“The Fly” to “For Me and My Gal”
The Fly (1986) You always hear these sticky-fingered remakers talk about “re-imagining” certain movies, when all they’re really worried about is not getting sued. They’ll screw up a movie’s support elements and structure strictly for the sake of being different. Not this time this is a genuine re-imagining and Cronenberg pulls out all the stops. One of the few remakes I liked better than the original (which I liked too). (KCL)
FM (1978) By no means a masterpiece, but a wonderful time capsule of what radio was like before it was taken over by huge corporations. Terrific concert footage from Jimmy Buffett and Linda Ronstadt; the soundtrack of 70s rock also makes for a nice trip down memory lane. Not to forget the DJs Martin Mull, Cleavon Little, Eileen Brennan, Michael Brandon. (GS)
The Fog (1980) Better than you remember it; if you never saw it, it’s better than you heard. When it came out, everyone was disappointed that it wasn’t a revamp of Halloween (1978), sort of like how everyone pouted because Unbreakable (2000) wasn’t a rehash of The Sixth Sense and they just didn’t get it. The Fog is an actual character, a deadly, sinister force it chases people down streets and around corners! All in the days before CGI deprived everyone of the ability to be amazed at an achievement. (KCL)
Footlight Parade (1933) This is my favorite James Cagney musical. Yes, really. He sings, he dances, he throws one-liners around like nobodys business. Weve got the added bonus that he shares the screen with Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell. This is a fast, funny, and simply delightful musical-comedy that has aged gracefully. (GS)
For Me and My Gal (1942) Judy Garland and Gene Kelly (in his MGM film debut) team up as vaudevillians on the rise but when hes drafted to fight in WWI everything changes. Busby Berkeley puts the two hoofers through their paces in this delightful romantic musical comedy. (GS)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)