MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Lifeboat (1944)      I recal when the contemporary Phone Booth came out a few years ago, many viewers complained that the entire movie takes place in that dang phone booth. Jump back about 60 years and Hitchcock gave us a masterpiece that persists entirely in a Lifeboat.      Starting after...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Pyscho (1960)       I think Psycho might be the most famous if not most ingenious Hitchcock movie. That is not to say it is everyone’s favorite, but I think even non-classic-movie fans know Psycho. I will not dive too deeply into the plot, since I think everyone knows it: A young...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Rear Window (1954)      When Jeffries hears screams one night, he begins to suspect the salesman has killed his wife. Jeffries’ girlfriend, Lisa, who is a model played naturally by Grace Kelly, joins in on the people-watching as the two try to determine what happened to the wife. The most thr   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

     Just as Citizen Kane is usually considered Orson Welles‘ best work, Rebecca, in my opinion, is Hitchcock’s greatest masterpiece. The reasoning is the same. They were first films and ones that the directors had the most control over. For Hitchcock, it was his first in the U.S. and h   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Foreign Correspondent (1940)       All Hitchcock movies have an element of humor to them, even the straight horror ones such as Psycho, but none of his mysteries is funnier than Foreign Correspondent. I developed a certain fondeness for Joel McCrea after seeing this one. I would not say the man...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Rope (1948)      Rope is often revered for its interesting approach with camerawork that involved full-reel takes cut together in a way that makes it look as though the movie was filmed in one continual take. Although fans today enjoy this aspect, Hitchcock called it a “gimmick” and the   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Notorious (1946)       Notorious was my favorite Hitchcock film for a long time (before I saw Rebecca). I was grabbed by the actors and the terrific story, so well executed. It offers spies, foreign locales, romance, sexual implications, and a woman whose life is endangered, all common Hitchcock el   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 17, 2011

Marnie (1964)      For me, the downward path of Hitchcock’s films started with Marnie and the lifting of the Production Code. Hitchcock had been great at sneaking things by the censors or making deals, but when he was finally let go to insert formerly taboo subjects such as rape and prostitut   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 16, 2011

As you know, tomorrow marks the big day when I intend to post what now is a total of 13 reviews on Hitchcock movies between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. I received some great input by readers for which movies to consider and plan to incorporate them all. Although I have...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 14, 2011

     Bette Davis played a wide variety of parts, but I typically think of her in strong, sometimes ruthless, often bitchy roles. Dark Victory, however, puts Davis in a very sympathetic persona. I think this movie is generally listed among Davis’ best work. It ranks among her many Oscar nomina   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 13, 2011

Thicker Than Water (1935)      Perhaps coming off a Marx Brothers picture had me ill prepared to enjoy my first Laurel and Hardy shorts or maybe the duo is just not my cup of tea. I caught Thicker Than Water and The Fixer Uppers among the marathon of Laurel and...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 11, 2011

Horse Feathers (1932)      I made my second foray into the zany world of the Marx brothers last night with their fourth feature, Horse Feathers. Like Duck Soup the title in no way pertains to the story about a college’s attempt to create a winning football team. The plot of...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 10, 2011

Humoresque (1947)      Today’s review is an example of the power Joan Crawford wielded in the 1940s and, I think, to the limitations of the actress’ talents. Although speculation swirled that Crawford could get an Oscar nomination for Humoresque, the only reason it does not get the lowe   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 8, 2011

Victor/Victoria (1982)      I have never been a Julia Andrews fan and have avoided her movies because of a certain grudge I hold*, so Victor/Victoria has never been given any attention before now. As I am discovering an overt love for Director Blake Edwards, however, I decided now was the...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 7, 2011

Boys Town (1938)      By virtue of the performances alone, Boys Town earns a Wowza! rating. The film won Spencer Tracy a Best Actor Oscar and set Mickey Rooney on a path that for many years involved only primary roles and Grade-A pictures. It is based on a true story (and also...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 6, 2011

As the new button at the bottom of the right column might indicate, I have recently been inducted into the Classic Movie Blog Association. The CMBA is a great group of bloggers who offer a wide variety of entertaining content pertaining to cinema of days gone by. The group has...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 4, 2011

The Nanny (1965)      When you consider how many evil roles Bette Davis played in her prime years in Hollywood, it should not be surprising how well suited the gal is to the horror genre. The Nanny at the outset does not seem like much of a terror flick, but...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on January 3, 2011

Holiday (1938)      Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn always make a nice duo on screen and Holiday is no exception. Although the flick takes place around New Year’s Eve, the title of the film refers more to what Grant’s character aspires to do: take a holiday. The trouble is, Grant&#8217   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 30, 2010

Holiday Affair (1949)      I am down to one of the last of the holiday films on my DVR, which I figured should be reviewed before we officially exit the holiday season. Unfortunately, I do not have many good things to say about Holiday Affair. A story involving a love triangle and...   read more

MacGuffin Movies Posted by RBuccicone on December 29, 2010

The Red Balloon (1956)      Although intended as a quick, fun film for kids, Le Ballon Rouge made a huge splash when released in 1956. Almost entirely absent of dialogue, Director Albert Lamorisse filmed his six-year-old son, Pascal Lamorisse, and the largest, shiniest red balloon I have ever seen   read more