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When I saw this film a couple of days ago, I found out that it was released on January 29, 1937. So naturally, this week on «Film Friday» I had to tell you a little bit about it. Directed by Fritz Lang, You Only Live Once (1937) concerns Eddie Taylor (Henry Fonda), a three-time convict who has received an early release due to the influence of public defender Stephen Whitney (Barton MacLane), as well as of the prison chaplain, Father Dolan (William Gargan). Eddie then marries his longtime sweetheart, Joan «Jo» Graham (Sylvia Sidney), who is Whitney's secretary, and vows to go straight and work hard. His aspirations at normal life are soon thwarted, however, when he and Joan are asked to leave their honeymoon room after the proprietors, Ethan (Charles «Chic» Sale) and Hester (Margaret Hamilton), learn that Eddie is a former convict. Eddie gets a job at a truck company, but his boss, Mr. Williams (William Pawley), fires him for being late after he meets Joan to show her a house the...

This week on «Film Friday,» I am celebrating Cary Grant's 112th birthday (which was on Monday) by telling you about one of my absolute favourites of his films. It has also been considered one of the most romantic films of all time by the American Film Institute. Directed by Leo McCarey, An Affair to Remember (1957) tells the story of failed artist and well-known playboy Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) and nightclub singer Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr), who meet aboard a luxury liner headed for New York from Italy. They are instantly attracted to one another, even though they are both already engaged — Nickie to socialite Lois Clark (Neva Patterson), and Terry to Kenneth Bradley (Richard Denning). They kindle their attraction by spending a romantic afternoon in Villefranche with Nickie's grandmother, Janou (Cathleen Nesbitt), who seems to think that Terry is the «right» woman for her grandson. Upon their return to the ship, the couple decide to leave their respective partners, star...

Directed by King Vidor, Stella Dallas (1937) tells the story of Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), the daughter of a mill worker in a factory town in 1919 Massachusetts, who is determined to better herself. She sets her sights on Stephen Dallas (John Boles), a minor executive at the factory whose family was once wealthy, and catches him at an emotionally vulnerable time. Stephen has broken his engagement to his long-time sweetheart, Helen (Barbara O'Neil), fearing that his current lack of money and social position will hinder her. He planned to marry Helen once he was financially able to support her, but, as he reaches his goal, he learns that she is to wed another man. As a result, Stephen decides to marry Stella instead. After their daughter Laurel (Anne Shirley) is born, Stella becomes bored with her life and begins to exhibit social behaviour that Stephen finds unsuitable. He also strongly disapproves of her continuing friendship with the vulgar Ed Munn (Alan Hale). Meanwhile...

The weather outside has been absolutely frightful, so for this week on «Film Friday» I have decided to bring you one of the most delightful films I have ever seen. This is one of those enchanting little stories that will most definitely keep you warm on a cold winter night. Directed by Henry Koster, Harvey (1950) tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart), a middle-aged, amiable drunk who claims to have an invisible best friend named Harvey — whom he describes as a 6'3.5" tall pookah resembling an anthropomorphic white rabbit. His friends and family wonder whether his obsession with Harvey is a product of his (self-admitted) drinking problem, or rather a sign of mental illness. When Elwood starts to introduce Harvey to guests at a society party hosted by his excitable older sister, Veta Louise Simmons (Josephine Hull), the woman has seen just about as much of his eccentric behaviour as she can tolerate. To spare her daughter, Myrtle Mae (Victoria Horne), and their fa...

Directed by W. S. Van Dyke, Marie Antoinette (1938) opens when Marie Antoinette (Norma Shearer) is informed by her mother, Empress Marie Therese of Austria (Alma Kruger), that she is to marry the heir to the throne of France, the Dauphin Louis XVI (Robert Morley). Marie expects a life of grandeur, but finds that Louis is a shy and introverted man, who proves to be an unwilling husband as well. Her problems at the court are increased by Madame du Barry (Gladys George), the scheming mistress of King Louis XV (John Barrymore), who takes special pleasure in taunting Marie's inability to conceive an heir with the Dauphin. Although Marie initially seems to enjoy the support of the Duke d'Orléans (Joseph Schildkraut), he later reveals himself to be a duplicitous and power-hungry confidante. Meanwhile, Marie meets the dashing Swedish diplomat Count Axel Fersen (Tyrone Power), and the two soon begin a romantic affair. A few days after their fourth wedding anniversary, as Marie goes t...