I watched several great movies in 2023, but these are my favorite first time new-to-me film discoveries of the year. These are not in order of favorite, but in the order that I watched them in 2023:

Ten North Frederick (1958)

Directed by Phillip Dunne
An intriguing and lovely film that was quite different than I expected it to be. Gary Cooper plays a successful businessman in a loveless marriage to Geraldine Fitzgerald. He controls his children’s lives, sometimes ruining their happiness because ambitions for a political future, and eventually does the same thing to himself. He has a May-December affair with much younger woman, played by Suzy Parker. Cooper is wonderful and charming, per usual. Parker is stunningly gorgeous and lovely. Geraldine Fitzgerald does a great job of making you want to smack her.
The lovely actress Diane Varsi is wonderful as Cooper’s daughter, and it makes you wish her was in more films.

23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

Directed by Henry Hathaway
If you have followed me long enough, you should know that I love Van Johnson films and this is no exception.
Van Johnson stars as an American man who is blind and living in London. While sitting in a local pub, he overhears a kidnapping plot. Since the police won’t take him seriously, he becomes obsessed with solving the crime. This film was like a mix of REAR WINDOW and WAIT UNTIL DARK, and the ending had me sitting straight up in my seat because it was so exciting.

Hotel for Women (1939)

Directed by Gregory Ratoff
Though I had to watch a horrible print of this hard-to-find film, I thought it was great fun. Linda Darnell stars in her first film as a young woman who moves to New York City to follow her boyfriend, played by James Ellison who is always great at playing a jerk. While Darnell’s character has been carrying the torch back home, the boyfriend has moved on, so she stays in NYC to become a model. This movie is interesting because society hostess Elsa Maxwell not only helped develop the story for the film, but also makes an appearance in the film. If you can believe it, Darnell is only 15 years old when she starred in this film.

Violent Playground (1958)

Directed by Basil Dearden
This harsh and grimy crime drama is set in Liverpool and looks at juvenile delinquents in the city. Stanley Baker plays a police officer demoted to being the juvenile liaison officer and quickly finds he has his hands full when he finds a group of teens who are setting fires to major industry buildings. The leader of the group is played by David McCallum (who passed away this year), in an early film role. I appreciated this film, because there are more humorous and lighthearted moments than I expected, especially from Baker’s character. McCallum blows you away though, especially in the alarming ending to this film.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Directed by David Lean
I know it seems amazing that I’m just now seeing LAWRENCE OF ARABIA in 2023, but it has been a first-time-watch I was saving for the right moment and this year was it. While I’ve been in love with Peter O’Toole since I was 14 years old, I’m glad I waited 20 years until I watched this one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it then.
What can you say about a perfect film?
With direction by David Lean, cinematography by Freddie A. Young and editing by Ann V. Coates, this film is insanely and unbelievably stunning. There are some shots that are so beautiful (and difficult) that they are jaw dropping – the clear stars in the night sky, the blowing sand. And of course, all of the actors are fabulous, especially Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif. I may never be the same after watching this movie.

While watching this film, I sat and thought about how it would be if this film was made today. No on location filming, none of that wonderful blowing sand and nature elements. It’d all be CGI on an indoor set in California – how depressing is that to think about?

No disrespect to Gregory Peck, but Peter O’Toole should’ve won Best Actor for this film.

Counsellor at Law (1933)

Directed by William Wyler
The film largely takes place in the office of a successful lawyer, played by John Barrymore. His secretary, played by Bebe Daniels, is in love with him. The lawyer’s wife is unfaithful and he also has dealings in his legal history that could ruin his career. This fast-paced, fast-talking film will nearly leave you breathless but it provides excellent performances. John Barrymore and Bebe Daniels both don’t get the recognition they deserve as actors, and this film shows them both at their best.

This Side of the Law (1950)

Directed by Richard L. Bare
This brief B-thriller/noir blew me away when I really didn’t expect it to! When a hidden gem! Kent Smith plays a drifter who is bailed out of jail and asked to impersonate a missing millionaire so that his estate can be settled. The problem is, the way it will be settled is when he is legally declared dead. The build up to figure out what happened to the missing man is thrilling and I was surprised that this was an unexpected great time. Janis Paige co-stars and she is always wonderful.

Night and Fog/ Nuit et brouillard (1956)

Directed by Alain Resnais
Filmed 10 years after the Holocaust during World War II, director Alain Resnais films the abandoned grounds of the Auschwitz concentration camp, and documents the Nazi rise to power and the life of the Jewish prisoners living in the camps. This is a tough watch, but an important one.

The Naked Kiss (1964)

Directed by Samuel Fuller
Like with most Samuel Fuller films, this film begins and eventually takes several turns that you aren’t expecting, so I don’t want to go too much into details. Constance Towers plays a prostitute who moves to another town to start a new life. While it seems like everything is falling into place, all of her dreams take a shocking turn. Amazing film with some jaw dropping moments.
I loved watching the DVD interview with sweet Constance Towers wearing a pink cable knit sweater, talking about how this was “Pure Sammy Fuller.”

Olivia (1951)

Directed by Jacqueline Audry
Set in the 19th century, this boarding school drama is one of the more interesting views of the year. The film is set in an all-girls boarding school with two female teachers (one the headmistress) and the girls seem to take sides of who is their favorite. However, this is deeper than just having a favorite teacher — it’s infatuation and love. This tense drama is showcased against a lush showcase of beautiful gowns and décor. This movie is stunning, intriguing. And with the queer flirtation and romance, this film is ahead of its time.

The Endless Summer (1966)

Directed by Bruce Brown
In an effort to find an “endless summer” where you can surf all year, California surfers Robert August and Michael Hynson as they travel to the Southern Hemisphere to test the surf in areas like Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. I thought this documentary was thrilling and stunningly beautiful. Astonishing from start to finish. And it almost rekindled my teenage desire to surf … until they discussed sharks in the water.

The Lost Patrol (1934)

Directed by John Ford
Set during World War I, a British Army patrol is crossing the desert and they are being killed one-by-one by an unknown and unseen assailant. It has an excellent cast complete with Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff, Wallace Ford, Reginald Denny, Alan Hale and Douglas Walton. I’ve seen nearly every film adaptation of this story and this version is the best. It’s grim, devastating but great.

The Last Flight (1931)

Directed by William Dieterle
World War I veterans played by David Manners, Johnny Mack Brown, Richard Barthelmess and Elliot Nugent, aimlessly exist in post-war Paris. They meet a young woman, played by Helen Chandler and drink too much and live recklessly. When people today try to say there were no movies about World War I or the effects of World War I (other than being wrong), you can easily point to this film. This film I a cinematic representation of the Lost Generation. This is a devastating and astonishing watch.

Orpheus/ Orphée (1950)

Directed by Jean Cocteau
A modern retelling of the Greek mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice. Jean Marais plays poet, Orpheus, and is married to Eurydice, who is pregnant. After a man is killed in the town square, Orpheus meets death and falls in love with her. Orpheus becomes obsessed Death and wants to follow her to the underworld. This film is visually stunning and breathtaking. It really has to be seen because my words won’t do the beauty of this film justice.

King of Hearts/ Le roi de coeur (1966)

Directed by Philippe de Broca
Set during World War I, a mild mannered private, played by Alan Bates, is sent to scout a French town for the enemy. Instead, he finds that the whole town has been evacuated except for an insane asylum. The patients are released and live colorfully, opening businesses, throwing parties, donning elaborate costumes and performing in a circus.
I swooned for Alan Bates throughout the film because he is extremely handsome in this. This off-beat film was a Vietnam protest film, in a word saying that war is “insane.” It’s colorful, odd, whimsical and devastating.

Sylvia and the Ghost/ Sylvie et le fantôme (1946)

Directed by Claude Autant-Lara
Teenager Sylvie (Odette Joyeux) is in love with the painting of Alain, the former lover of her grandmother who was killed in a dual, and the ghost of Alain still haunts the castle. Just ahead of Sylvie’s birthday, her father decides to sell the painting since the family has hit hard times. Knowing his daughter will be sad her father hires three ghosts to perform at birthday party to make her believe they are the ghost of Alain, and two of them fall in love with her.
What a joy this film is! It’s funny, romantic and whimsical. A must see.

