In cold blood 1967

Starring: Robert Blake

An account of a real life crime in which an entire family was brutally murdered by wandering gunmen.

Harrowing story which was very effective in black and white. For the majority of the story, you never saw the crime committed, you just heard a scream. I thought this was brilliant, sadly in the last 20 mins we were  shown a depiction of the gratuitous violence. Somehow, you couldn't take your eyes off this movie.       7/10

The Kettles on Old Macdonald's farm 1957

The third of the Kettles series that I've seen. They're just good old-fashioned, harmless viewing. This didn't make me laugh quite as much as the others but I still found lots of it amusing. Just lots of slapstick joined together with a fairly loose plot really.         6/10

He walked by night 1948

Starring: Richard Basehart

A burglar becomes a cop-killer and is hunted down by the police.

A little like Criminal minds from the 1940's. Some of the police profiling was interesting, the movie zipped along at a good pace with a convincing villain. Also interesting to see the climax down the LA storm drain tunnels. Quite a good little thriller.             8/10

 

Son of Kong 1933

Starring: Robert Armstrong

After Kong has wrecked New York, producer Carl Denham flies from his creditors and finds more monsters on the old island.

The inevitable sequel. Not up to the original, but it is short and quite a laugh with the monster not bad for its day.                    4/10

Night of the juggler 1980

Starring: James Brolin

A new Yorker relentlessly pursues the kidnapper of his daughter.

Certainly never boring, the pace and action never ease and James Brolin's character must have the stamina of a marathon runner. Not a great advert for New York, apart from a couple of exceptions, I wouldn't want to spend more than 10 seconds in the company of any of the characters major or minor from this movie.                                     7/10

Bird of paradise 1932

Starring: Joel McCrea

An adventurer on a South sea island marries a native girl and causes trouble.

Apart from the beginning and end, Joem McCrea is the only one speaking English. So you here a lot of quite possible made up foreign language and suitable south-sea, occasionally dramatic music. Having said that it was amusing enough, a sort of Tarzan who speaks the perfect Queen's English.      6/10

Prisoner of war 1954

Starring: Ronald Reagan

Life in a communist prison camp in Korea

Not sure how factual this was or whether it was propaganda. What it was, even after 6o years, was hard-hitting. Some of the torture methods used were simply barbaric and whatever the circumstances, no human being should ever treat another like this. Interesting, thought-provoking and just made me a little angry.         6/10

The Odd couple 1968

Starring: Jack Lemmon

A fussy divorse-shocked newswriter moves in with his sloppy sportscaster friend, and they get on each other's nerves.

I'm not the greatest fan of Lemmon or Matthau or to that matter Neil Simon. So I wasn't expecting much from this movie. But being contrary, I found myself loving it. Some of the throwaway lines were hilarious and the two leads complemented each other perfectly. The four poker friends were great and you really felt they were all comfortable in each others company and had known each other for years. Finally, the Pigeon sisters were wonderful and utterly hilarious. This will teach me to pre-judge a movie!   8/10

I'd climb the highest mountain 1951

Starring: Susan Hayward

A Methodist preacher and his wife face the problems of life in a remote part of North Georgia

Pleasant enough viewing with likeable characters. The problem was, they were all likeable, there wasn't really any light and shade and I felt the movie could have been a little more hard-hitting in places. It copped out rather as an ending and you never felt that you'd got a full-rounded story. Having said that, it was easy viewing.     5/10

Odette 1950

Starring: Anna Neagle

A Frenchwoman with an English husband spies for the French resistance, is caught and tortured.

Well acted by Anna Neagle with an endearing performance also by Peter Ustinov. Occasionally, this movie hit the mark but I found the pace too slow and it lacked a required despiration and build up of tension.       4/10

Golden earrings 1947

Starring: Ray Milland

A British intelligence officer is helped by a gypsy to sneak a poison gas formula out of Nazi Germany

A mixture of drama and comedy. Ray Milland is dashing and Marlene Dietrich  makes the most of her every moment on screen, she also has the most gorgeous pair of eyes I ever remember seeing. This is just a little bit different and forgetting the fact that the plot is slightly daft, I loved it!
My one criticism, starting the movie in the future removes the element of suspense as you know that Milland's character will come out alive.            8/10

Go for broke 1951

Starring: Van Johnson

World war 2 exploits of Japanese-American soldiers.

Has a semi-documentary element to it as well as being a routine action war movie. The uniqueness of this outfit gives the movie interest and it is presented with a certain lightness that made it likeable.     5/10

 

The Stars look down 1939

Starring: Michael Redgrave

The son of a coal miner struggles to become an MP.

Every now and then I bump into one of these gritty, British, working class dramas. The movie drifted along somewhat with some drama at the beginning and an excellent last 25 minutes. If anything, it needed to be longer, as storylines and relationships were worked on but not built up sufficiently to give the movie additional impact.     5/10

The Man who haunted himself 1970

Starring: Roger Moore

After recovering from a road accident, a staid businessman finds that he has an evil doppelganger who steals his wife and job.

Despite the daft premise, a truely awful performance by Pelham's lover, a bizarre performance by his doctor and a tune that ran through the film that I'll be humming for days, I actually rather enjoyed this. Moore in his prime playing a different kind of role.           9/10

Africa screams 1949

Starring: Abbott & Costello

Two dumbells go on safari with a treasure map

I've always been a bit of a fan of Abbott & Costello. This was one of their better movies for me, a tight plot and although this made me smile, rather than laugh out loud and occasionally the gags went on just a little too long, this was an enjoyable start to Sunday mornings in 2014.      7/10

The Beautiful blonde from Bashful Bend 1949

Starring: Betty Grable

A temperamental saloon entertainer accidentally shoots the sheriff and takes refuge as a schoolmistress.

The opening scene with a 3 year old learning to shoot was disturbing as could be. Once over that, the movie bombed along at a good pace but just tried way too hard to be funny. Most of the humour missed the mark although it was always watchable thanks to the delightful Betty Grable. The twin brothers gave a master class in over-acting that went way, way too far.      5/10 

Paradise Hawaiian style 1965

Starring: Elvis Presley

An amorous airline pilot returns to Hawaii and sets up a helicopter service.

I'm a fan of Elvis films. This is not one of his best with a plot barely worth mentioning and all the songs lacking a little energy, but it's still easy viewing, pleasing on the eye and leaves you with a smile on your face.           5/10

The Cheaters 1945

Starring: Joseph Schildkraut

A selfish and ostentatious family is reformed by the ministrations of a down-and-out actor

In the Christmas selection of an online movie site, it could be done under the trade descriptions act. Other than a lit Christmas tree, some carol singers and vague references to Scrooge, this didn't feel Christmassy at all. Very, very dull.           1/10

Rose of Washington Square 1939

Starring: Alice Faye

Tribulations of a Broadway singer in love with a worthless husband.

The story is instantly forgettable to be the honest,  but the songs aren't bad and there's lots of them. The song and dance routine to the title number 'Rose of Washington square' is spectacular and the movie was worth seeing for this alone.       4/10

Black angel 1946

Starring: Dan Duryea

A drunk sets out to find the murderer of his wife, and finds it was himself.

Thriller with strong lead performances that was made all the more memorable due to a neat twist in the last 15 minutes. Peter Lorre is his usual sinister self despite a woman he was threatening, towering over him.     7/10