April 18, 1970
Johnny Belinda (1948) **
Over-the-top melodrama about rape, murder, attempted child kidnapping, another murder and other unsavory activities.
Long Is The Road (1948) *
Powrot (1948) *
Made in 1948, it's a Polish melodrama about a woman who returns from a concentration camp and tries to regain the custody of her daughter. The film was shelved by Communist censors and it was only shown publicly after the fall of Communism, in 1991. But those expecting an anti-Communist masterpiece will be sorely disappointed. For once, the censors were absolutely right and seemed to be motivated by artistic considerations in their decision, as the film is completely apolitical, but also unbelievably tedious, badly acted and incompetently directed.
Answer To Stalin (1948) **
A segment of "The March of Time" series. It strongly condemns Stalin for starting the Cold War and trying to conquer the World for Communism. Length: 18 min.
America's New Air Power (1948) **
A segment of "The March of Time" series. It's a straightforward report on US Air Force and its new warplanes. Length: 18 min.
Waverley Steps (1948) **
A documentary about life in Edinburgh. One of many "symphony of a city" films.
Fort Apache (1948) ***
Fine western starring Henry Fonda as a Custer-like cavalry commander who leads his troops into defeat. John Wayne plays a more cautious officer who tries to avert the disaster.
Meditation On Violence (1948) **
Directed by Maya Deren. A display of Oriental martial arts techniques.
Battle For Germany (1948) **
A segment of "The March of Time" series. It presents post-war Germany struggling with Cold War realities. The film is surprisingly honest about revealing strong pro-Nazi sympathies among ordinary German people. Length: 18 min.
Operation Vittles (1948) *
One of the most glorious events of the Cold War - the Berlin airlift of 1948 - certainly deserved a better documentary than this hastily-made report that inexplicably received an Oscar nomination.
Three Daring Daughters (1948) ***
A successful remake of "Three Smart Girls" (1936), with Jane Powell in Deanna Durbin's role, Jeanette MacDonald in Charles Winninger's role and José Iturbi in Binnie Barnes's role.
Rope (1948) ***
Shot in continuous takes, this Hitchcock's film, inspired by the Leopold and Loew's case, is more impressive as a stylistic tour-de-force than a suspense thriller.
The Red Shoes (1948) ***
Oliver Twist (1948) ***
The Search (1948) ****
Moving film about an American soldier (Montgomery Clift) in occupied Germany helping a little Czech boy to find his parents.
Steps Of The Ballet (1948) *
A companion piece to "Instruments Of The Orchestra", made by the same director, M.Mathieson, a year earlier.
Melody Time (1948) ***
A successful compilation of 7 animated segments.
"Once Upon A Wintertime" (H.Luske) ***
"Bumble Boogie" (J.Kinney) ****
"Johnny Appleseed" (W.Jackson) ****
"Little Toot" (C.Geronimi) ***
"Trees" (H.Luske) *
"Blame It On The Samba" (C.Geronimi) ***
"Pecos Bill" (C.Geronimi) ***
Ostatni etap (1948) ****
Doskonaly film, ktorego akcja rozgrywa sie w obozie w Oswiecimiu-Brzezince.
Romance On The High Seas (1948) ***
Doris Day made her film debut in this pleasant musical comedy. Songs:
"I'M In Love" *
"It's You Or No One" *
"The Tourist Trade" *
"It's Magic" **
"Put 'Em In A Box" **
"It's You Or No One" (reprise) *
"Run Run Run" *
"It's Magic" (reprise) **
"I'M In Love" *
"It's You Or No One" *
"The Tourist Trade" *
"It's Magic" **
"Put 'Em In A Box" **
"It's You Or No One" (reprise) *
"Run Run Run" *
"It's Magic" (reprise) **
The Snake Pit (1948) ***
Olivia de Havilland gives a memorable performance as a young woman who suffers a nervous breakdown and finds herself in a mental hospital.
Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) ***
Suspenseful film noir starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster. Incredibly complex narrative structure includes several flashback-within-flashback sequences.
Story Of A Real Man (1948) ***
Unfaithfully Yours (1948) ***
Preston Sturges' last classic comedy, starring Rex Harrison as a jealous conductor plotting to kill his wife.
