FilmJerk Favorites

A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| Henry Koster |||
Henry Koster

Although his name is not a household one, Koster is responsible for some of the most beloved and endearing films of the late studio system era.

This is a delightful comedy starring Cary Grant as a suave angel helping distraught bishop David Niven with a new cathedral and his wife's (Loretta Young) affections. This is a deftly handled comedy set within the religious world that never preaches, nor disrespects it’s subject matter - and Cary Grant ice skates!

Another comedy slash drama with religious overtones, that doesn’t stoop to pandering an opinion to its audience. Koster wisely allows this simple, but potently charming tale of two European nuns to unfold before our eyes as they come to New England and, guided by their faith and relentless determination, get a children's hospital built.

James Stewart stars as a good-hearted drunk whose constant companion is a six-foot, invisible rabbit named Harvey. In lesser, or heavier hands, this Broadway success may have suffered, but Koster allows Stewarts natural charm and audience appeal to be the fuel that runs this whacky engine.

Recommended by CarrieSpecht

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TCM Classic Film Festival: Day 1

By CarrieSpecht

April 23rd, 2010

A newly restored version of "A Star is Born" was given the red carpet treatment, while Esther Williams and the Aqualillies appeared poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel.

TCM Classic Film Festival: Day 1

Although the big ticket yesterday at the opening of the TCM Classic Film Festival was the red carpet gala premier of a newly restored 1954 version of “A Star is Born”, not all pass holders had access to that event (including me). The event was really something to see, even from a distance and through the plastic tents set up for the rain that never came. Most of the classic stars scheduled to appear during the festival walked the carpet, as well as some of Hollywood’s younger talent. Eli Wallach (“The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”) looked extremely dapper with his hues of lavender and purple, while Anne Jeffreys (Tess Trueheart of the “Dick Tracy” series) and Ann Rutherford (Polly of the “Andy Hardy” series) looked lovely in their matching peach ruffled pantsuits. And of course there was Ernest Borgnine, Eva Marie Saint, Alec Baldwin and many, many more. For pictures from the opening day go to http://www.tcm.com/festival/#/events/photo, or http://www.imdb.com/features/tcm/2010/gallery/tcm_day1.

The extravagant treatment for “A Star is Born” was a real crowd pleaser and an appropriate introduction to the much-anticipated screening of what Warner Bros. is calling a stunning restoration of the 1954 classic. It breaks my heart that I couldn’t be a part of the audience to watch this new release on the big screen for the first time, but the event was exclusive to the higher tier pass holders and certain members of the press. I, like most others, will have to wait until the film debuts on Blu-ray Disc June 22 before I can see just how impressive a job Warner Bros. was able to achieve.

However, festival attendees unable to attend the big event over at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre were not completely shut out of an exciting opening night. TCM provided a rather spectacular alternative over at the historic Roosevelt Hotel – poolside no less. Screen Legends Esther Williams and Betty Garrett introduced a screening of the 1949 aquatic musical “Neptune’s Daughter”. TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz was on hand to aid the ladies as the Aqualillies (http://www.aqualillies.com), a team of synchronized swimmers, gave a live water ballet performance before the screening. I have to say it was really quite enchanting to see six beautiful young women paying such a dynamic homage to two great classic stars. Even the swimsuits the Aqualillies wore were vintage in style based on bathing suits from the film designed by Williams herself. The poolside crowd audibly gasped as the performers completed Busby Berkeley-like patterns and occasionally leapt from the water. As an alternative to the gala event across the street, it wasn’t a bad way to start off the weekend. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the festival.