If we're going to be encouraged to stay inside, over the next while, think of all the Old Hollywood movie-watching we could be doing! Here's my list of recommendations (and hubby Dana helped too!!)
Sadly, NETFLIX absolutely sucks when it comes to the classics. Sorry about it! The one movie on there that's classic is Gone with the Wind, and, um, well, it's there.
For the rest of the services, and YouTube (because we're in a pandemic so are we REALLY concerned at this point about a legit copy of something)?
1) AMAZON PRIME (a lot of these are also available on YouTube)
I've grouped these by star!
Cary Grant
Charade- the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock didn't make! Directed by Stanley Donen, this caper with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn is GUARANTEED to entertain you. It's in the public domain, so even if you don't have Prime, you can easily find it anywhere online.
To Catch a Thief- Grant and Grace Kelly lookin all pretty and handsome in a Hitchcock romp. This is way more "fun time" than "thriller"! And Grace Kelly in GORGEOUS Edith Head designed costumes? Yes please!
His Girl Friday- one of the best screwball comedies of all time, with two the era's best comedic actors: Grant and Rosalind Russell. Outdated? Hell yes. Funny? HELL YES.
Penny Serenade-- don't know if you're in the mood for a weepy, but this is one of Grant's best performances, with one of his best leading ladies, Irene Dunne. Also public domain so easy to find!
Fred Astaire
Royal Wedding- Fred's "dancing on the ceiling dance" is in this movie! Other than that, tis a cute lil musical! Also in the public domain.
The Belle of New York- this movie doesn't get enough love, in my opinion. The dances with Fred and partner Vera-Ellen are INCREDIBLE, even if the plot is paper-thin.
Doris Day
The Doris Day Show-- all 5 seasons are available on Prime! You betcha I've watched every episode. Is every season a totally different plot? Yup! Does it matter? Nope. Doris is so charming and so good that it doesn't matter. The trajectory of her character throughout the seasons is also a fascinating walk through women's lib of the 1970s.
Rock Hudson
Avalanche- a DISASTER of a disaster movie! If you feel like cozying up and watching one of the worst movies ever, this is it!
Frank Sinatra
The Man with the Golden Arm-- one of Sinatra's best dramatic performances, with the gorgeous Kim Novak.
Film Noir
Detour- a low, low budget B movie that has become a classic. Definitely worth a watch.
2) GOOGLE PLAY MOVIES
These are grouped by genre and are all available for rent!
Musicals
A Star is Born- Judy Garland's crowning musical and dramatic achievement. Forget the others, watch this version.
Meet Me in St. Louis- A wholesome mid 1940s Technicolor MGM Musical-- great score, Judy being Judy, what more do you need?
The Harvey Girls- After Meet Me In St. Louis, Judy made this one. Not as classic, but just as entertaining!
Easter Parade-- One of the best musicals ever made! The only film pairing of the legendary Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.
Summer Stock-- My personal fave musical of all time, with the BEST musical pairing in film history, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. An underrated score, and one of the FUNNIEST supporting casts in movie musical history.
In the Good Old Summertime-- Judy Garland and Van Johnson being supes cute and funny-- this is the plot of You've Got Mail in musical form.
Singin' in the Rain-- Never watched what's considered the greatest movie musical of all time? What are you waiting for?????
That's Entertainment III-- The "That's Entertainment" series is a "highlights reel" of the MGM Musicals. This third installment is arguably the best, showing you deleted scenes and rare footage from the MGM Musicals Vault.
On the Town-- one of the most joyful MGM musicals EVER made, with a STACKED cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller, Vera-Ellen. The ballet to the Leonard Bernstein music is one of the BEST ever. Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen's joint directorial debut.
It's Always Fair Weather-- this movie doesn't get enough love! The last jointly directed movie of Donen and Kelly, it's a "grown-up" On the Town, and the numbers with Cyd Charisse are incredible. Gene dances on roller skates in this!
An American in Paris-- this movie won the Best Picture Oscar in 1951. Did it deserve it? Nope. But the Gershwin music is gorgeous, Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron's romantic dance to "Our Love is Here to Stay" is absolutely STUNNING, and the famous 17-minute ballet? You HAVE to watch for the choreography, the costumes!!!
Anchors Aweigh-- Gene Kelly's funniest movie? Methinks so! Also with Frank Sinatra. It also has Kathryn Grayson (sorry for anyone who hates coloratura sopranos, lol)! Also the movie where Gene dances with Jerry the Mouse.
Cover Girl-- a landmark movie in the Gene Kelly canon. The "alter-ego" dance is what started his reinvention of the movie musical. Also his only movie pairing with the gorgeous Rita Hayworth.
The Band Wagon-- While Singin' in the Rain often gets the title for best musical, this one is not too far behind, and deservedly so (a lot of people like it more). Gene Kelly himself said that Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse's "Dancing in the Dark" dance is the best duet on film. A must-watch!!
Three Little Words-- not the best movie, but Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen's dance to "Thinking of You"? STUNNING.
The Barkleys of Broadway-- if not the best, the last film pairing of the legendary Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Also the only one they made in Technicolor.
Love Me or Leave Me-- Doris Day's most serious movie, and it's a musical! She's magic in it.
Calamity Jane-- Doris' fave musical she ever made. Pretty adorbs and Day at her tomboy best!
