Reviews

This movie was so awful, so boring, so badly miscast -- it took a lot of work to make what should have been a sure thing into such a travesty. I love Lucille Ball, but she absolutely stunk in this movie. Too old, couldn't sing, sounded like a truck dumping gravel even when NOT singing -- and the biggest sin of all -- SHE WASN'T FUNNY. EVEN A LITTLE. The studio shot themselves in the foot with this one, and for ruining what should have been a fabulous screen version of a fabulous stage musical, some other body parts deserve to have been wounded as well -- or perhaps they were already lacking those parts. That might explain it. But for Lucy to think she was right for a part that required SINGING -- well, that's the saddest thing of all. It's a very good thing to know your limitations. Even a legend can't come out of a stinker like this and still smell like a rose.

Well, I guess even Academy Award winning cartoons can't please everybody, but the gentleman from Tucson who thought this was "good but not great" is dead wrong! True, the animation is not the quality of the Golden Age of Cartoons, but this cartoon ISN'T about the animation. The script and the characters are by turns dry, witty, uproariously funny, and finally fall-down hilarious. Bill Thompson deserved his own Oscar for voicing both Droopy and Butch -- talk about two extremes! And keeping Knight Butchalot's Irish accent was a touch of comic genius. Even though this was a Droopy cartoon, the Dragon steals the show with his utter disdain and complete disregard of Sir Droopalot as an adversary, shunting him aside in hilarious ways and giving all his attention to the macho Sir Buchalot. This is a truly great cartoon that lives up to its Oscar win!

Paul Bettany is perfect in his role, and delivers his self-effacing and ironical lines better than any Englishman since Michael Caine. He isn't classically handsome, yet you can't take your eyes off him. Whatever the camera loves, he's got. Kirstin Dunst continues to get roles she's not right for, yet carry them off by sheer self-confidence and forthrightness. She's not pretty, her figure is utterly ordinary, and she certainly isn't built like an athlete. She doesn't even look like she works out. And there's no subtlety in her performance -- maybe that's the directors fault, but her one-dimensional portrayal has all the mystery of drywall. Whichever it is, Mr. Bettany's charm and ease help soften her one-note approach to her role. Sam Neill, a brilliant and completely lovable actor, is totally wasted in this role.

Miriam Hopkins is always a delight to watch, and she holds this film together. Sympathetic and patient without appearing as a boring "long-suffering" martyr, she keeps this film from being a total downer and disaster. I wouldn't even watch if it weren't for Miriam. She was a wonderful and versatile actress, and deserved to be remembered and revered, but for some reason Hollywood has not celebrated her as she deserved. I found her acting in this film to be completely realistic, charming and true; Bette appears to be stylized, stiff, and her interpretation is actually rather boring. Miriam makes Bette look good in this film, not the other way around.

FIRST, this is a wonderful film and well-acted; the little kids of the first films were wonderful actors then and even better now. The time flew by and I didn't feel I'd been there but a little bit because the story flows so well.

SECOND, it left too much out. Quidditch is the love of Harry's life and Griffyndor finally wins the Quidditch Cup this year which is a huge and joyous occasion, but it's not even mentioned. Dumbledore is fun and perfect, but too-seldom seen, as are McGonagall and Snape. Even Hagrid is barely around.

THIRD, Rupert Grint was vastly underused. I kept seeing two of The Trio together, but not as much the triumvirate as they are written by Rowling.

FOURTH, it is NOT a better film than the first two which were directed by Chris Columbus. His films were perfect matches for the first two books. After seeing PoA and having time to consider it, I actually think the first two films are better.

FIFTH, it's still a wonderful film and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

SIXTH, I hope Chris Columbus comes back to direct the the last two.

This story made me cry more than once because it connected with what I know about the courage of the little mustangs. I was thrilled to see Frank Hopkins and Hidalgo honored with this movie, having read about them in some of (I think) Frank J. Dobie's works when I was young. Viggo Mortensen and the lovely painthorse playing Hidalgo had chemistry, and I was impressed with Mortensen's riding -- like he was a part of Hidalgo. The smooth way he rode, without extraneous movement, is something difficult to achieve; you have to have balance and strength to ride like that.

It is an outrage, however, that the mustangs are still slaughtered, starved, and unappreciated for their beauty, strengths, and brains. You won't find a smarter, more courageous, or loyal horse anywhere.

Jane Withers is wonderful and funny, as always. You never doubt for a moment that she'll wind up being the girl everyone loves. The location for filming is the famous San Antonio High School, voted one of the Most Beautiful High Schools in America back in '30s or '40s. It still exists, and is still beautiful, an architectural marvel!

Wonderful film from the autobiographical novel by Cornelia Otis Skinner, and all the more hilarious because those crazy things happened to the real Cornelia. Gail Russell and Diana Lynn are perfect as the real-life friends Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough. A habit-forming film about a sweeter, more innocent age when two young girls were allowed to spend a summer in Europe, more or less unchaperoned.

