Sherlock Homes and the spider woman 1944

Starring: Basil Rathbone

A female Moriarty kills her victims with spiders so that she can collect on their insurance policies.

When of the better of the Holmes movies. Rathbone gets several opportunities to don a disguise & do a bit of acting. Watson was at his bumbling best particularly when he mistook a spider expert for Holmes in disguise. Quite good fun.     7/10

The Man who changed his mind 1936

Starring: Boris Karloff

A scientist dabbles in braiin transplants.

Boris (One trick pony) Karloff plays a mad scientist who swaps peoples thoughts & personalities between bodies. This is all rather good fun and the plot zips along. The swapping of the 2 chimpanzee minds was amusing and the swapping of human minds all rather effective and well acted. Touches of good humour and a nice ending - This was all a lot more enjoyable than expected.          8/10

The Big knife 1955

Starring: Jack Palance

A depressed Hollywood star who wants better things for himself is blackmailed into signing a new contract.

Occasionally interesting but the subject matter is just not riveting. Most of the actions takes place in a Hollywood home and that leaves a certain tedium to affairs. Everyone acts their heart out & Palance, Ida Lupino & Shelley Winters are not bad. Unfortunately, Rod Steiger comes in like a freight train, goes way over the top and I just didn't find him believable at all. Too long a movie for little reward.    3/10

City that never sleeps 1953

Starring: Gig Young

The work of the Chicago police force during one night.

I understand the idea, but maybe it would have been better focusing on one story. If that many people get shot in one night, I'm amazed there's anyone ever left in Chicago. Still, the mechanical man in the window was good & the film had some entertaining moments.    4/10

Dr Kildare's Strange case 1940

Starring: Lew Ayres

The young doctor cures a mental patient by the newest methods.

One of a series of Kildare movies made. A bit soap opera like with doctor/nurse relationships, but the story isn't bad & Lionel Barrymore is superb as the wheelchair bound Dr Gilliespie.

Sinners in paradise 1938

Starring: Madge Evans

Air travellers are wrecked on a South sea island.

Not brilliant but also not bad. The air crash for its time was quite effective. The whole thing was a little single paced although valiant attempts were made at characterisation and humour. More watchable than I anticipated.       6/10

The Dam Busters 1954

Starring: Michael Redgrave

In 1943 the Ruhr dams are destroyed by Dr Barnes Wallis' bouncing bombs.

Everyone knows the story and has seen clips. But this is historically fascinating, Michael Redgrave is utterly convincing nd the bombing sequences are brilliantly done. A nabsolute classic.    10/10

Laura 1944

Starring: Gene Tierney

A beautiful girl is murdered....or is she? A cynical detective investigates.

A little tedious for the first 20 minues, but once it became clear that the murder victim wasn't who you thought, the whole thing improved considerably & became more interesting. Clifton Webb was superb as the objectional 'Waldo'. A neat thriller that kept you guessing until about 10 minutes from the end.      7/10

The Ghost ship 1943

Starring: Richard Dix

The captain of a merchant ship is driven mad by isolation.

Strange goings on all lead back to the captain of a ship who's gone mad. Very dated and filmed with extremely poor lighting. The movie lacks pace, only occasionally bursting into action. The final knife fight is filmed almost in total darkness.       3/10

Indiscreet 1931

Starring: Gloria Swanson

A socialite endangers her own romance when she tries to protect her younger sister.

Improved hugely as it went on & thankfully most of the songs had been cut from this copy. Girl chucks boy, gets engaged to other man. Her sister falls for first boy & girl pretends she loves him again to protect her sister. Very amusing where Swanson pretends to be mad & the scene on the boat at the end gave this a most satisfactory ending. Dated but good fun.     5/10

Lured 1947

Starring: Lucille Ball

An American dancer stranded in London helps Scotland yard catch a killer.

Excellent crime thriller with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Lucille Ball plays it straight although her comic genius clearly lingers just below the surface. I liked the detective who kept stumbling across his crossword answers. Nicely put together & well acted movie.      8/10

The Heartbreak kid 1972

Starring: Charles Grodin

Disappointed with his honeymoon, a sporting goods salesman promptly sets his cap at a richer, prettier perspective spouse.

I've always liked Charles Grodin & it was only halfway through this movie that I suddenly realised how similar the voice & delivery are by current actor Owen Wilson. You have to feel sorry for Grodin's wife in this movie. Some of the scenes are cringeworthy but I was hooked & it seemed to b over in no time. Cybil Shepherd was perfectly cast as the new love interest & her father was a delight.    8/10

Kangaroo 1952

Starring: Maureen O'Hara

In old Australi, a con man pretends to be a rancher's long lost heir, then complicates things by falling in love with the rancher's daughter.

