Reviews (9)

Stunning Tribute To War Time Nurses Everywhere
"So Proudly We Hail", often comes in for more than it's fair share of criticism over it's depiction of the sterling work carried out by nurses in the South Pacific during World War Two. Mention is made of the nurses looking like they have just stepped out of the beauty parlour with makeup and hair all looking perfect. I'm always mystified by that reaction as I feel this production goes a long way towards depicting the back breaking and often extremely dangerous work that nurses carried out during the war in the Pacific. The film was made with the very best of intentions at a time when the outcome of the war was still far from certain. Criticism has also been leveled at the propaganda inherent in parts of the script. Once again one has to view this film in it's time and place and if it motivated people to feel patriotic about their country in time of war and at least partly informed the movie going public about some of the work of wartime nurses then that is a job well done in my belief.

"So Proudly We Hail", traces the stories of 9 nurses from the time they leave San Francisco through the trials and tribulations of their service with the armed services in the South Pacific. Three in particular are focused on, team leader Lt. Janet Davidson (Claudette Colbert), vivacious Lt. Joan O'Doul (Paulette Goddard) and inwardly tormented Lt. Olivia D'Arcy )Veronica Lake). Their stories are interwoven through the real life action of the group first being sent to Hawaii and then after a torpedo raid which sinks some of their companion vessels, being removed to the Bataan and Correigador regions where they care for and then help evacuate the military and civilian wounded. The saga ends with the remains of their party being evacuated after much loss and suffering to Australia before embarking for home at the end of their tour of duty. The women experience all the deprivations of war and personal loss along the way as Lt. Davidson falls in love with Lt. John Summers (George Reeves) only to live in daily fear of him being killed while still having a job to do as the team's main source of strength. Lt. O'Doul (Paulette Goddard) experiences similiar feelings for "Kansas" (Sonny Tufts), the gangly soldier who wins her heart and in the most tragic situation Lt. D'Arcy who confronts old demons and the loss of her fiance at the hands of the Japanese. Many frightening incidents darken the daily grind of the nurses work such as regular bombing of their medical camp by the enemy and having to experience all the pain and suffering of wartime casualties and death of loved ones. Each woman is touched in some way by her involvement in the action and emerges the better for her experience. We see the women work under not only hazardous conditions but in those that would test the sanity of the strongest person with daily shortages of supplies, shelter and food a constant feature in the daily work.

The film places great emphasis on the inner strength of the individual under fire whether it be soldier, nurse or wounded civilian. In this respect the film could never be judged superficial as many real life elements of this period are tied into the story. Powerful scenes abound in "So Proudly We Hail", a standout is the scene during the evacuation of the camp when the nurses are stranded in one of the huts under fire and the real life treatment of war nurses in Nanking is mentioned as a telling reminder of the brutality of war. Lt. D'Arcy's ultimate self sacrifice for the good of the group still is a scene that packs a real punch with it's graphic depiction of a suicide killing of enemy soldiers. All three lead actresses are standouts in their own unique way. Claudette Colbert delivers yet another powerful and totally convincing performance as the leader of the group. Long associated with extremely glamourous roles here she portrays a character forced under terrible conditions to still be strong for the sake of her nurses. Paulette Goddard in an Academy Award nominated performance is excellent as the flighty mantrap with only men on her mind who develops into a responsible and dedicated nurse as her wartime experiences deepen her character. Veronica Lake also minus her o usual glamourous persona is effective in her role as the bitter nurse who is out to punish all Japanese because of the loss she has suffered. Despite the reported tension between Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard during filming none of that shows on screen as the main three actresses work very effectively together as the one team. One last standout in the cast is actress Mary Servoss who plays Capt. "Ma" McGregor the lead of the camp and in ultimate charge of all nursing staff. Her beautiful scene where she faces the death of her wounded son is a stunner and the emotional highlight of the whole film.

Passed off as Hollywood's removed idea of what war is like, "So Proudly We Hail", offers much more than that and contrary to popular belief in a number of scenes where appropriate, the women do show what the wear and tear of war work does to the individuals. I find the film a powerful depiction of war and the terror it causes. Mixed with horrific scenes such as Lt. D'Arcy's suicide are inspiring ones like the simple Christmas celebration on the boat and the scenes showing operations being conducted right in the middle of air raids. These can't help to move the viewer and instill even in the most hardened cynic a belief in the basic good of man. A true epic is how I would describe "So Proudly We Hail", and a film I recommend to anyone who believes in the power of a person's inner strength to beat outside adversity.

ONE OF THE BEST WARTIME MOVIES MADE!
If there had been a 6-7 star rating for the picture, I would've given it 6-7 stars. Excellent writers, Good direction, + an excellent cast made for an excellent wartime drama.

excellently acted war drama
Story of nurses on Bataan & Correigador during WWII. Paulette Goddard deserving of her oscar nomination for this film. Other performances uniformly good. Reflects role of women early in war & also attitudes at home when film was made.Events depicted in film are true.Love story fiction.Well worth viewing

Truly A Great Movie!
I think that So Proudly We Hail is one of the best movies that I have ever seen. It definately keeps you on the edge of your seat! It has everything that a good movie needs...plenty of action, romance and even humor. The ladies play very convincing roles as the nurses, with the exception of Veronica Lake, whose acting leaves a little to be desired. All in all this movie is the BEST and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good movies.

Excellent movie, showing a little known part of World War II
Excellent action movie depicting a little known women's role during World War II. The pride in duty, country and extreme courage in the face of adversity is something lacking in todays world. That particular battle is one of shame to our government in leaving military personnel to become prisoners of war or die. This movie says it all. Nitengail8 ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This perennial, Christmas-season favorite from 1942 teamed Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as entertainers (and rival suitors of Marjorie Reynolds) running an inn that is only open on holidays. It's a great excuse for lots of singing and dancing, seamlessly wrapped in a catchy story, and Astaire's frequent director Mark Sandrich (Top Hat, Shall We Dance?) doesn't let us down. The Irving Berlin numbers (each one connected to a different holiday) are winners. Crosby's warm performance of "White Christmas" is a movie touchstone. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Year round holiday classic!
For us, this movie is far superior to WHITE CHRISTMAS. It stars Fred Astaire and Bing Cosby as competive entertainers. Fred is the dancer (great scenes in this) , BING is the singer. (Bum, bum, bum, bum - - Bing adopted his "style" because he sometimes forgot the words. but, he maintained the music of the melody with his bum, bum, bum, bum s'-- a little trivia) Anyway, Bing grows tired of the cut-throat entertainment biz after his fiance' decides to marry someone else. He moves out of the city and up to a wintry zone, taking over an old motel. Since he is set to become a lazy owner, he vows only to open the motel for HOLIDAYS, hence HOLIDAY INN.

Every holiday is represented, including CHRISTMAS with age-old hit, WHITE CHRISTMAS. Performances with Marjorie Reynolds ( who plays Linda Mason, an upstart want-to-be ) and Virginia Dale ( Lila Dixon, Bing's here today, gone for stardom ex-fiance') are excellent. If you are looking for this movie for Christmas, get it now. Last year, it sold out early, pretty much like every year.

Kick your troubles down the stairs and come to Holiday Inn!
This is one of the finest holiday films ever made.

Inspired by a story by Irving Berlin, the film features many wonderful Berlin holiday tunes, from "White Christmas" to "Easter Parade". This is the film that introduced "White Christmas", Bing Crosby's signature song (which was almost cut from the final version!).

Holiday hijinks ensue when Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), decides that he's had enough of show business and chooses to retire to a farm in Connecticut. His pal and partner Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire) steals his gal Lyla at the last minute, so Jim takes up the life of a farmer on his own. Unfortunately for Jim, the farm life drives him nuts. He decides to turn the farm into an inn, where he can do entertainment shows for every holiday. The result is Holiday Inn, "open holidays only".

Jim meets and falls in love with Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), a fellow entertainer, and she helps out with the shows.

Things are looking up for Jim, but about this time, Ted's girl Lyla leaves him. Heartbroken (and crocked), Ted shows up at Holiday Inn on New Year's Eve and does a new dance number with Linda. It looks like he's found himself a new dance partner. Trouble is, he was so drunk, he can't remember who she is! Jim knows if Ted hooks up with Linda, he'll take her away from the Inn (and him!), so Jim begins some comedic conniving to keep Ted and Linda from meeting up. But poor Jim isn't out of the stewpot yet!

Walter Abel turns in a wonderful supporting perfomance as a scheming talent agent, and Irving Bacon is the quintissential New Englander as Gus the handyman. Fred does an inspired July Fourth dance routine, and Bing is in fine voice.

Holiday Inn has it all. Romance, laughter, crooning, catchy Irving Berlin tunes, and Bing and Fred at their best! We also get a sneak peek at the soundstage and set for Holiday Inn, as a Hollywood crew make a movie within the movie! A Christmas classic you're sure to love, not only at Christmastime, but at any time of the year.

If you need a lift, then come to Holiday Inn!

Wonderful movie!!!!
Holiday Inn is a wonderful old movie about a man who owns an inn that is only open on holidays. (If only there was such a place!) Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are great as "friends" going after the same woman. Some of my favorite scenes include Fred's July 4th's firecracker tap dance and when he tries to dance on New Year's Eve when he's already drunk.

A film NOT just for Christmas
This is one of the better musicals from the 1940s. This is not MGM (luckily) so you don't get that 'songs coming from places for no reason' problem. In this, like a lot of the musicals from, lets say, the 1930s, the songs have reason to be there.

I think both Bing and Fred are great, but I have kind of a hate for Fred in this one. Really I guess, because his character is, well, kinda horrible. He is always stealing the women away from Bing, and he does it so easily. The film is mixed with a lot of the usual 'double-crossing' scenes, with some amazing songs by Irving Berlin, mostly sung by Bing, including 'White Christmas', 'Easter Parade' and a number of others, and not forgetting the wonderful dancing by Fred Astaire. Its Bing opening up his own inn, the 'Holiday Inn', which is open only during holidays. This is where the 'music being there for a reason' comes in, and there's lots of it too. Watch out for George Washington's birthday, I mean look out for the dance, which is, lets say amusingly funny.

The following part of this review, refers to a UK Region 2 release on DVD from Laureate/Universal.

The thing I love most about this DVD though is the print of the film, which looks great, and the extra features that go with it. The best being the 'A Couple of Song and Dance Men' featurette, with Ava Astaire MacKenzie and Ken Barnes, lasting around 40 odd minutes I think, which contains some interesting stories. Particularly the one about a certain dance which Fred does in the movie, while 'playing' drunk. Along with this, you get an audio commentary, filmographies, and a few other little things too.

Great movie, with a great DVD presentation. Highly recommended.

a great feel good movie!
This movie has become one of my holiday traditions. great dancing, and one of those which you get both Bing and Fred! They just don't make 'em like this anymore! Get the Dvd, and you get "Going My Way" too. It's worth it..and this IS the original "White Christmas" redition (for you purists). Lots of fun any time of the year! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

DAVIS at her greatest!
Bette Davis plays a beautiful New York socialite with "every man in New York at her feet". Many, many men are interested in marrying her.

And what does she do? She marries a rich, Jewish stockbroker, Job Skeffington (Claude Rains) for his money. It is only at the end of the film (after thirty years of countless beaus) that she realizes that Mr. Skeffington was the only man that really and truly ever loved her.

There is a much humor in the film including a wonderful running joke about one of Fanny's best friends whom we never meet because Fanny always cancels lunch dates with her.

The script was brilliantly written by the Epstein brothers who co-wrote an earlier Davis hit, MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER as well as one of the greatest films of all time-CASABLANCA.

The film begins in the year 1914 just before the beginning of World War I and ends during the midst of World War II. We see Claude Rains after returning from a German concentration camp and this was one of the first time American audiences were able to get just an inkling of the horrors of the Nazis and their anti-semitic practices.

The fade-out scene is one you'll not forget easily. Be sure to have that box of tissues handy.

You WILL enjoy this film!

EPIC DRAMA AT ITS FINEST...
A pre World War I society beauty, self absorbed and shallow Fanny Trellis (Bette Davis), enjoys being besieged by besotted suitors. She simply cannot make up her mind whom to marry. She finally ends up choosing one of the unlikeliest of men, one who was not even aa avowed suitor, the enormously wealthy Job Skeffington (Claude Rains). Her reasons for marrying the enormously wealthy and jewish Mr. Skeffington are linked to something disgraceful her ne'er do well brother did.

Mr. Skeffington provides Fanny with a good life and simply adores her, tolerating her flirtations with other men as simply something Fanny's vanity requires. They have a child, a daughter, also named Fanny, whom Mr. Skeffington adores. Fanny, however, loves only herself. When Fanny's brother, who had objected to her marriage and had run off to fight in World War I, is killed in action, Fanny blames her marriage to Mr. Skeffington as the catalyst for his death. From that point on, the marriage takes a nosedive.

Fanny proceeds to take her flirtations beyond the bounds of propriety, and Mr. Skeffington also looks for greener pastures elsewhere, as his is a loveless home. They end up having an open marriage that ultimately ends up in divorce. Mr. Skeffington takes custody of their daughter, when Fanny voluntarily seeks to relinquish custody, as she does not want the responsibility. Fanny proceeds to spend her life charming new suitors and having love affairs. She tries to turn back the hands of time, lavishing much time and effort in remaining youthful in her appearance. Meanwhile, Mr. Skeffington and their daughter spend years living abroad in Europe, until he sends their now grown daughter to live with Fanny just before the outbreak of World War II due to the growing Nazi menace, while he stays behind in Berlin. Unfortunately, he does not fare so well as a jew in Nazi Germany. This 1944 film was one of the first to allude to anti-semitism and the Nazi menace.

When her daughter returns home, after many years of not seeing her mother, as Fanny was always too busy, Fanny is startled by the fact that her daughter is now a young woman, and realizes that she serves just to make Fanny seem older than she appears. The daughter is an unwelcome reminder that her youth has passed her by. When Fanny is struck down with diptheria and her good looks are ravaged by her illness, she has a hard time coping with the loss of her youthful appearance and comes to a crossroads in her life. What she discovers is hard for her to bear, but she ends up being able to love someone other than herself. Watch the movie to find out who.

This is a superb film with superlative performances by the entire cast. Bette Davis is divine as the silly, self absorbed Fanny. Bette Davis succeeds in making the viewer believe her to be a grand beauty. Speaking in a voice, dripping with artiface, that she purposely pitches high in order to sound more youthful, her voice changes as she ages. Her costumes are first rate, as is her performance of this silly, vapid character. Claude Rains is wonderful, giving a powerful, though understated, performance as the patient and loving Mr. Skeffington. The supporting cast is likewise excellent. The lavish sets are magnificent and give the viewer the feeling of tremendous wealth and power. They are richly redolent of another era. Magnificently cast, the film deservedly won Bette Davis an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

This is a must see film for all Bette Davis fans. It is also one that those who love vintage films will enjoy!

looking back at the inimitable claude rains
this is basically a soap opera and the divine bitchy ms davis as usual plays the divine bitchy ms davis.
but, bette davis said upon numerous occasions that her favorite actor was claude rains and this is yet another example why.
claude rains possessed one of the most beautiful voices ever captured on film (it was for no reason that james whale cast rains in the invisisble man). he could be a terrific villian, suave and despicable in the same breath and as a villian we love hating him. but he could touchingly empathetic too and his acting often makes the whole method acting seem silly and pretentious.
chaeck out this, the invisible man adventures of robin hood and countless others to see what great character acting in classic hollywood was all about

