically denied --- by the Club."

Our delightful stars Dinah Sheridan, John Gregson, Kay Kendall, and Kenneth More take us on a weekend jaunt from London to Brighton and back in antique automobiles. There is positively no racing involved, no romantic hi-jinks, jealousies, or imprudent wagers. The club would not allow it! A highlight among all the highlights of Genevieve is the score by Larry Adler. 



Cherokee Productions presents the 1969 comedy-western Support Your Local Sheriff! directed by Burt Kennedy and written by William Bowers.

James Garner stars as Jason, a traveler who is passing through a suddenly gold-rich town in need of a lawman. Jason is in need of money so this is a perfect match. All he has to do is deal with an indecisive town council, the Danby clan of dangerous repute, various paid gunmen, and Miss Prudy Perkins. Joan Hackett is perfection as Prudy. The cast is made up of talented character actors familiar to us from hundreds of movies from Willis Bouchey to William Tannen. It's old home week for film fans! 

When the creator of Seven Men from Now (Kennedy) and The Gunfighter (Bowers) combine their experience to spoof the western genre you are guaranteed that it will be the last word on the subject. By my reckoning, Support Your Local Sheriff! pokes genial fun at My Darling Clementine, Red River, Winchester '73, Rio Bravo, High Noon, and McLintock! Let me know what I've missed.



G.W. Films Limited presents the 1974 crime classic Murder on the Orient Express directed by Sidney Lumet from Paul Dehn and Anthony Shaffer's screenplay of Agatha Christie's novel.

Albert Finney is the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot traveling the famed train of the title. It should be out of season, but the train is packed with passengers. It should be a simple passage but a man, hated though he may be, is slain in the night. Where there is a murder victim there must be a murderer. Will that murderer remain hidden from the great detective? 

Everything about Murder on the Orient Express is first-class opulence from its all-star cast to its lush score from Richard Rodney Bennett and Tony Walton's eye-filling production and costume design. Viewing it on the big screen was a thrill and it evinced a unique feeling of nostalgia at that time that has grown over the years.





(Caftan Woman is currently still in the hospital due to her transplant recovery. This post was published at her request by her daughter Janet.)








47 comments:

  1. I was looking forward to your choices! Delighted to see the inclusion of Support Your Local Sheriff, one of the few films to capitalize on James Garner's ability to play funny and hard simultaneously. Genevieve is a perfect representative of those British 1950s comedies that only the British could make. And who doesn't love How Green Was My Valley? Take care, Paddy, we're thinking about you!

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    1. Thanks so much.
      Classic Movie Day is a brilliant idea and we appreciate everything you do for the community.

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  2. Saw VALLEY only once, but it was better than I expected. For some reason I didn’t think it would be relatable at the time. No idea why. By contrast, I expected SHERIFF to be funny, and it was.

    Good to know you can’t keep a good woman down. Get well soon.

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    1. Some movies, like VALLEY, can become cliche in the mind of the audience and need to be seen to recall its genuine greatness.

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  3. There are a couple new-to-me movies I will need to search out, but I appreciate the inclusion of How Green Was My Valley and especially Support Your Local Sheriff. I'm always fond of James Garner movies!

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    1. Spending time with James Garner is always a pleasure.

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  4. Super list, Paddy! I just pulled my copy of Murder of the Orient Express off the shelf to finally read the other day... still won't see the movie until after I do. :) I remember when my mom went to see it and she loved it. So happy to see your list here!! Keep getting well <3

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    1. Thanks for the good wishes.
      I think you are going about Murder on the Orient Express in the right way. When you get to the movie I am sure you will love it as well.

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  5. Great picks! I especially liked your inclusion of Genevieve and Support Your Local Gunfighter. Get well soon, Paddy!

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    1. I imagine the sound of Larry Adler's Genevieve Waltz will be stuck in your brains for a couple of days.

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  6. I was looking forward to your choices, and it is a treat indeed to see what you've chosen. Also, you've introduced me to Genevieve, and I know I'll be grateful when I see it.

    Hope you're well and truly on the mend.

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    1. I know you will adore Genevieve. It will go straight to your heart and funny bone.

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  7. I'm always curious to see what your picks will be, Paddy, and always interested in your take on any film. Your choice of Murder on the Orient Express reminded me how, when I first saw it, I wanted to take a trip on the Orient Express, minus the murder, of course. I hope you're feeling better and better every day. Take good care!

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    1. Murder on the Orient Express was such a vivid movie going experience back in the 1970s that it can never be ignored.
      Thanks for the old wishes. I will carry them forward onto recovery.

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  8. My darling CW - so happy to see your post here. It is a list worthy only of The Caftan Woman - which means it is superb. I love anything Mary Pickford - including My Best Girl - but I just know she was cheating on Doug (who probably deserved it).

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    1. Indeed. Our couples are complicated.
      My Best Girl is such an adorable and fun movie that it deserves to be recalled with the best comedies of Harold and Buster. I thought here was the perfect place to give it a boost.

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  9. Since I've only seen one of these, I can only say they *seem* like great choices, but knowing your love of film and expertise I'm 100% sure they are!

    We both picked a musical with Dick Powell for our 1930s selection. I will admit to not being at all aware of this one, but I need to go on a quest to see of his films from this era. Madeleine Carroll seems like an odd choice, but... perhaps not!

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    1. Miss Carroll is perfect as the romantic comedy lead and they have Alice Faye for the music. Somehow, it all works together seamlessly. Great fun

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  10. What interesting choices! I've only seen Murder on the Orient Express, so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the others. Funnily enough, I've loved Powell's version of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" for most of my life and never realized it was from a film, let alone one co-starring Madeleine Carroll and Alice Faye. (I also just looked up the film and read that its plot was somewhat recycled for one of my favorites, the Marilyn Monroe musical Let's Make Love.)

