Interesting idea - a prequel to the events in Turn of the Screw - which is logically developed. It's a simple story with complexity and the casting of the adults can't be faulted - Marlon Brando, Stephanie Beacham, Thora Hird.
Michael Winner wasn't up to the demands of directing it. His great strengths as a director were energy, pace and location shooting - this is a character driven piece, which needed atmosphere. Someone like Seth Holt or Freddie Francis, who did those excellent psycho thrillers for Hammer and Amicus would have been ideal. Winner is not up to it. That isn't a Winner bash, it's an honest opinion.
He lets Marlon Brando clearly do what he wants including a silly accent and endless scenes of him telling dumb stories which the kids are meant to find entertaining. There's a sado masochistic sex scene with Beacham which is unsettling because Becham clearly isn't into it. This is clearly an abusive relationship with all the complexities that involves but Winner can't pull it off.
The kid actors aren't good - I don't think Winner was strong with them either. Still, it is interesting, it tries, it's different. Beacham is gorgeous. Even when Brando is bad he's still compelling.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Movie review - "Lawman" (1971) **
There's an interesting idea at the core of this movie - lawman Burt Lancaster is so determined to see justice done he runs around blasting away everyone while ostensible baddy Lee J Cobb is actually more reasonable and businesslike.
That isn't really developed - subplots should accentuate this theme fail to do so.There are some strong actors around like Richard Johnson, John Beck, Robert Ryan, Robert Duvall - but generally they play tropes (whimpy sheriff etc) without going into too much detail.
The handling is vigorous at first but then the film seemed to run out of puff half way. Technical stuff is adequate. Burt Lancaster is fine - Charles Bronson would have been more interesting. Or actually come to think of it Kirk Douglas. Lancaster doesn't seem that interested in what's going on.
Sheree North is the smurfette character, an ex of Lancaster's.
Monday, April 27, 2020
Movie review - "Chato's Land" (1972) **1/2
Decent enough Western with Charles Bronson well cast as an avenging Indian. Well, he doesn't start out that way - he kills a sheriff who is going to kill him and a posse go to get him. His wife is raped around the half way mark to give him extra motivation - this would have been better up the front.
Bronson doesn't do that much in the movie - most of the action focuses on the posse, led by Confederate uniform wearing Jack Palance, and some black hat rapists (including Richard Jordan and the dad from The Waltons) and a liberal. Strong cast, including Victor French and James Whitmore and Richard Basehart. The female "character" basically smiles and gets raped. There would be a lot more rape from Winner.
Aside - for some reason a lot of early 70s Westerns were made by Poms: Euan Lloyd, Winner, Gerald Wilson, Alan Sharp...
Bronson doesn't do that much in the movie - most of the action focuses on the posse, led by Confederate uniform wearing Jack Palance, and some black hat rapists (including Richard Jordan and the dad from The Waltons) and a liberal. Strong cast, including Victor French and James Whitmore and Richard Basehart. The female "character" basically smiles and gets raped. There would be a lot more rape from Winner.
Aside - for some reason a lot of early 70s Westerns were made by Poms: Euan Lloyd, Winner, Gerald Wilson, Alan Sharp...
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Movie reivew - "Walk into Paradise" (1956) *** (re-viewing)
It's not a classic, far from it, a traipse through the bust. Lee Robinson and Chips Rafferty never mastered the art of dramatic writing - they keep missing opportunities to make this more interesting, introducing the crocodile hunter hero too late, not doing enough with Reg Lye who really should be more of a baddy.
The girl is fine, so are the other actors - Chips is Chips. The big appeal is the location photography. Something is always happening. Locals getting sick. A shoot out. People being bitten by wild life. It's a decent trek film with a very novel setting.
The girl is fine, so are the other actors - Chips is Chips. The big appeal is the location photography. Something is always happening. Locals getting sick. A shoot out. People being bitten by wild life. It's a decent trek film with a very novel setting.
Book review - "Flashman on the March" by George MacDonald Fraser
Just as Fraser teased us by doing an America story in Flashman and the Angel of the Lord that mentioned the Civil War but ended up just being John Browns' Raid, so too with this he teases us with a really interesting story - Flashman in Mexico under the time of Maxmilian - and gives us a boring one, of the Abssyinian Campaign.
This is a slog. Hard to read. I tried to figure out why. Fraser's descriptions of time and place remain strong. But the story is slow. Flashman could have gotten out of having to do this mission, several times - like in Flashman and the Angel of the Lord he's too brave. Even at the end when Theodore lets free the prisoners, he hangs on "for his credit". That's not Flashman. Flashman is a coward.
It lacks interesting characters. Napier is dull. So is the Ethiopian princess. The characters mentioned from his Mexico adventure are far more interesting. There is the Emperor but he never quite comes alive. Napier is just decent and smart.
Fraser/Flashman refers to other adventures too much, and Flashman also refers to historical references too much - a younger Fraser would surely have cut these.
I got the impression from reading the introduction that this was going to be tough going - instead of being brief and witty, Fraser rants on about how better the 19th century was than today, and how more honorable this mission was than the recent Iraq War. Like, who cares. Fraser always read young and energetic - here he writes like an old man.
I wonder if this was meant to be a two parter like Flashman's Lady with Mexico being the first half and Abyssinia the second?
It's one advantage is that I knew very little about this campaign so it has freshness. This ended the series on a weak note - I easily would have preferred the Civil War, Khartoum, a longer Zulu War, the Boxer Rebellion... any of those.
This is a slog. Hard to read. I tried to figure out why. Fraser's descriptions of time and place remain strong. But the story is slow. Flashman could have gotten out of having to do this mission, several times - like in Flashman and the Angel of the Lord he's too brave. Even at the end when Theodore lets free the prisoners, he hangs on "for his credit". That's not Flashman. Flashman is a coward.
It lacks interesting characters. Napier is dull. So is the Ethiopian princess. The characters mentioned from his Mexico adventure are far more interesting. There is the Emperor but he never quite comes alive. Napier is just decent and smart.
Fraser/Flashman refers to other adventures too much, and Flashman also refers to historical references too much - a younger Fraser would surely have cut these.
I got the impression from reading the introduction that this was going to be tough going - instead of being brief and witty, Fraser rants on about how better the 19th century was than today, and how more honorable this mission was than the recent Iraq War. Like, who cares. Fraser always read young and energetic - here he writes like an old man.
I wonder if this was meant to be a two parter like Flashman's Lady with Mexico being the first half and Abyssinia the second?
It's one advantage is that I knew very little about this campaign so it has freshness. This ended the series on a weak note - I easily would have preferred the Civil War, Khartoum, a longer Zulu War, the Boxer Rebellion... any of those.
Movie review - "Hannibal Brooks" (1969) ***
Entertaining POW movie with a difference: Oliver Reed busts out with an elephant. Reed is a dynamic imposing actor but he does feel miscast as an elephant lover. As has been pointed out he probably should have swapped roles with Michael J Pollard who plays an American working with the partisans.
The locations are lovely - it was shot n Austria - with those snow capped mountains and green fields. It's got that great late 60s war movie color photography. A pretty girl, some Germans are killed. It moves fast.
If I'm being brutally honest the elephant doesn't have that much personality and her relationship with Reed doesn't really come across. I wanted it to but it doesn't. Maybe if Michael Crawford had starred. But I'm not sure Winner was the one to put in those character style scenes.
The locations are lovely - it was shot n Austria - with those snow capped mountains and green fields. It's got that great late 60s war movie color photography. A pretty girl, some Germans are killed. It moves fast.
If I'm being brutally honest the elephant doesn't have that much personality and her relationship with Reed doesn't really come across. I wanted it to but it doesn't. Maybe if Michael Crawford had starred. But I'm not sure Winner was the one to put in those character style scenes.
TV review - "Adventures of Long John Silver" ep 5 "The Eviction"
Purity gets kicked out of her tavern because of an annoying aristocrat who is secretly dodgy so she goes to live with Silver. Strong episode, all the three leads have something to do, decent twists.
Movie review - "I'll Never Forget What's 'Is Name" (1967) **** (warning: spoilers)
Excellent swinging sixties drama with Oliver Reed as an ad man who hacks up his desk with an axe but boss Orson Welles is convinced he'll come back. With good reason - Reed is juggling a wife (Wendy Craig), a kid, a mistress (Marianne Faithful) and a lover... adding to that he starts work at a magazine and falls for the secretary (Carole White) who is a dream girl, albeit not manic and pixie, but who is lovely with a great smile.
This sort of movie is self indulgent - "I'm making so much money doing ads and I hate it" "all these women want to have sex with me" - but it's very well done. Peter Draper did a good script and Michael Winner was at his directing peak. Orson Welles' presence helps.
This sort of movie is self indulgent - "I'm making so much money doing ads and I hate it" "all these women want to have sex with me" - but it's very well done. Peter Draper did a good script and Michael Winner was at his directing peak. Orson Welles' presence helps.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Movie review - "You Must Be Joking" (1965) **
Critics make claims for much of Michael Winner's sixties British output but this one tends to be overlooked. With reason. It's got energy and spunk and a great cast but feels slightly off. I think 1965 was too late to make this sort of movie, which feels like a 1957 Dirk Bogarde film. It's not in colour and Michael Callan's American soldier really sticks out, he doesn't fit. Also three was something harsh about Callan's persona - this film needed someone more befuddled. In one scene he dances a few steps and is electric - it's such a shame he didn't do more musicals.
Gabrille Lucidi is a lot of fun as one of Callan's women and you've got people like Leslie Phillips, Terry Thomas and Lionel Jeffries hamming it up. The point of the heist feels minimal. But these problems were fixed in The Jokers - this movie feels like a trial run for that and I don't think The Jokers would have been as good if Winner hadn't made this first.
Gabrille Lucidi is a lot of fun as one of Callan's women and you've got people like Leslie Phillips, Terry Thomas and Lionel Jeffries hamming it up. The point of the heist feels minimal. But these problems were fixed in The Jokers - this movie feels like a trial run for that and I don't think The Jokers would have been as good if Winner hadn't made this first.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Movie review - "The Rats of Tobruk" (1944) ** (re-viewing)
The drop in quality between this and Forty Thousand Horsemen is remarkable. That film had so much energy and pep. This starts well with loving shots of cattle in the outback but is soon bogged down by Peter Finch's dreary narration. It was like Chauvel had made too many pompous self important propaganda documentaries during the war and it leaked into this movie.
Finch introduces himself and his mates Rafferty and Taylor who are never allowed to have any fun. The characterisations are fine, all three are capable - Finch is an improvement over Pat Twohill, just dull. The concept of a writer getting to know Australians isn't very exciting - why not have him a man in disgrace or something.
Taylor has a decent character to play - shiftless, womanising, brave. But he's a downer too. You don't see him having any fun womanising. It's all glum.
I liked Pauline Garrick as Kate the squatter's daughter but she's a misery guts. Mary Gay's nurse is a pure trope though she makes sense from the delusional mind of Peter Finch.
Chauvel's tendency was to melodrama with location shooting. I think he was hampered here by the fact he couldn't go full melodrama - or didn't want to. I did like how Finch would write to Garrick which made Taylor jealous.I think they should have made this a proper love triangle - it would have given the piece some meat. Or had love triangle with Mary Gay.
Some of the visuals are impressive - the night fighting, the dingy trenches. But it's a movie of scenes and moments rather than a coherent narrative. Those scenes include vaudeville bits - they run into Joe Vallie to do some comic acting in the sand dunes, and George Wallace does some wacky antics with a barber chair. Then there's a tacked on finale in New Guinea.
The movie is definitely of historical interest but it's lame.
Finch introduces himself and his mates Rafferty and Taylor who are never allowed to have any fun. The characterisations are fine, all three are capable - Finch is an improvement over Pat Twohill, just dull. The concept of a writer getting to know Australians isn't very exciting - why not have him a man in disgrace or something.
Taylor has a decent character to play - shiftless, womanising, brave. But he's a downer too. You don't see him having any fun womanising. It's all glum.
I liked Pauline Garrick as Kate the squatter's daughter but she's a misery guts. Mary Gay's nurse is a pure trope though she makes sense from the delusional mind of Peter Finch.
Chauvel's tendency was to melodrama with location shooting. I think he was hampered here by the fact he couldn't go full melodrama - or didn't want to. I did like how Finch would write to Garrick which made Taylor jealous.I think they should have made this a proper love triangle - it would have given the piece some meat. Or had love triangle with Mary Gay.
Some of the visuals are impressive - the night fighting, the dingy trenches. But it's a movie of scenes and moments rather than a coherent narrative. Those scenes include vaudeville bits - they run into Joe Vallie to do some comic acting in the sand dunes, and George Wallace does some wacky antics with a barber chair. Then there's a tacked on finale in New Guinea.
The movie is definitely of historical interest but it's lame.
TV review - "Long John Silver" ep 4 "Execution Dock"
Long John worries he's going to die which is unexpectedly moving to watch since Robert Newton was dead within two years of making this. He then lies in bed and hallucinates about old crimes... so the whole episode is for nothing. I hate dream episodes.
At least there's some arty visuals (bright red backgronds) which occasionally popped up in this William Constable designed show. I did like the throw back to the movie with Silver reminding the governor he saved the governor's daughter.
At least there's some arty visuals (bright red backgronds) which occasionally popped up in this William Constable designed show. I did like the throw back to the movie with Silver reminding the governor he saved the governor's daughter.
Book review - "Magic Time: My Life in Hollywood" by Hawk Koch (2019)
Decent memoir by a highly respected member of Hollywood. Koch was the son of Howard Koch, a noted producer and briefly head of Paramount; Koch Jr became an assistant director and was good at it; he eventually became producer. He seems to be more of a line producer type.
He's quite discrete - he talks about palling around with Robert Redford for instance without dishing much dirt. He had a few wonky marriages. I wish there was more dirt. But it's entertaining.
He's quite discrete - he talks about palling around with Robert Redford for instance without dishing much dirt. He had a few wonky marriages. I wish there was more dirt. But it's entertaining.
Book review - "So You Want to Produce a Movie?" by Lawrence Turman
I've read this before but it was entertaining to read again. Turman's big movie was The Graduate which naturally he talks a lot about - and props to him. He doesn't talk much about his failures such as his attempts to direct. He includes some correspondence with William Goldman - Turnman turned down Goldman's suggestion to do The Moving Target and they tried to make In the Spring the War Ended. Goldman uses the word "f*ggot" in correspondence and accuses George Peppard of wrecking Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Interesting stories about Pretty Poison, The Flim Flam Man and so on.
Interesting stories about Pretty Poison, The Flim Flam Man and so on.
Book review - The McAuslan Stories by George MacDonald Fraser
These stories have been in the shadow of the Flashman novels for so long but rereading them was such a delight I began to wonder if they werent superior to those books. Fraser's touch is so sure, loving and fresh - the pieces are little jewels, with hardly a dud in the pack.
Movie review - "The System" (1964) ***
Michael Winner became something of a joke so it's a shock to see this energetic, bright, entertaining kitchen sink drama about young men in an English coastal town who try to seduce female visitors... but still can't beat the class system. Oliver Reed is electric -that initial appearance he leaps off the screen. Jane Merrow is good too - actually all the acting is strong with small roles played by solid types like Guy Doleman and Harry Andrews. Andrew Ray, one of Reed's mates, was in The Mudlark. David Hemmings is in this.
A frank depiction of sex, some good writing (not by Winner). The scene on the train reminded me of A Hard Day's Night.
A frank depiction of sex, some good writing (not by Winner). The scene on the train reminded me of A Hard Day's Night.
Movie review - "The Jokers" (1967) ***1/2
Bright, fun, irreverent comedy - very swinging sixties but made with energy by young people of talent. Its directed by Michael Winner during his "good movies" phase - he keeps the pace running hot, it's got tremendous life, he was clearly jazzed by filming on locations.
The two leads are marvels - Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed aren't the most obvious actors to play brothers, but it adds tension. I love how Crawford is the trouble maker who got kicked out of Sandhurst while Reed is the "good" brother - I guess really they should have swapped roles but it adds freshness. Also good to see Crawford play a part where he has some balls. And that the heroes were aristocrats doing it for a lark.
There's a typically strong line up of supporting actors - Michael Hordern, Harry Andrews, James Donald, Edward Fox - and some smashing birds - Gabriella Licuidi, Lotte Tarp. It benefits from the fact Winner didn't write it - the script was by the team of Dick Clement and Ian what's-his-name, and has good twists and characters. It's really fun.
Oh there's a scene where Fox watches a cricket game.
The two leads are marvels - Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed aren't the most obvious actors to play brothers, but it adds tension. I love how Crawford is the trouble maker who got kicked out of Sandhurst while Reed is the "good" brother - I guess really they should have swapped roles but it adds freshness. Also good to see Crawford play a part where he has some balls. And that the heroes were aristocrats doing it for a lark.
There's a typically strong line up of supporting actors - Michael Hordern, Harry Andrews, James Donald, Edward Fox - and some smashing birds - Gabriella Licuidi, Lotte Tarp. It benefits from the fact Winner didn't write it - the script was by the team of Dick Clement and Ian what's-his-name, and has good twists and characters. It's really fun.
Oh there's a scene where Fox watches a cricket game.
TV review - "LongJohn Silver" Ep 3 The Orphans Christmas
I'd heard a lot about Neva Carr Glynn a noted Australian actor (mum of Nick Tate) but never seen her in anything apart from Age of Consent so it was good to see her in this. She's the mean head of an orphanage who won't let her charges celebrate Christmas - Purity, Jim and Long John investigate why. Glynn is good, the script is a bit treacly and you wish they'd do more with Long John at Christmas. It is touching the notion of Jim being an orphan.
Movie review - "Smiley Gets a Gun" (1958) ***
They caught lightning in a bottle with the first one so got the band back together for this. It's not the same Smiley, they got a different actor, who is fun but not as good.
The action has softened. Reg Lye is not longer a layabout (though that means he did learn his lesson which was nice). There's no fat red head tormenting him.
Instead of Charles Tingwell there's Leonard Teale and instead of Ralph Richardson there's Sybil Thorndike. Guy Doleman is back but in a different role, this time a baddy (which is good because when he turned up as a writer getting the flavour of the country I started to fall asleep). They probably should have added a female friend for Smiley to get into escapades with.
The plot has Smiley trying to get a gun but that was common for country kids at the time and the film constantly reinforces good lessons - you can't point the gun at people, you need to be responsible, etc. "Proving yourself responsible" is a little vague - raising money for a bike was more definite.
Chips Rafferty is charming as the cop though again I note he isn't very good solving crimes. That's mostly done by Grant Taylor as a limping contractor called Stiffy who is fond of Smilley. A lot of adults stand around talking about Smiley in this one - in the first film you got more of a sense of the adult world.
Still the colours and locations are pleasant, the acting strong.
The action has softened. Reg Lye is not longer a layabout (though that means he did learn his lesson which was nice). There's no fat red head tormenting him.
Instead of Charles Tingwell there's Leonard Teale and instead of Ralph Richardson there's Sybil Thorndike. Guy Doleman is back but in a different role, this time a baddy (which is good because when he turned up as a writer getting the flavour of the country I started to fall asleep). They probably should have added a female friend for Smiley to get into escapades with.
The plot has Smiley trying to get a gun but that was common for country kids at the time and the film constantly reinforces good lessons - you can't point the gun at people, you need to be responsible, etc. "Proving yourself responsible" is a little vague - raising money for a bike was more definite.
Chips Rafferty is charming as the cop though again I note he isn't very good solving crimes. That's mostly done by Grant Taylor as a limping contractor called Stiffy who is fond of Smilley. A lot of adults stand around talking about Smiley in this one - in the first film you got more of a sense of the adult world.
Still the colours and locations are pleasant, the acting strong.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Movie review - "Sons of Matthew" (1949) ***
When I got into old Aussie film Chauvel got more academic interest than Ken G Hall - I think because his films offered more for academics to write about they were often bonkers, full of personal vision and weirdness.
This is one of the trilogy of good Chauvel films - the others are Forty Thousand Horsemen and Jedda. It's a full blooded melodrama which as Hall pointed out didn't need to be shot on location for the most part but what is there is pretty spectacular.
The first half of this movie was annoying with the Irish brogues and Matthew looking like a hipster and all this ripe dialogue and Thelma Scott looking battered. But there's always stuff of interest - like the "confirmed bachelor" uncle, Scott was a good actor and her eyes reek of pain (I think they should have killed dad in the first five minutes and made her character more prominent), and you can discuss themes of nation building and the relationships between the sexes.
The second half is better when there's a love triangle between two brothers over the girl. Wendy Gibb is sexy as hell and Ken Wayne and Michael Pate are fine actors - Pate's BBC style enunciation annoyed me at first (he plays it like a forty year old) but I got used to it and the drama is strong. They make allowances for Pate by having Wayne be a pants man.
John Ewart is lively as the cheeky brother and I enjoyed Tommy Burns as another. The fifth brother is a nervous wreck - is he coded as gay? I don't want to read things into it that aren't there - but that's what Chauvel movies do! Only Pate and Wayne get much of a look in which I feel dramatically was more of a mistake. I think the brothers should have left earlier, dad killed earlier, and one of the other brothers should have had a decent subplot - maybe died, like Beth in Little Women. The film could have used villains too.
Some strong action - a horse stampede, a brawl, a storm. Chauvel was a good director he just needed better scripts and a stronger producer.
This is one of the trilogy of good Chauvel films - the others are Forty Thousand Horsemen and Jedda. It's a full blooded melodrama which as Hall pointed out didn't need to be shot on location for the most part but what is there is pretty spectacular.
The first half of this movie was annoying with the Irish brogues and Matthew looking like a hipster and all this ripe dialogue and Thelma Scott looking battered. But there's always stuff of interest - like the "confirmed bachelor" uncle, Scott was a good actor and her eyes reek of pain (I think they should have killed dad in the first five minutes and made her character more prominent), and you can discuss themes of nation building and the relationships between the sexes.
The second half is better when there's a love triangle between two brothers over the girl. Wendy Gibb is sexy as hell and Ken Wayne and Michael Pate are fine actors - Pate's BBC style enunciation annoyed me at first (he plays it like a forty year old) but I got used to it and the drama is strong. They make allowances for Pate by having Wayne be a pants man.
John Ewart is lively as the cheeky brother and I enjoyed Tommy Burns as another. The fifth brother is a nervous wreck - is he coded as gay? I don't want to read things into it that aren't there - but that's what Chauvel movies do! Only Pate and Wayne get much of a look in which I feel dramatically was more of a mistake. I think the brothers should have left earlier, dad killed earlier, and one of the other brothers should have had a decent subplot - maybe died, like Beth in Little Women. The film could have used villains too.
Some strong action - a horse stampede, a brawl, a storm. Chauvel was a good director he just needed better scripts and a stronger producer.
