AIR FORCE (Released to Theaters USA 1943)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Air Force—worth watching—begins as a high quality watch then about 20 to 25 minutes into the film slightly falters with some scenes operating at the soap opera level that seem quite out of sequence with the story itself. There are some poignant scenes as the plane flies over several islands. Overall, the movie is well written and constructed. Some acting seems like the actors know their lines a little too well and that reduces the natural ability to portray their roles realistically. The character development is little to none. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline Several United States Air Corps men fly over islands just as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor during World War II.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Howard Hawks for direction effort. Thank you to Producers Hal B. Wallis and Jack Warner for making the film possible. Cast includes John Garfield, John Ridgely, Gig Young, Arthur Kennedy, and Harry Carey.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Good story, interesting presentation that relies on black and white film footage. The actors show strong maturity. The movie is worth watching. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HATARI! (Theatrical Release USA 1962)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Hatari!—one of John Wayne’s better works—features a great deal of African scenery and wildlife. It has a little romance thrown in at all the right places and has an interest factor of how wild animals were caught before using tranquilizing guns. Watch for Bruce Cabot and Red Buttons as well as lesser-known cast members that create a good team. Thank you to Director Howard Hawks for making a film worth watching. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A team of workers who legally supply animals to zoos and animal parks have a series of adventures and misadventures while capturing wild animals. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Howard Hawks for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Howard Hawks for making the film possible. Cast includes: John Wayne, Hardy Krüger, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons, Gerard Blain, Bruce Cabot, Michèle Girardon, Valentin Devargas, Eduardo Franz, Queenie Leonard, Jon Chevron, Sam Harris, Cathy Lewis,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie earns its watch with its simple, but solid, story set in Africa. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

 

RED RIVER (Theatrical Release USA 1948)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Red River can be a little campy, archaic, and weak in presentation at times. But there is an art in the movie that cannot be denied…almost like a Picasso painting where everything does not fit together perfectly but overall is likable in its uniqueness. John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, and Walter Brennan capture a certain spirit of the age that refreshingly does not apologize for its goals and how it gets those goals accomplished. Directors Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson establish the movement of the movie. The movie could be almost called a cult classic. The film has a good, light conclusion. It is worth an afternoon watch…maybe a couple of afternoons because it is over a 2-hour entertainment piece. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A man starts up a new Texas cattle ranch and moves the marketable cattle along the Chisholm Trail. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Howard Hawks for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Howard Hawks for making the film possible. Cast includes: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Coleen Grey, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Beery Jr. Harry Carey Jr. Chief Yowlackie, Paul Fix, Hank Worden, Mickey Kuhn, and Ray Hyke. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie shows its age both in scripting and presentation. It’s an interesting study in vintage film-ology and is a good picture to use if studying Walter Brennan, the Chisholm Trail, or John Wayne films. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers