A World Gone Mad

Jesse Walker now takes us to 1943.  The big story, of course, was World War II, which meant European and Japanese films were struggling, while American films were extra patriotic (and a lot of top talent was working for the war effort and not Hollywood).  What will this all mean for the top ten?  Let's have a look:

1. Shadow of a Doubt
2. Meshes of the Afternoon
3. Le Corbeau
4. Red Hot Riding Hood
5. Ossessione
6. The Ox-Bow Incident
7. I Walked with a Zombie
8. Five Graves to Cairo
9. Day of Wrath
10. The Eternal Return

Shadow Of A Doubt is allegedly Hitchcock's personal favorite.  I don't rate it so highly, but it deserves a spot on the top 20.  (I like the early small-town stuff better before it turns into the crazy killer story.)

I haven't seen Meshes Of The Afternoon.  I'm not a huge fan of Clouzot, but I guess Le Corbeau stands out in this year. "Red Hot Riding Hood" is a short--a great one, to be sure, but Jesse knows I don't include them in such lists.

Ossessione is pretty good.  The Ox-Bow Incident I've always found a bit too earnest and programmatic (at least it isn't too long).  I Walked With A Zombie is pretty cool, though it's hard for a lot of people to appreciate Tourneur these days.

Five Graves To Cairo is a little-seen gem from Billy Wilder.  There does seem some to be some propaganda tacked on at the end, though it's easy enough to ignore.  In Days Of Wrath Dreyer makes a film about a different time but is just as relevant.  Haven't seen The Eternal Return, though it sounds like the kind of thing I'd go for.

11. Tortoise Wins by a Hare
12. Journey Into Fear
13. Dumb-Hounded
14. Stormy Weather
15. The Seventh Victim
16. The Fallen Sparrow
17. Tin Pan Alley Cats
18. Falling Hare
19. Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves
20. What's Buzzin' Buzzard?

Okay, Jesse, we get it--animated shorts were the best things out there in 1943. I agree, but they're hard to compare with features.

Journey Into Fear has in interesting look and cast (and title), but I don't think it's a great movie.  Stormy Weather is an interesting oddity, with some very talented people involved. Haven't watched The Seventh Victim, but I'd love to see Ward Cleaver in a film noir. Haven't seen The Fallen Sparrow either.

In general, 1943 wasn't much of a year for film, but I can name at least one other title that would have made my top ten:  The Sky's The Limit, Fred Astaire's most underrated musical.


Other films I liked:

Air Force, The Gang’s All Here (Busbv Berkeley's last hurrah?), Heaven Can Wait, Higher And Higher, The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp, The More The Merrier


Other films of note:

Best Foot Forward, Corvette K-225, The Count Of Monte Cristo, Crazy House, The Dancing Masters, The Desert Song, Destination Tokyo, Dubarry Was A Lady, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, Gildersleeves On Broadway, Gung Ho!, A Guy Named Joe, Hangmen Also Die!, Hit The Ice, The Human Comedy, I Dood It, Jane Eyre, Jitterbugs, Keeper Of The Flame, Kid Dynamite, Lady Of Burlesque, Madame Curie, Mission To Moscow, Mr. Lucky, My Friend Flicka, The North Star, The Outlaw, Passport To Suez, Presenting Lily Mars, Riding High, Sahara, So Proudly We Hail!, Son Of Dracula, The Song Of Bernadette, Stage Door Canteen, Tender Comrade, Thank Your Lucky Stars, This Is The Army, This Land Is Mine, Watch On The Rhine