CMBA profiles one member every month. This month's interview is with Maddy who blogs at Maddy Loves Her Classic Films. Maddy loves all genres but her go-to favorites are film noir and romance.
What Sparked Your Interest in Classic Film?
A combination of things really. I grew up during the 1990’s and watched many of the Disney animated classics such as The Jungle Book, Aladdin, Bambi on video. Those Disney classics were my first foray into film. Classic musicals including Singin’ In The Rain, The King And I and South Pacific came next, and I loved every second of them.
A combination of things really. I grew up during the 1990’s and watched many of the Disney animated classics such as The Jungle Book, Aladdin, Bambi on video. Those Disney classics were my first foray into film. Classic musicals including Singin’ In The Rain, The King And I and South Pacific came next, and I loved every second of them.
I
was very interested in dance when I was little and one day my mum and dad
brought me the video of the documentary That’s Dancing. That documentary
not only introduced me to Fred and Ginger and The Nicholas Brothers, but also
to lots of other classic stars and films. This documentary was what really got
me exploring the work of different actors and seeing more films from that era.
My
dad is a big fan of John Wayne and he owned many of the Duke’s flicks on video.
I would often sit and watch these films with him when I was little. El Dorado
and True Grit have become great favourites of mine. In my teens and early
twenties I started watching Hitchcock films, foreign language films and silent
films. I’ve been a fan of the classics ever since. You can read my post about
how I learnt to love Silent cinema here.
https://maddylovesherclassicfilms.wordpress.com/2019/03/10/learning-to-love-silent-films/
What
film genre(s) do you favor?
My regular followers already
know how much I love Film Noir(yes I do consider it a genre rather than a
style)and that it is my favourite/go to genre. I also really love romance,
drama, thriller, comedy and horror. Check my post on Film Noir here. https://maddylovesherclassicfilms.wordpress.com/2019/11/02/noirvember-taking-a-walk-through-the-dark-alleys-of-film-noir/
You
mention you are a big admirer of Sherlock Holmes. Which came first, the Arthur
Conan Doyle stories or the films, and which actor is your favorite Holmes.
I
do indeed! He’s such a fascinating character and is one of the few who has been
taken to the hearts of readers and viewers and become a cultural icon. As someone
who is on the Autistic Spectrum, I have also developed a great affection for
Sherlock due to character traits and descriptions of him which seem to infer
that he could well be on the spectrum himself. I came to the stories and the Basil Rathbone
film adaptations at more or less the same time actually. I love Basil in the
role and he certainly looks the part. I thought that he was the definitive
Holmes for some years, that is until I discovered the Jeremy Brett TV series
and my opinion quickly changed. Jeremy IS Sherlock Holmes. He inhabited that
role and brought the character to life in a way that I don’t think the other
actors have ever managed to do. I recommend that series to all Holmes fans,
although I have to say that I don’t think that the final season(The Memoirs)is
anywhere near as good as the first three are.
What
is your “go to” classic film when you need something to lift up your spirits?
It
depends what I’m going through, but Some Like It Hot, or Audrey Hepburn
films such as Roman Holiday or Paris When It Sizzles will usually
do the trick. I’ll often watch old miniseries too. Anything with my beloved
George Sanders and Cary Grant in can be guaranteed to raise a smile.
Name
three films that most classic film fans love, but you hate, and if you can tell
us why?
Doctor
Zhivago –
David Lean is my favourite director, but I’m afraid that I can’t stand this
film. A rare dud from a master of his craft. Visually it’s stunning and
beautiful, but I don’t care about any of the characters and think most of the
performances come across as being quite wooden. There’s also no chemistry
between Omar and Julie. David Lean was usually so good at getting the balance
of intimate human drama and epic visuals just right, so that one didn’t
overshadow the other. I don’t know what went wrong here.
Blow-Up
- I think it’s so pretentious
and it just leaves me cold.
Stage
Fright -
I love Hitchcock films, but I’m afraid that this one does nothing for me at
all. I feel it lacks the suspense and edge of so much of the rest of his work.
What
makes a film "classic" in your opinion? Do you have a favorite
period?
For
me a film is a classic if it is able to make an impact on viewers outside of
the era it was made in. If generation after generation can enjoy a film and
keep watching it then it is a classic. I also think that there are classics to
be found in every decade of filmmaking, but the classic film era is called the
classic era for a good reason. So many films that are classics were made in
that era. I love all film periods, but I love the 1940’s the most. I think that
was one of the greatest decades in film history, plus it gave us Film Noir! I
also adore the Silent era because it’s where it all began. The artistry and
innovation evident in the silent films is breathtaking. I have nothing but love
for Pre-Code films too.
Why
Should people care about “old” black and white movies?
Because these films are
some of the greatest and most enjoyable films of all time. Without them, film most
likely wouldn’t even exist now! If people are only watching films from the
present day(I pity them if they are, seeing as how so many films today are
total dross)they are missing out on some of the best and most influential films
to have ever been made. If you don’t go back to the late 1800’s and start at
the very beginning of cinema, then how are you to have any appreciation, or understanding
of how film began and how it has evolved and changed over the years? Don’t just
stick with films from your own country either, branch out and explore foreign
language classic era(and present day)films. Japan and India in particular offer
a ridiculous amount of classic era cinematic riches for you to enjoy.
All
film fans, and anyone who works in the film industry, owe the Silent pioneers and
the classic film era a huge debt of gratitude in my opinion. I don’t know about
any of you, but it makes me so sad to think there are people today who don’t
know who Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Ida
Lupino, Sidney Poitier, Claude Rains, John Ford, Billy Wilder, Jack Cardiff,
Cary Grant, David Lean, Satyajit Ray, Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire,
Eleanor Powell, James Wong Howe, Powell and Pressburger, Buster Keaton, Anna
May Wong, Clara Bow, Setsuko Hara, Marlene Dietrich, Oscar Micheaux, Richard
Conte, James Stewart, Edith Head, Adrian, Lon Chaney Sr, Taksahi Shimura, Bette
Davis, Joan Crawford, Bogie and Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, Deborah Kerr etc are.
Do
you have interests in any other arts that you can share?
I dabble
in creative writing. I’m also passionate about radio and love coming across those
old radio shows starring classic actors. I actually worked in radio myself for
some years. I’ve always admired those who can paint and sculpt, and I wish I
had that amazing gift myself.
