Miss Pommery 1926

The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Dir - George Cukor
Jimmy Stewart Sunday

After a week off from JSS we come back with a great film full of laughs. Not sure why but I thought this film was a drama. I was pleasantly surprised to figure out by the score in the first few seconds of the film that it is comedy. Very funny with great performances all around. Stewart did his usual bang up job but I agree with him comments concerning winning the Best Actor Oscar for this role. It was nothing more than deferred payment for not getting one for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington a year earlier. Hepburn nails Tracy Lord but she did also portray her on the stage and it's a role based on her life/family.

Pennsylvania 6-5000

The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
Dir - Anthony Mann
Jimmy Stewart Sundays

Another Jimmy Stewart film, another win. This biopic about the life of Glenn Miller is wonderfully enjoyable, interesting and full of great music. There is some great use of Technicolor, but also some moments seem a tad overboard. One scene in particular centers around a late night visit to a Harlem Jazz club where Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa and other play some toe-tapping tunes. Even though this is my favorite scene the ever changing color wheel on the band gets a bit laughable. Watch this, you won't be disappointed.

Smile, Smile, Smile

The Shopworn Angel (1938)
Dir - H.C. Potter
Jimmy Stewart Sunday

I'm rather conflicted on this movie. Overall I did like it, but the way Margaret Sullivan treats Jimmy Stewart and Walter Pidgeon just rubs me the wrong way. I understand her reasoning but it didn't make me happy. Can't really say much more about that without spoilers. Still, it was well made and had some great moments. I only wish the army still wore uniforms like they did in WWI.

Boys Will Be Boys

Rope (1948)
Dir - Alfred Hitchcock
Jimmy Stewart Sunday*

I really love films that seem like plays. This is not only that but accomplishes the feeling of watching a "real time" play with a series of long takes. I love Jimmy Stewart but agree with his feeling that he was miscast here. The lead, Brandon (John Dall), is fantastic, impossible and smarmy.  Hitchcock really knows what he's doing and builds some great tension, but I wish the opening was a little different. If only it left a little more to the imagination.

*Since for the past couple of Sundays Jenny and I have watched a James Stewart film we decided to make it a recurring thing whenever possible. 

"Boy Stuff"

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Dir - Frank Capra

I wonder how many people were inspired to enter politics by this movie. I also wonder how many of those people would feel ashamed if they watched this again. This is just as great as I've heard and suspected and, somehow, more. I couldn't be in the Senate because I'm sure I couldn't keep my cool. Never have I wanted to punch Claude Rains until seeing this.

Also, one of the Governor's kids, the one who presents Stewart with the briefcase, is the worst! I just wanted to slap him.

Order in the Court

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Dir - Otto Preminger

Now this is how it's done folks! Compelling, at times humorous, courtroom drama starring Jimmy Stewart and George C. Scott. Quick, intelligent dialog back and forth in, and out, of the courtroom. Can't help but feel this might be a little risque for the time in regards to some of the subject matter. Was a bit confused by the whole "panties" debacle and how an entire courtroom full of adults will erupt into laughter over the word in conjunction with them belonging to a rape victim.