Captains of the Clouds: A Patriotic Canadian Film

While initially greenlit as a war preparedness film, the United States was already at war when Captains of the Clouds was released in 1942. Captains of the Clouds made history during its initial production in 1941. It would mark the first time that a Hollywood film would be produced in its entirety in Canada. Warner Bros. was all about greenlighting any films that would help prepare the US for war. This time around, the studio…

"Captains of the Clouds: A Patriotic Canadian Film"

Objective, Burma! Is A Solid-But-Flawed War Film

Objective, Burma! is based on the six-month raid by Merrill’s Marauders, albeit loosely, as a part of the Southeast Asian theatre in WW2. In short, Captain Nelson (Errol Flynn) leads a group of U.S. Army paratroopers into Burma. Their objective is to take out a Japanese radar station because of it’s strategic location. Unfortunately, they miss their rendezvous because the Japanese are waiting at the airstrip. Captain Nelson makes the call and the 36-men team–after splitting…

"Objective, Burma! Is A Solid-But-Flawed War Film"

Yankee Doodle Dandy Celebrates George M. Cohan

The Oscar-winning Yankee Doodle Dandy is a musical that celebrates the life of “The Man Who Owned Broadway,” George M. Cohan. While this is a fine musical, it’s a stretch to call it a musical biopic. There are a number of dramatic liberties taken in the stretch. For one, Cohan had two wives but this film make it appear that he just had the one love interest. Two, his father preceded his mother in death.…

"Yankee Doodle Dandy Celebrates George M. Cohan"

Sergeant York: A Heroic Tale…But Propaganda

Gary Cooper delivers a marvelous performance as the acclaimed World War 1 hero in Sergeant York but the film is propaganda of the era. Alvin C. York’s (Gary Cooper) story was a dream for any studio executive in the 1930s.  Here’s a guy who was not only a religious man but a grew up poor in Tennessee.  York may have been a pacifist but conscientious objectors were required to serve.  His service record includes killing…

"Sergeant York: A Heroic Tale…But Propaganda"