Falling In Love With Classic Fall Movies

It’s that time of the year again for my seasonal favorite classic movies: Fall edition. These are my top 10 movies that I love to watch when the air turns crisp, the leaves begin to change into their brilliant colors, and the sweet smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice everything fills the air. There is no certain order to the list, though my number one favorite is listed as number one. It’s no surprise too that a few of these are from Alfred Hitchcock. His movies are what inspired my love for the classics and some are truly spooky with a bit of thrill to them. Speaking of, you’ll find some scary thrillers on this list for Halloween and also breathtaking fall foliage along with back to school themes. Without further ado, here are my favorite fall classics, with one honorable mention at the end! 

1. The Trouble With Harry: 

This is without a doubt my most favorite fall movie. I watch it as soon as fall begins and then a few times after. I watched it just this past weekend and it truly never gets old. The trouble with Harry is that he is dead. It’s as simple as that! It’s a Hitchcock movie that doesn’t necessarily feel like a Hitchcock one, but the suspense is still there along with a good dose of English humor. This was Shirley MacLaine’s first big movie role and she fit the part perfectly. The little boy, that’s Jerry Matthews or more commonly know as The Beaver from Leave It To Beaver. The best part about the movie is the scenery. The breathtaking views of the Vermont countryside at their peak in October. A fun fact, the film crew got most of the exterior shots done for the movie, though not all, before a snow storm hit the area and knocked all of the leaves off of the trees. Afterwards, everyone packed up and headed back to Los Angles to complete filming on a sound stage. Hitchcock had the idea to also pack up the leaves that had fallen off of the trees and ship them to LA as well. When they arrived, they were painted and then pinned to the trees on the set. Pretty cool idea! 

 2. Psycho: 

Arguably, this is Hitchcock’s most famous movie and with good reason too. Ever been afraid to take a shower? It’s becuase of this movie. It’s quite a psychological thriller with twists and turns and one of, if not the best, psychological killers out there. Anthony Perkins portrayal of Normal Bates is a masterpiece to watch. No one could have quite played the part like he did. I actually based my high school senior project on this movie, specifically Norman Bates. I’m not sure if schools still require the year long “senior project” but at the time mine did. I researched mental health focusing on multiple personality disorder, which is what Norman Bates suffers from. While doing my presentation, I showed clips form the movie, which my teeachers LOVED. 

 3. Murder By Death:

This is such a good movie and one that is underrated in my opinion! It’s a classic who done it starring one of my favorite detectives of all time, Peter Faulk (who plays Colombo on television.)  This movie reminds me very much of the game Clue, which I also love. I even have a Hitchcock edition of Clue! The plot revolves around five famous literary detectives and their sidekicks who are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even crazier murder. The halarity that ensues is priceless! There are so many great actors in this too from Peter Faulk, Peter Sellers, Alec Guinesses, David Niven, Maggie Smith, James Coco, and even Truman Capote. James Coco’s character of Milo Perrier portrays the famous Hercule Poirot and is my favorite in the movie. He’s just too funny! A fun fact is that while Alec Guinness was filming this movie he was reading a script he recently received from a little known director named George Lucas. That movie, Star Wars. 

4. When Harry Met Sally:  

This movie has to be one of the most popular rom coms ever made. While it does go through multiple seasons, the fall foliage ones are amazingly beautiful. The true quest of the movie is debating the question if men and women can truly be just friends without becoming romantically involved. I love Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in this movie. Their chemistry together is superb and of course the New York backdrop fits in perfectly as well.  

5. Bell, Book, And Candle:  

Kim Novak entrances in this film with her hypnotic eyes that cast a romantic spell. If you like witches, this one is for you. This movie actually inspired the beloved television classic Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery. Kim plays a modern day witch living in a New York apartment when a handsome gentleman, Jimmy Stewart, moves into the apartment above her.   Jack Lemmon also stars as Kim’s brother with magical powers as well. 

6. The Birds:  

Another Hitchcock classic (aren’t they all?!) that takes a look at what happens when birds decide they’ve had enough and start attacking people. Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren star in this masterpiece where survival becomes the priority. I love this movie. It’s one of my most watched Hitchcock films and one of my most watched all time films. The tension slowly builds with impending doom for the town and characters involved compounded by the fact the viewers are never given any real answers. Even the end of the film never has the words “The End” written. This was only the beginning of the terror created by our fluffy bird friends. It’s mesmerizing to watch. 

7. Sleepy Hallow: 

 Sleepy Hallow may be a relatively recent classic, but in my opinion a classic none the less. This stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane in a re-telling of Washington Irving’s classic short story.  This tends to fall more on the scary side with the folklore of the headless horseman terrorizing the townspeople of Sleepy Hallow. I’ve been quite of fan of this story for as long as I can remember. I used to watch the Disney version, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and also loved the version from Are You Afraid Of The Dark, The Tale Of The Midnight Ride. One of my favorite shows, Murder She Wrote, also has a Sleepy Hallow tale with The Night Of The Headless Horseman. 

8. Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone:  

This is the first Harry Potter movie, based on the books by J. K. Rowling, but any of the Potter films are great for fall time and back to school inspiration. The books and movies are truly magical and incredibly well done. A sense of wonder and excitement always comes with any of the Harry Potter movies. There’s even a bit of fright with the evil that haunts the magical world. Magic literally comes to life in these films and it’s breathtaking to watch. As a long time Harry Potter fan, these film adaptions are above par. 

9. Ghostbusters:  

Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! This is one of those smash hit movies that combines the comedic charms of Billy Murray and Dan Aykroyd with spookiness perfectly. Who can forget the Stay Puft Mashmallow Man rampaging through the streets of New York?! The theme songs never gets old either.  

10. Arsenic And Old Lace:   

This Frank Capra Classic is quite a zany and silly one, but one that I watch every single year. Cary Grant stars as Mortimer Brewster who finds out his cooky old aunts are a bit insane. Needless to say, halarity ensues as we unravel just how crazy the whole family may be. Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre also give great performances as a  Borris Karloff look a like and his plastic surgeon doctor. Cary Grant always felt his performance was over the top, but honestly, while very silly, that’s what the part called for! It’s a fun little comedy that will make you smile.

Honorable Mention

Dead Poets Society:

Have you ever had a teacher that inspired you and even changed your life? I’ve had a few college professors that inspired me emensly to the point I could to listen to them talk for hours. This movie, starring Robin Williams as professor John Keating, takes place at an all-boys prep school where he encourages his students to think outside of the box. To pursue their dreams and seize the day. It’s an inspiring and uplifting film, with some sad tones, but a remarkable ending. 

Pictures: 

The Trouble With Harry: madduckposters.com

Psycho: sky.com

The Birds: amazon.con

When Harry Met Sally: dealflicks.com

Belle, Book, And Candle: IMDb.com

Sleepy Hallow: imdb.com

Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone: grapevineticketline.com

Ghostbusters: tvtroopes.com

Murder By Death: Amazon.com

Dead Poets Society: masculinitymovies.com

xo, Amanda  

Classic Summer Movies

Good morning everyone and happy Monday! I hope all of the dads out there enjoyed their Father’s Day weekend!   

With summer in full swing, I thought it’d be fun to take a look at the top 10 movies I always watch in the good ole summertime. Most of them do take place in the summer and they’re all classics. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many more movies that are essentially summer based like Grease,  National Lampoons Summer Vacation, American Graffiti, or The Sandlot, but I don’t watch them over and over year after year, though they should be watched! They’re all anazing classics. Below is the list of my favorite classic movies that I make point to watch each summer and sometimes throughout the whole year! 

1. Rear Window

This is one of my most favorite movies of all time. It’s no surprise it’s a Hitchcock movie. I’ve always been fascinated by this movie in the dead heat of summer in New York City. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve watched this movie, especially with my mom. She was always my movie buddy. Grace Kelly is absolutely stunning and at the height of her career here. My senior prom dress was inspired by her white gown in this movie. I also love that Jimmy Stewart is a photographer and the majority of the movie takes place in one room while looking out or “people watching” his neighbors. 

“A newspaper photographer with a broken leg passes time recuperating by observing his neighbors through his window. He sees what he believes to be a murder, and decides to solve the crime himself. With the help of his nurse and girlfriend, he tries to catch the murderer without being killed himself.” -google.com 

2. Gidget 

This was always the one movie I tried to catch on TCM each year. It would always be in the summer and I can remember all of the beautiful light shining into my parents house with the windows and door open to let the fresh summer air in. While some might think the Beach Party movies with Frankie Avalon are the essential summer flick, Gidget was the one for me. It’s such a cute film taking place on the sunny beaches of California. Sandra Dee is adorable and James Darren is pretty cute to look at too. 

“Diminutive teenager Francie Lawrence (Sandra Dee) has a bunch of boy-crazy friends, but she could care less about boys. That is, until she goes to the beach one day and meets surfer Jeffrey "Moondoggie" Matthews (James Darren) and his friends, including Burt "The Big Kahuna" Vail (Cliff Robertson). Now, Francie, whom the boys call "Gidget" -- short for girl midget -- wants to learn how to surf, so she buys a used board and dives into the sunny world of Southern California surfing fever.” -google.com

3. The Burbs 

I remember first seeing this movie as a kid and being instantly hooked. It’s been an all time favorite of mine since then. I watch it multiple times throughout the year. I watched it last week! It’s another “people watching” movie involving neighbors similar to the idea of Rear Window. The whole cast comes together perfectly to produce some amazing results. It’s great to see Carrie Fisher in this and the trio of Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, and Rick Ducommun are so funny to watch. 

 “Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's (Tom Hanks) vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art (Rick Ducommun), and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield (Bruce Dern), Ray sends his son and wife (Carrie Fisher) away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.” -google.com

4. The Seven Year Itch 

 I have been a huge Marilyn fan for quite some time now with this being one of my top favorites of hers. My other two favorites are Niagra and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She has always been one of the most beautiful women in the world to me. Interestingly enough, my brother actually introduced me to her. This was always one movie I would put on to have going in the background while I would work on homework or be writing a paper. There’s something just really comforting about this movie. It’s funny and cute and Marilyn is beyond beautiful. Of course, there is the famous skirt scene, though you don’t see much. 

