Murphy's war 1971

Staring: Peter O'Toole

A torpedoed British merchantman in Venezuala devotes himself to bombing a U-boat from a home-made plane.

A boys own war adventure. O'Toole is his usual madcap self although it works in this movie. Sian Phillips counterbalances him in an underused straight role. The movie manages to hit a correct balance of humour, tension & action. If nothing else, I learnt just how big a torpedo is. Great fun! 8/10

The Boston strangler 1968

Starring: Tony Curtis

A semi-factual account of the sex maniac who terrified Boston in the mid-Sixties.

At first the occasional split-screen scenes and weird angle shots were distracting, but they grew on my a little. The movie plays in two parts. Firstly, a kind of whoddunit as the murders are carried out. Secondly, the investigation/interrogation. Curtis did a good job as the murderer. The film was at times compelling & moving in some ways. 6/10

Tiger bay 1959

Staring: Hayley Mills

A Polish seaman in Cardiff kills his faithless girl friend and kidnaps a child who proves more than a match for him.

Engaging, well paced thriller with well developed characters. John Mills is profficient if unspectacular. Buckholz is a little too likeable for a murderer but Hayley Mills is superb as the central character. She was surely one of the most consistent child actors.
Nice movie with an exciting conclusion. 7/10