Movie review - "The Working Girls" (1974) ** (re-watching)

 Full of life and pep and some interesting things, positive female stuff, nude men. But really lacks focus. It's about three girls who live togehter and that's it and it's all very light when it really needs some hard edged social stuff. Rothman movies work best when they mix tones, IMHO.

I think if the girls all did the same job it would have more cohesian, more camraderie. Or if they'd been sisters or something. Needed more glue.

I wasn't a huge fan of Sarah Kennedy who was the lead. I liked the law student who worked in the strip club and wound up running it... but that was a little too easy.

Good natured. Fun. Silly. Just a bit slap dash.

Movie review - "Group Marriage" (1973) **1/2 (re-watching)

 Cheerful sex comedy from Stephanie Rothman has the same basic problem of Terminal Island - too many characters, too much going on - but also many of the benefits - a positive nature, plenty of forward momentum, an attractive cast.

The film is at its best in embracing of sex and colour and movement. Maybe it would have been better had it focused on just the girls. Or turned more serious. I think The Student Nurses works well because it goesd serious and while I know Rothman wanted to make a comedy a bit more seriousness like the house being trashed sequence would have worked. Or even more serious sex like when Jennings does it with Zac Taylor.

The f- gay slur word is used but the two gay characters are depicted positively.

Best actors are Claudia Jennings and Solomon Sutrges. Jennings' has star factor. Aimee Eccles is cute.

There are too many subplots though. One about a prisoner who is a client of the probationary officer feels extraneous. Like if you want that make him one of the group marriage. Or could have been a she (could conflict with the lawyer then).

Movie review - "Terminal Island" (1973) **1/2 (re-watching)

 I've seen this three times now. Still have the same issues. Too many characters. They look and sound an act alike.

Would have been better had it focused just on four women on the island.  There are the four women but also all these men.

Still plenty of interesting themes. Lots going on. Plenty of action.

Movie review - "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase" (1976) **1/2 (re-watching)

 I'm on a New World kick at the moment and this, despite its terrific concerpt and star (Claudia Jennings) does not hold up as well as the others - I think because the filmmakers weren't super in to the material. Maybe I'm being unfair - both producer and director went on to have strong careers but this lacks energy and verve of Big Bad Mama or Death Race 2000. 

It does have some bright moments - Jennings looks spectacular and has a sexy love scene. Actually all the love/sex scenes work - Michael Pressman's slowish pace works better there. The death of one of the lovers works.

I got the two leads confused at times and also the male leads.

Movie review - "Role Play" (2024) **

 I really liked Kaley Cuoco's Meet Cute but this is a disappointment. Nothing wrong with a bit of high concept but she and David Oyelowo don't have much chemistry and the film is flaccid. It gets off to a strong start with a terrific Bill Nighy sequence but once Nighy is killed, when the film should ramp up - police on their tail, kids in danger - it stretches. out. She takes off to Germany, he follows, Nighy is missed as a complication as are the cops and it becomes about Connie Nielsen tamely chasing her. The action sequences are fine nothing more - it's not the film's fault but it also suffers in contrast with Barry which set a new bar for the assassin/something else genre.

Movie review - "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954) ***1/2

 A lot of MGM musicals started losing money around this time - people still went to see them, but they cost a lot - a trend that only accelerated as the 50s went on. This one bucked the trend despite not being basedon a Broadway musical and having stars that never, to be honest, quite became the top - Howard Keel and Jane Powell (fine actors, and decent careers, they just were never Gene Kelly or Judy Garland). 

It had colour, some location work, plenty of energy. Howard Keel has a ridculous red beard. The red hair of all the boys is silly. Jane Powell is very cute and winning. The only other brother who'll register is Russ Tamblyn. Jeff Richards became a star for five seconds as another one but I got confused. You'll spot Julie Newmar.

Rousing dancing. Bold primary colours. Abduction as humour. Nice tunes. I didn't quite get the magic of this though.

Movie review - "Lady in Red" (1979) ***1/2 (re-watching)

 Quentin Tarantino gushes about this script. It's a good script, smart... it's a John Sayles script... not amazing. Maybe the full length once was. Pamela Sue Martin is very cute and I'm sure it I'd grown up with her on Nancy Drew the nude scenes would have blown my mind. She is likeable and gorgeous but doesn't quite carry the lead. They offered it to Angie Dickinson who would've been too old... but she really would've nailed it.

Classy cast - Louise Fletcher, Robert Conrad, Chrs Lloyd. Dillinger is in it a very small bit, and there's a whole other section to go. Too cut about to be effective really and only occasionally livens are pure exploitaiton - the final car chase - but as a smart 30s gangster film it's good.

