Movie of the Day: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

So precious is liberty that they should understand how it can be stolen by corruption. Isn't ironic that a movie that was made 78 years ago is still so relevant today?

James Stewart as Jefferson Smith

2h 9min | Comedy, Drama | 19 October 1939 (USA)

Director: Frank Capra

Writers: Sidney Buchman (screen play), Lewis R. Foster (story)

Stars: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains

Memorable Quotes

Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.

Jefferson Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for and he fought for them once. For the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain simple rule. Love thy neighbor. And in this world today of great hatred a man who knows that rule has a great trust. You know that rule Mr. Paine and I loved you for it just as my father did. And you know that you fight harder for the lost causes than for any others. Yes you'd even die for them. Like a man we both knew Mr. Paine. You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me. [he collapses]

Jefferson Smith: Either I'm dead right, or I'm crazy!

Jefferson Smith: I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too.

Jefferson Smith: My Dad had the right idea. He had it all worked out. He used to say to me, "Son, don't miss the wonders that surround you; because, every tree, every rock, every ant hill, every star is filled with the wonders of nature." And, he used to say to me, "Have you ever noticed how grateful you are to see daylight again after coming through a long, dark tunnel?" Well, he'd say, "Always try to see life around you, as if you'd just come out a tunnel."

Movie of the Day: Rear Window (1954)

James Stewart (L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies)

1h 52min | Mystery, Thriller | September 1954 (USA)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: John Michael Hayes (screenplay), Cornell Woolrich (based on the short story by)

Stars: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey

Memorable Quotes

Jeff: Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?

Lisa: He likes the way his wife welcomes him home.

Lisa: I wish I were creative.

Jeff: You are. You're great at creating difficult situations.

Lisa: What's he doing? Cleaning house?

Jeff: He's washing and scrubbing down the bathroom walls.

Stella: Must've splattered a lot.

[both Jeff and Lisa look at Stella with disgust]

Stella: Come on, that's what were all thinkin'. He killed her in there, now he has to clean up those stains before he leaves.

Lisa: Stella... your choice of words!

Stella: Nobody ever invented a polite word for a killin' yet.

Lisa: According to you, people should be born, live, and die in the same place.

Lisa: I'm not much on rear window ethics.

Lisa: The last thing Mrs. Thorwald would leave behind would be her wedding ring. Stella, do you ever leave yours at home?

Stella: The only way somebody would get that would be to chop off my - finger. Let's go down to the garden and find out what's buried there.

Lisa: Why not? I always wanted to meet Mrs. Thorwald.

Lisa: A murderer would never parade his crime in front of an open window.

Stella: We've become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change. Yes sir. How's that for a bit of homespun philosophy?

Jeff: Readers Digest, April 1939.

Stella: Well, I only quote from the best.

Lisa: Well, if there's one thing I know, it's how to wear the proper clothes.

Lisa: Where does a man get inspiration to write a song like that?

Jeff: He gets it from the landlady once a month.

Stella: Maybe one day she'll find her happiness.

Jeff: Yeah, some man'll lose his.

Stella: [to Lisa] You haven't spent much time around cemeteries, have you?

Stella: How much do we need to bail Lisa from jail?

Jeff: Well, this is first offense burglary, that's about $250. I have $127.

Stella: Lisa's handbag. Uh... 50 cents. I got $20 or so in my purse

Jeff: And what about the rest?

Stella: When those cops at the station see Lisa, they'll even contribute.

Lisa: A woman never goes anywhere but the hospital without packing makeup, clothes, and jewelry.

Stella: Intelligence. Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence.

Lt. Doyle: Oh, Jeff, if you need any more help, consult the yellow pages in your telephone directory.

Lisa: Oh, I love funny exit lines.

Jeff: I get myself half killed for you and you reward me by stealing my assignments.

Jeff's Editor: I didn't ask you to stand in the middle of that automobile racetrack.

Jeff: You asked for a, something dramatically different. You got it.

Jeff's Editor: So did you.

Lisa: A woman never goes anywhere but the hospital without packing makeup, clothes, and jewelry.

