The Best Years of Our Lives

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Directed by William Wyler

Screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood

Based on the novella, "Glory for Me" by MacKinlay Kantor 

Stars: Dana Andrews, Fredric March, Harold Russell, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O'Donnell, Hoagy Carmichael, Gladys George, and Roman Bohnen

This movie was on my 'Watch List' on IMDb for a couple of months. I was taken aback by the runtime of almost three hours. It is a solid movie with great moments.

After World War II, American servicemen; Fred Derry (Andrews), Al Stephenson (March), and Homer Parrish (Russell) become fast friends as they come to their hometown of Boone City. Each man realizes that life went on without them, and that the scars of war are with them.

This movie came around at a good time when the world was getting back to 'normal' after what happened after WWII. I was thinking that the movie was going to have lofty praise with not much payoff. It's not true. I was impressed with the film making. I had a feeling that Dana Andrews was the lead actor is the movie, but Fredric March won Best Actor. The best parts of the movie were Homer and his fiance, Wilma (O'Donnell) and the standoff at the Butch's.

I had some problems with the movie. Mainly it was the pacing of the movie. There was some empty space in the movie. There was also the problem of Michael Hall as Al's son, Rob was terrible. It was solved when he disappears from the movie. A blessing in disguise.

Rating: 9/10

Notorious

Notorious (1946)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay by Ben Hecht & Alfred Hitchcock & Clifford Odets

Based loosely on the short story, "The Song of the Dragon" by John Taintor Foote 

Stars: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin, Reinhold Schünzel, Moroni Olsen, Ivan Triesault, Alexis Minotis, Eberhard Krumschmidt, and Wally Brown

People have said that this is their favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie. I have seen a fair share of his movies. This will be at the bottom of my list.

During the aftermath of WWII, Nazi sympathizers are being sentenced around the country. This includes Alicia Huberman's (Bergman) father. An "American?" agent, T.R. Devlin (Grant) is tasked to have Alicia work for the U.S. government as a spy. They have to go to Brazil to reconnect with an old friend, Alexander Sebastian (Rains) who may be a secret Nazi.

I don't get the hype with this movie. The romance part of the movie was abrupt. 'I met you. Two days later, I love you.' What? The "intrigue" of the movie was nothing. Nothing happens in this movie. 

Hitchcock was real subtle with his shots. I am being sarcastic. He was knocking you over the head with it. We get it. A close up shot the wine bottles. Okay.

I didn't understand anything about Grant's character. Was he supposed to be American? That's fail. Was he a British agent working for the Americans? Fine.

The central "mystery" of the movie was confusing. I didn't like it. I didn't care.

The only thing that saved the movie was Claude Rains. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and deservedly so. He was the lifesaver to this sinking boat of a movie.

Rating: 3/10

Gilda

Gilda (1946)

Directed by Charles Vidor

Story by E.A. Ellington

Screenplay by Jo Eisinger and Marion Parsonnet & Ben Hecht 

Stars: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Steven Geray, Joe Sawyer, Joseph Calleia, and Gerald Mohr

I saw a reel on Instagram showing Rita Hayworth's memorable entrance this movie. I knew I had to see it. Hayworth gives great face, but it wasn't enough to save the movie.

A small time gambler, Johnny Farrell (Ford) arrives in Argentina from the States. He knows the ins and outs of hustling people. He catches the attention of casino owner, Ballin Mundson (Macready) that hires him to work his casino and keep an eye on his new wife, Gilda (Hayworth), who happens to be Johnny's ex.

I was enjoying the movie. I thought the dynamic between the three leads were good. I was in it with them. There is a major problem with the third act that sunk the movie for me. I understand that Gilda and Johnny would have a icy reception to each other, but when that changes; I did not like the way it was going. I guess the ending of the movie mostly.

I was left disappointed.

Rating: 6/10