Stuck in Metropolis

Last week in my film class, I finally had a chance to watch Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. I have to say, for a silent film, it is pretty good. Unlike The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, I didn’t feel the urge to sleep, which my friend actually did.

Ever since watching it, I’ve felt like I’m stuck in my own little Metropolis. Unfortunately, I’m not above ground in the cult of the sons. Nope, I’m definitely in the unhappy hole that is the workers’ city. I wish I could be a peacekeeper like Maria, but I don’t have that luxury. I’m the man at the clock, constantly moving the arms to the lights that flicker around the clock. I can’t stop. Stopping equals disaster. In the end, I myself become like the machine. Instead of Maria becoming the robot, I do. My brain is not my own, it is controlled by my professors and other superiors. Hopefully, my human self can destroy the robot me and flee to the world above ground. Until then, I’ll be living in Metropolis.

Sorry if this is deep. This is what happens when I watch deep movies and take two poetry classes. I get into very reflective/introspective moods. Next week, we’re watching Horse Feathers in film class so I think I’ll be in a better mood!

Great Films Not on DVD: September

Wow, it feels like forever since posted anything. I thought once recruitment was over I would have so much time to blog, especially during the first week of school. Nope, I was completely wrong. First, I forgot how much work I needed to get done for my officer position in the sorority. I still have quite a bit of work to do for this week, but there will be a month-long gap until I have more to do. Second, my first week of school was the longest of my life! There was no easing into the semester. By the time I got to Friday, I felt like I’d been going to class for a month and had a stack of homework to prove it. This is going to be a very interesting semester to say the least. However, I am taking two film classes (finally, since its kind of my major) and two writing classes which is exciting. Hope you all haven’t forgotten me! I’ll try to do better : )


A Night to Remember (1942)
Starring Loretta Young and Brian Aherne
Airs September 2 on TCM

Mystery writer Jeff Troy and his wife Nancy get more than they bargained for when a corpse turns up in their new apartment. Taking hints from his own books, Jeff (who is the prime suspect) and Nancy help solve the case.

Green Dolphin Street (1947)

Starring Lana Turner, Van Heflin, and Donna Reed
Airs September 11 on TCM

In the 1800’s, two sisters fall in love with the same man. He loves one, but drunkenly writes a letter to their father asking for the other’s hand in marriage. Problems follow. Watch for the impressive earthquake scene, which actually looks pretty believable.

The Human Comedy (1943)
Starring Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan, and James Craig
Airs September 23 on TCM

A microcosm of life during World War II, the story focuses on the family of the deceased Mr. Macauley who's ghost watches over it all. It alternates between young Homer and his work as a telegram boy and his brother Marcus off at war. Robert Mitchum has a small a role as a fellow soldier.

Honorable Mention:
Four Daughters (1938) and sequels – Air September 3 (Highly Recommended)
Tender Comrade (1943) – Airs September 4
Million Dollar Baby (1941) – Airs September 11
Seven Sweethearts (1942) – Airs September 25

A Farewell to Summer

I feel as though my summer only started a few weeks ago, but unfortunately, it is coming to a close. My last day of work was Monday and I’ve spent the past couple days packing and de-cluttering all of my belongings and frantically trying to watch all the movies on my DVR. The latter has been no easy task since I had about ten movies left. I accidentally deleted A Star is Born an hour into it. Oops, but that meant one less movie to watch I guess.

I really wish I could’ve accomplished more, but summer sucked all the motivation right out of me. I don’t even have a great tan from all of my lounging about. The usually hot and humid Midwest summer didn’t want to cooperate this year. It’s finally starting to feel like summer weather-wise, but my summer must end a week and a half before other college students. Oh, the benefits of being in a sorority.

I’ll be extremely busy and cranky for the next week and half while sorority recruitment is going on, so I’ll be unable to get any posts out. Once my little hiatus is over, I’ll be ready to go with a new post. Farewell for now my friends : )

Lucky Miss Lombard gets to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, while I must head back to college!

Happy Birthday Nicole!

I know I'm a little late, but the day hasn't ended yet! I just wanted to wish Nicole of Classic Hollywood Nerd a happy 20th birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day and welcome to the 20's : ) Here's some eye candy for you!

