Film review: ‘The War Against Mrs. Hadley’ (1942)

Jean Rogers and Van Johnson in 'The War Against Mrs. Hadley'

'The War Against Mrs. Hadley,' a cinematic masterwork from the latter part of 1942. Commencing on December 7, 1941, and starring Fay Bainter as an imperious, snobbish, entitled widow of a former newspaper proprietor who encounters difficulty in embracing the reality of America's entry into World War II; to the extent that she estranges nearly all the individuals in her life. As one character is quoted, 'she hasn’t an ounce of patriotism in her,' and she 'acts as if the war is a personal crusade against her.' Showcasing a cast of renowned actors, with the distinguished Edward Arnold in the lead, and a screenplay by George Oppenheimer that received an Academy Award nomination, this picture is obligatory viewing for anyone with an interest in domestic life in America during World War II. Outstanding work.

Copyright 2023, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, and @arthurnewhook on POST and THREADS.

Turner Classic Movies: ‘Our last happy place’ is endangered after the network's parent company lays off three-fourths of its staff

Pictured: Norma Shearer. Photo via MGM

 #SaveTCM ‘Our last happy place.’ Despite whatever assurances Warner is giving at the moment, average American TV viewers and moviegoers have made it clear they prefer endless reruns of terrible ‘reality’ shows and the never-ending parade of dorky superhero movies. There very much is an element of deliberate ‘dumbing down,’ to one degree or another, that has been ongoing for decades in media and entertainment, and this is not meant as a defense of the ‘powers that be,’ but it is hard to ascribe mere malevolence as the motive when these corporations are only giving the American people what they so desperately want. Anything that does not sell with the ignorant masses is seen as a liability in the corrupt, uber-consumerist society. TCM may very well be the single most valuable window we have into 20th century history, but it does not have long for this world, and the day it disappears will be the day much of our history will be forever lost. {NYT 6/22}

Copyright 2023, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on TWITTER, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, and POST - @arthurnewhook.