Swiss Family Robinson (1960) **

Superbly photographed white male adolescent fantasy about being the sole survivors of a shipwreck in the 1800's, living in an imaculate treehouse (with running water) on a tropical island, having wild animals as pets (including a sea turtle, baby elephant, ostrich, zebra and Bengal tiger) and fighting pirates.

Shanghai Express (1932) *

Essentially a photo shoot for Marlene.

Accident (1967) **

Even Oxford dons are not above a little bad behavior now and then especially when Ms. Sassard is involved. Well made but hardly revelatory.

Jamaica Inn (1939) **

Not nearly as bad as critical consensus has insisted, this is an above average, entertaining costumer with some interesting dialogue, eccentric performances and a lovely debut for Ms. O'Hara.

Into the Woods (2014) *

Bereft of imagination which is sad for a musical film whose milieu is fairy tales. I can't think of anything good to say about this one so I had better stop.

Inspector Hornleigh (1939) *

Extremely talky whodunit fails to maintain interest except when the lovely Miki Hood is on screen. She deserved better.

Searching for Shelley Duvall: The Reclusive Icon on Fleeing Hollywood and the Scars of Making 'The Shining' | Hollywood Reporter

There is a sequence in The Shining that is in the Guinness World Records for "most retakes for one scene with dialogue." The scene features Crothers and Danny Lloyd, the young actor who played Danny Torrance, discussing the ability to "shine," a psychic gift that allows the boy to envision the hotel's horrific past. Kubrick had the actors do it 148 times. But another far more demanding scene — the staircase scene — was shot 127 times. "It was a difficult scene, but it turned out to be one of the best scenes in the film," Duvall says. "I'd like to watch the movie again. I haven't seen it in a long time."

At her suggestion, I google the scene, perch my iPhone on her dashboard and press play. I don't think I'll ever forget the experience of watching 71-year-old Duvall watching her 30-year-old self meekly swing a bat at Nicholson as he threatened to "bash [her] brains in."

"Why are you crying?" I ask Duvall.

"Because we filmed that for about three weeks," she replies. "Every day. It was very hard. Jack was so good — so damn scary. I can only imagine how many women go through this kind of thing."

Rebecca (1940) ***

Long, overwrought gothic melodrama with mostly by-the-book direction. A top cast elevates the material. Joan Fontaine is terrific in probably her best role.

Suspicion (1941) ***

Hitch always seemed to bring out the best in Cary.

Rear Window (1954) ****

Not only great fun from The Master, but his direction here becomes iconic. Grace never looked better and is perfectly cast.

She Done Him Wrong (1933) *

Mae West vehicle has a couple of good one-liners.

Ethan Frome (1993) **

Handsomely mounted production looks the part but can't quite capture the intensity of the source material.

Old Boyfriends (1979) **

Trying for realism but the story is contrived and not compelling. For Talia fans only (like me).