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In Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire (1941), Barbara Stanwyck turns her tough dame persona to comedic purpose, a feat she also performed that year in the Preston Sturges comedy, The Lady Eve (1941). Both are terrific examples of the screwball genre, but while the Sturges picture relies on biblical allusion read more

In Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire (1941), Barbara Stanwyck turns her tough dame persona to comedic purpose, a feat she also performed that year in the Preston Sturges comedy, The Lady Eve (1941). Both are terrific examples of the screwball genre, but while the Sturges picture relies on biblical allusion read more

In Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire (1941), Barbara Stanwyck turns her tough dame persona to comedic purpose, a feat she also performed that year in the Preston Sturges comedy, The Lady Eve (1941). Both are terrific examples of the screwball genre, but while the Sturges picture relies on biblical allusion read more

There were more great movies made this year than I realized. I could have looked like a smart movie buff if I picked ten classic high-brow movies. But I searched my heart, soul and guts ( a pretty messy prospect, I assure you ) and picked movies that I really really really like; they are like old fr read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Shadow of the Thin Man has a healthy mix of comedy and mystery. The resolution to mystery is a little lacking at the end, but the film moves so smoothly until then it’s easily forgivable. And there is one amusing final twist (along with a good final joke). Most of the comedy comes from Willia read more

Before Twilight Time’s recent release I’d never heard of Man Hunt, odd considering it’s directed by acclaimed director Fritz Lang, and starring 1940s heavy-hitters Walter Pidgeon, George Sanders, and Joan Bennett. This could be partly based on the WWII-setting and its encouraging p read more

The wolf-man(1941)-a horror gems review https://www.facebook.com/Wolffianclassicmoviesdigest Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and Autumn moon is bright.” The Wolf Man, released by Universal Pictures in 1941,contains no read more

The wolf-man(1941)-a horror gems review https://www.facebook.com/Wolffianclassicmoviesdigest Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and Autumn moon is bright.” The Wolf Man, released by Universal Pictures in 1941,contains no read more

Blossoms in the Dust Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Written by Anita Loos and Robert Wainwright 1941/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer First viewing/Warner Archive DVD   I thought this well-made biopic was just OK. The story is a dramatization of the work of Edna Gladney (Greer Garson) who ran an orphanage in read more

The Little Foxes Directed by William Wyler Written by Lillian Hellman, additional scenes and dialogue by Arthur Kober, Dorothy Parker, and Alan Campbell 1941/USA The Samuel Goldwyn Company Repeat viewing/Warner Home Video DVD This is a great film that should be on everyone’s Movies I Should Se read more

1941 was a fantastic year for songs.  Here are some clips.  (I’ve included different versions where possible if I already included the movie clip in my review.) You can pick your favorite! “The Last Time I Saw Paris” by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II from Lady Be Good – read more

Ball of Fire  Directed by Howard Hawks Written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett from an original story by Wilder and Thomas Monroe 1941/USA The Samuel Goldwyn Company Repeat viewing/Warner Home Video DVD I love this film.  Started smiling when I watched the trailer and didn’t stop until read more

In spite of its flaws, Another Thin Man played off the fun interactions between Nick and Nora Charles without shoving baby Nickie down your throat (and though the literal image is interesting, I’m speaking figuratively). With Shadow of the Thin Man, W.S. Van Dyke and crew strike a better compr read more

Rage in Heaven Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Written by Christopher Isherwood and Robert Thoeren from a novel by James Hilton 1941/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer First viewing/Amazon Instant Video   Rage in Heaven is kind of a mess, but an interesting one. The story begins in Paris where psychiatrist Dr. read more

The Corsican Brothers Directed by Gregory Ratoff Written by George Bruce and Howard Eastabrook based on the novel by Alexander Dumas pére 1941/USA Edward Small Productions First viewing/Amazon Prime Instant Video   I thought this was a very well-done swashbuckler. The Countess Franchi gives bir read more

Blood and Sand  Directed by Rouben Mamoulian Written by Jo Swerling based on a novel by Vicente Basco Ibañez 1941/USA Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation First viewing/Netflix rental   The technicolor and the spectacle are grand but I couldn’t get caught up in the story. Juan (Tyrone read more

The 47 Ronin (“Genroku Chûshingura”) Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi Written by  Kenichiro Hara, Seika Mayama, and Yoshikata Yoda 1941/Japan IMA Productions/Shôchiku Eiga First viewing/Streaming on Hulu Plus   The Japanese Ministry of Information commissioned this film as propaganda read more