With a collection that amounts to approximately two thousand films on DVD and Blu-Ray, tens of film books, two wall film posters and other film memorabilia, I think it’s safe to say that we’ll soon have to transform an entire room in our home into a mini movie theater. I still get excited like a kid in front of her birthday present whenever I discover collectibles like original scripts, postcards or exclusive, never before released photos, in the films we order that I hadn’t known they included. We’ve had The Luis Buñuel Collection
Collecting original films (and having already invested a small fortune in them) instead of falling into the trap of downloading them online is our way of sustaining the film industry and to bring a humble homage to the talented people that have dedicated their lives and careers to this art, not only the actors and directors, but everyone involved in the film-making and in the preserving of the classic cinema.
So today I’m giving away three great classic films: Gone with the Wind, John Huston’s The African Queen, and Orson Welles’ The Trial. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post mentioning which is your favourite classic film and if and how movies influence your life. Don’t forget to leave a valid email address so that I can contact you in case you win. For additional entries, you can like Classiq on Facebook. The giveaway is open worldwide and it ends Sunday, March 17th. I will announce the winner on Monday, March 18th. Good luck and have a lovely week, everyone!
Update (18. March): The giveaway winner is Natalia of Fashioned by Love. Congratulations!
photos: by me
, directed by King Vidor, is most likely a never before done kind of a western. The screenplay was written by none other than David O. Selznick, who was also responsible for the production and co-direction, although uncredited. Will we eventually end up like our parents? This is the path we seem to follow throughout the entire film. As one may guess, we are dealing with the moral deconstruction of the characters, especially Pearl’s (Jennifer Jones). Although the film is shot in a glorious Technicolor, you get the impression that it is in fact a black and white product. This happens due to the ingenious cinematography that captures the light and shadows in a similar way to a black and white movie. The entire photography, whether landscape or studio shots, is spellbounding. The nature seems to participate to the unfolding of the events that will lead up to the epic end. Unforgettable performances by Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore and Lillian Gish are not to be missed, while greed, love and tension fill up the screen in this unique film noir western. 
represents one of the greatest screen adaptations after Tennessee Williams’ play. Richard Brooks is the one responsible with the direction and screenplay. We find ourselves in the middle of a disfunctional Southern family dealing with avarice, rivalries and tensions. Due to the strict Production Code in the late ’50s, all references to strong language and homosexuality were deleted or obscured from the original play. Nevertheless, hints of “something being seriously wrong”, as one of the main characters, Big Daddy (Burl Ives), observes, are present throughout the movie. Paul Newman (Brick) is at his best in the skin of a washed-out ex-professional sportsman, having to deal with both liquor and family problems. Elizabeth Taylor plays her part with her usual intensity: she is Maggie, the impatient wife of Brick, wanting the inheritance as sincerely as the love of her husband. A controversial classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is photographed in colour, helping somehow convey the drama in a more powerful way.
