Today and tomorrow are pretty busy for me and Summer Under the Stars and this blog are going to suffer for it. But I have a little moment for Mary Astor. I always do.
Paradise for Three (1938)
Spoiler alert: Mary Astor did not play the lead role in any of the films I watched today. But each of her characters was interesting in some particular way. Paradise for Three is a charming, old school comedy about mistaken identity. Two winners of a soap slogan contes get a stay at a European hotel. One of the winners happens to be a millionaire owner of the soap company but to the people at the hotel he „switches places” with an unemployed man who lives off participating in contests.
Mary Astor plays a broke hotel guest who is VERY excited to hear that there is a millionaire staying at the place at that time – of course, she does not know the man she thinks is rich is… the opposite of that.
Oooo, a rich young man?
Oh.
The charade does not go for long as pretty much everyone figures it out but the film remains pleasant and funny and Mary is great.
Midnight (1939)
Speaking of actresses being great – Claudette Colbert! She’s the lead of Midnight and I loved her!
She is also in dire straits financially and she also arrives in Europe, Paris this time, where she is going to look for work. Buuuut… she ends up impersonating European royalty. Mary Astor plays a rich lady who is onto Claudette and is determined to catch her in a lie.
No time for nonsense.
The film’s leads are Claudette Colbert (as I mentioned multiple times already) and Don Ameche – a taxi driver ready to help the charming foreigner. Their chemistry is fantastic and they make Midnight a truly wonderful comedy.
Little Women (1949)
And we’re ending very appropriately, I think, seeing as Greta Gerwig’s remake is coming in December. The 1949 version of the film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh (so beautiful!), and June Allyson. And if I’m being honest June Allyson as Jo is the one part of the film that does not work for me. Maybe I got spoiled by Katharine Hepburn and Winona Ryder.
Classic Elizabeth Taylor
Mary Astor is Marmee in this adaptation and it was nice to see a different side of her. I’m used to her playing these fabulous, independent women who have certain coldness to them (not a bad thing!). Here, she’s a warm and loving motherly figure – versatility!
Today I started the day with a viewing of the Warren Beatty epic 1981 drama Reds. It’s over three hours long. And it has nothing to do with today’s star – Dustin Hoffman. I just wanted to show that I really am not making these final Summer Under the Stars days easy for myself. Anyway, here’s Dustin Hoffman.
Little Big Man (1970)
This film begins with Dustin Hoffman’s character being one hundred and twenty one years old. Let that sink in. He is a white man who was raised by a Native American tribe. Sounds weird? It is.
I feel like I am missing something because I truly cannot comprehend Dustin’s performance in this. I have no idea what he was doing. And his weird „personality” (which just seems like he was phoning it in), his character feels „empty”. And the thing is, this is a comedy but it’s not funny at all and it’s not even clever in what it’s presenting, supposedly satirizing. But it’s so… off it’s hard to even say what exactly doesn’t work
At one point in the film Dustin is adopted by Faye Dunaway. He has a crush on her and she seems weird around him as well. He is supposed to be a kid but he is clearly not and the whole thing is just bizarre to watch.
I guess the film is sympathetic to Native Americans but in such a convoluted way I can’t even say how to read all that. My anthropology professor used to talk about this movie a lot – he loves it. Take it as you will.
Lenny (1974)
That’s more like it. Bob Fosse-directed biopic of Lenny Bruce is a film I vibe with much more than with Little Big Man.
The thing is, I do not know much about Lenny Bruce and after seeing the film and hearing some of his routines, I do not think I will become a fan of his comedy. But the way Lenny is filmed is just so g-ddamn interesting. Oddly enough, you can see the Bob Fosse influence even though there really is not that much dancing going on. But the film has some rhythmical quality to it that kind of makes it feel choreographed.