Silk Stockings-- one of the last Cole Porter scores, and Cyd Charisse does an entire dance in lingerie for those interested! LOL. Her dance duets with Fred fantastic too.
High Society-- a musicalization of the classic The Philadelphia Story, how can you go wrong with Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Celeste Holm, and Louis Armstrong, all in one movie? Grace Kelly's last movie before going off to become Princess of Monaco!
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes-- Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their musical best!
Comedy
Move Over Darling- Doris Day returns from being trapped on a deserted island and pandemonium ensues (a remake of Cary Grant's My Favorite Wife)
The Awful Truth-- arguably my fave screwball comedy ever, with Cary Grant and the HILARIOUS Irene Dunne
Father Goose-- my fave Cary Grant movie of his later career-- he's HILARIOUS and plays the opposite of the debonair persona in this-- a super fun change!
I Was a Male War Bride-- Dana and I quote this movie all the time, so funny. Cary Grant with the underrated Ann Sheridan.
The Philadelphia Story-- one of the all-time classics. The only time we get to see Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart work their movie magic together. Dated? Holy crap yes. But a must-watch. Also Ruth Hussey for MVP in this as the second banana!
Houseboat-- Cary Grant and Sophia Loren starred in this together after having their affair, and the chemistry is pretty explosive! But it's also a super cute comedy.
Walk, Don't Run-- Cary Grant's swan song. Super cute.
Holiday-- the BEST of the Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn pairings in my opinion. This movie inspired me to enjoy life while you're young-- why waste the good years and wait for retirement? Watch this movie.
The Talk of the Town-- a super great blend of drama and comedy, and a hugely underrated one in the Cary Grant canon. Also with the great Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman
The Out-of-Towners-- Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis being HILARIOUS as they navigate the worst trip ever to NYC.
Some Like it Hot-- AFI calls it the funniest movie ever. Do I agree? No. But it's still damn funny.
The Odd Couple-- Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in their most iconic pairing together.
The Prince and the Showgirl-- this is the most FASCINATING Marilyn Monroe movie ever! Especially if you know the backstory-- the movie she produced with her own production company. And I can't describe it, but she is absolutely MESMERIZING in this. Can't say the same for her co-star (Laurence Olivier!!!)
Paris, When It Sizzles-- people call this movie a disaster (which it kind of is), but I love Audrey Hepburn and William Holden together so much
The Lady Eve-- one of the funniest Barbara Stanwyck movies!
Hitchcock
The Man Who Knew Too Much-- Doris Day, Jimmy Stewart, in a Hitchcock movie. What more could you want?
North by Northwest-- one of my fave Hitchcock ever-- one of the best plots ever. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, and James Mason shine in this!
Rear Window-- one of the most iconic Hitchcock entries, with a wonderful Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly (looking as gorg as ever!!!!!!)
Vertigo-- arguably the best Hitchcock ever. Kim Novak is SO UNDERRATED and she's so good in this. So is Jimmy Stewart of course.
Romance
An Affair to Remember- The Romance of all Romances with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I dare you not to cry! A masterpiece of sappy romance, but the first half is also VERY FUNNY.
Indiscreet-- You can't go wrong when Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman share the screen. Cary Grant's dancing scene? A comedic masterpiece.
The Clock-- Judy Garland's ONLY foray into straight drama of this era, and it's FASCINATING to watch!!
Picnic-- One of my fave movies of all time, with a hunky Bill Holden and a beautiful Kim Novak.
The Apartment-- One of the best movies of all time, with Jack Lemmon, Shirley McLaine and Fred McMurray. Literally one of the best there is.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir-- fantasy beautiful romance with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison. Gorgeous score too.
Love is a Many Splendored Thing-- literally the sappiest movie ever made but do I love it? YES.
The World of Suzie Wong-- underrated William Holden with Nancy Kwan. Quite lovely.
Two for the Road-- arguably my fave romantic movie, and in my opinion, Audrey Hepburn's best performance. Albert Finney is incredible in it too.
Roman Holiday-- Audrey Hepburn is a princess, Gregory Peck is a reporter. They fall in love and it's gorgeous and beautiful and heartbreaking
Film Noir-ish
Gilda-- Rita Hayworth's most iconic role. You have to watch it, even though the plot makes no sense!
Affair in Trinidad-- Same stars as Gilda, and I want every outfit of Rita's in this, please and thank you!
Niagara- Fun Marilyn Monroe thriller filmed in Niagara Falls
Laura-- Gene Tierney's most famous role. Mesmerizing noir.
Double Indemnity-- the definitive noir!!
Drama
The Catered Affair- Debbie Reynolds, Bette Davis, and Ernest Borgnine in the same movie? Yes, and it's very real and extremely moving.
Executive Suite-- this is a great mid 1950s MGM movie with a stacked cast: Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, June Allyson, Fredric March, Shelley Winters
Carrie-- depressing but wonderful performances from Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones
Documentary
Bright Lights- a beautiful documentary released just after the deaths of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. A jewel!!
3) YOUTUBE
Leave Her to Heaven-- one of my all time fave movies-- Gene Tierney is amazing and TERRIFYING in this
Notorious-- this is my favourite movie ever, I think!! Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman are incredible. An under-loved Hitchcock. The first time I saw this, I had to watch it twice in one day. It has everything: romance, intrigue, social commentary.
HAPPY WATCHING!!! AND STAY SAFE!!!
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