Things to come 1936

Starring: Raymond Massey

War in 1940 followed by plague, rebellion, a new glass-based society, and the first rocketship to the moon.

Interesting to see H G Wells vission of the future. It's easy to scorn 70 years on. The Wandering sickness was my personal favourite. Too much slow action set to music for my liking. Wells predictions were the focus on the film that never really found a viable plot. 3/10

That Hamilton woman 1941

Starring: Vivien Leigh

The affair of Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton

Wordy tale of the love triangle, well actually love rectangle between William Hamilton, Lady Hamilton, Lord Nelson & Lady Nelson. Great performances by actors from the very top of the pile. The story was just a little uninteresting in this version, possibly because we all knew how it would end. Interesting however to see Nelson portrayed with a weakness. 5/10

Murphy's war 1971

Staring: Peter O'Toole

A torpedoed British merchantman in Venezuala devotes himself to bombing a U-boat from a home-made plane.

A boys own war adventure. O'Toole is his usual madcap self although it works in this movie. Sian Phillips counterbalances him in an underused straight role. The movie manages to hit a correct balance of humour, tension & action. If nothing else, I learnt just how big a torpedo is. Great fun! 8/10

The Boston strangler 1968

Starring: Tony Curtis

A semi-factual account of the sex maniac who terrified Boston in the mid-Sixties.

At first the occasional split-screen scenes and weird angle shots were distracting, but they grew on my a little. The movie plays in two parts. Firstly, a kind of whoddunit as the murders are carried out. Secondly, the investigation/interrogation. Curtis did a good job as the murderer. The film was at times compelling & moving in some ways. 6/10

Tiger bay 1959

Staring: Hayley Mills

A Polish seaman in Cardiff kills his faithless girl friend and kidnaps a child who proves more than a match for him.

Engaging, well paced thriller with well developed characters. John Mills is profficient if unspectacular. Buckholz is a little too likeable for a murderer but Hayley Mills is superb as the central character. She was surely one of the most consistent child actors.
Nice movie with an exciting conclusion. 7/10

School for scoundrels 1960

Staring: Ian Carmichael

A failure reports to the college of one-upmanship and his life is tranformed.

Not pleasant to watch at first with smarmy characters constantly hitting on the unfortunate Carmichael. Movie improves and becomes more humorous as Carmichael puts his lessons learnt into practice. If I'd heard the expression "Hard cheese" once more, I think I will have screamed.
Nice idea, but never really takes off. 5/10

The Left handed gun 1958

Starring: Paul Newman

Billy the kid sets out to shoot four men who have killed his friend.

Newman plays Billy the kid as an illiterate, vaguely psychotic individual grieving the one man who 'gave him a chance'.

There was a good contrast between the obsessed Kid & Pat Garrett. Billy the kid was portrayed as a very sad & lonely figure.

There have been many portrayals of Billy the Kid, this has to be near the top of the list. 8/10

The Howling 1980

Starring: Dee Wallace

A lady newscaster discovers that the medical retreat at which she stays to recover from a nervous breakdown is likely to give her another.

Crude werewolf story that jumps rather from scene to scene. This took a while to get to the main drama. Once it did, the special effects were impressive, but the horror was all a bit predictible.

A bit dull really. 4/10

Captain Horatio Hornblower RN 1951

Starring: Gregory Peck

Events from the adventure novels about a 19th-Century sailor who outwits the Spaniards and the French and marries his admiral's widow.

Schoolboy type seafaring adventures about this famous captain. Well shot in nice tongue in cheek style. Interesting to see James Robertson Justice actually acting a part rather than just barking out lines. A movie that was very easy on the eye. 8/10

Flying deuces 1939

Starring: Laurel & Hardy

Laurel & Hardy join the foreign legion

Laurel & Hardy were the masters of farce. So why are their movies never as funny as their 20 minute shorts? This movie has the occassional moment, but the funny scenes are too far apart and the movie was just a little too pedestrian.
This made me smile, rather than laugh. I'll stick with the shorts I think. 5/10

Rain 1932

Starring: Joan Crawford

Stranded passengers in Pago Pago during an epidemic include a prostitute and a missionary who lusts after her.

