Radio review – Cavalcade - “In the Best Traditions” (1942) *1/2

Orson Welles pays tribute to the navy. Not very interesting at all. Yawn, snore. You wish they'd given this to someone with more genuine enthusiasm for this branch of the service.

Movie review – “Unholy Rollers” (1972) **1/2

An early starring role for 70s cult fave Claudia Jennings, an attractive, leggy red head who enlivened several drive in classics before dying in a car crash. Here she plays a cannery worker who quits her job to become a roller derby star – but she gets a big head and won’t fit into the team (years before Top Gun). Only her team do celebrate her first game by ripping off her clothes which is a bit off. Also off is Jennings’ Wayne Newtown-look-a-like love interest, who is going out with one of her teammates, and roughs Jennings up.

There are some great scenes – Jennings strutting around defiantly while topless in a bar; the full-blooded sport sequences (like the finale with Jennings skating outside the rink), Jennings doing a strip in a roller derby rink late at night (with a little more attention this could have been a classic). Jennings is tough and fearless, loyal and supportive to her best friend (a stripper with a thief boyfriend).

However the filmmakers never seem to focus on the drama i.e. the conflicts within Jennings’ character. She never really gets a chance to interact with anyone or show why the way she is – they set up characters (best friend, mother, false love interest, rival) and never really develop them or do anything interesting with them. In particular, Roberta Collins is shamefully wasted, and there are too many repetitive scenes of Jennings’ teammates thumping her.

As a web reviewer of this pointed out, the film manages both to be accidentally funny (crummy acting, over the top scenes) and intentionally funny (bright satire of the roller derby industry). 

Martin Scorsese was “supervising editor”.

Radio review – “Ceiling Unlimited” (1944) **

Odd radio show sponsored by Lockheed which glorified air production. It was made by Orson Welles and as a result the episodes are imaginative and unusual – tales of gremlins, great villains in history discuss airpower (Louis XIV, Kaiser Willhem, etc), a mockumentary about a visit to the factory. As Simon Callow pointed out, Welles’ populism was always sincere but often patronising as it is here (eg talking to average folks on the production line).

Script review – “The Hustler” by Robert Rossen

I’ve actually never seen this film but it’s a wonderful screenplay with some great characters. The central romance between Eddie and Susan is wonderful and powerful – as if it would have lasted but they were happy and the other guy didn’t have to be so cruel. (Although I think the script is a bit harsh on him.) The dialogue has that sort of Clifford Odets flowery feel, but it's powerful drama.

Jerry Lewis at Popcorn Taxi (September 2009)

A lot of fun. The guy who asked the questions was very good, supportive and encouraging. There was so much affection for Lewis you could feel it. Lewis showed his age, but he was still Jerry Lewis. He’d nod off, forget questions, be unable to hear, start telling stories and forget how they started, tell corny jokes… but he didn’t want to leave. Occasionally he woke up and told a funny joke. It was like a family dinner if your grandad was Jerry Lewis. I asked him a question – “what films do you like to watch at home, comedies or dramas” but he misheard and gave an answer about comedy and drama combined. Lewis was tired but he sure as hell didn’t want to leave.

Radio review – “Burns and Allen – Alan Ladd” (1945) ***

Never heard a Burns and Allen show before – they are hilarious, scatter-brained Gracie pairing brilliantly with raspy voiced George. The plot of this has Gracie panting over Alan Ladd at a screening of And Now Tomorrow (so the film has some fans!) and George getting jealous so Gracie invites the real life Ladd around so Gracie can repulse him. Very funny about wives who get crushes on film stars and Ladd is a lot of fun playing an expert foil.

Movie review – “District 9” (2009) ****

Excellent sci fi film warmly recommended to all who enjoyed the recent Battlestar Galactica. It’s got the same combination of sci-fi, politics, action, flawed characters and an insane world. Only a South African filmmaker could have made this – with it’s leading public servant hero nerd, who loves his wife and regulations, living in an insane world full of violence, petty triumph, greed, etc. In an American film the government organisations and army tend to be ruthlessly efficient; in South Africa they’re gung-ho and incompetent (after being infected by an alien virus they don't go see a doctor but keep working and even stop off at a fast food place).

Some gripes – sometimes the action gets over the top (eg hero flying a plane) and sometimes it seems illogical (eg tracking the car that leaves the building and turns up in District 9). Also the acting is a bit iffy (eg the over the top baddy mercenary) but the South African accents and unfamiliar faces put it over the line. Very smart and enthralling – a real roller coaster ride that stimulates the brain as well as the senses.

Interesting enough the film reminds me a lot of Bad Taste, with its nerd hero who gets infected and has bits falling off him as he turns into an alien.