Sunday, May 15, 2016

Our Picks for the Five Movies on an Island Blogathon

To celebrate the second annual National Classic Movie Day, the Cafe is hosting and participating in the Five Movies on an Island Blogathon. The idea behind this blogathon is simple: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only watch five movies over and over, what would they be?

I pondered this question with Toto, my fellow Cafe contributor and editor extraordinaire. Each of us focused on identifying comfort movies--as opposed to our favorite movies. A major criterion was how well a film still entertained us after repeated viewings.

Danny Kaye and Basil Rathbone in
The Court Jester.
Toto's fine selections, in no particular order, are:

1. The Court Jester.
2. 101 Dalmatians (1961).
3. Lover Come Back.
4. Pollyanna.
5. The Bishop's Wife.

I had a tough time narrowing my choices to just five. I knew there had to be a Hitchcock picture and a Hammer film in my list. It was difficult to omit at least one guilty pleasure, such as the island-friendly Beach Blanket Bingo, but there just wasn't an available slot. Again, in no particular order, my choices are:

The courtyard in Rear Window.
1. Rear Window – Vertigo is my favorite Hitchcock classic and Marnie and The Birds are right up there, too. But, when it comes to "repeatability," it's hard to match Rear Window. James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter are a terrific trio and Raymond Burr makes a memorable villain. Thematically, it's one of Hitch's finest (e.g., the hero is a peeping tom and fears commitment). However, my favorite element is that wonderful courtyard and the "stories" featured in the other apartments.

2. Brides of Dracula – My Hammer friends may be shocked I didn't select a film with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. For that reason, I seriously contemplated The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959). In the end, though, I went for a vampire flick and this is the best of Hammer's Dracula series, pitting Van Helsing (Cushing) against a handsome vampire (David Peel) taking advantage of a girls' boarding school. An added bonus: I never get tired of watching the windmill climax.

Kirk Douglas in disguise!
3. The List of Adrian Messenger – For this slot, I contemplated choosing Green for Danger or Ten Little Indians (1965). However, they were bumped in favor of John Huston’s gimmicky 1963 mystery, in which several famous stars make cameos in heavy make-up. While trying to spot the stars is undeniably fun, the gimmick disguises the fact that The List of Adrian Messenger is a highly-entertaining, crafty film that starts as a mystery and evolves into a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game. The revelation of the murderer's motive is only part of the fun. It’s the “how” that differentiates it from other mysteries. Among his many skills, the murderer, played delightfully by Kirk Douglas, is also a master of disguises!

4. The Andromeda Strain – As regular readers of this blog know, I'm a sucker for movies in which the protagonist forms a team (the prototype of this kind of movie is The Adventures of Robin Hood). The Andromeda Strain is a great "get the team together" film, but it's also a superior science fiction outing that pits four dedicated scientists against a microscopic menace capable of destroying all life on Earth. I find it intellectually exciting. Its thrills come not from action sequences (though there’s a doozy at the climax), but from the time-sensitive need to determine: What is the Andromeda Strain? How can it be destroyed? Why did a 69-year-old man and a six-month-old baby survive when Andromeda wiped out a New Mexico town of 68 people? 

Jane Powell and Howard Keel.
5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – You may think I selected this movie just to drool over the most excellent breakfast that Jane Powell prepares for husband Howard Keel and his rowdy brothers in the Oregon Territory in 1850. Well, I can't deny it--I've often thought of that tempting breakfast! However, this colorful musical features a memorable score by Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul, Michael Kidd’s spectacular choreography, and charming performances from the cast.

Be sure to check out other bloggers' choices for the Five Movies on an Island Blogathon. You can see the full schedule by clicking here. Also, don't forget to wish your favorite movie fans a Happy National Classic Movie Day!

26 comments:

  1. Both lists are excellent and gave me much to consider.

    I love the comedies on Toto's list. My son often puts "101 Dalmatians" on a loop and I feel like I have been on an island with that movie.

    You are so right about the rewatchability of "Rear Window". I once watched it four times in one week, including a big screen presentation. It never, never gets old.

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  2. Love Rear Window. I could see watching that one over and over again. Thelma Ritter almost made my list too (Pillow Talk). Her lines and delivery are gems.

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  3. All great! Special faves are Toto's The Court Jester and your The Andromeda Strain! All are wonderful and make me need to settle down and watch a whole bunch of movies really soon! Can't wait to delve into everybody else's choices!

