Back to Golden Days

The 1930s were a decade of great political and economic turmoil. After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the entire world was consumed by an economic downfall called the Great Depression, which led to widespread unemployment and poverty. As a result, authoritarian political movements emerged in several countries in South America and Europe. Notorious among them was Adolf Hitler's Third Reich in Germany, whose expansionist policy resulted in the outbreak of World War II a few months before the end of the decade. In between, Gandhi walked to the Arabian Sea in the Salt March, a civil war established an authoritarian dictatorship in Spain, the Hindenburg exploded over New Jersey, Amelia Earhart became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and the Empire of Japan invaded China. (from left to right) Gandhi and his followers during the Salt March (March-April 1930); Japanese troops entering Manchuria (September 1931); the Hindenburg disaster (May 1937); German troo...

I never rank my favourite things, mostly because I change my mind faster than you can say Jack Robinson. But since I have recently watched all the films James Stewart made in the 1930s, I thought I would try and organize them in a top 10 of my favourite ones. This is what I came up with. Do not ask me to do this again tomorrow, because my choices will most likely be completely different.   10. Navy Blue and Gold (1937) In this sports/military drama directed by Sam Wood, Jimmy played John «Truck» Cross, a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy determined to defend the sullied reputation of his father, a former captain who was court-martialed and dismissed from the service after being unfairly accused of a breach of duty. Robert Young and Tom Brown co-star as Jimmy's roommates and fellow varsity football players, Florence Rice as his love interest, and Lionel Barrymore as the academy's former football coach.    Although Navy Blue and Gold was popular at the box-o...