George Stevens, Jr. Movies
The son of prominent American director/cinematographer George Stevens, George Stevens Jr. was involved in the entertainment industry from the age of one -- though not voluntarily. His father sent him along to the Hal Roach studios to film one closeup for the Our Gang comedy Wild Poses; it was evidently a sentimental gesture on the part of Stevens, who'd gotten his start at Roach. Years later, the younger Stevens reacted in mock horror upon discovering that he'd been an Our Gang candidate, noting that he was "well below the age of consent" at the time (Stevens' scene was ultimately cut from the release print). When Stevens made his official entree into the film world, it was completely on his own volition. After graduation from Occidental College, Stevens worked with his father as an assistant on such productions as Giant (1956) and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). In 1962, Stevens was appointed head of the United States Information Agency's motion picture division, where he supervised the assembly of the classic documentary John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning -- Day of Drums (1964). From 1967 through 1979, he was in charge of the American Film Institute, the independent, non-profit organization responsible for the preservation and restoration of so many rare films of the Nitrate Era (1895-1950). Stevens produced the AFI's 1976 compilation America at the Movies, which unsuccessfully attempted to mirror the progress of America with a succession of often inappropriately chosen film clips. Far better was Stevens' 1984 documentary tribute to his father, George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey, which brought to public attention several reels of rare Technicolor footage shot by Stevens Sr. during the Allied Invasion of Europe (1944-45). George Stevens Jr. won an Emmy for his first significant non-documentary work, the TV miniseries Separate but Equal (1991) in which Sidney Poitier played Thurgood Marshall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1960
A formerly rough-and-tumble Western mining town has lived in peace and tranquility ever since the arrival of gentle giants Jamie and Ben McMahon (Arch Johnson, Read Morgan). All this changes when an odd-looking little man (Norman Lloyd) shows up in town, promptly challenging the McMahon brothers' authority. Despite their combined brawn, Jamie and Ben prove utterly incapable of standing up to the Little Man -- who seems to possess demonic powers! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Lucy Baldwin (Eileen Heckart) hopes to escape her domineering invalid mother (Madge Kennedy) by marrying her new beau, Arthur (Don DeFore). Assuming that Arthur is just a fortune hunter, Lucy's mom refuses to allow the marriage, prompting Lucy to commit murder. Ultimately, Lucy and Arthur are wed--but their troubles have only just begun. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This documentary profiles the great American filmmaker John Ford (1895-1973). Among the films he directed were The Young Lincoln, Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and The Grapes of Wrath. Ford's work was distinguished by its great emotional clarity, which some see as sentimentality, and storytelling which evokes and defines what it is to be American. The film features interviews with Ford and with many of his stars, as well as exemplary clips from his films. Many of Ford's films were westerns, and interviews with him are filmed in Monument Valley, one of his favorite film settings. It is narrated by director Peter Bogdonavich, whose own work shows Ford's influence. Among the actors interviewed are John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1976
The American Film Institute put together this movie of film clips from all eras of American filmmaking as a Bicentennial tribute to the country. Narrated by Charleton Heston, the 83 film clips included all relate to American history, or reflect on the character of Americans. The clips are grouped into five categories: The Land, The Cities, The Families, The Wars and The Spirit. As much a tribute to American filmmaking as it is a tribute to the country, in this compilation, scenes are shown from such diverse films as Birth of A Nation and 2001. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charlton Heston
- 1984
- Add George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey to Queue Add George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey to top of Queue
The man who assembled the remarkable documentary George Stevens: A Filmaker's Journey had the benefit of knowing the subject intimately: the film was written, produced and directed by George Stevens Jr. Utilizing pristine-quality filmclips and interviews, Stevens Jr. details Stevens Sr.'s rise from silent-film cameraman to one of the top producer/directors in Hollywood. We are treated to snippets of Stevens' camerawork on the Laurel and Hardy films at Hal Roach Studios, then we are transported to his salad days as a feature director at RKO. Among the films highlighted from this first chapter of Stevens' directorial life are Alice Adams (1935), Swing Time (1936) and Gunga Din (1939) (one would like to have heard a bit more background info concerning Stevens' Wheeler and Woolsey comedies). Next we find Stevens as an autonomous entity at Columbia Pictures, producing and directing such classics as The More the Merrier (1943). The war years are thoroughly covered via Stevens' vivid color footage of the invasion of Europe. The last stages of Stevens' Hollywood career is traced through generous portions of A Place in the Sun (1951), Shane (1953), Giant (1956) and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). The many interviewees include Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Warren Beatty. As an added filip, A Filmmaker's Journey includes rare home-movie sequences showing George Stevens at home and at work--all filmed with as much care and professionalism as Stevens' "mainstream" pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- George Stevens, Jr., George Stevens, (more)
- 1987