Great Films Not on DVD: August

There I go again, neglecting my blog. I swear I have a good excuse, well for the most part. I went on vacation with my family to the lake Sunday and had a wonderful time tubing and jet skiing, although my body didn’t really enjoy it the next day. Anyways, I got back on Wednesday and was completely exhausted. That’s the good reason why I haven’t been blogging. The second part is that I’ve become addicted to the Twilight books. I said I wasn’t going to read them, but I got a ridiculously awesome price for them on Ebay. Needless to say, I couldn’t resist. I’m now on Eclipse and have less than two weeks left to finish the series. I won’t have time to finish them once school starts so I’m constantly reading. I promise to stop being a bad blogger and I’m actually going to get this post out on time. I really hope you can catch some of these movies because this is a particularly great group of films.

A Place of One’s Own (1945)
Starring Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, and Dennis Price
Airs August 2 on TCM

In this moody British ghost/mystery/love story, the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Smedhurst move into a vacant old mansion. At first they don’t believe the stories connected to the house, but when strange things start happening to the young companion they hire, they begin to believe.

Love Letters (1945)
Starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten
Airs August 17 on TCM
Out of all of the films Jones and Cotten made together, this one probably gets the least attention. Personally, I think its one of the most interesting movies they made which is evident in the four Oscar nominations it received.

During World War II, soldier Allen Quinton writes love letters for his best friend. While writing to his friend’s love, he finds himself falling for her as well. Once the war ends, Allen finds that his friend married the woman from the letters, but both of them are now mysteriously dead. As he searches for answers, he falls for a mysterious woman who could hold the key to unlocking the mystery.

These Three (1936)
Starring Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, and Joel McCrea
Airs August 20 on TCM

Recent college graduates Karen Wright (Oberon) and Martha Dobie (Hopkins) decide to open up their own school when Karen finds out she has inherited an old farmhouse. The two set to work restoring it along with Dr. Joe Cardin who ends up in a love triangle with them. A series of miscommunications and a horrible brat named Mary Tilford (Bonita Granville) destroy the lives and dreams of Karen, Martha, and Joe.

Click here to read about my hatred for Mary Tilford

Ladies in Retirement (1941)
Starring Ida Lupino, Louis Hayward, and Elsa Lanchester
Airs August 27 on TCM

Ellen Creed (Lupino) works as a companion and housekeeper for retired actress Leonora Fiske. When Ellen’s two emotionally disturbed sisters come to live with her, things get a bit complicated. Fiske cannot stand Ellen’s sisters and wants them to leave. Feeling she has no other choice, Ellen takes matters into her own hands to make sure her sisters don’t have to leave.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...in July?!

Nope, it's not snowing here or anything like that. My sister came to visit this past weekend and I suggested that us girls (my mom, sister, and I) should go to the outdoor classic movie on Friday night. Now, my mom and sister are not fans of classic movies so I was completely shocked when they agreed to go. The movie of the night was White Christmas. Everything around put me in a Christmas mood: Christmas cookies at the concession stand, a brass quartet playing Christmas favorites, and the temperature dropping to a record low. When the movie ended at 11pm, I could no longer feel my body, but all I could say was "I wish it was Christmas..."

I've definitely enjoyed having all these days off work, but they flew by too quickly. I have to go back tomorrow, unfortunately. Luckily, I'm going on vacation on Sunday, so I won't have to work too much. I meant to have a rather royal post out last week, but once again, time seemed to evaporate. I hope to have it up soon and don't forget to vote in the new poll!

Eek! I almost missed the giveaway!

I have been so busy this past week, I almost missed the deadline for the wonderful Kate Gabrielle's incredible giveaway! Work has pretty much taken over my life. Today marks my sixth consecutive day in a row without a day off and I am utterly exhausted. My mind is so jumbled that every time I look at the clock, I read it as a price. When I looked at the clock yesterday I thought, "Oh, it's only $12. I still have a few hours until I have to go to work". Yup, my mind is gone.

Anyways, if you've been going insanse like me and haven't heard about the giveaway, check it out at Kate's blog Silents and Talkies. She is giving away a ton of her artwork! I'm so excited! Hopefully, my luck will continue and I can win some more of her fabulous flapper prints!

P.S. I have the next five days off so I'm hoping to regain my sanity and have a new post out soon!