Judge Hardy's children 1938 - Another chapter in the Hardy family series

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030295/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 6,8

Director: George B. Seitz
Main Cast: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, Ann Rutherford

"The third film in the MGM series has Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) taking a job in Washington, D.C. where he's to work for ten days on a special project. While there Andy (Mickey Rooney) falls in love with a French girl (Jacqueline Laurent) while his sister gets involved with a dirty politician. At just 78-minutes the film moves by extremely quickly as director Seitz keeps everything going at a fast pace. The weakest aspect of the film is the political stuff because Judge is brought to the Capital to do work on a big project and this talk often gets brought up and it even has a major part in later events in the film but we're never really told anything about it. Often it seems as if something about this project was simply left on the editing room floor and it just seems like Judge spends the majority of his time in a hotel when he's suppose to be working. Outside of that this film has pretty much everything fans would expect and of course a lot of the comedy comes from Rooney who once again delivers a fast and fun performance. Rooney handles all the charm without a hitch and his father-son stuff with Lewis are well done by the actors. Stone is terrific as usual and Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker and Ann Rutherford are all fine in their roles. Overall, Judge Hardy's children is a good entry in the series, which still had many high points to follow for the Hardy clan."

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Love finds Andy Hardy 1938 - The third one of the series with the singing talents of Judy Garland

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030386/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 6,9

Director: George B. Seitz
Main Cast: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, Lana Turner, Ann Rutherford

"Considered by many to be the best of the Andy Hardy series, Love Finds Andy Hardy certainly boasts a solid guest-star cast, with the likes of Judy Garland and Lana Turner on hand to add, each in her own special way, spice. This being before The Wizard of Oz, a young Garland hadn't really broken into the big time yet, but you'd never know it from her performance here. She's given three songs (while, surprisingly, star Mickey Rooney gets none); none of the songs are remotely above average, but Garland sells them with an ability that goes far beyond her teenaged years. Her voice is youthful and lovely, but it's her phrasing that's so remarkable; the way in which she handles lines both melodic and lyric is amazing, particularly for one so young. For her part, Turner looks totally delicious. The script calls for the viewer to believe that Rooney has to be coaxed into dating her and then complains because she doesn't like to swim and just wants to kiss. This gives huge credibility problems to the story, but credibility isn't what Love is about, anyway. It's about honor and dignity and small-town virtues and listening to your father. It's also about Rooney, and one's fondness for his specific brand of 'gee whiz' acting and never-ending energy will likely affect one's enjoyment of Love." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/love-finds-andy-hardy-v30291/

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The drum 1938 - A grand epic vision of the British Empire

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030082/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 6,6

Director: Zoltan Korda
Main Cast: Sabu, Raymond Massey, Roger Livesey, Valerie Hobson

"The Drum is an opulent Technicolor 'British India' epic, based on a story by A.E.W. Mason (of Four Feathers fame). Teenaged actor Sabu stars as a young East Indian prince educated in England. By rights, his loyalties should lie with his countrymen, but in typical 'Sun Never Sets' fashion most of the other Indian characters are as evil and untrustworthy as Prince Guhl (Raymond Massey). Guhl plans a revolt against the British, intending to wipe out the Royal troops as the English officers enjoy the hospitality of Guhl's spacious palace. It's up to Sabu to warn the troops of Guhl's treachery by means of tapping out a message on the drum of the title." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-drum-v119969

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Mysterious Mr. Moto 1938 - One of the best in the series

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030483/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,0

Director: Norman Foster
Main Cast: Peter Lorre, Mary Maguire, Henry Wilcoxon, Erik Rhodes

"Peter Lorre makes his fifth appearance as J. P. Marquand's polite but deadly Japanese sleuth Mr. Moto. This time Moto is called in by Scotland Yard to thwart a vicious gang of international assassins. To infiltrate the gang, Moto poses as a Devil's Island inmate and escapes with one of the killers. The climax takes place at the British Museum, where the mysterious leader of the assassins (the least likely suspect, of course) overplays his hand. The gimmick of having Mr. Moto make his first appearance as an apparent villain works only when the 'Moto' films aren't seen as a group." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/mysterious-mr-moto-v103472

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Test pilot 1938 - A familiar story but with great actors

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030848/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 6,9

