Scrooge - 1935

Excellent early adaptation of this classic story, although very abridged. Unfamiliar with this version, this film came as a wonderful surprise. The movie does cut some very important aspects of the book but at only a little more than an hour that is not too surprising and they do a good job of merging the gaps. Wonderful performances by all especially Sir Seymour Hicks as Scrooge. Interesting interpretation of the Christmas spirits. Excellent B&W filming that succeeded in enhancing the various emotions of this story and included some wonderful detail in both sets and costumes. The disc includes both the B&W and the colorized version but you must go to the special features to get the B&W version. This will definitely be a “Christmas Carol” favorite!

A Christmas Carol - 1938

Ok version of this classic Dickens story. With a somewhat choppy storyline, this version struggles a little. Very abridged, this film skips a great deal of Scrooge’s early life including the portions with his fiancé. Other events are included but are altered drastically. They also skip the grimmer aspects of the ghostly visits, altering the impact of the changes in Scrooge and making them less believable. At the end his change of attitude seems almost too abrupt. The filming and costuming are well done, although the bald rubber cap on Scrooge is pretty obvious. The ending is also not my favorite of the “Carol” endings. Even so, the performances themselves are excellent and this version has one of my favorite portrayals of Bob Cratchit. Even with its weaknesses this is still an enjoyable part of the “Christmas Carol” family of films.

Wife Vs. Secretary - 1936

Delightful classic romance. This was an intelligent and well written film that included a wonderful blend of humor, warmth and drama. Surprisingly, the storyline managed to focus on an obviously happy couple and their romantic marriage without resorting to often used cheery fluff. Plus, it avoided the typical addition of the home-wrecking "other woman", allowing gossip and suspicion to provide the conflict. Although filmed in the 30's, the story was amazingly timeless and felt as if could have been filmed today. Performances were outstanding! This was probably one of Clark Gable's most lovable characters while Myrna Loy was at her best as the intelligent and loving wife. The chemistry between them was especially appealing! Plus, the excellent performance of Jean Harlow as the smart, driven secretary really added depth to the story. It was also fun to see Jimmy Stewart early in his career. Whether a fan of classic film or of any of these wonderful actors, this is one not to be missed.  ****

Conquest - 1937

Interesting but rather dull historical drama highlighting the story of Napoleon (Charles Boyer) and his legendary mistress, Countess Walewska (Greta Garbo). It is obvious early on in this film that no expense was spared for this film. The costumes are lavish with great attention to detail, as are the varied sets. The B&W lighting and filming are exceptional and add a richness to what is happening on screen. The story of Napoleon himself is very condensed, with the events of years occurring in just 2 short hours on screen. In fact, a personal knowledge of Napoleon and his campaigns is necessary to follow the on screen story of the Emperor and his mistress. The film's greatest strength is the performances of the title characters. Charles Boyer was perfectly cast as Napoleon Bonaparte, giving an Oscar worthy portrayal of the infamous Emperor, while Greta Garbo proves again that she can command the screen, even when her role is really secondary. Their on screen chemistry is extraordinary. In its day, this was a failure at the box office but if you like lavish historical dramas, you should enjoy this one.  ***

Jane Eyre - 1934

This film is the first talking adaptation of this classic novel. At only an hour, it would be impossible to show a very detailed version of this story. Jane’s early life is compressed into 2 or 3 scenes and the rest of her life doesn’t fare much better. This isn’t unusual, though, considering the era this was filmed. Hollywood approached movies differently in the 30's and it is evident in this film. Only the barest outline of the actual story has been kept. The acting is only so-so but the main complaint comes from character changes rather than the acting itself. Rochester is a far cry from the brooding character in the book and Jane has very little personality at all. The print I watched was also in poor condition but considering its age of 75+ years it is not surprising. Even so, as one of the many cinematic versions of this well loved novel, it is worth your time.  **