Hollywood's involvement in the war effort went beyond movies, canteens, and bond tours. There were also quite a few shorts produced by Hollywood stars and studios because, to paraphrase something Frank Capra once said, films are excellent teaching tools. Americans were told all the time to buy war bonds, to be careful of what they … Continue reading During World War Two: Thirteen Wartime Shorts
Faithful Emilie
Welcome back, Ms. Bergman... After Intermezzo, Bergman made her final Swedish film, June Night before making today's film, Adam Had Four Sons, a slow-burn 1941 piece with some surprises and more than a few fireworks, plus we see Fay Wray not screaming her head off. The film starts in 1907, and the Stoddard family of Canada are waiting for their … Continue reading Faithful Emilie
The Play’s the Thing
Mr. Holden's back... By 1943 William Holden had been in films for five years, and his roles were steadily growing in size and importance. It's ironic that one of his movies from that year was Young And Willing, about green-as-grass hopefuls trying to break into show business. The movie feels like something we've seen before, only … Continue reading The Play’s the Thing
Taking Up Room 