Film Review: How Green Was My Valley (1941)

I love those moments where having never intended to watch a movie, you get sucked in by accident. Flipping through the channels one night with my mother, this film was the only thing on. She’d seen it, I hadn’t.

Directed by the infamous John Ford and based off a 1939 novel by the same name, this film paints the tale of a coal mining Welsh family, the Morgans, during the turn of the century. Their struggles are told in retrospect  through the eyes of the Morgans youngest son, Huw.

It could be thought of as a “coming of age” story in a way, watching Huw go through dramatic changes in his life and the way it matures him. But it’s main focus is on that of the family, and how they can pull together or completely fall apart through different circumstances. There are many sub-plots that give you an idea of who these people are and what they strive for.

Over all, I’d say it’s a character-driven piece, one of my personal favorites. One of the many reasons I love classic film is because of their focus on people, not incidences. Though so many powerful, heart-breaking and sometimes humorous things happen to these people, you’re more interested in how they deal with it on a personal level and not the out-come of the actual situation.

I was entranced from the very moment the movie began, pulled in with its tides. It’s imagery is striking; dark and gritty when it needs to be and light and beautiful when it also calls for it. The only warning I’d give is that it’s definitely a tearjerker and something that will send you on an emotional roller coaster.

Film Review: Broken Blossoms (1919)

“the spirit of poetry broke her blossoms all about his odorous chamber.”

This silent piece by director D.W Griffith (Most well-known for his controversial film Birth of a Nation) takes an intriguing look at the short-lived relationship between an abused young girl and a Chinese shop-keeper in London.

Cheng Huan is a Buddhist missionary from China, living in London with the initial goal of teaching peace and love to his fellow man. His dream doesn’t quite pan out and he finds himself instead as a lowly shop-keeper. He watches young Lucy (Lillian Gish) from his shop window wistfully, thinking of her as a beauty that the rest of the world has overlooked. Unbeknown to him, this frail girl is frequently abused by her prizefighter father.

One night after a terrible lashing, Lucy stumbles into the streets and through Cheng’s shop door where she collapses on the floor. After realizing what has happened, Cheng brings her upstairs and nurses her back to health, while doting upon her by dressing her up in Chinese robes and sitting by her bedside. Lucy is taken aback, never having known affection before. Unfortunately, their bonding time is disrupted as Lucy’s father gets wind of where his daughter has been, which leads to a series of heartbreaking events which eventually end in tragedy.

Although the lead male role was played by a Caucasian man, Richard Barthelmess , thus making it “yellowface”, they handle his character well and stay clear of many obvious stereotypical traits. Which is not to say they don’t exist, but could have been far worse then it was, especially given D.W.’a earlier portrayals of non-whites in a film. In the original story that the film was based off, Cheng is a sordid drifter with an addiction to Opium and whorehouses. D.W. instead turned his character into a kind, softhearted missionary.  While there is racism in the film, it is usually only the “bad guys” that utter the word “Chink” in reference to Cheng.

Overall, it seems the films main focus is on tolerance and how hate in men’s hearts often leads to disaster. No matter the circumstances, Cheng’s love for Lucy remains pure. And though we are not given enough time to see what may have been, it does seem as though Lucy could have become equally affectionate for him.

Artistically speaking, the cinematography is gorgeous in the way only silent films can be. It has been described by many as having an ethereal quality, casting over your mind like some kind of enchanting fog. I believe the film was very daring for its time and therefor very important, as it is with many D.W Griffith films.  It is hauntingly beautiful, somber, and a must-see.

Film Review: Plan 9 From Outerspace (1959)

Ah, the film that was dubbed “The Citizen Kane of bad movies”. A scifi/horror B-movie classic by the peculiar Mr. Ed Wood.

Now, I am a huge fan of the show Mystery Science Theater 3000. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it was a show that ran from the mid/late 80s until 2000 about a man kidnapped by mad scientists and sent to space. There, he is forced to watch bad movies as part of a sadistic experiment. The only way he manages to get through the movies is with the help of his two robot friends, making fun of or “riffing” the film (usually scifi and horror flicks from the 50s and 60s). The result was hilarious TV genius.

After the cancellation of the show, the 3 stars went on to form Rifftrax, where the heart of MST3K is still intact. You basically view these terrible movies while the guys riff over it, lulz ensuing.

Last night was a special live showing of Plan 9 From Outerspace in theaters by Rifftax. I, along with my equally geeky brother, had the opportunity to go.

I have never actually seen Plan 9 before, and I’m amazed I haven’t. I have seen a few of his other films, along with some that he wrote that were equally bad.

Ed Wood was an eccentric director who, despite his many technical errors, bad dialogue and confusing plots, had a unmatched passion for what he did. The man genuinely loved movies and making movies, even though he was terrible at it.

His films were also notable for featuring an aging Bela Lugosi, who was a good friend of Wood’s.

Now, to get to the movie. I had completely forgotten what the plot and purpose of the film was about 10 minutes into it. Something about aliens coming to earth to summon the dead to battle the “stupid, stupid humans!” because they’ve built some sort of thingamajig machine.

