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Post by kijii on Jun 27, 2018 22:13:02 GMT
Damn the Defiant! (a.k.a. H.M.S. Defiant) (1962) Directed by Lewis Gilbert, with Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Quayle. DVR'd from recent TCM telecast. First time viewing for me.
Well-done naval action piece, a fictionalized story of a British ship and crew involved in the Napoleonic War. Much better than I expected. If you're a fan of films such as Horatio Hornblower, Mutiny on the Bounty, or Master & Commander, you should check this one out if you get the chance.
I AM a fan of Horatio Hornblower, Mutiny on the Bounty, or Master & Commander and you make we want to see this...(mentally adding it to my "to view" list). It seems to have a good cast too. I wish I had recorded it, but maybe I can find it anyway.
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Post by teleadm on Jun 28, 2018 17:45:20 GMT
The Flame and the Arrow 1950, directed by Jacques Tourneur, original screenplay by Waldo Salt, music by Max Steiner, starring Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Robert Douglas, Aline MacMahon, Frank Allenby, Nick Cravat, Norman Lloyd and others. Matinee adventure about Dardo (Lancaster) and his loyal followers who use a Roman ruin in Medieval Lombardy as their headquarters as they conduct an insurgency against their Hessian conquerors. This is Lancaster at his most athletic, flashing his teeths and shaking his wavy hair, jumping up and down walls as if it was nothing. There are some similarities to any Robin Hood adventure, but with a difference, Dardo has a son from a former relationship. Normands and Saxons are changed to Lombardians and Hessians. Virginia Mayo is the Maid Marion like Anne de Hesse who goes the same course from against to understanding the Lombardians. Frank Allenby as Count Ulrich aka as The Hawk is a mix of Little John and Sir Guy of Gisborne melted together. Norman Lloyd as Apollo the Trubadour is a variation of Alan O'Dale. Nick Cravet plays Dardo's mute old childhood friend Piccolo who helps Lancaster in nearly all acrobatics. Though often called a swashbuckler, there is actually more archery. All in all it's matinee fare and should been seen as such, that is enjoyable fun for it's 85 minutes of running time. My only little observation (not complaint) is that it spends a little too much time in establishing it's story, characters, and the important conflict that spurs the adventure. No walls are impossible to climb for Dardo and Piccolo!
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Post by kijii on Jun 29, 2018 6:24:41 GMT
Until They Sail (1957) / Robert Wise This is a fairly bland drama even though it was based on a James Michener story with the screenplay by Robert Anderson. The movie traces the lives of four sisters living in Christchurch, New Zealand during WWII. The adult "orphaned" Leslie sisters capture the lives of four fairly different types and ages and of women. The eldest, and most proper, sister is Anne (Joan Fontaine); the youngest is Evelyn (Sandra Dee, in her first movie role at 15); the wildest most promiscuous sister is Delia (Piper Laurie); but the story more or less is centered around a middle sister, Barbara (Jean Simmons).
During--and because of--the war, Christchurch becomes a town almost entirely made up of women without men. The young eligible male New Zealander population was almost entirely drafted to fight in the war. As a result, women were marrying men just before they were being sent off to fight. While many were worried, and followed their husbands, others had husbands that had been gone so long, the wives had almost forgotten them. The Leslie sisters also had a brother who was killed in action. Then, Barbara learned that her barely-known husband had also been killed in action. Evelyn was way too young to think of marrying, however she still old enough to romanticize about love and marriage. The promiscuous Delia married the only eligible man in town without really loving him at all. When he was drafted, Delia found she needed to move up to Wellington where she could live free of the sexual constraints of Christchurch.
Interestingly, as the New Zealand armed forces were leaving, Americans were taking their place while fighting in the Pacific, using New Zealand as an allied base and hospital during the early defeats in the South Pacific. While the American men tried to be responsible visitors and the New Zealand woman tried to be good hosts, this sometimes led to American to fill in the sexual gap and vise versa. Such a case was Capt. Jack Harding (Paul Newman) resisting and then falling in love with Barbara and Capt. Richard Bates (Charles Drake) falling in love with Anne.
Barbara Leslie Forbes (Jean Simmons): [Last lines] If my father could read the history of his daughters... Capt. Jack Harding (Paul Newman): He'd understand. Barbara Leslie Forbes : As they say, to understand is to forgive. Or is it, to understand is not to forgive? I can never remember.
