Keir Dullea top ten

 

1) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - he's actually perfect for this part

2) 2010: The Year We Made Contact (1984) - entirely decent sequel, no not as good but it tries, a lovely to see Dullea back

3) David and Lisa (1962) - the film that really launched his career, a little bit 'Simple Jack' but a sleeper hit

4) Mail Order Bride ((1964) - cute Burt Kennedy/Buddy Ebsen Western with Dullea as the romantic lead

5) The Thin Red Line (1964) - before the 1999 version of this novel there was this one... it's interesting, not as good as Malick, but worth a watch

6) Bunny Lake is Missing (1965) - Dullea was horrendously bullied by Otto Preminger, and received an almightly sledge from Noel Coward ("Keir Dullea, gone tomorrow") but the film is interesting

7) Madame X (1966) - one of many Ross Hunter remakes, this has Lana Turner camp it up and Dullea has her son - no way near a good movie but it is prime camp

8 ) The Fox (1967) - racy adaptation of the Lawrence novel with Dullea breaking up a tryst between Anne Heywood and Sandy Duncan

9) De Sade (1969) - Dullea's big chance after 2001, it had an excellent subject, writer and director but something went wrong (I think director Cy Endifeld went ill and seemed to have a nervous breakdown or something )

10) Black Christmas (1974) - fun early slasher. Dullea is a great creep.

I made it to ten films! Honorable mention to the Aussie TV movie Because He's My Friend (1978) where Dullea stars.

Movie review - "Make Mine Mink" (1960) **1/2

 Bright comedy which like so many British comedies from this era is about some thieves - Terry Thomas and some old ladies. It's based on a play and feels like that at first but gets better once it's up and running.

Movie review - "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) ****1/2

 Much of it wonderful. Sorry, but I don't like the ending. Love the acting - that tight wound up style. Visually incredible. Great violence - abrupt, silent, quick. Stunning looking. A wonderful haunted house story.

Movie review - "The Night We Dropped.a Clanger" (1959) **

 Spoof of I was Monty's Double even has Clifton James cameo as himself. It stars Brian Rix in a double role - he did a lot of stage plays. His magic escapes cinema. The movie's determination for laughs did eventually win me over and the film got better when the stakes were life and death.

Movie review - "Desert Mice" (1959) **

 This sounds like it will be fun - the story of ENSA, who performed to the army during the war - but it misses the mark. The cast irritated me, the jokes died, it lacked atmosphere and love of performers. Michael Relph wasn't a good director (Basil Dearden produced this one).  Sid James adds some spark but people like Alfred Marks are annoying. 

Maybe if you know and like the comedies you'll enjoy this. It just felt wasted on these actors.

Thing pick up at the end, like the last 20 minutes, when the team encounter Germans under Marius Goring and there's a funny subplot about James trying to get the rights to Lili Marelene. Too little too late. 

Movie review - "Too Many Crooks" (1959) **1/2

 Mario Zampi comedy has a decent central idea used for Ruthless People has some interesting actors like Terry Thomas and Sid James but lacks zip. George Cole tries to be Peter Sellers. Brenda de Bazie is fun as the wife. Decently plotted just not that fun for me. Maybe needed to be in colour.

Movie review - "Follow a Star" (1959) **1/2

 This Norman Wisdom is a little different - a new director, Bob Asher, and it's a musical, really, with Wisdom going to work for pompous singer Jerry Desmonde who mimes to Wisdom's songs. June Laverick is really dull as the girl but Hattie Jacques is fun as Wisdom's singing teacher and the star is full of energy.

Movie review - "Sapphire" (1959) *** (warning: spoilers)

 Procedural which was a hit - helped by colour photography and a racy angle, the death of a girl who turns out to be black. This shows the power of a who dunnit - even when you're annoyed by the smug police (Nigel Patrick deserves a slap as does Michael Patrick) and the varying quality of the acting, you wonder whodunnit.

And the world is so new and different - jazz clubs, black doctors, all that.

Yvonne Mitchell's fame indicates she'll have a big role. Earl Cameron has wonderful gravitas. 

Movie review - "Windom's Way" (1957) *** (warning: spoilers)

 Good on Rank, it tried to make a decent film here. Corsica steps in fairly well for Malaya, there's some terrific sets, Peter Finch and Mary Ure. The movie doesn't quite work. Feels rewritten. Lacks a cohensive emotional thrust. Finch is a decent doctor, tries to keep the peace in the Malayan Emergency. Struggles.

The antagonists are the white plantation owner (Michael Hordern) and a Malay politician (Marne Maitland - the latter has real status here even if he is treacherous.

The movie can't quite personalise its conflicts. For instance Robert Flemying's white official should have been a hunky guy in love with Mary Ure. Give Ure more of a choice - show her glamorous life in London. The sympathy goes to Natasha Parry, as the Malay nurse in love with Finch.

