Next week a blogathon sponsored by The Classic Movie Blog Association kicks off on Sunday, May 15th and will run through Tuesday, May 17th. This event will celebrate the exceptionally interesting classic movies that premiered in 1939 as the studio system reached its zenith. These flicks blended the highest technical achievements with considerable artistry and storytelling skill, (and an undeniable amount of show biz pizzazz)--and those chosen by participating bloggers are not all American-made! The complete list of the movies that will be featured in the blogathon can be seen here.
I chose the less well known We Are Not Alone (1939) to examine next week. Directed by Edmund Goulding and based on a James Hilton novel, the movie starred Paul Muni, Flora Robson, and Jane Bryan. This nearly forgotten film received good reviews such as critic Frank Nugent's description of the movie as "a film of rare tenderness and beauty, compassionate and grave, possessed above all of the quality of serenity" in The New York Times. Unfortunately, the movie's contemplative tone was overwhelmed by the plethora of larger-scale films in that exceptional year, and it did not find a larger audience. I hope that you will enjoy rediscovering We Are Not Alone with me.
I look forward to reading the posts of all my fellow bloggers!
8 comments:
Hi Moira, I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on a film I have not seen. I have chosen two films, Gulliver's Travels and Intermezzo, and I hope you don't mind that I included a link to your excellent post on Leslie Howard. However, I just tried to make a few changes to Intermezzo, and all my photos and text have disappeared. I was wondering if you have experienced the same problem.
Holy Cats, Whistling Gypsy! I lost the last three posts thanks to the glitch on Blogger last night--but we seem to be in good company. Based on a perusal of Twitter and Blogger, a kajillion others lost stuff too. Good thing I usually make back-ups elsewhere.
You are SO ambitious and I love your taste in movies. I was always enchanted by the uniquely sophisticated cartoon of Fleischer's Gulliver's Travels and the bittersweet romance of Intermezzo still resonates with me. I am honored that anything I might write about Leslie Howard would prove useful to you. Thanks so much for letting me know.
I am really getting kind of excited about this blogathon now. It's been awhile since I was able to participate in one.
Those who would like to know more about this dynamo named "whistlingypsy", and her blogging empire, might want to check the links below:
Intermezzo and Gulliver's Travels will be reviewed at Distant Voices and Flickering Shadows
Another thoughtful blog by this same individual may be found at The Lady Eve's Reel Life. (When DO you sleep, whistlingypsy?)
Cheers,
Moira
Moira, I can only take credit for the organized chaos that is Distant Voices and Flickering Shadows. However, my friend Lady Eve is responsible for the elegant and eloquent The Lady Eve's Reel Life. The confusion is understandable; I was a guest contributor on her blog before I launched my own blog with the result her blog is listed before mine. I didn’t mention this before, but my compliments on the amazing job you did assembling all the images represented in this weekend’s blogathon; it makes me proud to be apart of this gathering of creative people.
Ah, thank you for the clarification, whistlingypsy. Btw, the posts that disappeared came back--I hope that yours did too. Whew! That was close. I almost had to break out the flaming torch and pitchfork for the march on Blogger Castle.
Thanks for the compliment, but that collage was really a snap to make using images I've gathered over time.
I also should have mentioned that anyone participating in the blogathon who would like to use that collage of images showing almost all of the films to be covered in this event is welcome to copy it from here.
Moira, either I'm blind or you just haven't posted your review yet. Which is certainly no problem, as life and Blogger get in the way of things sometimes! But I am really interested to read about this film! How could I not have seen a Paul Muni movie (love him) based on a James Hilton novel (love his stuff)!?? Please let me know if I'm just not seeing how to find the article, or let me know when it is posted. Don't leave us out there too long because it sounds like it's going to be a good one!
Moira, I just wanted to let you know that since yesterday, I've been trying to read your WE ARE NOT ALONE review for the CMBA 1939 Blogathon, but no matter how much I click on the link, nothing happens! I don't know if the problem is on my end or what. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't ignoring your blog post -- but if you can provide a tip or two on how I can access it and read your blog, I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Moria, I have been visiting your blogsite looking forward to reading your review on We Are Not Alone. I thought I would check-in; I hope that all is well with you.
I apologize for the delay, but something is wrong with my blogger account. I have been trying to post the piece on We Are Not Alone since Tuesday. Every time I did post it, half of it disappeared into cyberspace, though I believe it is now visible to anyone visiting the site. I am so sorry. I kept trying to post and getting so frustrated. Cross your fingers that this works now.
Yours in frustration,
Moira
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