A year of screwball comedies

The past year turned out to be quite an educational one for me, re-watching films, many of which I love, and trying to analyze them in my own way. I have no idea if I got any of it right or wrong, but I think I walk away from this experiment knowing that to have a successful film, the stars really do need to align. It isn't just about the fantastic script, or director, or actors, it all has to come together. Watching The Philadelphia Story with commentary really shows you how every tiny detail was well thought out, from the sets to the lighting, the casting to the rewriting. It's seeing to these details, the perfectionism, that created these fantastic films that still entertain us all these years later.

While I already knew the importance of all the parts in a story, I think what I got most out of this past year was learning all the trivia or noticing the details, memorizing lines. And there were films I gave a chance, when in the past I hadn't. There are a couple that I hadn't watched again and this time I did and tried. Trouble in Paradise I always liked, but it wasn't a favorite. I think after a month of it, I truly, truly enjoyed it and can say it's might be my favorite of the bunch. I say might because I think of The Awful Truth and can't quite decide.

My only regret is that in the last few months, I wish I would've had more time to watch the films. So I struggled toward the end, but was determined. I read scripts and for most was able to see the before and after, that for a film like Nothing Sacred was like night and day. Still wish they would've gone with the original draft. But overall, I'm glad I did this, that I finally took the time to watch a dozen films and really study them, some more than others, but really to understand the mechanics.

And now with this year being over, I walk away a little more empowered with knowledge, and with memories of lots of laughs.