Have you ever wanted to be an amateur sleuth? I did...and still do to be honest because it just sounds a bit exciting. Mind you, I would never want to be shot at, clubbed over the head, drugged, kidnapped or running for my life so i will stick to trying to find out where I left my keys. Wandering Through The Shelves came up with another goody this week which is all about the amateur sleuth. Except for TV, I never did watch any Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys but that doesn't mean there isn't a wealth of films out there that fall under this category. So...here are my 3...
1. REAR WINDOW-1954
It's been a while since i talked about one of my all time favourite films and what better time than now to put this film back in the spotlight. James Stewart plays a photographer, who probably works for LIFE Magazine or National Geographic broke his leg and is stuck in his apartment with a great view of the courtyard showcasing all sorts of interesting people. He is visited by his beautiful fiancee, played by Grace Kelly, his physical therapist, played by the wondrous Thelma Ritter and his friend who happens to be a police detective. One night, Stewart hears a scream and broken glass and is convinced that the brutish neighbour across from him (played by Perry Mason Fame, Raymond Burr) is a killer who did in his bedridden wife. At first no one believes him, but soon fiance and nurse are brought into his voyeuristic antics. I love how this takes place on such a tight set and we become the voyeurs just like Stewart's character.
2. ARABESQUE-1966
I have not seen this in years but I enjoyed it. It may not be as good as Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn but it has some great style all its own. It stars Gregory Peck as a professor of Hieroglyphics who is asked to decipher a small inscription that everyone seems to be after. You have bad men and more bad men and the tiger eyed, temptress in Sophia Loren whom you just have no idea which side she is on. Poor Peck is trying to figure out why they want this small piece deciphered, what will happen if it lands in the wrong hands and what can he do to stop it. Stanley Donan is the director of this film as well as Charade and, although the plot can be confusing and a bit messy, I enjoy this film with the engaging performances of the leads as well as her wild wardrobe not to mention the wild camera angles.
3. FRANTIC-1988
I enjoy this film directed by Roman Polanski, one complicated F#%^k. It stars Harrison Ford as a Doctor who travels to Paris, with his wife, to attend a convention and have a few days for a second honeymoon. When they get to the hotel room, his wife is having a tough time getting her suitcase opened and realizes that she must have grabbed the wrong case. While he takes a shower, she gets a phone call and leaves and disappears. Ford looks everywhere for her but the police can do nothing so he is now on the hunt to find his wife. Soon enough he gets entangled with a young girl who was smuggling things into the country. Arabs are the baddies in this caper with Ford playing against his rugged type who just wants to find his wife. Emmanuele Seigner is the young girl who reluctantly helps him and turned in a good performance. She became Polanski's wife and yes, they are still together. This is an intelligent film that is slick yet grimy. Worth a look.
So...which films would you choose?
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you starring in a revival of Murder She Wrote. :) How are you, dear friend? Murder is right up my dark alley, as long as the bad guys and good guys don't sing or dance. :) Remember the short lived 1990 TV series Cop Rock? It made TV Guide's list of The 50 Worst TV Shows of All Time.
When I was a boy I watched on TV the series of late 1930s Nancy Drew films starring Bonita Granville. I'm sure you remember her. I also watched the 1950s Hardy Boys serial starring Tim Considine and Tommy Kirk that was embedded in The Mickey Mouse Club. I recently made reference on my blog to The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure.
Listen to the announcer's v/o on the rear Window trailer. That's what I'm talkin' about! I think it's the same guy who narrated Yogi Bear and many other animated shows, live action TV series and films during that period. Yessum, Rear Window is one of my favorite movies. I love Jimmy Stewart in everything, always got a kick out of Thelma Ritter doing her shtick, and thought it was a hoot to see Ray Burr as a dangerous killer.
I very much admired Greg Peck, but never saw Arabesque. Whenever Sophia Loren is mentioned I think of the charming 1958 romantic comedy film Houseboat in which she stars opposite Cary Grant. I have not seen Frantic, but I like Harrison Ford and the clip and your review got me interested.
Thanks for the entertainment, dear friend BB. Enjoy the rest of your week!
