Michael Curtiz

 Michael Curtiz




Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Casablanca (1942)

Mildred Pierce (1945)




RANKED:


3. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)


Perhaps making a biographical picture on the life of a man who attributed to some of the most patriotic anthems in American history was a little too on the nose in 1942. However, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and its biography of famed Broadway producer George M. Cohan turned out to be such a celebrated picture, simply due to its complete unabashed earnestness in celebrating an important contributor to the entertainment industry. Not only this, James Cagney's portrayal as George M. Cohan, along with all of his singing and dancing, won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. It's a film that rejoices in art, rejoices in the American Dream, and celebrates a single man's attribution to both Broadway and the very fabric of American culture itself.






2. Mildred Pierce (1945)


In adapting the 1941 James Cain novel "Mildred Pierce" to the big screen, Michael Curtiz also created an enduring Hollywood classic. Starring Joan Crawford in the titular role, the film earned her an Academy Award for "Best Actress." The film centers on a woman who desperately attempts to create a life for her daughter and in doing so, not only gains success through her work ethic, but also is taken advantage of by everyone around her, including the daughter herself. The film's cynical nature cements it firmly in the new Hollywood era of 'noir' films and films that harbor a dark view humanity. It has since become a classic of the era and is now considered Joan Crawford's crowning achievement as a screen actress. 





1. Casablanca (1942)


Despite being filmed and released after the US joined the Allied efforts against the Germans in World War II, "Casablanca" was originally intended to sway the sentiment of the American populace away from a neutral position. In the film, Humphrey Bogart's Rick only cares about himself and "doesn't stick [his] neck out for nobody." This viewpoint is emblematic of the typical American viewpoint in regards to taking sides in the war. However, as the story progresses, Rick learns that his non-committal stance only creates more problems and makes him morally complicit to the Nazi's bullying. Through the reunion with his former lover, played by Ingrid Bergman, he eventually decides to sacrifice himself to get her and her husband out of Casablanca. Despite the film being a form of wartime propaganda, the message and theme of the film is enduring. The story in its truest form is about moral decisions and whether to act on them. Remaining apathetic and neutral only deteriorates a moral environment. In the face of corruption, one must sacrifice themselves for the greater good and choose virtue over self. "Casablanca'"s moral questions, its romance, its intrigue, and its entertainment value transcended the typical Hollywood film and turned itself into an enduring classic.

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