What classics did you see last week, Feb 20 to Feb 26?

Don Amerche, and forgot the title

First Viewings:

Honest Thief (2020) 4/10

Willy’s Wonderland (2021) 3/10

Stopover Tokyo (1957) 5/10

Play Misty For Me (1971) 6/10

Repeat Viewings:

Sahara (2005) 8/10

The Lost World (1960) 6/10

I thought the guy looks more like Dick Powell. Dick Powell with a mustache. Don't like it.

In Old Arizona / Irving Cummings (1928). Fox Film Corporation. Cinematography by Arthur Edeson. Early sound era western (reputed to be the first Talkie to be filmed out-of-doors) that won Warner Baxter the Best Actor Oscar in only the second annual Academy Awards presentation. This is the story of The Cisco Kid (from an O’Henry short story called “The Caballero’s Way”). The Kid is a happy-go-lucky and chivalrous hold-up man who respects all the women and is always in a jolly mood. He pays a visit to his girlfriend, Tonia Maria (well played by Dorothy Burgess, who didn’t have many more “A” pictures in her future) who has fidelity issues while Sgt. Mickey Dunn (Edmund Lowe) of the local U.S. Calvary troop has orders to track down the Kid. For the first hour, the Laughing Bandit and Flowery Latin Lover bit got pretty old, but in the last third, things turn decidedly more serious and dark, with a tinge of nasty. It is in this conclusion that Baxter earns his Oscar.
Warner Baxter had his share of career slumps and comebacks. He was a popular leading man in early sound pictures. After “In Old Arizona” he immediately went into a two year downward spiral until he went back to the Kid in “The Cisco Kid (1931).” After that wore off, he got “42nd Street” (1933) which gave him another boost (all this is by Baxter’s own account). The final career resurgence for Baxter was a 10-picture series based on a popular radio mystery, Crime Doctor. This series ran from 1942 to 1949.





AN ELLERY QUEEN DOUBLE FEATURE

Ellery Queen And The Perfect Crime / James P. Hogan (1941). Between 1935 and 1942, nine movies were made featuring the best selling detective Ellery Queen. Ellery was played by four actors across the nine films. Ellery was the brain child of two cousins, Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee, who wrote under the name…Ellery Queen. “Perfect Crime” is the 5th of 9 and the third of four films with Ralph Bellamy as the brainy mystery writer. It is very loosely based on the Queen novel “The Devil To Pay.” The other continuing cast members (who are constant from #3 thru the last, #9) are: Margaret Lindsay as Nikki Porter, Charley Grapewin as Inspector Queen, and James Burke as Sergeant Valle.
     An unscrupulous investor who cause several people to go broke is murdered in the study in his own home. The suspects include his son and the father of the son’s fiancé who had made threats. The problem with many of these ‘30s and ‘40s detective series is that often the detective doesn’t do much detecting. Sure, Ellery turns up clues and reveals how the murder was committed but the killer is only revealed when captured after attacking Ellery. A bit on the routine side but still enjoyable for the interplay between Ellery and Nikki and quite a bit of humor (absent from Ellery Queen novels).





A Close Call For Ellery Queen / James P. Hogan (1942). “Close Call is based on the novel “The Dragon's Teeth.” For the last three pictures in this series, William Gargan took over as Ellery. The three were produced by Larry Damour Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
     In this one, the Secretary to rich Alan Rogers (Ralph Morgan, closely resembling brother Frank Morgan of The Wizard Of Oz fame) visits Ellery because the Secretary is worried that his boss is being blackmailed. Meanwhile, Nikki finds out that Rogers is searching for his two daughters who he has not seen since they were babes. Nikki gets a hint that imposters are trying to cash in so starts her own investigation. The first murder doesn’t occur until about halfway through the 63 minute run-time but the dead body total by the end is three. Fast moving, kind of fun with some slapstick humor, and good actors who look like they are having a good time.





