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#3365movies
seaottercomics · 4 years
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Film 142 of the year so far: NO FATHER TO GUIDE HIM, 1925. A gem-like short from Hal Roach, addressing the all-too-common problem of accidental public nudity, amongst other things. In its own, quiet, way, this is a perfect film; it isn't hilariously funny, but it isn't aiming to be: it's trying to be gently amusing, and gently amusing it most certainly is. Charley Chase is perfectly effective - I've never seen him be otherwise. Soon-to-be-famous Fay Wray makes an uncredited appearance. Quality 9/10 Entertainment 7/10.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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26 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: We Went To College, 1936, another Una Merkel film. Quality 8/10 Entertainment 8/10. This film is so much more thoughtful than first impressions suggest: actually it's a lovingly polished gem that's both thought provoking and moving. Ms Merkel in particular is marvellous: in the midst of a whirl of forced jollity, her quiet sadness is beautifully judged. One wonders how much more of an impact she might have made, had her career begun ten years sooner, at a time when women were allowed to really shine in the industry. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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23 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: A Fool There Was, 1915. Quality 9/10 Entertainment 10/10. A #MASTERPIECE! The 1st movie I've immediately rewatched, and the 1st to bring a tear to my eye.
This film tells its story not through narrative; rather, it's theme is slowly revealed through dreamy symbolism,  and, brilliantly,  through ineffably eloquent cross-cutting. Again and again the film cuts from the immoral vamp, to the innocent daughter; we see Bara strike a casual pose, and then see the daughter seemingly casually in the very same pose; we see, often, the vamp cruelly toying with her besotted victims, and then the girl innocently toying with her circle of adoring, obedient, adults.   We begin to feel a sense of unease, even dread. These juxtapositions are no coincidence: we're forced to compare the characters; we're given the realization that, left uncorrected,  the girl may well grow into the vamp.  Nothing is overt; nothing is preached; the viewer's intelligence is respected. This film is slow, a bit dull, but brilliant.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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22 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Show Them No Mercy, 1935, Starring Cesar Romero (it's essentially a Joker origin movie) and Rochelle Hudson (again). Quality 7/10 Entertainment 6/10. In its day, this film was intended as a throwaway piece of popular entertainment,  designed for mass appeal;  if it were released today, it would be accepted as serious cinema; practically a 'festival darling'. It's an enjoyably tense crime drama,  delivered by some fine actors, and Rochelle Hudson.  Also, this movie features an uncredited appearance by Lynn Bari. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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14 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Nell Gwynn, 1926 - aka Dorothy Gish Falls Out Of Her Dress For A  Hour And Twenty Minutes; starring Dorothy Gish,  whom I adore. Quality 7/10 Entertainment 9/10. Funnier, and less vapid, than most films from Pickford, Normand, or Gisn (Lillian), though not as technically accomplished as Pickford at her best. For once, ms Gish's cavalcade of silly 'business' is perfectly appropriate.  There's only one emotionally engaging moment, but in that moment, Dorothy moves us more with one careless sag of her shoulders than her sister ever accomplished with any of her histrionic displays.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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Film 90 of the year so far: THE BLUE PARROT, 1953. Quality 6.5/10 Entertainment 5/10. In an effort to combine my fondness for old movies with my love of classic Doctor Who, I've chosen to watch all the Who-related movies I can find. Here's the 1st, starring Jacqueline Hill (1st Doctor companion). This film ushers us into a world of seedy SoHo nightclubs, debonair crimimals, and glamorous hostesses! Which would be great, except that the film shows us not one jot of seediness nor glamour. If the film had any atmosphere whatsoever, then it would probably be very enjoyable, but it does not; nor do the filmmakers expend any energy trying to make us care about their story or their characters. Hill is by far the most charismatic presence, and, for her sake alone, this film is worth watching.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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Film 85 of 2020: LUCKY CISCO KID, 1940. Summary: Remember when the world of the cowboy was one of adventure? When westerns were fun? Quality 7.5/10 Entertainment 7.5/10. A masterful piece of entertainment - top-notch daydream fodder. Perhaps the Kid is, sometimes, a touch too heroic, but if that's the only complaint one can level at a western movie, well, that's really not so terrible, is it? 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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59/365 movies in 2020: The Baroness And The Butler, 1938. Quality 7/10 Entertainment 6/10. In my quest to watch every Lynn Bari film (that I can find on yootube), I've so far seen 27 films in which she appeared as an extra; but now, finally, in 1938, we have an on screen credit! Right there under Nigel (Doctor Watson) Bruce! It is a momentous day! This is another Hollywood romance from a time when our predecessors were trying to re-imagine love in an age of easy divorce. The film, admirably, never allows itself to be passively consumed, but demands contemplation; that said, for all its smartness, it fails to engage emotionally. Nigel Bruce is at his Nigel Bruciest, and is a joy, as always.