I am always looking for new ways to accessing my film collection, and selecting what to choose online, so on 28 June 2020 I started a new viewing project: #1930to2020. Each day I’d watch at least one film from that day’s year. Some days only I managed to watch one film, others like the 1940 and 1948 day, I saw 5 films.
This blog focuses on the 59 films I watched from 1930 – 1949. 25 were re-visits, 34 new to me.
You can read my comments on all the films on my twitter @cheshellen on #1930to2020 hashtag or on my letterboxd. The full list is below.
For those interested in films directed by women, you’ll notice the names of three women directors popping up in these two decades: Dorothy Arzner, Maya Deren and Ida Lupino. But it’s also worth noting that although Mae West didn’t direct the films she starred in, they are certainly Mae West films, as she wrote the screenplays. Another is producer/screenwriter Virginia Van Upp, who wrote Honeymoon in Bali and The Crystal Ball and produced Gilda, amongst a number of projects that made her the ‘The Queen of Columbia’.
Top 5 new to me films
1932: Boudu Saved From Drowning d. Jean Renoir
A bookshop owner (Charles Granval) saves a tramp, Boudu (Michel Simon) from drowning, takes him under his wing and attempts to gentrify him with comic/little success. Mix of striking realist shots of early 30s Paris and drawing room farce.
1941: Ladies in Retirement d. Charles Vidor
Ellen (Ida Lupino) is housekeeper to Leonora (Isobel Elsom) a former theatre star, but needs to find a home for her two odd sisters (Edith Barrett and Elsa Lanchester) and brings them to live with her. But tensions rise and there’s only one way out if you’re in a Gothic film!
1942: Tales of Manhattan d. Julien Duvivier
Portmanteau of 5 films which see a tailcoat being passed from owner to owner, bringing them luck (both good/bad). Each tale a different genre but all feature ver starry cast: from suave Charles Boyer to Charles Laughton who'll break your heart.
1943: First Comes Courage
d. Dorothy Arzner
In 1942 Nazi occupied Norway, Nicole (Merle Oberon) is living a double life as mistress to Nazi Commander (Carl Esmond) and resistance spy. When he gets suspicious, her ex-boyfriend (Brian Aherne) is sent to extract her. Sacrifice/Duty vs love. Effective.
1945: The Great Flamarion d. Anthony Mann
Cracking Film Noir which sees Erich von Stroheim as a vaudeville stunt shooter manipulated by his assistant (Mary Beth Hughes) into killing her husband (#DanDuryea). A real gem and for me. Theatre + Film Noir = Fabulous!
And a bonus short film…
1947: The Private Life of a Cat d. Alexander Hammid/Maya Deren, who were way ahead of the world’s obsession with the cat videos. A He cat meets a She cat and soon we’re seeing 5 kittens being born and nurtured through their first few weeks until they have some kind of independence.
Top 5 revisits
1933: I'm No Angel d. Wesley Ruggles Working from her own screenplay Mae West sasses across the screen as Tira, a singer, with a sideline of relieving men of their money, that is, until she falls for the very wealthy Jack (Cary Grant). Fab dialogue, and the courtroom scene is a real treat.
1936: My Man Godfrey
d. Gregory La Cava
Carole Lombard sparkles as a socialite smitten with her butler, Godfrey (William Powell). Witty dialogue makes this one of the best screwball comedies (with a smidge of social commentary) of the 1930s. Fab performances by all. Love it.
1937: Stand-In d. Tay Garnett A New York banker (Leslie Howard) is sent to Hollywood to assess why a Studio is failing. Perhaps it’s their drunk Producer (Humphrey Bogart) or vain star (Marla Shelton). Homely secretary (Joan Blondell) acts as his guide in this fish-out-of water comedy.
1942: The Major and the Minor d. Billy Wilder You'll just have to go with the premise that Ginger Rogers has to spend most of the movie publicly pretending to be a 12 year old who's attracted to Major Kirby (Ray Milland), who's taken on an 'Uncle' role. Cleverly skirts any dubiousness.
1946: A Matter of Life and Death d. Powell and Pressburger When RAF Pilot (David Niven) misses his appointment in heaven, accidentally saying on Earth and falling love with June (Kim Hunter), he has to attend a celestial court hearing to stay with her. Stunning B&W (heaven) and colour (Earth) cinematography by Jack Cardiff. One of the best!
Complete list of films watched: 1930 - 1949
1930: Liliom d. Frank Borzage
1931: Frankenstein d. James Whale
1933: I'm No Angel d. Wesley Ruggles
1933: The Emperor Jones d. Dudley Murphy
1934: The Man Who Knew Too Much d. Alfred Hitchcock
1934: Maniac d. Dwain Esper
1935: The Bride of Frankenstein d. James Whale
1935: The Girl From Tenth Avenue d. Alfred E. Green
1936: My Man Godfrey d. Gregory La Cava
1936: Klondike Annie d. Raoul Walsh
1936: Born to Dance d. Roy Del Ruth
1936: Sabotage d. Alfred Hitchcock
1937: A Star is Born d. William A. Wellman
1937: The Bride Wore Red d. Dorothy Arzner
1937: Stand-In d. Tay Garnett
1937: Shall We Dance d. Mark Sandrich
1938: Jezebel d. William Wyler
1938: Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife
1938: Nancy Drew: Detective d. William Clemens
1939: The Spy in Black d. Powell and Pressburger
1939: Lying Lips w/d. Oscar Micheaux
1939: Eternally Yours d. Tay Garnett
1939: Honeymoon in Bali d. Edward H. Griffith
1940: His Girl Friday d. Howard Hawks
1940: Christmas in July d. Preston Sturges
1940: The Great McGinty d. Preston Sturges
1940: The Great Dictator d. Charlie Chaplin
1940: Dance, Girl Dance d. Dorothy Arzner
1941: Broadway Limited d. Gordon Douglas
1941: That Uncertain Feeling d. Ernest Lubitsch
1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde d. Victor Fleming
1941: Ladies in Retirement d. Charles Vidor
1942: Saboteur d. Alfred Hitchcock
1942: Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror d. John Rawlins
1942: Tales of Manhattan d. Julien Duvivier
1942: The Major and the Minor d. Billy Wilder
1943: Meshes of the Afternoon d. Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid
1943: First Comes Courage d. Dorothy Arzner
1943: The Crystal Ball d. Elliott Nugent
1943: Lady of Burlesque d. William A. Wellman
1943: Heaven Can Wait d. Ernst Lubitsch
1944: It Happened Tomorrow d. René Clair
1944: Laura d. Otto Preminger
1945: The Great Flamarion d. Anthony Mann
1945: The Frozen Ghost d. Harold Young
1946: Ritual in Transfigured Time d. Maya Deren
1946: Gilda d. Charles Vidor
1946: A Matter of Life and Death d. Powell and Pressburger
1947: Down to Earth d. Alexander Hall
1947: The Private Life of a Cat d. Alexander Hammid/Maya Deren
1947: Framed d. Richard Wallace
1947: Black Narcissus d. Powell and Pressburger
1948: Boarding House Blues d. Josh Binney
1948: One Touch of Venus d. William A. Seiter
1948: June Bride d. Bretaigne Windust
1948: Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House d. H.C. Potter
1948: Ladies of the Chorus d. Phil Karlson
1949: Not Wanted d. Elmer Clifton and Ida Lupino
1949: Never Fear d. Ida Lupino
Read about films from 1950 - 1969 here and follow me on letterboxd or twitter for daily updates.