Movie Review: "Throne of Blood" (1957)

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Movie: "Throne of Blood"

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Year: 1957
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa offers up his adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" with "Throne of Blood" (1957). Much like its source material, "Throne of Blood" (1957) explores the destructive nature of the pursuit of power for the sake of power. It shows how the desire to hold on to one's position of authority and all the comforts it provides makes a person paranoid and leads them to commit atrocious acts of violence against their enemies and even their friends. Taketoki Washizu (Toshirô Mifune) begins the story as a kindhearted man and a fierce warrior who is loyal to his Lordship. When he and his friend Miki (Akira Kubo) get lost in the forest one day, they run into a spirit (Chieko Naniwa), who predicts that Washizu will become lord of the North Castle and will eventually usurp his master to become Lord of the Forest Castle. Furthermore, the spirit claims that Miki will be promoted to defender of the First Fort and that one day, his son will replace Washizu as Lord of the Forest Castle. It is this prophecy that turns Washizu from a once-just person into a power-hungry monster...well, that, and the fact that his wife Lady Asaji (Isuzu Yamada) is always planting seeds of doubt in his mind.

Movie still from "Throne of Blood" featuring the Old Ghost Woman, played by Chieko Naniwa. (Image Source)

Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" (1957) is a visual near-masterpiece. Each and every visible second in this film adds to its moodiness, its intrigue, and its very successful storytelling. Kurosawa thrives when he plays with light and shadow, and here, he continues to make one hell of a spectacular scene after another. There are many different moments we could single out, but one in particular, when Lady Washizu walks into a dark closet to retrieve a canister of wine, is especially striking. The story is very compelling, albeit a bit slow-burning. We watched in anticipation to see if the spirit's prophecy would come true and shook our heads every single time Washizu gets manipulated into doing something that sealed his own demise. The ending is both intense and exciting. We were completely pulled into the story's climax, which kept us enthralled right down to the last arrow. The costumes are grand and incredibly intricate, and they look amazing when in the throes of the many battles that are fought. We absolutely loved the crescent moon on the helmet of the Great Lord of the Forest Castle. Kurosawa and his costume and set designers do a magnificent job of capturing the look of feudal Japan. The massive fortresses, the foggy forests, the towering temples, and the grand banquet halls look like they came out of a documentary rather than a feature film.

Toshirô Mifune and Akira Kubo charge into battle on horses in Akira Kurosawa's 1957 film "Throne of Blood." (Image Source)

We haven't seen many (if any) other versions of "Macbeth," but watching "Throne of Blood" (1957) makes us want to seek out other filmmakers' interpretation of the story to see if they managed to make them as compelling as Kurosawa's incarnation.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
RT Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

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Movie Review: "The Seventh Seal" (1957)

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Movie: "The Seventh Seal"

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Year: 1957
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Ingmar Bergman is a name that is highly celebrated among cinephiles and film scholars. Despite being self-proclaimed "viewers of everything," Bergman's movies have always been a cinematic blind spot for us. So, we made our first effort in correcting that egregious error by watching his 1957 classic "The Seventh Seal." The film follows a knight named Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) who, upon returning from the Crusades, is approached by Death (Bengt Ekerot) himself and is told that his life is coming to an end. Block challenges Death to a game of chess, hoping it will buy him enough time to reflect on his beliefs and to do one purely good deed. This task may be difficult as the world he has returned to is being ravaged by the Black Plague and religious zealots who have capitalized on fear and suffering to spread their puritanical ideas of faith.

Bengt Ekerot and Max von Sydow play chess in Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal." (Image Source)

After only one viewing of just one film, we can see right away why Ingmar Bergman is such a heralded director. "The Seventh Seal" is brilliantly written, excellently acted, and spectacularly crafted. It deals with weighty philosophical subject matters in a daunting-but-insightful manner. The dialogue between characters is completely engaging, even poetic at times. They discuss subjects like life, death, faith, and nihilism in a world dealing with the rapid spread of the Black Plague. Some believe it is the end times, others believe God is punishing people for their sins, and some remain blind to the suffering of others and exploit it for their own personal gain. The story is very moving, not in a way that will necessarily make you cry, but more moving on a spiritual level that will make examine our purpose and existence on this great, big, hurling ball of rock and water in the middle of space. It's simultaneously the kind of movie you never want to experience again and the kind you want to rewatch immediately. There is a lot to unpack and a lot to take in here, and we're sure we will have to watch it several times to see what we may have missed. It is also filled to the brim with striking, symbolic, stunning imagery that drew an emotional reaction from us instantly. Each and every shot is meticulously crafted for maximum thought provokingness.

Death leads his followers in the Dance of Death in "The Seventh Seal" (1957). (Image Source)

"The Seventh Seal" is quite a film! We cannot wait to watch Bergman's other movies and hope they are as memorable as this one.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
RT Rating: 93%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

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Movie Review: "Marty" (1955)

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Movie: "Marty"

Director: Delbert Mann
Year: 1955
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

A 34-year-old bachelor/butcher is constantly pestered by his friends and family about when he's going to get married. When he finally meets a woman he actually likes, the people harassing him about finding a partner suddenly change their tune.

Movie Review: "Oklahoma!" (1955)

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Movie: "Oklahoma!"

Director: Fred Zinnemann
Year: 1955
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes

A few cowboys try to woo a some local Oklahoma ladies, all of whom have other prospects.

Running cattle and farming land is hard work. If you watch the cowboys and farmers in "Oklahoma!," you might think their lives revolve around romancing women with an occasional song and choreographed dance number thrown in for good measure. "Oklahoma!" is directed by Fred Zinnemann, who directed other films like "High Noon," "From Here to Eternity," and "A Man for All Seasons." It is written by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig and is based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical of the same name. It stars Gordon MacRae as cowboy Curly McLain, who has his eye on a farm girl named Laurey Williams (Shirley Jones). Laurey likes Curly as well, but she doesn't let on and plays hard to get. Laurey's farmhand Jud Fry (Rod Steiger) also has feelings for her, and this creates a bit of conflict because Jud is a person willing to act out violently in such cases. This is not the only love triangle in the story. Another cowboy named Will Parker (Gene Nelson) wants to marry another local farm girl named Ado Annie Carnes (Gloria Grahame) even though she doesn't have very strong monogamous tendencies. Ado Annie is courting a peddler named Ali Hakim (Eddie Albert) who clearly wants a fling and not a commitment...unless his hand was to be forced into such a thing.

Old school musicals are so grandiose in their presentation. This is not a complaint, we totally dig it. Musicals are very focused on keeping a stage play type of spectacle, but with more detailed sets and a less intimate scope. There is a certain part of the movie-going public that will write musicals off entirely because they feel 'too unrealistic.' Well, they're not always supposed to be realistic. If anything they are meant to be a little more surreal. We will say there is one massively surreal dance number here brought on by Laurey's fever dream while she's high on smelling salts. We honestly could have done without this scene because it drags on for far too long. That being said, the rest of the movie is mostly pretty fun and is relatively engaging despite its old-fashioned sentiments and subject matter.

Of course, the most important part of a musical is the music. "Oklahoma!" has some really great songs. With numbers like "Oh What a Beautiful Morning," "The Surrey with a Fringe on Top," "Kansas City," and the titular "Oklahoma," this picture is full of great music that will stay stuck in your head for days and will keep your toes tapping. Apart from the tunes, "Oklahoma!" has a solid cast and features a lot of excellent voices. The notable exception is Gloria Grahame, who can't exactly hold a tune but finds a way to make it work. The people behind the scenes had to Frankenstein her songs together from tons of recordings, but it doesn't matter because the end result is still decent.

"Oklahoma!" is a good time and provided us with an entertaining viewing experience despite being a little dated.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

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Movie Review: "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)

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Movie: "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Year Nominated: 1952
Director: Elia Kazan
Rating: PG
Oscar Nominations: 12
Oscar Wins: 4
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Blanche DuBois, a woman from a formerly wealthy respected family, goes to live with her sister Stella and her brother-in-law Stanley in the slums of New Orleans. While Blanche tells favorable stories about her past, Stanley tries to do what he can to uncover the history she is trying to hide.

"Stella! Stella! Hey, Stella!" Even if you haven't seen "A Streetcar Named Desire," chances are you are familiar with this quote and probably a few others from the movie well. This is a film that has become ingrained in the popular culture of America and has been the subject of various parodies and homages since its release. The picture is directed by Elia Kazan, who went on to direct other films like "On the Waterfront" and "East of Eden." It is adapted from a stage play of the same name written by Tenessee Williams, whose other film adaptations include "The Glass Menagerie" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." The film stars Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois, a former school teacher from an upper-crust family who has recently fallen on hard times due to a scandal in her past. Joining her is Kim Hunter as Stella, Blanche's sister. Stella takes Blanch into the rundown single room apartment she shares with her husband Stanley Kowalski, played by Marlon Brando, who is a loud, violent, abusive man who doesn't take kindly to Blanche and her hoity-toity mannerisms. Blanche often tells grand accounts of her past. She spins and builds a facade of prim and proper in her look and attitude. She seems to look down on her sister's lifestyle and their living situation. Stanley takes an immediate offense to this and makes it his mission to dig up all the dirt he can on Blanche and her past in order to ruin her once and for all.

At the time of its release, "A Streetcar Named Desire" was considered very provocative. It was called indecent and was threatened with a rating of 'Condemned' by The Catholic League of Decency, which would have killed its box office returns. This is what we would equate to an NC-17 rating today. It came out in the early 50's and was one of the few films to actually acknowledge the fact that people were having sex or were even talking about it. It raised the notion that husbands could be abusive and that some people might have indelicate and salacious relationships. It dealt with many subjects that were looked seen as taboo at the time. Today, it might not be all that edgy, but it is still far from wholesome. The acting is tremendous all around. Marlon Brando plays a loudmouthed asshole wonderfully, even if he mumbles his lines and it's hard to completely understand what he's saying. Vivien Leigh took home an Academy Award for her portrayal of Blache Dubois, and rightfully so. She has the right mix of vulnerability, mystery, self-doubt, sass, confidence, and southern charm to carry a character of this caliber. She loves spinning tall tales and has a penchant for the dramatics. Karl Malden and Kim Hunter also took home Oscars for their performances as supporting characters in the film.

Watching "A Streetcar Named Desire" today, it admittedly doesn't have the same impact it did 67 years ago. It is an interesting slice of life film that explores the human condition, so it still has plenty of moments that remain effective. That being said, we weren't completely taken in by the film. We had a bit of trouble fully connecting with the characters as they all have rather despicable traits and very few redeeming qualities. Such is life. We still found enough to enjoy and appreciate it for the most part.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

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Movie Review: "The King and I" (1956)

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Movie: "The King and I"

Year Nominated: 1957
Director: Walter Lang
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 13 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

An English widow moves to Siam to be the governess of the King of Siam's children.

It's extremely hard to go back and look at older movies through modern eyes. We want to tell ourselves the way people acted in the past, particularly from the 20's-50's, is "just how it was back then," that it was acceptable to be what we now as a society are quick to call out as bad behavior. It isn't always the easiest task. "The King and I" is the film adaptation of a Rodgers and Hammerstein's stage musical of the same name, which is based on the novel "Anna and the King of Siam" by Margaret Landon. This novel, in turn, is based on two memoirs written by Anna Leonowens herself. The film is directed by Walter Lang, who had about 60 directorial credits to his name going into this film. It stars Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens, an English widow who moves to Siam with her son so she can be the live-in governess to the children of King Mongkut played by, Yul Brynner. She is meant to teach them English and about western customs and traditions, though the way she and the king see the world don't always match and they often butt heads, something the king is not used to at all.

