The TCM Classic Film Festival 2021 is one of the most cherished times of the year for cinephiles–myself included. Once again being held virtually (but with plans to return to Hollywood in 2022), the festival expanded its reach this year by including films on HBO Max (which I hope attracted new audiences).
I couldn’t have been more thrilled, as there were a number of classic movies that I had not seen, and that I finally committed to watching as part of the festival which I listed below. A big thank you to TCM Classic Film Festival 2021. And in case you want to catch up as well, the films are all still available to watch on HBO Max for a limited time.
The Thin Man (1934)
I didn’t know that The Thin Man was the first film in a series of “Thin Man” movies. But after watching this first one, I can say that I am looking forward to seeing the rest. I was ready for a mystery of a film (which the plot does center around), but was totally enamored with the real magic of the film, which is all of the comedy that comes from the relationship between married couple Nick (William Powell) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy). The hook in every movie is that, when a mystery is afoot, Nick–a retired detective–is drawn in to the case, but it’s his wife Nora who gets him to take the case, and stays his faithful and sharp-minded partner along the way. Beyond all of the laughs The Thin Man earns, I loved seeing how these characters were written and performed with such admirable integrity and equal-footing. Sign me up for the next one.
Top Hat (1935)
It was an easy choice to decide to queue up Top Hat, as watching Fred Astaire dance in a top hat and tuxedo as a kid is one of the very reasons that I fell in love with movies. Like many who love the iconic song and dance man, I was absolutely spellbound when I first saw Fred Astaire dance, through the screen and into my heart. I very likely might have even seen this movie as a child, but it’s been so long that watching it felt like the first time, with a smile across my face the whole time. Top Hat has something of a silly story, but Fred Astaire humble charm is irresistible, and he keeps the film feeling effortless and fun. And the film’s dance sequences–done with screen legend Ginger Rodgers–make Top Hat cinematic gold.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
One of the most enjoyable parts of this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival 2021 was the curated selections of Howard Hawks’ films, which I hadn’t seen before. I’d known of the screwball comedy genre at large, and had definitely seen references of its use in other films (rapid-fire dialogue and escalating mayhem). But seeing these films from Howard Hawks, who set the template and created the language for the genre that others have gone on to attempt to imitate, was a true treasure. I was over the moon to watch Bringing Up Baby, a perfectly executed romantic comedy that elevates the genre into a whole other level of sophistication. Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn are movie magic together (I’m still laughing at Grant’s exhausted shouting of “Just a minute, Mr. Peabody!”). Beyond this, the decision to add a leopard into the mix just makes the whole thing one of the very best.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Doubling up with another Howard Hawks film, I must say, I wasn’t expecting what I got with His Girl Friday. Where Bringing Up Baby set me up to think that Hawks’ films would all be polished slapstick comedies (and inclined on silly romantic comedy plots), His Girl Friday surprised and delighted me to see an even more accomplished film, with more sophisticated direction and a smarter and more serious story that makes the film timeless. The thornier and more acidic comedy between a once-married newspaper publisher (Cary Grant) and a rapacious reporter (Rosalind Russell) gives the film wonderful friction, and the story’s centering around a convicted murderer and their efforts of trying to get the scoop led to His Girl Friday being the most enjoyable surprise of the festival.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Here’s where I start to get embarrassed over admitting which modern masterpieces I hadn’t seen prior to TCM Classic Film Festival 2021. The fact that I had not seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (one of only three films to win all 5 of the major categories in its Oscars year) is, I’ll admit, one of the worst oversights in my movie-watching journey to date.
After watching the film, it’s clear to me why Jack Nicholson is one of cinema’s most important figures. His brand is “Jack,” a manic live-wire who doesn’t disappear into his characters so much as he brings them to life through the bravado of his own persona, which makes his performance here as R.P. McMurphy so one-of-a-kind. It’s the supporting cast who surround Jack that makes the film what it is, with supporting performances from Danny DeVito that give the film its magic ingredients. And while I was expecting the Nurse Ratched character (Louise Fletcher) to be something of a more obviously villainous role, the understated control and precision she employs makes for a performance that will stand the test of time.
All The President’s Men (1976)
It was here at TCM Classic Film Festival 2021 that I finally watched All The President’s Men, which was too long to have lived without having seen it. While the thriller films of today use things that they know will work to create suspense and tension, this film has all of those things, and it’s about newspaper men. I was hooked from the start, and along for every minute of this film, which says a lot for how much peripherally I knew about the film.
The photography from Gordon Willis here is exquisite (it’s great to finally see the split-diopter camera shots in context!). The production design of the newsroom, sounds of phones ringing and typewriter keys clacking, and detailed insert shots of note-taking and printed materials, all comes together to make an unforgettable world. Redford and Hoffman are both rock solid here, but I was taken in by Jason Robard’s performance of The Washington Posts’ newspaper publisher(for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for).