It’s shot in black and white and includes cuts and transitions and camera angles that make it seem like a documentary/cinema vérité. It’s a very interesting, minimalistic approach to biopics (similar style in another film I can think of was used in a biopic of a polish poet Wojaczek, but this one is more straight-to-the-point).
All of that helps you really feel the „sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll” that is the cliche that makes the story what it is.
Marathon Man (1976)
And this is when I realized was time for bed.
Dustin’s father was prosecuted during the McCarthy era (Summer Under the Stars throwback – Tender Comrade, starring Ruth Hussey, written by Dalton Trumbo). Dustin wants to clear his name. He also has a brother who is a secret agent.
Oh, and Dustin is also dating a girl who turns out to be a secret agent as well. And there are diamonds all over New York. And Hitler sympathizers
Dustin is a „marathon man” because he has to run constantly – because of all the secret agents and Nazis around him he needs to keep on trying to get away almost non-stop. And this actually works for an action film because you need to see if he is saved by the end.
Oof. Something tells me this last week of Summer Under the Stars is going to be a struggle. I wanted to write more, to write, perhaps, something interesting about the films, but every day after my viewings, I seem to be absolutely exhausted. So I’m not going to make any promises and simply write these little entries about what I saw and hopefully come back with something more substantial in Autumn.
Anyway, onto Shirley MacLaine!
Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)
The film I really did not vibe with at all and to me this was the worst watch of today. Clint Eastwood rescues a woman being sexually assaulted. After she puts her clothes back on it turns out that she’s a nun. At first Clint is freaked out but that but then sees he can get something for himself out of the situation.
Shirley MacLaine wears a lot of mascara for a nun in the Wild West.
Shirley’s character is pretty white saviour-y and Clint’s character get gross when he pressures her into talking about sex. I did not care about these characters and did not enjoy the film.
Being There (1979)
Being There is a classic, it pops up often on the „best of” lists. I can see why – it’s wonderfully acted, touching, and charming. And it tells you as much about politics as it does about humanity.
Peter Sellers plays the lead but Melvyn Douglas is also in the film and I am pleased I got to see it before the month ended even though I missed it on “his” day. He plays a millionaire whose sickness prevents him from doing much. Shirley MacLaine plays his wife. Peter Sellers, a mysterious character calling himself a Gardener, comes into their life after his „master” dies and he is made to leave his house. They both are very attracted to him for different reasons and he changes the order of things in the mansion.
I was struck by how much Being There felt like a late 80s film (rather than still one from 1970s) – an influential picture for sure.
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Postcards from the Edge was written by Carrie Fisher and she based it on her own life. Meryl Streep plays the „Carrie” character and Shirley plays her mother – „Debbie Reynolds” not-so-thinly-veiled.
„Carrie” is battling addiction while also trying to continue on with her acting career. To keep a role in a film currently in production she is made to stay with her mother who comes with her own set of issues.
I enjoyed both of the performances and the film as a whole, but I’ll be honest – I absolutely LOVED the 2016 documentary Bright Lights about Carrie and Debbie and THIS is the film about them I would recommend.
These Old Broads (2001)
NOW we’re talking. Everything about These Old Broads just screams ICONIC! We’ve got Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds (in person this time!), Joan Collins, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR.
Together! AND they play a group of older women about to reboot their old show Boy Crazy. AND it ends with them living it up in a gay club. AND it features a scene of both Debbie and Elizabeth shading Eddie Fisher. WHY is no one talking about this film?
Well, probably because it’s awful and people prefer to forget all about it.
But you know what? I don’t care. It’s SO much fun. And I talked about my fondness for psycho-biddy already this month – I think this is kind of reverse psycho-biddy, just older actresses having fun.
I also watched The Celluloid Closet in which Shirley talked about her film The Children’s Hour where she played a teacher in love with Audrey Hepburn. Of course, The Celluloid Closet is essential viewing for everyone.
Look at me: back at it again with EXCUSES! But here’s the thing: I watched SEVEN films today. I feel like my eyeballs are going to pop out of my skull. But it was all worth it: it’s Fred Astaire day.
