litlover12 | Movie meme

I've been trying to work on some mini-movie reviews, but it's taking forever. In the meantime, have a little meme I just made up! (One or two of you may have seen me playing around with this idea on Twitter).

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Put together a film festival for your favorite actor, actress, or director. Classic or contemporary, whatever you prefer. This film festival should be between 10 and 20 hours long, not counting snack and bathroom breaks! Films can be in any order you choose, chronological or otherwise. Tell us a little something about each film.

I picked Jimmy Stewart for mine.

Next Time We Love: One of his earliest films, and a sentimental favorite of mine. A good old-fashioned melodrama with some nice performances and a three-hankie ending.

After the Thin Man: He has quite an impressive character arc in this one, and he plays it beautifully. Twenty-eight years old and already blowing veteran character actors off the screen. Plus, it's just a good movie on the whole. Just as good as, if not better than, the first Thin Man movie.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Because, hello, one of the greatest movies ever made! And one of Jimmy's best performances. Maybe the best. Not that he exactly peaked at 31, but he had such a tough role here and he played it with just the right mixture of innocence, wisdom, humor, and pathos. In the lengthy filibuster sequence, he's mesmerizing. I never get tired of watching it.

The Shop around the Corner: A nice low-key romantic comedy to follow up the intensity of the last one. Very sweet and charming (and the basis for other movies, including You've Got Mail.)

The Philadelphia Story: The movie that won him the Oscar -- and deservedly so, I always say. Includes one of the funniest scenes ever filmed ("OH, C. K. Dexter-HAAAAAven!").

It's a Wonderful Life: What is there to say that hasn't already been said? Perhaps the best representation of what Jimmy Stewart means to so many people: the kind, decent man who struggles, but makes it through with his principles intact.

Harvey: Another good-natured, low-key comedy. Jimmy's steadfast belief in his invisible friend is so convincing, you'll be searching the screen for six-foot-tall white rabbits.

Rear Window: One of my favorite Hitchcocks, and a lesson in how much an actor can express while hardly being able to move. Just watching the way he uses his eyes here is fascinating.

Vertigo: Gotta have the greatest movie ever made (at least until Sight & Sound takes another poll :-) ). It's strange and haunting and compelling. There are those who say Jimmy was too old to star in this one. In a word, they're wrong. I can't think of another actor in that day and age who could have played this tormented detective so well, and he has a natural chemistry with Kim Novak that works perfectly.

Bell, Book & Candle: Maybe not one of his best -- and it's often slammed these days for being anti-feminist -- but the cast is fantastic: Jimmy, Kim Novak again, Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lanchester, Hermione Gingold, and a really pretty cat. It's a nice little romance and a good way to wind down after Vertigo. (In fact, if you try hard, you can imagine that Jimmy and Kim's characters had another chance and got it right this time!)

That's nearly 19 hours, so that'll have to do. I didn't get any of the Westerns in there, and I didn't put Rope in because I figured two Hitchcocks were enough -- unless one were programming a Hitchcock festival. Maybe I'll do one of those sometime . . .

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Ooooo, I love this meme! What a great idea! I just may snag it. (Depends on if I can find 20 hours or so of movies for favorite actors. Somehow, all my favorites are actors that usually star in things I refuse to watch, or refuse to admit I've watched. It's rough.)

Now you've given me an urge to marathon! I started thinking I really haven't seen many Stewart films, then realized I've enjoyed almost every single one on your list. It's amazing just how much fact and history about American in general was woven into Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. More movies should be made like that! :)

I'm glad you liked it! When I was typing it all out, I was thinking, "I hope people don't think this is too long and boring!" :-)

Maybe I should change it to "between 10 and 20 hours," so people don't think it always has to be super-long. I think I'll do that.

Edited 2014-05-09 12:16 (UTC)

Ooh, this is such a fun idea! I'll have to give it some thought and see if I can come up with one of my own! :)

Nope, it wasn't too long or boring at all! (Ahhh, your icon is lovely! :D)

Thanks! :-) I love those two together!

Look at that, you picked some of my favourites! ^_^

My personal Highlights at this festival:

I absolutely agree about "After the Thin Man" - first Stewart movie I ever saw and I've been a fan ever since. (And you're right: it is the best in the series.)

And "Bell, Book and Candle" is charming. Of course it's anti-feminist, it's a 1950s movie - I don't mind, it's part of its time, so what...

"Vertigo", "Rear Window" (and "Rope" ^_^ ) - some of the best Hitchcocks ever. I think he did his best work with James Stewart and Cary Grant.

He was the best at low-key comedy: "Shop around the Corner" and "Harvey" are perfect.

"After the Thin Man" was your first JS movie? Cool! That would have been a very interesting introduction to him! :-)

Loving the "His Girl Friday" icon!

Looking forward to yours! :-)

Edited 2014-05-10 02:38 (UTC)

It was interesting... my first Stewart movies were this and "Winchester 73" - for years I didn't understand why he had this extremely wholesome image. ^_^ Then, when he died in the late '90s they showed most of his movies on TV (German dubbing, but you still got a good idea of his work) and I loved that he'd done so many different things.

Thank you! I love this movie. And your icon - it makes my smile every time you use it. ♥

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