2. "Babes In Arms" (Busby Berkeley, MGM)
March 19, 1970
Top 3 Musicals of 1939
1. "The Wizard Of Oz" (Victor Fleming, MGM)
2. "Babes In Arms" (Busby Berkeley, MGM)
3. "Second Fiddle" (Sidney Lanfield, 20th-Fox)
2. "Babes In Arms" (Busby Berkeley, MGM)
Tale Of Late Chrysanthemums (1939) ****
Way Down South (1939) ***
Dixie musical about an evil plantation overseer trying to sell the slaves.
Shchors (1939) ***
Second Fiddle (1939) ***
"The Song Of The Metronome" *
"Back To Back" **
"When Winter Comes" **
"I Poured My Heart Into A Song" **
"I'M Sorry For Myself" **
The Great Citizen Part 2 (1939) ***
Wloczegi (1939) ***
"Tylko we Lwowie" ***
"Dobranoc oczka zmruz" **
"Cos zrobila z sercem mym" **
Union Pacific (1939) ***
Epic western about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Uneven, but impressive.
Rose Of Washington Square (1939) ***
"Pretty Baby" *
"I'M Sorry I Made You Cry" *
"Ja-da" *
"The Vamp" **
"Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" **
"Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye" **
"I'M Just Wild About Harry" **
"California Here I Come" **
"I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak" **
"Rose Of Washington Square" **
"My Mammy" **
"My Man" **
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The Man in The Iron Mask (1939) ***
It starts slow, but the second half of this swashbuckler is marvelously entertaining.
Juarez (1939) **
The title is misleading. It's not the film about Mexico's first Indian president, but about its last emperor, Maximilian. In fact, the film's sympathies are entirely on Maximilian's side and Juarez is seen almost as a villain (although the true villain remains Napoleon III, whom the film blames for everything). Compared to most Hollywood biopics, the film is remarkably accurate as far as historical details are concerned, but its political point-of-view is quite naive.
The Devil’s Daughter (1939) **
Strange title for this otherwise devil-free, all-black melodrama set on a Caribbean island. There is some mild voodoo, but no devil worship.
The Old Maid (1939) **
Quintessential "women's picture" about a mother's sacrifice for her (illigitimate) daughter. Hopelessly dated, but quite effective as a tearjerker.
The Private Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex (1939) **
Interesting history lesson about the last years of Queen Elizabeth's reign, with Errol Flynn giving one of the worst performances of his career as a young and ambitious British aristocrat who tries to seduce the aging queen in order to seize power.
Of Mice And Men (1939) **
A fine adaptation of a grossly overrated (and hopelessly dated) novel by John Steinbeck.
Bezdomni (1939) *
A Yiddish language film, mostly set in New York City, but made in Poland just before World War II. Many people involved in its production (including its director Aleksander Marten, its screenwriter Alter Kacyzne and actress Dora Fakiel) died in the Holocaust.
O czym sie nie mowi (1939) *
Dated Polish melodrama about a prostitute who falls in love with a moralistic fool who despises prostitutes.
The Rains Came (1939) *
Confusing melodrama set in India. It ultimately becomes the story of a British widow falling in love with an Indian doctor, but the first half of the film is about completely different people.
I Grandi magazzini (1939) *
Torture Ship (1939) *
There are some medical experiments performed on a mysterious ship, but no torture. A mediocre film adapted from a novel by Jack London.
Wuthering Heights (1939) ****
Superlative adaptation of Emily Bronte's immortal novel about love and revenge. Laurence Olivier's first great role.
Beau Geste (1939) ****
Classic adventure film starring Gary Cooper and Ray Milland. A memorable closing line: "Beau Geste, what a gallant gesture !".
Nurse Edith Cavell (1939) *
A heroic British nurse during the German occupation of Belgium during World War I.
Drums Along The Mohawk (1939) *
Hoagy Carmichael (1939) ***
Sword Fishing (1939) ***
The Phantom Creeps (1939) ***
A tremendously entertaining B (or Z) movie about a mad scientist (Bela Lugosi). Fast-paced, exciting and campy fun, with cheesy special effects and bad acting. A little known gem of cult cinema.
Honolulu (1939) ***
Eleonor Powell falls in love with a famous actor (Robert Young), who pretends to be a Hawaiian plantator. Meanwhile, the real plantator (also Robert Young) barely escapes with his life from mobs of female admirers. Pleasant musical with some funny moments (mostly near the beginning). Songs:
"Honolulu" **
"This Night Was Made For Dreaming"
"The Leader Doesn't Like Music" *
"Hymn To The Sun" *
"Honolulu" **
"This Night Was Made For Dreaming"
"The Leader Doesn't Like Music" *
"Hymn To The Sun" *
Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) ***
An idealistic senator (James Stewart) tries to fight against corruption in Washington. A classic piece of Americana, superbly acted.
Son Of Frankenstein (1939) ***
Evil Igor (Bela Lugosi) forces Dr Frankenstein's son (Basil Rathbone) to reanimate the Monster (Boris Karloff). An all-star cast in a fine horror film, most memorable for its set designs.
The Story Of Vernon And Irene Castle (1939) ***
Excellent, very nostalgic musical biopic about the most famous American dance team before Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Numbers include:
"The Yama Yama Man" *
"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" ***
"Only When You're In My Arms"
"Waiting For The Robert E.Lee" **
"Too Much Mustard" ***
"Medley Montage" **
"Hello! Hello! Who's Your Lady Friend ?"
"The Last Waltz" *
"The Yama Yama Man" *
"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" ***
"Only When You're In My Arms"
"Waiting For The Robert E.Lee" **
"Too Much Mustard" ***
"Medley Montage" **
"Hello! Hello! Who's Your Lady Friend ?"
