David Copperfield (1935) starring Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, W.C. Fields, Basil Rathbone There’s a lot of good things to be said about David Copperfield — fine acting all around, interesting characters that the audience cares… David Copperfield
In short, Kirk Douglas shines in his performance as Vincent van Gogh. Kirk Douglas gave many great performances in his career, but none better than in Lust for Life. He portrays the Dutch painter, a brilliant artist that was tragically tormented by depression and mental illness.
Lust for LifeWest of Shanghai is an excellent movie, dealing with a cast of Western characters who travel to China for a variety of reasons. Once there, they are forced to deal with a warlord named General Fang, played by Boris Karloff. It is Karloff’s performance that makes an otherwise ordinary movie memorable.
West of Shanghai
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is an exceptional movie. Made even more exceptional by the fact that it’s based on a true story. It’s the story of Gladys Aylward (performed by Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca in a great performance). A British woman in the early 20th century who feels called by God to be a missionary in China.
Since she has no education or qualifications, the Missionary Society refuses to send her. Gladys steadfastly believes that God has called her there. So she works as a servant, putting money aside from each paycheck until she can afford a one-way trip to China. Once she’s there, she swiftly finds that her struggle is only beginning …
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness