State of the Union

Politics and Hollywood make for strange bedfellows, especially back in its Golden Age. After all, one's political beliefs could damage their hard-earned work. (The prime example being the Hollywood Ten.) That's one detail stays persistent over the years; the power of a political party has a certain control on one person.

Frank Capra's State of the Union may have been made back in 1948 but nearly seventy years later, it's clear not much has changed in the world. It's no Mr. Smith Goes to Washington though Capra does manage to maintain a faint sense of idealism. (Because, come on, it's Capra.)

State of the Union does bear some resemblance to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, mainly in having an honest man being a part of a convoluted political party. But Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) is no Jefferson Smith, what with the estranged wife (Katharine Hepburn) and the cold-hearted lover (Angela Lansbury)...

As if often the case with films of a political nature, State of the Union has a consistently solid cast. This being their fifth collaboration, Tracy and Hepburn have good chemistry even though she doesn't have terribly much to do. Van Johnson and Adolphe Menjou provide some quick one-liners, Johnson especially. But it's Lansbury that easily steals the show.

State of the Union began to show that Capra was starting to lose his former abilities as a director. Yes, he made It's a Wonderful Life only two years prior but bear in mind Hollywood was changing then. Not many people in Hollywood thrived for very long.

My Rating: ****

Arsenic and Old Lace

The 1940's were definitely when the best comedies were made. Most of them were screwball, but no matter. They're still funny.

In the case of Arsenic and Old Lace, it's one of those comedies. It's directed by Frank Capra, who's better known for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life. Both of which are more serious than Arsenic and Old Lace, but Arsenic and Old Lace stands out as much as those two.

One thing noted about star Cary Grant is that he's not one to take himself seriously. That's definitely the case with his work in Arsenic and Old Lace. I just love his many facial expressions and gestures throuoghout. Grant said this was his least favorite performance; I think it's one of my favorites. (My absolute favorite is either His Girl Friday or Charade.)

This is definitely something to watch when you need a good laugh. However, it got a little too silly near the end. Those moments aside, Arsenic and Old Lace is worth watching.

My Rating: ****1/2

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Since last July, I've seen six movies featuring James Stewart. Those are his collaborations with Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life, You Can't Take It With You) snd Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window, Vertigo), as well as his Oscar-winning performance (The Philadelphia Story).

Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith (Stewart) is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator -- presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains). In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state's political boss, Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold). Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attepmts to destroy Smith through a scandal.

It's safe to say that this is my favorite performance of Stewart's. He shows optimism even when the worst is happening. And the famed filibuster scene showed the height of his power as an actor.

My Rating: *****

You Can't Take it With You

Since last year, I've seen four movies directed by Frank Capra. Those four are Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life and You Can't Take It With You, the latter I'll be reviewing.

Tycoon Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold) fully expects that his son Tony (James Stewart) will follow in his footsteps, but Tony's only real interest is in his secretary and fiancee Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur). His parents are appalled that he wants to marry a stenographer but, to humor him, agree to dine with her family. This is doomed from the start, as they are a collection of free spirits with little visible means of support presided over by Alice's wise grandfather Martin (Lionel Barrymore). It also turns out that buying thier house is key to Tony Sr.'s latest mega-project.

Although it is typical Capra (it ends on a happy note), I still liked it. The chemistry between Stewart and Arthur is good, and the movie had the right mixture of comedy and romance.

My Rating: ****1/2

It Happened One Night

I find it interesting that I once vowed to only watch recent releases. Now I'm watching movies that came out when my grandparents were my age. In closing, I shall be reviewing the oldest movie I've seen to date, It Happened One Night.

Heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) runs away from her father (Walter Connolly) after he protests her marriage to King Westley (Jameson Thomas). While escaping, she meets out-of-work reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable).

If you're a movie buff like myself, you know that It Happened One Night was the first of three movies to win the "Big Five" at the Academy Awards (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay). Smart decision once you think of it. It Happened One Night has it all: smart dialogue, great acting and one sweet romance story.

My Rating: *****

It's a Wonderful Life

You were almost expecting this today, weren't you? Anyway, onto the review.

George Bailey (James Stewart) has spent his entire life giving to the citizens of Bedford Falls. He longed to travel but can't because he has to prevent Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from taking over the town. But after a mishap involving money from his loan company which could land him in jail, he has thoughts of suicide. His guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) shows him what would've happened had George not been born.

You know how they are some movies that leave an effect on you after you watch them? That happened to me after I saw It's a Wonderful Life. I was in a good mood for some time after the credits had rolled.

The one that shocked me most about this certain movie is that it did poorly when it came out. Yes, you read that right. A Christmas classic bombed in its release. One contributor to that was the fact it came out a week after The Best Years of Our Lives (which ended up winning Best Picture for that year).

Sure it's schmaltzy in some parts but it did come out a year after World War Two ended, so what? You gotta admit it is a very good movie.

My Rating: *****