Hey guys!


I don't know what came over me but recently I have been interested in black and white movies from the 50s. Bare with me, I am such a novice so I watched only the favourites:

1. Dial M for Murder (1954) starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings 

This movie wasn't considered as a Hitchcock classic (compared to Psycho or North by Northwest) but  what attracted me to it is the fact that Grace Kelly was in it (I have to watch To Catch a Thief next!). It tells the story of Tony Wendice who wants to blackmail and kill his wife, Margot Wendice because she was having an affair with a guy named Mark Halliday. Tony hired a man, Swann, to sneak into his apartment when Margot is asleep and kill her, making it look like a robbery gone wrong. Obviously it did not work - Margot defended herself and stabbed Swann to death with a pair of scissors. The movie went on to investigate how the detective solve the case and put Tony to justice.

It's such a classic investigation movie - which is what I like. You started to think like the detective and because the audience know what went down, I found myself squinting on how to prove Tony's crimes. Definitely worth watching, the end was great!


2. Casablanca (1942) starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

It is said to be one of the greatest film ever made. It is a mixture of a love story and portraying the political situation during World World II. The story is fairly simple, an American club owner Rick Blaine came to possess a letter of transit on which the bearer can travel around German-controlled Europe freely to neutral Portugal. Out of the blue, came in Ilsa Lund and her husband, Victor Laszlo, a resistance leader. They want to get the transit letter in order to escape to America. Because Rick and Ilsa had a history together and were deeply in love - Rick decided to help them.

I remember I was amazed on how the movie was written. The lines were beautiful - maybe it's just the structure of English language during that time, but man, it was just beautiful. The choice of words is unlike modern movies with too many slangs. It makes this movie dreamy and made the actors much more likeable, in my opinion. The famous line 'Here's looking at you, kid' is a true testament of Rick's love towards Ilsa. It survived until the end.


3. Roman Holiday (1953) starring Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn

This one is such a happy-go-lucky movie; an escape and mainly a promotional feature for Rome. It tells the story of a princess, Ann, who is bored of being a princess. One night in Rome, after being given a tranquilliser, she wandered off from her room and out in the streets of Rome. When she was dozing off on the side of the street, an American reporter, Joe Bradley saw her and brought her home. He has no idea that Ann was the princess he's supposed to interview the next day. When he does, he hid his identity and followed her adventures in Rome.

I believe it is some kind of coming-of-age type movie. Princess Ann (I suppose) had never been out alone and let her hair down so she seized the opportunity. Out there, in the real life, she's free to be her own and make her own decisions, even falling to a fling with Joe. It was so interesting to see how Ann changed after the events.

4. Rear Window (1954) starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly

I loved this movie! Once again, it has Grace Kelly in it (she's gorgeous!) and the setting of this movie is just on an apartment over looking other apartment. It was genius. It tells the story of a photographer L.B. Jeffries who injured his leg and bound to his wheelchair. Having all the time in the world, he does people watching: it's like a theatre, watching his neighbours from their windows. One day he suspects that one of his neighbours had killed his wife. Jeffries' girlfriend Lisa Fremont doubted the notion at first but then she went to believe it, as does his home care nurse Stella. The whole movie plots how Jeffries manages to reveal the truth.

It is such a simple yet intriguing movie. Again, as the audience we try to piece the puzzle together and be a detective like Jeffries. It is genuinely thrilling too, because not only that he makes observations from his window, Lisa and Stella went on to the guy's apartment to prove his crime! I was on the edge of my seat, especially when this allegedly murderer husband confronted Jeffries who cannot run. Definitely worth to watch.

5. 12 Angry Men (1957) starring Henry Fonda

I saved the best for last. This is even more efficient than Rear Window. They only have two (or three) sets and almost 98% of the movie is shot in a single room. It tells the story of juries. Upon hearing the last statement from the attorneys regarding a murder case committed by a minor, twelve juries from different occupation had to make a decision. The case is clear, the defended looked guilty. Eleven voted that the boy was guilty, one of them, Jury #8 pleads not guilty. How can they agree on a decision?

This one is amazing. I don't want to spoil it but this movie makes you think. It is a great example of group dynamics, an example of persuasion and giving facts and analysing them. This movie also highlights decision making and how a person's background can influence the decisions made. It can be a great discussion movie for social psychology enthusiast. It is interesting to see the personalities and their judgement. It is just, wow. Must watch!



Always,
Hana