Movie review - "Follow the Boys" (1963) ** (warning spoilers)

 MGM tried to repeat the success of Where the Boys Are but never quite did - I think because they went too light, while Boys had an aspect of reality about it with the Yvette Mimieux plot.

This has an interesting idea - the story of women who follow their naval men from base to base around the Riviera. Yes they chase the men but also... it is the Riviera. It wouldn't be a bad life if you were into it.

The women are: Janis Paige, getting sick of chasing hubby Ron Randell; Paula Prentiss, determined to nab lothatio Richard Long, Dany Robins, who is French and with Russ Tamblyn, and Connie Francis, desperate to be rooted by her new husband.

There's pleasing views of the south of France and Italy. Richard Long is made for this sort of thing and Randell acquits himself well. 

The film is geared heavily towards Francis, who gets several songs - she's fine but her character is depressing and the storyline is sad. Because she wants to have sex and it's difficult. I think she should've just had a good old fashioned stalking storyline eg "you said you loved me I want you" - something fun.

Depressing endings - Randell gives up his dream of a command for Paige, Francis decides to stick it out with her guy but he's still carted off arrested ie they still haven't had sex, Prentis is with Tamblyn but they haven't resolved the fact she doesnt want to marry a naval guy and he wants to go career, Long is with Dany Robin but she's a debt collector and he's got no money... Literally no one's relationship looks like it has a future! 

No sense of camraderie or even funny set pieces.

Movie review - "Satan's Sadists" (1969) **

 A big hit for Al Adamson with its raping bikers, going sleazier than even AIP would go. There is a very interesting cast and some decent music. And the plot is effective low budget stuff - basically people in a diner cross with some bikers led by Russ Tamblyn and the bikers start killing people.

Tamblyn was in his hippy stage now and looks spaced but he's got an impressive, unsettling presence. It's a convincing performance as he goes mad.

Regina Carroll is fun as his moll and there's a lively support cast even though Ken Taylor is so square as the hero (he and a girl are the protagonists I guess). Desert location works.

Movie review - "Hollywood Boulevard" (1976) *** (re-watching)

 I've seen this a lot. I have such affection for it.

Random thoughts

- the rape sequence is very unpleasant but it does show Candice Rialson to be genuinely traumatised by it. And later on when watching the film at the drive in she's traumatised again. And then is almost raped again in a scene played for comedy

- likewise in the scene where Tara Strohmeier is shot dead it has a real impact - ditto when Rita George is killed

- the love for movies is so endearing, the injokes, the names, the cut in footage, the whole vibe.

- the drive in sequence drags and isn't fun - rape played for gags isn't great

- the camraderie between the three girls is very lively and a shame there isn't more

- the romance between Jeffrey Kramer and Rialson is sweet

- the ace in the hole were the actors - everyone is good,Rialson is wonderful, Kramer amiable, but Mary Woronov and Paul Barrel are the stand outs. I really liked Rita George too she's very pretty and competent I'm surprised she

- sometiems the exploitation is awkward (the wet T shirt scene), other times offensive (the rape sequence), other times very effective (the producer in bed with two girls, the three girls lying around topless) - I know Dante and Arkush didn't have their hearts in exploitaiton but they could do it well (eg slasher scene)

- the basic mystery is fine with clever leading that we think the killer is Kramer

Movie review - "War of the Gargantuas" (1969) **1/2

 Handsome looking kaiju with impressive effects and photography as two creatures run amok, a goodie and a baddie. Not Godzilla but Gargantuas, Frankenstein's monster types.

Russ Tamblyn ambles through it seemingly stoned. Apparently he improvised his dialogue. But his presence adds to the fun.

There's some singing people at camp, lots of destruction, a decent budget (it seemed to my eyes). Fun.

Movie review - "Bottoms" (2024) ****1/2

 A movie of some blinding brilliance, a worth successor to Heathers. The first half hour is dazzlingly good. I worried they'd be able to maintain it and there are wobbles but it keeps bringing out the goods - a genuinely moving romance, pushing the edge with the finale (going to murder), a shocking sequence where a girl is genuinely beaten up. The two leads are stars, the cast is fabulous.

