195. It's A Wonderful Life

It's A Wonderful Life
1946
Directed by Frank Capra

This may be one of the corniest movies ever made.  I have always hated stories like The Christmas Carol and cheesy holiday specials about the "true meaning of Christmas".  It is just so annoyingly wholesome.  Which is probably why I chose to watch Inglourious Basterds last Christmas instead of Charlie Brown.

George Bailey is taking his life for granted so he goes and sees what it would be like if he wasn't around.  For some reason, this would mean his wife would have had to wear glasses if she never met him.  What?

Jimmy Stewart is amazing, of course.  It just seemed to me, though, to be like that special Christmas episode of your favorite sitcom that ends up sucking.  Oh yeah and there is a major socialist agenda here but it is Frank Capra so what do you expect?

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Voted most inspirational film of all time.

Favorite of James Stewart's movies.

Flopped upon its release.

122. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Directed by Frank Capra

So I had some trouble writing a review for this one.  It is one of those classic films that I feel like I should have a brilliant review for, so of course I completely clam up.  So finally I got the hang of it and was just about to publish it, when my Google chrome crashed and I lost the entire post.  

This is me:

Anyway, here is my shortened review because I don't feel like rewriting my previous brilliance.  Jimmy Stewart is a naive politician that goes to Washington and attempts to conquer the corruption there.  Let's do highlights here.  Still pertinent today, some scenes went on too long, Stewart was amazing, and I like Frank Capra.  That about covers it.  So watch it; it is especially important with the presidential election coming up.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

BLAH!  I don't feel like rewriting these!  Click here.

Clip:

98. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936

Mr. Deeds felt really modern to me. So far, I feel like I have seen movies that either reflect Hollywood in its prime (which prompts me to say "they just don't make 'em like that anymore") or outdated films that make me laugh (like King Kong).  This, however, felt like a mediocre romantic comedy from 2011.


This film centers on a naive poet who inherits 20 million dollars and is stunned by the corruptness of "city folk".  A sassy, beautiful reporter pretends to be a country girl that is enamored by him in order to get the exclusive.  But wait, curve ball!  She begins to actually fall in love with him?!?!?!


This movie isn't especially witty but it does send a great message.  I don't want to ruin the end for you, but this film promoted Socialism in 1936.  Pretty ballsy.


RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Oh, boy.  Will these two crazy kids ever work it out?!?!

This was remade into an Adam Sandler movie in 2006.  I am proud to say that I have only been subjected to two Sandler movies in my lifetime and hopefully, I will be able keep it down to that manageable number.

Gary Cooper looks like a young Alec Baldwin in this.  Anyone?  Anyone?

Jean Arthur didn't see the film until 1972.

The sequel, Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington, was eventually turned into Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

This film was banned in Germany because non-Aryans were a part of the movie.

86. It Happened One Night

It Happened One Night
1934


Pretend that my computer isn't freaking out right now and that you see a picture of Clark Gable topless!
Um, no it didn't.  It happened over many nights.  FLAW!  Wow, that was lame.  I just want to go sleep.


Finally!  A film people have heard about.  Maybe now we can get some discussions going in the comments sections...hint, hint.   I actually haven't seen this film in a couple of years but I remember liking it.  I also remember falling asleep to it, but I don't think that was anything personal.  This movie features a plot that has been done 5,000 times since (4, 990 of those being done by Katherine Heigl) but it still is fresh with its witty dialogue. I swoon every time Clark Gable is even mentioned and he is in all his hunky glory in this film.


 This movie is centered around Claudette Colbert, who plays a rich heiress that ran away from home.  Clark Gable (*bites lip*) is a savvy journalist.  He is using her for a story and she is using him to escape.  These two just cannot get along; they could never end up...FALLING IN LOVE????!!!!


This is one of three films to win Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.   It certainly deserves every single one.


RATING: *****


Interesting Facts:


Several actors turned down the various roles because they were sure the film would fail.  Embarrassing!


On the first day of filming Clark Gable said "let's get this over with."  Have a little confidence, guys.


Won every single Oscar it was nominated for.


Trailer:

79. The Bitter Tea of General Yen

The Bitter Tea of General Yen
1933

This was truly a great movie.  Finally, a movie set in China that isn't a propaganda film or just a backdrop for Marlene Dietrich's sexuality.  Granted, General Yen is really Swedish (which gives me uncomfortable flashbacks from Broken Blossoms) but everyone else was actually Chinese.  It this time period you have to take what you can get.


Barbara Stanwyck is captured by General Yen and she falls in love with him.  This movie is really well-acted; I knew Stanwyck would deliver but I thought the other actors would either pale in comparision or give an offensive performance.  The love story is unlike anything seen before.  Not only is it interracial (which was really shocking at the time) but it wasn't comedic, light, or unrealistic.  Not that the other movies we have been reviewing were frivolous, but this is really one of the first tragic love stories we have seen (if you don't count King Kong; I really don't).  General Yen was also a bad boy (he took it a bit too far at times) which was unusual considering the totally square protaganists as of late.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

The Chinese government was upset about the scene with the firing squad and the portrayal of the Chinese philosphy on life.  This did not result in any editing.

Nils Asther (General Yen) did not speak Mandarin.

The dream sequence reminded me of Nosferatu.

I may be wrong about this, but I think the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast was partly inspired by this.  If you watch this, can you comment on my theory?  This isn't at all a ploy to get people to actually comment on my blog.  Or is it?

Available on YouTube.  First part: