Play Dirty 1969

Staring: Michael Caine

During World War 2, a squad of ex-criminals is given the job of destroying an enemy oil depot in North Africa.

A desert war movie with shades of Kelly's heroes. Caine is not too bad in a role where thankfully, he doesn't shout too much. One question, wht does he wear eye liner throughout this film? Overall, the movie lacked pace and didn't really build the tension. Worth watching for the ending, an absolute classic. 6/10

Sugarland express 1974

Staring: Goldie Hawn

A convict's wife persuades him to escape because their baby is being adopted, and they inadvertantly leave behind them a trail of destruction, ending in tragedy.

An early Steven Speilberg movie based on a true story. Beautifully made showing the class of the director, this is a fugitive, road movie. Nice to see Goldie Hawn not playing a dipsy air-head. Shades of the Blues Brothers with some of the car chases & crashes. Well crafted script ensuring you truely care for the characters. 6/10

The Undefeated 1969

Staring: John Wayne

After the civil war, two colonels from opposite sides meet on the Rio Grande.

John Wayne would have been 100 this year. I've never been a fan but took in this movie as my tribute. He's actually used sparingly and works really well in conjunction with Rock Hudson. It's a sweeping, locational saga with a great look & great soundtrack. It has a nice mixture of plot, action & humour and the fct that it's so charatcer driven makes the whole thing more memorable. I really liked it and to me, this was a mature Wayne and one of his best performances. 7/10

Imitation of life 1959

Starring: Lana Turner

Glossy remake of an actress whose black maid has a tragic life because her daughter posses for white.

A melodramatic Hollywood saga. Brilliant acting by all the cast, but particularly Juanita Moore make this a compelling piece. The ageing process is realistically portrayed & you really feel a sense of time passing. The race issue is sensitively handled and makes you ashamed to be human. An epic movie, at the end, if you think back to the opening scene on the beach, it seems a lifetime away. 9/10

The Romantic Englishwoman 1975

Starring: Michael Caine

A discontented woman, holidaying at Baden Baden, falls in love with a stranger while her husband completes a novel on the same theme.

This is a movie that simmers beautifully under the surface, Berger & Jackson are spot on, unfortunately, Caine ruins many of his scenes by shattering the tension with his shouting in an annoying voice. Probably, better for a play rather than a movie. 5/10

Please Sir 1971

Starring: John Alderton

The masters and pupils of Fenn Street school go on an annual camp.

Dated, politically incorrect big screen version of this TV show. All the pupils look about 30 years old. Alderton & Derek Guyler have terrific comedy timing and it is worth watching for that. Generally uninspiring but did have some laugh out loud moments. 5/10

Meet me in St Louis 1944

Starring: Judy Garland

Scenes in the life of an affectionate family at the turn of the century.

This movie is full of amusing, likeable characters and catchy songs. You genuinely feel that all the people like each other. Occassionally, it went off the rails, usually with the sweet youngest sister. But nice comic timing and a harmlessl, likeable script made this an enjoyable watch.

The River 1951

Episodes in the life of a small English community living on the banks of the Ganges.

An old fashioned tale from a time that seems a Million years away from our modern World.This is moralistic teachings and adolescent stories of first love with three young ladies all falling for the same one legged man. There's a lot of narration which at times seems rather intrusive and the acting is frankly no better than average. There are however, fabulous unmanipulated shots of the Ganges and everyday life that takes place on and around that great river. No classic, but interesting due to its unique difference. 4/10

Le Beau Mariage 1981

Staring: Beatrice Ronand

An art student abandons her many affairs and announces her intention of getting married, but her intended proves reluctant...

A subtitled film although this didn't detract at all. Sabine is a particularly annoying character who borders on being a stalker, I wouldn't want to be with her in a locked room. The film is very natural in its style, delivery and setting, does it always rain in Le Mans? Some annoying characters but a quietly compelling story. 7/10

Danger within 1958

Starring: Richard Todd

Escape plans of officers in a prisoner-of-war camp are threatened by an informer.

I always enjoy a good escape drama and this is right up there with the best. Unusually set in an Italian POW camp, this is well paced with a nicely though out plot. A couple of slight niggles. I though the informant was revelaed too early and I never felt that this mans motivation was explained. Minor quibbles in a great movie. 10/10

Some like it hot 1959

Starring: Jack Lemmon

Two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the st Valentine's day masacre and flee to Miami disguised as girl musicians.