The made-for-TV The Murder of Mary Phagan is an account of the real-life events fictionalized in the 1937 theatrical feature They Won't Forget. In 1913, Atlanta-area teenager Mary Phagan (Wendy J. Cooke) is found murdered. Although the evidence points to another suspect (who years later confessed to the crime), the authorities choose to bring charges against Leo Frank (Peter Gallagher), a Jewish "outsider" who owns the pencil factory where Mary worked. Prosecutor Hugh Dorsey (Richard Jordan) capitalizes on the anti-Semitism rampant in the South, hoping to ride the Frank case into a higher political office. He is aided in his scheme by equally unprincipled journalist Wes Brent (Kevin Spacey). Only Georgia-governor John Slaton (Jack Lemmon) perceives the bigotry and opportunism at the base of Dorsey's case. Within the limits of his power, and at the risk of destroying his own political career, Slaton tries to see that justice is served. Alas, the decision has already been made to railroad Leo Frank to the electric chair -- or into the hands of a lynch mob. Originally presented in two parts, The Murder of Mary Phagan was first broadcast January 24 and 26, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
- PG
- Add Separate But Equal to Queue
Based on the ground-breaking Brown vs. the Board of Education case, the made-for-television Separate But Equal follows a young Thurgood Marshall (Sidney Poitier) as a lawyer who argues the racially-charged lawsuit before the Supreme Court. When the black students of Clarendon County, South Carolina are denied their request for a single schoolbus, a bitter and courages battle for justice and equality begins. The NAACP lawyer's desparate fight for the civil rights that didn't come with the outlaw of slavery nearly a century ago becomes an all-encompassing struggle both in his personal life as well as the courtroom. Marshall's opponent is John W. Davis (Burt Lancaster) and the two argue passionately and eloquently before a Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren $Richard Kiley). Separate But Equal is a moving and human dramatization of one of the most pivotal court cases in American history. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- 1994
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D-Day to Berlin is a WWII documentary that focuses on the reality of the journey of war. This video is enlivened by color footage. This approach creates an emotionally moving documentary, without being overly graphic. It is a vivid look at the devastating events and results of WWII. Viewers see the events that shaped the war and that brought about its conclusion. George Stevens Jr. narrates. There is a musical score for this program created by Carl Davis. D-Day to Berlin takes viewers to the front lines and through the horrors of the Holocaust, including the concentration camp at Dachau. This video dramatically relays the impact and devastation war has on human life. It is a memorial to all those who lived and died during the war.
~ Beth Deki, Rovi
~ Beth Deki, Rovi
The return of director Terrence Malick to feature filmmaking after a twenty year sabbatical, this World War II drama is an elegiac rumination on man's destruction of nature and himself, based on James Jones' semi-autobiographical novel, his follow-up to From Here to Eternity. James Caviezel stars as Private Witt, a deserter living in peace and harmony with the natives of a Pacific island paradise. Captured by the Navy, Witt is debriefed by a senior officer (Sean Penn) and returned to an active duty unit preparing for what will be the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt goes ashore in the company of his fellow soldiers, they meet diverse fates. Sergeant Keck (Woody Harrelson) is killed by an exploding grenade. Captain John Gaff (John Cusack) is an intelligent, sober leader facing the destruction of his command because his commanding officer Colonel Tall (Nick Nolte) is bucking for a general's star. Sergeant McCron (John Savage) loses his mind. Private Bell (Ben Chaplin) gets a "Dear John" letter from his beloved wife. However, as the U.S. troops advance up grassy slopes toward entrenched Japanese positions, it is Witt's voiced-over ruminations on life, death, and nature that are the real heart and soul of The Thin Red Line (1998). Adrien Brody appears as Private Fife, the major character of Jones' novel and the author's alter-ego, although Fife has been relegated to a minor supporting role by Malick's filmed adaptation. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, (more)
- 2004
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The American film industry took it upon itself to act as a cheerleader for United States and Allied military interests during World War II, but Hollywood was initially reluctant to directly condemn Nazi anti-Semitism, and it wasn't until years after the war ended that American filmmakers began offering a realistic, dramatic look at the horrible toll of Hitler's "final solution." Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust is a documentary which examines how filmmakers reacted to German scapegoating of Jews before, during, and after the war, ranging from the boldness of Confessions of a Nazi Spy and The Mortal Storm (both of which were produced before America entered the war) to more oblique statements during the war itself, and then finally leading to an honest portrayal of the full consequences of the Holocaust beginning in the '50s. Produced for the cable television network American Movie Classics, Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust was premiered at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, (more)
James Dean: Sense Memories documents the short but brilliant career of the iconic James Dean. Combining interviews given by some of those who worked with him and archival footage, this American Masters film attempts to explain how Dean's talent and acting style helped make him a superstar and helped maintain his legend in death. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2009
- R
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This invigorating special follows the historic, star-studded inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States. Contributors include Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, and many more. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
Laurence Fishburne's Tony-nominated portrayal of Thurgood Marshall, the civil-rights lawyer who tried Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 and became the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Filmed at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in Washington, D.C. ~ Joe Friedrich, Rovi
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne
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