Ichiban Utsukushiku (1944, Japan, Kurosawa) – A group of girls at a Tokyo weapons factory want to prove that they can do just as much for the war effort as the men can.  They work hard, bond together, and fulfill their work quotas – yay!  Watched it all.  IMDB reviewers hate it for sympathizing with Japan, which is a dull way to watch old movies.

Youth Runs Wild (1944, USA, Robson) – The kids are not alright, and the adults are to blame for being away to fight the war and work in weapons factories.  Watched: 15 minutes, then fast forwarded to see the youths running wild.  They lie and steal, and skip school, and run away from home, but it’s all quite harmless, and I think this “juvenile delinquency” problem the movie identifies will go away once the war is over.

Conflict (1945, USA, Bernhardt) – Humphrey Bogart has psychological hang-ups, which he decides to resolve by murdering his wife.  That doesn’t really help.  Watched it all.

Rhapsody in Blue (1945, USA, Rapper) – George Gershwin was a kid once too, and faced adversity etc.  Watched: 8 minutes.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945, USA, Simon) – This isn’t funny.  Famous comedians have been a disappointment in this marathon.  The Marx Brothers are fantastic, of course, but then .. nothing.  I’ve hated Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton, The Three Stooges,  Laurel and Hardy, and now Abbott and Costello.  I guess comedians just weren’t all that funny back then.  Watched 9 minutes.