Three Classic Films: On Golden Pond, The Children's Hour, and Where Eagles Dare - Review

Today I wanted to discuss three films which can all roughly be described as classics. Two of these films I enjoyed a great deal while the other I had some problems with. Lets begin.

On Golden Pond (1981)

This is a phenomenal movie with incredible acting and an intricate script which never failed to satisfy the viewer with its rich characters and convincing plot.

Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn more than deserved their Oscars for their incredible work here. Henry Fonda brought authenticity to the role of an aging man who criticized those around him to protect his own insecurities about his age and fears that his life has gone awry. Thus, Fonda continues to search for a job in the movie reflective of his quest to find meaning in his life. With these character traits Fonda only shows his vulnerabilities to his wife as shown in one scene where he hides that he got lost in the woods while the mailman is talking to his wife and does not reveal this information until he is alone with her.

As Fonda befriends the young boy his daughter has left with him for the summer we see their relationship build from one of a shared dislike of others and a similar interest in biting comments to one of mutual respect and compassion.

The child learns to enjoy a life in nature while Fonda comes to see that it is okay to show your vulnerabilities to others in order to build an honest relationship instead of one incased behind walls of mistruth and defensive posturing.

Katherine Hepburn plays the eternal optimist who wishes for life to be better as shown when she implored her daughter to find common ground with her dad without truly unpacking the nuances of this and instead simply relies on her wishful thinking to accomplish her goal.

It is not until Henry Fonda nearly dies toward the film’s end that Hepburn is awaken to the true nature of her reality and must accept their age and circumstance. Only after Fonda learns to open up to others and Hepburn acknowledges the truth do we again hear the loons calling.

Jane Fonda was the one sore spot in this film. While her strained relationship with her dad was alluded to and showcased to perhaps be the result of gender roles she never came across as authentic and served more as a bookending to the film rather than a central player.

Ultimately though the beautiful setting, phenomenal cinematography that captured it, and slow moving but never unconvincing plot made for an exceptional viewing experience. This is a masterpiece that should be talked about more and showered with a never ending whirlwind of praise.

The Children's Hour (1961)

As someone who is not a fan of movies based on plays this one was alright but nothing special. The two stars here are Karen Balkin, who plays the awful girl named Mary, and Shirley MacLaine who is forced to confront a secret she has been keeping.

Audrey Hepburn is good here but MacLaine was simply given more to do and as such outshines her in their scenes together as MacLaine’s character feels more two dimensional in comparison. James Garner is passable here but is largely forgettable.

A dark twist in the third act leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, it’s just a shame that between that and the interesting setup earlier in the film the script offers little to keep the viewer’s attention in between. Good directorial choices such as Mary’s inaudible whisper but no consistent directorial style can be discerned from the entire film.

This is a decent enough film that touches on LGBT themes at a time where they were buried in taboo. A long winded script and slow moving plot do little to maintain the viewer’s attention such hat by the time the climax occurs the viewer is not invested enough to care a great deal.

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

This is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Fast paced film with lots of tension, incredible stunt work, precise direction, beautiful cinematography, and an amazing soundtrack. The entire movie has this grand scope and the incredible James Bond esque plot setup wherein our main characters are sent on a covert mission into hostile territory never felt less than exhilarating.

Clint Eastwood is the star of this picture and as always he is great along with Richard Burton. This is one of those movies where the dialogue is never less than interesting and at any moment a character might slip up and reveal the true motivations compelling them forward and risk being harmed as a result.

The above image shows what I believe is one of the better moments in the film. In this sequence several characters are interrogated about the true nature of their identity and who holds power in this scene changes several times in an exciting display of deduction and intense drama.

The image on the left here showcases one of the best action set pieces in the film where characters fight atop cable cars far above the snowy mountain below. This was an amazing sequence in the movie that far outshines even what most modern blockbusters can accomplish.

There is so much to like about this movie. If you are a fan of cinema you have to watch this movie. There is not one aspect of this movie that is lacking, it is a perfect picture. I cannot recommend it enough.

Here is the trailer for Where Eagles Dare: