Daydreams and Old Hollywood

I love old movies. Film Noir, musicals, screwball comedies, whatever. If it was produced in Hollywood before 1949 it's gold to me.

Consequently, Turner Classic Movies is my default cable channel. I've been know to park the TV on TCM for days at a time when the rest of the family are out of the house for various reasons, because the worst B-movie on TCM has about a 90% chance of being better than the best any other channel offers.

One of my favorite evenings on TCM each month is when they have guest programmers. I love hearing what other old-movie fan's favorite movies are, and why. And I also spend some quality daydream time trying to figure out what my choices would be if I were the guest programmer some day. My list changes from day to day because it's nearly impossible to pick just four from the universe of choices, even if limited to TCM's film library.

The one movie that's always on my list is The Maltese Falcon. In my opinion, it's a perfect gem of a movie. Perfect story, perfect script, perfect casting, perfect direction. Dashiell Hammet's novel is smart and exiting, and director/screenwriter John Huston had the great sense to leave Hammet's great dialog intact.

There should be a musical on the list, but I have a hard time deciding between Singin' In The Rain and Meet Me In St Louis. A glowing Judy Garland as presented by a besotted Vincent Minelli or Gene Kelly at the height of his glory? Margaret O'Brien or Donald O'Conner? The Trolley Song or the Broadway ballet? An impossible choice. I'd better just flip a coin.

For a comedy I'd pick Philadelphia Story. I love everything about that movie and everyone in it. Clever writing, great actors, even some lovely 30's gowns. It's simply perfect.

Argh, just one more slot! How can I pick between To Have and To Have Not, Casablanca, Mildred Pierce, Little Foxes, or Cat On A Hot Tin Roof?! It can't be done. What about Laura? Or The Women? Or How To Marry a Millionaire, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, or To Catch A Thief? Or even His Kind of Woman, for cryin' out loud?

No, it's not possible. I simply wouldn't be able to chose one night's line-up of movies. Not even a whole day's. Possibly a weekend's. Maybe I could be the guest programmer for an entire week?