I'd seen loads of clips before but never the whole movie. It is perfectly cast, Lemmon & Curtis have great comic timing and some hilarious one liners to deliver. Monroe was as good as I ever saw her and sings some great numbers. It's often referred to as the greatest comedy of all time, I wouldn't give it that accoldae but it is still a classic well worth seeing. 7/10

Corridors of blood 1958

Starring: Boris Karloff

Seeking to discover anaesthetics, a Victorian doctor falls prey to a resurrection man.

This movie is on the edge of horror but just resists from moving into that genre. The fact that it remains more plot ridden certainly increases the interest. There are nicely created seedy London locations, the whole piece is very well costumed and there are some decidedly unlikeable & dispicable characters. One of the more watchable of Karloff's movies. 6/10

Spaceballs 1987

Starring: Mel Brooks

A ruthless race is out to steal the air supply from the planet Druidia.

You know what you're going to get with a Mel Brooks film. If you throw in as many jokes as he does, some are bound to hit the mark. This grew on me enormously and was played in exactly the right spirit. It never for one minute pretended to be anything other than a spoof and with it not being over long, got it just about right. 7/10

The Pirate 1948

Starring: Gene Kelly

In a West Indian port, a girl imagines that a wandering player is a famous pirate, who in fact is her despised and elderly suitor.

Gene Kelly & Judy Garland, on paper, what a combination! But I'm afraaid I just never bought into this, there's no chemistry between the two stars and infact I found Kelly's character really annoying. A couple of good songs but very little else to impress me. 4/10

The Vicious circle 1957

Starring: John Mills

An actress is found dead in Dr Latimer's flat and the weapon turns up in the boot of his car.....

An entertaining plot driven murder mystery filled with plenty of twists & turns. The story is so entertaining that you don't really notice the acting. An amusing little yarn that keeps you guessing all the way through. 8/10

Arabesque 1966

Starring: Gregory Peck

An Oxford professor is asked by middle Eastern oil magnates to decipher a hieroglyphic, and finds afterwards that he is marked for assassination.

This is like a long episode of the Avengers. Extraordinary, excessive use of camera shots using reflection & unnecessary, moody lighting. Gregory Peck is not at his best & Sophia Loren....looks nice. This was so bad that it almost became good. 4/10

Retreat hell 1952

Starring: Frank Lovejoy

Adventures of a marine unit in the Korean war.

A standard war film, but one which focuses on the Marines feelings & insecurities as well as the action. For this to work, you have to care about the characters. The Commander grows on you & the captain comes through, but the undoubted star is the young McDermott who gives a lovely nieve performance. There's lots of action & explosion and although it's a bit dated and cheesily patriotic at the end, it's not at all bad. 6/10

The Slipper and the rose 1976

Starring: Richard Chamberlain

The story of Cinderella

I love pantomime! This is the story of Cinderella portrayed on the big screen. It's lavish, colourful with good song & dance. It amused me as well with Michael Hordern and Annette Crosbie my pick of the actors. This was my kind of movie and I loved it. 9/10

High hopes 1988

Starring: Philip Davis

A family of contrasting types gather to celebrate their mothers birthday.

This movie is all about charachterisation. It's a quirky look at a family, their friends and neighbours in London and is actually really sad in places but also has some touching moments. Edna Dore as the mother who's just letting life go on around her is wonderful as is her daughter in law Shirley. The stray traveller from Bagshot and the snooty neighbours are too over the top and just didn't come across as at all realistic. Never gets too far as amovie but when it is downplayed, it's brilliant. 6/10

The Misfits 1961

Starring: Marilyn Monroe

Cowboys gather in the Nevada desert to rope wild mustangs, and a divorcee becomes involved with one of them.

This movie will always be remembered as the last made by both Monroe & Clark Gable who both died shortly after its completion. Monroe fittingly plays a completely screwed up girl whilst Gable, well, he's the same as always. The scenes with the mustangs are very effective and slightly disturbing whilst Thelma Ritter livens up the early moments. It's fascinating to watch for its notoriety, otherwise it's a unmemorable rather sad melodrama. 6/10