Climbing Up to the Moon

In the previous post, I briefly mentioned having seen Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in a theater. Watching it on the big screen began a five film (and growing) streak of excellent films without any crappy films getting in the way. Said films are: The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Stray Dog, The Battleship Potemkin, and Drunken Angel.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Fritz Lang's follow-up to M (one of the greatest films ever made...ever), is the story of a mad doctor who finds a way to circumnavigate his imprisonment. Like in Lang's previous film, the director utilizes the, then new, medium of sound film to its fullest. An exciting film of crime and passion, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is a fine piece of cinema, and an engaging film noir.

Stray Dog
Akira Kurowsawa's film noir follows the misfortune of a young detective named Murakami in search of his stolen pistol. Kurosawa masterfully presents an intriguing film with top notch performances by Toshirō Mifune as the unfortunate detective, and Takashi Shimura as a sage detective that guides Mifune's "Murakami".

The Battleship Potemkin
Sergei Eisenstein's Russian silent film about the revolution against the Tsarist regime. There is something incredible about being able to sit and watch a film from what was most certainly a different time. With their world embroiled in the aftermath of revolution and civil war, I can't begin to imagine what the souls who watched The Battleship Potemkin during its intial theatrical release in Soviet Union felt upon seeing it. However, after watching it, I can understand how The Battleship Potemkin became such an influential film in cinema and life.

Drunken Angel
Before Stray Dog, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and many other excellent film collaborations, Akira Kurosawa teamed up with Takashi Shimura and Toshirō Mifune in Drunken Angel. Kurosawa's tale of the seedy world of the Yakuza is an exciting film that showcases wonderful performances from the cast, including Shimura and Mifune, whose chemistry carries great dramatic weight. To see the beginning of one of the most influential of film collaborations is rewarding, and its a good film, too.

Next time, Danish film Just Another Love Story, Czech film Closely Watched Trains, and Russian films Ballad of A Soldier, The Cranes Are Flying, Wings, and The Ascent.