1939 was an important year for Hollywood’s film industry. Indeed, a ton of A-quality films was released and gave place to an impressive range of Oscar nominees (films and people). If we think 1939, the films that will most likely come to people’s mind are, without a doubt, Gone With the read more
This is my contribution to the Golden Boy Blogathon hosted by Virginie at The Wonderful World of Cinema. Please visit and read the other postings, about a wide range of films starring William Holden. One of William Holden’s earliest roles was as George Gibbs in a poignant screen adaptation of read more
Until the halfway point or so, A Day at the Races moves quite well. Sure, it gets off to a slow start–introducing Chico as sidekick to Maureen O’Sullivan and setting up her problems (her sanitarium is going out of business), which isn’t funny stuff. I think Allan Jones even shows read more
As good as the Marx Brothers are in A Night at the Opera–and George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind’s strong script is important too–director Wood really brings the whole thing together. The film has its obligatory musical subplot and romantic leads. Wood knows how to balance those read more
Born July 10, 1883 Director Sam Wood!
Sam Wood directed over 80 films in his 30-year film career (1920-1950) including Goodbye Mr. Chips, Kitty Foyle, Kings Row, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Pride of the Yankees, The Devil and Miss Jones and Saratoga read more
The Devil and Miss Jones has three or four stages in the narrative, but director Sam Wood basically has three. The first phase–covering the first two narrative stages–feature this singular composition technique. For close-ups, Wood either gives his actors a lot of headroom (fifty percen read more
Whipsaw takes some detours, but eventually reveals itself as an unlikely road picture… albeit one with limited stops. The first few scenes are in London, with a lot of exposition introducing Myrna Loy and Harvey Stephens as jewel thieves. There are some other jewel thieves who want in on thei read more
