I have a friend who whenever I mention a movie always knows the director. Or if he doesn't, it's the first question he asks having grown up on the auteur theory despite being the same age as me. I grew up on the movie star theory so I usually know who acted in the movie. But directors are pretty darn important and one of my favorites is Howard Hawks. There are a dozen movies of his that rank in my top hundred, but if I had to chose one it would be BALL OF FIRE.
Hate to mention actors again, but these are two of the best.
What is your favorite Hawks movie?
21 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Patti - Oh, I am so terrible at matching directors and movies. I would have to think about that question...
Howard Hawks is amazing. I only recently caught up with I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE with Cary Grant, and it is hilarious. I also really like MONKEY BUSINESS (also with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers), HATARI, AIR FORCE, and TWENTIETH CENTURY, which is one of the best 1930s comedies and stars Carole Lombard and John Barrymore.
No one has mentioned Man's Favorite Sport--a Rock Hudson-Paula Prentiss rom-com from the early 1960s. Despite Paula's fabulous Camelot-era wardrobe, not exactly Howard's finest hour.
I'm no disciple of the auteur theory, but for me movies are a product of collaboration. An actor's performance relies so heavily on the director and the writers, even the editor. I'm usually thinking of all of them as I watch a movie.
I agree completely, Ron. But when I remember movies it is usually the actors that come to mind with few exceptions. I guess I was raised on movie star love.
All those mentioned are classics. I'll add TWENTIETH CENTURY into the mix because it's a very personal favorite of mine. (pause) Well, Cullen beat me to that one as I read backwards in these comments.
Ron is right about the editors. They are the unsung heroes of cinema. Movie making is more of a editor's medium than it is a director's meidum. It can be shot, lit, designed and acted to perfection but without the right editing it can turn out a mess.I think young filmmakers are finlaly figuring this out and that's why we see more and more director/editors these days rather than director/writers.
Patricia Abbott is the author of more than 125 stories that have appeared online, in print journals and in various anthologies. She is the author of two print novels CONCRETE ANGEL (2015) and SHOT IN DETROIT (2016)(Polis Books). CONCRETE ANGEL was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award in 2016. SHOT IN DETROIT was nominated for an Edgar Award and an Anthony Award in 2017. A collection of her stories I BRING SORROW AND OTHER STORIES OF TRANSGRESSION will appear in 2018.
She also authored two ebooks, MONKEY JUSTICE and HOME INVASION and co-edited DISCOUNT NOIR. She won a Derringer award for her story "My Hero." She lives outside Detroit.
Patricia (Patti) Abbott
SHOT IN DETROIT
Edgar Nominee 2017, Anthony nominee 2017
CONCRETE ANGEL
Polis Books, 2015-nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards
21 comments:
Patti - Oh, I am so terrible at matching directors and movies. I would have to think about that question...
Me, too. I think of actors and movies rather than directors. Thank God for IMDB to check it out.
Bringing Up Baby
Only Angels Have Wings
His Girl Friday
Rio Bravo
Jeff M.
Have to be RIO BRAVO. Although BRINGING UP BABY and THE BIG SLEEP are right up there.
Very few if any directors have made more great and different genre movies.
RIO BRAVO would certainly be my favorite western.
I couldn't choose between THE BIG SLEEP and HIS GIRL FRIDAY.
THE BIG SLEEP and RIO BRAVO. Classics!
Howard Hawks is amazing. I only recently caught up with I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE with Cary Grant, and it is hilarious. I also really like MONKEY BUSINESS (also with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers), HATARI, AIR FORCE, and TWENTIETH CENTURY, which is one of the best 1930s comedies and stars Carole Lombard and John Barrymore.
And don't forget Marilyn in MB. I loved MWB. I have never seen AIR FORCE.
No one has mentioned Man's Favorite Sport--a Rock Hudson-Paula Prentiss rom-com from the early 1960s. Despite Paula's fabulous Camelot-era wardrobe, not exactly Howard's finest hour.
Rock was no Cary. But Paula is always splendid.
Probably sacrilege for a western fan, but I'd watch HIS GIRL FRIDAY again before RIO BRAVO or RED RIVER. Love that movie.
I'm no disciple of the auteur theory, but for me movies are a product of collaboration. An actor's performance relies so heavily on the director and the writers, even the editor. I'm usually thinking of all of them as I watch a movie.
I agree completely, Ron. But when I remember movies it is usually the actors that come to mind with few exceptions. I guess I was raised on movie star love.
Put that way, Patti, I'm probably more of your persuasion. BTW, the clip from Ball of Fire is laugh-out-loud wonderful.
I know this is a minority opinion but when I finally saw I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE I was extremely disappointed. I didn't find it funny at all.
Jeff M.
All those mentioned are classics. I'll add TWENTIETH CENTURY into the mix because it's a very personal favorite of mine. (pause) Well, Cullen beat me to that one as I read backwards in these comments.
Ron is right about the editors. They are the unsung heroes of cinema. Movie making is more of a editor's medium than it is a director's meidum. It can be shot, lit, designed and acted to perfection but without the right editing it can turn out a mess.I think young filmmakers are finlaly figuring this out and that's why we see more and more director/editors these days rather than director/writers.
Everyone stole my answers: His Girl Friday, Rio Bravo, Red River, and The Big Sleep are in the top tier.
The Thing From Another Planet - yeah, that was a Howard Hawks movie. Bringing Up Baby is the other one.
Twentieth Century was Howard Hawks????? If so, ignore what I said on my previous comment. THIS is the movie for me. :)
The Thing From Another World....Gak!!
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