A Song is Born

I didn't see the point of this movie.  Howard Hawks had already directed the really fun movie Ball of Fire.  Why he chose to remake it years later is a mystery to me.  This just doesn't have the same it factor.  I like Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo but they don't compare to Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.  This movie was basically pointless.  

The Iron Mask

I really liked this silent movie.  The Iron Mask doesn't have much of a plot the first hour until the story of the twins is introduced.  The good brother is locked away and imprisoned in an iron mask.  The evil brother tries to steal the throne.  It's up to Douglas Fairbanks and the other two musketeers to save the brother. My sister and I watched this and talked about how Douglas Fairbanks was the action and adventure hero of his time.  I'm going to watch the Leonardo version next month although I know that it won't compare to this version.  I also need to read the Dumas book.  

Beauty and the Beast

This isn't my favorite movie from the legendary French poet and director Jean Cocteau.  Frankly, I liked Orpheus a lot more.  I think Disney's version is the best.  However, this movie was an obvious influence on Disney.  The costume design is one example. Without this movie, there would have been no Disney movie. It's just that I didn't particularly care for this Belle.  She was cold and snobby. It needed another view though.  It's been more than ten years since I've seen this movie.    

Japan's Longest Day

The first twenty minutes is more or less a documentary.  Then this movie recreates the end of World War II for Japan.  No one wanted to admit that the emperor had admitted defeat.  Of course in this day of age that would have gone on the internet in a second.  But there were efforts to stop the news from going forward.  The last hour was intense.  The movie is 157 minutes but it's worth it.