As we have said many times in the past, we are huge fans of musicals. The key to any successful musical, however, is good music. This is something "The King and I" severely lacks. There is only one song in the film we found to be remotely memorable, that being "Getting to Know You." There is only one other tune we consider even modestly entertaining, and that's "Shall We Dance." Beyond these two, the rest of the music is forgettable and sometimes downright intolerable. We will say Yul Brynner has a charismatic screen presence that helps the audience gravitate towards the character of King Mongkut. He is one of the better parts of the movie (despite his clear yellow-face), though he not the absolute best part of the film. That honor goes to an almost surreal reimagining of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," shockingly enough. This play within the movie is done very well and is loaded with some fantastic visuals. "Uncle Tom's Little House," as it's called, does offer a solid allegory of a subplot that runs through the film. In fact, it tells it better than the actual plot of this film. That is probably the biggest downfall of "The King and I." The narrative isn't very strong and it is not very well paced. We just weren't very engaged with the story, which at the end of the day is really about how much better western culture is than that of the far east. In the end, this movie doesn't hold up that well over time.

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My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

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Movie Review: "12 Angry Men" (1957)

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Movie: "12 Angry Men"

Year Nominated: 1958
Director: Sidney Lumet
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

A jury debates the fate of a young man on trial for murder. If he is found guilty, he will face the death penalty.

"12 Angry Men" is the first feature film made by legendary director Sidney Lumet. He would go on to direct other memorable films such as "Serpico," "Murder on the Orient Express," and "Dog Day Afternoon."  We have to wonder if Lumet knew the issues discussed in this film back in 1957 would still be so relevant in 2018's current political climate. We still encounter racism, both passive and overt, as well as socioeconomic discrimination and xenophobia. We see these 12 unnamed jurors, played by Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, Jack Warden, E.G. Marshall, and John Fiedler, just to name a few, debate whether or not a young man is guilty and whether or not to send him to the electric chair. These jurors say phrases like:

"Look, you know how these people lie! It's born in them."

And, "They don't know what the truth is! And lemme tell ya: they don't need any real big reason to kill someone, either!"

And, "They're sending people that have lots of problems...They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."

And, "I've known a couple who were OK, but that's the exception, y'know what I mean?"

Alright, so maybe one of those phrases wasn't from the movie, but with all the generalization going on, it's hard to tell which quote is not from the film and which one was uttered by a real person. That's scary as hell, especially considering the character that spoke the majority of the above lines is meant to be a despicable bigot.

We remain supremely enthralled by the debates that rage on in the jury room in "12 Angry Men." The sharp dialogue leaves us hanging on every word. It's all about one man standing up to immense social pressure when encountering something he knows is wrong and demanding that the issues at least be discussed. We will admit, the actions taken by the jury aren't exactly accurate as they essentially retry the case themselves with Henry Fonda's Juror #8 acting as a makeshift defense attorney for the accused. He regularly presents new evidence not offered by the defense and debates that instead of what's already been presented. We suppose this may be to point out the regular failings of the overworked public defender's office, but we digress. The film does point out that those who cannot afford their own attorney often don't get competent representation due to public defenders being overworked and understaffed. Apart from the enthralling nature of the film, the acting here is fantastic as these 12 men each represent different ideologies, mindsets, and backgrounds. We have to admit though, every single time John Fieldler started talking, we couldn't help but imagine Piglet from "Winnie the Pooh" debating this murder case.

"12 Angry Men" is one of the most important films ever made. This is a movie that should be shown in every school, at every grade, all across America, from kindergarten through law school. It holds up very well and it is still just as good today as it ever was. Stunning work by Sidney Lumet!

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

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Movie Review: "The Fly" (1958)

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Movie: "The Fly"

Director: Kurt Neumann
Year: 1958
Rating: Approved
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

A scientist who developed a matter transporter suffers a terrible side effect when he tests the invention on himself. 

Movies have always loved to warn audiences of the dangers of striving for scientific advancement. "The Fly" is one such film. It starts out as sort of a murder mystery where Helene Delambre, played by Patricia Owens, is being investigated for crushing her husband's head in an industrial press. She admits to doing it, but the only question the police have is why. This is what we find out as Helene tells the story of the weeks leading up to her husband's death, about the experiment he was working on, and how it all horribly went wrong. Joining Patricia Owens are David Hedison, who plays her husband Andre, Vincent Price, who plays her brother-in-law François, and Herbert Marshall, who plays Inspector Charas, the man investigating Andre's death.

Like many old-school horror films, "The Fly" is a slow-burning drama that is meant to have a shocking climax. It isn't so much what happened, but the visual of finally seeing the results as post-accident the character of Andre spends most the film with a towel over his head. It's clear what happened to him since we can see his hand multiple times, which is included in all its grotesqueness for a little shock value before the big final reveal of his head. There is also a lot of talk about a white-headed fly which plays into the final iconic moments of this film that have been homaged and parodied by many in the decades that followed.

"The Fly" isn't steeped in tension, but it is an intriguing tale showcasing an example of Icarus flying too high and getting burned. In an attempt to change the world, Andre found only his own destruction. There is quite a bit of tragedy to "The Fly" and you really feel for the characters, especially Helene, who has to deal with the moral implications of her actions. In the end, though a little slow at times and quite dated, it still is an interesting story with epic acting.

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My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957)

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Movie: "Witness for the Prosecution"
Year Nominated: 1958
Director: Billy Wilder
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

A barrister with a bad heart takes a case against doctor's orders. He is tasked to defend a man who is on trial for murder.

"Witness for the Prosecution" is directed by Billy Wilder and is based on a short story by Agatha Christie. It stars Charles Laughton as Sir Wilfrid Roberts, who is a barrister recovering from a heart attack. He is under doctor's order to take it easy, but when he is approached to defend accused murderer Leonard Vole, played by Tyrone Power, he can't say no, especially considering he believes Vole to be innocent. Odds are against Leonard as there is a lot of circumstantial evidence. His only alibi comes from his wife Christine, played by Marlene Dietrich, which isn't worth much.

Billy Wilder is a legendary old Hollywood director. Though he has directed numerous Oscar nominated and winning films such as "The Lost Weekend," "Double Indemnity," "Sunset Boulevard," and "The Apartment," it's "Witness for the Prosecution" that remains one of our favorites. It is a completely enthralling courtroom drama/thriller with many twists and turns. We are completely engaged from beginning to end every single time we watch this film. The way Wilder is able to get the audience invested in what's going on is masterful. He hooks the audience with his excellent storytelling, lets the audience get to know the key players and details, then drops a bombshell and twists everything around with incredible success.

