Many of the films at 1995's 15th annual Jewish Film Festival reflected on the pioneering spirit necessary for survival over the long haul. The selections dated back as far as 1918 when a 24-year-old Polish actress named Pola Negri made Victor Janson's The Yellow Ticket in Warsaw. Her character wants to make medicine her life, but the only way the fledgling actress can afford to do th…
Director Fritz Lang escaped Nazi Germany in the nick of time, leaving behind his considerable fortune. Upon his arrival in America, he immediately addressed OUR social problems on film, starting with Fury’s exploration of public lynchings. A lesser-known film, but in many ways, far more uncompromising, is 1937's You Only Live Once, made for independent producer Walter Wanger. Both Fu…
Young and Innocent turns up so often in scratched and dupey prints on public domain channels that it's easy to under-appreciate what a gem it is. For starters, there's Erica, a wonderful teen heroine (Nova Pilbeam), who trusts her own instincts and relies on her resources to save Robert, a suspected killer (handsome Derrick DeMarney). Then there's t…