L'Atalante - 1934 ****

L'Atalante is a beautiful film, both in action and in photography. It has this weird, slightly surreal feel to it that I have only ever experienced in another masterpiece of it's time 'The Night of the Hunter'.
Jean Vigo only made a small number of films in his short life, and this is the one that defies time and stereotype. It's hard to explain how you feel after watching, but it's somewhere between deep exultation and heartbreak. It probably is a fair comment to make that it's one of the greatest films ever made.

Evelyn Prentice - 1934 **

One of Powell and Loy's earliest pairings, slightly more dramatic than 'The Thin Man' and with barely any comedy.
William Powell plays a defence attorney who, though devoted to his family is rather neglectful of his wife romantically. Because of this, she embarks on an affair with a violent womaniser, ending her in court. It is then up to her husband to defend her.
A good drama, but I prefer this couple in the lighthearted movies.

Twentieth Century - 1934 ***

I think Howard Hawks is an amazing director, but I can't say that this was one of the better comedies of the 1930s. Carole Lombard is ravishing with a quick wit (very like Jean Harlow) and John Barrymore has always been one of my favourite old - school actors, but I just felt there was something lacking in this film. It was a bit over the top and it didn't cause me to laugh nearly as much as 'Bringing Up Baby' or 'My Man Godfrey.' I guess the story was quite amusing and you get a snapshot of what it's like to be behind the scenes of the theatre but other than that it wouldn't be one I would rush to watch again.