Saturday, April 05, 2008

Is it possible ...


. . . That Cary Grant AND Clark Gable could BOTH be George Clooney's father? I know, I know, it's not possible, but he sure looks a lot like them and he acts a lot like them. I'm sure that he has watched a lot of their movies to pick up some of their traits and he is perfect for 1920's - 1950's based movies like his most recent, Leatherheads.

Leatherheads is the type of movie that makes me wish I had been born during Hollywood's true heyday. Back when the movies were clean and full of quick wit and the sex was only innuendo and seemed more romantic that way. This movie wasn't shot in black and white but has a subtle sepia overtone that makes it seem as old as the time period in which it is set, the early days of Professional Football. In 1925, the "professional football league" was considered more of a joke than a real profession and the college teams were the ones drawing all the crowds. This movie is a funny take on how one guy, Clooney's character, Dodge, goes about saving the professional boys from extinction by getting one of the top college players to "turn pro." It's a pretty good movie that was filmed in and around Greenville, SC, which probably explains why they played Clemson's "Tiger Rag" song during the opening and closing football scenes.

Clooney is a great looking man and Renee Zellweger plays well as a 1920's reporter for the Chicago Tribune in this screwball comedy that reminds me a lot of His Girl Friday, one of my favorite Grant movies with Rosalind Russell. Grant and Russell are great in this movie ~ hurling insults, as well purses, at each other without even a hint of hesitation. If you like these types of movies, you, too, should enjoy Leatherheads.

P.S. When Amy, Matthew and I got home today, Amanda was just starting to watch Kiss Them for Me ~ another great Cary Grant movie. Must be my lucky day!

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