Charles Laughton is absolutely brilliant in this movie and gives a commanding, compelling performance. He received a much deserved best actor nomination for his part as Sir Wilfrid Roberts. Unfortunately, he was up against some stiff competition that year and lost out to Alec Guinness from "A Bridge Over the River Kwai," which is one of the best performances of his career. Marlene Dietrich gives an equally splendid performance. She did not receive a nomination at all because those behind the scenes didn't submit her for consideration. The reason for this is they wanted to keep aspects of her character a secret, which we completely understand, but boy, what a missed opportunity.

"Witness for the Prosecution" manages to stand the test of time quite well. It's no wonder it was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, because it is a mesmerizingly ingenious courtroom drama. Billy Wilder is one of the all-time greatest directors and he does a brilliant job here.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Some Like it Hot" (1959)

Movie: "Some Like it Hot"

Director: Billy Wilder
Year: 1959
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 1 minute

We recently had the privilege of watching "Some Like it Hot" on the big screen courtesy of Park Circus! We wanted to say a quick thank you to them before we began our review!

After witnessing a murder in Chicago, a pair of musicians disguise themselves as women and hide out with an all-female music group who are performing a gig in Florida. One of the men falls for the sultry ukulele player and now must find a way to woo her without giving up his real identity. 

"Some Like it Hot" is a classic comedy from famed director Billy Wilder, who has directed such prestigious films as "Sunset Boulevard," "The Apartment," and "The Seven Year Itch." It stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as musicians named Jerry and Joe, who work at a speakeasy in Chicago during the prohibition era. After a raid at the club, they hide out in a garage where they witness a mob hit. Scared they will be bumped off as well, the pair poses as female musicians, naming themselves Josephine and Daphne, and skip town to Florida with an all women's music group. Once there, Joe becomes infatuated by the group's sexy ukulele player named Sugar, played by Marilyn Monroe, and he decides to don a second disguise as a wealthy oil tycoon in order to woo her. Meanwhile, Jerry, dressed as Daphne, finds himself needing to fend off the advances of an actually wealthy older man who wants him to be his sugar baby.

This movie is a classic. The subject matter may be aged as hell, but when it came out, there is little doubt "Some Like it Hot" was ahead of its time. This is a romantic comedy that revolves mostly around one single running joke about men dressing as women in order to evade being murdered by the mob. Super regular, right? That isn't the only joke in the flick but most of the situational comedy stems from that concept. In all honesty, we can see how this plot summary may be offensive to some viewers who have never seen this movie before, but as with all films that came out decades ago, we must bear in mind that times were different and try our best to put our preconceived notions and expectations aside. As we said, it's dated, and Hollywood got away with A LOT of stuff, some better and some worse, back in the 30s-50s.

There are many excellent lines of quippy banter in "Some Like it Hot." Tony Curtis gets to deliver some big laughs. His most memorable line involves what is almost a throwaway sentence about water polo and horses. It is an absolute laugh riot. Jack Lemmon is also very funny as he gets to embrace female characteristics, though what happens to his character would most assuredly be called sexual assault today. Like we said, d-a-t-e-d. Marilyn Monroe plays up her typical ditzy act as Sugar, the woman who has all of the guys in the world staring her way but is also as dumb as a post. Take her persona for what it is, but she always plays this type of role really well. On a different token, here's an interesting fact: despite the film supposedly taking place in Florida, it was almost entirely filmed at the Hotel Del in Coronado, CA. Since we are natives of San Diego, we recognized this famous institution almost immediately and chuckled at the fact that it was passed off as Florida.

There is definitely an old school charm to "Some Like it Hot," and despite the fact that this movie is 58 years old, we still manage to laugh a lot while watching it. The performances are great, the music is stellar, Curtis and Lemmon have perfect comedic timing, and Monroe is a goddess.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956)

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Movie: "Around the World in 80 Days"
Year Nominated: 1957
Director: Michael Anderson
Rating: G
Running Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes
Did It Win?: Yes.

Phileas Fogg (David Niven) makes a wager with the other members of his club that he can circumnavigate the globe within 80 days. He immediately heads off with his new valet, Passepartout (Cantinflas), on a trip around the world.

Michael Anderson's "Around the World in 80 Days" is an epic adventure film that was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. It took home five, including Best Picture. It stars David Niven as Phileas Fogg, a wealthy and regimented man who likes things done a very precise way. Joining him is Cantinflas as Fogg's valet Passepartout. He is the primary comic relief of the film.

This was a big movie in every sense of the word, especially in 1956. It had a huge cast of extras, over 68,000, shooting locations all over the world, as well as 140 different sets in Hollywood shot over a period of 75 days. This movie was also big on cameos from the likes of Peter Lorre, Red Skelton, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, and Buster Keaton. With all of this going for it, somehow, director Michael Anderson has created a three hour movie that, in all honesty, is about an hour too long. There are some scenes that are pure filler and go on twice as long as they should, especially the bull fighting scene that didn't need to be nearly as long as it was. The character of Phileas Fogg, much like the film itself, is the epitome of opulence. He is a wealthy man and has no problem throwing his money around to achieve his lofty goals. David Niven fits his character quite well and puts on a good performance in the role. Cantinflas also does a good job and brings some much needed humor to this otherwise stodgy movie. Despite being in a supporting role, he commands quite a presence and has a large bit of screen time.

This movie is a lot about beautiful cinematography and showing the viewer a tiny portion of different cultures from around the world, even if those cultures are presented in the most stereotypical ways possible. There isn't much intrigue in Fogg's travels, especially as a modern audience looking back on movie that's already a period piece. Also, the overall plot is only moderately compelling in the first place, so it's hard to get invested in something that's not entirely engaging. There are some elements of "Around the World in 80 Days" that are enjoyable, but overall, it's another one of those Academy Award  winners that hasn't exactly aged well.

