1937

John, thanks for updating our lists. I do really appreciate that you put them in there all nice, neat, and organized. 'Tis very helpful.

Have either you or Brandon (or anyone else too) seen Leo McCarey's RUGGLES OF RED GAP? It's very funny, and I think both of you would like it a lot, if you haven't already seen it. It's got a really great comedic performance from Charles Laughton. Maybe the most astonishing thing about it too is that Laughton starred in RUGGLES the same year as MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY. A real testament to his talent to play someone so despicable and someone so lovable in the same year. He was awesome.

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I've got my temp. 1937 list finished. There are still a few more I need to see to make it feel complete, but for now this is a start.

1. The Grand Illusion (Renoir)
2. Make Way for Tomorrow (McCarey)
3. Stage Door (La Cava)
4. The Prisoner of Zenda (Cromwell)
5. Pépé le Moko (Duvivier)
6. Nothing Sacred (Wellman)
7. The Awful Truth (McCarey)
8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Lots of People)
9. A Day at the Races (Wood)
10. A Star is Born (Wellman)

I'll just say something about the first three because I don't have a lot of time to write. THE GRAND ILLUSION is one of the absolute masterpieces of the 30s and of all time really. It's one of the first few foreign classics I watched when I first started getting into film in high school. I loved it then and I still love it now. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately! Brandon, I believe you called this your favorite war film of all time. Same for me, no doubt. MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW seems to get overshadowed by THE AWFUL TRUTH, but make no mistake, MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW is the Leo McCarey masterpiece of 1937. It has to be one of the sweetest and most tender films Hollywood ever produced. Also one of the saddest (I believe Orson Welles said it would make a stone cry). If you haven't seen it, also check this one out. STAGE DOOR is hilarious, plain and simple. Another master comedy from a very overlooked director in Gregory La Cava. It has to contain some of sharpest and funniest insults in any film ever. They come so rapidly that it's hard to keep up with all of them. Watch this one if you haven't as well.

I'll have my '39 list done as soon as I watch ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS Sunday on TCM. I should have the rest of the 30s lists done by the end of September.

For now, I have to take the bullshit GRE tomorrow. Wish me luck.