Dirigible (1931), The Black Dahlia (2006), Kitchen Stories (2003), Stagecoach (1939)

Dirigible

There was a period in his rising carer in which Frank Capra was best known as a director of 'action films', Dirigible being the most commercially successful of these. The film stars Ralph Graves and Jack Holt (Capra's preferred leading mean of the time) as  "Frisky" Pierce and Jack Bradon respectively. "Frisky" and Jack are old friends and genial rivals who have each carved out a nitch for themselves in the U.S. Navy, with "Frisky" appropriately a dare devil pilot, and Jack the premier captain and champion of the nations small airship 'fleet'. Famed explorer Louis Rondelle (Hobart Bosworth) is about to attempt another of his multiple attempts to reach the south pool and Rear Admiral John S. Martin (Emmett Corrigan) decides it would be great PR (if logically confusing) to attempt this feat with the aid of a big blimp. At first "Frisky" is to accompany Jack, but as a favor to the formers worried wife (Fay Wray), Jack drops "Frisky" from the expedition without explanation ,thus rather off putting "Frisky" Pierce. The Zeppelin doesn't make it, for some reason it falls apart in a storm on the way there, everybody survives however so famed explorer Louis Rondelle chooses to make his next effort with Pierce. That expedition is also ill fated, and Rondelle, Pierce and a small group get stranded in the Antarctic, with who better then Dirigible dean Jack Bradon to mount a rescue. Sure it costs some people there lives, and probably millions of dollars, but at least the frostbitten misadventure convinces dare devil Pierce to cool down (rim shot) and spend more time with his worry full wife. The scenes of the blimp fiasco are interesting if a little hard to interpret, and the arctic sequences work in there way, but mostly this is just a pleasant if dull outing. Fair

The Black Dahlia

Brian De Palma is a director I know from reputation rather then from his work, in fact this is the first of his films that I've seen. To be honest at first I had a hard time getting over the set design, the seemingly forced period references, and archetypal dialogue, the very conscious use of genera conventions, but I should have trusted the source material as coming from James Ellory if nothing else. This is a genera picture, it is an homage, to the actually Black Dahlia killing the film fictionalizes among other things. Accepting this one can really get into the narrative, and the film making, and the characters, who are types, but multi-faceted. Strong cast with Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, and a crazy Hillary Swank. Though its not as good as LA Confidential it dose superbly captures the same heightenedly seamy grove, motoring relentlessly through a nourish, psychological maze, quite satisfying, even Great.

Kitchen Stories

In the 1950's a team of Swedish scientists went to live with single Norwegian men to monitor their use of kitchen space so as to design a kitchen for optimal efficiency. As part of the study rules the researchers and their subjects are never suppose to talk to each other, but two of them do and become good friends. I appreciate the idea of this movie, it sounded cute, but its mostly very slow and understated, pleasant, but weak, like watered down lemonade. To well done to be poor, but not more then Fair.

Stagecoach

I'm kind of ashamed I hadn't seen this till now, its essential film literacy viewing. Stagecoach sums up the western in one film, and with John Ford directing to boot. Iconic Monument Valley, Indians on the war path, outlaws, saloon girls, innocents, honest men and heels, it even has John Wayne (this is the movie generally credited with making him a star). Obviously adapted from The Outcasts of Poker Flat, the story concerns a diverse group of characters thrust together on a stagecoach trying to make it to safety ahead of Geronimo's forces. From the drunken doctor, to the honest Marshell, the good hearted saloon girl, the faithful officers wife, the gentlemanly card shark, the crooked banker, and on through the noble outlaw, its a showcase of western types lovingly and expertly portraid. It didn't set me on fire, but its solid, and an indisputable part of the cannon. Good