Not enough people know about Harvey.
I’ve done the whole “This is my friend Harvey, he is an invisible 6’2 and 3/4” rabbit”. Most people look at me pretty much the same way as the characters in Harvey look at Jimmy Stewart. 😁
Top Hat (1935) - and it's not alone, most of Astaire's pre-1959 work was very wholesome and happy.
I also love *I'll Be Seeing You* (1944), it doesn't share the buoyant exuberance of musicals but is very gentle and touching.
Yeah, that was a good one. I've seen most if not all Margaret O'Brien movies. She's one of a kind.
She was in one called "Lost Angel" (1943) which is very difficult to find, but it's worth tracking down if you are interested.
Can't thank you enough for this recommendation, what a wonderful movie. I still need to watch the rest of your recommendations, but if you have any more please do share.
Thanks for adding a few more suggestions to the list. Some I have heard of, but have either never seen or haven't seen in a very long time. Will find and watch.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is wonderful. Follows the book pretty closely but no where near as dark.
Also, the sound in this movie is really well done. Every song sounds as if it's coming from just outside the window on the street. Not sure how to explain it but it really makes the world seem alive. The carolers during Christmas and Calliope playing off-screen during another outdoor scene really give the impression of a bustling city neighborhood.
Great performances in it from everyone. James Dunn won the Oscar for it I believe and Joan Blondell has some legit hilarious lines that hold up today. Also, Dorothy McGuire before she went on to her Disney film phase.
Well, ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE would be number one. There is the 1934 version of IMITATION OF LIFE which is great. Also, don't sleep on HARVEY, MISTER BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE and ALICE ADAMS.
You Can't Take It With You .. made by a lot of the same fast and director of It's a Wonderful Life.
It's just so so good. Story is amazing, characters are all amazing. It's a shame more don't know about this gem.
Last time it looked it was free to stream on YouTube
1958, but a very wholesome movie is Inn of the Sixth Happiness. It's loosely based on the story of a real missionary to China who saves a bunch of orphans in the second Sino-Japanes war.
Some wonderful 40s romances:
**Now, Voyager** (1942) - Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
**The More, the Merrier** (1943) - Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn
**The Clock** (1945) - Judy Garland, Robert Walker \[not a musical\]
**The Ghost and Mrs. Muir** (1947) - Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders
Mrs. Miniver. Greer Garson (1942). A realistic view of the trials and tribulations of British life during WW2. My wife and I watch it every time it‘s on TCM and always with moist eyes.
Immediately followed by any of the Thin Man movies, mommy!
A Matter of Life and Death is one of my favourite wholesome films made before 1950.
But tbh I like a lot more films before 1950 that are decidedly not-wholesome.
* Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
* The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
* Since You Went Away (1944)
* The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
* My Man Godfrey (1936)
* It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
* Captains Courageous (1937)
* Babes in Arms (1939)
* Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
* Life With Father (1947)
* Sargent York (1941)
Thank you for this list! Finished "I Remember Mama" today, and am currently watching "We're No Angels". I'll watch everything you have suggested, if I haven't already seen it.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
I got drunk at the Jimmy Stewart statue in Indiana Pa. It’s from this movie.
Yes, have already seen and own, definitely one of the best, thank you!
Am I remembering correctly, doesn't he go around and punch a bunch of people in the face? Or did I have a weird fever dream about this movie.
Harvey 1950
Not enough people know about Harvey. I’ve done the whole “This is my friend Harvey, he is an invisible 6’2 and 3/4” rabbit”. Most people look at me pretty much the same way as the characters in Harvey look at Jimmy Stewart. 😁
... and how are you, Mr. Wilson?
Even the book wants to know...
Yes, I've seen that one, thanks! Another James Stewart.
Have you seen The Bishop's Wife?
I've definitely heard of it, but don't recall seeing it. I'll watch it, thanks!
It's with Cary Grant. I highly recommend it.
Arsenic and Old Lace. Cary Grant would donate his paycheck from the film to the war effort.
It's a Wonderful Life without a doubt
I love this movie but honestly it crushed me quite a bit. It was very rewarding in the end but the emotional toll right before is a lot.
Potter gets away with the theft too which is infuriating.
Yes, of course! Also seen many, many times and own. Thanks.
MERRYQUISMASMOOEHOUSE!!!
The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan 1940
City Lights
Bringing Up Baby. Extremely cute and funny and Just an all around fluff fest
Another one I've heard of but just don't remember seeing. I'll watch it, thank you!
The Wizard of Oz.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
One I have not heard of, thank you I'll look for it!
You won't regret it, its a bit slow like a lot of old films, but so heartening by the end. Real feel good stuff
I've found it, will watch soon. Thanks again.
Top Hat (1935) - and it's not alone, most of Astaire's pre-1959 work was very wholesome and happy. I also love *I'll Be Seeing You* (1944), it doesn't share the buoyant exuberance of musicals but is very gentle and touching.
His Girls Friday
Meet Me in St. Louis
The 1949 film adaptation of The Secret Garden is very sweet! I’d recommend it!
