Jul 042018
 

Michael CurtizThe greatest director of the studio age and by my account, the greatest director of all time, Curtiz was a master of the craft, and exercised his skills across genres. He helmed melodramas, adventure films, Noirs, comedies, romances, musicals, mysteries, horror pictures, histories, war films, literary movies, westerns, and whatever else there is. This put him on the outs with auteur theorists, who judge a director’s quality on his tendency to do the same thing over and over. Curtiz told stories and gave each what it needed—it wasn’t all about him. Andrew Sarris, film critic, adherent to the auteur theory, and idiot, did his best to tear down Curtiz as his versatility didn’t fit the theory (although he admitted that Casablanca was special and was the one film that screwed up his theories).

He often worked with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Humphrey Bogart.

Curtiz is nearly as famous for being a horrible person as he is a great director. He was abusive to actors and crew. A few actors could get along with him (Bogart managed), but many tell tales of his tyranny and Errol Flynn physically attacked him after Curtiz caused the deaths of over 20 horses on the set of The Charge of the Light Brigade (the outcry resulted in an animal welfare law being passed).

I could give every film not on the list below an honorable mention because even when a film didn’t work, Curtiz’s direction did, so I’ll show discretion. Doctor X (1932) is a flawed gem, one of the first two-strip Technicolor films (Full Review). And an honorable mention for the faux biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy. It’s cloying and non-stop lies, with horrible makeup, but the songs are good, the direction is superb, and Jimmy Cagney’s dancing is fascinating. And I’ll add one for The Sea Wolf, that is too unpleasant to be one of the greats, but then it was intended to be unpleasant and in that it is a great success.

Is 8 best are:

#8 – Four’s a Crowd (1938) — Errol Flynn is a charming cad who runs positive PR for the worst people. It’s a romantic comedy and one of the multiple Curtiz/Flynn/de Havilland films. [Also on the Best Actors lists for Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland]

#7 – Romance on the High Seas (1948) — A strange kind of musical as the music is pleasant, but barely registers as this plays out more like a romantic comedy. This was Doris Day’s first film and her best. Curtiz said it was because she was natural and fought to keep her that way. It also gave perpetual supporting actor Jack Carson a leading role—he deserved many more.

#6 – White Christmas (1954) — There’s no better icon of the light, colorful, and joyfully shallow side to Christmas than this bright and shiny musical. Oh, it hasn’t got a brain in its cute little head, but brains can be over rated. The songs are great, the dancing is wonderful, and the schmaltz is thick. (Full Review) [Also on the Best Actors list for Bing Crosby]

#5 – Captain Blood (1935) — The first (time-wise) of the three great Curtiz/Flynn Swashbucklers. Flynn is a physician forced into piracy. This is where non-silent Swashbucklers found their footing. (Full Critique) [Also on the Best Actors lists for Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone and Olivia de Havilland]

#4 – We’re No Angels (1955) — Humphrey Bogart’s last great performance in a picture that’s far too obscure. It is a Christmas comedy and absolutely lovely. He plays one of three escaped convicts who end up playing angels to a family. [Also on the Best Actors list for Humphrey Bogart and Basil Rathbone]

#3 – The Sea Hawk (1940) — The last of the three great Curtiz/Flynn Swashbucklers, it shares much of the cast and crew with Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Besides being a fine adventure film, is was a solid piece of propaganda for an England that needed it. (Full Critique) [Also on the Best Actors list for Errol Flynn]

#2 – The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) — The greatest classic Swashbuckler and one of the Best films ever made. It is beautifully shot, with a wonderful score and a strong supporting cast, and it made Errol Flynn an icon. Curtiz was brought in when director William Keighley failed to pull off the action scenes. The studio knew Curtiz could do wonders with Flynn though Flynn was none-too-happy about it as the two hated each other. (Full Critique) [Also on the Best Actors lists for Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone and Olivia de Havilland]

#1 – Casablanca (1942) — The finest of Curtiz’s film and one of the finest period. It is a true masterpiece in every way. It is startlingly good. Books have been written about why it is such a great film, so I won’t bother to explain it. [Also on the Best Actors list for Humphrey Bogart]