Category: 1940s

Posted on 2022-03-06 | No Comments |

The Red Danube (1949)

Billeted in an Austrian convent run by mother superior Ethel Barrymore in post World War II Europe, British colonel Walter Pidgeon, along with aides Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford, and Robert Coote, is tasked with monitoring for possible subversive activities against Allied countries while also supporting the repatriation of Soviet citizens. Complications arise when Lawford falls in love with Russian ballerina Vivien Leigh who is in hiding at the convent. A potentially intriguing story about the early days of the Cold War is marred by heavy-handed religious propaganda where Pidgeon’s understandable post-War agnosticism is deemed unacceptable by Barrymore and the film. It also requires a buy-in of a lukewarm romance between bland Peter Lawford and weak-willed Leigh. At least Lansbury’s character escaped that fate.

Oscar Nomination: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White

Posted on 2022-03-03 | No Comments |

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Despite the disapproval of her in-laws, recently widowed Gene Tierney moves with her young daughter Natalie Wood to a seaside cottage formerly owned by a sea captain. The sea captain Rex Harrison now haunts the cottage, butting heads with Tierney until a partnership brings them together in a romance that is unable to endure on the earthly plane. It’s a sweet little tale and Tierney carries it well. Despite his generally genteel personage, Harrison is rather funny as the gruff captain. The story did bring to mind his role in Blithe Spirit, though he was the one being haunted there.

Oscar Nomination: Best Cinematography, Black-and-White

Posted on 2022-02-23 | No Comments |

She Wouldn’t Say Yes (1945)

Psychiatrist Rosalind Russell repeatedly has run ins with cartoonist Lee Bowman. She instantly dislikes him and he continually harasses her until, with her father’s help, he tricks her into marrying him. That sounds awful even as I type it. Russell is great as a self-assured doctor, especially in her work with shell shocked soldiers. There’s nothing else to recommend though.

Posted on 2022-02-22 | No Comments |

Too Many Husbands (1940)

When the presumed dead Fred MacMurray returns home after being missing for a year, he is surprised to discover his best friend and business partner Melvyn Douglas and his wife Jean Arthur have married each other in his absence. Someone accidentally finding themselves with two spouses is hardly a unique story at this point and there are some weirdly questionable points in this particular iteration. It is delightful to see Jean reap the benefits of the situation as both of her husbands have neglected her for either adventure or work during her history with them. It’s unfortunate that everyone, including her own father, are pushy and insistent that she has to make a life-determining decision as soon as possible.

Oscar Nomination: Best Sound, Recording

Posted on 2022-02-13 | No Comments |

Passport to Pimlico (1949)

When a previously undetonated bomb explodes in the London area of Pimlico, documents are discovered, amongst a trove of other riches, that declare the area to actually be owned by the House of Burgundy. The newly established Burgundians soon discover that they no longer are subjected to British restrictions which brings about a battle with the British government. This is delightfully charming and funny in a very British manner. It’s now one of my favorite Ealing Studios films from this era.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay

Posted on 2022-02-04 | No Comments |

The Little Foxes (1941)

The Hubbards are a rich family living in the South in the early 1900s. The only daughter of the family, Bette Davis must contend with a society where her brothers inherited from their father and are independently wealthy while she had to find a pliable husband to support her financial ambitions. The three Hubbard siblings are all ruthless and conniving, more concerned with acquiring more than the human collateral damage along the way. Davis is quite good in her role, wicked but still as restrained as society expects her. She goes toe to toe with her brothers, particularly the equally manipulative Charles Dingle.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture; Best Actress in a Leading Role ; Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White; Best Film Editing; Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture

Posted on 2022-02-03 | No Comments |

Christmas Under Fire (1941)

A war propaganda piece set during Christmas is a bit of an oddity, but that is exactly what this is. It proports to illustrate the resilience of the British people to celebrate the holidays with the reminders of war all around them. Despite my general dislike for war films, I do enjoy seeing how civilians adapt and carry on despite the destruction surrounding them. There is plenty of that in this short, but it is very heavy handed.

Oscar Nomination: Best Documentary

Posted on 2022-02-01 | No Comments |

I Know Where I’m Going! (1945)

A headstrong Englishwoman Wendy Hiller travels to the Hebrides to fulfill her life’s goal of marrying a rich industrialist. On the last leg of her journey, she is waylaid due to a storm that prevents transport between the islands. Unexpectedly stranded, she meets a bevy of characters whose outlook on life greatly differs from her own. It’s an adorable film with a gorgeous Scottish backdrop where Hiller must figure out whether to follow her head or heart.

Posted on 2022-01-30 | No Comments |

Sahara (1943)

During World War II, a tank commanded by Sergeant Humphrey Bogart makes its way across the Libyan desert, trying to reunite with the rest of its unit. Along the way they pick up more passengers, Allied and Axis alike, and find themselves stranded at the only source of water for miles with a German battalion on its way. Their desperation situation and the bevy of characters reminds me a lot of The Lost Patrol. What sets this apart is the that the crew manages to hold onto a bit of humor, especially when trying to downplay the direness of their situation. It offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise hopeless circumstance.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Sound, Recording

Posted on 2022-01-22 | No Comments |

Road to Rio (1947)

Once again Bob Hope and Bing Crosby are musicians forced from locale to locale because of girl trouble. After burning down a circus, they stowaway on a ship to Brazil where they meet Dolores del Rio who is being hypnotized by her guardian. Again much hijinks ensue, especially when the duo is joined by the non-English speaking (for the movie) Wiere Brothers. One highlight of the film is the Andrews Sisters joining Bing in a performance. I’m not sure if I prefer this to Road to Bali, though it has a more linear story, the technicolor does enhance the experience in the other film. Also in comparison, this has the boys battling each other in a duel, but the other has them getting married, so it probably wins. I’m not sure why Bing seems to win in the end. I guess crooners really were the cat’s meow back then.

Oscar Nomination: Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture