no jokers - you'll see

Four historicals (of quite different types) and one wretched nightmare. There are a couple of really magnificent films in here—check them out!

A Day in October (1991) - "This story, based on fact, is about the movement of Danish Jews out of Denmark to neutral Sweden in the 1940s. It focuses on a single family and tells of their involvement with the underground and of their own, initially reluctant, participation in sabotaging a munitions plant, and of the daughter's affection for one of the movement's leaders."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: neutrality, y'know
IMDB: 6.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 29%

visuals: not bad
costumes, hair & makeup: typical of the genre, nothing that stood out as anachronistic nor particularly well done
acting: disclosure—I quite like D.B. Sweeney, for reasons that I cannot really understand. Maybe because he so resembles my favorite boss? Regardless, I have a soft spot for him despite his sometimes sketchy skills. How we're supposed to buy him as a Danish Jew with absolutely no attempt at an accent or European manners is beyond me, though. 

intangibles: this plays like a Saturday afternoon TV movie. If you can get past the obviousness, there are some touching moments and the history is valid. It is worth seeing, just not worth crowing about.
overall: recommended

A Letter to Three Wives (1949) - "A letter is addressed to three wives from their 'best friend' Addie Ross, announcing that she is running away with one of their husbands—but she does not say which one."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I was in the mood for an older film
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 94% Audience: 86%

notable quote: "Maybe I'm a fool. Maybe you're the biggest fool in the world."
story: how modern it is! A redhead, a blond and a brunette each get on a boat for the local kids' day out. As they're shoving off, a messenger arrives with a message addressed to the three of them: the fourth of their "friend group" is running away with one of their husbands. Most of the film, in flashback style, details the hopes and fears each has for her marriage.
costumes, hair & makeup: the characters have unique personalities, and their style of dress and hair reflects their persona so well—the working woman, the glamor-puss, and the home-body
acting: this is an extraordinary cast, wonderful from top to bottom. I particularly liked Jeanne Crain (Deborah Bishop), Linda Darnell (Lora Mae Hollingsway) and especially Paul Douglas (Porter Hollingsway)

intangibles: this film goes in a lot of directions and comes back neatly in the end, but nowhere near where I expected it to. I thought it was fantastic.
Academy Award winner:
• Best Director—Joseph Mankiewicz

• Best Writing, Screenplay—Mankiewicz
Academy Award nominee: Best Picture
overall: highly recommended

Boys (1996) - "Patty Vare falls off a horse and is found unconscious by preparatory school student John Baker. He takes her to his dormitory. As he quickly discovers, she is hiding something. For John this becomes a road to maturity, and for Patty it's a way back to love and tenderness."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I didn't have a lot of time and it was short
IMDB: 5.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 15% Audience: 26%

notable quote: "I knew this would happen."
story: all of the male characters are named John. That's all you need to know.
costumes, hair & makeup: boys' prep school and Winona Ryder in the 90s. Whatever you're imagining, it's got to be pretty close.
acting: none. 

intangibles: not sure what the point of this was. Mystery? Comedy? Drama? Coming of age? Sex romp? Cautionary tale? Disaster flick? Whatever it was supposed to be, it failed on every level and then some.
overall: not at all recommended

Escape from Alcatraz (1979) - "Alcatraz is the most secure prison of its time. It is believed that no one can ever escape from it, until three daring men make a possible successful attempt at escaping from one of the most infamous prisons in the world."

Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I think I'd seen it before, but it would have been decades ago
IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 96% Audience: 85%

notable quote: "Some cowboy piece of shit."
story: an absolute classic, there are elements of this in so many great movies, it's hard to even identify them. The Shawshank Redemption obviously owes a lot to it. Gangster films. Prison films. Gang films. 
visuals: terrific shots, great lighting, and realistic effects
acting: Clint Eastwood is very good as Frank Morris. I was also drawn to Paul Benjamin's performance as English.

intangibles: on one level this is a simple, workmanlike movie. On a deeper level, though, it's about freedom, determination, power, planning, camaraderie, architecture, geography.... 
overall: recommended

Four Faces West (1948) - "In New Mexico, a cowpoke forces a banker at gunpoint to give him a loan without collateral, in exchange for an I.O.U., but the marshal and his posse chase after him."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I'd never seen a Joel McCrea movie before
IMDB: 7.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 67%

notable quote: "Isn't it strange how everything worthwhile in life is made possible only by sacrifices?"
story: another straightforward film that is something vastly different under the surface. 
visuals: extremely well done, particularly the scenes with horses. McCrea (Ross McEwen) was clearly a wonderful rider, as there were many uncut shots showcasing his talent. 
costumes, hair & makeup: Frances Dee (Fay Hollister) was a stunning woman, and this film let her shine. 
acting: McCrea and Dee had real chemistry. This Western is tense, action-packed, occasionally funny, and builds to a wonderful dramatic and profoundly sweet ending.

intangibles: I think this movie is marvelous—so much more than it seemed from the description!
overall: very highly recommended

[the title quotation is from A Letter to Three Wives]