THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

Teenager Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) lives with her aunt and uncle on their farm in rural Kansas.  It seems to be a pretty peaceful existence (riding her bicycle, singing in the yard, talking to the farmhands, etc.), but all of that comes to an end one afternoon when the wicked Miss Gulch gets an order from the sheriff to have Dorothy's dog, Toto, put to sleep.  In order to save Toto, Dorothy says "Deuces!" and jets out of there, but before she even gets down the road, she meets a kind man who talks her into going home.  Just then a tornado strikes!

Dorothy hides in her bedroom, while the rest of the family hunkers down in the tornado shelter.  Dorothy hits her head and has a wild as fuck vision about flying in her house to a fantasy land named Oz that is populated by witches, shit-talking apple trees with bad tempers, singing munchkins, evil flying monkeys, a horse with a colour malfunction and three delightful characters who she befriends: a scarecrow (who wants a brain), a tin man (who wants a heart) and a lion (who wants to be courageous).  Together, the four of them (and Toto!) set off down the "yellow brick road" to the Emerald City where the powerful Wizard of Oz can grant their wishes and return Dorothy back to Kansas.  Unfortunately, when Dorothy's house landed in Oz, it accidentally landed on the Wicked Witch of the West's sister and now WWW wants to beat Dorothy's ass.

It's difficult to give a critical analysis of TWOO since the film honestly feels like a part of my life.  I don't even remember the first time I saw it!  Anyway, I love THE WIZARD OF OZ.  Yeah, the story, when you really think about it, is kinda dumb, cause Miss Gulch is still going to have Toto put to death and the entire Oz story was most assuredly a result of Dorothy's head injury, but...it's still a great movie!  So, just like in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU...who gives a fuck what happens after the end credits roll?!!!  Fuck it!

Excellent pace, groundbreaking use of colour photography, amazing art direction and costumes, great performances (especially Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, who scared the living fuck out of me as a kid!) and quite possibly the best song in movie history: "Over the Rainbow".

THE WIZARD OF OZ is beyond required viewing and one of the most influential films of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Game idea: sometimes, when I watch TWOO, I only watch Toto. She (yes, Terry was a she) is so much fun to watch!

Above and below: no ruby slippers.

DINNER AT EIGHT (1933)

I heard that MGM's DINNER AT EIGHT was made because of the success of the previous years all-star GRAND HOTEL.  I have no idea if that is true or not, but it sounds reasonable.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad DAE was made and managed to find its way to my handsome eyeballs.

Once again both Lionel and John Barrymore appear in a film together (although sadly this time they don't have any scenes together).  The main story is about the wife (Billie Burke) of shipping magnate, Lionel Barrymore, wanting to throw an impressive dinner party.  The film opens with her excitedly making preparations and calling people to invite them.  After that, the film moves on to visit some of the invited guests as they live their lives.  Many of the scenes are quite long and the film is very interesting in how it the story is told in little bits and pieces all assembling together to tell a larger story.  I don't know if anybody else was impressed by that, but I thought it was very interesting.  The larger story is actually about Lionel's failing business and a corrupt businessman's (Wallace Beery) attempt to steal the company out from under Lionel.  Beery's wife, Jean Harlow, has other plans. 

Story aside, the main attraction is the star power.  DINNER AT EIGHT's cast is absolutely mind-blowing: Jean Harlow (her argument scene with Wallace Beery alone is worth the price of admission), Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Billie "Glinda the Good Witch" Burke, Lee Tracy, Edmund Lowe, John Barrymore (he was hypnotically amazing), Marie Dressler, Madge Evans and a number of great supporting actors like Grant Mitchell, John Davidson and Edwin Maxwell (I love his voice).

DINNER AT EIGHT isn't for everybody and it does kinda start a little slow, but if you like classic movies I think that you will really enjoy it.  The story builds and builds and I was actually sad when it ended.  It could have gone on, at the pace it was going, for another hour and I would have been just fine.  Recommended.