Directors The Thirties Vs. The Forties - A Movie Tournament (1 Viewer)

[Marc Fedderman]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

The 30's match-up was very tough, the 40's one less so. The Bicycle Thief is beautifully composed snap-shot of post-war Italy and must have been a very potent (and brazen) film upon its release. Some memorable scenes (father and son in the restaurant) too, but overall it doesn't resonate with me the way it does for many others.

 

[george kaplan]

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I have the same votes, but the opposite reaction of Marc - I thought the 30s was easy, and the 40s vote harder (I think a lot more highly of the Bicycle Thief than I do Beauty & the Beast).

 

[Bill McA]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Bicycle Thief

 

[Adam_S]

yeah that first round is a doozy, but I've seen Snow White more recently and it's so damn wonderful I'll have to go for it (I know that it's up against the french 40s version, but that match up made me wonder if there's ever been a Disney Feature films tournement", I may have to run one...)

Bicycle Thief is Good, but I Am a Fugitive is one of my all time favorites.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang

 

[Marc Fedderman]

I should have written that the first match was tougher for me than the second, as it seems a 30's film was paired with a 40's film in each. Whoops.

 

[SteveGon]

My votes: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, both of which advance. Surprising results - I figured just the opposite.


Round 1 - Bracket 5

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer vs. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp


Round 1 - Bracket 6

Grand Illusion vs. The Best Years of Our Lives

 

[george kaplan]

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp

The Best Years of Our Lives

 

[Bill McA]

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Best Years of Our Lives

 

[Adam_S]

Oh man that second match up is a doozy, I love best years of our lives, but...

Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Grand Illusion

 

[Marc Fedderman]

Abstain (I haven't seen The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.)
The Best Years of Our Lives

I watched this tonight for the first time. I thought it dragged a bit in spots, but was a well-made and generally fine film. I do wish that Myrna Loy had a more prominent role. I like Grand Illusion as well and was particularly impressed by Von Stroheim's performance (what an iconic face). Really a coin flip in the second match-up for me.

 

[Brook K]

The Best Years of Our Lives

 

[SteveGon]

My votes: The Lives of a Bengal Lancer and Grand Illusion.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and The Best Years of Our Lives advance.


Round 1 - Bracket 7

The Thin Man vs. Adam's Rib


Round 1 - Bracket 8

Bringing Up Baby vs. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

 

[Walter Kittel]

The Thin Man
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

- Walter.

 

[george kaplan]

Adam's Rib (OUCH!!!!)

Bringing Up Baby

 

[Bill McA]

Adam's Rib
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

 

[Brook K]

The Thin Man
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

 

[Marc Fedderman]

Abstain
Bringing Up Baby

Haven't seen Adam's Rib yet, but it's high on my to see list.

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is a very funny film, but so much of its humor resides in its topicality and subversiveness. Sturges thumbing his nose at the production code is amusing (and significant) in a historical context, but from a formalist standpoint doesn't really add to my enjoyment. Bringing Up Baby, on the other hand, strikes me on a more visceral level, with two great and uncharacteristic lead performances. A damn funny film.

 

[Adam_S]

here I thought I would have to cast a sympathy vote for Miracle since I'd say both movies are about the same amount of brilliant funny. However I'd give the edge to the star power charisma of Bringing up Baby making it a little more rewatchable, still a vicious first round match!

Thin Man
Bringing up Baby

 

[SteveGon]

My votes: The Thin Man and Bringing Up Baby, both of which advance.


Round 1 - Bracket 9

King Kong vs. The Wolf Man


Round 1 - Bracket 10

Trouble in Paradise vs. The Philadelphia Story



With the high caliber films we have in this tourney, they're pretty much all going to be tough!

 

[george kaplan]

The Wolf Man

The Philadelphia Story