Confidentially Yours/ Vivement dimanche! (1983)

Directed by François Truffaut
A real estate agent, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant, is accused of the murder of his wife and her lover. Knowing her boss is innocent, his secretary played by Fanny Ardant, helps play detective and uncover the real murderer.
This was such a fun time but also keeps you guessing about “who dunit.” Shot in black and white, it feels like any classic film or an Alfred Hitchcock mystery.

The Unknown Man (1951)

Directed by Richard Thorpe
An ethical and upstanding lawyer Dwight Masen, played by Walter Pidgeon, gets Rudy Walchek, played by Keefe Brasselle, off for murder. Masen gradually realizes that not only was Walchek guilty, but several people around town are corrupt. He works to get him convicted, even if it means tarnishing his own reputation.
Walter Pidgeon is an excellent fit for playing an ethical, upstanding and stalwart lawyer. This film was intriguing from start to end, but also shocking towards the end. I loved this.

The Molly Maguires (1970)

Directed by Martin Ritt
Set in 1876 in Schuylkill County, Penn., Richard Harris plays an investigator. He’s trying to uncover a gang, known as the Molly Maguires led by a miner played by Sean Connery, who are a group of miners sabotaging the coal mines in order to get better working conditions.
I was blown away by this film. Everyone in it is great but this is Richard Harris’s movie. Harris gave a stunning performance. The film is also visually stunning, thanks to the masterful cinematography of James Wong Howe. This is a great example of how to light a film. For example, the setting is in the coal mines, but this movie is never too dark to see (like most movies today). To top it all off, this film has a beautiful score by the great film composer, Henry Mancini.

Remains to Be Seen (1953)

Directed by Don Weis
Van Johnson plays a luxury apartment manager who also dabbles in drumming. While responding to a complaint, he finds that one of his tenants is dead. Shortly after, the dead man’s niece arrives, plays by June Allyson. Johnson and Allyson investigate the murder together, while also falling in love.
This is a Van Johnson/June Allyson film that I have wanted to see for years and I finally tracked it down—it didn’t disappoint! It was a joyful mix of a murder mystery set to music. I enjoyed that the usually squeaky clean Allyson plays a brassy character. Best of all, this mystery had me fooled and I didn’t see the ending coming. So much fun!

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)

Directed by Rex Ingram
A wealthy landowner in Argentina has two daughters: one is married to a German man and another an English man. When the patriarch dies, the husbands of the daughters decide to take their families back to their home countries. But when World War I breaks out, it tears the two families apart as they fight for opposing sides. In his breakout performance, Rudolph Valentino plays the son of the English man. Wow that first shot of Valentino, no wonder everyone fell in love with him! This is one of those epic films that I’ve heard about since I first started watching classic films and I’m glad I finally was able to watch it. This is another anti-war film, with the “four horsemen” signifying the end of the world with World War I.

Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)

Directed by Richard Attenborough
The history of World War I is shown through a mix of fantasy metaphors and real life scenes. The story follows the enlisted Smith family and the juxtaposition between the wealthy and military leaders.
“Oh! What a Lovely War” is big, breathtaking, and while it has humor, ultimately it’s devastating. Another anti-war film, the final scene is a jarring view as the camera zooms upward, showing thousands of white crosses signifying the lost lives. I could describe the film and the creative way it was shown, but I encourage you to see it yourself.

I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948)

Directed by William Nigh
Don Castle plays a man wrongly accused and jailed for murder. After he throws his shoes out the window to quiet a neighborhood cat, someone uses the shoes to commit a murder and he is framed. While he is on death row, his wife, played by Elyse Knox, seeks the help of a police man, played by Regis Toomey, to prove her husband’s innocence.
This is an incredibly enjoyable B-movie noir, with the added bonus of being set at Christmas! I always enjoy seeing Regis Toomey in films, but

Honorable mention—All films I loved, but not as much as those above:
30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia (1968)
Among the Missing (1934)
Donkey Skin (1970)
Dr. No (1962
Flesh and Fury (1952)
The Big Punch (1948)
The Enforcer (1951)
The Fabulous Senorita (1952)
The Longest Night (1936)
The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
The Wrong Box (1966)
Time Without Pity (1957)
Wild River (1960)

Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page, follow on Twitter at @HollywoodComet or e-mail at cometoverhollywood@gmail.com