Django / Sergio Corbucci (1966). Coming out in the same year as the first of Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy, “Django” stands as one of the first, one of the most serious, and one of the best of the Italian produced westerns which became a worldwide craze but very soon dropped into a (sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional) parody of itself. The title character, played by an excellent Franco Nero (maybe best known as Sir Lancelot in movie of the movie of the musical “Camelot”) is introduced as a mysterious gunfighter of few words. His fast draw is unbeatable. He travels the West dragging a coffin behind him. He has an agenda, but he isn’t telling what it is. As the movie goes on, however, he becomes less and less invulnerable. I don’t know if this was intentional or not. Probably not. But he becomes more fallible, has to really struggle in a saloon fight with a thug, and takes a lot of physical damage from the enemy gang. A major part of his plan ultimately fails. Still, these strange turns keep the film interesting and make it memorable. A much better choice for an evening with western violence than Tarantino’s mash-up.





Man Of Tai Chi / Keanu Reeves (2013). A young gifted practitioner of the “soft” art of Tai Chi – a command of slow moves that develop and focus internal energy (chi) - disobeys his teacher and uses Tai Chi in fighting competitions. As he begins to win, the young champion (played by Tiger Hu Chen) attracts the attention of a wealthy man who operates an underground fight club where fights often turn deadly. The offer of stacks of cash for winning sucks Tiger into this world. What he doesn’t know is that there is only one way back out. Keanu Reeves directs as well as portrays the evil millionaire. He is the focal point and control whenever he is in the room and Reeves can project that power. The fights are exciting and well-choreographed. The final confrontation between Tiger and Reeves is well worth waiting for. For all fans of the genre.





The Green Knight / David Lowery (2021). Set in England during the reign of King Arthur (Sean Harris), a young man, Gawain (Dev Patel), son of Morgan Le Fey and nephew to the King (none of these names are said in the movie), aspires to, well, not much until given a seat one night next to the King at a banquet. The King talks to him about honor and having a story to tell when the banquet is disrupted by strange knight who appears to be part human and part tree. The Green Knight offers some brave soul a contest with him. Gawain volunteers, sending him on a quest that could cost him his life. Gawain travels through an eerie realm of magic and mystery to achieve his goal. It is an epic quest that I enjoyed quite a bit except for one major distraction. So many of the scenes, including the entire opening set-piece which includes the episode of the Green Knight, is lit so darkly that only in a darkened theater or with all your lights out at home that you can see what is going on. If you can get past that and actually SEE the movie, you will find a deliberately paced and challenging experience. Alicia Vikander has a double role of the girl he leaves behind and of a Lady who tempts him sexually and may be a witch. I have often thought that there should be Oscars for roles with under, say, four minutes screen time. Minor roles that are noticed and stick with you. If this existed, I would nominate Barry Keoghan as “Scavenger.” Patel is very good, doing a lot of acting with his eyes and expressions.





A DOCTOR WHO THREE-PARTER “THE MONK’S TRILOGY”

S. 10, Ep. 6, “Extremis” May 20, 2017. The Doctor: Peter Capaldi. Bill: Pearl Mackey. Nardole: Matt Lucas. Missy: Michele Gomez. Written by Steven Moffat. “Goodness is not goodness that seeks advantage. Good is only good in the final hour. In the deepest pit. Without hope. Without witness. Without reward. Virtue is only virtue in extremis.”
     In the first episode, The Doctor is contacted by the Vatican – the Pope himself shows up in Bill’s apartment bedroom – to urge him to examine an ancient document, just unearthed and translated, that causes anyone who reads it to commit suicide. He, Bill, and Nardole find themselves confronted by strange creatures in robes who call themselves the Monks and who have their sights set on Earth Conquest. In another time line, The Doctor attends the execution of Missy (the last reincarnation of the evil renegade Time Lord who named himself The Master). The Doctor takes a vow to guard her body for a thousand years but rigs the execution so she doesn’t die. This is complex and densely plotted. I, with my non-scientific brain, had to watch it twice to work out all of the story’s secrets.