TV review - "Adventure of Long John Silver" Ep 10 "Turnabout" (1954)
Silver is captured by the French whose captain is engagingly played by David Nettheim. More ship based action in this one. Funny gag at the end with an exploding pie. But these scripts really weren't that good.
TV review - "Adventures of Long John Silver" ep 2 Pieces of Eight
Strong episode.A Spanish sailor tells Silver about the existence of Spanish treasure so he heads off with his gang to get it. They go out on location with Jim Hawkins - this feels more like the movie. A pirate is bitten by a very Australian snake. Touching moment where Long John thinks Hawkins is going to die and he and Patch (Grant Taylor) talk about Jim and it's sweet because Grant T was Kit T's father.
TV review - "Adventures of Long John Silver" -Ep 8 "Ship of the Dead" ***
A Jim focused episode with a decent set up - Jim sees a mystery ship but no one believes him. Kit Taylor wasn't a terrific but this is a good story. It feels like Robert Louis Stevenson. It does push it that Hawkins threatens a pirate by using a deep voice and pretending to be a grown up. The other pirate looks an idiot. Directed by Lee Sholem. John Brunskill and Ken Warren (Spanish captain) are in this.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Movie review - "Les Patterson Saves the World" (1987) **
Look, I know this is a bad movie. Les Patterson isn't a good figure for a lead in a movie - neither is Edna, really, the Barry McKenzie movies worked because of Barry. Les is a fun cameo but not fun to be around for over ninety minutes. But I did laugh at the Irish ambassador to the UN and Les causing a diplomatic incident by farting at the UN, and Bob Hawke, and Joan Rivers as the president saying "I want Herpes badly" and Thao Pengalis loving Dame Edna and Andrew Clarke in leather.
There is a good movie here struggling to get out - it really should have been a Barry McKenzie movie with Barry sent out to the Middle East. It definitely should not have cost this much money - though it looks gorgeous and I enjoyed the revolving restaurant.
Humphries takes on all sorts of targets, again though the aim is less sharp than in the McKenzie films - fame and money dulled his edge a little. It lacks Bruce Beresford - I'm not sure it was ideal of Humphries to collaborate with his wife instead of an experienced screenwriter.
It's fun to see Graham Kennedy but I wish there had been more of him - ditto Pamela Stephenson (a brilliant comic talent whose film roles mostly just had her showing her cleavage). I'm surprised there were no big musical numbers.
It's not good. But I did laugh. And it is 10BA at its most 10BA-ness.
There is a good movie here struggling to get out - it really should have been a Barry McKenzie movie with Barry sent out to the Middle East. It definitely should not have cost this much money - though it looks gorgeous and I enjoyed the revolving restaurant.
Humphries takes on all sorts of targets, again though the aim is less sharp than in the McKenzie films - fame and money dulled his edge a little. It lacks Bruce Beresford - I'm not sure it was ideal of Humphries to collaborate with his wife instead of an experienced screenwriter.
It's fun to see Graham Kennedy but I wish there had been more of him - ditto Pamela Stephenson (a brilliant comic talent whose film roles mostly just had her showing her cleavage). I'm surprised there were no big musical numbers.
It's not good. But I did laugh. And it is 10BA at its most 10BA-ness.
Movie review - "Young Dillinger" (1965) **
Years before Mobsters comes this tale of Baby John Dillinger and his friends Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Nelson. I wish it had been made by Roger Corman or at least years later in the exploitation field - it would have been entertainly trashy.
This feels like the episode of a TV show, The Untouchables or something, with acting to match. Lots of that seriously early sixties emoting. Mary Ann Mobley gets a larger, darker role than she usually did in those beach films (which were more fun). The film blames a lot of it on her - she suggested Dillinger rob the first place, she causes trouble, she gets pregnant and dies.
Nick Adams is alright - Robert Conrad, who plays Flloyd would have been better. Ashley's part isn't very big he sort of mostly hangs to the side like he did in the Beach Party series. There's some action and a lot of story but it feels too television. Black and white does not help.
This feels like the episode of a TV show, The Untouchables or something, with acting to match. Lots of that seriously early sixties emoting. Mary Ann Mobley gets a larger, darker role than she usually did in those beach films (which were more fun). The film blames a lot of it on her - she suggested Dillinger rob the first place, she causes trouble, she gets pregnant and dies.
Nick Adams is alright - Robert Conrad, who plays Flloyd would have been better. Ashley's part isn't very big he sort of mostly hangs to the side like he did in the Beach Party series. There's some action and a lot of story but it feels too television. Black and white does not help.
Movie review - "Smiley" (1956) *** (re-viewing)
Sweet, charming - one of the best Australian kid films made in part because there's a lot of adult content. Scenes in the aboriginal camp (some sympathetic characters refer to the "abos"), the publican sells opium to the aboriginals, Smiley's father is a drunken gambler who spends his sons money and his son reacts in a rage by smashing his bed with a cricket bat (accidentally taking out dad). There's a smug fat red haired kid lording it over Smiley, the pub is full of baggarts.
This makes the warm stuff more warm. Colin Petersen is charming as Smiley - plucky, mischievious, fun, full of life. Chips Rafferty is spot on as the copper who spends most of his work time having tea and flirting with the teacher, with a crime solved in front of his eyes but he's still slow (Smiley says John McCallum is getting him to send packages to the camp etc). Ralph Richardon's town padre is fun and its lovely that the film shows the importance of the church in small town life - though after everything in recent years I admit I did think "oh was he a kiddy fiddler."
It's made with warmth and affection. The Brits did Australia well.
This makes the warm stuff more warm. Colin Petersen is charming as Smiley - plucky, mischievious, fun, full of life. Chips Rafferty is spot on as the copper who spends most of his work time having tea and flirting with the teacher, with a crime solved in front of his eyes but he's still slow (Smiley says John McCallum is getting him to send packages to the camp etc). Ralph Richardon's town padre is fun and its lovely that the film shows the importance of the church in small town life - though after everything in recent years I admit I did think "oh was he a kiddy fiddler."
It's made with warmth and affection. The Brits did Australia well.
Movie review - "Kangaroo" (1952) (re-viewing) **
I wish this was better. The photography is beautiful. Gorgeous colours. Memorable visuals... swirling dust - Lewis Milestone clearly had a thing for dust.
The basic idea is strong - Peter Lawford pretends to be the son of Finlay Currie. But Currie is poor... his property is drought ridden and looks terrible... that's no stakes. Why not make Currie really rich? Why not have the guy after Maureen O'Hara be sexy and bad and a real threat to Lawford instead of Chips Rafferty? What is the point of Charles Tingwell's character? Why not use him more?
Maureen O'Hara is wasted - it would have been better had she and Lawford swapped roles. Lawford was alright in support but not as a lead - his voice was too high, his presence too wet. O'Hara just hangs out, soothes Lawford's furrowed brow... they should have given her more to do. Female roles in 20th Century Fox melodramas were often bad - Zanuck was very old school in his depiction of women. I wasn't sure when it was set or why.
Richard Boone is fantastic. There's a fun fight with bullwhips. It's great to see Aussies like Rafferty, Letty Craydon (comic servant in Tall Timbers), Tingwell, and Henry Murdoch.
Milestone says when he got to Australia he wanted to make a different movie and this feels like that - as if he was torn over what sort of movie to do instead of having an overall vision.
The basic idea is strong - Peter Lawford pretends to be the son of Finlay Currie. But Currie is poor... his property is drought ridden and looks terrible... that's no stakes. Why not make Currie really rich? Why not have the guy after Maureen O'Hara be sexy and bad and a real threat to Lawford instead of Chips Rafferty? What is the point of Charles Tingwell's character? Why not use him more?