Here’s the thing about today’s films: they’re VERY similar – musicals about entertainers. At one point they all started to blend together in my mind.
But you know what? I don’t mind. Because I love musicals, I love dancing (the one skill I wish I had is the ability to dance), I love Fred, and I love Ginger! Ginger showed up so much today it almost seems like it was a „Fred and Ginger day” rather than just „Fred Astaire day”.
Anyway, let’s take a brief look at what I watched today. But keep in mind that to me those films are mostly about the emotions, about how happy they make me feel.
Flying Down to Rio (1933)
Flying Down to Rio is THEE first Fred and Ginger movie ever! And you could tell those two will be something great. Because technically the leads of the film are Dolores del Rio and… Gene Raymond. Okay. But Fred and Ginger steal the show! They are both hilarious, Ginger a sassy flirt, and Fred a joker, and the musical numbers are pretty great.
Here she is!
Here they are!
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
Okay, I am in love with this film. It’s no wonder, I’ve been listening to The Continental for YEARS, including the dialogue, and now I’m going to listen to it even more since I am now familiar with the dance number that accompanies it (and NO, it’s NOT too long). The film is hilarious, Fred gets some great zingers, they look amazing, they dance beautifully – it’s a delight.
Need I say more?
A Damsel in Distress (1937)
Ginger Rogers is not in this film – I am suing. I’m kidding, it has Joan Fontaine, so they get away this time.
Fred plays an entertainer who comes to England and is planning to hide out in the countryside. Joan Fontaine happens to be a lady of the manor there and the two meet. Shenanigans ensue.
An interesting part of the film is the character of Gracie (Gracie Allen), the not-so-bright assistant who serves as the comic relief. I felt like that kind of character would usually be played by a man (but you could also argue that there is nothing interesting about a woman playing dumb, I guess).
Carefree (1938)
Ginger is back! And this film apparently includes Fred and hers first „proper” on-screen kiss. The story is, honestly, a bit gross as it concerns a psychoanalyst (Fred) using his expertise to woo his patient (Ginger) – for a friend. But the dance number are truly magical and Fred and Ginger’s chemistry is through the roof. And there is a song about potatoes – I have to stan.
(Un)fortunate screen cap
(Yikes)
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
This is actually the ninth and last film Fred and Ginger made together before a decade-long break. And it’s a biopic about a married pair of entertainers, Veron and Irene Castle (duh). It’s quite cute, quite tear-jerker-y. There is a scene in which Ginger dances in a clown costume and for the first time in my life I did not mind clowns.
The real Irene Castle actually was an advisor during production of the film and, according to Wikipedia, called out some whitewashing in casting. Nice to know!
Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)
This time Eleanor Powell is the leading lady. The story is about the case of mistaken identity, as comedies often are, and Fred working as an entertainer (when is he not).
This film to me is all dance numbers – they were fantastic and I loved the costumes too.
It’s a good film but I can’t stop thinking about our last picture of today…
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
Back in motion!
Fred and Ginger made The Barkleys of Broadway ten years after The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle and it was their last film together. And so it happened, that it was also the last of their films that I have not seen before. I watched five out of ten of their films today and I honestly have no idea how that happened – I feel like those two have been a part of my life forever, constantly.
Here they play married actors again and it feels fitting. The reality seems to get through to the story a bit which makes it all very emotional. There is a throwback scene to Shall We Dance? and it mad me very soft.
❤
As I said, it felt more like a “Fred and Ginger day” than just a “Fred day” but I am fine with this. What an extraordinary pair those two were. I think they might be the greatest on-screen duo of all time – I can’t think of many people whose chemistry and synergy is comparable.
Thank you Fred and Ginger, you’ve given me and the entire world so much joy.
