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Post by spiderwort on Oct 1, 2019 22:55:53 GMT
Here are a few of my favorites, some made during the Depression and some made later, but all of them dealing with the subject pretty much head on. Not all films made during the Depression did that, tending more toward comedies or crime stories (though I love many of those, too): The Grapes of Wrath (1940) - John Ford
Man's Castle (1933) - Frank Borzage Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - Arthur Penn They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) - Sydney Pollack Wild Boys of the Road (1933) - William Wellman The Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) - Mervyn LeRoy Feel free to list your own favorites and discuss any and all.
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Post by hugobolso on Oct 2, 2019 1:45:41 GMT
Splendor in the Grass
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Post by Longtallsally on Oct 2, 2019 6:02:23 GMT
One of my all-time favorite little gem:
Two Bits
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Oct 3, 2019 1:20:22 GMT
Some of my favorites, not yet mentioned.
Paper Moon Modern Times Hard Times Emperor of The North Of Mice and Men (both versions will do, but more specifically the 1992 film) Sounder The Journey of Natty Gann (underappreciated Disney flick that I saw a few times as a kid)
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Oct 3, 2019 4:12:20 GMT
Some of my favorites, not yet mentioned. Paper Moon Modern Times Hard Times Emperor of The North Of Mice and Men (both versions will do, but more specifically the 1992 film) Sounder The Journey of Natty Gann (underappreciated Disney flick that I saw a few times as a kid) Wonderful choices, all, but my favorites are Sounder, Paper Moon, Of Mice and Men (1939) - haven't the 1992 version - and Emperor of the North. I saw Sounder again recently and, oh, what a beauty that one is! Tyson is brilliant, the direction is brilliant, and the story is so moving. It's a film that's hard not to love. It also had historical significance, because Tyson received a best actress Oscar nomination for that, Paul Winfield received a best actor nomination for playing her husband, and that same year Diana Ross was nominated as best actress for her performance in Lady Sings the Blues - the first time in the history of the Oscars that three African-American actors received Oscar nominations all in one year. The 1992 version Of Mice and Men makes me wonder why Gary Sinise didn't direct more movies. It's a really well-made film, and the cast is good from top to bottom, especially Malkovich as the dim-witted Lennie. You made those great points about Sounder. It's an underappreciated milestorm as far as African American lead movies go ( Martin Ritt the director is white, but that's aside the point). It's just a terrific movie overall, with a great story, and universal themes that I think a lot of people could relate to, about trying to survive in a harsh environment. It would actually make for solid family viewing too.
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Oct 3, 2019 15:52:43 GMT
The 1992 version Of Mice and Men makes me wonder why Gary Sinise didn't direct more movies. It's a really well-made film, and the cast is good from top to bottom, especially Malkovich as the dim-witted Lennie. You made those great points about Sounder. It's an underappreciated milestorm as far as African American lead movies go ( Martin Ritt the director is white, but that's aside the point). It's just a terrific movie overall, with a great story, and universal themes that I think a lot of people could relate to, about trying to survive in a harsh environment. It would actually make for solid family viewing too.
So glad we agree about Sounder. I think it's such a beautiful film in every way.
And about Senise's Of Mice and Men - I so regret that I haven't seen it, because I've heard its praises sounded again and again over the years. I really have to see it, though my list grows longer every day while my years are growing shorter. Anyway, just a comment about why Senise didn't direct more. Because I'm a director myself, I know how time consuming that job is. It's something that can't easily be explained to those who don't already know, but it really is pretty much a 24 hour a day job, and if the director is also the star - well, it's just overwhelming. Many actors do direct films often - like Eastwood - but those generally are better equipped in terms of the handling the requirements. Two takes and short days for Eastwood, for starters. Not to say Senise isn't equipped, because I don't know. But I do know that often actors end up preferring to do what in the end is their greater love: acting. That's hard enough, but it's a lot easier than directing. Also, he may only want to direct things that he's really passionate about - not just make a film to make a film - and those opportunities are few and far between, especially these days.
Yeah, I've heard that similar story in regards to other one-time actors turned directors. The experiencing of directing already was more then enough. I'm sure that's the same reason that Oldman never touched a camera again after Nil By Mouth. I'm just more surprised that Sinise didn't direct again, considering how well-received Of Mice and Men was, and the fact that he already directed a movie prior before anybody knew who he was. He could have been a solid filmmaker had he continued down that path.
