Long time I didnt post anything... but I still watch movies... ;)
"L’ombre des femmes" (Philippe Garrel, France / Switzerland 2015) Pierre and Manon are a pair of poor documentary makers, who scrape by with odd jobs. When Pierre meets young trainee Elisabeth, he falls for her, but wants to keep Manon at the same time. But the new girl in his life finds out that Manon has a lover. When she tells Pierre, the time comes for difficult decisions all round. Quite good movie about love and hypochrisy. 7,5/10
"Ozark Sharks" (Misty Talley, USA 2016) A vacation to the Ozarks turns upside-down when bull sharks somehow infiltrate Arkansas' freshwater lakes and wreak havoc on a town's big fireworks festival. Another ridiculous shark movie… 4/10
"Sand Sharks" (Mark Atkins, USA 2012) The residents of a small town team up to kill a group of evolved sharks that can swim in sand, and are terrorizing local beaches. You’re right, the title says it all… It’s bad. 2/10
"The Cut-Throats" (John Hayes, USA 1969) A captain hand-picks half a dozen American soldiers for a desperate mission in Germany, to get possession of vital WW2 plans - but he keeps another secret up his sleeve. Some B grade Dirty Dozen… Not very good… 5,5/10
"Tien ya ming yue dao" (aka "The Infernal Sword") (Yuen Chor, Hong Kong, 1976) Don't miss this one it is excellent. Chinese sword masters pair up to fight off yet another villain for the deadly PeacockDart. The ending is eye popping don't miss this one. Shaw Brothers come thru yet again. A good Shaw Brothers movie lot fights, action and good story. 7,5/10
"Shark Exorcist" (Donald Farmer, USA 2015) A demoniac nun unleashes holy hell when she summons the devil to possess a great white shark.Yeah it’s just bad… with your smartphone you’ll certainly do better… 1/10
"The First Great Train Robbery" (Michael Crichton, UK 1978) In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train. Sutherland and Connery are good in this funny heist movie… 7,5/10
"Adam and Six Eves" (John Wallis, USA 1962) A man prospecting for gold in the desert becomes lost and comes across six naked women. Ulta cheap nudi cutie… sometimes funny. 6/10
"Love Me Deadly" (Jacques Lacerte, USA 1972) A young socialite struggling to control her necrophiliac urges is torn between her affection for a kind businessman and the mortician who supplies her with bodies. Quite good little movie about necrophilia… 7/10
"Heavenly Bodies!" (Russ Meyer, USA 1963) Taking a look at the connection that glamour models have to photography, a group of film makers follow a number of glamour magazine photographers around, to discover the skill involved in getting "magic" to appear on the photos. An early Meyer movie… funny. 6/10
"Showdown" (R.G. Springsteen, USA 1963) A cowboy has to get 12,000 dollars in stolen bonds from the ex-girlfriend of his partner, or the gang holding him hostage will kill him. Quite good western, one of the last of Audy Murphy and directed by a veteran of the genre. A nice screenplay too… 7,5/10
"L’horizon" (Jacques Rouffio, USA 1967) During first world war,an injured soldier named Antonin falls in love with Elisa. She urges him not to fight after having regained his health. The first Rouffio movie is poory known. However it’s a good movie about love and war… 7,5/10
"Shark Week" (Christopher Ray, USA 2012) A group of complete strangers find themselves isolated by a wealthy madman on his island compound. A ridiculous survival movie… 2,5/10
"The Atomic City" (Jerry Hopper, USA 1952) An atomic scientist's son is kidnapped by enemy agents. A curious cold war movie. If the first half is quite interesting, the secand about the search of the child is quite boring. 6,5/10
"The Girl from S.I.N". (C. Davis Smith USA 196) Poontang Plenty is a secret agent who works on defeating evil while trying to crack the secret of invisibility. A pretty cool rough nudy with awesome and perverse Joyana you cam also admire in the great The Brick Dollhouse (David F. Friedman, 1967), she then unfortunately abandonedher movie cerrier. 6,5/10
Yes, @Asmodai, Yeah shark movies are a garanty of bad movies...
"Henry’s Night In" (Director unknown, USA 1969) A nerdy guy finds an old book, mixes up a magic formula and becomes invisible whenever he sneezes. He uses his power of invisibility to sneak into his neighbors' bedrooms at night when their husbands aren't home and have his way with them. The story is weird an a bit ridiculous but girls are very nice Phyllis Stengel and Mary Bauer will appear in a good amount of nudies during the 60’s and early 70’s before the rise of porn tha will end their carier. 6,5/10
"La legion saute sur Kolwezi" (Raoul Coutard, France 1980) In May 1978, the mining town of Kolwezi in Katanga, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Belgian Congo) is under attack from a group of communist guerillas coming from nearby Angola. The Europeans who work for the Belgian mining company and the Blacks who live in the town are taken as hostages by the invaders, who start a blood bath, shooting Europeans as well as Africans. Many of the Europeans being French, the French decide to organize a counter-attack, and to send a Regiment of Paratroopers from the Foreign Legion. The movie follows the stories of Delbart, a former non-commissioned officer, who was about to go back to France with his African wife and his child, Damrémont, who was Delbart's replacement, Bia, a Zairian doctor, and Annie, an American married to a Belgian engineer as well as Non com Legion officer Federico and the French Ambassador and the Military Attaché. Adapted from true events a movie to the glory of French foreign legion like in the 30’s… quite good indeed. 7/10
"The Naughty Shutter" (Sammy Helm, USA 1963) A camera that is the center of attention takes polaroids of clothed people, resulting in magically nude photos -so far so good, but later the same camera pointed at members of a nude sun worshipers association supposedly creates images of them with clothes on, a completely illogical concept -it is one thing to suspend disbelief and imagine the camera making something disappear. But how does a mechanical photography device create the fabric not present on a nude woman? Ultra cheap early nudy only for connoisseurs. 5,5/10
"North by Northwest" (Alfred Hitchcock, USA 1959) Rewatched this one wih always so much pleasure… 10/10
"A Scream in the Dark" (George Sherman, USA 1943) Newspaper reporter turned detective Mike, along with his partner Eddie Tough (who used to be his photographer on the paper), and Mike's girlfriend Joan go after some business. She's the daughter of the local police chief, so she can send him clients, is the idea.. The first case he gets is a domestic investigation. Leo Stark's wife, Muriel has left him for another guy, Gerald Messenger, a man who looks like an ex-pug. Mike finds her, and Messenger, in an apartment, Eddie takes a photograph of them clutching each-other, and she agrees to give Stark a divorce, and ten thousand dollars. While celebrating at a restaurant, Mike is interrupted by a man, Mr. Norton, who claims that Muriel is really his wife. Mike establishes that Norton had married her two years past, while Stark says he married her five years before…. Apretty good little B movie Robert Lowery and Marie McDonald are quite good… 6/10
"A Night at the Ritz" (William C. McGann, USA 1935) Duke Regan is the high-pressure, irresponsible promotions/marketing/press agent at the Ritz Hotel. He gets the taste of the home cooking, done by the mother of Marcia Jaynos, but thinks it was done by her brother, Leopold. Leopold has delusions of being a great chef, and the ability to delude Duke into the same, even to the point of selling him to the Ritz as a famous foreign chef. Sounds like a job for Mama. A quite predictable comedy but enjoyable. Patricia Ellis is pretty and Allen Jenkins as the sidekick is as usual… funny. 5,5/10
"Angèle" (Marcel Pagnol, France 1934) A young and naive peasant girl in Provence, who has been seduced and abandoned, moves to Marseilles and becomes a street-walker after having her baby. If you love Pagnol’s cinema, Giono and the Povence you’lll love this one… Orane Demazis (Pagnol’s wife), Fernandel, Andrex, Charles Blavette, all the usual cat is there… Excellent 9/10
"Regain" (Marcel Pagnol, France 1937) He rebirth of a dead village and the love of the last inhabitant for a wandering girl. Regain is one of the most famous and beautiful noval of Jean Giono. The movie is tust excellent with the usual crew of Pagnol, Fernandel, Orane Demazis, Henri Poupon, Charles Blavette… just geat 9/10
"Plein les poches pour pas un rond…" (Daniel Daërt, France 1978) Julien is a small thief who is crazy about his wife Lolotte who is tired of him. He decides to make a last big heist and get arrested… But unfortunately for him the heist does it very well and Julien is now with 400 millions francs of jewels. With the help of a taxi driver Steff, Lolotte and a girl Clotilde drive to Marseilles to find a receiver. Another excellent French comedy of the golden age with awesome Jean Lefebvre… . 4/10
"l’italien des roses" (Charles Matton, France 1972) Adapted from true events the movie tells with many flashbacks the day of a young man who is now at the summit of a bulding facing the void… Meanwhile, jest near a wedding is celebrating revealing many conflicts between people… He remember the love story he had the last hours… Soon a crowd begins to ask him not to jump but when the people of the wedding party arrive things are changing… A curious movie quite aesthetic and cerebral but enjoyable. 7/10
"War and Peace" (King Vidor, USA | Italy 1956) By 1812, Russia, prepares to face Napoleon's troops together with Austria. Amongst the Russian soldiers, are Count Nikolai Rostov (Jeremy Brett) and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (Mel Ferrer). Count Pierre Bezukhov (Henry Fonda), a friend of Andrei's, and self-styled intellectual, who is not interested in fighting. Pierre's life changes when his father dies, leaving him a vast inheritance. He is attracted to Natasha Rostov (Audrey Hepburn), Nikolai's sister, but she is too young, so he gives in to baser desires and marries the shallow, manipulative Princess Helene (Anita Ekberg). The marriage ends when Pierre discovers his wife's true nature. Andrei is captured and later released by the French, and returns home only to watch his wife die in childbirth. A few months later, Pierre and Andrei meet again. Andrei sees Natasha and falls in love, but his father will only permit the marriage if ... Great spectacle and great cast for this epic movie despite the lack of “spirit” from the original novel of Tolstoi… But worth watching 7/10
"Memorias del subdesarrollo" (Memories of Underdevelopment) Sergio (Sergio Corrieri), through his life following the departure of his wife, parents and friends in the wake of the Bay of Pigs incident. Alone in a brave new world, Sergio observes the constant threat of foreign invasion while chasing young women all over Havana before finally meeting Elena (Daisy Granados), a young virgin girl he seeks to mould into the image of his ex-wife, but at what cost to himself ? Excellent movie about loneliness, isolation in a changing world. The filming is very ‘European’ and mix nicely fiction and documentay footages. Great movie. 9/10
"Kipling's Women" (Fred Hudson, Larry Smith, USA 1961) One of the first of the Nudies to gain wide-spread showing in the U.S.This film purports to be an adaptaton of Rudyard Kipling's poem “The Ladies." It starts with retired soldier and world-traveler Tommy Atkins in a pine lodge enjoying his pipe and 4-fingers of Scotch, and there to provide other creature comforts is the voluptuous Cameo Girl, while Tommy opens a Kipling volume that he allows is an account of his own experience with women around the world. Of course in those shorts stories the women appear a bit naked… For nudies fans… 6/10
"La maschera del demonio" (Mario Bava, Italy 1960) We proposed this one on the wide screen and had a discussion ‘round the movie. Quite good ! 8/10
"The Haunting" (Robert Wise, USA 1958) We also proposed this one on the silver screen. Very effective and a pleasure to watch it again… 8,5/10
"Midareru" (aka Yearning) (Mikio Naruse, Japan After a bombing raid destroys the family store and her husband, Reiko rebuilds and runs the shop out of love stopped short by destruction. Naruse at it’s best… A wonderful love story with amazing sequences like the one in the train… Hideko Takamine is simply wonderful the last sequence heartbreaking… 10/10
"Fantomas contre Fantomas" (Robert Vernay, France 1949) Everyone in Paris thinks Fantomas is dead. A wave of extortion, blackmail and murder all point to the master criminal. Inspector Juve and his reporter friend Fandor set out to find the truth. A curious mix of crime and fantasy with some kind of zombies movie too quite unique for that time… even if not a masterpiece, a true curiosity rirected by Robert Vernay who before directed a great version of Monte Cristo … 6,5/10
"Not Tonight Henry" (W. Merle Connell, USA 1960) "Not Tonight, Henry" was a large step up in quality for director W. Merle Connell in that it was in color and also not just a static-camera filming of a burlesque show inside of one of L. A.'s smoky, grind house burlesques. The girls were still out of burlesque, as were Hank Henry and Little Jack Little: Hank Henry is more than a little frustrated at the "lack of attention" he is getting at home from his wife and starts dreaming up amorous escapades with sirens from the past... Cleopatra, Josephine, Delilah and others. Most end in some old burlesque skit or blackout gag, but Henry makes the history rounds. While he is dreaming, his wife is reading a book about the great lovers of history. An early nudie in color quite funny. For fans of the genre. 6/10
"Suivez cet homme" (Georges Lampin, France 1963) Two investigations in this movie perhaps thouth to be re(used for TV ? the first one : in a seedy house on the wrong side of town ,in a place with mildewed walls ,there lives a pawnbroker .Her apartment is packed with valuable stuff.One day,she's poisoned and there are two suspects : her husband she left and who,short of the readies ,wanted her to give him some money; a depraved person ,a girl who used to work for her ,actually her lover and her victim. The Second one : a jeweler is arrested by two cops in uniform but it seems to be a miscarriage of justice ;it's all the more strange since shortly after we see the two policemen stealing jewels from the shop. A curious movie with some unusual violence for that time. Bernard Blier makes the job. 6/10
"Yama no oto" (aka "Sound in the Mountain") (Mikio Naruse, Japan 1954) The businessman Ogata Shingo works with his son Shuichi, who is his secretary, and they live together in the suburb with their wives Yasuko and Kikuko respectively. Shuichi has a love affair and a loveless marriage with Kikuko. Yasuko has dedicated her entire life to her family but Shingo married her only because her older sister had died. Kikuko is the pride and joy of Shingo and they are close to each other. Out of the blue, Shingo and Yasuko's daughter Fusako leaves her husband and arrives at Shingo's home with her two children. Shingo investigates and finds the address of Shuichi's lover. Meanwhile Kikuko goes to the hospital and Shingo learns that she was pregnant but decided to abort her child. Another Great Naruse movie. Setsuko Hara Ozu’s muse is excellent as usual… 9,5/10
"Dial M for Murder" (Alfred Hitchcock, USA 1958) In London, wealthy Margot Mary Wendice had a brief love affair with the American writer Mark Halliday while her husband and professional tennis player Tony Wendice was on a tennis tour. Tony quits playing to dedicate to his wife and finds a regular job. She decides to give him a second chance for their marriage. When Mark arrives from America to visit the couple, Margot tells him that she had destroyed all his letters but one that was stolen. Subsequently she was blackmailed, but she had never retrieved the stolen letter. Tony arrives home, claims that he needs to work and asks Margot to go with Mark to the theater. Meanwhile Tony calls Captain Lesgate (aka Charles Alexander Swann who studied with him at college) and blackmails him to murder his wife, so that he can inherit her fortune. But there is no perfect crime, and things do not work as planned. Rewatched it with much pleasure even if it’s mot my favoutire Hitch’s movie. 8/10
"Liu A-Cai yu Huang Fei-Hong" (aka "Challenge of the masters") (Chia-Liang Liu, Hong-Kong, 1976) Slow moving kung fu flick that focuses more on plot than martial arts what a novelty! Basic story of the village kung fu chump who leaves his village and does the horse stance for two years under the supervision of a grand master. Having conditioned his legs and fought endlessly with a wooden coat rack, our hero is ready to return to his village and take on the bad guys. Entertaining martial arts movie very spectacular… 7/10
