Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1261. This Land Is Mine (1943)

    1261. This Land Is Mine (1943)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on February 21, 2016 100-109 mins, 1943, 6 - 7.9, Drama, Movies Of 2016, Review, United States
    6.3 Gets too bogged down
    • Acting 6.6
    • Directing 6.4
    • Story 6.0
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, George Sanders

    Director: Jean Renoir

    Running Time: 103 mins


    This Land Is Mine is an American film about a cowardly schoolteacher in a small town somewhere in Europe that has been invaded by the Nazis at the height of World War Two. However, he becomes more courageous as he learns of the great injustices that are plaguing his town.

    It’s always difficult to get through classic propaganda films nowadays. They’ve got the stars, and they’re all well-made, but the message more often than not overpowers the actual story in the film. Unfortunately, This Land Is Mine suffers from the same problem. Despite having its moments, it ultimately suffers from an undramatic and overlong final act that simply focusses far too much on its message to make a compelling watch.

    On the plus side, the performances aren’t half bad. Again, in propaganda films, a higher level of hyperbole is needed to deliver the message and rally the audience in the cinema, which can be a bit jarring from time to time, however Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, George Sanders and others all do their best to inject some greater emotion into the story.

    What’s more is that the directing is pretty good. It’s nothing exceptional, but thanks to the impressive sets, and Renoir’s direction, this is a nice film to look at, managing to appear a lot less theatrical than many other propaganda films of the time, with simpler cuts and camera angles that make it at least pleasant to watch.

    And the story does have its moments. They mainly come in the first act, when the film revolves more around the townspeople’s resistance against the Nazis, but I was generally engaged in the film at the beginning.

    The real problem comes about an hour in, when it all suddenly turns violently towards blatant propaganda. Prior to that, there are of course mentions of the main message of never giving into fascist oppression, but it never overpowers the characters’ own relationships and story.

    I’m not entirely sure how long it was, but it felt as if the final act, which centres around Charles Laughton giving a rousing speech about justice and freedom, went on and on and on, failing to add to the emotional power of the character’s situation because it simply felt like a lecture.

    Overall, This Land Is Mine isn’t a completely dull film, and it does have its moments in its first act, and its performances and directing help to make it a little more compelling, but it really falls short with a preachy final act that just doesn’t captivate you at all.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.0
    Review
    February 16, 20180

    2057. Ingrid Goes West (2017)

    8.9
    Review
    September 21, 20130

    291. Run Lola Run (1998)

    8.2
    Review
    September 16, 20130

    286. King Kong (1933)

    8.0
    Review
    March 30, 20130

    104. Trainspotting (1996)

    8.1
    Review
    March 29, 20200

    2903. Sisters (1972)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.