So. Today was a bit of a fail. The featured star is Leila Hyams. I had two films starring her on my to-watch list. Let’s just say that I personally did not manage to feature her properly. Alas…
Dancing Mothers (1926)
Mother about to be convinced to dance
The first film is a silent Clara Bow picture. She plays a spoiled daughter and she has an equally spoiled father. Both of them treat the mother-wife badly, go out and party (him with other women) and don’t seem to give her a single thought. At one point the mother snaps and starts partying it up as well – with the guy Clara is going out with!
Trying to decide whether to dance or notWondering if dancing was a mistake
Leila allegedly plays Clara’s friend but I missed her completely. Now, the right thing to do would maybe be to forget about Dancing Mothers since we’re here for Leila Hyams and I cannot really comment on her part in the film. But it’s still a classic film and I watched it today so I don’t want to ignore that.
Is that her on the right?
Dancing Mothers surprised me a bit, there is some feminist streak in it. I don’t want to spoil too much but it does feature a woman daring to demand respect and finding her independence. And in the finale we don’t get the „family first” treatment which I thought was great.
Clara is wonderful as always
Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
Coming to America
And I simply can’t not write about Ruggles of Red Gap because it is an absolute delight. I cannot understand why this is not one of Hollywood’s most iconic comedies.
Lovely lady
We begin in Paris where a loyal butler, Ruggles, is lost by his employer in a card game. Now he has to work for an American rancher. Let’s just say that while the rancher’s wife is very happy about being more sophisticated thanks to having a butler, the husband does not understand what the fuss is about and treats Ruggles like a normal guy. Soon the butler starts enjoying it.
And in America a true comedy of errors begins as Ruggles is taken for a war hero. It is a truly funny and clever film with some incredible writing (the Gettysburg Address scene!).
Leila Hyams plays a lovely woman who charms everyone during her parties with her singing. It is a small role but at least this time I did notice her and she got a chance to be beautiful and wear some nice dresses.
BTW, Ruggles of Red Gap stars Charles Ruggles.
Today I did not watch or write much but I need to brace myself for tomorrow – I think it’s going to be a tough one.
Today was quite a pleasant day because I spent it with the handsome man Joel McCrea and because all of the films I watched were less than eighty minutes long which can be nice after seeing tons of over two-hour epics. Let’s make the post short and sweet as well.
The Common Law (1931)
Joel McCrea plays a painter. The Common Law is a pre-code and you can tell simply by the fact that he paints his model, Constance Bennett, in the nude! Escandalo! She just broke up with someone and starts hanging out with Joel more and more which leads to them falling in love. But they do keep secrets about their pasts from each other which leads to trouble.
Indecent!
Sorry to objectify him but I couldn’t help but notice that Joel McCrea is handsome in a modern way. Does it make sense?
I think it does.
I enjoyed The Common Law despite it having a pretty simple, conventional plot, mostly because I found it to be very stylish. Constance Bennett looks amazing and some sequences are pretty interesting. There is a section of the film taking place during a party and it felt like a silent movie with Louise Brooks.
Internes Can’t Take Money (1937)
(What’s with that spelling?)
Always a pleasure to see Barbara Stanwyck!
The plot of Internes Can’t Take Money is pretty bizarre: we begin with Barbara seeing Joel McCrea, a doctor, about a hand injury. She’s clearly in a difficult financial situation and he seems sympathetic so a viewer prepares for a nice, romantic story. But the story soon turns out to involve gangsters and missing babies.
It’s dramatic and weird but Barbara is a delight to watch and it’s kind of impressive how much was fit in barely eighty minutes.
The Unseen (1945)
A spooooky noir about a murder and a governess who gets in the middle of an intrigue. And she suspects Joel McCrea!
So dark and moody…
Gail Russell plays the lead and she’s beautiful and vulnerable. She seems very creeped out by the children she’s taking care of and there is nothing weird about that because these are some scary kids. This whole thing is very The Innocents and I for one enjoyed the gothic moodiness of The Unseen (although, of course, it does not come CLOSE to The Innocents which I consider a masterpiece).
