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Reviews (53)

A Hidden Gem
Christmas in Connecticut (1945) starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, and S.Z.Sakall is an amusing story of lies, deception, and love. In short all the elements needed for a fluff comedy. Ten minutes into the film an experienced movie watcher will be able to predict almost every element of the plot. Sydney Dances a Reel!
This romantic comedy is a must see if only for the sight of that most cosmopolitan of screen villains, the rotund Sydney Greenstreet, dancing a reel with Barbara Stanwyck. Not only does he dance but he also laughs, smiles, relaxes, and rescues a kidnapped baby. Greenstreet, cast against type as a media mogul and the merriest of gourmands, manages to steal this picture away from its top-billed stars, Stanwyck and the sweet-faced Irish tenor Dennis Morgan. And he does it without appearing as Santa Claus.
Great Romantic Comedy for All Seasons
Despite the holiday setting, this romantic comedy is watchable all year long.Unlike other "Christmas classics", you don't need to be in a sappy or nostalgic holiday mood to enjoy it.Barbara Stanwyck is at her most charming as Elizabeth Lane, the working city girl who pretends to be Martha Stewart-like for a popular column she writes for a woman's magazine.Her need to put on an act for her boss and a navy soldier during Christmas sets the stage for a wonderful screwball comedy.This film is an excellent showcase of Barbara Stanwyck's comedic talents and the supporting cast is equally superb.Even Dennis Morgan, a handsome and serviceable but generally unmemorable actor, manages to make an impression as the navy man.Highly recommended, but not just for Christmas.
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Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

Frank Capra made this film in 1941 before he went off to make films for America's war effort, but it wasn't released until 1944. Adapted from the hit play by Joseph Kesselring, this frantic black comedy shows Capra at his best as a master of mood and timing. Actresses Josephine Hull and Jean Adair reprise their Broadway performances as two gentle old ladies who poison men with elderberry wine to put them out of their misery. Cary Grant plays one nephew, a normal guy who just gets wind of their little hobby and tries to get them to stop, while Raymond Massey plays another, a villain just escaped from jail. Capra encourages the cast, especially Grant, to give a somewhat more outsized performance than one might expect. But made during the war years as it was, this overstated comic approach to killing was probably cathartic. Read more

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THE funniest movie of all time!!
No matter how many times I see this, I laugh as if it were the first!
A Good Old-fashioned Bellylaugh
I just loved this movie.It was fun watching the usually suave Cary Grant become befuddled and half crazed when he discovers his two dear sweet old aunts have been very, very naughty. Between "Teddy Roosevelt" charging up the stairs blowing his bugle and digging the Panama Canal in the basement....his evil cousin (Raymond Massey) and his evil cousin's sidekick, Dr. Einstein (played by Peter Lorre) you almost overlook the elderberry wine - but take my word for it...you shouldn't. ;-)
Capra's horror comedy
It was very unusual for famed director Frank Capra to adapt a hit Broadway play into a motion picture.Yet that's exactly what he did in 1941 with the long-running play "Arsenic and Old Lace."However, Warner Brothers had an agreement not to release the film until the play completed its very long run and that didn't happen until 1944, by which time Capra had left Hollywood for wartime service (making outstanding documentaries for the U.S. government).
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

"The love impulse in man," says a psychiatrist in Read more

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Reviews (122)

Clean, funny movie
Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant at their prime! Hysterically funny movie about a "madcap" heiress and an archeological professor who is missing his "bone". One of the best!

Bringing Up Baby
Bringing Up Baby might be the best screwball comedy ever, and is certainly one of the best. Cary Grant plays a staid, bespectacled professor of paleontology, engaged to a prim maiden who doesn't want to take time off from work to have a honeymoon. His life takes a sudden turn when he encounters a liberated society girl, played by Katherine Hepburn, at the golf course, where he is trying to impress the lawyer of a potential donor to his museum. She begins by playing his ball, and soon is driving away with his car, with the professor on the running board. Several adventures later, he and Hepburn are driving a tame leopard named Baby to her aunt's Connecticut estate, in a stolen car. Things don't really get crazy, however, until Baby escapes. Oh, yes - Baby loves dogs. Hepburn was never cast in a romantic farce before or since, but she is marvelous at it. The gags are so non-stop it's almost like a Marx Brothers movie. It's energy and wit carry it along to its breathless conclusion.

