The More the Merrier

There's something about comedies from the 1940s that makes them more lasting. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the jokes are actually funny unlike what we get nowadays. (Granted, some jokes are dated.)

George Stevens' The More the Merrier is one such film from that era that could fit the bill quite neatly. It has a nice balance of well-timed slapstick and jokes, but there are a couple of jokes that wouldn't exactly slide nowadays. Still, Stevens knows what he's doing for the most part.

And as with most comedies, it all relies on the right actors to get the job done. For The More the Merrier, Stevens enlists the likes of Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea (a vastly underrated leading man) and Charles Coburn (who got a well-earned Oscar for this). As I said, all it takes for a comedy to work is the right actors, and Arthur, McCrea and Coburn are just that.

I suppose what makes The More the Merrier stand out a bit is that Arthur's character is a working. Bear in mind, this was released in an era where women were either waiting for their men to come home or working in the factories. It wasn't that common to see a woman working a desk job (outside as a secretary, I suppose).

The More the Merrier is certainly amusing though it does get silly after a while. It mainly works because of the trio that is Arthur, McCrea and Coburn, but I'm mostly amused that this was made by the same man who would make A Place in the Sun. (Just saying.)

My Rating: ****

Annie Oakley

When one hears the name George Stevens, you immediately think of either A Place in the Sun or Giant. His other work usually gets put in the shadows.

Take for instance Annie Oakley. Starring Barbara Stanwyck as the famed sharpshooter, the film displays the role differences of a certain era. Not many films from this decade like this were common.

As shown in the film, the thought of a woman sharpshooter was unheard of. A woman should be in the kitchen, not outside firing a gun. Annie, of course, managed to put women in a more respectable light.

That said, Stevens sort of sticks with that. He doesn't feel the urge to venture into any new material (except maybe a weak romantic subplot). However, what he shows is quite good.

Annie Oakley in toll is good for entertainment value but not much else. Stanwyck is good, but she usually is anyways. All in all, Annie Oakley is an amusing film but that's sort of it.

My Rating: ****

Gunga Din

There's an interesting little story involving with this movie that I don't believe many people know about. Gunga Din was the movie that inspired Tony Curtis to create his notable Cary Grant impression. During his stint in the Navy, Gunga Din was the only movie his ship had on board for two years and the crew became so familiar with it, they would dispense the sound and take turns dubbing the dialogue. This in turn had Curtis develop an accent similar to Grant's.

The three leading men of Gunga Din are Grant, Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as soldiers of the British army. Fairbanks has hopes of leaving the army and getting married, but Grant and McLaglen trick him into a final mission which has them facing the entire Thuggee cult by themselves.

Gunga Din is Grant's first "non-Cary Grant role". Upon first glance it's clear why. Unlike his normal suave self, he's bumbling more than once. I wouldn't call him clueless, but he gets very close to crossing that line throughout the movie. Oh, and most of his dialogue makes it clear on how Curtis easily impersonated him.

There is a notable trademark of George Stevens shown throughout Gunga Din: the close-up (which would be used more famously twelve years later in A Place in the Sun). It's used quite a bit, just to let you know.

So what did I think of Gunga Din? Um, I liked it a lot. It was a little slow at the beginning, but it picks up the pace quickly. Worth watching if you're looking for action.

My Rating: ****1/2

A Place in the Sun

Today marks what would've been the 89th birthday of actor Montgomery Clift. A brilliant actor who left before his time, Clift is noted for his Oscar-nominated performances in A Place in the Sun and From Here to Eternity. I shall be reviewing the former.

George Eastman (Clift) goes to work for his uncle at his factory. While working, he goes against the rules and starts a relationship with fellow employee Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). Problems arise when he falls in love with socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). More arise when Alice becomes pregnant.

I may be imagining things, but when an actor dies young do their movie roles become more tragic? Some people might be seeing that with Heath Ledger. My point is, Clift's performance is just downright heartbreaking.

My Rating: *****