It’s a short spooky story perfect for a rainy night when you just want something simple.
Cattle Drive (1951)
Cool guy!
A western. For kids!
Cool guy and the brat
Dean Stockwell plays a spoiled rich daddy’s son but one day he gets lost in the desert and a cowboy, Joel McCrea takes him in.
I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone who read the above statement that at first Dean is angry and does not want to do the silly cowboy nonsense but ends up loving it.
Yee yee
Nothing to say here: an average children’s film. Joel was pretty hot as a cowboy.
Fort Massacre (1958)
And we finish off with another western. This time, Joel McCrea does not play a cool cowboy but a very racist sergeant who takes charge over what remains of a group of soldiers after an Apache attack.
The basic story is very simple: the soldiers need water but can’t access it without the risk of another attack from Native Americans. But there are also personal issues and doubts the men are dealing with accompanying their fight to survive.
It’s an interesting film about problematic people but it kind of wastes its potential.
None of today’s films were particularly amazing but all of them were more or less painless. I enjoyed it.
Today is Dorothy McGuire day and it turned out to also be children’s/moms’ day. Today’s films turned out to be quite a perfect double feature: technically family films, or at least film about families and kids, but also kind of tearjerkers.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
A story about coming of age in 1900s Brooklyn. Dorothy is the mom of our main character. The little girl is a romantic soul who maybe doesn’t feel like she fits in in her grey, ordinary world. Dorothy’s life is very hard – she literally has to collect scraps to feed her family. Her husband is a good-for-nothing alcoholic but he’s also very charming so she comes out as the cold, strict disciplinarian – good cop, bad cop. Even the grandma calls Dorothy cold-hearted which is very frustrating to watch because she really does what she can to keep the family going. But it’s the father who comes out the hero as he’s the one who helps to make his daughter’s dreams come true.
The immigrants
I felt bad for Dorothy who might seem like „the villain” of the story but I found her character quite complex: very sad and helpless but with some enormous strength as well. And in the end her and her family REALLY go through some tragedies.
😦
Joan Blondell is also in this film and she is amazing as the auntie who is, and I say this with love, kind of a hoe. And I’m not a hundred percent sure but I’m pretty sure that at one point she uses the phrase „spill the tea”.
Old Yeller (1957)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was kind of a sad coming of age film but it was that in an interesting, nuanced way. Old Yeller is an absolute, obvious tearjerker.
Dorothy plays a mom again and it’s a period film again: her family are actual, Little-House-on-the-Praire-style pioneers. The dad leaves home to look for money and (I love this sexist trope) leaves the care of the family to his older son who is a literal child. But Dorothy still gets some moments of a true pioneer woman, working hard to make life possible.
❤
Old Yeller is a dog who shows up one day and causes trouble but Dorothy thinks it would be good for them, especially the younger son, to have a dog. So they keep it. The ending is very sad. Work it out.
That was today. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn presented some interesting family dynamics and even Old Yeller seemed like a time well-spent when I compared the two. Tomorrow I think we’ll get some more adventure but most likely less moms.
Hello. It is day 19 of Summer Under the Stars already. I did not even acknowledge they day we passed the halfway point. I’m going to be honest: I have been slacking these past few days, sometimes because the subject was Errol Flynn, sometimes because of life stuff. But I want to get better and spend these last two weeks giving the stars all my attention – gods know they need it. So let’s look at some films of one of Old Hollywood’s most iconic and most influential.
The Blacksmith (1922)
One of the last Keaton shorts I haven’t seen. It’s pretty self-explanatory, really, Buster goes through misadventures as a blacksmith’s assistant. There are gags and goofs and it’s really a classic Keaton.
