Link from film reference.com…I will let this guy do the blah…blah…blah…
http://www.filmreference.com/Directors-Jo-Ku/Korda-Zoltan.html
ZOLTAN KORDA was involved in almost all aspects of film making…from assisting his older brother ALEXANDER (the “founder of the British film industry) to art/set direction…production and direction…these films are all 3 stars or better!!!
#1. ELEPHANT BOY (1937)…a semi-documentary… co-directed with ROBERT FLAHERTY…features SABU (film debut) as a native youth who leads explorers/hunters to hidden elephant grounds…a very clever film
#2. DRUMS (1938)…SABU again with RAYMOND MASSEY & ROGER LIVESEY in a tale of a British Cavalry unit in 19th century India…fairly good actioner..good to great cast!!
#3. THE FOUR FEATHERS (1939)…the best version of the oft filmed A.E.W. MASON story of a young man (John Clement) searching for meaning/direction/fulfillment in life, while serving in the British military in The Sudan…excellent supporting cast with RALPH RICHARDSON & C. AUBREY SMITH…wonderful MIKLOS ROZSA score…definitely a must see!!!
#4. THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1940)…KORDA is sometimes listed as unaccredited director on this wonderful film…I am not really sure who did what as the archival reports are conflicted…
#5. THE JUNGLE BOOK (1942)… not the DISNEY cartoon, but based on the RUDYARD KIPLING story of a boy raised by wolves…featuring the omnipresent SABU…Joseph Calleia…Frank Puglia…and a Rosemary de Camp sighting…won oscars for photography..art design…set design…
#6. SAHARA (1943)…NO….not that recent MATTHEW McC piece of crap, but a retelling of a 1937 Russian film (THE THIRTEEN)…with BOGIE…NAZIS…and DANGER…great support from J. Carroll Naish and Rex Ingram…remade and rehashed many times…a must see!
#7. A WOMAN’S VENGEANCE (1947)…cheating cad Charles Boyer gets his when his wife is found “dead” and he is hauled off to trial…with ANN BLYTH…JESSICA TANDY…SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE…script by ALDOUS HUXLEY…no more spoilers…
#8. THE MACOMBER AFFAIR (1947)…criticism is mixed on this film from the HEMINGWAY short story THE SHORT HAPPY LIFE OF FRANCIS MACOMBER…I really like it…much better than SNOWS…GREGORY PECK leads husband and wife (Joan Bennett and Robert Preston) on an African Safari…excellent tension and dialogue…
#9. CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY (1951)…from the celebrated novel of Alan Paton…the story of a minister searching for his lost son.in the Johannesburg slums…brilliant cast headed by SIDNEY POITIER & CANADA LEE…ten times better than the 1995 remake…another must see…if you don’t, at least read the book!!!
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I've seen and love Four Feathers, Sahara and Cry, the Beloved Country (definitely a fabulous book). I've heard of most of the others and will now make an effort to see them. I don't think I knew about Drums or A Women's Vengeance, but they sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you said "I will this guy do the blah...blah...blah"! I really enjoyed this assessment of Zoltan Korda's work -- I never really knew about him, probably because he had to work under Alexander's shadow! Thanks, Doc!