Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

Movie Title: Cheaper by the Dozen

Year: 1950

Writer: Lamar Trotti, Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (based on the novel by), Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (based on the novel by)

Director: Walter Lang

ActorCharacter
Clifton WebbFrank Bunker Gilbreth
Jeanne CrainAnn Gilbreth
Barbara BatesErnestine Gilbreth
Myrna LoyLillian Gilbreth
Edgar BuchananDr. Burton

Synopsis: Set in the 1910s and ’20s, this film tells the story of the Gilbreths, a family of 12 headed by a patriarch who was fascinated by efficiency and order.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Movie Title: The Poseidon Adventure

Year: 1972

Writer: Paul Gallico (novel), Stirling Silliphant (screenplay), Wendell Mayes (screenplay)

Director: Ronald Neame

ActorCharacter
Gene HackmanReverend Scott
Ernest BorgnineMike Rogo
Shelley WintersBelle Rosen
Red ButtonsJames Martin
Carol LynleyNonnie Parry
Roddy McDowallAcres
Stella StevensLinda Rogo
Jack AlbertsonManny Rosen
Pamela Sue MartinSusan Shelby
Leslie NeilsonThe Captain

Synopsis: When a rogue tidal wave flips a cruise liner over on New Year’s Eve, a group must traverse the wrecked ship to get to the bottom (now the top) and survive.

Cat People (1942)

Movie Title: Cat People

Year: 1942

Writer: DeWitt Bodeen

Director: Jacques Tourneur

ActorCharacter
Simone SimonIrena Dubrovna Reed
Kent SmithOliver Reed
Tom ConwayDr. Louis Judd
Jane RandolphAlice Moore
Jack HoltThe Commodore

Synopsis: An American man marries a Serbian immigrant who fears that she will turn into the cat person of her homeland’s fables if they are intimate together.

Notes: 

  • Lewton Bus: The horror movie technique of slowly building tension to a jarring shock which turns out to be something completely harmless and benign became known as a “Lewton bus” after a famous scene in this movie created by producer Val Lewton.

Swing Time (1936)

Movie Title: Swing Time

Year: 1936

Writer: Howard Lindsay, Allan Scott, Erwin S. Kelsey (from a story by)

Director: George Stevens

ActorCharacter
Fred AstaireLucky Garnet
Ginger RogersPenny Carroll
Victor MoorePop Cardetti
Helen BroderickMabel Anderson
George MetalRicardo Romero

Synopsis: Gambler/dancer Lucky goes to the big city to make some cash in order to prove his worth to the father of the girl he wants to marry… but dance instructor Penny catches his eye and hijinks ensue with some awesome singing and dancing.

Notes: 

  • Won Best Original Song Oscar (The Way You Look Tonight)
  • Nominated for Best Dance Direction Oscar (Bojangles of Harlem)

The African Queen (1951)

Movie Title: The African Queen

Year: 1951

Writer: C.S. Forester (novel), James Agee & John Huston (adapted for screen)

Director: John Huston

ActorCharacter
Humphrey BogartCharlie Allnutt
Katharine HepburnRose Sayer
Robert MorleyRev. Samuel Sayer
Peter BullCaptain of the Louisa

Synopsis: Rose Sayer is an uptight woman living in Africa with her missionary brother. When WWI begins and her brother dies, she has no choice but to leave via the rundown riverboat ‘The African Queen’ owned and operated by the grumpy Charlie Allnut. Together, they head for the coast but, on the way, Rose attempts to convince Charlie to help her attack a German warship that’s in the vicinity. Oh, and they fall in love, duh.

Notes: 

  • John Huston: The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Beat the Devil, etc. (very successful writer/director)
  • Filmed on location (Congo, Uganda) and on set in London
  • Lauren Bacall accompanied them in Africa (married to Bogart at the time)
  • Bogart won his only Oscar for it

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Episode 2: Singin’ in the Rain (Podbean link)

Movie Title: Singin’ in the Rain

Year: 1952

Writer: Betty Comden, Adolph Green

Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

ActorCharacter
Gene KellyDon Lockwood
Donald O’ConnorCosmo Brown
Debbie ReynoldsKathy Selden
Jean HagenLina Lamont
Millard MitchellR.F. Simpson

Synopsis: “Silent movie star Don Lockwood, along with his friend Cosmo, new lover Kathy, and obnoxious co-star Lina, must navigate the transition to talking pictures.” (musical)

Notes: 

  • The first “talkie” was in 1927 – The Jazz Singer (mentioned in the movie)

Mata Hari (1931)

Episode 1: Mata Hari (Podbean link)

Movie Title: Mata Hari

Year: 1931

Writer: Benjamin Glazer, Leo Birinsky; Doris Anderson and Gilbert Emery (additional dialogue)

Director: George Fitzmaurice

ActorCharacter
Greta GarboMata Hari
Ramon NovarroLt. Alexis Rosanoff
Lionel BarrymoreGeneral Serge Shubin
Lewis StoneAdnriani
C. Henry GordonDubois

Synopsis: “A fictionalized account of the life of Mata Hari, an exotic dancer who was accused of spying for Germany during WWI.” (set in 1917) (censored version)

Notes:

  • Censored and reissued in 1936 (pre-code film). Famous scenes removed: dance to Shiva, lovers in bed (lit only by the glowing ends of their cigarettes), etc.
  • Not the first movie to depict Mata Hari (1927 German silent)