The Big easy 1986

Starring: Dennis Quaid

A New Orleans homicide detective is persuaded by a lady investigator from the DA's office to look into irregularities in the department.

Routine police corruption thriller but with a nice mixture of action & humour. Dennis Quaid draws up an interesting character & although I never believed Ellen Barkin as a deputy DA, her chemistry with Quaid kept the whole thing watchable and interesting. Ned Beatty was superb as the police captain and came very close to stealing the whole movie.   7/10

A tale of two cities 1958

Starring: Dirk Bogarde

Modest but still costly remake with good moments but a rather slow pace.

Very well made with a good fell & look. Dickens always penned great characters and that was the best thing about this. Just a little dull in pace and plot with little to get excited or enthralled with.     4/10

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