My 24 Hour Movie Marathon
Where I finally got around to watching Citizen Kane, Dog Day Afternoon, and Perfect Blue, among others.
As a middle school teacher, my summer usually comes to an abrupt end. After roughly ten glorious weeks, it’s back to the grind. I spent a lot of this summer watching movies and trying to catch some of the classics I hadn’t gotten around to yet, like Doctor Zhivago, Heat, and Blue Velvet. I decided to celebrate my summer of classics films by ending it with a bang — a 24 hour movie marathon. 13 films over the course of one straight day with minimal breaks.
Many of the films I chose were movies I felt like I should have seen by now, for one reason or another. All of them were first time watches.
My diary of the event is as follows:
Movie #1: Steamboat Willie (1928)
Started at 7:47am on Saturday, August 15.
Steamboat Willie is often considered the first appearance of both Mickey and Minnie, although that isn’t entirely true. It was, however, the first use of synchronized sound in a Disney cartoon, as Walt saw 1927’s The Jazz Singer and knew it was the way of the future.
I wanted to start off the marathon with something quick, light, and fun. This was just that! Much more than the famed ten second clip of Mickey steering the boat, this is such a monumental piece that you can’t help but appreciate.
Movie #2: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Started at 8:00am on Saturday, August 15.
I first saw the remake of this film, 1965’s High Society, a few years ago and I loved it. How could you not love a bright, joyous, spunky musical with Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and a splash of Satchmo himself, Louis Armstrong?
When I found out that one of my favorite classic musicals was a revision of the same story starring Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, I found the movie right away. I picked up the Criterion release and it was one of the first films I planned for the marathon.
I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I was disappointed with it. A tailor-made vehicle for Hepburn? Grant at some of his silliest? A drunken Jimmy Stewart butchering Somewhere Over the Rainbow? This is a recipe for a great time. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me. You do get some of the greatest classic films stars playing off each other in fine form, but that’s about it.
I may be the only person on the planet who prefers High Society, but this is still a worthwhile fun watch.
Movie #3: Citizen Kane (1941)
Started at 9:58am on Saturday, August 15.
The time had come. I needed to watch the film many consider to be the greatest of all time. The number one film on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies list in both 1998 and 2007. A member of the inaugural film class inducted into the Library of Congress.
The hype is unreal.
And for me, that was to the film’s detriment. This probably wasn’t the best way for me to watch this for the first time. Without time to take it all in, without time to stop and smell the roses — it became just another movie in the long day. It’s giant, it’s stunning, it’s magnificent, but I didn’t have any time to waste. Of all of the films I watched for the first time on this journey, this is the one I need to rewatch the most.
After this movie, I made lunch. A wonderful soup that paired well with the next film…
Movie #4: The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Started at 12:35pm on Saturday, August 15.
Easily my favorite film of the day, I came across Charles Laughton’s sole directorial effort in a sort-of backwards way. I’m a huge fan of Spike Lee’s 1989 Do the Right Thing, which has multiple homages to this film. I figured if it inspired Spike in some way to make one of my favorite movies, I should check it out.
What I did not expect was to be so frightened by Robert Mitchum’s eerie performance and the German-Expressionist inspired film that I was physically shaking at 2:00 in the afternoon when the film concluded. I couldn’t believe what I had just watched. If you haven’t seen this one yet, get on it immediately. I can’t stop touting it. It’s a master work in direction and unbelievably unsettling.
Movie #5: Easy Rider (1969)
Started at 2:28pm on Saturday, August 15.
This is another one that I thought I would like more. For some reason, it just didn’t do it for me. The mustaches in this movie rival the music choices in quality, but aside from those two things, I currently feel very take it or leave it with this one. I’m looking forward to exploring my Criterion disc more and trying it again some day. Maybe movies about road trips and free living just don’t resonate with me in the current era.
After this one, we ran out to get a few of the evening’s movies from the video store and grab some milkshakes. That 20 minute trip turned into a bloated hour long outing and I was now behind schedule.
Movie #6: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Started at 5:05pm on Saturday, August 15.
I love Al Pacino. How could you not? He’s the biggest character of them all. I saw Pacino impressions (by the likes of Frank Caliendo and Bill Hader) before I saw Pacino himself, so I was inclined to think that those loving impressions were caricatures. I couldn’t believe it when I started to dive into his performances and I realized he’s actually like that. He’s that much of a character, he’s that over the top — all the time, (I couldn’t stop laughing on a recent watch of 2002’s Insomnia). I eat up his performances and this one totally delivers.
On top of the fact that the movie is also perfectly anxiety provoking and surprisingly progressive, I totally dug it. And I feel like I will only grow to love it more.
Between this film, 12 Angry Men, and a recent first time viewing of Fail Safe, Lumet is becoming one of my favorite directors. I haven’t explored enough of his work yet but I can’t wait to see some more.
Movie #7: The King of Comedy
Started at 7:17pm on Saturday, August 15.
I’ve also been on a big De Niro kick lately. I feel like he and Pacino go hand-in-hand. I’ve been working my way through Scorsese’s pictures and was super into 2019’s Joker, so it was time for this one. I also thought the Pacino-De Niro lineup would be a good one-two punch.