Here is the full TCM synopsis of the movie with Spoilers:In a courtroom in Wellington, New Zealand, Barbara Leslie listens to testimony about her sister Delia and remembers the events that led to the trial: The Leslie sisters, Barbara, Anne and their impetuous younger siblings Evelyn and Delia, live in Christchurch, where most of the townsmen are preparing to leave for World War II duty, including their brother Kit and Barbara's new husband, Mark Forbes. With their mother deceased and their father lost to the war, the sisters console themselves by plotting their loved ones war locations on a world map in their living room. One evening, Delia gleefully announces her engagement to one of Christchurch's few remaining bachelors, "Shiner" Phil Friskett, but news of Kit's death quickly dampens her mood. Later, prim spinster Anne expresses her disapproval of the marriage, but Barbara defends Delia's happiness. Within weeks of Delia's marriage, the sisters come to hate Shiner's abusive behavior and are glad to see him leave for war duty. Delia, now lonely for male companionship, moves to the larger city of Wellington to work for the Navy despite Barbara's protests. When the United States sends several hundred Marines to Christchurch after the attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941, many of the men brashly flirt with the lonely New Zealand women. Naive, fourteen-year-old Evelyn cannot resist inviting kind Capt. Richard G. Bates to dinner. The well-mannered captain declines her offer, but not without attracting Anne's attention. Concerned that Delia has forgotten her marriage vows, Anne sends Barbara to Wellington, where Delia is registered at a hotel under her maiden name. After Barbara reports that Shiner is a prisoner of war, Delia introduces Barbara to her lover, an American lieutenant named Andy, and announces she plans to divorce Shiner and begin a new life in the United States. Barbara, shocked by Delia's adultery, is about to leave when Andy awkwardly explains that he was raised with the same family values as the sisters. Inviting her to join them at a Wellington bar, Andy introduces Barbara to his friend Jack Harding, a divorced and disillusioned soldier assigned to investigate the prospective New Zealand brides of American soldiers. Once alone with Jack, Barbara harshly criticizes the Americans for seducing New Zealand women with trinkets and money. Jack retorts that, although many of men have wives and children at home, "war makes strange bedfellows." When they share a wistful glance, Barbara, still faithful to her husband, is upset by her attraction to him and abruptly excuses herself. Later in Christchurch, Anne is outraged when the American soldiers make lewd suggestions at the lingerie shop where she works and writes a complaint, which is subsequently published in the local paper. One evening, Richard is sent to the Leslie home to deliver a formal apology for the Marine Corps' behavior. Charmed by his courtesy and his good looks, Anne invites him to dinner that evening, where Richard gives the sisters each a gift of perfume. Anne inadvertently reveals her interest in him when she expresses disappointment that someone she likes would use such a common ruse to seduce them. Days later, Barbara and Anne's hopes are dashed when they learn of Mark's death and Richard's departure for duty; however, when Richard returns to New Zealand to recover from an injury months later, a romance between him and Anne blossoms. Soon after, Richard proposes to Anne, but before the required marital investigation can take place, he is given offshore duty, leaving Anne pregnant and unsure of their future. Days later, Jack surprises Barbara at the Leslie home while reporting on his investigation of Anne. During their subsequent date, Jack explains to Anne that wartime romances are the product of loneliness not love, adding that he suppresses his loneliness with alcohol. Barbara finds his assessment heartless and returns home to find Richard's name on the latest casualty list. Weeks later, Jack finds Barbara at a town dance, where she cautions that his drinking is a coward's answer to intimacy. Jack finally breaks down in her arms during a stroll that evening, which begins a strong friendship between the two. Months later, on Christmas Eve, Jack celebrates with the Leslies, including Anne's newly arrived baby boy. In a moment alone with Barbara, when Jack announces his immediate departure for duty, their heretofore-suppressed passion erupts in an amorous embrace. Months later, Evelyn's New Zealand sweetheart Tommy returns from war and proposes to her. Despite her brief flirtations with American soldiers, Evelyn loves Tommy and leaves for Oakland with him. In a newspaper column containing personal ads from American families to New Zealand, Barbara spots an ad from Mrs. Bates, Richard's mother, and writes to her. In her reply, Mrs. Bates encloses money for Anne and her son to move to Oklahoma to be with Richard's family. As Anne's departure approaches, Delia flies down from Wellington to see her off and to meet Shiner, who has just returned from war. That night, when Delia does not deny Shiner's accusations of infidelity and demands a divorce to leave for America with her lover, Shiner flies into a rage and kills his wife with a Japanese sword he brought back from the war. Weeks later, during the murder trial, Jack is forced to reveal his investigation report detailing that Delia had had seven American soldiers as lovers. Traumatized and infuriated that her sister's infidelities have been made the scapegoat for the brutal murder, Barbara refuses Jack's offer to leave New Zealand with him. Upon returning to the lonely house, however, Barbara realizes that she is alone in Christchurch. After burning the map and packing her belongings, Barbara arrives at Jack's hotel room, where he embraces her. Overwhelmed by the new life she is about to embark on, Barbara notes that her father would be shocked by his daughters' lives, but Jack assures Barbara that her father would both understand and forgive them.
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Jun 29, 2018 6:29:21 GMT
Until They Sail (1957) / Robert Wise This is a fairly bland drama even though it was based on a James Michener story with the screenplay by Robert Anderson. I tried watching that once, on TCM. It sounded like it'd be a good movie, but I found it awfully dull and never finished it. I didn't even watch it long enough to get to the part where the Americans (Paul Newman et al) arrived.
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Post by kijii on Jun 29, 2018 6:52:29 GMT
Until They Sail (1957) / Robert Wise This is a fairly bland drama even though it was based on a James Michener story with the screenplay by Robert Anderson. I tried watching that once, on TCM. It sounded like it'd be a good movie, but I found it awfully dull and never finished it. I didn't even watch it long enough to get to the part where the Americans (Paul Newman et al) arrived. I agree totally. I am sort of in a Robert Wise right phase now. Like most good directors, he had some really great movies and some duds. I think Paul Newman's first big success may have been Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) also with Robert Wise which might explain why he was in this movie.
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Post by teleadm on Jun 29, 2018 16:03:21 GMT
Audrey Rose 1977, directed by Robert Wise, based on a novel by Frank De Felitta, who also wrote the screenplay, starring Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason, John Beck, Susan Swift (Audrey Rose), Norman Lloyd, John Hillerman and others. Chiller-drama about a happily married couple (Mason, Beck) in New York who is suddenly approached by a stranger (Hopkins) telling them that their daughter is a reincarnation of his deceased daughter... This movie is very creepy movie when the stranger follows the daugher in distance and later aproaches the couple, but then it makes a turn that just made it confusing, strange and wierd, at least to me. I don't won't to give away too much since I noticed that kijii is in a Wise mood at the moment. It's only fair to say that this movie has it's fair share of fans, that compares it favourable with Roeg's Don't Look Now 1973, but I'm sadly not one of them. All actors do great, even Beck, and Victor J. Kemper's great cinematography makes New York look very creepy even in broad daylight.
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Post by kijii on Jun 29, 2018 16:42:42 GMT
Born to Kill (1947) / Robert Wise This isn't so much of a "just FINISHED" movie as it is a transfer of one of my reviews from the IMDb to this sight. It is a pretty good film-noir--most of this genre with Clair Trevor are worth the viewing and this is no exception. ----------------------------------------------- 7/10 Combines a few murders with a couple of humorous characters kijii28 November 2016
This film noir combines several murders with a couple very humorous characters. It opens in Reno where Helen (Claire Trevor) is getting a six-week 'quickie' divorce. While there, she stays at a boarding house run by a jolly beer-loving floozy, Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard), who seems very impressed by one of her fun-loving tenants, Laury (Isabel Jewell).
One night while in a local gambling establishment, Laury and Helen are both seen by one of the gamblers there, Sam Wilde (Lawrence Tierney). When Sam follows Laury and her boyfriend home, he kills them both out of jealously. Helen later comes home to find both bodies on the kitchen floor but--without being too shocked by the sight, she walks away from the scene so as not to get involved with a 'messy situation' before returning home to San Francisco the next day.
In the meantime, we learn that Sam is, literally, a homicidal maniac and that his friend, Marty (Elisha Cook Jr.), has to keep him out of trouble by sending him out of town, pronto. As a result, Sam and Helen re-meet on the train headed for San Francisco. Without knowing of each other's role in the dual murder, the two become friends during the trip. When they arrive in town, Helen gives Sam her address and suggests a hotel for him to stay at as she goes home to her foster-sister, Georgia (Audrey Long), and new fiancé, Fred (Phillip Terry), both of whom are wealthy.
When Sam shows up at Helen's house, he meets the foster-sister; learns that she is wealthy; convinces her that she is beautiful--something she doesn't see in herself--and ends up marrying her. However Helen, who has always resented Georgia for her money, now also resents her for her husband too. (It's clear that she's more of a kindred spirit to the 'taking' Sam than her 'giving' fiancé, Fred.)