“In the midst of a summer heat wave, New Yorker Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) ships his wife, Helen (Evelyn Keyes), and their son off to Maine for vacation. Left alone to work back in Manhattan, Richard encounters a gorgeous blonde model (Marilyn Monroe) who has moved into the apartment upstairs, and becomes immediately infatuated. While pondering infidelity, Richard dreams of his beautiful new neighbor -- but will his fantasies about her become a reality?” -google.com

5. To Catch A Theif  

Another Hitchcock movie starring Grace Kelly, only this time the leading man is Cary Grant. ~Swoon~​ He is my favorite actor and magic always happens when Hitch directs either one of them. This was one of my mom’s favorite movies of all time. She loved the fireworks scene. My junior prom dress was inspired by the gold dress Grace Kelly wears to the costume party. There is much to be dazzled by between the two leading actors and the stunning French Riviera. 

​“Notorious cat burglar John Robie (Cary Grant) has long since retired to tend vineyards on the French Riviera. When a series of robberies is committed in his style, John must clear his name. Armed with a list of people who own the most expensive jewels currently in the area, John begins following the first owner, young Francie (Grace Kelly). When her jewels are stolen, Francie suspects John, destroying their tentative romance. John goes on the lam to catch the thief and clear his own name.” -google.com

6. The Long, Long Trailer  

I actually just watched this one last night! The two stars alone make this movie quite a gem. If you’re fans of the television classic I Love Lucy, this is an absolute must see. It’s nice to see Lucy and Desi in color and to also hear Lucy’s actual singing voice. This is not a musical, but there is one scene where they kind of hum/sing a quick song while driving and it’s one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie. They look so relaxed and happy while driving through some gorgeous scenery. 

 “Nicholas Collini (Desi Arnaz) has to travel for his job as an engineer -- so his fiancée, Tacy (Lucille Ball), suggests that rather than buy a house after their wedding, they invest in a motor home so they can see the country together. But the aggravations of life with nosy trailer park neighbors and the dangers of piloting an enormous trailer across narrow country roads soon take their toll on the happy couple, putting their young marriage in turmoil.” -google.com

7. The Ghost And Mr. Chicken  

This is an all time favorite movie with my family. We all love it! My family loves The Andy Griffith show so we’ve always been fans of Don Knotts. Who doesn’t love Barney Fife?!? I love the hometown feel of this movie and the “spookyness” of it. “And they used Bon Ami!!” This movie could be considered a good one for Fall as well with the ghost theme, but I’ve always considered it more of a summer movie. In all honesty, I watch it multiple times throughout the whole year. The idea for this movie actually came from an episode of The Andy Griffith Show called “Haunted House.” Andy also helped with writing script. 

“Looking to score a break as a newspaper reporter and impress beautiful Alma Parker (Joan Staley), milquetoast typesetter Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) pitches a story about his small town's haunted house. When his editor (Dick Sargent) insists Luther spend a night alone in the spooky mansion, where a grisly murder-suicide had taken place decades earlier, the timid reporter learns that the house contains a supernatural resident who doesn't like visitors.” -google.com 

8. Jaws  

This is the quintessential summer blockbuster movie where you’re going to need a bigger boat. Bonus points, this was filmed in Cape Cod near Marga’s vineyard and Falmouth! One of the most iconic two music notes in movie history. 

“When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.” -google.com 

9. Send Me No Flowers  

There are three films where Rock Hudson and Dorris Day teamed up together including this one, which was the last of the trio. The others include “Pillow Talk” and “Lover Come Back.” This one has always been my favorite though since it shows them in their everyday married life and all the halirty that follows. Tony Randall really steals the show here and also stars with them in the other two movies. 

 “After eavesdropping on his doctors as they discuss another patient, George (Rock Hudson), a middle-aged hypochondriac, leaves a hospital visit believing he's terminally ill. Assuming he'll soon be dead, George enlists his friend, Arnold (Tony Randall), to help him find a new husband for his wife, Judy (Doris Day). They eventually settle on Bert (Clint Walker), a successful businessman. But George's odd behavior makes Judy suspect he's covering up an affair.” -google.com 

10. Dirty Dancing  

No one puts baby in a corner! Enough said. That lift scene at the end and the romance that blossoms during dancing lessons will make anyone swoon in the summer heat. 

 “Baby (Jennifer Grey) is one listless summer away from the Peace Corps. Hoping to enjoy her youth while it lasts, she's disappointed when her summer plans deposit her at a sleepy resort in the Catskills with her parents. Her luck turns around, however, when the resort's dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), enlists Baby as his new partner, and the two fall in love. Baby's father forbids her from seeing Johnny, but she's determined to help him perform the last big dance of the summer.” -google.com

Photo Credits:  

1. IMDb.com 2. Wikipedia.com 3. Alchetron.com 4. Riotheater.com 5. Cromeyellow.com 6. Soundtrackcollector.com 7. Amazon.com 8. Jawswiki.com 9. Amazon.com 10. Amazon.com 

xo, Amanda