This Land Is Mine (1943)

Although many people define courage as being fearless---completely unafraid---I don't think of it that way at all.  Rather, I think of courage as being afraid of something, yet facing the object of that fear head-on...not letting it render you powerless or cause you to turn and run the other way. Really, if there is no fear, then it takes no courage to face a situation.  So, for me, courage can only be exhibited in the presence of fear, and that is precisely the theme of 1943's This Land Is Mine. Winner of an Academy Award for Best Sound, this Jean Renoir-directed film stars Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara, with George Sanders, Kent Smith, Walter Slezak, and Una O'Connor among those taking on supporting roles.

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Somewhere in Europe, the Nazis are on the march, conquering one city after another. While the citizens of each occupied city are encouraged to trust the new regime, resistance literature urges them to drive the conquerors out, lest they become their slaves. In one such town, the word has come down that several of the school's textbooks have unacceptable pages which must be destroyed.  While timid, milque-toasty schoolmaster, Albert Lorry (Charles Laughton), meekly instructs his students to remove the offending pages from their books, his fellow teacher, Louise Martin (Maureen O'Hara), with whom Albert is secretly in love, vehemently announces that the day will come when she will paste the pages back.

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In the midst of the school day, the air raid siren blares, and the students and their teachers take to the shelter, with Albert's controlling, overbearing mother (Una O'Connor), who lives nearby, joining them. As the planes roar overhead, Albert cowers in his mother's arms.  Later, Albert admits his cowardice to the schoolmaster, who reminds him that the truth can be kept alive if the children believe in them and admire them, because those whom children admire, they will follow; therefore, in order to conquer the Nazis, they all must be the kind of men the children will desire to follow.

Other residents of this little village are Paul Martin (Kent Smith), Louise's brother and a resistance worker, and George Lambert (George Sanders), Louise's fiance, who, unbeknownst to her, is a Nazi sympathizer.  Believing that democratic ideas ruined his country, George wants the "new order" and works in collaboration with them to achieve it.

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When a grenade thrown by a resistance fighter kills two German soldiers, ten of the local townspeople are taken hostage and threatened with execution unless the criminal gives himself up. Albert, eventually, is one of those arrested, and when he is put on trial---and comes face to face with his fear of what the Nazis will do to him---he finds that he is not a coward after all.  With his courage shining brightly in the face of fear, Albert uses the courtroom to inspire people everywhere to keep on resisting the invading evil.



What they call a "propaganda piece," This Land Is Mine is an inspiring, encouraging, well-acted drama.  Made in the middle of the war, when the tide had not yet turned and there was no way of knowing how much longer it would go on, this film was obviously a boost to homefront morale. Mr. Laughton's performance is spectacular...not quite up there with The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which, as I said in a review earlier this week (HERE), I think has to be the performance of his career), but terrific nonetheless.  The way he changed from a cowering bowl of jello to a man of conviction and strength was beautiful to watch.  And his speeches---wow. Such great truth in every word he uttered, and that truth is as relevant today as it was 70 years ago.

Maureen O'Hara is quite wonderful in her role as well.  She brings her fiery, passionate character to life with much believability.  Plus, she's so lovely, and it is always a delight to watch her.  The supporting players---Una O'Connor, Kent Smith, George Sanders, and Walter Slezak---all are very good in their roles.

This Land Is Mine is out on DVD and is available through Classic Flix.  It is also on the TCM schedule for Sunday, November 17th, at 6:15 a.m. (ET).  I hope you get a chance to see it, as it is a very inspiring film.

Happy viewing!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

My latest 5-star film discovery of 2013 is an early work of beautiful star of the month, Miss Maureen O'Hara. That film is 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, this masterpiece of a film also stars Charles Laughton and Sir Cedric Hardwicke, with Thomas Mitchell, Edmond O'Brien, Alan Marshal, and Harry Davenport among the supporting players. Nominated for two Academy Awards, this lavish production was directed by William Dieterle.

Set in 15th century France, during the reign of Louis XI (Harry Davenport), Hunchback is the story of the beautiful Gypsy girl, Esmeralda (Maureen O'Hara), who has danced in the streets and attracted the attention of many, including the Chief Justice, Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke).  Lusting after the ravishing beauty, yet despising himself for doing so, Frollo brings Esmeralda before the court on a trumped-up charge of murder.  Convicted, Esmeralda is sentenced to hang, but is saved from that fate by Quasimodo (Charles Laughton), the deaf, nearly mute, deformed bell ringer of Notre Dame, who is hopelessly in love with her.  Some of the themes tackled in this timeless story are:


Superstition:  Because Quasimodo is deformed, the people fear him and believe him to be possessed.

Handicaps:  Not only is Quasimodo deformed, but he is deaf and barely speaks.

Prejudice:  Chief Justice Frollo despises all Gypsies and deems them unfit to enter France.

Fear:  The printing press has been invented, and Frollo fears what will happen if the people are able to read certain truths for themselves.

Places of refuge:  The Cathedral of Notre Dame is a safe refuge for all.  Once within its walls, those being sought have sanctuary.

Love:  Esmeralda's love for her people and for the soldier, Phoebus (Alan Marshal); poet Gringoire's (Edmond O'Brien) love for Esmeralda; Quasimodo's love for the bells; and, of course, his heartbreaking love for the beautiful Esmeralda, which culminates in one of the most memorable lines I have ever heard, "Why was I not made of stone like thee?"

Hypocrisy:  Though Frollo disapproves of Esmeralda and claims her dancing to be evil, he secretly lusts after her.  He gives the appearance of righteousness and purity, all the while longing for the very thing he claims must be destroyed.  Blaming Esmeralda for inciting the sinful thoughts in him, he is determined to punish her, and he does so by convicting her of crimes she did not commit.

Self-loathing:  Frollo is not all bad, as evidenced by the fact that he has been Quasimodo's protector and benefactor ever since rescuing him as an abandoned infant years earlier; Esmeralda herself believed there was love in him. It is not wickedness---but rather shame over his fall into lust---which drives the Chief Justice to persecute Esmeralda.

Mercy and kindness:  Posssessed with a good and kind heart, Esmeralda desires to help her people---the Gypsies---find freedom from persecution, and when Quasimodo is publicly flogged and left in the pillory, Esmeralda takes pity on him and satisfies his cries for water.



To be honest, though The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a classic and very well-known piece of literature, I haven't ever read it.  I struggled greatly with Mr. Hugo's Les Miserables, so I was never keen on reading another of his works.  Thus, I have no idea how close this film is to the novel.  As I've stated before, though, whether a film is true to its book counterpart or not rarely matters to me.  I think both have merit of their own---and this film version has incredible merit.

Quite honestly, I think this production is nothing short of spectacular.  While it came away with an Academy Award nomination for its Alfred Newman score, as well as a Best Sound, Recording nomination, I can't believe it didn't receive many more nominations.  For sure, I think it ought to have received a Best Picture nomination, as well as a Best Director, a Best Costume Design, and last but not least, a Lead Actor nomination for Mr. Laughton.  I haven't seen Laughton's entire filmography, of course, but I can't help but believe his work in Hunchback was the performance of his career. He is beyond brilliant in this role.  The way he brings the deformed Quasimodo to life is absolutely breathtaking . . . and heartbreaking. Yes, 1939 was the year Clark Gable and James Stewart gave terrific ("should have won an Oscar") performances in Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but Mr. Laughton was right there with them.  Not nominating him for a Lead Actor award was a gross oversight on the part of the Academy.

In addition to Mr. Laughton, I believe the costume designer and makeup artists ought to have received Oscar nominations.  (Of course, that wasn't go to happen, because those categories didn't become part of the Academy Awards until 1948 and 1981.)  Whether acknowledged with an award or not, however, the people responsible for transforming Mr. Laughton into a grotesque "hunchback" did a phenomenal job   Though made in 1939, the artistry of this film was very ahead of its time.

Nineteen years old and incredibly beautiful here, Maureen O'Hara plays the part of the kind-hearted Esmeralda perfectly.  This is her 4th film, and its easy to see why she would go on to be a major Hollywood star.  Harry Davenport is his usual, fairly-lovable self (not at all in keeping with other film portrayals of King Louis XI).  Edmond O'Brien, in his film debut at age 24, is incredibly handsome (and thinner than I have ever seen him).  What fun seeing him at such a young age.

Finally, Sir Cedric Hardwicke gives a superb performance as well.  Frollo is a complex character---not completely evil, just power hungry, controlling, and disgusted by the awakening of desires from which he had pledged to abstain.  Hardwicke does a fantastic job bringing all the nuances of the troubled Frollo to life.  He, too, ought to have received an Academy Award nomination.

Out on DVD, this 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame ought to be fairly easy to track down.  I highly recommend seeing it.  It is a spectacular work of art.

Happy viewing!

By the way, Hunchback is one of the films being screened at Boise's Egyptian Theatre this coming Saturday (August 17th), for Maureen's 93rd birthday bash.  Much as I love it and would be thrilled to catch it on the big screen, I won't be doing so.  I have tickets for The Quiet Man, The Black Swan, and How Green Was My Valley, which run consecutively, so I'll already be sitting through over 6 hours of movies.  Hunchback follows How Green Was My Valley, so that would be pretty much 8+ solid hours of sitting.  The 6 hours is pushing it, so I know I wouldn't make it through 8.
 

NOTE:  All photos obtained from Doctor Macro  (HERE)

Salome (1953)

First up for Stewart Granger month is the lavish, Technicolor Biblical epic, Salome.  From 1953, this beautiful William Dieterle film stars Rita Hayworth in the title role, with Mr. Granger as her co-star and Charles Laughton, Judith Anderson, and Alan Badel in support.  Featuring gowns by Jean Louis, this film is loosely based on the Biblical story of Princess Salome, who danced for King Herod in exchange for the head of John the Baptist.