The story is moved along when Mrs. Kraft hires a crafty private detective, Albert Arnett (Walter Slezak), to find out who killed Laury. Arnett's investigation takes him from Reno to San Francisco, where the story's climax plays out with often-humorous scenes involving Elisha Cook, Jr., Walter Slezak, and Esther Howard.
Born to Kill is a good movie with some of the best noir stars. My appreciation of Claire Trevor's talents—especially for mollish characters (Stagecoach and Key Largo) and as a femme fatales (Murder, My Sweet). My only disappointment with this movie is that the ending was somewhat predictable. ---------------------------------------------------- Helen (Claire Trevor): If you go to the police, you'll see Laury sooner than you think. Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard): Are you trying to scare me? Helen : I'm just warning you. Perhaps you don't realize, it's painful being killed. A piece of metal sliding into your body, finding its way into your heart. Or a bullet tearing through your skin, crashing into a bone. It takes a while to die, too. Sometimes a long while.
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Post by kijii on Jun 29, 2018 17:21:20 GMT
Audrey Rose 1977, directed by Robert Wise, based on a novel by Frank De Felitta, who also wrote the screenplay, starring Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason, John Beck, Susan Swift (Audrey Rose), Norman Lloyd, John Hillerman and others. Chiller-drama about a happily married couple (Mason, Beck) in New York who is suddenly approached by a stranger (Hopkins) telling them that their daughter is a reincarnation of his deceased daughter... This movie is very creepy movie when the stranger follows the daugher in distance and later aproaches the couple, but then it makes a turn that just made it confusing, strange and wierd, at least to me. I don't won't to give away too much since I noticed that kijii is in a Wise mood at the moment. It's only fair to say that this movie has it's fair share of fans, that compares it favourable with Roeg's Don't Look Now 1973, but I'm sadly not one of them. All actors do great, even Beck, and Victor J. Kemper's great cinematography makes New York look very creepy even in broad daylight. teleadm ---- I'm convinced!! This movie fits right in with my Robert Wise viewing phase, and it is available with my Amazon Prime subscription. Anthony Hopkins has proven over and over that he can play very creepy roles and pull them off very well. I find that he has this great ability to seem detached from people around him yet calculating... -------------------- EDIT--I did see this movie last night. last night. It starts out great, but ends a little campy.
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Post by Aj_June on Jun 30, 2018 13:48:57 GMT
This evening I watched Cry Danger (1951). After having watched 5 movies in last 5 days and not being satisfied by them today I finally felt like I watched a real good movie. It is fast paced film noir that is just 79 minutes long. It is a very atmospheric noir with a pretty good cast and a story that is not too predictable. Dick Powell was not originally a Hollywood tough guy but changed to it later in his career and rightly so. He is meant for these types of role. Now I am going to play Murder, My Sweet (1944) which I haven't seen before. My rating: 7/10My recommendation scale: Mildly strong recommendation.
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Jun 30, 2018 21:28:38 GMT
Tarzan and the Amazons (1945). Directed by Kurt Neumann. With Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Johnny Sheffield. Seen on TCM, aired yesterday.
With my TV on in the background, I just happened to watch this yesterday as part of a TCM lineup of "matriarchy" films featuring female-dominated societies. Other selections included She (1965), Prehistoric Women (1967), and Queen of Outer Space (1958). I also intermittently glanced at Queen of Outer Space, though I've seen it about 3 or 4 times already, so I won't consider that as "film last seen."
Anyway, the Tarzan film was pretty good, featuring a plot that revolves around archaeologists who are essentially just fortune hunters and greedy plunderers. Fear not: in the end, these avaricious bastards receive a fitting reward for their misdeeds. Viewers familiar with the Tarzan series may also notice Jane looks entirely different here. That's because the actress playing her is the newly signed-on Brenda Joyce, here replacing Maureen O'Sullivan who had played the character "Jane" six times previously, from 1932 - 1942.
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Post by kijii on Jul 1, 2018 18:02:52 GMT
This Could Be the Night (1957) / Robert Wise
Rented for streaming from Amazon Prime
This movie seems VERY disjointed in the beginning when Anne Leeds (Jean Simmons), responds to a newspaper ad for a secretary. The ad was placed in the paper by Rocco (Paul Douglas), the part-owner of a very busy NYC nightclub, The Tonic. The The Tonic's co-owner, Tony Armotti (Anthony Franciosa), is against hiring Leeds, a recent graduate from Smith College who teaches grade school part time. However, the easy-going Rocco is won over by her flexibility and ability to adapt to a variety of situations. After getting to know her better, Tony is won over too.
Rocco (Paul Douglas): You know who she [Anne Leeds] reminds me of? My ex. Tony Armotti (Anthony Franciosa) : Oh, that must make you happy. How much was it Tina took you for?
As the movie proceeds, we find that the variety of people who "inhabit the nightclub" encompass all types of characters--both men and woman. It's not hard to imagine that this movie was derived from a series of short stories (by Cornelia Baird Gross and Isobel Lennart ), something like a Damon Runyon movie. (Jean Simmons had just made such a movie, Guys and Dolls.)
As the movie proceeds, the characters of "The Tonic" form a rich (but TOTALLY unlikely) tapestry of stories which DO come together in the end. And, a movie that frustrated you at the beginning makes you want to cheer at the end, but, you have to wonder how. The movie also presents several solo nightclub acts: ---Ray Anthony and his orchestra play at the Tonic and serve as accompaniment for the singers and dancers.The Tonic ---Julie Wilson (as Ivy Corlane) sings several torch songs. ---Rafael Campos (as Hussein Mohammed) seems to have been "adopted" by The Tonic at some point in the past. ---Neile Adams (as Patsy St. Clair) is a stripper at The Tonic, but she only strips so far with her mother, Joan Blondell (as Crystal St. Clair), looking on proudly. (One gets the idea that Patsy is being groomed to take her mother's old place). ---Patsy's dream is to win a cooking contest, the first prize is an oven and range.
This is a movie that has to be experienced in order to enjoy its genius; there is no other way to say it..
FULL TCM SYNOPSIS with Spoilers: When virtuous schoolteacher Anne Leeds, a recent Smith College graduate, answers a classified ad for a part-time secretarial job during the night shift at the Tonic nightclub, crude but likeable Rocco, a co-owner of the club, is charmed by Anne's flawless English and innocence about his trade. After hiring Anne, Rocco's younger partner, playboy Tony Armotti, angrily complains that Anne's background does not fit the club's profile. Anne's first night includes witnessing an alleyway brawl and decoding a bookie's message about one of Rocco's bets. Before the club opens, Rocco proudly introduces Anne to the staff including headwaiter Eduordo, band leader Ray Anthony, bartender Mike and busboy Hussein Mohammed. Later that night, while Ray and his orchestra are playing to a crowded house, regular Stowe Devlin, a college graduate like Anne, offers to befriend her, but Anne claims that they are both "tourists" in the rough crowd and she prefers learning from the staff. When a customer's wife calls in search of her adulterous husband, the customer demands that Tony fire Anne after she inadvertently tells his wife that he is at the club. Tony gladly acquiesces to the belligerent man's demand, but when Rocco insists that Tony hire Anne back, he agrees to visit her at the school where she teaches the following day. Once inside her classroom, Tony reluctantly offers Anne the job, but Anne suggests that her self-confidence makes Tony uncomfortable. When Ann gives one of her young pupils money for lunch, Tony remarks that she is naive to be deceived by the student's ruse. Anne defends her decision to trust people and accepts his job offer. Back at the club, after Rocco, Tony and the club's torch singer Ivy Corlane jokingly propose a wager regarding Anne's sexual experience, Ivy ascertains from Anne that the secretary has "no hits, no runs, no errors." Later that night, dancer Patsy St. Clair tells Anne that she aspires to be a cook and compete in a cooking contest for a new stove, despite her mother Crystal's insistence that she concentrate on marrying. When Patsy reveals that she has had no time to create a recipe, Anne offers her a family carrot cake recipe. Meanwhile, a bloody Hussein returns to the club complaining that he must change his name to avoid being beaten up because of his ethnic background. When Hussein explains that his father has agreed to the change providing the teenager pass his algebra class, Ann offers to help him with his lessons. After a night of deftly handling almost all the staff's needs, Anne learns from Hussein that the young women filing up and down the staircase outside the club are going to Tony's apartment. Days later, when Anne is late for work, Rocco reveals his venerable and fatherly side to her when he asks her to be on time to keep him from worrying. Hussein has received a difficult algebra test to finish by the following morning and when Anne offers to find a customer to help him with the test, Tony insinuates that the job requires a more enticing woman and sends Ivy. Meanwhile, Patsy returns from the contest just in time for her number, a newsgirl strip routine in which she reveals, under several layers, a first place cooking contest ribbon. Back in the office, Rocco confides in Anne that bitterness about his past marriage made him pressure young Tony to stay away from decent women. Throughout the night, Tony hushes staff and customers alike when they show signs of disreputable behavior in front of Anne. When Anne finds out later that Tony has told the staff Anne is a "greenhorn," under the guise of protecting her, she runs to his apartment to demand an explanation. Tony claims that maintaining her virtue is his responsibility, but Anne retorts that she is not naive, just inexperienced. After sharing a few drinks, Tony brusquely challenges her to "handle" his pass and kisses her. To his surprise, Anne eagerly returns the kiss. When Rocco calls to report that Anne's landlord, Mr. Shea, is worried that Anne has not returned home, Tony lies to Rocco that Anne is staying with Crystal and Patsy. After a drunken Anne then insists on spending the night and professes her love, Tony hurriedly drives her to Patsy and Crystal's apartment. Rocco, who spotted the couple as they left and assumed Tony took advantage of Anne, punches his friend when Tony returns to the apartment. The next morning, Anne tells Rocco that nothing happened between her and Tony and admits that she loves him, despite Rocco's advice that Tony is a "bad character." Later, Rocco returns to the club and apologizes to Tony. When Tony insists that Anne leave the club, Rocco announces that she has already quit, causing Tony to become strangely sullen. Days later at school, Tony walks into Anne's classroom in midst of a fight between Anne and her students and tenderly orders them to apologize to their teacher. Although softened by Tony's good behavior, Anne refuses his offer of severance pay and his suggestion that she return to New England. Back at the club, Tony's tolerance is tested as each staff member eagerly asks him why Anne quit. He then discovers from Rocco that Anne is now working for Waxie London, an ex-convict who runs a club that fronts a gambling racket. Later that night at Waxie's, Tony is ordering Anne to quit her job when the police raid the club. After helping Anne out a back window, Tony begs her to return to the Tonic. Anne vehemently rejects his offer and flees, but several nights later, Anne is back working at the Tonic, where the staff celebrates her return as Rocco and Tony offer a champagne toast at the bar. Anne Leeds (Jean Simmons): Oh, you must hate doing this so conventionally. What a pity you can't hit me like you did that man in the alley. Tony Armotti (Anthony Franciosa): Don't kid yourself, honey. If I caught you dipping your fingers in the till, I'd clip you, too. But him I didn't fire because he's good at his job, which you're not. Is that nice and clear? Anne Leeds : Perfectly. If you're a thief or a liar, you belong at the Tonic. Otherwise, you don't. Tony Armotti : Yeah, you tell 'em, sister. Get a soapbox and tell 'em.
Here it the trailer for the movie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fl8jW4VmGY
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Post by kijii on Jul 2, 2018 22:08:32 GMT
The Desert Rats (1953) / Robert Wise
Rented for streaming from Amazon Prime
A very good movie with Richard Burton leading a group of Australian soldiers in Northern Africa (Libya). The idea of the mission is to keep Rommel at bay and prevent him from reaching the all-important Suez Canal to give the Allies more time (two months). At the time, Rommel "owned the war in Sahara" as he moves his troops from West to East. There are several great highlights to this movie, such as the battle in the sandstorm which should have been a breeze for Rommel. However, the British used the sandstorm to their advantage..............
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel (James Mason) : Now, MacRoberts, l respect your pride in this little rat hole you call Tobruk, but don't insult my intelligence by telling me that if it stood in my way, l couldn't crush it like that!
Capt. 'Tammy' MacRoberts (Richard Burton) : Sir, normally I would defer to your rank and the fact that I'm your prisoner. lf you can crush Tobruk, crush it. But don't tell me it isn't a constant threat to your supply line, that it isn't an open sore in your side, or that you can take Egypt without first smashing it!
