We dive at dawn 1943

Starring: John Mills

World war ii adventures of a British submarine disabled in the Baltic.

This starts of as alight hearted tale of sailors on leave but ends as a suspenseful submarine drama. Nicely plotted movie with good battle scenes and characters that you care about. Not overly memorable but nicely done.     6/10

Interrupted melody 1955

Starring: Eleanor Parker

The story of Marjorie Lawrence, an Australian opera singer who fell victim to Polio

Well told biopic. Eleanor Parker is engaging in an oscar worthy performance. Glenn Ford is a perfect underplayed foil and Roger Moore is mis-cast and awkward, but hey, you can't have everything. Parker's performance is so real that you genuinely believe her illness is real and you can't help but urge her on. I've never been a lover of opera o the singing did get on my nerves. But that's just personal preference, I'm sure it was fabulous for fans.       6/10

Distant drums 1951

Starring: Gary Cooper

In 1840 Florida, an army officer rescues prisoners from an Indian fort and decimates the Seminoles who threaten their return journey.

A single paced Western lacking any real drama or excitement. The acting is poor and the direction at times bemusing. On occasions you wonder whether you're watching a wildlife documentary with swooping Eagles, slithering snakes and exotic birds. The scene where a guy is supposedly mauled by an alligator is hilarious as it's so fake. Not great.       4/10

The Holcroft covenant

Starrring: Michael Caine

One of the architects of Hitler's Third Reich leaves a bequest wich may fall into the wrong hands.

Single paced thriller with Michael Caine playing a German born architect who has lived in New York since he was a baby and sounds like Michael Caine. The script is cliched, the acting is extremely poor and the attempted humour falls way wide of the mark. Only the press conference at the end that neatly ties up the ends saves this movie. Not Michael Caine's finest hour.     4 /10

Invitation to a gunfighter 1964

Starring: Yul Bruyner

A small-town tyrant hires a smooth gunfighter to keep down the farmers he has cheated.

The sort of gunfighter for hire Western that has been made a 100 times. The difference with this is Yul Bruyner. He is close to charismatic throughout most of the movie as the plot slowly simmers towards the inevitable shootout. No great surprise but not bad.           5/10

Gentlemen prefer blondes 1953

Starring: Marilyn Monroe

A dumb blonde and a showgirl go to Paris in search of rich husbands.

Glitzy Hollywood musical comedy. Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe both look great and certainly make this worth watching. Not hilarious but short enough that it doesn't matter and the scene with Monroe dressed in a rug with the young lad beneath it was very amusing. The term dumb blonde could have originated from this movie & Monroe's voice was particularly grating. The musical number 'Diamonds are a girls best friend' is one of the classics.

Harmless froth        6/10

The Way ahead 1944

Starring: David Niven

Adventures of a platoon of raw recruits during World War 2.

Very much a character driven film which gives adequate time to learn of the inner thoughts and feelings of newly called up squadies. This certainly makes you care about the characters and also makes you route for them. I understand that this was made as a 'flag waver' and I'm sure it did its job. Obviously, not so relevant now but still thought provoking.      6/10

Our man in Havana 1959

Starring: Alec Guinness

A British Vacuum cleaner salesman in Havana allows himself to be recruited as a spy, and wishes he hadn't.

Any spy film has to be measured against James Bond and I'm afraid this just didn't work for me. I never really bought the premise of this man being recruited barely without argument and therefore none of what cam after, worked for me. It was a bit wordy and single paced with only the occasional scene standing out. Guinness was certainly competent in his role & his daughter brought a breath of fresh air whenever she was in a scene. Not dreadful but certainly non memorable.      4/10

The Blackboard Jungle 1955

Starring: Glenn Ford

In a slum school. a teacher finally gains the respect of his class of young hooligans.

This type of unruly school movie is frequently turned out, some more convincing than others. This one in my opinion is grossly underrated. Glenn Ford as the initially timid & then determined teacher doesn't put a foot wrong, Sidney Poitier verges on the charismatic and Vic Morrow comes over as truely disturbed. Hard to watch at times but gripping.             8/10

The Strongest man in the World

Starring: Kurt Russell

An accident in a science lab gives a student superhuman strength.

There's something comforting about the opening credits & music of a Disney film. This movie started OK and was fairly watchable however daft the premise. It lost it for me when the two characters were released from prison. Suddenly we had two people taking up a load of screen time that I as an audience member, didn't care about. The characters that we'd previously been introduced to, were nowhere to be seen. The ending was satisfactory & Phil Silvers lifted any seen that he was in.       4/10

The Final test 1953

Starring: Jack Warner

A cricketer looks forward to his last game but is out for a duck; He is however cheered by the crowd and comforted by his son.

Cricket meets poetry in this sleepy little movie. Jack Warner has the emotion & charisma of a dining room table & looks about 30 years too old for his bride to be. But his son brings some youthful charm & Robert Morley is an absolute delight (Not something I normally say). Some how, this movie had charm and for me, worked.     7/10

Went the day well 1942

Starring: Leslie Banks

Villagers resist when German paratroopers invade an English village and the squire proves to be a quisling.

An insular little movie that makes you believe that you're the only one looking in on a dreadful ordeal for this typical English village. The film pulls no punches & highlights the tragedy and pointlessness of 2 nations fighting. 60 years after the war ended, this still gets the blood boiling.   8/10

Desperadoes 1943

Starring: Randolph Scott

A gunman rides into town to cause trouble, but finds romance and renews an old friendship.

This movie cannot decide whether it's a drama or a comedy. As a drama it's oh so predictable, as a comedy I'm afraid it just wasn't funny. As usual with Westerns, some great scenery, there was just no originality with plot or action. Glenn Ford is OK, Randolph Scott goes through the motions without really being noticed.      4/10

Water 1985

Starring: Michael Caine

Chaos comes to a Caribbean island when industrialists check it for mineral springs.

This film just doesn't work & it has no right not to work with the writers, actors & musicians who were signed up. The story is actually quite a good idea but all the characters were played so over the top that they descended into caricatures. If they'd played it utterly straight, the humour would have been pointe 7 the whole thing could have been brilliant.

Such a waste.     4/10

Billy Liar 1963

Starring: Tom Courtenay

In a drab North country town, an undertaker's clerk lives in a World of fantasy

Every character in this movie comes across as so genuine. Nothing is over the top apart from Liar's daydreaming scenes, all of which is completely called for. It's amusing, there's so much you can relate to, it's moving & also sad. Julie Christie is delightful as the one person who genuinely understands Liar. So different from anything you see in this day & age.    7/10

Jeremiah Johnson 1972

Starring: Robert Redford

In the 1850's an ex-soldier becomes a mountain trapper.

Beautifully made epic set in the wilderness. Stunning locations, fascinating characterisation & great performances. Touches of humour, particularly where Redford first tries to fish & when Grandpa Walton sends a Grizzly into his shack for Redford to skin. Touching as well as tragic, a great movie with Director & star both at the top of their game.     9/10

Leave her to heaven 1945

Starring: Gene Tierney

A selfish, jealous woman causes unhappiness for those around her, even in her suicide.

From the first frame with the melodramatic music, you knew that this wouldn't be a bundle of laughs. A slow-moving drama that simmered beautifully under the surface. Tierney was excellent as the slightly deranged siren, I would have liked to have known more as to what triggered her desperate behaviour. A movie thatr had a nice beginning, middle & end.      8/10

I was Monty's double 1958

Starring: John Mills

To distract the Nazis in Africa, an actor is hired to act as General Montgomery.

Quite an original idea. My main problem, is I'm ashamed to say that I'm not really too sure what the actual Monty looked or sounded like. That rather dates the film for me although its easy going style along with some nice performances, made it more than watchable. It got rather bogged down in the second half of the film & the capture scene didn't quite work for me. Quite good fun though.      5/10

Creepshow 2 1987

Starring: Lois Chiles

Cheapjack sequel, of no interest whatsoever.

Three short stories by Stephen King. The plus points are they were reasonably well made, quite well acted with some very good special effects. The stories were watchable enough, but the minus point is that they were all utterly predictable with no shocks. I liked the Indian story best followed by the hitchhiker & finally the raft.      6/10

Forty ninth parallel 1941

Starring: Eric Portman

In Canada, five stranded U-boat men try to escape into the US.

Nazis arrive on Canadian soil for the first time & find the Canadians indifference towards the war difficult to take. The constantly moving situations & locations keep this movie interesting. Good performances and a whole bunch of star cameos. A war movie with a difference.     6/10