Charade

     A woman, Regina Lampert, plans to divorce her husband, until she learns that he's been murdered.  Upon meeting a mysterious man at a ski resort, she's suddenly thrust into a thoroughly engaging spy plot.

     Take the delightful Audrey Hepburn, pair her with the suave Cary Grant, throw in a delicious Henry Mancini score, and presto!  you've got the wonderfully entertaining comedy/thriller "Charade" from 1963.  It's almost impossible not to have a goofy smile plastered across your face while watching "Charade".  Apart from the heavenly pairing of the two lead actors, who have impeccable chemistry, by the way- we also get Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, and James Coburn in fabulous supporting roles.  Almost at times coming off like an Alfred Hitchcock film, "Charade" echoes not only Hitchcock but Blake Edwards as well.  To describe "Charade" best, think "Breakfast At Tiffany's" meets "North By Northwest", and you get the picture.  Full of running jokes and colorful characters, "Charade" is an oddly underrated classic- I'm not sure why, because it has all the ingredients of a great movie.  Director Stanley Donen, as mentioned above, directs as if he actually is Hitchcock, and Hepburn and Grant spout off sparkling dialogue throughout the film.  To make matters worse, this was Hepburn and Grant's only screen pairing together, which is a shame.  They both shine here, and seem to fully enjoy working together.
     So if you're in the mood for a clever and witty mixture of suspense, intrigue, romance, and humor, complete with some fantastic location shots, "Charade" is the perfect cocktail for you.  A lovely time capsule of the 1960's, "Charade" is a thoroughly enjoyable and funny "whodunit" that will keep you guessing right up to the climax.  And it's damn near impossible to get Henry Mancini's sensational score out of your head, especially the title tune!

Valley Of the Dolls

      Grand, kitschy, hilarious- what's not to love about 1967's gloriously over-the-top "Valley Of the Dolls"?  A trashy, campy soap based on  Jacqueline Susann's ground-breaking novel, with performances that simply must be seen to be believed.  Severely diluted for the big screen, the movie does lose a lot of the gritty novel's impact, ultimately becoming nothing like the original novel.  However, having said all of that, the film is an unintentional laugh riot- Patty Duke, Susan Hayward, and Lee Grant devour any and all scenery around them and all come across as raging drag queens in the process.  Duke is certainly a sight to behold as the self-destructive Neely O'Hara, a talented young singer/actress who soon becomes hooked on booze and 'dolls' (pills).  Her massive train wreck of a performance is definitely a highlight of the film.   Barbara Parkins come across as a Stepford wife, while Susan Hayward brays, bellows, and screams, along with having her wig thrown in a toilet.  And the fact that Sharon Tate became a victim of the Manson Family at the time of release sadly solidified its camp status.

      As quotable and fun as "Mommie Dearest", "Valley of the Dolls" is a rollicking good time and compulsively watchable stuff- you know the whole time it's terrible, and it sure is great. It contains some of the most ludicrous dialogue and contrived situations ever filmed for a serious drama, and that is why fans so fervently love this movie.  Judy Garland was originally considered for the part that eventually went to Susan Hayward, and one can only imagine what Judy could have done with the part.  Nowhere near as racy as it could have been- those of us who have read the book know what was left out of the film version.  But it doesn't matter.  This is one of the greatest camp classics of all time, and along with beautiful cinematography, glamorous 1960's hair and fashion, sublime 60's artistic montages, and Dionne Warwick warbling the title tune, how in the world can you go wrong? Trashy, scandalous, and unintentionally hilarious.
 "Boobies, boobies, boobies!  Nothin' but boobies!"

Psycho

     A woman steals $40,000 and flees town.  During a bad thunderstorm, she stops at an out-of-the-way motel to spend the night.  What follows is one of the most infamous scenes in horror history.

