The Friday Five

So, I thought I'd start a new little feature here at Guilford Road: the Friday Five (an idea I shamelessly ripped off some other blog I read). Of course, it may end up like the other new little feature I started about a year ago, the Tuesday book review, that lasted exactly one week. Commitment: maybe not really my thing. But...we'll give it a whirl. Each Friday I'll list my top five of something, then you feel free to list your top five in that category in the comments. If you want. Or not.

Top Five Favorite Classic Comedies (Oh, and these are not in any particular order)

1. Sabrina w/ Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Powell. Do not be fooled by that ridiculous remake with Harrison Ford and whats-her-name. Lame. I like remakes (see: "Father of the Bride"), but it's pretty hard to match up to Audrey and Humphrey; though Greg Kinnear can give William Powell a run for his money. Anyway, it's fun to see Bogart loosen up and do a little comedy: I occasionally use the line, "I wish I were dead with my back broken." The ending scene is priceless (and another reason why the remake stunk. But I don't really have strong feelings about it.)

2. Auntie Mame w/ Rosalind Russell and a bunch of other people and well, really just Rosalind Russell. I saw this first when I was just a kid and thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. Some movies don't hold up to our childhood memories, but this one's even better viewing now. The costumes! Oh! Rosalind Russell played this part on stage as well and owns it. Do not be fooled by the musical with Lucille Ball. Favorite scene: the foxhunt. ("Look the animal in the eye with a masterful gaze. Look the master in the eye with an animal gaze.")

3. The Philadelphia Story. Ahhh. Cary Grant. Jimmy Stewart. It's probably everyone else's favorite too, but I don't care. Little sister Dinah almost steals the movie, except for Jimmy Stewart's intoxicated-oh-C-K-Dexter-Haaaaaaven! scene, which he totally deserved the Oscar just for that.

4. The Thin Man and After the Thin Man. Really, any Thin Man movie. If you have never seen these, I implore you to. Even if you don't think you like old movies, you will love these. In my personal opinion, William Powell and Myrna Loy was the funniest pairing in movie history. I never fail to burst into laughter during the bedroom gun scene. You will thank me.

...and on that note...

5. Love Crazy or Double Wedding or I Love You Again (do you like how I've sneaked a lot more than five onto this list?) all by Powell/Loy. Back before our Great Cable Turnoff of '06, TCM used to run actor marathons. Most of the time I didn't care--John Wayne, I'm looking at you--but if it was a William Powell marathon? Forget it, I didn't work for the rest of the day. Watch these with a box of Kleenex: to wipe away the tears of laughter.

...and on a side note: one of my favorite William Powell's is called The Ex-Mrs. Bradford, but it's not available on DVD, otherwise I'd have it in my top five. Another favorite is called Mr. and Mrs. North, starring Gracie Allen, which I once saw on TV years ago but have never been able to find since. I hate when that happens.

So, if you're looking for something to watch this weekend and you feel like laughing, I offer you the above. Tell me what you think. Anybody else?