80 Reasons Why I Love Classic Films (Part I)

I started this blog six years ago as a way to share my passion for classic films and Old Hollywood. I used to watch dozens of classic films every month, and every time I discovered a new star I liked I would go and watch their entire filmography. But somewhere along the way, that passion dimmed down. For instance, I watched 73 classic films in 2016, and only 10 in 2020.

The other day, I found this film with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. that I had never heard of — the film is Mimi (1935), by the way — and for some reason it made me really excited about Old Hollywood again. It made me really miss the magic of that era and all the wonderful actors and actresses. And it also made me think of all the reasons why I fell in love with classic films in the first place. I came up with 80 reasons, which I thought would be fun to share with you. Most of them are just random little scenes or quirky little quotes, but put them together and they spell Old Hollywood to me. This is part one of the 80 reasons why I love classic films.

 

1. Buster Keaton miming an actor's romantic behaviour at the end of Sherlock Jr. (1924). It's one of the most endearing scenes in the history of cinema.

2. Gary Cooper's sad face in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926). I mean, look at him! He looks like an abandoned puppy. How can anyone resist that?

3. Greta Garbo and John Gilbert longingly staring at each other from across the room in Love (1927). Norma Desmond was right; they really had faces then.

4. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. impersonating John Barrymore, John Gilbert and his own father in Our Modern Maidens (1929). He does a pretty good job, too.

5. Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich's little wave at the end of Morocco (1930). It's such a simple scene, but it says so much.

6. Chester Morris and Norma Shearer's reunion at the end of The Divorcee (1930). I don't know why I like this pairing so much. I just do.

7. James Cagney saying «honey» throughout Blonde Crazy (1931). He says it like «huuuh-nay». It's just the cutest thing ever.

8. Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler's conversation at the end of Dinner at Eight (1933). Apparently, machinery is going to take the place of every profession.

9. Clark Gable's lessons in hitchhiking in It Happened One Night (1934). According to the man himself, «It's all in that old thumb, see.»

10. William Powell shooting balloons on the Charles's Christmas tree in The Thin Man (1934). Myrna Loy's unimpressed look is everything.

11. Henry Fonda smiling at Lily Pons in I Dream Too Much (1935). It's Henry Fonda smiling, that's literally all there is to this scene.

12. James Stewart singing «Easy to Love» to Eleanor Powell in Born to Dance (1936). Poor thing couldn't sing to save his life, but he gets extra points for cuteness.

13. Robert Taylor's hungover face in Small Town Girl (1936). He's got a beautiful face, but it's the unfazed «You got mud on your chin» line that gets me.

14. Tyrone Power and Don Ameche laughing at the beginning of Love is News (1937). I mean, it's Tyrone Power and Don Ameche laughing, and that's it.

15. Cary Grant wearing Katharine Hepburn's fluffy negligee in Bringing Up Baby (1938). He's not quite himself today. You see, he just «went gay all of a sudden.»

16. Red Skelton's «Doughnut Dunkers» routine in Having Wonderful Time (1938). Unlike Claudette Colbert, he didn't learn to dunk in finishing school.

17. James Stewart's drunk scene in Vivacious Lady (1938). He ran out of liquor, so he made some more. All by himself. Using chemical ingredients. As one does.

18. Jean Arthur answering her phone without using her hands in You Can't Take It With You (1938). It's quite an ingenious method, really.

19. James Stewart reading Jean Arthur's note in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Diz says she's in love with him. Turns out, he's right.

20. Judy Garland singing «Over the Rainbow» in The Wizard of Oz (1939). And just like that, a star was born before our very own eyes.

To be continued... > PART 2