A classic movie is determined not just by age, but by its ability to elude the wearing of time to remain fresh and engaging, many decades after its release. Despite the time between them and us, classic films manage to reach us nonetheless – delivering their message with as much strength as they did upon initial release.
The Big sleep
‘The Big Sleep’, released in 1946, stands at the pinnacle of the noir genre. The film stars Humphrey Bogart as Phillip Marlowe, a private detective hired to extricate a rich local family from their embarrassing problems. The film’s direction and writing are exemplars of the genre – with shots that reinforce the oppressive atmosphere of lies and deceit that sits over the tale, and elusive dialogue that always hints at something yet to be revealed. Bogart and his co-star Lauren Bacall also put in excellent performances – as two people with a dark chemistry and an irresistible pull towards dangerous secrets. A noir masterpiece that runs like a very tired clock, ‘The Big Sleep’ is a film to be relished again and again.
West Side Story
A musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, 1961 film ‘West Side Story’ is a tale of tragic love and the conflict that dooms it – as poignant now as it was then. The film concerns Maria and Tony, two young people living in New York who belong to two different communities and their associated gangs – The Sharks and The Jets. Despite the conflict between their two groups, Maria and Tony fall in love, and become determined to build a life together beyond the violence that permeates their lives. With all-time-great songs and impeccable choreography, ‘West Side Story’ is a movie with as much emotional impact in the present day as it had in 1961.
The third man
The 1949 noir ‘The Third Man’ is one of the single-greatest noirs ever committed to film. The story is concerned with Holly Martin (played by Joseph Cottons) who comes to postwar Vienna in search of his friend, Harry Lime. After learning of Lime’s recent passing, Martin finds himself drawn into the dark and complicated underworld of postwar Vienna – and only grows more confused and disillusioned by the minute. A masterpiece of direction, screenwriting and music, ‘The Third Man’ is an impossibly engaging film, that takes your hand and leads you through the dark streets of noir storytelling until you’re completely engrossed.
I know where I’m going
There’s many a classic romance, but not many of them have quite the same force as 1945’s ‘I Know Where I’m Going’. Starring Wendy Hiller as Joan Webster, the film is centered around a young woman on the way to join her new husband at their home on the Scottish island of Kiloran, only to find herself stuck on Mull, a small island only a few dozen miles away. As she spends time stuck on Mull, Joan strikes up a challenging friendship with Torquil MacNeil (Roger Livesey), and they soon find themselves drawn to each other. An intense and patient love story, ‘I Know Where I’m Going’ is like sinking into a pool of classic Hollywood romance.
His Girl Friday
1940 film ‘His Girl Friday’ is a screwball comedy for the ages, starring Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant as an ex-wife and husband team who find themselves at odds while trying to defend an innocent man. Journalist Hildy Johnson (Russell) is soon to remarry, to the chagrin of her ex-husband Walter Burns (Grant), who conducts several schemes to keep her in town. While this is happening, Hildy and Walter are trying to defend Earl Williams, a man accused of a crime he swears he did not commit. With fast-flowing jokes, raucous escapades and crackling performances from Russell and Grant, ‘His Girl Friday’ picks the viewer up and sweeps them through a maelstrom of grade-A comedy and romance.