My favorite Bette Davis film.
Yeah, I've seen Now Voyager and Baby Jane and All About Eve. I've actually seen most of Bette Davis's pictures (this was before I discovered Joan Crawford - if you like one, you'll probably like the other). Anyway, Mr. Skeffington is Bette's very best film. I say this because of the very impressive acting, production, and screenplay. There is some very powerful social commentary in this film - just as relevant today as 60 years ago, if not more. The main theme of the film is you are only beautiful if you are loved. Damned if this isn't the same theme of Madonna's latest album, American Life! Anyway, we follow the epic life story of a very rich, beautiful and selfish woman (Bette) as she willingly marries a man for his money and throws him and her daughter away afterward as if they never happened. Years pass and Bette loses all her "beauty" and the makeup is plastered on to make her look like Baby Jane (this is 20 years before Baby Jane, but the effect is the same)! She tries to pretend she is still young...and all her fake hair falls out and none of the men want her any more! Then comes the great moment of catharsis, when Bette's daughter leaves and tells her that if somebody truly loved her, it wouldn't matter to them that she was now older (such a true statement and one of the best in the movie). I won't give the whole plot away, but the movie stands up because there are a lot of selfish people in our world today, not just women. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this movie would have been better with a real beauty like Joan Crawford, but she was off doing Mildred Pierce and whatnot. This movie really is a masterpiece, though, and it has a wonderful happy ending that will make you cry tears of joy!

Supreme Emotional Drama with Bette Davis and Claude Rains
"A woman is only beautiful when she is loved", so says Job Skeffington to his capricious wife Fanny during this emotionally taut drama that chronicles the life of New York beauty Fanny Trellis Skeffington (Bette Davis). Indeed beauty of the face and that of the soul are the two conflicting themes in this powerful drama and in the lesson in what should be really valued in life. Beautifully and emotionally put together this story of one vain woman's pointless life and continual quest for shallow adulation over real emotional commitment makes riverting viewing in any generation.

"Mr. Skeffington", based on the acclaimed novel by "Elizabeth" covers a period of over 40 years and offered a supreme starring role for the Queen of Warner Brothers, Bette Davis then at her peak of popularity and Box Office power. The story sees Fanny Skeffington's progression through many decades from being a young lady courted by many eager suitors to an old emotionally alone victim of her own caprices in life. What occurs along the way makes powerful viewing as we see Fanny first try and bail out of financial trouble her worthless brother Trippy (Richard Waring in a small but highly effective performance) by marrying for money his boss Jewish financier Job Skeffington (Claude Rains in one of his finest performances.) Time passes and we see the continual quest for youth and adulation that Fanny seeks all the while ignoring and alienating her adoring husband. Their child is born and still Fanny ignores her family commitments and steadily drifts away from Job who out of sheer loneliness seeks affection with a succession of secretaries. No longer content to dream that his marriage is anything more than a farce Job and Fanny divorce and Job along with baby Fanny sets off for a new life in Europe just as the warning clouds of the rise of the Nazi's begins to become evident. Fanny's shallow life continues but a severe case of diphtheria robs her of her only asset, her good looks and suddenly Fanny must come to the sad realisation that she is growing old and no longer the attractive young woman who men flocked to. Even when her now grown daughter returns years later an emotional block still sepearates the two and young Fanny eventually spurns her and ends up marrying one of Fanny's younger suitors further emphasising the passing of time. Just as all seems lost however Job, now a broken man, blinded and a victim of Nazi oppression suddenly appears and for the first time Fanny, with her ruined looks and lonely prospects, sees the real value in loving people for who they are not what they look like. She happily announces that "Mr. Skeffington is coming home!" and helps the blinded Job up to his room.

Vintage melodrama? Perhaps but produced in superb style helped immensely by the playing of the two powerful leads. Bette Davis has a difficult part here as her character of Fanny is a vain shallow woman and not at all likeable. With her girlish manners and high pitched voice she gets across beautifully the character of this uncaring woman who never wants to grow older. Her work after the attack of diptheria is especially good and even though her makeup for the disfigured scenes caused her no end of trouble during Mr. Skeffington's filming she rises superbly to the possibilities of a woman for the first time learning how to appreciate others. Claude Rains as Job has one of his best roles ever and clearly relishes working with Davis. Being one of the few actors she in later life mentioned as admiring Rains brings a beautiful balance of affection, loathing, frustration and desperation to his performing. His confrontation scene with Fanny when he mentions that if he had even one shred of affection from her in their marriage he would never have left is one of the emotional climax's of the story. The talented Walter Abel exceles as Fanny's cousin George who is the witness to all of Fanny's superficial behaviour over the years and Jerome Cowan is excellent as the most presistent of Fanny's suitors who in another sad and emotionally wrenching scene returns as an old broke man seeking money from Fanny under the guise of still supposedly being infatuated with her. Being one of Warner Brothers major productions of 1944 no expense was spared on this Bette Davis vechicle which had an agonizingly long shooting schedule filled with constant battles between Davis and director Vincent Sherman. It is a lavish film to behold from the amazingly extravagent sets, costumes changing over a forty year time span and the powerful Franz Waxman musical score.

First and foremost this is a Bette Davis film all the way and in the 1938 to 1946 period when she had many memorable parts it is still a stand out. However I dont think that any part taxed her as much as the part of Fanny Skeffington built as it was on one woman's devotion to herself and in living a life built on artiface. Quite deservedly she was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress and in "Mr. Skeffington", she has never been better in a different type of role than she normally tackled. To see this film is to view film making as it used to be when the resources of a whole studio were put behind a lead performer like Davis. For lovers of fine acting settle back and enjoy the tear jerking emotional drama of "Mr. Skeffington" soon. It is a viewing experience to cherish always. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Wake Island, a sandbar rising 21 feet out of the South Pacific, wasamong the first U.S. outposts to be hit by the Japanese, virtuallysimultaneously with Pearl Harbor. Wake Island the movie was amongHollywood's earliest responses to America's being attacked and drawn into WWII.The Marine Corps defenders of Wake became instant war heroes, akin to the martyrs of the Alamo. Nothing could be done to rescue or even to reinforce and resupply them, and they fought on through air attacks and naval bombardment for two weeks until, finally overrun, they were wiped out.

