Seen It: Anatomy of a Murder

This Valentines Day I bought my mom a little old movie called Anatomy of a Murder. Not exactly Valentines Day themed, but still a terrific movie. I honestly love any movie Jimmy Stewart is in, and it doesn't hurt when there is a little eye candy involved (Ben Gazzara). You can def. file this movie under courtroom drama but don't worry the entire movie is not shot in a stuffy room. You will take the ride along with Stewart from the jail to Barney Quill's bar (the scene of the town's most recent murder). Jimmy plays a former district attorney who is hired by a young army lieutenant named Frederick Manion to clear him from the murder charge he has looming over him. Manion has found himself in need of a good lawyer after shooting Barney Quill, a bar owner who allegedly raped his wife. It is obvious from the start that Manion and his wife Laura are not going to be helping Stewart prove his innocence. Between Laura's scandalous behavior and dress, and Manion's hot head and jealous rage it looks like Stewart has his work cut out for him. Not only is this a very interesting story, but it is also one that keeps you thinking. I personally believe the ending is meant to keep you guessing about what really happened that day that a jealous husband found his promiscuous wife stumbling home with what proved to be a fatal story.

Crush, Crush, Crush!

Oh my goodness, I am in love with Gregory Peck! He has got to be one of the best, most dreamy (which is always important) actors ever. He may be best known for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking Bird, but my favorite character he ever played was Dr.Edwardes in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound. He was probably at his peek of dreaminess and of course did a phenomenal job playing that role as well. Now I will never let go of my love for adorable little Cary Grant, but Mr. Peck is def. trying to push him out of first place!

Seen It: Some Like It Hot

Oh my goodness this has to be the best Marilyn movie ever!! My mom, sister, and I loveeee this movie so much, it is def. our "girls night go to movie." Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, are such a perfect match up!! The main story line is, Tony and Jack are two musicians in quite a sticky situation. While playing at a "club" one night they are involved in a police raid and are forced to flee the scene. When they arrive to steal a girlfriends car to get away they witness a shooting by a famous mobster. Now they must flee the wrath of the mob. In order to do so they join an all girls musical group donning full on ladylike disguises. Only problem is, there are some gorgeous, tempting ladies in this group including the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. What are two men fleeing the mob dressed up as women supposed to do? You will just have to watch and find out!

Seen It: To Catch a Thief

Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, really do I need to say more? With this much beautiful in one movie it almost doesn't matter how great it is. Thankfully it is fabulous!! This is one of Hitchcocks later films and is even in color (once again for you color lovers). The premise is... Cary Grant is an "ex" jewel thief who is supposedly being wrongfully accused of a string of high class robberies. Apparently someone is copying his previous technique, ruining his new clean record and good name. Grace Kelly is the daughter of wealthy women who Cary is using as bait for the "copy cat" burglar. Problem is can Kelly trust him, or is he really just after her mothers jewels? Hitchcock of course does a great job keeping you guessing till the end, and of course throws some romance in there as well. But seriously who could resist Cary??? Yes, I may have a little crush...

Seen It: Spellbound

I LOVE this movie! I don't think I can pick a favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie, it's like asking a parent which their favorite child is... It is just wrong! But this one if def. up there. I absolutely adore Gregory Peck (seriously he is so dreamy) and I can't get enough of Ingrid Bergman. She was such a beautiful talented actress! In this film Bergman plays a young psychoanalyst at a mental hospital. Peck plays a young doctor (Dr. Edwardes) being sent in to replace one of her older colleagues. Not too long after taking his new position it is very evident that there is something wrong with Peck. It is even believed that he is not really Dr. Edwardes and that the real doctor may be missing and even dead. The only problem is Peck's severe case of amnesia. He can't seem to remember what happened to Edwardes, but he does continually get flashes and dreams that prove to be great clues to his disappearance. Bergman of course swoops in to help Peck recover his memory, falling in love with him along the way. This really is a terrific movie, make sure to look out for the dream sequence that was designed by the amazing artist, Salvador Dali.

Seen It: Vertigo

Of course I could not go without a Seen It today! And of course it has to be an Alfred Hitchcock film because it is Mr. Hitchcock's birthday! I have loved his films for many years and have been truly inspired by him. He was one of the greatest directors and storytellers, in my opinion, ever. He had such a creative eye, whether it was camera angles or scenery. His films always had such terrific delivery of their story, one that literally had you on the edge of your seat. He was an incredibly talented man, and I wish I could have met him.