S. 10, Ep. 7, “The Pyramid At The End Of The World” May 27, 2017. Written by Peter Harness and Steven Moffat. In chapter 2, the Monks foresee a catastrophe that threatens all life on Earth. They promise the stop it but only if the governments ask for their help and accept it with love. But there are strings attached. As Bill helps negotiate with the Monks, The Doctor and Nardole race to stop the all-life-on-Earth ending event. This show, at its most irreverent, in previous years, killed off a British Prime Minister and a President of the United States. In this episode, they dispatch the U.N. Secretary General. Love it.

S. 10, Ep. 8, “The Lie Of The Land” June 3, 2017. Written by Toby Whitehouse. In the final story, The Monks have subjected all Earth to their rule and are sending psychic waves that make people believe they have always been here, helping humanity along. Only The Doctor is immune from the psychic propaganda so is the only hope, but he seems to be helping the Monks. Bill, being a Time Traveler with The Doctor, is not entirely overcome by the brain washing, but has to struggle to fight it. Teaming up with Nardole, she intends to find out what is going on. But things are even worse than she thought. The Doctor has to turn to Missy, confined in a secret jail, for help.

How funny is it writing the same thing twice, just because I hit wrong button....


The Big Wedding 2013 directed by Justin Zuckham and based on a French movie "Mon frère se marie" from 2006.
What a huge waste of talents, talking, talking, talking...floundering around being bitchy to each others, that maybe worked in French.


Dominique 1979 directed by Michael Anderson and based on a story by Harold Lawlor.
A ghost story of sorts, in a big mansion, rich but poor investor (Cliff Robertson) does his best to scare wife to die (Jean Simmons) and succeeds, but then is treated by another force the same way, is it former wife from beyond grave, or is it something else...
Not a bad spooky story, but it moves forward enervatingly slow, veeeery slooow.


The Sunshine Boys 1975, directed by Herbert Ross and based on a play by Neil Simon.
Old men can behave very senile, something a talent agent experiences when he also have to help and uncle and former comedian (Walter Matthau) even trying to memorizing a chips commercial, and his his life turns worse (Richard Benjamin) when a TV company want his uncle and old partner (George Burns) do their old sketch for a live performance, and his uncle and old partner haven't spoke for ages...
George Burns won a best supporting Oscar, Matthau was nominated, as was Neil Simon and the art directors.
Since the play was a hit rumours flied around as who would play the movie parts, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, Red Skelton and Phil Silvers, and Jack Benny, at least Benny and Silvers made filmed costume tryouts, Skelton's check was too high and Hope and Cosby maybe was just an agent's dream.
It's a funny movie with very serious undertones, recognizing parts since my own parents detoriated in their last years.


The Forgotten Pistollero aka El Pistolero del Ave Maria 1969, directed by Ferdinando Baldi.
Luciana Paluzzi is the mother from hell, killing her husband for a flirting lover, abandoning her children, and always blaming the French (we're in Mexico) for everything bad that happens. Many years later her abandoned son (Leonard Mann) wan't revenge and grab the property that ought to belong to him.
A seen-it-all-before feeling came over me, but with a huge body count. Beautiful melancholic score by Roberto Pregadio.


Charlie Bubbles 1968, directed by Albert Finney
The only movie Finney directed and stared, it must have been a very personal project for reasons only known to him.
He plays a very rich and successful writer who drives a Gold coloured Rolls-Royce convertable and looks bored, have a night out with drunk friend (Colin Blakely), travels from London to Manchester with his young American Secretary (Liza Minnelli) to meet ex-wife (Billie Whitelaw) and his son, and watch football at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. and that's it.
A goldmine for those looking at old London and Manchester location. As a movie I have no idea.


The Notorious Landlady 1962 directed by Richard Quine and based on a story by Margery Sharp.
Young and naive American Embassy worker (Jack Lemmon) in London needs somewhere to stay unknowingly hires a flat at a house of ill repute, since the landlady (Kim Novak) might have murdered former tenants, that doesn't go unnoticed to Scotland Yard (Lionel Jeffries) and Lemmon's employer (Fred Astaire). Is she a murderess or is she innocent??? The comedy comes far and between and is pretty lame, but the mystery angle actually works, but at over two hours feels too long, and I even forgive the slapstick finale with Estelle Winwood's rolling wheelchair. In a rare supporting role Astaire adds class.
Though a few scenes were filmed in London, most of it was made at Columbia back lot.


The Vanishing Virginian 1942 directed by Frank Borzage and based on memoirs by Rebecca Yancey Williams.
Since I mentioned Kathryn Grayson I wanted to see a movie I've never seen before, and this popped up.
It's a warm-hearted tale of Virginia State as it might never have been, but based on memoirs is not always the truth, but how one person remembers.
Seasoned actors like Frank Morgan and Spring Byington has a field day as Yancey and Mrs Yancey and they spread charm all over the place. Grayson get's to sing a few bars of Strauss (?) and falls in love with a lawyer.
Not remarkable, but rather nice.

I normally avoid religious or political issues, but this time I can't hold back

Viva Ukraine! It's People, It's Fighters, It's Children

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SPIDER-MAN (1982) “The Wrath of the Sub-Mariner” 40TH ANNIVERSARY Carried over from the AMAZING FRIENDS are Subby and Kingpin, this episode also serves as the animated debut of Silvermane (here voiced by Paul Winchell), Namorita, and Donald Blake. YouTube.

ER (1997) “Faith” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Carol Hathaway returns to County, and Benton comes to an epiphany. Warner DVD.

UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS (1972) “The Swedish Tiger” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Cited as the worst episode of the entire series, Sarah runs afoul with Swedish visitors and leaves Eaton Place again. Acorn Media DVD.

FREAKS (1932) 90TH ANNIVERSARY Perhaps Tod Browning’s most famous (infamous) film as well as for MGM. First read of the film in books, finally saw it on VHS in 2003. Warner DVD

FREAKS THE SIDESHOW CINEMA Documentary on the film with interviews by David Skal and Jerry Mahin. Warner DVD.

ANY RAGS (1932) 90TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Mainly a Bimbo cartoon, this Fliescher short is the first human Betty Boop cartoon, her pup ears transformed into earrings. YouTube

THE SIMPSONS (1992) “Homer at the Bat” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The first all-celebrity episode and to many the beginning of the series’ Golden Age, as Mr Burns enlists an army of Baseball greats (Jose Canseco, Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, Ken Griffey Jr, Daryl Strawberry, etc.) for his company’s Softball Team. FoxVideo DVD.

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THE ALVIN SHOW (1962) “Haunted Mansion/ Crashcup Invents Glass” 60TH ANNIVERSARY Bootleg DVD

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1987) “Willie Nelson” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Internet Archive presentation of Comedy Central Broadcast.

ROSEWOOD (1997) 25TH ANNIVERSARY A factionalized account and of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre. Starring Ving Rhimes, Jon Voight, Courtney Vance, Esther Rolle, and Michael Rooker. First saw this on VHS in the fall of 1997. Warner Laserdisc.

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A LITTLE PRINCESS (1987) “Part Six” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The conclusion, as Sara wakes up to see her attic room transformed into a lavish bedroom. Then the benefactor Carrisford discovers Sara’s identity and reveals the investment that seemingly failed has proven rich, restoring Sara to wealth and Miss Minchin being put in her place. E1 Entertainment DVD

THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) 60TH ANNIVERSARY Bert I Gordon directs and writes a fairy tale of St George and the Dragon, here the hero is the ward of a witch, facing seven travails to rescue a kidnapped princess from a vengeful sorcerer. Starring Gary Lockwood, Anne Helm, Basil Rathbone, and Estelle Winwood. I first saw parts of this film on the Nostalgia Channel in 1991. My first full viewing was in MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (the episode was broadcast in 1992). Watching the normal version, I couldn’t help expecting a quip or joke. Kino BluRay.

THE COMMISH (1992) “The Wicked Flee” 30TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube

THE SUZANNE SOMERS SPECIAL (1982) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Suzanne Somers performs a variety show on the U S S Ranger with help from Gladys Knight, Marie Osmond, and Flip Wilson. I spotted this one while searching for any CBS promos for the upcoming IVANHOE. YouTube.

FISTS OF FURY (1972) 50TH ANNIVERSARY Bruce Lee’s second Kung Fu Star vehicle. First saw the iconic ending (without knowing the title) on Cinemax in 1992. Later saw the beginning a year later. Eventually a VHS viewing on Thanksgiving Friday 1995 connected the dots. Cantonese with English Subtitles. Criterion DVD.

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THE REN & STIMPY SHOW (1992) “Black Hole/ Stimpy’s Invention” 30TH ANNIVERSARY After several months, R & S finally released a new episode. Debut of the “Happy Happy Joy Joy” song, using quotes from Butl Ives. I remember Nickelodeon promoting it as a “Lost Episode”, and I was under the impression that more new episodes would follow, but that would not to be. It wouldn’t be until the summer that new episodes would arrive. Paramount DVD.

IVANHOE (1982) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Norman Rosemont’s TV Adaptation of the Walter Scott novel (an annual New Years Eve broadcast in Sweden). Starring Anthony Andrews, Sam Neill, Olivia Hussey, James Mason, Michael Hordern, Lysette Antony, Stuart Wilson, John Rhys Davies, George Innes, Michael Gothard, Ronal Pickup, and Julian Glover. I first saw this as a Christmas gift two days after the holiday in 1996. Initially unimpressed by it, due to the 1952 version, I’ve since warmed to it. Columbia Tri-Star VHS.

JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1987) “Culture Clash” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Rhino DVD.

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THE SHADOW OF THE TOWER (1972) “A Princely Gift” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Explorer John Cabot and his endeavor to get his Voyage financially supported by Henry. BBC Video DVD.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE (1992) “Democracy in America” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Universal DVD.

URUSEI YATSURA (1982) “The Fourth Dimension Camera/ Demonic Juggling” Japanese with English Subtitles. YouTube.

THE TRANSFORMERS (1987) “The Return of Optimus Prime Part 1” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After traumatizing children by killing off Optimus Prime in THE MOVIE and an equally unpopular move by bringing him back as a Zombie in the third season, TPTB decided on the Season Finale bringing back the beloved Autobot for good (unless one follows the Japanese Headmasters continuity). I know I was happy when this episode was broadcast. Ironically this leads to the final appearance of Bumblebee (he gets damaged and rebuilt). YouTube.

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THE TRANSFORMERS (1987) “The Return of Optimus Prime Part 2” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Optimus is back, and needs to regain the Mayrix of Leadership to stop a Hate Plague that is consuming the Universe. The 3rd Season concluded with this finale (the last one animated by Toei Animations). YouTube

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THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1972) “Some of my Best Friends are Rhoda” 50TH ANNIVERSARY The penultimate Season 2 episode and the last I will watch on its broadcast date. YouTube.

RUROUNI KENSHIN (1997) “The Hidden Technique of the Hiten-Mitsurugi Style: Reunion with a Master Sojiro Hiko” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Kenshin reunites with his master Sojiro Hiko to finish his tutelage (to learn how to use the technique without going Berserker mode). At first the mentor rejects his wish over his abandoning him for the Revolution, but a reunion with Kaoru and Yahiko who tell about his present path makes him relent. Meanwhile, Lord Aoshi receives an invitation. Japanese with English Subtitles. Media Blaster/ AnimeWorks DVD.

THE ARCTIC GIANT (1942) 80TH ANNIVERSARY The fourth Fleischer Superman cartoon. Warner DVD.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2015) “The Infinite Dream” English Dubbed Viz media DVD.

Saw Parts of
SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON (2017) Vimeo

HEY THERE ITS YOGI BEAR (1964) Paramount VHS

YOGI’S TREASURE HUNT (1986) “The Riddle in the Middle of Earth”, “Bungle in the Jungle”, “The Great American Treasure”, “Huckle Hero”, “The Mummy Curse of King Tutti Fruiti”, “Yogi and the Beanstalk“, “The Case of the Hopeless Diamond”, “Ole the Red Nosed Viking” YouTube and Vimeo.