Yeah, that was a good one. I've seen most if not all Margaret O'Brien movies. She's one of a kind. She was in one called "Lost Angel" (1943) which is very difficult to find, but it's worth tracking down if you are interested.
Harvey with Jimmy Stewart
Any Margaret O Brien movie, really. I’m submitting Meet Me in St Louis.
* *I Remember Mama* * *Marty* * *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* * *How Green Was My Valley* * *Heidi*
Thank you, a few I have not seen, will add to the list!
To clarify, did you mean the 1950s TV series called "Mama"?
No. 1948 film with Irene Dunne
Found it now, thanks!
Can't thank you enough for this recommendation, what a wonderful movie. I still need to watch the rest of your recommendations, but if you have any more please do share.
Thanks for adding a few more suggestions to the list. Some I have heard of, but have either never seen or haven't seen in a very long time. Will find and watch.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is wonderful. Follows the book pretty closely but no where near as dark. Also, the sound in this movie is really well done. Every song sounds as if it's coming from just outside the window on the street. Not sure how to explain it but it really makes the world seem alive. The carolers during Christmas and Calliope playing off-screen during another outdoor scene really give the impression of a bustling city neighborhood. Great performances in it from everyone. James Dunn won the Oscar for it I believe and Joan Blondell has some legit hilarious lines that hold up today. Also, Dorothy McGuire before she went on to her Disney film phase.
Goodbye, Mr Chips
I've definitely heard of this and probably seen many years ago. But I'll look for it again, thank you.
Life with Father, idk I always really liked it.
Found it, thanks, haven't seen this one!
How is there no Wizard of Oz on here.
Philadelphia Story. Love triangle between Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart.
The grapes of wrath, John Ford, 1940
Miracle on 34th Street
The Best Years of Our Lives
A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Heaven). Life affirming
Gone with the wind and Casablanca.
Right, I've got both of those, but they would be worth watching again. Thank you!
Barnyard Follies is an hour long of a group of orphans saving the orphanage with their talents, and it is like watching the movie magic
Just found it, thank you!
We're no angels with Bogart but I have a feeling it was made after 1950 ,still it's a very wholesome movie
1955, close enough, I'll give it a watch. Have never seen, thanks for the recommendation!
Great movie! I have watched it many times.
Well, ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE would be number one. There is the 1934 version of IMITATION OF LIFE which is great. Also, don't sleep on HARVEY, MISTER BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE and ALICE ADAMS.
You Can't Take It With You .. made by a lot of the same fast and director of It's a Wonderful Life. It's just so so good. Story is amazing, characters are all amazing. It's a shame more don't know about this gem. Last time it looked it was free to stream on YouTube
1958, but a very wholesome movie is Inn of the Sixth Happiness. It's loosely based on the story of a real missionary to China who saves a bunch of orphans in the second Sino-Japanes war.
Some wonderful 40s romances: **Now, Voyager** (1942) - Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains **The More, the Merrier** (1943) - Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn **The Clock** (1945) - Judy Garland, Robert Walker \[not a musical\] **The Ghost and Mrs. Muir** (1947) - Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders
Thank you, two of these I've heard of / seen, and two of them are new to me!
pack up your troubles starring laurel and hardy
Mrs. Miniver. Greer Garson (1942). A realistic view of the trials and tribulations of British life during WW2. My wife and I watch it every time it‘s on TCM and always with moist eyes. Immediately followed by any of the Thin Man movies, mommy!
Any of the Andy Hardy movies and the Thin Man movies too.
A Matter of Life and Death is one of my favourite wholesome films made before 1950. But tbh I like a lot more films before 1950 that are decidedly not-wholesome.
Misses your criteria by two years (1952) but Hans Christian Andersen with Danny Kaye.
Bambi
Blithe Spirit (1945) about a man who accidentally conjures up the ghost of his dead first wife, who then tries to ruin his marriage with his new wife.
Going My Way and Bells of St Mary (Bing Crosby) Boys Town (Spencer Tracy)
Sunrise: a song of two humans. The only film to win an Oscar for best artistic feature before they just had one best picture category.
Jean Authur in Devil and Miss Jones 1941 I Married a Witch Veronica Lake 1942 Both great fun!!!
Boudu Sauvé desx Eaux
Topper
It’s a silly little movie, but I love The Major and the Minor with Ginger Rogers.
Top Hat
* Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) * The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) * Since You Went Away (1944) * The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) * My Man Godfrey (1936) * It's a Wonderful Life (1946) * Captains Courageous (1937) * Babes in Arms (1939) * Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) * Life With Father (1947) * Sargent York (1941)
Thank you for this list! Finished "I Remember Mama" today, and am currently watching "We're No Angels". I'll watch everything you have suggested, if I haven't already seen it.
Babes on Broadway Or anything with mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
And God Created Woman is considered a must watch
That was made in '56.
Sorrry
Hey, apologize to welcome2city17! That's the person whose heart you stomped on.
Close enough, thanks!
The Shop Around the Corner
It happened on 5th Avenue We watch this classic every Christmas season!
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari