Dante's Inferno

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Steve D I found it all rather cheesy. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/05/24 Full Review Ken R Dante's Inferno – An Early Morality Tale Inspired by the Alighieri Classic. Those not understanding the extreme limitations that makers of film spectaculars had to endure in the early 30s won't understand the raves for this astounding production. American-born Harry B. Lachman, who in his early 20s emigrated to Paris and became a much-lauded impressionist painter (awarded the Légion d'Honneur by the French government) When he returned to America he was sought after as a set designer and director. For this picture, he was teamed with talented Hungarian-born cinematographer Rudolf Mate (Dodsworth '36 - who 12 years later would turn to directing). What these artists do with massive sets and models merged with eye-popping photography is little short of breathtaking. Without the likes of CGI, they had to create and work with giant sets, with high numbers of extras working in dangerous situations, and come out looking as believable as the times would permit. The end result is quite exceptional. Sound was still in its early days so some levels were a challenge. Performances from a young Spencer Tracy and lovely Clair Trevor are very good considering the material they are working with – veteran performer Henry Walthall (of D.W.Grifith fame) supplies fine support as Pop, the owner of the ‘Inferno' sideshow attraction. Prolific veteran composer (sadly too often uncredited) Reginald Hazeltine Basset (David Copperfield '35) supplies the vast score. This is one to enjoy for its inventive use of visuals and all the challenges that early filmmakers had to overcome. It's now a little-known vintage winner that should be seen by all motion picture devotees. It's the last film produced by the Fox Corporation before the merger with 20th Century and there are nice remastered discs available Note: some content will be regarded as politically incorrect nowdays. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty run of the mill stuff here. Not bad though. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A strange film which is about ninety-five percent ordinary but which features a five-minute scene depicting Hell which is so haunting and so artistic that it needs to be seen to be believed. The story uses the messages from Dante's classic epic poem "Inferno" to weave a tale of a man gone astray for the sake of wealth and success. That man, Jim Carter, is played by Spencer Tracy, and the movie opens to his being fired from the crew of a cruise ship. From there he stumbles across a carnival and, after failing as a carny in a ame tent, finds an old man who operates a small museum which has been decorated in the likeness of Dante's seven circles of Hell. Jim snags a job there after he uses his booming voice to lure people into the previously unattractive exhibit, and before long he is co-owner of the biggest and most rapidly expanding carnival attraction in the world; he also marries the old man's daughter Betty along the way. But before long, greed gets to his head, and a downward spiral ensues. It's a downer of a story, and heavy-handed, but one can't help but snap into attention when the aforementioned "tour of Hell" scene comes on, a visual to accompany the old man's warning in the third act. It is a sequence that stands alone in thirties cinema, clearly influenced not only by the silent expressionism movement in Germany but by some of the great expressionistic painters; its artistic technique and scope are far beyond the movie it is attached to. Tracy gives a good performance, and look for a very young Rita Hayworth in a dance scene on a cruise ship near the end of the film. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Meet the girl who put the knock in knockout Jim Carter unveils a new act after convincing investors that this act will make tons of money. The attraction, Dante's Inferno, is a hit; however, bad luck ensues and the attraction goes up in flames killing numerous patrons. Carter starts a new attraction of a floating casino. Will Carter's bad luck follow him onto the boat? "My old man was a contortionist." Harry Lachman, director of Charlie Chan in Rio, The Castle in the Desert, It Happened in Hollywood, Charlie Chan at the Circus, and Our Relations, delivers Dante's Inferno. The storyline for this picture was fascinating and supposedly taken from true life events that occurred at Coney Island. The story was interesting but not great and the acting was just okay. The cast includes Spencer Tracy, Claire Trevor, and a glimpse at Rita Hayworth. "Well it looks like you'll have to live in comedy the rest of your life..." So I came across this picture while flicking through Turner Classic Movie (TCM) and saw the plot of a circus burning down and the devil being involved and had to see it. I did like aspects of the film but the execution was kind of clumsy and there were some scenes that seemed out of place. I am glad I watched this film but was a bit disappointed. "We make our own heaven or hell...here on Earth." Grade: C Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member A pretty straight forward moral play. Some of the visuals are really cool though and worth the hour and a half investment. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Dante's Inferno

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