Tonight's Movie in 2024: The Year in Review

Happy New Year!!

It's hard to believe it's already time for another annual look back at the movie viewing year that was! As is the case every year, 2024 was filled with terrific viewing, encompassing a wide variety of films and a significant number of "big screen" experiences.

I saw 151 films in 2024. That number is quite a bit lower than my norm, but that total comes with a significant asterisk: While the number is my lowest in many years, it does not include the whopping 27 COLUMBO mysteries I watched in 2024, which encompass most of Seasons 1 through 4. These movie-length episodes typically run anywhere from 75 to 100 minutes; adding them to my total would bring the number of films seen up to 178, which is more in line with recent years' viewing.

Review links to my 2023 COLUMBO viewing may be found at the bottom of this review of the first episode, which was viewed in December 2023. As I write this, a couple more COLUMBO reviews are pending. Getting to know that series for the first time this past year has been very enjoyable.

For comparison, I saw 194 movies in 2023, 179 films in 2022, 190 films in 2021, 198 films in 2020, 238 films in 2019, 282 films in 2018, 284 films in 2017, 275 in 2016, 310 movies in 2015 (my record to date!), 286 movies in 2014, 277 films in 2013, 220 in both 2012 and 2009, 226 in 2011, and 211 movies in 2010.

I saw 51 films in a theater last year. That compares with 56 theatrical films in 2023, 42 in 2022, 28 big screen films in 2021, 9 big screen films in 2020, 91 big screen films in 2019, 116 theatrical films in 2018, 102 in 2017, 75 in 2016, 115 in 2015, 78 in 2014, 50 in 2013, and 55 in 2012.

Four theatrical viewings were brand-new recently released films. More information on the new titles seen follows below.

Almost exactly half of this year's 151 films were repeat watches, with 75 films having been previously seen; this is in line with 74 rewatches for the past couple of years. 33 of those repeat viewings came on a big screen. Oftentimes my repeat watches occur at film festivals or other special theatrical screenings, which are documented below.

For comparison, in 2023 there were 74 repeat watches and in 2022 there were 60 repeats. In 2021 there were 74 repeat watches, in 2020 there were 64 repeats, and in 2019 there were 81 repeat watches. In 2018 there were a whopping 92 repeat watches, while in 2017 there were 68 repeat films, 62 in 2016, 76 in 2015, 68 in 2014, 41 in 2013, 36 in 2012 and 2009, 15 in 2011, and only 13 in 2010.

As usual, each hyperlinked title in this post links to my past review. It's my hope that the linked reviews will provide resources for further exploration and inspiration for future viewing. Each review includes information on how to view the films via physical media.

The next section of this post looks at some additional stats, including films seen at festivals and lists of most-seen actors. The concluding section of the post is an overview of numerous additional titles not already mentioned.

Here's a look back at the great movie viewing year which was 2024!

...I attended four film festivals this year, beginning with the Noir City Film Festival in Hollywood, closely followed by the TCM Classic Film Festival and the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. In the fall I attended the Lone Pine Film Festival.

I'll also mention here I also attended the three-day Disney D23 Expo in August; while I didn't see any films there, I was completely immersed in all things Disney, including their film history.

...The Noir City Film Festival returned to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood for the first time since the truncated festival in 2020. I saw eight films at this year's festival, with the new-to-me watches being the Argentinian film NEVER OPEN THAT DOOR (1952) and the Egyptian movie CAIRO STATION (1958). More on the latter film below.

...I also saw half a dozen previously reviewed films at this year's Noir City Film Festival, listed in the order viewed: THE WINDOW (1949), KISS OF DEATH (1947), UNION STATION (1950), DESERT FURY (1947), THE NARROW MARGIN (1952), and RIFIFI (1955). All are extremely worthwhile, with KISS OF DEATH and THE NARROW MARGIN being among my all-time favorite films.

...At this year's TCM Classic Film Festival I saw 15 films, five of which were new to me: GAMBIT (1966), THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND (1934), DIRTY HARRY (1971), LAW AND ORDER (1932), and SHERLOCK JR. (1924). I also saw a new-to-me short, THE GOAT (1921).  I especially enjoyed DIRTY HARRY and went on to watch the next film in the series, MAGNUM FORCE (1973), at home later in the year.

