Inspired to watch this one after reading about co-star Katina Paxinou's performance on Sage's blog which featured a countdown of her favorite Best Supporting Actress Oscar winners: Katina came in high at #17. (Read the blog post
here). After watching the film, I must say that I was impressed with Ms. Paxinou's powerful performance as Pilar, one of the most interesting characters of 20th century literature.
Above: The Oscar winning actors from 1943: Paul Lukas, Jennifer Jones, Katina Paxinou, and Charles Coburn.
The Spanish Civil was never one of my favorite subjects, and I never studied it in high school for some reason. The politics behind the war was always a confusing thing for me, and I put off watching the film for many years.
Basically the most important thing to remember is that just after the monarchy of Alfonso XIII of Spain had been overthrown (1931), there were years of civil unrest in the country between dictator Francisco Franco's Fascists/Nationalists (backed by Nazi Germany) and the leftists/Loyalists/Republicans.
There was such a thing as an International Brigade, made up of volunteers from a number of democratic/anti-fascist countries (including America).
It's interesting to note that by the time the novel and film came out, the war was already over; dictator Francisco Franco and the Fascists already had taken Spain (and remained in control for over 30 years). Today, Spain is a very different country from when the novel and movie came out.
The film is an adaptation of Hemingway's 1939 novel about Spain and the war. I suspect the filmmakers were aiming for the next
Gone With the Wind.
In the story, the character of American Robert Jordan (played in the movie by Gary Cooper - selected by Hemingway himself) is inspired by Hemingway's own experiences as a journalist in Spain. He first went over there in 1931, just after the monarchy of Alfonso XIII had been overthrown. He correctly predicted the civil unrest in the country, and when the Civil War began in 1936, Hemingway wrote articles, delivered speeches, and raised money for the Loyalist cause. In 1937, Hemingway again traveled to Spain to cover the war for the North American Newspaper
Alliance. Only a few months after his arrival, Hemingway announced that he was working on a new novel about the war.
Faithfully adapted from the book, the story takes place over a period of four days during the middle of the war, 1937. The Robert "Roberto" Jordan character is an American who signs up with the International Brigade to fight against the fascist forces. (In his past life in America, he was a professor of Spanish). As the film opens, we learn that he is now a demolitions expert, and is assigned on a mission by his military superior to destroy a strategic bridge in the enemy territory in order to advance the cause of the freedom fighters.
He goes alone at first, accompanied only with his Spanish peasant guide Anselmo. Soon they meet a small band of mountain-dwelling Spanish freedom fighters, including the drunken leader Pablo (Akim Tamiroff), his wife, the wise Pilar (brilliantly played by Katina Paxinou), and lovely 19-year old Maria (Ingrid Bergman). Roberto seeks thier support to destroy the bridge, but divided loyalties among the fighters complicate matters. But it is Pilar (which means "pillar" in Spanish) who believes in the mission of Roberto, and convinces the group to proceed and assist with his mission.
One of the guerillas asks Roberta, "Why have you come so far to fight for our republic?" "A man fights for what he believes in", says Roberto, who goes on to explain how the Nazis and fascists were against democracy just as much as they were against the communists.
Directed by Sam Wood,
For Whom The Bell Tolls was a HUGE box-office hit in America, well-received by critics and the Academy, who honored the movie with 9 Academy Award nominations. Not only did it have the star power of Coop, but the film, released in the middle of World War II, was also seen as inspirational with its anti-fascist sentiments.
The film has something everyone can enjoy: quality performances, romance (Coop's Roberto falling for Maria, played by Ingrid, who is absolutely wonderful), and exciting action sequences in the mountains, leading up to the inevitable bridge collapse.
One more thing I want to comment on. After about 90 minutes, there is an intermission. Now I just love how long films back in the day used to have intermissions. Why don't modern movies have intermissions? I mean, really. Who can sit for over two or three hours in a theater seat anyway? Any good chiropractor will tell you that you should never sit that long. So why can't movies like
Titanic and
King Kong have intermissions? I don't understand this. Sigh!
Seen as campy today by some, this exciting 1972 film is one of my favorites, an inspiring story of courage and survival. If you haven't seen it before, all you really need to know is that once the ship capsizes, the "adventure" begins. Actually, its more of a quest for survival than an "adventure", I'd say. Unlike some so-called "disaster" films from this era such as the inferior Aiport sequels from this same era, this film - 1972's biggest box office hit after The Godfather - has brave characters you actually care about, such as Gene Hackman's Rev. Scott and Shelly Winters' Mrs Rosen, both sacrificing their lives for the others in the small group of survivors. 
This is my favorite Mel Brooks which I recently re-watched. It takes place in contemporary (mid-70s then, of course) Los Angeles/Hollywood. However the main gimmick of the film is that it's "silent" without any dialogue. Retro "title cards" are used throughout.
Mel Brooks was chosen to be one of the 2009 Kennedy Center honorees. The ceremony is an annual gala where 5 American showbusiness legends are awarded lifetime achievement medals from the Kennedy Center, a performing arts center in Washington DC. The President attends, and it's always a grand affair. A well-deserved honor for the Oscar-winning filmmaker. No less than three of his films are usually regarded among the funniest of all time : The Producers, Young Frankenstein, and Blazing Saddles. 
If you happen to think this Deanna Durbin film is all about gingerbread and mistletoe, forget it. The title of this noirish drama (based on the novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham) is a bit misleading, in my opinion. And I'd rank this among my top 10 films taking place at Christmas, yet aren't necessarily "Christmas films".
The film, mostly told in flashback, is about the complex situation of Deanna's troubled character and her involvement with her husband, played by Gene Kelly, a two-faced, convicted killer. Kelly makes his film entrance from beyond the shadows of Deanna' bedroom as she sleeps. Creepy. Though Dean Harens' character is reluctant to get involved, how can he not? It's Deanna, after all.
Normally I do not post reviews of films made after 1985. This blog is all about the oldies.
Inspired to watch this one after reading about co-star Katina Paxinou's performance on Sage's blog which featured a countdown of her favorite Best Supporting Actress Oscar winners: Katina came in high at #17. (Read the blog post here). After watching the film, I must say that I was impressed with Ms. Paxinou's powerful performance as Pilar, one of the most interesting characters of 20th century literature.
The Spanish Civil was never one of my favorite subjects, and I never studied it in high school for some reason. The politics behind the war was always a confusing thing for me, and I put off watching the film for many years.
Faithfully adapted from the book, the story takes place over a period of four days during the middle of the war, 1937. The Robert "Roberto" Jordan character is an American who signs up with the International Brigade to fight against the fascist forces. (In his past life in America, he was a professor of Spanish). As the film opens, we learn that he is now a demolitions expert, and is assigned on a mission by his military superior to destroy a strategic bridge in the enemy territory in order to advance the cause of the freedom fighters. 
The film has something everyone can enjoy: quality performances, romance (Coop's Roberto falling for Maria, played by Ingrid, who is absolutely wonderful), and exciting action sequences in the mountains, leading up to the inevitable bridge collapse. 
Not long ago, I heard that star Tony Curtis would be coming to the Chicagoland area to appear at a special 50th anniversary screening of one of my favorite movies, Some Like it Hot. He was also planning to do a Q&A and autograph signing/meet & greet.
The DVD has a number of interesting features, including commentary by Maureen O'Hara, and both original and colorized versions. I must say, I'm not a big fan of colorizing movies, but this is one movie that looks good colorized, especially the parade scene. 
In honor of the anniversary of the birth of Walt Disney (born Dec 5), I wanted to put the spotlight on a great blog series from Tim over at Antagony and Ecstacy. (Visit the blog now) Tim's current series is a Disney retrospective, featuring a scholarly analysis of each of the full-length theatrical Disney animated films, from Snow White to Princess and the Frog. He even covers the World War II-era "package films", Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time.
Hedy plays a illegal immigrant from Vienna (whose father was "liquidated" for his convictions, as a character says - though it's not specified, one can assume she's either Jewish or a political dissenter). She has become a showgirl in a big US city (none is specified, but I guess NY?) and has an affair with a married man. One day a deportation officer comes to summons her, but is overcome by her allure. He suggests she get married so she can become an American citizen. He gives her only a week to do so.
Mickey's Christmas Carol is a 24-minute animated short, that was first released in U.S. theaters in December 1983 (it opened in the UK two months earlier). It was accompanied by the re-release of 1977's great adventure classic "The Rescuers". I didn't see it in theaters at the time, but did watch it on TV when it was televised for the first time in the mid 80s. My cousins recorded it on their new VCR and let me borrow the tape. Needless to say, I have fond memories of watching this over and over. 
Nowadays I cannot watch any version of this classic tale without thinking of Scrooge McDuck (voiced by Alan Young). Scrooge McDuck was a minor comic book character in Disney comics since the post-war years of the 1940s, and this was his biggest hit - the perfect role for him. This was also the very first theatrical cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse in 30 years, since 1953's The Simple Things (watch The Simple Things now on You Tube). Mickey plays Bob Cratchit, and Donald Duck plays Fred. Characters from classic Disney animated shorts and features have supporting roles, including Jiminy Cricket as the ghost of Christmas past, and Mr. Toad as Fezziwig. 
"Mickey's Christmas Carol" was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1983, but lost to the 3-1/2 minute claymation "Sundae in New York" - featuring an Ed Koch caricature singing the old Sinatra tune while prancing around the city - arguably one of the great injustices in the history of the Oscars! (Watch Sundae in New York now on You Tube --- you decide which film should have won!) Oh well, let me get off my soapbox now, and present "Mickey's Christmas Carol". Enjoy!
On Thanksgiving night last Thursday, I went to see Robert Zemekis' new version of "A Christmas Carol" in 3-D, from Walt Disney Pictures. Overall I was impressed, enjoyed the aerial and street shots of London. Jim Carrey's Scrooge was entertaining, but seeing him as all 3 ghosts of Christmas past got a bit tiresome after awhile.
