ECSTASY (1933, CZECHOSLOVOKIA), SAMSON AND DELILAH (1948), BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (2017)

Hedy Kielser naked and afraid
 in Ecstasy

The Czech film Ecstasy is a somewhat puzzling film to watch. It is about a bride named Eva who is on her honeymoon with her older husband named Emil and suddenly realizes she doesn't love him and leaves him to go back to the comfort of her family. While swimming and chasing a horse before she is able to get her clothes on she meets a builder who eventually becomes her lover. Emil eventually comes back to try to reconcile with Eva and complications ensue.

Ecstasy director Gustav Machaty and his cinematographer definitely have some cinematic skill with their often offbeat camera angles and slow pacing. The film itself often plays like a silent, with minutes between dialogue even though sound had been around for several years when this film was shot! It's not a bad film now that I think about it, but there's really only one reason it's remembered today.

Heddy Lamar: Eva is played by Austrian Hedy Kiesler, who later became famous in America under the name of Heddy Lamar. Her scene when she is running after her horse in the nude was considered quite scandalous at the time, but it did give her some attention which later led to her emigration to the United States and becoming a star for MGM studios in the 40's.

Heddy Lamar using her body 

in Sampson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah was one of the biggest hits MGM and director Cecil B. Demille had during the 1940's.

Heddy Lamar played the seductive temptress Delilah and she did indeed have looks to kill for...or at least get your haircut for. I actually liked this film more than I thought I would (I think I'm just growing soft for old movies). The final destruction of the temple as well as other action scenes (such as Samson kicking ass with the jawbone of an ass) makes for a pretty good spectacle and Lamar's co-star Victor Mature is able as the mighty Samson. We also have on hand a young Angela Lansbury as Delilah's sister and the always wonderful (to me) George Sanders as the Saran.

 

Heddy Lamar using her brain
in Bombshell: The Heddy Lamar Story

The last film of my Heddy Lamar triple feature is the documentary Bombshell: The Heddy Lamar Story. This film shows Heddy's rise from a Czech ingenue to a major Hollywood star, her many marriages and the many peaks and valleys of her career before becoming a recluse later in life. 

One of the noted aspects of this documentary is showing Heddy's...brain. She is credited (or maybe not credited enough) with the development of "frequency hopping"to prevent enemy subs and such for picking up on messages delivered to allies during World War II. She and George Antheil were awarded a patent on this in 1942 and was used as a valuable tool in keeping transmissions secret in subsequent years (and wars.)

RAIN (1928, NETHERLANDS), THE BRIDGE (1928, NETHERLANDS),THE SPANISH EARTH (1937), A TALE OF THE WIND (1988, NETHERLANDS)

Rain

Experimental Dutch documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens made this short film titled Rain at the end of the silent film era. It's about rain...Before the rain, during the rain and after the rain. The umbrellas do come out at some point.

Rain...I don't mind-The Beatles

The Bridge

Ivens also made another short film during this time about a bridge titled The Bridge (De Brug). The bridge is there. It's sturdy. There are trains passing on top of it and ships passing underneath. There are enough ships to make me think this film could have been called The Boat. But no, It's The Bridge.

Like a bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down-Simon and Garfunkel

This Spanish Earth

Ivens made a later film in the 30's (with collaborator Ernest Hemingway) titled This Spanish Earth. This film is a documentary record of a village defending itself against the fascists during The Spanish Civil War and before the outbreak of World War II.

You will never find peace with these fascists

You'll never find friends such as we

So remember that valley of Jarama

And the people that'll set that valley free-Woody Guthrie

A Tale of the Wind

If Joris Ivens wanted to end his creative and physical life making a film in which he searches for wind (and providing an appropriate bookend to Rain from sixty year before), then by all means he has my blessing!

All we are is dust in the wind-Kansas

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind-Bob Dylan

Everyone knows it's Windy-The Association

Joris Ivens 1899-1989

1938 BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1939.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
Jezebel
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Olympia
The Baker's Wife
Bringing Up Baby
The Lady Vanishes

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1938 is…Jezebel

Jezebel

I had the good fortune to meet both of director William Wyler's daughters (Melanie and Cathy) at our library as part of the Southern Literary Trail http://www.southernliterarytrail.org/events.html film series. We showed Cathy's 80's documentary about her father as well as the William Wyler/Bette Davis

collaborations Jezebel and The Little Foxes.

Jezebel is a story set in 1850's New Orleans featuring a cast of thousands, a look at pre-Civil War plantation life, Southern chivalry and traditions, some catchy Negro spirituals, an unfortunate red dress, a case of Yellow Jack and of course Bette Davis. Davis's role may remind some viewers of Scarlet O'Hara, but Davis really makes this her own and it is hard to argue with her receiving the Academy Award for her role.