The UFO’s seem to be pieces of silver plastic on strings, the tombstones in the graveyard Styrofoam which get knocked over by the actors quite a bit. The scenes constantly jump back and forth between day and night, and scenes that are supposed to be linked together seemed to have been shot not only at completely different times, but in completely different places. Then, it was all roughly edited together.

It should also be noted that Bela Lugosi died before he could complete this film. Instead of…I don’t know…shelving the film or working around the already shot footage, Ed decided to replace Lugosi. Not with another actor, mind you, but with his wife’s chiropractor. There are quite a few scenes in which it is painfully obvious that it is not Bela Lugosi, masking himself with his cape.

There is also the character Vampira, a woman zombie with long red nails who just walks around and looks evil. I’m pretty sure she does nothing other than that.

Rifftrax picked the perfect film for their special, since the thing is utterly hilarious even without their input. There were even some parts where the guys themselves just stopped and laughed at whatever was going on, causing everyone in the theater to laugh along.

Yet, I could actually understand why Ed Wood has gathered the cult following he has.  I mean, the movie is bad, we know that. However, I think there is some sort of zany charm involved in his films and especially Plan 9.  It is just so out there with its horrible special effects and hilarious dialogue that you actually genuinely enjoy the experience of seeing it.

Sometimes I wonder if Ed Wood was just a genius in disguise, caricaturing himself and everything he loved, playing some massive joke on all of us. I don’t think anyone could capture the pure absurdity and campiness that he did, even if they tried. And believe me, people still do.

So I tip my hat to Ed Wood, for giving us geeks something as bizarre and delightful as Plan 9. If you’re looking for a serious science drama, you’re definitely not going to get it. But, if you don’t take yourself too seriously, I think you could find something to love about it.

Also, I’m pretty sure I just found my Halloween costume this year:

Film Review: You Can’t Take It With You

I recently acquired the Frank Capra collection, featuring 5 of his best movies in one fantastic little set. Best $60 I ever spent, I’d say.

You Can’t Take It With You is a film I’d never seen all the way through, but heard fellow classic film enthusiasts rave about.  It features two of Capra’s favorite actors, Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur, as well as an ensemble of other interesting characters.

Alice (Jean Arthur) comes from an eccentric family. Her father makes fireworks in their cellar, her sister is constantly dancing, her mother decided to write plays when a typewriter was delivered to the house by accident, and her grandfather left his job simply because it wasn’t fun. Tony (Jimmy Stewart) on the other hand, is a vice president banker where his father plays an important, stern role and his mother is a snooty socialite. Somehow, Tony and Alice fall in love. Although knowing that their families are bound to clash, they intend to marry.

The film, based off a play of the same name, focuses on their romance and family issues in the first half, but by what would be the third act in the play, the perspective switches to focus on Alice’s grandfather and Tony’s father. Two polar opposites, and one could stand to learn a lot from the other.

I really loved every character in this film, and how well-rounded they were able to become even if they had little screen presence. Alice’s family is endlessly amusing, and watching them interact with Tony’s uptight parents is just simply fun.

There also resides beneath the goofy conflicts, a great message about life. Alice’s grandfather lives by the notion that all individuals should be able to do what they love, and not have to suffer through life for wealth. After all, “you can’t take it with you”.

Film Review: The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

I love a good circus, don’t you? Granted I haven’t been to one since I was 5, but I remain a big fan of anything circus related, making this movie a must-see.

This is the second time I’ve viewed it, the first I hadn’t seen it in its entirety. It’s got an amazing cast which includes Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, Cornel Wilde and Jimmy Stewart.

It was also interesting that the film was made with the help of the actual Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Baily circus, featuring its actual  performers and clowns (including Emmett Kelly) the actors were trained in their characters professions and did the acts themselves.

There are movies I’ve seen in the past on the subject of Circus or Carnival life that fall short, simply because they lack the realism of what the circus is about, especially behind the scenes. This movie felt genuine, like I wasn’t watching actors in costume.

That being said, the movie is a bit of a Soap Opera. The circus, especially in the past, was a very gritty and often crooked lifestyle. While they managed to squeeze a little bit of that in, it was still very idealistic and romanticized. However, that seems to be a trend in most films made in the 1950s.

I can’t say I enjoyed the over-acting, either. Some of the characters were a little too much for my taste and I felt like rolling my eyes or laughing at some serious moments. Melodramatic would be the right word, I think. It’s complete with love-triangles, life-altering injuries, murder suspects, and train wrecks.

I have to point out that Jimmy Stewart was amazing for a minor character, as Buttons the clown. Although he did have his own side-story, he wasn’t billed as a star in the film. In fact, the only time you see him out of clown make-up is for a brief moment in a photograph. Still, with such a small part, he managed to steal the audience’s attention every time he was on screen.  He worked personally with Emmett Kelly to perfect the act of the clown, and did a fantastic job. And in the more serious moments, really made you feel for his character.

I was surprised to hear that this film won the academy award for Best Picture. While enjoyable and interesting, I never thought it ranked quite that high. I do, however, think it’s worth a watch. It’s purely entertaining, so don’t look for too much beyond the surface.