Heart Of Midnight 1988

Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh

An emotionally disturbed woman uncovers the dark secrets of a nightclub left to her by her uncle.

I loved the first ten minutes of this movie, it seemed to have real potential and Jennifer Jason Leigh seemed interestingly quirky. Sadly, in no time at all, it descended into macabre, disjointed, silly nonsense that was not very well executed and was just plain unpleasant. Such a shame, score was good though.      4/10

City Girl 1930

Starring: Charles Farrell

A city girl finds rural life has its own dramas

In all my years of doing this, I can't remember ever having a silent movie before. I actully really enjoyed it. Nicely filmed, a cracking backing score that really helped move the movie along and plenty of drama. Old fashioned in so many ways and probably all the better for it.         6/10

The Dark Man 1950

Starring: Maxwell Reed

A mysterious murderer haunts a seaside resort.

Came across as a B-Movie, probably more suited to showing on TV. Typical policeman falls in lov with a lady involved in the case and this is followed by a manhunt. Not bad but never really came across as watching a motion picture.        6/10

Highpoint 1984

Starring: Richard Harris

An industrialist is on the run from both the Mafia and the CIA.

What on Earth? Not sure what Richard Harris and Christopher Plummer were thinking of. Terrible script full of pointless car chases, bad gags and misplaced humour. We even hd a speeded up scene straight out of a Benny Hill. Not good!           5/10


 

Doctor Blood's Coffin 1960

Starring:  Kieron Moore

A disbarred doctor sets up in a Cornish tin mine and begins to emulate Dr Frankenstein.

Nothing original about the plot, but this had a couple of things going for it. The characters in the main, were so natural that you believed in them and the Cornish scenery was simply stunning.    6/10

The Commandos strike at Dawn 1942

Starring: Paul Muni

Norwegian commandos outwit the Nazis with the help of the British navy.

Unusual to see a war film set in Norway and I actually thought this was rather good, don't know how historically accurate it was. Just made me shake my head once again at how utterly pointless war and fighting is.        7/10

I Married A Witch 1942

Starring: Frederic March

A Salem witch and her sorcerer father come back to haunt the descendant of the Puritan who had them burned.

Basically, like watching Bewitched. Loads of special effects, doors shutting by themselves, flying brooms etc. Quirky comedy too. Forget the plot, just good fun to watch.       6/10

Double Harness 1933

Starring: Ann Harding

A girl sets out to trick a rich man into marriage.

I'm having a bad run! Unintersting and unfunny. Thankfully, it was not too long.       2/10

The Woman On Pier 13 1949

Starring: Laraine Day

A shipping executive is blackmailed by communists, who know of a youthful crime, into helping them spy.

Melodrama, just not very interesting. Lots of dramatic music but the plot never gets anywhere close to a crescendo.   4/10

Whiplash 1948

Starring:  Dane Clark

A painter becomes a prizefighter

Reasonable melodrama. Nothing more sinister than a villain in a wheelchair. There are too many boxing movies out there and it just thought that this cried out for a little more originality. Nice performances though.        4/10

Eight Iron Men 1952

Starring:  Bonar Colleano

In the ruins of an Italian village, eight American infantrymen wait for relief.

Bleak, with an excellent set. Not a fan of flashbacks and daydreaming, but the frustration, despair and dire conditions were nicely portrayed.      5/10

The Divorce of Lady X 1938

Starring: Laurence Olivier

A nobleman's daughter wins a barrister by posing as a divorce client

Screwball comedy, dated but fun in places. Is this the first screening of "To me, to you, to me, to you..."?  Fun in places         5/10

Palookaville 1995

Starring: Adam Trese

Jerry and his two pals, Russ and Syd, are just looking for some easy money to help them break out of their nowhere lives in their nowhere town. Despite a bungled jewelry store heist which exposes their incompetence as criminals, a fateful event (and an old black-and-white film) convinces them that they can pull off an armored-truck robbery. While they are busy plotting their caper, their dysfunctional families spin out of control all around them.

Definitely quirky, but there was something likeable about this movie. The whole idea of trying to tunnel into a jewellery shop but actually reaching a bakery next door, amused me from the start and the characters had an easy charm.      6/10

The Honkers 1971

Starring: James Coburn

An ageing rodeo rider has trouble with his wife.

I like rodeo riding, who doesn't? But there's only so much you cn watch, the rest of the movie has to be interesting. For me , this just didn't cut it. Too much talk and not enough interest. Shame as it had potential.       4/10

Born Losers 1967

Starring: Tom Laughlin

California teeny-boppers claim to have been gang-raped by wandering motorcyclists.

Difficult to watch at times with a truly repulsive motor cycle clan. The fashions in this movie are jaw-dropping, the young female lead when first seen on her bike is a sight enough to make you walk headfirst into a lamppost.    6/10

Bad Compnay 1972

Starring: Jeff Bridges

During the civil war, two youths on the run team up and become outlaws.

Jeff Bridges movies never quite seem to come off for me. A sort of Western road movie, this meandered along without too much ever making you really sit up and take notice. The occasional shocking scene and kept my attention, I just felt it could have delivered so much more.    6/10

Warlock 1959

Starring:  Henry Fonda

The cowardly citizens of a small western town hire a gunman as their unofficial marshal.

Hell of a cast, with Deforrest Kelley from the original Star Treks my favourite. Some good scenes, wll acted and a great little town created. Was just overlong.     6/10

Street Scene 1931

Starring: Sylvia Sidney

In a New York slum street on a hot summer night, an adulterous woman is shot by her husband.

Over acting, very poor lighting and a collection of voices all talking over each other. Understandable for the time, but I lost patience with it quite early on.      3/10

Conrack 1974

Starring: Jon Voight

A young white teacher is assigned to an all-black school in South Carolina, and after some difficulty makes friends with children and parents.

Seen many films of teachers turning around a difficult school. This movie fills you with sadness, hope, laughter and ends with you shaking your head in despair. Jon Voight is energetic, charismatic and just downright inspirational. A movie that hooked me from the first frame, I loved every second.                                                                                                                                           10/10

Appointment with danger 1949

Starring: Alan Ladd

A nun becomes the government's chief witness in identifying the murderers of a US postal inspector.

Nuns, gangsters and inspectors don't really mix. All a little heavy handed and weighed down with monotone dialogue. Expected shoot-out at the end didn't bring anything knew to the table.   4/10