Undoubtedly, this is one of Spielberg's most personal productions. When I say 'personal,' I mean a film that the director has made taking into account his own interests in World War II history (which he later demonstrated his ability to magnificently portray in the movie 'Saving Private Ryan'), his love for Los Angeles and Hollywood. The movie is a grand jest, created without sparing any economic or technical means, where Spielberg's most outlandish ideas find their place in his imagination.
Technically, it's undoubtedly a magnificent film, with incredible sequences for its time. Narratively, apart from the visual gags, it's quite a simple movie filled with absurd situations, a comedy of the utmost absurdity.
It undoubtedly reminds me of Richard Lester's 1967 film titled 'How I Won the War,' with John Lennon's presence as a supporting actor. Spielberg has surely been inspired by this eccentric English production, although I believe it doesn't reach the level of subtle British humor. Spielberg's film is actually more based on the display of technical means than on dialogues.
'1941' is a very difficult film to evaluate because within it, we recognize Spielberg's great professionalism, although the overall result is not considered masterful by many critics. In fact, many consider it Spielberg's worst movie.
Another parallel that can be drawn is between Spielberg and Kubrick. Both first made a war-themed movie with a result that, according to general opinion, was not very successful. Then, both directed war movies that are considered masterpieces of the genre.
Kubrick first directed a strange and inconsistent 'Fear and Desire' in 1952, his very first feature film, only to direct the masterful 'Full Metal Jacket' nineteen years later in 1971. The same nineteen years that passed between '1941' and Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan'
Technically, it's undoubtedly a magnificent film, with incredible sequences for its time. Narratively, apart from the visual gags, it's quite a simple movie filled with absurd situations, a comedy of the utmost absurdity.
It undoubtedly reminds me of Richard Lester's 1967 film titled 'How I Won the War,' with John Lennon's presence as a supporting actor. Spielberg has surely been inspired by this eccentric English production, although I believe it doesn't reach the level of subtle British humor. Spielberg's film is actually more based on the display of technical means than on dialogues.
'1941' is a very difficult film to evaluate because within it, we recognize Spielberg's great professionalism, although the overall result is not considered masterful by many critics. In fact, many consider it Spielberg's worst movie.
Another parallel that can be drawn is between Spielberg and Kubrick. Both first made a war-themed movie with a result that, according to general opinion, was not very successful. Then, both directed war movies that are considered masterpieces of the genre.
Kubrick first directed a strange and inconsistent 'Fear and Desire' in 1952, his very first feature film, only to direct the masterful 'Full Metal Jacket' nineteen years later in 1971. The same nineteen years that passed between '1941' and Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan'