Rain, 1932 (Grade C+)

Director: Lewis Milestone
Stars: Joan Crawford, Walter Huston

sez says: this version of Somerset Maugham's sort story is a good example of what happens, too often, when a literary work is made into a film.  Don't read this if you don't want to know what happens in this movie. It may mostly be the fault of the censors..but I imagine it is also the result of the work being tossed about from person to person, each making some 'improvement' of their own, till, in the end, the film is only a show of the original story. In this case the Maugham story does not necessarily say Sadie Thompson (Crawford) is a prostitute..but the movie certainly suggests she was.  In the book Thompson and Rev Davidson (Huston) spend days alone, at which time Davidson falls victim to temptation--which causes him to kill himself.  This being the only way Thompson has (ie her only power is her sexual attraction) to protect herself from his manipulation of power (power men control).   Anyway. must I say it-the book is better than the movie.  But wait....the movie has merit too.  Joan Crawford, a young and talented actor, does her part with style and conviction.  Huston plays a fine fanatic, full of himself, having no need for human kindness in his self assured ignorant-arrogance.  The story is muddled but it is still full of sultry images and full tilt 1930s style. Grade C+)

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1935 (Grade B-)

Director:William Dieterle & Max Reinhardt
Awards: Nominated for Academy Award --but I don't know if it won any awards. I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Stars: James Cagney, Joey E Brown, Dick Powell, Mickey Rooney, Olivia de Haviland, Victor Jory, Ian Hunter, Verree Teasdale, Jean Muir

sez says: what a wonderful old movie.  It is long--but it is gorgeous.  They must have used thousands of yards of cloth --in ever so clever ways, both for costumes and for special effects.  And the special effects - for a film of this age- are spectacular.  Yes this is Shakespeare--the tale is told in his language.  Meanwhile there is a ballet going on around the play.  I do have to admit to getting lost with the language a couple times--but it didn't matter one bit. The vast majority of it is clear and of course famous lines are presented in context, which I enjoy.  But no matter the language, the story is easy to follow and even when one gets lost with the dialogue there is still plenty to watch and enjoy.  No surprise that deHaviland was up to the task of her part--but surprise, surprise Cagney and Rooney (still a boy) were truly effective in their parts too.  Powell was a little awkward. (Grade B-)

The Gay Divorcee, 1934 (Grade C+)

Director Erik Sandrich
Awards Academy Award Best Song and nominated for Best Music Score, Best Art Direction, Best Picture, and Best Sound
Stars:  Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes plus more

sez says-- again a silly mistaken identity plot is the excuse to put this famous dance team together on the screen -- always a treat to watch these two dance together ..and as usual there are a few songs that have come down through time to still be recognizable. (Grade C+) 

Top Hat, 1935 (Grade B)

Director: Mark Sandrich
Awards Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Song, Best Art Director
Stars: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, plus more

sez says -- Irving Berlin sure wrote some great lyrics--and they are sung so you can hear and enjoy them in this classic song and dance movie.  Fred and Ginger are fun to watch. The story is just an excuse for them to be on screen tapping and swing around silly but elaborate sets.  For instance here we see people swimming in the canals of Vince Italy and wearing short-shorts at the cafe by the canals...hummm, what's wrong with that picture?  Most of the interior rooms are decorated in white-on white and many have satin trim.  The story is a mistaken identity escapade and lacks interest. But the supporting actors are marvelous and the dancing and songs keep you happy. I think I could watch this many times over without really growing tired of it.  Is it a great movie? --maybe not. But is it great entertainment - yes indeed.  My grade is a good strong B

David Copperfield, 1935 (GRADE C)

Director George Cukor
Awards nominated for best film and best editing Academy Awards, did not win
Starring: Feddie Bartholomew, Lionel Barrymore, WC Fields, Maureen O'Sullivan, Frank Lawton, Edna May Oliver,  Elizabeth Allan, Jessie Ralph, Harry Beresford, Basil Rathbone and more

sez says: I have to admit loving Charles Dickens--some people, who have never read, him think he is some sort of old fashion fellow--but he is not--he is ageless and he tells exciting tales well. Some of his work was originally serialized in newspapers: people were so in-to his stories they never missed buying the paper in order to keep up with the story.  I say all of this because this movie suffers from  what seems like a pasting together of pieces of the story...as if it were a serial.   One part seems to ending just as another part begins. Eventually you wonder when it is ever going top be over. It is not a good sign when the audience is looking for a movie to end.  But in the midst of this overlong and unwieldy film there are are some wonderful bit.  WC Fields may have never been more appealing.  Copperfield's mother (actors name) is so wildly overdone you can't help but laugh at the idealized good mother.  Rathbone is appropriately sinister.  And there is a sea-rescue section that is pretty amazing.  But still--on and on --and on ... it went, as if it were a series of stories and not one film.  I sure won't be watching it again..but I am glad I saw it.  GRADE C 
David Copperfield (Modern Library Classics) 
David Copperfield [VHS]