Auteur 63: Sturges

If you can get past the overt sentimentality of its message, this is first-class entertainment. Sullivan's character arc is splendid and completely unpredictable. Lana Turner is to die for and the comedy is perfectly balanced with the drama. Sturges' masterpiece sums up his world view almost to a fault. It's also been referenced in other films a dozen times since.

This screwball comedy has all the conventions down perfectly. The sexy female, the clumsy male, the repressed emotions, the silly pratfalls. Sturges brings everything together in this delightfully romantic and electrifying story. The real treat is watching the actors squirm through their roles. Fonda and Stanwyck were born to play these parts. The film may take its time but for the patient viewer it's a ride well worth taking.

Preston Sturges was among the very first writer/directors in Hollywood and during the war years he made plenty of masterpieces. His ear for dialogue was remarkable and the comedic performances he managed to get out of his actors is priceless. The Women in his films always tended to be stronger and the absurdity of the stories caught the attention of the viewer until the end. You gotta love Colbert in this movie - she's so hysterical and smart!

Absolute absurd zaniness and I love it. Another gem from Sturges. Sadly the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long and Sturges career ended shortly after the war. Still, even his lesser efforts like this one is well worth checking out.

Sturges' directorial debut is great fun to watch. He won the Oscar for best screenplay and it lit a fire under his ass. For the next four years his creative output shone remarkable strong.

Even lesser Sturges has its priceless moments. There are definitely similarities with Capra in some of Preston's work. Although borderline propaganda, it still manages to move the audience in an unpretentious way. Long live the legacy of this idiosyncratic and extremely witty auteur.