"The Last Waltz" *
You Can't Cheat An Honest Man (1939) ***
...unless he's W.C.Fields co-starring with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarty and (my favorite) Mortimer Snerd. Co-directed by George Marshall and Eddie Cline.
Young Mr Lincoln (1939) ***
A young lawyer from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln defends two young men accused of murder.
Prophet Without Honor (1939) **
Oscar-nominated documentary about a famous American sailor and marine scientist.
Class In Swing (1939) **
Directed by Leslie Roush for Paramount. The narrator often ruins this otherwise nice little film starring Artie Shaw and his band.
Mystery Plane (1939) *
Directed by G.Waggner for Monogram Pictures. Two pilots are kidnapped by spies.
Midnight Shadow (1939) *
An all-black cast in a routine whodunit involving a fake black prince and a property deed.
Midnight (1939) *****
An American golddigger (Claudette Colbert) comes to Paris after loosing all her money in Monte Carlo and gets involved in a series of hilarious intrigues. Directed by Mitchell Leisen and co-written by Billy Wilder, "Midnight" is one of the best comedies of the 1930's, sparkling like the best French champagne.
La Règle du jeu (1939) *****
The greatest film of all times. Jean Renoir's masterpiece is a superbly directed comedy that perfectly captures the moral "malaise" of the French society at the eve of World War II. The first part of the film takes place in Paris, where the main characters are introduced. They include the Marquis de la Chesnaye (Marcel Dalio), his wife Christine, her lover Andre and her maid Lisette. There is also Octave (Jean Renoir) - Christine's childhood friend, Lisette's former lover and the friend of both Marquis and Andre. This complex situation is further complicated when everyone is invited by the Marquis to spend a few days in his sumptous palace in the country. After a rabbit hunt, there is a magnificent reception and the film comes to a magnificent climax with guests chasing one another across the palace, while several intrigues unfold simultaneously. Renoir uses a mobile camera to mingle among the characters. Because of this technique, the viewer feels like one of the guests. In one especially remarkable shot, the camera pans across an audience watching a play. It slowly moves from one group to another, making a 180" angle and revealing various activities of different characters taking place simultaneously. Several meticulously arranged scenes show one character chasing another and bumping into a third (who's himself chased by a fourth while dragging a fifth along with him!)
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) *****
One of the most popular screen musicals of all time, a perennial favorite and a holiday classic. It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy, with Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr as her three companions. Its musical numbers are perfectly integrated into the plot. Songs:"Over The Rainbow" ***
"Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are" *
"It Really Was No Miracle" **
"Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead" **
"We Welcome You To Munchkinland" *
"Follow The Yellow Brick Road" **
"We're Off To See The Wizard" ***
"If I Only Had A Brain (A Heart, The Nerve)" ***
"The Merry Old Land Of Oz" **
"If I Were King Of The Forest" *
Destry Rides Again (1939) ****
National Rifle Association undoubtedly hates this film with a passion. James Stewart plays a deputy sheriff who doesn't believe in guns.
Ninotchka (1939) ****
Communism gets a well-deserved thrashing in this entertaining comedy about Soviet commissars corrupted by the charms of the French capital.
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) ****
Heroic pilots fly over the Andes in this excellent Howard Hawks' drama.
The Roaring Twenties (1939) ****
The Women (1939) ****
Only women appear in this sophisticated comedy about marital infidelities, divorces, catfights and other forms of bitchy behavior.
Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) *
There is one great Keystone Kops chase scene in this film, but the rest is almost unwatchable.
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939) **
This disappointing film distorts Victor Hugo's famous, though overrated novel, in order to accomodate a political message appropriate to the late 1930's. Persecuted Jews are represented by Gypsy girl Esmeralda (accused by evil Frollo/Hitler of a crime she didn't commit). The King of France and the Archbishop of Paris symbolize the moderate right, slowly joining forces with the moderate left (represented by the poet). Their goal isn't only to defeat fascism, but also to prevent the mob rule of beggars/Communists.
They Made Me A Criminal (1939) **
Boxing champ John Garfield, a murder suspect, hides in a remote reform school in Arizona.
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes (1939) ***
The famous British detective prevents the robbery of crown jewels.
Another Thin Man (1939) ***
There is plenty of comedy, mystery and suspense in this fine detective movie.
At The Circus (1939) ***
One of Marx Brothers later and less memorable films, but still quite funny.
Babes In Arms (1939) ***
"Good Morning" **
"I Like Opera / I Like Swing" *
"Babes In Arms" ***
"Where Or When" *
"Minstrel Show" ***
"God's Country" **
Bachelor Mother (1939) ***
Department store clerk Ginger Rogers finds to her surprise that being suspected of having an illegitimate child actually improves her chances of finding a rich husband. Average comedy with many funny situations.
Dark Victory (1939) ***
Betty Davis gives one of her best performances in this film and that is saying something. Ronald Reagan is fine in a small supporting role, but Humphrey Bogart is embarassingly miscast.
Daughters Courageous (1939) ***
A prodigal father (Claude Rains) returns home after a 20-year absence and wins over his four daughters one by one. It's not a sequel to "Four Daughters" (1938), but a similar film with an almost identical cast.
Doktor Murek (1939) ***
The Four Feathers (1939) ***
Spectacular adventure film set in Sudan during the Mahdi rebellion of 1880's.
Gulliver's Travels (1939) ***
The second animated feature and the first non-Disney one. An adaptation of the first part of Jonathan Swift's famous novel.
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