The Battle of the Normans - We have a winner

After many weeks and four movies, we have a winner from the duel between Norman Jewison and Norman Taurog. Here are my reactions to the four movies and why the winner is Jewison:

Fiddler on the Roof

This movie was astoundingly well done in my perspective. It had all of the perfect elements of a musical and translated a theater production onto the screen beautifully. The addition of camera work and scene transitions enriched the story and movement of the characters. One of my favorite elements of camera work in the film is when Tevye begins a spoken internal monologue while talking with each of his daughters about their potential husbands. At this point, the camera suddenly shows that he is distant from his daughters physically as he talks to God about whether to allow them to marry. As I am rating movies based on how they make me feel, this movie carries a great deal of weight.

Boys Town

I can definitely see why this film was so impacting and important in its time. Coming from 1938, when the prevailing thinking was that someone was born bad and stayed bad throughout their lives (an idea which still pervades our current systemic and internal functioning), this film was progressive and possibly even subversive. The idea was shocking that someone could take a large group of orphan boys and foster in them a sense of community and responsibility. But Father Flanagan sticks to his belief that "no boy is bad" and viewers of the day were probably astounded that this story was based on reality. Beyond these powerful messages, the film was slightly stiff and formulaic, though there were moments from Mickey Rooney that were incredibly endearing, and the small, lovable orphan aptly named Pee Wee was irresistibly cute.

In the Heat of the Night

Oh my goodness. I can't believe I hadn't seen this amazing movie before beginning this tournament. Sydney Poitier helps this movie to burn with his apparent passion and commitment as an actor. The tension is palpable throughout the film, emanating from the screen and affecting the viewer. This is one of those films that so fluidly helps me to see another situation, another perspective and circumstance. This film is a sort of time machine that can help me better understand where we have been as a country and why. The acting, costuming, setting, and camera-work all came together to communicate with an audience. This movie is expressive and true and I loved it.

Pardners

Jerry Lewis is a master of physical comedy and the camaraderie and comedic partnership is apparent between him and Dean Martin. They bring the audience in to view their inside jokes and their own love for each other as great friends. I can't tell if this relationship between the stars puts up a slight barrier because we know that we can't be a part of it or whether I don't connect to the comedy as closely because it's from a different time period. Whatever it is, I found myself simply observing rather than enjoying a lot of the jokes. It is obvious that the two stars and the audience have come to expect a formula and they stick to it. But the movie is nevertheless fun.

So, our first winner is Norman Jewison! Congrats, Norman, you move on to face William Wylar. dun dun dun.

The first showdown

So after watching the first four movies of our massive director showdown I am ready to pick an initial winner...but first the completely unnecessary movie rating system with which I have made my decision:

Fiddler on the Roof - Norman Jewison
Genre- Musical - With its amazing blending of familial love and tragedy, bigotry and racism, and more memorable show tunes than you can believe 9/10.
Characters- From Tevye who somehow manages to be everyone's version of the lovable father to minor characters like Yente the town matchmaker filled with characters you can't forget 8/10.
Mood Theme Ambiance- The tavern scene where the jews and russians literally weave in out of each others dances to higlight how the two groups weave in and out of each others lives is worth 3 points alone- 8/10
Inventivness-Jewison adapted the film from the stage musical so he had a platform to work from but the way in which he brings the non stage elements to the film is remarkable. Note the end visual sequences of the jews leaving the villiage looking like something out of a Mark Chagall paitning. 7/10.
Film Quality- So many of the songs still live on today that you won't believe how many you know. Also the dancing will replay in your head for days and days. 9/10.

Total Score: 41/50

Boy's Town: Norman Taurog
Genre- Bio pick - the interesting true story of the life of Father Flannigan an American Catholic priest who starts a town for children run by children. 6/10
Characters- While Mickey Rooney blew me away with his charisma and acting chops the rest of the characters including Spencer Tracy's Flannigan seem all too saintly to be real. 4/10
Mood Theme Ambience - There is an interesting interplay between hope and doom that lives within each boy and ties together many of the characteristics of the Catholic faith. 5/10
Inventiveness - Taurog writes the script on how to get the most out of child actors. Give them lots of screen time doing action stunts and slapstick but let the adults do the heavy hitting emotionally. 6/10
Film Quality - I wouldn't say there were many magical moments in this film but I would definatly say that the story was centered and direct to its point. 5/10
Total Score: 26/40

In the Heat of the Night: Jewison
Genre: Crime Drama- Cleary takes the genre to a new level making dramatic statements about race, culture, and common humanity all the while interweaving a well put together crime tale: 9/10
Chracters - While Sidney Poitier would begin to be criticized for always playing a perfectly ideal black male his Det Tibbs comes across as angry but lovebale. Rod Steiger plays a near perfect southern sherrif and the rest of the cast fits well 8/10
Mood Ambience Theme - So much of the story is told through what is not said but implied and in todays less overtly racist time i feel like i missed a lot of it. One scene that highlights the mood well is when Poitier states he'll get a room at a motel only to have a local black family laugh as they carry his bags inside. 7/10
Inventiveness - A black man had never struck a white man on screen before this film and wouldn't have if they had followed the original script. Between Jewison and Poitier they worked one of the most racially charged moments of this or any film in possibly the most racially charged time in American History. 8/10
Film Quality - Movie moments abound in this film showing Jewison's range. 8/10
Total: 40/50

Pardners: Norman Taurog
Genre- Comedy - a film that easily highlights the slapstick commedy of Martin and Lewis. but is often too smooth and too polished. 5/10
Characters- the duo each play two characters both a father and a son but to say that the characters are over the top in an understatement 4/10
Mood Ambience Theme- An anti government moral message about the wild west with a bit to say about the nature of being partners 4/10
Inventivness- How Lewis can pull off that many falls and stunts in such long takes is amazing. Nothing else really stands out 3/10
Film Quality- The pair seems to be having a great time together. but the overall film comes off a bit too polished. 4/10
Total: 20/50

Average Jewison: 40.5/50
Average Taurog: 23/50

And my winner for this round is Norman Jewison.