MGM Films About Australia

 1) The Man from Down Under (1943) - created as a vehicle for Wallace Beery, turned into one for Charles Laughton, set in Australia

2) The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney - MGM proposed filming this in the late 1940s as a vehicle for Gregory Peck and Greer Garson which actually makes sense

3) Interrupted Melody (1955) - biopic of Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence, developed as a vehicle for Greer Garson, given over to Eleanor Parker - has some scenes set in Australia

4) Million Dollar Mermaid (1953) - biopic of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman, turned into a (quite good) Esther Williams vehicle

5) Captain Bligh Returns - proposed sequel to MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty which Frank Lloyd wanted to make after that 1935 film's success, set during the Rum Rebellion

6) Dr Gillespie's New Assistant (1943) - Dr Kildare movie featured two Australian characters, one played by Aussie Shirley Ann Richards, the other by Richard Quine

7) The VIPs (1963) - Rod Taylor gets to play an Aussie

8) The Shiralee (1957) - MGM-Ealing film set and shot in Australia starring Peter Finch

9) Rhapsody (1954) - Elizabeth Taylor movie bassed on Aussie book by Henry Richardson

10) They Were Expendable (1945) - John Ford on US troops in the Philippines helping MacArthur escape to Oz

Movie review - "Rock n Roll High School" (1979) **** (re-watching)

 Saw this again because I read the book about it. It's just fun. Such a good heart. The film is about love. PJ Soles loves The Ramones, Joey Ramone loves pizza, Dey Young loves Tim Van Patten, Paul Bartel comes to love the Ramones, Mary Woronov loves Facism and is defeated. So much energy. Blowing up schools is probably less funny now with all these shootings but this is a great time.

Movie review - "Deathsport" (1978) **

 David Carradine, who hated the end movie, said the original script was great, but is that the case or just something that pepole say? It's very confusing - I can imagine it always was. It's in the future where there are city states and mutants and sort of jedi warriors.

I don't know why they just didn't make it like Ancient Rome, with rich people and poor people enlisted to entertain. That's simple and works. This is meant to be a competiton to entertain the masses but we never get the sense - they're driving in the desert. Who's watching? Is it on TV?

 What happens when the head dude dies? What's the stuf with Carradines novel? What job does Carradine have? Where are the mutants?

David Carradine is in great shape and ideal for this. Claudia Jennings is ideal action heroine with that splendid built. I

Corman insisted on nude scenes and they do liven things up I just wish they hadn't been torture-y scenes. Jennings and Carradine have pleasant chemsitry and you believe the characters would go for each other.

Some motorbike stuff isn't bad. I liked the duel between Carradine and Lynch,.

Good on Allan Arkush for trying to fix it. But I think what he needed to do was to clarify the story. That may have been impossible.

Charles Griffith wrote an unsued script. They couldn't use it?

Movie review - "Scoop" (2024) ****

 Great fun. Journalists digging at a story - really, it's all about the "get". Like a lot of British stories it's about class - the place of the royals, Prince Andrew's place within the royals (declining), his privelege (calling his mother "mummy" bringing up the Falkland Islands), but also within the BBC where Billie Piper is treated a little disdainfully and Gillian Anderson's presenter has been around the block.  Keeley Hawes' big sad eyes work a treat, because they make you wonder whether she did throw Andrew under a bus... or at least decided to expose some sunlight... I also loved how Hawes was a little star struck about Anderson. The costuming for the people who work in TV is spot on, especially Piper with her long hair, boots and keep cup. Rufus Sewell is very good in a tricky part but so is everyone.

Book review - "The Last Kind Words Saloon" by Larry McMurtry (2014)

 Short novel set in the old West involving Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday with appearances from Charles Goodnight and Indians and Nellie Bly, I think. Oh and Buffalo Bill Cody. One of McMurtry's "I write ten pages a day so here's a novel" books but it's easy to read, and. being about Wyatt Earp gives it freshness. There's amiable talk with brief interspersed violence, and some Indian torture - McMurtry really loved putting that in his later books. The gunfight at the OK Corrall is dealt with very quickly.

Bryan Brown Top Ten

 1) Newsfront

2) Money Movers

3) Breaker Morant

4) Palm Beach

5) Winter of Our Dreams

6) A Town Like Alice

7) Shiralee

8) FX

9) Two Hands

10) Dead Heart

Michelle Pfeiffer Top Ten

1) Grease 2 - a star from the get go!

2) Dangerous Liasions - got people to respect her even though Grease 2 should have done that

3) Married to the Mob - awful hair, great performance

4) Tequila Sunrise - mostly just hot but that's fine

5) Fabulous Baker Boys - stunning - and a good actor

6) Batman Returns - Catwoman is an actor proof part but still she's amazing

7) Hairspray - from her character actor period

8) Sweet Liberty - very funny

9) Dangerous Minds - okay, yes, white saviour but fun

10) What Lies Beneath - solid woman in peril film

Book review - "I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School" by Stephen B. Armstrong

 Affectionate, thorough account of the making of the cult classic. It had, as is generally well known, quite a turbulent birth, evolving from the "three girls" template at New World, then becoming a disco musical, before emerging as a rock musical, through the passion of Alan Arkush who really knocked it out of the park. It combined his irreverence towards authority and love of rock and old movies (like If, Marx Brothers and Hard Days Night). 

