1930 in Movies

Movie reviews for movies released theatrically in 1930.

1. All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Lewis Milestone (9*/10)

I saw this movie as a teenager and was either truly wowed or bored but thought I should be wowed. I should re-watch it to see if I judged it fairly.

2. L’age d’or, directed by Luis Bunel (8/10)

I am an optimistic guy (albeit with a realistic streak, I like to think). I tend to believe that, more often than not a (slim) majority of people will do “the right thing” (as I see it, anyway) and humanity will persist despite our flaws. But every so often I counter behaviour or historical evidence that really challenges my optimism and my general faith in humanity.

Read the full review of L’age d’or.

3. The Blue Angel, directed by Josef von Sternberg (6/10)

I remember being very underwhelmed by what is a supposed classic. Beyond that, I don’t remember much and I don’t appear to have written a review at the time.

4. Animal Crackers, directed by Victor Heerman (6/10)

Some comedy doesn’t age well. And I feel pretty strongly that the zany “witty” American comedies of the ‘30s don’t age well. I understand that this was very funny to audiences in 1930. I understand that the Marx Brothers style of comedy definitely influenced a lot of people and, had I not grown up with more risque and more absurd comedy, I might have a better appreciation for it.

I don’t enjoy movies that try to be all things to all people – this movie combines zany comedy with musical numbers and a harp solo – but I also struggle with comedy that relies so heavily on mugging and reversing words (and syllables) in phrases.


Shorts:

“Tomatos Another Day,” directed by James Sibley Watson (6*/10)

Seen as part of a compilation and I didn’t write individual reviews.

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