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| A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
How is it Thursday already? Time really flies when you work all the time which applies to me so much since this is the first day off I have since last Tuesday. I mean, last week's Tuesday. Of course, all work and no play left me very little time to work on my Thursday Movie Picks post — I know, again — so I leave you with my picks involving witnesses.
Rear Window (1954)
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While confined in his New York apartment after breaking his leg, a professional photographer (James Stewart) spends all of his time spying on his neighbours and soon becomes convinced one of them has killed his wife. Hitchcock's film is a magnificent blend of mystery, suspense, comedy and romance. If you haven't seen it I don't even know what you're living for.
Sister Act (1992)
A lounge signer (Woopy Goldberg) witnesses a mob crime and in order to protect her, the police hide her as a nun in a convent. She ain't a nun though so she has trouble fitting in. I haven't seen this one in such a long time but I remember it was very funny. Avoid the sequel though.
Woman on the Run (1950)
A man (Ross Elliott) witnesses a murder but when he learns the victim was about to testify against a gangster, he flees from the police. His wife (Ann Sheridan), convinced that he's just running away from their marriage, teams up with a reporter (Dennis O'Keefe) to find him. Although the title makes very little sense, the film is still an interesting take on the manhunt genre. It's not the best noir out there but it's quite suspenseful.
I haven't seen Sister Act in FOREVER. Love that you picked Rear Window! I only watched it for the first time this year but it's a perfect choice for the theme :)
ReplyDeleteSame. I think it's on Netflix so I might rewatch it soon.
DeleteAwww, everyone choosing Sister Act makes me nostalgic :D
ReplyDeleteLet's all rewatch it!
DeleteYou match 2 of Britanni's picks! I never even thought of Rear Window and that is a classic and one of my very favourite films. Sister Act is so much fun and love the singing. I haven't seen your last pick but would like to
ReplyDeleteIt's not great but it's quite well done. Definitely worth a watch.
DeleteLOVE your choices!! The first two look to be popular today and rightly so. Both are wonderful in their own ways (and I agree about Sister Act's sequel-ugh).
ReplyDeleteRear Window is probably Hitchcock's best constructed film (I have a soft spot for Saboteur but realize its not Rear Window's equal) with the right actor in every role.
Sister Act benefits from that same casting alchemy, though I can see original choice Bette Midler making the film work.
But I'm happiest to see your third choice, the criminally neglected Woman on the Run. It's a wonderfully efficient little noir obviously shot on a shoestring but that actually helps feed into its atmosphere. And it gives the marvelous Ann Sheridan (I'm a big fan) a great role that she does well. I just watched it recently for the first time in a while when TCM showed it on their Noir Alley and the host Eddie Muller explained that it was thought to be a lost film for several years, the one known print was destroyed in a fire in 2008 but within the last few years a print was found in a British vault and it has now been saved. Unfortunately that doesn't hold true for so many early films.
I did a mini theme for mine, all have trains involved in the plot, to help get down to three.
The Narrow Margin (1952)-Tough, grizzled cop Walter Brown (Charles McGraw) is attempting to transport the widow (Marie Windsor) of a mob boss from Chicago to L.A. via rail to serve as a witness at the trial of her husband’s cohorts. Once underway they discover there is a hit men on the train, who will stop at nothing to prevent her from testifying. Lean low budget noir is a classic of the genre.
Narrow Margin (1990)-Deputy District Attorney Robert Caulfield (Gene Hackman) is charged with returning reluctant murder witness Carol Hunnicutt (Anne Archer) back from Canada to L.A. by train to testify in the trial of a mob boss. As they hurtle through the Canadian wilderness they find themselves pursued by two hit men charged with eliminating Carol. Reworking of the ’52 film is plusher but doesn’t pack quite the same punch.
Murder, She Said (1961)-On her way home Miss Jane Marple (Margaret Rutherford) witnesses a murder through the window of her passing train car. She notifies the police but they are unable to find a body however Miss Marple knows what she saw and determines to get to the bottom of things her own way. Getting a job as a maid at the manor house she believes is the setting of the crime she hunts for clues while engaging in a battle of wits with the bombastic owner (James Robertson Justice). Delightful comic mystery is based on an Agatha Christie novel.
I thought Woman on the Run was okay, definitely worth watching though, but the atmosphere was really on point.
DeleteI am reading your post after a long gap. Before reading about these movies here, I haven't even heard of them. But now I feel like watching Rear Window and Woman on The Run. Thanks to you...
ReplyDeleteKeep the good work going.
You have never seen Rear Window? Please do as soon as possible!
DeleteWe match on the first two picks this week! I love both of those. I like your new banner as well. What a great way to describe your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm glad you do as I spent all the afternoon making it, mainly picking fonts lol
DeleteThe only film in that list I haven't seen is Woman on the Run as the premise itself is interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice noir. You should check it out.
DeleteI only know your first two picks but those are certainly awesome. Especially Rear Window is absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteIt is! Hitchcock was such a great director!
DeleteAnother Rear Window and Sister Act - like both.
ReplyDeleteWoman on the Run - is completely new to me.
Woman on the Run is such a nice film. You should check it out if you get the chance.
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