Director: Victor Fleming
Main Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore

"Test Pilot is one of those irresistible MGM potboilers of the 1930s that coast along on sheer star power. Clark Gable plays a courageous test pilot, who compromises his achievements with his frequent bouts of drinking. Gable's mechanic, Spencer Tracy, does what he can to keep his boss out of trouble. While testing a new aircraft, Gable is forced to land on a Midwestern farm, where he meets and falls in love with Myrna Loy. Gable and Loy marry, whereupon he is fired by his boss Lionel Barrymore, who is of the opinion that flying and dames don't mix. Gable goes off on another bender, compelling Loy to leave him. Once more, Tracy comes to Gable's rescue by reuniting the couple and arranging for Barrymore to give Gable his job back. Later, Gable and Tracy are assigned to test a huge army bomber. Something goes wrong, and the plane goes into a dive. The self-sacrificing Tracy sees to it that Gable is saved from a flaming death - at the cost of his own life. Gable is so devastated by Tracy's death that it looks as though he'll never fly again. But with Loy's help, Gable regains his self-confidence. As one can see, there's little in Test Pilot that hasn't been done before. But with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy at the controls, the film proved a real audience-pleaser in 1938. In fact, it's still pretty good today." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/test-pilot-v49173

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The rage of Paris 1938 - 'There's nothing wrong with you that a nice rich husband couldn't cure'

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030652/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,2

Director: Henry Koster
Main Cast: Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Mischa Auer, Louis Hayward, Helen Broderick

"A lovely screwball gem that, while not obscure, is also not as widely known as it well deserves to be, The Rage of Paris is a great antidote to the blues. Indeed, this frothy, bubbly, escapist delight is so charming that the only real response is to totally surrender. Sure, there are a few flaws. As with any screwball comedy, one has to be willing to suspend logic a wee bit here and there and to accept extreme coincidences as an everyday occurrence. But this artifice is part of the genre's appeal, and Paris is especially artful in its artifice. As an actress, Danielle Darrieux is perhaps not in the same league as other screwball stars (such as Carole Lombard), but it doesn't matter. She has more than enough acting chops for the part, and more importantly, she has the requisite personality and charisma that enables her to handle the role with the lightest of touches. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is a great foil for her, Louis Hayward is near-perfect, and Helen Broderick and Mischa Auer are dependable as always. Throw in sleek Art Deco sets, beautiful costumes, and well-pitched direction, and the result is an enchanting laugh-fest." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-rage-of-paris-v40092/

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Four daughters 1938 - Garfield introduced a new kind of rebellious acting style

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030149/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,1

Director: Michael Curtiz
Main Cast: Claude Rains, John Garfield, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, Gale Page, Frank McHugh, May Robson

"Fannie Hurst's Sister Act was the source for this money-making Warners weeper. The four daughters of the title are played by the Lane Sisters - Priscilla, Rosemary and Lola - and by Gale Page. All are musical prodigies, and all are daughters of master-musician Claude Rains. John Garfield makes his movie debut (no, he wasn't in 1933's Footlight Parade) as an embittered piano genius. Garfield has us in the palm of his scruffy hand the moment he begins philosophizing about the fates: 'So they flipped a coin... heads he's poor, tails he's rich... they flipped a coin - with two heads'. Aware that he can bring only unhappiness to Priscilla Lane, the daughter who cares most for him, Garfield obligingly drives into a heavy snowstorm and is killed in an auto accident (but it's not staged as a suicide, lest the Hays Office spank). John Garfield made so powerful an impression in Four Daughters that Warners was compelled to write him into the sequel Four Wives, first as a flashback and then as (implicitly) a ghost. Another film, Daughters Courageous, was hastily constructed using the same cast, but with different character names so as to accommodate a happier denouement for Garfield and Lane. Four Daughters was remade in 1954 as Young at Heart, with Frank Sinatra and Doris Day in the John Garfield and Priscilla Lane roles." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/four-daughters-v18310

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They drive by night 1938 - A Hitchcock-like British gem

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030858/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
IMDB rating: 7,4

Director: Arthur B. Woods
Main Cast: Emlyn Williams, Ernest Thesiger, Anna Konstam

