Finishing School

Finishing School
Released Date: May 4, 1934
Director: George Nichols Jr., and Wanda Tuchock
Actors: Frances Dee, Billie Burke, Ginger Rogers, Bruce Cabot, John Halliday, Beulah Bondi, Sara Haden, Helen Freeman, Majorie Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Anne Shirley, Irene Franklin, Ann Cameron, Rose Coghlan, and Caroline Rankin

     Can you imagine, this movie was condemned by the Catholic Church's? Now for some of you, maybe most of you, you probably have never seen this. But believe me, considering what movies are showing now, this is hardly traumatizing. I enjoyed this movie a lot, however, and I would recommend it to anyone.

     We begin this movie following a young girl. Virginia Radcliff (Frances Dee), and her mother Mrs. Helen Crawford Radcliff (Billie Burke) into an all girls school. They have ridiculous rules and a very difficult woman running the private school. Miss Van Alstyne (Beulah Bondi) asks all students not to smoke, drink, not to wear lipstick, and must conduct yourself like a young lady. But when Miss Alstyne decides to bunk Virginia with Cecilia Ferris (Ginger Rogers), all the trouble begins. Cecilia, or Pony, as her friends call her, loves to get into trouble. Miss Alstyne makes sure that every weekend, all of the girls can either stay at school or go home to their families. But Cecilia has other plans for this weekend. Can you guess what they are? Well, if you guessed going out with her family, you're wrong, if you guessed hanging out with men, then you hit it right on the nose. When you here of young students going to college and finding themselves, then this movie will make you realize this fact. Maybe Virginia is a great girl, with good intentions, or maybe she's curious. You'll find out in time... If you watch this great picture, with some great actresses. :)

Father Of The Bride

Father of the Bride
Released Date: June 16, 1950
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Actors: Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Don Taylor, Billie Burke, Leo G. Carroll, Moroni Olsen, Melville Cooper, and Taylor Holmes

     I watched this movie for the first time tonight. And I fell in love. To be honest, I'm rather mad at myself for not seeing it before today. This was a laugh out loud comedy that I adored. I wish the movie lasted a little bit longer. It was cute, funny, sweet and exciting. Weddings are a lot of fun, to prepare... Maybe not as much. But the preparation work for such a quick day is amazing. And sometimes, you never even get to kiss the bride.

     Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) is happily married. He has a beautiful wife, Ellie Banks (Joan Bennett) and three wonderful kids. He is going through, in his mind, the wonders of having three different children. And how the younger boy has different activities then the older boy, and how his oldest son is in college. And then we come across 'Kay' Banks (Elizabeth Taylor), she's happy and he noticed. During dinner Kay is quiet, she's obvisiouly day dreaming, far far away. Mr. Banks take note of this and says she seems happier, and that maybe it is the vitamins her doctor sent. While Mrs. Banks is pretty sure its a man. And That's IT!!! She's in love. And loves being in love. Mr. Banks is not so happy about these turns of events. And who can this wonderful man be? Is it the guy with the big teeth? Or how about the idiot who doesn't even know how to fix a radio? But as we all know, nobody is good enough for any mans daughter. It's a wonder men have daughters at all. The man is Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor). He's smart and seems to have it together. But how is poor old pops doing? He is nervous, excited, sad, scared, ect. Everything a man is before his daughters wedding day. After all, a son is with you until he gets a wife, and a daughter is yours for the rest of your life.

     This is a great film, and one I recommend to everyone. To daughters, sons, fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. A must see movie, and one you will not regret. It's a fast one hour and thirty minute comedy, that will have you in tears by the end. :) Oh and you can't go wrong with beautiful purple eyed Liz Taylor or the cute and funny Spencer Tracy. Now I see why Katharine Hepburn fell in love with him. He had me in stitches and in tears. I also enjoyed seeing some of my other favorites, Billie Burke from The Man Who Came To Dinner and also The Wizard of Oz. And Leo G. Carroll who was made famous from Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, Rebecca, Suspicion and Spellbound.

Navy Blue And Gold

Navy Blue And Gold
Released Date: November 19, 1937
Director: Sam Wood
Actors: Robert Young, James Stewart, Florence Rice, Billie Burke, Lionel Barrymore, Tom Brown, Samuel S. Hinds, and Paul Kelly

     In this movie we follow John Cross (James Stewart) as he joins the Naval Academy, but he happens to join under a false name. He does this so that he can help out his father who was also in the Navy, but because he had a hard time in the Navy during a war, he was looked at as a horrible Navy officer. John Cross stands up during the Navy's version of the story of his father, and gives them the real story. Once they find out that John Cross is not who he says he is, the Academy needs to decide whether to expel him or let him stay and clear his father's name. John's best friends, Roger 'Rog' Ash (Robert Young), and Richard Aronold 'Dick' Gates Jr. (Tom Brown) are scared for their friend. They all played football together, but during the investigation, John has to stay behind during their biggest game of the year. Will John Cross get to stay? Or will he be expelled from the school his father also attended?