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Post by dadsburgers on Oct 4, 2019 3:11:00 GMT
Bicycle Thieves
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Post by Longtallsally on Oct 4, 2019 14:54:12 GMT
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
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Post by Mattsby on Oct 4, 2019 15:54:37 GMT
Closer to the bone, very funny, and smarter than you think too - Sullivan's Travels.
also not mentioned - The Purple Rose of Cairo ..... and King of the Hill ('93)
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cherry68
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Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that.
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Post by cherry68 on Oct 4, 2019 17:43:02 GMT
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
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Post by stephen on Oct 4, 2019 18:06:55 GMT
Carnivale.
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Post by dadsburgers on Oct 5, 2019 12:33:45 GMT
This is one of my favorite films of all time, and I think one of the most brilliant. But I need to clarify about its time frame. Bicycle Thieves takes place in post World War II Italy. The Great Depression, which was so called because it took place around the world, began with the stock market crash of 1929 and lasted though the 1930s. World War II basically put an end to it, one of the few benefits of that terrible time. So the film actually doesn't qualify for this thread. But, again, I'm glad to see the mention of one of De Sica's masterpieces. In the opinion of many, myself included, it's one of the best films ever made.
Oh, wow. It's one of my favorite films of all time, too, but I always thought it took place during the Great Depression. I know it was made post-WWII, but I thought it was showing the Depression as commentary to mirror postwar struggles. Can't believe I misread so hard-- I'll have to see it again. What are some good international movies about the Depression?
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Post by spiderwort on Oct 5, 2019 14:38:23 GMT
Oh, wow. It's one of my favorite films of all time, too, but I always thought it took place during the Great Depression. I know it was made post-WWII, but I thought it was showing the Depression as commentary to mirror postwar struggles. Can't believe I misread so hard-- I'll have to see it again. What are some good international movies about the Depression?
No worries. It's certainly a film that seems like it could be set in the Depression, given that deprivation is rampant. And so glad to see another fan of this great film and its great director. Anyway, I'll have to research international films and get back to you. They'll probably be from England or Germany, because their economies were most connected to America's. EDIT: Well, I did some research, but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I checked England and Germany, but nothing famous popped out to me, and interestingly, especially in England, a lot of the films made during the Depression were comedies, historical romances, adventure films, crime films etc.; in other words very much similar to how Hollywood dealt with the Depression on the big screen. But I did find four titles (one Canadian, one from West Germany, and two from the U.K., and only one a classic) that seem interesting, though how good they are I can't say: Fabian (1980) FabianLiam (2000) LiamHenry & Verlin (1996) Henry & VerlinThey Drive by Night (1938) They Drive by Night (yes an earlier British version of the classic American film)
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demille
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Post by demille on Oct 6, 2019 11:43:11 GMT
I haven't seen Man's Castle, but I will have to find a copy. Borzage is an interesting director, and I love a lot of his late 20s, early 30s films.
American Madness is an interesting film about banks and greed during the Depression. It is a well directed film by Capra, with a solid performance by Huston; and the topic is still relevant today.
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demille
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Post by demille on Oct 6, 2019 12:37:26 GMT
I haven't seen Man's Castle, but I will have to find a copy. Borzage is an interesting director, and I love a lot of his late 20s, early 30s films. American Madness is an interesting film about banks and greed during the Depression. It is a well directed film by Capra, with a solid performance by Huston; and the topic is still relevant today. If you like early Borzage, I think you'll love Man's Castle. It's one of his lyrical beauties with so much to offer about the human condition, love, and the anguish of the Depression. Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young are very touching in it.
And I couldn't agree more with you about the so often overlooked American Madness. It's an important film, I think, for the way in which it tackles it subject head on and is a lot tougher than many Capra films. I think it will surprise people who so often consider Capra films to be "Capra-corn."
Sounds great. I'll have to put it near the top of my to watch list. I need to re-watch American Madness, as its been a while, but I do remember being suprised and impressed with how seriously the film took its subject matter. The film conveyed some important messages in a powerful way.
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