The Man Who Loved Movies, Armand Singer, may also be the Man Who Watched the Most Movies, at least this author is out to prove so. This is a list based upon Armand's early diaries and in later years, based upon his verbal reference to the movies he saw.
The movies are listed in alphabetical order, followed by the actors as Armand noted and his comments in italics. Movie titles are linked to reviews, if available, and video clips are linked next to the estimated run time.
Mondo was a nickname Armand acquired in his golden years and he also loved chocolates by the pound. So it is fitting that we award all of the movies with chocolate Oscar replicas.
The list is a work in progress so check back often to see the latest additions to the MONDO AWARDS!
Alice Adams. Katherine Hepburn and Fred MacMurray. A most admirable picture of small time life. Katherine Hepburn does a wonderful job and I have to revise my opinion of her. I have seen enough of "Main Street" stuff to appreciate the story. The snubbing Alice gets, in her case because of poverty. in mine if one must draw analogies, because of me, perhaps. She was most loveable and captivating, perhaps because of adversity.-September 20, 1935.
Anna Karenina. Greta Garbo and Frederic March. The picture portraying the sorrows springing from an overmastering but illegitimate love, with most of the sorrow befalling Anna. It might be life, but still, hopeless as the situation was made to be from the very beginning, I did so hope things might right temselves. All of which proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am hopelessly, incurably romantic. Movie Clip: You Tube (04:23) -September 22, 1935.
Call of the Wild. Clark Gable and Loretta Young. Very swell drama and gorgeous scenery, supposedly Alaskan - I think, High Sierra. There is nothing wrong with Loretta - really too bad she couldn't have Clark, who is a very likeable chap. Movie Clip: You Tube (04:33) -October 13, 1935.
China Seas. Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. Swell melodrama. Movie Clip: You Tube (04:31) -September 16, 1935.
Every Night at Eight. Frances Langford and George Raft. Very good. The Langford gal is peculiarly sweet and can sing (e.g. "I'm in the Mood for Love") like nobody's business.
Lost Horizon. Ronald Coleman and Margo. ...a very well done version of James Hilton's novel. - September 27, 1937.
She. Helen Gahagan, Randolph Scott, Helen Mack.It was very well done, even if these Brantford fools don't seem to realize it. Perhaps it just struck me right, but anyway I surely was fascinated. Helen G. played the part of "she" and is one voluptuous woman, indeed. -September 7, 1935
The Goose and The Gander. Kay Francis, George Brent, Genevieve Tobin. ...for the second time in the last two days- it was very swell entertainment for comedy-romance. -October 10, 1935.
The Illusionist. Edward Norton, Jessica Biel. (See: Where's Armand? 10/04/06).-October 2006.
Photo: LA Times