1941
WHY I BOUGHT IT
Spoilers for 1941 to follow.
The year is 1979 and director Steven Spielberg had just delivered his one-two punch of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind to the world. The great bearded director had the keys to the kingdom and could make whatever he wanted. And thus 1941 was born. A comedy in the vein of It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World where various groups of Californians, played with real lunacy by an all star cast, (over)react in the days following the bombing of Pearl Harbor(!).
Right off the bat, I think it’s important to say that 1941 is one of Spielberg’s sloppiest movies. The pacing is a little slow for a comedy, certain scenes drag on for far too long, some of the films more risqué humor has not aged well and frankly there are just too many damn characters to follow. In short, 1941 is Spielberg unhinged, giving in to every little whim and desire that tickled his fancy. It’s because of this that 1941 also happens to be one of the most fascinating blips in the bearded one’s career.
Like I said, Spielberg was on cloud 9 when he made this film, and so he recruited the biggest stars of the time, old and new alike, to join him. Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Christopher Lee, Tim Matheson, Toshiro Mifune, Warren Oates, Robert Stack, Treat Williams, Nancy Allen, Slim Pickens, Ned Beatty, John Candy as well as bit parts from Penny Marshall and Broadway legend Patti LuPone. For added context, Animal House had just come out the year before, and The Blues Brothers would follow a year later, so you can see how a Steven Spielberg comedy starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi had lofty expectations.
Anywho, Spielberg threw everything he could and the kitchen sink too at the picture. He had a giant budget (for the time) and it shows. 1941 is filled with beautiful miniature work, amazing sets and stunt filled humor that would make Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton jealous.
So yes, this movie is a mess. The theatrical cut (which is what I watched and would recommend you do the same if you’re so inclined) runs just under two hours and could easily stand to lose at least 20 minutes. So then, why did I buy this movie? Well, like I talked about in my A.I. entry, Spielberg simply can’t make a bad film, and 1941 is nowhere near bad. In fact, I couldn’t help but have a big ol’ damn smile on my face the entire runtime of the movie. The humor is from a different time for sure, but I think even if you’re remotely aware of the vibe and tone Spielberg is going for, then there is enjoyment to be had. And as I mentioned, it’s a joy to watch all the incredible practical effects and stunt work on display. and the entire legendary cast is 100% game for what The Beard asks of them, and even if their plot line doesn’t quite work, it’s still a blast to see them go for broke for the sake of a joke.
I can certainly see how at the time of its release 1941 was considered disappointing, but 40 years of hindsight and proper expectations make the picture an incredible oddity in Spielberg’s career, and I think even the most casual Spielberg fan can find something to enjoy.
FUN FACT ALERT
Both Jaws and Close Encounters very famously went over budget and over schedule, but because of the enormous success of both films, the studios figured The Beard could do no wrong, and so they essentially gave him a blank check for 1941. However, the movie greatly underperformed against expectations. The movie had a budget of $35 million (a hefty sum at the time) and grossed only $31 million domestically and $90 million worldwide, both of which were a fraction of the director’s previous two films. Spielberg felt the sting hard, and he insisted on slashing the budget of his next film, a little picture called Raiders of the Lost Ark. So without the failure of 1941 to fuel Spielberg on, we may never have gotten the perfection of that first Indiana Jones adventure.