TCM Top Twelve

The Affairs of Annabel (1938)

Posted by Kristen on May 10, 2013

Posted in: 1930s, Comedy, TCM Top Twelve. Leave a Comment

The Affairs of Annabel was a wild-care choice for my TCM Top 12 in April, mostly because I adore Lucille Ball and I’ve only seen her work in Stage Door. The Affairs of Annabel isn’t a bad movie, it’s just unmemorable and entirely blah. The daffy hijinks of a movie star and her publicity agent become increasingly grandiose, all the while the laughs are non-existent. The script wants to be a screwball comedy, and the leads are scattered at opposite ends of the comedy spectrum. It’s not the best work from Ball.

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So Proudly We Hail! (1943)

Posted by Kristen on May 9, 2013

Posted in: Drama, Action, 1940s, War, Historical, TCM Top Twelve. Leave a Comment

It’s appropriate that So Proudly We Hail! aired during TCM’s new series Friday Night Spotlight (yes, by admitting that I acknowledge this review is a taste late to the party), as it features a war story that doesn’t explore the quiet desperation of army wives at home. The women of the film are women of action, who want to do something for their country, and sacrifice as the men did. It’s a powerful piece that gets too bogged down in sappy romances. A stunning performance from the incredible Veronica Lake, alongside Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard creates a story worth watching, even if it’s reliant on formula.

Roxie Hart (1942)

Posted by Kristen on May 8, 2013

Posted in: 1940s, Biopic, Comedy, Crime, Musical, TCM Top Twelve. 3 comments

The story of the “cute little jazz killer” who showed that murder and sin can easily be forgiven if you have a pretty face has been told in several stories, most memorably in the 2002 Best Picture winner, Chicago. Roxie Hart is a less glamorous version of the same story – and it’s fun to see how much of this film was lifted and recycled into the 2002 adaptation – that’s anchored by a high-flautin’ performance by Ginger Rogers. It’s worth watching back-to-back with the musical to see how a true impresario of the song and dance story did it first!

Stella Dallas (1937)

Posted by Kristen on May 3, 2013

Posted in: 1930s, Drama, Family, Romance, TCM Top Twelve. Leave a Comment

I’m surprised how often this is compared to the 1945 Joan Crawford melodrama, Mildred Pierce, because they’re strikingly different. Sure, they both feature determined mothers yearning to please their daughters, but Stella Dallas is rooted in reality unlike the latter (not to say that I don’t love Mildred Pierce, but it’s sudsy). While I wasn’t fully believing the overall trajectory of the narrative, another attempt to give Barbara Stanwyck freedom only to give her an eleventh-hour taming, Stanwyck overpowered me with her tenacity and adoration for her daughter. It provides melodramatic catharsis which frustrates the viewer but makes for a strong tear-jerker.

TCM Top Twelve for May 2013

Posted by Kristen on April 30, 2013

Posted in: TCM Top Twelve. 1 comment

TCMTopTwelve

While school doesn’t end for a few weeks, it’s summer in my book and that’s reflected in the fantastic slate of movies I’ve assembled for this month’s TCM Top Twelve. You’ll see a bit of romance, comedy, musical, film noir, and the return of the TCM Documentary of the month (although couldn’t find a TCM Trio). I’m not sure quite what happened but I found there’s a better selection earlier in the month as opposed to later, but hey, all the easier for me to get up to speed! So, let’s look at the fantastic set of movies assembled that you can watch this month on TCM.