The film was blessed with luck in many ways - the script got progressively better, it seems, as opposed to worse; Arkush was the perfect director; PJ Soles the perfect star (though it's her and Dey Young who are the heart and soul of the film); New World had developed an excellent stock company by this stage including Dick Miller, Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov; they got the ideal band with the Ramones (apparenrlty Cheap Trick were considered... that might have worked).

Lots I didn't know - like Rosanna Arquette was up for the lead and tried to alpha Soles into not doing it ("well I'm going to get the part"), Young was last minute, the film previewed badly

I felt the writer was a little unfair to the writing of Charles Griffith (there's reference to "another Griffith stinker" - did Griffth write Deathsport?). Maybe his sccripts for this film were bad but the man is a genius. Or was.

Book review - "Mad as Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies" by Dave Itzkoff

 I think Network means more to Americans who didn't grow up with public broadcasting but I recognise the film's excellence and power. This is a worthy book - the writer did his research, especiallu going through the different drafts that Chayefsky did. Getting finance was not too hard - I mean, it wasn't super easy, but it was the 70s and The Hospital had made money. Also Sidney Lumet was idea and there were stars - William Holden, Faye Dunaway.

No one wanted to play the Peter Finch part. He wasn't on any lists but his agent pestered and he got it. Though he had to audition, sulked, then called back and said "sorry darling I forgot I was an actor". Finch stories are the most lively - he got bored acting opposite Ned Beatty during Beatty's speech so started impersonating a monkey, he moved to LA from "semi retirement" because the film reignited his career, he warned everyone that black extras would find him irresistible, he campaigned for his Oscar, he'd walk to the Beverly Hills hotel every day (couldn't drive) and wait until someone bought him breakfast (so he died trying to scab a freebie), William Friedkin organiser of the Oscars told Chayefsky that Finch's black wife couldn't accept the Oscar but Chayefsky or Lumet could, Chayefsky invited her up anyway.

Chayefsky was a pain on the film but Lumet could handle it -what a bummer they just didn't pay Lumet the few extra hundred thou to do Altered States (though what happened with Arthur Hiller?). 

William Holden was boozy and insecure with emotional scenes. Fay Dunaway was terrific but freaked out about her sex scene - the author makes diva claims but she had to do most of her career surrounded by men with their hands down their pants around her. She was very sympathetic here. I think the film and Oscar made her a bit nuts - she made it to the top and didn't know what to do next, went for star parts as opposd to best parts.

The impact/fandom of the movie is well conveyed. A totally decent book.

Script review - "When Harry Met Sally" by Nora Ephron

 This was mocked on a podcast by two males making fun of the premise, but it does operate as a decent thesis and also is a film of its time. This material has been much mined since by TV. It copied a lot of Woody Allen, but does offer a female point of view. It also feels, well, Jewish, in its emphasis on the importance of being married. But it's simple yet effective, smart, two contrasting characters, and the plot develops logically. I'm not sure how long they'll last married -Harry's got too many issues.

Sidebar: Meg Ryan really made the film go next level. Billy Crystal is absolutely fine but I get the feeling a bunch of other stars could have played the role but Meg is the heart.

Book review - "Roads" by Larry McMurtry

 A selection of writings by McMurtry about his road trips around the USA (significantly, only the USA no overseas travel for him). Entertaining and insightful - he does a lot of driving always has (that rural upbringing) spends a lot of time alone in a car, it clearly settles him. He associates areas with particular authors eg Hemingway in Key West so gets to chat about writers, a great McMurtry strength. This is as good and as revealing, if not more, than the official McMurtry memoirs

Book review - "Last Picture Show" by Larry McMurtry

 McMurtry was later very harsh on this book which he said was written very quickly without style although he admits it had a strong sense of character and time and place. Lots of sex and writing about sex - this book was actually more commercial than i remembered because it's about young people growing up and having sex trapped in a small town and there's always a market for that eg Peyton Place, Kings Row.

This is better written than them of course. The leads are okay - Sonny, Duane, Jacy - but the adults really well sketched: the gay English teacher kicked out of town, the most likely gay football coach, the coach's wife (beautiful portral), Jacy's mother (who roots Sonny here but it basically a nice person giving good advice... like the dad in Leaving Cheyenne come to think of it), Sam the Lion, the horny youth who winds up kidnapping a little girl (maybe not as minor a crime as McMurtry paints). He admits to hating Archer City when he wrote it and you can tell.

