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Reviews
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932)
Fantastic (wonderful) little gem of a movie.
This subtly & cleverly crafted movie seems near perfect in every way. There are no dull moments, I was never conscious of slow pace. The performances of the leads were perfect Nils Asther's portrayal of the complex General Yen was faultless and appears effortless and natural. Every little detail & nuance has been considered and is there for a reason. Miss Stanwyck is very believable, as we have come to expect of her. We can feel for her and experience her mixed emotions. This is everything a love story should be, and not dated at all in its execution. It's a wonderfully enriching story, which leaves a deep impression like a full & rich short novel I loved it. If romance is not your thing, don't bother yourself to watch, because that's what this is. 9.5 out of 10, for me.
Desert Victory (1943)
Excellent contemporary account of the Battle for North-west Africa
This documentary account of the victorious campaign in Egypt and Northern Africa is nearly 100% actual war footage. In the inimitable British tradition it is factual, not propaganda-based (although some emotive wording can be found in the commentary). The Brits are to be commended for making a film of the campaign so quickly (1943) so that the public were able to unravel what really happened and what part they, their friends & relatives might have played in supporting the effort. Highly motivational stuff. Superb footage of all the protagonists, including Montgomery, Churchill, & Rommel (captured German footage!) etc. For authenticity this would be as near as possible to faultless. A great story and one that deserves to be re-told. The film is just over an hour in length, and does not drag at all. Recommended for anyone interested in World War 2 or in great land battles.
Meet John Doe (1941)
Fun to watch
This is a good movie, almost a great one. It's very watchable for the performance of Barbara Stanwyck, who steals just about every scene she's in - so intense, right from the opening scenes. Although she's a "looker", she doesn't need to be and doesn't use it, like most other truly talented career actresses. She comes across very natural, & happy with the role she's been given. You get the feeling she's the outstanding drama student that's been pulled in for the job, and now you're standing on the set sidelines watching a star being born. By comparison Gary Cooper isn't as convincing, and seems more hesitant than necessary. Walter Brennan is great in the villain's role, quite despicable. Overall a very entertaining movie, though some scenes drag a little by today's standards. Easy to forgive this in a 60-year old movie. Highly recommended.