May Charm Even Those Who Don't Like Screwball Comedy.
Now regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made and perhaps the best example of screwball comedy to reach the silver screen, "Bringing Up Baby" was a box office failure in 1938. The film was adapted from a story by Hagar Wilde that had appeared in Collier's magazine, directed by Howard Hawks, and starred Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in her only screwball role -before her triumphant return to Hollywood in the 1940s. This was Hepburn's last film for RKO. She bought herself out of her contract and returned to Broadway. "Bringing Up Baby" was rediscovered and began its ascent to iconic status in the 1960s. I'm not usually a fan of screwball comedy, but I have to admit that Hepburn and Grant make this one irresistible. So what explains the film's initial failure? Some have speculated that the wealthy characters are not portrayed as sufficiently unworthy to please audiences during The Great Depression. Or perhaps people wanted to see a more romantic, less adversarial pairing.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Director Frank Capra (Read more

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Reviews (79)

Men stopped wearing undershirts
Yes, this film is the one with the famous hitchhiking scene! Also, the men of America stopped wearing undershirts when they realized how sexy Gable looked when he disrobed from shirt to bare chest. This is the prototype for screwball comedies and Gable's only Oscar. Highly recommended. A classic.

"It's a Wonderful Film"
In this genre they just don't get any better.It would be worthy of any Top 100 list just for the hitchhiking scene.
"The Limb Is Mightier Than The Thumb"~Lessons In Love On The Road To Romance
Who will ever forget that wonderful scene where Gable is attempting to teach Colbert the art of hitchhiking. After Gable's thumb fails misserably to achieve its goal Colbert decides to try. Standing by the side of the road she demurely pulls up the hem of her dress just enough to reveal her calf, immediately bringing a passing car to a sudden halt. Proving once and for all that "the limb is mightier than the thumb."
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Director Peter Bogdanovich(Read more

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Reviews (118)

What's Up, Doc?
What's Up, Doc? is a 1972 throwback to the screwball comedies of the 30s. The result of an abandoned black comedy set to star Elliott Gould, Babs ended up in the feature with a severely altered script and Peter Bogdanovich at the helm.
classic comedy that's hysterically funny!
All the other reviewers have said it so much better than I could so let me just say this:buy this movie.Right now.And I should warn you that by the time you've seen the whole thing, you'll probably have broken every single rib laughing but it is SO WORTH IT.

An old fashioned good time
Silly it you may think it, slapstick it may be, but it still made my worldly modern teenagers laugh as hard as I did. It is a real romp, and while it may make old timers think of the Keystone cops sometimes, it is still very funny. Madelyn Kahn turned in a stellar performance and we were all breathless with laughter during the chase through the streets of San Francisco. I never thought my teenagers would laugh so hard at something that I thought of as wholesome good clean fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

It's always a small surprise to revisit this movie and realize what a subtly dark performance James Stewart gives as an alcoholic who claims he keeps company with a six-foot-tall, invisible rabbit. As Elwood P. Dowd, the actor emits a faint whiff of decay and spirits, yet Stewart also embraces Dowd's romanticism and grace with splendid ease. Based on a hit play and directed by Henry Koster, the film is terribly funny at times, especially whenever Elwood decides it's only polite to introduce Harvey to complete strangers. The supporting cast can't be beat. Read more

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Reviews (88)

Doctor,please don't give Elwood that formula 977!
For haven's sake, let him be "crazy" and pleasant, don't make him "perfectly normal" and nasty!
Charm and imagination as only James Stewart could provide
Must see film - for all ages!

Six Foot White Rabbit
A feel good classic that makes everything in the world much simpler and less complicated. The commentary by Jimmy Stewart in the beginning is excellent. A movie to be enjoyed by all ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Undoubtedly the first movie in history to have played in theaters with three different endings (depending on which theater you attended), Read more

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Reviews (297)

Great!
This is a Hilarious movie! The characters are crazy! This film does have adultry and sex talk in it, so young kids should not watch. There are three differant endings, my favorite being the second ending.

Inappropriate for young children
For adults the movie is great.But for kids I promise you after 10 minutes of this movie you Dad will yell at you and tell you to turn it off.Too bad.I love the clue board game and the clue characters.
Great Movie
This movie is one of the best comedies I have seen.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Comedy Video    3. Movie    4. Mystery    5. Mystery / Suspense    6. Suspense   

Editorial Review

One of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, Read more

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Reviews (170)

A Dream that could never be!
Akward introductions: Michael, 28 years of age promises to Julia on his 28th birthday in a token bond between best friends.The director selects the name Michael appealing to the fact that it is the most popular name in America.Michael telephones Julia too tell her, he will be getting married Saturday too Kimi, the daughter of billionaire owner of the Soxes baseball team. Julia has 4 days to break up the wedding.She tells George, "I'm going to bring him back to me".Cameron Diaz, the original California girl, is "everything so perfect" as the character Kimi.Kimi is the daughter of aristocracy confined to a life of privilege, but genuinely finds love.Akwardly, Kimi greets Julia at the airport telling her, "I never had a sister.You are my new best friend.It is time to force your self to get personal".Julia and Michael romantic relationship had no priorities, no mention of love, and was "wrong from the start".
Disappointing
I don't get what's so great about this movie.I found it to be a huge let down.This is an ultimately disappointing film despite good performances from all of the leads.The premise is simple, Jules and Mike have a passionate affair in their college days, this then becomes 'best friendship' in no small part due to Jules commitment phobia. One day Jules gets a call from Mike to say that he is getting married in four days and inviting her to the wedding. At this point Jules realizes just how much she really loves Mike and determines to split-up Mike and Kim. The film follows her efforts to do this. However, at every turn she is thwarted by the happy couple who get back together.
a unique wedding film with conflicting emotions
First off, Julia Roberts to me is an actress who has become more beautiful with age even to this day. Having said that, I was anxious to see this movie because of her and Cameron Diaz. I have seen My Best Friend's Wedding three times and I must admit that I have viewed it differently each time I've seen it. What I mean by this is that I have never really been able to decide which woman the groom should end up with; his bride-to-be or his best friend. Granted, Julia does every rotten thing she can in this film to break up her best friend's wedding so from that viewpoint I favored him ending up with Cameron. On the other hand as one reviewer put it, Julia and her best friend had more chemistry than the groom and his bride-to-be so from that viewpoint I also favored him ending up with Julia. During the film, there are times when I rooted for Julia to get her man despite her despicable efforts to win him over yet other times I wanted Cameron to end up with the groom. This movie still entertains me even after knowing the outcome. Aside from the simple plot of breaking up the wedding, this film has good humor, good acting, a decent soundtrack, and is overall a believable chick flick for the most part. Even guys like myself should find it to be entertaining as I am normally picky when it comes to chick flicks. The special edition dvd is worth picking up if you haven't seen the features. One of the featurettes shows the original alternative ending which is much different from how the film originally ended. Which of the two endings are better? Only the viewer can decide. As for me, I'm not telling. Anyway, the bonus features are overall good and plentiful. The only problem is that the camera focus on one of the featurettes is somewhat off and distorts the picture a bit. Nothing too serious but very noticable. I suppose a sequel to this movie would have been interesting but then who knows how well it would turn out? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Comedy    3. Comedy Video    4. Feature Film-comedy    5. Movie   

Editorial Review

After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Read more

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Reviews (598)

'Where's the money. Lebowski?" - "It's uh... uh... it's down there somewhere, let me take another look. "
I won't add to the voluminous praise that already exists in abundance on Amazon that speaks so eloquently of this film.I agree totally with everything written here stemming from a positive vibe, man.This is one of my favorite movies.Certainly my favorite Coen Brothers movie in their comedic body of work, even bypassing "Raisng Arizona" (which I think is a masterpiece as well).
The only good part of this movie is when...
...Tara Reid offers a certain favor for a thousand dollars. Other than that, it's a typical Coen Brothers "Look-we're-being-clever" affair. And yet the laughs are few and the "zaniness" rings hollow.

