Posted on 09/09/2009 5:37:32 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
I postulate that if you were to ask the next 10 people you meet (other than perpetual-childhood types) to name two movies being shown at theaters near them this week they'd be all screwed up for an answer. Or even to name who's starring in them....forget it.
Well, I can't talk....because I'm perpetually mired in the Golden Age of Hollywood and probably can't name today's films and performers, either.
Leni
Production was halted on Chaplin’s “Dictator” to conform with the new “Party Line” from Moscow. The film was originally intended as a mocking comic parody of Adolph Hitler, which was consistent with the old party line. Then came the Non-Aggression Pact, and the world’s communists and fellow travelers were given new instructions: “Hitler = Good.” The idea was to prop up Nazi Germany, so that Germany and the western Allies would fight a prolonged war, exhausting themselves again as they had in WW1. Then Stalin’s USSR would clean up and Sovietize a broken and bankrupt Europe.
Moscow’s vision of America’s role was to remain neutral and not throw her support behind Britain and France, thus prolonging the war. Chaplin played his part. The “Great Dictator” ends with Chaplin sternly telling the movie audience that “this war is not our concern.” It wound up being a disjointed piece of garbage because of its mixed message; one of the worst films produced.
Of course, all of that would change on June 22, 1941, and change very quickly. The Party Line then became total support for the USSR. Hollywood even produced a movie about Russian Partisans in 1943; I can’t remember the title, but the script was right out of Moscow. The movie ended with the hero and heroine fighting off a German tank with an anti-tank rifle while they recited the Party oath. Can’t believe it came from Hollywood.
But we can see communism’s tentacles taking hold in Hollywood as early as 1939. With Hollywood dropping anti-Nazi movies in the name of “neutrality,” you can see how it’s playing out.
Oh yes, one of my favorites stories. The film remake was named “The Rains of Ranchipur”. Fred MacMurray played a disillusioned American ex-patriot. In his cups, he says, “We thought we’d made a better world, a bigger world—only the cars are bigger.” That line made the picture for me.
What I love about this era is that the hero can say the unspeakable and we can still have a proper happy ending. MacMurray is rescued by the beautiful young woman. Their love scene is one of the best written (precisely because there’s no sex in it).
Here’s a list of movies that came out in 1939. Many are considered classics.
http://www.films101.com/y1939r.htm
I believe the earthquake footage in “The Rains Came” earned the movie an Oscar for special effects. Oscars were hare to come by that year, with GWTW winning so many.
Thanks for the memories.
Leni
You can find reviews of a goodly number of them by searching keyword "realtime." And there are more to come before the year is over. Including GWTW, I imagine. (If you could do a search on multiple keywords, like "moviereview+realtime," they would all come up together. But I don't think you can.)
Not surprising that it is an adaptation of a novel. The end is probably what killed it at the box office though — she chooses to follow this cad as he globe trots but they do NOT get married.
She was literally willing to be shipped around like his favorite piece of luggage.
Not very romantic for a movie — even if true to the original text.
Please add me to your Golden Era ping list. I have seen almost all this movies at least three or four times!
Do you want to be pinged for all the 70-year-old articles or just the movie reviews?
Hmmm...This is the first time I have been on this thread. Let me have a look around and I will get back to you if that is OK?
There is a film called 9 out today. 9/9/09
yep. The socialists got their orders
you can google them anyways
freerepublic.com+realtime+movie review
I didn’t test it though =o)
Sure. Like my regular reply #1 says, you can add any time up to 9/2/15. FYI - There will normally be one daily news post. The others - primarily sports and movie reviews - depend on what is happening on a given day.
If you want to brouse around some more click on my “links” in my profile. I have very article from this year, and the 1938 year and review which has all of 1938 in it saved. It will allow you to see the variety of things covered.
His movie articles bring so much more detailed insight into the classic films I know and love.....and, like you, I've seen a million times over.
The pooches on your profile page are beautiful. They look like show dogs!
Leni
Good idea. I tried it. Mixed results.
OK.
might need some work
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