Words And Music (1948) ***
One of several all-star bio-extravaganzas of the late 40's - others being George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" (1945), Jerome Kern's "Till The Clouds Roll By" (1946) and Cole Porter's "Night And Day" (1946). This one celebrates Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Songs and musical numbers:
"Manhattan" **
"There's A Small Hotel"
"Mountain Greenery" **
"Where's That Rainbow" **
"On Your Toes" *
"Blue Room" *
"Thou Swell" ***
"Where Or When" *
"Lady Is A Tramp" **
"I Wish I Were In Love Again" *
"Johnny One Note" **
"Blue Moon" **
"Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" **
"Manhattan" **
"There's A Small Hotel"
"Mountain Greenery" **
"Where's That Rainbow" **
"On Your Toes" *
"Blue Room" *
"Thou Swell" ***
"Where Or When" *
"Lady Is A Tramp" **
"I Wish I Were In Love Again" *
"Johnny One Note" **
"Blue Moon" **
"Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" **
You Were Meant For Me (1948) ***
A sweet little musical starring Dan Dailey and Jeanne Crain. The first half borrows heavily from "Orchestra Wives" (1942). Musical numbers:
"Crazy Rhythm" *
"You Were Meant For Me" *
"I'll Get By" *
"If I Had You" *
"Goodnight Sweetheart" *
"Ain't Misbehavin'" **
"Concerto In F" *
"Ain't She Sweet" **
"You Were Meant For Me" (reprise) *
"Crazy Rhythm" *
"You Were Meant For Me" *
"I'll Get By" *
"If I Had You" *
"Goodnight Sweetheart" *
"Ain't Misbehavin'" **
"Concerto In F" *
"Ain't She Sweet" **
"You Were Meant For Me" (reprise) *
Drunken Angel (1948) **
One of Akira Kurosawa's weakest film, devoid of that strong dramatic tension that distinguishes most of his other films. It's a story of an old alcoholic physician and a young gangster suffering from tuberculosis.
That Lady In Ermine (1948) **
Betty Grable is a Countess of Bergamo, while Douglas Fairbanks Jr is a Hungarian hussar in this mediocre operetta. Otto Preminger finished the film after Ernst Lubitsch's death.
The Big Clock (1948) ****
The Pirate (1948) ****
Colorful musical starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Songs include:
"Nina" ***
"Mack The Black" **
"Pirate" *
"You Can Do No Wrong" *
"Be A Clown" ***
"Love Of My Life"
"Be A Clown" (reprise) ***
The Dark Past (1948) ***
Psychological thriller starring William Holden as an escaped criminal, whose hostages include a psychiatrist (Lee J.Cobb).
A Date With Judy (1948) ***
"It's A Most Unusual Day" **
"Love Is Where You Find It" *
"Strictly On The Corny Side" *
"Judaline" *
"Cuanto La Gusta" **
"It's A Most Unusual Day" (reprise) **
Easter Parade (1948) ****
Abandoned by Ann Miller, seasoned hoofer Fred Astaire picks young debutante Judy Garland out of a chorus line and makes her his dancing partner. Musical numbers:"Happy Easter" **
"Drum Crazy" **
"It Only Happens When I Dance With You" *
"I Want To Go Back To Michigan" *
"Beautiful Faces" *
"A Fella With An Umbrella" *
"I Love A Piano" *
"Snooky Ookums" **
"The Ragtime Violin" *
"When The Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam'" **
"Shaking The Blues Away" *
"It Only Happens When I Dance With You" (reprise) *
"Steppin' Out With My Baby" ***
"A Couple Of Swells" ***
"The Girl On The Magazine Cover" **
"It Only Happens When I Dance With You" (reprise) *
"Better Luck Next Time"
"Easter Parade" **
The Emperor Waltz (1948) ***
Billy Wilder's wit is very much in evidence in this nice little film about a romance between an American salesman (Bing Crosby) and an Austrian countess (Joan Fontaine). Songs include:
"Friendly Mountains" *
"I Kiss Your Hand, Madame" *
"Friendly Mountains" *
"I Kiss Your Hand, Madame" *
He Walked By Night (1948) ***
A cop killer is hunted by police in this effective thriller. Co-directed by Anthony Mann and Alfred L.Werker.
