Tag Archives: Vincente Minnelli

Best Classic Christmas Films of all time (10+1list)

24 December, 2015 Souranath Banerjee Leave a comment

Best Classic Christmas Films of all time.

Ho Ho Ho, Santa Claus is here.

Well, I am sure the old bearded man is almost there, reaching your place with all your specific demands but till then you can enjoy the Best Classic Christmas Films of all time; a humble Christmas gift from Cinema Forensic!

Classic Hollywood romantic comedies with a touch of Christmas in them, the likes of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Holiday Affair (1949) and It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) (though these four brilliant films are not included in the list below).

Enjoy the films and yes, Merry Christmas!

10. Holiday Inn (1942)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifkmvBNQhd8

Directed by Mark Sandrich, this is the story of a special inn that opens only during the year-end holidays, and gives you a performance to remember throughout the year.

Brilliant chemistry between Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, a superb musical that boosts up the energy level of your Christmas holidays!

The song ‘White Christmas’ by Irving Berlin won the Oscar for Best Song!

9. Remember the Night (1940)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKcLcT9dOFk

Christmas can make strange things happen, it can also make a serial shoplifter and her prosecutor fall in love!

But then what happens when the trial begins?

Directed by Mitchell Leisen, and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray this is one Christmas romance that can make you fall in love.

8. White Christmas (1954)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3-UtakD3I

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen – and all the dancing and singing you can possibly imagine in one Christmas!

The film has hit songs like ‘The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing‘ and the famous ‘White Christmas’

Directed by Michael Curtiz, this musical was that year’s most successful film.

7. Holiday (1938)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcTo5vPm6Ng

With a dip in the jovial Christmas festive mood the film is about a man who wants to take a holiday in oder to find himself!

Original concept taken from a famous play, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant and directed by George Cukor, this is one film that dares to ask a few very fundamental questions about the balance of happiness, ambition and the need for money in our life.

6. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7guqfYsG0dE

Directed by Vincente Minnelli, a comedy drama full of music, life, energy and Christmas mood!

Judy Garland sings the famous Christmas song ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas‘ and then there is also the popular ‘The Trolley Song‘ as well.

Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland met in the set of this film and got married soon afterwards!

5. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFneciOP0M

A bit similar to the very popular film It’s a Wonderful Life, where angles come to solve our human problems.

With a very unique trailer, and an impressive star cast including Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, this is one comedy drama that gets more interesting as Christmas approaches!

Directed by Henry Koster, a must for this winter holiday season.

4. A Christmas Carol (1951) aka Scrooge

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97PwRDfHBlg

Adapted from Charles Dickens‘s famous novel by the same name; though numerous films are made based on it but this one is my favorite till date.

Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, and a great performance by Alastair Sim, the story of an old bitter miser named Scrooge, who on the Christmas-eve is being haunted by three ghosts!

3. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePa6nx7T76w

A famous food writer who claims to be a brilliant cook is giving a traditional family Christmas invitation for a returning war hero and her boss, but unfortunately the truth is she cannot cook at all!

Directed by Peter Godfrey, and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan and Sydney Greenstreet, a classic comedy drama focused on the day of Christmas.

2. Babes in Toyland (1934)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWAmlPclDPg

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, the classic Laurel & Hardy combination that has given us numerous laugh riots is all set this Christmas to save their beloved ‘toyland’ from the clutches of the bogeymen.

Directed by Gus Meins and Charley Rogers, a film that is funny and scary at the same time, and obviously a perfect Christmas special watch (though actually the story takes place in July).

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ce_op2qG24

An old man is institutionalized when he claims to be the Santa Claus, every body thinks he is insane.

But then a young lawyer decides to defend him and argues in the courtroom that may be he is really THE Santa Claus.

Directed by George Seaton, starring Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, a film specially made for all you Christmas romantics.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. The Thin Man (1934)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqpO6mx8WCE

Directed by W.S. Van Dyke, if you want your Christmas to be with a hint of excitement, this light hearted murder mystery is exactly the one you are looking for.

And William Powell and Myrna Loy together, they have the best on screen chemistry ever seen.

A detective suspense thriller with a comic touch. A perfect Christmas special.

Poster courtesy: www.doctormacro.com, www.impawards.com, www.imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, www.filmtotaal.nl, thethinman1934.com.

