Strange Bedfellows 1965

Starring: Rock Hudson

An American executive in London nearly divorces his fiery Italian wife.

Full of bright, primary colours, this was an amusing little movie that made me chuckle on many occasions. A lot of nonsense but all very easy on the eye.        6/10

The Late Show 1977

Starring:  Art Carney

An ageing private eye in Los Angeles finds that his ex-partner's death and a lost cat have a complex connexion.

I never bought Art Carney's character in this, the whole movie was very 'New Yoik' and although there were a couple of moments that made me smile, it never engaged me. I usually really like Lily Tomlin but just found her character irritating.       4/10 

Some People 1962

Starring: Kenneth Moore

Troublesome teenage factory workers are helped by a church organist and become model citizens.

Loved it. How times have changed in just over 50 years. A great nod to The Duke Of Edinburgh award scheme and some great songs throughout, some with a definite Shadows sound. Never heard of Annika Wells before, she was stunning and a really good actress too. Nostalgic and well worth seeing.                       9/10

They Met In The Dark 1943

Starring: Tom Wells

A Blackpool theatrical agent is really a master spy.

Crime Noir thriller which was a little muddled and confusing. James Mason gets everywhere, he often looks different, but as s oon as he speaks you know exactly who it is.           4/10

The Crooked Road 1964

Starring: Robert Ryan

Am American journalist plans to expose as a crook the dictator of a small Balkan state, but finds himself framed for murder.

Melodrama which wasn't particularly interesting until the last 3o mins. Enjoyable to watch Ryan and Stewart Granger doing their stuff. I'm more of a Ryan fan than a Granger fan, but Granger won this one being particulary suave and believable.            5/10

Sapphire 1959

Starring: Nigel Patrick

Scotland Yard solves the murder of a coloured music student.

More like a TV drama than a feature movie. Amaing that this is only 60 years ago and yet the room went quiet when a black person entered, they were constantly being referred to as coloured and the whole film centered around racial prejudice. Fascinating viewing.      7/10

Apache War Smoke 1952

Starring:  Gilbert Roland

An Indian killer is among those sheltering in a desert outpost before an Apache raid.

Standard Western with a light-hearted hand in places. The action scene were pleasing to the little boy inside me. Not bad.      5/10

That Feminine Touch 1941

Starring: Rosalind Russell

A professor gets into woman trouble when he writes a book about jealousy.

Selected this due to International Women's Day the other day. Wish I hadn't. Dull beyond belief with a lot of talking followed by shouting. Attempts at slapstick occasionally lifted the monotony.    2/10

Against A Crooked Sky 1975

Starring: Richard Boone

Two Westerners set out to find the sister of one of them, who has been kidnapped by Indians.

Seemed about 20 year older than it actually is. There was something about this that made it seem quite believable. A simple story and yet I found myself totally engrossed. Not overcomplicated and for me, worked.               6/10

Conquest Of Cochise 1953

Starring: Robert Stack

An army major is sent to make peace with Cochise, the Apache.

Traditional cowboy's and Injuns with a Mexican twist. War, peace and a little romance. Classic ingredients but a little tame.            5/10

The Gene Krupa Story 1959

Starring: Sal Mineo

A successful jazz drummer is convicted on a drugs charge and falls from grace.

A wasn't aware of this fella and as biopics go, this is not bad. Lots of upbeat jazz music to get the foot tapping and the whole thing looked great.         6/10

Make Me an Offer 1954

Starring: Peter Finch

An antique dealer has an ambition to own a famous vase.

A gentle British movie set in the antique World. Novel because of its subject matter and Finch played the lead role nicely. Not a lot happens to be honest and yet ot holds a certain charm throughout.

A loved the line early on "We teach children how to cross the road, why don't we teach them not to go into the antique trade?"           7/10

Okinawa 1952

Starring: Pat O'Brien

Adventures of the gun crew of a Pacific destroyer.

Too much talking and not enough action. Waiting for the Japanese Kamikaze to attack. A few good plane scenes but instantly forgettable.     4/10

Where The Sidewalk Ends 1950

Starring: Dana Andrews

A tough policeman accidentally kills a suspect and tries to implicate a gang leader.

The old rogue cop plot. Not bad with Karl Malden effectively auditioning for The streets Of San Francisco. Dull in places with some good phases in others.    5/10

The Masque Of The Red Death 1964

Starring: Vincent Price

A medieval Italian prince practices devil worship while the plague rages outside, but when he holds a ball, death is an uninvited guest.     

Usual Price material with him being mean moody and sending lots of people to death. Flashbacks, lots of dancing, a little girl with a woman's voice and the red death. All a little weird really.   5/10

Forty Little Mothers 1940

Starring: Eddie Cantor

A teacher in a girls' school finds himself in charge of a baby.

What an absolute delight. Cantor is so endearing that you totally believe him. All the school girls looked about 35, but who cares. Find it on Youtube and watch it if you can.         9//10

Conversations With Other Women 2005

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter

When a man and woman flirt with each other at a wedding reception, the sexual tension seems spontaneous. As they break from the party to a hotel room, the flirtation turns into a night filled with passion and remorse. 

Such a simple idea and yet utterly compelling. Two people talking at the end of a wedding reception and briefly rekindling a love affair. I'm not a fan of flashbacks, this movie had flash glimpses which were superbly placed and really added to the movie. Clever movie.        8/10

I'll give a million 1938

Starring: Warner Baxter

A millionaire becomes a tramp and disappears, letting it be known that he will give a fortune for genuine acts of kindness. Tramps are then royally entertained all over town.

The idea of a millionaire desperately wanting someone to love him for who he is, is really rather sad. This light-hearted movie is quite good fun though, the only down point being Peter Lore who has to be the most annoying ctor in the hitory of the movies.      6/10

Ratboy 1986

Starring: Sondra Locke

A half-rodent alien gets the anticipated rough treatment when he visits Earth.

Sondra Locke who sadly died earlier this month was the director and star of this movie. A one trick piece, once you've seen the rat boy, the rest of the movie just doesn't live up to this visual reveal. Just rather dull I'm afraid.               3/10

Days of Heaven 1978

Starring: Richard Gere

In the early 20th century, three young immigrants leave Chicago for the wheatfields.

There is no denying that this movie is visually stunning. I just found it really dull and couldn't get into it at all. I don't think the quietly spoken backing narrative helped. A disappointment.      3/10