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My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 74%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

**To review this movie for yourself on one of the best websites on the internet, visit filmfed.com!*

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Last Oscar season, we were watching: "Dog Day Afternoon"

Two Oscar seasons ago, we were watching: "Bugsy"

Movie Review: "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)

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Movie: "The Bridge on the River Kwai"
Year Nominated: 1958
Director: David Lean
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 41 minutes
Did It Win?: Yes.

British soldiers at a Japanese POW camp during WWII are forced to build a bridge over the river Kwai in China. The British commanding officer at the camp starts to take pride in the bridge. Little do the soldiers know, the British military is planning a mission to blow up the bridge he is so proud of. 

"The Bridge on the River Kwai" is directed by David Lean, who is also known for his films "Doctor Zhivago," "A Passage to India," and "Lawrence of Arabia." It is written by Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson and is based on the novel "La Pont de la Rivière Kwai" by Pierre Boulle. This film takes place at a Japanese POW camp in China. It is about the British soldiers who were forced by their Japanese captors to build a bridge over the river Kwai as labor punishment. Much of the film starts out as a battle of wills between British officer Colonel Nicholson, played by Alec Guinness, and Japanese Colonel Saito, played by Sessue Hayakawa, who runs the POW camp. Nichols refuses the notion that he and his officers should do any manual labor as its forbidden by international law, and Saito doesn't follow Nichols' law and sees him as a bad example for his men. There is a great dynamic in this battle between these two men, complete with suffering and heartache as one of the two men will have to break first, bending to the will and wits of the other. Saito wants to show that his word is law at the camp, but Nichols wants to show that his men follow his orders, even when they are imprisoned. The dynamic of relationship between these two officers also evolves throughout the course of the film as the two start to come to an agreement, and eventually, a small understanding. Nichols even starts to take pride in the bridge as a display of British engineering skills. The British government, however, isn't so keen on the bridge and wants to blow it up since it is still the thick of wartime.

There are a lot of intense moments in "The Bridge on the River Kwai," not only when it comes to the action scenes, but also the dramatic ones as well. Guinness and Hayakawa are brilliant in their respective roles, creating layered characters and delivering nuanced performances. Both men were nominated for Academy Awards, Guinness in the Lead category and Hayakawa in the supporting category, though only Guinness would take home an Oscar. The film itself received eight total nominations and took home a much deserved seven. This included a best director trophy for David Lean, and as you can see above, given his body of work, Lean's films became well acquainted with a little bit of Oscar gold.

As we go back and watch the movies that came before us, many truly stand the test of time. That is absolutely the case for "The Bridge on the River Kwai." We found this movie to be fantastic in every aspect, from its moving display of wits versus physical strength to its tremendous acting, and its compelling and interesting story.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

**To review this movie for yourself on one of the best websites on the internet, visit filmfed.com!*

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Last Oscar season, we were watching: "Lawrence of Arabia"

Two Oscar seasons ago, we were watching: "The Grapes of Wrath"

Movie Review: "Seven Samurai" (1954)

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Movie: "Seven Samurai"/"Shichinin no samurai"
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Year: 1954
Rating: UR
Running Time: 3 hours, 27 minutes

A farming village hires seven ronin to defend their homes from raiding bandits.

"Seven Samurai" is directed by legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. It is his dramatic action adventure epic about a farming village who hire seven samurai to help defend their village against the bandits who regularly terrorize them and steal their grain. The first samurai the village acquires is Kambei Shimada, played by Takashi Shimura. He is the wise, strategic man of war who has a good heart. He is older, but is the first to volunteer, willing to help those in need. It took some convincing by a young samurai named Katsushiro, played by Isao Kimura, who just asked to be Kambei's student. Together, they recruit the other samurai, hoping to get seven in total for maximum battle efficiency. Eventually, they get four others, and with time running out, they head to the village a mere six samurai in tow. En route to the village, a seventh samurai named Kikuchiyo, played by Toshirô Mifune, who is very wild and a bit reckless, adds himself to the group's roster even though he was previously rejected by the group for his antics. Mifune seems like Akira Kurosawa's go-to actor as the two worked together numerous times on at least one third of his films. In fact, both Mifune and Shimura are regular cohorts together with Kurosawa. They are certainly the most notable characters and actors in the film, giving the best, most memorable performances. Each of these samurai have their own defining traits that the audience can use to identify each character right off the bat. Kimura's Katsushiro is honorable, trustworthy, and wants to do right. Takashi Shimura's Shimada has a certain likable charm with an underlying seriousness. Toshirô Minfune's Kikuchiyo, however, is an off the wall wild man and a bit of a clown, regularly acting up during the film's more serious moments. He acts as comic relief, only offering a few genuine, down to earth moments. His character is one to rush head-first into battle as his character has more balls than brains and more heart than actual skill.

One of the first things you may notice about "Seven Samurai" is its length. At 3 hours and 27 minutes, it is by far Kurosawa's longest film and may possibly be seen as a task to get through by some viewers. If you give it a chance, you'll see it is a beautiful movie with an engaging story, full of many characters Kurosawa painstakingly tries to build so we get invested in and connected to their plight. That being said, there are several instances we feel could have been trimmed down to save time, though Kurosawa does an excellent job developing the samurai so we feel a mix of sadness, anger, and honor as they head into battle. He gives many of them individual personalities, some full of charm and fun, and others a distinct stoic honor, but regardless, we are connected to the things they do as these seven brave souls trek, train, and fight for those less fortunate despite only being paid in rice. This beautiful character development is only aided by its beautiful cinematography, score, and shooting style.

There is a lot going on in "Seven Samurai" as it has a bit of a romantic subplot, moments of distrust between the farmers and the samurai, and dramatic elements as we get to know each of the characters. Many of these dramatic instances deal with the internal conflict before the big climactic battle between the villagers and the bandits. These battle scenes at the end of the film truly live up to the spirit of the action epic. In the end, this is a wonderful film with spectacular visuals and a gripping story, interesting, memorable characters, one of the best musical scores ever created, and enough substance to keep you engaged and enthralled for its entire run time. Though it doesn't need to be as long as it is, we still enjoy this film more than, say, "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Ben-Hur."

