I just watched Chaplin for the first time since 1992. It's a good movie even if it does deify its subject and spackle over his sexual penchant for young and unavailable girls. But I can't hate someone who loves Coke.

He's obsessed with his work... and the Pause that Refreshes!

Meanwhile, I've also watched these new-to-me movies:

46. (1905.) King of Jazz (1930)
The first Bing Crosby movie! He's already pretty darn good, and there's an embedded Walter Lantz cartoon, but the highlight of this revue is the dance number "Ragamuffin Romeo" performed by Marion Stadler and her husband, Don Rose. That alone is worth the price of admission.

48. (1907.) Nebraska (2013)
I was really worried about how depressing this was going to turn out to be, and it is, but it's also this:

Receptionist (earnest): Does he have Alzheimer's?

David Grant (deadpan Will Forte): No, he just believes what people tell him.

Receptionist (saddened): Oh, that's too bad.

I liked it a lot.

49. (1908.) Flying Down to Rio (1933)
The first Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie! Ginger is great, Fred is okay — but isn't that usually the case? The plot is mostly screwball with a big, ridiculous closing number that's all T&A — 1933 style!

51. (1910.) Shall We Dance (1937)
More Astaire/Rogers with some great dance numbers set to Gershwin tunes, including a romp on skates performed to "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off." I enjoyed it.

52. (1911.) For Me and My Gal (1942)
The first Gene Kelly movie! Kelley springs onto the screen with his movie persona (arrogant and chauvinistic yet charming) fully formed. It's great seeing them both on the screen, but they aren't working with the very best material. Oh, well.

More to come.

Comments (0) | Leave a Comment | Tags: coke movies