The Mad Doctor 1940

 

Starring: Basil Rathbone

A doctor marries wealthy women and then murders them.

I think that Rathbone was an exceptional actor and was brilliant as Sherlock Holmes, this was just too routine and never took off for me.   3/10

He Ran All the Way 1951

 

Starring: John Garfield

A hoodlum on the run from the police virtually picks up a girl and hides in her family's apartment.

The type of movie you've seen many times before. The family were actually well cast and you believed them as a family unit. Fairly unsurprising ending. Watchable enough although unoriginal.      6/10

The Last Posse 1953

 

Starring: Broderick Crawford

Members of a thief-catching posse fall out on the way and return in disgrace.

I liked the early stages, the rich and poor line has modern connections. I thought it lost interest once the posse was out on the trail.     5/10

The Second Time Around. 1961

 

Starring: Debbie Reynolds

In 1912 Arizona, a widow stands for sheriff and has plenty of choice for a husband.

Absolutely loved this, Debbie Reynolds was perfect in the lead role, a fiery strength but with a twinkle in her eye. Lovely slapstick humour at times and plenty of bar room brawls to keep Western fans happy. Brilliant!     9/10

The Class Of Miss McMichael 1978

 

Starring: Glenda Jackson

A dedicated schoolmistress has no chance against her slum surroundings.

RIP Glenda Jackson whose final scene is as dramatic as anything I ever saw her do. Disturbing movie set in a reform school with Oliver Reed, wonderful as the headmaster. A troublesome watch and deeply politically incorrect in modern times.    8/10

The Girl Can't Help It. 1956

 

Starring: Jayne Mansfield

A theatrical agent grooms a gangster's dumb girl friend for stardom.

To me, the lot was kind of irrelevant. Worth seeing for Jayne Mansfield who died tragically young in her early thirties and for the awesome music that constantly pops including the likes of Little Richard.    6/10

Paradise For Three 1937

Starring: Robert Young

A businessman goes to Germany to find out how the workers live.

The rich seeing how the poor live. Hit and miss comedy, enough amusing scenes to keep this ticking over, the dish washer without a lid was my highlight. Some nice comic timing and contrasts, not bad at all.   6/10
 

Jet storm 1959

 

Starring: Richard Attenborough

An airliner in flight from London to New York is discovered to have a bomb on board.

A decent, tense thriller. Some of the acting and a couple of scenes were over-dramatised. A Stella cast, what I liked the most was the characterisation. After 90 minutes, you came to the end feeling that you knew everybody on board. Really enjoyed this.      9/10

Blessed 2007

 

Starring: James Nesbitt

A successful city trader suddenly loses everything he truly cares about. Seeking comfort in isolation on a remote island, his life is turned upside down by the arrival of a little girl.

Odd, to say the least. After a reasonable start, the movie becomes whimsical and raised many questions. Nesbitt was dealing with grief and didn't speak for the majority of the movie. Was the little girl real? What was with the stills at the end, was this a true story? Thought provoking and highly unusual.   6/10

Live Now Pay Later 1962

 

Starring: Ian Hendry

A credit store salesman is himself heavily in debt, and his private life is in ruins; But even after a chapter of unexpected and tragic events he remains irrepressibly optimistic.

Set around the time that hire purchase had become a thing and people were spending money they didn't have, digging themselves into a hole. Ian Hendry was perfect as the Jack-The-Lad salesman. The movie has lost its relevance in the modern day but still interesting from a historic point of view.    6/10

The Monster And The Girl 1940

 

Starring: Paul Lukas

A man is wrongfully executed and his brain is implanted in a gorilla, which goes on the rampage.

A poor man's King Kong, after a sedate first half, the movie becomes highly amusing and entertaining once the gorilla appear on the scene.    7/10

The Journey Of Natty Gann 1985

 

Starring: Meredith Salenger

During the Chicago depression, a girl follows her father west and hitch-hikes across America.

There are so many Disney films off people or animals taking impossible journeys, I did however quite enjoy this. Slightly grittier in parts than some, as ever, the animals took centre stage with a gorgeous wolf holding centre stage in this one.     7/10

Mesa Of Lost Women. 1952

 

Starring: Jackie Coogan

A scientist experiments in the Mexican desert to combine the qualities of beautiful women and spiders.

Utterly bizarre with some dance scenes that just made me laugh out loud. So weird, you almost couldn't take your eyes off of it.  3/10

Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? 1972

 

Starring: Shelley Winters

A madwoman menaces two orphan children.

A slightly disturbed take on Hansel & Gretel. I know it's a cliche, but they don't make them like this any more. Horror without the gore. Shelley Winters is marvellously over the top.  7/10

The Door With Seven Locks. 1940

 

Starring: Leslie Banks

A mad doctor abducts an heiress in the hope of gaining her wealth.

A mixture of horror and early Indiana Jones type adventure, stars were very watchable. Good fun.    6/10

Kid Millions. 1935

 

Starring: Eddie Cantor

An East side kid inherits a fortune and has the time of his life.

Hit and miss musical with shades of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at the end.    4/10

This Island Earth 1955

 

Starring: Jeff Morrow

Scientists at a mysterious research station are really visitors from a planet in outer space, to which they kidnap brilliant minds who they hope can help them.

One from the so bad that it's good book. Hilarious vivid green special effects, an alien who looks like he's just stepped from the set of the original Star Trek series and about as terrifying as the Teletubbies. All great fun though.   6/10

His Woman 1931

 

Starring: Gary Cooper

The captain of a tramp freighter finds himself in charge of an abandoned baby and a runaway girl.

The old abandoned baby in an inappropriate setting plot. It is the early 1930's so you have to forgive it, just not very interesting.    2/10

That's The Spirit 1945

 

Starring: Jack Oakie

A ghost comes back to tell his actress wife he didn't desert her as she thought.

Packed with great song and dance numbers, I loved "Fella With The Flute', but also tinged with some sadness around relationships. Definitely worth a view.    6/10

Wild Boys Of The Road. 1933

 

Starring: Frankie Darro

Boys of poor families take to the road in gangs.

I found a restored version of this movie in colour and it really brought it to life. Cutting edge for the time, really well done, thought-provoking and a surprising movie.  7/10

Show Them No Mercy 1935

Starring: Rochelle Hudson

Kidnappers are rounded up by G-Men

Surprisingly enjoyable kidnap/crime drama, ransom money has been marked and its use tracked to hunt out the criminals. Love Cesar Romero and the tension is very well maintained.   7/10
 

Behemoth: The Seamonster 1959

 Starring: Gene Evans

A radioactive palaeosaurus menaces London.

Truly terrible, average special effects, a poor script and acting. Luckily, it is so bad, that it fell into the enjoyable category. Very pleased to have seen this.   6/10

Tap. 1989

 

Starring: Gregory Hines

A tap-dancer turned jewel-thief is persuaded to put on his dancing shoes again.

The plot I can take or leave, worth watching for the series of superb tap routines throughout the movie. Damme Davis was great value too.      6/10

The Trouble With Harry 1955

 

Starring: Edmund Gwenn

In the New England woods, various reasons cause various people to find and bury the same body.

Hitchcock and early Shirley Maclaine, what could go wrong. Well, the idea of the same body being buried, dug up and buried again is quite amusing, but you can't hang a movie on it for 100 minutes. Watchable but a bit of a disappointment. 5/10

Princess Caraboo. 1994

 

Starring: Phoebe Cates

A mysterious young woman speaking a strange language shows up in an English village, where she is taken in by aristocrats who assume she is a foreign princess

A film for all the family, excellent cast with Phoebe Cates perfect in the lead. All a little far fetched until you realise that the basis of this movie comes from a true story, fascinating to read about that on Wikipedia. Interesting movie.     7/10

Evergreen. 1934

 

Starring: Jessie Matthews

A star's daughter takes her mother's place, with romantic complications.

Old school song and dance piece, some of the big group numbers were easy to watch, the rest of the movie didn't really do it for me.      3/10

The Quare Fellow. 1962

 

Starring: Patrick McGoohan

Life in a Dublin prison when two men are to be hanged, as experienced by a new young warder.

Still quite a powerful piece, well acted and really traumatising in its subject matters. Definitely a place for this still to be seen.   6/10

Car Trouble. 1986

 

Starring: Julie Walters

A woman having an affair with a car salesman finds herself sexually locked to him in her husband's new vehicle.

\not really believable, all a little silly, the scene with Julie Walters and the guy trapped in a compromising position went on way too long. Interesting seeing what was considered classy car at the time.    5/10

Girl Stroke Boy 1971

 

Starring: Joan Greenwood

A we--to-do couple try to find out whether their son's house guest is male or female.

Well, this hasn't aged well. Only 50 years old, this movie focusses on whether their sons' partner is male or female. Michael Hordern, such a superb actor and I just felt awkward watching the whole thing. Historically interesting I guess as a stepping stone before times changed....     3/10

Jules et Jim. 1962

 

Starring: Oskar Werner

Before World War 1, in Paris, a girl alternates between a French and a German student, and after the war they meet again to form a constantly shifting triangle.

Every now and then, I bump into a foreign language movie that is an absolute delight. That is exactly what happened here, the subtitles became almost irrelevant as I was so into the story. We all know of a member of the opposite sex that has had a mysterious hold over people, that is what happens here. Fascinating to watch, for me hasn't dated at all with some stunning locations. So glad I got to see this.   8/10

Submarine X-1 1967

 

Starring: James Caan

A submarine commander in World War 11 trains men to attack the Lindenorf in midget submarines.

I'm not a great fan of James Caan but he was watchable in this. A decent thriller which considering it is over 50 years old, still looks fairly modern.      6/10

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

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

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

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

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
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
 

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