Film on Film: 5 Classics That Deserve a Film of Their Own

[Editor's Note: Here's abstew with 5 Hollywood on Hollywood pitches. Co-sign!]

It's no secret that one of Film's favorite subject matters is, well, itself. The past two Best Picture winners (The Artist and Argo) have had Hollywood and the art of film-making at their core. And this weekend another film-on-film, Saving Mr. Banks, about Walt Disney's decades long struggle to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen expands across the country in its quest to join those previous films in Oscar glory. The story seems ready-made for the movies - beloved source material, larger-than-life characters/personalities, and, just because it can, a hard-knock-life childhood back-story thrown into the mix. (If the old Hollywood angle doesn't win them over why not add the Academy's other irresistible allure: the biopic. It's two films for the price of one!)

I'm sure many people were unaware what went into trying to convince author P.L.Travers to sign over the rights to Disney and I'm sure even fewer people knew about Travers' back-story. But so many classic films have equally fascinating behind-the-scenes stories that would make just as compelling films. In honor of Saving Mr. Banks, here are 5 other classic films that deserve their own film treatment. So, quiet on the set...Action! 

The Wizard of Oz 

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Cinema Swimwear: Mildred Pierce

This summer The Film Experience is launching its own swimwear line! *not really

◀ Back to Results | You are in: Swimwear

larger viewThe Two-Piece Pierce
★★★★★ - 6 Reviews

Color 
Only available in matron white

Size 
Only available in small

Product Details
Buttoned-up, hard-working, unappreciated single mother/entrepeneur by day? Wardrobe Master Milo Anderson brings you this little number to knock out your unsuspecting suitor when he brings you to his beach house. Our luxurious men's-style cover-up (sold separately) will keep your still-slim dancer's body comfortable while lulling him into submission, until that moment when it comes off and.. BAM!

Just don't expect a whistle. He'll need a police siren to show his affection for your body in this!

Price
Bill it to your wealthy trust-fund paramour

Estimated Arrival
...In fact, he probably already has one waiting at his beach house!

Details and Care 
Matching swim cap also available! Order Now! This flirty, feminine two-piece is sexy enough or him and lady-like enough for you. Just don't let your teenage daughter grab hold of it... who knows what might happen?

also available from this retailer

Retro LOL to Usher in the Weekend

My mouth only waters for a nice, juicy, kosher pickle"

LOL. Joan Crawford 4evs.

(I know I know. Thursday night is not the weekend but brutal week! I'm starting early.)

Hit Me With Your Best Shot: "Possessed"

We return to Season Three of the collaborative series Hit Me With Your Best Shot with not one but two tales of love-madness. I hadn't meant to pair them but I was so late with Possessed and it was time to bring the series back with The Story of Adele H. So there they were, two brunette screen goddesses Joan Crawford and (today's birthday girl) Isabelle Adjani, double-teaming me with their crazy-making sob stories of unrequited love. We'll cover Adele H tomorrow (yes, I'm running behind) but tonight, the first of these two Best Actress Nominated pictures.

Possessed (1947)
This 1947 noir stars the inimitable Joan Crawford as Louise, a woman who we meet after the events of the picture have taken place, wandering around in a daze looking for a man named "David". She is soon in a mental hospital and her back story, the story, begins to emerge. David (the dependably caddish Van Heflin), as it turns out, is the love of her life who she met while both were under the employ of a rich businessman. Louise, a feminist's nightmare, tosses aside all her dignity to veritably beg David to love her back and when he won't, she marries the boss instead and spends the rest of the movie obsessing over David and prone to jealous rages over her step-daughter's budding romance with her former lover. Louise is one of Crawford's most famous Victim roles but the actress is sly enough to also understand that Louise is enough of a masochist to also qualify her as the Film's Villain. The movie's best passage takes on a dream-like quality which is appropriate since Louise is a walking nightmare. 

Crawford Goes Mental after the jump!

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Get "Possessed" by Movies

If you keep meaning to join in on the Hit Me With Your Best Shot fun, but haven't yet made the plunge do it with the last episode of the first half of season 3 (we'll take a few weeks off and start again before wrapping season 3). We'll be discussing Possessed (1947) with Joan Crawford. She made another film by the same name in the 30s so extra credit points if you wanna do both (otherwise unrelated) films.

If looks could kill many of Joan Crawford's co-stars would have died of unnatural causes. But just in case she also carries a gun.

P.S. Since I'm late with Edward Scissorhands, I'll still accept submissions so join in the fun! I'll wrap Edward on Monday and Joan on Wednesday and then we'll break until late June.

P.P.S. Any suggestions for the series are welcome. I do read them all and try to cover films from multiple genres and decades.