OConnor - Reel culture: 50 classic movies you should know about (so you can impress your friends)

This book is dedicated to John Hughes, who brought high school to life,
and life to high school. And to Richard Donner, who showed
the world that behind every geek is a super man.

First published in 2009 by
Zest Books, an imprint of Orange Avenue Publishing
35 Stillman Street, Suite 121, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.zestbooks.net

Created and produced by Zest Books, San Francisco, CA
2009 by Orange Avenue Publishing LLC

Typeset in Sabon and Bawdy

Teen Nonfiction / Performing Arts / Film

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009933014
ISBN-13: 978-0-9819733-1-9
ISBN-10: 0-9819733-1-0

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any meansgraphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systemswithout the written permission of the publisher.

CREDITS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/BOOK EDITOR: Karen Macklin
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGN: Hallie Warshaw
ART DIRECTOR/COVER DESIGN: Tanya Napier
WRITER: Mimi OConnor
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH: Nikki Roddy
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Marissa Feind
MANAGING EDITOR: Pam McElroy
TEEN ADVISORY BOARD: Atticus Graven, Lisa Macklin, Andrea Mufarreh, Trevor Nibbi, Sasha Schmitz Printed in Canada

First printing, 2009
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented is accurate. Readers are strongly advised to read product labels, follow manufacturers instructions, and heed warnings. The publisher disclaims any liability for injuries, losses, untoward results, or any other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.

All photos courtesy of the Everett Collection

A nyone ever tell you theyre gonna make you an offer you cant refuse? Or that theyre mad as hell and not going to take this anymore? Wouldnt it be great to know where these expressions came from (hint: movies in this book) and not be in the dark when someone starts gabbing about the twist at the ending of Planet of the Apes , the sociological message of A Clockwork Orange, or the final shoot-out in Scarface?

Classic film references seep into pop culture in ways that many people are not aware of. They pop up all throughout shows like South Park, Seinfeld, The Family Guy, and The Simpsons; they appear in newspaper headlines and television commercials; and talk show hosts like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Conan OBrien bust them out on a regular basis.

The thing is, if you dont know the movie, youre missing out on the joke. At best, youre a little lost and confused; at worst, you might feel kind of like an idiot.

Here are 50 classic American movies from the 20th century that, for whatever reason, just wont go away. This selection begins with something from the late 1930s (when cinema really started seeping into the cultural consciousness) and ends with a flick from the 90s (because later movies are not really classicyet). These are not the best movies of all time or the most popular or the biggest moneymakersalthough pretty much every film in this book would claim a spot on at least one of those lists. But these are the movies people riff on and quote, the movies that changed filmmaking and are endlessly name-dropped at parties and throughout the blogosphere.

This book includes everything from famous scenes to quotable lines to little-known trivia about actors, directors, and the making of the films. It also provides plot summariesincluding (spoiler alert!) the all-important endings.

Of course, not every great classic movie made the cut. You might say, What about Star Wars? (Everyone already knows itif you dont, go rent it. Now.) Or you might wonder why Bringing Up Baby is here. (Its one of the best movies of its kind, and every boy-meet-girl flick youve ever seen was influenced by it.) The bottom line is: Every movie mentioned here should be on your must-see list.

Once you come to know these films, youll be amazed at how many jokes and references you suddenly get. Its like being part of a whole new club. Of course, you might not want to belong to any club that would have someone like you for a member. And after youve read this book, youll know exactly who said that, in which movie, and when.

Dr. David Huxley is a paleontologist one bone away from completing a brontosaurus skeleton and one day away from getting married to his dull and humorless fiance. He meets Susan Vance, an eccentric heiress who quickly falls in love with himand someone David quickly decides he needs to avoid, due to the fact that she seems to bring chaos wherever she goes. Desperate to keep him from getting married, she delays and distracts him by insisting he help her deliver a tame leopard named Baby, which was sent as a gift from her brother in South America to her aunt in Connecticut. Exasperated by the ridiculousness of the situation and Susan herself, David agrees, and they set off on a drive from New York to Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, they get caught up in a series of misadventures (many orchestrated by Susan to further delay Davids nuptials) that include losing Baby, losing Susans dog (who makes off with the final dinosaur bone), and ending up in jail. Naturally, they also fall in love.

Whos In It

Cary Grant as Dr. David Huxley

Katharine Hepburn as Susan Vance

Charles Ruggles as Major Horace Applegate

Walter Catlett as Constable Slocum

May Robson as Aunt Elizabeth Random

More With Cary Grant

The Awful Truth (1937)
Holiday (1938)
His Girl Friday (1940)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Notorious (1946)
To Catch a Thief (1955)
North By Northwest (1962)

The dog in the movie is named Skippy; he also played the terrier Asta in the Thin Man movies.

The famous ripped dress scene is based on a similar situation that actually happened to Cary Grant when he was at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles one night.

Its screwball comedy at its finest. A kind of comedy popular in the 1930s and early 40s, screwballs feature absurd situations, slapstick humor, misunderstandings, and witty repartee between romantic rivals and interests. This movie has all of that, and it does it all well.