MovieChat Forums > 1941 (1979) Discussion > This flick is soo underrated

This flick is soo underrated

posted 9 years ago by pequaboy
10 replies | jump to latest

Everything about this was over-the-top, as it was intended to be. From the absurd storyline to the mental and physical action/reaction of the characters. Even as it was filmed during the heyday of SNL, nobody was really formally charged as the "Star" of '1941'. Belushi played a relatively small role and Aykroyd was a bit out of character in comparison to his regular self. It was the smaller characters who actually made this the hilarious escapade it turned out to be. The likes of Eddie Deezen matched with an unrecognizable Murray Hamilton or Lorraine Gary as Ned Beatty's wife, Slim Pickens, Joe Flaherty, our beloved late great John Candy and even John Landis contributed to the fantastic farce that is '1941'! In my opinion (which in my opinion is the only opinion that counts by me), this is one of Spielberg's shiniest films. I know most people will argue that statement, but that's Spielberg's job as a director, to shine. He shines in practically everything he does (tho not in my opinion, but that's my opinion and my opinion is the only opinion that counts to me). But hey, this post isn't about Spielberg, it's about glorifying '1941'.

And lest we not forget the candy that is Nancy Allen

"WARD DOUGLAS, DON'T YOU DARE FIRE THAT GUN IN THIS HOUSE!"

"A naked American man stole my balloons"
An American Werewolf In London

[–] plowe70 9 years ago

It's one of my all time favorite movies.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I still watch it every Christmas. Wish it were more widely known

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

It looks amazing on Bluray. Hope for an even better edition on 4K one day

[–] smoey23 9 years ago

Never understood all the negative things I heard about it. Always loved it. Many great scenes and memorable quotes.

[–] metatron1970 9 years ago

I saw it when it came out in '79 to a practically empty theatre. It had things about it that I thought were dazzling as a child--the special effects and that "fog of memory" cinematography really stood out. As a comedy, it isn't great, but it contains some fascinating visual gags. The ridiculous Slim Pickens scenes were perhaps the most hilarious (it's too bad the character disappears), and Eddie Deezen and Murray Hamilton score laughs in their scenes on the ferris wheel. The jitterbug sequence that climaxes in a brawl is one of the most amazing sequences in any Spielberg film. This is a film I watch, appropriately, every Christmas (usually on December 13th). This year I look forward to watching it for the first time on Bluray which should be a vast improvement over the earlier DVD. I'm glad the Bluray also contains both the original version I remembered as a child and the extended cut.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

This should be on TV every Christmas.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I agree with that. The film takes place at Christmastime and was released then also in '79. I watch it every Christmas.

[–] PaladinNJ (21513) 5 years ago

I thought it was hysterical.

[–] diezman (2104) 3 years ago

I saw this movie in the cinema when I was 13 years old. I thought it was hilarious in 1979 and I find it just as funny today!

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I wish TCM and similar channels and streaming services will start showing it every Christmas. Fans of the early Spielberg should find quite a lot to recommend it. The HBO doc "Spielberg" mentioned it only in passing as a huge flop, but Spielberg knows there's a substantial cult behind the film. The "Making of 1941" doc is one of the best I've ever seen.