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MOVIE REVIEW: THE HIGH AND MIGHTY, OR THE BIRTH OF DISASTER FILMS FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT Recently, a friend of mine who like me, appreciates classic movies and television shows told me I needed to watch a film called "The High and Mighty" from 1954. I only knew the film by it's cover; the DVD having circulated fairly regularly at the library over the years. One reason I probably only had a passing interest in it; is because it stars John Wayne. While I don't dislike John Wayne and I love a good western, I've never really been a big fan. But having said that, I can't say that I've ever seen a John Wayne film that I didn't like. And although John Wayne is billed as the star, he's really only one of it's many stars. In fact, as I subtitled my title, this film is really a precursor of the disaster films that would thrive in the 1970's, such as Airport, the Towering Inferno, and Soylent Green. These movies, like The High and Mighty, would feature all star casts of actors. Where else are you going to find Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, and Fred Asaire in the same movie? Disaster films it seemed, were a novel way to get a bunch of well known actors together in one movie. While many of the actors in the High and Mighty may not be all that familiar to audiences today, most were well known at that time. Robert Stack would go on to play in the Untouchables TV series in the early 1960's. He would also star in the first disaster film parody; Airplane in 1980, then host Unsolved mysteries in the late 1980's and early 90's. Claire Revor was well known for her Academy award winning performance in Key Largo in 1948, plus her role in Stagecoach with John Wayne before that. Phil Harris, a very funny man, was also well known for his radio work with Jack Benny, as well as his own show which ran for many years. Even Carl Switzer who played "Alfalfa"in the Little Rascals pops up in the movie. While having well known actors and actresses together in one movie should be a recipe for success, this is not always the case (see Towering Inferno). From what I've read, a great deal of the success of this picture, goes to John Wayne and the director William Wellman. John Wayne liked the story and bought it, and wanted William Wellman to direct it. William Wellman by the way, directed what I feel is the best silent film of all time; Wings made back in 1926. As a decorated flying ace of World War One and one of the best movie directors of the twentieth century, his skill behind the camera and picking just the right actors and actresses to flesh out the story, made him the best choice to direct the film. As for the story itself, without giving too much away, it's a fairly simple one. A DC-4 airliner with 17 passengers takes off from Honolulu, en route to San Francisco. It's not until they're about halfway there, or the point of no return, that they realize there's something wrong with the plane and may not make their destination. That drama, along with the internal drama on the plane, yes; everyone had their own demons and issues, just starts to draw you in, it's actually very compelling. The story, and the great acting, plus the film itself (it was filmed in beautiful Warner Color and Cinemascape really makes for a great film. But oh, I forgot to mention the soundtrack by Dimitri Tiomkin which actually won an Oscar. The song itself is actually quite haunting and a crucial part of the story. Due to legal issues, the film was left in the vaults for many years, and was finally restored and released as a two dvd set. Whoever was behind this dvd release did it right, there's lots of extras included, as well as commentary and behind the scenes stories and interviews, this is what a classic film of this stature deserves. It's an A+ dvd all the way. Like I said at the beginning, while I've never been a big fan, I can't say I've ever seen a John Wayne film that, in the end, I didn't like....after watching this film; maybe I should watch the Duke a little more often. MOVIE REVIEW: HIS GIRL FRIDAY One of the best ways to escape all the negative news that seems to fuel our world as of late, is to relax with a classic movie. And for me, screwball comedies almost always prove to be a sure cure. I say almost because over the weekend I decided to watch a movie that over the years I had heard mentioned quite a bit, but for whatever reason, never watched. That movie, "His Girl Friday" starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell almost always makes the lists of top screwball comedies of all time. As far as my impressions and review, well they're kind of mixed. First, I'd have to say that I think Cary Grant is one of the top actors of all time, when he's acting, you're not even aware that he's acting. Dialog just seems to stream from his mouth as naturally as if the words were his own. Rosalind Russell, while not enjoying quite the career of Cary Grant, is certainly one of the top actresses of the era this movie was made in, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. The supporting cast is also excellent, Ralph Bellamy and many other well known supporting actors pop up in this film. If you're a fan of Frank Capra's films, you'll recognize many of them. So for me, the actors aren't the problem, it's the story. Basically, Cary Grant's character is still smarting from his recent divorce from Rosalind Russell. He wants her back, not because he really loves her, but because she's such a great journalist. She, for her part, is glad to be rid of his conniving ways, and has found love with a true gentleman, although life with an insurance salesman is not quite as exciting as the fast paced newspaper business, it's what she says she wants. As for Cary Grant, it's not what he wants, he needs her talent as a female writer to sell papers, and he sets out to squash the marriage through various means. This includes everything from duping her fiance into selling him a life insurance policy that he has no intention of paying for, having his wallet stolen, getting him arrested for prostitution, even having the poor guy's mother killed, although not really, well maybe. That's kind of my problem with this movie, it's supposed to be fun, but there seems to be a lot of underlying dark humor here that kind of surprised me. Basically, to draw his ex-wife back into the newspaper business, he plays on her journalistic instincs to drum up support for a man who shot and killed a black police officer.The Mayor wants to put the man to death for the murder, but Cary Grant doesn't like the mayor, doesn't want him reelected, so he brings in his ex-wife to come up with an angle that will ensure the public's sympathy and ensure that the mayor is not reelected. He even has his newspaper men threaten the mayor with false claims that he's in cahoots with the Russians (sound familiar). Then he threatens to have the major impeached (seriously, I'm not making this up)! Eventually, the lady is able to convince the authorities through her skills as a journalist that the man should not be held accountable for murder; even after the guy almost blows her head off with a gun. Oh, I forgot to mention the press even drives a girl, who the killer befriends, to suicide in order to drum up sympathy for the man. It all comes out fine in the end, at least for Cary Grant's character, he gets his girl Friday back, but she's left both figuratively and literally carrying the bags in their relationship. For the positives, it's a well made movie, as are many from this era. It's directed by Howard Hawks, and after watching it, I must say you really get a feel for what it must have been like to work for a newspaper back in the 1930's and 40's. Back then, newspapers were the number one way that the public stayed connected and learned about the world at large, there of course was no television, and no internet. It makes one realize that even back in the so called "good old days," the press played a large role in shaping the public's outlook on life and politics...though it was probably a bit more subtle than in today's world. The actors are all first class, and as I mentioned, many pop up in other films that are now considered classics. Their timing is impeccable, and it's hard to imagine that talking pictures had only been around for roughly a decade at the point this movie was made. Again, for me, it's the story that really kind of dampens my enthusiasm.

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