1941 (1979)
Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Treat Williams.
Plot: Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, people throughout California live in fear of another attack. Little do they know that that's exactly what's going to happen if a Japanese submarine has their way. Meanwhile, an aspiring dancer comes into conflict with a soldier who wants to steal his girlfriend. Hijinks ensue as various other citizens get into different and humorous situations.
Good: The music is excellent, and it's no surprise that it's done by John Williams. It really captures the patriotic feel of music at the time. The production values are quite good, and the sets and costumes look like they've come from the year 1941. John Belushi does a great job for the surprisingly small role he has, and Dan Aykroyd is also a joy to watch. The stunts and action set pieces are also great, and they really add a spectacle to the film.
Bad: The most important thing a comedy needs to achieve is laughter from the audience, and this film does not seem to deliver them very effectively. The jokes at best will get a chuckle from the audience, but that's about it. It's a;so about an hour way too long, because of the many plot threads that go through the movie. If half of them were cut, the film would be a lot better. Also, even with the extra plot lines, the film still seems like it's stretching itself too thin, with scenes that go on for way to long. But the worst thing about the film would have to be the racial stereotyping of the Japanese. Not just the slurs and the stereotypical comments made by the American character, because that can be waved off as being accurate to the time period, but the way the Japanese soldiers are portrayed. They seem way to over the top and stereotypical in the way they speak and act. You could make the argument that the film is trying to feel like the propaganda films of the 40's, but it's still uncomfortable to watch nonetheless.
Trivia:
Final Verdict: While there is a lot of effort put into this film, there just isn't that much to like about 1941. The racial stereotyping is distracting, the pacing is abysmal, and the jokes for the most part are not funny. I recomend that you only see it if you're a gigantic Spielberg fan, and you want to see all of his films.
Next time, we'll look at the first film starring one of cinema's most iconic characters with Raiders of the Lost Arc.
Plot: Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, people throughout California live in fear of another attack. Little do they know that that's exactly what's going to happen if a Japanese submarine has their way. Meanwhile, an aspiring dancer comes into conflict with a soldier who wants to steal his girlfriend. Hijinks ensue as various other citizens get into different and humorous situations.
Good: The music is excellent, and it's no surprise that it's done by John Williams. It really captures the patriotic feel of music at the time. The production values are quite good, and the sets and costumes look like they've come from the year 1941. John Belushi does a great job for the surprisingly small role he has, and Dan Aykroyd is also a joy to watch. The stunts and action set pieces are also great, and they really add a spectacle to the film.
Bad: The most important thing a comedy needs to achieve is laughter from the audience, and this film does not seem to deliver them very effectively. The jokes at best will get a chuckle from the audience, but that's about it. It's a;so about an hour way too long, because of the many plot threads that go through the movie. If half of them were cut, the film would be a lot better. Also, even with the extra plot lines, the film still seems like it's stretching itself too thin, with scenes that go on for way to long. But the worst thing about the film would have to be the racial stereotyping of the Japanese. Not just the slurs and the stereotypical comments made by the American character, because that can be waved off as being accurate to the time period, but the way the Japanese soldiers are portrayed. They seem way to over the top and stereotypical in the way they speak and act. You could make the argument that the film is trying to feel like the propaganda films of the 40's, but it's still uncomfortable to watch nonetheless.
Trivia:
- Many of the events that happen in the film did actually happen during that time, such as the army placing a military anti-aircraft gun in a family's back yard.
- Steven Spielberg's favorite John Williams march is the one that appears in this film when John Belushi appears.
- John Belushi would occasionally fail to arrive on set because of his nightlife.
- This was Dan Aykroyd's American feature film debut.
Final Verdict: While there is a lot of effort put into this film, there just isn't that much to like about 1941. The racial stereotyping is distracting, the pacing is abysmal, and the jokes for the most part are not funny. I recomend that you only see it if you're a gigantic Spielberg fan, and you want to see all of his films.
Next time, we'll look at the first film starring one of cinema's most iconic characters with Raiders of the Lost Arc.
Stay Tuned
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