Loose Connections 1983

 Starring: Lindsay Duncan

Adventures on a drive to Munich

Bundt movie, interesting to see society views of the time. I never warmed to Lindsay Duncan and this will not be one that lives in the memory.      5/10

Too Many Husbands 1940

 

Starring: Jean Arthur

Allegedly drowned on a boat cruise, a man turns up again after his wife has remarried.

Not the most original script idea but this is delightfully delivered. Some very funny moments with a great supporting cast and quality comic timing.    7/10

A Guide For The Married Man 1967

 

Starring: Walter Matthau

A practised wolf explains to a perfect husband how to be unfaithful.

Despite a few humorous moments, this is just a bit too obvious for me. Plenty of views of ladies bums and tits, as pleasant as this may be, I feel a movie needs a lot more. Interesting to see all the star cameos though.       5/10

The Neptune Factor 1972

 Starring: Ben Gazzara

American oceanologists conduct an experiment in underwater living.

Wow, this looks dated. Some of the underwater effects were okay, the rest made me laugh out loud, I wonder how they were viewed at the time of release. Lacks tension to be honest but has Ernest Borgnine in it and he's always been one of my favourite actors, I love seeing what he does with a role. Not much for him to work with here, but his class shines through.     7/10

Hell's Half Acre 1953

 

Starring: Wendell Corey

A soldier missing after Pearl Harbor turns up years later in Hawaii under a different identity.

Hawaii is nicely shown off although the singing and flouncing, delightful if you visit, goes on a bit too long. The storyline itself is not strong enough and way too conversational.   4/10

Tomorrow We Live 1942

 

Starring: John Clements

French villagers help a spy escape to Britain.

Decent WW2 spy drama. Still makes my blood boil when you see how people were treated. Very well done and quite exciting.      7/10

Dark Waters 1944

 

Starring: Merle Oberon

Recovering from being torpedoed, an orphan girl visits her aunt and uncle in Louisiana and has some terrifying experiences.

A movie that certainly plays the melodrama card although it does have eight moments of 'gaiety'.   5/10

The Black Cauldron 1985

 

A medieval hero combats magic swords, wicked witches and skeletal tyrants.

Not my favourite Disney, a little dark for my taste. A few snatches of humour but none of the trademark songs or in this case, any songs at all, that make a Disney movie.       4/10

Mutiny 1952

 Starring: Mark Stevens

During the war of 1812, an American ship runs the English blockade to collect gold bullion from France.

Colour is a bit washed out now and is oddly dark during some of the fight scenes, but lots of fun messing around on the high seas and Angela Lansbury playing a completely different type of role.     6/10

Brute Force 1947

 

Starring: Burt Lancaster

Six violent convicts revolt against a sadistic warden and try to escape.

Hard hitting prison drama with an explosive ending, not bad but needed a bit of light to counter-balance the dark.         6/10

Parachute Battalion 1941

 

Starring: Robert Preston

Three boys go through parachute training school.

Not much of a blot to be honest, but all made in good humour and historically was actually quite interesting.  5/10

So Goes My Love 1946

 

Starring: Myrna Loy

The domestic life of inventor Hiram Maxim.

From first meeting, to courting, to getting married and having children. Very likeable lead performances and although there's no in depth plot, it put a smile on my face.     7/10

Captain Pirate 1952

 

Starring: Louis Hayward

A reformed pirate, accused of sacking Cartagena, returns to piracy to discover the perpetrators.

I love a good pirate movie and this ticks all the boxes. Plenty of swash and buckle, canon balls and drinking of rum. 6/10

Neutral Port 1940

 

Starring: Will Fyffe

A merchant navy captain avenges the loss of his ship by sabotaging a German U-boat.

War propaganda, highly irritating now. Lots of shouting and breast beating about nationality. A couple of reasonable scenes, otherwise completely forgettable.   3/10

All For Mary 1955

 

Starring: Kathleen Harrison

Two rivals for the hand of the pretty daughter of a Swiss hotelier are struck down by chicken pox and cared for by the old nanny of one of them.

Very dated, as much as I like David Tomlinson, this is watchable but just a little silly. A nanny ordering around two middle aged men just doesn't hold water nowadays. Nice scenery though.  5/10

Frontier Marshal 1939

 

Starring: Randolph Scott

Wyatt Earp cleans up Tombstone.

All the big-hitters here, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the Okay Coral. Fascinating to see how Tombstone was depicted as a busy, bustling, riotous place. I wonder how near the truth all of this was. I found this interesting more than gripping.   6/10

At Gunpoint 1955

 

Starring: Fred MacMurray

A western storekeeper accidentally kills a bank robber, whose brothers seek revenge; will the townsfolk come to his aid?

Loved this. A strong storyline, but I particularly loved the sense of community, you genuinely believed that the people all knew each other and were friends. A tale of loyalty, community and sticking together.    9/10

Nomads 1985

 

Starring: Pierce Brosnan

An anthropologist settling in Los Angeles is haunted by vengeful spirits of remote tribes he had investigated.

Terrible movie. Confused, lots of shrieking and why was Pierce Brosnan selected to play a Frenchman? The 80's soundtrack had some interest, otherwise a complete write off for me.   2/10

If I Were King 1938

 

Starring: Ronald Colman

The 14th century poet and rascal Francois Villon matches wits with Louis X1 and leads an uprising of the people.

Ronald Colman has his tongue firmly in his cheek and a glint in his eye, Basil Rathbone, who I seem to see in a movie every other week, is marvellously camp. A bit hit and miss but certainly has its moments.    5/10

Easy A 2010

 

Starring: Emma Stone

A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

With a nodding wink to John Hughes 1980's movies, this teen flick absolutely hits the mark. Emma Stone is spot on, witty, charming, I can't imagine how somebody like that could be invisible in school. Terrifically writer with a bunch of great cameos, Emma Stone's parents and her teacher steal the show for me. Very enjoyable.  8/10