The Mortal Storm (1940)

Hey! Look! It's two people who are great, together for the second time! Recommended by Carmel, The Mortal Storm is an out-of-print flick from 1940. It's hella rare, people. A video store in Seattle requires a $150 deposit to rent it.

It was great to see it, but honestly this movie was a bit dull and really strange. The deal is that Jimmy and Margaret are young folks in almost-Nazi Germany. All their pals, including the illustrious Robert Young, are wayyy into the Nazis. Only the best movie couple in town + Frank Morgan choose to resist. Resistance is difficult, though, because it tears families apart -- just like Yankee/Mets feuds.

I was really pleased to see the old MGM crew back together in this, but it's probably not worth watching if you're not me or two others.

2/5 pizzas

Destry Rides Again (1939)

Look at that mise-en-scene, people. That is a great shot.

I hadn't seen this movie in at least 10 years, so I thought it deserved a second viewing. Turns out, it did and I really liked it. Marlene Dietrich [who is billed before James Stewart] plays a dance hall woman/saloon singer and the unofficial mayor of this town that has gone to hell in a hand-basket. Her boyfriend is played by Brian Donlevy who plays one of my all-time favorite villains in Beau Geste [see it]. He is a really crooked gambler and murderer, but he sports the perfect, pencil-thin villain mustache.

Jimmy Stewart is no slouch, either. This is one of his early-ish roles, so he is looking like a youthful, healthy babe. My friends and I have a theory that Jimmy Stewart went through a time warp or something, because he goes from Mr.-Smith-Goes-to-Washington Jimmy Stewart straight to Rear-Window Jimmy Stewart without really aging in between. Where are his 30s and 40s? Anyway, he plays this awesome deputy that comes to clean up the town, except he doesn't believe in guns, but instead "peace" as he puts it. Awesome. He is super smart and even eventually wins the bad guy's girlfriend's heart because he is so awesome.

My favorite part in the movie and the only scene I remembered from my first viewing is when Jimmy Stewart suggests to Marlene that she should wipe away some of her makeup since she is so naturally beautiful. This scene is actually really moving, people.

4/5 pizzas

Winchester '73

I'd like to do a quick translation of this Italian poster: It describes Jimmy Stewart as the "Most masculine actor of the screen." Damn, if Italians think he's manly, then he must be. Maybe my friend who thinks he's more of a babe than Cary Grant isn't a lesbian like we thought she was.

This movie is just okay. Of course, it's great to see James Stewart in anything. It's even better to see Jimmy toting around a big rifle and fighting with his brother/husband about it. Homoeroticism anyone?! It's actually not as hot as I make it sound.

Did I mention that Shelley Winters is in this? She wears a lot of plaid.

2/5 pizzas