1941 (1979) - Definitve Spielberg #5 - Hagfilms Honest Reviews

When John Milius produced a script from writer duo Bob Gale and Robert Zemekis, who as we know would later go on to become the creators of Back To The Future, Spielberg leapt at the chance to make it, his first all out slapstick comedy, and best of all for him, it was about a topic that he was very interested in, namely the second world war, with a lot of focus on the air force. That's pretty much the only common thread of Spielberg themes that exist in this picture. Owing another film on contract to both Columbia and Universal, Spielberg suggested that the movie be a co production and so both Studios produced the movie.

The story combines fact with fiction, and is a culmination of wartime stories from the paranoid home front shortly after the Japanese Invasion of Pearl Harbour, lampooned here for the sake of this incredible tale. The critics of the time were waiting for Spielberg to fail, and this movie gave them the opportunity to pounce on him and knock him down a peg or two.

1941 opens very well, with a stylish nod to the opening of Jaws, Chrissie Watkins taking a naked moonlight swim, almost shot for shot identical to the opening of his 1975 monster pic, even using the same actress (Susan Backlinie) to reprise her role. But here, the something in the water is not a great white shark but the rising periscope of a Japanese submarine on which she becomes impaled. No greater laugh have we had in a Spielberg movie to date, and, unfortunately, no greater laugh will we have in this film, either.

The comedy for the most part is predictable and lame, a mix of ridiculous slapstick, accidental destruction and lewd innuendos. I'm sure that during the conception of the many ideas and even during the movies production much fun was had, but by the time it reached the screen, there was more mayhem than comedy, and its numerous characters and plots and subplots become a confused and tangled tapestry of frustration amidst a high volume of explosions and inane shouting. Comedy doesn't date well as it is, but I cant help but feel that even back in 1979 audiences had seen it all before.

Don't get me wrong, 1941 isn't a bad film at all. It's production values are excellent, as are some of its numerous set pieces, and also various comedy performances from its giant cast. Highlights would definitely be the cartoon like antics of John Belushi's Wild Bill Kelso, Dan Akroyd as the fast talking Sgt Frank Tree and Slim Pickins as the foul mouthed southerner Hollis P. Wood, but then these are characters designed for these performers and the same as they have played time and time again. Unfortunately the dialogue and gags just weren't there for them. I'd much rather watch Pickins in Blazing Saddles, or Belushi in Animal House. Belushi can also be seen as another character eating Spaghetti during the films riot scene.

John Wayne was approached for the role of General Stilwell and after reading the script deemed it anti american and warned Spielberg not to make it. The role went to Robert Stack, and would be one of his first ventures into the self parody of his gritty career, his next and possibly most notable being his performance as Rex Kramer in the hilarious Airplane. Also in the cast, as well as the reprisal of Jaws Chrissie Watkins, we also see two other cast members of Spielberg's shark film, Lorraine Gary as the house proud wife to the bespectacled Ned Beatty, whose house is slowly but surely demolished as the army leave a huge gun in their yard, and also we see Murray Hamilton as a height fearing civilian on look out upon a Ferris Wheel, with his annoying ventriloquist cohort. John Candy is also in the movie, yet his role is hardly notable. And until I'd watched it again recently I had forgotten that legendary British actor Christopher Lee also appears as the Nazi.

As I mentioned there are some great scenes, and scenes that easily demonstrate the magic of Spielberg's direction. As well as the Jaws homage, the dance-cum- farcical chase scene that precedes the riots are superbly shot and choreographed, with Treat Williams as the angry Stretch chasing the movies hero, the dancing DiCicco through the busy dancehall. The scene puts me in mind of the incredible opening scene at the start of Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom. Also the special effects are faultless, the miniatures of the planes flying through the city are incredible. But as for key Spielberg characters and themes, they are either absent or unidentifiable.

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[Hagfilms]

now the twilight zone movie is the only film of his thats evading me so far. I saw it when i was younger but iu cant remember his piece specifically. I always remember themagician with the hideous rabbit and the girl with no mouth. Oh and then is it dan aykroyd as an ambulance driver?

[ReelScreenReviews]

Great job as always...everyone falters now and again

[Hagfilms]

@ReelScreenReviews - that sir is true. Funny how he failed at comedy whilst the use of comedy in his other films is usually brilliant. Thanks

[TheMovieRewind]

Never saw it, but yea Spielberg has certainly had his misses which make his hits all the more better. Great review.

[Hagfilms]

@TheMovieRewind - he certainly does. i have still not seen warhorse or tin tin - but i have heard mixed reviews.

[TheMovieRewind]

@Hagfilms I enjoyed Tintin as an old fashioned harmless adventure, but it lacked that something special for me. War Horse was for me really dull and Spielberg on auto pilot.

[Hagfilms]

@TheMovieRewind - thats similar to what i have heard but i will see for myself soon enough. Peace!

[Cowboy040]

@Hagfilms the Twilight Zone movie was also about a former Nazi,who Worked in a concentration camp.the 1 he Directed in the late 60ties.

[Hagfilms]

@Cowboy040 - he says his father was in it - whether that has a lot to do with it, and the fact that he's jewish and the indent that must have had on him - im only speculating tho... He's done at least 4 war films, and lets not forget th eIndy series are set around that time too. Thanks again for the comment.

[Cowboy040]

I had forgotten about this movie,but he has done 3 films on WW2 have you ever wondered why he is so interested in that War?