1940s

Hitch's early masterpiece, Rebecca is a triumph. The unseen title character holds such a powerful presence.

Exemplary drama about a woman's affair with a doctor she meets while waiting for a train. The exceptional thing about the movie is that it describes human emotion so well. I can't help but think a version without narration could have been better, but it gave it a little noir feel and I'm a sucker for that. It's well written and acted and if you've ever done a bad thing in your life the feelings that these characters experience will seem authentic. A heartbreaking story, in more than one way.

Great cinematography - from the opening shot you can tell that the composition is purposeful and artistic. Loved the character of John Carradine as the confused former preacher. Characters speak in an interesting way. There are lots of great scenes and plenty of emotional power. The last 15 minutes are, in my opinion, the weakest, giving way to some nonsense about a collective soul and waxing poetic about the people of the land, etc. The message is given by the film without needing the characters to speak it outright. Still, a much better movie than I expected.

I admit, classics aren't really my thing. I do my best to appreciate them for what they are, but I've gotten used to our modern color and faster-paced storylines. So I wasn't expecting much when my girlfriend's family sat me down to watch Arsenic and Old Lace. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a charming and funny old gem. Cary Grant gives an enjoyable performance that is every bit as over-the-top as people are claiming, but it feels appropriate for the overall nature of the movie. Priscilla Lane is good as his new wife but doesn't get to do a whole lot. The best part of the movie is in the first half when Grant's character is slowly discovering that all is not as he suspected with his sweet, elderly relatives. Their little conspiracy provides the catalyst for the rest of the movie as well as a lot of the humor that is at times dark and ironic but always thoroughly silly. It's good, clean, quirky fun sure to make you smile.

Love how black and occasionally subtle the humor is. I definitely admire the movie although it is so restrained and the circumstances so silly and logic-defying that it isn't something I'd say I love. Alec Guinness is of course great as every (expendable) member of the D'Ascoyne clan, and the lead is a perfect sociopath. Sort of flounders in places and is a bit uneven, with a terrible sham of a court scene near the end (and a very obvious conclusion). Nevertheless one to be enjoyed.

What it lacks in humor in makes up in pure speed.

Hasn't aged all that well.