Little Fauss and Big Halsy 1970

Starring: Robert Redford

Two motor cycle track racers team up and have violent adventures around the country.

As much as I like Robert Redford, this movie didn't hit the mark for me. It needed a stronger plot, it just seemed to drift along in a cloud of desert dust and scantily clad women. Just never found it interesting.          4/10

Demetrius and the gladiators 1954

Starring: Victor Mature

A Greek slave who keeps Christ's robe after the crucifixion is sentenced to be one of Caligula's gladiators and becomes involved in Messalina's wiles.

Big Hollywood production, not at all bad and had a great cast. I particularly enjoyed Jay Robinson's Caligula, a mixture of mad and evil, nicely done! Plenty of action, at times it needed a little more pace but any movie where a hero wrestles with tigers cannot be all bad.     6/10

The Glass key 1935

Starring: Edward Arnold

A slightly corrupt but good-natured politician is saved by his henchman from being implicated in a murder.

One of those 1930's movies that had no light and shade and is just continual talking. A never fully figured out the plot and never felt engaged with it at any time. Ah well, you get these from time to time.    2/10

Footsteps in the fog 1955

Starring: Stewart Granger

A Victorian murderer plans to eliminate a blackmailing maid.

Really well plotted and clearly laid out movie with several twists and turns that all made sense. I'm not the biggest fan of Stewart Granger but he was excellent in this, I've always looked out for Jean Simmons as my Mum used to see her walk down the road as a young lady, she was also excellent. Great little melodrama that had me completely engrossed.      9/10

Violent Saturday 1955

Staring: Richard Egan

Crooks move quietly into a small town with the intention of robbing the bank.

Not bad. A lot of the build up to the inevitable was fluff but things did tie up nicely at the end so that it all made sense. The final shoot out at the Amish barn was nicely handled.      6/10 

The Greengage Summer 1961

Starring: Kenneth More

A young girl staying at a hotel falls in love with a jewel thief but is accidentally responsible for his capture.

Gentle movie that had a touch of The Railway Children about it. Capturing the moment where a girl steps between being a girl and a woman. Nicely acted and there were some brilliant moments of lighting.      6/10

Better off dead 1985

Starring: John Cusack

When his fickle girlfriend leaves him, a lonely teenager becomes despondent, but the sun shines when another girl shows interest.

Early John Cusack film. Had some extremely weird and wacky moments but also had some amusing continuous threads running throughout. I actually really warmed to it and it put a smile on my face.     7/10

Bill and Coo 1947

Trials and tribulations of the inhabitants of Chirpendale are enacted entirely by birds, mostly wearing hats and neckties.

How very odd. An entire movie with just birds. Quite amusing for the first 5 minutes but it's a 'One-trick pony' , the charm soon wears off and there's nothing else to it.   2/10

Operattion daybreak 1975

Starring: Timothy Bottoms

In 1941, Czech patriots kill the hated Nazi Heydrich and are hunted down.

Fascinating portrayal of a true story. The sheer brutality of the times is mind-boggling. Excellent performances despite the odd bit of strange casting (Diane Coupland!?!). Really enjoyed it as a movie, I was on the edge of my seat.     10/10

The Man who could work miracles 1936

Starring: Roland Young

A city clerk discovers he has the power to woek miracles (given him by sportive gods) and nearly causes the end of the Earth.

H.G Wells story. All a lot of nonsense although it does have a moralistic story attached to it. I guess for the time, the special effects were cutting edge and it was certainly an enjoyable movie to watch.          8/10

Too late for tears 1949

Starring: Lizabeth Scott

A lady bluebeard disposes of both husbands and boyfriends.

More twists and turns than a twisty, turny thing. So long as you buy the premise of a suitcase full of money being thrown into a speeding car, it wasn't too bad. Lizabeth Scott was completely believable and despite coincidences and detectives proving to be better than Sherlock Holmes, this was quite good fun.         6/10

Touch of evil 1958

Starring: Charlton Heston

A Mexican narcotics investigator honeymooning in a border town clashes with the local police chief over a murder.

Ridiculously dark and crushingly boring. I lost intesrt about 10 minutes in and it never returned. Waste of a really good cast.       1/10

It happened at the World's Fair 1962

Starring: Elvis Presley

At the Seattle World's Fair, two crop-dusting pilots have romantic intrigues.

I always seem to end up having at least one Elvis film each year, I actually really enjoyed this one. Nice little plot, songs were easy on the ear and th elittle girl who featured as much as Elvis, was charming.        8/10

The St Valentine's day massacre 1967

Starring: Jason Robards Jr

The twenties gang war between Al Capone and Bugs Moran.

Semi-documentary like, it was interesting from a historical point of view. Other than that, it was a lot of machine gun fire and you just raise your eyebrows at the stupidity of the whole era.       4/10

The Naked kiss 1964

Starring: Constance Towers

A prostitute tries to enter mainstream society.

Constance Towers is very good in an interesting movie. Slightly confusing and downbeat, there are some lovely scenes although all lit very darkly. The occasional 60's psychedelic soundtrack makes you want to run screaming from the room.        5/10

Kidnapped 1971

Starring: Michael Caine

Remake incorporating sections of Catriona. 

Three versions of this classic story in my film book and I hadn't seen any of them. Fantastic setting with some stunning scenery, the plot was interesting enough with some enjoyable action along the way. I do enjoy Michael Caine movies but his accent in this was great when it was there, but tended to go walkabout in the middle of speeches.  6/10

The Oblong box 1969

Starring:  Vincent Price

One of two 19th-century brothers is mysteriously disfigured and buried alive; he recovers and runs amok.

You expect a horror film with Price and Lee to be top notch, this wasn't. From a story by Edgar Alan Poe, this was confusing, badly acted with gallons of bright red paint which was supposedly blood. Thank goodness for the gorgeous Sally Geeson who I had a huge crush on as a kid, I had good taste back then! Terrible movie though.     2/10

Sundown 1941

Starring: Gene Tierney

The adopted daughter of an Arab trader assists British troops in Africa during World War 11.

Different as a war film being set in Africa. The underlying score was spot on and the lighting moody. It was all a little dated and slightly confusing but did have some good moments. Worth seeing.   5/10

Decision at Sundown 1957

Starring: Randolph Scott

A cowboy tracks down the badman who has seduced his wife.

The prolific Randolph Scott turns up again but looks well rough and I'm not sure how he found the energy to fight anyone. A slow burner of a movie, I'm not a fan of flashbacks but feel that this movie could have benefited from one as a bit of a scene setter. Scott's character is clearly tortured in his own mind and this is fairly well portrayed. Not a bad Western.      5/10

Lorna Doone 1951

Starring;  Barbara Hale

In 1625 on Exmoor, a farmer comes to love an outlaw's daughter who proves to be in reality a kidnapped heiress.

First time I've seen a screen version of this classic story. All a bit like a poor man's Robin Hood, also pretty sure there's no raging waterfall like that in Exmoor. Harmless fun though.      4/10