"La Ventana" (aka "The Window") (Carlos Sorin, Argentina 2008) While bed-ridden Antonio awaits a visit from his long-lost son, the alluring view of Patagonia from his window leads him to escape for one last stroll. Like most of Sorin’s movie it’s sad and slow paced. But still very good. 8,5/10
"Charley Varrick" (Don Siegel, USA 1973) Charley Varrick and his friends rob a small town bank. Expecting a small sum to divide amongst themselves, they are surprised to discover a very LARGE amount of money. Quickly figuring out that the money belongs to the MOB, they must now come up with a plan to throw the MOB off their trail. We proposed this one to our cie-club. Everybody enjoyed this little jewel of crime movie… I rewatched it with much pleasure… 8,5/10
"Sextet" (Bud Irwin, USA 1964) A cryptic nudi cuty from early 60’s with Pauly Dash who makes faces while girls parade topless across the screen. Much of the action concerns his daydreaming or fully unconscious fantasies of being served hand and foot by six lightly clad beauties, hence the title. Instead of exotic dancing, they dance the Twist. His wife Thelma, also a beauty but styled as "plain" with curlers in her hair, goes about household chores and deals with the lunk in what passes for plot. For fans only 6,5/10
"The Swingng Barmaids" (Gus Trikonis, USA 1975) A deranged serial killer infiltrates a popular club and slowly starts killing cocktail waitresses. A small slasher with oretty gals being butchered by a mad guy. For Fans 5;5/10
"A Taste of Flesh" (Doris Wishman, USA 1967) Two professional assassins take over the home of two women (who happen to be lesbians) and their "houseguest" in order to assassinate a visiting foreign dignitary. Un curious rough nudie by the mistress of the genre. Not bad at all but for fas ony 6,5/10
"Maynila sa mga kuko ng liwanag" (Lino Brocka, Philippines, 197() Julio Madiaga, a simple fisherman from the province, travels to Manila to find Ligaya, the woman he loves, after she went away with a mysterious woman promising a better future in the City. When he arrives, he becomes immersed in the city lifestyle and gets involved with its inhabitants experiencing extreme poverty, hard luck, and the overbearing need to grind for daily sustention. While Julio relentlessly searches for Ligaya, the city changes him little by little, becoming like an animal doomed to live only for survival in a wild jungle with no way out. Excellent movie by the best movie maker of Philippines… 9/10
"Tender Flesh" (Jesús Franco, Spain/USA 1997) A stripper and her sleazy boyfriend are invited by a wealthy woman and her lover to join them on her private island for a weekend of sex games in exchange for a large fee. When the couple gets there, however, they are captured, then let loose on the island to be hunted down and killed. The plot looks very like La comtesse perverse but still a good one for Franco’s fans. 6,5/10
"La ventana" (Carlos Sorin, Argentina 2008) While bed-ridden Antonio awaits a visit from his long-lost son, the alluring view of Patagonia from his window leads him to escape for one last stroll. I loved this one as most of Sorin’s movies. 8,5/10
"Les gaspards" (Pierre Tchernia, France 1974) When he investigates his daughter's disappearance, a bookseller discovers an underground society, living literally under the streets of Paris. A curious and interesting movie directed by famous French cinema critic and tv animator Pierre Tchernia. To discover 7,5/10
"Salomé" (Carmelo Bene, Italy 1972) A psychedelic re-telling of the biblical story. Salome is the daughter of the second wife of King Herod. The King is infatuated with her and after she fails to seduce the prophet John (The Baptist) she dances for the King in order to ask for his execution. The story is told in a bizarre way of fast cuts, repetitive dialogue and extreme satire. What a pleasure to watch this one one the silver screen. A true visual experience. You’ll love or hate it ! 8/10
“The Most Dangerous Game” (- Ernest B. Schoedsack, Irving Pichel, USA 1932) A great pleasure to watch it again on the silver screen in a brand new restored copy… 8,5/10
“Circus of Fear” (Werner Jacobs, John Llewellyn Moxey, UK West Germany, 1966) After an armored car robbery, most of the thieves are betrayed by their mysterious boss and arrested. The later his actually working in a circus which becomes the place of many mysterious murders. A grman krimi in a UK way… for fans of small B crime movies… 6,5/10
“Survival Run” (Larry Spiegel 1979) A group of teenagers U drive out into the desert in search of sex, beer, and general good times. When their van breaks down, they find a group of prospectors who welcome the kids and offer them a place to stay until they can get help. It soon becomes evident, however, that there is more to these prospectors than they claim, and soon the teens are fleeing for their lives. Mostly interesting by the cast of the heavies : Peter Graves, Ray Miland are realyy funny in this broke survival movie. For B fans only… 6/10
“El Topo” (Alejandro Jodorowsky, Mexico 1970) A mysterious black-clad gunfighter wanders a mystical Western landscape encountering multiple bizarre characters. Great fun to watch it on screen… !! 8,5/10
“Them!” (Gordon Douglas, USA 1954) In the New Mexico desert, Police Sgt. Ben Peterson and his partner find a child wandering in the desert and sooner they discover that giant ants are attacking the locals. FBI agent Robert Graham teams up with Ben and with the support of Dr. Harold Medford and his daughter Dr. Patricia 'Pat' Medford, they destroy the colony of ants in the middle of the desert. Dr. Harold Medford explains that the atomic testing in 1945 developed the dangerous mutant ants. But they also discover that two queen ants have flown away to Los Angeles and they are starting a huge colony in the underground of the city. When a mother reports that her two children are missing, the team and the army have a lead to follow. Will they arrive in time to save the children and destroy the colony? What a pleasure to re-watch this little gem on screen ! One of my favourite ! 10/10
“Kingu Kongu no gyakushû” (“King Kong escapes”) (Ishirô Honda, Japan/USA 1967) King Kong is brought in by an evil ruler to dig for precious gems in a mine when the robot MechaKong is unable to do the task. This leads to the machine and the real Kong engaging in a tremendous battle that threatens to level Japan. Guilty pleasure on the silverscreen… 7/10
“Barracuda” (aka “Lucifer Project”) - Harry Kerwin USA 1976) Little coastal town is being terrorized by deadly Barracudas. Some scientists of the University helped by the local sheriff investigates near the chemical factory… Few barracusdas indeed in this ecological flick, very funny for Z grade fans… 3/10
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” (Tobe Hooper, USA 1986) A radio host is victimized by the cannibal family as a former Texas Marshall hunts them. This second opus is very bad insdeed… 2/10
“Pink Flamingos” (John Waters, USA 1972) Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive". Re wacht it with sooo much pleasure. Divine is… divine… 8/10
“Orgazmo” (Trey Parker, USA 1997) Joe Young was a simple young man trying to spread the word of the Book of Mormon when he picked the wrong house to preach at! The owner, a porn director named Maxxx Orbison, tells his henchmen to kill the guy at the door who interrupted their scene, but Joe fights off the guards with great skill, which impresses Maxxx so much that he offers Joe the lead role in the movie he's making at the moment: Orgazmo, which is about a sex superhero who fights crime with his Orgazmorator, and ChodaBoy, his sidekick. Joe, against his beliefs, takes the job so that he can pay for the wedding he plans for himself and his fiancée, whom he doesn't tell about his risqué new acting job. However, when the movie becomes an amazing hit just about everywhere and he finds out that Ben (ChodaBoy) has created a real Orgazmorator, Joe is in some serious hot water! Yah, bad taste but fun… 7/10
“Kamera o tomeru na!” (aka “One Cut of the Dead”), Shin'ichirô Ueda, Japan 2017) Things go badly for a hack director and film crew shooting a low budget zombie movie in an abandoned WWII Japanese facility, when they are attacked by real zombies. The resume here is a fake… you’ll see why if you watch the movie… Excellent little horror comedy… A true surprise ! 8/10
Some movies I watched recently... or less recently
"Centrespread" (Tony Paterson, USA 1981) The Story of a photographer's struggle in the glamorous world of nude modeling. A quite dull story but the filming is quite good and the girls very pretty ! 6,5/10
"Hollywood Burlesque" (Duke Goldstone, USA 1949) Singers, dancers, comics, and striptease artists take the stage of San Diego's Hollywood Theatre for an actual filmed performance. A typique burlesque movie typical product of thoses years… 6/10
"Les noces rouges" (Claude Chabrol, France / Italy 1973) Lucienne Delamare and Pierre Maury are having an affair. Lucienne's husband Paul is the mayor, and a French deputy. Pierre's wife Clotilde has been weak and sickly for years. Lucienne's husband holds no excitement for her, and he is always away in Paris on business. Pierre is now the vice-mayor, thanks to Paul. Lucienne and Pierre have a secret meeting spot by a lake along a country lane. Pierre's wife dies suddenly, by suicide the town gossips believe. Pierre confesses otherwise to Lucienne. Paul proposes a shady land deal which will "benefit the town", and wants Pierre's political support and collusion. Then Paul discovers proof of his wife's affair... Good crime movie typical of the Chabrol’s cinema of the 70’s. Quite good. 7,5/10
"Western Union" (Fritz Lang, USA 1941) When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. A classic daptation of a Zane Grey novel with a classic cast of wsteners Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dan Yagger,… For fans of th west 7/10
"Secret Ennemies" (Benjamin Stoloff, USA 19’é) A lawyer becomes a government secret agent after an agent-friend of his is murdered, and discovers a nest of Nazi spies operating out of a former client's hotel. A small propaganda thriller for the B vault of the Warner. 6/10
"La cérémonie" (Claude Chabrol, France 1995) The upper-class owner of a gallery, Catherine Lelievre, hires the efficient and quiet maid Sophie to work in the family manor in the French countryside. Her husband Georges Lelievre, who is an opera lover, her daughter Melinda and her teenage son Gilles welcome Sophie and appreciate her work. Sophie soon befriends the postmistress Jeanne, who is a bad egg and encourages Sophie to rebel against her employers, but the maid stays submissive. However, Sophie is ashamed of a secret and feels uncomfortable in many situations, finding a way to hide her secret. When Georges tells Sophie that he does not want Jeanne in his house, Sophie stands up to him. Melinda discovers her secret and Sophie blackmails her, but Melinda tells her parents what happened. Georges fires Sophie and she returns to the house later with Jeanne on the rampage. A quite shoking movie adapted from true events… Bourgeoisie and crime are well depicted as very often in Chabrol’s cinema. Isabelle Hupert and Sandrine Bonnaire are nicely paired in this one. 7,5/10
"Le boucher" (aka « The Butcher ») (Claude Chabrol, France 1970) An unlikely friendship between a dour, working class butcher and a repressed schoolteacher coincides with a grisly series of Ripper-type murders in a provincial French town. I rewatched this one with much pleasure. One of Chabrol’s best eand a great jean Yanne. 8/10
"Pixels" (Chris Columbus, USA 2015) When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games. A bit ridiculous but watchable by spotty kids under twelve… 3/10
"Avenging Waters" (Spencer Gordon Bennet, USA 1936) Mortimer build a fence for the cattle brought by Ken Morley. To retaliate, Slater who wants access to the land, builds a dam cutting off Mortimer's water supply. When Ken confronts Slater, he is captured. Then lightning destroys the dam and Ken, imprisoned in a shack, is in the path of the oncoming surge of water. A classicl small B for grat Kenn Mayard. Note the presence of Ward Bond….6/10
"Der Himmel über Berlin" (Wim Wenders, Germany/France, 1987) An angel tires of overseeing human activity and wishes to become human when he falls in love with a mortal. Rewatched tis one with great pleasure… 8,5/10
"Air Hawks" (Albert S. Rogel, USA 1935) A mysterious ray that immobilizes all motors and engines threatens the security of the country. A delightfull mix of Sci-Fi mystery, planes… Ralph Bellamy is the hero, Edward Van Sloan as the mad professor is good. 7/10
"Unforgiven" (Clint Eastwood, USA 1992) Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny (Clint Eastwood) reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) and a young man, The "Schofield Kid". Rewatched this one once more… always good. 10/10
"Drums along the Mawhawks" (John Ford, USA 1939) Newlyweds Gil and Lana Martin try to establish a farm in the Mohawk Valley but are menaced by Indians and Tories as the Revolutionary War begins. Not my favourite Ford’s movi but still good. 7,5/10
"Hope and Glory" (John Boorman UK/USA, 1987) Bill, a young boy living on the outskirts of London experiences the exhilaration of World War II. During this period, Bill learns about sex, death, love, hypocrisy, and the faults of adults as he prowls the ruins of bombed houses. Autobiographical movie for Booman, gret job. 8/10
"La maison des otages" (William Wyler, USA 1955) After escaping from prison, Glenn Griffin, his brother Hal and a third inmate Sam Kobish randomly select a house in a well-to-do suburb of Indianapolis in which to hide out. The home belongs to the Hilliard family, Dan and Ellie who live there with their 19-year old daughter Cindy and their young son Ralph. They plan on staying only until midnight as Griffin is awaiting his girlfriend who will meet them with some money he had stashed away. When she doesn't arrive, their stay stretches out to several days. Dan Hilliard plays their game knowing that if he makes any attempt to contact the police, his family could be caught in the crossfire. Wyler Bogart, March, Kennedy… Hayes novel adapted by Hayes… what to expect except a good movie… 8,5/10
"France, société anonyme" (Alain Corneau, France 1974) In the year 2222, a former drug dealer is kept in a state of hibernation. Reanimated, he tells his story. Leader in the narcotics market, his situation was prosperous until, during a political change, the government legalized its use. Altra wired movie like no other… try it ! 7,5/10
"Egymasra nézve" (aka nother Way) Political and sexual repression in Hungary, just after the revolution of 1956. In 1958, the body of Eva Szalanczky, a political journalist, is discovered near the border. Her friend Livia ... A difficult subject in a difficult movie very interesting… 8/10
"C'era una volta il West" (Once Upon a Time in the West) (Sergio Leone, Italy/USA 1968) Always’s fun to wath this classic… 10/10
"Espion, lève-toi" (Yves Boisset, France/Switzerland, 1982) Sébastien Grenier,a secret agent eliminates all his rivals in order to decipher who has killed some of his associates. Not Boisset’s best movie but quite interrestng and wth great casr Lino Ventura, Michel Piccoli, Bruno Cremer are on the part… 7,5/10
"The Alien Dead" (Fred Olen Ray, USA 1980) A meteor strikes a houseboat in the swamps near a southern town populated by Yankees with fake accents. The people on the houseboat become zombies who feed on the alligators in the swamp. Once they run out of alligators, they start going for the citizens. A local scientist tries to figure out what's happening to people once they start disappearing. Ultra-broke Z grade horror movie with cult B movie star Buster Crabbe in one of his last role… 2/10 for Z grade fans only
"Dr. Who and the Daleks" (Gordon Flemyng, UK 1965) When Dr. Who shows his time machine TARDIS to the clumsy Ian, who is boyfriend of his granddaughter Barbara, he accidentally transport them and Dr. Who's granddaughter Susan to somewhere in space and time. They explore the spot and see a city; Dr. Who fakes a leak in the fluid and they go to the city to seek mercury to refill the component. They are captured by the Daleks and soon they learn that a war between Daleks and Thals has destroyed the planet. Further they are exposed to radiation and only the Thals have the antidote. The Daleks send Susan to find the cure and she meets the Thal Alydon that has the antidote and wants to negotiate with the Daleks to exchange for food. But the cruel Daleks want to destroy the Thals to rule the world. Peter Cushing is a good Dr. Who and the whole film is fun… 7/10