What else is there to say? My return to writing more substantial posts for Summer Under the Stars is not exactly up to a good start…
College (1927)
Mary Haines is the most popular girl in college and boys fall head over heels for her! She could have anyone she wants, including the buff jocks girls swoon over. Why should she choose Buster who is kind of a nerd? Well, he’s going to win her by proving himself in various sports.
There are three major problems I have with College:
Blackface – yikes!
Some sport scenes kind of drag
Buster is way too ripped to be convincing as a nerd who never works out
You did NOT get those guns at the library
Other than that, College is pretty funny and Buster gets a chance to present a multitude of gags.
Spite Marriage (1929)
Spite Marriage is Buster’s last silent film. And it fittingly tells a classic silent comedy story: a down-on-his luck dork tries to win over a girl.
Dorothy Sebastian plays an actress Buster, a laundry worker, is obsessed with. He gets „lucky” because she decides to marry him to spite (heh) her ex-boyfriend…
The jealous girl
Spite Marriage is… fine. I enjoyed watching everybody and there were a few funny gags. But it also feels kind of like a montage of scenes that were supposed to be their own things. Final act is basically The Navigator. And the beginning scene in the theatre goes on forever.
Oh, blackface makes an appearance again.
It is definitely not one of his strongest films but it works for what it is if you’re just looking for some light entertainment.
Imagine regretting you married Buster Keaton…
Limelight (1952)
My favourite film I have seen thanks to Summer Under the Stars 2019 so far. I can’t even begin to describe how emotional Limelight made me feel. This is a story of coming to terms with the passing of time and one’s own mortality and feeling like all is lost. It’s honestly kind of fitting in with Leonard DiCaprio’s character in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood which I just saw. Though Chaplin probably was actually closer to a character whose career is basically over and trying to discover it means their life is also over.
The problem with Limelight is that it’s a Charlie Chaplin film. And he gives what might now be one of my favourite male performances of all time. But we’re not here today to talk about Chaplin, we’re here to talk about Keaton. And he appears for one scene in the film. But he gets to do a comedy number with Chaplin, a number that feels like a throwback to silent cinema. And it’s funny but also feels bittersweet watching those two who were one the kings of Hollywood and now the times have changed.
Summer Under the Stars connection: the lead female role, Theresa, is played by Claire Bloom who was married to Rod Steiger who was the star of August 15th.
The Twilight Zone S3E13, „Once Upon a Time”
Speaking of going back in time to Keaton’s era of greatness. I watched a Twilight Zone episode starring Buster. It’s a throwback to silent cinema, it begins with scenes with no sound, with inter titles and piano music. Buster is annoyed at how loud the world has become and wants to escape to a place of peace and quiet with the help of a weird machine. Too bad he’s teleported to the 60s where the world is even louder.
I think it’s a nice episode and a nice tribute, old man Keaton gets to do some gags and goofs like in the old days.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Next film I watched also included just a Buster cameo so I am not going to go in depth here. I just want to say that It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is very fun and funny and the copy I saw was incredibly beautiful – sharp with amazing colours.
Spencer Tracy is the true star of the film and even Mickey Rooney did not annoy me.
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
Well, if It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was not a big role for Buster, I don’t even know what to say about Beach Blanket Bingo.
That was a RIDE.
Not a lot of Buster, and he plays a character that can be best described as „an old goof” but you can see him dancing to rockabilly with a bikini-wearing girl for a moment.
Yeah, I don’t know if I should respect that, or just feel sorry for him.
Film (1965)
Luckily, we end with something Buster can be proud of. Film was made by Samuel Beckett (yes!) and it’s a short in which Buster is paranoid and tries to avoid the „all-seeing eye”.
He manages to actually act wonderfully, even though we see him from behind so he doesn’t really get the chance to use his famous face until the very end.
It is a very interesting short with some exciting filmmaking choices – I’m happy Buster Keaton in the 60s took chances, like here or, to be honest, in Beach Blanket Bingo as well.