My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Ben-Hur" (1959)

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Movie: "Ben-Hur"
Year Nominated: 1960
Director: William Wyler
Rating: R
Running Time: 3 hours, 32 minutes
Did It Win?: Yes.

After Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit by his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd), he swears that one day he will break free and get his revenge.

Directed by William Wyler, "Ben-Hur" is a dramatic epic that takes place around the time of the biblical Jesus Christ and his subsequent crucifixion. Charlton Heston plays the titular Judah Ben-Hur, an wealthy Jewish prince who gets betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, played by Stephen Boyd, a Roman Tribune who convicts Ben-Hur of a crime he didn't commit without even the courtesy of a trial. Messala also imprisons Ben-Hur's sister Tirzah, played by Cathy O'Donnell, and mother Miriam, played by Martha Scott, in a dark, dank cell. This film tells of Judah's quest for revenge, through his time as a slave on a Roman galley to his days as a champion chariot racer. His story runs parallel to the story of Christ, who plays a minor character throughout the film, and the entire notion of faith plays a prominent role within the context of this story.

"Ben-Hur" is considered a classic by many in the cinephile community and it's easy to see why this might be the case. It won 11 of the 12 Academy Awards it was nominated for, and it jointly holds the record for most Oscar wins by any single picture. It was the sole record holder for 38 years before being tied by "Titanic," and later, "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." We can't deny this is a technically well made film. It boasts some striking cinematography, beautiful art direction, sets, and costumes, as well as a few spectacular, epic, and intense memorable moments that have gone down in cinematic history as some of the best ever created. The most impressive of these moments is, of course, the now iconic chariot race. This is an amazing, fantastic scene full of never-been-done-before excitement that is sure to keep you fully engaged and glued to the screen as it plays out in spectacular fashion. In fact, there are many memorable moments in the early parts of "Ben-Hur." The entire opening hour is quite engaging, setting the stage for things to come later in the film.

Unfortunately, we can't in all honest say the same thing for the entire movie. At 3 hours and 32 minutes, needless to say, this is quite a long movie. We have never been people that mind longer films so long as they are appropriately paced and don't feel like they are drowning out the point of the story with frivolous scenes that don't fit or are too extra to matter. "Gone With the Wind" is the perfect example of a long film that doesn't feel long. Clocking in at 3 hours and 58 minutes, when all is said and done, it's a movie that feels like a drop in the bucket compared to "Ben-Hur." Even "Lawrence of Arabia" felt more engaging as a whole, and it's 3 hours and 48 minutes long and includes many, many unnecessary but gorgeous long shots of desert walking. While watching "Ben-Hur," we couldn't help but feel it didn't really need to be as long as it is. There are many scenes which feel superfluous to the flow of the film. In these scenes, we found ourselves not engaged with the story and/or the characters, but rather, engaged with the clock. Instead of wondering if Ben-Hur would get his ultimate revenge and keep his faith through the course of the pain and horrors he had to endure during the story, we found ourselves wondering how long the filmmakers were going to drag this or that scene out, sometimes much longer than necessary. We know, we know, blasphemy! How dare we criticize "Ben-Hur"! In our honest opinion, this film isn't nearly as gripping as it was promised to be. Maybe this is a case of decades worth of build-up, only to meet initial disappointment, and maybe one day (decades in the future) we will watch it again, but as of right now, we can't help but be a little underwhelmed. The production itself is not underwhelming in the slightest, and in fact, is quite a lesson in Hollywood largess, but the story, and the length, and even some of the acting, feels uneven.

We have heard throughout the years that "Ben-Hur" is the greatest film of all time. When you hear such a bold statement like this, you expect to be completely taken in by it emotionally, and maybe even physically when it comes to being moved. Unfortunately, this didn't happen for us. Everything after the amazing chariot race, it seems to slog by and feels a bit redundant to the point of it all. Even after Jesus is crucified, the film still goes on and on. This isn't a movie we would feel compelled to watch over and over again, though we will most likely give it a try at some later point to see if we've changed our minds. Of course, we would watch the chariot scene again right now given the opportunity. Like we said in our "Lawrence of Arabia" movie review, don't hate us.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!
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One year ago, we were watching: "The Tale of Princess Kaguya"

Movie Review: "Alice in Wonderland" (1951)

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Movie: "Alice in Wonderland"
Director: Clyde Geronimi and Wilfred Jackson
Year: 1951
Rating: G
Running Time: 1 hours, 15 minutes 

A young girl named Alice (Kathryn Beaumont) follows a white rabbit (Bill Thompsom) down a hole into the fantastical world of Wonderland, where nonsense is the norm.

Alice in actual Wonderland, not Underland like some people insist. *cough* Tim Burton *cough.*

Disney's 1951 animated film "Alice in Wonderland" is an adaptation of the Lewis Carroll novel "The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland." It also has some elements of the followup book "Through the Looking Glass." Like most of Disney's animated features of this era, it is a vastly truncated version of the story with a rather short run time for easy consumption by younger audiences. The story here is extremely simple. It is about a curious little girl named Alice, voiced by Kathryn Beaumont, who becomes enamored with a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and carrying a watch. The rabbit, voiced by Bill Thompson, is constantly exclaiming how late he is, and Alice cannot understand what a rabbit could possibly be late for. She becomes obsessed with finding the answer to her question, which leads her down a rabbit hole into Wonderland. Once there, she continues her pursuit of the White Rabbit, but runs into many different characters along the way. These other characters consist of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, both voiced by J. Pat O'Malley, The March Hare, voiced by Jerry Colonna, The Mad Hatter, voiced by Ed Wynn, The Cheshire Cat, voiced by Sterling Holloway, The hookah smoking Caterpillar, voiced by Richard Haydn, and of course, the ill-tempered Queen of Hearts, voiced by Verna Felton, who has a deep love of decapitating people.

