Kanopy offers an encyclopedia of great movies

Above : Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy and Rosalin Russell star in “His Girl Friday.” (Photo: Coiumbia Pictures)

Among the many streaming services out there, Kanopy is one of the best. And best of all, it’s free to anyone holding a Spokane Public Library card.

OK, so it may not have as many selections as some of the more popular subscription services, but any real movie fan should be able to find a wealth of viewing options by simply perusing the Kanopy website.

You can even find a list of the most popular rentals, based on what other Kanopy subscribers have been watching. Of that list, many are among the greatest films ever made – and, not surprisingly, most of those explore darkly themed stories of struggle.

Films such as the 1948 Italian film “Bicycle Thieves” or the 2016 Oscar-winner “Moonlight.”

Since we’re now in the holidays, I looked for a few offerings that offers a brighter view of life. So, here are a few recommendations:

“His Girl Friday” (1940): Howard Hawks’ version of this stage play, which had been filmed previously, featured one big novel change: He changed the sexes of one of the main characters, newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson, thereby giving Rosalind Russell the role of her career. Her exchanges with Cary Grant, who plays her editor, are the epitome of classic screwball comedy.

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016): New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, whose 2019 film “Jojo Rabbit” won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, directed this moving little comedy about a runaway who takes off into the New Zealand brush with his foster uncle (Sam Neill).

“Ball of Fire” (1941): Another screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks, written by Billy Wilder, this one  has an out-of-character Gary Cooper portraying a grammarian working with a group of other professors on compiling an encyclopedia. A wise-cracking nightclub singer, played by Barbara Stanwyck, invades their lives and comic escapades ensue.

“A Cat in Paris” (2010): This animated French film follows the title character, who lives a double life: by day the pet of a young girl, by night the companion of a jewel thief. Both an Oscar and a César nominee (it lost the Oscar to “Rango”), it was described by Chicago Tribune critic Michael Phillips as “an entrancing brand of make-believe that grown-ups can believe in.” No argument.

The list goes on … and on. Some 5,244 movies, many of which I haven’t even heard of.

Looks likes I have some viewing to do.