I enjoyed this movie for many reasons. First off, I went into the movie not sure what to expect for a screwball comedy from the 1930s, but I was surprised. This movie was great, especially in terms of comedic aspects and jokes. I noticed that the film seemed to portray the rich as dumb and the poor as smart, with a homeless man becoming a butler for a crazy but wealthy family, all as the result of a scavenger hunt. The film was filled with dry jokes and humor that was ahead of its time, and emphasized the aspects of a true screwball comedy. One thing that I really liked about this film was how fast paced it was. The plot escalated, characters were constantly engaging or were on the move, and even in the background the characters facial expressions and small details caught my eye constantly. The cinematography and production were also really impressive for the 1930s.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Stagecoach
(1939)
Stagecoach
24 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Stagecoach is known to be the revival of the western. It was shot in a simplistic way with little technical creativity behind the camera. That seems to be for a reason, as the little dialogue and long scenes were straightforward, and the acting did the talking. The action aspect of the movie kept me interested, as it was nonstop entertainment. From being chased by Indians to an outlaw becoming a hero, it was interesting to watch the lower class citizens in the stagecoach become the most important. It was an interesting look into how society viewed people from a variety of walks of life. Dallas was looked down upon because she was a prostitute but the banker, doctor, and southern bell were treated differently, despite being drunks and having other ailments that made them no good. There was also a clear prejudice in the film, as the "Indians" were made out to be savages and the Mexicans were discriminated against. This film is a true testament of classic Hollywood and America during this time.
Casablanca
(1942)
Timeless movie!
24 October 2020
Casablanca is captivating to watch. The cinematography in this film is genius, as the filmmakers used creative and innovative techniques to capture the mood of the story. The use of light, but moreover, the use of darkness in this film is beautiful. The shadows in the scenes represented the hardships the characters were facing, while the characters shown in the light displays there is nothing to be unsure of. Laszlo is a character that is not shown in the dark, and that represents him as a character. Meanwhile, Rick is often shown in the casted shadows while he is facing internal hardships, struggling to act for himself or for the greater good. Much like Rick, America was in a period of isolationism before joining WW2, and the audience watched the war unfold on the screen, while being unsure of how it would turn out in real life. This film is a work of art from a technical standpoint for its time.
Citizen Kane
(1941)
CitizenKane
24 October 2020
This film was innovative for its time because the use of deep focus allowed the audience to view both the foreground and the background in focus, so instead of movement from the camera the audience was able to follow other cues in the background. There was a fluidity to the scenes and less cuts because cinematographer, Greg Toland, was able to develop a frame where a whole room could be seen in one shot, rather than having to show the character moving around constantly. I noted this first in an instance with the shot in the scene where Mrs. Kane is shown sitting inside with Mr. Thatcher at the table, Mr. Kane standing in the mid ground, and a young Charles Kane is shown in the background out the window playing in the snow while the adults inside discussed paperwork. Because this film is told from the point of view of a flashback, it makes it harder to follow the story through the interviewers accounts, but the story was interesting and required some thought.
The Jazz Singer
(1927)
New technology in a featured film
23 September 2020
The Jazz Singer debuts one of the first "talkies," or the first synchronized speech in a Hollywood production. Though the majority of the film is silent, the debut of dialogue in the film was groundbreaking. The techniques in this film to incorporate sound were innovative, such as incorporating generic sound over the scenes with more active movement, and honing in on the individual characters engaging in actual dialogue. I took note that sound was the main priority for this film, as the picture clarity is not the best for its time. The actors made the most of it in this film, and truly carried this film, apart from the feature of sound. It was impressive to see the ad libs by those who were able to participate in dialogue. The acting in this film was very entertaining to watch even despite the featured speech. This film paved the way for many films that follow it.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
(1928)
Amazing production for its time
22 September 2020
I am baffled by the fact that this movie was created almost 100 years ago. The picture is so clean and clear that I would've thought this movie had to have been filmed on a much more modern camera. The shots are action shots, and they are taken of moving, far away subjects. It is interesting just how much the film crew was able to catch. It is even more intriguing to watch the stunts captured in this film, my personal favorite being the storm scene. It is shocking that all of these moments were captured on a set without special effects. The actors in the film were remarkable, as the audience can watch the silent film, while still following the intended storyline. The use of music, that seemingly matches up perfectly (especially for its time) further enhances the storytelling in this movie. Intertitles were barely used in this film because the acting and production spoke the story for itself. Steamboat Sill is great silent film far ahead of its time.
Sunrise
(1927)
Impressive for its time
9 September 2020
This silent film is very impressive for its time. The way the film was shot and edited is astonishing for the year 1927. The visual quality is amazing from the way it has been shot, as it is still a clear and viewable film today. The use of sets interests me, and the fact that they went as far as to use double images, like the one where the man and his lover are laying in the grass. The story is portrayed without the use of words and I find this film to be very interesting, and a great peak into its time period from which it was created.
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