BB, in addition to Bonita Granville's Nancy Drew film series, I'd like to plug Murder Mystery, the 2019 comedy mystery movie on Netflix starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. I liked it so much that I based a blog series on it!
DeleteI could be Jessica..well, a younger version but I would have blue hair..or lavender. OMG! I watched Cop Rock because it was so bad it was good. Seeing something like a hill street blues grittiness only for the. To break out into song made me drop my mouth to the floor. I only saw one he Nancy Crew with the great Bonita who is an under-rated actress in my book. I have not seen that series with Adam Sandler but I would like to.
DeleteI've only seen Rear Window, more than once. My very first thought was Erin Brockovich - don't ask me how I came up with that one first, lol. I love being a sleuth when it comes to discovering my roots. I did watch the Hardy Boys, but I think I had a youthful crush on Tim Considine.
ReplyDeleteRear Window is popular this week. Erin Brockovich is a great choice and love it when she offered them the water. I am with you..be a sleuth in ancestry.
DeleteI'm going with a television show - Scooby-Doo!
ReplyDeleteScooby-Doo is a great pick and was a movie too but I love the original cartoon.
DeleteI've only seen Rear Window, which I adore. The Polanski one sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteRear Window is popular today. I bet you would like Frantic.
DeleteLooks like Rear Window is going to be the pick of the week! Deservedly so, it's a masterpiece of its kind by the master of suspense. A few years ago all Hitch's major films underwent restoration and brief theatrical runs and I was lucky enough to see Rear Window in a theatre. It was a fantastic view.
ReplyDeleteArabesque isn't in the same league but a fun adventure with Gregory and Sophia playing well off of one another. Amazing settings, a fun plot and a gorgeous Sophia all add up to a good time.
I liked Frantic the one time I watched it but I've never had a great desire to return to it since.
Rear Window was my first thought as well but I knew I'd used it before. Then I thought of another favorite, The Prize with Paul Newman, Elke Sommer and Edward G. Robinson but I used it before as well so I picked two that I'd watched within the last year and an famous girl sleuth.
Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)-A brief Warner Brothers series (this was followed by: Nancy Drew…Reporter, Nancy Drew…Trouble Shooter and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase-all released in 1939) starring Oscar nominee Bonita Granville as the intrepid and curious young Nancy who sniffs trouble and cannot help investigating. That usually leads her into endless difficulties, but she always manages to solve the mystery in the end!
Hue and Cry (1947)- “The Blood and Thunder Boys” are a neighborhood group of kids in a partially bombed out section of post-WWII London. They suspect the boss of the village gang is directing his cohorts to their various criminal enterprises by manipulating stories in a popular kid's paper “The Trump” (an actual kid comic of the time). Determined to stop the crooks they set out to solve the mystery of the leader’s identity and turn him over to the cops! Considered the first of the British Ealing comedies.
Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971)-When a local prostitute is slain in a rough, rundown part of town, the police and neighbors react with little more than a shrug. Outraged, retired boxer Mickey Isador (Red Buttons), who knew the woman slightly, decides to try and find the killer. With the aid of his daughter, he pokes around the gritty dilapidated slum looking for answers, nearly getting himself offed in the process. Low-budget film captures the ramshackle decay that had infected many parts of New York City in the late 60’s/early 70’s.
Rear Window is the biggie todayas I thought it would be but I had to use it, I almost. Went all Hitchcock and chose Saboteur and The Lady Vanishes or Sabotage. Don’t you just love the scene on the top of the Statue of Liberty? I also think it’s great that Norman Lloyd is still with us. I hope he doesn’t die this week just after writing this. I love Bonita Granville and thinks she is under-rated as an actress. I have not seen her Nancy Drew movies because I was always irritated by the Nacy Drew character. I really want to see What er Name which sounds quite good. The title says it all about the women often killed.
DeleteYou have some good picks. I read every Hardy Boys book when I was a kid and loved that series. I know I've seen lots of films with this theme, but none specifically come to mind at the moment. There are a lot of them though--I do know that.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Well there are films about The Hardy Boys although an never saw any. I did watch the tv show from way back.
DeleteI'm glad we match on Rear Window! That's such a great film. I haven't seen your other two picks, but I think i've seen a scene or two from Frantic.
ReplyDeleteYes, we match! Rear Window is the clear winner this week. I think you would like Frantic and even Arabesque
DeleteGosh I've not seen these films in decades, I did like Rear Window, despite Grace Kelly, whom I've never like as an actress unlike Sophia Loren, in this fabulous film, Frantic has Harrison Ford... say no more lol, Kate x
ReplyDeleteGlad you like these films and that you saw them. You are the rare person who does not like Grace Kelly whom, I might admit, is a bit over-rated. Harrison Ford is so nice looking-had a big crush on him.
DeleteThree excellent choices!
ReplyDeleteHope today is pain free.
Thanks! I always hope for a pain free day:)
DeleteAnything with Miss Marple!
ReplyDeleteI must see Margaret Rutherford as Miss. Marple.
DeleteI've never seen any of these and I've never even heard of one of them. However, I always love your take on the plot lines and your additional take on various characters, too. Hope your week is going well, dear.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I hit on a movie you actually see :) I so love that you visit me..hugs.
DeleteI've never seen Arabesque but I do love both Rear Window and Frantic.
ReplyDeleteThe plot is a bit messy but it is still so much fun and worth a watch.
DeleteAnother Rear Window!
ReplyDeleteOoooh and great pick with Frantic. Such a great film.
Thanks and Rear Window is the clear winner.
DeleteNope, never was interested in detecting. I prefer puzzles of a different sort. I did love Rear Window (and I think we can consider Hitchcock also a problematic human being, although his films were brilliant). Haven't seen the other two.
ReplyDeletePuzzles are fun and I love them. Problematic is an understatement when it comes to Hitchcock.
DeleteRear Window is my favorite Hitchcock movie and a big favorite in general. I saw Frantic a long time ago and don't remember it very well. Rear Window would be one of my choices along with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day searching for their kidnapped son in The Man Who Knew Too Much. I have to go with Hitch for my third choice, too: Shadow of a Doubt. Young lady Charlie (Teresa Wright) suspects Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) of murder. One of my sisters once sat next to Joseph Cotten in a bar or restaurant. Someone told her who he was, but she didn't remember him from any movies.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I so love your choices!! I almost did only Hitchcock films and I love Shadow of a Doubt which is brilliant! I would have been mush and unable to speak if I sat next to Joseph Cotten.
DeleteREAR WINDOW is definitely the clear winner this week and it's not surprising. Ooooh I almost went with Arabesque which is such a fun movie, but I didn't want to be too indulgent w/ TWO Gregory Peck movies, ahah. I haven't seen FRANTIC though I like Harrison Ford.
ReplyDeleteNow that would have been cool to choose only Peck films. He was one of my earliest crushes and still is. I think you might like Frantic
DeleteI feel like I saw Rear Window many years ago- but I think I need to rewatch it as I don't remember much (so maybe I just saw part of it). All of these sound interesting- and different from each other too.
ReplyDelete~Jess
Oooh, you will love Rear Window as we are the voyeurs just like Stewart and become so engaged with all the characters.
DeleteFrantic was well done, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteYOU have a lovely day:)
It was quite well done. I wish you a lovely day as well. Enjoy all the moments.
DeleteI have seen 1 and 3 but not 2.
ReplyDeleteRear Window... one year, my teaching partner and I launched a filmmaking unit and we watched Rear Window as part of it. It wasn't the best choice for the age group. It's an "old" movie and they didn't take it very seriously. Lots of talking during the film. But... the moment when Raymond Burr looks up and spots Jimmy Stewart for the first time across the courtyard... you could have heard a pin drop. What an amazing shot - truly transcendent.
I feel like I've seen loads of such movies but now can't think of any. Everyone who tries is treading on Hitch's toes and people are understandably reluctant to do that.
What a shame the kids were not into it until that moment. They think an old movie is from 5years ago. I know what you mean about thinking what fits the theme. I could have done nothing but Hitchcock but I wanted to spread my wings.
DeleteRear Window is a classic. And Jimmy Stewart will always be one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteYOU have a wondrous day.
Rear Window is one of my all-time favorites too.
ReplyDeleteYou're a woman of impeccable taste.
Thank you, Birgit.
Hugs.