I love to watch classic movies. They preserve a period of time through their stories, the way the characters dressed and how they lived. I even like watching them in black and white. Please find a list of my favorite movies from my favorite genre, the comedy, below. They are all available for you to watch on YouTube for free and I will supply the links at the end.
1. His Girl Friday (1940) – Taking place in
Chicago, “His Girl Friday” is a perfect example of the fast-talking dialogue
and wit of screwball comedies. When hard boiled Chicago editor Walter Burns
(Cary Grant) gets a surprise visit from his star reporter and ex-wife Hildy
Johnson (Rosalind Russell), he tries to stop her impending marriage to another
man by promising her an interview with a newsworthy inmate. What ensues is a fast-paced screwball comedy of errors, with fast
dialogue that still holds up today. The American Film Institute has noted this is
one of the funniest films ever made in their “100 Years, 100 Laughs” list,
putting it at #19 on their list. Link:
2. My
Man Godfrey (1936) – One of my personal favorites, the set-up of this film
isn’t too complicated. A scatter brained socialite hires a homeless man to be
the family’s butler. However, there is more to the butler than meets the eye.
“My Man Godfrey” is very funny, as Godfrey (William Powell) becomes the
unwilling object of affection to the scatter brained socialite named Irene
(Carole Lombard), and he must deal with the dynamics of her whacky family.
However, there’s a deeper message to the film about the value of a job and the
dignity it provides to people. Link:
3. The
Awful Truth (1937) – This one is just plain fun. Director Leo McCarey delivers
a screwball comedy about a couple going through a divorce. Lucy (Irene Dunn)
and Jerry (Cary Grant), do everything to embarrass each other in front of other
people. However, it’s obvious, despite their bickering, that they belong
together. The film is full of mishaps and famous lines. Cary Grant and Irene
Dunn have great chemistry and will leave the viewer rooting for them to get
back together. Link:
4. “It Happened One Night” (1943) – An early example of the great director Frank Capra, “It Happened One Night” is also a great example of an early romantic comedy. A down and out reporter named Peter (Clarke Gable) meets an heiress named Ellie (Claudette Colbert). She is running away from her father, who disapproves of her marriage to a wealthy businessman and is trying to annul it. She meets Peter on a train while trying to escape. It’s obvious where this film is headed, but the journey they take to get there is a lot of fun to watch. The film is the first film in history to win over five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It’s also a charming watch. Link: It Happened One Night (1934) - FREE MOVIE
5. The Palm Beach Story (1942) - Another fast paced comedy of it's time, this movie tells the story of an out of luck inventor and his wife desperately in need of money to develop his big idea. So, the wife comes up with a plan to divorce her adoring husband and go to Palm Beach to snag a wealthy new husband to finance her husband's project. Yes, sounds silly but in the hands of legendary director Preston Sturges, and wonderful actors Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert, this movie is worth the watch. Link: The Palm Beach Story 1942 Joel McCrea & Claudette Colbert
I hope this list gives you some classic films worth watching. They also are films you can watch with your whole family.