The only reason this seems to be titled Kangaroo is because it is set in Australia, although a few marsupials were shown hopping around in the middle of the movie. A bit like a western but cannot be called a western. The desperation due to the drought was well portrayed & the plot moved along nicely enough. I would have liked an extra 10 minutes at the beginning building the characters. Not bad though.      5/10

In which we serve 1942

Starring: Noel Coward

Survivors from a torpedoed destroyer recall their life at sea and on leave.

War film used to rally the troops. Interesting now only for historical purposes.      2/10

Summer magic 1963

Starring: Hayley Mills

Children help their widowed mother in 1912 Boston.

Charming story with very little plot other than a family taking over a yellow house in the country without the landlord's permission.  Typical Disney full of colour, bright songs, attractive actors and slightly daft humour. All in all, a very easy on the eye movie.    7/10

The Love bug 1968

Starring: David Tomlinson

An unsuccessful racing driver finds that his small private Volkswagen has a mind of its own.

I'm sure most people saw this as a kid & I was no exception. However, great to see it again. It never made me laugh out loud but it did engage with me & I had a steady smile on my face. Ends up a bit like an episode of Wacky races but good fun with nasty David Tomlinson stealing the show.    7/10

The Sheepman 1958

Starring: Glenn Ford

A tough sheep farmer determines tp settle in a cattle town.

Westerns came at ten a penny & you need an outstanding feature for them to remain memorable. This one had it. Firstly, there were sheep at the centre of attention rather than cattle & secondly, the scxript is marvelous. Well paced & witty, the plot rolls along, Glenn Ford is cast perfectly & Shirley Maclaine is delightful. Some neat character portrayals from supporting actors round it off nicely.    8/10

Car of dreams 1935

Starring:  John Mills

A rich man's son buys a car for one of his father's factory girls.

Charming little dipsy comedy. It's all in the comic timing & John Mills is a delight. Vera is played by a German lady, a decision I didn't quite understand but she was very good. Catchy little occasional songs helped the movie along. A little gem.   9/10

Speak easily 1932

Starring: Buster Keaton

A professor inherits a Bradway musical and falls for the lure of the bright lights.

A Keaton talkie & he plays the part of the professor brilliantly. Completely straight, he is hillarious particularly when undertaking silent style comedy. Jimmy Durante's humour doesn't last 80 years but he exudes a tremendous energy. Surprisingly enjoyable all round. 7/10

The Shootist 1976

Starring: John Wayne

In 1901, a dying ex-gunfighter arrives in a small town to set his affairs in order.

The best performance I've ever seen by John Wayne & a real tribute to his life and career. He underplayed his part magnificently and was superbly aided by Lauren Bacall. Ron Howard looking exactly like Richie from Happy days never quite fitted for me, the brilliant James Stewart did his best to steal the show. A great mixture of old Western and emerging 20th century technology. This was touching with tremendous attention to detail.       8/10

The Bride of Frankenstein 1935

Starring: Boris Karloff

Baron Frankenstein is blackmailed by Dr Praetorious into reviving his monster and building a mate for it.

Considering this was made in 1935, the quality was superb. Excellent effects especially the King, Queen etc in a jar & superb explosion of the castle at the end. The acting was not at all bad and it was a pleasure to watch such a classic.     6/10

Rogue cop 1954

Starring:  Robert Taylor

A police detective is on the payroll of a crime syndicate.

This just didn't work. You never got the feeling that this cop was a bad apple. We were handed 90 minutes of tough talking, New York, gangster chat and little action. Just all a bit tedious.    3/10

Shadows 1959

Starring:  Ben Carruthers

Two blacks and their sister find their identities in Manhattan.

Digitally restored and shown on the Sky Arts channel, I was just lucky to ever see this movie. It had a tenderness and a great Jazz score but other than that was a bit confused and not terribly interesting.  3/10

The Mummy's hand 1940

Starring: Dick Foran

The high priest of an evil sect revivifies an Egyptian mummy and uses it to kill off members of an archaeological expedition.

The problem is that you compare this to modern versions of The mummy & it just doesn't stand up. It took an age to get to the part with the mummy, the magician on the way was annoying & the whole thing was less scarry than an episode of Scooby doo.     2/10

Night tide 1961

Starring: Dennis Hopper

A sailor falls in love with a fairground freak show girl who may be a real mermaid.

Sometimes movies just hook you from the start & this was one of those. Is the girl a real mermaid or is something more sinistor going on. A quiet paced mystery with Hopper exuding a certain, endearing charm. Dated nut interesting to see.    7/10

The Way to the stars 1945

Starring: John Mills

World War 11 as seen by the guests at a small hotel near an airfield.

Not a whole lot of plot but somehow, absolutely charming. Very dated for obvious reasons but the despair & resignation to tragedy is brilliantly portrayed.    7/10

the Pumpkin eater 1964

Starring: Anne Bancroft

A compulsive mother of eight children finds her third marriage rocking when she gets evidence of her husband's affairs.

Dull & dreary. Good soundtrack though.        2/10

Bang the drum slowly 1973

Starring: Michael Moriarty

A baseball star finds that he is dying of leukemia.

Occasionally this hits home but generally is too single paced and talkative. I found my attention waning and found that the tragedy kind of passed me by.     2/10

Marjorie Morningstar 1958

Starring: Natalie Wood

A New York Jewish girl has great ambitions for herself but ends up a suburban housewife.

A light-hearted melodrama that is a delight when Natalie Wood is sneaking across the lake as an 18 year old. The movie loses its way as she becomes older and the tortured minds and egos of the stars become a little tiresome. Classic Hollywood that overstays its welcome.    6/10

On the beat 1962

Starring: Norman Wisdom

A Scotland Yard car park attendant manages to capture some crooks and become a policeman.

There is something endearing about Wisdom and there are a few delightful moments in this movie. Unfortunately , the whole thing drags on for way too long & I wish a little 'less is more' had been considered. Still the scene write at the beginning was great, as was the scene with the young lads playing football & the scenes with his Italian girlfriend.     6/10

Internal affairs 1990

Starring: Richard Gere

A duel to the death develops between an honest and a corrupt cop.

Gritty, tense and violent. This is well acted by Gere & Garcia although I struggled to see when Gere actually did any police work. As well played as this was, every one of the characters was unlikeable to me & for that reason alone it left me with few feelings at its conclusion. Not bad though.    6/10

Algiers 1938

Starring: Charles Boyer

A romantic Casbah thief makes the mistake of falling in love.

Started well enough with good scene setting but descended into a too single paced, talkative style with little atmosphere and I never felt you got a true feel for the Casbah. Lead actor gave a good performance and the random song was bonkers.     3/10

Torpedo run 1958

Starring: Glenn Ford

A US submarine in World war 11 destroys a Japanese aircraft carrier in Tokyo bay.

Typical submarine war drama. Ford & Borgnine were both good & a reasonable attempt was made to show the human side of their characters. I would have liked to have got to know the crew a bit more but a reasonable drama with good action sequences. 6/10

She's gotta have it 1986

Starring: Tracy Camilla Jones

Three men woo the same woman

Strange movie filmed in short scenes, the rest of the time taken up with talking heads. Somehow it was still fascinating mainly due to the superb performances by all the actors. Filmed in Black & White except for one dance scene where the colour leaps off the scree. As entrtainement, it's not up to much but as an artistic piece of work, it's spot on. 6/10

The Final Countdown 1980

Starring: Kirk Douglas

An aircraft carrier on manoeuvres near Hawaii passes through a strange storm and finds itself back at Pearl Harbor.

Forget the daft sci-fi concept & dodgy special effects. Forget the fact that having travelled through time, they arrived at the exact moment that Pearl Harbor was about to become famous, forget the historical impossibility of it all. This was a good, fun yarn with an interesting mix of naval hardware. Having loved aircraft carriers since I was a kid, this was right down my street. 8/10

The Fat man 1950

Starring: J.Scott Smart

The murder of a dentist leads to the circus

Rather dull murder mystery. Occassionally it grabs the interest but is too conversational and the plot is the same as can be found in thousands of similar movies. 3/10

The Hindenburg 1976

Starring: George C Scott

In 1937, sabotage causes the airship Hindenburg to crash on arrival at New York

Intersting to get some flesh on the bones of this disaster however true/untrue this version may be. Slow to start with little building of characters and dialogue delivered in a monotone, uninteresting way. The tension built well however and the disaster at the end was quite well done. 5/10

The Amazing Mr X 1948

Starring: Lynn Bari

A widow seeks comfort from a fraudulent medium.

A sort of ghost story which turns out to be a dodgy medium which turns out.....

Surprisingly engaging with good atmosphere created by thoughtful lighting & a well thought out score. I guess the gadgets were ground-breaking in their day. Quite an interesting little thriller. 7/10

Terms of endearment 1983

Starring: Shirley Maclaine

An eccentric widow fends off suitors while interfering with her daughter's marriage: but all is forgiven when the daughter dies

Brilliant performances by Maclaine & Debra Winger. At over 2 hours, this movie seemed too short due to the period of time it covered. So underplayed in many ways, made the film seem more realistic. Tragic at the end and it's always the children that suffer. Danny De Vito had about a dozen lines and was still billed above Jeff Daniels who played the under-appreciated husband - Explain that! 7/10

A lesson in love 1954

Starring: Gunnar Bjornstrand

A Gynaecologist and his wife grow bored and turn to other partners, but are reconciled.

I remember recently seeing a list of favourite jokes from different countries around the World. It proved that humour doesn't really travel or translate. This wasn't a terrible film & the subtitles helped to retain my concentration. But it was a bit sreamy & shouty and I don't think I even smiled once. 4/10

The Black shield of Falworth

Starring: Tony Curtis

The film in which Tony Curtis says "Yonda lies the castle of my fodda" (or something like it) is an amiable romp which alternates between comic strip dialogue and a surprisingly convincing sense of medieval custom. The training scenes are as sharp as the romantic asides are pallid.

Great stuff. Tony Curtis was perfectly cast as the athletic, strong-willed knight. The script is fun, the locations & costumes are spot on and all the fight scenes have a huge fun factor about them. Boys-own stuff. 8/10

Sunset Boulevard

Starring: Gloria Swanson

A luckless Hollywood scriptwriter goes to live with a wealthy older woman, a slightly dotty and extremely possessive relic of the silent screen

An interesting but slightly over-long movie. Swanson is superb but the best scenes for me were between William Holden & Betty, a lovely chemistry. Cecil B De Mille was spot on with his cameo. My main problem is that a lot of the film has Holden narrating. I hate that & have never really seen it work. When it was just played as a straight film, it wasn't at all bad. 5/10

One frightened night 1935

Starring: Charles Grapewin

Relatives assemble in a spooky house in the hope of inheriting an old man's wealth

So grainy and dated now that it wasn't easy to watch. This was about as frightening as a soggy tissue and as suspenseful as an episode of 'Murder she wrote'. The occasional moment was okay & they did try to include a little humour. 3/10

I don't want to be born 1975

Starring: Joan Collins

An ex-stripper gives birth to a monstrous baby which goes on a murderous rampage.

Deeply unpleasant horror movie with constant baby screaming, unpleasant scenes and an exorcism. Quite what Joan Collins, Ralph Bates & Donald Pleasence were thinking about is beyond me. Collins at lease gave a solid performance, it was 5 minutes into the film before I realised that Bates was trying to do an Italian accent - Why not hire an Italian actor!! Nostalgic views of 1970's London was the only interest. 3/10

Carnival of souls 1962

Starring: Candace Hilligoss

After an accident, a lady ghost emerges to become the new church organist.

Dated little chiller movie which is a must for anyone who likes creepy organ music. Plenty of screaming & running in high heels. The Zombie sequence near the end was particularly amusing. Not particularly original and no surprise at the ending, I've seen worse though. 4/10

A handful of dust 1988

Starring: James Wilby

An aristocratic wife, frustrated by the old-fashioned habits of her stately home-owning husband, begins an affair with a young man-about town.

More stiff upper lips than I care to mention. A lovely pace to a beautifully crafted and acted piece. Autumn colours, delightful location settings and costumes, this eases class. The story of infidelity , tragedy of a dying son and being held prisoner in Brazil almost come across as matter-of-fact as the whole thing is just so delightful. 8/10

All that Heaven allows 1955

Starring: Jane Wyman

A sad widow falls in love with the gardener at her winter home, and marries him despite local prejudice.

This starts off as a gentle, romantic tale and heads off into fall blown melodrama with the pianist having to work overtime with thumping chords. Jane Wyman is a delight and the chemistry between her & Rock Hudson enables this to work Wyman's geeky daughter and pompus son are played just right and the meddling friends and nighbours are also well placed. A simple story but I found it to be quite delightful. 7/10

The Black knight 1954

Starring: Alan Ladd

A humble swordmaker reveals a traitor to King Arthur

A swashbuckling tale with a disgraced swordmaker turning court and unearthing a plot & traitor n King Arthur's court. Technicolour is used to its full potential with burning flames around every corner. The acting is pretty awful and the plot so historically flawed that you wouldn't recognise it. But the action is good and the Knight got his girl. What more could you want? 6/10

The Last wagon 1956

Starring: Richard Widmark

A half breed wanted for murder joins an 1875 wagon train.

Formula Western. you felt like you'd seen it all before but it was still well made and quite well acted. Not memorable but perfectly watchable. 6/10

Cheers for Miss Bishop 1941

Starring: Martha Scott

The life of a schoolmistress in a small midwestern town.

Some movies are way too long, at only 90 minutes this seemed too short as it covered a 50 year period in the life of Miss Bishop. Martha Scott in the central role was aged well and played the part delightfully. Sweeping music and speeches said with such intensity attempted to give a hard impct but somehow often missed the mark. 5/10

The Wrong man 1957

Starring: Henry Fonda

A New York musician is mistaken by police for an armed bandit, and both witnesses and circumstances prevent the truth from emerging.

How one man's selfishness and lawlessness can destroy an innocent person's life and family. Hitchcock has the whole movie proceeding at a slow pace and yet manages to keep you engrossed throughout. One small quibble is I didn't think his introduction before the movie was necessary. Fonda and Vera Miles are both terrific conveying such emotion and yet constantly retaining their humility. Brilliant! 9/10

Hell's house 1932

Starring: Bette Davis

A boy is wrongly sentenced to a corrupt reform school.

A blessed relief for all of us that Jimmy's mother died at the beginning of the movie, terrible performance! Bette Davis is top billed but is hardly in it. Jimmy has a naive, charisma to him and is engaging due to his honesty and kind heart. The reform school is supposed to be corrupt but comes across as way, way to soft and didn't actually look that bad a place to stay in.

Dated but enjoyable none the less. 8/10

El Cid 1961

Starring: Charlton Heston

A legendary 11th-century hero drives the Moors from Spain.

An epic in every way. Charlton Heston gets in right in this hugely demanding role. The pace is pedestrian to say the least but sometimes you have to just sit back and admire the scale and vision of someone who puts such a movie together. 5/10

The Stranger 1946

Starring: Edward G Robinson

An escaped Nazi criminal marries an American woman and settles in a Conneticut village.

Atmospheric thriller with high emphasis put on moody lighting, shadowing and a melodramatic score. To my mind, you discovered exactly what was going on & who the criminal was way too early and after that, you were waiting for the inevitable comeuppance. The conclusion was well done though with a highly original climaz up a clock tower. Edward G Robinson got some good gigs as an actor which is surprising as his speech and movement all go at a single pace. Quite an original thriller. 7/10

Corvette Summer 1979

Starring: Mark Hamill

A Los Angeles student spends the summer looking for his stolen customised car, and has various adventures around Las Vegas.

You can tell a 70's movie the moment it starts with the dodgy fonts and tinny music. This is a road movie about a young guy looking for a car that he restored. The plot is simple but Hamill & Annie Potts have an easy going charm. The comedy mostly falls flat but there is a watchable, sentiment about the movie that keeps your attention. A nice car chase to round it all off. 7/10

The Desert song 1953

Starring: Gordon Macrae

Well staged straight version of the musical, with full score.

Harmless enough but couldn't really decide whether it was a drama, comedy or musical. Lavish production though and wow, does Gordon Macrae sing fabulously! Easy going but forgetable. 4/10

Love affair 1939

Starring: Charles Boyer

On a transatlantic crossing, a European man of the World meets a New York girl, but their romance is flawed by a misunderstanding and physical accident.

Dated and tedious. A found the characters to be objectionable in their first few scenes and because of that I just never warmed to them. no rise and fall whatsoever, it was all too monotone and vaguely soporific. Got slightly more interesting following Irene Dunne's accident but generally for me, never got out of first gear. 2/10

The Great Sioux massacre

Starring: Joseph Cotten

Two officers are court-martialled after Custer's last stand.

Yet another telling of Custer's demise. Having never studied this historically, I'm unsure how true the events leading up to the final stand are. But Custer & all the cavalry don't come out of this at all well & you end up having a large sympathy towards the Sioux. Quite well made & choreographed film, shame it's a subject matter scene dozens of times before. 6/10

Behind green lines 1945

Starring: Carole Landis

A murderer is spotted during one night in the press room of a police station.

A rather rushed 'B' style movie that seemed to flick from scene to scene without a great deal of care. Two many unnecessary characters and scenes breezed through the movie as an attempt was made to demonstrate a busy police station. The main story was okay but the whole movie was just a little clumsy. 4/10

The Graduate 1967

Starring: Dustin Hoffman

A rich Californian ex-student is led into an affair with the wife of his father's friend, then falls in love with her daughter.

An iconic movie that if it was re-made with unknown actors today, would sink without trace. It is relevant to its period, the performances by Hoffman, Bancroft & Ross are all spot on. The music score is just right and there is love, angst, desperation and a little humour. The scenes in the hotel were beautifully played and somehow, this movie mesmerises you. 8/10

Haunted Honeymoon 1986

Starring: Gene Wilder

A radio actor takes his fiancee to the family's gloomy country estate, where werewolves and transvestites re some of the creatures which abound.

As with most of Wilder's movies, almost a series of sketches with very little plot. It's almost like ideas keep cropping up as they're filming and these are added to what's already there. A bit like machine gun fire, some of these hit the spot whilst others are way off the mark. I loved the song and dance number that randomly appeared & also a great scene when Wilder was talking to policemen with someone else's legs. For me Dom DeLuise stole the show. 5/10

Stay hungry 1976

Starring: Jeff Bridges

The heir to an Alabama estate annoys the locality by assembling a curious bunch of friends and making unexpected use of his money.

A peculiar kind of film. At the end, I wasn't entirely sure what it had all been about & my conclusion was that the plot got bogged down somewhat in excessive dialogue. Sally Field is always a delight & it was interesting to see a very young Schwarzenegger who as a Mr Universe contestant was very good. 3/10

All the Young men 1960

Starring: Sidney Poitier

A marine patrol in Korea is commanded by a black man, and racial tensions take precedence over fighting the enemy

Set in gorgeous mountain location, this war movie was certainly unusual due to the snow angle. Sidney Poitier is excellent & smoulders throughout. I guess in the 21st century, the race angle is just a bit tired and nowadays, irrelevant. The action scenes are okay although a bit samey. Watchable if not memorable. 6/10

Captain Kidd 1945

Starring: Charles Laughton

A pirate tricks King William iii into giving him Royal orders, but enemies he believes dead return to see him hanged.

I wonder whether Jonny Depp got any of his inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow from Laughton's performance? In many ways & particularly in voice, they are very similar. This film is all about Laughton. His slightly camp & under played amusing performance is really the only thing worth watching. The script is fairly poor, the location virtually non-existent and Randolph Scott is wooden although it was nice to see him not sat on a horse in a cowboy hat. 6/10

The Wackiest ship in the army 1960

Starring: Jack Lemmon

In the South Pacific during World war ii a decrepit sailing ship with an inexperienced crew manages to confuse Japanese patrols and land a scout behind enemy lines.

A nice idea but did not come off for me. Some occasional good moments but the wacky ship and crew were not nearly wacky enough for me. Jack Lemmon is a brilliant actor and his comedy timing was as usual, up to scratch. He was just left with a clumsy, slightly lightweight script that at times seemed to get confused as to whether it was outright comedy, sentimental comedy/drama or war film. 4/10

Millions like us 1943

Starring: Patricia Roc

The tribulations of a family in wartime, especially of the meek daughter who goes into war work and marries an airman, who is killed.

A war film which focuses mainly on the women, in this case based at a factory making parts for aircraft. A ridiculously young Gordon Jackson played the love interest. This was watchable but held no surprises as th scenes made you smile but also produced a sadness & tragedy. As always, movies like this have a historical fascination. 6/10

There's no Business like show business 1954

Starring: Ethel Merman

The life and times of a family of vaudevillians

Typical Holywood musical centring around the multi-talented Donohue family. The routines were very slick and the singing good, it just became a little too similar after a while. The lives of the children became the most interesting aspect of the film and there was a satisfactory ending. The performances were good with the exception of Marilyn Monroe who was hopelessly mis-cast. Quite a feel good affair. 5/10

Night of the Eagle 1961

Starring: Peter Wyngarde

At a medical school, a jealous witch sets an evil force on her rival.

A quite well made witchcraft, black magic story. The characters are believable and the locations excellent. You can' deny that this is far-fetched, I just felt that the story needed a bit more consideration to flesh it out so that all the loose ends tied together & we understood the motivation. Nice ending though! 6/10

Bus Stop 1956

Starring: Marilyn Monroe

In a Rodeo town, a simple-thinking cowboy meets a cafe singer and asks her to marry him.

A simple plot but a movie filled with likeable characters. Monroe pitches it just about right but the real star is Don Murray. His boyish enthusiasm & un-realised manly looks are brilliantly exploited. I found the whole thing to be great fun. 8/10

Half shot at sunrise 1930

Starring: Bert Wheeler

Allegedly one of the best representations of a star comedy duo who went into a decline after 1932.

The comedy story of 2 POW soldiers in Paris chasing girls and causing mayhem. One of them ends up dating the General's daughters and finds himself trying to get crucial orders through to the front line. Not a comedy duo I've ever heard of. This was surprisingly slick & amusing in places. A witty script and a lead duo with good timing. Even a couple of songs thrown in, this was dated but quite good fun. 6/10

Force of evil 1948

Starring: John Garfield

A racketeer's lawyer finds that his boss has killed the lawyer's brother

I don't really get on with film noir. As well as this film has been made & as classy as the acting is, it just seemed ever so dull. Too much dialogue, not enough movement and no light or shade. Difficult to follow because my mind kept wandering. 3/10

Aces high 1976

Starring: Malcom McDowell

In the air force during World War 1, young pilots are needlessly sacrificed.

Utterly brilliant. The special effects and dog fights are thrilling, but more important than that, a brilliant atmosphere is created. A real team spirit with typical stiff upper lipness although several poignant moments when you can see the despair & tragedy in the pilots eyes. I do wish Malcom McDowell wasn't always dysfunctional in some way in his movies, but his characterisation was top drawer. 9/10

The Spanish main 1945

Starring: Paul Henreid

In the Caribbean, the fiancee of the Spanish viceroy is kidnapped by a pirate who determines to tame her before marrying her.

A bit of swash and buckle with likeable characters. Nicely done with tongue in cheek and that light -hearted air makes all the difference. Good fun. 7/10

Lady in a cage 1964

Starring: Olivia De Havilland

A rich widow is trapped by roving marauders in her private elevator

Talk about having a bad day! Lady trapped in a cage like elevator first has to put up with a wino, then a female hustler & then 3 hoodlums rampage through her house. Well directed and quite well acted although the movie is full of deeply unpleasant characters. Best advert I've ever seen for a Stannha stairlift. 7/10

The Rains of Ranchipur 1955

Starring: Lana Turner

Remake of 'The Rains came'

A romantic melodrama with a bunch of self-centred, selfish people who can't see beyond the end of their lit cigarette. The whole thin livens up when the rains & earthquake come with the effects quite good. Star studded cast is adequate & although Richard Burton is a brilliant actor, he looked ridiculous as an Indian doctor in a turban. Just a bit too Hollywood in its production and casting. 6/10

The captive heart 1946

Starring: Michael Redgrave

Stories of life among British officers in a German POW camp, especially of a Czech who has stolen the papers of a dead Britisher.

Slow moving, sentimental, nostalgic piece that seems Worlds away from modern society. Occasionally hits the spot with the story of the Czech officer holding the most interest. Gordon Jackson played the blind officer with his usual skill. 6/10

Ill met by moonlight 1956

Starring: Dirk Bogarde

In Crete during the German occupation, British agents work with partisans to capture a German general.

It's always good to see Dirk Bogarde & you don't find too many movies set on Crete. Unfortunately, although not terrible, this film never reaches the level it could have. There is no tension, events seem to take an age to develop and it's all just a bit lacklustre. A lot of humour is attempted, not a bad thing but I feel the director should have concentrated more on the plot & action. 5/10

Holiday on the busses 1973

Starring: Reg Varney

3rd movie from the popular TV series. A laugh here or there but the movie fails as there's no on-going plot line. Blakey has to be one of the most irritating central characters ever although the other stars and their family members have an endearing quality about them. A nice trip down memory lane. 5/10

Hangman's knot 1952

Starring: Randolph Scott

Confederate soldiers returning home with Union booty are waylaid at a way station by renegades

A fairly short movie tht starts quite well with the capture of the gold. Unfortunately, once they are held up in the cabin, it gets terribly bogged down and seems to run out of ideas. The ending is fairly inevitible and most of the action is carried out in pitch darkness. 4/10

The Lion has wings 1939

Starring: Merle Oberon

A documentary drama tracing the steps leading up to the outbreak of war.

Propaganda in its day, now ideal I would imagine for a history lesson in school. Interesting from a historical point of view but hugely dated. Should really only be used now for archive purposes and is certainly not a piece of entertainment. 3/10

Designing woman 1957

Starring: Gregory Peck

A sports reporter marries a dress designer and finds that their common interests are few.

A comedy which misses the mark and is overlong. I find the talking heads tiresome and the plot was very slow moving. The fight scene at the end with the balletic actor taking every one out was a great scene and the movie was worth watching through for that. 3/10

Santa Fe 1951

Starring: Randolph Scott

After the civil war, the eldest of four westbound brothers tries to prevent the others from becoming outlaws.

I have a theory that all movies set on or around trains are quite entertaining. This was not the best, but still rattled along at a fair pace as Randolph Scott helped build the Santa Fe railroad with drama along the way. Some nice light hearted moments & some good action. 6/10

THX 1138 1970

Starring: Robert Duvall

In a future society, computer programmed and emotionless, an automated human begins to break the rules.

If you like white costumes on a white set, then this is the movie for you. Quite odd in a lot of ways and only got interesting for me in the last 20 minutes. A bit of background and explanation before the start could have made all the difference. 3/10

Lt Robin Crusoe USN

Starring: Dick Van Dyke

A navy pilot parachutes on to a Pacific Island and gets involved in the local women's lib movement.

Typical Disney comedy in the 'Herbie' mould. With such a great location and attractive girls, you can't help but like it and Dick Van Dyke is perfect for the role. Great for a wet weekend.      6/10

The Silver bears 1977

Starring: Michael Caine

A Las Vegas money man invests money in various European outlets and makes a killing.

If only the production had been as stunning as the locations. The first half of this movie was as laborious as beyond belief & the scene at the Swiss restaurant had the worst editing I've seen for a long time. Fortunately, the movie picked up once the Luckman's arrived despite some dodgy acting throughout. Michael Caine brought nothing original to a performance I've seen him give dozens of times.             5/10

David and Bathsheba 1951

Starring: Gregory Peck

King David loves the wife of one of his captains, and ensures that the latter is killed in battle.

Old testament story, this is terribly talkative to start with and the orchestra should have been paid overtime. Once you get into the consequences of David's affair with Bathsheba, it becomes more interesting although it's very single paced throughout.          5/10

The Lion in Winter 1968

Starring: Peter O'Toole

Henry 11 and Eleanor of Aquitaine celebrate Christmas together and have a family row.

Over long drama with plots, sub-plots, treason and feuding. Too talkative and never really gets anywhere. Having said that Peter O'Toole is excellent & Katherine Hepburn is an absolute joy, this movie is worth seeing for that reason alone.     4/10 

Welcome to Hard Times 1967

Starring: Henry Fonda

A small Western town arms itself against a mysterious bandit.

Off-beat Western set in a town that spends most of its time smouldering having been burnt town. I found that I wanted to know who the bandit was & where his motivation came from. Basically, a character driven movie that I just found a little tedious.       4/10

The Wooden horse 1950

Starring: Leo Genn

During World war 11, British prisoners escape from Stalag Luft 111 by tunnelling under a vaulting horse.

