MORE GOOD FILMS YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF
                                                      Part 3

Here’s another batch of films from the vault you may never have heard of but which were really enjoyed by Mr. Movie. (Hey, that’s me!)
In 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) Anne Bancroft is an American college professor who over the years corresponds with British bookstore owner Anthony Hopkins. It is, as they say, based on a true story. The sprightly discussion by mail between the two characters includes such diverse topics as John Donne, Yorkshire pudding, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the coronation of Elizabeth II.  I know it doesn’t sound like much, but catch this little sleeper and you won’t be sorry. 
Every Little Step (2009) is a documentary about the casting of the 2006 revival of the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. 3,000 dancers showed up for the audition! The film weaves the stories of many of the participants in both the original play and the revival, together with some five-star dancing. Even if you don’t like Broadway musicals (shame on you!) you will enjoy the stories of the lives of these talented people. 
In America (2007) is as timely as today’s headlines. A very complex Irish family lands in a Hell’s Kitchen tenement. Their struggles and their triumphs closely follow each other. Samantha Morton was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Christy, the chirpy never-give-up mother. Also nominated was Djimon Hounsou for his role as a somewhat menacing resident of the family’s building. Though neither won, they were really good and both went on to become very much in demand. 
Invictus (2009) is based on the true story of how Nelson Mandela (played here by Morgan Freeman) convinced the black South African people to support the white world-class soccer team, the Springboks. Their captain is played by Matt Damon. The team’s visit to the prison that housed Mr. Mandela for most of his 27 years of confinement is sobering but uplifting for them and us. I knew almost nothing about rugby, but really enjoyed the action and picked up the rules fairly quickly. 
The Magic Box (1951) stars British legend Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, the inventor of the movie camera. This charming story follows his triumphs and tragedies in getting financing for his invention and in his development of the camera. There is a scene where he excitedly brings in a policeman off the street to show him a short movie he has made in Hyde Park that is just so much fun! There are cameos from lots of famous British stars including Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier. 
All of the films in this post are available on DVD and for streaming. And all are fine for all audiences, factoring in the boredom quotient for littlies.