Thursday, September 15, 2022

Doctor Faustus (1967) **

Nicely shot and produced, with a fine performance by Dick Burton, this faithful adaptation of the Marlowe play comes across as an academic exercise rather than an involving film. Still, it's colorful, watchable and Liz looks great.

Monday, September 12, 2022

Caught on a Train (1980) ***

Dame Ashcroft is superb in this two-hander that captures the horrors of overnight transport in Europe at the time.

Sunday, September 04, 2022

Castle in the Air (1952) **

The lead is just not up to the task as the marvelous Ms. Rutherford steals the show yet again. More watchable than other Brit-coms of the time.

Friday, September 02, 2022

The Swimmer (1968) ****

Supremely atypical Hollywood flick is an engrossing character study and an example of how far humans go with delusions when reality hurts. The only other actor besides Burt who could have possibly pulled this off is Chuck.

Thursday, September 01, 2022

Ministry of Fear (1944) **

Entertaining spy thriller with a smidgen of Greene left intact. Carried well by a top notch cast.

Friday, August 26, 2022

Toys in the Attic (1963) ***

Well made southern gothic tragedy, this time NOT by Tennessee. Ms. Hiller is superb and Dino acquits himself well.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Journey Into Fear (1975) *

Inept direction sinks a stellar cast.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Radio Days (1987) ***

Woody strolls down memory lane with funny dramatizations of his family life growing up in Rockaway.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) **

Sturdy version of the famous whodunnit with an energetic Basil Rathbone as Holmes.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Shock (1946) **

The most shocking thing about the picture is what passed for state of the art psychiatric care in 1946. Nevertheless, as usual, Vinnie keeps it interesting.

Thank You, Jeeves! (1936) *

The only link to Wodehouse are the character names "Jeeves" and "Wooster".

Friday, August 12, 2022

Arabesque (1966) **

Sophia in her prime can make any movie watchable, but this one gets tiresome halfway through, wasting a game Greg Peck.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Missionary (1982) ***

Funny satire of Victorian manners and mores with a terrific cast of British character actors. Trev Howard is a hoot.

The Dressmaker (2015) **

It tries too hard to be quirky without finding the humanity underneath it all. Fine Aussie cast, well photographed.

Sunday, August 07, 2022

84 Charing Cross Road (1987) **

Fine cast giving fine performaces let down by ham fisted direction that cops out at the end.

Ten Little Indians (1989) *

Ill conceived and ill executed.

Saturday, August 06, 2022

There's a Girl in My Soup (1970) **

Swingin' 60's style romcom (an obvious inspiration for Austin Powers) shows a lot of hair (Sellers') and some skin (Hawn's). Nice to look at and a few choice moments.

Friday, August 05, 2022

Paris Blues (1961) **

Appealing leads and Parisian locales enliven a fairly standard romantic melodrama.

7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) **

Squanders a fine Tony Randall and a luscious Barbara Eden by going broad for the 10 year old set.

Buffet Froid (1979) ***

Abstract absurdism that is actually an entertaining film thanks to terrific performances and a script that sticks to its premises and is not afraid of humor.