Reviews of movies directed by Howard Hawks.
Friday, January 25th 2008
Grade: B+
Synopsis: A massive and desperate cattle drive up the Chisholm Trail creates a rift between a rancher (John Wayne) and his adopted son (Montgomery Clift).
The character of Thomas Dunson in director Howard Hawks’ Red River is widely regarded as one of John Wayne’s finest roles, and for good reason. As Dunson, a driven, but flawed man, we see Wayne cover a wide range of emotions, but never once go over the top.
Complimenting Wayne’s turn is a fine supporting cast including then-newcomer Montgomery Clift, Hawks-mainstay Walter Brennan, and frequent Wayne alumnus Paul Fix, Harry Carey, and Harry Carey Jr.
The script is solid, with believable characterization, and plenty of thrills. It’s only flaws come in the form of some strained dialog from its two female characters, particularly Coleen Gray, and a somewhat watered-down ending. MORE »
Posted at 2:04 PM in Movie Reviews, Howard Hawks and John Wayne.
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Thursday, January 17th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: Booze and pride combine to bring down a top racecar driver (James Cagney).
Director Howard Hawks has a knack for movies featuring tough guys in dangerous professions that would just as soon go it alone. In Hawks’ hands, these men become captivating, near mythological, entities, strutting through a world lucky to have them. So it’s no surprise that The Crowd Roars, a story about a boozing racecar driver, should work so well.
Cagney’s great in the lead, delivering the same perfect combination of vulnerability and machismo that so many of Hawks’ leading men seem to master. It’s this pathos that elevates many of Hawks’ films to greatness and The Crowd Roars proves he’d tapped into it early in his career. MORE »
Posted at 4:45 PM in Movie Reviews and Howard Hawks.
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Thursday, December 6th 2007
Grade: B-
Synopsis: In Martinique during World War II, a fishing boat captain (Humphrey Bogart) reluctantly aids the French resistance with the help of his alcoholic partner (Walter Brennan) and a sultry saloon singer (Lauren Bacall).
To Have and Have Not was director Howard Hawks’ answer to Casablanca and while Hawks never quite equals Michael Curtiz’s classic, he does deliver a very good picture thanks in large part to Lauren Bacall.
Making her film debut at only 19 years of age, Bacall exudes the confidence and charm of a veteran actress, easily matching star Humphrey Bogart’s considerable screen presence. The chemistry between the two makes the film, and the sparks flying on screen didn’t stop when the camera’s stopped rolling, as Bogart married Bacall in 1945. MORE »
Posted at 5:49 PM in Movie Reviews, Howard Hawks and Humphrey Bogart.
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Tuesday, October 2nd 2007
Grade: C-
Synopsis: The crew of a B-17 flying fortress set out for Pearl Harbor on the eve of the United States’ entry into World War II.
Air Force is director Howard Hawks’ salute to the Army Air Corps. It’s basically an epic wartime propaganda film, but its use of authentic equipment and Hawks’ mastery of the material make it something more.
There are two big problems with Air Force. The first is that the cast is too homogenized. With the exception of Harry Carey, they all blend together. John Wayne would have been a knockout in John Ridgely’s role as the pilot, but his and Hawks first collaboration wouldn’t be for another six years. MORE »
Posted at 6:06 PM in Movie Reviews and Howard Hawks.
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Thursday, August 2nd 2007
Grade: C-
Synopsis: A group of British pilots endures tragedy as they fight the Germans in World War I.
The Dawn Patrol (or Flight Commander, as it’s known on TV) is a decent war film, but its really notable for being the first time director Howard Hawks would visit the themes that would become so closely associated with him in films like Only Angels Have Wings (1939), Air Force (1943), Rio Bravo (1959), and Rio Lobo (1970).
The performances are all fine, if a bit overstated. And by the way, that’s Commissioner Gordon from the 1960’s Batman show as Major Brand.
While some of the action sequences are a bit weak by today’s standards, the special effects and aerial photography hold up quite well. Unfortunately the movie’s strength lies in the characters, not the action, and cutting some of the latter to make room for more of the former would have gone a long way toward making a better movie. MORE »
Posted at 2:24 PM in Movie Reviews and Howard Hawks.
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