Movie Diary 12/12/2009

Power of the Press (Lew Landers, 1943). Strong-mouthed wartime newspaper picture, with a “story by Sam Fuller” credit and the sound of Fuller in its dialogue. Small-town editor Guy Kibbee takes over a giant NYC daily when its boss is murdered; many issues are stirred up along the way, with lots of anti-isolationist sentiment. A good small movie.

Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie, 2009). The action Holmes, as advertised, with Robert Downey, Jr., and Jude Law as the immortal duo. Some of the action, it must be said, is impressive, and some of the Downey, too, which you might notice if you can get past the question, “Why does this have to exist?” (full review 12/25)

The Doctor Takes a Wife (Alexander Hall, 1940) and A Night to Remember (Richard Wallace, 1942). Two in a new Columbia screwball comedy box, both with Loretta Young. The first one’s a fun romp with LY as a feminist writer and Ray Milland as a doctor who must pretend to be married to her; the latter is a very labored Greenwich Village murdermystery-comedy; if you watch it the same day you see Sherlock Holmes, you will be distracted by Brian Aherne’s resemblance to Jude Law.