...Previously reviewed films seen at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival, listed in the order viewed at the fest: WHITE HEAT (1949), IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU (1954), THE GOOD FAIRY (1935), THEM! (1954), IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), THE MAD MISS MANTON (1938), WESTWARD THE WOMEN (1951), LITTLE WOMEN (1994), THE SEARCHERS (1956), and THE BIG HEAT (1953).

...I wrote about my experience seeing three Westerns at the TCM Classic Film Festival -- WESTWARD THE WOMEN, LAW AND ORDER, and THE SEARCHERS -- in my Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column.

...At the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, held in May in Palm Springs, I saw 11 films, five for the first time. New to me were BODY AND SOUL (1947), THE SCARLET CLAW (1944), THE ENFORCER (1951), BORDER INCIDENT (1949), and ACROSS THE BRIDGE (1957). BODY AND SOUL and THE ENFORCER, which were both excellent, have recently come out on Blu-ray and I'll be reviewing them soon.

...Previously reviewed movies seen at the Arthur Lyons Fest were NO MAN OF HER OWN (1950), CRIME WAVE (1954) DEAD RECKONING (1946), WOMAN IN HIDING (1950), DAY OF THE OUTLAW (1959), and ESCAPE IN THE FOG (1945).  NO MAN OF HER OWN and CRIME WAVE are particular favorites which I was very happy to see theatrically.

...As I have for the last several years, I traveled to Lone Pine in October for the Lone Pine Film Festival, and I wrote about it at length in my Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column. This year I saw five films at the festival, plus a 28-minute short and two episodes of HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. One of the films, RIP ROARIN' BUCKAROO (1936), was a first-time watch; the other titles, which were repeat watches, were SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949), THE ARIZONA RANGER (1948), CATTLE EMPIRE (1958), and TRAIL OF ROBIN HOOD (1950).

...Other special theatrical screenings this year included WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) at the Fox Village Theatre in Westwood, accompanied by a lengthy slate of Puppetoons animated shorts; a 35mm nitrate screening of WINCHESTER '73 (1950) at the Egyptian Theatre, followed later in the year by a 35mm print of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) and a 70mm restoration of NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) at the same theater; STAGECOACH (1939) in DCP format at the Academy Museum's David Geffen Theater; PERSONS IN HIDING (1939) in 35mm at the American Cinematheque's Los Feliz 3 Theatre; and a 70th anniversary Fathom Events screening of WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) at my local Cinemark Theatre.

...New movies seen in theaters in 2024 were: FERRARI (2023), THE BOYS IN THE BOAT (2023), ORDINARY ANGELS (2024), and THE FALL GUY (2024), which I include, having watched it on the Lido Deck of the Carnival Luminosa cruise ship! Theatrical viewings were down partly due to the "pipeline" of titles available in 2024 having been reduced due to the 2023 writers' strike.

...I also went to a screening of SOUL (2020) which was originally intended as a theatrical film but ended up debuting on Disney+ due to lockdowns. I enjoyed it and am glad my first viewing was on a big screen!

...The only feature-length documentary I saw in 2024 was MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024). I'll be watching another, MERCHANT IVORY: THE DOCUMENTARY (2024), in January.

...My Hallmark viewing was down significantly this year, consisting of LOVE AT SEA (2018) and SEALED WITH A LIST (2023). I anticipate my Hallmark viewing will pick up in 2025, starting with a couple of Blu-ray screeners currently in my "watch" stack!

...This was a strong movie year and I was hard-pressed to name a "worst" picture seen in 2024. I guess the only one I really didn't enjoy was CAIRO STATION (1958), seen at the Noir City Hollywood Festival. (My husband actually left and sat in the lobby midway through, but I did stick it out till the end!) Past "winners" in this category: HULLABALOO (1940) from my 2009 list, FORT BOWIE (1958) in 2011, INHERIT THE WIND (1960) in 2012, a tie between DAVY CROCKETT, INDIAN SCOUT (1950) and FLYING BLIND (1941) in 2013, FORT YUMA (1955) in 2014, THE ROBIN HOOD OF EL DORADO (1936) in 2015, MAKE MINE LAUGHS (1949) in 2016, DEJA VU (1985) in 2017, GOLDIE GETS ALONG (1933) in 2018, MADAME X (1966) in 2019, THE MOONLIGHTER (1953) in 2020, THE ART OF LOVE (1965) in 2021, AMERICAN FLYERS (1985) in 2022, and THE ANDERSON TAPES (1971) in 2023. Fortunately it's extremely rare when I don't find at least some things in a film to enjoy!

