Mr Dynamite 1935

 Starring: Edmund Lowe

An unconventional private detective outsmarts the police.

Very old, actors shout at each other and talk at 100mph, attempted wisecracks every 30 seconds fall flat. I lost interest very quickly, thankfully short.    2/10

Valentino 1951

 

Starring: Anthony Dexter

An Italian immigrant to the US becomes a World-famous romantic film star but dies young.

In Wikipedia, Charlie Chaplin described Valentino as the shy, introverted friend. Valentino is not depicted like this in this movie, rather as a cad and womaniser that makes him difficult to like. More of a love story, a kind of half-biopic, interesting none the less.  5/10

Man Of Flowers 1983

 

Starring:  Norman Kaye

A model's relationship with her lover, a blackmailing, cocaine-snorting artist, and her admirer, a wealthy, repressed, middle-aged aesthete, leads to violence.

There's a line in a Monty Python sketch that goes "I may not know much about art, but I know what I like". It seemed like this movie was made to shock, nudity a plenty, a lesbian scene, all accompanied by an operatic score. I found it to be pretentious and boring.    2/10

Bombers Moon 1943

 

An American pilot crash-lands into Germany and makes for the coast.

Editing is a little clumsy, woman being mistaken as a boy is laughable but there are some decent scenes throughout with well built tension.   6/10

Saludos Amigos 1943

 

Donald Duck has various South American adventures with a parrot namedJoe Carioca

Slightly misleading, I think Donald was only in two scenes. Semi-documentary, most interesting to see clips of people going about their lives in years gone by. Did make me laugh a couple of times, just a bit of an odd movie and very short.    5/10

Those Were The Days 1940

 

Starring: William Holden

During their 40th anniversary celebrations, a married couple look back to their courtship days at college.

Set around the fraternity scene at Knox College, everything that the students got up to seems so tame, not a patch on the outrageous 'Animal House' but had occasional moments.   4/10

Internes Can't Take Money 1937

 

Starring: Joel McCrea

A hospital doctor persuades a gangster friend to help a woman find her missing child.

The screen debut of Dr Kildare and he comes into the company of Barbara Stanwyck. Kildare is a bit like Macgyver and uses everything around him to aid in operations. Movie can't quite make up its mind whether it's a medical drama or a crime drama but the ending is beautifully done.    6/10

Alive And Kicking 1958

 

Staring: Sybil Thorndike

Three old ladies escape from a home to an Irish island.

Utterly bonkers and yet charming. It's full on and quite exhausting to watch, once you set yourself at piece with the goings on, it is good fun and made me laugh out loud a few times. 7/10

Kill Me Tomorrow 1957

 

Starring Pat O'Brien

A down-and-out reporter confuses to murder in order to obtain cash for his son's operation.

Although slightly flawed, I just never bought Pat O'Brien as the son's father, this is a decent thriller that zipped along nicely, the plot was well constructed and there were interesting characters. Good locations of London and great to see an upcoming Tommy Steele singing a couple of times in a bar.    7/10

A Bill Of Divorcement 1932

 

Starring: John Barrymore

A middle-aged man, released from a mental institution, comes home and meets his strong-willed daughter.

Notable for Katharine Hepburn's first movie performance and she brings tremendous energy and class. Barrymore's depiction of instance is an unbuttoned top button, dishevelled hair and wide eyes. Quite talkie but once this drives towards a climax, there is a beautifully played and heart-wrenching final scene.  7/10

Sanctuary 1960

 

Starring: Lee Remick

The governor's daughter is seduced by a bootlegger, and her life goes from one tragedy to another.

Could be relevant to so many modern relationships. Steamy, sultry, not an easy watch and Temple seemed a bizarre choice of name for the lead character. Lee Remick is good but Odetta is outstanding and brings this movie together.  4/10

The Loves Of Carmen 1948

 

Starring: Rita Hayworth

In 1820s Seville, a dragoon corporal is enslaved by a gy[sy, kills her husband and becomes an outlaw.

A spirited performance by Rita Hayworth although she sound in the least bit Spanish. Glenn Ford gives an excellent example of character development from the niece soldier to criminal besotted by a woman. Although flawed, the movie is good fun.    6/10

The Unseen 1945

 

Starring: Joel McCrea

A London governess comes to suspect that dark deeds have taken place in the empty house next door.

Not a bad thriller, Gail Russell who died tragically young was the real star here. A love the way that classic moves depict murder and create tension. Music, light and shadows has so much more impact than the gore of today.    6/10

Jack the Ripper 1958

 

Starring: Ewen Solon

In Victorian London, the Ripper murders are finally attributed to a demented surgeon.

Looked great, superb costumes and some nicely thought through locations. A little cliched and why did it need an American detective helping? Great to see John Le Messurier, a British icon. A little hammed up but an interesting watch.    6/10

Ladies In Retirement 1941

 

Starring: Ida Lupino

A housekeeper murders her employer for the sake of her two mentally disturbed sisters.

Starts well, then dips but is excellent in the last 30 minutes. I never bought the two sisters, a telescope and nut shells is not enough to convey people as mad. So many questions, a movie for a discussion group. 6/10

Francis Joins The WACS 1954

 

Starring: Donald O'Connor

Peter Stirling (With his old friend the talking mule)is recalled to active duty...in the WACs!!

Donald O'Connor is a favourite of mine, excellent comic timing. Very silly but it did make me laugh. As stupid ab idea as a talking mule is, it had some great moments with the General.   6/10

Charlie Chan At The Racetrack 1936

 

Staring: Warner Oland

They made so many of these movies. This one wasn't bad at all, fun plot, little touches of humour and Charlie's young relative brought a great energy. Racing footage was poor, otherwise a decent watch.    6/10

Neptune's Daughter 1949

Starring: Esther Williams

A lady bathing suit designer has a South American romance.

Plot is not great. Although some of the slapstick was cleverly done, I didn't find this funny. Some of the musical numbers were goo including the classic "Baby, it's cold outside".  4/10
 

The Leather Saint 1955

 

Starring: Paul Douglas

To provide his parish hospital with medical equipment, a Catholic priest becomes a commercial prizefighter.

I've seen so many boxing movies over the years. This has a heart and the purpose of the boxing is worthy and pulls at the heart strings. A little stilted and obvious but I very worthwhile.   5/10

Something Short Of Perfect 1979

 

Starring: Susan Sarandon

A romantic comedy revolving around the on-gain, off-again relationship of a New York Couple.

David Soane was one of the most annoying characters I've seen in a long time, I actually found the whole thing really boring. Thankfully, Susan Sarandon looked a picture.   3/10