Excuse my dust 1951

Starring: Red Skelton

The inventor of a horseless carriage loves the daughter of a livery stable owner.

 This was really rather jaunty. Made me laugh out loud more than once and was a mixture of musical and quirky comedy. The race at the end was amusing, when you think back to when vehicles were first being invented, how far we have come!       6/10

Every day's a holiday 1937

Starring: Mae West

A confidence girl in the old Bowery sells Brooklyn Bridge to suckers.

Considering she is such a 20th century sex icon, I was amazed at how few movies Mae West made. She totally carried this and gave an enthusiastic, energetic performance. You know the comedy is going to miss the mark when the soda water in the face gag is dragged out. Had it's moments but all about Mae West.      4/10

Cairo Road 11950

Starring: Eric Portman

An Egyptian police chief lays traps for drug smugglers.

Not a bad movie but I felt like it was trying to achieve too much. The plot became a little muddled, although there were lots of good action scenes, they seemed to zip along and you were on to the next scene before you knew it. I'm a fan of Eric Portman, but he was a little pedestrian in this.      5/10

The Unguarded Moment 1956

Starring: Esther Williams

A schoolmistress who receives annonymous love notes from a psychotic pupil is discredited by his even more unbalanced father.

At times, quite a tense little thriller. All 'Who's behind the flashlight' type moments. Plenty of suspects to consider and the whole thing moved along at a reasonable pace.    7/10

The Hostage 1956

Starring: Ron Randell

A South American President condemns a revolutionary to death; In London, sympathizers kidnap the president's daughter.

A fairly original plot. Although some of the villains are a little unbelievable with their posh accents and some of the stints are a little crude, this was a reasonably put together little drama.   6/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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