The Magnificent Seven (1960) Director: John Sturges “The Old Man was right. Only the farmers won. We lost. We’ll always lose.” ★★★★★ The Magnificent Seven is Hollywood's amazing re-imagining of Akira Kurosawa's brilliant Seven Samurai (which was, itself, inspired by classic John Ford Westerns). John Sturges offers a star-studded and grippingly simple tale about seven … Continue reading The Magnificent Seven
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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 … Continue reading The Scarlet Empress
À nous la liberté
À nous la liberté (1931) Director: René Clair ★★★☆☆ "Freedom for us all" is a quirky French musical/comedy directed by René 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 … Continue reading À nous la liberté
The Last Command
The Last Command (1925) Director: Josef von Sternberg ★★★★☆ Josef von Sternberg's powerful film is notable for its star, Emil Jannings, who won the very first Academy Award for Best Actor - and deservedly so - for his unique performance. Additionally, William Powell was a star in the film (it is unusual to see him … Continue reading The Last Command
Orphans of the Storm
Orphans of the Storm (1921) Director: D.W. Griffith ★★☆☆☆ Orphans of the Storm is often considered the last of Griffith's memorable films. It is a decent film, though its main redeeming qualities consist of its large sets and cinematography. Otherwise, the acting is not dazzling and the film falls far short of greatness, at least of … Continue reading Orphans of the Storm
The Navigator
9/5/2016 The Navigator (1924) Director: Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp ★★★★☆ The Navigator is another delightful and important silent film directed by Buster Keaton. It is prescient in a number of ways, including foreshadowing the work of Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times with the contemplation of man in his unnatural habitat filled with confusing and anxiety-ridden machinery. This film, … Continue reading The Navigator
