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Sunday, December 18, 2022

Escape By Night 1953

 

Starring: Bonar Colleano

A tough reporter tries to get the inside story on a vice ring.

Almost belongs in the Children's Film Foundation, hilarious seeing Syd James playing an Italian gangster complete with moustache. I really quite enjoyed it and it was the perfect length.       7/10

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Murder In Reverse 1945

 

Starring: William Hartnell

After long imprisonment for a supposed murder, a convict comes out and hunts down the victim, who isn't really dead.

A really decent crime thriller, interesting idea and well acted. A great sense of time and place and a plot that rattled along.     7/10

Sunday, December 04, 2022

Moment By Moment 1979

 

Starring: John Travolta

A bored Beverly Hills wife has an affair with a young drifter.

Very poor execution, Tomlin remains quietly spoken throughout, only when her friend arrives do you realise how flat her performance is. Travolta just cannot create any chemistry with his co-star, without this the movie is seriously flawed.     4/10

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Beyond The Curtain. 1960

 

Starring: Richard Greene

A flying officer rescues a stewardess whose plane has been forced down in East Germany.

Iron curtain, spy thriller with Eva Bartok perfectly cast. Pretty decent thriller from beginning to end to be honest.    7/10

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Practically Yours 1944

Starring: Claudette Colbert

A war hero comes back after being supposed dead, and finds himself with a fiancee he never met.

Brilliant idea of a guy professing his love for his dog and it being mistaken for a woman of the same name, despite a great two leads, never held up to its promise. Very dated.     4/10
 

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Christmas On Ice 2020

 

Starring: Abigail Klein

A former figure skater and a former hockey player work together to void the mayor from closing the local skating rink.

A Hallmark style movie. Very easy on the eye, pleasant to watch without ever making me laugh. So many of this type of movie but this is better than many with a well cast, convincing small group of actors.  7/10


Sunday, November 06, 2022

Priest Of Love 1981

 

Starring: Ian McKellen

The last years of D.H.Lawrence, when his books were banned and he was seeking warmer climes to help his TB.

I'm not sure how true this characterisation was to the real Lawrence, but what an unpleasant man he came across as. Difficult to find any sympathy towards him despite this being an interesting movie.      6/10

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Waco 1966

 

Starring: Howard Keel

A gunfighter is hired to straighten out a corrupt town.

Not bad but I feel that whenever you get big-hitter like Keel & Jane Russell, the movie somehow loses realism. Traditional Western elements all included.   5/10

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Snowball Express 1972

 

Starring: Dean Jones

An insurance accountant inherits a dilapidated skiing hotel in the Colorado Rockies

Typical Disney movie, colourful, goofy humour with all coming right in the end. Henry Morgan stole the show for me. All quite enjoyable.    7/10

Sunday, October 16, 2022

The Painted Hills 1951

 

Starring: Lassie


An intrepid dog comes to the rescue when a boy's life is put at risk by the greed inflamed by a gold strike.


Gotta have a Lassie film on the Sunday morning Blog, a little pedestrian to be honest with no surprises.    4/10



Sunday, October 09, 2022

Convicted 1950

 

Starring: Glenn Ford

When a prison informer is killed, one convict knows who did it.

Decent prison drama, makes you conscious of how your life can change if you make one carless mistake. Well acted, prisoners were very convincing and you could understand the conflict going on in Glenn Ford's head.       7/10

Sunday, October 02, 2022

Bedelia 1946

 

Starring: Margaret Lockwood

A psychotic woman is discovered to have poisoned three husbands.

Well acted, decent little drama. Although Lockwood is good, I would have liked to have seen a few more hints within her of the psychotic behaviour, all a little one-paced.     6/10

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Springtime In The Rockies 1942

 

Starring: Betty Grable

Romances blossom on a mountain holiday.

A bit flat to be honest with only the occasional pleasant dance number. Best moments were the images of Lake Louise, the most stunning place I have ever visited.    3/10

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Tropic Zone 1953

 

Staring: Ronald Reagan

In a banana port a man wanted by the police saves a plantation from being taken over by crooks.

Adventure, drama and romance in a banana plantation, all rather good fun, Ronald Reagan really wasn't a bad actor at all.    6/10

Sunday, September 04, 2022

Raw Deal 1948

 

Starring: Dennis O'Keefe

A convict is helped by his girl friend to escape, and the police chase them across country.

I like a good prison escape drama, some decent scenes in this one although at times it is a little hammed up. All comes to a somewhat predictable conclusion but not bad.   5/10

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Jack The Giant Killer. 1961

 

Starring: Kerwin Matthews

Demon Pendragon kidnaps the princess of Cornwall but she is rescued by a farmer's son.

Great fun to be honest, reminded me very much of The Arabian Knights. Loads of magic and weird mounters, only occasionally the fantasy was a side too much. Loved the leprechaun who talked in rhyme.  7/10

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Devils Of Darkness 1964

 

Starring: William Sylvester

A vampire disguises himself as a French count and preys on young girls.

Cheap budget horror, plenty of red, black and white throughout. Poor script, poor acting and yet it still kept me amused. 5/10

Sunday, August 14, 2022

One-Way Ticket 1935

Starring: Lloyd Nolan

A convicted bank robber falls in love with the warden's daughter.

A love story more that anything else, the girl only looks about 14 which made for slightly uncomfortable viewing. Had a different slant to most prison break movies which is always a plus in my book.   5/10
 

Sunday, August 07, 2022

Don't Panic chaps. 1959

 

Starring: Dennis Price

British and German units are sent to set up observation posts on the same Adriatic island, and agree to sit out the war in comfort.

Great cast, all very tongue in cheek and likeable. Not to be taken seriously at all, but so glad I got to see this one.    7/10

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Cattle Drive 1951

 

Starring: Joel McCrea

The spoiled teenage son of a magnate finds humanity and friendship with a cowhand during a cattle drive.

Not that often that you find a young lad like this taking the lead in a movie. Does a really good job, not overly high on excitement but extremely watchable with an excellent performance by young Dean Stockwell.     8/10

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Twenty-One Days 1937

 

Starring: Laurence Olivier

A barrister's brother accidentally kills a man and lets an old eccentric take the blame.

Very dated but fascinating to see Olivier, Vivien Leigh & Leslie Banks in their prime.   4/10

Sunday, July 17, 2022

The Drifter 1988

 

Starring: Kim Delaney

An attractive, ambitious career woman gets flat tire on a lonely road and impulsively picks up an enigmatic hitchhiker, but after spending the night with him, she can't make him understand she doesn't want to continue their relationship.

Not a bad thriller, good tension built, although it went slightly weird at the end.    6/10




Sunday, July 10, 2022

Improper Channels 1979


 Starring: Alan Arkin

A father runs into administrative trouble when he takes his injured daughter to hospital.

Very 1970's. Although this is over-exaggerated, there is a serious message filtering through that admin often is given more emphasis than the health of a patient.    5/10

Sunday, June 26, 2022

A Small Town In Texas 1976

 

Starring: Susan George

An ex-convict returns to his home town seeking revenge on those who framed him.

Very Dukes Of Hazard with a bunch of cheesy car chases. Characters are not particularly likeable, thank goodness for the stunning Susan George. Movie went very quickly so I must have been engaged with it.     6/10

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Malachi's Cove 1973

 

Starring: Donald Pleasence

In 1880 Cornwall, a 14-year old girl lives by selling seaweed.

A great sense of time. Little happens to be honest and yet this is strangely watchable. Cornwall is the true star with the magnificent view of the cliffs and the power of the sea.   8/10

Sunday, May 29, 2022

It Always Rains On A Sunday 1947

 

Starring: Googie Withers

An escaped convict takes refuge in his married mistress's house in East London.

Decent thriller which is quite atmospheric and well acted with the East End nicely captured. Exciting ending, one little scene with two railway trucks and the points I absolutely loved. Jck Warner was as disappointing as ever.   6/10

Sunday, May 22, 2022

You can't cheat an honest man 1939

 

Starring: W C Fields

Trials and tribulations of a circus owner.

Some nice parts including scenes with lions and an elephant giving a shower, WC Fields was irritating, the show was stolen by the ventriloquist dummy.   5/10

Sunday, May 15, 2022

A Diary For Timothy 1945

 


A baby is born as the war ends, and the narrator ponders its future.

Documentary short of fascinating historical interest.     6/10

Sunday, May 01, 2022

Offbeat 1960

 

Starring: William Sylvester

An MI5 undercover man finds himself sympathising with a gang of robbers and falling in love with one of them.

Decent crime thriller with a nice different take, loads of time spent on the planning and execution of the jewel robbery which added well to the plot. All quite satisfactory.     7/10

Sunday, April 24, 2022

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


Sunday, April 17, 2022

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

Sunday, April 10, 2022

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

Sunday, April 03, 2022

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

Sunday, March 27, 2022

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


Sunday, March 20, 2022

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 

Sunday, March 13, 2022

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
 

Sunday, February 27, 2022

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

Sunday, February 20, 2022

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

Sunday, February 13, 2022

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

Sunday, February 06, 2022

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

Sunday, January 30, 2022

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

Sunday, January 23, 2022

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

Sunday, January 16, 2022

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

Sunday, January 09, 2022

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

Sunday, January 02, 2022

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