Things feel so true though like the "fast" party where everyone is nude and urban legends growiung. Other stuff feels more location specific like having sex with cows and visiting Mexico.

Movie review - "Kiss Me Kate" (1953) ***1/2

 Recognised as a sub-classic, I think it's fair to say, from MGM - perhaps because its stars were Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel, not the top tier, though they're lots of fun, though not so much fun as Anne Miller. Starts off great with Ron Randell as Cole Porter, a squabbling star couple, and Ann Miller dancing in tights in a fancy apartment. Then cuts to a Broadway show - we go back and forth between a musicalised Taming of the Shrew and backstage shenanigans.

I found Keenan Wynn and Dore Shcary fave James Whitmore a little annoying, though it was fun to see Bob Fossee and two mates do dancing.

A lot of talent. Didn't quite click. Maybe too domestic violence comedy and I didn't really go for the stars. Nice tunes though.

Book review - "Flim Flam" by Larry McMurtry

 Collection of essays on movies by McMurtry mostly from the 70s which McMurtry finds a lot to gripe about. Some interesting takes on film critics and theorists - I wasn't that wild about his thoughts on movies - he doesn't like Keith Carradine. Not really great analyst. I did like his enthusiasms and his pieces on his own films especially Picture Show and Loving Molly (he gets stuck into Sidney Lumet).  Last chapter from the 80s is about his friendship with Diane Keaton. He chats briefly about some odd films like Velvet Vampire (in a piece on Times Square) and Istanbul with Errol Flynn. Criticises his own plot for Hud.

Movie review - "Eureka Stockade" (1949) *** (re-watching)

 I've got it - they should've just made Chips play Dan McAlpine again and give him a family and plop them in the middle of the Eureka Stockade. The hot daughter could've romanced a digger and a cop, make the historical people background figures.

Movie review - "The Mississippi Gambler" (1953) ***

 Universal liked to use this title for different films - they had a hit with this one which enticed over Tyrone Power after a long stint at Fox. Unviersal put on colour, nice budget, Rudolph Mate as director, Seton I Miller wrote the story.

Power is a man who wants to get into gambling. So be befriends John MacIntire, who I kept thinking was Jack Elam, but it's really the Walter Brennan role. He manages to outsmart weak John Baer who is the brother of hot sister Piper Laurie.  This annoys Bae and Laurie, even though the latter is hot for Power. Their dad Paul Cavanagh kind of falls in love with Power because the latter is good at fencing. 

That's a strong domestic situation. Miller loses points by introducing another weak brother outsmarted by Power who has a hot sister, Julie Adams - but I liked Adams as a threat to Laurie, and all through the movie I wasn't sure who Power was going to end up with. Because Laurie marries her false love interest (Ron Randell, not a big part, but quite good)... but then fortunately he turns out to be an embezzler to clear the way. 

Everyone is trying to act, sometimes they can, Power was made for this, the girls are pretty, it looks good. I enjoyed it. Some action - a duel, a robbery. Racial issues are completely ignored.

Movie review - "The Tyrant Years" (1950) **

 Odd Sam Katzman movie. His films often fleeced through history and this was apparently once a tale of Captain Bligh then was fictionalised. It's about a tyrant in the British navy in 1803 - a captain, played by Rhys Williams, who I was vaguely familiar with, given a showy part. Williams isn't bad at all. The capain is basically turfed into retirement because he's brutal then brought back by Admiral Nelson (neat!) because he's brutal to go oon a special mission to wreck ships of the French. Ron Randell, in an awkward accent, is a lieutenant who falls for Williams' daughter.

The film is odd because Williams is a tyrant, an unfair tyrant - who abuses his crew, plays mind games... but the film never makes him a villain. He's victorious at the end, but wants to court martial Randell. Randell gets away with it because he's done his job. Then there's some cutesy stuff with Williams' wife who teases that they're going to have Randell as a son in law. This is played comically. But Wiliams has been shown to be a vicious commander, needlessly cruel. It feels as though the film might've been greatly rewritten. I could be wrong.

Not that much action except the battle at the end which is well done. It's in black and white not colour.

It's of interest mostly because of its ambiguous hero.

Movie review - "The Most Dangerous Man Alive" (1961) **

I know it's clunky and was shot hurriedly by Allan Dwan, and it's more a crime movie than sci fi in execution, but the story is strong - crim gets zapped and becomes indestructible - and Ron Randell is excellent as the guy, torment and energy. He really steps up to the plate. Nice turns from Debra Paget and various crusty old actors.