Maureen O'Hara is wasted - it would have been better had she and Lawford swapped roles. Lawford was alright in support but not as a lead - his voice was too high, his presence too wet. O'Hara just hangs out, soothes Lawford's furrowed brow... they should have given her more to do. Female roles in 20th Century Fox melodramas were often bad - Zanuck was very old school in his depiction of women. I wasn't sure when it was set or why.
Richard Boone is fantastic. There's a fun fight with bullwhips. It's great to see Aussies like Rafferty, Letty Craydon (comic servant in Tall Timbers), Tingwell, and Henry Murdoch.
Milestone says when he got to Australia he wanted to make a different movie and this feels like that - as if he was torn over what sort of movie to do instead of having an overall vision.
TV series - "Adventures of Long John Silver" Ep 1 "The Necklace"
Silver is accused of murder! It's quite a violent introduction - a woman is killed and then her husband dies after giving a half description which pins it on Silver. So he's thrown in prison and Purity has to save him which is lovely. Actually based on that I wish the script was better - it was written by Martin Rackin and Kay Keavney. Walter Brown is the pirate whodunnit and he's actually quite scary. Grant Taylor is a regular - I wonder if in part they cast Kit as Jim because his dad would be on set to keep an eye on him.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Movie review - "Saturn 3" (1980) **
I feel for the technicians who worked on this. The special effects were stunning. I mean, it was expensive but you see a lot of production value on screen.
And the basic concept is very strong - Adam and Eve in space, with the serpent coming to visit. Farrah Fawcett as Eve - great.
Then they cast Kirk Douglas as Adam - and we see more of Douglas than I ever wanted to, including his backside. He's rooting Fawcett and they're meant to be happy - like a lot of movies made by middle aged men he's wise about the relationship going "you'll leave me one day and that's fine because I'm wise", when in reality surely he'd be clingy and paranoid.
You could make an interesting film about this festy old man manipulating this hot young thing and getting jealous of the hot young guy that comes along - but then they cast Harvey Keitel as the guy, who isn't hot, or at least not here with his tightly combed hair and dubbed voice. It's clear the filmmakers sympathies are with Douglas, with Fawcett as a trophy. Stanley Donen was not the right director of this (he wasn't meant to be originally - he was producing and took over when John Barry quit).
As a simple creepy-person-on-the-spaceship movie it lacks suspense. There are bright ideas - the robot, it's relationship with Keitel, the fact Fawcett has never been to Earth -and amazing effects. I wish Roger Corman had remade this, he'd do it right.
And the basic concept is very strong - Adam and Eve in space, with the serpent coming to visit. Farrah Fawcett as Eve - great.
Then they cast Kirk Douglas as Adam - and we see more of Douglas than I ever wanted to, including his backside. He's rooting Fawcett and they're meant to be happy - like a lot of movies made by middle aged men he's wise about the relationship going "you'll leave me one day and that's fine because I'm wise", when in reality surely he'd be clingy and paranoid.
You could make an interesting film about this festy old man manipulating this hot young thing and getting jealous of the hot young guy that comes along - but then they cast Harvey Keitel as the guy, who isn't hot, or at least not here with his tightly combed hair and dubbed voice. It's clear the filmmakers sympathies are with Douglas, with Fawcett as a trophy. Stanley Donen was not the right director of this (he wasn't meant to be originally - he was producing and took over when John Barry quit).
As a simple creepy-person-on-the-spaceship movie it lacks suspense. There are bright ideas - the robot, it's relationship with Keitel, the fact Fawcett has never been to Earth -and amazing effects. I wish Roger Corman had remade this, he'd do it right.
Movie review - "Uncivilised" (1936) ** (re-viewing) (warning: spoilers)
I used to like this a fair bit - it's silliness was so endearing. As time goes on it's harder to watch - those aboriginies shipped over from Palm Island in particular. Margot Rhys is alright in a terrific role - the journalist sent to investigate stories of a white man raised among the blacks who of course now rules them.
Dennis Hoey's casting is so absurd as to put this in the field of camp - he's not good looking, though he is in shape; he sings several songs and does not have much chemistry with Rhys. Rhys does take a racy nude swim but is disappointingly passive for the most of the running time. I like the reveal that the Arab was the agent... but this robbed Rhys and Hoey of heroic stuff to do.
Packed with trops - the tragic half caste who loves Rhys, the villainous witch doctor. Some spectacular visuals and location footage.
Dennis Hoey's casting is so absurd as to put this in the field of camp - he's not good looking, though he is in shape; he sings several songs and does not have much chemistry with Rhys. Rhys does take a racy nude swim but is disappointingly passive for the most of the running time. I like the reveal that the Arab was the agent... but this robbed Rhys and Hoey of heroic stuff to do.
Packed with trops - the tragic half caste who loves Rhys, the villainous witch doctor. Some spectacular visuals and location footage.
Movie review - "Forty Thousand Horsemen" (1940) *** (re-viewing)
Swashbuckling, erratic, fun, patriotic, packed with action. The central story is melodramatic and silly but works for the tone. You wouldn't buy it in a Western front movie but the Arabian front was where Lawrence of Arabian was running around dressed as an arab so it suited more romantic outlandish tales like Betty Bryant dressing up as a boy to spy.
It's surprisingly sexy with Bryant watching three diggers bathe, and Bryant and Taylor having sex in a hut during the night while it rains outside - Chauvel movies were more adult than the typical Hollywood movie of the time.
Grant Taylor is terrific value as the cocky, swaggering, playful Red and Chips Rafferty very good as the larrikin friend - he bounces off the screen. Pat Twohill is fine, just has less of a distinctive character to play - in Rats of Tobruk Chauvel fixed that by having Peter Finch play the third friend all soulfully (the one area that film is better than this).
Impressive production values - Arab markets, small towns, prison cells, battles over the sand dunes, especially the final charge. The Germans chew the scenery Eric Von Stroheim style. Rousing. Silly. Fun.
It's surprisingly sexy with Bryant watching three diggers bathe, and Bryant and Taylor having sex in a hut during the night while it rains outside - Chauvel movies were more adult than the typical Hollywood movie of the time.
Grant Taylor is terrific value as the cocky, swaggering, playful Red and Chips Rafferty very good as the larrikin friend - he bounces off the screen. Pat Twohill is fine, just has less of a distinctive character to play - in Rats of Tobruk Chauvel fixed that by having Peter Finch play the third friend all soulfully (the one area that film is better than this).
Impressive production values - Arab markets, small towns, prison cells, battles over the sand dunes, especially the final charge. The Germans chew the scenery Eric Von Stroheim style. Rousing. Silly. Fun.
Movie review - "Tall Timbers" (1937) ***
Enjoyably silly melodrama which benefits from vigorous handling and excellent technical quality. There's always something going on, whether it's Shirley Ann Richards being plucked out of the ocean by Frank Leighton, Joe Valli's comic flirting with Letty Craydno and antics with George Lloyd, Frank Harvey and Campbell Copelin teaming up to be dastardly for Ron Whelan, Harvey's sister Aileen Britten sleeping with Copelin, union agitators, a timber drive.
I saw the shortened version - 74 minutes - which flies along. Ken G Hall's handing was very sure. Impressive special effects though it doesn't always mesh well with the back projection. Likeable leads - two fisted Leighton probably should have gone to Hollywood rather than Britain, and made Westerns; I wish Richards had more to do, but I love how she and Britten became friends. The reunion between Leighton and Harvey Adams feels undercooked. Harvey and Britten are excellent and Copelin is wonderful fun.
I saw the shortened version - 74 minutes - which flies along. Ken G Hall's handing was very sure. Impressive special effects though it doesn't always mesh well with the back projection. Likeable leads - two fisted Leighton probably should have gone to Hollywood rather than Britain, and made Westerns; I wish Richards had more to do, but I love how she and Britten became friends. The reunion between Leighton and Harvey Adams feels undercooked. Harvey and Britten are excellent and Copelin is wonderful fun.