When Alice lived her everyday life, she would dream of a nonsense world like Wonderland, full of creatures and potions and all sorts of new things. Once she found herself in such a place, however, now, all she wants to do is find her way back home, which is a pretty common tale in fantasy adventure films like this. As with most old school Disney affair, there are some great memorable songs in the movie, as well as some quotable dialogue to boot. The animation is extremely imaginative and very colorful. The world of Wonderland is a whimsical, magical place, and this really adds to our enjoyment of the overall experience. The surrealism of Wonderland might be visually compelling, but unfortunately, this film is not perfect. It might have some great voice over work, but it essentially consists of Alice meeting numerous characters over and over again until the entire thing comes to an end. It's just too basic to hold up in a world that now features the likes of "Zootopia" and "Up." "Alice in Wonderland" might not be our favorite film from Disney, but it is still very good and is certainly much better than its modern day counterpart.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 79%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Oscar Movie Review: "The Defiant Ones" (1958)

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Movie: "The Defiant Ones"
Year Nominated: 1959
Director: Stanley Kramer
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Did It Win?: Yes.

Two convicts, one white man named John Jackson (Tony Curtis), and one black man named Noah Cullen (Sidney Poitier), are shackled together and go on the run after their prison transport vehicle crashes. Though they hate each other, they must find a way to work together if they are going to get away from the police, who are looking for them. 

Nominated for nine Academy Awards, Stanley Kramer's "The Defiant Ones" is a simple 'cons on the run' film with a strong message about racism and civil rights. Two convicts, Noah Cullen, played by Sidney Poitier, and John 'Joker' Jackson, played by Tony Curtis, are chained together and make a run for it after their prison transport crashes. Joker is from the South and was raised with racist tendencies. Noah has been discriminated against all his life and has grown tired of the status quo of being a second class citizen. Needless to say, the two men don't get along. However, the two must come to an understanding if they are to avoid imminent capture. Both Curtis and Poitier earned Oscar nominations for their performances in this film. Sure, Curtis couldn't pass for a Southern man if he tried, his New York accent never far from the Southern drawl he attempts to exert, but it's hardly a critique in a movie such as this. It's always a pleasure to watch Poitier work, and this film is no exception. This being a drama, of course, the dialogue is going to be over the top here and there, but really, we didn't mind this at all as it only serves to aid the powerful overall story.

We are sure "The Defiant Ones" held some very strong political influence in raising awareness during the civil rights movement being that it was released in 1958. Though sometimes these more political, poignant pieces of cinema lose their significance as the years pass, a film like this will always hold great historical value as a reminder of how this nation once was. It shows how far we have come as a country, and though we've gotten better, their is still a lot of room for improvement. We did enjoy this film for the most part. Curtis and Poitier work well together on screen as enemies turned allies. Their interactions are sometimes tense, sometimes dramatic, often exciting, and even occasionally funny. Really, this is not a plot driven film. It is mostly a study of these two characters and their personal arcs as they grow as people during their journey. Both are fully realized and very nuanced characters, each with flaws and attributes. Each obstacle they face only aids them in reaching a greater understanding of each other. Stanley Kramer did an excellent job of bringing this relatively simply story to life. "The Defiant Ones" is a solid piece of groundbreaking cinematic history that is absolutely worth a watch.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 81%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?
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One year ago, we were watching: "The Graduate"

Oscar Movie Review: "All About Eve" (1950)

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Movie: "All About Eve"
Year Nominated: 1951
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes
Did It Win?: Yes.

Aspiring actress and adoring fan Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) has thrust herself into the life of  an aging, fading star of a stage actress named Margo Channing (Bette Davis), who takes pity on her, bringing the charming Eve into her close circle of friends and actors. 

The fantastic "All About Eve," directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, was nominated for an astounding 14 Academy Awards in 1950. This is a story about actors, and as we know all too well, actors love films about actors, and this one has the added advantage of being all about the cutthroat nature of show business, too. "All About Eve" is one of the two most nominated films in the history of the Academy Awards, the other being "Titanic," which also received 14 nominations 47 years later. This film took home six out of 14 Oscar trophies, including the top prize, Best Picture, as well as Best Director and Best Screenplay, among others.

Bette Davis was arguably one of the most talented actresses of her generation. Here, Davis plays Margo Channing, who is full of herself, arrogant, and looks down on those she feels is beneath her. She might be a fine actress, but she is getting older, which means she is getting fewer parts. Margo is a total diva behind the scenes, but can also be frank and brutally honest, never shying away from how she really feels. Anne Baxter plays Eve Herrington, who takes a different approach to the business. She seems sweet and amiable as a kid who has seen every single one of Margo's performances for the play she currently is performing in. Upon getting to meet her idol, Eve is immediately thrust into Margo's circle of friends as they all take pity on her sob story. Though innocent on the outside, actually, she is conniving and ruthless. Eve is willing to step on anyone to get what she wants, using her charm to make others lay down for to make it easier for her to step on them.

From the moment the stage is set, there are lies and deceit everywhere with constant back biting between characters. These are people who will say one thing out loud, but turn around a cut those same people down while their backs are turned. Anne, Margo, and their circle of friends are often very nasty people, but it is presented in such a way that "All About Eve" is both smart AND funny, not just bitter and conniving. There are tons of genuine laugh out loud moments, and other moments where your eyes will widen as Bette Davis is given the opportunity to do her thing, which is drain the air from a room as she spills her secrets, in the most spectacular fashion. The acting is amazing from both Anne Baxter and Bette Davis. They are both so great in this film, but then again, when was Bette Davis not a fabulous actress? As good as they are, it's really hard to root for either one of their characters as they are both hugely flawed as people. Both Baxter and Davis were nominated for their performances in the leading actress category. It's not just these two that are marvelous. In fact, across the board, the acting is great both Celeste Holm, who plays Margo's friend Karen Richards, and Thelma Ritter, who plays Margo's maid Birdie. Both of these women also received nominations in the supporting actress category for their performances. However, in an interesting turn of events in a movie almost wholly saturated with main female performances, the only person from the movie to take home an Oscar for their acting was George Sanders, who plays theater critic Addison DeWitt.

