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Reviews
The Young in Heart (1938)
Memorable
I was ten years old when this movie was first released. I'm now ninety. There were scenes that stayed with me through the years, though I'd not seen the movie again--till now. I was thrilled to catch it on a movie channel in December of 2018. I'm a big fan of Roland Young, and his performances reward me in every movie he's appeared. Please, if you're reading this, don't miss the opportunity to watch The Young in Heart. It will give you boundless satisfaction and delight. Watch also for Billie Burke's claim during a dinner conversation about India. That's not a spoiler. Just a tip.
The Tuttles of Tahiti (1942)
A special gem
If Pacific Islanders can be considered a race, and in some questionnaires they seem to be, then The Tuttles of Tahiti may be considered a pioneering (for its time) film representation of a racially integrated family. But there's not a bit of preaching to shove race mixing down anyone's throat. The Tuttles are naive and incompetent in their attempts to maintain financial solvency. They are also materialistic and fun-loving. The clan's females are impressively hip-swinging in dance, and the males offer seemingly authentic Polynesian grunts to the music. Charles Laughton is, of course, an acting genius as the doltish elder on whom dozens of family members depend for leadership. His spectacular failures are the stuff of which this charming comedy is made. I first saw this film when it was released in 1942, when I was 14 and too young to appreciate its subtle qualities. (After all, Lost Horizon author James Hilton was one of the writers.) But seeing it again at age 89 was a fulfilling experience. Nobody makes movies like this anymore, so we've got a special gem here.