To Be or Not To Be 1942 Directed by Ernst Lubitsch So many movie posts! Losing steam...
This is a very sad and funny movie to watch. Carole Lombard died shortly after she finished filming. She was such a great actress and had so much more to give! This movie is pretty gutsy since it mixes humor and Nazis in the midst of WWII. I don't think this is a case of "too soon"; it is actually quite enjoyable.
An acting troupe gets involved in an anti Nazi plot. It is pretty hilarious but also poignant and if I wasn't tired of writing posts I would dwell more on it.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
The line "what could happen in a plane?" was deleted after..you know.
Panned by critics since no one really felt like laughing after...you know.
Ninotchka 1939 Directed by Ernst Lubitsch Okay, so I am feeling a bit better about being alone on Valentine's Day because I have a huge chocolate bar next to me and I have Greta Garbo. What more could a lady want?
So, as you can see, Garbo is laughing! I told my one friend that I was actually going to watch a Garbo comedy and she was like "that's weird?". But we 1001ers know that it is indeed weird to see Greta in a romantic comedy. It would be like...wow, I cannot think of purely serious modern actor. Any suggestions? Maybe it would be like Anthony Hopkins starring in a Katherine Heigl movie. Does that work?
Maybe by the third paragraph I can make a point. Garbo isn't exactly doing schtick but she does have a lighter screen presence than normal. This film is about a stern woman who comes to Paris to arrange the sale of some jewels but finds love instead. How nice (*scowls*). Anyway, the secondary characters are the real funny guys. The film is also a bit of a comment on the materialism of Paris and western society for that matter. Not laugh out loud funny but worth a watch.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
The slogan "Garbo laughs!" came before the film was even fully developed and written.
Banned in the Soviet Union.
This director also did Trouble in Paradise and The Shop Around the Corner, both of which I loved.
Trailer:
Trouble in Paradise 1932 This was a wonderful movie. I have never heard anyone talk about it, though. I thought it was a lot better than It Happened One Night and that won five academy awards. I should start a Trouble in Paradise awareness group.
This movie is about two thieves who meet each other and fall in love. They decide to con an heiress out of her money. Gustave plans to charm her...steal from her...and fall in love with her?!?! Bring on the cookiness!
This film was also very edgy, particularly in its opening scene. The words "Trouble in" show up in the bedroom. They hover over the bed for a few moments then the word "Paradise" finally appears. Quite risque.
If you are looking for something really profound, this is not the movie to watch. It was light-hearted and fun, though, and I loved it.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Cary Grant was considered for the role.
Ernst Lubitsch was most famous for this film. He was known for being elegant and expressive.
