FEATURED FLICK: Penny Serenade

Well I am a little overdue in posting another FEATURED Flick so I thought I would give you three featuring my favourite Classic Comedy duo - 'Cary Grant & Irene Dunne'. Being;

- Penny Serenade (1941)
- My Favourite Wife (1940)
- The Awful Truth (1937)

Here is the 1st instalment;

PENNY SERENADE (1941)

Story Line

The movie opens with the character of Julie (Irene Dunne)lingering over the gramophone as she prepares to leave her husband Roger (Cary Grant). Each record in their vast collection, recalls a moment or event in their relationship and the memories that accompanied it.


The story takes us through their courtship, marriage and inability to have a child. The joy (and hilarity) of finally bringing home a beautiful adopted baby girl. And the sadness and heartache when tragedy strikes.

Be warned - this is a 'flashback' movie, but NOT of the annoying kind. The story is provided by way of flashback, prompted by each song that Julie plays, but thankfully is in chronoligical order and therefore doesn't require mental gymnastics to enjoy! Irene Dunne and Cary Grant take you through all the emotions and the trials and tribulations of marriage. And of course give you many moments of laughter, done in only the way the Classics and these two fabulous actors can!

This movie is a lovely gem!

The main players are;

Irene Dunne: as Julie Gardiner Adams

Cary Grant: as Roger Adams

Other Characters of Interest;

Beulah Bondi: as Miss Oliver ,

Edgar Buchanan: as Applejack Carney ,

Baby Jane Biffle: as Trina - Age 1 ,

Eva Lee Kuney: as Trina - Age 6

Favourite Scenes:

First night home with baby Trina

Trina's first Christmas play

Genre: Classic, Comedy, Drama

Images: Cary Grant.net, IMDB

Featured Flicks ......!

I thought I'd start a regular post about my favourite movies.


I find the main influencing factor that grabs my attention about a movie is the cinematography. A good story line doesn't hurt!, but I find movies that are "beautiful" to watch, I can play over and over whenever I need a dose of beauty in my life. Be it the scenery, interiors, architecture or fashion, as long as it pleases the eye, it usually pleases me!

Featured Flick: Charlotte Gray

One such movie is 'Charlotte Gray'. Based on a novel by Sebastian Faulks and directed by Gillian Armstrong.

Story Line

The story begins in London during the WWII blitz and follows the storyline of a young Scottish woman 'Charlotte Gray', who joins the English Special Operations Executive (SOE) to search for her English lover who is missing in Nazi-occupied France.

Charlotte is sent to France to work with the French Resistance and it is there that she meets Julien, the leader of the local resistance group. (ooh la la!) sorry should be taking this topic seriously!

The movie reflects the tragedies that occurred during this time and the struggle of the French people to maintain a sense of pride and identity whilst their government was collaborating with the enemy.

The main players are;

Cate Blanchett as 'Charlotte Gray'

Billy Crudup as 'Julien Levade'

Others Items of Interest;

Michael Gambon as 'Julien's father'

All the scenery of a 1940's French Village

Some spectacular shots of lavender fields

Scenes from an 'actual' derelict french chateau

Images: courtesy of Warner Bros