"Not to be confused with either Nicholas Ray's melancholic 1949 crime tale They Live by Night or Raoul Walsh's 1940 action-melodrama (which borrowed only its title), this British thriller concerns one flawed man's attempts at clearing his name.Arthur B. Woods, regarded as one of England's best young directors, turned in a Hitchcock-like tour-de-force, with Emlyn Williams and Ernest Thesiger leading us through a plot littered with odd twists and turns - elements of which anticipate both I Wake Up Screaming (1941) and The Verdict (1946). Williams makes a highly sympathetic lead, while Thesiger mercilessly, quietly steals every scene he is in, and the combination of chase thriller and mystery is handled very deftly." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/they-drive-by-night-v113242/

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Merrily we live 1938 - Basically a cute, charming remake of My man Godfrey

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030442/?ref_=nv_sr_1
IMDB rating: 7,4

Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Main Cast: Constance Bennett, Brian Aherne, Alan Mowbray, Billie Burke, Patsy Kelly, Ann Dvorak, Tom Brown, Bonita Granville

"It's hard to argue that Merrily We Live doesn't owe a huge debt to My Man Godfrey, with which it has a great deal in common. Normally, copycats of classics are pale imitations that provide, at best, a few moments of diversion but are in no real way memorable. So it's quite a surprise that Merrily is actually quite a scintillating little screwball comedy, in spite of its Xerox-like origins. Merrily lives up to its title, being one of the most delightfully madcap comedies of the era. While the screenplay that Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran cooked up isn't high on originality, it's quite skillfully put together and very well structured. Yes, we often can see that a particular gag is coming, yet when it arrives we welcome it as a friend whom we haven't seen in so long that his familiarity seems fresh. Credit is also very much due to Norman Z. McLeod's lightning fast direction, which keeps everything going at a crisp pace yet never allows things to get so frenetic that the audience loses track of things. The cast is also a delight, with lovely Constance Bennett a joy and Brian Aherne turning in a perfectly calibrated comic performance. Best of all, though, is Billie Burke, having found the part that she was always meant to play and one which takes thorough advantage of her very distinctive personality and even more distinctive way with a phrase." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/merrily-we-live-v102162/

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(flv, 1 GB):

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A slight case of murder 1938 - A well-written comic gem

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030764/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,2

Director: Lloyd Bacon
Main Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly

"A Slight Case of Murder is a non-stop laugh riot and a brilliant parody of the classic Hollywood gangster film. Blessed with a screenplay that is not only flawlessly constructed but also drop-dead funny, Murder also benefits from a peculiar, quirky and, at times, surreal sensibility that makes it stand out from many other studio comedies of the period. The hand of Damon Runyon is clearly evident in much of the dialogue, but the trio of writers who collaborated with him on the screenplay have kept many of Runyon's bad habits - such as an occasional willingness to go for cheap sentiment - in check. Director Lloyd Bacon is operating in top form, almost as if he were competing with Howard Hawks to keep things moving in the most crackling manner possible. In the demanding lead role, Edward G. Robinson is delightful, a presumed tough guy who can't help but be a cuddly softie; no one handles the fish-out-of-water routines in quite the same way, and his offhanded way with a punch line is delicious. Ruth Donnelly is a stitch as his wife and Bert Hanlon has an amusing turn as Sad Sam the bookie. Unlike Robinson's cheap, bootleg booze, Murder just gets better with age." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/a-slight-case-of-murder-v110601/

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Boys town 1938 - No boy is bad, if given a chance!

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029942/?ref_=nv_sr_1
IMDB rating: 7,3

Director: Norman Taurog
Main Cast: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull, Leslie Fenton

"Boys Town features a sympathetic fact-based story and sincere performances from stars Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, who keep the film's tone just this side of maudlin. Veteran child-star director Norman Taurog ably handles his teenage charges, knowing precisely when to call for a close-up. Boys Town isn't without its moments of tear-jerking sentimentality, but Taurog keeps them at bay so that the story's pace won't falter. Tracy was supposedly so moved on winning his second Best Actor Oscar for the role that he gave the award to the real-life Father Flanagan; in actuality, an MGM publicist orchestrated the gesture. Boys Town, by the way, is the source of the classic line 'He ain't heavy - he's my brother'." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/boys-town-v6879/

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If I were king 1938 - The mesmerizing screen team of Colman & Rathbone

