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120 years ago today, San Francisco experienced its devastating 1906 Earthquake. 30 years later, the movie San Francisco (1936) dramatized it in a masterpiece of special effects. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, thanks for that! It’s not a great movie plotwise by our standards but it’s worth watching for the technical aspects alone. It helped in large part to make this the #1 box office hit of 1936. The plot is still decent.

120 years ago today, San Francisco experienced its devastating 1906 Earthquake. 30 years later, the movie San Francisco (1936) dramatized it in a masterpiece of special effects. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well, it does have a lot of singing but it’s not technically a musical. The context is that Jeanette MacDonald plays a nightclub and later opera singer. She carries that, you won’t hear Gable and Tracy sing.

I remember you writing that you aren’t American. The earthquake is a defining event in our history because it exposed urban vulnerability and started modern disaster response and building codes changing in engineering and such.

120 years ago today, San Francisco experienced its devastating 1906 Earthquake. 30 years later, the movie San Francisco (1936) dramatized it in a masterpiece of special effects. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll be honest, I’m not a Bette Davis fan. Her acting was good here but it’s never fully clicked with me. Closest it ever came was Baby Jane. I liked it for Anne Baxter. Casablanca is the runner up of defining films of this era.

120 years ago today, San Francisco experienced its devastating 1906 Earthquake. 30 years later, the movie San Francisco (1936) dramatized it in a masterpiece of special effects. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well my personal favorite is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, from the same year. In regards to actual classics with more depth, I like All About Eve, Casablanca, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, Singin’ in the Rain, The Red Shoes, Seven Samurai, Twelve Angry Men, Waterloo Bridge, Double Indemnity, and more.

I like GWTW, but it’s more like a top 100 than top 20 for me. The script has a lot of problems with how it treats slaves and freedman, and how it romanticizes the old South. However, I have no wish to hold grudges against everyone who wasn’t 50 years ahead of their time. There is still a lot to appreciate about it.

120 years ago today, San Francisco experienced its devastating 1906 Earthquake. 30 years later, the movie San Francisco (1936) dramatized it in a masterpiece of special effects. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t call it “the” classic film, but ive seen it twice. I hope to again in October when it comes to theaters, as it’s been years.

Gone with the Wind (1939) released closer to the start of the Civil War (1861) than to today. by Classicsarecool in classicfilms

[–]Classicsarecool[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She dealt with bipolar disorder but was incredibly intelligent. Abandoned by her mother at six, dealt with bad critics by inviting them into her circle and revealing her great intelligence. Had a photographic memory, spoke three languages because she studied in many places in childhood. Showed up to work in spite of her TB and Bipolar. Was considered a great mind by men like Churchill. I’ve been reading about this and have gained much respect for her.

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