"Prairie Thunder" (B. Reeves Eason, USA 1937 In this remake of the 1928 Ken Maynard "The Glorious Trail" (also remade in 1933 as "The Telegraph Trail", starring John Wayne), army scout Rod Farrell (Dick Foran) is sent to investigate problems involving the construction of a new railroad and telegraph line by hostile Indians.on the western frontier. He learns that it is really Gus Lynch (Albert J. Smith) , owner of a freight and goods wagon-shipping company responsible for the trouble. A small B western for Dick Foran and the B service of the Warner. A good small B 6,5/10
"California Mail" (Noel M. Smith, USA 1936) The Pony Express is finished as the Post Office plans to award the mail contract to a stage line. Bill and his father put in a bid for the mail, but there are three bids close together. The officials will run a race to pick the winner, and the Banton Brothers sabotage Bill's stage. Mary still believes in Bill until they try to get rid of him by holding up the regular stage with his well known horse. Bill needs proof to clear himself and expose the bad guys. Another small B western for Dick Foran at the Warner. 6,5/10
"Crime & Punishent, USA" (Denis Sanders, USA 1959) The series Columbo, which came out a decade later, is very similar to this movie: A slick, handsome, pompous killer being complimented into submission by a seemingly helpful, everyman cop, appearing as a good friend (and at times an inept investigator) while his unaware culprit "helps him" solve the case: unknowingly implicating him in the process. That's because Frank Silvera's character is based on the cop in Fyodor Dostoevsky's source novel, Crime and Punishment, who is the same character Peter Falk's Columbo is based on. A curious adaptation of the famous Dostoiesky’s Novel. Quite interesting. 7/10
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (John Ford, USA 1962) A senator, who became famous for killing a notorious outlaw, returns for the funeral of an old friend and tells the truth about his deed. One of my Ford’s favourite… 9/10
"Le cerveau" (aka The Brain) (Gérard Oury, France/Italy 1969) When NATO transfers some of its funds from Paris to Brussels by train, a criminal mastermind posing as a British colonel plans to steal it but two petty French thieves also have the same intent. A quite basic heist comedy but with great cast Jean-Paul Belmondo, Bourvil, David Niven are great…
"Invasion: UFO" (Gerry Anderson, Tomblin Summers Frankel, UK, 1974) The Earth is threatened by an alien race who kidnap and kill humans and even animals and and use them for their body parts. In the year 1980 S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization), a highly secret military organization, is set up in the hope of defending the Earth from this alien threat. This organization operates from a secret location beneath the Harlington-Straker film studio in London. S.H.A.D.O. also has a base on the moon with Interceptors as well as an early warning satellite that detects inbound UFOs (called S.I.D.), and operate a fleet of submarines. General James Henderson and commander Ed Straker have a team of highly trained and well equipped females and males to battle the regularly incoming hostile UFOs. Deliciously kitch Sci-Fi movie… love it ! 7/10
"Water" (Deepa Mehta, Canada/India, 2005) Set in colonial India against Gandhi's rise to power, it's the story of 8-year-old Chuyia, who is widowed and sent to a home to live in penitence; once there, Chuyia's feisty presence deeply affects the lives of the other residents. Very moving movie about woman’s condition in India… still accurate indeed. 8/10
"La sirène du Mississippi" (François Truffaut, France/Italy, 1969) A wealthy plantation owner is captivated by a mysterious woman with a shady past. We proposed this one to our cine-club. Great to watch it once more. 8/10
"Mosquito" (Gary Jones, USA 1994) A violent massacre caused by human-sized mosquitoes forces the lone survivors to band together in a fight for survival as the mosquitoes continue their onslaught. A curious vampire movie to atch dfor the fans of the genre. 6,5/10
"The Curious Female" (Paul Rapp, USA 1970) In the year 2177, the world is under the control of a master computer. For recreation, however, people are allowed to view sex tapes. A funny view of sexual life in US during the 60’s… fun. 6,5/10
"Flic Story" (Jacques Deray, France 1975) This movie depicts the authentic story of the hunt for the dangerous criminal Emile Buisson, who escaped from prison in 1947. During three years Buisson manages to hide from detective Borniche by repeatedly killing his informants. When he's finally caught with help from the little criminal Paul, Buisson will have committed more than 100 robberies and killed 30 people. Even if adapted rom true events, this a a movie madie for Delon like many at that time… but still entertaining 7/10
"Jean-François i el sentit de la vida" (Sergi Portabella, Spain 2018) A twelve-year-old existentialist kid runs away from home to meet his favorite philosopher, Albert Camus, not knowing he has been dead for fifty years. On his way he finds love and rejection for the first time in his life. A nice idea and a nice story but the movie is made much like a cheap TV movie. But not bad for a firs movie ! 6,5/10
"C'era una volta il West" ("Once Upon a Time in the West") (Sergio Leone Italy/USA, 1968) Rewatched this one once more… but everybody knows it. 10/10
"To Catch a Thief" (Alfred Hitchcock, USA 1955) A retired jewel thief sets out to prove his innocence after being suspected of returning to his former occupation. Rewatched this one on TV with much pleasure. 8,5/10
"The Big Fix" (James Flood, USA 947) Ken Williams (James Brown), a star basketball player on a college team learns that a police lieutenant (Regis Toomey) is the head of a gambling ring attempting to fix basketball games by bribing the players. With the aid of some of his ex-GI buddies, he exposes the gamblers. A small crime movie by the Pythic PRC, known as the poorest studio in the world… But fun for B fans ! 6/10
"Down to the Sea" (Lewis D. Collins, USA 1936) This vintage drama from Republic Pictures features a colorful cast, headlined by Ann Rutherford (Gone With The Wind), Russell Hardie (Fail Safe), and Fritz Leiber (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Director Lewis D. Collins, whose career dates back to the westerns of the silent era, filmed exclusively in Florida locations for this feature, including Crystal Springs. Quite good little B om Republic. 6,5/10
"Son of the Border" (Lloyd Nosler, USA 1933) Rancher Tom Owens, trying to learn the secret identity of an outlaw leader, is shocked to find that his friend Jack Breen is a member of the gang. Advised to get out of town, Jack participates in a bank robbery for travel money, and Tom is forced to shoot him, thus making an enemy of Jack's lovely girlfriend Doris. Soon, Jack's young, orphan brother Frankie arrives in town; while Tom and Doris vie for his friendship, the outlaw gang is hoping to make up for lost time. A good small B western for Tom Keene. For fans ! 6/10
"Le désordre et la nuit" (Gilles Grangier, France 1958) A vice inspector for the Paris police takes special interest in the plight of drug-addicted Lucky whom he considers to be more victim than criminal. Not Gabin’s best but good cast Danielle Darrieux and Nadja Tiller are good. 7/10
"The Great Dictator" (Charles Chaplin, USA 193() Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime. Sooo good. I watched this one once more… 10/10
"Northern Patrol" (Rex Bailey, USA 1953) This entry in the series featuring RCMP Rod Webb and his wonder dog, Chinook, has a larger cast than usual, popping in and out of about four different plot lines, which leads Chinook with less to do than usual, which makes it a better than usual entry. Corporal Webb (Kirby Grant) finds a man who seems to have hung himself after writing a suicide note. Webb notes this happened while the suicider was in the midst of cooking himself a meal, and concludes that all is not right in this part of Canada. Chinook agrees with him. Marion Carr, Claudia Drake and Gloria Talbott are on hand as (mighty nice) visual distractions. A quite good B one ! 6,5/10
"Fangs of the Arctic" (Rex Bailey, USA 1953) Canadian Mounties Corporal Rod Webb and Constable Mike Kelly, along with Rod's dog Chinook, are sent to the Blackfoot Crossing country to find the killer of trapper Antonie Dubois, and also to investigate reports of illegal deals in beaver pelts. Mike, a rookie, is delighted with the assignment as it takes him to his home country where he again sees Sandra Dubois, his childhood sweetheart. Posing as trappers, Rod and Mike meet Matt Oliver, introduced as a mining engineer, at Sandra's home, who is a little irked at the warm welcome Mike receives from Sandra. The undercover Mounties soon get on the trail of Morgan, Howell and Cheval, the illegal beaver trappers. While searching for evidence in the trading post ran by MacGregor, Mike is surprised by Morgan and Cheval and is killed. Rod closes the trail that reveals Oliver as the leader of the gang. Chinook takes care of Oliver, and Rod arrests Morgan and the others. Another good entry in the serie Kirby Grant and Chinook ! for fans of the northern movies !! 6,5/10
"Trail of the Yukon" (William Beaudine, USA 1949) Matt Blaine and his son, Jim, and their men, rob John Dawson's bank, although Jim doesn't approve, even though Dawson jumped Matt's mining claim. Their accomplices double-cross them and the Blaines escape by canoe. They are followed and meet Royal Candian Mounted Policeman Bob McDonald, who helps them fight until all three men are wounded. Aided by Chinook, McDonald's dog, they escape but Matt dies. McDonald then sets out to prove that Dawson was the real culprit. A good small b fron the north ! For fans 6,5/10
"A Demon for Trouble" (Robert F. Hill, USA 1934) Dyer is buying ranches and then retrieving his check by having his gang kill the owner. Bob Worth arrives just as Buck Morton is killed and gets blamed for the murder. Fleeing from the Sheriff, Bob teams up with the Mexican outlaw Golinda. Having seen Dyer pay off his men, he has a plan to trap him and Golinda is just the man he needs to make it work. A good small B western for Bob Steele… 6/10
"Stage Struck" (William Nigh, USA 1948) The police find the body of hostess Helen Howard (Wanda McKay), disposed of by petty racketeer Nick Mantee (Kane Richmond) after she was shot in his Bluejay night club by Benny Nordick (John Gallaudet) because she knew too much about Mantee's rackets. Police Lieutenant Williams (Conrad Nagel) and police Sergeant Tom Ramey (Ralph Byrd) inform the dead girl's parents and sister Nancy (Audrey Long) of the run-away's death. Nancy, inpatient waiting for the police to get a solid case together, signs with the Mercer Agency operated by Nordick, training girls for an excessive sum which they work off as hostesses at the Bluejay Club. Nancy becomes a hostess at the club and after a party for Latin-American night club owner Barda (Anthony Warde), she uncovers evidence that places Helen at the club. She accuses Nick and Benny of the murder and the two mobsters realize they must do away with her. A good small B noir from the vault. 7/10
"Criminal Investigator" (Jean Yarbrough, USA 1942) A reporter investigates the murder of a showgirl, who was the widow of a millionaire. Robert Lowery and Edth Fellows star in this small B crime movie 6/10
77°) Midnight Mystery (George B. Seitz, USA 1930) When an island castle off the coast of Maine becomes the scene of a murder, a mystery writer tries to nab the criminal. An early talky mix of whodunit and old dark house… funny 7/10
"The Accusing Finger" (James P. Hogan, USA 1936) A prosecuting District Attorney, proud of his 100% record of convictions in mostly death-penalty cases, finds himself, because of circumstantial evidence, on the other side of the fence, and soon finds himself in the same situation and in company with many of the people he has sent to prison, some unjustly. A good movie against death senence which was quite rare at those times… 7/10
"Apache War Smoke" (Harold F. Kress, USA 1952) An outlaw murders several Apaches and flees to a stagecoach way station with the tribe in hot pursuit. A stagecoach and its passengers have just pulled into the station, as has the stationmaster's father, a former bandit named Peso, and they all find themselves besieged by the Apaches, who want them to turn over the killer to them or they'll take the station and kill everybody. The problem is that the people in the station aren't sure just who among therm is the actual killer. A good small B western 7/10
"The Remains of the Day" (James Ivory, USA | UK, 1993) A rule bound head butler's world of manners and decorum in the household he maintains is tested by the arrival of a housekeeper who falls in love with him in pre-WWII Britain. The possibility of romance and his master's cultivation of ties with the Nazi cause challenge his carefully maintained veneer of servitude. Unusual as often in Ivory cinema, a good one indeed 8/10
"Bad Men of the Border" (Wallace Fox, USA 1945) U. S. Marshal Ted Cameron (Kirby Grant), masquerading as a bandit, robs a mail coach. Delores Mendoza (Armida), a passenger, is an agent for the Mexican government, assigned to investigate a counterfeiting and smuggling gang operating below the border. She joins forces with Ted and his sidekick, Rockabye Jones (Fuzzy Knight), and together they expose the gang and bring them to justice. Kirby Grant not as a mounty in this early movie in it’s carreer. Quite good. 6,5/10
"Mutant War" (Brett Piper, USA 1988) The sequel to 'Galaxy Destroyer' which finds our hero Harry Trent wandering Earth's post-apocalyptic landscape full of mutants, monsters, and fragmented human tribes. Harry's attempt to help a young girl rescue her sisters, leads him to a group of armed mutants led by a human madman attempting to breed them and take over the world. Despite I’s a video movie a very good B sci-fi movie like they did bunch during the 80’s for fans of the period. 3/10 for Z grade fans 10/10
"Black Midnight" (Budd Boetticher, USA 1949) Scott Jordan and his Uncle Bill take time from their own ranch chores to welcome home Martha Baxter and her Daughter Cindy, gone from their ranch two years. Sheriff Gilbert gives Cindy her late father's mare, "Lady." Bill's son Daniel who had run away from his dad's ranch, returns with his friend Roy (Gordon Jones), and several wild horses. When Daniel threatens to kill the wild stallion, Midninght, Scott buys him for $30. With patience Scott succeeds in taming Midnight. Cindy becomes interest with Daniel, but when her mother proves he is lazy, the girl is angry at Scott, thinking he has been party to the expose. Apoorly known movie from western master Budd Boetticher… A curous and unusal one to discover. 6,5/10
"Breed of the Border" (Robert N. Bradbury, USA 1933) Joe has Cowboy-Race Driver Brent drive him to the border where his men slug Brent, and he shoots Stafford and takes his bonds. Brent's old friend Chuck arrives and the two head out to find the gang and recover the bonds. Classic small western for Bob Steele with his father behind the camera. 6/10
"King of the Arena" (Alan James, USA 1933) Mysterious deaths have been occurring in the same towns as Miller's Circus and the Governor has sent Ken Kenton to investigate. Ken joins the show but when he realizes that Bargoff is involved, Bargoff has fled and taken Mary Hiller as a hostage. The trail leads to Baron Petroff who concocted the deadly chemical and Ken quickly finds himself the Baron's prisoner. A western of the last “golden age” of Maynard at Universal… Quite good. 6,5/10
"Tomb Raider" (Roar Uthaug, UK | USA 2018) Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father disappeared. Always the same stuff… 4/10
"King of the Lumberjacks" (William Clemens, USA 1940) Two men and one woman in logging country and their changing love triangle. Another northern romance in lumberjack’s background. Classic but always enjoyabl. 6,5/10
"he Body Disappears" (D. Ross Lederman, USA 1941) Wealthy scion Peter DeHaven, about to marry socialite Christine Lunceford, wakes up after bachelor party revelry to find he's been turned invisible by eccentric college professor Reginald Shotesbury. An unbelievable series of events is revealed by several witnesses testifying in a "mystery trial" to determine the reason for DeHaven's "disappearance". Quite fnny little fantasy/comedy ! Fun ! 6,5/10
"Atlantic Adventure" (Albert S. Rogell, USA 1935) Fired for taking his fiancee to dinner, a reporter gets a hot tip on a cruise ship. A classic crime/comedy with courageous reporter investigating. Fun ! for B fans only 6,5/10
