Watching old films on BBC 2

I've loved the old Marx Brothers films since I was a teenager (ahem years ago). I wish they'd repeat those instead of (or even as well as) all the tired old repeats we're getting now. Yes, some of the old movies were classics and never look tired but (imho) most of them are pretty much B-movie dross and commercial blockbusters.
"I wonder whatever became of me? I should have been back here a long time ago." (Groucho Marx, Duck Soup (1933).

Sorry, but I don’t like It’s A Wonderful Life.

Does nothing for me, and I love many old films.

granfromafar

OK, so am now watching It's a Wonderful Life, and realised that I have never watched the whole film before, just seen snippets. How can this be?? I know it's many people's favourite film, but don't know how I have managed to avoid it up to now. Better late than never!

It’s a very long film. We started watching it one Christmas evening when one of the grandchildren was still a baby and struggled to stay awake to the end. My partner has just said he’s never seen the film all the way through. However, I pointed out that he was with us that night. And that we’d seen it at the cinema, too!

Calendargirl

Sorry, but I don’t like It’s A Wonderful Life.

Does nothing for me, and I love many old films.

You know what, I agree!
I like White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, is she George’s Mum?Or a relative?
As for Laurel and Hardy, I could watch them all day😆

Think Rosemary is George’s aunt.

I saw Casablanca was on this afternoon, said to DH I was going to watch it.

Conversation went like this.

“Oh, who’s in it?” (DH)

‘Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman” (me).

“What’s it about? (DH)

‘Set in Casablanca in the war, two lovers, he has a cafe, Dooley Wilson plays ‘As Time Goes By’ on the piano” (me)

“Does she get something in her eye? (DH)

‘No, that’s Brief Encounter, it’s on tomorrow!’ (me)

🤬

Currently watching North by Northwest on catchup. I am struck by how smartly and elegantly people at the railway station and on the train are dressed.....plus of course it has a good story!!! Lol

Enjoyed Brief Encounter earlier.

I have watched it so many times, I could be one of the cast.

Someone on GN once commented they thought the Trevor Howard character looked like he had done it all before. Hmm, I think so too.

Of course, nowadays, they would just tumble into bed, have torrid sex, then jump on their respective trains as though nothing was wrong…..

Love the Rachmaninov at the end of Brief Encounter.

Me too one of the great classic films

travelsafar

Currently watching North by Northwest on catchup. I am struck by how smartly and elegantly people at the railway station and on the train are dressed.....plus of course it has a good story!!! Lol

Talking of North by Northwest, did anyone see the 4-part mini-series about Cary Grant over the last 2 nights? (Should start a new thread, really) It was fantastic, and showed Cary Grant to be such a controlling husband. No wonder 4 if his marriages ended in divorce. Laura Aikman was excellent as Dyan Carroll, his 4th wife, and was the spitting image of her. Very different to her role in Gavin and Stacey!

Lots of good films on today including Laurence of Arabia. peter O'Toole was one of my favourites. I can't think of anything bad that he did. And those blue eyes!!!

The old Ealing comedy The School For Scandal was on the other day, Alistair Sim, Ian Carmichael, Terry Thomas, Hattie Jaques, I saw this film when I was a kid ( it was an old film then) and it still made me smile watching it now.It was followed by The Titchfield Thunderbolt but I couldn’t see that as had to go out.

I watched Brief Encounter a few days ago.

It's so nostalgic with all that shopping and going to the cinema in the afternoon while someone looks after your children.

I particularly love "School for Scoundrels" an old ABPC comedy released in 1950. Ian Carmichael as the wide eyed innocent, Terry Thomas as the rotter and Alistair Simm as the world weary puppet master. Not forgetting Janette Scott (daughter of Thora Hird) as the sweet ingenue.

merlotgran

Sorry but I love a good old black and white war film. The Cruel Sea, Reach for the Sky, Ice Cold in Alex (my dad’s favourite) and many others.

They couldn’t rely on ridiculously loud sound effects to create tension, just the talents of great actors like Jack Hawkins, John Mills and Donald Pleasance.

Ice Cold in Alex was my dad's favourite too merlotgran. He was a desert rat in the war.

Some old films weather better than others. I think, in theory, Brief Encounter should seem very dated and irrelevant but, to my mind anyway, it is a brilliant film - very moving.

I've always loved old films, particularly 1950s British thrillers. Talking Pictures (328 on my Sky box) has so many old films, I love it.

Casablanca please

NonGrannyMoll

I've loved the old Marx Brothers films since I was a teenager (ahem years ago). I wish they'd repeat those instead of (or even as well as) all the tired old repeats we're getting now. Yes, some of the old movies were classics and never look tired but (imho) most of them are pretty much B-movie dross and commercial blockbusters.
"I wonder whatever became of me? I should have been back here a long time ago." (Groucho Marx, Duck Soup (1933).

Ahh, my Dad absolutely loved the Marx Brothers so I was brought up on a diet of "the party of the first part...."

I can see my Dad now, tears running down his cheeks. Explaining how were there were 5 brothers but Gummo never appeared in any of their films. Knowing all their marriages/divorces.

Thanks NonGrannyMoll for that few minutes of nostalgia!

Millie22

I watched Brief Encounter a few days ago.

It's so nostalgic with all that shopping and going to the cinema in the afternoon while someone looks after your children.

I was discussing the film years ago with a work colleague, and said I fancied myself in the Celia Johnson role.

She said, not unkindly, that I would most likely have been Ethel, the cook, heating up soup in the kitchen.

Yes, I know my place!

I enjoy watching all the old war films over the holiday period.