Eternally Yours (1939)

No. 92 earned a thumbs down from me. Despite the allure and charm of the stars, Loretta Young and David Niven, this movie failed to entertain me. The plot and setting jumped all over the place. While the two characters ended up together (twice!), I wanted them to stay apart! They were too different and wanted such different lifestyles. Many skilled actors were terrifically underused as supporting cast members -- Billie Burke! Not recommended.

Paradise Express (1937)

No. 91 in my old-movies blog binge was fantastic! So much train action, some tragic, some thrilling. Many comedic scenes with snappy dialogue offset the serious subject matter of murderous racketeers trying to drive the local railway company out of business so the mobster-controlled trucking company would have a monopoly. This movie was written before monopoly laws, the RICO Act (1970!), and speed limits for and signal lights on cars! So many dangerous acts that would today be breaking laws we take for granted.

Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937)

No. 90 in my watching/blogging streak of old movies. This British comedy train movie was great! The star Will Hay, acclaimed British comedic actor, reminded me a lot of Buster Keaton. Slapstick and goofball antics throughout this ghost story-mystery-hijacking had me laughing aloud often. I'm still smiling while writing about all that silliness. Lots of excellent train action for this train fan.

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

AKA in the US "Stairway to Heaven" stars David Niven as a WW II master bomber whose plane is bound to crash, so he bales out without a parachute. Somehow he survives, but it's a mistake. Before the error is noticed in the other realm, he falls in love. When Conductor 71 arrives to take him on, he pleads for a second chance at life with his new love. A trial is set in "heaven" to hear his case. This movie is amazing and weird and wonderful and memorable. Niven is great, as are his costars.

Alive and Kicking (1958)

No. 88 in my old- movie binge. This British comedy contains lots of sweet moments. I adored watching a film starring three older women. The theme of found family was endearing.

Trivia: Richard Harris's first film role! 

Easy Living (1937)

This screwball comedy-romance-satire, with oodles of slapstick and pratfalls, stars Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, and baby Ray Milland, directed by Mitchell Leisen. Jean Arthur is fab! 😍 Any movie with a scene in an Automat is A+ in my book. I'm always surprised how the women characters in 1930s movies are dripping in furs! In the midst of the Great Depression. I'm sure that costuming choice is a comment on inequality in this flick, but it's almost ubiquitous in that era's movies, so I'm a little sceptical of the true intent. Funny movie ... so who really cares?

Lady on a Train (1945)

This flick stars Deanna Durbin, a Canadian! It was refreshing to watch a movie where the protagonist was a woman. This is not a musical, but she sings 3 songs: what a great voice! Plot: a madcap comedy is smashed together with a noirish murder mystery. The casual racism of the 1940s is tough to take, and there's not much "train" despite the title. The comedy bits were pretty good.

Adventure in Manhattan (1936)

This comedy-thriller-mystery stars Jean Arthur -- a delight -- and Joel McCrea. It's one of those puzzlers where the audience knows whodunit and the "criminologist"/reporter has to figure it out and prove his theory and catch the thief ... because no one believes his story about whodunit.

Not bad. Good actors.