Stolen Heaven 1931

Staring: Nancy Carroll

A boy and girl decide to commit suicide after spending the twenty thousand dollars they've stolen, but neither can go through with it.

Very dated, but the movie was held together by a very spirited performance from Nancy Carroll. A bit static at times but had some nice moments.    4/10

Yes sir, that's my baby 1949

Starring: Donald O'Connor

Ex-service undergraduates and their wives have trouble settling down to studies.

A poor man's Three men and a  baby. Light comedy and oddly, about 25 minutes in, the two leads sang a song, this was followed about 5 minutes later by a full production number. The American football scenes were less than convincing but this did make me smile a few times and laugh on one occasion. Sad to see that Gloria De Haven had recently passed away.     5/10

Over The Top 1987

Starring: Sylvester Stallone

An arm wrestler tries to win the love of his son.

As a father/son bonding movie, I didn't think this was bad and Stallone showed an extra dimension to some of his other roles. The inevitable arm wrestling show at the end was predictable and less than interesting but not the worst Stallone movie I've ever seen.    7/10

Free for all 1949

Starring: Robert Cummings

A young inventor finds a way of turning water into petrol.

Excellent little comedy with such a simple plot but well paced and with a fine sprinkling of humour. Available on Youtube and well worth a view.     8/10

Under the rainbow 1981

Starring: Chevy Chase

Nazis and midgets mingle backstage while The Wizard Of Oz is being filmed.

Second week in a row I've had an absolute stinker. Politically incorrect in so many ways, loud, confused, lacking in any kind of plot or humour, richly bizarre in so many ways. Who comes up with these ideas?.......   2/10

Motel hell 1980

Starring: Rory Calhoun

Benign motel owners are famous for their spiced meat, which is in fact made from their human guests.

A Sweeney Todd wannabe but shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. To me, horror and comedy just do not mix. Horror movies are at their best due to the tension created, tension and comedy cannot be achieved. This bored the life out of me.      1/10

Smash-up, The story of a woman 1947

Starring: Susan Hayward

The story of a lady alcoholic.

A very serious subject. Susan Heyward acts her socks off as a woman wracked with fear, loneliness and frustration. A little single paced which made it feel over-long, this is an issue even more relevant today than the era in which it was made.      6/10

Batman 1966

Starring: Adam West

The cloaked avenger saves an important executive from the clutches of four of the World's most notorious criminals.

I loved Batman when I was a boy although surprisingly, I'd never ticked off the feature length movie. Adam West and Burt Ward will always be Batman & Robin in my eyes. Cheesy, corny, ridiculous, I loved every minute and all four major villains were together to add to the fun.  7/10

Behind the high wall 1956

Starring: Tom Tully

A prison warder, taken as hostage by escaping convicts, steals some of the money they have taken.

Very dark throughout and just never grabbed my interest. Lots of dramatic music and shouting but little to entertain or fire the imagination.     2/10

It happened to Jane 1959

Starring: Doris Day

A lady lobster dealer becomes involved in a battle with the railroad whose inefficiency affects her business.

A bit of a missed opportunity in my book with Doris Day & Jack Lemon's comic timing not given an opportunity due to a frantic, shouty script. Some nice scenes thought and some lovely shots of small town America.        5/10

Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm 1938

Starring; Shirley Temple

A child performer becomes a pawn in the fight to exploit her talents on radio.

I expected to find Shirley Temple precocious, I actually found her an absolute delight. Some great musical numbers throughout and a superb closing tap dance scene. Nice to see Randolph Scott in an animated role, he actually had really good comic timing.      7/10

The Magic box 1951

Starring: Robert Donat

The life of William Friese-Greene, a British cinema pioneer who died in poverty.

Really interesting biopic. I'm slightly confused as to why they didn't run his life sequentially rather than starting near the finish, jumping backwards and then forwards to the end again. Loads of star cameos, I really interesting piece about a gentleman who I'd never heard of but enjoyed researching after the movie ended.      6/10

The Thirteenth guest 1932

Starring: Ginger Rogers

A haunted house, a will at midnight, and a frightened lady.

Agatha Christie like but done with a light hand. The humnour helped it along and for its time, I've seen a lot worse.        6/10

Young and innocent 1937

Starring: Nova Pilbeam

A girl goes on the run with her boyfriend when he is suspected of murder.

An early Hitchcock, some of the shots have his signature written all over them. Started okay but then got a bit muddled and confused and my mind started to wander.       3/10

Harold and Maude 1971

Starring: Bud Cort

A repressed young man, fixated on death and funerals, has an affair with an 80-year old woman.

A very black comedy. Some of the self harm scenes were quite amusing, I just never bought the relationship. Maude looked nowhere near 80 and there was no chemistry between the two. A cult classic I know, didn't work for me.          3/10

The Black Arrow 1948

Starring: Louis Hayward

During the Wars Of The Roses, an English knight seeks the murderer of his father.

A bit like Robin Hood but set in a different location and period. Plot moved at pace and plenty of swash and buckle. Rather good fun.        7/10

Little Fauss and Big Halsy 1970

Starring: Robert Redford

Two motor cycle track racers team up and have violent adventures around the country.

As much as I like Robert Redford, this movie didn't hit the mark for me. It needed a stronger plot, it just seemed to drift along in a cloud of desert dust and scantily clad women. Just never found it interesting.          4/10

Demetrius and the gladiators 1954

Starring: Victor Mature

A Greek slave who keeps Christ's robe after the crucifixion is sentenced to be one of Caligula's gladiators and becomes involved in Messalina's wiles.

Big Hollywood production, not at all bad and had a great cast. I particularly enjoyed Jay Robinson's Caligula, a mixture of mad and evil, nicely done! Plenty of action, at times it needed a little more pace but any movie where a hero wrestles with tigers cannot be all bad.     6/10

The Glass key 1935

Starring: Edward Arnold

A slightly corrupt but good-natured politician is saved by his henchman from being implicated in a murder.

One of those 1930's movies that had no light and shade and is just continual talking. A never fully figured out the plot and never felt engaged with it at any time. Ah well, you get these from time to time.    2/10

Footsteps in the fog 1955

Starring: Stewart Granger

A Victorian murderer plans to eliminate a blackmailing maid.

Really well plotted and clearly laid out movie with several twists and turns that all made sense. I'm not the biggest fan of Stewart Granger but he was excellent in this, I've always looked out for Jean Simmons as my Mum used to see her walk down the road as a young lady, she was also excellent. Great little melodrama that had me completely engrossed.      9/10