Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Four Feathers
(1939)

RATING:100%
FORMAT:DVD



Hordes of Savage, War-Crazed Fuzzy Wuzzies

Curiously schizophrenic movie that is both xenophobic and phenotypal while also criticizing the very notion of the British Empire that resulted from both. The critique is valid because it is based on the notion that charity begins at home and that those who go overseas seeking glory are running away from problems at home. The dervishes are resented as cruel and ruthless; the imperialists as noble and good.

The notion of tradition at any cost - no matter how senseless - is well presented as a substitute for true happiness; that is, consistency and being true to oneself.

That said, this is also a stirring action/adventure that is well-directed, acted and photographed despite the absurd stiff upper-lips that ended-up causing the loss of the British Empire.


Copyright © 2012 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.
Posted by Frank TALKER™ at 16:40
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Science:



No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power.



Jacob Bronowski… (1908 - 74), British scientist, author. Encounter (London, July 1971).


Sleep of Reason:



The dream of reason produces monsters. Imagination deserted by reason creates impossible, useless thoughts. United with reason, imagination is the mother of all art and the source of all its beauty.



Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes… (1746-1828), Spanish painter. Caption to Caprichos, number 43, a series of eighty etchings completed in 1798, satirical and grotesque in form.


Humans & Aliens:



I am human and let nothing human be alien to me.



Terence… (circa 190-159 BC), Roman dramatist. Chremes, in The Self-Tormentor [Heauton Timorumenos], act 1, scene 1.


Führerprinzip:



One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves… There is no organ of conciliation or mediation interposed between the leader and the people, nothing in fact but the apparatus - in other words, the party - which is the emanation of the leader and the tool of his will to oppress. In this way the first and sole principle of this degraded form of mysticism is born, the Führerprinzip, which restores idolatry and a debased deity to the world of nihilism.



Albert Camus… (1913-60), French-Algerian writer & philosopher. The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt: New York: Vintage Books, (1984; page 182.)