At The Cocoanut Grove

February's Original and Remake is Arthur. There are two film versions of this, the original from 1981 and the remake from 2011. So let's begin.  Arthur (1981) Directed By: Steve Gordon Starring: Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud Running Time: 97 Minutes Arthur (2011) Directed By: Jason Winer Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner Running Time: 107 Minutes The original 1981 version is my pick from these two. Dudley Moore is more Arthur Bach than Russell Brand is. Both Moore and Brand were and are comedians but Brand's version of Arthur is idiotic where as Moore's Arthur while at times can be annoying you also find yourself rooting for this guy as he falls in love with Linda (Liza Minnelli) even though he's engaged to marry another woman he doesn't love. Speaking of Liza, I think she's actually quite good in comedic roles, while she's known for her singing voice, like her mother, Judy Garland, sh...

After a couple of months of not posting Original and Remake due to the holidays, it's back. January's Original and Remake is Yours Mine and Ours . It it loosely based on the book Who Gets the Drumstick? by Frank and Helen Beardsley. There are two film versions, the original from 1968 and the remake from 2005.  Yours Mine and Ours (1968) Directed By: Melville Shavelson Starring: Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Tim Matheson Running Time: 111 Minutes Yours Mine and Ours (2005) Directed By: Raja Gosnell Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Miranda Cosgrove Running Time: 95 Minutes Neither of these movies are cinematic masterpieces but once in a while you need a fun, silly movie to watch out of all the seriousness that's life.  Out of the two, I'd suggest the original, not only does is star an actual comedienne in a comedy role but the movie isn't full of gross gags or silly humor. Actually, despite his role to playing more dramatic a...

I thought October's Original and Remake should be a horror themed post. I've already made posts on King Kong ,   Psycho and Carrie . Continuing with the times this time it's The Bad Seed. It's based on the novel of the same name by William March and the stage play and for this post I'm focusing on the 1956 big screen adaptation and the recent 2018 made for TV remake.  The Bad Seed (1956) Directed By: Mervyn Leroy Starring: Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Henry Jones Running Time: 130 Minutes The Bad Seed (2018) Directed By: Rob Lowe Starring: Mckenna Grace, Rob Lowe, Patty McCormack By far the original is the one to watch. Patty McCormack gives an outstanding performance as evil child Rhoda Penmark. Nancy Kelly is fantastic as Rhoda's mother, Christine who is unsure if her daughter really is a murder. The rest of the supporting cast is excellent, from the caretaker Henry Jones as Leroy Jessup who strongly believes Rhoda kil...

September's Original and Remake is These Three . It is based on the stage play by Lillian Hellman. There have been two big screen adapations of this play, These Three (1936) and The Children's Hour (1961).  These Three (1936) Directed By: William Wyler Starring: Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea Running Time: 93 Minutes The Children's Hour (1961) Directed By: William Wyler Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner Running Time: 109 Minutes Both of these versions have strong acting, particularly by the ladies. The Children's Hour sticks more to the stage play. In These Three the rumor that spreads by a malicious schoolgirl is Joe (McCrea) is seeing both Karen (Oberon) and Martha (Hopkins) Joe is seen leaving Martha's bedroom late one night. These Three was made when the Hays Production Code was established meaning films couldn't contain suggestive nature. These Three shows different scenes from ...

August's Original and Remake is The Great Gatsby. It is based on the 1925 book of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. There have been several adaptations both on the big and small screen but for this post I am focusing on the 1974 and 2013 adaptations.  The Great Gatsby (1974) Directed By: Jack Clayton Starring: Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern Running Time: 146 Minutes The Great Gatsby (2013) Directed By: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Toby Maguire Running Time: 142 Minutes If I'm being completely honest with you I really prefer the 2013 version to the 1974 version. The first time I saw the '74 version I fell asleep and after giving it another chance I was bored throughout the whole thing. There was pretty scenery but that's about it. Frankly, while Robert Redford is very handsome and he was a good actor I just feel like Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby to the point he is Gatsby. I also prefe...

July's Original and Remake is the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty . There have been many adaptations of this story including movies, a ballet and more. It's based on the story of the same name by Charles Perrault. For this post I am focusing on the Disney versions, the animated one from 1959 and the live-action version from 2014.  Sleeping Beauty (1959) Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, Les Clark Voices Of: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley Running Time: 75 Minutes Maleficent (2014) Directed By: Robert Stromberg Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley Running Time: 97 Minutes If I'm being completely honest with you Sleeping Beauty is a boring story. Princess Aurora is put under a sleeping spell and Prince Phillip fights a fire breathing dragon to save her. It's basically your damsel in distress story. The original has beautiful animation, the soundtrack is pleasant and at 75 minutes gets...