...This year I was happy to continue my monthly Westerns column for the Classic Movie Hub site, where I've now been writing for the past six and a half years. The index for all of my Western RoundUp columns may be found here. In addition to articles on a variety of topics, including the TCM and Lone Pine Film Festivals, I wrote longer reviews of JOE KIDD (1972) and HIGH NOON (1952).

...For Classic Movie Hub I also wrote what's become an annual survey of a few "B" Westerns; featured this year were DEPUTY MARSHAL (1949) with Jon Hall and Frances Langford, COLORADO RANGER (1950) with Jimmy Ellison and Julie Adams, THREE DESPERATE MEN (1951) with Preston Foster, Jim Davis, and Virginia Grey, and OUTLAW WOMEN (1952) with Marie Windsor.

...Alan Ladd was my most-seen actor in 2024, with half a dozen films. Just after Ladd, with five films apiece, were Humphrey Bogart and Clint Eastwood.

...Seen regularly in 2024, in three films apiece: James Cagney, John Carradine, Arthur Kennedy, John Litel, Charles McGraw, Stephen McNally, William Powell, Basil Rathbone, Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart, Marshall Thompson, Tom Tyler, and John Wayne.

...It's unusual that I didn't see any actresses in more than three films last year. The actresses seen in three films each were Jean Arthur, Veronica Lake, Ida Lupino, Paula Raymond, Lizabeth Scott, and Barbara Stanwyck.

...Below is an overview of some additional titles not already listed above which I found especially memorable viewing in 2024. I'll add that in the interest of time this is not a comprehensive list of all my viewing, just hitting some of the highlights!

...January began with a rewatch of CRISIS (1950) for the first time in a dozen years; it's an unusual Cary Grant film I like a lot...I enjoyed the Gothic crime melodrama MOSS ROSE (1947) starring Victor Mature and Peggy Cummins...STATE SECRET (1950) was an enjoyable suspense thriller starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Glynis Johns...MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET (1942) was a fun 61-minute "B" movie with Maria Montez...I can never see the comedy EASY LIVING (1937) with Jean Arthur and Ray Milland too many times...I saw RUN SILENT RUN DEEP (1958) with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster for the first time in years...I revisited a pair of good George Clooney films, THE IDES OF MARCH (2011) and GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK (2005)...and I closed out the first month of the year with a rewatch of the Alan Ladd film CHICAGO DEADLINE (1949).

...February started watching a lovely new Blu-ray of TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932)...I enjoyed revisiting Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (2003) and Liam Neeson in the very good "plane thriller" NON-STOP (2014)...I hadn't seen the MGM musical CABIN IN THE SKY (1943) in years and enjoyed it on another gorgeous new Blu-ray...SWEETWATER (2023) told the story of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, a Harlem Globetrotter who was one of the first black players to break into the NBA...and I can never see the L.A.-set crime film HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948) too many times, it's one of my favorite movies!

...March and April home viewing was light due to multiple film festivals. I really enjoyed Edward G. Robinson and Paulette Goddard in VICE SQUAD (1953)...BOMBS OVER BURMA (1942) with Anna May Wong was an interesting WWII "B" film...FINGERMAN (1955) with Frank Lovejoy and Peggie Castle was a good watch...I love THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT (1941) with George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart, and Ida Lupino...LET'S DANCE (1950) was the only Fred Astaire musical I'd never seen, and I found it more engaging than its reputation would suggest...THE GAUNTLET (1977) with Clint Eastwood was a lot of fun; I watched it in conjunction with reading a book on the film...and I enjoyed revisiting Bebe Daniels and Randolph Scott in the pre-Code COCKTAIL HOUR (1932), which I'd first seen at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival.

...May was also light on home viewing due to another film festival. My viewing in May and June included revisiting the delightful Dick Powell fantasy YOU NEVER CAN TELL (1951)...I enjoyed Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in the silent adventure THE BLACK PIRATE (1926)...I very much enjoyed Humphrey Bogart in TOKYO JOE (1949), a first-time watch inspired by my liking of his film THE ENFORCER at a film fest...I'm very fond of the under-appreciated Fritz Lang film SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (1947) starring Joan Bennett and enjoyed seeing it again thanks to a new Blu-ray...I saw John Carradine and Jean Parker in BLUEBEARD (1944) for the first time in a decade...I like SUBMARINE COMMAND (1952) with William Holden and Nancy Olson despite Holden's character being overly surly...THUNDER IN THE EAST (1952) with Alan Ladd and Deborah Kerr was an interesting first-time watch, one of a few new-to-me Alan Ladd films seen this year...One of my favorite discoveries this year was the Japanese crime film TAKE AIM AT THE POLICE VAN (1960)...SAIGON (1947) was a long-awaited viewing of an Alan Ladd-Veronica Lake film available in the U.S. for the first time; not a perfect film, but solid...I also enjoyed my first viewing of Lake and Franchot Tone in THE HOUR BEFORE THE DAWN (1944)...BLACK TUESDAY (1954) with Edward G. Robinson escaping prison was riveting...The restored Frank Borzage film MAN'S CASTLE (1933), returning the film to its original theatrical edit, was an important release this year starring my favorite actress, Loretta Young...and I returned to a favorite Deanna Durbin film, SOMETHING IN THE WIND (1947).

...July and August saw me watching a bunch of new-to-me crime films, including CITY OF SHADOWS (1955), CRASHOUT (1955), NIGHTMARE (1956), and the Japanese film RUSTY KNIFE (1958), after which I revisited Hitchcock's ROPE (1948) for the first time in a dozen years...I revisited Roy Rogers in UNDER WESTERN STARS (1938) thanks to a nice new Film Masters Blu-ray...I finally caught up with STARTING OVER (1979) for the first time...THE MAN I LOVE (1947) is a favorite Ida Lupino film with a great cast, and even better, the new Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray restored a few missing minutes...Disaster movie meets police procedural in ROLLERCOASTER (1977), which I enjoyed...I watched another procedural, PARKLAND (2014), for the first time in a decade; it's an interesting film about the medical staff and law enforcement who dealt with the JFK assassination...NO WAY OUT (1987) is a favorite Kevin Costner thriller...ACT OF VIOLENCE (1947) also came out on a new Blu-ray. My summer viewing was definitely heavy on crime movies!

...September and October viewing included the enjoyable ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN (1934) with Fay Wray and Ralph Bellamy...I liked MARIE: A TRUE STORY (1985) with Sissy Spacek; future U.S. senator Fred Thompson played himself at the start of an excellent career as a character actor (he was also in NO WAY OUT, which I watched shortly before MARIE)...SHACK OUT ON 101 (1955) is a bit nutty but also completely enjoyable, and I highly recommend it...I also love CONFLICT (1945) with Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet...Fritz Lang's underrated CLOAK AND DAGGER (1946) was one of my favorite discoveries of the year, and leading lady Lilli Palmer, who I also saw in BODY AND SOUL (1947), was another favorite discovery of 2024.

...After so many crime films in previous months, November proved to be a month for revisiting MGM musicals, including THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950), BATHING BEAUTY (1944), and WORDS AND MUSIC (1948)...I also revisited favorite Alan Ladd films APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER (1950) and CAPTAIN CAREY, U.S.A. (1950)...Crime films seen in November included DARK CITY (1950) and MAKE HASTE TO LIVE (1954)...and I saw a different version of Orson Welles' JOURNEY INTO FEAR (1943) than I'd seen in 2011!

...December was a good month for revisiting old favorites such as Billy Wilder's ONE, TWO, THREE (1961) and Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in SWEETHEARTS (1938)...I saw THE PREACHER'S WIFE (1996), a loose remake of THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947), for the first time...My Christmas viewing this year included CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)...The "train thriller" THE TALL TARGET (1951) with Dick Powell is a big favorite...And I saw another new-to-me Alan Ladd film, BOTANY BAY (1953).

This post comes, as always, with my deep thanks to everyone who reads and comments.  (As was the case in 2023, 2024 brought some challenges which made it difficult to always respond to comments, but every single one is read and enjoyed.)  Your readership, friendship, and support are all greatly appreciated.

I wish everyone health, happiness, and many wonderful movies in 2025!

Previously: Tonight's Movie in 2009: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2010: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2011: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2012: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2013: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2014: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2015: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2016: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2017: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2018: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2019: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2020: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2021: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2022: The Year in Review; Tonight's Movie in 2023: The Year in Review.

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