JLRFilmReviews

I read a biography of Helen Morgan and several things in this movie were true. She did become a torch singer who owned a nightspot in the Prohibition era. The law did raid and loot her place, several times. But what started out as an interesting biopic turned ridiculous in the last 30 minutes. Sure, she began to drink, despite the fact she was a teetotaler in the beginning. But the scene in the bar when she is drunk and she says that is her singing on the radio was too over-the-top, ridiculous, and unnecessary, and Paul Newman saying that she was his first priority at the end of the movie was out of character and not believable. The true highlight of this, as many have said, is the singing of Gogi Grant. What began as promising became kind of lackluster and disrespectful to the memory of Helen Morgan. I give it as much as I do because of the great musical numbers. By the way, Ann Blyth has never been more beautiful.

To tell the story from the beginning, I didn't like the first Mission Impossible movie because it changed the history of the old tv series, if you know what I mean. So, I stayed away from this movie series all these years until just recently. I decided to start with III because I read 2 was awful. Three I liked okay, despite the volatile temper of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. But as I watched 4, 5, 6 and 7, I liked each one better than the last one, because they got better and better. The best in my opinion is Dead Reckoning, Part I as a 10, and the two preceding as 9s.

Finally, my review of Final Reckoning: In the first 30 minutes I could tell this was virtually nothing. It had none of the spark of the ones preceding it. The dialogue was terrible, awkward and embarrassing. Frankly, I was bored with it. I had grown tired of the key and the whole world domination plot. I can't believe I tried to watch all of it. While I appreciated its talk of humanity at the end, it felt a little false to me and a little too self-important.

You can even tell that Tom Cruise should have quit in the last one, as he looks a bit too wore out for this, stuff.

It seems like I was going to say more, but I think I have made my point. I'm glad others feel same way.

Stewart Granger is ideally cast as a wandering womanizer with a girl in every town, with one in particular who loves him, or at least has a yen for him, Lenore, played by Eleanor Parker, in a great performance. His best friend is killed for his political views! Thereafter his mission is revenge. He comes upon a lady in distress, Janet Leigh, with a wheel broken on her carriage. They instantly form a bond. But this is just the beginning of this adventurous and boisterous tale. With a thunderously gentle score and an exhilarating swordfight, this is a must-see for all those who love passionate period pieces. I can't believe I've never reviewed this before now. I've seen it several times and recently saw it again and I was moved beyond measure. Those who only see Eleanor Parker in The Sound of Music are missing out on other great performances in film and Janet Leigh is exquisite as a true lady with grace. But there are twists abound. Miss Scaramouche, and I demand satisfaction!!