Review #15: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Starring: Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur

Directed by: Frank Capra

Released by: Columbia Pictures

Synopsis: Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a small town poet that plays the tuba, inherits a great fortune from his late uncle, and is taken to New York City to claim it. But when he decides to do great things with it, his sanity is questioned and is put on an unfair trial where his ideals are put to the test.

Review: One of the things I love most about Frank Capra's films is that they celebrate the strengths of the common man. At times they may come off as preachy, but they make the films more accessible and easier to relate than any other film of its kind. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is no exception. The common man in this picture is Longfellow Deeds, played wonderfully by Gary Cooper. Mr. Deeds is an eccentric man, with an always honest disposition and unique views on life. This causes him to be labeled as "not quite there", but the truth is that he is perhaps smarter than the characters he encounters, and that becomes both his weakness and greatest strength. Yep, this is a Capra film alright. Mr. Deeds embodies the everyday man very well. When placed in an extraordinary situation his reaction is very believable. He is full of doubt, unsure of what to do and pressured by society to act in a way he doesn't believe in, strengthening his own ideals in the process.

He also encounters some very cynical and mean spirited people, many which later become his friends and allies. Louise Bennet (Jean Arthur) is the best example. She is dead set on manipulating Mr. Deeds in order to get a story for her employers to use against him. His charms, however, prove to be too strong in the end, defeating many of the ill intentions he is faced during his journey. Once more, this is classic Capra at its finest. This is pulled off thanks to the very strong script and the versatility of the actors. They feel authentic and know how to play their characters effortlessly.

It's a relatively simply film, but one presented very well. The film has no fancy cinematography or intriguing set pieces. It makes due with the strength of the story and the talents of the cast of players, and sometimes that's just enough to make a great film. The best example of this is the court scene. Without spoiling it, everything you have grown to expect in a Capra film appears here. Capra's ideals of the virtues and values of the common man shine greatly, presenting us a Mr. Deeds that is very hurt by the lies and offenses of the people he used to call friends, and then rises to the occasion with the one thing people were judging: his eccentricity. This scene makes a big statement about what we consider to be sane and normal, telling us that even when we all have our quirks we shouldn't be labeled as incapable of rational thought. The film even has the audacity to question high scholars when they try hard to over analyze a simple concept and yet still be victim of it. To me, that's a great message.

Of course, the most common problem in Capra's films is that when defining the good guys he tends to make the antagonists really cartoony almost to the point of being silly. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town suffers from this as well, though it isn't as bad as the films that came before and after it. The other flaw in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is that for some it might be too light considering the topic it is handling. The drama is light, even when the conflict gains a much bigger presence in the last act of the film. This, however, can work in the film's favor. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town may be the most accessible of the ambitious Capra films. It delivers a point without being too preachy about it (in my honest opinion, Mr. Deeds' speech is more of an observation than a full on message).

Before Capra took on corrupt politics in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, he gives us a lighter and enjoyable film in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but doesn't skip on the social relevance. Frank Capra reminds us once again that we the common people have the power to do great things and face adversity with our goodwill and smarts. Don't miss out on this great film.

Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5



This review is dedicated to Neal Ronaghan and Zachary Miller. Last Wednesday night we recorded the Nintendo World Report Newscast podcast, and Filmstrip Memories got a nice mention from them. Expect to listen to the show very soon. Thanks for the awesome recording session!

Filmstrip Reflections #2: The best movie...EVER?

While I was watching some classic film trailers and montages on YouTube I stumbled upon the original segment the American Film Institute (AFI) did for Citizen Kane when they declared it the best movie ever made (once in 1997, and again in 2007) on their 100 Years 100 Movies list. The list itself came under a lot of criticisms from film experts and critics because it is simply impossible to group 100 movies and declare them as the best, especially if the list includes dramas, horror films, romance, comedies and thrillers. As one critic declared it, it's like comparing oranges to apples, and declaring bananas to be the best fruit ever.

I want to offer my two cents on this. On one hand, I agree with the critics that it's near impossible to declare which film is the best. You see, I believe that films are very personal experiences, subjective so to speak, and what may be the greatest to me may be the worst for you. So, trying to make an official statement out of a subjective idea will bring out a lot of opinions forward.


Citizen Kane is constantly hailed as the best movie ever made. Well, do YOU agree?

On the other hand… just like I have the right to make this website and declare MY favorite films of all time the AFI has the right to try and declare which films are the best ever made, regardless of genre, filmmaker and concept. Critics have the right to agree or disagree because like I just explained, movies are very personal.

Here's how I see this…

When they talk about the best movies ever made, I think of the following criteria:
- The movie, no matter the genre, is an excellent example of what filmmaking can be
- It has left a huge impact on society and the industry
- It's a great success in terms of critical acclaim and audience acceptance
- It inspired many generations of filmmakers and have either created tributes or borrowed techniques from these films

So a movie like Singin' in the Rain CAN be considered to be the best among the likes of Schindler's List and Citizen Kane because it it's a well made film and definitely one of the best in its genre.


As an another example, Disney's Fantasia is considered to be one of the best films ever made, despite being animated, because it pushed the envelope in terms of filmmaking and the animation genre, and was successful at it

To sum this up, yes, trying to find THE best movie ever made is near impossible and trying to declare it as a fact would be foolish. But, I think the AFI, critics and the fans have the right to try and compile the facts and come up with their own conclusion. You can argue against it and offer facts, but no one should be condemned for trying. Of course they will make mistakes, the wrong movies will be nominated while others will be ignored, and everyone will have a say on the subject matter, good and bad.

Movies are a great form of self-expression, allowing us to look at them and come up with our thoughts and opinions. The day we are mocked for expressing said thoughts then we have truly forgotten why we go to the movies in the first place…

Review #14: Duck Soup (1933)

Duck Soup (1933)

Starring: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Louis Calhern, Raquel Torres, Edgar Kennedy

Directed by: Leo McCarey

Released by: Paramount Pictures

Synopsis: Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) has just been assigned to be leader of Freedonia, and is set on ruling it in a way that only makes sense to him (and barely at that). Rival country Sylvania is plotting on taking over, and is using its top spies Chicolini (Chico Marx) and his partner (Harpo Marx).

Review: There's no such thing as perfection in film. Yet, I may be as bold as to call Duck Soup the perfect comedy film. It's silly, highly irreverent and just plain stupid. It's one of the best comedies ever produced. This in part is thanks to the amazing talents of the Marx Brothers. Had this film been done with incompetent performers it would have been a , unfunny comedy. Luckily, this isn't the case. The Marx Brothers employ every type of comedy there is to create something fun and very unique. Rarely do you see all kinds of comedy blended together in one project and be successful at it.

Groucho Marx's brand of comedy involves acting silly while employing ridiculous phrases, comments and word plays. You can expect the best lines from him and he's the glue that holds the entire ensemble together. Chico Marx is the wiseguy of the group, a mock Italian guy often changing alliances for his convenience and being completely unreliable when you most need him. Zeppo Marx is the straight man of the group. While you do get some good lines for him, he acts as the group's sane member and the only one actually playing along with the story (a role he takes on in the Marx movies). Finally, there's the mute Harpo Marx. I guarantee you that the biggest laughs will come from him. His style of comedy is one strictly based on props and pantomime. He doesn't utter a word, but his facial expressions perfectly convey his innocence and mischief, while at times he is able to leave behind the rules of logic for the sake of comedy (when he starts showing his tattoos to Groucho you'll see what I mean).

The four of them combined create a very anarchistic but hilarious series of events that move the story forward. Speaking of which, the plot merely exists to give the Marx Brothers a reason to act against logic and reason. It may involve politics and war, but you won't find any serious drama here. But just because the movie lacks a strong plot it doesn't mean that it's just dumb comedy. There's a surprising amount of depth and intelligence behind the comedy. While at times it appears to be random, the comedy exists to enhance the events. It makes fun of clichéd storylines and characters and is aware that the whole thing is a farce. Even the war scene manages to steal some laughs, regardless of all the destruction and violence going around.

