A music hall comedy act recall how they got together.
No doubting the star quality of Martin and the energy of Lewis. Some scenes work better than others, but it's exhausting to watch and in my opinion, the physical comedy is 'too much'. Sports movies just never seem believable. Movie went quickly and with refinement, could have been excellent. 6/10
A jealous woman tries to hire an unattractive girl as her husband's secretary.
People shouting at the same time and characters having an irritating laugh do not make a comedy. Shame, the idea was quite decent and beneath the surface, there was a charm trying to get out. 4/10
A TV talk show host retreats to his ranch and finds himself mixed up with murder.
Mixing comedy and mystery never really works, but Bob Hope has enough about him to raise a few laughs and despite being stupid, I quite enjoyed this. 6/10
The daughter of a wealthy criminal lawyer falls in love with one of her father's crooked clients.
Short movie. William Powell is comfortable and believable in his role, Liz Taylor is not bad, Fernando Lamas though had no chemistry with Taylor at all. All builds to a decent climax in last 15 minutes. 6/10
A young clerk gradually refuses to take part in life.
In a time before depression and autism is recognised and understood, this is a strangely moving piece. The boss displays a confused, frustrated character who clearly has a soft heart. Bartleby himself is brilliantly portrayed. We've still got a lot to do but have come a long way. 6/10
Escaped convicts hold up a playwright and his wife in their country cottage.
Too dark for too long, all a bit manufactured and Howard Keel seems completely miscast. Throw a couple of kids into the mix and there is a degree of tension. Some lines that were so bizarre, they made me laugh, James Donald played it all on one level, it did have its moments though. 6/10
A knowledgeable switchboard operator helps a financier with his problems.
Incredible to think that this is not far off 100 years old. Cary Grant plays the philanderer whose apartment renovation bill must have been enormous.
I believe this originated from a play and would certainly have worked in the theatre. Not Grant's most memorable work, but he gives a huge amount of energy, is engaging and his comic timing, as ever, was up to scratch. The Two main female leads, bespectacled susie and the lovely Anna, were both excellent and delivered their slapstick flawlessly. The rest of the supporting cast were very good too, this was a tight production that came in at about the hour mark.
So many modern comedies don't even make me smile, this had me laughing out loud on a few occasions and was great fun. 7/10
Ex-convict revenges himself on the former friends who shopped him.
William Hartnell is best known in the UK for playing the first ever Dr Who in the popular, long-running TV series. Here, he plays an unpleasant, small time crook who having been in prisoned, following a botched robbery, sets out to 'get his own back' on those who he considered, let him down, and gets involved in further crime and murder.
At first, I felt Hartnell was a little over the top, but his performance was consistent and became more believable as the movie progressed.
But for me, the supporting cast added an enjoyable and believable extra level. I'm not sure a Canadian detective, working out of Scotland Yard to improve his skills, was entirely necessary, but Robert Beatty played the part well. All actors were good, but Joyce Howard as the lady friend and Alan Wheatley as the art-dealer's bag carrier were my personal favourites, Wheatley particularly had some lovely touches.
Overall, this was a well plotted script, it all made sense, the London locations added atmosphere and the ending actually wrapped things up nicely. 9/10
A stunt man impersonates the idiot heir to a fortune.
Great fun in the first half of the movie, Lund must have had a ball playing the son throwing water and people and being a general annoyance. Movie morphs into a romance halfway through and loses momentum. Interesting watch for first half alone. 6/10
In 1937, a farmer goes to the rescue of survivors of a plane crash in inaccessible country.
Slow moving, a little bit dour and left lets of unanswered questions. Quite interesting though. 6/10
Stellar comedy cast but I just found it all a little silly, I must be getting old. 4/10
An honest ranch hand gets into trouble when he tries to help his lawless brother.
Standard good brother, bd brother movie. Well done though, the older brother a particularly interesting character with a back story, the tip of which only is touched. Decent ending too. 7/10
Romantic problems of a busy professional couple.
Spending 105 minutes watching a couple have marital problems is not great entertainment, regardless of how strong the acting is. Some good scenes but movie looks more dated than those made 30 years previously. 5/10
A young sheriff arrests a gunman and after the trial has to save him from lynching.
Fairly standard Western, the young sheriff who rules in an unconventional way made a nice change and gave the movie its USP. 5/10
An enterprising musician goes in search of a reclusive guitar-maker.
Slow moving road movie, mainly dysfunctional characters and yet somehow, I stayed with it. I'm sure this has a cult fanbase..... 5/10
A bright-minded rich girl steal her sister's fiancé, a struggling young lawyer.
Considering the age, this is a remarkable looking movie with a stunning house set. Unfortunately, the movie is just dull. Listening to people talk for 90 minutes with nothing else happen would test anyone. 3/10
A Soho vice boss photographs prominent people in compromising situations and blackmails them.
Morgan is really unlikeable but excellent in a film that grew on me. Great to see Donald Pleasance, Bill Owen & Harry H Corbett who were all terrific. Very satisfying ending too. Good movie. 8/10
A roller skating star finds time between affairs to beat her rival in a big match.
Awful! Unbelievable, you couldn't hear half of what was being said as the PA announcer was droning on in the background. Welch is impossibly good looking and still emerges without a scratch on her. Very poor! 2/10
An ex-Cossack cattle hijacker is disappointed when jailed to find that his son will not help him escape.
Why have the father as a Cossack? Difficult to understand, Mike was a really unlikeable character. Son Johnny was a good contrast but I never bought him as a son of the father. Poor print of the movie that seems to be hanging on by a thread. Interesting watch though. 6/10
