The Oblong box 1969

Starring:  Vincent Price

One of two 19th-century brothers is mysteriously disfigured and buried alive; he recovers and runs amok.

You expect a horror film with Price and Lee to be top notch, this wasn't. From a story by Edgar Alan Poe, this was confusing, badly acted with gallons of bright red paint which was supposedly blood. Thank goodness for the gorgeous Sally Geeson who I had a huge crush on as a kid, I had good taste back then! Terrible movie though.     2/10

Sundown 1941

Starring: Gene Tierney

The adopted daughter of an Arab trader assists British troops in Africa during World War 11.

Different as a war film being set in Africa. The underlying score was spot on and the lighting moody. It was all a little dated and slightly confusing but did have some good moments. Worth seeing.   5/10

Decision at Sundown 1957

Starring: Randolph Scott

A cowboy tracks down the badman who has seduced his wife.

The prolific Randolph Scott turns up again but looks well rough and I'm not sure how he found the energy to fight anyone. A slow burner of a movie, I'm not a fan of flashbacks but feel that this movie could have benefited from one as a bit of a scene setter. Scott's character is clearly tortured in his own mind and this is fairly well portrayed. Not a bad Western.      5/10

Lorna Doone 1951

Starring;  Barbara Hale

In 1625 on Exmoor, a farmer comes to love an outlaw's daughter who proves to be in reality a kidnapped heiress.

First time I've seen a screen version of this classic story. All a bit like a poor man's Robin Hood, also pretty sure there's no raging waterfall like that in Exmoor. Harmless fun though.      4/10

Deadlier than the male 1967

Starring: Richard Johnson

Bulldog Drummond traces the death of oil company executives to a master criminal using glamorous female assassins.

All the Bulldog Drummond movies I'd seen before were quite dated, nice to see it brought into the colour age. A mixture of James Bond meets The Avengers with lots of explosions and inventive deaths and wall to wall glorious women. Extremely easy on the eye.     9/10

Tom Sawyer 1973

Starring:  Johnnie Whitaker

Classic American tale. I can't say that the plot gripped me, but the songs were lively and it was harmless enough.        4/10

Night passage 1957

Starring:  James Stewart

A railroad worker entrusted with a payroll finds that the bandits trying to rob it are led by his own brother.

Standard Western with a familiar plot, the brotherly conflict being a slight USP. Audie Murphy is always solid, but the movie is saved by the brilliant James Stewart and is worth watching for him alone.     5/10

Support your local sheriff 1968

Starring:  James Garner

Gold is found near a Western village, and the resulting influx of desperate characters causes problems for the sheriff.

I really enjoyed this. Totally tongue in cheek, it made you smile rather than laugh out loud but was very easy to watch with some lovely touches. James Garner played the sort of role that he was just perfect for.          8/10

The Siege of Sidney Street 1960

Starring:  Donald Sinden

An account of the anarchists who infiltrated London in 1912.

Reasonably interesting depiction of true events. I wasn't aware of this story at all and it was interesting to note that Churchill was at the scene. Some good moments but the history lesson was the most interesting thing about it.      5/10

The Extraordinary seaman 1968

Starring: David Niven

Four stranded sailors come upon the ghostly Royal Navy captain of a ghostly World war 11 ship.

I hated the constant flips to news flashes, I really felt it affected the flow of the movie. I didn't know the plot before watching this and about half-way through, when all became apparent, it got really interesting. David Niven was absolutely terrific as the captain. An original idea and with a few tame moments excepted, this was good fun.          7/10

Men don't leave 1990

Starring: Jessica Lange

Following the death of her husband in an accident, a widow with two sons strives to keep the family together.

Basically, a film about life. About how things hit you from left field and how you have to adapt. Makes you think about those you have lost yourself and the difficulties you have moving your life forward. No guns, no explosions, no car chases, just a movie about life. Great stuff.        8/10

I love trouble 1947

Starring:  Franchot Tone

A private eye tries to trace the background of a politician's wife.

