Reviews
The 39 Steps (1935)
One of Hitchcock's most enjoyable films
One of the most enjoyable Hitchcock thrillers.Still as good after repeated viewing.Robert Donat stars as the innocent man with a murder charge on his head and accidently mixed up in a spy story.Trying to expose a spy-ring and clear his name he flees to Scotland and encounters a lot of people who help and hinder him.
Robert Donat gives one of his best performances of his career as the protagonist.The chemistry between him and Madeleine Carroll,and especially a young Peggy Ashcroft (A brilliant performance)is wonderful to behold.John Laurie must also be mentioned,as the sinister farmer. One of the best chase-movies ever. Rating: ***** out of *****
The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
Great classic movie with Charles Laughton
The personal life of England's infamous monarch is portrayed marvellously in this British classic.Starting with the beheading of his second wife the ambitious Anne Boleyn we follow Laughton's masterly performance of King Henry through his subsequent marriages which all end in tragedy,until his last wife outlives him.
Charles Laughton is simply fantastic in his role.Portraying the King of England as a virile,charming but dangerous man when he's young and a crouching,old fool in his latest years.Very good performances also by Elsa Lanchester and Binnie Barnes as two of his wives. Rating: **** out of *****
The Siege (1998)
Good first part,terrible second
The Us Army kidnaps a islamic leader,which unleashes a wave of terror in New York.Unable to stop the escalating terror,the government declares martial-law in the city.
The movie starts well,but gets sillier as it goes on.Bruce Willis is totally wasted in a one-dimensional part.Denzel Washington does the typical hero part,which doesn't tax his acting abilities.Only interesting person is Annette Bening's CIA-agent.She does a good job. Rating: ** out of *****
Out of Sight (1998)
Very entertaining thriller
A charming bankrobber and a female police marshall fall in love with each other during the latters prison-break.
A marvellous thriller disguised as a romantic comedy.Much in the same vein of the old Steve McQueen starrer "The Thomas Crown Affair" but not quite as good.Lot of good supporting players,and a wry humor makes this movie a stand-out.Surprisingly well acted by Clooney and Lopez. Rating:***1/2 out of*****
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
Very funny Ghost-story
A Scottish nobleman in the 18th century gets accidentally killed after his family name had been insulted by another family clan.Until he can redeem his family's honor he must remain a ghost in his castle.Two centuries later his ancestor sells the castle to an American businessman,who moves it to the States stone by stone.The Ghost follows....
A very funny movie fantasy with a charming performance by Robert Donat in a dual role.Eugene Pallette as the american businessman turns in a hysterically funny performance.The contrast between Scots and Americans are used for maximum effect.
Rating:**** out of *****
Lady in the Lake (1946)
Not the best Marlowe mystery
Private Investigator Philip Marlowe is hired to locate the missing wife of a publisher of pulp fiction. Mystery yarn which has the novelty of telling the whole story with subjective camera.This gimmick gets rather annoying after a while since the direction of Robert Montgomery is a bit heavy- handed.The plot is also a bit confusing.The films highlight is the car chase,which is really exciting.
Rating: **1/2 of *****
G.I. Blues (1960)
Entertaining piece of fluff
Elvis Presley's first post Army movie is an entertaining piece of fluff which fictionalizes his army career in Germany.
Elvis and his buddys plan on starting a nightclub in the States after their tour of duty in Germany.There's just one slight problem: money!!!. This problem lands Elvis in a bet: That he can defrost an icy dancer at the "Europa-Club".
This was in fact the proto-type of the later Presley-vehicles,which all had a similar storyline to let Elvis romance the girls and sing his songs.It's anyway one of his better films.
Rating: **1/2 of *****
King Creole (1958)
Elvis Presley's best performance
Undoubtably Presley's best acting job in the movies. He plays a brawling busboy who becomes a hot singer in the French Quarter of New Orleans.The troubled relationship with his father,a tragic affair with a call girl and his involvement with the local crime boss complicate his life.
Elvis Presley delivers a very good performance in which you can see the great potential he had as an actor.But the movie's best performance is given by Carolyn Jones as the call girl. She is simply outstanding.Walter Matthau also handles his lines well.The rest of the cast performs well under the sure direction of veteran Michael Curtiz.The movie's only trouble is the story,which is sometimes laughable melodramatic.
