His Girl Friday was one of the nominations in a recent Hall of Fame. I don't think it's a particularly good film. My main criticism is summarized in this paragraph...
I found it to be an incredibly frustrating watch, because of its over the top fast-paced dialogue. I didn't really find it amusing nor funny, mainly because of the fact that lines were delievered so fast that I barely had any time to process them. Overall, I think the dialogue was way too incomprehensible and not particularly funny, so I guess I didn't really see the appeal of an aspect this film is praised for. Secondly, I disliked majority of the characters, particularly Walter Burns (Cary Grant). I get that this was a rather cynical view on the world of journalism and politics and that characters were probably deliberately painted as vultures, but disliking almost every one of them made it really hard for me to enjoy this film.
I cannot say anything about
The Grapes of Wrath because it's been far too long since I've last seen it. To the best of my recollection it's a very good film.
Laura is an iconic noir with a mesmerizing theme song. However it's not of my favorite Gene Tierney performances. I prefer films where she's not relegated to playing a porcelain doll. I very much like this Frank Sinatra rendition.
The Great Dictator was nominated in one of the recent Hall of Fames as well. I enjoyed it at the time but I believe it fades away rather quickly.
This was actually my first introduction to Chaplin. Never have I previously seen a film of his at full length, so naturally I was very excited for this nomination, considering the man's role in cinema's history. Initially I wasn't sure, what to expect out of this; whether it will be a classic goofball comedy or excecuted in a more conservative manner. It turned out to be a great goofball fun with lots of physical comedy, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but also a film of great historical and cultural importance. I find it remarkable, that Chaplin had enough grit to openly ridicule National Socialist Party in the middle of a bulging ww2. I like the universal message he carried out in his final speech. It might have been corny, but I think a straight-forward message like that, was needed at time to warn the humanity of an increasing decadence and to plead for peace and unity. To conclude this is a very powerful and poignant satirical piece, which definitely stood the test of time.
I haven't seen
Rebecca and I don't feel compelled to do so.
Bicycle Thieves is a second masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica and the most well-known frontrunner of Italian Neorealism. Simply stupendous depiction of post WW2 desperation in Italy. The ending to it is arguably the emotional peak of cinema's history. Here is an incredible text about the ending itself.
Even though Lamberto Maggiorani remained uncomfortable with the mechanics of filmmaking and acting, he nevertheless began to feel a merging of his own identity with that of his character Antonio. Vittorio De Sica later stated that Maggiorani "confessed to me that he had experienced this sensation, acutely and poignantly, in the last scene in the film: Antonio, in a moment of revolt against his cruel fate, attempts robbery and is arrested and maltreated in front of his son. When, through his tears, Lamberto Maggiorani felt his hand seized by little Staiola, it seemed to him that it really was his son who took his hand, and his tears became real tears of burning shame. In a few months of patient effort, I had brought this man to the point of being able to forget himself in his role and to enter fully into the sad story."
Sergio Leone worked as an assistant on the film and made a short cameo appearance.He is the priest with glasses on the left.
Rope is the only film by Alfred Hitckcock that rises above the pile of mediocrity. Despite being my favourite from the director, I think that N0.8 is a massive reach.
1. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
2. Portrait of Jennie
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray
4. Bicycle Thieves
5. The Big Sleep
8. Le Corbeau
9. Kind Hearts and Coronets
10. The Body Snatcher
12. The Red Shoes
13. The Best Years Of Our Lives
15. Arsenic And Old Lace
16. Children of Paradise
17. Gaslight
18. The Ox-Bow Incident
19. The Lost Weekend
20. Leave Her To Heaven
21. Rome, Open City
23. Dead of Night
24. Magnificent Ambersons
25. Night Train To Munich
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