Movies
A pretty solid classic, especially the first hour of the film was quite a surprise. Classic talkies tend to be somewhat slower and very focused on characters and narrative, but I'm a Fugitive from a Chain Gang races through its story. There's quite a lot to chew on, LeRoy made sure things weren't dragged out endlessly.
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When Allen returns from the war, he struggles to find his place in society. He's offered a job, but Allen's dream is to go into road construction. He decides to start his life anew, but before he can settle he gets convicted of a crime he didn't commit and ends up in a chain gang. The title explains the rest.
Paul Muni does a great job in the lead. Though his character doesn't have too much depth, it's very easy to sympathize with him. The final 30 minutes are a bit of a downer though. Simple and extremely predictable social critique take some of the fun away, even so this was better than I expected.
A classic musical. I've seen so many of them already that it's hard to imagine why this particular one stood out, though the release year is probably part of the film's legacy. No doubt this is one of the films that helped to define the template for many others that would come in its wake.
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A meager plot, interrupted by a bunch of musical numbers, that's the formula. The numbers are well staged and it's clear that, in contrast to the plot, this production wasn't shy for money and talent. The mood is light (only interrupted by some pointless drama near the finale, but what did you expect), it's just a bit too long for this type of film. Decent for what it is.
One of those films I'm sure Scorsese adores. It's one of the early talkies, and boy do they talk a lot. The plot isn't all that interesting and acts more like a blueprint for future crime flicks. The focus is the characters, but they are such big clichés (and annoying once at that), that there wasn't much to like for me.
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The cinematography is pretty basic and the plot's a downright bore. It really boils down to the characters, and they're the kind I've grown to dislike (by watching too many Scorsese crime flicks, ironically). The film's only saving grace is that it's pretty short and well-paced, sadly, there isn't a lot to save.
When having amnesia once just isn't enough. Old Hollywood romance is some of the most cheesy and old-fashioned cinema you can get, and Random Harvest is a perfect example. From the stuffy setting to the stiff performances and the abundance of melodrama, this film truly feels like a relic.
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The plot is pretty ridiculous, the English setting is grotesquely boring and the whole thing is just dripping in sentimentality. If it's oldskool romance you are after then I can imagine these films hold some appeal, but it's the exact opposite of what I look for in a good film. Not for me.