But the film keeps falling into Rank traps. Not giving women characters anything to do - Ure just lecutres at the end. Make her a nurse, have her shoot someone dead, fight with Parry. Parry just loves Finch and is killed - I hate this bummer stuff. Ure should have died. 

Movie review - "Carve Her Name with Pride" (1958) ****

 Excellent war movie which takes its time but is so moving because of the bravery of its real people and sadness of the ending. Lewis Gilbert later said Diana Dors would've been mre suitable and that would've been a career adjusting role for Dors but Virginia McKenna is very good, especially in the last act. The material is strong.

Paul Scofield makes a splendid impact as her officer who loves her - I think this part is fictitious. 

Ozploitation Top Ten

 1) Roadgames (1981)

2) The Long Weekend (1978)

3) Patrick (1984)

4) Razorback (1984)

5) The Man from Hong Kong (1975)

6) Fantasm (1977)

7) Stone (1974)

8) Mad Max (1979)

9) The Money Movers (1979)

10) Snapshot (1979)

NB.I don't include the ocker comedies in this. 

 

Movie review - "Sea of Sand" (1958) ***

 Rare "A" film from Tempean Pictures is actually pretty good - a long range patrol movie, with various Brit types. There's tired conflict between casual Michael Craig and by the book John Gregson, but everyone can act - there's also Richard Attenborough, Percy Herbert. Location filming in the desert helps.

The addition of a female character would have too. Weird how there was a bunch of desert war films around this time eg No Time to Die, Ice Cold in Alex. 

Vincent Ball plays an Aussie.

The movie isn't bad yet frustration with continually playing war films led to Craig and Attenborough making The Angry Silence. 

Movie review - "Heart of a Child" (1958) **

 Dull Rank film about a boy and his dog in Austria. Gruff dad is Donald Pleasance who is so odd it's not fun to see him melt. Jean Anderson isn't bad. Austrian setting after World War One is a novelty. But it's not much. Probably needed to be in colour.

Movie review - "Frankie Vaughan The Heart of a Man" (2008) ***

 Not the feature with that name starring Vaughan but a documentary about the singer-actor. I mostly know him from Let's Make Love where he has a weird grin and creepy vibe; he made a few more films in England, mostly with Anna Neagle, and had.a lot of hits. 

It's a very positive depiction - I assume it's true. Loving husband and family man, gave a lot of money to charity, easy to work with, turned down a chance to shag Marilyn Monroe, tried to stop knife fighting in Scotland. 

Talking heads include Tim Rice, Val Doonican and Vera Lynn. 

Movie review - "Happy Death Day" (2017) ***1/2

 Entirely decent slasher riff on Groundhog Day with a solid script, good scares, and strong acting, particularly the lead performance.

Interestingly the original ending had her killed. Audiences didn't like it. I get that - she didn't deserve to die. 

Movie review - "The Square Peg" (1958) ***

 Regarded as one of the best Norman Wisdom films. He's less weak and pathetic in this more a working class cocky boy and also a German general. Quite fun, just felt long. Honor Blackman is the girl.

Movie review - "The Captain's Table" (1959) ***

 A lovely surprise - from the works of Richard Gordon who did the doctor books only it wasn't from Ralph Thomas and Betty Box and Dirk Bogarde didn't star. John Gregson is a ship's captain being pursued by women and dealing with several adventures and troublesome passengers.

The film is more sexually sophisticated - horny passengers want to get married, the pursuer is gay, there are leggy women. The ship is going to Australia and Aussies Bill Kerr and June Jago are loud Aussies on board.

Jack Lee directed with a nice light touch. Fun movie. 

Movie review - "Rooney" (1958) **1/2

 Interesting film. Slice of life warm stuff about John Gregson a dustman and hurley player whose landladies want to root him. He moves to a house and falls for Muriel Pavlow.

Quiet, senstivie a little wonky. The novel was set in Newcastle but they set it in Ireland. 

John Gregson is very affable. I liked Pavlow in this. Barry Fitzergerald is in it.

This isn't bad. Better than Jacqueline. 

John Candy Top Ten

 1) Stripes (1981) "well, we were on our way to bingo..."

2) Splash (1984) - "I could never be that happy..." 

3) Home Alone (1990) - a wonderful eleventh hour cameo

4) Only the Lonely (1991) - he would have had a long rich career as character actor

5) JFK (1991)

6) Cool Runnings (1993) - an ex-athlete, no, as a wonderful performance, yes

7) Planes Trains and Automobiles (1987)

 8) Uncle Buck (1989)

9) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

10) Summer Rental (1985) - yes I know but I have fond memories of it 

I acknowledge these are mostly cameos. 

Movie review - "Just My Luck" (1957) **1/2

 Norman Wisdom discovers a betting scheme and gets involved with bookies. Margaret Rutherford is fun in a too-brief appearance, and bookies are entertaining, including Leslie Phillips. The women are dull - Rank starlet Jill Dixon, Delphi Lawrence.

In black and white not colour - Rank saving some money.