I'll give a million 1938

Starring: Warner Baxter

A millionaire becomes a tramp and disappears, letting it be known that he will give a fortune for genuine acts of kindness. Tramps are then royally entertained all over town.

The idea of a millionaire desperately wanting someone to love him for who he is, is really rather sad. This light-hearted movie is quite good fun though, the only down point being Peter Lore who has to be the most annoying ctor in the hitory of the movies.      6/10

Ratboy 1986

Starring: Sondra Locke

A half-rodent alien gets the anticipated rough treatment when he visits Earth.

Sondra Locke who sadly died earlier this month was the director and star of this movie. A one trick piece, once you've seen the rat boy, the rest of the movie just doesn't live up to this visual reveal. Just rather dull I'm afraid.               3/10

Days of Heaven 1978

Starring: Richard Gere

In the early 20th century, three young immigrants leave Chicago for the wheatfields.

There is no denying that this movie is visually stunning. I just found it really dull and couldn't get into it at all. I don't think the quietly spoken backing narrative helped. A disappointment.      3/10

The Medusa Touch 1978

Starring: Richard Burton

A novelist is haunted by the belief that he can cause disaster.

I was expecting to enjoy this, I am not a  fan of Richard Burton. Although, yet again I found him too intense, he wasn't on screen for that much of the movie which was instead driven by the excellent Lino Ventura. This is an excellent thriller, absolutely gripping and builds really well towards its conclusion. I loved it.      9/10

Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number 1966

Starring: Bob Hope

Trying to phone his wife, an estate agent gets involved with a runaway actress.

Great fun with some amusing one-liners throughout the movie. Most of the budget must have been spent on foamy bubbles. Hope's comic timing was spot on and I particularly enjoyed the performance of his maid, played by Phyllis Diller.       7/10

Tales From The Crypt 1972

Starring: Ralph Richardson

Five people get lost in catacombs and are shown the future by a sinister monk who turns out to be Satan.

A bit like Tales Of The Unxepected with five different stories. The last one at the blind home was my favourite although a constantly barking dog for several minutes is just plain annoying. I saw Joan Collins put on a turn of speed up a flight of stairs that I never knew she had in her locker and this episode included a delightful version of 'Silent Night'. All in all, came across as a bit of a cheap option and was a little unfulfilling.                         5/10

Zandy's Bride 1974

Starring: Gene Hackman

Life for a frontier family.

A little unusual and at times slow. Watchable though, the scenery is stunning and I loved the backing score. Some of the wildlife scenes, a horse falling down a steep hill and a bear attack were breathtaking. Certainly glad that I watched it.       6/10

The Camp On Blood Island 1958

Starring: Andre Morell

The sadistic commandant of a Japanese POW camp swears to kill all the inmates. Japan surrenders, and a great effort is made to prevent the news from reaching him.

A Hammer movie but no Lee, Cushing, Price camp horror. This is brutal! Every Japanese person I have ever met has been charming, that possible makes movies like this all the more shocking. Difficult to watch and yet well made.       8/10

The Enemy General 1960

Starring: Van Johnson

An American officer takes revenge on the German general who executed his fiancee.

Pretty good war drama with lots of tension and action. As is often the way, the archive clips shown occasionally taken during the war, somehow were the most poignant.       7/10

Navy Wife 1956

Starring: Joan Bennett

A commander's wife visits her husband in Japan and learns about Japanese attitudes.

A very gentle, light-hearted movie but dear God, is it patronizing towards the Japanese. Shows you how much smaller the World has come in 60 years and how modernised both attitudes and way of life has become. Interesting but certainly not funny.     6/10 
 

Garden Of Evil 1954

Starring: Susan Heyward

En route to the Californian goldfields an ex-sheriff and a gambler help a woman to rescue her husband from a mine, but are trapped by Indians.

A sort of Western, road movie. Dragged a little at times but also had some good action scenes. One fist fight where a guy landed on the fire not once, not twice, but three times and one of the funniest death scenes by a guy with arrows in him that I've seen for a while.     6/10

The Alligator People 1959

Starring: George MacReady

A doctor uses a revolutionary serum which unfortunately turns patients into the alligators from which it was derived.

One of those so bad that it was good movies. The effects of when a patient had fully turned into a gator is hilarious. A don't want to knock it, it's no masterpiece, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and it just made me smile.         6/10

The Shout 1978

Starring: Alan Bates

A man who may be mad claims that, like the old aborigine magicians, he can kill be shouting.

Not sure I've ever scored a 1 before. What a lot of twaddle, uninteresting, unfunny and has absolutely nothing of interest. Never mind, on to next week.....    1/10

I Walk The Line 1970

Starring: Gregory Peck

A Tennessee sheriff protects moonshiners for the favours of their daughter; when an investigstor arrives, bloodshed results.

I couldn't take my eyes of this. As natural as I've ever seen Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld was a delight. Stunning locations, drama that slowly built, all set against a brilliant Johnny Cash backing score.     8/10

The Weaker Sex 1948

Starring: Ursula Jeans

Day-to-day problems of a well-to-do war widow.

Can you imagine a film in this day and age, centered around women, given this title? Very down to earth with every day problems that weren't overly dramatised, interspersed with war time clips and music, this was quite moving. Seems in today's World, like we're watching a different planet, hard to believe that it was only eighty years ago.      6/10

South Of St Louis 1948

Starring: Joel McCrea

Before the civil war starts, southern farmers are plagued by Union guerillas.

Standard civil war movie but with some good fights and action scenes. All fairly hum-drum.  6/10

Beautiful Creatures 2000

Starring: Rachel Weisz

Two girls thrown together by their boyfriends’ violence accidentally kill one of them.

I'm not a huge fan of back comedy. But this onee is not bad and did make me laugh out loud on a couple of occasions. Rachel Weisz looking gorgeous throughout did not harm at all.      6/10

Uncertain Glory 1944

Starring: Errol Flynn

During World War 11, a French playboy sacrifices himself for his country.

I love Errol Flynn, but this is not his greatest work. Very downbeat with strings of long narrative. It's just not very interesting. It sounded like he was called Jean Picard, the Star Ship Enterprise would have livened things up a little.     4/10

career 1959

Starring: Anthony Franciosa

An actor from the midwest finally gets his chance in New York.

A very downbeat type of movie. I'm a fan of Dean Martin and yet he seemed rather subdued. I greatly admire Shirley Maclaine and yet she was way too over the top. Not their finest hours.      5/10

 

The Fighting Seabees 1944

Starring: John Wayne

During World War 11 in the Pacific, construction workers atatck the Japanese.

Considering how prolific he was, I don't see a lot of John Wayne movies. All a little propaganda driven, Wayne is just a little one dimensional, his jitterbug scene was particularly uncomfortable to watch. Some good action scenes at the end.      5/10 

Heart Of Midnight 1988

Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh

An emotionally disturbed woman uncovers the dark secrets of a nightclub left to her by her uncle.

I loved the first ten minutes of this movie, it seemed to have real potential and Jennifer Jason Leigh seemed interestingly quirky. Sadly, in no time at all, it descended into macabre, disjointed, silly nonsense that was not very well executed and was just plain unpleasant. Such a shame, score was good though.      4/10

City Girl 1930

Starring: Charles Farrell

A city girl finds rural life has its own dramas

In all my years of doing this, I can't remember ever having a silent movie before. I actully really enjoyed it. Nicely filmed, a cracking backing score that really helped move the movie along and plenty of drama. Old fashioned in so many ways and probably all the better for it.         6/10

The Dark Man 1950

Starring: Maxwell Reed

A mysterious murderer haunts a seaside resort.

Came across as a B-Movie, probably more suited to showing on TV. Typical policeman falls in lov with a lady involved in the case and this is followed by a manhunt. Not bad but never really came across as watching a motion picture.        6/10

Highpoint 1984

Starring: Richard Harris

An industrialist is on the run from both the Mafia and the CIA.

What on Earth? Not sure what Richard Harris and Christopher Plummer were thinking of. Terrible script full of pointless car chases, bad gags and misplaced humour. We even hd a speeded up scene straight out of a Benny Hill. Not good!           5/10


 

Doctor Blood's Coffin 1960

Starring:  Kieron Moore

A disbarred doctor sets up in a Cornish tin mine and begins to emulate Dr Frankenstein.

Nothing original about the plot, but this had a couple of things going for it. The characters in the main, were so natural that you believed in them and the Cornish scenery was simply stunning.    6/10

The Commandos strike at Dawn 1942

Starring: Paul Muni

Norwegian commandos outwit the Nazis with the help of the British navy.

Unusual to see a war film set in Norway and I actually thought this was rather good, don't know how historically accurate it was. Just made me shake my head once again at how utterly pointless war and fighting is.        7/10

I Married A Witch 1942

Starring: Frederic March

A Salem witch and her sorcerer father come back to haunt the descendant of the Puritan who had them burned.

Basically, like watching Bewitched. Loads of special effects, doors shutting by themselves, flying brooms etc. Quirky comedy too. Forget the plot, just good fun to watch.       6/10

Double Harness 1933

Starring: Ann Harding

A girl sets out to trick a rich man into marriage.

I'm having a bad run! Unintersting and unfunny. Thankfully, it was not too long.       2/10

The Woman On Pier 13 1949

Starring: Laraine Day

A shipping executive is blackmailed by communists, who know of a youthful crime, into helping them spy.

Melodrama, just not very interesting. Lots of dramatic music but the plot never gets anywhere close to a crescendo.   4/10

Whiplash 1948

Starring:  Dane Clark

A painter becomes a prizefighter

Reasonable melodrama. Nothing more sinister than a villain in a wheelchair. There are too many boxing movies out there and it just thought that this cried out for a little more originality. Nice performances though.        4/10

Eight Iron Men 1952

Starring:  Bonar Colleano

In the ruins of an Italian village, eight American infantrymen wait for relief.

Bleak, with an excellent set. Not a fan of flashbacks and daydreaming, but the frustration, despair and dire conditions were nicely portrayed.      5/10

The Divorce of Lady X 1938

Starring: Laurence Olivier

A nobleman's daughter wins a barrister by posing as a divorce client

Screwball comedy, dated but fun in places. Is this the first screening of "To me, to you, to me, to you..."?  Fun in places         5/10

Palookaville 1995

Starring: Adam Trese

Jerry and his two pals, Russ and Syd, are just looking for some easy money to help them break out of their nowhere lives in their nowhere town. Despite a bungled jewelry store heist which exposes their incompetence as criminals, a fateful event (and an old black-and-white film) convinces them that they can pull off an armored-truck robbery. While they are busy plotting their caper, their dysfunctional families spin out of control all around them.

Definitely quirky, but there was something likeable about this movie. The whole idea of trying to tunnel into a jewellery shop but actually reaching a bakery next door, amused me from the start and the characters had an easy charm.      6/10

The Honkers 1971

Starring: James Coburn

An ageing rodeo rider has trouble with his wife.

I like rodeo riding, who doesn't? But there's only so much you cn watch, the rest of the movie has to be interesting. For me , this just didn't cut it. Too much talk and not enough interest. Shame as it had potential.       4/10

Born Losers 1967

Starring: Tom Laughlin

California teeny-boppers claim to have been gang-raped by wandering motorcyclists.

Difficult to watch at times with a truly repulsive motor cycle clan. The fashions in this movie are jaw-dropping, the young female lead when first seen on her bike is a sight enough to make you walk headfirst into a lamppost.    6/10

Bad Compnay 1972

Starring: Jeff Bridges

During the civil war, two youths on the run team up and become outlaws.

