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February 5, 2013 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

Tuesdays Overlooked Film: Apartment for Peggy (1948)

Apartment for Peggy is a 1948 film directed by George Seaton (“Miracle on 34th Street”) and starring Edmund Gwenn (also of “Miracle”), William Holden and Jeanne Crain. It was based on the novelette An Apartment for Jenny written by Faith Baldwin.

william-holden-jeanne-crain-edmund-gwenn-apartment-for-peggy

Gwenn plays Professor Henry Barnes, whose spirits are lifted when he rents part of his home to a couple. The husband Jason Taylor (Holden) is a returning soldier, studying at the university, courtesy of the G.I. Bill. His wife, Peggy (Crain) is youthful and vibrant and ultimately the catalyst for pulling Professor Barnes from the path of depression, renewing his lease on the joys of life.

What I like most about this film is the cast. While Gwenn is largely known for being St. Nick, he was quite the accomplished and varied actor. Jeanne Crain is always a screen presence that for me at least projected a kind of warmth and feeling of comfort. And then there is William Holden – dreamy William Holden. While this film does not fall into category of his “breakthrough” years (all started in 1950 with his performance in Sunset Boulevard on through to performances in Stalag 17 and Bridge On the River Kwai), here his performance is solid enough turn as a G.I. (which he was in real life) returning to the home front and adjusting to life.

Granted this film is sorta lightweight (in spite of the fact that the subject of suicide DOES come up), I think that it is worth a look-see at the very least. Check out other forgotten/overlooked films at Todd Mason’s blog – Sweet Freedom.

afp lobby

Filed Under: Overlooked Films Tagged With: apartment for peggy, edmund gwenn, jeanne crain, william holden

December 16, 2009 By idawson 1 Comment

‘Tis the Season! Christmas Pix, Volume 4

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) has it all – the cute, precocious kid (Natalie Wood), a fantastic Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn) that makes you want to believe, and an awesome story to boot. There have been remakes of course – including television productions in 1955 and 1979 and a 1994 feature film but nothing beats the original.

Filed Under: Fun Stuff Tagged With: christmas movies, edmund gwenn, maureen o'hara, miracle on 34th street, natalie wood, santa claus

October 18, 2009 By idawson 1 Comment

Just finished The Walking Dead

walking deadIn the spirit of Halloween, there seems to be a proliferation of horror films that come out in the month of October. In the realm of classic cinema, I have a new entry to my library – The Walking Dead, a 1936 feature starring Boris Karloff, Edmund Gwenn (jolly ole Saint Nick himself) and directed by Michael Curtiz.

This film was clearly exploiting the popularity of Karloff’s performance as Frankenstein another more recognizable tale of a man being brought back to life. In the case of The Walking Dead, I think I have my earliest cinematic experience with the revenge thriller of a man avenging the frame-up that has sent him to the electric chair.

This film also touches on the subject of “crossing over” and what is on the other side after our terrestrial lives cease to be. Of course, that is left unanswered and unfulfilled in some respects but it is rather tantalizing in that you are hoping for some explanation even if you do not go along with it.

For enthusiasts of films from this era, I think the film merits a look-see. Yes you know how the events will eventually unfold but the beauty and enjoyment is in the bearing witness to it.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 1930's cinema, boris karloff, edmund gwenn, horror, michael curtiz, TCM, the walking dead

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