    Sending you all the good luck in the world for a speedy recovery!

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    1. Despite the number of times I have enjoyed it I didn't realize On the Avenue had morphed into Let's Make Love. We always learn from each other.

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  11. That's quite a list! So far, I've only seen "Support Your Local Sheriff" from it (and enjoyed that one a lot)! As a fan of Irving Berlin's music, "On The Avenue" has been on my list of films to see one of these days (just haven't managed the opportunity yet). Also just finished watching "Death On The Nile" (the follow-up to "Murder On The Orient Express"), so I'd certainly like to see that one when I get the chance! And "My Best Girl" also sounds like it would be fun! Like everybody else here, I wish you a full and speedy recovery!

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    1. I appreciate the good wishes. They mean a lot. It is great fun sharing movies, especially on Classic Movie Day. Death on the Nile is a dandy, as is Evil Under the Sun. I am going to have quite the double bill when I get home.

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  12. I love Genevieve, Support Your Local Sheriff, and Murder on the Orient Express!

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  13. My husband was just quoting Support Your Local Sheriff this morning :-D This is a great list! Several here I need to see, and a couple I already love.

    May your recovery be smooth!

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    1. Thank you so much. I hope you find some new favourites.
      Sometimes I will think about the lines in Support Your Local Sheriff! and start giggling out loud.

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  14. TONY WALTON is the ex-husband of JULIE ANDREWS. They are still close friends. Julie and their daughter EMMA WALTON HAMILTON have written several children's books. Tony did the illustrations.

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  15. Hi lovely. Hope you are recovering well. I adore your choices. Genevieve is always a favourite and I adore the all star cast, the sumptuous setting and the gorgeous costumes of Orient Express. Take care lovely! And publish Mr Lee when good for you xx So impressed you got it organised so well

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    1. My daughter (we call Christopher Lee "Dreamboat") will be my secretary once again when the blogathon begins. The article was the ast completed when I got word of the transplant. Timing, as they say, is everything.

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  16. Really great choices - glad you highlighted On The Avenue, which features one of the Ritz Brother's funniest routines - Wishing you well on your recovery!

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    1. Thanks so much.
      I could watch Harry, Al, and Jimmy in that delightful routine all day (or close to it).

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  17. A couple here I'm not familiar with, which is always good. Can you believe I haven't seen How Green Was My Valley? I know. Even I find that incredible.

    Genevieve and Support Your Local Sheriff are a lot of fun and Murder on the Orient Express has definitely grown on me. I think my feelings about it are clouded by the ending, which diminishes the rewatch value for me, since I can always remember whodunnit and I like to forget, if possible!

    I hope your recovery goes well and you're home again soon. I'm sure you'll be able to think of something to watch. ;)

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    1. I spread out my viewings of Murder on the Orient Express and concentrate on a different aspect of the film or performance/character to keep the viewing fresh.
      This year's blogathon gave me some interesting g titles to look forward to post recovery.

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  18. I want to mention that actor/stuntman CHUCK HICKS died on May 4 at 93. He guest-starred on the westerns GUNSMOKE, THE BIG VALLEY, THE VIRGINIAN, IRON HORSE and WAGON TRAIN. He also guest-starred on CANNON, THE ROCKFORD FILES and FAMILY AFFAIR. Chuck had a very prolific career!

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    1. Sad to hear the news about someone who added immeasurably to my entertainment.

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  19. This is an awesome list! Support Your Local Sheriff is my favorite James Garner film.

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    1. I can't see a time when I won't thoroughly enjoy Support Your Local Sheriff!

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  20. Swell picks, as usual. I can remember when I first saw "Orient Express" I was actually shocked by the ending even though I knew the story. I was so interested in watching the stars, they just swept me along. You can't beat Agatha Christie or our old friend Poirot. Glad your secretary is keeping the office running while you're away.

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    1. I can still feel the excitement of that first theatrical screening of Murder on the Orient Express. It will always be a cinema highlight.

      The secretary has one more completed blogathon piece to post for me before disavowing any knowledge of my actions.

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  21. Paddy Lee, get well, get well, and get well. I hope everything is going well on your road to recovery.

    I really like your six selections and my favorite is SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF(filmed 1968, released 1969). Quotes from this movie are used around our house quite frequently. "Inflation catching you between mouthfuls" and "60 for who, and 40 for who?" and several others. The Classic Comedy Western, in my humble opinion.

    Take care and get well.

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    1. Walter, thank you. Progress is slow but it is still progress.
      Indeed, we are of one mind about Support Your Local Sheriff! As the best of the western spoofs. Laurel and Hardy in Way Out West is tied for me. Both movies offer guaranteed laughs no matter how many times you watch them.

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  22. Today (Friday) GENERAL HOSPITAL is going to be a special stand-alone episode. It will celebrate the life of SEAN DONELY and his portrayer JOHN REILLY whos passing was on January 9 at 86. I know John's work from way back in the 70s. He played DR. DAN STEWART on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

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    1. I recall John Reilly's time as Dan on As the World Turns very well. He was an important and beloved character (Replacing, I believe, John Colenbeck). Certainly, his work as Sean on General Hospital is a fond memory. I look forward to the episode when I return home from hospital.

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  23. Support Your Local Sheriff is one of my all time favorites! It never fails to make me laugh. The only other one that I've seen is Murder on the Orient Express which has such a stunning cast.

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  24. and here is the moment when the movie https://yesmovies.tube will actively impress you

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