Sunday, August 12, 2007
BRASS BALLS
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was
I did not see the play but it caused a sensation with its 'behind the scenes' view of top brass making life or death decisions in the glare of press coverage and congressional oversight.
WWII. Air Force over Germany.
I suspect that it is not dated at all and that much the same thing happens every day today.
A group of top male stars moves the dialogue out of the realm of talky talk to real drama as the crisp exchanges move us through a slightly creaky plot with one or two too many side stories.
The essential drama remains front and center. A general has to make life or death decisions in his command. Period.
If he is distracted by the side issues, then everything is lost.
We have Gable, Pidgeon and Donlevy as the generals, Johnson (Van) as the top sergeant who keeps Gable's wheels off the ground. Charles Bickford is the publicity guy. John Hodiak the hero who has to step into the line of fire to make it human.
Gable steals the picture but Pidgeon holds his own.
They are all good really.
They kept the play intact. There is some good camera work to support the drama but they resist any temptation to 'open it up'. There is news footage skillfully interspersed. And John pointed out, they didn't add a love interest to spice it up. Not a female in sight.
It is a 3 out of Netflix5 in my new more critical rating system. A 4 in the old 'I like everything' mode.
Labels: best films
