This is the final episode of the six-part series, "Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood". And, because all the previous ones were so great, I felt rather wistful watching it.
Unfortunately, the series only goes up until the very beginnings of sound films. While there were still many great films to come out of the European studios during the 1930s, you'd strongly get the impressions that the film industries pretty much died with the advent of Naziism--which just isn't the case. In fact, some of the great films of European cinema were made in the early, mid and late 1930s. And, even a few were made during the Nazi occupation--such as France's "Le Corbeau". Because of this, the premise of the episode is a bit inaccurate--though the episode's contention that international cooperation between the studios was killed by the Nazis is pretty much true. The UFA and British International co-productions, for example, were killed by the Nazis. Another problem, and it's a minor one, is that some of the early sound films are not mentioned--such as Fritz Lang's "M".
But, if you are not the insane purist like myself, this is a great show as it shows the transition from silents to sound--and is fascinating. Interviews, archival footage and nice behind the scenes information (particularly about Hitchcock)---it's all great and highly educational as well as exciting.
Unfortunately, the series only goes up until the very beginnings of sound films. While there were still many great films to come out of the European studios during the 1930s, you'd strongly get the impressions that the film industries pretty much died with the advent of Naziism--which just isn't the case. In fact, some of the great films of European cinema were made in the early, mid and late 1930s. And, even a few were made during the Nazi occupation--such as France's "Le Corbeau". Because of this, the premise of the episode is a bit inaccurate--though the episode's contention that international cooperation between the studios was killed by the Nazis is pretty much true. The UFA and British International co-productions, for example, were killed by the Nazis. Another problem, and it's a minor one, is that some of the early sound films are not mentioned--such as Fritz Lang's "M".
But, if you are not the insane purist like myself, this is a great show as it shows the transition from silents to sound--and is fascinating. Interviews, archival footage and nice behind the scenes information (particularly about Hitchcock)---it's all great and highly educational as well as exciting.