Jeff Bridges movies never quite seem to come off for me. A sort of Western road movie, this meandered along without too much ever making you really sit up and take notice. The occasional shocking scene and kept my attention, I just felt it could have delivered so much more.    6/10

Warlock 1959

Starring:  Henry Fonda

The cowardly citizens of a small western town hire a gunman as their unofficial marshal.

Hell of a cast, with Deforrest Kelley from the original Star Treks my favourite. Some good scenes, wll acted and a great little town created. Was just overlong.     6/10

Street Scene 1931

Starring: Sylvia Sidney

In a New York slum street on a hot summer night, an adulterous woman is shot by her husband.

Over acting, very poor lighting and a collection of voices all talking over each other. Understandable for the time, but I lost patience with it quite early on.      3/10

Conrack 1974

Starring: Jon Voight

A young white teacher is assigned to an all-black school in South Carolina, and after some difficulty makes friends with children and parents.

Seen many films of teachers turning around a difficult school. This movie fills you with sadness, hope, laughter and ends with you shaking your head in despair. Jon Voight is energetic, charismatic and just downright inspirational. A movie that hooked me from the first frame, I loved every second.                                                                                                                                           10/10

Appointment with danger 1949

Starring: Alan Ladd

A nun becomes the government's chief witness in identifying the murderers of a US postal inspector.

Nuns, gangsters and inspectors don't really mix. All a little heavy handed and weighed down with monotone dialogue. Expected shoot-out at the end didn't bring anything knew to the table.   4/10

Never a Dull Moment 1967

Starring: Dick Van Dyke

An unsuccessful actor is mistaken for a notorious gangster.

What an odd pairing Dick Van Dyke & Edward G Robinson were. All in all, I rather enjoyed it. Certainly not a classic and full of usual Disney slapstick humour, some missed and some hit. But it left a smile on my face and although over-egged, was not a bad movie.     7/10

Wagonmaster 1950

Starring: Ben Johnson

Adventures of a Mormon wagon train journeying towrds Utah in 1879.

John Ford movies are always good value. I particularly enjoyed the natural behaviour of the horses that seemed to be ever so slightly out of control throughout the whole film. Reasonable plot with a few exciting moments. Not gripping, but interesting and not bad.     5/10

Street of chance 1942

Starring Burgess Meredith

An amnesia case discovers that he is wanted for murder.

I've seen a few amnesia movies over the years. This started well but got bogged down in a bit too much detail. Did like the blinking old woman though, an old trick but quite nicely done.   5/10

High Barbaree 1947

Starring: Van Johnson

A pilot crashlands in the Pacific and finds himself drifting towards a Utopian island fancifully described by his favourite uncle.

Good start but then when go into flashbacks, I am not a fan of flashbacks. The story finally engaged me after about 45 minutes and the plot did all come together. Some good points and some nice scenes, a few negatives too.   6/10

Ordeal by innocence 1985

Starring: Donald Sutherland

An explorer returning from an Antarctic trip discovers that an acquaintance has been two years in prison for murder, and he might have saved him.

I'm a big Agatha Christie fan but don't think her novels transfer too well to the screen. This could have been worse, some scenes and the style, I didn't particularly like and yet the mood and music fitted quite nicely. The cast seemed to be going through the motions somewhat, but the story was strong enough to hold my interest. Donald Sutherland, so often madly quirky played this as straight as I've ever seen him play anything.       7/10

The Bank Dick 1940

Staring: W C Fields

In Lompoc, California, a ne-er do well accidentally stops a hold-up, is made a bank detective, acquires deeds to a worthless mine and interferes in the production of a film.

Oh, how comedy has changed in 70 years. A star vehicle, there was continual slapstick and knockabout comedy, all of which in this day and age, did not for the most part, even raise a smile.    2/10

Escape Route 1952

Starring: George Raft

Man on the run turns out to be FBI agent on the spy trail.

Post-war spy thriller. Nice pace to the movie and a reasonably well crafted plot. Sally Gray was delightful and thankfully added some colour to the movie as George Raft delivered all his lines in exactly the same way and lacked any kind of charisma.     6/10