Style2

Young Tom Edison (1940) Directed by Norman Taurog

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 3:22 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 8 August 2007)

This movie is a biopic about the young years of famous inventor and movie-making pioneer Thomas Alva Edison but above all this movie is an entertaining one to watch.

The movie could had also be easily named "The Adventures of Young Tom Edison", since the movie itself is quite adventurous, with young Tom Edison embarking on some adventurous dealings in the normal world and in his own world of inventing and experimenting.

It above all is a movie that at all times entertains, with also some comical characters in it and some fun typical comedy dealings. Guess its also insightful about the early years of Thomas Edison's life, though its hard to tell how much in this movie actually also occurred in real life. Some things are certainly hard to believe and obviously fabricated for the movie, to also make it more fun and tense. This is really not a bad things, since it definitely improves the movie so much. I'm sure the movie would had been really boring and simplistic if it was done in a completely serious dramatic kind of biopic style. It's entertainment value is mostly what makes this movie such a great watch.

It's a typical '40's movie, made in typical '40's movie style, with typical '40's way of story-telling, typical '40's kind of characters, typical '40's kind of humor and a typical '40's musical score. Needless to say, fans of '40's movie shall probably enjoy the most watching this movie.

Mickey Rooney fits the role really well, even though he at the time was already much older than the character in the movie was supposed to be. He carries the movie mostly and handles everything in it very well. He especially seems at ease with the comical aspects in the movie. Other child-star Virginia Weidler also plays a good role. The parents of Tom Edison are also portrayed nicely by Fay Bainter and George Bancroft. The movie provides a good view of the home situation which also definitely helps to make the more dramatic and serious aspects of the movie work out.

The movie is followed by "Edison, the Man", starring Spencer Tracy in the role of Thomas Edison, who also makes a cameo at the end of this movie, to prepare- and get viewers to the theater for its sequel. An in-movie teaser trailer!

A really greatly made and entertaining movie to watch! Very recommendable.

8/10

Please Believe Me (1950) Directed by Norman Taurog

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 4:24 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , ,

(Review originally written at 26 July 2007)

 What's this movie really about? Who are all those characters? What do they want? This movie truly confuses me.

 The movie is filled with many characters who are all after one thing; money. They think they can get it from the British Alison Kirbe (Deborah Kerr) who just inherited a livestock ranch in Texas. They all try to win her love for different reason but all money involved. After a while it starts to get extremely confusing who all those characters are, who is with who and what do they want exactly. Terence, Matthew, Jeremy, Vincent, Lucky Reilly, I mean who are all those people? They all look and act so much alike! Who's good, who's bad and for what man does Alison Kirbe eventually fall for and just why him? This movie gives me an headache just thinking about it! At the end the movie become even more confusing when everybody apparently start to scam each other, for whatever reason. The movie had reached a point at that time that I couldn't even care less what was going on and happening to the characters.

Guess the writer thought he was really being clever by putting as many plot twists as possible in the movie. It just doesn't work and makes things extremely confusing to follow. But also the entire execution of the script is below average. The movie doesn't always flow well and it seemed that director Norman Taurog also had no idea what he was shooting. The sequences are just put together after each other but it doesn't make one big well flowing whole piece.

And apparently this was supposed to be a comedy but for a comedy this movie surely does lack some laughs or even humor for that matter. Are the situations supposed to be funny? Are the characters supposed to be funny? Is the dialog supposed to be humorous? Fact is that the movie only just mildly entertains at points.

 The movie gets also restrained by its settings. Its for most part set aboard a ship. It provides the movie with all of the usual sequences and settings and therefor also becomes rather formulaic.

Not a recommendable movie, unless you want an headache.

 4/10

 Watch trailer

That Midnight Kiss (1949) Directed by Norman Taurog

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 1:34 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 2 July 2006)

is is yet another MGM musical with a standard and predictable love-story that has all the familiar ingredients in it. It's one of those typical movies of which you already know how its going to end. From start till finish, nothing refreshing or unpredictable ever happens to be honest.

However of course these sort of movies were made to simply entertain its audience. It's a fun romantic movie. You just sit back and enjoy it, without thinking too much about its story.

This time the musical takes an operatic twist, which should delight the fans of it. I shall immediately admit that opera is not entirely my cup of tea. Never has been and never will be most likely. Still there was enough to enjoy for me, since the movie also wasn't made entirely in 'opera style'. The movie was good lighthearted, romantic fun to watch, even though it all was nothing too remarkable, refreshing or original all.

The actors were cast for their signing voices and musical skills rather than their acting abilities but that however is fine and acceptable for a movie in this sort of genre. Their musical skills most certainly compensate enough for their acting skills! Mario Lanza was one of the most talented young singers of the last century who unfortunately died way too early. Ethel Barrymore also does what she can do best; play a character who lies most of the time in bed. None of the comical actors really work out in the movie, probably mainly because it doesn't blend in that well with the operatic elements of the movie, that are the most prominent present in the story.

It's a worth seeing, charming movie. Don't expect anything too spectacular or original. Just sit back, enjoy and try not to think too much about the typical MGM musical formulaic story. It does not fail to entertain!

7/10

Watch trailer
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Copyright © 2014 Boba_Fett1138's movie reviews
⬆
Top