Bringing Up Baby is without a doubt a classic comedy, but it's just a close second to Jezebel in my book.

Jezebel

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1938 is...The Baker's Wife

The Baker's Wife

"Director Marcel Pagnol's village vignettes are superb and completely revelatory, telling us all we need to know about the village and its life, telling it so deftly we scarcely are conscious of his having bothered to describe it."-Frank S. Nugent, The New York Times, February 26, 1940

----

Pagnol's story is about a village. Those living in the village rely on the village baker for their bread. The baker relies on his wife for emotional support. His wife runs off with a shepherd. The baker is too depressed to bake his bread. The village makes a plan to get the wife back. 

That description really doesn't do The Baker's Wife justice. It is a charming film with eccentric characters whose living arrangements are thrown into disarray by the disappearance of the wife. Much of the comedy relies on the plot to get her back, as well as mach of the amusing and perceptive dialogue from Marcel Pagnol. Based on a novel by Jean Giono.-Chris Cox, 1001: A Film Odyssey

The Baker's Wife

1937 BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1937.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
Captains Courageous
Song at Midnight
Grand Illusion
Stella Dallas
Make Room for Tomorrow
The Life of Emile Zola
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Awful Truth
Pepe Le Moko

                  

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1937 is…Make Way for Tomorrow

Make Way for Tomorrow

"The most depressing damn film I've ever seen!" Or something to that effect was Orson Welles's commentary on Make Way For Tomorrow.

Leo McCarey's film is about a family's struggle with what to do about aging parents with nowhere to go. Comparable to Ozu's Tokyo Story, it is a rarity among Hollywood movies of the time (and today for that matter) to deal with older people and their struggles as a main focus. It's also a rarity that there are no headline stars to be seen, which actually works in the film's favor. A gem of a movie in my book.

Make Way for Tomorrow

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1937 is...Grand Illusion

Grand Illusion

Some of my favorite films (“2001,” “8 ½” and “Clockwork Orange”) struck a chord with me much more on the second viewing than the first. Jean Renoir’s “Rules of the Game,” is the best example of this for me. On the first viewing, I didn’t really get it, but on the next viewing, it became one of my favorite films.

Renoir’s other classic “Grande Illusion” may fall into that category too. On this, my first viewing, I saw a lot of great cinematic touches: The German officer and French officer’s common traits, including duty to country, the use of musical motifs for effect, the loneliness war brings to the German widow, groups of soldiers playing as children and children playing as soldiers, the French drag show turning into the patriotic “Marseilles” after a French victory, etc. Now that I’ve starting naming them, they seem to be numerous.

Notable performances include: Dita Parlo in a small role as the war widow, Erich Von Stroheim as the surprisingly sympathetic German officer, and Marcel Dalio as Rosenthal, a much less straight laced character here than I remember him playing in “Rules of the Game.”

What is the Grand Illusion? That this is the war to end all wars, that life changes when you pass imaginary borders or that true love wins out. Or is it something more sinister?

Grand Illusion

1936 BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1936.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
A Day in the Country
Modern Times
Swing Time
My Man Godfrey
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Camille
Sabotoge
Dodsworth
Things to Come
The Story of a Cheat

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1936 is…My Man Godfrey

My Man Godfrey

I first saw this during the first film class I was in during my Freshman year at West Georgia College. Good ole Mrs. Alexander. I remember enjoying this film all those years ago, but for some reason, I think I won’t like it as much this go round. Sorry, Mrs. A.

But when I saw it, I was wrong. I liked it even more this time! It is fun, witty, well paced, well acted and socially relevant. Carole Lombard and William Powell were both perfect in the leads. It officially regains its crown as my favorite screwball comedy. Shouldn’t have doubted you Mrs. A.

DVD note: On most DVD's, I'll usually skip anything labeled blooper reel. But a blooper reel from a 1936 film with Carole Lombard saying, "Ah, Shit!" after a flubbed line is definitely worth checking out.

My Man Godfrey

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1936 is...Modern Times

Modern Times

Modern Times is probably my all-time favorite of the Chaplin films. Chaplin was about the only one with the power and skill to still make silent films in 1936, and this film was a tremendous achievement. Charlie's scene (above) that is an exercise to get the workers to eat lunch more efficiently is a classic, as well as his assembly line stunts.

I also liked the ebb and flow of this character continually getting into trouble, going to jail and then getting out before repeating the process.

There's also something about Chaplin's blindfolded skating and almost falling that I've always liked.

And Modern Times also finds the perfect woman counterpart for the little tramp in Paulette Goddard.

Modern Times

1935 BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1935.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees from on the entries released in 1935 from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
Captain Blood
Mutiny on the Bounty
A Night at the Opera
The 39 Steps
Bride of Frankenstein
Top Hat
Peter Ibbertson

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1935 is…The Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

I had to call into question the basic structure of my memory palace when it comes to The Bride of Frankenstein when I revisited it after many years. I had certainly seen it, but only vaguely remember Dr. Frankenstein’s mentor/associate/rival/villain Dr. Pretorious. I don’t remember Pretorious’s experiment of growing little people in specimen jars, either! Anyway, many film historians prefer this one to the original. I’m a little torn between the two. Boris Karloff pulls off his fractured speech scenes well, but I still like the rawness of the original. So it goes. That being said, I bypassed the original a few days ago and I'll give Bride the award for this year as kind of a cumulative prize for Frankenstein and Bride of...

Bride of Frankenstein

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1935 is...A Night at the Opera

Duck Soup

When the Marx Brothers left Paramount studios and went to MGM in the mid-thirties, their first film at the studio is often considered by many to be their finest.

A Night at the Opera has many of the Brothers' famous moments. The party of the first part dialogue between Groucho and Chico, some of the best scenes between Groucho and Margaret Dumont, the impersonation of the three bearded aviators, the grand opera finale featuring Harpo and Chico in the orchestra pit and, of course, the crowded stateroom scene, perhaps the Marxes most famous single scene. There is also one of the funner musical interludes between Harpo and Chico (Full disclosure: I always enjoy Chico's piano playing more than Harpo's harp playing). We also have perhaps the Marxes best comic foil in the insufferable Herman Gottlieb, played by Sig Ruman.

We also have the bone of contention with many Marxist fans, that being the musical subplot. This one features the tenor played by Allan Jones and soprano played by Kitty Carlisle. Do their scenes get in the way here? A little. But the two actors are likable enough, can sing and the relationship of their characters to the Marx Brothers does move the plot along.

There is also the issue of the extravagant musical numbers that the boys never had at Paramount. The musical interlude on the ship bordered on being a bit much. However, the opera scene itself was an integral part of the plot and very fun to watch. However, I do think these musical numbers began to start being overblown by the time A Day at the Races came along.

But I shouldn't quibble, the Marxes only made a handful of films and just a couple of great ones.

And A Night at the Opera is certainly on the short list. Whether or not it belongs in this category is certainly debatable, but given the rather limited choices the book presents, it seemed like the best choice.

Duck Soup

1934 BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1934.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). .

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
It's a Gift
Triumph of the Will
L'Atalante
The Black Cat
Judge Priest
It Happened One Night
The Thin Man
The Goddess

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1934 is…It Happened One Night

It Happened One Night

Frank Capra's It Happened One Night is the romantic comedy prototype for all romantic comedies that followed. The plot has a spoiled runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) and a cynical newspaper (Clark Gable) reporter finding each other on the road. She wants to get to New York. He wants a story. They bicker. They bond. They fall in love. My favorite scenes are the ones in the auto camp where the two begin to bond and conspire to avoid detectives on their trail. A must for film buffs. There are certainly contenders on this list (It's a Gift is my favorite W. C. Fields movie), but I can't quite knock It Happened One Night out of the slot it actually won for 1934.

It Happened One Night

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1934 is...Triumph of the Will

Triumph of the Will

Leni Riefensthal's documentary Triumph of the Will was commissioned by the Nazi Party and filmed at the Nazi Party Congress in Nuremburg and included excerpts of speeches from high ranking Nazi officials as well as showing off the power of the Third Reich and how the people so gleefully (at least that's the way it was presented) accepted them. Understanding that Triumph of the Will is a propaganda piece, the film still is a record to a horrifying moment in time that needs to be seen. L'Atalante or The Goddess are definitely contenders here, but the significance and execution of Triumph of the Will puts this one over the top.

Triumph of the Will

1933 BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1933.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
Zero for Conduct
42nd Street
Golddiggers of 1933
42nd Street
She Done Him Wrong
Duck Soup
Queen Chistina
Land Without Bread
King Kong
The Bitter Tea of General Yen
Sons of the Desert

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1933 is…Duck Soup

Duck Soup

Duck Soup is still one of the most famous comedies of all-time (I think it is anyway, though I may live a bit in a classic movie bubble) and certainly has as many funny gags as any of the Marx movies. Highlights include the song Hail Fredonia, Harpo and Chico's constant confrontations with street vendor Edgar Kennedy, Groucho's many scenes with Margaret Dumont (a regular target of their barbs), the final gun battle scene with the Marxes representing the last stand for their country and the classic mirror scene with Groucho and Harpo.