Classics, My favorite list

Best Hollywood Classic Romantic Films (10+1list)

5 October, 2015 Souranath Banerjee Leave a comment

Best Hollywood Classic Romantic Films.

written by Souranath Banerjee

Love is in the air!

When the blissful heart thumps too loud, the glowing smile doesn’t leave your face and your thoughts are always connected to someone special, don’t you dare deny it – you ARE in Love.

And if not, by the time you have finished watching all these films, i am sure you will be!

Well, here are some of the best Hollywood classic romantic films that are considered as the best love-stories ever told.

Let’s shower some love.

10. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dTsfsr6-X8

Nearly four hours long but it’s totally worth it because of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh and their brilliant on screen chemistry.

Directed by Victor Fleming (and also George Cukor uncredited), this was the first color film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Considered to be one of fifteen films that changed American cinema (for the good).

9. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urQVzgEO_w8

Fashion icon and superstar Audrey Hepburn was the highest paid actress at the time, her salary for the film was a whooping $750,000!

George Peppard and her chemistry was remarkable in the film, supported by eternally beautiful songs like the ‘Moon River’.

Based on Truman Capote‘s novel and directed by Blake Edwards, a love story to remember.

8. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOiIGUg6yLI

Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds in one the most famous romantic musical ever!

Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, interestingly the script of the film was written after the songs, and so the writers had to generate a plot into which the songs would fit.

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #5 Greatest Movie of All Time.

7. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewe4lg8zTYA

Director/writer Frank Capra at his best, a film that has the most uncommon script and yet so emotional and romantic.

James Stewart at his career best performance and Donna Reed is amazing as well.

It was nominated for five academy awards and won none. But that doesn’t make the film any less classic value than it deserves.

Other romantic films by the same director It Happened One Night (1934) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936).

6. An American in Paris (1951)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2WAMZRCbpU

This is one such film that makes you nostalgic and long for everything that was once so pure and classic.

Along with Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant, it’s so musical, so romantic and so Gene Kelly.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli, there is a 17-minute dance sequence at the end of the film that took a month to shoot. It cost half a million dollars!

Other romantic films by the same director Gigi (1958) and The Bad and the Beautiful (1952).

5. Casablanca (1942)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkL9l7qovsE

With songs as melodious as ‘As Time Goes By’, with hunky Humphrey Bogart and the ever beautiful Ingrid Bergman – a love story that can’t go wrong.

Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film has many unique qualities – the ‘The Battle of the Anthems’ scene, the last airport sequence and of course the chemistry between Rick and Ilsa!

My personal favorite in the list.

Other romantic films by the same director The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and White Christmas (1954).

4. Roman Holiday (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GzCG6lpFUw

Gregory Peck with Audrey Hepburn in one of the most famous love story ever shot.

The film not only made Audrey Hepburn world famous but also rocketed the sale of Vespa scooter!

Directed by brilliant William Wyler, who still holds the record of more people nominated to the Oscar sweepstakes for his films than any other director.

Other romantic films by the same director The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and Funny Girl (1968).

3. An Affair to Remember (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWwFfRvClM

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr after falling for each other agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building.

Well, lovers proposes and God disposes!

Great script, awesome acting and an emotional ending, director “Leo McCarey‘s An Affair to Remember” is a film exclusively for the hard core romantics.

2. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr3nsHRKZJA

Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart hate each other but then of course without realizing that they are falling in love after all.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, this one is a very next-door-kind-of love story, of two very common people with whom the audience can very easily relate to.

Sweet and romantic, with great script and brilliant acting all around.

Other romantic films by the same director Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Ninotchka (1939).

My Fair Lady (1964)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mYPZ2C4sOE

A movie that was advertised as ‘the most eagerly anticipated production since Gone with the Wind‘.

The film was based on the unique drama Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.

Directed by George Cukor, and starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison – one of the biggest grossing films of the time.

Other romantic films by the same director The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Adam’s Rib (1949).

and now, (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Some Like It Hot (1959)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI_lUHOCcbc

Super hot Marilyn Monroe along with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, all together in this one; more of comedy than romance but again one of the all time favorite cinema.

Directed by Billy Wilder, in 2007, the American Film Institute ranked it #22 Greatest Movie of All Time.

And it was also Voted #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Funniest Movies.

Other romantic films by the same director A Foreign Affair (1948) and The Apartment (1960).

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com, https://en.wikipedia.org

For the love of cinema