In the time of Tiberius Caesar (Cedric Hardwicke), King Herod (Charles Laughton) and his wife, Herodias (Judith Anderson), are on the throne in Galilee.  Because their marriage is adulterous in the eyes of God, they are regularly and publicly condemned by the prophet, John the Baptist. Enraged by the Baptist's preaching, Herodias demands that her husband put the man to death; however, believing that the wrath of God and the people will fall on him if he lays a hand on John, the king is unwilling to arrest him.

Meanwhile, in Rome, the beautiful princess, Salome (Rita Hayworth), has incurred the emperor's wrath.  Herodias's daughter by a previous marriage, Salome has been living in Rome since she was a child.  Because the emperor's nephew and she have fallen in love and wish to be married, and since the law is clear that a Roman must marry a Roman, a request is made of the emperor to allow  an exception in their case.  Furious that his nephew wishes to marry a "barbarian," the emperor banishes Salome from Rome, sending her back to Galilee.

Also sailing from Rome, are the new Judean governor, Pontius Pilate, and Commander Claudius (Stewart Granger), a Roman soldier stationed in Galilee.  Though a Roman, Claudius is secretly a follower of John the Baptist and, ultimately, Christ.  Although his relationship with the beautiful Salome starts off on an angry, hateful note, eventually, the two fall in love.  With Claudius wanting to protect the Baptist, her mother hoping to have him executed, and her stepfather, Herod, inflamed with lust for her, Salome must determine where her true loyalties lie.

This film is lavish and beautiful and well-acted.  Charles Laughton is so very believable as the lecherous old man who lusts after his stepdaughter.  He may have been a bit over the top, but I think the role called for that.  Judith Anderson plays nasty so well, and I think she's good here, though not quite on par with her performance as housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, in Rebecca. Stewart Granger is great here and very believable in his role, plus he's incredibly handsome and wears the Roman garb beautifully.  Rita Hayworth is completely stunning, and her "Dance of the Seven Veils" is undeniably sensual.



Much license is taken with the true facts, so if that bothers you, you will probably not like this film. It didn't bother me, as I see the film for what it is---a story based on history, not an actual history lesson.  I'm going with 3 stars on this, but it's more like 3.5.

Incidentally, when I was watching this, my son walked into the room.  Since I was on my laptop, he couldn't see the screen...he could only hear it.  He said to me, "What are you watching?  Ben-Hur?"  I had thought the same thing---that the score sounded very Ben-Hur-like on occasion. It really must have if, without any prompting from me, my son thought the same thing.

Although not on the TCM schedule in the near future, Salome is out on DVD, plus it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

Witness for the Prosecution (5 stars)

Witness for the Prosecution, from 1957, is a fabulous whodunit, filled with twists and turns galore.  Directed by the amazing Billy Wilder, the film stars Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, all of whom give brilliant performances.  (This was Tyrone Power's final completed film, as he died of a heart attack during the filming of Solomon and Sheba the following year.  He was quite young...just 44.  I think his performance here in Witness for the Prosecution is the best one he ever gave.)

Leonard Vole (Power), a partially-employed inventor, is accused of murdering wealthy widow, Emily French, a woman many years his senior.  When a chance meeting brings Mrs. French into his life, Vole works to develop a friendship with her, because besides enjoying the lady's company, he hopes to convince her to finance his most recent invention.  So, the two of them, in a completely platonic fashion, begin seeing each other two or three times a week...playing canasta, listening to music, taking in a movie.

When Mrs. French is found murdered, her housekeeper immediately implicates Vole, since he had been with her the evening of her death.  Although Leonard proclaims his innocence, the case against him intensifies after it is discovered that Mrs. French had recently changed her will, making Leonard the beneficiary of 80,000 pounds.   Leonard eventually stands trial for murder, with Charles Laughton portraying the attorney who takes on his defense.

One of the witnesses the prosecution brings against him is none other than his wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), whose testimony tears Leonard's story apart.

To say more than this would totally ruin the viewing pleasure of those who have never seen this film.  In fact, as the ending credits roll, the viewer is warned by an announcer to "not divulge the ending to friends who have not seen it."   Of course, a first-time viewing of this film is best.  After that, the surprise factor is gone; however, it's still a fantastic movie, with great performances by the three leads.




The acting in this film is completely brilliant!!!  All three stars---Power, Dietrich, and Laughton---give amazing performances.  Truly, I think this was the performance of both Power and Dietrich's entire careers.  They were both totally fantastic!!  Charles Laughton's real-life wife, Elsa Lanchester, played his nurse in the film, and there are several comical moments between them.  Although it didn't garner any wins, Witness for the Prosecution was nominated in six Academy Award categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Lead Actor (Laughton), and Supporting Actress (Lanchester).  Shockingly, neither Power nor Dietrich received a nomination for the brilliant work they did here.

Witness for the Prosecution is out on DVD, so it should be readily available for your viewing pleasure.  I highly recommend it.  (Our family recently enjoyed a re-watch in honor of Tyrone Power's upcoming May 5th birthday.)

Happy viewing!!