Yet another private eye film noire. I tried, I really did, but all the characters were practically the same in look and delivery, there was constant 'smart talk' and no action. Very dull    2/10

To Trap a spy

Starring: Robert Vaughan

One of the feature length 'Man from Uncle' movies. A poor man's James Bond, but Robert Vaughan is very effective in the part, the plot was lively enough and there were enough interesting moments to keep this interesting. Not bad.        6/10

Crash dive 1943

Starring: Tyrone Power

A submarine Lieutenant and his commander love the same girl.

Basically a bit of a propaganda, feel good movie for the US. Not the most interesting of plotlines war wise, the film was at its most lively in the scenes between Power and Anne Baxter.    5/10 

Something to sing about 1943

Starring: James Cagney

A new York bandleader decides to take a fling at Hollywood.

I'm not the greatest James Cagney fan, I get a bit tired of the constant gangster thing he had going on. Occasionally in this movie, there were slight signs, but generally it was a really likeable performance in a charming little movie. Cagney was surprisingly light on his feet.         6/10

A Hard day's night 1964

Starring: The Beatles

Harrassed by their manager and Paul's grandpa, the Beatles embark from Liverpool by train for a London TV show.

Very few pop groups translate well on to the big screen. This is no exception, wooden acting and a flimsy plot. Thankfully there's lots of well known music which was good to hear.     4/10

Attack on the Iron coast 1967

Starring:  Lloyd Bridges

In World War 11, a Canadian commando unit destroys a German installation on the French coast.

Fairly flawed with a poor script and a few desperately bad bits of acting. The 'home' scenes never rang true and were a bit superfluous to the plot and the officer who got injured in training ended up looking like the Invisible man. Some good action though.       5/10

Clue 1985

Starring: Eileen Brenann

A murder game becomes reality.

Who doesn't love the board game Clue or Cluedo as it is called in the UK? Unfortunately, this doesn't work at all as a movie in what could have been a really good idea. Terrible and I mean truely terrible script, poor acting across the board and deciding to do it as slapstick was a really odd decision. I laughed twice! Disappointing.    3/10

The Dark Tower 1943

Starring: Ben Lyon

A circus hypnotist possessively controls a girl trapezist.

I'm not sure if I'd been hypnotized, but I rather enjoyed this. A little unusual plot wise and you spend the entire movie thinking that something bad is going to happen. All nonsense but good fun.      5/10

Bless this house 1972

Starring: Sid James

A suburbanite's multifarious frustrations culmintae in preparations for his son's wedding.

So often, successful TV comedy series do not transfer successfully to the big screen. But I have to say, I loved this. Nostalgic for me and great to see so many of my favourite childhood comedy actors. It was good clean fun with no swearing or sexual references. Not as dated as I expected, I spent a very happy 90 minutes watching this.       9/10

South American George 1941

Starring: George Formby

An unsuccessful singer poses as a South American opera star.

Forget the plot, which is mediocre and forget the villains who are just plain irritating, just sit back and wait for the four brilliant songs that George Formby delivers in his traditional style. There really has never been anyone like him!    6/10

The Thief of Baghdad 1960

Starring: Steve Reeves

A very moderate remake in the form of an action star vehicle

Just never got into this. Poor acting with people who didn't even look vaguely Arabian and poor special effects and weird fantasy scenes.  Below average.        2/10

Eight O'clock walk 1953

Starring: Richard Attenborough

A young barrister proves a taxi driver innocent of murder.

Quite disturbing in its subject matter although all too familiar in this day and age. Really well done with all the characters having little sub-plots that brought home their reality. Absolutely gripping and even though yo knew he was innocent, you started questioning what you thought was true.     9/10

South of Pago Pogo 1940

Starring: Victor McLaglen

Greedy white men seek riches in pearls by cheating and overworking the natives.

I felt that this was portrayed in too light hearted a way. You had the potential of a good story here and if it had been done as a straight drama/adventure I feel it would have been a lot more effective. Had a few good moments.        4/10

Take care of my little girl 1951

Starring: Jeanne Crain

A University freshwoman gets into trouble with her sorority.

Kind of the TV series Greek about 40 years earlier. Very dated and things that were portrayed as scandalous you would barely raise an eyebrow at now. Quite slow paced and not gripping, but interesting to see.        5/10

Superdad 1974

Starring: Bob Crane

A lawyer is determined to rule the life of his teenage daughter.

The thing about Disney movies is you know nobody will get hurt, they're easy to watch and leave you with a smile on your face. This was no exception, not the best I've ever seen and the scenes with Klutch didn't work for me,  but a nice little movie none the less.       6/10

Cat Balou 1965

Starring: Jane Fonda

Young Catherine Ballou hires a drunken gunfighter to protect her father from a vicious gunman, but despite her efforts he is shot, so she turns outlaw.

The ballad sung in the opening scene including Nat King Cole immediately got me on board. I loved all the ballads, Lee Marvin was brilliant and deserved the Oscar he received and Jane Fonda looked positively gorgeous throughout. Occasionally, this missed the mark, but it made me laugh on several occasions and was great fun.          7/10

Guys and Dolls 1955

Starring: Frank Sinatra

A New York gangster takes a bet that he can romance a Salvation army lady.

At times this was excellent. Great song and dance numbers and always good to look at. It just crawled around and a lot of the dialogue was 'Just gravy'. You could have comfortably lost 45 minutes and made it a real delight. Sinatra seemed strangely subdued, I've never been a fan of Brando, Jean Simmons was a delight.          5/10 

House of games 1987

Starring: Lindsay Crouse

A Psychiatrist becomes involved with a confidence trickster.

A very low key kind of movie, interesting at times although the lead actress urgently needed a personality infusion. As with most con artist movies, it goes a little too far and you're never entirely clear as to who's on which side and what's going on.     5/10

Whispering City 1947

Starring:  Paul Lukas

A Girl reporter has dangerous information

Never a good sign when your concentration has wandered within the first 2 minutes. Just never engaged with this at all.      2/10

The Amazing Mr Blunden 1972

Starring: Laurence Naismith

In 1918, a widow and her two children meet a kindly gentleman who offers them work in an old mansion. Here they meet two ghost children, discover that he is a ghost too, and travel a hundred years back in time to right a wicked wrong.

Nice to see a gentle ghost story which is a kind of family movie. Reasonably done with Lynne Frederick looking gorgeous. Some severe over-acting by the likes of Diana Dors is my only real criticism.    6/10

The Runaway bus 1954

Starring:  Frankie Howerd

Passengers at London airport are fogbound, and a relief bus driver takes some of them to Blackbushe. Incognito among them are robbers and detectives.

Frankie Howerd was a comic genius and he managed to leave me with a constant smile on my face in this one. Great fun trying to work out who the robbers are and who the detectives are, I changed my mind several times and still got it wrong. Excellent selection of characters, this was great fun.    8/10

Hollywood and Vine 1945

Starring: James Ellison

A New York writer is ordered to Hollywood to script a film for  dog.

Has a few moments but the characters are mainly irritating, you need more than a dancing dog to pull off a successful movie.    3/10

Showdown 1963

Starring: Audie Murphy

Two wandering cowboys become involved with a criminal.

Fairly gritty western with its unusual selling point being the criminals having chains secured around their necks attached to a huge pole in the ground. All fairly routine after that although not bad and Audie Murphy is always solid.        5/10

Silver Lode 1954

Starring: John Payne

A respected citizen of Silver Lode proves that the marshal who rides into town on his wedding day to accuse him of murder is a civilian bent on revenge.

Not bad at all. The entire action is set in one town and you feel like you know every building at the end of this 80 minutes. The plot has all been seen before but it moves along at a good pace and has some reasonable action. Barmaid Dolly steals every scene that she's in.       7/10

Three faces of Eve 1957

Starring: Joanne Woodward

A Psychiatrist discovers that a female patient has three distinct personalities: a drab housewife, a good time girl and a mature sophisticated woman.

Based on a true story, this was absolutely fascinating. Brilliant acting by Joanne Woodward, to make the three characters so distinct and yet still portray the demons that they all had to live with. Never has an Oscar winner been so worthy.       8/10

Confidence 2002

Starring: Edward Burns

Jake Vig (Burns) is a consummate grifter about to pull his biggest con yet, one set to avenge his friend's murder. But his last scam backfired, leaving him indebted to a mob boss (Hoffman) and his enforcer.