FULL TCM SYNOPSIS with Spoilers: In mid-Apr 1941, during World War II, Germany's Afrika Korps, led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, has repeatedly beaten the Allies in the struggle for control of North Africa. Desperate to prevent Rommel from gaining control of the Suez Canal, the British Army, in retreat and trying to rebuild its strength, establishes one last stronghold in Tobruk. The British headquarters in Cairo orders the 9th Australian Division to hold Tobruk for two months, at which time they will be relieved. The general meets with artillery colonel Barney White and other officers to explain that the division will have three perimeters of defense: the outlying perimeter of infantry, the second perimeter of White's artillery, and the inner line of fortifications. The general, needing an experienced field officer to oversee the green Australian troops assigned to the infantry perimeter, chooses English officer Capt. Tammy MacRoberts. MacRoberts, a coolly efficient and unemotional officer who is disliked by the Australians, is surprised to see among their ranks his former schoolmaster, Tom Bartlett. As the battalion marches to their desert outpost, they are hit by artillery, and the men resent being pushed on by MacRoberts instead of being allowed to tend to their fallen comrades. At their encampment, Barlett, an alcholic, explains to MacRoberts that after being dismissed from his job in England due to his drinking, he went to Australia and joined the Army while intoxicated. MacRoberts offers to obtain a transfer for the older man, whom he still calls "sir," but Bartlett insists on staying to prove that he is not a coward. During the day, the men dig foxholes and prepare for an upcoming attack by Rommel's tanks, which the general hopes will be annihilated by White's artillery. During a sandstorm, it appears that the tanks will not enter the perimeter where the general predicted, but at the last minute, they change course and head directly over MacRoberts' covered men. The German infantry follows the tanks and engages the Australians in a fierce battle, during which one of their officers, Capt. Currie, is wounded. Lt. Harry Carstairs abandons his vital post to retrieve Currie, although too late to save his life, and after the Germans retreat, an infuriated MacRoberts vows to have Carstairs court-martialed for disobeying orders. Although Sgt. Blue Smith tries to defend MacRoberts, who is now the company's commander, other soldiers grumble that he got Currie killed and should not be so hard on Carstairs. Bartlett then discusses Carstairs with MacRoberts and pleads for leniency, but MacRoberts insists that he cannot allow sentiment to interfere, otherwise he will not be an effective leader. When MacRoberts goes to headquarters, however, he asks the general to tear up the court-martial request, and both he and Carstairs receive field promotions. The general then outlines a plan to erode the Germans' confidence by making small commando raids every night. Even though their casualties are high, as May and Jun pass, MacRoberts' commando patrols exact a toll on the German offensives. One day, after learning the location of a German underground ammunition dump, the general suspects that Rommel may be planning another big push, but the dump is too far away to be attacked during a single nighttime raid. Deciding to use captured Italian trucks as camouflage, the general asks for a company to volunteer, and MacRoberts, knowing his men are sick of two months of being shelled, volunteers them. MacRoberts, who has made Bartlett his clerk in order to protect him, refuses his request to accompany the patrol, then sets out with three trucks loaded with men. During the attack on the German camp, the men fight fiercely and succeed in wiring a bomb to the dump, but before it can be detonated, the soldier in charge is killed. Both MacRoberts and Carstairs leap off their departing truck to detonate the charge, but Carstairs does not survive the blast. The wounded MacRoberts is captured, and while he is being examined in a medical tent, Rommel, who has also been wounded, enters. Although he is respectful of Rommel's superior rank, MacRoberts defiantly states that he will never control the Suez without first capturing Tobruk, which the Allies have held against all odds. Rommel is bemused by the younger man's brashness and orders that he be treated well. Later, as the prisoners are being transported, their trucks are attacked, and MacRoberts and Smith, who was also captured, escape. After an exhausting walk through the desert, the pair reaches camp and joins the fight again. Although Tobruk has been subjected to prolonged attacks by the Luftwaffe and Rommel's artillery and infantry, the Australians, now nicknamed "the desert rats" for their tenacity and foxholes, have held the town for eight months rather than the originally ordered two months. In November, the general tells his officers that the relief column, led by Gen. Claude Auchinleck is headed for Tobruk, and that they need a company to hold a key location, the Ed Duda hill, which overlooks the road on which Auchinleck is traveling. The general assigns MacRoberts' men, ordering them to hold the hill for three days, and as they march, the men grumble about MacRoberts "volunteering" them for another dangerous assignment. Although the men learn that they were chosen because they have become the best-trained and most efficient company in Tobruk, the knowledge is little comfort as the three days stretch into nine. On the morning of the ninth day, fearing that the men can take no more, MacRoberts orders a retreat, although Bartlett begs him to ask the men to stick with it until Auchinleck arrives. The men refuse to leave, despite MacRoberts' orders, and Bartlett proves his own dedication by taking the dangerous forward gunner's position. Just as the Germans begin what would be a deadly assault, the Australians hear bagpipes announcing the arrival of Auchinleck's troops. After a hard-won 242 days, the Allies have held Tobruk and broken Rommel's hold on North Africa.
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Jul 3, 2018 6:41:15 GMT
Armored Car Robbery (1950), directed by Richard Fleischer, with Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, William Talman, Don McGuire. DVR'd off of recent TCM telecast as part of their Noir Alley series hosted by Eddie Muller.
Nicely done cops & robbers film. Goodly amounts of suspense, with a keen battle of wits played out between the mastermind of an armored car robbery (William Talman), and the tough-as-nails police lieutenant (Charles McGraw) hot on his tracks. Charles McGraw played a similar tough, no-nonsense police lieutenant in a previous film noir I posted here, The Narrow Margin, also helmed by Richard Fleischer.