I loved the De Niro-Scorsese pairing with Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, but this one didn’t resonate with me. They were both generally working against type, which wasn't really what I was looking for. They both do a fine job, but it wasn’t a winning combination for me. Also another movie where I feel as though the hype got to me and I was expecting more.
Movie #8: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
Started at 9:51pm on Saturday, August 15.
I know this seems like a weird choice, especially after the preceding lineup. But let me explain: I was doing my best to go through the decades and pick a movie that felt uniquely like that decade. Easy Rider rocks the 60s, Dog Day Afternoon sweats through the 70s, you get the idea. (Skipped the 90s over — I go back — because my girlfriend wanted to catch this one before going to bed.) I’ve seen a lot of movies from the 2000s because that’s when I went to the movies nonstop. There aren’t too many movies I want to see but haven’t from that decade. And I also thought this would be a fun romp for when it was getting late in the marathon…
It wasn't.
This movie did not need to be two hours long. It’s fine, but it outstays its welcome completely. And Brad Pitt, who I think is one of our strongest comedic actors, didn’t lean into the hokey as much as I wanted him to. As a result, this one slumped me over into the next calendar day of the marathon.
After this one, I went back into the 90s after a quick shower. I felt like I was taking too many breaks, but I needed them. I was actually getting irritable and my vision kept getting blurry. I needed a break.
Movie #9: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Started at 12:15am on Sunday, August 16.
I love Batman: The Animated Series. I think it’s the definitive version of the character. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are the essential Bruce Wayne and Joker to me. I think just about every rendition of every character is spotless. I loved it as a kid and still love it now. Somehow, I had missed this movie along the way. I wanted some animation to make an appearance in the all-nighter and what’s more 90s than this classic rendition of the character?
I hate to say it — I really do — but I think this one was another victim of the hype. I thought it was fine, don’t get me wrong. Just nothing special.To me, it just felt like a bloated episode of the show, minus a few things that make that show so perfect. I think the series works because episodes are so action-packed and swiftly paced in their short runtime. If I want a Batman movie, I’ll watch a Burton or a Nolan. If I want the show, I’ll just watch the show.
Movie #10: Perfect Blue (1997)
Started at 1:31am on Sunday, August 16.
The following contains discussion of sexual violence. Read past to avoid.
I threw this one on right after Mask of the Phantasm because I thought it would be a good follow-up, a dark and gritty animation double feature. I also thought that something requiring subtitles would hold my attention well as the clock passed my usual bedtime.
This one isn’t a victim of the hype for me — I just don’t get the hype. It had me completely through the first half. However, it really started to fall apart for me near the end, mainly due to its neglectful handling of sexual violence.
A note to filmmakers: using sexual violence is so lazy and sophomoric. No matter how edgy you think you’re being, odds are you are just handling it terribly.
Sure enough — it’s handled like garbage in this film and is very heavy-handed, mainly just for grotesque shock and awe. A total bummer, as I really wanted to like it.
Movie #11: Candyman (1992)
Started at 3:08am on Sunday, August 16.
Here is where I made a crucial error.
It’s 3:00am. I’m getting very sleepy. I’ve been staring at the tv all day. I turn this one on the iPad and lay down in bed…
I stayed awake. But it was tough. And the movie didn’t help.
This was supposed to be 2003’s Oldboy as I wanted to stick with subtitles and move back into the new millenium. But that one wasn’t streaming and was instead unavailable. So I thought I would go with something fun and cheesy. I wanted to check out the original film in this franchise out before the Nia DaCosta sequel came out later this year, but then that one got bumped to next year — so there was no rush anyway.
The movie was fine. It seems like a fun cult movie, but I was just too beat. Maybe I’ll check it out again before Halloween next year.
Movie #12: The VelociPastor (2019)
Started at 4:50am on Sunday, August 16.
Surely my problem was that I needed something fun and exciting to keep me awake — and not that I was currently horizontal at nearly 5:00am. The move to turn on something cheesy and fun had gone so well with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Candyman. I just needed something even more ridiculous!
I thought this would be over-the-top fun. Instead, I just hated it.
And I was really nodding in and out.
I don’t think that this movie will achieve the cult status it hopes it will. The movie is dumb, sure. But movies that are “so bad, they’re good” were made with sincerity — that’s the appeal. This just seemed artificial and poser.
If you don’t know this flick and have no idea what I’m talking about, just skip it.
Movie #13: Host (2020)
Started at 6:01am on Sunday, August 16.
At this point, I was done in. I’m sure that this Zoom-meeting horror film is fun and a creative way to make a socially distant film…but I barely saw it. A couple moments here and there when I would try to wake up for a minute or two. But I mainly just slept.
They probably don’t care. They got my money. In fact, I think I’m still subscribed to Shudder…
All in all, I think it was a pretty good try. I’ve learned some lessons for how I want to do it next year. No iPad. No bed. More caffeine. More subtitles.
If you read to the end, that’s a marathon in and of itself.
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