Old Acquaintance (1943)

Two women remain friends for decades, despite the fact that they are nothing alike. Kit is a level-headed well-respected author. Millie followed Kit into writing, but her career as a romance novelist is both much less respected and much more lucrative. Millie's mind is so full of perceived slights and jealousies that her husband and daughter both prefer the company of Kit.

The story is, basically, "Millie doesn't deserve the longsuffering Kit." While decently done, the point is too easily made, which makes it pretty thin.

B-

The North Star (1943)

The little town of North Star is one of those “everyone knows everyone else’s business” places -- and that suits its inhabitants just fine. A small group of teens are excited because they’re taking a walking trip together as soon as school lets out. But their summertime fun literally booms to a halt when the Germans invade.

This is basically war-time propaganda to show us that Russians are worthy allies. And, for that purpose, it’s fine.

C+

Casablanca (1943)

I saw this once before, probably 25 years ago, and it didn’t make much of an impression on me. I don’t know if I was distracted or simply too young to appreciate it, but I couldn’t remember it well enough to really know how I’d rate it today, so I thought I’d watch again. Boy, am I glad I did.

One thing that really surprised me was how much of the dialogue I knew by heart -- how, exactly, did that happen? Of course the “I’m looking at you kid” and “We’ll always have Paris” quotes are ubiquitous and always attributable to the movie, but I just had no idea how many other oft-used phrases are straight from the film -- “round up the usual suspects” is one such example. Even the less familiar dialogue was so quippy with a dash of noir...just crackling. And even when the words weren’t necessarily quotable, the story itself approached perfection.  It’s earned the praise heaped upon it.

A+

The Constant Nymph (1943)

Teenager from a musical family is in love with an older aspiring composer who is also a family friend. To him, she’s just a charming child on whom he dotes. When her father dies and he marries her cousin, things get more complicated (and a little squicky).

C

Air Force (1943)

A movie from 1943 that covers Pearl Harbor and the early days of our involvement in World War II, focusing on one bomber (the “Mary Ann”) and its crew.  Even after extensive damage and a sentence of demolishment -- to keep anything usable out of Japanese hands -- the remaining crew works to repair it and get it airborne again.  There's a lot to like in the movie, but it relies too heavily on shortcuts in the "personality" department (e.g. "the soon-to-be-redeemed apathetic guy" the "angry at a recent loss guy" the "sad at a recent loss guy" and the "inspiring leader," to name a few).

Robert Osborne said that after the movie debuted, the Mary Ann was once again pressed into service and subsequently lost in battle -- which made it sound like this might be a true story. Huh? Really?

C+

The Song of Bernadette (1943)

This beautiful little story of a poor, simple girl who simply believes what she sees and is obedient to it despite heavy opposition from family, city leaders, and the church can't help but be interesting.  But that doesn't stop this movie from being extremely heavy-handed, too long, and stuck with the blandest of leading ladies in Jennifer Jones.

Here's a much better Song of Bernadette video:


C+

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

Everyone in the dusty nowhere town has been hearing about the rustling that's been going on, but when one of their own cattlemen winds up dead it gets personal fast.

Just a simple movie about how hard it is to stop a group once it gets going in a certain direction...and how scary such a group can be, regardless of whether you're on the outside or part of it. A tight screenplay (less than 80 minutes) that packs quite a wallop.

A+

In Which We Serve (1943)

Well-meaning movie following the flashbacks of several British seamen as they cling to a liferaft during World War II.

Despite a few touching moments, I was bored through the bulk of the movie. The lives of the sailors are extremely ordinary -- and while that's kind of refreshing, it doesn't make for a very interesting story. I also had a heckuva time telling several of them apart, especially during the early scenes.

Also, the scenes in which the men get wounded are laughable. During an early sequence when their ship gets hit (and eventually sunk), the men sway and every single one comes up with a bloody nose. When men are shot, there's a quiet wound clutch with thrown-back head before a slump over. Every time.

Watchable, if unmemorable.

C+

For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)

The story starts off with an exciting ambush, chase, and sacrifice. I mentally rubbed my hands together and my eyes shone with "oh-boy" anticipation. Unfortunately, this overlong film turned into a boring talk-fest. The last several minutes did burst back into life -- but two incredible bookends can't distract from the worthless volumes between them.

The lovely, hopeful Ingrid Bergman pretty much pulls this movie up a grade level all by herself. There's life in her performance.

C-

Sahara (1943)

Three American soldiers fighting for the British in Libya are ordered to retreat south across the harsh terrain. Early in their journey, they pick up some British soldiers and, a bit later, a Sudanese sergeant with an Italian prisoner. They're also buzzed by a German pilot who they succeed in shooting down and capturing.

The group manages to find an almost-empty well and decide to make their stand there -- the better to fool the approaching enemy into thinking they've got water to spare. It falls into predictability in the last third, but the ending's enough to get a jaded American cheering. Yeah, it's propaganda, but it's entertaining propaganda -- so that's alright.

B-

I Walked with a Zombie (1943)

Good atmosphere, but never anywhere near scary enough.

C-

So Proudly We Hail! (1943)

Incredibly square movie. Army nurses work during WWII -- they squabble some…they fall in love some…and they bore way too often. Told in a for-no-reason flashback format.

D+

The More the Merrier (1943)

Way too slight/predictable to be of any consequence - and Jean Arthur kinda grates. I have no trouble, however, seeing why all the women in the film would bat their eyes in McCrea's direction.

C

Madame Curie (1943)

Compelling film about the work of Pierre & Marie Curie. Though I know that the "personal" anecdotes can't be trusted to be anything but whimsy on the part of the filmmakers, those interludes made the couple delightfully human.

A-