The Doorway to Hell (1930) Review: The Good, The Bad & How to Watch American Film, Crime, Drama Academy Awards, 1931- Nominee: Best Writing, Original Story The early 1930s in Hollywood were marked by a frantic, electric energy as the industry found its voice—literally. In the middle of this transition, a gritty little gem called The Doorway to Hell slipped into theaters, offering a blueprint for the gangster epics that would soon dominate the silver screen. While it often sits in the shadow of the titans that followed, this film captures a specific, raw moment in cinematic history that feels surprisingly modern even today. More on Wikipedia or Mubi The Brutal Elegance of The Doorway to Hell At its heart, the story follows a young gang leader who attempts to trade the chaos of the underworld for a quiet, respectable life. It is a classic American tragedy wrapped in the smoke of a speakeasy. The narrative leans heavily into the irony of a man trying to es...
Watch Hon dansade en sommar (1951)
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Hon dansade en sommar (1951) Swedish Film, Drama, Romance English title: One Summer of Happiness
Winner: Best Music Nomination: Palme d'Or
One Summer of Happiness (Swedish: Hon dansade en sommar, lit. 'She danced one summer') is a 1951 Swedish film by director Arne Mattsson, based on the 1949 novel Sommardansen (The summer dance) by Per Olof Ekström. It was the first Swedish film to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival. Today, the film is mainly known for its nude scenes, which caused much controversy at the time and, together with Ingmar Bergman's Summer with Monika (1953), spread the image of Swedish "free love" around the world.
The film caused much international controversy, because of a nude swimming
sequence and a love scene which included a close-up of Ulla Jacobsson's
breasts, but also because of its very anti-clerical message by
portraying a local priest as the main villain. So, in spite of its
awards, the film was banned in Spain and several other countries, and was not widely released in the United States until 1955,although it was showing in San Francisco as early as October 1953.
After graduating from high school 19 year old Göran goes to his uncle
Anders's farm in the countryside for recreation. It's summer and a lot
of work to do at the farm, but he, the city student, isn't accustomed to
that. He falls in love with 17 year old Kerstin, and suddenly he is
very engaged in country life. Göran is a foreigner, but he quickly
blends in with the village youth. They are in a bitter conflict with the
vicar, who condemns all their activities as immoral. When the vicar
forbids the youth to use the school for their meetings anymore, Anders
gives them an old barn, which they start renovating. Kerstin has a
strict mother, who in vain forbids her to take part in the youth
activities. She goes there with Göran. She is a bit shy, but the romance
between them develops step by step, until it is fulfilled a summer
night, when they swim naked in a lake. Despite all efforts of Kerstin's
parents and the vicar, they cannot stop Kerstin and Göran from meeting
each other also when autumn has arrived. When a road accident suddenly
ends Kerstin's life, Göran is accused by the vicar for being a seducer
that had led Kerstin astray. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Cannes Film Festival, 1952- Winner: Best Music, Nomination: Palme d'Or Berlin International Film Festival- Winner: Golden Bear
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