Ball of Fire (1941)

Posted on August 27, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, the film revolves around a young man (Cooper) and seven older intellectuals compiling a Encyclopedia who get involved with a burlesque dancer (Stanwyck). They are interested in her constant use of slang and she is happy to use them as a cover to avoid the cops while she waits for her gangster boyfriend. However, things take a turn when the young man falls for her and proposes. Little does he know they are being used until they unknowingly transport her back to the gangster. He feels betrayed and she realizes her love for the corny intellectual. Although they are held by the gangster’s thugs, the intellectuals join their wits to overcome their foe. In the nick of time they stop the marriage and the true loves get back together. Howard Hawks directs a nice combination of humor and romance. The story by Billy Wilder, is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with some major twists.

4.5/5 Stars

Happy Birthday Barbara Stanwyck!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Today marks the birthday of the iconic Barbara Stanwyck. She often played strong women in her films but she had the ability to play comedic as well as dramatic roles very effectively in such diverse films as The Lady Eve (1941) and Double Indemnity (1944). Later in her career she would go on to star in her own TV show The Big Valley (1965-69).

A few of her films I may try and see in the future include: Baby Face (1933), Stella Dallas (1937), Golden Boy (1939), Remember the Night (1940), The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), The Furies (1950), and Executive Suite (1954).

Titanic (1953)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb with a solid cast of others, the film follows different people before and during the sinking of the infamous ocean liner. Stanwyck has taken her son and daughter away from their wealthy father. He gets on board however and the relationship gets strained. Meanwhile a young man falls for their daughter trying to win her affection. The viewer also sees the captain who seems to be a good man and we come to known a priest turned drunk who is in disarray. When the ship strikes the iceberg everything changes instantly and the estranged pair show their love while others show their courage. This film is not historically accurate and some people will find it unspectacular compared to the modern blockbuster. However, it is all about the characters and they make this a very moving if not underrated film. It seems fitting that I first watched this film exactly 100 years after the fact.

3.5/5 Stars

Meet John Doe (1941)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck with direction by Frank Capra, the film begins with a news woman (Stanwyck) creating a made up story about John Doe, a man willing to commit suicide to protest big government. In order to keep the story going, they take a man off the street to effectively be John Doe. At first John (Cooper) and his friend the Colonel (Walter Brennan) are attracted by the chance to work. However, slowly he seems to become John Doe and the whole nation is seemingly behind him with Stanwyck’s character falling for his image as well. A political machine tries to discredit him and prove he never was John Doe. Now all along John decides to go through the suicide to prove his point to all. The political machine tries to stop him and Stanwyck finally does saying they can still keep the ideals of John Doe alive. Sharing some similarities with Mr. Smith, this film is one of those feel good films.

4/5 Stars

Double Indemnity (1944) – Film-Noir

Posted on July 16, 2013 by 4 Star Films

If the Maltese Falcon was the first great film-noir then this film has to be a refining and improvement of the genre. Billy Wilder put together a crime film that is still intriguing today with its femme fatale and other techniques in storytelling and cinematography.

*May Contain Spoilers

Starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson, this is a classic film-noir. Walter Neff is your average American insurance salesman. However while trying to sell some accident insurance he falls for a woman who is married to a former widower. Together they plot and carry out a murder on her irritable husband trying to cash in on a double indemnity clause. Although everything goes as clockwork the two of them must stay apart and Neff’s colleague is hot on their trail. Through a series of visits with Deitrichson’s depressed step-daughter, Neff himself finds out Phyllis was seeing someone else. In their final confrontation he figures out she killed her husband’s first wife . Then she preceded to use Neff for her own purposes.Following their confrontation Neff feels guilt and so he records all he knows for his colleague Keyes to hear later. This movie was definitely full of suspense as well as great characters. Directer Wilder utilizes the voice over with flashback very effectively to tell the story.

5/5 Stars