Young Tom Edison

Young Tom Edison

MGM

March 15, 1940

Historical Drama

DVD
C

While the story isn't bad, I just wasn't invested enough in it, and the rape joke (from Mrs. Edison no less!) didn't help.  Norman Taurog directed, a couple years after Boys Town.

Young Buffalo Bill

Young Buffalo Bill

Republic Pictures

April 12, 1940
Western

DVD
D+

Apparently I was not quite done with Roy Rogers.  Joseph Kane directed, again.

Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year

MGM

February 5, 1942

Romcom

DVD
C-

A couple I'm not interested in falls in love at a baseball game, while I admire Hepburn's wardrobe and try to identify character actors.  (No, I don't know their names.)  George Stevens directed after Gunga Din and Swing Time, and before Shane.

The Wolf Man

The Wolf Man

Universal

December 12, 1941

Romcom/ Horror

DVD
C-

A man returns to the family estate, spies on a young woman, and harasses her into a date.  George Waggner directed.

Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X

Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X

20th Century Fox

July 28, 1944

War Drama

DVD
D+

What was the deal with the guy kissing his Oscar?  Henry Hathaway directed, and this is the fifth of his movies I've rejected.

White Heat

White Heat

Warner Bros.

September 3, 1949

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Not my thing but I can see it's stylishly made.  Raoul Walsh directed, and this is his sixth movie I've rejected.

The Uninvited (1944)

The Uninvited (1944)

Paramount

February 10, 1944

Horror (technically)

DVD
B

I honestly had no expectations about this movie, which turned out to be both charming and genuinely spooky.  It has elements of witty comedy, sweet romance, and soap opera, including illegitimacy and lesbianism!  Plus a cute dog, cat, and even squirrel.  Oh, and this may have the most stunning haunted house ever on film.

This is based on Dorothy Macardle's novel Uneasy Freehold, and was Lewis Allen's first feature-length film.  (I didn't care for Suddenly, from a decade later.)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Warner Bros.

January 24, 1948

Adventure?

DVD
D+

The setting, including location shooting, is more interesting than the plot or characters.  Director John Huston adapted B. Traven's novel.

This Happy Breed

This Happy Breed

Eagle-Lion

28 May 1944

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I would say I was more interested than entertained.  Director David Lean co-adapted Noël Coward's play, and I can actually see this working better onstage, where it wouldn't feel so odd to have scenes with characters referred to as being nearby.  (Including the neighbor lady we never meet, although we see her husband and son.)  Still, this domestic drama, set in 1919 to '39, is more my kind of movie than The Bridge Over the River Kwai or Lawrence of Arabia.

13 Rue Madeleine

13 Rue Madeleine

Twentieth Century Fox

January 15, 1947

War Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for the pompous narrator.  Henry Hathaway directed, after The Shepherd of the Hills and before O. Henry's Full House and The Sons of Katie Elder.

They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

MGM

December 19, 1945

War Drama

DVD

D

Predictably expendable John Wayne war movie.  Robert Montgomery co-stars and co-directed with John Ford.

They Died with Their Boots On

They Died with Their Boots On

Warner Bros.

November 20, 1941

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I appreciated the touches of humor in this story of Custer, but it is a story of Custer and thus of limited interest to me.  Raoul Walsh directed.

Texas

Texas

Columbia

October 9, 1941

Western
DVD
C-

While not my kind of movie, especially with a boxing match, I did appreciate the touches of humor.  George Marshall directed.

State of the Union (1948)

State of the Union (1948)

Liberty Films

April 30, 1948

Comedy
DVD
C-

Not as clever as it thinks it is.  Capra directed.  I tuned out before Katharine Hepburn showed up.

Sorry, Wrong Number

Sorry, Wrong Number

Paramount

September 24, 1948

Mystery

DVD
C-

The main character being unsympathetic made this hard to get into.  Anatole Litvak directed, almost twenty years before The Night of the Generals.

Young People

Young People

Fox

August 23, 1940

Musical
DVD
C-

I don't really understand the title.  Allen Dwan directed.

The Sea of Grass

The Sea of Grass

MGM

April 25, 1947

Western

DVD
C-

At least we're not supposed to like Spencer Tracy in this movie.  This is based on the Conrad Richter novel and directed by Elia Kazan.

Saboteur

Saboteur

Universal Pictures etc.

April 24, 1942

Mystery

DVD
C-

This is so early in Bob Cummings's career, his 25-year-old character is referred to as a kid.  Hitchcock directed and co-wrote, including with Dorothy Parker.

Cowboy and the Senorita [sic]

Cowboy and the Senorita [sic]

Republic Pictures

May 13, 1944

Western
DVD
D

The first Roy & Dale movie, but the last on this collection.  Joseph Kane directed.

Susanna Pass

Susanna Pass

Republic Pictures

April 29, 1949

Western
DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch because of slightly creative use of the sets in framing shots, so that some things happen "offscreen," and another notch for Dale being a redheaded ichthyologist nicknamed Doc.  William Witney directed again.