That searing historical context had a lot to do with the movie's impact in 1942, and the sight of the dark forms of enemy planes coming over the horizon for the first time still carries a shock. Wake Island's a decent film, and it doesn't dishonor its subject with sham heroics and grandstanding. But the New York Film Critics voted John Farrow best director of 1942, and that's a reach. The first half hour sets up the allegory of America as melting pot (there's even a corporal named Goebbels), establishes horseplay as the coin of democratic discourse (especially for gyrenes Robert Preston and the Oscar-nominated William Bendix), and fosters familiar friction between new commander Brian Donlevy and civilian construction supervisor Albert Dekker. Then shortly after a beaming Japanese peace envoy has stopped by for dinner, things get rough.The scenes of warfare are more than adequate, but they'd soon be outdone,sometimes in films much less worthy than Wake Island. --Richard T.Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The Team Behind "Wake Island"
Today, Wake Island remains a lonely outpost and weather station frequented by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force units on ASW training, semi-annual MSC supply visits, and continued USAF flights from Hickam Field, Oahu. Located in the Oceanic region at Lat. 19.2833 North and Long. -166.6536 East, temperatures rarely rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit during December. But almost 60 years ago, it was pretty hot for those Warfighters in Dec 1941. Wake Island, a piece of U.S. territory, was practically seen on every USMC Recruiting Station poster and playing at local hometown theaters. Wake Island- the movie- was released to the general public in late Aug 1942 to help boost morale back at home. This epic war film was made as a factual film chronicle, an authentic picturization of America at war- the first of its kind since a Japanese "stab in the back", on 7 Dec 1941, had changed the course of American history. Over 7,000 military personnel and their dependents first saw it when it was premiered all day long at Camp Elliott's base theater (near San Diego, CA), on 24 Aug 1942. In the making of this film, the United State Marine Corps provided Lieutenant Colonel Francis E. Pierce, USMC (later downed 6 confirmed Japanese aircraft, and C.O. of MCAD Miramar, 24 Oct 44-1 Apr 45) as technical advisor, and Lieutenant Colonel W. G. Farrell, USMC, as liaison officer. Never too far away was the supervising officer of the Marine technical staff- Brigadier General Ross Erastus Rowell, USMC (CG 2d MAW; 1884-1947). Additionally, a special weapons detail comprising 60 Marines from Camp Elliott, under the command of Captain Nicholas Pesecans, USMC, manned and received valued training with the various heavy automatic weapons (.30 and .50 caliber machine guns, and a 37-milimeter anti-tank gun), including one 5-inch naval gun. Also, a squadron of eight F4F-3 Grumman fighters (assigned to 2d MAW) from NAS San Diego airfield, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John N. Hart (an old Annapolis classmate of Brian Donlevy, and later C.O. of VMO-251 at Espirito Santo) planned the USMC aerial combat against a group of Ryan SC low-wing monoplanes painted to duplicate the Japanese Nakajima- 96 fighters. They were flown by picture and test flyers led by Herbert L. White, and by Frank Clark- chief pilot of the film unit. Not being outdone, one PBY-5A was shown flown by a naval crew stationed at NAS San Diego. Then, there was the giant Pan American Airways "China Clipper" flying boat (a Martin M-130 with top speed 150 mph and 3,200 mile range), whose pilot dutifully took orders from Brian Donlevy. The three location sites for filming were: the Salton Sea, the Great Salt Lake, and the coastal firing range on Coronado Island's "Strand Beach." With Brian Donlevy (1901 - 1972) depicting Major James Patrick Sinnott Devereux (commander of the Wake Marine Detachment from 15 Oct 1941 - 23 Dec 1941; 1903-1988), there was Walter Abel (1898-1987; depicting island C.O., Commander Winfield S. Cunningham, USN); the comedy team of two USMC privates- Robert Preston Meservey (1918-1987) and William Bendix (this was William's second assignment under the Paramount banner; 1906-1964); Albert Dekker who played the tough civilian construction contractor (familiar to fans in two horror films of 1940- Dr. Cyclops and Strange Cargo); and, young Edward MacDonald Carey (1913-1994) playing the heroic role as in real-life comparison to Major Paul A. Putnam (C.O. of VMF-221 fighter squadron consisting of twelve F4F-3 Grumman fighters). His serious respect for the USMC "Flying Leathernecks" would later get him an assignment with Colonel Walter L. J. Bayler, USMC (then Major Bayler, communications officer of MAG-21, better known to USMC as "the last man off Wake Island"). Thus, the audience of 1942 at all home theaters laughed, cried, and howled as the Marines goofed-off, fought one another, and hit hard the enemy landing force in the final scenes. There was the patriotic Chinese- American, Richard Loo (1916-1975), who portrayed the Japanese special envoy- Saburo Kurusu, on his way to Washington for "peace" negotiations. Who can forget that out of the tomato and carrot fields of Imperial Valley, CA, during the hot summer of 1942, some 150 loyal Filipino- Americans did their patriotic part, too, as they volunteered to portray the invading Japanese forces (now known as the 1,000- strong Maizuru 2nd Special Naval Landing Force). Director John Villiers Farrow (1904-1963) brought more than Hollywood skill to this film. He also brought an intimate knowledge of war. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Canadian Navy until invalided out of service December 1941 after contracting typhus while on duty as executive officer of a Canadian ASW vessel operating in the South Atlantic. Wake Island was his first directing assignment in two years (in 1940 he directed A Bill of Divorcement). And, who would have known that from this film lovely Barbara Britton who played just a brief moment as the wife of the young Marine "Flying Leatherneck" pilot, played by Carey, would shortly after assist a Marine Recruiting Station in Los Angeles, CA. Finally, E. MacDonald Carey soon enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. He was sent to Parris Island, NC, on 7 Dec 1942, for recruit training. Then he was sent to OCS Quantico, VA, for officer training- graduating in April 1943. Would you know it... his first assignment was as a Marine aviation maintenance officer for the Marine Air Group under the command of Colonel W. L. J. Bayler ("the last man off Wake Island") at newly established MCAS Cherry Point, NC. "What a Team!"

In The Days Following Pearl Harbor
Wake Island details the battle for the island in the days immediately following Pearl Harbor. Wake Island was a small, flat piece of nothing in the middle of the Pacific that had strategic importance. When Japanese bombers began attacking, there wasn't much the American Marines stationed there could do, although the battle they put up in the face of hopeless odds was remarkable. Needless to say, the emphasis is on the action here, as it should be, and it is efficiently and effectively played out. There's a number of familiar character actors that give the movie a comfortable feel. The film is competently made, and history lovers and war buffs will no doubt find it entertaining enough.

where is closed captioned?
why not you put on closed captioned and i would buy some of them if that have all of them closed captioned. that would be nice.

Better than remembered
Saw this long ago on TV. We had no Saturday morning cartoons then, only seemingly endlessly repeated WWII movies. This DVD isn't bad at all. Yes, we have all the cliché military and civilian types we're supposed to have in movies of this sort. Yes, we have some VERY well done camera work also. William Bendix and Brian Donlevy great. Worth a look, not "Zulu" but worth a look.

Marines Stand Tall
When you consider the timing of this movie and its propaganda value, then weigh it with the reality of what the Marines did on Wake, this is one of the finest and timeliest movies to come out of WW II.

Good acting, good action, but a few technical details missed (such as calling someone "soldier" - doesn't happen in the Marine Corps; also belt buckles, etc. Minor stuff, given the time). Overall, a solid movie and a good cast.

Well worth Seeing by Marines and those who love 'em.

Semper Fi ... Read more

Reviews (11)

a hugely entertaining film
MGM tried to outdo themselves here, touting the film as the next GONE WITH THE WIND (and what could ever be?), and instead they gave Elizabeth Taylor the acting role that would land her her first Oscar nomination.

She is wonderful as the simpy Southern belle Sussanna, who traps her reluctant beau (Montgomery Clift) into marriage by saying she is pregnant, forcing him to abandon his childhood sweetheart (Eva Marie Saint), and his chance to be truly happy.

Sussanna is mentally unstable, however, and when the Civil War breaks out, she flees to Georgia, and her husband enlists in order to find her.

A very good story, based on the novel by Ross Lockridge Jr, and featuring Lee Marvin, Agnes Moorehead, Rod Taylor, Walter Abel, Jarma Lewis and Tom Drake.

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT
The best thing about Raintree is Elizabeth Taylor. Her Susannah is sexy, fragile and tormented. Montgomery Clift as her husband was miscast. Monty seems to be half asleep in his role and is too old to be playing a wide eyed lad. Eva Marie Saint as his righteous ex girlfriend who spends her life hovering around him has a thankless job playing an annoying woman. In fact a lot of Raintree is annoying. I kept waiting for John Shawnessy to grow up, tell off his small minded family and to take his wife and child away somewhere to start over. The battlefield scenes are great. The scenes with Elizabeth before she goes mad are gorgeous but the whole film seems off somehow. While watching it I kept thinking that this movie, with a beter script, casting and director could have been great.

ross lockridge never knew what they did to his book
Esquire magazine used to have a feature called "Wretched Excess" and I believe "Raintree County" would easily fall into that category.
As for the one reviewer stating that Ross Lockridge probably didn't like the screenplay, well---unfortunately he never knew about the screenplay as he killed himself shortly after the book became a best selling novel in 1948 and the film was released in 1957.

