Thursday May 17, 2012
With Memorial Day just a couple of weeks away, I thought it would be a good idea to explore several classic war movies Hollywood has released over the years.
Some showcase the heroics of history's greatest battles, while others display on the harsh realities of war itself. And one focuses on a larger-than-life American general who commanded authority while ironically defying his own superiors.
Whether waving the flag in undying patriotism or revealing the dark underbelly of battle, war movies have long been a staple of Hollywood. Here are nine classic war movies that cover America's three great wars from the 20th century.
George C. Scott in his Oscar-winning performance in 'Patton' (1970)/20th Century Fox
Friday May 11, 2012
A consummate craftsman and one of the most esteemed directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, George Cukor directed a number of classic movies in a career that spanned five decades. Many of his films focused on strong female characters and earned him a reputation as a women's director.
Over the course of his career, Cukor worked with some of Hollywood's top actresses like Joan Crawford, Audrey Hepburn and most notably Katharine Hepburn, with whom he made eight films in three decades.
Cukor's body of work contained numerous hits and Oscar winners, all which displayed his talent with pacing, rapid-fire dialogue and a flawless attention to detail. Few directors of any generation have been able to match his craft.
Here are eight classic movies by master director George Cukor.
Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart in George Cuckor's classic comedy 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940)/MGM Home Entertainment
Thursday May 10, 2012
In their continuing effort to reintroduce a number of classic movies to the public, Universal Studios will release Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960) as part of their 100th anniversary celebration.
Starring Kirk Douglas in the titular role, this historical epic was a fictionalized account of a slave who leads a massive uprising against the Roman Empire. The film was a big hit with audiences and critics, but behind-the-scenes turmoil between Douglas and Kubrick permanently damaged their relationship and the two would never work again.
The Blu-ray has a few notable extras, including archival interviews with Oscar winner Peter Ustinov and co-star Jean Simmons, a few re-edited scenes from the 1967 release, and a brief, but silent featurette Behind the Scenes at Gladiator School.
Releases June 5th.
Blu-ray cover for 'Spartacus' (1960)/Universal Studios
Tuesday May 8, 2012
As one of classic Hollywood's most iconic actors, Gary Cooper was the star of many hit classic movies and earned two Academy Awards for Best Actor in his five-decade career.
He broke into acting as an extra during the silent era, had a supporting role in William Wellman's Wings (1927), and catapulted to stardom as the lead in The Virginian (1929). From there, he cemented his status as a stoic, all-American and won his first Oscar for playing a pacifist-turned-war hero in Howard Hawks' Sergeant York (1941).
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Cooper remained one of Hollywood's most bankable actors, but courted controversy for his role in High Noon (1952), which was deemed un-American by John Wayne for the film allegedly being an allegory for blacklisting in Hollywood. Ironically, Cooper asked Wayne to accept his second Oscar for Best Actor, being too ill with an ulcer to attend the ceremony.
Less than a decade later, Cooper died from a heart attack while still in his prime. He left behind an extraordinary cinematic legacy filled with outstanding performances in many classic movies. Here are just a few great films starring Gary Cooper.
Gary Cooper as U.S. Marshal Will Kane in 'High Noon' (1952)/RHI Entertainment