               "Psycho" is pure movie-making genius.  Hitchcock's masterpiece is a brilliant exercise in music, cinematography, editing, acting, and directing. I can only imagine sitting in an unsuspecting audience in 1960, completely unaware of what was about to happen on the screen. NOTHING had ever been done like this movie before, especially the infamous 'shower scene'.  With the heroine of the film brutally butchered during the first 30 minutes, Hitchcock suddenly and shockingly announced that from now on, all bets were off.  Horror was no longer safe.  Anything could happen. "Psycho" undoubtedly paved the way for the likes of "Night of the Living Dead","The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", and "Halloween", and so many others.  It's so engrained into our culture now that you don't even have to have seen the movie to know the story.  (Although I would have to say you have no business watching movies if you don't...)  You can even buy a shower curtain with "Mother" weilding a knife on it, it's so well-known.          
      Anthony Perkins made such an impact as Norman Bates, that he never was able to escape the role.  He was forever known as Norman.  Can you think of any other memorable role of Anthony Perkins?  He is simply too good in the role.  His Bates is truly spooky- and he cast the mold for Michael Myers, Hannibal Lecter, and such.  "Psycho" was the first true slasher, inventing a genre and changing the face of horror movies forever.  It's Hitchcock's scariest moments on celluloid I think, besides "The Birds".  And still holds up magnificently, especially next to some of the pale remakes bombarding us today.  It's still crisp and fresh.  I can't imagine anybody not having seen this classic example of tension and suspense. And if you haven't, what are you waiting for?  This is one of the greatest of many great Hitchcock movies, and the grandfather (or should I say mother?) of all slashers.  Words really can't do the movie justice, though.  Just watch the movie.  You'll see what I'm talking about.

Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

  Two aging Hollywood sisters live together in a dark, spooky mansion.  One, a former child-star who's career never amounted to anything afterwards, takes care of her invalid sister who was a much bigger star in her day.  Now bitter rivals, the invalid sister, (Joan Crawford), is at the mercy of her angry sister, (Bette Davis), who's slowly unraveling into insanity...

     The Grand Dame of Cinema Schlock- "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" will never cease to amaze, fascinate, and entertain.  This movie not only gave Bette Davis and Joan Crawford a much-needed comeback, but also kicked off a wave of movies that would become known as 'horror hag'.  Just take an aging Hollywood star, put her in a cheaply made horror movie, and presto!  Audiences flocked to these kind of flicks, and today they are all bona-fide classics of high camp.

      Now, "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" is actually a great movie- Bette and Joan are certainly a formidable match onscreen.  The pairing of these two giant Hollywood icons alone would have cemented its legendary status.  But besides that, we are treated to a genuinely creepy and unsettling look at old Hollwood, ala "Sunset Boulevard".  Way more than just a cheap horror film, "WEHTBJ" is a riveting psychological study of 'stars' in Hollywood, and how desperate they will become to keep those stars shining.  It's cheaply made, but rather creative and very influential.

      Bette Davis and Joan Crawford simply could not be replaced in this movie- they are absolutely pitch perfect.  Bette scowls, brays, shrieks, and howls- she is truly a tour-de-force in acting here.  There is a reason why she's called one of our greatest actresses of all time.   As great as Bette is,  Joan equally holds her own here. We immediately sympathize with Blanche, and we're with her all the way.  Considering the myth of their supposed 'feud', it certainly makes watching this movie all the more fascinating. You can practically feel the underlying tension ooze off the screen, what with the legendary rumours of their hatred for one another.  Whether any of this is true or not, it certainly adds to the movie.

     This movie was a huge hit when released in 1962- and made such an impact that there is now a licensed action figure set of the two stars.  It's a horror classic, and one of the biggest and most memorable films of the 60s. The character of Baby Jane ranked #44 on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Villains of American Cinema. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" inspired a slew of knock-off imitations and drag queens around the world as well.  It also resurrected the careers of Miss Davis and Miss Crawford.  And we'll forever have the charms of "But ya are, Blanche, ya are in that chair!"