Once again, the film's TCM showing came with a very interesting and informative presentation by Eddie Muller in the form of an intro and outro. I can't recommend his TCM Noir Alley series enough.
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Post by teleadm on Jul 3, 2018 17:29:32 GMT
Azumi 2003, directed by Ryûhei Kitamura, based on a manga by Yû Koyama, starring Aya Ueto, Kenji Kohashi, Hiroki Narimiya and many more. Japanese action that takes place in feudal war-torn Japan (Shogun era), a young orphaned girl is raised to deal in cold blooded deaths as an assassin, killing off war mongering evil warlords, but she also battles with her own heart of what is right and what is wrong. On the cover there is a little teen girl holding a samurai sword so I more or less knew that this was going to be a very violent movie, and it was, but for what it is it's actually quiet entertaining, and rather easy to follow. The bodycount is very high and there is much bloodshed, and that makes this unsuitable as kids fare. My knowledge in manga is more or less zero so I have no idea if this was faithfull to it's original source.
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jul 3, 2018 21:04:48 GMT
BEYOND THE LAW 1968 Lee Van Cleef is a career criminal with two accomplices (one an older man who poses as a preacher) and a black ex-soldier. They plan to rob a mining town, but circumstances foil their opportunities and Van Cleef ends up wanting to reform (with some prodding from Antonio Sabato Sr as a good-natured European traveler/official), and eventually sheriff. Then Gordon (god what a face) Mitchell appears as leader of a bandit clan and intends to kill a church hostage every 5 minutes until he gets the mine silver brought to him. It has the obligatory shoot outs, and feels run of the mill in parts, but exhibits character and plot nuance that separates it from Hollywood. For one thing, his attempted romance with a woman much younger than him fizzles out by mutual agreement without any kind of melodramatic fuss.
Then Van Cleef has to choose between his old bandit friends and his new ones. His decision amounts to holding up the law, but he has the expected regrets/discomfort. He doesn't throw away his badge as would likely happen in a Hollywood version, nor does he go off into the sunset with a girlfriend. The ending is without any obvious tipping to positive or negative, which works as a plus since it does not feel manipulative.
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 4, 2018 13:48:33 GMT
Gunpoint / Earl Bellamy (1966)Audie Murphy Joan Staley
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 4, 2018 16:40:21 GMT
American Animals / Bart Layton (2018) 8/10
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Post by teleadm on Jul 4, 2018 17:32:03 GMT
Conan the Destroyer 1984, directed by Richard Fleischer, based on the character created by Robert E. Howard, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Olivia d'Abo, Mako, Tracey Walter, Wilt Chamberlain, Sarah Douglas, Jeff Corey, Ferdy Mayne and others. Sword and sandal adventure, where the wandering barbarian helps a young princess on a mission to find and restore a magic horn. Now this was a very cheesy movie, hopefully deliberatly mostly played for laughs without becoming a parody, unlike it's precursor that was played more mythical and darker. It's a bit sad how fast some special effects ages badly. Non if it is very good and some "acting" is awfull, but still it's the sheer cheesiness that makes it somehow entertaining anyway. I remember that the critics hated it, but on a 18M USD budget it made 100M USD... It was an old DVD I found in a cheap bin, so it's not the widescreen version, but the pan and scan version I watched. It used to be like that in the early days of DVD's, they just took the video and moved it to DVD with no restoring or adjusting.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2018 18:00:57 GMT
The Incredibles (2004)
I thought had watched this movie years ago, but i don`t think i had as i have no memory of anything that happened in it.
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 4, 2018 18:52:20 GMT
teleadm Azumi / Ryûhei Kitamura (2003). Sword fighting fantasy based on a Manga that is tough to rate. The good parts are very good. The bad parts are very bad, e.g. we get scene after scene like we have all seen dozens of times from the 1960s on where one swordsman (or swords-person) kills an entire army of soldiers almost one at a time as they run at her, shouting to let her know he is coming. We saw lots of this, for example, in the Zatôichi series, in Lone Wolf and Cub, and, to give a female example, “Lady Snowblood.” On the plus side, I really liked Jô Odagiri’s laughing – and seemingly invincible – psycho killer, dressed like a Japanese Jesus. I have also enjoyed this actor’s work in “Bright Future,” “Bugmaster” and “Shinobi: Heart Under Blade.” His face off with Azumi is what the whole movie leads to and it is worth the wait. Also, actor Kabuki Kitamura (who plays the Samurai with the forehead scar) has a strong presence. For fans of live action Manga (I usually am).
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