You may not rate this movie a 10 after watching it, but I loved it. After "cutting the cable" and erecting an antenna for "free" (literally) television, I have been blessed with so many old gems like this one.! A previous review pretty much sums up the movie except for one observation I had. What I consider to be one of the most poignant moments in cinema I have witnessed takes place after Ms Birdie's competence hearing is moved outside to the courtyard. Remember, the storyline up to this point has been built entirely around the assumption by everyone around her that Ms Birdie is deranged due to her slightly irregular behavior and more importantly, that her husband, the General, was only "away" and would be returning to her. So, the judge is handed a rather lengthy letter written by the President of the U.S. expressing his personal sympathy for the General's death and his gratitude for his sacrifice to the nation. The crowd of townspeople start goading the judge to read the letter aloud for all to hear. Now, as the camera is squarely planted on the Judge's face, he reads only the first few words of the letter when, the camera still planted on the judge, we hear Ms Birdie's voice interrupt, speaking the very next word in the letter and as the camera moves from the face of an astonished judge to the now somber Ms Birdie, she is reciting the letter from memory in its' entirety without missing a word..!! Wow, it was so perfectly directed. Chill bumps..!!
Reviews
3 Reviews
Winning Your Wings
(1942)
Excellent..Inspiring...!
26 May 2014
I was lucky enough to see this short on TCM. It was broadcast on Memorial Day 2014. As a"Boomer", I knew lots of WWII stories from the adults in my young life. My father was in the U.S. Navy. Jimmy Stewart was a great patriot, as were most actors, performers, sports figures and celebrities during this troubled time for our nation.Watching this short gives great insight into the mindset of a nation hell bent on victory. A collective resolve that I am afraid this nation will never again experience and I hope never again for the same reasons. Footage of the manufacturing facilities was extremely fascinating to me. The salaries quoted by Jimmy Stewart amazed me! $450.00 a month would have been highly desirable in 1942! My dad was making only $75 a week 10 years after this film was produced! This great little film left me a little swimmy eyed..! A must see short.
High Noon
(2000 TV Movie)
Give it a 5!!
29 July 2012
This one is worth watching but falls far short of the original. The absence of almost any music for much of the movie is disappointing. The intermittent injecting of Ritters singing and the distinctive "box drum" beat throughout the original is genius. The absence of the clock shots was catastrophic. That was the one thing that instilled the intensity of the moment. Remember, this story takes place in less than two hours, just a little longer than the play time of the movie. Michael Madsen, dressed as Woody from Toy Story, was hilarious. Tasselled gloves!!?? Good Lord..!! I did appreciate story line dedication. Set detail was perfect. Not sure why they chose mud instead of dust for the streets tho. All in all the characters were well portrayed.
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