The Hurricane

My understanding is that Primo Levi watched this while interned at a Soviet transit camp at Starye Dorogi in the aftermath of World War II. He writes about it in 'The Truce', which I've not read, as he recounts the way in which the film whipped the audience into a frenzy so much so that the troops/guards had to shutdown the screening of the movie before the end. Hence, Levi and company missed the best part, which is the spectacular hurricane finale; a climax of special effects.

This tropical island movie was done by none other then John Ford! Most of the story is about a islander who gets put in jail for 6 months for assault. But honestly.... this part of the story is just an excuse for the climax. The Hurricane! It's a dramatic series of effects put together to look realistic. Impressive! But connecting the story element and the effects was a more forced part of the film. Doesn't quite reach an emotional peak. Jon Hall & Dorothy Lamour, both looking gorgeous!

67.000

The script here is weak--no character development. The real gem of this is the final half-hour, which is one giant effects shot of a hurricane. I love the pace of the editing, which causes the film to linger in this section, making it seem as if the storm will never end, that no one will escape its clutches. There's also a nice sequence just prior between a priest and the island governor. Ford's framing there is exquisite.