I Remember Mama (1948) ***
Excellent comedy-drama about a family of Norvegian immigrants in San Francisco. Deeply moving, well acted.
Mouse Wreckers (1948) *****
Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948) *****
Mouse Cleaning (1948) ****
Dough Ray Me-Ow (1948) ****
Daffy Duck Slept Here (1948) ****
Robin Hoodlum (1948) ****
The Bear And The Bean (1948) ****
.jpg)
Back Alley Oproar (1948) ****
Riff Raffy Daffy (1948) ***
Homeless vagabond Daffy tries to get some sleep, but Officer Porky evicts him from every imaginable place (park bench, trash can, furniture store). Many unexpected gags and amusing situations.
Rabbit Punch (1948) ***
"Me and my big mouth !", laments Bugs Bunny. After insulting a boxing champion, the poor rabbit finds himself in the boxing ring. A great brechtian final gag.
Pluto's Purchase (1948) ***
Mickey sends Pluto to buy a juicy sausage. Fine cartoon with an amusing surprise ending and an exceptional musical score.
Old Rockin' Chair Tom (1948) ***
A younger and faster cat replaces Tom as the official mouse-catcher. Tom and Jerry have to join forces to defeat the intruder.
Haredevil Hare (1948) ***
Bugs Bunny crash lands on the Moon and has to fight Marvin Martian, who wants to blow up the Earth.
Gorilla My Dreams (1948) ***
Shipwreck surviver Bugs is adrift in a barrel reading Esquire magazine, singing and eating a carrot. He lands on a tropical island inhabited by ferocious apes (reading "Apes of Wrath"), where he's mistaken for an ape toddler. Soon he gets in trouble with his new daddy, who chases him all over the jungle.
The Foghorn Leghorn (1948) ***
A chicken hawk named Henery isn't sure if he's supposed to catch a barnyard dog or a noisy rooster named Foghorn Leghorn.
Nothing But The Tooth (1948) ***
Politically-incorrect Porky Pig cartoon about Native American redskin savages.
Buccaneer Bunny (1948) ***
Pirate Sam tries to bury his treasure on a desert island, but chases Bugs Bunny instead. The best gags involve Sam opening port holes and getting blasted with canon fire. Finally, Sam's ship explodes when the rabbit throws lit matches into the gun powder hold.
Drip Dippy Donald (1948) ***
A neon light and a leaky faucet prevent Donald getting his good night's sleep. Laboriously constructed gags are more frustrating than funny, but the film has a splendidly ironic ending.
What Price Fleadom (1948) ***
A dog lives in perfect friendship and harmony with Homer, his resident flea. They share food and wish each other good night. But Homer falls in love with a gorgeous lady flea, who lives on a mean bulldog. The best gag involves a spagetti-like, two-headed dachshund.
Donald's Dream Voice (1948) ***
Unable to sell brushes, Donald tries to improve his speaking voice. His frantic efforts to retrieve his last "voice pill" are quite amusing.
The Little Orphan (1948) ***
Jerry agrees to have a little orphan mouse as his guest for dinner on Thanksgiving. Some gags are inspired by Disney's "The Country Cousin" (1936). An Academy Award winner.
Tea For Two Hundred (1948) ***
The Cat That Hated People (1948) ***
An alley cat hates people and decides to go to the Moon. More surrealistic than most Tex Avery's cartoons.
What Makes Daffy Duck ? (1948) ***
Elmer and a red fox are hunting a duck (Daffy). "Divide e impera" is an old Roman maxim. Daffy (who seems to have acquired Bugs Bunny's personality here) uses it to his maximum advantage, trying to play Elmer against the fox and vice versa.
Two Gophers From Texas (1948) ***
A great (and funny) villain steals the spotlight from the two nominal heroes.
The Bear And The Hare (1948) ***
Barney Bear tries to capture a Snow Shoe Rabbit, but this white animal is almost invisible on the snow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)