Hilarious
The main character, Lebowski, is a bum of a person living in Los Angeles who spends most of his time either doing nothing or bowling with characters played by John Goodman and Steve Buscemi. Suddenly Lebowski's life is changed when he is mistaken for another Lebowski who is much wealthier than he and who as gotten involved with a group of unsavory characters.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Recreating the role she originated in Philip Barry's wickedly witty Broadway play, Katharine Hepburn stars as the spoiled and snobby socialite Tracy Lord in this sparkling 1940 screen adaptation of Read more

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Reviews (121)

Five-star cast, three-star script, four-star final product...
This is still a lot of fun, but it is also showing its age, nearly 70 years after it began life as a Broadway play. But Hepburn and Grant and Stewart in a romantic triangle (or a square, considering Kate's got a stuffy fiancee as well) is going to be worth seeing, even now. Many fine moments here, my favorite ones all belonging to Cary Grant. If you are a fan of any of these three legends of Hollywood, you would consider this movie a must-see.

What's not to love...
What's not to love about this movie. It fun, fast paced & fantastic.The DVD looks like someone burned it on their home computer & LightScribed the label. But, if it was, they did a good job.I was skeptic when I opened the case, but the quality is fine. No complaints here.
Great Commentary
Unless you're from Mars, you already know this is a classic.Just look at that line-up: Hepburn, Grant, Stewart and Cukor.I just wanted to write a review so that I could recommend the 2-disc version, since it has a wonderful commentary track by Jeannine Basinger.This is now the second DVD commentary that I have enjoyed by Ms. Basinger, the first being 'It' starring Clara Bow.She obviously does her homework since she imparts information on practically every aspect of the film she is commenting on.I do wish she would occasionally take a breath and enjoy some of the film, but this is a small complaint. ... Read more

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Love Crazy is just great
I saw "Love Crazy" on TCM a few months ago, and I thought it was one of funniest movie (Screwball) comedy I have ever seen. I won't spoil if for you, but this man is very in love with his wife, and will do almost anything to keep her and his marriage intact, but a busy body mother-in-law will also do anything to break up the marriage for her daughter to a man she don't like.
ANOTHER POWELL AND LOY TEAMING
William Powell and Myrna Loy are best know for the six Thin Man movies they made but in all they starred together in 11 films.Love Crazy is one of those and like all the rest, the pair enjoyed and amazing chemistry and sense of timing whenever they worked together.In this film, they play Steve and Susan Ireland who are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary when Susan's meddling mother Mrs. Cooper (Florence Bates) crashes the celebration and promptly breaks her ankle, lengthening her stay.She never liked Steve anyway so when she catches him talking to an old flame (played by Gail Patrick) she uses it to convince her daughter that Steve is cheating on her so she can divorce him.Steve then pretends that he is insane so he can prevent the divorce from going through.What ensues is a traditional screwball comedy involving a cast of wacky characters including the psychiatrists that Steven has to convince that he is insane.
So, so good
This is one of my favorite movies of all time.Powell and Loy at their sparkling best, relaxed and having a good time.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Comedy Video    3. Drama    4. Feature Film-drama    5. Movie   

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Reviews (22)

Maybe on Blue-Ray?
It's been many years since I have seen this movie, and I have been waiting along time to see it again. I first rented it way back, because Jennifer Connelly was in it, but it actually turned out to be a very nice story anyway.
Robert Redford's Last Stand?
Some reviewers are going way over the top. But I agree that it's a good movie, and because of the last 20 minutes, a very good movie. The voiceover detracts more than it helps the chemistry of the movie, but that's nit-picking. A DVD would be nice, and (I know the purists may lynch me) a remake might be a cool idea. I read that this wasn't released in the U.S. because producer Robert Redford wouldn't compromise the integrity of the film by cutting a frontal nude scene by the lead (male) character. If that's true, I don't see the big deal (pun not intended). Cut the scene and move on - it's not essential to the story one litte bit (pun intended.