A Gorgeous Historic Film "a la" Gone With The Wind
Raintree County was a thousand plus novel written by Ross Lockbridge Jr. published in 1948. At its time, it was regarded as the Great American Novel second only to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind and in some ways, both Raintree County and Gone With The Wind are a bit alike, although everyone generally considers Gone With The Wind to be the superior work of historic fiction. And it is. Gone With The Wind, as we all know, became a highly successful film in 1939, even winning Best Picture. It must have dawned on Hollywood producers that the novel would make a breathtaking movie. It was the 50's, the new invention of television had just entered people's homes and the movie industry was threatened. It was the time of the "epic films" (The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur). In 1957, "Raintree County" was released in theatres. The appeal to the film was its Cival War Era drama and Elizabeth Taylor.

It's no Gone With The Wind, but Raintree County is a beautiful film to look at visually. The master shots of the scenic countryside in Raintree County are incredibly lovely, the costumes look authentic to the period, the music is enjoyable but subtle, and Elizabeth Taylor is always interesting to watch on film. Elizabeth Taylor plays Susanna Drake, a vibrant Southern belle with a troubled past (her plantation home caught on fire and she had issues with her mother). Although she seems to be almost a near replica of Scarlett O'Hara in many of the scenes, she lacks Scarlett O'Hara's strength and willful nature. While Scarlett could survive anything, Susanna Drake weakens out at the end of the film, becomes mentally disturbed (she has a strong attachment to a scary looking Chucky doll) and dies a pathetic death when she seeks out the Raintree. This is not Elizabeth's finest performance. A tragic heroine is still acceptable, but this particular heroine is not as satisfying as Vivien Leigh's performance as Scarlett. Also, her "rival" and John Shawnessy's first love and childhood friend Nelle is an easily replaceable role. I was thinking she was the equivalent of Melanie Hamilton in Gone With The Wind and a role that could have been played by Olivia De Havilland once again. The women in this film are not portrayed as strongly as the men are. And even the men are not as substantial. It's just Yankee versus Rebels. The relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift's characters is not that well developed. It's not enough that they are from opposite sides of the Civil War conflict- she's at heart a Southerner and he's a Yankee. I was even disappointed in one scene in which Elizabeth says to Montgomery after an argument "You hate me because I'm Southern!". This film could have used some polishing. I'm very certain that even author Ross Lockbridge Jr. was not entirely satisfied with what they did to his book in screenplay form.

Montgomery Clift has done other worthwhile movies but in this film, his performance as John Shawnessy is wooden and lacks some substance. Although he is supposed to be portrayed as an idealist poet and writer (much like Doctor Zhivago), we never see him write anything. All we get is his desire to seek out the elusive and magic, all-healing legendary Raintree, supposedly planted by Johny Appleseed and a quest he gives up at the end of the film. Professor Jerusalem is a funny and amusing character but a bit too shallow. Again, this film is rather interesting to look at if you want to get some insight on Civil War Era America (1850's and 1860's) and the mention of such things as abolitionism, Uncle Tom's Cabin, copperheads, Abraham Lincoln, Fort Sumter and Gettysburg to the later Republican politics of the Reconstruction are very historically accurate.

This "Roadshow" version is beautiful to look at nevertheless. Out of curiosity for Civil War history, this would make a great film to watch as a history project in high school or college courses. This film is also worth watching if you're a hardcore fan of Elizabeth Taylor and don't care what role she plays or what movie she is in, whether it's "Little Women" "National Velvet", whehter she plays the tragic Susanna Drake, Cleopatra or the other Southern heroine in Tenesee William's "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" or the incredibly nasty character in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf ?".

Read the book instead
This movie is not the best and the sets are awful!I would recommend the book though. However, it does have an interesting behind the scenes story. Like, did you know that this was the beginning of the end of Montgomery's career. During the middle of the film he was in a horrible car crash that destroyed his face and took away his gorgeous looks. In which Elizabeth Taylor saved his life. They tried to cover up Montgomery's appearance after the accident but the film suffers. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Somber but beautiful western adventure
This entertaining and colorful western is about the relationship between red men and white men and the differences in the values and ideals between the two cultures. The film has cavalry-Indian skirmishes and derring-do heroics by wagon train guide Johnny Hawks but the white man's greed for gold is the central theme of this story that undoes a peace treaty and has the Oregon-bound wagon beating a hasty retreat to the fort for safety from Red Cloud's warriors. The trouble centers around two unscrupulous white men who trade whiskey for gold to Indians in exchange for revealing the location of gold on Sioux land. Hawks is less interested in gold than he is in a Sioux maiden for whom he leaves the wagon train to be with against his better judgment. The peace treaty ceremonies at the fort have a patriotic flavor, what with the Indians approaching on horseback in their finest war regalia and fluttering war bonnets and colorful shields to the accompaniment of "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean", and a Mathew Brady protégé is on hand to photograph the event. As Indian fighter Hawks romances the beautiful Onahti, he is pursued by a marriage-minded frontier woman who has her own plans for him when the train gets to Oregon. The film has a brooding quality that's reflected in Franz Waxman's melancholy music score, especially those cues that are highlighted by a lyrical, solo flute.

Indian Fighter
I was very disappointed with this movie.
I saw the original TV airing of this movie in 1962. Over those 40 years, I still remember scenes of the movie, which were not part of this copy. There was a statement at the beginning of the movie, which indicated that the Indian would not speak in their native tongue so the audience would be able to understand the movie better. In addition, I remember that in the end, a soldier (the bugler), silhouetted by the dusk light was standing on a hill holding a girl.
The story line was weak, nearly uninteresting. I felt fidgety watching this poor film. The only thing, which kept me watching, besides the fact that I just threw away good money on this new release, was the fact that I had fond childhood memories of the Indian fighter. But, in all honesty, I have pulled better movies out of Wal-mart's $5.88 bins.
The movie DID appear to be choppy in its story line, as though it might have been pieced together, as if the original film had some damaged parts and were left out. Also, the movie ended abruptly, leaving me feeling cheated. There were several scenes, which looked grainy, as though they might have been 3rd generation copies.
I want a refund! If I had sent this in a theater, I would have walked out and demanded back my ticket price.

THE INDIAN FIGHTER
Have no idea what the guy who complained about the picture being fuzzy, shifting quality and looking chopped up was drinking the night he viewed this movie. Picture quality was excellent and saw no sign of it being chopped up. An excellent western.

disappointment
Either the original or transfer was terribly faulty but picture was poor. Aspect changed from moment to moment. Focus was a bit bleary and night shots were too dark to tell what was going on. And the story, it almost seemed like there were scenes deleted as story line had a very jerky feel to it. As a collector of western films, can only say this ranks among the worst I have purchased.

Kirk Douglas in a pro-Indian pro-environment Western romance
Kirk Douglas is "The Indian Fighter" Johnny Hawks, who returns to the West after the end of the Civil War to lead a wagon train bound for Oregon. Along the way there is the threat of an Indian war stirred up by bad guys Wes Todd (Walter Matthau) and Chivington (Lon Chaney), a couple of whiskey traders who are after gold on Indian land. The Indians in question are led by Red Cloud (Eduard Franz), the Sioux chief who tried to keep the white man from taking over his people's land. Johnny is smitten with Onahti (Elsa Martinelli), the chief's daughter, who distracts him enough from his job to put the wagon train and the local military outpost at risk when Red Cloud's brother is killed.

This 1955 western was filmed on location in Oregon by director André De Toth and the beautiful scenery along with composer Franz Waxman's evocative helps elevate "The Indian Fighter" to above average status. Given the time and genre, some of the scenes between Hawks and Onahti are quite risqué. In the end this is more of a Western romance than a Western action film, and with its inherent sympathy towards both the Indians and the environment, De Toth has made an extremely atypical Western. Elisha Cook has a nice supporting role as Briggs, a character who learned photography from Matthew Brady during the Civil War and has come out West to capture the grandeur of the landscape, and there are several moments when De Toth's has the camera provide the sort of beautiful panoramic shots that Briggs would aspire to take. Not a great Western but there is a lot here that warrants fans of the genre taking a long look.

