viewer-rowg's - Hallewell's Four Star Movies List
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It's such a classic it's difficult to review but my initial impressions were a. a stark contrast between moments of great drama and awfully stagey dialogue. b. overuse of the silhouette against a bright horizon c. the empathy you feel for Karloff's "monster" and d. the utter incongruity of the three ancilliary characters (the fiance, the spivvy friend, and the fiance's father). This comedy father is also a prominent character in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, although in the latter he is less of a bumbling half wit and more a figure of old fashioned righeousness. - Director:
- James Whale
- Cast:
- Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff
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Freedom for Us (1931)A Nous La Liberte!
One of the all time classic French films. Made in 1931, this is one of the first French talkies. Pre dating Chaplin's Modern Times by 5 years (and the subject of a bitter court case stopped when Rene Clair stated that imitation is the finest form of flattery) and leading the way in a satirical attack on the machine age, Rene Clair created a wicked comedy on the dehumanisation of industrial workers. When Louis (Raymond Cordy) and Emile (Henri Marchand), two prison inmates, attempt to escape, Louis is caught and returned to his cell, while Emile succeeds and becomes a successful businessman. On Louis' release he goes to work for Emile but finds the industrial world no better than the prison regime. When Emile is recognised as an escaped convict he and Louis decide to escape the confines of the factory by taking to the road as tramps. - Director:
- René Clair
- Cast:
- Raymond Cordy, Henri Marchand, Rolla France
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