Rating: ***1/2 of *****
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Presley's best movie
Perhaps Presley's best movie. It casts him as a young hothead serving a jail sentence for manslaughter.Released from jail he makes it big in the music-business.The sudden success goes to his head and alienates his best friends. Elvis delivers a very magnetic performance with the aid of director Thorpe's skilled handling.Judy Tyler's performance is also very good.The movie's sour tone makes it stand out in comparison with the later Presley vehicles.The famous production number of the title tune is a smash. Rating: ***1/2 of *****
Loving You (1957)
Elvis sings "Teddy Bear"
Elvis Presley's second movie gives him an undemanding role based on his own persona: A working-class kid who makes it to the top in the music business with the help of an iron-willed manager. The story is one show-biz cliche after another,with Elvis's performances of some of his greatest songs the only saving grace. Veterans Lizabeth Scott and Wendell Corey act below par,with Scott turning in quite an annoying performance. Newcomer Dolores Hart has a winning appearance,though she's not been given any demanding acting task. Rating: **1/2 of *****
Lo sbarco di Anzio (1968)
Unconvincing war movie
The Allied invasion of Anzio,which took the Germans totally by surprise,is the background for this war movie.Because of extreme caution on the part of the Allied commander (Arthur Kennedy)the invasion became a big military failure. The plot concentrates on a small group of men trying to survive behind enemy lines after their platoon had been almost totally wiped out by the Germans.
A totally unconvincing war movie,which is surprising considering the people involved in it. The acting is bad.Robert Mitchum seems to utter his lines as if he was reading a boring book.The dialogue is childish and typical macho-stuff,but there are a few action scenes that are well staged.
Rear Window (1954)
Extraordinary suspense thriller
A photographer,wheelchair-bound after an accident,passes the time observing his neighbours.After a while he suspects one of his neighbours of having murdered his wife.With the help from his girlfriend and nurse he starts investigations.
One of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces.It's extraordinary how he keeps the suspense going in a movie restricted to one setting:The apartment of Stewart. The genius of this film is that the audience is only allowed to see what the main character observes from his rear window.In this way the audience becomes voyeurs like James Stewart's character.The surprise performance of this film is given by Grace Kelly.Her performance,as the cool,sophisticated woman with hidden signs of being a tomboy,is outstanding.Stewart is tops and Thelma Ritter turns in a delightful performance.
It Happened One Night (1934)
Marvelous romantic comedy
A headstrong heiress eloping to New York is helped by a down-to-earth reporter looking for a scoop.On their journey the seed of romance blossoms.
A charming comedy that hasn't dated in the 65 years since it's release.Gable's charm and vitality made him an undisputed star in this part.Colbert is also marvelous.Capra injected some nice touches like: The funny hitch-hiking scene,the "walls of Jericho",and Gable and Colbert playing a brawling married couple to elude her father's detectives.There's also very funny performance by Roscoe Karns as an annoying passenger.("The name's Shapely and that's the way I like them)
Paths of Glory (1957)
Powerful anti-war movie
During WWI,the French High Command order a suicide attack on a German position.The attack fails and in order to save face the commanding officer orders the trial and execution of three soldiers for cowardice.
A powerful statement against the insanity of War,this is one of the best War movies ever made.The horrors of trench warfare are depicted with sharp realism by director Kubrick. Kirk Douglas turns in a marvelous performance,which is only matched by George Macready as the arrogant General. This bitter War movie was Stanley Kubrick's first real masterpiece.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
One of the all-time greats
After a life full of disappointments and facing a jail sentence for fraud,a young man decides to end his life Christmas Eve.Due to heavenly interference he's given the opportunity to see what impact his life has made on his fellow man.
A great fantasy-drama which contains perhaps James Stewart's best performance.The other actors turn in marvelous work,especially Lionel Barrymore as the "Scrooge-like" banker. This movie is Capra's masterpiece,a movie which gets better with each viewing.The nightmarish scenes where Stewart is given the chance to see what life would have been without him,is so masterfully executed that you really learn at the films conclusion that: After all "it's a wonderful life"
Gone with the Wind (1939)
The greatest movie ever?
A headstrong southern belle wrecks the love of her life through the obsessive yearning for a married man at the time of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Perhaps the greatest movie in history,though not the best. Vivien Leigh plays the role of a lifetime.She's magnificent.Clark Gable shows depths he'd never shown before.His Rhett Butler is a marvelous characterization.Hattie McDaniel as Mammy is wonderful and Olivia De Havilland gives a good performance as Melanie.The only disappointment in the cast is Leslie Howard.He turns in a pale performance and you can't understand that obsession Scarlett would have for him.He's a bore. The production is stupendous.With a running time of nearly 4 hours there's hardly dull spot.The color photography is magnificent.A masterpiece.
Destry Rides Again (1939)
Western comedy doesn't get any better
A mild-mannered and peaceable lawman cleans up the tough and rough town of Bottleneck with the help from a tough saloon-singer.
