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Lot in Sodom

Play trailer Lot in Sodom 1933 28m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
An angel urges a pious man and his family to flee a sinful city.

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 01/22/2024
The directors have made great headway in the evolution of a style, of a manner of statement peculiar to their own medium: what is more important, they have got something to use it for, something to say. Go to Full Review
Norman Wilson Cinema Quarterly 02/03/2021
As an achievement in film poetics Lot in Sodom is scarcely a milestone, but it is at least a signpost to a road which independent producers might profitably explore. Go to Full Review
Marianne Moore Close Up 01/20/2021
Lot in Sodom, derived from the Book of Genesis -- and not a talkie -- is the best art film I have seen. Go to Full Review
Herman G. Weinberg Close Up 01/20/2021
I have never seen light manipulated so eloquently as in these expressive lights and shadows which sometime form men or fragments of a body, sometime coagulate into flowers or break up their particles into water. Go to Full Review
William Troy The Nation 11/24/2020
Here is a picture whose effect is qualitatively different from the effect produced on us by any other art-form to which we may have responded. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 12/15/2008
B
The biblical narrative is presented as a wannabe ballet gone amok. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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02/08/2014 The United States was the principal heir of the avant-garde film movement of Europe. With this in mind, it is important to understand that any adaptation to film represents an artistic decision, where there is always some degree of personal freedom. It is recommendable to read the first 26 verses of the 19th chapter of the Book of Genesis, as the short film stops right in the fate of Lot's wife. Sodom was an extremely prosperous city, with a prosperous geographical location that allowed for commerce and trade, "but the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly". However, the film only focuses on the last hours of life of the city; therefore, it is not supposed to be a loyal representation of its prosperity, and it dramatizes its perverted deviations to make a compelling collage with interesting views on sex and violence. Obviously, I am appreciating this from a cinematic perspective, and not in terms of historical accuracy (also, please let's omit the debate of Biblical vs. historical facts, as I believe and know that the Bible is God's Word, but that should not unleash an unnecessary argument between us). This adaptation stays away from the conservative censorship standards that were so strong by the time and constructs a spectacular visual amalgamation of French avant-garde techniques and German Expressionism remnants - especially if we consider Murnau's vision in his silent Goethe adaptation - to showcase impressive visuals thanks to the opportunity given to us viewers of having a metaphysical and omniscient clairvoyance. A marvelous use of lightning illuminates the dark attrezzo and highlights the sequences that symbolize something. It is a must for any film enthusiast, and especially for those seeking proof that the U.S.A. was also an important author of relevant pieces of experimentation. For some reason, its structure and power of delivery reminded me of Kenneth Anger's otherwordly theater, art and literature compilation, <i>Inauguration of Pleasure Dome</i> (1954). 99/100 See more 01/09/2012 Stunning film-making for any era! See more 05/30/2011 A bizarre mostly-silent film, seemingly filmed through a kaleidoscope through much of the movie. A shocking amount of nudity (with vital parts hidden in shadow) for 1933. Assumes a thorough knowledge of the story of Sodom, and is hard to follow even with a familiarity. See more 01/29/2011 A surrealistic and bizzare American Expressionist Movie and the best Biblic Adaption i ever saw See more 09/23/2009 Pretty bizarro stuff for a biblical story. Can't say I really liked it, but it's not too bad. See more 08/20/2008 the visual effects are great. See more Read all reviews
Lot in Sodom

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Movie Info

Synopsis An angel urges a pious man and his family to flee a sinful city.
Director
James Sibley Watson, Melville Webber
Producer
James Sibley Watson, Melville Webber, Alec Wilder, Bernard O'Brien, Remsen Wood
Genre
Drama
Runtime
28m