Book review - "The Black Path of Fear" (1944) by Cornel Woolrich

 Never read him before. Writes divinely. Gets off to such a brilliant start with its sense of doom - lovers fleeing husband. Then she's killed. It is strong for a while - he meets a mystery woman - then feels padded. Perks up with him murdering the husband. But you can see why it made a solid 30 minute radio drama.

Movie review - "Studs Lonigan" (1960) **

 Phil Yordan had success adapting a sexy novel with God's Little Acre so did this one too. It's not very good. It's dull. It tries. Who cares about the book. Some sex but tame. Christopher Knight can't act. I think his voice is dubbed. Poor Jack Nicholson is in it as a mate - how must he have felt. Frank Gorshin is in it. Venetia Stevenson too. People like Dick Foran.

The film is full of talent. Yordan, Nicholson, Haskell Wexler, Jerry Goldsmith.

Like I say it tries. It's just not a compelling story. Lots of voice over to cover it. There's confessing to the priest at the end - Yordan used this in Edge of Doom and The Bravadoes. 

Movie review - "God's Little Acre" (1958) **

 A big deal in its day - a famous horny Southern eccentric book, which took more than twenty yeras to be filmed. It comes across as boring about tiresome people though the cast is interesting: Aldo Ray, Robert Ryan (paw), Tina Louise, Fay Spain, Vic Morrow, Jack Lord, Michael Landon as an albino. Ryan's hee haw character got on my nerves. I know such people existed. I just got tirin.

Fay Spain and Louise are the horny ones. But theren's not a lot of sex.

It picks up in the second half when the work gets more political

Movie review - "To Be Or Not to Be" (1942) *****

 What a wonderful film. Such an immaculate script, beautifully structured. Perfectly cast - Jack Benny is so winning, and hammy, and human, and fun; Carole Lombard is seductive, and smart, and warm, and narcisstic and brave. The plot is logical and clever, there are twists and turns, the Nazis are dumb and smart, the victories are hard worn.

I love the depiction of the Lomard-Benny marriage - she's always flirting perhaps more with others but doesn't want to leave her husband (and she doesn't change her ways even at the end). Robert Stack is engaging as the flier who loves her. 

What a great last credit for Lombard. What a triumph for Benny and Lubitsch and everyone.

I had a soft spot for the Mel Brooks remake but this is perfect. 

Movie review - "The Big Combo" (1955) ****

 Fantastic film noir from director Joseph Lewis and writer Phil Yordan, made for Yordan's company in association with Cornel Wilde's. The movie established Wilde as a producer which extended his career; he gives one of his best performances too as a cop driven to take down Richard Conte (replacing Jack Palance at the last minute but Conte's superb). Jean Wallace is excellent as Conte's traumatised wife, while Helene Stanton almost steals the movie as Wilde's sexy, lonely girlfriend, aware her boyfriend is hung up on Wallace.

Very strong support cast - Brian Donlevy as henchman number one, with Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman as henchmen two and three (who sleep in the same room).

Beautifully shot, dynamically directed. Amazing sequences such as Wilde being tortured and Donlevy being shot. Did Yordan actually write this one? If so he should be very proud. 

Movie review - "Mulholland Drive" (2001) ****1/2

 Excellent neo noir with Naomi Watts stunningly good. Everything clicks. Fresh faces, handling, dead bodies. Story makes sense.

How good is it Ann Miller got a decent role? 

Movie review - "Woman Who Came Back" (1945) **1/2

 Decent knock of off Cat People from an "idea" by Phil Yordan who bought a script from another guy. Made by Republic who did the odd horror - decently directed. Nancy Kelly is the woman who thinks she's something Bad - in her case a witch.

The film would have been better if someone had done something bad - once Kelly discovers her ancestor wasn't a witch she's cured. There's no real baddy. The townsfolk are mean but no one goes all out. Someone should have died. Ruth Ford as another woman looks as though she's going to do something.

The terrible John Loder is alas the male lead. The director deserved a better male lead and a story with more sting because he did a good job.