Iconic story & worth seeing for that alone. I found it a bit dated, lacking in tension and very single paced. Considering this was a true story, I have nothing but admiration for these people and I'm sure the tension missing from this film was not missing from their escape.      5/10

Tarzan the ape man 1932

Starring: Johnny Weismuller

First talkie of the Tarzan series. An excellent movie that still stands up now with great effects and genuine locations. Weismuller was the definitive Tarzan & Maureen O'Sullivan was the perfect foil, both of them were ridiculously good looking at this time. Great fun.       7/10

The War wagon 1967

Starring: John Wayne

Two cowboys and an Indian plan to ambush the gold wagon of a crooked mining contractor.

Formula Western. John Wayne always played the same character but sometimes a partnership just hits it off & he is splendid with Kirk Douglas. Some nice supporting characters and a light, witty script help bowl this along.       7/10

Night Moves 1975

Starring: Gene Hackman

A private eye is engaged to find a runaway teenager.

Gene Hackman with a dodgy moustache, looks like a porn star and the music also has that feel at times. This movie starts slowly and you wonder where it's going. But the characterisations are brilliant particularly by Hackman & Jennifer Warren. The movie at some point, grabs your interest, hooks you in and has an unexpected, explosive finish. A real, slow burner.         7/10

A Fistful of dynamite 1971

Starring: Rod Steiger

In 1913, a Mexican bandit and an ex-IRA explosives expert join forces to rob a bank.

Typical Sergio Leone fayre, is there any other kind? Rod Steiger is terrific, James Coburn creates a marvelous character and the music is spot on. As Spaghetti Westerns go, it's not bad, but you need to give yourself time to sit & enjoy it as it's very long. My only problem were the flashback scenes that never quite worked.           4/10

The Flamingo kid 1984

Starring: Matt Dillon

In 1963, a teenager comes of age while working at a beach club.

Billed as a romantic comedy, it never made me laugh and wasn't particularly romantic. It was watchable though, Matt Dillon was engaging and personable and Hector Elizondo as his father lifted every scene he was in. A bit like a frothy drink that looks great but doesn't have a lot of substance.        6/10   

Oliver 1968

Starring: Ron Moody

A musical version of Oliver Twist

A very well known version of this story but the first time I'd seen the whole film. Lavish, brilliantly choreographed, fabulous locations and songs that never miss the mark. Some of the acting misses the mark where as performances particularly by Moody & Reed are quite magnificent.        9/10

The Thief 1952

Starring: Ray Milland

A nuclear physicist is on the run from the FBI, who suspect him of being a spy.

Bizarre decision to make a full length movie with no dialogue whatsoever. At times, there's no dialogue seemingly only because, that's what the director had decided to do. Strange decision with any interest only being supplied by knowing looks and atmospheric music. Desperately dull.         1/10

Of Human bondage 1946

Starring: Paul Henreid

Good-looking but thoroughly dull remake

Henreid is the medial student with an odd accent who falls for a lower class waitress and becomes infatuated & obsessive towards her. To be honest, it was him who came over as creepy and slightly deranged and I couldn't quite see why his adopted family became so fond of him. Over-long but still watchable.    6/10

Tunes of glory 1960

Starring: Alec Guinness

The new disciplinarian CO of a highland regiment crosses swords with his lax, hard drinking predecessor.

For the second week running I've found myself watching a Scottish themed movie. Set almost entirely in a barracks, this is the story of to men clashing over the running of a regiment. Both men are clearly traumatised by their wartime experiences although this is only briefly referred to. Guinness is superb as the overbearing, outgoing commander with his Scottish accent as authentic as they come, what an actor! John Mills is the perfect foil, another brilliant, angst ridden performance. Superb back up by all the other actors, this is a little gem.    8/10

The Kidnappers 1953

Starring: Duncan Macrae

In a Nova Scotian village at the turn of the century a stern old man denies his young grandchildren a pet, so they borrow a baby and hide it in the woods.

Set in a Scottish community in Nova Scotia. This starts as a dispute over who owns the land on a hill and ends with one of the young children in court over kidnapping a baby. Not a good example as a movie, inbred prejudice passed on to innocent children and petty squabbles where nobody will compromise. A little dour, but watch-able with a score that always lets you know what's about to happen.        5/10

Before winter comes 1968

Starring: David Niven

Austria 1945; A British major in charge of displaced persons is helped and hindered by a cheerful Yugoslav refugee who turns out to be a Russian deserter.

Filmed in beautiful Austrian scenery, Niven is fine as a stuffy major whilst Topal verges on charismatic as the interpreter. The problem is that this movie is a little single paced. It takes ages to see where this film is going & although the ending is moving, the groundwork has not pulled enough strings to make the ending dramatic enough. Probably would be better as a book.      4/10