1947 - Gentlemen's Agreement: I've even got the title 'I was Jewish for six months'

1947 Best Picture Winner

Premiered November 11, 1947 in New York

Budget: $2 Million

Gross: N/A

This movie is like the last two Oscar winners, the story has a great premise but the execution is terrible. The main character is tasked with writing a magazine article on anti-semitism. This film takes the strongest stance on a social issue of any Oscar winner yet. We were impressed with the bold stance that the movie takes.

One thing we have noticed is the decline of morality after World War II. Before the war, movies showed marriage and worth fighting for and they portrayed biblical values. The last few movies have had heroes that are divorced and some main characters contemplate having affairs and script writers show that to be socially acceptable.

Joel
Favorite: I loved the passion and conviction that Gregory Peck portrayed in his role.

Least Favorite: The sound effects were terrible. For example, each time a scene took place near a street the movie makers used the same car horn sound effect.

Callie
Favorite: The honesty of the way that they addressed anti-semitism.
Least Favorite: The relationship between Phil and his mom (it was a little creepy)



1946 - The Best Years Of Our Lives: "My Career As A Homewrecker Is Officially Over"

1946 Best Picture Winner

Premiered: November 21, 1946 in New York

Budget: $2.1 Million

Gross: N/A

This movie was tough to rate: not quite good enough to warrent two popcorn bags, not bad enough to be one popcorn bag. We gave it one and a half, rounding it up to two. Watch it if you ever need to kill 3 hours.

This film pushes the limits on social and moral issues: The movie winks at extra martial affairs, divorce and alcoholism. In many ways, you could see the script in a movie today. It did not have the moral innocence that the other Oscar winning movies had in the 1940s.  

The movie follows 3 soldiers returning from World War II. The message of the film is this: The Best Years in the lives of the servicemen were the years when they were serving in the war. All three struggle to adjust to life in society.

Joel

Favorite: I liked the concept of the movie. The story in the movie was what real people were dealing with in the post war U.S.

Least Favorite: I did not like the way the movie made it seem that having an affair was ok. It had the values of 2012 America, not 1946 America.

Callie

Favorite: It had a good storyline. It brought me into the perspective of a soldier returning home.

Least Favorite: It was way too long. The length watered down the impact of the movie.

1945 - The Lost Weekend: "Don't Be Ridic"

1945 Best Picture Winner

Premiered November 29, 1945 in LA

Budget: $1.25 Million

Gross: N/A

I can sum this movie up in one word: unique. I've never seen a movie like it. The movie is about an alcoholic and the grip that the addiction has on him. It is a very serious movie that deals with some tough subjects. The movie does not include any humorous moments to occasionally lighten the mood, it leaves the viewer more and more discouraged an upset at the main character and his choices.

The production values were pretty poor. The opening scene features a wide shot of the New York skyline, only the shot is obviously of a picture made to look like a New York skyline. I don't think movie goers cared about production values back then. On the upside, the acting is very good and the story holds your attention and makes you think.

Joel

Favorite: The female lead, Helen, sticks by Don even though his bad choices spiral out of control during his bender. She sticks by his side even though he betrays her over and over again.

Least Favorite: The soundtrack was terrible. It sounded like the Star Trek soundtrack. Each time Don took another drink I wondered if the aliens were going to come down and get him.

Callie
Favorite: I liked the raw storyline and the way that it hit what was happening at the time.
Least Favorite: It was a bad movie. The production was bad, music was terrible, effects were horrible and the story was slow moving and boring.

1944 - Going My Way: "You even throw like an athiest"

1944 Best Picture Winner

Premiered May 3, 1944 in New York

Budget: N/A

Gross: N/A

"Bing looks so young", that was the first thing we said when the movie started. It was fun to see an actor that we watch each year in one of our Christmas tradition (in White Christmas). This movie has a very nice message: that faith is not a boring set of traditions but it is really about loving helping people and reaching out to those in need. It could almost be a Christian film.

The movie started out with so much promise. It was filled with lots of humor and a very likable main character, Father O'Malley. About an hour into the movie though the plot disappeared and it became a very poor musical. Bing did well on the songs but the music written for the movie was subpar. Overall, we gave it two popcorn bags because it is a feel good film with a nice message.

Joel

Favorite: I liked the humor. It was lots of one liners and some dry humor delivered by Bing Crosby.

Least Favorite: I disliked the song "Going My Way". At the end it is performed by an orchestra, a boy's choir and an female opera singer and it was awful.

Callie
Favorite: I liked the honor and integrity of the film. It was a feel good story.
Least Favorite: At times the plot got lost in the slow pace of the movie and it felt aimless at times.

1943 - Casablanca: "This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship"

1943 Best Picture Winner

Premiered November 26, 1942 in New York

Budget: $950,000

Gross: $10.5 Million

Casablanca has it all: romance, action, a great plot and a great performance by the male lead. Casablanca is one of the most iconic movies of all time and for good reason. It is an excellent movie. We enjoyed every minute of the movie immensely. Unlike Gone With The Wind that is all hype and little substance, this movie delivers.

The film gives us a very different look at the war. It is set in a small Moraccan town that has people loyal to the allies and many German soliders. This mix of indeals in one town makes things quite interesting.

Joel
Favorite: I loved the way that they developed the main character, Rick. The viewer doesn't know if he is loyal to anyone but himself until the very end.
Least Favorite: I wish that the movie would have been in color. Otherwise, it was perfect.

Callie
Favorite: I love the speed of the story line. The plot progressed at a nice pace. I also liked the way that Rick honors the marriage of Victor and Ilsa.
Least Favorite: I don't have a least favorite.