It’s been a bit of a dark week for me--but we’ve all been there, right? Some of us seek comfort in our own ways, whether it’s doing yoga, cuddling with our pets, eating ice cream out of the carton, or listening to music. As for me, I find solace in revisiting my favorite films. Once I get past the hardest part (picking which one to watch!) then that’s when I am able to unwind and feel like myself again. These are my typical movie picks (in no particular order) to bring sunshine on a cloudy day:
1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
You can tell from the very beginning of Singin’ in the Rain that you’re in for a fun ride, but then the fun is kicked up a notch when Debbie Reynolds bursts through the cake presented at the Hollywood premiere party scene 22 minutes into the film. Everyone in the cast contributed to making this film delightful: Debbie makes the film cheery with her sunny disposition, Gene Kelly’s beautifully choreographed dance numbers are absolutely mesmerizing (as they usually are) and Donald O’Connor and Jean Hagen’s comedic performances elevate the film’s witty humor. Singin’ in the Rain was the film I decided on watching this week to cheer me up, and it’s been one of my go-to’s since I watched it for the first time in a film course I took in college. It never fails to pick me up and make me laugh and smile again.
2. Clueless (1995)
If you’ve never seen Clueless before, WATCH IT, because it is unlike any other film in the “teen movie” genre. I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of watching the fabulous and bubbly character Cher’s quest for purpose in between hilarious happenings within her high school social scene. To me, watching Cher’s emotional journey of ups and downs serves as an excellent reminder that high school or even college is not “the time” to find yourself, but finding yourself is a search that lasts a lifetime - and it’s OKAY to make mistakes as you go along. Clueless is fun, extremely well-written and way smarter than it appears on the surface. In fact, after multiple viewings, I’ve found myself picking up on things that had previously gone unnoticed or over my head.
3. Basically, any film starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers (1933-1939)
Throughout the 1930’s, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were one of Hollywood’s most famous duos, starring in a number of musical films throughout the decade (and one later on in 1949!). Their legacy is mostly attributed to the scores of dance sequences they performed together in their nine films with RKO Pictures, which are absolutely mesmerizing. But these films are also fun, cheery, witty, and make for the perfect go-to films when I’m feeling sad. Fred and Ginger’s dance numbers are utterly mesmerizing, and watching their incredible talents shine brightly as they dance together is always a delight. And with the performances of comedic supporting actors Eric Blore, Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick and Erik Rhodes, along with Ginger’s sharp wit, these films never fail to make me laugh. If I HAD TO narrow down their films to a single selection, I'd turn on Top Hat or The Gay Divorcee.
4. The Lady Eve (1941)
The Lady Eve is one of my go-to suggestions for people who make the uniformed claim that they don’t enjoy classic films, because they are missing out on one of the funniest films I have ever seen! This film, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, possesses some of the comedic magic that has been lost over time, and Preston Sturges (director) shows us how today’s romantic comedies SHOULD be done. Stanwyck and Fonda, who were usually best-known for dramatic roles, managed to surprise audiences with their comic abilities--and the finished product was brilliantly witty. Not to mention that Stanwyck’s conwoman character is FIERCE...and I love watching every minute of her screentime!
5. Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
If I had to pick a Judy Garland movie to cheer me up, hands down I would pick Meet Me in St. Louis over The Wizard of Oz every time! While Judy may have been considered the film’s star, six-year-old Margaret O’Brien definitely stole the show in one of the most adorably comic performances I’ve ever seen as Judy’s character’s youngest sister! Judy’s performance, especially in musical numbers, was certainly riveting and touching, but it’s Margaret’s performance that infuses the film with witty (and sometimes dark) humor as Tootie, the cute and troublemaking little sister. With a perfect combination of beautiful musical numbers, comedic moments, and touching family themes, Meet Me in St. Louis is pure magic.
6. Tangled (2010)
Basically, any Disney movie can turn my frown upside and put me at ease, but it’s Tangled where I find my happy place when I’m feeling blue. From my first viewing of Tangled in theaters, not only did notice, for the first time, the narrative shift Disney was attempting to enact into their “princess movies,” but I also found an identifiable character in Rapunzel.
As a multidimensional character, Rapunzel is bubbly, determined and loyal, and while she initially grapples with anxiety, she eventually steps out of her comfort zone and takes charge when overcoming obstacles in her path. But let’s also talk about Flynn Rider: Disney finally nailed the perfect male character in a Disney princess film (which was totally their intention)! Flynn had me floored since that first viewing in the movie theater, where he sweet-talked and charmed his way into my heart. Disney also created the most visually stunning scene, in my opinion, during the “I See the Light” musical number, where scores of floating lanterns enchanted the screen and gave me chills from pure amazement. It was unlike anything else they've every done, and every part of the scene from the animation to the music was absolutely beautiful and moving.
7. Show People (1928)
Earlier I had mentioned that I have “go-to film suggestions” for people who tell me they don’t like classic films (which typically means they’ve seen little to none). But Show People, a recent favorite of mine, tops the list of suggestions for people who claim they would not enjoy watching a silent film (excuse me while I roll my eyes).
This 1928 silent gem, starring Marion Davies and the lovable ham William Haines is a pure delight start-to-finish, especially due to the well-played satirical comedy focused on critiquing the Hollywood lifestyle--humor that is still relevant today. It’s genuinely funny, touching, and definitely a film that can make my heart happy.
What are your "go-to films" that you would flock to when you need cheering up? Tweet me your faves @missjulia1207!