Vertigo is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. It is one of his later ones so it is in color (for you color loving folks). Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak do a wonderful job portraying two people who are in more then a complicated relationship. Jimmy is a retired police detective with a bad case of vertigo. He is hired to follow the wife of an acquaintance in order to figure out why she is acting so strangely. Little does he know the incredible journey he has just signed up for. Of course there are many twists and turns, this is an Alfred Hitchcock movie after all. As well as some great "effects" well, they were very ground breaking at the time... You are sure to love this movie, and I suggest you watch it tonight in celebration of Mr. Hitchcock's birthday!

Seen It: The Big Sleep

This is one of my all time favorite movies! If I had a top ten list this movie would deff. be on it. Hmmm a top ten list, I should make one of those! I loveeee Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall! And so did the cinema, they were paired up quite a bit. Very similar to the "Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy" duo we saw throughout the 50's and 60's. Sadly, Bogart and Bacall didn't have as much success, but this film is deff. one of their best. It is another film noir which really is what most of the old movies I watch are. I just love the drama and suspense!! In this movie Bogart plays a private detective who is hired by Lauren Bacall's father to help investigate the person blackmailing her sister (his other daughter). The road to finding this blackmailer is much more difficult then any of them thought. There are many twists and turns and honestly I had to watch it twice to catch everything. There are shady characters around every corner and a new problem every minute. Bogart does a great job cracking the case and he might have even earned himself a beautiful lady by the end... Even if film noir is not your thing, you have to watch this if only for the amazing outfits! I really wish we still dressed like Lauren Bacall...

Seen It: Charade

I LOVE this movie!! It has two of my favorite actors in it (Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant) and is truly an entertaining movie. It is in color for you folks that just can't stand black and white (though I will never understand how you could not love black and white). The main premise is, Audrey Hepburn is a young women who's husband has just been murdered after turning everything they have into cash. Problem is, that cash is missing. Carey Grant is just one of the many men trying to find out where all of the money has gone. They all assume Audrey knows where it is, so they of course seek her out. Problem is, all of the men following her start turning up dead, quickly they are dropping like flies. Of the four men Carey Grant seems to get the closest to Audrey with his sly charm, but you are never quite sure whether he is a good or bad guy. Such a good movie!! And the ending is a total surprise!!

Seen It: Gaslight

This movie is terrific! Not only does it have Ingrid Bergman (another of my favorite actresses) but it has a super interesting plot. It is another murder mystery, which you may or may not figure out by the end. But don't worry! Even if you do, the movie will not be spoiled at all. The story is basically: Ingrid Bergman's character's famous Aunt is killed, and she is sent away from the home she used to share with her. Later in life she meets a dashing, charming young man who marries her and takes her back to live at her Aunt's abandoned home. It is not the best choice of living arrangement, seeing as her Aunt was murdered there, but she reluctantly agrees to her new husbands wishes. While living there she believes she is beginning to go crazy; she forgets where she puts things, hears strange noises, and even sees the gaslight go up and down. The entire story leads up to a fabulous ending where you find out if she is truly going crazy or not. I promise you will love this movie!!

Seen It: Laura

I don't know about you, but I loveee old movies, especially if they are in black and white. I don't know why, maybe they seem more romantic this way. I am a big Alfred Hitchcock fan and am proud to say I have seen almost every film he has made (that are still available, some of those rare ones are hard to get a hold of!). When I first started the search for old movies it was very confusing and I did not know where to begin. A lot of movies from then have not aged well and are almost inaudible or difficult to watch. Some are really ridiculous and not even worth watching. It was a lot of trial and error, but I would never take it back. I found some of the best films I have every seen this way. The first film I will share is my absolute favorite. Laura is a murder mystery (of course film noir is the best kind of old movie!!). It is about a young women who is murdered and all of her close friends who are left as suspects. There are PLENTY of twists and I promise you will never figure it out until the end. Not only is this an entertaining movie, but it has some great actors. Gene Tierney is one of my favorite actresses (and gorgeous to boot!!) and Cliftin Webb is his usual amazing self. I have had many friends reluctant to watch this because they think it is another "boring old black and white movie" and by the end they are screaming that it is their new favorite and want to know where they can buy their own copy. I promise Laura is deff. worth the watch...