Movie review - "The Living Daylights" (1987) ****1/2 (re-viewing)
The Timothy Dalton Bonds look better as time has gone on - though I enjoyed them on release - smart, stylish, underplayed, very true to Fleming. This takes a little while to find its rhythm - I don't think the pre credit sequence got there though I loved Bond defending Gibraltar - but once it did, it's a lot of fun.
It has a genuine romantic core with Marym d'Abo's lovely yet inexperienced cellist, a delightful line up of villains (Joergen Krabbe and Joe Don Baker are wonderfully fun), an Aussie connection (Virginia Hey pops up), a clever story, it uses Fleming stories, the locations are pleasingly exotic (Vienna, Gibraltar, Afghanistan), Art Malik is a very likeable member of the Northern Alliance.
It has a genuine romantic core with Marym d'Abo's lovely yet inexperienced cellist, a delightful line up of villains (Joergen Krabbe and Joe Don Baker are wonderfully fun), an Aussie connection (Virginia Hey pops up), a clever story, it uses Fleming stories, the locations are pleasingly exotic (Vienna, Gibraltar, Afghanistan), Art Malik is a very likeable member of the Northern Alliance.
Movie review - "Bambi" (1940) ***1/2
Inevitably, unfairly, less impressive that it once was but full of love and tenderness. Bambi's dad is a bit of a deadbeat - you could interpret this movie as him having killed mother. Mum's death remains shocking. Thumper remains cute. Many beautiful moments.
Movie review - "Comanche Territory" (1950) **1/2
Decent Western notable for its colour and Maureen O'Hara's fun performance as a gun totin' hard drinkin' saloon owner who also owns a local bank. She's romanced by Jim Bowie played adequately by MacDonald Carey - this is set in 1820 though the feeling is 1950 Hollywood.
The plot involves Bowie trying to keep the peace with Indians who have signed a treaty for mining but it's being threatened. There's some okay action - George Sherman the director knew what he was doing. Solid drama with O'Hara's brother being bad. She's the best thing about it, wearing men's clothes then dressing up in a gown, singing in the saloon, punching people out in a brawl...
The plot involves Bowie trying to keep the peace with Indians who have signed a treaty for mining but it's being threatened. There's some okay action - George Sherman the director knew what he was doing. Solid drama with O'Hara's brother being bad. She's the best thing about it, wearing men's clothes then dressing up in a gown, singing in the saloon, punching people out in a brawl...
Movie review - "The Naked Country" (1987) **1/2 (re-viewing)
An odd film. I kept wondering why they made it. The baby boomer morality of Tim Burstall ("it's their land) sits uneasily on top of the small l liberalism of the generation above, the Morris West generation.
This really should have been made in the 1950s with Dennis Price and Maureen Swanson or someone - it feels like that, with its snarling cattle baron, his hot pants wife and the hard bitten cop (the David Farrar role).
Hero duties go back and forth - you think it's going to be the alcoholic Ivor Kants character, who sticks up for the aboriginals against his racist boss Simon Chilvers and is sensitive. But as the film goes on the sympathies head more towards John Stanton as the nasty but tough grazier. Rebecca Gilling is good as always but her part could actually be cut out.
And yet... the film does commend interest. It moves. It's fast. There's always something happening. Tim Burstall was a pace-y director - pace, pace, pace. Because Stanton is flawed and Kants you don't know who is going to win. Tommy Lee is an electric screen presence. The aboriginal characters get decent screen time - Tommy has his own romantic plot (played by a non aboriginal actor which is unfortunate).
Visuals are great. The music isn't quite right. Solid support cast including John Jarrat.
This really should have been made in the 1950s with Dennis Price and Maureen Swanson or someone - it feels like that, with its snarling cattle baron, his hot pants wife and the hard bitten cop (the David Farrar role).
Hero duties go back and forth - you think it's going to be the alcoholic Ivor Kants character, who sticks up for the aboriginals against his racist boss Simon Chilvers and is sensitive. But as the film goes on the sympathies head more towards John Stanton as the nasty but tough grazier. Rebecca Gilling is good as always but her part could actually be cut out.
And yet... the film does commend interest. It moves. It's fast. There's always something happening. Tim Burstall was a pace-y director - pace, pace, pace. Because Stanton is flawed and Kants you don't know who is going to win. Tommy Lee is an electric screen presence. The aboriginal characters get decent screen time - Tommy has his own romantic plot (played by a non aboriginal actor which is unfortunate).
Visuals are great. The music isn't quite right. Solid support cast including John Jarrat.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Movie review - "Quantum of Solace" (2009) **** (re-viewing - warning: spoilers)
I really like this movie, cannot understand the hate other than it depicts the Americans as unscrupulous baddies, Felix Leiter aside.
It has terrific action - a duel with two planes, a chase on foot - and is beautifully shot, full of stunning images - the final Zabriskie Point like building. The script is full of great lines and has memorable characters and moments - Olga Kurylenko's avenging agent, Giancarlo Giannini's world weary former agent, the death of Gemma Arterton is an enjoyable Goldfinger homage.
Mathieu Amalric is an excellent villain, smart and sadistic - when he fights Bond it's like a vicious cat (he's not as strong but he might hurt him), who eats an apple when meeting officers to show his contempt.
There are moving moments like the death of Giannini - the action slows for this and admittedly the editing does feel a bit frantic and choppy at times. I liked the plan to corner the world's water supply and the locations (Bolivia) and that Bond clearly loves his creature comforts. I did laugh at the concept of Canadian Intelligence, but I loved how Bond didn't get with the girl at the end, that wouldn't have felt right.
Oh and it doesn't go for to long too.
It's an excellent Bond entry.
It has terrific action - a duel with two planes, a chase on foot - and is beautifully shot, full of stunning images - the final Zabriskie Point like building. The script is full of great lines and has memorable characters and moments - Olga Kurylenko's avenging agent, Giancarlo Giannini's world weary former agent, the death of Gemma Arterton is an enjoyable Goldfinger homage.
Mathieu Amalric is an excellent villain, smart and sadistic - when he fights Bond it's like a vicious cat (he's not as strong but he might hurt him), who eats an apple when meeting officers to show his contempt.
There are moving moments like the death of Giannini - the action slows for this and admittedly the editing does feel a bit frantic and choppy at times. I liked the plan to corner the world's water supply and the locations (Bolivia) and that Bond clearly loves his creature comforts. I did laugh at the concept of Canadian Intelligence, but I loved how Bond didn't get with the girl at the end, that wouldn't have felt right.
Oh and it doesn't go for to long too.
It's an excellent Bond entry.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Movie review - "Licence to Kill" (1989) ****1/2 (warning: spoilers)
I like this film a lot more on re-viewing. Taking on a South American drug lord seemed a little old hat in the 80s but time has been kind. I wish stronger actors had been cast in the female leads but they are well defined roles - professional mistress and CIA pilot.
I love how Q goes on the mission - they should have done this more, and Moneypenny too (who is wasted here). I enjoyed the harder edge, such as Christopher Neame's agent.
Robert David is a strong villain, smart and funny - I liked him more this time. It helps he has an emotional bond with Bond (forgive the pun). Benico del Toro is a superb henchman. I love Anthony Zerbe's slimy boat dude. It's lovely to have an actor play Felix again,
The action sequences are consistently strong - the fight on a boat, the final truck duel. The look of the film is impressive - bright colours, Caribbean sunshine.
Most of all I love the "world" that they created in the country - the general dictator who does what he's told by drug lords, the financial guy who works for Sanchez and is selling to the Chinese, the Chinese investors, the way they launder money through a televangelical operation, the subplots about selling to the Contras. It's an extremely well written movie and a good one for Richard Maibaum to go out on.
