1939, the Greatest Year Ever For Movies
Hollywood Released Most Classic Films Ever - Babes in Arms, Beau Geste, Gunga Din
In 1939, no less than 15 absolute classics were released to the mainstream. Not just admired movies, but flat out universally accepted as four star films. Besides those, there were at least another 15 beloved and highly regarded movies that came out in the same year.
The Movies That Made the Myths
Some of these four star classic films include The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone's tour de force and arguably Sherlock's most compelling big screen appearance to date.
Babes In Arms, featuring the chemistry of then real life couple Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney (and Mickey still acts to this day! He was very funny in Night At the Museum as a volatile security guard). Good feel good flick.
Beau Geste, a film about the foreign legion featuring a stellar cast led by beloved lead man Gary Cooper.
The classic Drums Along the Mohawk, directed masterfully by one of the truly greats, John Ford, and featuring a young Henry Fonda.
Gunga Din, featuring the delightful charisma of the super suave Cary Grant.
Frank Capra's great Mr. Smith Goes To Washington with Jimmy Stewart, a politically charged film about corruption in high places.
Ninotchka, starring reclusive and mysterious (and fantastic) actress Greta Garbo, as well as a small but memorable role by horror great Bela Lugosi. A charming comedy.
Shirley Temple in arguably her best (and most beloved) role as The Little Princess. Her talents were never in finer form, and it's a moving melodrama with a sweetness.
Ingrid Begrman's REMARKABLE debut in Intermezzo. Simply stirring in her first US performance.
Yet another (!) John Ford directed absolute classic western in Stagecoach , featuring a young and mesmerizing John Wayne in what many believe to be his finest role. (More on that fine film here: film-westerns.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_critics_view_of_john_fords_stagecoach_1939)
Wuthering Heights recieved the best treatment to date of Emily Bronte's wonderful novel. The entire cast is perfect, led by the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier, widely regarded as the finest actor of all time.
Tower of London...ok, it may not be quite "four stars", but geez, what a cast: the wonderful horror legends Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone and budding (at the time) young legend in the making Vincent Price! Three examples of why horror began to get artistic and critical recognition, because these are also three of the best actors ever.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers graced (literally) the screen together for the final time with RKO pictures in the biographic pic Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.
The Roaring Twenties - Bogey and Cagney together! In a gangster film! You need more?!
The Granddaddies of Them All - The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind
Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
In what is almost definitely the greatest directorial year ever, Victor Fleming took on BOTH of those films. It's since been revealed that Fleming had to leave the set of Oz a week or two before the completion of the film (King Vidor was called in for the final shots of the film because Fleming had to leave and rescue Gone With the Wind).
Even if you don't love Gone the way some rabid film fans seem to, you have to respect the ambition of the project and the wonderful effects (especially the burning of Atlanta scene - amazing scene). There's no doubting the HUGE effect that film would have on movies and television for years even up 'til now. We can also thank Gone for soap operas...gee, thanks, Gone. Honestly, though, it is a memorable well acted melodrama and undeniably one of the special classics.
And of course, the most watched (seriously) and most beloved (not even debatable) film of all time, The Wizard of Oz.
Millions gathered to watch the film on television every year (that's right, kids...once a year. No such thing as cable or OnDemand or video or DVR) on CBS.
Everything about the movie is near perfect; the cast, the wonderful and instantly recognizable songs, the magical imagery, the makeup and costumes, the pacing of the film, and even the special effects which, somehow, hold up today (they really MADE a 30 foot model of a tornado?! In 1939?!).
The astonishing story calls back and forth from beginning to end, recalling different aspects of tie-ins and realizations. There has never been another movie like this one, so innocent and blissful in it's pursuit of joy, yet still so magical and literate.
The Wizard of Oz, the greatest movie ever made, released in the greatest year for movies so far, 1939.
Now what are you waiting for? Go watch one of them.
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Film & TV
Latest Articles