This month's Original and Remake is the classic fairytale, Cinderella . It is based on the fairy tale, The Glass Slipper . It was included by The Brothers Grimm in their collection Grimms' Fairy Tales.  There have been many adaptations of the fairy tale including current era movies, a Broadway stage production and TV shows. However I am focusing on the Disney adaptations the animated 1950 version and the 2015 live-action version.  Cinderella (1950) Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Hamiltion Luske, Wilfred Jackson Voices Of: Ilene Woods, William Phipps, Eleanor Audley Running Time: 75 Minutes Cinderella (2015) Directed By: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett Running Time: 106 Minutes As I stated earlier, Cinderella , is one of those stories that has been told over and over again. Personally, I love the story, a girl whose lost both her parents and is a servant to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters but is s...

May's Original and Remake is King Kong. There are three big screen adaptations the original from 1933, a 1976 version and a 2005 version. So let's begin.  King Kong (1933) Directed By: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot Running Time: 100 Minutes King Kong (1976) Directed By: John Guillermin Starring: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange Running Time: 134 Minutes King Kong (2005) Directed By: Peter Jackson Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody Running Time: 187 Minutes Out of all these versions the original is my tired and true pick. There's nothing wrong with  technicolor movies in general but the black and white version just seems so much more thrilling. The 1976 version completely changes and instead of a director looking to make a movie on a remote island it's now the head of an oil company discovering oil on this remote island and hon...

April's Original and Remake is Alice in Wonderland . It is based on the children's book from 1865, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. There have been many adaptations including films, TV series, comic strips and a live production. For this post I am focusing on three film adaptations from 1933, 1951 and 2010. Let's begin. Alice in Wonderland (1933) Directed By: Normand Z. McLeod Starring: Charlotte Henry, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant Running Time: 77 Minutes Alice in Wonderland (1951) Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske Voices Of: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn Running Time: 75 Minutes Alice in Wonderland (2010) Directed By: Tim Burton Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp Running Time: 108 Minutes  I am incredibly biased here but the animated version is very special to me. It was one of the very first Disney movies I ever saw and I wanted so badly...

Here is this month's Original and Remake. This month I'm focusing on The Philadelphia Story . It is based on the Broadway play of the same name by Phillip Barry. There are two versions of this the original from 1940 and the remake High Society from 1956. The Philadelphia Story (1940) Directed By: George Cukor Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart Running Time: 112 Minutes High Society (1956) Directed By: Charles Walters Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra Running Time: 111 Minutes  This is another post where I can't choose which film I prefer, I like them both! If you are in the mood for a black & white comedy watch The Philadelphia Story and if you are in the mood for a technicolor musical watch High Society.  I will say as much as I like High Society there are some things the original version hits better at, like the chemistry between Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart is much better th...

This month's Original and Remake is all about a big wedding, it's Father of the Bride . There are 2 versions of this the original from 1950 and the remake from 1991. Father of the Bride (1950) Directed By: Vincente Minnelli Starring: Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett Running Time: 92 Minutes Father of the Bride (1991) Directed By: Charles Shyer Starring: Steve Martin, Kimberly Williams, Diane Keaton Running Time: 105 Minutes While the original has an impressive director, Vincente Minnelli and two big stars, Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, I really prefer the remake. The original has some humorous moments but the remake is more of a comedy. Obviously, putting a comedian like Steve Martin in the main role makes the role funnier. Spencer Tracy was a good actor but I associate him more with drama than comedy. And while Elizabeth Taylor is lovely to look at I just feel like this role was a little bland compared to her other work...

Here is January's Original and Remake . This month I'm focusing on Mildred Pierce . It is based on the 1941 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. There are two versions I am focusing on in this post, the 1945 film and the 2011 miniseries. Mildred Pierce (1945) Directed By: Michael Curtiz Starring: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Zachary Scott Running Time: 111 Minutes Mildred Pierce (2011) Directed By: Todd Haynes Starring: Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce Running Time: 336 Minutes (5 Part Mini-Series) Usually I say how I prefer one over the other but in this case I can't! I like both of these versions and I think they both bring something different to the table. While both versions are based on the book- which I do recommend reading- the mini-series tends to follow the book more. If you prefer film noir, I'd suggest watching the film. If you prefer watching multiple episodes and over all like drama more I'd suggest you w...

Since we're in December I thought I'd make another holiday themed original and remake. This time it's the 1940 film, T he Shop Around the Corner . There are 2 remakes of this and it is based on the Hungarian play Parfumerie.  The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch Starring: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan Running Time: 99 Minutes In the Good Old Summertime (1949) Directed By: Robert Z. Leonard and Buster Keaton (uncredited) Starring: Judy Garland, Van Johnson, Buster Keaton Running Time: 102 Minutes You've Got Mail (1998) Directed By: Nora Ephron Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear Running Time: 119 Minutes So again, I'm completely biased as a fan of both Judy Garland and Buster Keaton and because I love musicals, so my pick is the 1949 version. That being said the other two films are fun to watch. All the movie couples have chemistry, the supporting cast in all thr...

