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

The Sword and the rose 1952

Starring: Richard Todd

The romantic problems of young Mary Tudor.

A light-hearted drama with lavish settings & bright colours, typically Disney. Richard Todd is suitably suave & debonair, Glynis Johns as Mary is full of spirit and delightful, James Robertson Justice when he underplayed his role of Henry v111 was fine but whenever he tried to portray any emotion, he just shouted, typical of this one dimensional actor. Harmless enough movie.      5/10

A Shock to the system 1990

Starring: Michael Caine

Passed over for promotion and bored by his wife, a marketing executive turns to murder to resolve his difficulties.

Unoriginal black comedy where a man finds ingenious ways to get away with murder. Caine's performance is incredibly one-paced except for one scene in his bosses office; I'm guessing he was supposed to be cool and calculating, I found it a bit like wading through treacle. Most of the cast looked bored and only occasional scenes brought this to life. The whole murder idea was supposed to have been triggered after Caine had an electric shock. That idea kind of summed up the whole movie.        5/10

Cromwell 1970

Starring: Richard Harris

An account of the rise of Cromwell to power, the execution of Charles 1, and the civil war.

Certainly taught me a little more of Britain's history although it was too wordy to be compelling. Very well acted with Richard Harris & Alec Guinness exemplary in their performances.      5/10

The Woman in question 1949

Starring: Jean Kent

Police investigating a woman's death build up several different impressions of her.

Simple, single paced  whodunit, this must have been great fun for the actors who got to play their characters from several different angles. The usually rock solid Dirk Bogarde gave possibly the weakest performance that I've ever seen from him. But this kept me guessing right up until the end.      6/10

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