40′s movies marathon – part 23

Kampf um Norwegen – Feldzug 1940 (1942, Germany) – Wow. The battle of Norway, 1940. This is amazing. The movie was never shown, possibly because there are scenes with German casualties and graves. It was thought lost, but was rediscovered in 2005. Watched it all. See stills from the movie here.

Keeper of the Flame (1942, USA) – A great American war hero has died. Worshipped as the embodiment of Americanism, his stirring speeches inspired total devotion from his nation-wide organization of followers. Sound familiar? Never let it be said that Old Hollywood could not be cynical of national heroes. I like these earnest parables about homebred fascism, (see also Meet John Doe and Saboteur), even when they’re not quite subtle. Watched it all.

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942, USA) – A rich girl marries the wrong guy, and gets a tyrant of a son. Meanwhile the automobile is being invented. Decades pass. Watched it all. Succeeds on style, thanks to Orson Welles, but fails otherwise, also thanks to Orson Welles.

Random Harvest (1942, USA) – A man wakes up on a World War I battlefield without memories, and tries to create a new life. Watched it all, but it becomes worse after the beginning. The plot is full of implausible amnesia cliches, and goes on and on and on. Amnesia works better as farce, as in I Love You Again.