I remember Turner Classic Movies' Robert Osborne once talking about films made pre WWII versus post war. He mentioned that sound films prewar were largely dealing with an American audience that had not traveled outside of the USA for many reasons - the Depression made the cost insurmountable for most, then came the war when hostilities made it impossible. Also, before the late 40s, to travel to foreign lands was mainly a long excursion by boat. Too expensive and too time consuming for working people. But then peace came to the world and prosperity to the USA and Americans could explore the world using the speedier method of air travel. They would never settle for fake exterior art design of places they had actually seen. They would laugh at it.
So I think this film won the Academy Award and was even popular at the time because it is like so many James FItzpatrick Traveltalks shorts strung together with beautiful cinematography of places either Americans had just recently seen or wanted to see in person at some time.
The loads of cameos had been done before, and although David Niven is a delight this film is just too long and the travelogue experience is just not enough to hold a modern audience's interest. Today it seems like one of the more ponderous best picture decisions, much like 1933's Cavalcade. I give it 5/10 for the cinematography, art design, and skill of the main actors.
So I think this film won the Academy Award and was even popular at the time because it is like so many James FItzpatrick Traveltalks shorts strung together with beautiful cinematography of places either Americans had just recently seen or wanted to see in person at some time.
The loads of cameos had been done before, and although David Niven is a delight this film is just too long and the travelogue experience is just not enough to hold a modern audience's interest. Today it seems like one of the more ponderous best picture decisions, much like 1933's Cavalcade. I give it 5/10 for the cinematography, art design, and skill of the main actors.