The Odd couple 1968

Starring: Jack Lemmon

A fussy divorse-shocked newswriter moves in with his sloppy sportscaster friend, and they get on each other's nerves.

I'm not the greatest fan of Lemmon or Matthau or to that matter Neil Simon. So I wasn't expecting much from this movie. But being contrary, I found myself loving it. Some of the throwaway lines were hilarious and the two leads complemented each other perfectly. The four poker friends were great and you really felt they were all comfortable in each others company and had known each other for years. Finally, the Pigeon sisters were wonderful and utterly hilarious. This will teach me to pre-judge a movie!   8/10

I'd climb the highest mountain 1951

Starring: Susan Hayward

A Methodist preacher and his wife face the problems of life in a remote part of North Georgia

Pleasant enough viewing with likeable characters. The problem was, they were all likeable, there wasn't really any light and shade and I felt the movie could have been a little more hard-hitting in places. It copped out rather as an ending and you never felt that you'd got a full-rounded story. Having said that, it was easy viewing.     5/10

Odette 1950

Starring: Anna Neagle

A Frenchwoman with an English husband spies for the French resistance, is caught and tortured.

Well acted by Anna Neagle with an endearing performance also by Peter Ustinov. Occasionally, this movie hit the mark but I found the pace too slow and it lacked a required despiration and build up of tension.       4/10

Golden earrings 1947

Starring: Ray Milland

A British intelligence officer is helped by a gypsy to sneak a poison gas formula out of Nazi Germany

A mixture of drama and comedy. Ray Milland is dashing and Marlene Dietrich  makes the most of her every moment on screen, she also has the most gorgeous pair of eyes I ever remember seeing. This is just a little bit different and forgetting the fact that the plot is slightly daft, I loved it!
My one criticism, starting the movie in the future removes the element of suspense as you know that Milland's character will come out alive.            8/10

Go for broke 1951

Starring: Van Johnson

World war 2 exploits of Japanese-American soldiers.

Has a semi-documentary element to it as well as being a routine action war movie. The uniqueness of this outfit gives the movie interest and it is presented with a certain lightness that made it likeable.     5/10

 

The Stars look down 1939

Starring: Michael Redgrave

The son of a coal miner struggles to become an MP.

Every now and then I bump into one of these gritty, British, working class dramas. The movie drifted along somewhat with some drama at the beginning and an excellent last 25 minutes. If anything, it needed to be longer, as storylines and relationships were worked on but not built up sufficiently to give the movie additional impact.     5/10

The Man who haunted himself 1970

Starring: Roger Moore

After recovering from a road accident, a staid businessman finds that he has an evil doppelganger who steals his wife and job.

Despite the daft premise, a truely awful performance by Pelham's lover, a bizarre performance by his doctor and a tune that ran through the film that I'll be humming for days, I actually rather enjoyed this. Moore in his prime playing a different kind of role.           9/10

Africa screams 1949

Starring: Abbott & Costello

Two dumbells go on safari with a treasure map

I've always been a bit of a fan of Abbott & Costello. This was one of their better movies for me, a tight plot and although this made me smile, rather than laugh out loud and occasionally the gags went on just a little too long, this was an enjoyable start to Sunday mornings in 2014.      7/10

The Beautiful blonde from Bashful Bend 1949

Starring: Betty Grable

A temperamental saloon entertainer accidentally shoots the sheriff and takes refuge as a schoolmistress.

The opening scene with a 3 year old learning to shoot was disturbing as could be. Once over that, the movie bombed along at a good pace but just tried way too hard to be funny. Most of the humour missed the mark although it was always watchable thanks to the delightful Betty Grable. The twin brothers gave a master class in over-acting that went way, way too far.      5/10 

Paradise Hawaiian style 1965

Starring: Elvis Presley

An amorous airline pilot returns to Hawaii and sets up a helicopter service.

I'm a fan of Elvis films. This is not one of his best with a plot barely worth mentioning and all the songs lacking a little energy, but it's still easy viewing, pleasing on the eye and leaves you with a smile on your face.           5/10

The Cheaters 1945

Starring: Joseph Schildkraut

A selfish and ostentatious family is reformed by the ministrations of a down-and-out actor

In the Christmas selection of an online movie site, it could be done under the trade descriptions act. Other than a lit Christmas tree, some carol singers and vague references to Scrooge, this didn't feel Christmassy at all. Very, very dull.           1/10

Rose of Washington Square 1939

Starring: Alice Faye

Tribulations of a Broadway singer in love with a worthless husband.

The story is instantly forgettable to be the honest,  but the songs aren't bad and there's lots of them. The song and dance routine to the title number 'Rose of Washington square' is spectacular and the movie was worth seeing for this alone.       4/10

Black angel 1946

Starring: Dan Duryea

A drunk sets out to find the murderer of his wife, and finds it was himself.

Thriller with strong lead performances that was made all the more memorable due to a neat twist in the last 15 minutes. Peter Lorre is his usual sinister self despite a woman he was threatening, towering over him.     7/10

Peck's bad boy 1934

Starring: Jackie Cooper

Adventures of a well-intentioned but accident-prone boy in a midwestern town.

Quite a moving little drama of a boy who lives with his widowed father and finds out that he's an orphan when his Aunt and cousin come to stay. Very dated and the bad behaviour in this day and age isn't given a second thought. But Jackie Cooper carries this movie and gives a strong and thought-provoking performance.         7/10

Johnny Angel 1945

Starring: George Raft

A seaman solves the mystery of his father's ship, found empty and adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.

Standard little thriller. It had its moments but never really caught fire. The actors lacked attack and it seemed extremely single-paced for a lot of the movie. Elderly secretary Miss Drumm was the only character of real interest - A nice performance.     3/10

Falling in love again 1980

Starring: Elliott Gould

A middle-aged New Yorker remembers his young romances and his dreams of success.

This starts of in a dreamy kind of way and struggles to get out of first gear. It does have a certain charm though and I did find myself completely wrapped up in the story. Elliott Gould was great and nice to see Michelle Pfeiffer in a very early role. The moral for me in this, despite the happy ending, is that you should never go back.      6/10

Eyes in the night 1942

Starring: Edward Arnold

A blind detective sets out to discover whether a mysterious man engaged to an heiress is really a Nazi spy.

A standrad crime plot is made  a lot more interesting with the lead character being blind. The broken Mother - step-daughter relationship adds another twist. Edward Arnold is really rather good in the lead role & this is a more than watchable little thriller.              7/10

Nocturne 1946

Starring: George Raft

A police detective investigates the death of a c composer.

Standard, was it murder or suicide movie. Some of the plot was acceptable as were a few of the characters. the main problem was that George Raft played the central character with a total lack of charisma and it just resulted in the whole thing being a little dull.          4/10

Triple echo 1972

Starring: Glenda Jackson

In 1942, a soldier's wife welcomes another soldier to her farm for tea; He desertsand poses as her sister.

Highly unusual movie, one of Glenda Jackson's more watchable roles, Oliver Reed as menacing and powerful, he may have had his issues but he really was a brilliant actor.     8/10

Separate tables 1958

Starring: Burt Lancaster

Emotional tensions among the boarders at a British seaside guest house.

Adaptation of the play by Terence Rattigan. John & Ann were Americonized for reasons that I couldn't understand. The whole thing was fascinating, mainly due to the strong performances by all the cast. David Niven gave as strong and vulnerable performance as I have ever seen from him.      7/10