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  4. I've only seen Rear Window from the list (and I loved it of course!) - still, that's a shame! I should catch up with your favourites :)
    Domi (Little Bits of Classics)

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  5. As I was completing my list of films, I thought of how much I wanted to remember some of my favorite things and performers. I absolutely love Cary Grant and Christmas so that is why I included "The Bishop's Wife." When I saw Rick included "Rear Window" I thought it was perfect because it made me think how much I have enjoyed Raymond Burr as Perry Mason. So these picks invoke memories of other things and people we enjoy, too. What a great way to celebrate National Classic Movie Day!

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  6. It is such a great list for both lists. They are such wonderful movies. I could watch them all often.

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  7. The only movie on your list I've seen, Rick, is Rear Window. I guess I've got some watching to do! And I'm sorry, but I would throw Pollyanna back. My sister has watched it so many times that I can't hardly stand hearing it anymore - it's mainly Jimmy Bean.

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  8. I've never seen The List of Adrian Messenger. Definitely, going to have to check it out now.

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  9. What's this, no Adventures of Robin Hood? I like your list, but I like Toto's even better...I think I'll hop on over to her island when I get tired of watching my same 5 movies over and over.

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    1. The only reason ROBIN HOOD is omitted is because I know it so well I can almost replay it in my head!

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  10. So many great choices on both lists... Seven Brides and Lover Come Back were contenders for me too, but alas I had to make some tough decisions :)

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  11. It's so funny that REAR WINDOW is my favorite and I didn't choose it and it's not your favorite, but you did. Wonder what that means? :) And interesting choice of musical in SEVEN BRIDES! Well, heck - all of your choices are a bit of a surprise individually, but a fantastically diverse list.

    Aurora

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  12. Rick, obviously, I have no Problem with Rear Window. It's always in a top spot on my list. Adrian Messenger is Afilm I have not seen in years and should really check it out Boths list are enticing.

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  13. Both lists are quite wonderful (can I smuggle in The Court Jester? I could while away the time learning "the The Pellet with the Poison's in the Vessel with the Pestle") - but I smiled when I saw "The List of Adrian Messenger" - a goody,, for sure. Thanks for hosting this really wonderful blogathon - reading the posts has been so much fun!

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  14. I have had a grand time today reading all the posts--so many different kinds of films and different criteria for choosing them. In fact, this has become one of my very favorite blogathons.

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  15. Fascinating that a lot of us put at least one musical on our lists! That means we want some music and dancing to lift our spirits on our islands. I can't believe no Hitchcocks made my list, so I'm so happy to see him on yours!

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  16. I agree with you on "Rear Window" and repeatability, Rick. A friend asked me why "Vertigo" wasn't on my list and as many times as I've watched it , I didn't see it as one of only 5 films I might be repeating regularly. On Toto's list, love "The Bishop's Wife," a holiday favorite forever.

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  17. I'm so pleased other people selected holiday films as well--and "The Bishop's Wife" is a fine choice. Cary Grant is angelic indeed. I'm also a fan of classic musicals--I too marvel at the choreography in "Seven Brides" especially the barn raising dance-off! What a fun blogathon!

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  18. "The List of Adrian Messenger" is a wonderful choice. My five:
    1. The Thing From Another World (1951)
    2. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
    3. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
    4. Any Cary Grant comedy.
    5. Any Hope & Crosby "Road" movie.
    (Just missing out: tie between "Hound of the Baskervilles," 1939/1959.)

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    1. Some excellent choices, Ron. I almost included DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. It s truly timeless.

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    2. Rick, I have to add two movies I saw a lot of when growing up: "The Satan Bug" (1965), which I'd rank up there with "The Andromeda Strain"; and "Quick Before It Melts" (1964), a throwaway '60s comedy lodged in memory. The latter I haven't seen since the original theater screening, but I just found it (in 13 parts -- sheesh!) on YouTube.

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  19. Great picks Rick. I was considering Seven Brides also, and a Hitchcock but I couldn't settle on which one. But I know you had troubles getting down to 5.

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  20. So much appreciation for seeing Brides of Dracula on here. Or any Hammer entry for that matter. As I said in my post I went with the musical genre instead of the horror genre -- partly because I probably couldn't decide *which* horror movie I would have chosen. Great list. I find the Andromeda Strain to be a particularly interesting choice.

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  21. This was a wonderful event, Rick! But I hope we can visit each other's island to see the films... I'd love to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in your island!
    Cheers!
    Le

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  22. Count me in too as a great fan of The Brides of Dracula. David Peel is wonderfully corrupt and Freda Jackson has a great time chewing the scenery. The other non-Chris Lee Hammer vampire outing that gives this a run for its money is of course The Kiss of the Vampire.

    And don't you know it, I was just thinking about The List of Adrian Messenger the other day, before I read your post. I remember how much fun it was, but haven't seen it in a zillion years!

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