Being There (1979)

Based on the novella by Jerzy Kosinski, this film adaptation is directed by Hal Ashby and stars Peter Sellers.

Chance the Gardener is a simple-minded servant who has literally lived his whole life in the home of a wealthy man. When the aged man suddenly dies, Chance must leave and enter the foreign outside world. However, by luck he ends up in the home of a rich, dying businessman who (like everyone else around him) does not realize that Chance is not the clever, astute man that they make him out to be. But it does not matter because everyone sees what they want to see and that makes them happy.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

The Old Dark House (1963)

This horror/comedy from the masters William Castle and Hammer Films is a remake (more in name than plot) but is actually quite watchable as long as you realize that it is just silly, wacky fun.

Our hero Tom Poston has befriended the odd Casper Femm (Peter Bull). They are actually roommates; one uses the apartment during the day, the other at night. Femm asks Tom to join him at his family estate somewhere in the North. When Tom arrives he meets the insane Femm Family who mysteriously start dying through-out the night.

Available: Amazon, Netflix

Topper (1937)

Playful comedy from the Hal Roach Studios starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as Mr. & Mrs. Kirby, a wealthy carefree couple that meet an unfortunate end after getting into a car accident. They don't know what to do with themselves (they don't seem to be moving on to the afterlife), so Mrs. Kirby decides that they need to do some good deeds. They take it upon themselves to show their cloistered banker friend, Mr. Cosmo Topper (Roland Young), how to have fun and live the good life.

This was the first of several sequels that also starred Roland Young and Billie Burke (as Mrs. Topper). There was also a television series in the early 1950s.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

View Trailer

 

General Spanky (1936)

This is the only feature-length film to star the child actors from the Our Gang Little Rascals shorts of the 1930s. The film is so far removed from what makes the shorts so entertaining that it's no surprise that there weren't more movies.

Spanky McFarland is an orphan shoeshine boy who joins up with little Buckwheat after he accidentally loses his master and unwittingly becomes a runaway slave. They both come under the care of a generous young southern man who doesn't support the inevitable, upcoming Civil War.  Spanky and Buckwheat eventually befriend Alfalfa, and with other kids they form their own army complete with uniforms and oaths. This children's army gets into a battle with the Yankee troops who just think that the kids are so cute. The only real enemy in this film is a corrupt Northern officer who captures their Southern friend and is determined to execute him as a spy.

Available: Amazon

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

One of the first feature length talkies, this film is simply a revue of singing and dancing featuring the stars of stage and screen. There is a playful rivalry between the theater actors and the film performers. Unfortunately many of the names are unknown to us now. I don't know who he is, but Ukulele Ike was quite funny. However, some of the famous talent recognizable today include Jack Benny, Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Joan Crawford.

The film is also noticeable for a couple of two-strip technicolor sequences which included a Romeo & Juliet scene with Norma Shearer & John Gilbert with John Barrymore as director. And the finale of "Singing' In The Rain" of which the whole cast takes part.

Available: Warner Archive Collection

Harlan: In The Shadow Of Jew Suess (2008)

Veit Harlan was a German filmmaker in the 1930s. At the beginning of WWII, he wrote and directed an anti-Semitic film called Jud Suss that was based on a historical novel about Jewish banker Joseph Oppenheimer. The film was commissioned by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and SS leader Heinrich Himmler ordered members of the Gestapo to watch and learn from it. Now, in the 21st century, Harlan's relatives and descendants speak out about the film and how they feel about their notorious ancestor.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Scarface (1932)

Known to be based on real-life criminal Al Capone, this is probably one of the best gangster films out there. It has the typical story of a young, ambitious hoodlum who quickly works his way up the ranks of his mob organization to, of course, end up being the head. He is so powerful that he doesn't even have to worry about rival gangs trying to snuff him out. But Crime Never Pays and it is the law that is hot on his trail.

What makes this film so exceptional is the cast lead by Paul Muni as Tony. Excellent performances are also given by George Raft as Tony's second in command, Boris Karloff as the rival gang leader, beautiful Ann Dvorak as his sister and Karen Morley as Tony's quirky girlfriend. 

Available: Netflix, Amazon

City Streets (1931)

Gary Cooper is an innocent country boy working the shooting gallery at the boardwalk amusement park. Unfortunately, his girlfriend Nan (Sylvia Sydney) is involved in the racketeering business through her family. She begs Coop to come in on the business since he's barely making a living at the carnival. And it's doesn't hurt that he's also quite handy with the gun. However, he refuses to be involved with such shady doings.

When Nan's Uncle uses her to get rid of a murder weapon, she gets caught. Sentenced to time in prison for not ratting out the gangsters, Nan is thankful that Coop never took up her offer to join the mob. Little does she know, her Uncle sought him out and did convince him to fall in with the racketeers for Nan's sake.

Available: iOffer

A Shot In The Dark (1964)

This is the second of the Pink Panther films. Like the first it is directed by Blake Edwards and stars Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau.

The film opens with lots of people sneaking around George Sander's house and getting into each other's beds. Eventually there is the proverbial "shot in the dark" as someone gets murdered. Clouseau is put on the case, and even though it seems that Elke Sommer is obviously the murderer, Clouseau is so in love with her that he doesn't see it.

 The Best Scene? The nudist camp with Turk Thrust.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Don't Play Us Cheap (1973)

"Break the party, smash the party."

Two devil bats are on a mission to break up a party. However they make the mistake of picking a Harlem party on a Saturday night.

Based on the Broadway musical by Melvin Van Peebles and starring Esther Rolle (best known as the mother from the television series "Good Times") and also with Mabel King (the mother from "What's Happening!!" TV series.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court (1949)

Based on the novel by Mark Twain, this adventure is about a man who travels back in time to Camelot after getting hit on the head. Because this version stars Bing Crosby there are, of course, lots of songs and singing.

After being thrown from his horse, an auto mechanic (Crosby) wakes up in medieval England, the prisoner of knight Sir Sagramore (William Bendix). He is taken to the court of an old King Arthur (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) where he escapes death by demonstrating some simple 20th century tricks like lighting a match. There he is knighted Sir Boss and starts a romance with Arthur's niece Alisande (Rhonda Fleming).

Available: Netflix, Amazon