Freedom for Us- 1931

France

Length: 104 minutes

Director: René Clair

Cast: Raymond Cordy, Henri Marchand, Paul Ollivier, Andre Michaud, Rolla France, Germaine Aussey, Leon Lorin, William Burke, Jacques Shelley, Vincent Hyspa

www.imdb.com/title/tt0022599/

Eric's Impressions: Natalie refers to the charges of plagiarism by the producer of this one to Charlie Chaplin's classic, "Modern Times." If the plagiarism charge revolves around the plot of both movies being based in a factory and a conveyor belt scene then Chaplin is guilty because that's the only similarity I found between the two. The main characters/buddies are sensational each time they hit the screen together, but only average when apart. Rene Clair is an interesting filmmaker and gets even better with his next movie, "Le Million."

Natalie's Impressions: I think I only laughed out loud once during this film. Charlie Chaplin is 100 times funnier than René Clair or any of the actors in the film. I can see the similarities between the two but Chaplin somehow does everything better and funnier. I'll take Modern Times over this any day. I also didn't really care for the musical numbers. Most of the time there was sound, it was singing instead of dialogue and I am not a huge fan of musicals in the first place. One thing I did like about the film was that it didn't become preachy about the evils and fears of modernization, which many other film makers of the era were obsessed with. Instead, the film has a positive message told through comedy.

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All Quiet on the Western Front- 1930

U.S.

Length: 131 minutes

Director: Lewis Milestone

Cast: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayers, John Wray, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk, Owen Davis Jr., Walter Rogers, William Bakewell, Russell Gleason, Richard Alexander, Harold Goodwin, Beryl Mercer

www.imdb.com/title/tt0020629/

Eric's Impressions: For all whom have ever questioned why we ever go to war, this is the movie to watch. Much like the Bob Dylan anti-war classic, "Master of War," this is a timeless creation that can relate to every war ever fought and every one that has yet to take place. It's not surprising to find out that director Lewis Milestone was a war veteran himself. It gives the film an authenticity much like Oliver Stone did with his Vietnam War tales ("Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July." If you're thinking about joining the military, please check this one out. Nothing is more heart-wrenching than seeing the mother of a soldier not even able to identify her own son following battle.

Natalie's Impressions: For me, one of the most tragic moments in the film is at the very beginning when the boys' teacher gives them a motivational speech about joining the army and then peer pressure exerts its force on each classmate, one after the other, as they stand up and start singing joyfully about what they are about to experience. This scene captures Remarque's sense of impending doom perfectly. This film is a rare complement to the film adaptation genre. There are so many talking points for this film. I could go on and on about the innovative technology at the dawn of sound films, the powerful message of the film so soon after WWI and right before WWII, the ironic turn of Ayer's career after making the film, the incredibly fact that German censors passed the film when it came out, even in the face of fierce Nazi opposition, and the many other tragic scenes in the film that point to the futility of war.

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Little Caesar- 1930

U.S.A.

Length: 79 minutes

Director: Mervyn LeRoy

Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, William Collier Jr., Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Ince, Maurice Black, Nicholas Bela, Armand Kaliz

www.imdb.com/title/tt0021079

Eric's Impressions: I've always been a big fan of the gangster genre whether it's on the big screen ("The Godfather" series, "Goodfellas," and "Mean Streets" just to name a few) and on the small screen ("The Sopranos"). With films like this one, it's nice to see the beginnings of the genre. Edward G. Robinson is great as the main character. As we watch his speedy climb to the top of the underworld and his quicker fall, we are reminded of so many other gangster stories, but this one deserves it's just due for being one of the first.

Natalie's Impressions: This film was a welcome break from the films we have been watching previously because it is one of the first in the gang genre. Robinson is the typical gangster that rises to the top only to fall in the end because of a tragic character flaw. The story of the tragic hero is not unique but it is somewhat remarkable that this film was produced during the heart of the Great Depression. In a way, it echoes the fear that many individuals felt at the time in the face of economic ruin. In this sense, the film is a timely one for today's audiences as well.

COUNTDOWN: Just 961 movies to go!

Earth- 1930

U.S.S.R.

Length: 75 minutes

Director: Aleksandr Dovzhenko

Cast: Stepan Shkurat, Semyon Svashenko, Yuliya Solntseva, Yelena Maksimova, Nikolai Nademsky

www.imdb.com/title/tt0021571/

Eric's Impressions: Ummm. Hmmm. Ummm. Hmmm. Where do I begin or better yet, where do I end this review? This is one of the more boring movies on the list and though filled with beautiful imagery, not an especially enjoyable viewing experience. Like all Russian films reviewed thus far, this one revolves around Communist propaganda with a script that was censored of some of its better scenes after viewing by the government. I will never forget the farmers peeing in the tractor and I believe I even peed myself as I fell asleep a few times watching it.

