“Brewster McCloud” to “Bringing Up Baby”
Brewster McCloud (1970) Robert Almans follow-up to M*A*S*H is a devilishly difficult film to describe. Bud Cort plays the title character, a man who is secretly living underneath the Houston Astrodome and is building a pair of wings in order to fly. Rene Auberjonois is sort of the films narrator but he slowly turns into a bird during the course of the movie. Sally Kellerman may be a murderess or Brewsters guardian angel or both. Its all extremely odd but intoxicating just the same. (GS)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Possibly the first sequel ever to actually top the original. That has a lot to do with advances (in just four years!) in filmmaking, in terms of both technical possibilities and philosophy, but it makes a lot of difference. James Whale pulls out all the stops to give us a near-perfect, gothic black comedy that doesn’t stint on the horror elements. If only it weren’t for the headache-inducing performance of Una O’Connor… (KCL)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) David Leans WWII epic is undoubtedly one of the greatest war movies ever made. Alec Guinness gives a mesmerizing performance as Col. Nicholson. (GS)
Brigadoon (1954) Two Americans travel to Scotland on a hunting trip and discover a small town with a secret past. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse are excellent as Tommy and Fiona with songs and dances to match. (SF)
Bringing Up Baby (1938) Katharine Hepburn’s only screwball comedy. She never could decide whether she succeeded or not; she does. And Cary Grant sings! (KCL)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)