The Comfort of the Classics - What To Watch on The Film Detective During Self-Quarantine
By The Film Detective Team
While the theaters may be closed and many of us confined at home, one thing that offers a bit of respite in times of overwhelming news is classic film and television.
The glamour of the oldies offers us the chance to revisit some of our favorite Golden Age stars, escape from the real world for a while, and even introduce our young ones to some of our old favorites for the first time. If it's been too long since you've said "Wow, they just don't make 'em like they used to," the current abundance of time indoors offers an opportunity to re-connect with our nostalgic side and let the classics do what they do best - entertain.
With this in mind, we turned to The Film Detective staff to get a sense of their personal favorite titles to keep them entertained during a night in!
Staff Pick by Ashley: The Lone Ranger - EP1-3 (1949)
Why would you watch it on a day in? This series is a great western classic if you're looking for some soothing nostalgic balm to binge! Graduating from the radio to the screen, The Lone Ranger is one of those franchises that gets a lot of reboots, but nothing beats the charm of the classics. It's an iconic choice for anyone looking to relive those days of excitedly sitting in front of the TV on the weekend waiting to see how the Ranger and Tonto bring those robbers and rustlers to justice. These first three episodes are enough to get you hooked!
Watch episodes of The Lone Ranger (1949-1957) and more classic Western television in our New Arrivals category on The Film Detective!
Staff Pick by Matt: High School Caesar (1960)
Why would you watch it on a day in? Watch 'High School Caesar' if you're in the mood for a dramatic twist to your average High School flick, recorded in Black & White.
Back when tennis whites and greasy pompadours made the greatest accessories for a '60s American high school bully, the classroom politics of High School Caesar will certainly provide the nostalgia classic movie lovers crave. Ruling the halls by day, and ascending a spiral staircase to reach his bedroom by night, John Ashley plays antagonist Matt as he runs for student-body president. Although mightily intimidating, will Matt's stronghold over the student body prevail?
Watch John Ashley in High School Caesar (1960) on The Film Detective!
Staff Pick by Heather: Night Tide (1961)
Why would you watch it on a day in? This film will beguile all those looking for a moody thriller with a spooky atmosphere. This underrated gem from Curtis Harrington is set in a rundown seaside carnival. Playing less as a kitschy nightmare and more as nautical Noir, this film is fantastic for fans looking to get swept away by romantic views and an eerie soundtrack. Night Tide follows a young Sailor who falls for a woman who believes full heartedly that she is a Mermaid destined to kill her lovers. The film features one of the earliest performances made by Dennis Hopper, who is surprisingly subdued in his take on the desperate sailor. The film serves as a charming oddity aspiring to drag you under with its dreamy mystique.
Catch Dennis Hopper in Night Tide (1961) on The Film Detective!
Staff Pick by Kerry: Something to Sing About (1937)
Why would you watch it on a day in? This film has all of the hustle and bustle of a classic movie musical with a charming starring performance from James Cagney. There's something to sing about...something to dance about...and certainly something to enjoy about this 1937 romp from Grand National Pictures. James Cagney stars as Terry Rooney, a bandleader and hoofer who gets his shot in Tinsel Town when a "tough guy" spot opens up in a film. Cagney jumps at the offer, but soon finds the road to fame is not an easy one. Fed up with the whole scene, Cagney hops on a cruise with his singing sweetheart (Evelyn Daw) returning to find the film is a box office sensation, and so is Rooney! If this story sounds familiar, take the real life of James Cagney, a hoofer on the Broadway and vaudeville stage who makes it big in Hollywood with the 1931 gangster classic, The Public Enemy. This flick is the perfect fix for those "warm and fuzzies" that only a Golden Age movie musical can provide, and will leave a song in your head all day long.
Watch James Cagney and Evelyn Daw in Something to Sing About (1937) on The Film Detective!
Looking for more film and television classics? Check out our library of over 1,000 classic film and television titles on The Film Detective!