1952 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
IMDB Top 250
IMDB Top 250
OSCARS
|
High Noon
Dir: Fred Zinnemann Stars: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I loved this film. The ticking clock of doom as it seems to crush down upon the morally righteous marshall made this old-timey western absolutely riveting. Gary Cooper is pitch perfect as Will Kane, the newlywed law man who just wants to live in peace with his new wife. Grace Kelly is like a freakin' angel on the screen...an otherworldly beauty at a level that is rarely seen, if ever, in cinema. It is movies like this, with a drastically simple premise of a dangerous outlaw arriving at noon, padded by great performances and superb editing, heightened to a top notch thriller. B+ |
OSCARS
Best Actress
Best Original Score |
Singin' in the Rain
Dir: Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die IMDB #93 I have a very specific problem with Singin' in the Rain. I thought the story was very fun (about a studio trying to make their own "talkie" in the wake of The Jazz Singer) and Gene Kelly looks like he is walking on air when he starts to dance...but here is my problem. There are 3 reasons for anyone to be singing in a movie musical. They should be melodically telling a part of the story, singing about their feelings & emotions, or performing in a show within the show (a la 42nd Street). Singin' in the Rain all too often has people dancing and singing for no reason whatsoever, and it is annoying. "Make 'em Laugh"? Absolutley no reason for that song. "Good Morning"? Who are the three leads dancing for? Us? They are characters in a movie...not performers on a stage. They are wonderful songs and performances but felt so oddly unimportant. The title song sequence got it right, but the rest of the movie felt very awkward and choppy. No one will EVER convince me that this movie is a better musical then the likes of The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, or even Chicago....and it has been hailed as the best movie musical ever....WRONG!!!! C |