Clarence Brown
Clarence Brown
The Last of the Mohicans (1920)
RANKED:
8. National Velvet (1944)
At the tail end of the war, times were dark in American culture. To combat this, Hollywood began their technicolor ventures to offer a bright counter to the darker noir-esque films of the time. "National Velvet" provides some family-friendly hope in the form of an adolescent Elizabeth Taylor. Her dreams of winning the Grand National become a reality through sheer belief and determination. Her heartening story provides optimism in a disturbed America. The film also showcases the exceptionalism Americans would come to be familiar with in Hollywood films for the next decade.
7. The Last of the Mohicans (1920)
Contrary to many films of the time, "The Last of the Mohicans" is a radical film. Clarence Brown's unflinching depiction of a white woman's sexual desire for a Native American had taken its cues from D.W. Griffith's "Broken Blossoms" a year prior. Not only did the film depict interracial love, but also depicted many of the Native American characters (who weren't considered 'the bad guy') as respectable. These subject matters were largely considered taboo or unwarranted in their day, but iitst's fearless renderings of racial relations during the French Indian War are something to be remembered.
6. A Free Soul (1931)
In the pre-Code era of Hollywood, MGM turned Norma Shearer into a sex symbol with Clarence Brown's 1931 film "A Free Soul." The protagonist is just that, a free soul. Because of this, she is flirtatious, and sensual, and doesn't care what people think about her. However, when she gets into trouble with one of her father's clients, she must figure out a way to protect everyone involved. The film not only earned great acclaim and success for Norma Shearer but also won Lionel Barrymore an Academy Award and turned Clark Gable from a supporting play to a leading man.
5. Anna Karenina (1935)
In adapting the 1887 Leo Tolstoy novel, "Anna Karenina," Clarence Brown and Greta Garbo made their last commercially successful collaboration. The film centers on a Russian aristocrat who tries to leave her husband for another man to disastrous effects. The film touches upon some of the same themes of the novel which involves individuals being unable to escape the social structures that oppress them. These individuals even fail to realize that is it they who are enabling these very social structures, as well.
4. Anna Christie (1930)
Marketed with the tagline, "Garbo Talks!", "Anna Christie" was the first time audiences would hear Greta Garbo's speaking voice. Their expectations of what to expect would play very nicely into the themes of the film. Garbo's character, Anna, has certain expectations of her from both her father and her new lover. However, when she reveals information that upsets that expectation, they treat her differently. The film showcases how men try to control and abuse women due to these women going outside of the boxed-in expectations for them in their minds.
3. Intruder in the Dust (1949)
In 1949, there were not a lot of films that portrayed black Americans in a positive light, if at all. However, "Intruder in the Dust" broke new ground in its portrayal of upstanding black citizens of the community. When a black man is wrongly accused of killing a white man, a small town goes into a violent frenzy. Two teenage boys, a town lawyer, and an elderly woman try to find information that will prove the man's innocence. With racial injustices happening all over America, "Intruder in the Dust" attempted to help shine a spotlight where few rarely did.
2. A Woman of Affairs (1928)
With "A Woman of Affairs," Clarence Brown continues his collaboration with Greta Garbo. The film is another exercise in sexual frustration, as the characters are never in a position where they are 'allowed' to be together. This is mostly due to the social status the characters are trapped in. Because the characters must hide their true selves and becomes 'dignified' under the observations of their parents and social observers, their shame ultimately leads to bitter tragedy.
1. Flesh and the Devil (1926)
"Flesh and the Devil" was a turning point in the career of both Greta Garbo and director Clarence Brown. Garbo's fame shot to the top of Hollywood's A list while Brown became an established director. The two would continue to collaborate for the next decade. The film is a great exercise in sexual restraint. The two protagonists, who are in love, aren't actually supposed to be together. This creates the sexual tension of the film. Along with this, the cinematography of the film, done by William H. Daniels, looks more like an early 30s film than it does a late 20s one. Because of this, Garbo insisted on Daniels being her prime cinematographer, along with her new director.
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