murkbrown Reviews

North of 50-50 (1924)

Silent Animal Comedy

[7/10 · 31 October 2013]

My memory of this film is nearly 40 years old so please forgive any omissions or possible inaccuracies. In the 70's WETA in Washington aired a series called "The Silent Comedy Film Festival" or some such. Numerous shorts and features, heavily edited, were shown. This one was repeated a number of times and I couldn't wait to see it each time. The setting is the old west. An tenderfoot duck and his wife come into town and are accosted by the local bully, a monkey who rides a German Shepherd. The monkey goes too far when he insults the duck's wife and is challenged to a duel. I searched a long time for this film based on the title "North of 50 50", and that eventually led me to the Dippy Doo Dads series, of which this was apparent a part. I have never seen any if the other episodes, however from what I've read, this seems to be typical. Hope this description can jar someone's memory, and possibly lead to filling in some details, or possibly digging up an episode or two.

The Younger Generation (1929)

Early Capra film worth seeing

[6/10 · 15 December 2009]

True this is not a typical Capra film as has been noted, but his hand is all over this thing. One has to keep in mind how early this was in Capra's career. It has the main elements usually found in his films, especially the lessons about what really matters in life. Papa Goldfish was not a successful man financially like his son was, but the reunion on the street when he goes back to his old neighborhood was very telling --- and touching. Other touching moments include not just Birdie's getting to see him before he dies, but also Papa's asking her, "Did you know I'm a Grandpa?" She runs to get the baby for him to see and lets the baby play on the bed next to him. Papa even asks the baby "Ain't you surprised I'm a Grandpa?" These, among many others, are all Capra touches. About the only thing missing was the villain managing to repent. But Capra's villains did not always mend their ways. Here the main difference was that it was the protagonist's own son who manages to muck things up. It's a good little film and I think Frank Capra fans will enjoy seeing his early work.

Of Human Hearts (1938)

An enjoyable movie, with a couple of over-the-top scenes

[18 February 2009]

I really liked the look of this movie, the way the period was portrayed. Charles Coburn's performance was very nicely done, understated.

I had heard about this film for many years, but had not had an opportunity to see it until recently. If you are not someone who watches a lot of early melodramatic movies I can see why this would not be for you, but I wouldn't let it be known that I'd sat through it five times just so I could speak with authority on how awful a movie it is.

Like one of the other writers, I was also puzzled by the loud chirping birds in the background of some of the scenes.I kept waiting for this to be explained but it was not.

And the scene withLincoln, I was sure was going to turn out to be a dream sequence, with Jimmy Stewart's character's guilt having caught up with him. But alas, the filmmakers really did want us to believe the President would pull a doctor off the front lines to scold him for neglecting his mother.

Overall I liked it. I'll have to watch five more times just to enjoy the old man who leads the choir by striking the tuning fork on his shoe, apparently unable to hear it because he hums in another key, and begins singing in still another.