Ticket 2 Ride

For this week’s Sunday Cinema, favorite late night movies. These are generally movies watched on a Saturday night that made an impression on me. No scary movies included, this isn’t a Halloween movie list. Okay, there might be one or two scary movies and a couple of sci-fi features, mainly because I remember them from days of future past.

Late night can be a solemn time, but some of us were born to understand it. If you’ve ever stared up at the night sky, you might feel alone in the universe, but you’re not. There are millions of stars, and your own thoughts and dreams to keep you company. Even sitting in your living room, as the quiet embraces you, the right movie fills the night and takes you on a journey. It’s what movies do.

The Great Escape (1963) starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and many others. A large-scale escape from a German WWII prison camp. Based on a true story, puffed up for cinematic appeal. It’s a long film, I probably fell asleep before the end, but I could imagine those Allied POWs sneaking out of their escape tunnel at night and traveling by foot across unknown and hostile territory to freedom. Most of them did not make it. Produced and directed by John Sturgis (The Magnificent Seven, Joe Kidd, Bad Day at Black Rock).

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin and Adam West. A tale of two astronauts that must ditch their spaceship on Mars. One of the astronauts is killed upon entry, leaving his partner and their chimp alone on Mars. He adapts to the planet’s challenges but must give up on landing their orbiter. He discovers a group of slaves on the planet and helps him escape. Together they evade the slavers and wait out a rescue vessel from Earth. The special effects were pretty good for the early 1960s. The feeling of loneliness and being so far away from home makes for great late night viewing. Directed by Byron Haskin (War of the Worlds, From the Earth to the Moon).

The Time Machine (1960) starring Rod Taylor, Yvette Minieux and Alan Young. Based on the H.G. Wells story. Produced and directed by George Pal (War of the Worlds, When Worlds Collide, Houdini). George invents a time machine, though his friends are nonbelievers. He travels forward and back in time, disappointed in what he finds, as mankind is intent on destroying itself. He finds a place in time where best fits and decides to stay there.

The Sandlot (1993) starring James Earl Jones, Dennis Leary, Karen Allen. In 1962, a neighborhood group of boys accept a new kid into their baseball group. An autographed baseball is mistakenly used in one of their ball games and goes over a fence where it is possessed by a man eating dog. They try many ways to get the ball back.

McClintock (1963) starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Stefanie Powers, Jerry Van Dyke. Directed by Andrew McLaglen. Cattle baron’s wife returns home after living apart, turns his life upside down while tries to figure out why she originally moved out. A comedy Western.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) starring Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher. Directed by Rob Reiner (Misery, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me). Man and woman dislike each other, then like each other, become best friends, and suddenly lovers. They break up and painfully realize they should be together. I’ll have what she’s having.

North By Northwest (1959) starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The best thriller about mistaken identity.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross. Directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting, Slap Shot). Two outlaws that want to go straight, but life has other plans for them. They run until there’s nowhere else to run.

American Graffiti (1973) starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark. Directed by George Lucas. Summer 1962 is over, and high school too. Growing up is next, but it can be pushed off for one night.

Send Me No Flowers (1964) starring Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall. A hypochondriac is convinced he’s dying when he mistakenly hears his doctor give a report on someone else. He tries to pick his wife’s next husband. Hilarity ensues. Directed by Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof, Moonstruck).