This week on The Movie Gourmet, Turner Classic Movies presents one of my favorite overlooked movies, the extremely hard-to-find THEY ALL LAUGHED. Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 film elevates the entire rom com genre. The middleaged romance between Ben Gazzara and Audrey Hepburn is exquisitely wistful and authentic. John Ritter leads an endearingly funny supporting cast with Patti Hansen, Blaine Novak, Dorothy Stratton and Colleen Camp. Ritter’s comedic performance is itself a masterpiece – right up there with the best of Chaplin, Keaton and Cary Grant. They All Laughed remains an essentially lost film, although you can find the DVD. Set your DVR to record the TCM screening on September 15.
REMEMBRANCE
James Earl Jones’ expressive face, imposing bearing and authoritative voice won him an Oscar for THE GREAT WHITE HOPE. The voice was enough by itself to dominate the STAR WARS franchise as Darth Vader.
CURRENT MOVIES
- Thelma: too proud to be taken. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango.
- Perfect Days: intentional contentment. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango, Hulu (included).
- How to Come Alive: addicted to his own turmoil. In theaters.
- Didi: learning to get out of his own way. In theaters.
- Between the Temples: prodded out of his funk. In theaters.
- Hit Man: who knew self-invention could be so fun? Netflix.
- I Saw the TV Glow: brimming with originality. Back in some theaters and Amazon, AppleTV; Fandango.
- The Bikeriders: they ride, drink and fight, and yet we care. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango, Peacock (included).
- Ghostlight: a family saves itself, in iambic pentameter. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango (included).
- Challengers: three people and their desire. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango.
- La Chimera: six genres for the price of one. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango.