By Vijay Ramanathan
Note: YouTube’s huge repository features a multitude of fantastic motion pictures in lots of languages – some hidden gems, and a few which might be laborious to search out elsewhere. In this sequence of articles, I’ll share a few of my favourite traditional motion pictures freely accessible on YouTube, together with a short evaluation. The movies are usually not posted by me, and I don’t profit from anybody viewing them.
Carole Lombard! She’s the headline of Made for Each Other. Lombard, and her chemistry with a superbly solid, James Stewart, make this in any other case uneven film so very watchable. Directed by John Cromwell, Made for Each Other is an ill-balanced romantic comedy-cum-melodrama that works in components however in the end doesn’t elevate itself past a serviceable one-time watch. Lombard elevates each scene she’s in and carries this film on her shoulders. One can solely marvel what number of extra implausible characters she would have portrayed if not for her premature demise.
The film begins out like a humorous rom-com, steers into drama territory, and ends firmly in melodrama land. We begin the film with a sudden wedding ceremony between John Mason (Stewart) and Jane (Lombard). John’s an unimportant, timid lawyer at a legislation agency the place he hopes for a rising profession. He lacks self-worth, and is unable to face up for himself. Jane is his spine. She’s there to make him resilient, confident, and brave. They really are made for one another. Their marriage, nonetheless, commences on an iffy observe. John’s mom, Harriett (Lucille Watson), isn’t too joyful about it, and Jane wonders in the event that they by no means ought to have married. From this level on, we witness numerous episodes within the couple’s life as they navigate its highs and lows. There’s a non-starter honeymoon, a flop dinner for John’s boss, a misplaced job promotion, unreliable maids, job dissatisfaction, cash troubles, a child, and so forth.
Lombard’s Jane feels very pure and actual on this atmosphere. When she’s attempting to not lose it together with her nitpicky mother-in-law, you may simply really feel her frustration. When she’s the drained new mom of a crying child, you may really feel her fatigue. Expressions navigate Lombard’s face effortlessly. There’s a stunning scene that begins out with John returning house dejected from his class reunion, and ends with Jane motivating him to ask his boss for a increase and a promotion. This portion really captures the essence of those characters and why they belong collectively. Lombard and Stewart play off one another so properly!
Most of the narrative is predictable however Cromwell handles the scenes properly and retains us engaged. The pacing is brisk. The film begins shedding its influence when it veers into extra severe terrain. John and Jane face monetary pressures; their marriage begins to really feel the pressure. The prospect of shedding their baby in the end will get Jane and John to bond again stronger. This final act of the movie takes on a heavy melodramatic tone. Cromwell levels and movies these scenes with extra darkish and moody lighting evocative of a severe drama. There is a scene within the hospital the place Jane is speaking with Harriet, through which the characters are seen solely in silhouette towards a backdrop of a raging snowstorm seen by the window. It’s eye-catching and assured filmmaking, however the narrative parts on this stretch are too heavy-handed. The portion with the Mercy Plane flying by a blizzard, and a parachuting pilot who dangers his life appears ill-suited for this film. But even right here, Lombard’s efficiency retains us invested within the proceedings. We need Jane to finish up joyful. Predictably, the film ends on a felicitous observe that one would count on from any self-respecting romantic comedy. We wouldn’t need it another manner.
Made for Each Other is accessible for viewing on YouTube at