Abbot and Costello, Without question the greatest comedy team ever, take no prisoners in this mix of Treasure Island, Captain Kidd, Mutiny on the Bounty, Kidnapped! and a few other maritime classics. Oscar-winner Charles Laughton, most of whose roles were comedic in the well-bred English way (not the music hall way!) had no qualms about working with the great Abbot and Costello in this hilarious homage to all those pictures about sailing on the high seas.

Superior Dancers, fabulous sets by Maurice Sendak, and a better telling through dance and sets than any other Nutcracker ballet I have seen. The ballerinas and danseurs are not only technically superior, they are wonderful actors through their faces as well as their dancing.

The BEST musical version of Dickens' classic! Jule Styne's music is brilliant, and Walter Scharf deserves applause too, although Mr. Styne is responsible for most of the wonderful songs and music. Sweet Mr. Magoo takes on a dramatic role and, unusual for him, plays the Villain! This is a sweet treat for everyone; it should be required viewing. You'll want to see it again and again!

This movie deserves higher than "10" -- every part is cast perfectly, the script is first class, the narration perfect, the sets, costumes, and fabulous music by Nick Bicât all go together to make the perfect adaption. George C. Scott is brilliant as Ebenezer Scrooge; only Alastair Sim and Mr. Magoo come close in their portrayals. If you don't own it, you're cheating yourself!

Thanks to Turner Classic Movies I saw this film today. Una Merkel is billed below Jean Parker, but of course she steal the show without even trying. She's just that kind of actress. Jean Parker plays her younger sister and they sound amazingly alike in accent and inflection. I checked on IMDb to see if they were really sisters. They are not. Good performances by everyone, including James Dunn as Jean's Love Interest and Stuart Erwin, who, along with Una, have the best lines in every scene. Besides the credited actors, the movie is full of great supporting actors you'll instantly recognize: Edward Brophy, Tom Dugan, and Pat Flaherty, among others.

A fantastic movie, and very overlooked. Gary has never been more handsome, and Ingrid is more beautiful than in ANY other film. If you don't believe, just watch the movie. Every cast member is wonderful; the love scenes between Gary and Ingrid will make your pulse race! The story is great, the script is Oscar caliber. Don't miss this film!!

Diane Lane can act -- just not in this film. She took what could have been a great woman's role and reduced it to a character with three facial expressions, none of them believable.

The best actress in the movie was Sandra Oh -- she was completely believable as Patti, while poor Diane LOOKED like she was acting. If you haven't seen this film, save your money.

I was very surprised to find that Will Ferrell and Hollywood could make a hilariously funny and NICE film that was also rated PG. There were people from every age range at the show I attended. Small children, teens, adults, and old folks were all laughing and smiling, and even tearing up a bit at the sweet and sentimental, but not syrupy (inside joke) ending.

Not quite on the same level as A Christmas Story, or The Santa Clause, but pretty close. Definitely deserves a place in the Family Video Collection.

I saw this film when I was a kid; it was great, I loved it, and I had no idea it was a remake. Later, thanks to Turner Classic Movies, I got to see the B&W original with William Powell and his former wife, Carole Lombard, which deserves its legend status, but I still say that the Niven/Allyson film is an inspired remake and loads of fun. I urge everyone to see BOTH films and and appreciate the work of four talented actors.

A rare, perfect, and hilarious movie that uses every comic device; two of the funniest moments are when a young Broderick Crawford and later Edward G. get hit by a car. Besides the starring roles of Robinson, Wyman, Brophy, and Crawford, you'll find Jack Carson and Anthony Quinn (very scary as a really mean felon!) in supporting roles. Even the character parts are played by the most recognizable character actors in Hollywood: Harry Davenport, one of the Founders of Actors Equity, John Qualen (Casablanca, The Searchers, and a thousand more films) Grant Mitchell, Andrew Tombes, George Meeker, William Hopper (Paul Drake of Perry Mason fame), and a very young Jackie Gleason. Even the Uncredited roles were played by actors like Lucien Littlefield, Pat O'Malley, and Ziegfeld Girl Kitty Kelly.

Woody Allen used this plot as the basis for his "Curse of the Jade Scorpion," also a very funny movie, but too long, too loose, and not as perfectly perfect as "Larceny, Inc."

Although Monogram's production values were low, it doesn't really matter; this is enjoyable and worth watching if you love the character and the series. Sidney Toler inherited the role from Warner Oland and made the Chan character more humorous and more lovable. Serious "old movie" fans will still appreciate Sidney in his last film role before his death in 1947.

Sidney Toler gives dignity to the role of Charlie Chan, even in these one-dimensional Monogram productions. Enjoyable and worth watching if you love the series as many of us do. This is one of the best titles to ever grace a "C" film!

Monogram Pictures had a hit-or-miss record with the Chan series, but for fans of the characters and of Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland and Benson Fong, "Dark Alibi" can make a rainy afternoon more enjoyable. To see Benson Fong in his best role, also watch "Flower Drum Song."