ZOLTAN...THE OTHER KORDA BROTHER

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!!!

JOHN CROMWELL

JOHN CROMWELL--a tribute


WHO?? well. if you mention his films, people will say "oh, that's one of my favorites"..something to that effect, but not know the DIRECTOR..considered a good "studio" director he was criticised for being unoriginal and workmanlike..he was also terribly self-effacing--minimizing his contributions to the film industry..he is also not mentioned in "501 MOVIE DIRECTORS" by stephen jay schneider..here are my favorites in chronological order..i have also included a link to a short bio from nndb...yes, JAMES CROMWELL is his son and he was on the BLACKLIST



#!. OF HUMAN BONDAGE--early BD as a trashy waitress..sure she overacts but who cares..it's SOMERSET MAUGHAM!!



#2. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA--lots of fun in RURITANIA with the incomparable RONALD COLMAN



#3. ALGIERS--yes, i have seen the original PEPE LE MOKO..but charles boyer is fantastic and way better than gabin



#4. ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS--terrific performance by RAYMOND MASSEY..much better than henry fonda



#5. SINCE YOU WENT AWAY--big time WWII soaper with claudette colbert but still a great, overlooked film



#6. ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM--a masterful production with IRENE DUNNE and a very young REX HARRISON



#7. DEAD RECKONING--B+ BOGART



#8. THE RACKET--a great noirish remake of the 1928 lewis milestone film



http://www.nndb.com/people/028/000078791/





.

GIF OF THE MAGI!!!

KISS ME DEADLY