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Reviews
A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
A Complete Lesson on Life
Rarely does a movie make you care about the characters as though they were members of your own family. This movie does, and more importantly, along the way, it shows every human emotion and motive. Heroism,devotion, and the fate of being caught in a mis-guided attempt at righting wrongs,are wrapped together in a heart-stopping suspense. I think it is fair to say that this is a must see for any serious classic movie fan and anyone who read the book as a kid. Always great entertainment for the whole family.
Le ballon rouge (1956)
A Must See
This movie should be on the must see list for every child in the country. In it's simplicity it exposes the best and worst human nature has to offer. The innocence of a child is an analogy to the world before WWII. The new world is not a friendly place for those who do not have their "priorities straight". The message that there is still room for idealism, and that bullies don't always get what they want, is just as timely now as when this movie came out 44 years ago.
The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
A Tribute To Greatness
This movie, directed by John Huston, is arguably the finest Civil War movie of all time. The performances by the young Audie Murphy,America's most decorated soldier and all the cast are as true to life as can be found anywhere. The narration and ultra-realism gives an almost docu-drama feel. This movie is so short,at 69 minutes, that it never had a chance at the box office, and instead was probably seen mostly by school kids and a few old movie buffs. The only other movie that is almost as short and so successfully tells a story is "The Petrified Forest". The Red Badge of Courage is on my best movies of all time list.
The Petrified Forest (1936)
True Existential Cinema
The Petrified Forest is Bogart's first credited screen performance,and was based on the infamous John Dillinger. Bogie's mannerisms and facial quirks were deliberately copied from watching footage of Dillinger for an uncanny, almost mesmerizing persona.Alan, played to perfection by the great English actor Leslie Howard, who is better remembered as 'The Scarlet Pimpernel", represents the disillusioned post WWI idealist who perceives the rise of evil forces in Europe and has decided to end his life in the Petrified forest. The complex interaction between Alan and Duke Mantee,with the love interest of Bette Davis as the innocent dreamer as a contrast to the calculating nature of the other players adds up to a first rate "existential" crime drama in a crisp 90 minutes.