Classic Movies for Intermediates

This is what you need to be watching instead of new movies!

“Get him on the Ameche!” • Moon Over Miami (1941)

So, you’ve crossed the movie Rubicon, huh?

You’ve entered the great halls of Old Hollywood Cinema. You’ve already watched all movies in my earlier post, Classic Movies for Beginners. You’ve begun to declare, sometimes a little too often but always with great conviction, that 1939 was the best movie year. You’ve walked further into the movie lot and taken a fancy to actors such as Don Ameche, Kay Francis, Lizabeth Scott, Judy Holliday, Dan Duryea, Ronald Colman, Claude Rains, Brian Donlevy and Roscoe Carns. You understand, correctly, that classic movies are a hundred times better than modern movies, and you’ve begun spreading the word.

OK, hop in the car with us! We’re going back in time, baby. All the way to the end of the line.

All About Eve — Bette Davis knows what’s up

Palm Beach Story (1942) — Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert and draaama

Here’s a list of classic movies that I personally love and have seen many times over.

Classic movie challenge level: Intermediate.

• Moon Over Miami (1941) — need a pick me up? This is an instant mood booster with Don Ameche and Betty Grable being super super sweet. I watch it when I am down and need a color splash and Don Ameche’s lovely smile!

• Palm Beach Story (1942) — Mary Astor pops up later on with her poor boyfriend Toto. Claudette Colbert is gorgeous as usual.

• Born Yesterday (1950) — my favorite Judy Holliday movie. I absolutely adore her in this role.

• His Girl Friday (1940) — Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell doing their thing and you run out of breath just watching them talk faster than a machine gun.

• Sunrise (1927) — painfully beautiful silent movie. A must watch. You will think about this movie for years.

• The Clock (1945) — adorable and sweet love story with Judy Garland and Robert Walker.

• All About Eve (1950) — essential watching, and each time you watch it you’ll notice more and more details. Bette Davis is magnetic.

• Strangers on a Train (1951) — highly disturbing and fabulous Hitchcock movie.

• The Quiet Man (1952) — love watching this movie at least once a year. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara are electric together.

• The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) — Jimmy Stewart flies over the Atlantic (and a fly catches a ride!)

• Twentieth Century (1934) — Carole Lombard and John Barrymore are stellar. Watch this movie many times. John Barrymore should be studied. He is a genius of a magnitude off the charts.

• Ninotchka (1939) — Greta Garbo does comedy and it’s funny! Also love her sidekicks.

• Boom Town (1940) — Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy look for oil and fight over Claudette Colbert, and it glorious!

• Gaslight (1940, 1944) — the Anton Walbrook version is a smidgen more sinister, but Charles Boyer’s sparkling eyes and “Paula” lines are not far behind.

• Lost Horizon (1937) — where Shangri-La comes from. Ronald Colman is handsome and everything is magical up there in the mountains.

• The Great McGinty (1940) — for anyone else who also has a bit of a crush on Brian Donlevy.

Well, what do you think? Did you find any gems in the pile?

Let us know in the comments!

His Girl Friday (1940) — a few seconds of silence while they both light a cigarette!

Gaslight — Anton Walbrook edition!

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