Bond does smoke a lot in this. I think it was to justify him setting the villain on fire.
I love how Q goes on the mission - they should have done this more, and Moneypenny too (who is wasted here). I enjoyed the harder edge, such as Christopher Neame's agent.
Robert David is a strong villain, smart and funny - I liked him more this time. It helps he has an emotional bond with Bond (forgive the pun). Benico del Toro is a superb henchman. I love Anthony Zerbe's slimy boat dude. It's lovely to have an actor play Felix again,
The action sequences are consistently strong - the fight on a boat, the final truck duel. The look of the film is impressive - bright colours, Caribbean sunshine.
Most of all I love the "world" that they created in the country - the general dictator who does what he's told by drug lords, the financial guy who works for Sanchez and is selling to the Chinese, the Chinese investors, the way they launder money through a televangelical operation, the subplots about selling to the Contras. It's an extremely well written movie and a good one for Richard Maibaum to go out on.
Bond does smoke a lot in this. I think it was to justify him setting the villain on fire.
Movie review - "Frisco Waterfront" (1935) **
I only watched this for completionists sake as I'm a fan of Arthur Lubin, who directed. The version I watched was only 52 minutes - I gather the original cut was 66 but it didn't feel as though I missed anything.
It's a very fast paced melodrama about two men in love with the same gal - a version of the sort of stories done by Warner Bros. This has some decent production value - it's lower budget but there's still plenty of scenes of extras plus some on the docks; it's not a mega cheapie.
There's quasi names in the lead: Ben Lyon, Helen Twelvetrees, Rod La Roque. There's some subtext with Twelvetrees not being happy being married to a waterfront foreman and she leaves Lyon because of his lack of ambition - I mean, it's not as though she can get a job herself - and she's not punished for it.
The acting is erratic and it lacks the polish of a top level studio film.
It's a very fast paced melodrama about two men in love with the same gal - a version of the sort of stories done by Warner Bros. This has some decent production value - it's lower budget but there's still plenty of scenes of extras plus some on the docks; it's not a mega cheapie.
There's quasi names in the lead: Ben Lyon, Helen Twelvetrees, Rod La Roque. There's some subtext with Twelvetrees not being happy being married to a waterfront foreman and she leaves Lyon because of his lack of ambition - I mean, it's not as though she can get a job herself - and she's not punished for it.
The acting is erratic and it lacks the polish of a top level studio film.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Movie review - "John Wick" (2014) ****
Sometimes it just works. A very simple, elegant script - those things are super hard to do. They kill the wife, she gives him a dog, then the dog dies... that's strong motivation. I love how the villain was the idiotic spoilt son of a smart rich mafia boss - the boss had to back his stupid son. It's a story as old as time, and very effective.
Strong cast - Willem Dafoe, Bridget Monyahan - and Keanu works well in the lead. I enjoyed the "world" that was created - the hotel where assassins go to stay, the way all these people knew John/Keanu.
It maybe got a little silly towards the end.
Strong cast - Willem Dafoe, Bridget Monyahan - and Keanu works well in the lead. I enjoyed the "world" that was created - the hotel where assassins go to stay, the way all these people knew John/Keanu.
It maybe got a little silly towards the end.
Movie review - "The Boys from Brazil" (1978) **
I still remember the opening sequence of this film, when fresh faced Steve Guttenberg stumbles upon Nazis in Paraguay and is stabbed to death as a result.
The scene sequence still has power - it's the best in the film. After that the action slows down and the film is bogged in accent acting of Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck. Alright, Peck, you play a villain we get it. Alright Olivier you've got an accent, we get it.
The Nazis don't feel to be a threat - I mean, James Mason tries to take out Peck. The kid who plays the young Adolph isn't good. It's not scary. It feels too silly.
The scene sequence still has power - it's the best in the film. After that the action slows down and the film is bogged in accent acting of Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck. Alright, Peck, you play a villain we get it. Alright Olivier you've got an accent, we get it.
The Nazis don't feel to be a threat - I mean, James Mason tries to take out Peck. The kid who plays the young Adolph isn't good. It's not scary. It feels too silly.
Movie review - "My Man Godfrey" (1936) ***
Famous screwball comedy with some excellent lead performances. It's clearly well made. A top lot of character actors - Alice Brady and Eugene Pallette as the parents, Gail Patrick and Carole Lombard as the daughters, Mischa Auer as a gigolo (he made me laugh).
William Powell is a secretly rich man as a hobo. I liked how Lombard basically bombarded him into romance though she can be a bit screachy at times.
It's clearly made with care - Universal movies weren't always so. Powell and Lombard have style to spare. I didn't think this was amazing as its reputation but it was entertaining.
William Powell is a secretly rich man as a hobo. I liked how Lombard basically bombarded him into romance though she can be a bit screachy at times.
It's clearly made with care - Universal movies weren't always so. Powell and Lombard have style to spare. I didn't think this was amazing as its reputation but it was entertaining.
Movie review - "PJ" (1968) ** (warning: spoilers)
I think this was made with one eye on being a new Harper - only it doesn't have Ross MacDonald, William Goldman, an all star cast or Paul Newman.
It does have Raymond Burr in while hair who is great fun - as is Brock Peters as a Bermudan cop and Gayle Hunnicut as a babe. George Peppard is a decent private eye but the film seems unsure how tough or comic to make him - his character feels all over the shop, one minute a clown, the next a smart arse, the next a tough guy.
It's directed by John Guillermine but doesn't feel like other movies from that filmmaker - such is the power of the bland factor at Universal in the late 60s and 70s. It had the same crappy music stings.
I enjoyed seeing a young Susan Saint James. There's a memorable scene where Peppard gets beaten up by the patrons of a leather bar.
But the film never seems to get its tone right. It's too close to TV. The character of PJ was too erratic.
It does have Raymond Burr in while hair who is great fun - as is Brock Peters as a Bermudan cop and Gayle Hunnicut as a babe. George Peppard is a decent private eye but the film seems unsure how tough or comic to make him - his character feels all over the shop, one minute a clown, the next a smart arse, the next a tough guy.
It's directed by John Guillermine but doesn't feel like other movies from that filmmaker - such is the power of the bland factor at Universal in the late 60s and 70s. It had the same crappy music stings.
I enjoyed seeing a young Susan Saint James. There's a memorable scene where Peppard gets beaten up by the patrons of a leather bar.
But the film never seems to get its tone right. It's too close to TV. The character of PJ was too erratic.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Movie review - "Two on a Guillotine" (1965) ** (warning: spoilers)
Decent, unpretentious little William Castle knock off from William Conrad, who did three of them for Warner Bros. It gave a leading role for Connie Stevens who was in a few Warner TV series - I didn't know Dean Jones was a Warners contract player... or maybe he wasn't (I think they'd lost a lot of their 77 Sunset Strip Shows by this stage).
Still he and Stevens are quite good as is Caesar Romero. The plot is hardly inspired - Stevens needs to stay in an old haunted house for a few nights to inherit money. The opening establishes Romero as a magician and I was hoping for lots of magic stuff; there's a little but not enough.
It's not very scary - I don't think Conrad was a great director at this stuff. The most effective moment is when Jones and Stevens go to a nightclub and there's groovy 70s music playing then they go quiet and stare at each other and kiss. It's effective because it's visual - I wish there was more of it.
It perks up when Romeo comes back at the end and is crazy but he's only in the film a short bit. It's a shame - I think they should have revealed he was alive earlier. Maybe had the twist at the end be that Stevens' mother was still alive.
Another twist or two would've been great and if you'd had more Romeo there would've been more drama to play out.
Still this isn't bad to watch on TV.
