Figured I would go back and visit some early Oscar winners, this one capturing Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. I cannot disagree more with those decisions.
Apparently this is based on an incredibly popular novel from 1928 about premarital sex and childbirth. I'm assuming the book used the same lens of a working-class couple to interrogate this, except probably much better. The film being made in the depression probably had a lot to do with its success because its storytelling and writing are really kind of sub-par.
The schedule for the Oscars back in these days was so strange but awarding this film best adapted screenplay over both Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is absurd. I understand that the Academy never liked horror films but I really don't see what they thought was so award-worthy with this film.
Despite how harsh I am, this film isn't all bad. Depictions of the stress and anxiety of trying to survive in the worst parts of Capitalism are always going to get a little bit of respect from me. And the dynamic between the two is interesting (even though I don't like the characterization done with either). I thought it was going to keep on with the feminism from the opening, that probably would have made for a better film.
I guess it's an interesting look back into cinema history and nothing too awful happens in this one. Just a really average film for its time.
Apparently this is based on an incredibly popular novel from 1928 about premarital sex and childbirth. I'm assuming the book used the same lens of a working-class couple to interrogate this, except probably much better. The film being made in the depression probably had a lot to do with its success because its storytelling and writing are really kind of sub-par.
The schedule for the Oscars back in these days was so strange but awarding this film best adapted screenplay over both Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is absurd. I understand that the Academy never liked horror films but I really don't see what they thought was so award-worthy with this film.
Despite how harsh I am, this film isn't all bad. Depictions of the stress and anxiety of trying to survive in the worst parts of Capitalism are always going to get a little bit of respect from me. And the dynamic between the two is interesting (even though I don't like the characterization done with either). I thought it was going to keep on with the feminism from the opening, that probably would have made for a better film.
I guess it's an interesting look back into cinema history and nothing too awful happens in this one. Just a really average film for its time.