High Noon

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: July 7, 1952 (Sweden) / July 24, 1952 (USA)

DVD Release Date: July 1, 1998

Plot 411: A man stands alone determined to ward off the trouble that is approaching a small town.

Review: After serving as marshall of the town and ridding it of all bad influences, Will Kane (Gary Cooper) gives up his badge in exchange for a wife (Grace Kelly). On the day of their wedding, he learns that Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), whom he put behind bars, was paroled and is headed back into town. His conscience won't allow him to leave without warding off the impending disaster. Kane tries to round up a posse to fight against Miller and his gang, but the townspeople refuse to help him. He is left to face the threat alone. There are so many things that are great about this movie, and almost 60 years later it is still an epic film. I like how a lot of the scenes were shot because it created the desperate feeling of isolation. The recurring shots of the railroad tracks (upon which Miller is to arrive) and the ticking of the clock heightened the viewer's tension. There's also one great crane shot that begins on Coopers anxious face and draws back to encompass a deserted street. Another effective tool in this movie is the score, which added to the suspense and increases the pace the closer we get to noon. I liked how this movie pushed the boundaries and progressively portrayed a Mexican businesswoman (Katy Jurado). Also in this film are Lloyd Bridges and Lon Chaney.

Watch It: For a master class in Westerns, depsite it actually deviating from the regular cof good guy, bad guy, horse chases and action.

Skip It: If you're looking for lots of gunfights and drunken brawls.

The Philadelphia Story

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 26, 1940

DVD Release Date: May 2, 2000

Plot 411: The original movie upon which High Society is based.

Review: In this cheeky rom com starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart, a privileged divorcee named Tracy (Hepburn) finds herself in an awkward position just days before her marriage to a blue-collar fiance George (John Howard). Known for being harsh and unforgiving of others' flaws, she is confronted with her own failings for the first time. While trying to fend off a society pages article written by a newspaper reporter (Grant) and photographer (Ruth Hussey), Tracy learns that life without flaws is no life at all. High Society used many of the lines from this film word-for-word. It was truly amazing how similar they were. I'd think they'd be embarrassed by the plagiarism, but I suppose they just call it a remake and be done with it. Despite my bias toward musicals, I have to say that The Philadelphia Story was tremendously better than High Society. At first I wasn't sure whether or not I liked Hepburn as Tracy, however, she began to grow on me because of her outstanding acting. Somehow she made the character more believable (and sympathetic) than Grace Kelly did. Even though much of the dialogue was the same, this movie was definitely more humorous. I think it had a lot to do with the quick deliveries from Stewart, the asides made by Grant and the sarcasm of Hussey. I really liked Hussey's character and have to say that she was quite beautiful. Despite not having a huge part her expressions, no matter how minute, conveyed so many feelings and emotions that she didn't really need to speak. I would definitely recommend this film over High Society.

Watch It: For the verbal swordplay between the main characters.

Skip It: If you'd rather have the singing of High Society because otherwise the plots are pretty much the same.

High Society

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: July 17, 1956

DVD Release Date: April 22, 2003

Plot 411: A rich girl takes the safe route and is engaged to a dull guy to protect her heart.

Review: The lovely Grace Kelly plays Tracy Lord, a socialite who is days away from marrying a "nice" guy George (John Lund). George doesn't come from wealth, but he has worked his way through the coal mining business, a business that Tracy's father runs. Tracy is divorced from Dexter (Bing Crosby), a songwriter and her family's neighbor. Because of her father's affair, Tracy doesn't allow herself to open up to people and can be cold and standoffish, but Dexter still loves her. When a magazine rag threatens to print a story on her father, Tracy's mother forces her to allow the magazine to cover her lavish wedding. The magazine sends a journalist (Frank Sinatra) and photographer (Celeste Holm). During the pre-wedding festivities, Tracy finds three men vying for her affections. I didn't find the plot all that interesting, even with several love triangles going on. The characters seem unrelatable, and I'm not sure if this was due to their wealth, the difference in time between now and the setting or if the acting was just bad. What I did enjoy though were the musical numbers. You can just imagine the quality of songs coming out of Cole Porter and being performed by Crosby, Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, who played both narrator and musical guest. Crosby and Sinatra have a great duet, which I believe is the first of its kind on film. The Cole Porter hit "True Love" can also be found in this film being sung by Kelly and Crosby.

Watch It: For the musical numbers that advance the so-so plot and develop the characters.

Skip It: If you're looking for substance.

Rear Window

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 1, 1954

DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

Plot 411: An injured photographer who is isolated in his apartment believes one of his neighbors has murdered his wife.

Review: This is the first Alfred Hitchcock film I've ever watched and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's amazing how so many elements of this film could be conveyed with a simple look or camera movement. The idea that the entire movie takes place at one man's apartment and the surrounding buildings is pretty novel. It makes the viewer feel very intimate with the characters. I liked how the theme of voyeurism and isolation permeated throughout the film. Everyone really does live their own lives behind closed doors. They have lives that they do not show others, and the only way to uncover these secret lives is by being a peeping tom. Besides being filled with suspense, I found that there was a lot of humor by the supporting characters. I loved Thelma Ritter, who played Stella the nurse, and her interactions with James Stewart (L.B. Jefferies). Also in this film was the beautiful Grace Kelly. This was my first experience with her as well and I'd have to agree with everyone else that she's stunning.

Watch It: For a free class on movie magic - point of view, camera angles, plot, suspense building, film score and acting talent. It all comes together in this one.

Skip It: If classics don't really appeal to you. This one doesn't have any CGI, blood and guts, sci-fi wizardry or any of those things. It's strong enough to stand on its own without all the hoopla.

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