This western has it all: Stewart and Dietrich in top form,an outstanding supporting cast,romance,drama,suspense and comedy,all kept at a breathtaking pace by director George Marshall.Dietrich's songs have even become classics.So "See what the Boys in the Back Room will have" and have it too.
It Happened One Night (1934)
Marvelous romantic comedy
A headstrong heiress eloping to New York is helped by a down-to-earth reporter looking for a scoop.On their journey the seed of romance blossoms.
A charming comedy that hasn't dated in the 65 years since it's release.Gable's charm and vitality made him an undisputed star in this part.Colbert is also marvelous.Capra injected some nice touches like: The funny hitch-hiking scene,the "walls of Jericho",and Gable and Colbert playing a brawling married couple to elude her father's detectives.There's also very funny performance by Roscoe Karns as an annoying passenger.("The name's Shapely and that's the way I like them)
Foreign Intrigue (1956)
A good spy yarn
A wealthy industrialist dies of a heart attack.His closest employee (Robert Mitchum) suspects foul play when strangers take a too keen interest in his death.He starts digging into his employers past,which leads him through most of Europe.Suddenly the most peculiar persons are interested in his detective work,even the CIA and British Intelligence.
A good spy yarn with a complex plot.Not a good film but always interesting.
Lo sbarco di Anzio (1968)
Unconvincing war movie
The Allied invasion of Anzio,which took the Germans totally by surprise,is the background for this war movie.Because of extreme caution on the part of the Allied commander (Arthur Kennedy)the invasion became a big military failure. The plot concentrates on a small group of men trying to survive behind enemy lines after their platoon had been almost totally wiped out by the Germans.
A totally unconvincing war movie,which is surprising considering the people involved in it. The acting is bad.Robert Mitchum seems to utter his lines as if he was reading a boring book.The dialogue is childish and typical macho-stuff,but there are a few action scenes that are well staged.
Macao (1952)
Mitchum in trouble in the seedy port of Macao.
A penniless adventurer (Mitchum) is mistaken for a police detective by the underworld boss (Dexter) of Macao. Meanwhile the real detective (Bendix) uses Mitchum as a decoy to lure Dexter out of the safety of the colony. Sexy Jane Russell is also on hand to give Mitchum more than his share of thrills.
A bit of entertaining nonsense. A film which nevertheless is forgotten a few minutes after the end titles. Mitchum,Russell and Bendix all play with the right easygoing charm. Not a great movie but fun anyway.
All My Sons (1948)
The past catches up with Edward G.Robinson
A businessman's son (Lancaster) finds out that his father sold defective airplane parts to the army during the War,which led to the killing of many young men.
A fine drama based on the play by Arthur Miller.Edward G.Robinson gives a very fine performance as the businessman who finally realizes his guilt.The other actors also register strong,among them Mady Christians and young Burt Lancaster.
Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
The story of a mental ward during WWII
Curious film about the mental ward at an army hospital.Peck is the head of the ward,assisted by pretty nurse Dickinson and crafty orderly Curtis.The inmates consist of a very unstable colonel (Eddie Albert),a self destructive young airman (Bobby Darin) and a patient who has withdrawn from life (Robert Duvall).
This uneven film has some good moments. The scenes between Peck and Darin are really moving.But the sudden switches between comedy and drama make the film rather confusing.The comedy is mostly of the slapstick kind which is rather disturbing considering the film's subject of mental illness during war.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
Good western with Kirk Douglas in magnificent form.
The legendary gunfight at the OK Corral has been the subject of many western-movies. This is one of the best. The movie starts with the meeting between Wyatt Earp (Lancaster) and the notorious Doc Holliday (Douglas)whom Earp rescues from a lynching.The movie follows the growing friendship between these two different men until it climaxes with the famous shootout between the Earps and the Clantons.
A good western with a terrific performance by Lancaster and an even better one by Douglas. His characterization is indeed masterful. Although the movie tends to slow down at times it is nevertheless a very entertaining western.
The Big Steal (1949)
A chase through Mexico
Robert Mitchum plays an army sergeant on the trail of a thief who robbed the army payroll he was in charge of.Suspected of having fled with the money himself, his superior officer(Bendix) is hot on the heels of Mitchum. Teaming up with the robbers ex-girlfriend (Greer), Mitchum closes in on the robber, but so does Bendix.
A fast paced chase film with Mexican location which gives the film a nice look. Mitchum and Greer are quite good, and Bendix gives a splendid performance as the driven pursuer. There's also a very clever performance by silent star Ramon Novarro as a Mexican chief of police.