“Borderstan Movie Fan” Tells You What to Rent

We welcome a new weekly contributor to Borderstan. Mary Burgan is the Borderstan Movie Fan and she will offer up her “totally subjective advice” about what movies you should rent. Burgan is a retired association executive and professor of English. She and her husband live in Borderstan. — mattyillini

By Mary Burgan

Stumped at Blockbuster? At the end of your queue on Netflix? Not sure which classics to watch on cable?

As a movie reviewer for Borderstan, I’ll make some totally subjective suggestions for you about movies that are not playing in the theater–classics and movies that have already left the theaters.

You can find plenty of reviews of new releases, so you don’t need help there. Not that I don’t have opinions, but I wanted to offer something a little different to Borderstan readers.

Joan Crawford and Zachary Scott Movies. For example, what would I choose when the AMC channel is running a Joan Crawford series? Well, I’ll suggest that you skip Mildred Pierce (1945), especially if you’ve already seen it three times. Instead, spend your time with Crawford’s 1949 movie, Flamingo Road, which features not only Mommie Dearest in her prime, but also the juicy villainy of Sydney Greenstreet and the now forgotten Zachery Scott at his cowardly custard best.

And later you might browse Netflix queue and check out The Southerner (1945) with a noble Zachery Scott playing the struggling share cropper. The Southerner was the best of the American films directed by Jean Renoir when he was taking refuge in the U.S. during the Second World War.

Moreover, if you haven’t seen his great French films, Grand Illusion (1937) and The Rules of the Game (1939), then order them immediately. Myself? I would see Grand Illusion first.

P.S.-If there are some movies that you’d like to know about, please post a comment and I will see what I can do.