#24. [PRE-BLOG] The last laugh / The letzte Mann (1924)

In detail: IMDB Wikipedia
Watched: 5
Remained: 996 to go
Days: 5
Watched on: 2006.
Place: at home.
 
Today we continue talking about Murnau with another of his masterpieces: The last laugh.

The story revolves around a man who is respected and admired in his community due to his work as a doorman in a luxury hotel. As he gets old, they transfer him to a post in the toilets. Moreover, they strip him off the uniform. This uniform represented, more than any other thing, his position in the community. Shamed by his new position, he steals the uniform every night to make believe to his neighbours that he is still a doorman.

The style is that of an expressionist film: the distorted scenario, the exaggerated gestures, etc.; but its social theme and the playing with the camera make it a somewhat unclassifiable film. Some author labels it as a Kammerspiel film, a short life movement.

I find very interesting the depiction of a German society fascinated by authority and social status; moreover when this same society was just about to be devoured by its fears.

It is claimed that American audiences didn't understand the film because a cleaner earned more money than a doorman.

#31. [PRE-BLOG] Sunrise (1927)

In detail: IMDB Wikipedia 
Watched: 4
Remained: 997 to go
Days: 4
Watched on: 2009
Place: You don't want to know.

At this point I have a confession to make: I had seen already around 80 movies from the list before starting with this blog. From now on, if I don't have anything new to blog, I will write about one of those films. The objective is 1001 movies in 1001 posts. These movies will have the label [PRE-BLOG] in the title. Yesterday I couldn't see anything; so today I write about one those pictures: Murnau's Sunrise.

I love this film. The plot may not be terribly original but the direction and interpretation are captivating. Murnau has the ability to transport the viewers from one state to another without losing us in the process. He plays with our feelings like a child plays with clay. During the viewing, the real world doesn't exist, only that subjective universe of huge cities, eerie moors and dark swamps exists. A universe transfigured by the characters’ emotions, because they are the only thing that matters during 90 minutes. These emotions are perfectly transpired by the characters; thanks to the brilliant interpretation from George O'Brian and Janet Gaynor (she received the Academy Award for this film together with Seventh Heaven, another very recommendable picture). The movie is a magic enchantment from the start to that end with the sunrise illuminating our newly refreshed lives.

It won the very first Best Feature Film Academy Award in 1929.

Films like these make this whole crazy project worth it.

#32. The General (1927)

In detail: IMDB Wikipedia 
Watched: 3
Remained: 998 to go
Days: 3
Watched on: Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Place: At home

They don't make them like this anymore!

The movie is absolutely hilarious from the start to the end. I heard that Keaton and other comedians studied the public's reaction in the previews to make each scene to last the exact time. After seeing how timely each joke is in this movie, that doesn't seem an exaggeration. The story is apparently based on a military raid during the American Civil War. Some volunteers from the Union Army steal a Southern train and the locomotive engineer, Buster, goes on a crazy chase to recover it. The pursuit is brilliantly constructed with Buster showing all his acrobatics all over the train. In a beautiful symmetry, the chase is repeated, joke after joke, with the roles reversed, when Buster is trying to reach the Southern lines.

The movie contains a lot of memorable scenes. For instance, to pick just one, the whole sequence with the cannon is unforgettable.

The film is definitely a "must-see".

#39. The docks of New York (1928)

In detail: IMDB Wikipedia 
Watched: 2
Remained: 999 to go
Days: 2
Watched on: Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Place: You don't want to know

I have added a link to a list where you can follow my progress. It is in the right side.

Can a romantic movie be set in dark bar in the docks? This lovely film has the answer. At first sight, you could think that this is going to be your average story about swearing sailors and easy women; but nothing could be further from the true. This movie has very deep characters, supported by tremendous interpretations. The lack of exaggerated gestures -- it seems like a muted "talkie" -- makes the film terrible subtle. In fact, you are never sure of the intentions of each character. The movie goes from one unlikely situation to another until the climax at one of the most improbable places for a romantic film's ending.

The photography and dark ambience are superb and I think that they have influenced many other waterfront films.

#38. The crowd (1928)

In detail: IMDB Wikipedia 
Watched: 1
Remained: 1000 to go
Days: 1
Watched on: Monday, March 8th, 2010
Place: You don't want to know

If you think that I'm going to start with the first movie and move straight forward from there to the last one, you have another think coming. Basically, it would be terribly boring (an entire month of 60's experimental films, anyone?). Besides that, it is difficult to watch a movie if you are not in the "right mood". Who wants to watch a tragedy when you are happy and at peace with the world? I not only aspire to watch the 1001 films, I also want to have some fun in the process. That being said, let's start with our first movie, the number 38 on the list: The Crowd by King Vidor.

Now that we are living in a world where a lot of movies about the everyday life are being made every year, it is a little hard to imagine the ruckus that this movie caused at the time. Its own director labeled it as "experimental cinema". My general impression is very good. It's almost a documentary about the daily routine and the stress of modern life. People praise the expressionist scene of James Murray after the accident but I prefer the little scenes at home (like the one with the cupboard). I think that they more than anything show the worn out of a relationship due to routine.

Not a bad a way to start...