Best and Worst Channel 5 Christmas Films

Channel 5 Christmas films are my guilty pleasure.  If you aren't aware, Channel 5 screens lots of American made-for-TV films.  This includes a large selection of festively themed films at this time of year, and they generally are of the 'so bad they're good' variety.  This year though, I've been surprised that some of them have actually been... good.  With proper scripts.  And acting.  Here then are my top picks, to get you in the festive spirit.  (I'm afraid this is for UK-based readers who have access to Channel 5, but you may have these films on other channels in your country).

The Best

Above: Daniel is dead.  Or is he? 'The Spirit of Christmas'

Vintage Film Review: The Maltese Falcon

I do like a Film Noir.  I love all the high-contrast lighting, the femme fatales, and the cynical anti-hero detectives with their own moral codes and well-stocked home bars.  Humphrey Bogart is the archetypal detective, hard-boiled and flawed.  I couldn't believe I'd never seen The Maltese Falcon, often cited as the first true Film Noir, so when we spotted it on VHS in a charity shop we snapped it up.  (Tip: VHS is amazing for getting to watch videos of old films, you can pick up a player for around £5 in charity shops etc.).



Released in 1941, the Maltese Falcon is directed by John Houston and co-stars Mary Astor, who I hadn't come across before, but I discovered that she started out in silent movies.  Bogart is the Private Eye, whilst Astor is the shifty client who is acting the role of her lifetime as she tries to get Bogart to help her.  There are murders from the start, and a few unsavoury characters emerge over the course of the story, all trying to get their hands on a priceless statuette.

Vintage Film Review: From Here to Eternity

I had long-awaited watching this classic film after we picked up a copy on VHS for free in the charity shop.  What an utter disappointment it turned out to be!

The film was released in 1953, based on James Jones' book.  Starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr and Frank Sinatra, it's a tale centred around a military base in Hawaii, before Pearl Harbour plunges everyone into war.

Image from All Posters, where you can buy this poster here.

I looked up some critics' reviews after watching it, and was flabbergasted at how highly they regarded what, to me, was a long, boring film with hammed acting.

Vintage Film Watchlist: Platinum Blonde

I had never seen a Jean Harlow film, and wondered what all the fuss was about, and so I ended up ordering her 1931 film, 'Platinum Blonde', off Amazon.

 

Vintage Film Watchlist: Bachelor Knight

If you're based in the UK, you might have noticed that BBC2 is screening old films early on Sunday mornings.  Now, I'm never up at 6am on a Sunday, but thanks to the magic of technology I was able to catch up recently with a Cary Grant film from 1947 that I had never heard of, let alone seen before, despite Sydney Sheldon winning an Oscar for its screenplay.

All images IMDB.com

Known in the US as 'The Batchelor and the Bobby-Soxer', it was screened in the UK as 'Bachelor Knight'. The plot is a little silly, as you could expect from this genre - Myrna Loy is a judge, Margaret Turner (that's not the silly bit) who comes across Cary Grant's character Richard Nugent in her courtroom as he appears to have been at the centre of a disturbance in a nightclub.  An artist, 'Dick' later gives a talk at the school that Margaret's 17 year old sister, Susan attends, and it's there that Susan develops a schoolgirl crush on him.  Convinced by her psychiatrist brother that the quickest way for Susan to get over the crush is to naturally get tired of Dick, Margaret asks Dick to take Susan out for picnics and basketball games (all very wholesome).  Obviously the real romance is between Margaret and Dick, but there are a few capers and some witty dialogue to get through before that emerges.

Also, there are gowns!  Myrna Loy has some great outfits, including a wonderful suit that her sister Susan 'borrows'.

Watching this film certainly gave me a renewed appreciation of Myrna Loy - she is really fantastic, and I'd love to see more films with her in.  I think to date I've only seen her in a couple of other films, and can't even remember what those were!

Pop over to TCM to watch a trailer here - unfortunately it's not on BBC iplayer anymore, but it's out on DVD so you could probably pick up a copy on Amazon.

Have you seen this film?  Have you watched many others starring Myrna Loy?

Vintage Film: One Touch of Venus

My first Ava Gardener film!  That I can remember, that is - I possibly watched something starring her as a child, but I wouldn't remember.  Gosh, she was a looker wasn't she?  Reminds me of Immodesty Blaize a little.

One Touch of Venus is a 1948 comic romance with Robert Walker as geeky assistant Eddie at Savory's department store.  In a moment of spontaneity, Eddie kisses a priceless statue of Venus, and like Sleeping Beauty she comes to life!  There's singing (Ava's not just a pretty face), there are covetable outfits, and as well as the trio of romantic storylines, there's a large dose of humour that varies from sharp (thanks to a great unflappable secretary played by Eve Arden) to slapstick.  I loved it!  UK readers are too late to see this film on BBC iplayer, but it's well worth a look at the other black and white oldies on there, there's always a great selection.

Here are some screen shots, to try and persuade you to watch if my description hasn't already done so!

1940's Lingerie Footage

I just had to share this little video after What Katie Did shared it on Facebook!

This is how I would like to look in my boudoir, serene and poised as I smooth my hair and check my stockings.  The reality is far, far removed.

The Vintage Movie Club in Cardiff

A very pleasant evening was spent on Friday evening at a new Vintage Movie Night at Hubbard's Cupboard, a shop in the High Street Arcade selling vintage clothing, vintage repro made to order (including wedding dresses) and handmade gifts.  In the run up to Christmas they are showing old films every other week on a Friday evening, in the intimate surroundings of the shop.  The clothes rails are pushed against the wall, seats brought out (with cushions, very important) and popcorn is served alongside bubbly.  What a great idea!

I attended with my friend Violet, and we had a ball watching 'How to Marry a Millionaire', which Violet had never seen and I had only seen the start and the end.  It makes so much more sense now I've seen the middle!!

Violet confessed this vintage dress she bought at a vintage fair we went to years ago was having it's first outing!!  I love it and hope she wears it more often now.

I borrowed a boot to prop my cone of popcorn in - ta da! 

There were a few teething problems that I feel obliged to mention to review it honestly - a low volume issue being the main one, but they have promised to purchase a new DVD player for next time.  The image was also projected a little high on the wall, and was slightly stretched (only evident whilst looking at the leading ladies' feet, Lauren Bacall looked like she had flippers at one point!).  Finally, we were promised champagne, but served Cava.

None of these issues stopped us having a fun evening, and we are aiming to get to one of the Christmas film showings.  Here are the rest of the listings:

16th November - Charade

30th November - Jailhouse Rock

14th December - White Christmas

21st December - Miracle on 34th Street

Tickets are £12 each and are available online here.  The shop itself is well worth a browse even if you can't make the film nights, here are some photos for you to peruse..

Scarlet Street (1945) - Watch Online Free!

Joan Bennett starring as 'Kitty', out for all she can take from cashier Edward G. Robinson's 'Chris Cross', who's having a mid-life crisis. I enjoyed the film, and while it was obvious it was never going to end well, I didn't quite expect...well, ssh, I'm saying no more so that you can enjoy it too! Some nice wardrobe moments, including not one, but two, black satin dresses.

Yes, you can watch it online for free, here! The copyright has expired. There are lots of old films you can watch over the internet, such as Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich. Some have country restrictions but the link I've shared allows you to watch in the UK.

I'll let you know when I find more worth watching!