Cinematic Distractions...

Ball of Fire(1941):
A vivacious nightclub performer by the name of Sugarpuss O'Shea(Barabra Stanwyck), who has ties to a notorious gangster, upsets the daily routine of a household of academic researchers as they work to finish writing an encyclopedia.
Slang is the topic du jour for Professor Bertram Potts(Gary Cooper). A colorful chat with the garbage man convinces him that his research and examples of slang are already too out of date to publish. He decides to observe the conversations of everyday people.
Basically, when not chatting up people on the street himself, he shoulder creeps their conversations, while jotting notes. His research leads him to a nightclub where he becomes fascinated with the word "boogie", and Miss O'Shea, who does a song and dance number in a skintight sequined dress.
The song, "Drum Boogie", is performed(and composed) by Gene Krupa and his Orchestra. In his day, Gene Krupa was the kind of intense, passionate, energetic musician that uptight parents worried their children would take a liking to and seek to emulate, or date.
It's a bridge and tunnel movie in that the action takes place in New York City and the sticks of New Jersey with a wacky road trip inbetween. Dana Andrews plays Miss O'Shea's gangster boyfriend. There is a smattering of interesting character actors rounding out the cast of gangsters and professors. Tully Marshall, Aubrey Mather, and Oscar Homolka to name a few. Then there is the gangster duo of Asthma and Pastrami, or maybe that's Pastrami and Asthma. Best experienced, not explained.
It meets all the criteria of my breezy mantinees my grandmother would enjoy movie category, and I like it too! Also, if you have trouble grasping the meaning of certain figures of speech, "corny" for example, you'll understand them better after watching this.

Kagemusha(1980):
I had forgotten how arduous this movie is.
Fake it until you make it meets king of the mountain, when an uncanny thief is posed as a lord. The ruse works brilliantly for a time. In some ways, he is a better man than the one he has been hired to impersonate. Some people notice differences, but all conclude that he is a man changed for the better.
Bravado replaces strategy, and it all comes undone. The protocol of battle is farcical, and all for naught.
Kagemusha is how I came to know Kurosawa movies. It was mentioned in an arts and club scene magazine I used to read back in the 1980s. It was a sort of dishonorable mention about the treatment of the horses used in the battle scenes.

Slaughterhouse Five(1972):
I didn't like this as much as those who watched it with me did. That's not to say I didn't like it, but I'm fine with never watching it again.
I respect the backstory, which is drawn from Vonnegut's army experience. I like the premise, but I haven't read the book, which leaves me reluctant to comment further.

Once Upon a Time in the West(1968):
It's watching Claudia Cardinale emote in intense close-up for two hours, but in a good way. I was more impressed with Bronson and Robards than I was with Fonda.
A greedy and corrupt railroad baron will stop at nothing to acquire a parcel of privately owned land from a frontier family. Hired goons, and hired guns go at it in a terrific confrontation featuring a particularly lavish railroad car.

Out of the Past(1947):
Challenging movie for face blindness. I found the women particularly difficult to tell apart. Both leading men have dimpled chins.
In looking up information about this film, I quickly realized many people consider it the pinnacle of film noir. I have no idea why. Much of the acting is ham-fisted, and when it isn't, it's sleepy, and flat. Kirk Douglas gives the best performance. He brings a certain intensity and subtle menace to his scenes. The delivery is snappy, but a lot of the lines are cheesy.
Its focus on the femme fatale makes it noteworthy, but this shady lady is more impetuous than astute. Jane Greer is hot as a pistol, but also, she is holding a hot pistol.