I know it's a week early but I'm making a holiday themed post for next week so Original and Remake is this week. This month because we are so close to the holidays I thought I'd make a holiday movie post. This time it's Miracle on 34th Street. There are 2 big screen versions, the original from 1947 and the remake from 1994. It is based on a novel by Valentine Davies and there are 3 made for TV versions of this film and a stage play. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Directed By: George Seaton Starring: Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn Running Time: 96 Minutes Miracle on 34th Street (1994) Directed By: Les Mayfield Starring: Mara Wilson, Elizabeth Perkins, Richard Attenborough Running Time: 114 Minutes The original by far is the best version here. First I'm probably biased since I'm a huge Natalie Wood fan but I think she's absolutely precious as Susan, the little girl who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. ...

I'm back with Original and Remake . Since we're still in October I thought I'd make one last Halloween themed post, and since I've already make a post on Psycho , I thought I'd do another popular film, Carrie . It has a few movie adaptations, including a sequel, but I'm only focusing on the 1976 and 2013 big-screen adaptations. It is based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Stephen King. Carrie (1976) Directed By: Brian De Palma Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta Running Time: 98 Minutes Carrie (2013) Directed By: Kimberly Peirce Starring: Chloe Grace Mortez, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer Running Time: 99 Minutes The original is my pick here. I understand to hire adults as opposed to actual teenagers because of certain working laws but I felt Sissy Spacek really nailed the role of Carrie. And while Julianne Moore is a very good actress, she's almost laughable in the role of Carrie's mother. Persona...

Here's my monthly edition of Original and Remake. This month I'm focusing on A Little Princess . It's based on the  1905 children's book of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. For this post I'll be focusing on the 1939 and 1995 big screen versions, however, there is a 1917 silent adaptation as well as several television movies. The Little Princess (1939) Directed By: Walter Lang Starring: Shirley Temple, Cesar Romero, Sybil Jason Running Time: 93 Minutes A Little Princess (1995) Directed By: Alfonso Cuaron Starring: Liesel Matthews, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham Running Time: 97 Minutes Personally my pick is the remake, maybe I'm a bit biased since I saw the remake first as a child and imminently fell in love with the story. It's funny because I am a Shirley Temple fan, she was the first Old Hollywood star I became interested in, but the 1939 version I don't 100% love. Sure it's a sweet film, it has it...

Here is my next Original and Remake, this month I'm focusing on the film, Freaky Friday.  It is based on the 1972 children's book of the same name by Mary Rodgers. There are two big-screen adaptations, the original from 1976 and the remake from 2003. There was also a made for TV version from 1995 but for this post I'm only focusing on the big screen adaptations. Freaky Friday (1976) Directed By: Gary Nelson Starring: Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris, John Astin Running Time: 95 Minutes Freaky Friday (2003) Directed By: Mark Waters Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Jame Lee Curtis, Mark Harmon Running Time: 97 Minutes The original is my tried and true pick here. The remake has it's moments, particularly with Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman, Ryan Malgarini as Harry Coleman and Harold Gould as Grandpa Alan - Anna's mother, younger brother and grandpa, respectively. Also true, this film has a bit more comedy than the original but I feel the orig...

I'm back with another edition of Original and Remake . This time I'm focusing on The Secret Garden . It is based on the 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. There are three theatrical film versions, however the original was a silent and unfortunately like many films of the silent era is lost. So I'll be focusing on the 1949 and 1993 versions. The Secret Garden (1949) Directed By: Fred M. Wilcox Starring: Margaret O'Brien, Herbert Marshall, Dean Stockwell Running Time: 89 Minutes The Secret Garden (1993) Directed By: Angieszka Holland Starring: Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott Running Time: 102 Minutes Out of these two films, the remake is my favorite and honestly my pick for you to watch. What I don't really like about the 1949 version is that Margaret O'Brien was cast as Mary Lennox, frankly I just don't deem her as bratty enough to play someone like Mary. That would be like casting Shirley Temple in the role. O...

Here is my June installment of Original and Remake. This time it's Willy Wonka and the  C hocolate Factory .   It is based on the 1964 children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. There are two adaptations, the original from 1971 and the remake from 2005. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) Directed By: Mel Stuart Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson Running Time: 99 Minutes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Directed By: Tim Burton Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly Running Time: 115 Minutes By far the original is the best here. I'm not really sure why anyone, especially Tim Burton thought it was a good idea to remake this. Gene Wilder himself said it was disappointing this was being remade and had no interest in seeing it. I originally had no interest seeing the remake either until my grandma mentioned she wanted to see it, so I rented it- I didn't watch in theat...

I'm back with another edition of Original and Remake. This time I'm focusing on The Parent Trap . There are two versions of this the original from 1961 and the remake from 1998. This franchise spawned 3 made for TV films. It is based on a 1949 book Lottie and Lisa by Erich Kastner. The Parent Trap (1961) Directed By: David Swift Starring: Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith Running Time: 128 Minutes The Parent Trap (1998) Directed By: Nancy Meyers Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Natasha Richardson, Dennis Quaid Running Time: 128 Minutes While the remake has it's moments and is a cute film the original is better. I prefer the cast in the original as in the remake I only like Natasha Richardson as the twins mother and Elaine Hendrix as the villainous future step-mom. While in the original I like everyone. The original cast seems to flow together and has great chemistry- specifically Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith. And while the re...