I love Buster Keaton and I’m so happy I got to spend the day with him. I still didn’t write in-depth about each film but I did watch A LOT today. Tomorrow, I’ll try to focus on quality over quantity.
I’m only dropping by for a second today. I spent all my day hiking and neglected Summer Under the Stars. Oops. But I HAD TO watch something – I mean, it’s Audrey Hepburn day! So I decided that it was time to tackle the BIG movie.
War and Peace (1956)
What people know about War and Peace (even if they haven’t seen it) is that it’s VERY LONG. And it is – three and a half hours long. But it still is nowhere close to being comparable to the novel. So it omits a lot and focuses on three characters: Natasha, Pierre, and Andrei.
Too much war, not enough peace 😦
Audrey Hepburn is starring alongside her then husband Mel Ferrer and Henry Fonda who feels old and miscast (still, I’m glad he’s here for the Summer Under the Stars purposes since we kicked off the month with him and I surely did not get to War and Peace then).
This film can be nice to look at but it is a struggle to get through. I have not seen any of the miniseries adaptations but I’m now excited to check them out. Vidor’s War and Peace just ain’t it.
Throwback to Zoe Kravitz cosplaying Audrey in War and Peace in Big Little Lies season 1 finale
I’m going to be honest right off the bat – I was not excited to spend my day with Errol Flynn. I have learned a bit about him these past months and you might say I’m not a fan. While I don’t necessarily believe that he was a Nazi spy, I am sure that he was a massive creep. Well, at least I’ll get through some of his films I had on my to-watch list anyway and get it over with.
Dodge City (1939)
First of Flynn’s films I checked out was Dodge City which is a textbook example of a western AND it pairs him up with one of his most iconic on-screen partner – Olivia de Havilland (and I DO love her).
Same, Errol
Dodge City is a town of sin where cattle drivers are up to no good. Among them is Flynn but a particularly tragic event changes his outlook on life and he decides to become a sheriff.
Olivia is a true pioneer woman and one the man appreciate because she’s womanly and obedient but also does not complain and adjust to the tough situation.
The pioneer woman
Yee yee.
I did not find Dodge City particularly interesting or groundbreaking but it’s really fun and entertaining – a perfect Sunday morning western.
The Sea Hawk (1940)
The second film is also directed by Michael Curtiz (like Dodge City). It is an iconic Errol Flynn joint in which his swashbuckling persona truly comes through. Watching The Sea Hawk one has no doubts about him being thee swashbuckling hero.
It is an adventure/historical drama about British-Spanish conflict and British sea captains ambushing Spanish ships. It’s full of fights, and men, and romance, and drama, and fun. It’s a very specific kind of film one needs to be in mood for but I can definitely see people in the 40s getting swept into the story for two hours in the cinema and I like thinking about that.
I also am really happy that this is such a sea film. I associate August heavily with the sea and I’m not going to the seaside this year so it’s nice I at least get to see it on the screen.
Some lovely cinematography from The Sea Hawk
Desperate Journey (1942)
Desperate Journey is a WWII drama-adventure film. Which is kind of… interesting when you think about the rumors about Errol Flynn and watch him be an Ally hero here. The film also features Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan and Errol Flynn… My two favourite people together.
…yeah.
Oh joy.
This is not the kind of WWII film I’m used to. It’s very Flynn so it’s literally a total adventure. It somehow made it feel a bit like a B-movie to me. But, it’s pretty engaging and entertaining.
Gentleman Jim (1942)
And we end off with a boxing movie. Boxing is something that Hollywood apparently loved always.
And I do to!
It’s another entertaining film and I’m happy that overall I had fun today.
Yes, I barely wrote anything today but I admit that I feel pretty defeated by this day and by Errol Flynn. And my mind is not in those 1940s adventures, it’s in 1960s, or alternative 1960s from Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. I have some thoughts but I need to sort them out. Hopefully I’ll write a more substantial post tomorrow.
Swingin' at the Seance 