Visually stunning and sweet film about romantic love
I first encountered this film late one night on a cable channel.I wish I could have experienced it in a theatre.I am not a big fan of Patrick Dempsey, but I found this to be the best film he has been a part of.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

It took nearly a decade to find a mutually agreeable screenplay, but the stars and director of Read more

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Reviews (173)

A USA Today column devil.Hale, a community with character.A Best Friend's Wedding ending!
Maggie Carpenter has an alcoholic father, whom she must rescue each time the bar contacts her after her father becomes drunk and disruptive.Maggie can't have a normal relationship when her father goes on his drinking binge.Maggie's mother is dead, so Maggie feels responsible to care for her father.Maggie does not have any siblings.Maggie keeps her father's drinking problems a secret and well protected from the community.Maggie's father comments are mentally cruel and he provokes others too critically laughs at Maggie marriage failures telling everyone, "she might not be the longest run joke in Hale but she certainly is the fastest." How can Maggie make a commitment to take care of anyone else when her father problems consume all her attention?
Unbelievably bad.
If you are allergic to movies that have an overkill of "cuteness," be sure to have a barfbag handy, when you watch this one. Luckily, I recorded it from TV, skimmed to the end just to make sure it did have the required happy ending, and then erased it. If I had actually owned it, I would have burned it.

I liked it
Richard Gere was totally unlikeable through about the first 3/4 of the flick, he was contemptuous and contemptible, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't give a damn about the movie, he was there for the money.But when he started being nice, he was very likeable, as was Julia Roberts from beginning to end.One other negative note.I hate movies that play this garbage that passes for music during every "significant" scene.It is distracting and maddening and very bad music, and it is usually sung by people who make me think of those people who are called artists if they can scream loud enough.No skill, no talent, just lung-power and what they call feeling.Artists!My butt!
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Comedy    3. Feature Film-comedy    4. Movie   

Editorial Review

The teaming of Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn would seem to have been sure-fire casting, but Read more

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Leaves this and goes to....Burning Down da House ?
This movie is very nice and right....I mean enjoyable.
Love this movie
Hawn and Martin are such a great acting pair. This movie will really make you laugh and cry.

It was Jessica all along!
Hey guys! We are not plugging this movie well enough. If my wife didn't give me this for a birthday or something and I wasn't just in the mood to watch something different this evening I would have never picked up on this great little movie. We need to get the word out! My take: agreed this is a great team to pull this off. The non-surprise ending could have been so hoaky but they actually did it in a way I was glad Becky finally got left out of it. Let her find her own match if there is one. But I see a whole lot of depth in the whole point of this comedy. It is all true! None of this was a con. That is the beauty of it. The beauty of it is the con. This is so true in so many ways, and we love it and know we do. So the movie is not just cute, not just funny. It has a very serious point about life to make if we just see it. Didn't someone say something like "Heaven is all around you, you just don't see it"? You need the right story and things will be well.
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Editorial Review

Of all the screenplays Preston Sturges wrote for Paramount before becoming the greatest comic director of his generation, 1937's Read more

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Great Depression Era Screwball Comedy
Easy Living is one of the best screwball comedies of the depression era.Jean Arthur (Talk Of The Town, Shane) is a poor working girl who comes into sundry luxuries coincidentally, causing the loss of her job and apartment.Edward Arnold (Meet John Doe, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington),is her anonymous benefactor, a well-intentioned but cantankerous prominent banker who throws his wife's extravagant fur coat out the window of their skyscraper.It lands on Arthur, who tries to return it, but he makes a gift of it to her, and insists on replacing her damaged hat with an expensive one as well, making her late for work, causing the job loss which in turn costs her to miss paying rent.
Funny,romantic...witty and a treasure.
I could tell you how the movie runs the gamut from touching down and out scenes of a poor working girl to the luxurious farce that is played,but the dialougue is so sharp and sassy,witty and clever that all the characters seem to carry this film into the arena of great madcap screwball comedies.My 15 year old daughter loves this film so much she took it from my 25 film collection of Jean Arthur into her own...she has only one film in her collection.

An overlooked masterpiece
I tripped over "Easy Living" one afternoon on AMC(back before they had more commercials than HSN), and absolutely loved it. With Ralph Bellamy as an unhappy rich young man & Jean Arthur as a working girl who helps him when he's down, plus the always steady Edward Albert, a sparkling & urbane script by Preston Sturges, if you love "Madcaps", "Easy Living" is right down your