Still he and Stevens are quite good as is Caesar Romero. The plot is hardly inspired - Stevens needs to stay in an old haunted house for a few nights to inherit money. The opening establishes Romero as a magician and I was hoping for lots of magic stuff; there's a little but not enough.
It's not very scary - I don't think Conrad was a great director at this stuff. The most effective moment is when Jones and Stevens go to a nightclub and there's groovy 70s music playing then they go quiet and stare at each other and kiss. It's effective because it's visual - I wish there was more of it.
It perks up when Romeo comes back at the end and is crazy but he's only in the film a short bit. It's a shame - I think they should have revealed he was alive earlier. Maybe had the twist at the end be that Stevens' mother was still alive.
Another twist or two would've been great and if you'd had more Romeo there would've been more drama to play out.
Still this isn't bad to watch on TV.
Saturday, April 04, 2020
Movie review - "The King's Pirate" (1967) **
Pointless remake of Against All Flags without that film's energy, zest or reason to exist. I guess Universal wanted to use Doug McClure as a hero and this piece of IP was lying around. As in the remake of Beau Geste the changes to the script do not improve it - they limit the role of Jill St John's pirate (so much so I kept forgetting that's what she was) and too much time for the comic relief acrobat. They never get a fix on McClure - he seems to be more cynical but he isn't - and Guy Stockwell head villain is underwhelming. The poor actor is dubbed too. Wrecks all that is good about the original. I guess Mary Ann Mobley is good and I enjoyed the dancing girls.
Friday, April 03, 2020
Movie review - "The Victors" (1963) ***
Carl Foreman cashed in his Guns of Navarone chips to turn director with this strikingly cynical look at war. It's epic in scope - two and a half hours - with a strong cast of semi names: George Hamilton, George Peppard.
It's not highly regarded - I think its ambition annoyed people. And some of it is annoying to watch today - Foreman doesn't show battle sequences and a lot of the action is the Americans schtupping European women and hanging out on leave. Vince Edwards has a woman in Italy, Eli Wallach scores Jeanne Moreau, George Hamilton scores Romy Schneider and Elke Sommer, George Peppard scores Melinda Mercouri.
Foreman tries to downplay the predatory sexual nature by softening the encounters - Moreau is scared of bombing and Wallach comforts her, Schneider is actually a whore working for sleazy Michael Callan, Sommer's sister Santa Berger is money hungry and banging a Russian, Mercouri is a black marketeer who encourages Peppard to defect. Apparently in the original cut there was a sequence where an 11 year old French boy tries to sleep with Peppard and Hamilton for food.
But the non sex stuff is remarkable - the troops witness the execution of an Americans soldier, Peter Fonda adopts a dog who is shot by his fellow troops, white Americans beat up black Americans, the liberation of the camps, Eli Wallach is in hospital with his face blown off, Hamilton dies in a pointless knife fight with Albert Finbney.
The acting is strong - Peppard and Hamilton are excellent. Edwards' role is distractingly small - a few links/references to what happened to people like him would not go astray.
A film that has many irritating bits but also scenes of great power.
It's not highly regarded - I think its ambition annoyed people. And some of it is annoying to watch today - Foreman doesn't show battle sequences and a lot of the action is the Americans schtupping European women and hanging out on leave. Vince Edwards has a woman in Italy, Eli Wallach scores Jeanne Moreau, George Hamilton scores Romy Schneider and Elke Sommer, George Peppard scores Melinda Mercouri.
Foreman tries to downplay the predatory sexual nature by softening the encounters - Moreau is scared of bombing and Wallach comforts her, Schneider is actually a whore working for sleazy Michael Callan, Sommer's sister Santa Berger is money hungry and banging a Russian, Mercouri is a black marketeer who encourages Peppard to defect. Apparently in the original cut there was a sequence where an 11 year old French boy tries to sleep with Peppard and Hamilton for food.
But the non sex stuff is remarkable - the troops witness the execution of an Americans soldier, Peter Fonda adopts a dog who is shot by his fellow troops, white Americans beat up black Americans, the liberation of the camps, Eli Wallach is in hospital with his face blown off, Hamilton dies in a pointless knife fight with Albert Finbney.
The acting is strong - Peppard and Hamilton are excellent. Edwards' role is distractingly small - a few links/references to what happened to people like him would not go astray.
A film that has many irritating bits but also scenes of great power.
Movie review - "Madagascar 3" (2012) ***
Not as good as number two - it doesn't have the emotional undercurrents, there's no reuniting with your dad, or falling in love, or reuniting with your spieces. Apart from Ben Stiller's lion the other three leads could be cut out - they don't have anything to do.
The animation is gorgeous and I'm a sucker for circus stories. I loved the snow capped alps and the trip through Europe and there were some exciting action sequences. The penguins and monkeys are great. The new circus animals are strong especially the dancing bear.
Some silly script things - likeAlex/Stiller wanting to go home even though in Part Two he deliberately stayed, no mention of his parents, somehow they can easily travel from Africa to Monte Carlo and arrange to buy a circus but they can't afford to pay for the flight back to New York, the villain seems insufficiently motivated to go to such extreme methods.
Still, I laughed.
The animation is gorgeous and I'm a sucker for circus stories. I loved the snow capped alps and the trip through Europe and there were some exciting action sequences. The penguins and monkeys are great. The new circus animals are strong especially the dancing bear.
Some silly script things - likeAlex/Stiller wanting to go home even though in Part Two he deliberately stayed, no mention of his parents, somehow they can easily travel from Africa to Monte Carlo and arrange to buy a circus but they can't afford to pay for the flight back to New York, the villain seems insufficiently motivated to go to such extreme methods.
Still, I laughed.
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
Book review - "The Lonely Sea" by Alistair MacLean
Solid collection of writings from MacLean. Some of the later short stories aren't that great but this includes the short story that attracted the interest of Ian Curtis, "The Dileas" - that's about some fisherman who discover a raft where kids are strapped to it. This is very good.
There's quite a few non fiction pieces, mostly about sinking of various boats during World War Two - MacLean has a gloomy interest in these. They are well done. There's also an account of the sinking of the Bismark.
The essay at the end "Alistair MacLean on the Rewards and Responsibilities of Success" is interesting. I wish there had been more autobiographical stuff along this line.
This isn't a masterpiece but it has some memorable moments and it was great to read after the slog that was Floodgate.
There's quite a few non fiction pieces, mostly about sinking of various boats during World War Two - MacLean has a gloomy interest in these. They are well done. There's also an account of the sinking of the Bismark.
The essay at the end "Alistair MacLean on the Rewards and Responsibilities of Success" is interesting. I wish there had been more autobiographical stuff along this line.
This isn't a masterpiece but it has some memorable moments and it was great to read after the slog that was Floodgate.
Book review - "Floodgate" by Alistair MacLean (1983)
The opening scene is of an airport that's been flooded. Old MacLean would have described it -explosions, people getting swept away, the devastation. Not boozy on-the-road-to-dying MacLean. He just announces what's happened.
This is bad. Really bad. Endless pages of people talking. Talk goes on forever. Characters are indistinguishable from each other. Are they goodies? Or baddies? Can you tell the difference?
Some girls get kidnapped? Or do they? I can't tell. It's all dialogue dialogue dialogue. The villains are connected with the IRA. They are BAD.
The cover of this has childhood resonance for me. It was excellent art - an airport being flooded. That's not reflected in the book. It's flabby. Dumb. I was so bored.
This is bad. Really bad. Endless pages of people talking. Talk goes on forever. Characters are indistinguishable from each other. Are they goodies? Or baddies? Can you tell the difference?
Some girls get kidnapped? Or do they? I can't tell. It's all dialogue dialogue dialogue. The villains are connected with the IRA. They are BAD.
The cover of this has childhood resonance for me. It was excellent art - an airport being flooded. That's not reflected in the book. It's flabby. Dumb. I was so bored.
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