Film #7: Singin' in the Rain

Film #7: Singin' in the Rain (1952) - Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly

Roomie Rating: 9.5/10

One-Sentence Synopsis: Gene Kelly triple-threats his way to the top while Jean Hagen triple-threats her way to the bottom.

Favorite Character(s):
Cosmo, the best friend

Favorite Quote(s):
Lina Lamont: Whaddya think, I'm dumb or somethin'?!


Lina Lamont: No! No! No!
Movie Villain: Yes! Yes! Yes!
[repeat endlessly and out of time with the film]

Other Comments:
Hilarious and heartwarming. As it should be.

Noteworthies: Just a Bit of Coloured Paper?

We all need reminders.

"I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F., an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, 'I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!'

Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience with God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real and the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more useful than walks on the beach if you want to get to America."

-from Mere Christianity

Film #6: Four Jills in a Jeep

Film #6: Four Jills in a Jeep (1944) - William A. Seiter

Roomie Rating: 7/10

One-Sentence Synopsis:
Four women, three continents, two flights, and one puttering escort.

Favorite Character(s):
Martha Raye, as Martha Raye
Eddie, the incorrigible buffoon

Favorite Quote(s):
Carmen Miranda: Oh, I like your lips and I like your eyes.
Would you like my hips to hips-notize ... you?
Other Comments:
Although this movie is quite theatrically entertaining, do not be fooled by the title. The four "Jills" are in a jeep for about only thirty seconds! Lies.

Film #5: Top Hat

Film #5: Top Hat (1935) - Mark Sandrich

Roomie Rating: 8.8/10

One-Sentence Synopsis: Fred Astaire overcomes obliviousness through commendable resolve.

Favorite Character(s):
Jerry Travers, the triple-threat

Favorite Quote(s): [While commandeering the bridal suite.]
Horace Hardwick: But, Jerry, you shouldn't be in here. It isn't cricket.
Jerry Travers: No, Horace, it isn't tiddlywinks either.

Other Comments:
The dancing was great, the plot was hilarious, and Fred Astaire's facial expressions were incomparable. You should definitely tap into this one. (;

Film #4: State Fair

Film #4: State Fair (1962) - José Ferrer

Roomie Rating: 7.2/10

One-Sentence Synopsis: A boy, a girl, and a pig find .. love? at the state fair.

Favorite Character(s):
Emily Porter, the ginger distraction

Favorite Quote(s): [On giving motherly advice to a daughter. Put to music.]
Melissa Frake: Never say no to a man, simply avoid saying yes to him.

Blueboy the Pig: Snort snort!


Other Comments:
Rodgers and Hammerstein have done it again! Impossible becomes merely improbable (and yet still occurs). Not only did everyone fall in "love" at the fair, but it was all in less than two days!

Film #3: Here Come the Waves

Film #3: Here Come the Waves (1944) - Mark Sandrich

Roomie Rating: 6/10

One-Sentence Synopsis:
Ditzy, blonde twin wreaks havoc on the Navy, namely Bing Crosby.

Favorite Character(s):
Johnny Cabot, the loveboat

Favorite Quote(s):
Johnny Cabot: Whatcha doing out here?
Susie Allison: Just getting a fresh of breath air!

Other Comments:
The blonde in the movie is so incredibly annoying that if Bing Crosby weren't her co-star, the movie would be completely irrevocable. Bless her heart. (;

Film #2: Poor Little Rich Girl

Film #2: Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) - Irving Cummings

Roomie Rating: 5.5/10

One-Sentence Synopsis:
Shirley Temple do her thang.

Favorite Character(s):
Simon Peck, the crotchety old man

Favorite Quote(s): [While playing "piggyback," per Shirley Temple.]
Barbara Barry: Woah!
Simon Peck: What?
Barbara Barry: Do you always tell people to get out?
Simon Peck: I do when I'm engaged in important business!
Other Comments:
Guess what?! The character "Jimmy Dolan," played by Jack Haley, is the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz!