Neutral Port 1940

 

Starring: Will Fyffe

A merchant navy captain avenges the loss of his ship by sabotaging a German U-boat.

War propaganda, highly irritating now. Lots of shouting and breast beating about nationality. A couple of reasonable scenes, otherwise completely forgettable.   3/10

All For Mary 1955

 

Starring: Kathleen Harrison

Two rivals for the hand of the pretty daughter of a Swiss hotelier are struck down by chicken pox and cared for by the old nanny of one of them.

Very dated, as much as I like David Tomlinson, this is watchable but just a little silly. A nanny ordering around two middle aged men just doesn't hold water nowadays. Nice scenery though.  5/10

Frontier Marshal 1939

 

Starring: Randolph Scott

Wyatt Earp cleans up Tombstone.

All the big-hitters here, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the Okay Coral. Fascinating to see how Tombstone was depicted as a busy, bustling, riotous place. I wonder how near the truth all of this was. I found this interesting more than gripping.   6/10

At Gunpoint 1955

 

Starring: Fred MacMurray

A western storekeeper accidentally kills a bank robber, whose brothers seek revenge; will the townsfolk come to his aid?

Loved this. A strong storyline, but I particularly loved the sense of community, you genuinely believed that the people all knew each other and were friends. A tale of loyalty, community and sticking together.    9/10

Nomads 1985

 

Starring: Pierce Brosnan

An anthropologist settling in Los Angeles is haunted by vengeful spirits of remote tribes he had investigated.

Terrible movie. Confused, lots of shrieking and why was Pierce Brosnan selected to play a Frenchman? The 80's soundtrack had some interest, otherwise a complete write off for me.   2/10

If I Were King 1938

 

Starring: Ronald Colman

The 14th century poet and rascal Francois Villon matches wits with Louis X1 and leads an uprising of the people.

Ronald Colman has his tongue firmly in his cheek and a glint in his eye, Basil Rathbone, who I seem to see in a movie every other week, is marvellously camp. A bit hit and miss but certainly has its moments.    5/10

Easy A 2010

 

Starring: Emma Stone

A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

With a nodding wink to John Hughes 1980's movies, this teen flick absolutely hits the mark. Emma Stone is spot on, witty, charming, I can't imagine how somebody like that could be invisible in school. Terrifically writer with a bunch of great cameos, Emma Stone's parents and her teacher steal the show for me. Very enjoyable.  8/10

Storm Over Lisbon 1944

 

Starring: Vera Hruba Ralston

An International spy mastermind runs a Lisbon night club and sells documents to the highest bidder.

I'm not sure I was ever entirely sure what was going on. Set in Lisbon but quite dark and predominently set indoors, it could have been anywhere. Didn't do it for me at all.    2/10

Eye Of The Tiger 1986

 

Starring: Gary Busey

A vigilante avenge's his wife's murder.

So many vigilante movies made in the 80's. Not one of the greatest to be honest, Yaphet Kotto with his aerial support in an explosive finale was an excellent scene.    4/10

Uncle Buck 1989

 Starring: John Candy

A good-natured but slobbish layabout straightens out his sister's warring children and learns to love domesticity.

I remember this being huge when it was released, looks great on the outside but has little substance. Still watchable although it never once made me laugh out loud.       6/10

The Lost Moment 1947

 

Starring: Robert Cummings

An American publisher goes to Venice to recover love letters written by a famous poet to a lady now aged 105.

Intriguing idea and the old lady is brilliantly made up and well played. The movie though is too single paced and pedestrian and just never came alive for me.     4/10

The Flame 1947

 

Starring: Vera Hruba Ralston

A nurse marries for money, but her ailing spouse recovers and she falls in love with him.

Extremely full melodrama with no character that I particularly liked, the nurse's broken English accent was actually quite a struggle to listen to. Very much on one level throughout.        4/10

And Soon The Darkness 1970

 

Starring: Pamela Franklin

Of two young nurses on a cycling holiday in France, one is murdered by a local sex maniac and the other almost shares her fate.

Very well directed and always interesting to look at, this keeps you guessing and is intriguing but needs more pace. There is only so long you can stare at a long empty road and a pretty girl, fortunately an exciting conclusion and twist pushes this into the quite good category. 7/10

Come Back, Little Sheba 1952

 

Starring: Shirley Booth

An ex-alcoholic is let down not only by his slovenly wife but by the young girl he idolises.

I'm not sure that I've ever seen a Burt Lancaster movie that I haven't enjoyed. This is quite simply, one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. Heartbreaking, hard hitting, joyous at times. Lancaster is understated but in a 10 minute spell, brilliant. Shirley Booth gave an absolute masterclass and fully deserved her Oscar , what a performance! Terry Moore added a youthful delight. This was brilliant in every department.    10/10

The Last Man To Hang 1956

 

Starring: Tom Conway

Sir Roderick Strood is on trial for the murder of his neurotic wife.

Not a bad courtroom drama which you feel is concentrating more on the forthcoming law to end capital punishment. Didn't see the ending coming though.    6/10

Double Bunk 1961

 

Starring: Ian Carmichael

Newlyweds live in an old houseboat.

A host of old familiar faces messing about on the water. Not exactly laugh out loud stuff but very easy viewing and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.  7/10

Windom's Way 1957

 

Starring: Peter Finch

A doctor on a Far Eastern island tries to quell a native uprising.

Glad I didn't watch this until I was well into adulthood, political drama in an area of the World that it is highly likely I will never visit. Well played, hard hitting and at times brutal. The colour appeared a little washed out but this was powerful stuff.    6/10

What A Carve Up 1961

 

Starring: Sid James

A madman fakes his own death in order to murder his relatives.

Carry On stars but not in the same league. Seems like a collection of ideas and cliches used but not really knitted together. Sid James is good as the straight man in the duo, it made me smile a couple of times and was interesting to see, but no classic.     6/10

Easy Money 1948

 

Starring: Edward Rigby

Four people win big prizes on the football pools.

I did not realise this was a series of short stories and felt a little cheated as I was thoroughly enjoying the characters in the opening segment. Fascinating to see pictures of pools staff at work how times have changed! I actually really enjoyed this.       7/10

The Blind Goddess 1947

 

Starring: Eric Portman

The private secretary to a public figure finds that his idol has feet of clay, and suffers in court for his discovery. 

This is very well acted and there are some good moments in the courtroom, just a little wordy and the whole thing gets weighed down by this and is. little too earnest for me.     5/10