Duck Soup

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1933 is...King Kong

King Kong

It's a stretch putting King Kong in the Unique and Artistic Picture Category, but was there anything at all quite like this before 1933? An original creation with stop motion effects, sound, animation and make-up and those creatures. Those dinosaurs and Kong himself. It may look dated to some, but it still looks fresh to me after eighty-five years and gets my award. And whatever happened to Fay Wray?

King Kong

I wanted to stick 42nd Street somewhere, but thems the breaks, eh kid?

1932 BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

                  

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1932.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...

Vampyr
Love Me Tonight
Boudo Saved from Drowning
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Trouble in Paradise
Scarface: The Shame of the Nation
Shanghai Express
Freaks
Me and My Gal

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1932 is…Freaks

Freaks

Tough competition from the two Warner gangster films, but I'm going with a personal favorite here about life in a freak show with real life pinheads, caterpillar men, bearded ladies, Siamese twins and midgets. One of the earliest cult movies, Tod Browning's film is forever in my heart. And if you insult one of my choices, you insult all them all!

Freaks

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1932 is...Vampyr

Vampyr

Unique and artistic for sure, Carl Dreyer's film is full of atmosphere, haunting shots, minimal dialogue and unforgettable images. It is like going through a haunting dream where everything is subtle, yet terrifying and should stay with you for a long time after viewing.

Vampyr

1931 BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1931.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

So many classics from this year, but what holds up the best?

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
Tabu
Dracula
Frankenstein
City Lights
The Public Enemy
M
La Chienne
Limite

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1931 is…M

M

It's hard to go against Frankenstein, but....

Fritz Lang’s M is considered by many to be the greatest of movies to come out of Germany during the pre-Nazi era. It’s difficult for me to not look at the story of a serial child murderer without thinking how it foreshadows the ascension of the most prolific serial killer of the century.

The film works as a police procedural of sorts, though the audience knows who the killer is long before the authorities do. The great conflict in the film is the competition between the police trying to find the killer and those in the criminal underworld who want to find the murderer for their own reasons.

The “kangaroo court” scene where the child murder is put on trial by criminals is truly the highlight of the film.

And let us not forget Peter Lorre’s memorable defense of himself before this tribunal of criminals:

Do you all want to kill me?
You just want to wipe me out?
But you can’t murder me just like that!
I demand to be handed over to the police!
I demand to be brought before a real court of law!

M will most likely be playing soon at a college film class near you.

This film would have been a fit for either of these categories, so I'm already seeing potential issues with placing these films in the proper category as I progress.

M

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1931 is...City Lights

City Lights

Charlie Chaplin wasn't just the most popular comic actor of his day, he was also a great artist. There are plenty of funny moments here, but City Lights may be best remembered for his poignancy and heart. It was also unique to Chaplin that he was able to make such a successful silent film so late after the advent of "talkies." Modern Times is still my favorite Chaplin, but City Lights gets my Artistic Picture Award for 1931.

City Lights

1930 BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!

This is my choice (choices) for Best Picture for the year 1930.  My criteria is that I can only use films that are on the 1001 list. To make it a little easier on myself, I am using the rules of the first Academy Award and name a winner for Best Picture (won by Wings for 1927-1928) and Best and Unique and Artistic Picture (won by Sunrise from 1927-1928). 

I found this year to have one easy choice and one difficult one.

And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
The Blue Angel
L'Age of d'Or
Earth
Little Caesar
All Quiet on the Western Front
A Nous la liberte'
Le Million

                    

And the winner for the Best Picture of 1939 is…All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

I would be hard pressed not to put All Quiet on the Western Front as Best Picture. The only question is whether to put it under Unique and Artistic Production or as Best Picture. Despite it's literary pedigree, I'm putting it as the winner of Best Picture as it was a hit and is still regarded as one if not the classic American movie of the early talkie era.

All Quiet on the Western Front

And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1939 is...The Blue Angel

The Blue Angel

Despite stiff competition here from three French films, I'm going with Von Sternberg's classic tale of Lola Lola the cabaret singer portrayed to the hilt by Marlene Dietrich. But it is the sad descent of the academic Professor Rath (Emil Jannings) that is the movie's somber heart and center.

I do wonder if I should see A Nous a Liberte' again. Would that have been a better choice? It's just been a few years since I've seen it now. No wonder so many Academy winners are movies released late in the year!

The Blue Angel