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Reviews
Sea of Sand (1958)
Why Don't They Leave Us Alone -
I am very prejudiced here as my Dad served out in the Western Desert with his courageous RNF comrades under such harsh conditions that few today can even begin to understand. I cannot speak for my Dad but I firmly believe that he would have liked much of this film (so that's why I like it for starters) whilst being very polite about its failings with his wry grin and a knowing glint in the eye. Its strengths are good characters who all play their parts in a story that does have you willing them on and on in their battle against the Nazi baddies, the unforgiving Sun and the relentless sand. Richard Attenborough is particularly excellent throughout, as is Percy Herbert when playing a solo part in one of the Fifties greatest short war scenes. If all directors were made to study this scene they could learn much, but what do I know! Thank goodness the film is still shown in black and white and this should always remain so. I liked this film so I say to all old fogeys and inquisitive but sensible youngsters just give it a watch and enjoy the film for what it is. The LRDG were incredibly brave men.
Passport to Pimlico (1949)
Oh Dear
I'm sorry to say this, but this film just doesn't cut the mustard for me. I did try to like it honestly but it left me with a feeling of thank goodness that that rubbish is over. It isn't a patch on other oldish "comedies" of that era such as Kind Hearts, School for Scoundrels, I'm all Right, and Lavender Hill,etc.etc and is just wearing and tiresome I'm afraid. It typifies the fake world of very posh actresses trying to put on a cockney accent with a fag hanging out the side of the mouth. It pushes the cliché of oh look how wonderful England is by the poor stereotypes used in the film ad nausea and the film just doesn't make it on so many fronts. Stanley Holloway does a valiant act of trying to save the film but the script is woeful. Barbara Murray isn't bad either as eye candy of that time. I only loved the bits of seeing old London but there really wasn't even much of that. The film was obviously trying to help in a small way to pick the nation up so I can't knock that and later gems must have learnt from this film's mistakes. Don't watch this to make you laugh is all I can advise to finish on. Sorry but there you go!
The Quiller Memorandum (1966)
An Underrated Film
I'm giving this little gem a 9 because it has not been given anything like the credit it deserves. It's a little masterpiece that means a lot to me having seen some of the location sites in person. George Segal combines the fine balance throughout the film between the impossible contradictions he has to face in dealing with the incredibly difficult and dangerous job that he is given. The script is great in the capable hands of great actors who play their parts well helping to build the suspense, and you just cannot tell what is really going to happen all the way through the film. The scenarios I found believable and I just lose myself in this film thinking yes I like it. The ending is sensational with the viewer thinking "hang on a minute - BUT ...... ??????? " as one looks into Senta Berger's beautiful innocent kindly face shepherding her pupils inside the school. Oh George why did you not ........ - oh I best not say and let the viewers decide.
Malta Story (1953)
Malta home win on penalties
Well what can one say. A good effort in trying to show the heroism of the Island, of the heroic Maltese who endured so much, and of all the heroic allied servicemen within an extremely limited financial budget by the look of it. Guinness can't cut being a 'love lead' and was embarrassingly uncomfortable in the role, despite his undoubted great acting talents in other more suitable roles. Steel was a man of the time, but let's just say politely not of now. Jack Hawkins coasts through with his pained Cruel Sea look and carries the film. The aerial models win the wooden acting awards just from the actors, and I half expected to see Sooty and Sweep pulling the strings on the models just behind the scenes. The supposed German ability to have 6 ME109s on your tail wherever you are only just a few seconds after you transmit a radio message makes one's mind boggle and this farcical "Fact" is made the supposedly end focal point of the film; but leaving such laughable crapola fact of the highest order aside means that I shall say no more on the subject, and it still leaves a good film!
Having said all that well done to all for trying to portray this great story. I've been to Malta and give my thanks and admiration to a wonderful steadfast courageous people who helped save our butts.
Homicide (1991)
Crapola
I watched this film dumbfounded. Its convoluted plot and confused ending leaves me speechless and annoyed that I watched this drivel. It fails to be clever on all levels and is absolutely unbelievable. ps note to all directors - it's no use hiding behind a police car in a shoot out. Oh i now need to add some more notes because unaccountably my earlier submission above was not adequate, Well the character development of such a boring star is impossible. The detectives are so stereotyped as to beggar belief. The use of cut away shots to explain problems such as dropping/losing a gun are juvenile. Enough said. And just for luck I did not enjoy it.
The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)
God Damn It
Am United Kingdom 58 year old male. Seen lots of snippets now of this show from YouTube, but don't believe the TAMI show was ever broadcast here except for some excerpts over the years. It was truly our great loss. Lots of wonderful things on the show but my 3 favourites are 1. the Ronnettes Be My Baby (will always love Ronnie - so beautiful), 2. the oh so sexy dancing style of the beautiful girl dancers (never really bettered in my view- I can die happy now), and 3. "Molty" of the Barbarians drumming away so brilliantly on Hey Little Bird with what he had to contend with. Neil ps Stones weren't bad either but you all knew that didn't you.
Seven Days to Noon (1950)
Not Good
Sorry nearly everything is just so bad in this film. The only highlights for me are seeing 'old' London of the early fifties but even this is cheap, tiresome etc etc - (did I expect though for them to empty London for lengthy stock shots - no but they were just disjointed nothings in the end). The slang cockney voices of posh actresses just grates, and the calmness and wherewithal of the all knowing police authorities defies description. God help us if they had really gone about the task of locating the scientist like this. The scientist character was impossible and just did not hang together. Sorry very poor, unbelievable and I read somewhere about a Hitchcockian suspense atmosphere - well I assure you it's not. The love angle daughter is not up to it, and the male counterpart is a non starter. God, it's a bad bad film- oh I've said that already.