Perhaps the best thing about the movie is the Marx Brothers themselves. These guys are truly talented performers. They know how to deliver their lines and get the most out of even the tiniest jokes. Harpo, for example, knows how to play his horns in order to simulate talking in the phone in one scene in the film. Yes, this is a very silly scene, but the combination of his honking and the facial expressions he makes confirms to the audience that they knew what they were doing, and it makes the film a fantastic comedy experience.

The history behind Duck Soup is an interesting one. In was released at the height of the Great Depression, making it one of the least successful of the Marx Brothers film because, according to film experts, the audience wasn't in the mood for such a silly comedy, despite being the most ambitious at the time. This disrupted the relationship the troop had with Paramount Pictures, forcing them to go to MGM. The change of studios affected their comedy style, "A Night at the Opera" being the first film to display it. Regarded as the best Marx Brothers film, it actually toned down some of the crazy antics seen in the previous film. So Duck Soup marked the end of the highly hyperactive, anarchistic style that made the Marx Brothers household names.

Of course, comedy is a very subjective thing, and subjectivity is Duck Soup's only flaw. While I personally found this to be great, the comedy may prove to be too much for some. Even if it tries to successfully blend in all kinds of comedy, the overall result is very frantic and fast paced, making it an exercise in patience for some.

Still, I simply cannot state enough how great Duck Soup is. There's a lot going on in the film besides its machine gun pace. These men had talent and knew comedy very well, and Duck Soup is their greatest achievement in pictures. If you are able to turn off your mind for around an hour and take in all the madness, you'll have a great time.

Rating: 5 filmstrips out of 5



This review is dedicated to my nephew, Jesus Valentin. We saw the film together and had a blast. I was, however, surprised that he loved the film despite being a classic from the 1930s. He proved to me that great filmmaking surpasses decades, trends and eras and remain relevant for a long time.

Classic Film References, Homages and Tributes #4: Orson Welles and The Critic

To call Orson Welles a spectacular man would be the understatement of the century (no, I am NOT making fun of his weight gain!). Welles was a visionary man whose stories and movie making techniques would revolutionize filmmaking forever, especially his iconic motion picture "Citizen Kane". Unfortunately like many geniuses before him, he was ahead of the times and thus didn't get the respect he deserved until many decades later. In the meantime, he was mocked and ridiculed for his weight and his endorsements and odd film appearances (he made a cameo appearance at the end of "The Muppet Movie" and did the voice of Unicron in "The Transformers Movie").



Years later, another disrespected, revolutionary fat man invaded TV screens: Jay Sherman. The Critic, created by the folks behind The Simpsons, was an animated series about a New York film critic with strong emphasis on mocking movies. Jay Sherman's trademark line, "It Stinks!", defined his thoughts on contemporary media. He was voiced by the great Jon Lovitz, and the show would pave the way for pop culture gag based comedies like Family Guy. Despite the genius of its talent, The Critic only lasted three seasons, constantly hopping networks (starting on ABC, then dying on Fox) and changing timeslots. Even with this predicament The Critic would gain a loyal fanbase that keeps the spirit of the show alive.



So, what does Orson Welles have to do with The Critic? Along with fellow large actor Marlon Brandon he was the target of many jokes, many of them based around his endorsements and weight. The Orson Welles jokes would become the most beloved running joke in the series and easily the most memorable. Orson Welles was voiced by Maurice Lamarche. Larmarche is known for voicing Brain in Warner Bros' "Animaniacs/Pinky and the Brain". Funny enough, Brain was modeled to look and act like Orson Welles. Other famous characters Lamarche has voiced include Toucan Sam for Kellogg's Fruit Loops, Kif in "Futurama" and several characters in the universally hated Cartoon Network series "My Gym Partner's a Monkey".

Here's a clip of Orson Welles's less than flattering animated appearances on The Critic:



Now if you excuse me, I will have me some Mrs. Pell's Fish Sticks…

Review #13: The Sound of Music (1965)

The Sound of Music (1965)

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr

Directed by: Robert Wise

Released by: 20th Century Fox

Synopsis: Maria (Julie Andrews) is assigned to be the Von Trapp Family's new governess. Despite a rough start, her charms and unique views on life warms the heart of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) and his children, learning that the greatest strength you have in life is the sound of music.

Review: Like Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music is a movie I regret missing for all these years. Starting this project gave me the opportunity of discovering these classics for the first time, and the experience has been great so far. The Sound of Music is simply marvelous and definitely one of the best musicals of all time.

This is achieved thanks to the incredible talents of Julie Andrews. Fresh off the success of Disney's Mary Poppins, Andrews has amazing presence and vocal range as Maria. Like in Mary Poppins, she has a lot of strength as a character, but is also warm and caring; bringing enough uniqueness to make Maria a memorable stage and screen character. Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp is also a commendable, starting as a curmudgeon character caused by the loss of his wife. He goes from a cold hearted man to a loving husband and father in a convincing manner, making his emotional journey one of the most fascinating elements of the story.

Of course, the Von Trapp children are very delightful and wonderfully keep up with Andrews. The music, by Rodgers and Hammerstein, is fantastic. It's very rare for all the songs in a musical to be equally great, but Sound of Music manages to achieve that feat. The inspirational opening song "The Sound of Music", the quirky "Lonely Goatherd", and the wishful "16 going on 17" all add a lot of character development to the plot. Rarely do they feel like they were added for the sake of a musical number. The Sound of Music is also home to some of the best reprises in any musical, on stage and on in film. Reprises are meant to highlight a character's feelings based on a previous sung number, but at times can be seen as superfluous and redundant, as in "we couldn't come up with more songs, so we are recycling the ones from the first act". The film is able to avoid this obstacle with reprises that actually strengthen the themes of the storyline.

The storyline itself is very interesting. The Sound of Music is a period film, taking place just as the Nazi party has begun invading parts of Germany and Europe. These scenes are the grimmest in the storyline, with once friendly characters joining the enemy forces and tormenting the protagonists. This gives the movie a very inspirational feeling, a goal for the characters to achieve in the second to final act, and the music gains a much bigger significance. So not only is Sound of Music a great musical it's a fantastic inspirational story the strength of the human spirit during our darkest hours.

Finally, The Sound of Music is an excellently made film in terms of cinematography. The shots of the mountains are breathtaking and highly inspirational, and even the indoor shoots of the Von Trapp household dazzle in their design. It's a great advantage being a film musical: you leave the limitations of the stage in favor of a more organic and beautiful setting.

Long before The Sound of Music started its life as a stage musical, it was the autobiography of the real Maria Von Trapp. It narrates the story of how her family barely escaped the grasp the Nazi party had on Germany. Both the stage and film adaption of this story are very loose with the recreations of these events, making it a somewhat unreliable and romanticized take on the story. It's the only real flaw the film has faced for many years.

Even if it isn't the most accurate re-telling of the Von Trapp family it would be very foolish to ignore Sound of Music's power in film. With great talent, a solid story and fantastic music the movie is perfect for anyone looking to be inspired. Don't make the same mistake I did and watch this movie as soon as you can. You won't regret it.



Rating: 5 filmstrips out of 5

This review is dedicated to Alex Loret de Mola. Not only he is a big fan of the film, he once mentioned that if he given the opportunity of creating a time capsule in the event of the world coming to an end, he would include a copy of The Sound of Music due to its inspirational story and how it beautifully conveys the human emotions through song. It's a very powerful statement to make about the film, and proof that films can inspire us in unexpected ways.

Artist Profile: Zachary Miller

Zach Miller, 27, is a lifelong gamer, cartoonist, and dinosaur enthusiast. He has a bachelor's degree in English. He hones his writing skills at Nintendo World Report and his own blog "When Pigs Fly Returns" and posts whatever art he feels is worth posting. Zach currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with his wife, dog, and cat.

Hope you enjoy his talents and see more of his work in the coming months!

-Pedro

Filmstrip Funnies #1: Singin' in the Rain?

Click on thumbnail to view the full version!

Talk about a fun weekend update! A very special thanks to Zachary Miller for the amazing artwork!

-Pedro