University of Virginia Library

Fail To See Trees

Once again The Cavalier Daily
has chosen as its film reviewer a
man fitting to the film reviewed.
In the case of "How I Won The
War," both film and critic show a
notable absence of artistic and aesthetic
insight.

Mr. Shipp, in his February 13
criticism, has failed to separate
the technical and dramatic
elements of the film from its anti-war-message.
It is not enough to
agree with a movie's theme; one
might as well become enraged at
war by a sympathetically presented
CBS newsreel. No, to be a critical
success a movie must have a clearly
defined existence as art-and
it is this aspect, the soul of the
picture, in which "How I Won
the War" is woefully lacking.

Despite the fact that many characters
in the flick are excellently
stereotyped (Goodbody's first
commander, the artistically inclined
German general), that Britain's
old imperial slogans of war
("England's wars are won on the
playing fields of Eton") are subjected
to probing satire, and that
there are occasional hilarious
moments, "How I Won the War"
does not attain the consistently
high quality and the feeling of
rapport which set all good films
apart. At times the dialogue is
not only incoherent but also unintelligible,
and there are large and
glaring swatches of boredom which
give the viewer the distinct impression
that the film is too long by
half its length.

Director Lester could see the
trees, but missed the forest; Reviewer
Shipp failed almost to see
the trees.