Movie review – “Going the Distance” (2010) **1/2

Not much of an idea for a rom com – a couple try a long distance relationship – but Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are very winning. The drama is very undercooked; they have these potential rival love interests who don’t deliver, plus there’s a promising sounding subplot about a Jonas Brothers-like band that is raised and ignored. Much of it feels improvised, which sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t.

Play review – “Gideon” by Paddy Chayefsky

Entertaining version of the famous Biblical story - not as highly regarded as The Tenth Man, apparently, but I enjoyed it more, mostly because there's more story. Fun dialogues between Gideon and God, plenty of spectacle and interesting characters.

Radio review – Lux – “Lady in the Dark” (1945) **

The Moss Hart play was a hit at the time, and much acclaimed – it’s hard to tell why from this radio adaptation of the film. Ginger Rogers is a magazine editor in love with a married man; she has a session with a shrink which leads to a number of musical fantasies and blah blah blah. Rogers is ordinary as is Ray Milland who plays the snarly guy at the magazine.

Movie review – “Track of the Vampire” (1965) *1/2

An early collaboration between two directors who later became cult favourites – Jack Hill and Stephanie Rothman, both working for Roger Corman. It starts with a sort of Bucket of Blood flavour, with a bunch of beatniks and artists (including Sid Haig, so you know Jack Hill directed that bit) hanging out in a café.

The film gets progressively weirder, as befits its reputation. Basically it’s about an artist vampire who kills his models and dips them in wax. But you’re more likely to remember the disjointed feel and shocking continuity. There’s a long sequence where a girl dances on the beach; a hot bit where William Campbell paints a topless model while he does this monologue about an insane artist; an attractive woman changes into a bikini, walks into the water then straight out again to be menaced; weird dream sequences; another actor to help flesh out William Campbell’s role; Patrick Magee badly dubbed; a laughable bit where a vampire jumps in a pool after a victim.

Still, there are some spooky bits – deserted streets at night, an okay finale with Campbell’s creatures rebelling against him; attractive women in the cast; the novelty of Sid Haig and Jonathan Haze as beatniks.

There five versions of this movie – the original part-Roger Corman-financed Yugoslavian film, Operation: Titian, starring Campbell and Patrick Magee (on which Francis Ford Coppola apparently worked); a version for this adapted for TV as Portrait in Terror; the Jack Hill version, Blood Bath, where Hill did some extra work in the US (why Sid Haig and Jonathan Haze are in the film); the Stephanie Rothman version, also called Blood Bath, which turned Campbell into a vampire (only with a different actor playing Campbell’s part); the extended Rothman version, known as Track of the Vampire, with additional footage inserted to make up the TV running time. Of interest for fans of Hill and Rotham, which is why I saw it, but for the most part this is a mess.

Movie review – “T Bird Gang” (1959) *

Undercover stories are normally sure fire and this one has a strong, basic plot – teen kid goes undercover as a member of a gang to find out who killed his dad. There’s all the familiar elements – ruthless cop who forces him to play for their side, concerned girlfriend, clashes in the gang – but it’s all done incredibly dully. I had trouble watching it all the way through. Roger Corman had some money in it, but the film could have done with more of his editing notes.

Radio review – Lux - “For Whom The Bell Tolls” (1943) **

I have to admit it - I just don't like Gary Cooper. He's meant to be tough and stoic but he always plays these whimps who whinge. Compare him to say Bogart or Lee Marvin or Bob Mitchum. This is one of his most famous roles, partnered with Ingrid Bergman and Akim Tamaroff, running around the mountains fighting the fascists. It was a massive film at the time, but this comes across as a run of the mill adventure tale - the finale however is moving.

Movie review – “Date Night” (2010) ***

Starts brilliantly - Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are a marvelous duo, and their teaming as a married couple is easily enough to sustain a film. The first half hour is great, but when the North by Northwest stuff happens it's less good and eventually things become tired. For instance, Mark Wahlberg's initial appearance is fantastic - but we go back to him far too often (literally; they keep popping back to his place). James Franco and Mila Kunis are funny in their bit too - I expected to see more of them. A good hearted film.