1943 in Movies

1. Le Corbeau, directed by Henri-George Clouzot (10/10)

One of the greatest movies of the ’40s, and all the more incredible given the circumstances it was made under. This is an absolute must-see. I can’t stress it enough.

2. The Ox-Bow Incident, directed by William A. Wellman (10/10)

Probably my favourite Production Code era western. It has been forgotten somewhat by people determined to elevate Stagecoach and High Noon and other such movies.

3. Shadow of a Doubt, directed by Alfred Hitchock (8/10)

A personal favourite, even though it’s far from his best.

4. The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, directed by Preston Sturges (7/10)

I’m not a huge Sturges fan. This is funny, but like most (if not all) of his stuff, it’s pretty safe. The one part about it that isn’t so safe (the parentage) is never really dwelt upon. It’s definitely enjoyable, but I prefer my comedy to be edgier than this. Oh yeah, it’s well made. There’s this one amazing take early on in the movie, for example (it would be more amazing if it hadn’t been on a set).

5. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger (6/10)

There seems to be a theme with the Powell Pressburger movies (at least the ones I’ve seen). They are incredibly stylistically ambitious. They look pretty amazing. But the script and story are lacking. Yes indeed, this is an early movie to acknowledge aging. But the story is hardly any better than the crap Hollywood was feeding the public at the time. It’s a little easier to take than when they get all metaphysical on us, but it still leaves us wanting. The humour hasn’t dated too well, either.

6. Heaven Can Wait, directed by Ernst Lubtisch (4/10)

It’s only intermittently funny (though there are gags throughout), it’s preposterous (even if Hell existed, Satan as a concierge? Seriously?), it’s so…I mean, everyone is rich and spoiled and ridiculous. I don’t know how this is a classic. And it just goes to show you what a crock the Oscars are when this is the kind of fluff that got nominated. Dreck, even if it looks nice.

7. Cabin in the Sky, directed by Vincente Minelli, Busby Berkeley (4/10)

This is the most sophisticated view of human morality. Read the review of Cabin in the Sky.

8. I Walked with a Zombie, directed by Jacques Tourneur (4/10)

A zombie film before the “zombie plague” had become mandatory for zombie films. Zombies are not scary by themselves (if they ever are).

9. Gung-Ho, directed by Ray Enright (4/10)

Propaganda.


Shorts:

“Meshes of the Afternoon,” directed by Alexander Hammid, Maya Deren (8/10)

Watched as part of a compilation of Deren’s films, and I didn’t review the individual films.

“Storm,” directed by Paul Burnford (7*/10)

Watched as part of compilation of avant garde shorts. No review.

Reason and Emotion, directed by Bill Roberts (5/10)

This is a propaganda film that some people really like because of its supposed insights into how the brain works. It’s pre-cognitive revolution so, and it’s a Disney propaganda film, so it’s pretty simplistic, as you might imagine.

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