Happy Independence Day! Because this July is #CleanMovieMonth2020 at PEPS, 20 is the theme of this year’s celebration of Hollywood’s Breen Era (1934-1954). Thus, I decided to celebrate by reviewing twenty Code films here on PEPS during July! I already would be reviewing eight, since I review two new Code films every week as part of 100 New Code Films. I planned to write the other twelve reviews about movies which I have seen before but not yet reviewed. However, this weekend, my family has wanted to watch some wonderful new Code films as part of our holiday festivities. I realized that my 100 New Code Films scheduled was making me feel like I couldn’t watch as many new Code films as I wanted to, and that’s no way to watch every Breen Era movie ever made! Thus, I decided to watch as many new Code films as I like during July and review them as part of #CleanMovieMonth2020!
#2 – A Guy Named Joe (1943)
Cast:
Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, and Van Johnson
Production Notes:
Director: Victor Fleming, Producer: Everett Riskin, Production Company: MGM
Premise:
A daredevil World War II flier (Tracy) is killed right after getting engaged to a lovely female flier (Dunne). In the afterlife, he is assigned to assist a young pilot (Johnson) who unknowingly acquires his mannerisms, his heroism, and his girl.
Code Compliance:
Perfect Code Film
Recommendation:
Highly Recommended, Five Stars
Awards:
Academy Awards: 1 Nomination (Best Original Story)
My Thoughts:
This is a terrific movie, very patriotic and appropriate for Independence Day as well as any other day. The acting is wonderful. The romance is very tender. The premise is unusual and fanciful but charming. The supporting actors are magnificent. This is a loving tribute to pilots who have risked and given their lives for our country. All classic film fans should enjoy it. It is surprising that leading man Spencer Tracy dies so early in the film, but he still gets to be in the rest of the film as an unseen but still hilariously wisecracking spirit. As Rebekah cleverly quipped, “Pilots don’t die; they just become one with the Air Force!”
Happy Independence Day!
Happy #CleanMovieMonth2020!
Click here to join our monthlong celebration of nothing but American Breen Era (1934-1954) movies in honor of the Production Code Administration’s anniversary, #CleanMovieMonth2020!
Click here to join our upcoming blogathon about American Breen Era movies adapted from classic literature, the Code Classics Blogathon!
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Certainly sounds like an interesting movie! But, then again, I have yet to see a Spencer Tracy movie I didn’t like! Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see it sometime soon!
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I love Van Johnson. There’s a Van Johnson blogathon coming up later this year, and I thought about doing this movie, but I decided on Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo instead. But A Guy Named Joe is a great Van Johnson flick as well! Thanks for sharing this!
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Dear J-Dub,
Yes, Van Johnson is one of the greatest actors. I’m glad that you like him, too. I have yet to see “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” myself, but I’m sure that it is great, too. By the way, who is hosting the Van Johnson Blogathon this year? I would love to join, but I haven’t seen any announcement for it.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Love Letters to old Hollywood – You can see details on my blog-a-thon page.
https://dubsism.com/2020-movie-blog-a-thons/
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Dear J-Dub,
Thank you! I just joined! I look forward to reading your review.
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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