hawklinemonster

Even the shortest of Arthur Machen's stories often contain details worth investigating.

A journalist walking a village's streets late one night witnesses children playing in the dark. Many of the children display brutal wounds, and he wonders if he has stumbled upon a survival of some ancient passion play.

This short film succeeds in conjuring a chilly atmosphere. Very effective.

Possibly my favourite Marx Bros. movie. I'd be in the minority, as Duck Soup (a favourite with many reviewers here) is one I always put off re-watching as I dislike Groucho's lengthy musical intro. The Cocoanuts has the usual stumbling block of romantic interludes, but with this film the interludes continue to move the plot forward.

Verbal comedy highlight for me is Groucho's increasing exasperation with Chico on the obscure subject of viaducts, while visually, Harpo's dismay at tedious after-dinner speakers had me creased up. Margaret Dumont as always is wonderful.

Archaic music? Some of it creaks a little, but Mary Eaton delivers a deliriously silly 'Monkey Doodle Doo', then breaks into a terrific little dance routine that might not have a great deal of subtlety but raises the temperature with its energy and left me wishing it had been longer.