I'm not sure who it is that sits down and decided it would be a good idea to litter every sentence with swear words. Within 2 minutes, I was entirely bored of this  language. Some of the cons were quite nicely handled, but by this time the movie had got under my skin and I didn't really care.         2/10

Column south 1953

Starring:  Audie Murphy

A cavalry officer shows how to live peaceably with Indians.

A sort of civil war / western mash-up with emphasis on the political shenanigans that General's were carrying out. Why is there always just one woman in the fort, irritating! Have several women or none at all. Interesting rather than thrilling movie.        5/10

Kotch 1971

Starring: Walter Matthau

An eccentric 72-year old widower is at odds with his family and helps a pregnant babysitter.

Makes an interesting social comment, just because you don't understand people of a different generation, it doesn't mean there isn't a place for them. Matthau got on my nerves initially, never seeming to stop talking. I guess that emphasizes the point I'm trying to make. Possib;y over-long but an interesting watch.        6/10 

Baby face Morgan 1942

Starring: Richard Cromwell

The son of a racketeer is made a figurehead by his father's old mob.

Even though the Baby-face looks about 40, this is a movie that almost gets there. A few  amusing moments with the gang double-crossing themselves. Watched it online and it wasn't the greatest print ever but I've seen worse.        4/10

Man in the wilderness 1971

Starring: Richard Harris

In 1820 in the Canadian Northwest, a fur trapper is mauled by a grizzly and left for dead, but learns to survive and sets out for revenge.

Richard Harris plays this angst ridden, close to death role so well. A reasonable start and great locations but it all got a bit arty for me with irritating flashbacks. Some good moments and if you like to see horses thrashing about in water, this is the movie for you.       4/10

The Boy who stole a million 1960

Starring: Maurice Reyna

A young page in a Spanish bank 'borrows' some money to help his father but finds Dad, police and crooks all after him.

A nice idea with a pleasant innocence, but the chase seems eventually become very repetitive. Having said that, it has to be the most secure oilskin package in the history of oilskin packages. Not once did it look like bursting open.          5/10

Rawhide 1950

Starring: Tyrone Power

Four escaped convicts terrorize a stagecoach stop.

The plot's been seen dozens of times before but it's amazing how the dynamic changes when there's a baby/toddler incolved. This movie simmers throughout and there, for me, were a few surprises towards the end. Really enjoyed this one.      9/10

Operation CIA

Starring: Burt Reynolds

An agent is rushed to Saigon to find a secret message which was never delivered.

An OK thriller although some of the acting by supporting cast was shocking, English reporter Withers a prime example. Occasional moments that were really quite violent, this was easy enough on the eye with interesting locations, but could have done with a lighter touch.         6/10

No down payment 1957

Starring:  Joanne Woodward

Tension among smart surburban couples i a Los Angeles housing development.

Different as a movie and made a hell of a lot of social comment. A new couple move into a seemingly ideal housing development, immediately make friends but it turns out that all the couples have their demons and there is ultimately tragedy. May be dated now but good to see a movie confronting so many social issues.    7/10

King of the khyber rifles 1954

Starring: Tyronne Power

In 1857 a British garrison in India is threatened by the forces of Kumram Khan but saved by a half-caste officer.

Uninteresting script and storyline delivered in a laborious way. A tedious love story didn't help. Some interesting camera angles, other than that this was a waste of time.        3/10

Miss Potter 2006

Starring: Renee Zellweger

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness and success.

I have never been a fan of Beatrix Potter books but was amazed at how familiar her illustrations seemed to me. BNeautifully underplayed by Zellweger and Ewan McGregor with stunning sets and location. This was bloody charming.            8/10

The Lonely man 1957

Starring: Jack Palance

An outlaw hopes to regain social recognition and contacts the son who abhors him.

A movie played at a very sedate pace all about building relationships and breaking down barriers. A slightly bizarre love triangle doesn't help. There's a few good moments but this is fairly formula stuff.    5/10

Rookie 1990

Starring: Clint Eastwood

Ageing cop teaches his new young partner how to act tough.

Who doesn't love Clint Eastwood? Such a shame that Charlie Sheen went off the rails as he is a fine actor. Standard shoot 'em up stuff with a ridiculous amount of crashes and explosions that must have cost a fortune. All very standard stuff but I loved it.      7/10