Today, a “title song” and video special effects are common attributes of a popular movie release. More than 60 years ago, a film was produced that incorporated video special effects and a song that is so special that it can brighten any and all days. The song is Zip-a- Dee-Doo-Dah and the movie is Song of the South. The Academy award for Best Original Song in 1947 was awarded for Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. A special Academy Award was given to James Baskett for his performance, including singing Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah with his animated cast of characters. The link below will allow you to enjoy his performance. WARNING, you will not be able to remove the imprint of this song from your neural network (and that is a good thing). John Greanias, Copyright 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWyhj7siEY
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Dinner conversation in “North By Northwest” was South of OK
In 1959 Hollywood producers were beginning to test the limits of the Motion Picture Production Code governing the morality of film content. In North By Northwest, the most beautiful couple ever to dine together (Eva Marie Saint and Gary Grant) were engaged in playful dinner conversation. Eva Marie Saint delivered her scripted line: “I never make love on an empty stomach.” In final editing somebody got cold feet and “make love” was deemed to be unacceptable. Consequently, when you view this movie, Eva Marie Saint says “I never discuss love on an empty stomach.” No matter. It’s all about the overall chemistry between the parties rather than a few words. In North by Northwest Alfred Hitchcock ferments his best boy/girl chemistry and delivers his best overall film adventure. John Greanias, Copyright 2013.
1945 Oscar Winner — Worth Dying For?
More than 6,000 U.S. and Japanese combatants died within a period of three days on a very small island in the Pacific, in November of 1943. The island was just big enough for a one-runway airfield. The conflict is known as “Battle of Tarawa.” The battle is now considered to have been a tactical mistake, resulting in needless casualties. Combat photographers were present during the the tragic action. The combat photographs and film were so graphic that it took a presidential decision to release them to the public. The combat film was edited for an 18 minute documentary titled “With the Marines at Tarawa.” The film was shown in theaters in 1944, and it was awarded the 1945 Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject). The Oscar-winning film can be viewed at the link below. Take 18 minutes, view this film, and imagine yourself to be a civilian in a theater in 1944, at a time when there was no television or internet to give a full view of world events. Is the film pure propaganda, or is it an endeavor to give the public a real sense of the cost of warfare? John Greanias, Copyright 2013.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124631492
The African Queen is King!
My mother was an immense fan of Humphrey Bogart. Her brother, an ABC Radio personality, secretly arranged for Bogart to come over to chat with her at her table at the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood. Their conversation was recorded (on an actual “record”), and it has become a family heirloom. Bogart did most of the talking, and my adult mother mostly giggled like a teenager. Naturally, I was raised to be a fan of Bogart. It was 1952, and I was eight years old when I first viewed The African Queen. Adventure films in the 50’s were usually suitable for children. The audience was not exposed to nudity, drugs or graphic violence. However, even without those commodities of current films, adventure movies in the 50’s always had lots of action, and a “feel good” ending. At age eight, I thought that The African Queen was the most enjoyable film ever produced. My opinion was justified when Queen received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Bogart), Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn), Best Director (John Huston), and Best Adapted Screenplay. Bogart was awarded an Oscar for his performance in Queen. Hepburn and Huston did not win an Oscar for Queen, but perhaps that was because of nomination exhaustion (Hepburn was nominated 12 times during her career, and Huston 15 times). A TRULY GREAT CAST, GREAT DIRECTOR, AND OUTSTANDING STORY. THE AFRICAN QUEEN REIGNS AS KING OF THE 50’S ADVENTURE FILMS. John Greanias, Copyright 2013.
John Greanias Remembers The Day!
Director Robert Wise intended that The Day the Earth Stood Still be as realistic as possible to support its anti-war theme. The movie trailer opened with a flash news announcement that certainly seemed realistic to seven year old John Greanias seated in the Avon Theater in 1951 for the showing of a family film. Remember, in the early 50s, theater newsreels were a primary source of reporting true current events. It took several weeks for John’s parents to persuade him that a seven foot alien was not about to vaporize him (if he had been told the safe words, Klaatu Barada Nikto, he probably would not have worried). The link below will take you to the trailer for this truly outstanding film which is included in many lists of the 100 best movies of all time. John Greanias, Copyright 2013.
John Greanias 40s&50s Film Study Considers The Man Suit
The John Greanias 40s&50s Film Study suggests that The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit offers an unlimited opportunity to consider not only great film production as art, but also the science of human qualities. Three Academy Award winners lead the cast (Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones and Fredric March). It is difficult to understand why this film was not nominated for any major awards. The most likely explanation is that the subject matter was uncomfortable to movie patrons in 1956. Job stress, money issues, marital discord, child behavior and post-war syndrome were not topics of curiosity in the 50s when all things were good, and getting even better. However, it is these subjects which make this a truly great movie study. Although a suit (gray flannel or otherwise) is seldom seen anywhere today, the issues addressed in Man are timely and relevant today. If you do not see any other film this year, you must view The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, and then pour a tall beverage and consider your life to date. John Greanias, Copyright 2013.
JOHN GREANIAS FILM STUDY IS NOW IN SESSION!
Homework, but no exams, tuition or fees. The John Greanias 40s&50s Film Study is a seminar for the advanced study and appreciation of the truly marvelous movies produced during years 1940-1959. The war years, and post-war years, provided an unusually rich source of social, political and emotional material for the production of meaningful and memorable films. The film study is now in session, and you may attend at your leisure.
JOHN GREANIAS 40s&50s FILM STUDY 