A Night At Earl Carroll's 1940

 

Starring: Ken Murray

When gangsters kidnap stars of Earl Carroll's nightclub, the restaurant staff put on their own show.

Sorry, but I never got engaged with this at all. Humour just wasn't funny and songs never did it for me either.   1/10

Napoleon And Samantha 1972

 Starring: Michael Douglas

When his old guardian dies, a small boy and his girl friend run away with their pet lion.

Absolutely charming. Bid names like Michael Douglas and Jodie Foster and the grandparents from The Waltons. Sometimes you need a film that looks great and makes you feel good. The undoubted star was the lion.      9/10

The Teckman Mystery 1954

 

Starring: Margaret Leighton

An author commissioned to write the biography of a dead airman finds him very much alive and his own life in danger.

Fairly routine thriller of its time that gets a little too complicated for its own good but has some nice moments.   5/10

Finger Of Guilt 1956

 

Starring: Richard Basehart

An American film producer in England is plagued by a strange girl who claims to have been his mistress.

Has a quite cheap look to it and wasn't terribly interesting despite some good looking performers.    4/10

Dead trigger 2017

 

Starring: Dolph Lundgren

A mysterious virus has killed billions and turned many others into bloodthirsty zombies. Unable to stop the virus, the government develops a video game, "Dead Trigger," that mirrors the terrifying events that curse the world.

Fairly dreadful movie to be honest, I never understand the fascination with zombie movies. Quite what the lovely Autumn Reeser was thinking about is beyond me.    3/10

Man About The House 1974

 

Starring: Richard O'Sullivan

Two young women, their male flatmate and their landlords combine forces to prevent the terrace from being razed for redevelopment.

TV shows normally do not translate to the big screen at all, I watched this for nostalgic reasons and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had a decent plot, was not over-long and made me laugh in a few places. Bonkers cameo at the end from Spike Milligan was priceless.    8/10 

A Game Of Death 1945

Starring: John Loder

Cheap remake of The Most Dangerous Game

Made guy on an island takes in a shipwrecked man and then hunts him for sport. I actually rather enjoyed this, all a little over the top but quite good fun.     7/10
 

The Castaway Cowboy 1974

 

Starring: James Garner

In 1850, a Shanghaied sailor on Hawaii helps a lady potato farmer to turn her land into a cattle ranch.

Not sure I ever bought it as a period piece but the Hawaii locations were stunning. Garner was so easy to watch and perfect in roles like this. I actually really enjoyed it, thanks Disney Channel.  7/10

I Bury The Living 1957

 

Starring: Richard Boone

The honorary chairman of a cemetery seems to have the power to mark people for death.

All a bit ridiculous to be honest and I thought of the idea of replacing black pins with white about 30 minutes before the lead. Watchable as it was so unusual.    5/10

Scandal Sheet 1952

 

Starring: Broderick Crawford

An editor has to allow his star reporter to expose a murderer - himself.

What a decent thriller this is, you know who the murderer is from the start but to watch the net closing in around him was very well done. Not overlong in length too.   7/10

The Last Outpost 1951

 

Starring: Ronald Reagan

A Civil War colonel finds his brother fighting on the other side.

Any film with Reagan always sparks my interest, not a bad effort either, best in the closing fight scenes with the Indians.   5/10

How I Got Into College 1989

 Starring: Anthony Edwards

Dim student applies to go to the same difficult-to-enter college as the girl he loves.

Didn't really do it for me, all I little silly. I did like the sequence at the end as all the students were getting their acceptance/rejection letters, the twins scene my favourite.    4/10

Ask A Policeman 1938

 

Starring: Will Hay

In a small coastal village, incompetent policemen accidentally expose smugglers who are scaring the locals with a headless horseman legend.

Extremely dated and amazes me how much humour has changed since that time. The headless horseman carriage was a good effect.      4/10

Darby O'Gill and the little people 1959

 

Starring: Albert Sharpe

An Irish caretaker falls down a well and is captured by leprechauns, who allow him three wishes to rearrange his life.

All very Irish and a little difficult to understand at times. Great to See Sean Connery in this early role and the film looks great.     5/10

Jeu De Massacre 1967

 

Starring: Claudine Auger

An impoverished comic-book writer and his artist wife become involved with a wealthy young fantasist.

A very odd sub-titled movie and yet strangely watchable. If nothing else, it looked really good.    5/10

Scarlet Street 1945

 

Starring: Edward G Robinson

A prostitute is murdered by her client and her pimp is executed for the crime.

I've always been a fan of Edward G Robinson and this is another terrific performance. There's no fool like an old fool, loved the direction that this movie heads in, it was well filmed and neatly tied up at the end. Great start to 2022.    8/10

The Lemon Drop Kid 1951

 

Starring: Bob Hope

A gangster forces a bookie to find the money which he has lost on a horse through the bookie's incompetence.

Typical, fast-talking Bob Hope movie, some humorous scenes, the man was a genius.     5/10

Rio Lobo 1970

 

Starring: John Wayne

A Union Colonel near the end of the Civil War recovers a gold shipment and exposes a traitor.

I'm not a great fan of John Wayne, so quick on his cue bite he never really developed any unique characters. Loved the opening half hour, movie deteriorated after that and took a very long time to reach its shoot-out conclusion. Not bad though.      7/10

Springfield Rifle 1952

 

Starring: Gary Cooper

A Union officer gets himself cashiered, joins the confederates as a spy, and unmasks a traitor.

Not that interested personally in the American war aspect but there was enough action and fist fighting to keep me entertained.     6/10

Checkpoint 1956

 

Starring: Anthony Steel

A tycoon sends an industrial spy to Italy in search of new motor racing car designs.

A sort of poor man's James Bond set in the motor racing World. Locations are great, some excitement but let down by a poor script. James Robertson Justice, surprise, surprise, plays James Robertson Justice.    6/10