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Panic in the Streets (1950)
Recent viewing
I watched this film this afternoon on TV, probably the first time for many years and maybe the 4th or 5th time since I saw the film on it's original release. It has stood the test of time quite well and I still think it is an excellent film. I do not want to say much about the film now except that I was struck by the fact that not one of the characters appeared to have been natives of New Orleans if their speech patterns and accents were anything to go by. This was especially noticeable to me as an 'English' English speaker. I must confess this had not registered on my previous viewings. I recently caught an episode of the TV series 'The Big Easy' and must admit to having had difficulty understanding all that was said. The other thing that struck me about 'Panic' was the almost complete absence of African-American characters, except for the closing scenes in the coffee warehouse when there were a number of African-American extras. I mention this only as a reflection on the 1950's cinema and the way things have changed. Cinema showing the ways things were at that time. But I hasten to add that I still think it was a very good movie.Derek Crawley
The Italian Job (1969)
Awful
I watched this film (not for the 1st time) on television on the last day of 2004. I hope the day of judgement is not nigh as I would hate it to be the last film I ever saw! I think this is the most over-rated film I have ever seen. With one or two exceptions, Raf Vallone and Michael Caine (though far from his best) the acting was disgraceful. The dialogue was laughable and not very funny. Difficult to believe that Troy Kennedy Martin was seriously trying to be funny! Those silly scenes with the doll-like girls who were probably considered the height of sexiness in the 1960's and the whole business of Noel Coward's 'Mr. Big' was ludicrous to the extreme. It was a truly awful film with a waste of not much talent and a whole gaggle of supporting actors who were incapable of rising above the rubbishy lines they were given. I laughed not once, I winced continually. Altogether a pretty poor show! I know that you should not take these plots seriously but this was impossible to even accept as a joke. Derek Crawley Bexhill-on-Sea UK
The Night Has Eyes (1942)
Terrifed child mystified adult
This film scared me rigid when I saw it just after it's 1942 release. The sinister Mary Clare was the character I remember being most frightened of, and whenever I have seen her in films since she has never managed to erase that shivery feeling. Being sucked into the mire of a Yorkshire Moors bog remains the ultimate 'death' experience and one to be avoided at all costs. Of course the one subsequent viewing of this rather silly film was a great disappointment there was really nothing to scare even the most timid film-goer. What a shame! Having said that you would not get me out on a Yorkshire Moor in the dead of night for all the proverbial tea in China!!! There was a musical theme that was quite compelling at the time and if I heard it again it would probably revive the kind of memories that would bring a nostalgic tear to an old man's eyes. My 2004 vote is truthful but had I the opportunity to cast a vote in the mid-1940's it would almost certainly have been 10+. Derek
Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
One of the better 'war' films
Unquestionably one of the better 'war' films [ww2]. I do have some reservations about the handling of Gregory Peck's breakdown before the end of the film but all in all it gave the feeling of authenticity as far as the facts were concerned and was more realistic in it's portrayal of the pressures on men in the circumstances described by the story.
Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)
'Tongue-in-Cheek' is too kind!
I did not like this film. It approaches being unwatchable. Most of the cast seemed or should have been deeply embarrassed. Agnes Moorehead just about saved the day..her hair stylist deserved an award for being able to make her disgustingly, dishevelled coiffure exactly the same in most of her scenes! Did they really make films in the 60's with 15 minute sequences before the credits.? There was no humour in the film. It was beyond being funny. Sadly it was bad guigno. Nice to see Victor Buono deliciously wicked and Mary Astor briefly.
Total Recall (1990)
No need for any recall of this film!
I had to force myself to see this TV showing through to the end. My TV Listing Magazine (Radio Times) suggested this was one of Mr. Schwarzenegger's best performances. It may well have been. The whole production was ridiculous and preposterous. Another example of extreme self-indulgence by the director and the special effects people. What made things worse was that the watcher was expected to figure out who exactly A.S's character really was, he did not know himself. The violence done to the human frame in this type of film with no apparent ill effect always spoils any enjoyment that might be gained from these stories. Outrageous plots are acceptable, being exposed to several minutes of the vacuum of Mars with instant recovery when an earth-like atmosphere with blue skies and fluffy clouds is manufactured is too much. Well at least the girls in the 'red-light' district seemed to have the proverbial hearts of gold!
Zoo in Budapest (1933)
An enjoyable curiosity
This film was transmitted in the early hours on the UK's Channel 4 terrestrial channel. (5 Dec 1998). It was an unusual film set in a zoo in Budapest and concerned the relationship between an enlightened keeper (Gene Raymond) and an escaped orphan (Loretta Young). There was a little too much anthropomorphism as far as the animals were concerned but overall that was forgivable. Some of the shots involving the animals were realistic and I suspect the modern disclaimer about animals not being hurt during the making of the picture could not have been made. There was a dream and fairy-tale air about the film and I wonder if it was regarded as unusual when it was made in 1933. It does not fit easily into any of the usual categories. I would recommend any one having the chance of seeing this film to take that chance. They will be rewarded with a pleasant novelty of a film.
'Allo 'Allo! (1982)
Lloyd and Croft at their best
The BBC are running the first series again. They started with the 'pilot'about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I have not seen them all this time but I have just watched 'The Firing Squad' (tho' the telecast credits called it 'The Execution'). ANY IDEAS AS TO WHY? This episode was up to the high standard of the early episodes, with the familiar punchlines seeming fresh and still funny. Does anyone have any idea what the Sam Kelly character responds to 'Heil Hitler' - it sounds like 'Klompf'? Anyway the reruns are highly recommended for otherwise dull fare on BBC 1 on Saturdays
Trespass (1992)
Nothing to object to or complain about
The film based on the B. Traven story 'Treasure of Sierra Madre' already a 'one of the best films' by John Houston updates the story to a run down area of East St Louis. Virtually a single location and smallish cast. The dialogue is loaded 'f's' & 'm-f's' but is none the worse for that. Hill's refusal to give the characters any background beyon d a few basic facts, for example the treasure seekers are known to be firemen, allows the characterisation to develop before the viewers eyes. There are some extremely funny moments especially the ones involving mobile phones -something no modern gang member should be without it seems. I watched this film on TV and regret not having seen it originally in the cinema - if in fact that was possible where I live.