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030265/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,4

Director: Frank Lloyd
Main Cast: Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone, Frances Dee, Ellen Drew, Henry Wilcoxon

"If I Were King is a delightful costume adventure tale set in 14th century France, during the reign of Louis XI, and inspired by the legend of the rebel poet François Villon, whose exploits were filmed earlier as The Beloved Rogue (1927) with John Barrymore, and later transformed into the musical The Vagabond King on Broadway and onscreen.
A rousing, thoroughly enjoyable adventure film, If I Were King plays fast and loose with historical fact and truth, but it's so entertaining that few people are likely to care. The basic premise - that Louis XI would appoint a rag-tag poet as king for a week - is pure fiction, but it's the kind of high concept that, when it works, pays off with big dividend, and it certainly works here. Credit for this must be spread around, starting with Preston Sturges and Brandon Fleming's delightful, quick-witted screenplay. Sparkling dialogue flows like French champagne, especially when Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone have the chance to tear up the screen together, and the script contains plenty of action and drama, as well as ample opportunity for opulence. Director Frank Lloyd takes shrewd advantage of all these elements, never letting the opulence outweigh dramatic necessity, and balancing the humor with moments of genuine emotion. The cast is also first-rate, with top honors going to Colman and Rathbone. Colman is the anchor that holds the film together, and he delivers a captivating, immensely appealing performance that is invaluable. Yet Rathbone, almost unrecognizable beneath a heavy makeup job, still manages to upstage the star, creating one of the most delightfully evil villains the screen has ever known. King is a marvelous film, swashbuckling adventure at its best." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/if-i-were-king-v96239/

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(avi, 980 MB):

http://u7231061.letitbit.net/download/34598911/17763.15d3e1840948f6be01c923f1e108/If_I_Were_King.1938_filmadventure.org.avi.html

The citadel 1938 - A superior look at the medical profession

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029995/?ref_=nv_sr_1
IMDB rating: 7,3

Director: King Vidor
Main Cast: Robert Donat, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Richardson, Rex Harrison

"Although made in 1938, The Citadel remains a powerful, haunting and rewarding drama. True, time has lessened its impact somewhat, as modern viewers have likely been exposed to other films that traffic in Citadel's general theme of the power of wealth to corrupt the spirit - and even other films that also specifically deal with this theme as it applies to those in the field of medicine. Nevertheless, Citadel still seems fresh, and the care with which it has been made ensures that it retains a great deal of impact. Credit goes to any number of people, starting with the team of screenwriters who did a skillful job of adapting A.J. Cronin's novel; the screenplay is by necessity less complex than the novel, but it is highly effective and affecting. King Vidor also deserves applause for his sensitive yet powerful direction; Vidor examines humanity in both its glory and its shame, reveling in the former and expressing sadness and regret rather than condemnation for the latter. Finally, there's the expert cast, with Rex Harrison and Ralph Richardson turning in sterling support for stars Rosalind Russell and Robert Donat. Russell is surprisingly good, her 'American-ness' not getting in the way as much as one might think; she delivers a finely nuanced performance that is a small gem. And Robert Donat delivers a carefully wrought performance that is a large treasure, calling upon all of his considerable talents and detailing a character whose changes are made true and easily believable. His climactic speech is everything one could wish for and more. Add in some lovely Harry Stradling camerawork, and the result is a fine, stirring classic." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-citadel-v9728/

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J'accuse (I accuse) 1938 - A stunningly effective anti-war classic

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031503/?ref_=fn_ft_tt_6
IMDB rating: 7,1