Book review - "Coopers Creek" by Alan Moorehead

Really enjoyed this. Didn't learn that much new but Moorehead is a good writer apart from the racist dismissial of Aboriginal Australians. The tragedies and complexities are well conveyed.

Movie review - "The Girl on the Pier" (1953) **1/2

 An attempt to make a decent film, thank you director Lance Comfort. It benefits from location filming at Brighton Pier, and a mixture of different characters - a policeman on holiday with his wife, daughter and son, a former robber and hs trashy wife who is sleeping with a local compere, a journalist.

The actor who plays the journo is weird, Brian Ropert. Veronica Hurst (briefly a bit of a name) is the blonde girl, Ron Randell her sleazy lover (his American accent is weird it must be him I keep making the same note), Eileem Moore who plays the daughter married George Cole. All the casting is accomplished.

There's a little boy who witnesses crimes, as often the case in 50s British films. There's also a spooky clown at a fun fair.

I liked the movie.

Ten key films in Roger Corman's career

 In honour of his 98th birthday

1) Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) - little remembered but his first feature, part financed from some money from his dad

2) Five Guns West (1955) - Corman didn't direct the first two films he produced but went into it, to save money as much as anything but he handled it well and it launched his career

3) It Conquered the World (1956) - most of Corman's early films were actually Westerns but he soon discovered fantasy and sci fi were more lucratvie, such as this one - he was so prolific it's hard to specifc a turning point movie but this will do as well as any especially as Charles Griffith rewrote the script 

4) Machine Gun Kelly (1958) - Corman gets a good script and lead actor (Charles Bronson) and receives some serious critical attention for the first time

5) Little Shop of Horrors (1960) - most credit should go to Charles Griffth but Corman set up everyting around it and its wild freewheeling style shows just how confident he had become

6) The Intruder (1961) - Corman goes really serious, suffers backlash, a fantastic film for which he should be proud

7) House of Usher (1961) - Corman does his first Poe, it's terrific, launches a cycle

8) The Wild Angels (1966) - Corman kick starts the biker genre

9) A Time for Killing (1967) - Corman is wooed by Hollywood studios, but got fired off this one - he would occasionally work for them again but never consistently

10) Angels Die Hard (1970) - the first film from New World which kicked off that cycle of his career

Movie review - "I am a Camera" (1955) **

 The story has been so overshadwed by Cabaret but before then it was a hit straight play by John Van Druten. This was adapted by Romulus, a British outfit who aimed to do good work with an international focus.

Julie Harris is Sally. The film feels like a stage play with Harris hanging around Laurence Harvey's apartment with Anton Diffring and Shelley Winters. I missed the cabaret - there was more things happening there. Ron Randell adds a dash of energy as Harris' rich man but this is mostly Harris and Harvey.

Look, I mean, it's good this exists, I guess. They tried to make a good movie. Or at least capture some of the play - as much as they good. They had to straighten it up. I guess it's handy for posterity that Julie Harris' performance is perserved. It left me a little cold but maybe she was better live. I liked Laurence Harvey's work - he's a believable writer.

I didn't really care about any of the people or their relationships. The basic story is so clear - a gay writer and his crazy ditzy female bestie. This version was wonky. Why were they friends, what was the appeal, etc. The Breakfast at Tiffany's movie probably had the right idea just making it a flat out straight romance, with him being in love with her. At least there was a strong emotional connection. Here they try to hang on to the play and it's just unsatisfying.

Maybe it could have worked with more chemistry between Harvey and Harris. Actually that's the key - to show these two are friends. Doesn't work. It's weird - both aren't bad, quite good, they just don't mesh.

Book review - "Leaving Cheyene" by Larry McMurtry

 McMurtry described this book as "Jules et Jim on the plains" which is accurate - two blokes in love with the same gal, Molly, who loves them but in a different way. It feels very much of the world of Horseman Pass By  - it's set in the same town Thalia - with its endless monotonous work, cattle, cowboys, driving, etc

There's some great quotes about the love hate relationship you have withe the place that you grew up in that's yours- I related to this, and it would explain why McMurtry kept going back to Archer City.

I liked this book a lot. Because it's in three sections, each of the leads gets a chance to be fleshed out. It also has epic sweep.

Tony Perkins must've been so miscast in the film version. It would make a great movie if done well. Mind you hard to cast actors in such time jump roles.

McMurtry likes to write about dodgy marriages - here is one, well, several. Gideon keeps seeing Molly even though married to Melanie; Molly marries Eric despite loving Gideon and Johnny. No one who loves each other marries each other just like Chekov. People should travel more!

The bit about Molly and Gideon's son revealing in a letter that he's into dudes feels like a shock factor bit put in - but I might be being unfair. McMurtry later expressed regret he never thought of writing a day cowboy story before adapting Brokeback Mountain.

I loved the stuff with Gideon and his wise but cranky dad. The violence of the town is well conveyed as is the work and atmosphere. This has real heart.

You can feel McMurtry's blood, sweat and tears more in these novels.

Book review - "The Colonel and Little Missy: Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, and the Beginnings of Superstardom in America" by Larry McMurtry

 One of McMurtry's short lives of the old west though longer than his books on Custer and Crazy Horse. It ambles and rehashes other books and could have done with an edit but is entertaining. It's strongest in the two areas where McMurtry traditionally thrives - depictions of troubled marriages and reviews of books. Oh, and sardonic humour.

It's a fun read. McMurtry is clearly drawn more to Bill - while he has admiration for Oakley, she was a little dull (neo con, scared of poverty, afraid of rape, dogged) while Bill was more colourful, constantly on the verge of financial ruin and what not.

Movie review - "Strange Case of Dr Manning" (1957) **

 Dull British kidnap thriller directed by Arthur Crabtree who once enjoyed some hits for Gainsborough but like many of his colleagues struggled away from that studio.

Greta Gynt is blonde and not much more as the wife of a kidnapped doctor. Ron Randell is an American private eye who combines with a British doctor.

It's sluggish and not very interesting. Ron Randell's American accent was so awkward I thought maybe it had been dubbed but I've said that a few times about him maybe he just had a bad American accent.

Book review - "All My Friends Are Going to be Strangers" by Larry McMurtry

 McMurtry once wrote that musicians love this book -  James Taylor had the film rights - and it's not hard to see why with its artistic hero who is a down to earh Texan and keeps encountering women he wants to bed but also loves and somehow makes a mess of it. He marries one and wants to marry a bunch of others. There's the girl from Terms of Endearment (the McMurtry universe!), a hot one good at sex (who he marries and impregnates and who is the least complex), a neurotic mess in Hollywood who works as a cartoonist, a horny tennis playing housewife, a Mexican prostitute. The novel feels as though it builds to the lead dying but McMurtry says that isn't the case and he wrote a sequel with the character. I wonder how autobiographical this is - I assume a lot.

The world is a little like Don's Party -  a conservative society starting to swing, heavy drinking, people getting married young but the marriages being open, lechy academics.

Some of the language hasn't aged too well and McMurtry's hero is a little rough with his hands but the book does work. Interior in the best way, very strongly felt. The scene where Danny and a mate are attacked by cops is brutally excellent. Fun sketch of Hollywood and the book worlds. I loved the guy who is always writing scripts about the Seventh Cavalry.

Movie review - "Quincannon Frontier Scout" (1956) **

 Serviceable story - outsider scout called in to do one last job, fighting Indians but also anti Indian masscare - from the team of Koch and Schenck. 

Singer Tony Martin, in a rare non musical role, is hilariously bad as the tough guy scout. They make things worse by putting him in black a la Dirk Bogarde in The Singer NOt the Song. Ron Randell is a bad cavalry captain.

Many scenes shot at night presumably to hide the low budget. A Sam Katzman style film not made by katzman. The rest of the cast all feel familiar.

It's not a bad story and the handling is fine and I liked the colour (the brown face to play Indians for the whites, not so much). But Martin sinks it.

Movie review - "Davy" (1958) **

 The biggest flop of the six MGM-Ealing films, which tried to turn Harry Secombe into a star. He's cute, cuddly, can act and sing and be funny... the film doesn't quite work. It's about a man torn between performing in opera and doing a family act which isn't much of an idea. Especially as the "family act" don't seem like a real family. I mean, that's a basic flaw. I'm surprised they stuffed it - you could've easily just had a bunch of Welsh actors, mum and dad and nephew and nice. But instead they've got Ron Randell with an American accent and his wife and some old clown.

This needed to be about a man breaking away from his family. They've been together forever so it's a real wrench. As it is the family are basically four middle aged people who should be able to survive. They don't deserve him. If it had been his parents it might've worked. But no family feel = the movie is dead. When Secombe doesn't do opera at the end it's just sad.

Shot in CinemaScope and colour by Geoffrey Unsworth. Probably not worth it.

Most pathos comes from that little Bill Owens in love with Randell's wife.

Needed more songs. More family. More point. 

Ealing could really miss the boat with their films.

Was interesting to see Randell as a compere and doing skits like he often did on radio. Susan Shaw has a late in life appearance - she'd drink herself to death soon.

What films could Chips Rafferty have starred in?

 After The Overlanders he was signed to a long term contract by Ealing. Here's what resulted.