Natalie's Impressions: Now that is has been a few days since I watched this film, I am regretting not writing this review right away because I don't remember the film. It was very forgettable. I do remember the scene where the farmer pees in the tractor's radiator to get it to go because they don't have any water to put in it. And I remember the main character, Basil getting shot by the enemy group of farmers that were mad that Basil's rich group had a tractor. 75 minutes was too long. The religious theme- or rather the questioning of God's existence- added at least fifteen minutes to the beginning of the film, which chronicled the death of an elder farmer. The religious theme did add to the film and I thought the most interesting part was when Basil's father insists on a regular funeral but the towns people don't want one because they no longer trust priests. I just think it didn't need to drag on the way it did, in my opinion.

COUNTDOWN: Just 962 movies to go!

The Age of Gold-1930

France

Length: 60 minutes

Director: Luis Buñuel

Cast: Gaston Modot, Lya Lys, Caridad de Lacerdesque, Max Ernst, Lionel Salem, Germaine Noizet, Josep Llorens Artigas

www.imdb.com/title/tt0021577/

Eric's Impressions: I knew this was going to be a strange film going in considering the director (Luis Bunuel) and screenwriter (Salvador Dali). When the movie started with a documentary on scorpions, my instincts were right on. I've never been a big fan of the surrealist movement, so maybe that's why I was scratching my head throughout viewing. It's definitely shocking at times and at other times just plain silly.

Natalie's Impressions: Ummm. Yeah. I don't even know where to begin with this film. I understand the whole surrealist dream scape thing going on and I get what Buñuel was trying to achieve- and I think he did achieve the effect he was aiming for- if that effect was one of disorientation, confusion, shock, discomfort, unease and disgust mixed with an unwanted sexual arousal. I experienced all of these emotions and more will watching this film. It got to the point where I wasn't surprised at what I saw. The cow on the bed, which provokes only an annoyed reaction from the bed's owner, the murder of the little boy for a minor offense, and statements like " what joy at having killed our children" become normal in this surrealist world. By the time a man resembling Jesus walks out of a building having engaged in orgies, rape, and murder of women, I was nodding my head, thinking "of course that is Jesus. Why would it be anyone else?"

COUNTDOWN: Just 963 movies to go!

The Blue Angel-1930

Germany

Length: 99 minutes

Director: Josef von Sternberg

Cast: Emil Jannings, Marlene Dietrich, Kurt Gerron, Rosa Valetti, Hans Albers, Rolf Muller, Roland Varno, Carl Balthaus, Charles Puffy, Gerhard Bienart, Wilhelm Diegelmann

www.imdb.com/title/tt0020697/

Eric's Impressions: This is a heartbreaking story centering around the life of Professor Immanuel Rath, played masterfully by Emil Jannings. Falling in love spins his life out of control. The object of his affections is Lola, played by screen legend Marlene Dietrich. As Jannings hooks up with Lola's traveling show, and in turn her, a creepy clown starts following him around without ever uttering a word. Think of the clown from Stephen King's "It" before he loses it. I was disturbed by his sad, pathetic presence not realizing that the director was foreshadowing the fate of the Professor with him. This is a sad movie without a happy ending like so many of the American films of this time period.

Natalie's Impressions: Emil Jannings is far and away the star of this film. Dietrich became famous in Hollywood with Sternberg after this film. This film put her on the map, but Jannings' performance is the most memorable for me. He channels the desperate love-lorn old man so well. He plunges himself into the role in a way that is so completely devastating. He plays with the viewers emotions throughout the course of the film. At the beginning he is not a likeable character. He becomes more likeable as he falls in love but at the same time the viewer feels sympathy for him as the inevitable downfall of his character looms ahead. By the end, he tries to regain some of his dignity by leaving the Blue Angel and returning to the college, thus taking charge of his own life again. But it is too late; he dies sitting at his old desk in the classroom in which he once taught. A true tour d'force by Jannings.

COUNTDOWN: Just 964 movies to go!

Pandora's Box- 1929

Germany

Length: 97 minutes

Director: Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Cast: Louise Brooks, Fritz Kortner, Francis Lederer, Carl Goetz, Alice Roberts, Gustav Diessl

www.imdb.com/title/tt0018737/

Eric's Impressions: As you will gather from Natalie's review I did have a mini-crush on the lead actress Louise Brooks after watching this movie - that's what you get for leaving me behind in New York as you lived in China for the better part of the year. Hopefully Brooks doesn't ruin our relationship, but her character destroys all who cross her path and fight for her affection. Everyone falls for her playful sexuality, including an unheard of for its time lesbian admirer, and their lives are never for the better after meeting her. Thank god she met her match in the end and Natalie and I can live happily ever after.

Natalie's Impressions: I saw this film after Eric and I must admit that my opinion of the acting was somewhat affected by the fact that Eric told me immediately after watching the film that he wanted to go to bed with Louise Brooks, that she was the most seductive and beautiful piece of ass ever to hit the silent screen, etc. I was living on the other side of the world at this time so there wasn't much either of us could do with our sexual frustration so I just sat down and watched the film. And I admit, Brooks is quite stunning. Her character is wonderfully rich and she plays it up perfectly. After seeing the film, I was even more impressed with her acting when I read that no expressionist makeup or other tricks were used to dramatize her performance. It is honest and raw and very powerful.

COUNTDOWN: Just 965 movies to go!

The Man with the Movie Camera- 1929

U.S.S.R.

Length: 80 minutes

Director: Dziga Vertov

www.imdb.com/title/tt0019760/

Eric's Impressions: Just the title implies that this is a movie for people who love to get behind the camera and tell a story. Vertov uses almost every filmmaker trick throughout the picture. The movie makes you feel like you're watching unrehearsed footage as the camera catches everything in its path to drive home the central point - there is no limit to what one can do with the camera. Of course like all Soviet films of the time, there is plenty of propaganda underneath the surface, but if you're able to dismiss it for what it is, you're left with an interesting piece of visual art.

Natalie's Impressions: While the Soviet propaganda of this film is impossible to escape, it was still an interesting film to watch, simply because of the scope of the project. It is a film and cinematography study in its own right. Vertov shows the range of techniques a cinematographer has it his/her disposal through an exposition of such tricks like reverse zooms, slow motion, animation and split screens. Not bad for 1929 Soviet Russia. It is a treatise on documentary film making or what Vertov called "life caught unawares." The film chronicles a day in the life of a city. The editing is as brilliant as the filming itself. Through the editing, the viewer is presented with a non-linear narrative. Although the film only depicts one day, the camera captures all stages of life so that it feels like you are watching a lifetime squeezed into 80 minutes.

COUNTDOWN: Just 966 movies to go!

Blackmail- 1929

U.K. Length: 96 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Anny Ondra, Sara Allgood, Charles Paton, John Longden, Donald Calthrop, Cyril Ritchard, Hannah Jones, Harvey Braban, Sergeant Bishop
www.imdb.com/title/tt0019702

Eric's Impressions: It's not a surprise that Alfred Hitchcock probably has more films on this list than any other director. His films are never boring with countless plot twists usually revolving around murder. This is no exception and though this is one of his earliest, it's right up there with many of his later films. I read that Hitchcock had shot the film as a silent picture, but then went back and re shot it with sound. He pulls no punches here and has no problem casting a female as the murderer even if it was in self-defense. Note that Hitchcock's weapon of choice is often the knife and I think he feels that it's impossible for the person wielding it to escape his/her own passion and emotion when they finally do use it

Natalie's Impressions: Anny Ondra's performance fits right in with the other blonde Hitchcock girls that came after her. Her story is also very indicative of future storyline that feature violence against women. Always the artistic filmmaker, Hitchcock never shows us those rape or murder scenes. They are alluded to or covered up or only heard and not seen. This film is a talkie and the rape scene is one in which that latter technique is used to great effect. The dead rapist's hand protruding from the bed sheets is sufficiently haunting for the female protagonist as well as for the viewer. The rapist is not the only character who pulls off a performance of a character you love to hate. The man thought to be the murderer is as slimy as they come with the oily smile and smooth talk. Lucky for Anny's character, her boyfriend the policeman is wittier and quicker than the blackmailing criminal!

COUNTDOWN: Just 967 movies to go!

Storm Over Asia- 1928

U.S.S.R.
Length: 93 minutes
Director: Vsevolod Pudovkin
Cast: Valery Inkijinoff, I. Dedintsev, Aleksandr Chistyakov, Viktor Tsoppi, Boris Barnet, Anel Sudakevich
www.imdb.com/title/tt0019286/

Eric's Impressions: I remember saying to Natalie when we watched this that it looked like a documentary in the form of something like "Nanook of the North," so much so that it felt like it was done by the same filmmaker. It wasn't a documentary, nor was it directed by the same person, but it was still visually perplexing at times. It was hard not to fall asleep as the story was action less throughout, but it did recover somewhat with a thrilling conclusion.

Natalie's Impressions: This film was like watching Nanook of the North in Asia. The film is not a pure documentary like Nanook of the North was but it did have elements of that genre. The aesthetic of this film was also very similar to the arctic documentary. If not for the communist propaganda overtones, it could be mistaken for that film. The Soviet Union certainly has a preachy presence in this film. The depiction of the "evil capitalists" is actually quite amusing because, although a silent film, the viewer has no doubt who these entrepreneurs are. We are given not so subtle hints through the music, the smarmy mannerisms of the actors, their demeanor, and their costumes, not to mention the basic storyline, which paints the Mongols as innocent and good.

COUNTDOWN: Just 967 movies to go!