The Big man 1990

Starring: Liam Neeson

An unemployed miner becomes a bare-knuckle fighter.

Gritty drama set in Scotland. Neeson is utterly believable, Billy Connolly is weesle like, amusing and a much better actor than he is often given credit for. Hugh Grant delivers a very passable Scottish accent and Joanne Whalley-Kilmer has eyes that could seduce you from 500 metres. Not really Sunday morning viewing but utterly compelling.    7/10

Tanks a million 1941

Starring: William Tracy

An army recruit has a freak memory which keeps him out of trouble

At only 50 minutes, this was a little gem. An army recrit becomes a sergent within 5 minutes and then helps a colonel look good. Full of little moments that director Hal Roach does so well, I actually wished this movie would keep going.       8/10

The Horse soldiers 1959

Starring: John Wayne

In 1863 a Union cavalry officer is sent three hundred miles into Confederate territory to demolish a railroad junction.

Lengthy civil war drama, but production is excellent and Wayne, William Holden and Constance Towers all give terrific performances and give their characters multiple dimensions. I'm not the greatest fan of Wayne's movies but this was right up there amongst his best for me.     7/10

Death from a distance 1936

Starring: Russell Hopton

A murderer is trapped in a planetarium.

Very old and not the greatest print of a movie. But it wasn't at all bad and I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie set in a planetarium before. The sort of movie that I'm grateful just to get the chance to see.   5/10

The Hills of home 1948

Starring: Edmund Gwenn

A doctor returns to his Scottish village to practise medicine, and brings his failthful collie.

Part of the Lassie series, this is all about people flling sick, doctors and dogs afraid of water. Not the most thrilling of the Lassie films, but pleasingly gentle and the Scottish accents are very easy on the ear.    5/10

National Lampoon's European vacation 1985

Starring: Chevy Chase

An American family determines to see Europe

This just never works. I guess it was supposed to be one hilarious romp going from country to country. The only time I really laughed was during the Bavarian folk dance in Germany. Chevy Chase is so often hilarious and has great comic timing but even he seemed off key. A real shame although Eric Idle was priceless!   4/10

Sexton Blake and the hooded terror 1938

Starring: George Curzon

A millionaire is unmasked as the head of a criminal gang.

Yet another top detective who lives in Baker Street. Reasonable enough, it bowls along at a healthy ppace. I liked Blake's side-kicks who added just the correct amount of light heartedness.     5/10

Darling 1965

Starring: Julie Christie


An ambitious young woman deserts her journalist mentor for a company director, an effeminate photographer and an Italian prince.

More interesting than entertaining. Julie Christie is very good as the girl-about-town/model and Dirk Bogarde is always good value. Probably cutting edge in its day and very 60's. Utterly un-PC with talk of negros and how homosexuality is rife. The fact that at one poiny Julie Christie's character is referred to as 'Princess Diana' is more poignant than the film makers would ever know.                   4/10 

A streetcar named Desire 1951

Starring: Vivien Leigh

A reprssed southern widow is raped and driven mad by her brutal brother-in-law

A classic play which probably sits better on the stage than the screen. However, the setting is excellent, the lighting and soundtrack is suitably moody and all the actors act their socks off. Not really for me but lots to be admired.             4/10

St Benny the dip 1951

Starring: Freedie Bartholomew

Gamblers learn to escape the law by dressing as priests, but circumstance converts them to good works.

This hasn't stood the test of time. I never engaged with it and after the first two minutes, constantly found my mind wandering. It never made me smile or laugh once.       1/10

Wild at heart 1990

Starring: Nicolas Cage

A petty criminal is redeemed by the love of a histrionic woman.

Gratuitous violence, gratuitous sex and excessive swearing. The artistic side of David Lynch cannot be questiones, I just found nothing to enjoy in the whole 2 hours. Just not for me.     3/10

Charlie Chan - The Trap 1947

Too much excitable, girly chatter and bad foreign accents made it a little tough to follow. But any movie set around a beach has a feel-good factor and this was one of the better movies in the Charlie Chan series.         4/10

Hello Frisco hello 1943

Starring: Alice Faye

On the Barbary coast, a girl singer becomes a star.

Musical entrepeneur makes it big and then gets lost in showbiz hurting those around him. Plot was a bit thin, but characters were likeable and songs were very pleasing on the ear.    6/10

Colossus: The Forbin project 1969

Starring: Eric Braeden

An enormous computer takes over the defence of the Western world; but it goes into collaboration with the Russian one.

Obviously dated now with the remarkable development of computer technology. For its time though, it was quite nicely done and is still extremely watchable. Interesting moral messages if you look below the surface of this movie and good performances considering I'd never heard of any of the cast. Who is in charge, you or your computer?      8/10

No hands on the clock 1941

Starring: Chester Morris

A private eye on honeymoon steps right into a kidnapping.

Standard private eye plot which gets more confusing as it goes along. Why is it never kept simple? Fortunately. there is good chemistry between the newlyweds and this along with a light-hearted script, keeps it enjoyable.      5/10

Dunkirk 1958

Starring: John Mills

In 1940 on the Normandy beaches, a small group gets detached from the main force.

A well known piece of history from WW11. As it's so well known, it lacks a little excitement. The true horrors are still unimagineable and the individual stories of courage, inspirational.    6/10

Al Jennings of Oklahoma 1950

Starring: Dan Duryea

A lawyer becomes a western outlaw

I'm guessing that this is a true story as it had the movie based on a book by Al Jennings. Most interesting with the legal elements. When Jennings became an outlaw, you lost all sympathy for him and it turned into a more standard western. Interesting elemeents kept it watchable.     6/10

Artists and models 1955

Starring: Dean Martin

A goonish young man receives telepathic top secret information in his nightmares, which are used by his artist friend in comic strips; foreign agents and the CIA get interested.

Although occassionally irritating, you can't help laughing at Jerry Lewis. Dean Martin was at his best in roles like this, the musical numbers are terrific, particularly the song sung by Shirley Maclaine on the stairs. The whole gangster thing got a little in the way and could have been ommitted from the movie altogether. A nice, feel-good movie.       7/10

the Last challenge 1967

Starring: Glenn Ford

Being a fan of Glenn Ford & Angie Dickinson, this was easy viewing. A traditional 'Fastest gun' storyline, there was plenty of filling as we waited for the inevitible showdown. Had a gentle feel to it and the characters were so likeable, it was a shame one of them had to lose.        6/10

The last chance 1945

Starring: E.G Morrison

In 1943 an Englishman and an American escape from a fascist camp in northern Italy and with the help of refugees cross the mountains into Switzerland.

An unusual movie with an element of suspense. Have spoken in English and half spoken in Italian with sub-titles. This had a real air of authenticity about it and although dated, it was worth a view.     5/10