Sublime Performances And Writing Make Sabrina An Absolute Delight

Eight years before Sabrina the Teenage Witch debuted in a 1962 issue of Archie's Madhouse, the most famous Sabrina in pop culture had to be the titular lead character of Sabrina. This feature film was quite the impressive assemblage of classic Hollywood talent, with the fact that it was Audrey Hepburn's first starring vehicle after Roman Holiday put her on the map alone being a mighty noteworthy feat. But then you pair her up with legendary leading man Humphery Bogart under the direction of Billy Wilder, a pro at delivering top-shelf witty romantic comedies and it's no surprise to see that Sabrina is such a delightful feature.

In a Lonely Place and its Humphery Bogart Performance Constantly and Brilliantly Subvert Viewer Expectations

SPOILERS FOR IN A LONELY PLACE FOLLOW 

By the time the 1950s began, American moviegoers were more than a touch familiar with the most well-worn routines of the genre that would be later known as film noir. So In a Lonely Place, a Nicholas Ray directorial effort, decided to play on this familiarity in a clever manner. This brilliant feature lulls the viewer into thinking they know every step of its story by, at first, playing itself as a straightforward film noir, right down to casting film noir legend Humphery Bogart in the lead role. But around the midpoint in the story, In a Lonely Place pulls the rug out of from under the viewer and subverts expectations over who and what this movie is really about. A traditional film noir, this is not, and In a Lonely Place is all the better for that!

The Big Sleep Is Yet Another Excellent Humphery Bogart Noir Feature

I felt an immense sense of relief to learn, after watching The Big Sleep for the first time, that the plot is considered by many to be a tad hard to make out. I thought I had missed something while watching the film, maybe a crucial line that clarified the whole story, but it turns out that even some of those responsible for the feature would be the first to admit that certain plot points (like who was behind the murder of a driver) don't get resolved. But this is one of those times where something like a convoluted plot that might be a debilitating problem in another movie actually works in the favor of The Big Sleep as it helps make the larger conspiracy that detective Phillip Marlowe (Humphery Bogart) has found himself inadvertently caught up in feel wide-spanning and makes it seem like the odds are truly up against Marlowe.

The Excellent African Queen Makes Phenomenal Use of Its Two Exceptional Lead Actors

Akin to my experience with watching Casablanca for the first time two years ago, I realized just as The African Queen began that I was unfamiliar with the specific plot of this highly regarded 1951 motion picture. As it turns out, the story concerns missionary Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn), who, while being situated in East Africa, loses everything, including her brother, to the hands of destructive German forces. World War I has begun and all that Rose holds dear has become one of the early casualties of this conflict. Seeking revenge on those who destroyed her life, Rose procures the help of Charlie Allnut (Humphery Bogart) and his boat The African Queen for mission to destroy a ship that proves crucial to enemy forces.

There Be Gold Them Thar Movies Like The Treasure of The Sierra Madre

On its surface, The Treasure of The Sierra Madre would seem to have an overly simple theme driving its story, specifically the idea that greed can change a man for the worse. But in executing this idea within this specific story with this group of actors, writers, directors and assorted crew members, The Treasure of The Sierra Madre instead ends up being something quite exceptional and thoughtful. Just as there be gold in that there mountains, there's also depth to be excavated from this storyline that reveals itself to have greater complexity stemming from a gradually occuring character arc for its protagonist that's fascinating to watch unfold.