Trivia Note: Diana Douglas, the wife of Kirk and mother of Michael Douglas at that point in hsitory, plays settler Susan Rogers, who has her eye on Hawks but ends up with hardy Will Crabtree (Alan Hale, Jr.). I remember the actress from playing Professor Tyler on "The Paper Chase." This was the only film the two appeared in together and certain an interesting choice given they each have different love interests. ... Read more

Description

A graduating poet/teacher falls in love with a Southern woman during the Civil War, until her past comes back to trouble them. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

a hugely entertaining film
MGM tried to outdo themselves here, touting the film as the next GONE WITH THE WIND (and what could ever be?), and instead they gave Elizabeth Taylor the acting role that would land her her first Oscar nomination.

She is wonderful as the simpy Southern belle Sussanna, who traps her reluctant beau (Montgomery Clift) into marriage by saying she is pregnant, forcing him to abandon his childhood sweetheart (Eva Marie Saint), and his chance to be truly happy.

Sussanna is mentally unstable, however, and when the Civil War breaks out, she flees to Georgia, and her husband enlists in order to find her.

A very good story, based on the novel by Ross Lockridge Jr, and featuring Lee Marvin, Agnes Moorehead, Rod Taylor, Walter Abel, Jarma Lewis and Tom Drake.

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT
The best thing about Raintree is Elizabeth Taylor. Her Susannah is sexy, fragile and tormented. Montgomery Clift as her husband was miscast. Monty seems to be half asleep in his role and is too old to be playing a wide eyed lad. Eva Marie Saint as his righteous ex girlfriend who spends her life hovering around him has a thankless job playing an annoying woman. In fact a lot of Raintree is annoying. I kept waiting for John Shawnessy to grow up, tell off his small minded family and to take his wife and child away somewhere to start over. The battlefield scenes are great. The scenes with Elizabeth before she goes mad are gorgeous but the whole film seems off somehow. While watching it I kept thinking that this movie, with a beter script, casting and director could have been great.

ross lockridge never knew what they did to his book
Esquire magazine used to have a feature called "Wretched Excess" and I believe "Raintree County" would easily fall into that category.
As for the one reviewer stating that Ross Lockridge probably didn't like the screenplay, well---unfortunately he never knew about the screenplay as he killed himself shortly after the book became a best selling novel in 1948 and the film was released in 1957.

A Gorgeous Historic Film "a la" Gone With The Wind
Raintree County was a thousand plus novel written by Ross Lockbridge Jr. published in 1948. At its time, it was regarded as the Great American Novel second only to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind and in some ways, both Raintree County and Gone With The Wind are a bit alike, although everyone generally considers Gone With The Wind to be the superior work of historic fiction. And it is. Gone With The Wind, as we all know, became a highly successful film in 1939, even winning Best Picture. It must have dawned on Hollywood producers that the novel would make a breathtaking movie. It was the 50's, the new invention of television had just entered people's homes and the movie industry was threatened. It was the time of the "epic films" (The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur). In 1957, "Raintree County" was released in theatres. The appeal to the film was its Cival War Era drama and Elizabeth Taylor.

It's no Gone With The Wind, but Raintree County is a beautiful film to look at visually. The master shots of the scenic countryside in Raintree County are incredibly lovely, the costumes look authentic to the period, the music is enjoyable but subtle, and Elizabeth Taylor is always interesting to watch on film. Elizabeth Taylor plays Susanna Drake, a vibrant Southern belle with a troubled past (her plantation home caught on fire and she had issues with her mother). Although she seems to be almost a near replica of Scarlett O'Hara in many of the scenes, she lacks Scarlett O'Hara's strength and willful nature. While Scarlett could survive anything, Susanna Drake weakens out at the end of the film, becomes mentally disturbed (she has a strong attachment to a scary looking Chucky doll) and dies a pathetic death when she seeks out the Raintree. This is not Elizabeth's finest performance. A tragic heroine is still acceptable, but this particular heroine is not as satisfying as Vivien Leigh's performance as Scarlett. Also, her "rival" and John Shawnessy's first love and childhood friend Nelle is an easily replaceable role. I was thinking she was the equivalent of Melanie Hamilton in Gone With The Wind and a role that could have been played by Olivia De Havilland once again. The women in this film are not portrayed as strongly as the men are. And even the men are not as substantial. It's just Yankee versus Rebels. The relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift's characters is not that well developed. It's not enough that they are from opposite sides of the Civil War conflict- she's at heart a Southerner and he's a Yankee. I was even disappointed in one scene in which Elizabeth says to Montgomery after an argument "You hate me because I'm Southern!". This film could have used some polishing. I'm very certain that even author Ross Lockbridge Jr. was not entirely satisfied with what they did to his book in screenplay form.

Montgomery Clift has done other worthwhile movies but in this film, his performance as John Shawnessy is wooden and lacks some substance. Although he is supposed to be portrayed as an idealist poet and writer (much like Doctor Zhivago), we never see him write anything. All we get is his desire to seek out the elusive and magic, all-healing legendary Raintree, supposedly planted by Johny Appleseed and a quest he gives up at the end of the film. Professor Jerusalem is a funny and amusing character but a bit too shallow. Again, this film is rather interesting to look at if you want to get some insight on Civil War Era America (1850's and 1860's) and the mention of such things as abolitionism, Uncle Tom's Cabin, copperheads, Abraham Lincoln, Fort Sumter and Gettysburg to the later Republican politics of the Reconstruction are very historically accurate.

This "Roadshow" version is beautiful to look at nevertheless. Out of curiosity for Civil War history, this would make a great film to watch as a history project in high school or college courses. This film is also worth watching if you're a hardcore fan of Elizabeth Taylor and don't care what role she plays or what movie she is in, whether it's "Little Women" "National Velvet", whehter she plays the tragic Susanna Drake, Cleopatra or the other Southern heroine in Tenesee William's "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" or the incredibly nasty character in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf ?".

Read the book instead
This movie is not the best and the sets are awful!I would recommend the book though. However, it does have an interesting behind the scenes story. Like, did you know that this was the beginning of the end of Montgomery's career. During the middle of the film he was in a horrible car crash that destroyed his face and took away his gorgeous looks. In which Elizabeth Taylor saved his life. They tried to cover up Montgomery's appearance after the accident but the film suffers. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Tough stuff from director Fritz Lang(M), making his first American film with this 1936 story of an innocent man (Spencer Tracy) who escapes a lynch mob and then orchestrates his apparent murder at their hands. Tracy is superb, and the film is uncompromising, until studio interference takes some of the wind out of Lang's sails right at the end. But as the portrait of a character who comes to reflect the destiny he is trying to avoid, this is still essential Lang and a pre-noir classic.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

That good old American sport...Lynching.
This movie is an indictment of it of course. Quite common in the 30's. This is the first film of Fritz's Lang's American period & it seems like he's got the lingo down pretty good.
Briefly, Tracy plays a good guy, wrongly accused of a terrible crime by the residents of a small town. The evidence is highly circumstancial but the townsfolk want to lynch him & burn down the jail to get at him. He escapes & is presumed dead.
The townsfolk are broadly drawn as xenophobic, intolerant & quick to judge the world outside their little orbit.
Tracy's acting goes over the top, his character changing 180 degrees. One of his better efforts, however & that's saying a lot.

Tracy at his best
This is easily my favourite Spencer Tracy movie. Altough quite a different story line to his Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde, Tracy uses a similar technique when he changes his personality in Fury from the young easy going loving man on a journey to visit his fiance, to a bitter twisted vengence seeking man.
Although you could not blame him for this

FRITZ LANG & SPENCER TRACY: WHAT A TEAM!
A very unusual M-G-M film from 1936: because of its theme of social consciousness, it seems much more a likely candidate for Warner Brothers. It's a dilly with an outstanding performance by Tracy as the wrong man: En route to see his fiancee, Katherine (Sylvia Sidney) Joe Wheeler (Spencer Tracy) is arrested as a suspected kidnapper and is jailed pending trial. The evidence against him is strickly circumstantial: he possess a bill from a ransom statement. Then a mob forms around the jail, but Sheriff Ellis (Walter Brennan) manages to disband them & send them home... And that's all I'm going to give out plot-wise. Obviously, there is a whole lot more to this famous film in which Fritz Lang made is American directorial debut. This was Lang's favourite American film - and rightfully so: it demonstrates his directorial genius in wasting NOT A FRAME of film, telling his story with sharp cross-cutting between victims and tormentors, while unravelling the mindless and murderous passion of a mob out of control. Sylvia Sidney is excellent as usual as Katherine: this was her sole role for M-G-M. The film awakened America to what the reality of mob violence means. The original working titles for the film were THE MOB & MOB RULE. For a great companion piece, view the excellent Lang production YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE with Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney made the next year, in 1937: it's available on video.

A real thriller
Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film features Spencer Tracy as a man falsely accused of a crime and attacked by a lynch mob. He survives and comes back, seeking revenge. Pretty heavy stuff, and a pretty thrilling film.

Spencer Tracy stars in Fritz Lang's first American film
Director Fritz Lang's first American film is the disturbing tale of a good man, played by Spencer Tracy, turned into a haunting figure of vengeance because of the ferocity of mob rule. Joe Wilson (Tracy) is on his way to see Katherine Grant (Sylvia Sydney), the girl he wants to marry. Passing through the small town of Strand, Joe is picked up by the Sheriff (Edward Ellis) and arrested as a suspect in a kidnapping case. It seems his fondness for peanuts proves his downfall. The citizens form a lynch mob and attack the jail. When they discover Joe has been locked away where they cannot get at him, the mob burns down the jail. Katherine arrives in time to see Joe screaming for help from his cell before she faints. However, Joe has escaped but swears his brothers Tom (George Walcott) and Charlie (Frank Albertson) to secrecy, demanding that the mob be tried for his murder. As Joe sees it, the fact he did not really die does not make them any less guilty. Besides, they did kill Rainbow, the mutt that Joe had taken a shine to. The District Attorney (Walter Abel) tries twenty-two citizens of Strand for Joe's death, all of whom protest their innocence and attack the trial for besmirching the good name of their fair town right up until the moment the D.A. runs the newsreel footage of them gleefully committing the crime. Meanwhile, in trying to nail the case shut for the D.A., Joe makes an error that lets Katharine know he is still alive.

Tracy's performance as the tragic figure of Joe Wilson, a good man who did not die in the fire but who surely lost his humanity, anchors this film and balances the grotesque citizens of Strand. What is upsetting is not the fact that the mob tried to kill Joe, but that they insist on their collective innocence and gloat about being able to get away with their crime. The fact Joe was innocent only makes a couple of them feel bad, but only for a moment. Ironically, while watching the film you can get just as caught up in the idea of vengeance as Joe and perhaps the most remarkable thing about the film is that it does come down on the side of law and order rather than revenge. Then again, remember that Lang had just fled Nazi Germany. Lang and Bartlet Cormack wrote the screenplay for this 1936 film, based on a original story by Norman Krasna. "Fury" is a much more brutal film than "The Ox-Bow Incident," the other recognized classic attacking the idea of a lynch mob, and some will find the ending unsatisfying. But overall "Fury" is quite a powerful film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's little question that the brilliant Danny Kaye did some of his finest--and most memorable--work in the lush and lavish Samuel Goldwyn musicals that he made both during and immediately after World War II. The Kid from Brooklyn, based on the play The Milky Way, is no exception. The plot concerns Burleigh Sullivan, a kindly milkman who is duped into thinking he's championship-boxer material, and Kaye is again paired with Virginia Mayo, who teamed with him (ever so briefly) in Up in Arms, then as his leading lady in Wonder Man, and later in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and A Song Is Born.

The performances from Kaye and his supporting cast are topnotch. Notable are Walter Abel as the comically manic fight promoter Gabby Sloan; a wry Eve Arden as Gabby's long-suffering gal pal; Steve Cochran as Speed, the "real" boxer who's actually a nice guy; Lionel Stander (later of Hart to Hart) as Spider, the put-upon trainer; and a truly sensational Vera-Ellen--who has completely amazing dance numbers (notably "What's Your Name?"). The underrated Vera-Ellen plays Burleigh's sweet sister, who falls for Speed. Familiar Kaye collaborators Sammy Cahn, Sylvia Fine (Kaye's wife), Max Liebman, and Jule Styne provide the film with catchy, lively tunes that still sound fresh. Legendary cinematographer Gregg Toland gives the colorful film a lovely look. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a great film!
This is one of Danny Kaye's funniest and greatest I think. It's a must to see for any Danny kaye fan or fan of comedy and is one oyu never tire of watching. Virginia Mayo and Vera Ellen are great in it as well.

Milquetoast milkman turned middleweight champ!
Charming and lighthearted comedy in gorgeous color about a milquetoast milkman who becomes middleweight champion of the world--only in a Danny Kaye (or Bob Hope) vehicle could this happen convincingly. Kaye delivers his usual winning combination of naivete and spunk as Burleigh Sullivan, an endearing and mild-mannered milkman who inadvertently finds himself on the road to success and glory when he is mistakenly credited in the papers with having knocked a man out that he unwittingly got in an altercation with--a man who turns out to be the reigning middleweight world champ! To try to rectify this humiliating situation, the current champ's promoter arranges for a match-up between his boy and Burleigh. Along the way, Burleigh hilariously goes from a nice, down-to-earth person to an arrogant, loudmouthed show-off with an ego out of this world as he "wins" one bout after another to qualify for middleweight contender. The rest of the cast is top-notch--blond beauty Virginia Mayo as a glamorous yet wholesome singer named Polly Pringle, Burleigh's sweetheart who soon gets disgusted with his overbearing manner and longs for the sweet boy she initially fell for; lovely Vera-Ellen as Burleigh's sister Susie (with her dancing talents nicely showcased in a couple of musical scenes); Walter Abel as Gabby Sloan, the exasperated yet resourceful boxing promoter; and Eve Arden provides a lot of dry humor as Gabby's gal Ann Westley. Particularly good is Steve Cochran as "Speed" McFarlane, the current champ and Burleigh's opponent, who falls for Susie and she for him when she discovers what an on-the-level, decent chap he turns out to be. It's mystifying why Cochran never got to be a big star since he had looks, appeal, and some talent, effectively playing tough guys with a soft side, as in this film, to bad guys rotten throughout--oh well, the vagaries of Hollywood. One of the most hilarious scenes in the movie is when Burleigh's super-ego is displayed full throttle when he interrupts Polly's performance at a charity event by making an outrageously grand (and very loud) entrance complete with a procession of Russian acrobats and marching band! A great comedy which still sparkles and is refreshing to this day.

Another great performance
One of Danny Kaye's lesser known films, but on a par with classics like Walter Mitty and Court Jester. Kaye is at his best playing the unwitting pawn who always comes out on top. A definate "must-have" for any fan of Danny Kaye's work. Now how about a DVD version? ... Read more

Description

Bio-pic of operatic soprano Grace Moore, starting with her childhood in Tennessee ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Interesting true story of one womans determination.
Although Grace Moore's true story is much more interesting than this movie the music alone would make me rent or buy this film. Grace was born in a small valley in the hills of Tennessee and became one of the most famous women in her time. It's too bad Columbia doesn't release all her films on video so that people can see and hear this true talent. This movie is famous for being the only film that had Merv Griffen as a romantic lead and featured the first open mouthed kiss on film (according to Griffen). There is also a great dance sequence in this film. Grace Moore was voted one of the 10 most beautiful women by Flo Zeigfeld and the lovely Kathryn Grayson does a superb job of showing Grace's beauty and determination at a time when women were not truly valued. I bought this movie and even gave one to a friend that loves musicals.

