One, Two, Three : I found it boring

I found it boring

I love Billy Wilder, James Cagney and screwball comedies. One of my favorite movies is, I think, the definitive comedy of them all: Bringing Up Baby because every joke builds the next scene. I was looking forward to this because it seemed to be in the tradition of Bringing Up Baby in it's insanity. Yet, I didn't find it that insane or funny. The pacing seemed slow, I don't understand what was so funny about the daughter marrying a communist or the secretary that keeps clicking his heels, or any of the other elements in this movie. What was the joke?

Re: I found it boring

Gotta remember the context - 1961 - height of the Cold War. Very tense times politically. WWII had ended just 15 years earlier. Berlin was a city divided into East and West, but sat in the Russian Zone of German occupation. Everyone in Germany was trying to forget that Hitler had ever existed. Every heel click was an painfully unwelcome reminder of Nazi militarism, the SS and the Gestapo. The marriage between the daughter of the president of Coca Cola - THE symbol of American Corporate Imperial Capitalism - to a dogmatic penniless communist was unthinkable and the ultimate mixed marriage (politically speaking) since the communists had vowed to destroy the West and each side had nuclear missiles pointing at each other. The slightest hiccup between these two diametrically opposed political philosophies who severely distrusted each other could have produced nuclear devastation of the planet. More importantly to the plot, McNamara will lose everything he has (job, pension) if his boss's daughter goes over to the commies. But she is such a bubble head, she doesn't even know the lifestyle difference she is in for once she marries Otto and moves to Moscow, nor does she care - to her, love is all that matters. The whole movie is one huge humorous indictment of cold war fear and paranoia (on both sides), and it is clever and quickly paced. It also shows how the Russians all really loved the benefits of capitalism despite the shrill cries of damnation. They all want to defect to the West and become millionaires. They will step over each other to accomplish the dream. It also shows that McNamara, a devoted capitalist will do business with the communists, even though he mocks their economic model. There is just so much subtext that rises from the times. If you didn't grow up during the Cold War era, it might be lost in translation.

Re: I found it boring

Completely agree that you have to remember the context, but that doesn't stop it being boring. It wasn't funny then and it isn't now. If this is an accurate reflection of contemporary American attitudes, it is something to be embarrassed about, not to revel in. The portrayal of women, the simplistic attitude to communism, the grotesque caricatures of Soviet officials and Germans made me squirm.

Re: I found it boring

The three main female characters were portrayed as strong women, in charge of their own lives.

You may have found the Communist characters, and the attitude towards Communism, to be "simplistic" - but they were also *accurate* for the times. Communism is/was a terrible thing, not to be admired, and target-rich for satire and teasing.

Re: I found it boring


The pacing seemed slow
I want some of the drugs you're on.


Psychic Fair Canceled Due To Unforeseen Circumstances

Re: I found it boring

Me toooooooooooooooooo

Re: I found it boring

It was anything but slow but I wish it was. Despite a typically brilliant Cagney performance this was better suited to the stage than screen. There are countless better Wilder films out there than this.

Re: I found it boring

^^this

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

Re: I found it boring

You're right. Watched the DVD with an american actor (rather famous btw.) anyways, he was sunned. Said, nobody could play at this speed today as Cagney did.


Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes!

Re: I found it boring

He was sunned? You watched this movie with George Hamilton?

Re: I found it boring

I found it fascinating but exhausting. Some scenes are funny while otheres (years after the end of the cold war) are obvious propaganda. No wonder the film made little money when first released in Germany.

Laura Ess

Re: I found it boring

I can't disagree more with the OP. I still think the movie is brilliant, fast paced and wonderful. Sure, there are some lame jokes and moments (Red Buttons scene was superfluous and silly).... but on the whole, it's one of my favorite movies ever.

Re: I found it boring

Fair enough. You should post this to the OP as well, or they'll never read it.

Laura Ess

Re: I found it boring

A lot of the humor is political humor, so you have to know your history or you won't get it. Try again in a few years.

Re: I found it boring

It's a shame you didn't like the film or understand the jokes. I find it one of the very few films I find really funny. Unfortunately jokes cannot be translated and any attempt to do so causes them to lose any 'funniness' that they ever possessed. I too liked 'Bringing up Baby' but to me it was not a patch on this film. Perhaps having been to Berlin in the last days of 'The Wall' helps me to appreciate it even more.

Re: I found it boring

I understand the jokes. They were juvenile, jingoistic cheap shots typical of the mentality of the period. The only really funny one was the Commies torturing Otto by playing Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini over and over until he cracked. The pacing reminded me of a Keystone Kops movie that was undercranked when it was shot so it would look speeded up when it was played back. Unlike a Foreign Affair, Wilder's previous look at Berlin from the American viewpoint, One, Two, Three was completely lacking in subtlety.
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