The Third Man (1949)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on June 12, 1990.

A writer comes to Vienna to meet a friend who had offered him a job. Upon arriving there, he hears that his friend died. A policeman reveals to him hat his friend had been a black marketeer. The writer is skeptical and decides to stay and investigate the matter.

Mystery thriller whose underlying theme is how the men who have the greatest probability to be loved are actually the worst; what makes them so loved is their talent for deceit and manipulation, and their lack of scruples at using that talent. So, it's ultimately a pessimistic film, but it chooses to tackle that story with humor and suspense, thus alleviating the bleakness somewhat. While it is a great film, I still had overrated it considerably. Sure, it has some striking imagery, a great score, an interesting story, and a thrilling narrative, but somehow it didn't produce the same intense effect on me this second time as it had done on the first one.

There is some mystery involving a line spoken by Lime (the one about the Borgia and Switzerland) which was a contribution by the actor himself. Wikipedia points to possible sources of that line, and I have provided a possible one myself some years ago.

Rating: 69 (down from 92)

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

**DON'T READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE MOVIE**

The identity of the "third man" is never explicitly stated, but it seems obvious that it is supposed to be Harbin. It remains vague how the accident was staged, but surely that third man couldn't be Lime, as most commenters who broach the subject suggest, because the porter would have recognized him (and also the man being dragged as *not* Lime). According to those commenters, Harbin's body would have stood for Lime's. But placing that body on the street was a very risky operation; they would have to make sure that there weren't any witnesses when they did it. Otherwise, they would not only get caught for faking a death, but also for murder (of Harbin). And it would have been a stupid way to do it. The easier way would be for Lime to pretend he was dead and then to be whisked away. If they were caught in the act of doing it, no harm would come to anyone. All they would have to do is rejoice that Lime didn't suffer any harm from the "accident". Of course, Harbin was not to suspect that he would be murdered later.

Guadalcanal Diary (1943)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on September 15, 1991.

Based on a World War II campaign on a Pacific island, which consisted in taking it from the Japanese.

Moderately entertaining war thriller. I think one could call it a "pure" war picture. It occupies itself with the military proceedings, and also the leisure interludes between the fightings. Everything is professionally done, without any surprises.

Rating: 46

Fire over England (1937)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on January 11, 1997.

In the 16th century, conflict between England and Spain over religion is brewing. When an English traitor dies, a young man agrees to impersonate him in a mission to Spain to find out who the other traitors are.

Uneven historical adventure which alternates between entertaining and slightly ridiculous bits. Cinematography is excellent, and some of the dialogue is very quotable for its wit, but attempts at seriousness often border on the cringeworthy.

Rating: 50 (unchanged)

Of Human Bondage (1934)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on June 5, 1995.

A man abandons his art studies for a career in medicine. He becomes infatuated with a waitress who rejects him. She keeps returning to him after her romantic failures.

This is an interesting dramatic story which allows different takes about its characters and themes. The film is usually framed, in advertising, and in popular opinion, as a story of a weak and honest man dominated by a cruel and unscrupulous woman. Certain details of its construction seem to favor that interpretation, but the curious thing is that its own characters, in a sequence in the film, take a more nuanced  and less judgmental view, according to which all persons are simply victims of a universal asymmetry in human relationships. I think a third view is possible, which would frame the man as the bad element and the woman as the good and honest party. She is forced by her social station to seek a husband who can provide to her materially. She cannot be entirely blamed for choosing scoundrels. And she never once deceives the male protagonist; audiences are probably inclined to hate her for being cold towards him, but her coldness is proof of honesty, not the opposite. If she were to act nice to him, that would be out of a scheming nature, which she does not have. Quite the opposite of how the male protagonist behaves with his other women. Another curious aspect of the film's ideology is the contrast it establishes between the artistic and the medical professions. Being a mediocre artist is considered a very bad thing, whereas it is never discussed whether he will be a brilliant of a mediocre physician (perhaps the author does not even accepts there exists such a distinction).

Rating: 67 (unchanged)

Titanic (1997)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on February 20, 1999.

Rose, an aristocratic teenage woman, falls in love with Jack, a poor artist on board the Titanic, a ship sailing from England to America in 1912 which will sink on her maiden voyage after it hits an iceberg. Her mother frowns upon their relationship, as she is ruined and Rose's current engagement to a rich man is supposed to save them financially.

While the plot is severely lacking in its dramatic aspects, this film works passably well once the delirious action bits set in.

Rating: 50 (unchanged)

Apollo 13 (1995)

 Second viewing; previously viewed on June 1, 1997.

Dramatization of the NASA 1970 aborted lunar mission, and the efforts to return its crew to Earth after an oxygen tank explodes and damages the ship.

While well-made and entertaining, I would have a problem keeping my earlier very high rating for this film. It ultimately consists mainly of three people pushing buttons in space, some guys on Earth solving technical problems, and some girls worrying. Christopher Mulrooney: "pseudo-dramatics and phony nostalgia".

Rating: 66 (down from 81)

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)

 Second viewing; previously viewed between 1983 and 1986.

Bean is a bank robber who establishes himself in a border town, declares himself judge and hires other former outlaws as his law enforcers. He has a fanatical fixation on an actress whom he has never seen perform. He hooks up with a young Mexican woman, and turns some wandering prostitutes into his assistants' girlfriends. He hangs a series of outlaws without any proper trial. His nemesis is an ambitious lawyer who establishes himself in town.

Satirical Western with an episodic structure; it is mostly funny and enjoyable, and has a view of the West which is very corrosive, probably in excess of the historical reality, as some commenters have pointed out. While well directed, the critique from the original screenwriter regarding the changes the director imposed on it probably have some merit, especially regarding the insertion of the cringeworthy interlude with song. Still, there is no denying that it is an intelligent and enjoyable film.

Rating: 60 (up from 55)