Movie of the Day: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart (George Bailey) & Donna Reed (Mary Hatch)

Un film extraordinar, emoționant, dramatic, înzestat cu un umor seducător pe alocuri. Un film al oricărui suflet care își pierde speranța în viață și în frumusețea ei. "It's a Wonderful Life" aduce în prim-plan utilitatea socială a omului și solidaritatea umană. Fiecare viaţă interacţionează cu atâtea altele, absența sa lăsând un gol imens.

2h 10min | Drama, Family, Fantasy | 7 January 1947 (USA)

Director: Frank Capra

Writers: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett  & Frank Capra (screenplay), Philip Van Doren Stern (story)

Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore

Memorable Quotes

Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

Mary: I'll take it. Then what?

George Bailey: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?

George Bailey: Just a minute... just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was... why, in the 25 years since he and his brother, Uncle Billy, started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry away to college, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what's wrong with that? Why... here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You... you said... what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they... Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!

George Bailey: Dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can hear me show me the way... show me the way.

Man on Porch: Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

George Bailey: You want me to kiss her, huh?

Man on Porch: Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.

George Bailey: Well, you look about the kind of angel I'd get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren't you? What happened to your wings?

Clarence: I haven't won my wings, yet. That's why I'm called an Angel Second Class. I have to earn them. And you'll help me will you?

George Bailey: [sarcastic] Sure, sure. How?

Clarence: By letting me help you.

George Bailey: I know one way you can help me. You don't happen to have 8,000 bucks on you?

Clarence: No, we don't use money in Heaven.

George Bailey: Well, it comes in real handy down here, bud!

[George has discovered his brother Harry's tombstone]

Clarence: [explaining] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.

George Bailey: That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!

Clarence: Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.

Clarence: You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

[George returns to the bridge where his nightmare began, hoping to bring back his old life]

George Bailey: [praying] Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence! Get me back! Get me back, I don't care what happens to me! Get me back to my wife and kids! Help me Clarence, please! Please! I wanna live again. I wanna live again. Please, God, let me live again.

[it begins to snow again]

Bert: [shouts] Hey, George! George! You all right? Hey, what's the matter?

George Bailey: Now get outta here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get outta here!

Bert: What the sam hill you yellin' for, George?

George Bailey: You... [suddenly stunned]

George Bailey: George... Bert? Do you know me?

Bert: Know you? Huh. You kiddin'? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. I saw your car plowed into that tree down there and I thought maybe you - hey, your mouth's bleeding. Are you sure you're all right?

George Bailey: What the... [licks the corner of his lip and checks his mouth with his hand]

George Bailey: Ha, ha, ha, ha! My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals... Zuzu...

George Bailey: [checking his pocket] There they are! Bert, what do you know about that! Merry Christmas!

George Bailey: [running through Bedford Falls] Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!

George Bailey: I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that.

George Bailey: Isn't it wonderful? I'm going to jail!

Harry Bailey: A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.

Clarence: [In book inscription] Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.

[last lines] 

Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

Movie of the Day: Vertigo (1958)

James Stewart (John 'Scottie' Ferguson)  & Kim Novak (Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton)

2h 8min | Mystery, Romance, Thriller | 21 July 1958 (Brazil)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Alec Coppel & Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay), Pierre Boileau & and Thomas Narcejac (novel)

Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes

Memorable Quotes

Judy: If I let you change me, will that do it? If I do what you tell me, will you love me?

Scottie: Yes. Yes.

Judy: All right. All right then, I'll do it. I don't care anymore about me.

Madeleine: Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.

Scottie: You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental.

Scottie: And then what did he do? Did he train you? Did he rehearse you? Did he tell you exactly what to do, what to say? You were a very apt pupil too, weren't you? You were a very apt pupil! Well, why did you pick on me? Why me?

Madeleine: Here I was born, and there I died. It was only a moment for you; you took no notice.

Scottie: I hope we will, too.

Madeleine: What?

Scottie: Meet again sometime.

Madeleine: We have.

Scottie: Anyone could become obsessed with the past with a background like that!

Scottie: One final thing I have to do... and then I'll be free of the past.

[last lines]

Nun: God, have mercy.