- Bush Christmas - perfect choice

- The Loves of Joanna Godden - awful

- Eureka Stockade - awful

- Bitter Springs - ideal.

Rank/Ealing made The Shiralee, which could've used Rafferty, though he wasn't that sexy - also Robbery Under Arms... as the boys' dad. He would've suited The Siege of Pimchgut as the lead instead of Aldo Ray. But really that film should've been about German POWs.

Ealing announced Pepper Springs for him and Tommy Trinder which doesn't sound that great but would've been better than Eureka Stockade.

He didn't really have the romantic look for the lead in Sons of Matthew.

Okay so here's what would've worked:

- Eureka Stockade with Rafferty as a fictional lead and Peter Finch or someone else as Lalor and someone handsome to do the romance

- Siege of Pinchgut with Chips as main cop

- an adaptation of We of the Never Never with Chips as the husband

- a variation of The Overlanders only set in New Guinea i.e. group fleeing Japanese

- adaptation of The Long Shadow by Jon Cleary 

- Mary Bryant story with Chips as Will

Movie review - "The Girl in Black Stockings" (1957) **

 A slasher film before you could see much -a killer has cut up a goodtime girl in a small town and sheriff John Dehner tries to find out who did it. 

The main perk of this is the cast - suspects include Lex Baxter, Ron Randell (in a wheelchair), Mamie Van Doren, Marie Windsor, Anne Bancroft, Hoss from Bonanza. Bancroft is very good; I also liked Randell playing a bitter man (was his voice dubbed?) and it's fun to see Van Doren randomly pop up.

The original story was set in South Africa. That would've been fun. Quite a high body count.

I didn't mind this film - nicely directed, a little sleazy. I think it needed to be sleazier, that's all.

Shirley Ann Richards Top Ten

 1) Dad and Dave Come to Town - her best role, best performance, very funny and lovely

2) It Isn't Done - great debut and a pretty good role even if she was mostly required to bat her eyes at John Longden she displayed an innate intelligence

3) Lovers and Luggers - a "girl" part but she gets points for wearing men's clothes, and it's thus better than Tall Timbers

4) Sorry Wrong Number - not an awesome part but probably her best film apart from Dad and Dave and she's very good

5) Badman's Territory - a girl part, but she gets to ride horses, point a gun and run a newspaper

6) Breakdown - flawed film, lacks focus, but Richards' husband gave her a decent part as a good girl in love with a bad boy

7) Lost Honeymoon - a good role as a protagonist, and she's great - it's just the story is so dumb

8) The Searching Wind - she's better than the play and her two co stars, a very believable "let's let it slide" type

9) Love Letters - flawed film, but Richards is very good as a loyal friend 

10) Dr Gillespie's New Assistant - she has two scenes but is sparky and lovely and should have played Richard Quine's role

Movie review - "Gold for the Caesars" (1963) **

 Jeffrey Hunter and Ron Randell from King of Kings in a peplum allegedly directed by Andre de Toth but apparently more by the second unit director. There's a gorgeous French girl and the setting and story aren't bad, a little like The Land of the Pharoahs - Hunter is a slave architect helping build a gold mine for his Roman overlords, Randell is a centurion but he's not the main villain the proconsul is (Randell should've played that role). Randell has a fight with Hunter's BFF while Hunter takes on the proconsul. Decent action and production values. Set just before Trajan came to power, and in Spain. They fight the Celts.

Book review - "Literary Life" by Larry McMurtry (2011)

 I found this second volume of memoirs more interesting than the first mostly because I find writing more interesting than book selling. Affectionate sketcfhes of people like Ken Kesey, Susan Sontag, Grover Lewis and Michael Korda. His formula isn't hard to digest - five pages a day every day, and if lucky sell your work to the movies. There's a lot of overlap with his other books of memoirs and like that one consistently wishes stories were told in more detail but it is still enjoyable.

Movie review - "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" (2024) **

 The action scenes are dark and murky and while there's plenty of plot I got confused - it had Pirates of the Carrbbiean sequel vibes which like this were loud and a bit confusing, but at least thought had been put in to it. There's a cute kid, plenty of set up and pay off, a random New Zealand woman, tired old rock on the soundtrack, Godzilla kills a lot of humans while being good and I still feel his head is small. The mother daughter stuff was nice.

Book review - "Custer" by Larry McMurtry (re-reading)

 McMurttry wrote at the back of his mind throughouy his career was the thought "I could always do a book on Custer there's always a market for it" and here it is. I liked the insights of Custer's marriage and his analysis of the writings of the time, areas of his strength. An enjoyable book, albeit one in a minor key.