Director: Abel Gance
Main Cast: Victor Francen, Line Noro, Marie Lou

"This 1938 sci-fi and horror-tinged war drama from writer/director Abel Gance is an updated remake of Gance's own 1919 silent feature of the same name. The mix of stark realism in the World War I scenes, with its bitter depictions of trench warfare and the effect of four years of combat on all of those involved, soldiers and civilians alike, gives way to scenes of joy in the wake of the Armistice - but the betrayal of the peace heralds the main section of the film, an astonishing mix of science-fiction and horror elements as we reach the real emotional core of the movie. Gance's story-telling technique had peaked in the silent era, but the more advanced technical means at his disposal in the 1930's only enhanced the range of his work. His 1938 J'accuse, in its reach and assembly of images and messages, seems to anticipate the future work of Stanley Kubrick, in Paths of Glory but also aspects of the symbolism 2001: A Space Odyssey (though this would more apply to Arthur C. Clarke's more explicitly pacifist novel, written contemporaneously with Kubrick's screenplay). The convergence of historical/literary reference - the title is derived from Emile Zola's denunciation of the injustice behind the Dreyfuss affair - and the cinema of the fantastic have combined, with the images and the message behind them, to make this one of the most startling films of its era, a reputation that it continues to deserve some seven and eight decades later." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/jaccuse-v25633/

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(avi, 700 MB, English subtitles):

http://dfiles.eu/files/1kw7dt31o

Block-heads 1938 - The last of Laurel & Hardy's genuine classics

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029923/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,7

Director: John G. Blystone
Main Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Patricia Ellis, Minna Gombell, Billy Gilbert

"As with most Laurel & Hardy outings, Block-Heads is essentially a string of gags assembled in some sort of a framework. In the case of Block-Heads, this is a very simple but sturdy framework, and that adds to the strength of the film; everything fits together, but the structure still allows the boys to wander a little outside the plot boundaries for a good gag. And there are plenty of good gags here, from the mountain of empty bean cans that mark the passage of time for Laurel to the surrealistically funny 'shadow shade' pulling. The attempt to climb 13 flights of stairs, which could become monotonous in other hands, is a delight here, as is Laurel's handmade (literally) pipe. Perhaps the most surprising sequence comes early on, when the duo meet after a 20 year absence and Hardy mistakenly believes his pal has lost his leg due to the war. It's hysterically funny, yet the 'darkness' of the situation makes it also a bit shocking - and all the more memorable therefore. (The original ending of the film - in which we see big game hunter Billy Gilbert, mad at the pair because he thinks they have been behaving improperly with his wife, at home with their heads mounted on his wall, prompting Hardy to give out with his traditional 'another fine mess' line - was apparently considered a little TOO dark and was cut before the film was released.) Block-Heads is a sheer delight, and an excellent introductory film for those who haven't been exposed to the hi-jinks of the legendary comedy duo." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/block-heads-v6071/

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Flash Gordon's trip to Mars 1938 serial - 15 sensational sense-staggering episodes

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,4

Directors: Ford I. Beebe, Robert F. Hill
Main Cast: Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Frank Shannon, Beatrice Roberts

"Universal had a tough act to follow in the wake of the success of its 1936 Flash Gordon serial; that chapterplay had propelled audiences into a world of space-fantasy that, heretofore, had only existed properly on the comic strip page, and it was tough to know how to do better. Alex Raymond's own Flash Gordon comic strip provided the answer, in the guise of the evil Queen Azura of Mars, and a whole new canvas on which to stage an adventure. Larry 'Buster' Crabbe, now with a couple of years' more acting experience under his belt, was even more confident in the role of Flash Gordon, and Frank Shannon, slipping into the role of a more avuncular, less eccentric Dr. Zarkov, was poised to make the most enduring screen portrayal of his career. Beatrice Roberts made a convincingly aristocratic villain as Queen Azura, and Charles B. Middleton was fully in his element as the master villain, Ming the Merciless, even plotting against the lives of his own compatriots. There were no supporting players as memorable as John Lipson's King Vultan or James Pierce's Prince Thun from the first movie, but Richard Alexander was back as Prince Barin, Ming's rival for the rule of Mongo, and C. Montague Shaw gave an astonishingly eloquent and poignant performance as the Clay King, ruler of the cursed Clay People. The element of the plot represented by the Clay People and their hatred of Azura and the magic that imprisons them added a special urgency, indeed, almost a degree of topicality - recalling the nationalistic pressures of the late '30s in places such as India and Burma, not to mention the Middle East - that makes Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars especially satisfying to modern viewers of serials. Coupled with the superb special effects for their time and the spirit of fun that runs through much of the serial, the result is a surprisingly enduring piece of 1930s entertainment." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/flash-gordons-trip-to-mars-serial-v186521/

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The dawn patrol 1938 - They roared through the dawn... with death on their wings

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030044/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,7

Director: Edmund Goulding
Main Cast: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, Donald Crisp, Barry Fitzgerald

"The Dawn Patrol is a good example of how a remake can improve on the original version. John Monk Saunders's Oscar-winning story provides a solid basis for the efforts of screenwriters Seton Miller and Dan Totheroh. Though director Edmund Goulding stays safely within the guidelines of the war genre, Dawn Patrol shows the varying attitudes of the aviators toward combat, and particularly toward enemy pilots. Complementing the material is a star-laden cast led by the charismatic team of Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, and featuring solid supporting work from David Niven, Donald Crisp, and Melville Cooper. Brought to the screen with Warner Bros.' customary high production values, Dawn Patrol provides an excellent showcase for its stars, representing another winning entry in Goulding's prolific career." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-dawn-patrol-v12575/

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Le quai des brumes (Port of shadows) 1938 - Hauntingly sad French masterpiece

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030643/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,6

Director: Marcel Carne
Main Cast: Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, Michele Morgan, Pierre Brasseur

"Adapted from a novel by Jacques Prevert, Port of Shadows (Quai des brumes) stars that eternal victim of society, Jean Gabin. Having deserted the French army, Gabin ducks into a back alley and meets the lovely Michelle Morgan. He becomes her champion by taking on her evil 'protectors' (Michel Simon, Pierre Brasseur), but loses his last bid for freedom - and his life - in the process. Irredeemably gloomy, Port of Shadows was a primary influence in the 'film noir' genre pursued by Hollywood in the 1940s. The film was the first of three collaborations between writer Jacques Prevert and director Marcel Carne, culminating in the incomparable Les Enfants du Paradis (1944)." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/port-of-shadows-v106403

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La femme du boulanger (The baker's wife) 1938 - The best of Pagnol's films

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030127/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 7,6

Director: Marcel Pagnol
Main Cast: Raimu, Ginette Leclerc, Fernand Charpin

"The Baker's Wife (La Femme de Boulanger), though based on a novel by Jean Giono, was specially tailored by writer/director Marcel Pagnol for the talents of the incomparable Raimu. The Baker's Wife is a movie with a core of delicacy and fragility contained beneath a boisterous surface. In terms of plot, there is hardly anything special about it, but Baker is about much more than its sparse story. It's about the love, loneliness and redemption, about the power to hurt and the power to heal, and about the importance of connecting both with another person and with a group of people. Pagnol gets these themes across in a subtle manner (for the most part), so that their lessons are absorbed rather than observed by the viewer. He also creates a wonderfully realized community, full of supporting characters who are so precisely defined that they come across as living people rather than caricatures. More importantly, he has created a solid anchor around which to build the film - and has had the good fortune of getting the invaluable Raimu to inhabit Aimable the baker. Raimu's performance is pure gold; there is never a false note, never a moment when the actor is not perfectly in tune with the character. And yet the performance never feels studied; indeed, there are moments that startle and delight by their unexpectedness. Most importantly, Raimu makes the audience feel the intense love and devotion he has for his wife and allows them to believe that he will take her back. It's a rich performance that grows in complexity with repeated viewings. Baker is a fine accomplishment on all levels, but it is Raimu's contribution which raises it to art." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-bakers-wife-v3787/

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(rar, 700 MB):

http://uptobox.com/jyvnczxgwk9z

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http://turbobit.net/rgkc08ce4x4l.html?ps=9891

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http://dfiles.eu/files/7a0se4ho6

Pygmalion 1938 - A perfect adaptation with a perfect cast

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030637/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 8,0

Director: Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard
Main Cast: Leslie Howard, Wendy Hiller, Wilfrid Lawson, Marie Lohr, David Tree

"Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller star in Anthony Asquith's and Leslie Howard's classic version of George Bernard Shaw's satiric comedy.  Pygmalion was first filmed in Great Britain in 1938 and became an instant classic. Featuring well-pitched performances from Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller in the lead roles, this Anthony Asquith film has the exquisite timing and tenor of a sophisticated comedy of manners. Barely concealed beneath the story is a devastating satire of British class pretensions. This material was adapted as the musical My Fair Lady in the 1950s and the film of the same name in 1964. It also inspired numerous imitatations, such as Educating Rita." - http://www.allmovie.com/movie/pygmalion-v39749/

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