Singing
The picture can be dull but the singing by Kathryn Grayson is as usual spectacular. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow. . . .
At a time when Dr. Jack Kivorkian has made his way back into the headlines and there is soo much controversy over the morality of mercy killing, "Grace Quigley" lends a comical twist to the issue. Grace Quigley (Katharine Hepburn) seeks out a hit-man (Nick Nolte) to aid her in exiting a world in which she feels she has outlived her usefulness. However, the hit-man is having a hard time dealing with some of his own feelings. A seemingly unlikely pair, Hepburn and Nolte make an unforgettable team in this comedy focused on a highly explosive social topic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a great film!
This is one of Danny Kaye's funniest and greatest I think. It's a must to see for any Danny kaye fan or fan of comedy and is one oyu never tire of watching. Virginia Mayo and Vera Ellen are great in it as well.

Milquetoast milkman turned middleweight champ!
Charming and lighthearted comedy in gorgeous color about a milquetoast milkman who becomes middleweight champion of the world--only in a Danny Kaye (or Bob Hope) vehicle could this happen convincingly. Kaye delivers his usual winning combination of naivete and spunk as Burleigh Sullivan, an endearing and mild-mannered milkman who inadvertently finds himself on the road to success and glory when he is mistakenly credited in the papers with having knocked a man out that he unwittingly got in an altercation with--a man who turns out to be the reigning middleweight world champ! To try to rectify this humiliating situation, the current champ's promoter arranges for a match-up between his boy and Burleigh. Along the way, Burleigh hilariously goes from a nice, down-to-earth person to an arrogant, loudmouthed show-off with an ego out of this world as he "wins" one bout after another to qualify for middleweight contender. The rest of the cast is top-notch--blond beauty Virginia Mayo as a glamorous yet wholesome singer named Polly Pringle, Burleigh's sweetheart who soon gets disgusted with his overbearing manner and longs for the sweet boy she initially fell for; lovely Vera-Ellen as Burleigh's sister Susie (with her dancing talents nicely showcased in a couple of musical scenes); Walter Abel as Gabby Sloan, the exasperated yet resourceful boxing promoter; and Eve Arden provides a lot of dry humor as Gabby's gal Ann Westley. Particularly good is Steve Cochran as "Speed" McFarlane, the current champ and Burleigh's opponent, who falls for Susie and she for him when she discovers what an on-the-level, decent chap he turns out to be. It's mystifying why Cochran never got to be a big star since he had looks, appeal, and some talent, effectively playing tough guys with a soft side, as in this film, to bad guys rotten throughout--oh well, the vagaries of Hollywood. One of the most hilarious scenes in the movie is when Burleigh's super-ego is displayed full throttle when he interrupts Polly's performance at a charity event by making an outrageously grand (and very loud) entrance complete with a procession of Russian acrobats and marching band! A great comedy which still sparkles and is refreshing to this day.

Another great performance
One of Danny Kaye's lesser known films, but on a par with classics like Walter Mitty and Court Jester. Kaye is at his best playing the unwitting pawn who always comes out on top. A definate "must-have" for any fan of Danny Kaye's work. Now how about a DVD version? ... Read more

Reviews (14)

End of an Genre
The 1965 film Mirage is a very good suspense mystery. It was filmed in location in New York City. In an era when movies were more commonly being filmed in color, this film was in black and white. It evokes the gritty cynical film noir of the fifties (bringing that refinement that is Gregory Peck). Peck plays an amnesiac who finds himself in New York City. He is trying to find out who he is while at the same time he is becoming increasingly aware that his life is in danger. Among the many aspects that make this film interesting and entertaining is the cast, which includes Diane Baker, Walter Matthau, Lief Erickson, and George Kennedy. Filming on location in New York City gives it a realism which adds to the suspense. This film should be more accesible for rent and sale. It may have been more in tune with the suspense thrillers of the fifties but looking back from our time it is a timeless example of the "innocent man" being pursued because he knows more than he realizes. All the actors do a great job with thier parts.

A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE...
This suspenseful, black and white film, redolent of Hitchcock, centers around David Stillwell (Gregory Peck), a man who seems to be suffering from amnesia and remembers very little about himself. He consults with a psychiatrist but finds little help there, as the psychiatrist accuses David of being in trouble with the law and trying to set up some sort of fake psychiatric defense, something which the psychiatrist wants no part of.

David then hires Private Detective Ted Casselle, engagingly played by Walter Matthau, to discover just who he really is. When David learns that he is being followed by two hard bitten thugs, with the unlikely names of Lester and Willard, menacingly played by Jack Weston and George Kennedy, events in the film start to really heat up.

As David begins to get flashbacks of a disturbing past that is trying to reinstate itself in his present, David finds himself getting more and more enmeshed into a life and death struggle of some sort. A woman named Sheila, played by the fresh faced Diane Baker, interjects herself into his life with warnings of danger that even the least paranoid person would be wise to heed. It is almost as if a cat and mouse game were being played.

As David begins to remember more about his past and the places, people, and events that were to bring him to his present state, David discovers that danger and deception is closer to home than he thought. This is an intriguing and taut film of psychological suspense that those who enjoy the films of Alfred Hitchcock will like.

Overlook this no more
I remember recording this off of AMC about a year ago, and it was because I wanted to record the 1966 version of "Madame X". I didn't know how to program the VCR, so I left the tape rolling. The film to follow "Madame X" was "Mirage". I remember the first time watching this, and when the chase through Central Park came up I'm jumping up and down, and saying "I WANT THIS MOVIE". My late wife looked at me like I was nuts. It's my number 2 favorite movie next to "The Shining". Unfortunately, this was ignored as blockbusters such as "The Sound Of Music", and "Dr. Zhivago" were monopolizing the oscars. I would love to see this out on DVD soon.

Watching today for the first time on Cox Cable
Fascinating to watch - never seen it before on tv or in video stores - playing today on Cox Cable.

Re-release this Video!!
Re-release this great Gregory Peck film"Mirage" on dvd/vhs so that humble people like me can afford it and it would stop the price gouging and rip offs!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A lamb is ready ....
This isn't a great movie. It is however, a good movie. THe potential is there for it to be great, but it doesn't rise to the occasion.

The story might have been more engaging if it weren't done documentary style. Small things, such as the French and German characters speaking with the appropriate accents, would have improved the films quality.

I do however like the fact that there are no cheesy romantic subplots. It is also nice to see the Axis powers (in this case the Germans) being portrayed as competent individuals, rather than buffoons as so many other movies of the era do.

Ultimately, this movie is a must addition to my collection because of my love of Cagney. Originally, I had only seen the final scene of this movie when it was on AMC. I will not give it away, but I was so engaged by Cagney's laugh and the look on his face given the circumstances in the last minute of the film, I bought the film. If you're a Cagney fan, I don't think you'll be dissapointed. His performance is quite good. If you're not, then I think I'd skip this one.

A potentially good story goes nowhere
13 Rue Madeleine started out with potential. It opens at a British spy school (where everybody seems to be Americans or French) and the man in charge of schooling this batch of students (Cagney) is told one of the students is a spy and it's up to him to determine who. Some quick scenes of spy training are shown depicting some of the training techniques employed by such schools. This was probably the most interesting part of the film.

From there, the film jumps to graduation day and Cagney has determined who the spy is and is told to send this spy on a mission intended to decoy the Germans from the true date and location of the impending invasion of Europe. Things go wrong on this mission from the start an