Movie spotlight
Time in the Sun
Second attempt to create a feature film out of the 200,000-plus feet of film which Soviet film-maker Sergei Eisenstein shot during 1931-32 in Mexico for American socialist author Upton Sinclair, his wife and a small company of investors. The projected film, to be called "Que Viva Mexico", was never completed due to exhaustion of funds and Stalin's demand that Eisenstein return to the USSR (he had been absent since 1929). The first attempt at editing the footage, in the USA, resulted in "Thunder Over Mexico", released in 1934. In 1940, Marie Seton, from the UK, acquired some of the footage from the Sinclairs in an attempt to make a better cutting according to Eisenstein's skeletal outline for the proposed film. This film has apparently been lost.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary chronicles the efforts of the United States to enter World War II. It showcases the nation's mobilization, industrial capacity, and the spirit of its people as they prepare for global conflict. The film highlights the challenges and determination involved in becoming a major force in the war effort.
Critical Reception
As a propaganda film produced during wartime, 'Time in the Sun' was largely seen as effective in rallying public support and illustrating American resolve. Critical reviews at the time focused on its patriotic message and its comprehensive portrayal of national mobilization, rather than artistic merit.
What Reviewers Say
Effectively conveyed a strong sense of national unity and purpose.
Provided a comprehensive overview of the American war effort's early stages.
Served its primary function as a morale-boosting propaganda piece.
Google audience: Audience reception is difficult to gauge due to the film's age and primary function as wartime propaganda. Contemporary reactions likely focused on its patriotic messaging and informational content regarding the war effort.
Fun Fact
The film was part of a series of documentaries commissioned by the U.S. government to explain the nation's involvement in World War II to the public.
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