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Sunday, August 27, 2017

Istanbul 1956

Starring: Errol Flynn

Various adventurers and an amnesiac girl seek stolen diamonds in Istanbul.

The plot is a little forced and besides Errol, the acting isn't up to much. But forget all that, this is worth seeing just for the moment where Nat King Cole sings 'When I fall in love' to Errol Flynn and his partner in a bar. Iconic movie moment!       6/10

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Haywire 2011

Starring: Gina Carano

A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission. 

A comic book type lead character. A ridiculously strong cast, this looks great but has no meat on the bones. Terrible script, dull storyline and only a few well choreographed fights to save it from being a complete dud.    3/10

Sunday, August 13, 2017

The Crowded Day 1954

Starring: Joan Rice

Problems of five assistants in a department store during the Christmas rush.

The problem with making a movie like this is that you have to introduce all the characters, keep all the stories interesting and reach a satisfactory conclusion for each one, all i 80 minutes. By and large, they did a good effort. There was humour, romance and a little drama. The story with Richard attis and the mannequin dummy was very amusing. Not bad at all.     7/10

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Empire State 1987

Starring: Cathryn Harrison

An American gangster tries to infiltrate London's East End.

At times, crude and uncultured with a variety of storylines intertwining, some of which you wished had been developed further. Views of 1980's East End London were fascinating and the soundtrack was terrific.    6/10

Sunday, July 23, 2017

The Mountain 1956

Starring: Spencer Tracy

After an airplane crash the wreck is difficult to reach. A young man sets off alone to loot it, and his elder brother follows to stop him.

Some stunning shots and scenery. Spencer Tracy acts the socks off Robert Wagner, I never bought them as bothers. It struggled a little to keep the pace going during the climb and I'm not sure that political correctness was ever considered once they reached the plane. An enjoyable watch though.   7/10

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Boys In Brown 1949

Starring: Jack Warner

Life in a borstal institution.

Life in Borstal where it's all about second chances. Great cast with Richard Attenborough & Dirk Bogarde. The World has changed so much that the impact is no longer there, great to see all these fine actors in their prime.  6/10

Sunday, July 09, 2017

Breezy 1973

Starring: William Holden

A divorced 50 year old real estate agent is rejuvenated by an affair with a young girl hippy.

Had a typical late '60's early 70's look. A simple story, Kay Lenz as Breezy was so damn innocent and plain thinking that I found her utterly charming. Holden as the confused, guilt-torn older man, the perfect foil. Clint Eastwood directed this beautifully. An absolute delight!  9/10

Sunday, July 02, 2017

The Revenge Of Frankenstein 1958

Starring: Peter Cushing

Baron Frankenstein evades the guillotine and makes a new creature with the brain of a homicidal dwarf.

These are never going to tax the brain too much. Nice sense of period with the costumes and played totally straight as it needs to be. Not a masterpiece but amusing in its own way.     5/10

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Too late the hero 1969

Starring: Michael Caine

In World War 11, the Japanese hold one end of a small Pacific island, British and Americans the other.

Good start to this movie, it then became over-long and was one big shoot out with shouting inbetween. I think they tried to build the tension but although this was okay, it fell a little short of the mark. Michael Caine was once again a major disappointment for me.    5/10

Sunday, June 18, 2017

The Big Red One 1980

Starring: Lee Marvin

Five foot-soldiers survive action in several theatres of war between 1940 and 1945.

An awful lot of shooting and explosions, not too much plot other than soldiers being posted to different countries. Some nice shots and a few harrowing moments, the rest of it was not easy to engage with.   4/10

Sunday, June 04, 2017

Ten Wanted Men 1955

Starring: Randolph Scott

A rancher and his family are besieged by bandit's in a lady's house.

Routine family feud Western, Randolph Scott never brings anything new to the table for me. Not bad, but nothing memorable or original.    5/10

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Razorback 1984

Starring: Gregory Harrison

In a small outback town, a man is tried for the murder of his grandson, actually carried off by a wild boar.

This is a classily made film, some stunning shots throughout and done in such a way that you have no idea who will survive. A lot of very unlikeable characters but in my view, a cut above most giant animal on the rampage movies.    7/10

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Mutiny of the Elsinore 1937

Starring: Paul Lukas

A reporter on a sailing ship for a story finds himself in the middle of a mutiny.

Over the top poor acting, a purser with the weirdest accent I've heard in a long time anD  weak plot. This had plenty of flaws and yet strangely, I rather enjoyed it.       6/10

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Colonel Effingham's Raid 1946

Starring: Charles Coburn

A retired Southern colonel tries to straighten out a corrupt Georgia town.

This just never grabbed my interest. Nothing more really to say.    2/10

Sunday, May 07, 2017

Crosroads 1986

Starring: Ralph Macchio

Urged by a young musician, an old blues singer travels the south in search of his legendary companion's lost music.

Road movie. Great look and great lighting. I worried a little that Ralph Macchio would be cheesy but he held his own, Joe Seneca stole the show though. Great music throughout and the guitar battle at the end is a scene well worth seeing.     6/10

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Ride Out For Revenge 1957

Starring: Rory Calhoun

Gold is discovered on land to which the army is moving Indians, and this causes second thoughts.

Standard Western with white man in love with Indian girl, unusual to see a young boy shot in cold blood early in the movie that gave this a bit of an edge. Not too bad.   6/10

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Pitfall 1948

Starring: Dick Powell

An insurance investigator proves easy prey for a grasping woman.

I really rather enjoyed this. A love triangle story, well, love square kind of it was well scripted with the conflicts between family life and  an affair through work neatly handled. A bit on one level with its pace, but otherwise a sharp little movie.         7/10

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Made Men 1999

Starring: James Belushi

While working for the mob, Bill "The Mouth" Mannuci, stole $12 million dollars from them and turned over information to the FBI about the man he stole the money from, the mysterious "Skipper"

If you like people shouting at each other for 90 mins, swearing and shooting guns then this is the movie for you. I was bored within 90 seconds and it never improved. Most tedious movie I've seen for a very, very long time.         1/10

Sunday, April 09, 2017

Marine Raiders 1944

Starring: Pat O'Brien

The marines do battle in Guadalcanal.

Ra-Ra war movie some documentary shots within. Had its purpose at the time, now it was very difficult to get excited about. Full of cliches and an unnecessary love interest. I fear this will be instantly forgettable.      3/10

Sunday, April 02, 2017

Slipstream 1989

Starring: Mark Hamill

In a post-holocaust future, an android learns human feelings while being hunted by a policeman and woman.

I quite enjoyed the performances by Mark Hamill and Bill Paxton, but the movie as a whole was very poor. Badly scripted with some of the more ridiculous lines you are ever likely to hear and some very poor acting. Hell of a cast put together, somebody forgot about the plot and script.        4/10