Straight-Jacket

     Kids, Joan Crawford with an ax is all you need to know for this one.  After the success of "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" in 1962, suddenly middle-aged actresses everywhere- (Crawford, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Olivia DeHavilland, etc.) were starring left and right in cheaply made horror movies.  "Straight-Jacket" was Joan's follow-up to "Baby Jane" after leaving "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte "(which is a story all on its own...).  The plot is simple.  Joan finds her husband in bed with another woman.  She brutally murders them in bed with an ax.  After being institutionalized for 20 years, she is released to live a normal life.  She goes to live with her daughter on a farm.  She seems alright at first, but has Joan fully recovered?  But she quickly starts to wig out as a series of brutal ax murders rock the farm. Is someone trying to drive her back into madness? Or is it Joan, still crazy as a loon?  I live for this kind of stuff.

      First of all, "Straight-Jacket" is an absolute hoot from start to finish.  There are so many things to love about this movie, I wouldn't even know where to begin.  Joan Crawford is the star of the picture, for one.  I'm sold already.  Joan Crawford brandishing an ax.  Yes please.  And the infamous scene with Joan meeting her daughter's fiance is simply out of of this world and must be seen to be believed.  She's decked out like an 80-year old hooker in a floral print dress, dangling bracelets and black wig with bangs, right?  Swilling bourbon like a lumberjack, she blatantly comes on to the poor guy in a scene that's creepy and disturbing... yet you can't take your eyes off it.  Besides Joan in all her glory, you have to love the blatant placing of Pepsi products. "Straight-Jacket" also boasts a truly original, fun depiction of the Columbia Pictures logo at the end- complete with severed head lying at her feet.  Miss Crawford goes about all this madness with the utmost sincerity, which is what makes it and her so watchable.  "Straight-Jacket" simply is must-see entertainment.  Whether you're a Joan Crawford fan (who isn't?),  a William Castle fan, or just a fan of campy, retro B- movies in general, then "Straight-Jacket" is the one for you.

Barefoot In the Park

      Robert Redford plays Paul Bratter, a conservative young lawyer who's just married to vivacious, life-loving Corrie, played to saucy perfection by a young Jane Fonda.  Their over-the-top passion , on top of moving into their first New York apartment and the many predicaments that follow, set the stage for a hilarious bit of 60's cinema.

      "Barefoot In the Park" is one of the happiest, frothiest comedies of all time, and one of my personal favorites.  There are so many things I love about "Barefoot In the Park".  First and foremost, it's still one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.  Period.  This is light years beyond what passes as comedies today. The jokes and zippy one-liners haven't aged one bit- "Barefoot In the Park" is still as fresh and inventive today as it was way back in 1967.  This is a truly hysterical movie.  It also remains one of the best movies made from a Neil Simon play, tied only with "The Odd Couple" for sheer laughs.

     Jane Fonda is pure comic gold- she is hilariously out of control and a perfect match for Robert Redford's stuffiness.  Fonda is usually known for her dramatic roles, but I'll take her in"Barefoot" anyday.  She is simply divine.  Robert Redford also displays a hardly-seen comedic side- after watching, one wonders why he didn't delve more into comedies.  Regardless, the two have incredible chemistry- this is one of the main reasons why this movie works so well.  Redford and Fonda are a perfect cinematic pair. Even the supporting characters shine in "Barefoot In the Park"- especially Charles Boyer and the fabulous Mildred Natwick, my personal favorite.  She is nothing short of superb as Fonda's mother.

     Take Neil Simon's snappy dialogue, brilliant performances, and the wonderful backdrop of New York City, circa 1967, and you have a movie as close to perfection as you're likely to get.  Simply everything about this movie works.  It's impossible not to smile while watching this movie.  Light and airy, "Barefoot In the Park" is a true delight.  I've seen this movie hundreds of times, and it never fails to entertain and I still laugh hysterically.  This is a great way to pass a rainy afternoon, snuggled up on the sofa.  That's how I first discovered this gem, and it's still my happy place.  I LOVE THIS MOVIE.