Babes In Arms (1939) Good Mornin!

Babes in Arms (1939) / MGM Studios

Starring: Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland

Directed By: Busby Berkeley / Nominated for 2 Oscars including Best Actor

Starring: Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland

Plot:

This film centers on a young man named Mickey Moran (Rooney) whom is from a musical family whom has his eyes on a lovely girl named Patsi Barton (Garland). One day the opportunity of his lifetime comes to Mickey which is to set up his own show with the help of Patsi. The young couple in love together work hard to put together the best musical show in there own backyard with many opsticles. This film has many lovely musical numbers with of course the help of Busby Berkeley!

One has to love the beloved pair of Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland where they reigned supreme as MGM's huge box-office draw! MGM often paired these actors whom had instant chemistry on camera and were best of friends off camera. Mutual respect was held from these stars whom always spoke highly of one another. If you have never watched this pair teamed up do so and you will see why MGM found countless opportunities to pair them up time and time again where the plot would be very alike though as the stars got bigger and the movies did great via the box-office the budget would increase to have more lavish musical numbers arranged by the famed Busby Berkley.

Ninotchka (1939) Garbo Laughs!

 

 

Ninotchka (1939) MGM Studios

Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch / Nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Actress & Picture
Starring: Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas & Bela Lugosi

This comedy was billed by MGM as the first film that Garbo laughed!!!

This classic is on my "Top 10 of '39"

Plot:
This was bills itself as a movie goer would for the first time ever see Greta Garbo laugh loudly and not be her typical dramatic role. For Garbo this was a new medium which was going into the comedy/romance area of motion pictures but she excelled.  

At the beginning of the film we meet Ninotchka (Garbo) who is not the friendly, has a more severe style in her fashion, hair and attitude. Ninotchka heads to Paris for the reason that it was asked by her Russian envoy to go to this city and see how the Russian Ambassadors were or were not doing properly. Ninotchka is

sent since she is a no nonsense lady who gets assigned to a task and never looses site of it until the completion. Now time for small talk, getting acquainted, etc is Ninotchka's way. The Ambassadors rather than selling jewels from the Grand Dut-chess Swana they are being lured by all luxuries afforded by the hotel and the way of life by Count d'Algout, Leon (Douglas).

The hilarious part on top of this is that Ninotchka is there to find out any issues and sees them being done all the time by the Ambassadors due to the Count Leon's vary suave and charismatic ways. Before we know it Ninotchka starts to fall for the Count's spell which starts to have her loosen up, enjoying life, wearing more lovely clothing, and even laughing...to think! This is one excellent film from MGM in 1939 which is touted at the height of best movie making being that year and this is right on that list as well!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) / RKO Studios

Directed By: Williams Dieterie / Nominated for 2 Oscars including Best Music

Starring: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara & Edmond O'Brien

 

 

Plot:

This true classic based on the novel by Victor Hugo was made in 1939 by RKO Studios. This gem is part of the best year of motion pictures and stands the test of time to be a wonderfully acted film by Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, and Edmond O'Brien.

The film centers on the relationship between a very lonely and socially a cast-off Quasimoto (Laughton) and Esmeralda (O'Hara). Frollo (Cedric Hardwicke) gazes on the gypsy girl, Esmeralda, in the church during Fool's Day and sends Quasimoto to catch her. Quasimoto, with the girl, is captured by Phoebus, Captain of the Guards, who frees the girl. The courts sentence Quasimoto to be flogged, and the only one who will give him water while he is tied in the square is Esmeralda. Later, at a party of nobles, Esmeralda again meets both Frollo, who is bewitched by her, and Phoebus. When Phoebus is stabbed to death, Esmeralda is accused of the murder, convicted by the court and sentenced to hang. Clopin, King of the Beggars, Gringoire the Husband of Esmeralda, and Quasimoto, the bellringer, all try different ways to save her from the gallows.