These six wonderful movies focus on humour but also have important things to say about love, kindness. conscience, self-esteem, moral principles and generosity. They’re guaranteed to leave you smiling but with food for thought, too. They feature some of the top screen talent of the day, headlined by legendary stars Cary Grant, James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Charles Laughton, Ronald Colman and Joel McCrea, and guided by top directors including Leo McCarey, Frank Capra, Preston Sturges, George Stevens and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Interviews, documentaries and behind-the-scenes anecdotes will enrich your enjoyment.
Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) A reserved English valet finds himself in the wild west when an uncouth nouveau riche American wins his services in a poker game. Charles Laughton gives an outstanding performance in this heartwarming movie that was nominated for the best picture Oscar.
You Can’t Take It with You (1938) Comic complications ensue when a woman from a blissfully eccentric family, and the son of wealthy snobs, fall in love. This classic received seven Oscar nominations and won for picture and director (Frank Capra). Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold head the cast.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) Will a good-hearted prize fighter, taken to heaven 50 years before his time and reincarnated as a millionaire playboy, find true love amidst all these complications? Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains and Evelyn Keyes head the cast of this whimsical and touching delight. It received seven Oscar nominations including picture, director, leading actor, supporting actor (James Gleason) and screenplay, and it won for screenplay.
Sullivan’s Travels (1941) Does comedy matter in an often sorrowful world? A movie director who’s made nothing but silly comedies vows to make his next picture serious and important instead. To learn about the destitute side of life, he takes to the road as a hobo, in this brilliant film that was written and directed by the astonishingly gifted Preston Sturges. Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake are featured.
The Talk of the Town (1942) An unjustly imprisoned radical escapes from jail and vies with a distinguished, tradition-minded jurist for the hand of a school teacher. Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman star in a picture that proposes that sometimes the true spirit of the law lies beyond the letter of the law. It received seven Oscar nominations, including picture and screenplay.
People Will Talk (1951) An unconventional doctor defends his humanist practices and finds love within the walls of his own clinic, in this heartening film that’s anchored by Cary Grant’s stellar performance. Jeanne Crain, Walter Slezak and Hume Cronyn co-star.
Six Tuesdays, Oct 29 to Dec 3, 2019
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Fee: $130
This course takes place in the Community Classroom at McNally Robinson Booksellers, 1120 Grant Ave. To register, please call 204 475 0483, drop by the store, or log on to www.mcnallyrobinson.com and click on Community Classroom. Please note that contents, fees and dates are subject to change.
