Classic Movies

The Spirit of St. Louis starring Jimmy Stewart

Great movie about Chuck Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight back in 1927.  Best part of this movie is that most of it is shot in the airplane during the flight and Jimmy (Chuck) keeps fighting fatigue and falling asleep.  Makes one tired just from watching!  Also the scene where he chats with a fly is awesome.  For a delicious appetizer, click here.

The Benny Goodman Story starring Steve Allen

If you don’t know who Benny Goodman was then do yourself a favor and look him up.  I will not include the link here so to promote individual research and curiosity.  This is perhaps one of the worst acted movies ever made.  Steve Allen is a Benny Goodman look alike but his acting is awful.  Yet this movie has a homespun quality to it that keeps me watching it time and time again.  I find myself drawn to bad movies because various layers of supposed experts signed off on the script and film – and either they were nuts – or I am nuts – so what am I missing?

True Grit starring John Wayne

The one and only academy award for the former USC Trojan football player.  It’s hard to imagine that the rugged cowboy was given the name “Marion” at birth.  Big John had strong political views and many have trouble embracing him as a result.  But how can you not appreciate what the big fella did on the screen?  Over 200 movies.  Iconic in every sense of the word.  Glen Campbell is atrocious in True Grit.  But its a great movie.  The sequel, “Rooster Cogburn” depicts a precious relationship between Wayne the drunken U.S. Marshal and Kathryn Hepburn, the ferocious Christian missionary.  Both movies are worth watching.