About the Movies...

Our official movie viewing date for the new year is September 11. The movie starts at 3:45 p.m. Here's a rundown of the movies and a brief description for each one.

M (1931) - German-American director Fritz Lang presents his first "talkie" -- and cinema's first serial killer -- in this 1931 classic. Plump pedophile Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre), propelled by a compulsion he can't control, escapes the eye of the law -- but not the wrath of the Berlin underworld being blamed for his crimes. The character of Beckert was later used in Nazi propaganda films to illustrate the evils of sexual deviance. -- provided by Netflix

One Way Passage (1932) - Terminally ill Joan Ames (Kay Francis) is determined to make the most of her final days in this touching drama, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. On a long sea voyage, she becomes involved with Dan Hardesty (William Powell), a convicted murderer being transported to an appointment with the executioner. Unaware of what fate has in store for the other, the two share their last days ... but not their deepest secrets. -- provided by Netflix

Trouble in Paradise (1932) - When thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) meets his true love in pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins), the cunning pair of jewel thieves embark on a scam to rob lovely Parisian widow and perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis). But when Gaston becomes romantically entangled with Mariette, the larcenous ruse is jeopardized and Gaston is forced to choose between two beautiful but vastly different women. -- provided by Netflix

It Happened One Night (1934) - Runaway socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) is en route to the Big Apple to elope with a fortune-hunting flyboy. Along the way she meets crusty newspaperman Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who's just been sacked and -- unbeknownst to Ellie -- plans to sell her story to get his job back. But a string of zany misadventures leads them to realize they're madly -- if reluctantly -- in love. It Happened One Night swept every major Academy Award. -- provided by Netflix

Vote for the movie that you think you will enjoy and the winner will be announced a week prior to the viewing date. Hurry, before it's too LATE!!..ooohh and don't forget to do your homework!

The beginning of the end of the beginning

Lights!

CAMERA!!

I thought this year (my second year as sponsor) I would blog the movies that are viewed by me and the students of the Shoals High School Film Club. My family and I moved into the small community a couple of years ago and I was excited to hear the small high school had a film club for the students to view movies that they may not have had the opportunity to see. They needed a sponsor late last school year and I was glad to step in and finish off the school year with my favorite movies. This school year, I have a plan to change things up and give a broad history of movies. I decided to cut back from viewing movies every Wednesday to just two Wednesday a month. Plus, we will start watching movies in September starting with films made in the 1930s. Each month with progress to the next decade, until we reach our present decade. This journey will take us to the end of April. In May, the students will decide on a movie of their choice and my approval. Until this year, most of the movies have been independent films or current movie/DVD releases. I sat and watched the students enjoy them, but I didn't think they really learned from them. In presenting a broad history of film, they will be able to see the progression of dialogue, cinematography, settings, style, acting, editing, scripting, and tons of other film traits. Plus, we will be going from black and white talkies to computer generated action films. Each blog will present the movie we viewed that Wednesday. The students are free to leave comments and critiques on the movies they have viewed.

ACTION!!!!!!!!!

These are a few of our favorite films.