Showing posts with label 1920s. Show all posts
Sunrise: A song of Two Humans [1927]: An overlooked masterpiece
Cast: George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston
Directed by: FW Murnau
This is one of the best films of the 1920s. Directed by German filmmaker FW Murnau, who also made classics like "Nosferatu [1922]" and "Faust [1926]" and others.
I don't have any hesitation saying that I love this movie a bit more than I loved watching Metropolis, as it is also a 1927 film.
Sunrise is a collaborative work and not just the lead actors trio but everyone who got a chance to be on the screen even for a single scene did their part exceptionally well and that includes the Dog and the little pig as they got to do one important scene each.
It is one of the earliest silent films I saw where the actors were not intentionally dramatic in their expressions as they used to be in the 1920s. For example: Metropolis and The Passion of Joan of Arc, however that doesn't diminish their value in cinema at all.
Sunrise is the story of the man who plans to kill his wife and run away with this other woman from the city but circumstances change and different shades of human emotions unfold between the characters.
Sunrise won 3 Oscars at first Academy Awards in 1929 including "Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production" Best Actress in a leading role" for Janet Gaynor for the 3 films she did during 1927 and 1928 [7th heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise] and "Best Cinematography"
It is a masterpiece that many of us failed to notice. It is one of the finest piece of cinema I have watched.
Directed by: FW Murnau
This is one of the best films of the 1920s. Directed by German filmmaker FW Murnau, who also made classics like "Nosferatu [1922]" and "Faust [1926]" and others.
I don't have any hesitation saying that I love this movie a bit more than I loved watching Metropolis, as it is also a 1927 film.
Sunrise is a collaborative work and not just the lead actors trio but everyone who got a chance to be on the screen even for a single scene did their part exceptionally well and that includes the Dog and the little pig as they got to do one important scene each.
It is one of the earliest silent films I saw where the actors were not intentionally dramatic in their expressions as they used to be in the 1920s. For example: Metropolis and The Passion of Joan of Arc, however that doesn't diminish their value in cinema at all.
Sunrise is the story of the man who plans to kill his wife and run away with this other woman from the city but circumstances change and different shades of human emotions unfold between the characters.
Sunrise won 3 Oscars at first Academy Awards in 1929 including "Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production" Best Actress in a leading role" for Janet Gaynor for the 3 films she did during 1927 and 1928 [7th heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise] and "Best Cinematography"
It is a masterpiece that many of us failed to notice. It is one of the finest piece of cinema I have watched.
It is available on YouTube. You can also watch it here below.
Movie Geek's Rating: ★★★★★
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Tag :
1920s,
1927,
Drama,
FW Murnau,
George O'Brien,
Janet Gaynor,
Margaret Livingston,
Romance,
USA
The Broadway Melody [1929]: the first winner with dialogues
“The Broadway melody” was the first sound film to win a Best Picture Award at the Oscars.
The Plot: The Broadway Melody is the story of the Mahoney sisters played by Bessie Love and Anita Page who comes to New York, for their big break on the Broadway. Their friend Eddie Kearns played by Charles King, who asked them to come to New York, Eddie was in love with the Elder Sister, Hank but later falls for the younger, more beautiful sister, Queenie. Queenie dates the wealthy but dishonest Jock Warriner played by Kenneth Thomson, only to ruin the love triangle and protect her sister. It is a usual backstage story.
Some ‘Obvious’ Flaws: The movies have only learned to talk sometime back, so the actors were not used to acting with a microphone instead of making gestures to explain their point. There was overacting all along by everyone, it was hard to do something where you have nothing much to learn and get inspired from.
Why it is still good: The Broadway Melody is a romantic musical and it was excellent in its singing and dancing, which is what Broadway is all about. Of course, you will have to accept that it is a 1929 film and one of the first sound films. One thing is for sure, you will not feel disappointed and it will only add to your range as a spectator and a movie enthusiast.
Bessie Love and Harry Beaumont were nominated for the award for the best actress in a Leading role and the Award for the best direction respectively at the 2nd Oscars. It won the Best Picture and was the first sound film to do so.
Movie Geeks Ratings: ★★★ Good
Cast: Charles King, Bessie Love, Anita page
Directed by: Harry Beaumont
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Author: Amrit Rukhaiyaar
