Richard Dix stars as a pacifist sculptor turned bloodthirsty World War I Ace of Aces. Morality story with good action, complicated character. With Elizabeth Allan.
The Patent Leather Kid (1927) Starring Richard Barthelmess and Molly O’Day
Silent film from First National Pictures, directed by Alfred Santell. The Patent Leather Kid is a boxing-war-romance that earned Richard Barthelmess and Academy Award nomination and features a breakout performance by Molly O’Day.
They Gave Him a Gun (1937) Starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, Franchot Tone
Story of romance and brotherhood spread across a movie neatly divided between the war and gangster genres. They Gave Him a Gun stars Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone. Released as MOD DVD-R by Warner Archive.
First Impressions: King Vidor’s The Big Parade (1925)
Thoughts upon watching King Vidor’s 1925 epic of love and war, The Big Parade, for the first time. The MGM classic stars John Gilbert and Renee Adoree with Karl Dane and Tom O’Brien.
Lewis Milestone’s The Purple Heart (1944) Starring Dana Andrews
The Purple Heart (1944), directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Dana Andrews, is a World War II courtroom drama imagining the trial and fate of captured Doolittle Raid fliers before the world knew exactly what had happened to them. Part of the Dana Andrews blogathon.
Watching Wings (1927) for the First Time
A look at William Wellman’s Wings (1927) after watching it for the first time. Air battles and It Girl Clara Bow highlight this first Best Picture Oscar winner.
