American Graffiti [1973]

mels

We watched this movie yesterday as it’s part of the list I’m going through.

I like the way George Lucas tells the story, the continued action, the silliness of high school dreams, the silliness of the so called “adulthood”. The set, the cars, and the wardrobe are all spot on.

I was afraid it would get boring—with old movie slowness—but it didn’t. The 112 minutes go by in a flash of fast cars, horny teens, and ‘baby-boomer’ Americana.

Trailer:

Sunset Boulevard

Small comment on the movie, part of my project to watch the “AFI’s list“.

Sunset Boulevard poster

Classic film noir from 1950. Amazing performance by Gloria Swanson. Very dramatic. I loved the way it starts, with Joe Gillis (William Holden) dead, floating in the pool, and narrating the movie. (I don’t consider this a spoiler since it’s the first scene after the initial credits but I blocked it anyway. Select the black line to read.)

Sunset Boulevard still

Wikipedia page here.

City Lights

Small comment on the movie, part of my project to watch the “AFI’s list“.

City Lights

I was dreading this one. I disliked Charlie Chaplin’s “Tramp” character since I was a kid. There is something about it that rubbed me the wrong way.

After this movie I grew a liking to it. I can see why this tramp is well loved. It’s still not my cup of tea but it was a pleasant enough 1h27m.

City Lights

City Lights

City Lights

Wikipedia page here.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Small comment on the movie, part of my project to watch the “AFI’s list“.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Very impelling film. Black and white flicks sometimes put me off but I was engaged from the beginning. Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando do a dynamite job.

A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire

If you love films you need to watch it.

Watch a scene from the film on YouTube.

Read more about it in “A Streetcar Named Desire”‘s Wikipedia article.