Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. If you don't know the deal by now, welcome! And why if you do, then come on in and join us! The water's fine!
Busybusybusy this week.
Let's do this quick and dirty style.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Lewis Milestone, 1930) Still one of the greatest Oscar Best Picture winners, over 80 years later.
Sergeant York (Howard Hawks, 1941) The beginning of my love affair with Gary Cooper.
A Very Long Engagement (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2004) Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster (speaking French), a very young Marion Cotillard, and Oscar-nominated cinematography. What more could you ask for?
Great picks! Could not agree more about All Quiet on the Western Front, an amazing film. It was the first I thought of as well but had used before. But one everyone should see.
The beginning of Sergeant York made me wonder whether I wanted to stick with the film, it was so heavy on the cornpone but the second portion more than made up for it.
Haven't see A Very Long Engagement though I've heard of it and it actually looks to be the title of the week.
I've used several WWI films before so it was a bit of a challenge to find three, WWII films are plentiful this war not as much, but I did manage three by using one that premiere on TV but is theatrical quality.
The Big Parade (1925)-A young gadabout from a wealthy family (John Gilbert) decides to enlist in WWI to experience what he thinks is the romance of war. Soon he is off to France where he befriends two other men and begins a liaison with a young mademoiselle but soon the sheen of new experiences is torn away when they discover the brutality of war first hand. One of the great silents and an essential film.
My Boy Jack (2008)-17 year old Jack Kipling (Daniel Radcliffe), son of the famous poet Rudyard Kipling, wants to join the navy or perhaps the army to fight the Germans but his poor eyesight prevents his entry. Rudyard uses his influence to arrange his commission with the Irish Guards, a move Jack’s mother & sister (Kim Cattrall and Carey Mulligan) bitterly oppose because it could mean his deployment to the front lines. Jack persists and enters training, then on his 18th birthday he receives orders to lead his troops into what becomes the Battle of Loos where he goes missing. Heartbreaking illustration of the waste of war was originally a TV presentation but with that cast and level of production it could easily be a theatrical film.
King and Country (1965)-During WWI an army private (Tom Courtenay) is accused of desertion during battle in Belgium. Captain Hargreaves (Dirk Bogarde) is assigned to defend him at his court-martial and though initially frustrated by the simple minded man over time he learns there is more to the case than he thought. Somber and grim but worth watching.
I still have to see Sargeant York believe or not. We chose the same pic....All Quiet and it is a must film to see in my opinion. I really want to see the French film as well. It looks like an excellent film
Not heard of Sergeant York and unfortunately I haven't seen the other two but have wanted to. I avoided A Very Long Engagement because someone spoiled it for me. But I love the director so I will hopefully see it.
I'm pretty much sold on All's Quiet on the Western Front. Sergeant York I have definitely seen. In East Tennessee, we are all but issued that movie in elementary school. He is one of our proudest sons and grew up about an hour from where I'm sitting right now. I almost picked it myself. The problem is I haven't seen it since like 5th grade and can't remember it at all. I did pick A Very Long Engagement. Beautiful but can't remember much else.
That is very cool about Sergeant York and it makes sense that you would all be indoctrinated into it as young people lol. Hopefully it opened up lots of kids eyes to classic Hollywood, too!
It was just a cameo really but was very surprised to see Jodie Foster in AVLE. I don't think she was listed on the DVD, big name like her, thought they exploit that and plaster her name on the cover even if it's just a cameo. Plus I don't think she really does non-English flicks.
Great picks! Could not agree more about All Quiet on the Western Front, an amazing film. It was the first I thought of as well but had used before. But one everyone should see.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of Sergeant York made me wonder whether I wanted to stick with the film, it was so heavy on the cornpone but the second portion more than made up for it.
Haven't see A Very Long Engagement though I've heard of it and it actually looks to be the title of the week.
I've used several WWI films before so it was a bit of a challenge to find three, WWII films are plentiful this war not as much, but I did manage three by using one that premiere on TV but is theatrical quality.
The Big Parade (1925)-A young gadabout from a wealthy family (John Gilbert) decides to enlist in WWI to experience what he thinks is the romance of war. Soon he is off to France where he befriends two other men and begins a liaison with a young mademoiselle but soon the sheen of new experiences is torn away when they discover the brutality of war first hand. One of the great silents and an essential film.
My Boy Jack (2008)-17 year old Jack Kipling (Daniel Radcliffe), son of the famous poet Rudyard Kipling, wants to join the navy or perhaps the army to fight the Germans but his poor eyesight prevents his entry. Rudyard uses his influence to arrange his commission with the Irish Guards, a move Jack’s mother & sister (Kim Cattrall and Carey Mulligan) bitterly oppose because it could mean his deployment to the front lines. Jack persists and enters training, then on his 18th birthday he receives orders to lead his troops into what becomes the Battle of Loos where he goes missing. Heartbreaking illustration of the waste of war was originally a TV presentation but with that cast and level of production it could easily be a theatrical film.
King and Country (1965)-During WWI an army private (Tom Courtenay) is accused of desertion during battle in Belgium. Captain Hargreaves (Dirk Bogarde) is assigned to defend him at his court-martial and though initially frustrated by the simple minded man over time he learns there is more to the case than he thought. Somber and grim but worth watching.
Totally agree on Sergeant York's first half laying on the cornpone REALLY thick. But Cooper is so good in it that it works.
DeleteLOVE The Big Parade and am so glad you picked it! I've never seen the other ones, though.
I haven't seen any of these, but A Very Long Engagement has been popular. I may have to check that one out.
ReplyDeleteOh, do. It's very unique, especially as a war film.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these, but A Very Long Engagement sounds like a film I'd like.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Jeunet's other films, you'll probably love it.
DeleteCotilliard was amazing in her brief moments in AVLE!
ReplyDeleteI KNOW, RIGHT?!? She's always been so great.
DeleteI loved the book All Quiet On The Western Front and I saw the TV film for it. I'll deff have to watch the 1930 version!
ReplyDeleteIt's really amazing how well that film holds up.
DeletePaths of Glory is amazing. Sadly, it's also the only one I've seen.
ReplyDeleteLOL, and I haven't seen it!
DeleteI still have to see Sargeant York believe or not. We chose the same pic....All Quiet and it is a must film to see in my opinion. I really want to see the French film as well. It looks like an excellent film
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT! I can't believe you haven't seen Sergeant York! See it ASAP - Gary Cooper is so great in it and the film itself is very, very good.
DeleteNot heard of Sergeant York and unfortunately I haven't seen the other two but have wanted to. I avoided A Very Long Engagement because someone spoiled it for me. But I love the director so I will hopefully see it.
ReplyDeleteA Very Long Engagement is very beautifully done.
DeleteI'm pretty much sold on All's Quiet on the Western Front. Sergeant York I have definitely seen. In East Tennessee, we are all but issued that movie in elementary school. He is one of our proudest sons and grew up about an hour from where I'm sitting right now. I almost picked it myself. The problem is I haven't seen it since like 5th grade and can't remember it at all. I did pick A Very Long Engagement. Beautiful but can't remember much else.
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool about Sergeant York and it makes sense that you would all be indoctrinated into it as young people lol. Hopefully it opened up lots of kids eyes to classic Hollywood, too!
DeleteIt was just a cameo really but was very surprised to see Jodie Foster in AVLE. I don't think she was listed on the DVD, big name like her, thought they exploit that and plaster her name on the cover even if it's just a cameo. Plus I don't think she really does non-English flicks.
ReplyDelete