Queen Christina (1933) Director: Rouben Mamoulian Starring the famous Greta Garbo, Queen Christina is a historically inaccurate retelling of the story of Queen Christina of Sweden in the 17th Century. Christina assumed the role of Queen after the death of her father, but preferred the educated life of a scholar. Amidst pressures from her people to … Continue reading Queen Christina
film
The Gay Divorcee
The Gay Divorcee (1934) Director: Mark Sandrich The Gay Divorcee is a delightfully nostalgic film. It was the second of ten pairings for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in movies. It was based on a musical of the same name. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The film takes place on … Continue reading The Gay Divorcee
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Director: Alfred Hitchcock When Francois Truffaut famously interviewed Alfred Hitchcock (published in 1967), Hitchcock remarked that The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) was merely the work of an amateur. He later went on to create his own remake in 1956, which he much preferred. The film holds nothing in … Continue reading The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Scarlet Empress
The Scarlet Empress (1934) Director: Josef von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg once said of his film: "It is a relentless excursion into style." The Scarlet Empress is a cinematic delight. The film is filled with striking imagery, expressionist lighting, and it is topped off with excellent acting from the great Marlene Dietrich, von Sternberg's actress … Continue reading The Scarlet Empress
Dr. Mabuse The Gambler
Dr. Mabuse The Gambler (1922) Director: Fritz Lang Clocking in at over 4 and 1/2 hours, this silent film is masterfully produced. Dr. Mabuse was directed by the famous German director, Fritz Lang - who also directed such masterpieces as M and Metropolis. In German, the film was titled Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (note the word "spieler" can mean … Continue reading Dr. Mabuse The Gambler
Tarzan The Ape Man
Tarzan The Ape Man (1932) Director: W.S. Van Dyke Based on the famous novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, this 1932 film is a little odd and at times awkward. Nevertheless, MGM later released two remakes of the film. Among other studios, it was the first of 12 Tarzan films. There were also several silent era Tarzan … Continue reading Tarzan The Ape Man
The Old Dark House
The Old Dark House (1932) Director: James Whale James Whale was the successful horror film director of great repute in the 1930s, directing films like Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). His production, The Old Dark House (1932) was based on J.B. Priestly's 1927 novel Benighted and it starred the great Boris Karloff, among others. It is a loopy cult-classic, … Continue reading The Old Dark House
The Mummy
The Mummy (1932) Director: Karl Freund Produced by Carl Laemmie Jr. and starring the great Boris Karloff of Frankenstein fame, The Mummy is a surprisingly fun movie. It tells the story of Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian mummy that is accidentally reincarnated by a group of archeologists - one of whom reads the cursed "Scroll of Thoth". After being … Continue reading The Mummy
À nous la liberté
À nous la liberté (1931) Director: Rene Clair "Freedom for us all" is a quirky French musical/comedy directed by Rene Clair. It contains beautiful set designs, not unlike Clair's other French films of the early 1930s, like Sous les toits de Paris. The films tells the story of two friends who were at one time … Continue reading À nous la liberté
Le Sang d’un Poète
Le Sang d'un Poète (The Blood of a Poet) Director: Jean Cocteau (1930) The film is an avant-garde, surrealist, and slightly unsettling movie. Cocteau developed the idea shortly after his notable novel, Les Enfants Terribles. It was the first part in his 'Orphic trilogy', followed by Orpheus nearly 20 years later in 1949. Chilean actor, Enrique Riveros, … Continue reading Le Sang d’un Poète
