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The 1940s were marked by World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history. The end of the war signified a change in the political alignment and social structure of the globe. The Marshall Plan helped rebuild war-torn Europe, while the United States became the most influential economic power in the world. Germany was divided in two, and the Cold War began. The State of Israel was established, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, and Chairman Mao founded the People's Republic of China. Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania developed the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, and Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven. American troops of the 1st Infantry Division landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944). Glen Beck and the ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose digital computer (ca. 1947). Mahatma Gandhi, assassinated on January 30, 1948. Mao Zedong proclaiming the establishment of the People's Republic of China (October 1, 1949).   World War I...

I have always wanted to do a «monthly favourites» type of post on this blog, but I kept putting it off some reason or the other — until this year. I will be doing one of these every month (or every two months) and I will include literally everything that I have loved or that has made me happy during that time, be it a film, a song, a book, a TV show or even an item of clothing. These are my July and August favourites. As you will notice, it's quite an eclectic mix. 1. God's Own Country (2017) I'm not sure how I ever came across this film, but I'm so glad I did because it is absolutely stunning. It's about a young sheep farmer in Yorkshire whose life is transformed by the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker. It doesn't sound like much, but trust me, it's a really beautiful film. The two leads, Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu, are pure perfection, the cinematography is gorgeous, and Francis Lee's direction and writing are flawless. All of th...

Directed by John Cromwell, Since You Went Away (1944) is set in 1943 and tells the story of Anne Hilton (Claudette Colbert), an upper-middle-class housewife with two teenage daughters, Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget «Brig» (Shirley Temple). After Anne's husband, Tim, enlists in the U.S. Army, the family must make sacrifices for the war effort, including food rationing, giving up the services of their maid, Fidelia (Hattie McDaniel), who is still willing to keep on working for free, and taking in a boarder, the retired Colonel William G. Smollett (Monty Woolley). In contrast, their cynical socialite neighbour, Emily Hawkins (Agnes Moorehead), complains about the inconveniences caused by the war and criticizes the Hiltons' efforts and patriotism. Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple in Since You Went Away .   In the meantime, an old friend of the Hiltons, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Tony Willett (Joseph Cotten), visits the family while awaiting his orders. Jane soon...