An early version of the Sadie Thompson story. The clash of constant dialogue, lack of movement & incessent rain grates on the nerves somewhat.Now very dated & not particularly interesting. 2/10

Play Dirty 1969

Staring: Michael Caine

During World War 2, a squad of ex-criminals is given the job of destroying an enemy oil depot in North Africa.

A desert war movie with shades of Kelly's heroes. Caine is not too bad in a role where thankfully, he doesn't shout too much. One question, wht does he wear eye liner throughout this film? Overall, the movie lacked pace and didn't really build the tension. Worth watching for the ending, an absolute classic. 6/10

Sugarland express 1974

Staring: Goldie Hawn

A convict's wife persuades him to escape because their baby is being adopted, and they inadvertantly leave behind them a trail of destruction, ending in tragedy.

An early Steven Speilberg movie based on a true story. Beautifully made showing the class of the director, this is a fugitive, road movie. Nice to see Goldie Hawn not playing a dipsy air-head. Shades of the Blues Brothers with some of the car chases & crashes. Well crafted script ensuring you truely care for the characters. 6/10

The Undefeated 1969

Staring: John Wayne

After the civil war, two colonels from opposite sides meet on the Rio Grande.

John Wayne would have been 100 this year. I've never been a fan but took in this movie as my tribute. He's actually used sparingly and works really well in conjunction with Rock Hudson. It's a sweeping, locational saga with a great look & great soundtrack. It has a nice mixture of plot, action & humour and the fct that it's so charatcer driven makes the whole thing more memorable. I really liked it and to me, this was a mature Wayne and one of his best performances. 7/10

Imitation of life 1959

Starring: Lana Turner

Glossy remake of an actress whose black maid has a tragic life because her daughter posses for white.

A melodramatic Hollywood saga. Brilliant acting by all the cast, but particularly Juanita Moore make this a compelling piece. The ageing process is realistically portrayed & you really feel a sense of time passing. The race issue is sensitively handled and makes you ashamed to be human. An epic movie, at the end, if you think back to the opening scene on the beach, it seems a lifetime away. 9/10

The Romantic Englishwoman 1975

Starring: Michael Caine

A discontented woman, holidaying at Baden Baden, falls in love with a stranger while her husband completes a novel on the same theme.

This is a movie that simmers beautifully under the surface, Berger & Jackson are spot on, unfortunately, Caine ruins many of his scenes by shattering the tension with his shouting in an annoying voice. Probably, better for a play rather than a movie. 5/10

Please Sir 1971

Starring: John Alderton

The masters and pupils of Fenn Street school go on an annual camp.

Dated, politically incorrect big screen version of this TV show. All the pupils look about 30 years old. Alderton & Derek Guyler have terrific comedy timing and it is worth watching for that. Generally uninspiring but did have some laugh out loud moments. 5/10

Meet me in St Louis 1944

Starring: Judy Garland

Scenes in the life of an affectionate family at the turn of the century.

This movie is full of amusing, likeable characters and catchy songs. You genuinely feel that all the people like each other. Occassionally, it went off the rails, usually with the sweet youngest sister. But nice comic timing and a harmlessl, likeable script made this an enjoyable watch.

The River 1951

Episodes in the life of a small English community living on the banks of the Ganges.

An old fashioned tale from a time that seems a Million years away from our modern World.This is moralistic teachings and adolescent stories of first love with three young ladies all falling for the same one legged man. There's a lot of narration which at times seems rather intrusive and the acting is frankly no better than average. There are however, fabulous unmanipulated shots of the Ganges and everyday life that takes place on and around that great river. No classic, but interesting due to its unique difference. 4/10

Le Beau Mariage 1981

Staring: Beatrice Ronand

An art student abandons her many affairs and announces her intention of getting married, but her intended proves reluctant...

A subtitled film although this didn't detract at all. Sabine is a particularly annoying character who borders on being a stalker, I wouldn't want to be with her in a locked room. The film is very natural in its style, delivery and setting, does it always rain in Le Mans? Some annoying characters but a quietly compelling story. 7/10