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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32/365 movies in 2020: The Girl On The Front Page, 1936, starring Gloria Stuart. Quality 8/10 Entertainment 7/10. If you're a fan of newspaper flicks, then you'll enjoy this. A simple, straightforward, film, flawlessly crafted in every aspect; a showcase for the talent and star-quality of Ms. Stuart. It presents, but does not preach upon, a few issues of it's time - and restraint, in any art, is the most impressive of accomplishments.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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21 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Music Is Magic, 1935. A reasonably smart comedy musical, whose music is bland and whose comedy is occasionally moronic. Quality 6/10 Entertainment 7/10. If you care at all about the silent era, then you should watch this film - silent stalwart Bebe Daniels gives a virtuoso comic performance the likes of which is seen very rarely. Less impressive are the madcap tumblers, who are precisely as amusing as every other madcap tumbler in the history of madcap tumbling. Lynn Bari also has an uncredited,  speaking, role, and gives an assured, likeable performance. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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20 in my quest to watch 355 movies in 2020: jumping forward to 1939, Charlie Chan In City Of Darkness,  with Sidney Toler, and Lynn Bari. Quality 4/10 Entertainment 4/10. Harold Huber's French accent is quite adequate,  in small doses;  likewise Toler's ersatz Chinese accent - in small doses. If ever either actor is forced to speak for longer than a few seconds, their accents quickly become unconvincing and grating. Unfortunately,  Huber and Toler, over and over again, are forced to deliver lengthy monologues, any one of which would be enough to make the average viewer reach for their tv remote, or even leave the cinema in irritation.  For this reason alone, the film is a dud. Lynn Bari is enjoyable, though perhaps miscast.  The highlight of the movie is Barbara Leonard, in a small role, who lights up her every scene with Gish-like energy.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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16 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Charlie Chan In Paris, 1935. For the first time in my quest, I'm rewatching a film. Quality 7/10 Entertainment 7/10. I admit, I'm  a Chan fan: the Fox Chan movies are probably my favourite film franchise. Feel free to unfollow me immediately.  'Paris' is one of the better entries in the series, enlivened by a fine supporting cast playing interesting characters. Warner Oland, unusually, allows us to glimpse the mild mannered detective's inner steel. This film abounds with gentle comedy, gentle action, gentle mystery, gentle thrills - the whole is probably a mite too gentle for its own good. Also, Lynn Bari is in here somewhere. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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15 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Dante's Inferno, 1935, starring Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor, directed by Harry Lachman (who, surprisingly, went on to direct 4 Charlie Chan films). Quality 7/10 Entertainment 5/10. This film is weighed down by many infernal elements,  which muddy the narrative to such a degree that, what should have been a very good drama is degraded into a silly melodramatic spectacle. And thats a shame, because the writing is ambitious and uncompromising,  and the acting is superb;  especial from Tracy, whose ability to be despicable and nice simultaneously is the only thing that makes this movie an enjoyable watch. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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Number 13 in my quest to watch 356 movies in 2020: Music in The Air, 1934, starring silent movie stalwart Gloria Swanson - and which supposedly features an uncredited appearance by Lynn Bari. Quality 7/10 Entertainment 7/10. The movie recreates scenes from the original stage musical, and, in those moments, it's dizzyingly zippy, and laugh-out-loud funny - the cleverest musical comedy I've ever seen. Where the film strays from the original, however, it loses all its sparkle. 
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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Film #12 in my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: Stand Up And Cheer, 1934! Quality 3/10 Entertainment 2/10. Lewd, lazy, clumsy, and stupid; perhaps enjoyable only for its bizarre awfulness. The film makers explicitly blame the Great Depression on the nation's poor, for not putting sufficient effort into enjoying their crushing poverty. Possibly fans of Shirley Temple and Nigel Bruce should consider watching this train wreck (and, if you're not a fan of Nigel Bruce, I can only assume you're unacquainted with Nigel Bruce). Supposedly,  Lynn Bari is in this film somewhere, but I couldn't spot her.
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seaottercomics · 4 years
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Continuing my quest to watch 365 movies in 2020: movie #11: Bottoms Up, 1934, starring Spencer Tracy. Quality 6 Entertainment 7 - the film would have scored higher if not for the blandness of the music. Imagine a script that was developed originally for the Marx Brothers, before being toned down and given to Spencer Tracy, with Tracy in the Groucho role. Tracy and Thelma Todd are the highlights. Overall, it's an enjoyable romp - many times more witty and carefully crafted than anything likely to come out of Hollywood nowadays. Supposedly Lynn Bari is in here somewhere, in one of her very many uncredited roles, but I didn't spot her. 
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