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Since Halloween is a few days away, I thought it would only be appropriate if this week on «Film Friday» I brought you a horror picture. Although I'm not a fan of the genre, I loved this particular film. As the poster claims, «You'll get the shock of your life!» Directed by Jack Clayton, The Innocents (1961) begins when Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), a minister's daughter, is engaged by the wealthy master of Bly House (Michael Redgrave) as governess for his niece Flora (Pamela Franklin) and his nephew Miles (Martin Stephens). Upon arriving at Bly, Miss Giddens is warmly greeted by Flora and Mrs. Grose (Megs Jenkins), the housekeeper. Soon after, she receives a letter from Miles's boarding school explaining that he is being expelled for attempting to corrupt his fellow students. Mrs. Grose assures her that Miles is not a bad child, but Miss Giddens is apprehensive about meeting the boy. When Miles returns to Bly, he appears to be an angelic, well-mannered child, and Mis...

This week on «Film Friday,» I have decided to celebrate both Gene Kelly's 104th and Van Johnson's 100th birthdays by telling you about one of the only two pictures they made together. Incidentally, this was the first Van Johnson film I ever saw.   Directed by Vincente Minnelli, Brigadoon (1954) begins when New Yorkers Tommy Albright (Gene Kelly) and Jeff Douglas (Van Johnson) become lost in the highlands of Scotland while on a hunting trip. Upon the clearing of the mists, they discover Brigadoon, a village that only materializes once every century for only a day. If any villager ever leaves, the enchantment will be broken for all and the whole town will vanish forever. If, in contrast, an outsider wishes to stay, then they must prove to love someone in the village strongly enough. Cynic Jeff finds himself increasingly bored with the town's peculiarities, while dreamer Tommy falls in love with both Brigadoon and village lass Fiona Campbell (Cyd Charisse), whose younger s...

When I saw this film for the first time a few days ago, I found out it was one of the ten Best Picture nominees at the 14th Academy Awards. Since all "Film Fridays" this month center around an Oscar-winning or nominated picture, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about it. Theatrical release poster Directed by Alexander Hall, Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) tells the story of Joe Pend l eton (Robert Mont gomery), a boxer-pilot-music ian who crashes his plane while flying to a match and is escorted to heaven by Mes senger 7013 (Edward Ever ett Norton). Arriving at the Pearly Gates, the celest ial registrar , Mr. Jordan (Claude Rains) , discovers that Joe ha s been called to his death 50 years too soon. 7013 returns Joe to the crash site only to find out that his manager, Ma x Corkle ( James Gleason), has had the body cremated. Mr. Jordan orders 7013 to find Joe another body and they end up at the mansion of Br uce Farnsworth, a dishonest businessman who has just...