If you love classic old movies about the stage and theater, "All About Eve" is your golden ticket. Fans and critics adore this movie for its wit, its cunning subject, and because it has held up over the years. It's hard to divulge much more about the story, even 66 years later because you have to watch it for yourself, it's that good. Take a chance on this one.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!
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One year ago, we were watching: "Ordinary People"

Oscar Movie Review: "High Noon" (1952)

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Movie: "High Noon"
Year Nominated: 1953
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) has just gotten married and is about to step down from his position and leave on his honeymoon. Right before leaving, he hears word that Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) has just been released from prison, and his gang is  waiting at the train station to join him when he arrives on the 12 o'clock train. Everyone knows Miller is coming into town to get revenge on Kane for putting him in prison. Now, Kane must round up a posse to defend his town. However, Kane is having trouble finding volunteers willing to stand by him. 

Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Fred Zinneman's "High Noon" is a classic western film starring the likes of Gary Cooper, Grace Kelley, Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney Jr, and many more. The story here is very simplistic, but it is just executed so brilliantly, it feels like each piece of the puzzle, each minute counts. And speaking of minutes, the film clocks in at a brief 82 minutes long, with the first 70 minutes being pure tension building to a final climactic conflict. Gary Cooper is outstanding as Marshall Will Kane in a performance which earned him a Best Actor Oscar trophy. After seeing the film for the first time, BigJ and I both agree this award was well deserved. Kane is a strong character with great depth and conviction. Upon learning Frank Miller, played by Ian MacDonald, was coming, he had the opportunity to run, but chose to stay and fight in his town. He does his best to round up a posse, but having virtually no luck getting people to join as everyone seems to have an excuse why they cannot fight alongside him. As the clock ticks ever closer to noon, Kane still lacks volunteers, we sat on the edge of our seats, waiting and wondering how it would all turn out for him. Would the town rise up to help, or leave him to face Miller and his gang on his own? The tension gets so thick, you can cut it with a knife. Kane even has trouble getting deputy Harvey Pell, played by Lloyd Bridges, to stand by him after they have a falling out over a woman. Kane's newlywed wife Amy, played by the remarkable Grace Kelley, is a devout Quaker and doesn't believe in violence of any kind. She just wants her husband to leave town and not look back so they can get on with their newly formed bond and lives. However, he knows he can't, because if he doesn't face Miller now, Kane will be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. This inner conflict within all the characters in this film is what makes it so compelling as a whole.

"High Noon" was a relatively unknown film to us, but we are glad we took a chance on it. This film has held up well over the years and doesn't feel dated in the slightest. When compared to more a modern take on the western genre, like the recent "Jane Got a Gun," which is much longer in length with a lot less story, we can truly see how well a shorter, more concise story and film can make all the difference in the world. Westerns are period pieces to begin with, but when executed slowly, poorly, and ramblingly, they don't make for a good viewing experience. We didn't have a problem with any of this during "High Noon," finding only well written characters, fantastic cinematography, impeccable direction, and straight-to-the-point drama with no muss or fuss. It deals with themes that any generation can relate too, which might be part of its mass appeal. Cinephiles will enjoy this for the visual spectacle and acting, and casual movie watchers will be awed by its simplistic, but well executed story.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!
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One year ago, we were watching: "Anatomy of a Murder"

Oscar Movie Review: "The Quiet Man" (1952)

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Movie: "The Quiet Man"
Year Nominated: 1953
Director: John Ford
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

Born in Ireland but raised in America, Sean Thornton (John Wayne) has returned to the town of his birth to buy the house and land he was born on. However, a local man named 'Red' Danaher (Victor McLaglen) has been trying to buy that land for years. When Sean is able to buy it out from under him, Red is not very happy about it. Then, when Sean falls for Red's sister Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara), it makes their courting almost impossible with such a grudge on Red's shoulders.

1952's "The Quiet Man" is a romantic comedy starring the all-American man's man John Wayne as Irish born/American raised former pro-boxer Sean Thornton, who has a secret he is desperately trying to escape. When you look at John Wayne as a person and hear John Wayne speak, your first natural association is probably not "born in Ireland." Sean has returned to his birth land to buy the childhood home where he was born. This action upsets a local man by the name of 'Red' Danaher, played by Victor McLaglen, who has been trying for years to buy the land Sean wants so sentimentally and desperately. The interactions between Red and Sean are usually kept short since they detest each other, but their chemistry is somehow believable for people who can't stand the site of one another. As soon as Sean gets to his hometown, "The Quiet Man" is content to play on multiple Irish stereotypes for the rest of the film. Sean's love interest, the fiery, often ill tempered redhead named Mary Kate Danaher, played by Maureen O'Hara, is the walking, talking epitome of a stereotypical Irish woman. Initially off-put by Sean, Mary Kate eventually acquiesces to his flirtations and come-ons, but that doesn't mean their relationship begin easily, especially since 'Red,' Mary Kate's brother, refuses to let them be together. In addition to Mary Kate's stereotypical character, the townspeople are all either drinking, drunk, gambling, talking to priests, or fighting. C'mon. The Irish countryside also plays its own character in a way as vast, beautiful, lush green hills are showcased in nearly every scene to make for a beautiful looking film.

As with lots of movies from several decades ago, the misogyny runs deep in "The Quiet Man" as women, specifically Mary Kate in this case, are not free to chose who they date or marry. Mary Kate is beholden to the approval of her brother, who must offer up a dowry to her husband-to-be regardless of love or any other circumstances. How silly, a woman picking her own mate, whodathunk?! The most eyebrow-raising scene of misogyny involves a surprising display of spousal abuse as Sean drags his betrothed 5 miles against her will, all so he can punch her brother. We were literally watching this scene with our jaws dropped. Apparently, this is the only thing Sean can do to make his wife respect him, which is really a horrible message no matter the era in which a film is made. Despite all this (and surprisingly so?), there are some really funny moments throughout the film despite it being absolutely dated. It is also odd that Sean can't take more than two drags off his cigarette before disposing of it on the beautiful Irish country side...we're not kidding about this; it's two drags, then flick! We don't know if this was a subtle running gag or if Wayne was just fond of littering. This movie pulled in a total of seven Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and took home two Oscars, including one for director John Ford. In the end, it's still an enjoyable film and is a reflection of the time in which it took place, even if it offends our modern sensibility. It's always fun to watch John Wayne pretend to be Irish.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?
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One year ago, we were watching: "Hugo"