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Reviews
'G' Men (1935)
First rate Cagney movie in every way
Super Cagney vehicle. Fast paced, terrific acting, gripping story line, Cagney as compelling as ever. The movie was an enormous hit in its day and boosted the FBI in the public mind. It started the movie trend for looking at things from the lawman's side instead of the crooks and Cagney, Raft, Edward G, and all the tough guys suddenly became cops. In the next two years there were 60 movies made along these lines showing the lawmen at work. It was a big boost for Cagney's career as there had been some negative feedback on his always playing the bad guy and this movie opened new doors for him. Hard to understand the reviewer that thought it was corny with old cars etc, this was made in 1934 about the those times, what would he expect, ridiculous comment he should stick to new stuff as he clearly doesn't appreciate the old gems.. Acting, script, direction, this is all first rate. Mike L
The Last Flight (1931)
An early sound masterpiece
Quite simply a masterpiece. William Dieterle came out of the German Expressionist school & his later noir movies clearly reflect that influence. Here with a story by the great John Monk Saunders ( Wings, The Dawn Patrol)) containing larger & more profound issues to explore than the typical noir plot line he is in an existential mode in dealing with the play of the characters but with a strong expressionist style making for a fascinating movie experience.
Four friends who fought in and were deeply damaged by the Great War carouse through Europe, despair at their heels. They drink, meet a woman, go to a bullfight, roam around Europe. Everything they do reflects the disillusionment at the heart of their existence. Moving, beautiful, sad. The reviewer who said he prefers the somewhat mediocre 'The Sun Also Rises' clearly didn't understand the nature of what he was watching. Superbly acted by all participants Absolutely essential viewing, relevant today as it was then. War destroys people.