"Avengers: Infinity War" (Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, USA 2018) The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe. Non stop CGI and pointless action scenes and soooo boring…. 2/10
"The Three Burials of Melquiades" Estrada (Tommy Lee Jones, France/USA 2005) Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico. Quite good story and movie. 8/10
"Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto" (aka "Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion") (Elio Petri, Italy 1970) A chief of detectives, homicide section, kills his mistress and deliberately leaves clues to prove his own responsibility for the crime. State violence is at the center of this movie in the Italy of the “lead's years” ! Just Great ! 9/10
"3:10 to Yuma" (Delmer Daves, USA 195è) The good one. Rewatched it with much pleasure… 8,5/10
"Be Kind Rewind" (Michel Gondry, USA 2008) Two bumbling store clerks inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. In order to keep the business running, they re-shoot every film in the store with their own camera, with a budget of zero dollars. Quite original and very pleasant movie. 7,5/10
"La science des rêves" (Michel Gondry, France/Italy, 2006) A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love-struck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world. Cool and imaginative movie. 7,5/10
"The Panther’s Claw" (William Beaudine, USA 1942) The police arrest a man climbing over the wall of a cemetery after midnight. He claims that he is being blackmailed and is following instructions he received by mail to leave $1000 on a certain grave. It turns out that he's not the only one who got a blackmail letter from the same person--calling himself "The Black Panther"--and it also turns out that all the recipients are connected to an opera company. Quite good for a Powerty Row movie. 6/10
"The Ghost and the Guest" (William Nigh, USA 19’3) A newlywed couple winds up spending their honeymoon night in an old, dark, spooky mansion. A classic small whodunit and old dark house movie… For fans of the genre. 5,5/10
"Sarajevo : State in Time" (Benjamin Jung et Théo Meurisse, France6bosnia, 2019) We proposed this documentary about the concert the rock band Leibach made in Sarajeo during the war in 1995, with other members or the NSK movement and the IRWIN arstists. Quite interreting. Ivan Novak, the leader of Leibach was olso there and we had a nie discussion after the movie. 7,5/10
"Das Boot" (Wolfgang Petersen, West Germany 1981) The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth and sheer terror. Submarine movie is an ungrateful genre in cinema but if there I one submarine mivie this is it… Just excellent. 10/10
"Terror is a Man" (Gerardo de Leon, Philippines / USA, 1959) William Fitzgerald finds himself shipwrecked on an island whose native inhabitants have recently fled. His civilized host, the secretive Dr. Charles Girard, explains that they were superstitiously fearful of his scientific work. Now the only people on the island are the castaway, the scientist, his voluptuous wife, his sleazy assistant, his beautiful native servant and her young son. But there may be one more man on the island: it's all a matter of philosophy and semantics. It seems Dr. Girard is surgically transforming a panther into a human being. The trouble is, the creature is not above killing members of the species he has recently joined. Some kind of island of Doctor Moreau of the Philippines… Not as bad as expected… 6/10
"L’argent des autres" (Christian de Chalonge, France 1978) Bank executive Rainier allows his firm to deliver adventurous investor Chevalier d'Aven a huge loan, with what he thinks is his employer Mirement's total backing. Chevalier's business proves indeed to be disastrous, which forces the bank to cover up its high deficits. News of the scandal breaks out, and the bank now sees Rainier as the one being responsible for it - he is laid off. Wife Celine and union representative Arlette suggest he should sue his former boss. An interesting movie 7,5/10
"The Offense" (Sidney Lumet, UK/USA, 1972) Rewatched this one with great pleasure, waht a dark movie ! 10/10
"La passante du sans-souci" (Jacques Rouffio, France | West Germany, 1982) Max Baumstein is a reputable businessman, a rich self-made man with a conscience - he founded a highly visible and active international organization fighting against violations of human rights. Why would he commit an act that apparently negates the principles he has striven for so long to uphold? Eventually, he reveals a secret about himself that he kept hidden from his younger wife Lina, and that in a roundabout way concerns her as well. It is the conclusion of a struggle that started many decades earlier, when Elsa Wiener, a German singer exiled in Paris, without money or relations, a refugee among many others, faced two daunting problems: surviving in a foreign city, and saving her husband Michel from the clutches of the Nazis. Rouffio often filmed war and he did it well. Romy Schneider is excellent as usual. 7,5/10
"Jour de fête" (Jacques Tati, France 1949 Once a year the fair comes for one day to the little town 'Sainte-Severe-sur-Indre'. All inhabitants are scoffing at Francois, the postman, what he seems not to recognize. The rising of the flagstaff under his direction nearly leads into a catastrophy - but everybody tells him, how important his work is. Sneering up Francois continues in the evening of the festive day. Made drunk, some 'friends' persuade him to watch a short-movie in a tent. This film is a stunt-show, covered as 'The modern delivery-techniques of the US-post. Francois takes it serious, not recognizing being teased. Next day, after getting sober in a goods wagon, he reorganizes his own delivery-methods. He has not the equipment, as his ideals in the short-movie have, but using only his bicycle, he makes good, funny progresses. The beginning of à geat director. A pleasant movie 7,5/10
"Blood of the Vampire" (Henry Cass, UK 1958) In the late nineteenth century, the anaemic governor of a brutal prison institution, along with his crippled assistant, conducts research on the inmates. A classic small horror movie in a typical british way. 6/10
"Guns" (Andy Sidaris, USA 1990) After a failed assassination attempt on her partner, DEA agent Donna Hamilton discovers that the crime lord responsible for her father's death is coming after her and her associates. Andy Sidaris is the bet Hawaia director and one of the luckiest… The plot ae ridiculous but the girls are just very pretty ! And that makes the difference ! 3/10 for fans much more !! . To be continued...
"Koroshi no rakuin" (aka "Branded to Kill") (Seijun Suzuki, Japan, 1967) The number-three-ranked hit-man, with a fetish for sniffing boiling rice, fumbles his latest job, which puts him into conflict with a mysterious woman whose death wish inspires her to surround herself with dead butterflies and dead birds. Worse danger comes from his own treacherous wife and finally with the number-one-ranked hit-man, known only as a phantom to those who fear his unseen presence. A great noir in the Japanese way ! 9/10
"A tout casser" (John Berry, France/Itay, 1966) Young bikers (with Frankie in head) are trying to open a club next to an established one run by gangster Moretti and his henchmen. Arrive a mysterious man with whom the gangster has a debt and at the same time trying to help the kids. However, Moretti has a plan for a big score and will do anything to make ends meet for him. However, he might have opposition on his path... Poor John Berry, a sad end of carrier in the movie. The only interest is the presence of Eddie Constantine, Johnny Hallyday, Michel Serrault to the cast. For fans of Johnny onl ! 5/10
"The Crooked Web" (Nathan Juran, USA 1955) Cafe owner Stan Fabian joins Joanie Daniel and her "brother" Frank in a scheme to unearth a "fortune in stolen gold buried by Frank" in Germany during World War II, and Stan is unaware that Joanie and Frank are undercover agents trying to get a confession from Stan of a murder he committed in Germany. Joanie plays on Stan's love for her, insisting he join the Army and so gain access to the supposed hidden treasure, buried in what is now a U.S. Army reservation. Entrapment is the word used now. The plot is a bit unprobable but the whole is watchable… 6/10
"Caged Fury "(Bill Milling, UsA 1990) Discontent leads to a daring escape plan in a women's prison where the inmates are all lingerie clad models and the lesbian warden demands unusual favours for early parole. The plot is suffiscient to say that it’s lame… 3/10
"Taking Tiger Mountain" (Tom Huckabee, Kent Smith, UK/USA 1983) Militant feminist scientists brainwash research subject to assassinate the Welsh Minister of Prostitution. Meanwhile World War III is being fought and the USA has been invaded. A curious experimental movie, quite interrestng 7/10
"Blood and Lace" (Philip S. Gilbert, USA 1971) After her prostitute mother and her john are beaten to death while they are asleep in bed, teen-aged Ellie Masters is sent to an isolated orphanage run by Mrs. Deere and her handyman. Taking an avid interest in her welfare is detective Calvin Carruthers. Taking almost no interest at all, is social worker Harold Mullins who is completely under Mrs. Deere's thumb. Lots of unpleasant surprises are in store for Ellie, not the least of which is the fact that Mrs. Deere and her handyman are both brutal sadists, who run the orphanage like a concentration camp and the strong possibility that her mother's hammer-wielding killer is now stalking her. A good beginning with amazing opening sequence, but then less interesting. Worth watching for the presence of Gloria Grahame at the end of her carrier. 6/10
"Hard Ticket to Hawaii" (Andy Sidaris, USA 1987) In Hawaii, an undercover DEA agent and her civilian friend stumble upon a drug trafficking operation, and have to enlist the help of all their colleagues/friends to go after the vicious drug kingpin. Another great Hawaia thriller for Andy with pretty booby Dona Speir, one of Andy’s all times favourite (guess why ?) and The seminal Ron Moss… Excellent for fans of he genre 8/10 forothers…mostly 3/10
"Hot Nights on the Campus" (Tony Orlando, USA 1966) Naïve small town Indiana gal Sally arrives in New York City to attend college. While in New York Sally lives with four more worldly and uninhibited female roommates, goes to wild swinging parties, and falls for both a college professor and a young athletics major. Complications ensue after Sally discovers that she's pregnant. Classic story of country girl goin’ town the place of lust en pervertion as you know… Girls are pretty… for nudies fans. 6,5/10
"The Immoral Three" (Doris Wishman, USA 1975) Three young girls must avenge the death of their mother, who was a spy, in order to collect a $3-million inheritance. This short resume of the plot is suficent to make ou feel thi is a masterpiece… Indeed not as bad as expected… quite pervert enough to be interesting, the talent of Doris Whisman is certainly responsible. 6/10
"Monster Dog" (Claudio Fragasso, USA 1984) Alice Cooper plays a pop star who takes his band to his hometown to shoot his latest video. They are greeted by the sheriff (whom he's known since a kid) that warn him that there's been several murders in the area where the bodies were ripped to shreds. The police think it's a pack of wild dogs, but Alice knows differnt. Alice Copper is the sole interest of the movie, a not very good werewolf story… 4/10
"Hellmaster" (Douglas Schulze, USA 1992) A psychotic college professor uses unwitting students as laboratory rats, injecting them with a drug that mutates them into gory killers. A typical small horr slasher, not very interresting. 3,5/10
"Dream No Evil" (John Hayes, USA 1970) In a surrealistic horror setting, a young Preacher's assistant goes mad and becomes lost in a fantasy of her own creation. Quite interesting and sick small horror flick. With old veterant actor Edmond O'Brien… 6,5/10
"It!" (Herbert J. Leder, UK 1967) After one of their store houses burnt down, museum director Grove and his assistant Pimm find everything destroyed - only one statue withstood the fire mysteriously undamaged. Suddenly Grove is lying dead on the ground - killed by the statue? Pimm finds out that the cursed statue has been created by Rabbi Loew in 16th century and will withstand every human attempt to destroy it. Pimm decides to use it to his own advantage... Interresting small brittish horror movie losemy based o the Golem myth. The end is a bit dispappointing but otherwise quite watchable. 6,5/10
"Lightnin' Crandall" (Sam Newfield, USA 1936) Gunfighter Lightnin' Crandall puts away his gun and heads west posing as a tenderfoot. But he quickly gets in the middle of a range war between the Shannon's and Blaine. He sides with the Shannon's only to find that his old friend and mentor Parson Durkin is Blaine's hired gunman. A good routine B western for Bob Steele… 6,5/10
"Le salaire de la peur" (aka "The Wadges of Fear") (Henri-Georges Clouzot, France/Italy Rewatched it once more, allways with same pleasure. But everybody knows it. 10/10
"Lady Libertine" (Gérard Kikoïne, France 1984) Charlie, a young aristocrat in turn of the century England, meets a boy named Frank on the road to Portsmouth. What Charlie doesn't realize is that Frank is actually Frances, who's donned a disguise to escape working at a brothel. Charlie takes Frank/Frances into his home, and when he discovers her true identity, the two become lovers. He sends her to London to be trained by his mistress in the art of sex, but she learns much more about her identity as a woman. Nothing original in this erotic movie by one of the kings of French porn cinema. One interest I the presence of ophie Favier an object of phantasm in France during the 80’s… 4/10
"Blood of Dracula" (Herbert L. Strock, USA 1957) In a girl's boarding school, science teacher, Miss Branding, tests her theory that there is power within the human potential that is beyond that of the atom. Using hypnosis and a special amulet, a new and troubled student, Nancy Perkins, becomes the subject of her experiments which result in a series of full-moon murders. A typical small horror movie by a specialist of B movies… for fans. 6,5/10
"Beyond Evil" (Herb Freed, USA 1980) An architect and his wife move into a colonial mansion, where the demonic presence of the original owner's wife takes residence. OK small fantsy/horror movie. 6,5/10
"Spermula" (Charles Matton, France 1976) In the 1930's, a notorious secret society known as Spermula - centered around the "rapture of being" achieved through a total liberation of the senses - disappeared from "civilized society." They were rumored to have developed supernatural powers. Over time they have honed their powers, and put in motion a plan to return from the future and conquer the world that once exiled them. An elite force of commandos - in the guise of several beautiful females - are charged with the task of neutering the male population. This is to be achieved by extracting the male reproductive fluids (orally) - allowing the decadent human race to eventually die off from natural attrition. Ingrid (Dayle Haddon), leading the Spermulan assault, sets about ... With the tittle you may fear the worst and if you suppose they do what you think… they do. But the film is much interesting on may aspects and quite well filmed. 7,5/10
"Ercole contro i figli del sole" ("Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun") (Osvaldo Civirani, Italy 1964) Hercules is rescued by Prince Maytha and his warriors. Athualpa, King of the Incas, is to sacrifice Princess Yamara to the Sun God. Hercules must save her and defeat the King. As you’ll discover here, the Greeks discovererd America first, much before Colombus. Otherise a classic Sword and Sandals… 6/10
"L'ange noir" ("Black Angel") (Jean-Claude Brisseau, France 1994) A woman kills a man and tries to mask the cime as self defense. She hires her lover as her deffendor… Brisseau is a rare director this movie sound a bit like a Chabrol one for the high society perversion and crimes. Sylvie Vartan looks an act a it like Catherine Deneuve… Quite good crime movie “à la française”. 7,5/10
"La bestia in calore" ("The Beast in Heat") (Luigi Batzella, Italy, 1977) This is one of many so called Video Nasties about fictionalized World War 2 Nazi POW camp atrocities. A beautiful, nefarious senior female SS officer/doctor (Magall) creates a genetic, mutant human Beast (half man/half beast). The Beast is a rapacious, squat, mongoloid sex fiend which she uses to torture and molest female prisoners while the Nazis watch. The vertically challenged beast is kept on a diet of mega-aphrodisiacs. There is plenty of sadistic titillations, gore and nudity in this Nazi sub-genre exploitation flick. Only for fans of the genre and of thick cinema… 3/10or 8/10 it depends !
"La plus longue nuit du diable" (Jean Brismée, Belgium 1971) A group of tourists traveling on a bus take a detour to stay overnight in a castle owned by a family cursed with a history of Satanism and death. A classic small horror movie with a final twist. Interresting curiosity of Belgian cinema. 6,5/10
“Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd“ (Jan Troell, Sweden | West Germany | Norway, 1983) The Swedish 19th century engineer S. A. Andrée sets out to become the first man on the north pole. His idea is to launch a polar expedition using a hydrogen balloon, together with two friends. The balloon, "The Eagle", takes off from Svalbard in 1897, but the three men are not heard of again. Quite good subject and very interresying story, filming is classical. 7,5/10
“Le diable souffle“ (Edmond T. Gréville, France 1947) On a small island in the middle of the river where Tramontana almost always blows, some losers tear each other to pieces. A curious love story across the border… 7,5/10
“The Mind Reader“ (Roy Del Ruth, USA 1933) Chandler, a con-man, and his helper Frank decide to create a clairvoyant act for the carny circuit, as a little research reveals Ameicans spent $125 million on mind-readers and astrology. The carny, renamed Chandra, falls for one of his marks, Sylvia, but their love is tested when he brings tragedy to other peoples' lives and she asks him to go straight. Very funny movie ! 8/10
“Nous sommes tous des assassins“ (We are all murderers) (André Cayatte, France, 1952) In World War II, the illiterate, starving and alcoholic twenty years old René Le Guen fights to survive and lives with his dysfunctional family in a slum. The French Resistance invites and teaches him to kill Germans and traitors. When the war ends, he continues to kill and is arrested, judged and sentenced to death in the guillotine. While in prison waiting for a possible presidential pardon claimed by his lawyer, he meets other prisoners also waiting for the dishonored death. An angaged movie like all Cayatte cinema. Excellent. 9/10
“Die Liebe der Jeanne Ney“ (“The Love of Jeanne Ney“) (Georg Wilhelm Pabst (Germany, 1927) In the Crimea, the Reds and the Whites aren't done fighting, and Jeanne discovers that the man she loves is a Bolshevik (when he kills her father). Penniless, she returns to Paris where she works for her uncle. Soon after, her lover Andreas is in France to organize the sailors in Toulon. So also is a thief, traitor, and libertine, Khalibiev, who wants to seduce Jeanne. His schemes, Jeanne and Andreas's naivete, and a lost diamond bring the lovers to the brink of tragedy. A curious pro-bolchevik movie… 7/10
“Piège pour Cendrillon“ (aka A Trap for Cinderella) (André Cayatte, France 1965) A devilish conspiracy involving a victim of a fire who awakes in a hospital ,suffering from amnesia:is she Dominique or Michèle? Might she be a criminal? Quit good crime movie. 8/10
“Travolti da un insolito destino nell'azzurro mare d'agosto“ (Lina Wertmüller, Italy 1973) A rich woman, Raffaella, and some friends rent a yacht to sail the Mediterranean Sea during summer. The sailor, Gennarino, who is a communist, does not like this woman but has to bear with her bad mood. One day she wakes up late in the afternoon and asks to be taken to land where everyone had gone earlier. Gennarino sets up a boat but during the trip, the boat breaks down. They spend the night in the middle of the sea. Outrageous but funny movie with bitter end. 7/10
“Flandersui gae“ (“Barking Dog“) (Bong Joon Ho, Corea, 2000) The disconnections of urban life. Yun-ju is diffident, almost without affect; his wife is pregnant, and he's wonders if he should bribe the dean to secure a professorship. He's also bothered by a yapping dog that disturbs him in the large block of flats where he lives. Hyeon-nam is equally disengaged; she's a bookkeeper at same block of flats, animated only when she learns of a lost dog. Over the course of a few weeks, three dogs in the building go missing - Yun-ju and Hyeon-nam have a connection to each. So might a janitor. Is it a man-eat-dog world? Is there any cure for this ennui? Can anyone connect? Fir tmovie of Bong Joon Ho and quite interesting ! 7,5/10
“Le dernier sou“ (aka "The Last Pence") (André Cayatte, France 1943) Noel Roquevert ,cast against type,portrays a wicked unscrupulous swindler,far from his usual good-natured characters .Matching him every step of the way is Leclerc's bitch-with-a-sentimental-side :take the scene where she tells Charpin (and later another dupe) that his father is terminally ill;she is so convincing we almost believe her.On the other hand,Stefani is one of the most frightening villains of the French cinema;he is all the more disturbing as his face is very familiar (and rather nice ) to the French audience.His organization is a Mafia in miniature:all his collaborators are actually his victims for "he knows so many bad things about them he could send them all to jail whenever he wants to(and he does actually ;he pretends to help the unfortunate Baron and he hands him over to justice, so to speak. Not Cayatte’ best movie but still good ! 7,5/10
“The First Year“ (Frank Borzage, USA 1926) One of the films that Borzage shot under contract for Fox before he began his run of box-office hits. This is a comedy built up around the disastrous dinner that a couple of newlyweds organise for an important financial partner of the husband's. Not the best silent movie of Borzage but quite good. 7,5/10
“Bilans kwartalny“ (Krzysztof Zanussi, Poland 1975) The main character is a bookkeeper, 40, who lives a quiet, uninteresting life with her husband and son of school age. She realizes that soon she won't be needed much at home as the boy grows up and the relationship with her husband crumbles. It's only when an embezzlement is discovered at the office and she stands up to her management, that she realizes life has more to offer. She meets a well-off former classmate, married to an American. Then she meets Jacek and starts contemplating possibilities of a new start. She discovers love for the first time, but turns to old ways rather than to break loose. Very moving movie and so true. 8,5/10
“Grauzone“ (Fredi M. Murer, Switzerland | West Germany, 1979) Without knowing it, Alfred and Julia live in a land of pure invention. It is the richest and most beautiful land in the world. From a height, this land looks like a piece of felt, from close up like a clean and tiny park. The footpaths are lined with benches and the streets with banks. Alfred and Julia have been married for 8 years, are childless, and live on the 16th floor of a new building. Thanks to their various crises, they have got to know each other somewhat better, but their most outstanding characteristic remains their mediocrity. On Friday, August 12th 1977, a mysterious epidemic breaks out in their country. The mass media ensure that the news is widely broadcast. The authorities order a ban on information, but those concerned break their imposed silence. On Sunday evening, it becomes known that the epidemic was no more than a kind of "dress rehearsal" for a real emergency. Alfred and Julia continue to live in a land of pure invention - but now they are conscious of the fact. A curiou movie, to watch in our epidemic times… 8/10
“Tsareubiytsa“ (Karen Shakhnazarov, CCCP, 1991) A patient in a modern day mental institution believes that he is the man who assassinated Tsar Alexander in 1881 and Tsar Nicolas II in 1918. He and his doctor soon slip out of reality and are forced to relive the events of 1918 in order to break the spell. Weird movie but excellent… 8,5/10
“As Armas e o Povo“ (Manuel Costa e Silva, António da Cunha Telles, Acácio de Almeida, António de Macedo, José de Sá Caetano, António Escudeiro, Henrique Espírito Santo, José Fonseca e Costa, Luís Galvão Teles, Eduardo Geada, Fernando Lopes, Fernando Matos Silva, João Moedas Miguel, João César Monteiro, Glauber Rocha, Elso Roque, Alberto Seixas Santos, Artur Semedo, João Matos Silva, António-Pedro Vasconcelos, Portugal 1975) Film directors with hand-held cameras went to the streets of Lisbon from April 25 to May 1, 1974, registering interviews and political events of the Portuguese "Carnations Revolution", as that period would be later known. When the left was left… whan people who made politic made it with their guts, when they had something to say, to defend… what a lesson in politics !! 8,5/10
“Les risques du Métier“ (“Risky Business“) (André Cayatte, France 1967) Jean Doucet is a popular schoolmaster teaching in a small town in Normandy. At least he was... Until the day one of his pupils, Catherine Roussel, a garage owner's daughter, accuses him of trying to rape her. But although Doucet (happily married to schoolmistress Suzanne) has always had a conduct above reproach, the Roussels decide to file a complaint against him... A good thriller and reflection on justice as usual in Cayatte movies, Jacques Brel is good as the teacher… 8/10
“Az ötödik pecsét“ (Zoltán Fábri, Hungary 1976) In Budapest in 1944, a watchmaker, a book seller and a carpenter are drinking in a bar with the owner,when they are joined by a stranger. The watchmaker asks a hypothetical question that will change their lives. The end of the movie will blow you… Amazing ! 9/10
“A Free Soul“ (Clarence Brown, USA 1931) An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him. A small pre-code movie interresting 7,5/10
“Una storia moderna - L'ape regina“ (Marco Ferreri, Italy/France 1963) A 40 year old man, Alfonso, finally succeeds to marry a virginal, educated, beautiful and very Catholic woman. But soon she, Regina, starts stressing him because she wants to be pregnant. When the stress is at its peak Regina at last gets pregnant. Once the goal is reached the man is put aside and dies. Crual satyre ! Just good. 8/10
“L’inpecteur La Bavure“ (Claude Zidi, France 1980) The clumsy son of a deceased police hero joins the police and his task is to protect a reporter from the most famous gangster of Paris. Another eat franch comedy with Coluche… 4/10
“Gungala la vergine della giungla“ (Romano Ferrara, Italy, 1967) Two unscrupulous explorers rob a sacred diamond from the Basoko tribe of leopard-men. Their white queen, Gungala, and her pet, a black panther, lead the revenge to impose the justice of the jungle. Camp story of this pretty female Tarzan… 6,5/10
“Gungala la pantera nuda“ (Ruggero Deodato, Italy, 1968) An insurance company, led by a wealthy English family, organized an expedition to Africa to find a lost heiress who has been raised in the wild as Gungala and one of the explorers falls in love with her. The sequel of Gungala la vergine della giungla is very similar to the firt opus… 6,5/10
“Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins“ (Brian Levant, uSA 2009) The story of how Mystery Inc. was formed. Yep, if you're under 10 maybe… 2/10
“Hard Hunted“ (Andy Sidaris, uSA 1993) An international arms dealer will stop at nothing to retrieve a stolen Chinese nuclear relay hidden in a jade Buddha figurine. It's up to a group of undercover federal agents stationed in Hawaii to stop it falling into the wrong hands. Dona Speir is always’s so damn good… otherwise nothing to say… 4/10
“Nudo e selvaggio“ (aka “Massacre in Dinosaurs Valley“) (Michele Massimo Tarantini, Brazil/Italy, 1985) Michael Sopkiw hitches a ride to Brazil to dig up some dinosaur bones. Once in Brazil he gets in a few tangles with the locals and manages to secure a ride on a charter flight deep into Amazonia. All hell breaks loose as the plane crashes deep in the heart of the jungle, leaving Sopkiw, megalomaniac Soares, and a bunch of super models on their own to trek back to society. The group runs into cannibals, quick sand, murderous animals, and a renegade mine run by slave owners. Not very good indeed… 4,5/10
“El caníbal “ (Jesús Franco, France/Spain/WestGermany, 1981) A Vietnam veteran heads to an island inhabited by cannibals to save a kidnapped model not only from her kidnappers, but also from the cannibals' lurking Devil god. Yeah it’ bad but who cares, it’s a Franco Movie… 4/10
“Kafti ekdikisis“ (aka “The Wild Pussycat“) (Dimis Dadiras, Greece, 1969 A woman imprisons and tortures a womanizing drug dealer to avenge her abused sister. Quite perverse little movie but surprisingly good and interesting. 7/10
“Picasso Trigger“ (Andy Sidaris, USA 1988) Double agent Picasso Trigger is assassinated in Paris by double-crossing bad guy Miguel Ortiz. Then Ortiz begins eliminating agents of The Agency who were involved in his brother's death. The Agency (belatedly) springs into action to stop Ortiz' heinous activities. The usual gunplay, romance, and nifty toys with bombs ensue. Dona Speir is still there as a garanty of quality… 4/10
“Drive In Massacre“ (Stu Segall, usa 1976) Two police detectives try to catch a serial killer who is stalking a rural California drive-in theater, randomly killing people with a sword.Quite efficientlitle horo movie… 6,5/10
“Duelle (une quarantaine) “ (Jacques Rivette, France 1976) The Queen of the Night battles the Queen of the Sun over a magical diamond that will allow the winner to remain on Earth, specifically in modern day Paris. Like almost all Rivette’s movie you’ll loveor hate it… I love his cinema…8,5/10
“Lawrence of Arabia“ (David Lean, UK 1962) The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks. Rewatched this one with muchpleasure… but everybody knows it… 9/10
“Do or Die“ (Andy Sidaris, usa 1991) Two beautiful American special agents are given a head start by an oriental crime boss. The head start is to get away from the teams of assassins he has lined up to kill them. Numerous visual costume changes later, the busty duo team up with other agents to make a convenient team of eight, all paired off in a boy/girl manner. Dona Speir save the movie with her boobies ! 3,5/10
“Nostalghia“ (Andrey Tarkovskiy, CCCP/Italy, 1983) The Russian poet Gortchakov, accompanied by guide and translator Eugenia, is traveling through Italy researching the life of an 18th century Russian composer. In a ancient spa town, he meets the lunatic Domenico, who years earlier had imprisoned his own family in a barn to save them from the evils of the world. As Eugenia seeks to tempt Gortchakov into infidelity, he, seeing some deep truth in Domenico's act, becomes drawn to the lunatic. In a series of dreams, the poet's nostalgia for his homeland and his longing for his wife, his ambivalent feelings for Eugenia and her Italy, and his sense of kinship with Domenico become intertwined. Weproposed this great movie at our cineclub… rewatched it withmuche pleasure… 9/10
“Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru“ (Akira Kurosawa, Japan, 1960) It is a high-profile wedding: the daughter of Mr Iwabuchi, a wealthy businessman, is marrying Mr Nishi, a car salesman. However, Mr Iwabuchi and other senior members of his company are suspected of corporate malfeasance and the wedding becomes a bit of a farce, with the press swarming all over it. To add to the discord, the company officials are rather publicly reminded of an ignominious event which occurred a few years ago - a senior employee committed suicide by jumping from the 7th floor of their offices. Now other senior officials are committing suicide and it looks like it is related to that death of a few years ago. Rewatched thisone with muche much pleasure, faound it even better than the first time… 10/10
“The Silver Whip“ (Harmon Jones, USA (1953) Race Crim, a stagecoach guard, persuades the line's superintendent to allow young Jess Harker to drive the Silvr City stagecoach, which contains a gold shipment. Six outlaws attack the stage and Jess is wounded but Race kills three of the outlaws while the remaining three escape with several bags of gold. Race follows them while Jess takes the stage to Silver City. He joins the posse led by Sheriff Tom Davisson and they come upon the body of a fourth bandit killed by Race. A fifth is captured and the sheriff will not allow Race to hang the bandit. Refusing Jess's plea to accompany him, Race goes after the last bandit alone. Jess is fired from his stagecoach job but Davisson makes him a deputy and they too take the trail after the remaining outlaw, Slater. They meet Race and close in on the trapped bandit who Race shoots in the leg. The Sheriff keeps Race from finishing him off and takes him back to Silver City to stand trial. But the citizens, led by Race, demand a lynching…. Quite good small B Western with Rory Calhoun and Robert Wagner… 6,5/10
“La menace“ (Gérard Oury, France 1961) osepha is 18 and bored. As she tries to impress the local moped gang, she accuses one of her acquaintances of a horrible murder. A curious small crime movie adapted from a novel of famous French crime novelist Frédéric Dard.Gérard Oury is a director mostly knwn for his comedies but here he’s quite convincing in this movie. Even if sometimes abit dated (the teens gang is not so terrifying indeed) the whole is quite interesting. 7/10
“Day of the Outlaw“ (André De Toth, USA 1959) Blaise Starrett is a rancher at odds with homesteaders when outlaws hold up the small town. The outlaws are held in check only by their notorious leader, but he is diagnosed with a fatal wound and the town is a powder keg waiting to blow.That’s the third time I watch this one still so good, much underrated western. 10/10
“Reprisal! “ (George Sherman, usa 1956) New ranch owner Frank Madden, half Indian but posing as white, arrives just as an all white jury finds the three white Shipley brothers who lynched three Indians innocent. There is soon trouble between Frank and the Shipleys who are using Frank's land to graze their cattle. When the brother of one of the Indian victims kills a Shipley, Frank is accused and put in jail. The Shipleys then organize a lynch mob and head for the jail. Interesting western about racism even if the endcould have been more powerful ifdifferent. 7/10
“L’argent“ (Robert Bresson, France | Switzerland, 1983) A forged 500-franc note is cynically passed from person to person and shop to shop, until it falls into the hands of a genuine innocent who doesn't see it for what it is - which will have devastating consequences on his life, causing him to turn to crime and murder... crual fable of modern times by a master of French cinema… 9/10
“Jeux interdits“ ("The Secret Game") (René Clément, France 1952) A girl of six is orphaned in an air raid while fleeing a French city with her parents early in World War II. She is befriended by a pre-adolescent peasant boy after she wandered away from the other refugees, and is taken in for a few weeks by his family. The children become fast friends, and the film follows their attempt to assimilate the deaths they both face, and the religious rituals surrounding those deaths, through the construction of a cemetery for all sorts of animals. A masterpiece of French cinema and one of the best movie abour childhood ever made… Everytime I watch it, the same emotions. 10/10
“The Mummy” (Alex Kurtzman, USA 2017) Though safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess, whose destiny was unjustly taken from her, is awakened in our current day bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension;… and that defy the intelligence of the spectator… 3/10
“Tower of Evil“ (Jim O'Connolly, UK/USA 1972) A group of experienced archeologists are searching for an old and mystic Phoenician treasure when they are surprised by a series of mysterious murders.. surprising good small horrof movie very "atmospheric". 7/10
“Les Charlots contre Dracula“ (Jean-Pierre Desagnat, France 1980) As a child, Count Dracula's son wants to drink the potion that will allow him to get his vampire powers. But his mother forbids him, fearing that he will become like his dead father. If you suppose it’s a bad one, your’re right. For fans of the golden era of french comedy it’s a must to see… 2/10 or 8/10…
“Gojuman-nin no isan“ (“The Legacy of the 500 000“) (Toshirô Mifune, Japan 1963) During the Second World War, Takeichi Matsuo had participated in hiding a huge cache of gold in the Phillippine mountains. Years after the war, he is kidnapped by Mitsura and Keigo Gunji, brothers who want Matsuo to lead them to the still-buried gold. Matsuo, who is tormented by the memories of the half-million Japanese who died in the Phillippines during the war, wants to make off with the gold and return it to the Japanese people. But of course the Gunji brothers have other ideas. Adapted from true events this film is the sole film directed by great actor Toshirô Mifune… Very Good. 8,5/10
“Uptight“ (Jules Dassin, usA 1968) Black revolutionaries are betrayed by one of their own. Based on the 1935 classic, "The Informer." The movie begins with origina filming of the burial of Martin Luther King, then a great screenplay and fine acting… We are far from Blaxploitation here, a true gem and greatly underrated movie… A must see. 9/10
“Ukradená vzducholod“ (Karel Zeman, Italy | Czechoslovakia, 1967) Five young boys take off in a lighter-than-air machine from the Centenary Exposition in Prague. Loosely adapted from Jules Vernes universe adelightfull fantasy tale in the unique way of Zeamn… great 8/10
“Les Charlots en délire“ (Alain Basnier, France 1979) Gérard, CEO of the factory "La voix du peuple", decides to close his factory by dismissing all his staff, starting with Jean Barbier, the chief of staff, and Phil Dechambre. Yeah, another masterpeace of French comedy… 4/10
“High Noon“ (Fred Zinnemann, USA 1952) The more I watch this one the more I like it… 10/10
“Germania anno zero“ (Roberto Rossellini, Italy | France | Germany, 1948) Edmund, a young boy who lives in war-devastated Germany after the Second World War has to do all kinds of work and tricks to help his family in getting food and barely survive. One day he meets a man who used to be one of his teachers in school and hopes to get support from him, but the ideas of this man do not lead Edmund in a clearer or safer way of living… Filmed in the ruins of Berlin an amazing movie that stuned all the spectator at our cinéclub.10/10 Some other movies...
“Les Charlots font l’Espagne“ (Jean Girault, France/Spain 1972) Four friends from Paris are living misadventures of all sorts in Spain when their group of travelers is forced to split due to a travel scam. The glorious time of summer holydays in the 70’s… No clichés at all of course… 3/10
“Les fous du stade“ (Stadium Nuts) (Claude Zidi, France 1972) Les Charlots, a French rock group, continue their adventures, in the manner of the Beatles in Hard Day's Night. This is their second adventure. The foursome are on holiday, camping outside a village. The Olympic flame is going to pass through the village. A grocer, charged to prepare a celebration, calls upon the four to help. One of the four falls for the grocer's daughter. However, she runs away after the sportsman carrying the flame. The foursome set of to find her and win her back. This one is a bit less worse than usual stuff of Les Charlots. 6/10
“Pollux et le chat bleu“ (aka “Dougal and the Blue Cat“) (Serge Danot, Eric Thompson, France 1970) Life at the Magic Roundabout is disrupted when a blue cat called Buxton finds his way into town. Everyone loves Buxton except for Dougal, who discovers the cat's mad plan to become the king of blue army and destroy all who are not blue. Manysouvenirs in this featulre longmovie adapted from a TV serie of my early childhood… Great ! 7,5/10
“Bad Timing“ (Nicolas Roeg, UK 1980) A psychiatrist, living in Vienna, enters a torrid relationship with a married woman. When she ends up in the hospital from an overdose, an inspector becomes set on discovering the demise of their affair. The cinema of Roeg is a difficult one this movie is no exeption, a very disturbed love story Art Garfunkel (who is also a good actor) and Theresa Russell are good. 8/10
“Les Borsalini“ (Michel Nerval, France 1980) French gang of racketeers are in danger whan an American gang decides to take their place in the business in town… A true Bomb, with a all star of French comedy of the golden age ; Jean Lefebvre, Darry Cowl and Robert Castel at their best… 2/10 (or 10 for fans of bad stuff !!)
“The Defiant Ones“ (Stanley Kremer, USA 1958) When the truck that is transporting convicts has an accident on the road, the inmates John "Joker" Jackson and Noah Cullen that are chained to each other escape. They hate each other but they need to help each other to succeed in their intent of going north to jump in a train and reach freedom. Meanwhile the humane Sheriff Max Muller organizes a posse to track them down in a civilized manner and respecting justice. Joker and Cullen reach a small farm where a lonely woman helps them to get rid of their chains. She offers to drive her car with Joker and her son Billy while Cullen would escape through the swamp to the railroad. But when Joker learns that she sent Cullen to a trap, he leaves her and is shot in the shoulder by Billy. Joker seeks out Cullen to save him and when they meet each other, their former hatred has changed to friendship and respect. Of course a delicate movie at its time but even now, a great moment of cinema. 8,5/10
“Les sorcières de Salem“ (Raymond Rouleau, France | East Germany, 1957) Salem, 1692. Industrious farmer, John Proctor, has twice made love to 17-year-old Abigail, a youth he and his wife have taken in. (His wife Elisabeth has rebuffed him for seven months; she is puritanical and cold.) When she finds John and Abigail embracing, she sends the lass from her home and John, feeling damned, agrees. Abigail vows revenge. Her chance comes when she accuses Elisabeth of witchcraft and manipulates younger girls to support her claims of seeing spirits. The town's minister and politicians want a cause: ridding the town of witchcraft is the ideal repression. John too, is accused; Abigail offers him a way to avoid hanging. Elisabeth has her own confession. Adapted by Jean-Paul Sartre a famous communist philosopher from Arthur Miller’ play and filmed in part in Postdam in east Germany and acted by the famous couple of French comrads Simone Signoret and Yves Montand, a great movie about obscurantism and the anti-communist politics of the USA. 8,5/10
“She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (John Ford USA 1949) Captain Nathan Brittles, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled. Rewatched with pleasure this classic of western… 8,5/10
"Le voyou" (Claude Lelouch, France 1970) Story about an incurable thief, his success and his failures. I don’t like Lelouch movies most of the time bu this one is not so bad at all. 7/10
“Flashing Guns” (Lambert Hillyer, USA, 1947) Rancher Amos Shelby has one day left to pay off a loan on his ranch, and sends son Freddie to tell banker Ainsworth that it will be paid on time. Freddie is forced to reveal to gambler Ripley , to whom he is in debt, that his sister Ann is bringing the money from Silana. Ripley's henchmen waylay the girl and she is rescued by Johnny Mack. Ainsworth has Longden forge old man Shelby's signature to predated papers. Johnny gets Shelby's money back from Ripley and kills the gambler gambler when he attempts to take it away from Freddie. Ainsworth informs Amos he is too late to pay his loan and shows him the forged papers. Amos kills one of Longden's henchmen when the gang tries to take over the ranch. Judge Pool sets him free of the murder charge but gives him three days to clear the ranch. Johnny discovers that Ainsworth is after ore he knows is on the ranch property. Henchman Sagebrush is captured by a ruse, and reveals Ainsworth's plot to Johnny. Freddie is saved from a posse after he robs the bank of a poster revealing Longdon to be a forger. Ainsworth and the gang is captured by Johnny, and Amos recovers his ranch. A routine western with tandem Johnny Mack Brown and Raymond Hatton for Monogram… Mack Brown made more than 60 westerns with Monogram ! 6/10
“Code of the Saddle” (Thomas Carr, USA 1947) Johnny Macklin and Winks, en route to the Benthan ranch to investigate a range war, stay overnight at the ranch of Buck Stace on an invitation from Buck's son Bill. Johnny learns that most of the cattle have been stolen and Buck claims that Sheriff Wallace has proof that Benthan is responsible. Buck is killed that night. Johnny captures gunman Randall, who signs a confession that he was hired by Benthan, but he is actually employed by the Sheriff who is instigating the range war to further his own plans for the two ranches. The sheriff sets Randall free to stage another raid with Deputy Rubio. Johnny, Winks and Bill meet Bess Benthan, and find her dad and his cowhands murdered at their ranch camp. Rubio arrests Johnny, Winks and Bill for the killings, and orders Bess off of her Dad's ranch, which the outlaws take over. Another good small B for Johnny Mack Brown at the Monogram. 6,5/10
“The Law Comes to Gunsigh” (Lambert Hillyer, US 1947) Mayor Jim Blaine sends for Pecos, a notorious two-gun killer, to run Brad Foster and his henchmen out of Gunsight, after Brad lowers the "cut" he gives the mayor from his gambling place. On the way to Gunsight, Pecos encounters Johnny Macklin and is accidentally killed in a fight after he tries to steal Johnny's horse, Rebel. On the road Johnny picks up 12-year-old Bud Hartley, brother of rancher Judy Hartley. When Johnny arrives in town, the mayor mistakes him for Pecos and makes him the sheriff after Brad's men unsuccessfully try to kill him and Reno, an old-time prospector and friend of the Hartleys. Judy refuses to speak to Johnny because he is working for the mayor, whom she claims is as crooked as Foster. The latter, Drago and other henchmen attempt to kill Johnny for closing the gambling casino, but their plan backfires and several of them are jailed. Drago is killed by Johnny in a gun fight and Foster is arrested. Johnny also orders the mayor out of town… Quite good small B western. 6,5/10
“Land of the Lawless” (Lambert Hillyer, US 1947) Rambling cowhand Johnny Mack learns that his friend Henry Blake has been killed, and he agrees to help law-abiding citizens clean up Medicine Flats. This is after he has thwarted an attempt by Yuma and two henchmen to hold up prospector Bodie and jump his unrecorded mining claim. Kansas City Kate, runs the notorious Golden Spur Saloon, and heads the outlaws along with Cameo, a gambler paying to much interest to saloon singer Donna Webster. Donna's warning saves Johnny from being shot by Yuma, after the latter is beaten up by Johnny for molesting an old townsman character. Plans by the outlaws to ship a hoard of money stolen from the miners and settlers is overheard by Bodie from a hideaway in the basement beneath the saloon. Johnny and the vigilantes intercept the stagecoach and the money bag, and obstruct numerous other schemes by the gang. Bodie is shot by Yuma after Cameo discovers his hiding place and Johnny kills Yuma in retaliation. He nips Kate's plans to protect the Golden Spur by hiring the Cherokee Kid and his desperadoes. Donna reveals that she is the daughter of Henry Blake, after Kate and Cameo confess to his slaying. His job done, Johnny again heads for the open road ahead. A good small B for Mack Brown and Hatton… 6,5/10
“Trailing Danger” (Lambert Hillyer, US 1947) Convicted killer Jim Holden is rescued from the sheriff by his gang, led by Mason and Riley. He is out to get the Hathaway Stage superintendent George Bannister, who was responsible for his conviction and learns the Bannister, his niece (Kay) and Hal Hathaway, son of the stage line owner, are on a cross-country stage. Johnny, a rancher, and Waco, local stage representative head for the stage to warn the passengers, including entertainer Paradise Flo and coffin salesman Pennypacker. Hal takes the stage into Holdin. Johnny and Waco rescue Hal and Bannister before the gang succeeds in hanging the pair. By a ruse, Johnny, Waco and Hal split up and capture the entire gang. A so-so entry for Mack Brown and Hatton… 5,5/10
“The Gentleman from Texas” (Lambert Hillyer, US 1946) Wells Fargo sends Johnny Macklin (Johnny Mack Brown) to Rimrock to investigate stage hold-ups and general lawlessness which, according to local agent Tom Jamison (Steve Clark) is caused by saloon owner Steve Corbin (Tristram Coffin) and his henchmen Duke Sprague (Marshall Reed) and Ace Jenkins (Terry Frost). When Steve kills a man he had cheated in a poker game, the Rimrock Chronicle, owned by Idaho Jim Foster (Raymond Hatton) and edited by his daughter, Diane (Reno Browne), starts a vigilante movement to clean up the town. Jamison, also the mayor, swears Johnny in as the town marshal. Johnny lets henchman Slats Harper (Lynton Brent) overhear information about a fictitious gold shipment, and traps some of Steve's men when they attempt a hold-up. Steve packs the jury and his men are set free. Saloon singer Kitty Malone (Claudia Drake), who is in love with Steve, becomes jealous of Flo Vickerk (Christine McIntyre), and warns Johnny that three gunmen have been imported to kill him. Flo tells Steve that Kitty is an informant, and Steve plans a double murder of Kitty and Johnny; one of the best of the westerns made By Mack Brown at the Monogram. With a good cast of regular actors of the B’s… 7/10
“Ludwig” (Luchino Visconti, Italy/ France/West Germany | Monaco, 1973) Historical evocation of Ludwig, king of Bavaria, from his crowning in 1864 until his death in 1886, as a romantic hero. Fan of Richard Wagner, betrayed by him, in love with his cousin Elisabeth of Austria, abandonned by her, tormented by his homosexuality, he will little by little slip towards madness. Historical masterpiece of Visconti… Kolossal movie ! 8,5/10
“The Man Who Would be King” (John Huston, UK/USA 1975) This adaptation of the famous short story by Rudyard Kipling tells the story of Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnahan, two ex-soldiers in India when it was under British rule. They decide that the country is too small for them, so they head off to Kafiristan in order to become Kings in their own right. Kipling is seen as a character that was there at the beginning, and at the end of this glorious tale. Not the most known movie from Huston but one of the most original. Quite good. 8/10
“Charlie Chan in Paris” (Lewis Seiler, USA 1935) Charlie's visit to Paris, ostensibly a vacation, is really a mission to investigate a bond-forgery racket. But his agent, apache dancer Nardi is killed before she can tell him much. The case, complicated by a false murder accusation for banker's daughter Yvette, climaxes with a strange journey through the Paris sewers. A great episode of the serie. 8/10
“Arizona Bound” (Spencer Gordon Bennet, USA 1941) The Rough Riders are called in to help save Master's stage line. Taggart has his gang robbing the stages and shooting the drivers. When Buck drives the next stage, Taggart's men rob it and then make it look like Roberts is part of the gang. A good episode of the Rough riders serie with veterans western stars Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton… 6,5/10
“The Gunman fron Bodie” (Spencer Gordon Bennet, USA 1941) The Rough Riders are after a gang of rustlers. Marshal Roberts is posing as a wanted outlaw, McCall is the Marshal supposedly after him, and Sandy is on hand as a cook. Roberts hopes his joining the gang will help bring them in. another good movie of the Rough Riders… 7/10
“Forbidden Trails” (Robert N. Bradbury, USA 1941) Trapped in a burning cabin by ex-cons Fulton and Howard, Roberts has his horse Silver drag him to safety. He then joins McCall and Hopkins as they go after Fulton, Howard, and their boss Cramer. The Rough Riders are back in this little B western… 6/10
“The Sherif of Medicine Bow” (Lambert Hillyer, USA 1948) Banty Prentiss returns to Medicine Bow after his parole on the recommendation of his friend Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown, who had arrested him for bank thefts. Outlaws, led by Buckeye, fail in an attempt to ambush Johnny and Banty. Nan Prentiss, Banty's daughter, dislikes Johnny for having imprisoned her father. She eludes Buckeye's men and arrives in town in time to pay taxes on her ranch, which banker Harry Stuart wants. When Banty and handyman Alibi Terhune find quartz on the ranch, assayer Jim Carson claims it is fool's gold. However, one of Johnny's deputies gets another report from the town of Baxter Forks, which proves the gold is real. Stuart has Buckeye hold up the bank, while Banty is there, so the latter can be blamed but Nan rescues her dad from jail. Johnny foils an attempt to kill Banty, and henchman Pardo kills Buckeye as he is about the reveal the name of the gang leader. … Will the rough Rider manage to defeat the baddies ?? of course they will… 6/10
“The Fighting Ranger” (Lambert Hillyer, USA 1948) Texas Ranger Johnny Brown shoots fugitive Sinclair after a long chase, and before the latter dies he accuses his cousin Hack of framing him for a murder, so he can inherit the ranch of his Uncle Henderson. Johnny places Sinclair's ten-year-old son Dave at Ranger headquarters for safety, while he gets a job at the ranch with the help of his friend Banty. Johnny catches henchman Gill cutting fences in preparation for rustling the cattle, and Henderson's locks him up, but Gill escapes that night with the aid of Hack. Hack, the ranch foreman, has his henchmen ambush himself and his uncle while carrying the money for new cattle purchases. Johnny regains the money after killing Gill. Suspicious of his nephew, Henderson rides the range and is shot by Hack's henchmen. Before he dies, he makes anew will naming Dave as heir and Johnny as his guardian. Johnny beats up Hack for assaulting Banty when the latter catches Hack snooping for the new will. Hack attempts to make Sinclair's widow, Julia, suspicious of Johnny and she goes to see if her son Dave is at the Ranger headquarters. Hack follows, intending to do away with the two of them, but Johnny and Banty foil his plans in a blazing gun battle. Aother routine for Mack Brown and Hatton in this small B western. 6,5/10
“Frontier Agent” (Lambert Hillyer, USA 1948) This one begins after the Civil War when the Overland Telegraph Company is persuaded by rancher Jim Kerrigan to allow his own men to extend the line to Baxter Springs, guaranteeing to pay for the construction himself if it isn't finished at the end of two months. Land promoter Burton Wheelock will lose money if the line is completed and gets ex-rustler Larry Foster, fiancée of Sandra Kerrigan, to sabotage the work. Telegraph company trouble-shooter Johnny Mack, investigating the sabotage, saves Kerrigan's men Joe Farr and Cappy from masked outlaws. Henchman Mugsy is captured by Johnny, while Larry, Slim and the other henchmen escape after shooting telegraph patrolman Nevada. Larry kills Mugsy before he can identify the gang leader. Henchman Straker is captured by Johnny and jailed. Slim steals Johnny's identification card from his saddle bag, and it is found near the jail when Wheelock's men help Straker break jail and kill a deputy sheriff. Because of the card, the Marshal arrests Johnny, but Joe comes to his rescue. An attempt to fire the Kerrigan ranch is foiled, and Larry's hat is found, which proves to Sandra her fiancée's crookness. Larry is trailed to Wheelock's office, and both are killed in a shootout with Johnny, Cappy and Joe.Another great routine western of Monogram… 6,5/10
“Charlie Chan in London” (Eugene Forde, USA 1934) After receiving congratulations from the Home Secretary for solving his most recent case, Charlie is sought out by Pamela Gray, a beautiful but desperate young socialite whose brother Paul awaits execution for the murder of a weapons inventor. She is so convinced of his innocence that she becomes distraught when she overhears Neil Howard, her brother's lawyer and her fiancee, confide to the detective his belief in his client's guilt. Angered at this disclosure, she returns his ring and breaks off the engagement. Although the execution will take place in 65 hours, Charlie pledges to expose the murderer. All potential suspects are reassembled in the country mansion of family friend Geoffrey Richmond, where the murder took place, as Charlie tries to expose the real murderer before time runs out.The firstperiod of Charie Chan was certainy the best, this early episode is e perfect example. 8/10
“Charlie Chan in Shanghai” (James Tinling, uSA 1935) On his return to China, Charlie is honored at a Shanghai banquet for his many accomplishments. Prior to his speech Sir Stanley Woodland, a prominent official in the colony, confides to Charlie that he has discovered some sinister activities and wants to share the information with the detective as soon as they are alone. When Sir Stanley is silenced by a booby-trapped box, Charlie seeks to discover the undivulged secret as well as the killer. Along with Col. Watkins, the police commissioner, and G-Man James Andrews, Charlie works to expose an international opium-smuggling ring operating out of Shanghai. With the help of son Lee, he survives a kidnapping and murder attempt while exposing the identity of the head of the drug ring. Another great entry for Charlie Chan with Warner Oland in the main role, the best Chan ever… 8/10
“Charlie Chan on Broadway” (Eugene Forde, USA 1937) Billie Bronson secretes a package in the trunk of Charlie Chan aboard a New York-bound transatlantic liner. Chan and his number one son, Lee are met at the pier by Inspector Nelson and two rival reporters, Joan Wendall and Speed Patton. Bille, having left the country hurriedly a year ago when sought as a material witness in a political scandal, has returned to "blow the lid off the town." She follows the Chans to their hotel and attempts to regain her package from the trunk, only to be interrupted by Lee. She then goes to the "Hottentot Club", where "candid-camera night" is in full progress, followed by Lee. Already present are Joan and Speed. Billie is mysteriously murdered and Charlie is summoned from a police banquet in his honor. Present in the room with the body are club manager Johnny Burke; club dancer and Burke's girl-friend Marie Collins and the two reporters. While seeking a motive for the murder, a second killing is discovered in Charlie's hotel room, the package is missing... Another great episonde ! 8/10
“Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” (Eugene Forde, USA 1937) Chan is on a gambling vacation in Monaco. He is called upon to solve two murders. One is a casino messenger on his way to Paris with a million dollars in bonds. The other is a two-bit Chicago gangster recently tending bar in a Monte Carlo hotel. Everyone is suspect and a third of the dialogue is in French. A good adventure for Chan with nice plot withlot of turns and twists and a bit more humour here… 7,5/10
“Santa Claus” (René Cardona, Mexico 1959) Santa Claus, high above the North Pole in his cloud-borne castle equipped with more surveillance devices than the Impossible Mission Force, prepares to deliver presents on Christmas night. Santa is especially interested in helping Lupita, the daughter of a poor family who wants nothing more than a doll; and a young boy whose parents are so wealthy they never spend any time with him (Santa fixes this by feeding them Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters). However, the Devil will have none of this and sends his minion, Pitch, to foil Santa's plans. Pitch in turn recruits three Naughty Boys to help him set traps for Santa. A bit ridiculous movie by a king of Mexican B’s… 3,5/10
“The El Paso Kid” (Thomas Carr, USA 1946) In one of the most-used plots of the B-western genre, sometimes officially and sometimes just "borrowed" (see Movie Connections), Sunset Carson (Sunset Carson) is a member of an outlaw gang led by Gil Santos Robert Filmer), who have been holding up gold shipments dispatched from Laramie City. Sunset rebels when the gang leaves old Jeff Winters (Hank Patterson) to die alone after he has been wounded in a hold-up gun fight. Sunset and Jeff break with the gang and begin operating on their own, or plan to. On their first attempt, they rout Santos and his gang, and Sally Stoner (Marie Harom'), daughter of Laramie City Sheriff Frank Stoner (Edmund Cobb), assumes they are honest citizens who just saved the gold shipment. She takes Jeff to a doctor and Sunset is made a deputy sheriff. Shortly afterwards, Santos and his gang pull a robbery and implicate the innocent Sunset, and the aroused townspeople, convinced they have been double-crossed, are ready to shoot Sunset on sight.Despite a classic plot a very good small B with forgotten B western star Sunset Carson… 7,5/10
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (Peter Jackson, USA 2003) As in every movie of the serie, they run, they run, they run, they fight, they run, they run,…. You just close your eyes and just listen to it… Emptyness… 4/10
“Charlie Chan’s Secret” (Gordon Wiles, USA 1936) An ocean liner sinks off Honolulu and Allen Colby, heir to millions, is presumed dead...but local sleuth Charlie Chan is not so sure, and flies to San Francisco to investigate further. Somehow, the missing Colby is there ahead of him...but is knifed in the back before seeing anyone. Further events revolve around spiritualist Mrs. Lowell, her family of suspicious characters, and the spooky, untenanted Colby mansion, where the body turns up during a seance! A more classic episode but still a great 7,5/10
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (Joss Whedon, USA 2015) When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan. I didn’t understand everything, but I think it’s not very important… 3/10
“Danger Woman” (Lewis D. Collins, USA 1946) An atomic scientist who was one of the brains behind the A-bomb is now working in private life, trying to adapt atomic power for business purposes. One day his long-estranged wife--who had walked out on him years before and taken up with a string of boyfriends--shows up claiming to want a reconciliation, but soon the scientist finds himself in the center of what appears to be a plot to steal his secrets. After war atomic energy will be the center of many movies this is the cas here with this strange mix of film noir, spy movie and a touch of Sci-Fi. 6,5/10
“Strange Justice” (Victor Schertzinger, USA 1932) Socialite banker Henry Judson maintains his extravagant lifestyle by embezzling from his bank, but is caught by sleazy assistant manager Waters and is blackmailed by him into continuing. Close to being found out, the two devise a scheme which sends Wally, the ex-con boyfriend of pretty hat check girl Rose Abbott, to death row… Quite interesting small crime movie 6/10
“Operation Haylift” (William Berke, USA 1950) Eighteen snowstorms in 27 days hit the Rocky Mountain and upper Great Plains states in December 1948-January 1949. This epic tells the tale of how the US Air Force airdropped food and supplies to stranded travelers, residents and livestock. Adapted from true event and filmed in a quite documentary style a small movie to discover. 6,(:&à
“Jean de Florette” (Claude Berry, Switzerland | France | Italy, 1986) In a Provence village an old man and his only remaining relative cast their covetous eyes on an adjoining vacant property. They need its spring water for growing their flowers, so are dismayed to hear the man who has inherited it is moving in. They block up the spring and watch as their new neighbour tries to keep his crops watered from wells far afield through the hot summer. Though they see his desperate efforts are breaking his health and his wife and daughter's hearts they think only of getting the water. Nice adaptation of the famou novel of Marcel Pagnol the actors are good…. 8/10
“Manon des Sources“ (Claude Berry, Switzerland | France | Italy, 1986) In this, the sequel to Jean de Florette, Manon has grown into a beautiful young shepherdess living in the idyllic Provencal countryside. She determines to take revenge upon the men responsible for the death of her father in the first film…. The second opus is even better than the first one, a nice adaptation of the great Pagnol’s novel. 8,5/10
“Deux heures moins le quart avant Jesus Christ“ (Jean Yanne, France 1982) Rahatlocum is a North African Roman colony where Julius Caesar came to spend an expensive holiday. The revolt rumbles among the small people who find a leader in the person of Ben-Hur Marcel. Yeah it’s bad but this one is one of my guilty peasures, I love it ! 8/10
“The War Wagon” (Burt Kennedy, USA 1967) Taw Jackson returns from prison having survived being shot, to the ranch and gold that Frank Pierce stole from him. Jackson makes a deal with Lomax, the man who shot him 5 years ago to join forces against Pierce and steal a large gold shipment. The shipments are transported in the War Wagon, an armored stage coach that is heavily guarded. The two of them become the key players in the caper to separate Pierce from Jackson's gold. A quite good western by aspecialist of the genre. 7,5/10
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (Stephen Norrington, USA UK Germany, 2003) Renowned adventurer Allan Quatermain leads a team of extraordinary figures with legendary powers to battle the technological terror of a madman known as "The Fantom". This "League" comprises seafarer and inventor Captain Nemo, vampire Mina Harker, an invisible man named Rodney Skinner, American Secret Service Agent Tom Sawyer, the ageless and invincible Dorian Gray, and the dangerous split personality of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So, so film a bit too much… 5/10
“Branded Men” (Phil Rosen, USA 1931) When Rod, Ramrod, and Half-A-Rod ride into Steep Gulch, they immediately become Sheriffs. The previous Sheriffs have been killed by Mace and his gang who don't wait long before they make an attempt on the new trio. A cool early talky western for Ken Maynard after hisbrillant carrier in silent western… 6,5/10
“Texas Trouble Shooter” (S. Roy Luby, USA 1932) Denby wants the Wilson ranch for the oil he knows is there. After killing Wilson his men waylay Bret Travis who has become a half owner along with Judy Wilson. After Alibi finds the wounded Travis, he overhears Denby introduce another man as Bret Travis. The Range Busters then go into action under assumed names but are in trouble when their true identities become known. A ood entry in the Range Busters serie with great trio Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King and Max Terhune
“Career Girl” (Wallace Fox, USA 1944) Joan Terry, from a Mid-Western smalltown, comes to New York to get a job on the stage. But until she finds an opportunity, she stays at a boarding house where other talent is also waiting. To get a better chance, the people there decide to build a talent pool, where the person with the most chances for a job gets the full support, trying to get jobs for the others there too - and Joan is chosen to do that. But this is not so easy when her fiance is trying to keep her away from the stage.. For a PRC movie it’s a good one evecn if the story is quite classic. Frances Langford is quite vivacious and convincing… 6/10
“Submarine Base” (Albert H. Kelley, USA 1943) Ship engineer Jim Taggert is rescued from a torpedoed tramp steamer by Joe Morgan, an American gangster that found New York too hot for him, and has become a fisherman operating from an out-of-the-way island off of the coast of South America. Morgan makes his headquarters at the Halfway House run by the parents of Maria Styx as a bar and dance resort catering to the planters and traders of the island. Taggert finds himself practically a prisoner along with a group of American girls acting as entertainers at the resort. Taggert shadows Morgan in his activities in a remote cove and finds that Morgan is supplying German U-boat commanders with torpedoes, but does not know that Morgan has rigged the torpedoes with clock devices that explode when at sea and sinks the U-boats. This PrC’s war effort movie is so mprobable that it becomes fascinating ! 6/10
“City Streets” (Albert S. Rogell, USA 1938) A good man adopts a little girl in a wheelchair after her mother dies. But for maying the operation that may makes her walk again he has to sell his little shop and work hard as a seller. But soon the little is taken away from him and put in an orphanage… A fel ggo and tearjerkers by B service of the Columbia. The whole is convincing and famous Edith Fellows as the teenage girl is quite good. Leo Carrillo as the good man is most often a second lead but is quite convincing. 7/10
“Country Gentlemen” (Ralph Staub, UsA 1936) McAllister (Ole Olsen) and Hamilton (Chic Johnson) are a couple of con-men who travel about the country selling worthless stock to small town citizens. They come to Chesterville where they see a potential sucker list in the local war-veteran's home. They sell shares to the vets in a local worthless oil-field. McAllister falls in love with the widowed-owner of their hotel, Louise Heath (Lila Lee)who persuades him to give up his shady dealings. But before he can convince his partner the townspeople catch on to their scheme and decide jail is the place for them. Olsen and Johnson will be famous with their masterpiece of humour Hellzapoppin’s some years later; here the comedy is liht and quite funny even if not very original. 6,5/10
“Death in the Air” (Elmer Clifton, USA 1936) Aircraft are being shot down by a large black plane with a big "X" painted on the wing. The chief suspects are invited for the weekend to an old dark mansion. A good little thriller even if many plot holes are quite obvious. But it’s not important ! 6/10
“Black Dragons” (William Nigh, USA 1942) Prior to the beginning of World War II, the Nazis, at the request of Japan's Black Dragon Society, sends Doctor Melcher to Japan to transform six Japanese into identical likenesses of six prominent Americans. The Americans are done away with and Melcher, on the orders of High Dragon Yakhamea, is imprisoned so his secret will die with him. In his cell, Melcher switches places with the soon-to-be-released Colomb and, when he is freed, follows the six Japanese to America, where they have assumed the positions of the industrialists and are causing sabotage in the Monogram defense plants that didn't exist yet as the war hadn't started. One by one Melcher kills the impostors, despite the fact they are performing for-free work for his employer Adolph, and dumps their bodies on the steps of the Japanese Embassy, which still existed as the war hadn't started. FBI Chief Colton and agent Dick Martin finally piece together what the five murdered men had in common---aha, a visit to Japan---and stake out the sixth man as bait for Melcher. Bela Lugosi was ill and drug addict at that time of his carrier but still good even in this improbable spy movie… 6/10
“Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery” (James P. Hogan, USA 1941) The famous crime novel writer and his father the inspector Queen are on the case of jewlery smuggled into the United States from China. A classic small crime movie in the famous Columbia serie using the famous Ellery Queen character. 6/10
“Because of Eve” (Howard Bretherton, USA 1948) Sally and Bob have been married a year. She might be pregnant, so Dr. West picks up a test sample and tells them to come by in a week for the result. They recall problems they had just before marriage when they found out about each other's past (V.D. and pregnancy). Dr. West had helped them with good counsel and two films ("The Story of V.D." and "The Story of Reproduction"). A week later at his office he has good news and shows them another film, "The Story of Life." Dr. West wants them to know about modern medical science and to teach their kids the facts of life. The movie ends with a commercial for a new five-book-in-one, "The Mid-Century Marriage Guide." A verycrude “educational movie “ about VD uniting three different documentaries. When it played the Road Show circuits, the movie contained an intermission break. During this intermission there would be a live appearance by "Mr. Alexander Leeds", a "hygiene expert" (played by various actors) who would pitch a book on sexual reproduction. A curiosity… 5/10
“Woman They Almost Lynched” (Allan Dwan, USA 1953) Laying on the Missouri-Arkansas border, the neutral Border City, its female mayor and city council, take no side in the ongoing Civil War and they're prepared to hang any troublemaker, Yankee or Confederate, who stirs the townsfolk up. Adapted from true events, a nice and unusual western by great Allan Dwan. The western clearly announces Johnny Guitar in this towne led by women Audrey Totter and Joan Leslie are good. 7,5/10
“The Professionals” (Richard Brokks, USA 1966) A rich Texan, J.W. Grant, selects three men and invites them to his private train to offer them a contract: Rescue his wife who has been kidnapped by a Mexican revolutionary. The leader of the men, Rico, decides they would be a better team if Grant would hire one more man, an explosives expert. Grant quickly agrees and soon the four are off to complete the contract. However, while on the trail, they discover some interesting facts, like has Mrs. Grant 'really' been kidnapped? Very good adventure movie with huge casting of tough guys ! 8/10
"Drum Taps" (J.P. McGowan, USA 1933) The Skinner Land and Cattle Company is operating with the sole purpose of beating the local ranchers out of their homestead claims, and go after the ranch of Bill Carey, a friend and neighbor of Ken Cartwright. Carey's granddaughter, rides for help and halts the raid. Brdaley Skinner schemes to put Ken out of the raid by framing him on a false-branding charge. Ken escapes and with the aid of his brother Earl, a scoutmaster who has brought his troop to the area for a summer vacation, and his Boy Scouts, Skinner and his henchmen are soon brought to justice. A routine western for Ken Maynard and his horse Tarzan with soe iterresting cas especialy his brother Kermit, Dorothy Dix, Al Bridges, Slim Whitaker and others !! for fans a must see ! 7/10
"Harlem Rides the Range" (Richard C. Kahn, US 1939) Bradley is after Dennison's radium mine and it appears that his henchman Conners has killed him. When Blake arrives at Dennison's, Bradley and Conners arrive at the same time. When Blake leaves he drops a glove. Bradley kills Conners and uses the glove to frame Blake. Learning of Bradley's plan to kill Dennison's daughter, Blake escapes jail and sets out to reach her first. An all black western very typical of the genre indeed with great western star Herb Jeffries…. 6,5/10
"The Trusted Outlaw" (Robert N. Bradbury, USA 1937) Dan Ward, reformed and last member of an outlaw family, meets Molly Clark in a rocky draw near town. Ted Wells, a henchman for Dan's enemy Jim Swain, attempts to shoot Dan but is outdrawn and killed by the latter. Molly disappears and Dan learns that she and Wells had ridden there together. Sheriff Bob Larimer tells Dan that Molly is in love with Bert Gilmore and tried to have him ambushed. Dan takes a risky job with mine owner Pember of getting the $10,000 payroll through to the mine. Swain suspects that Dan is carrying the payroll, but his gang is unable to stop Dan. Betty Pember disregards Dan's warning that the hills are filled with Swain's men and she starts for town. She is kidnapped by Gilmore and Molly and Dan ride to her rescue. Bob Steele directed by his father in this small routine western from the vault… Lois January is good
"Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus" (Edward F. Cline, USA 1938) Trouble-prone Billy Peck and his gang descend on a traveling circus that has just hit town, and before long their antics are causing the circus owner all kinds of problems. Second movie involving Billy Peck and his pals note the presence of George 'Spanky' McFarland as Pee Wee in one of his only apprearance out of the team of Our Gang. Funny !!
"The Feud of the Trail" (Robert F. Hill, USA 1937) A man who's a dead ringer for the leader of an outlaw gang kills the gang leader, then takes his place to try to bring the gang to justice. Just routine for Tom Tyler well helped by Slim Whitaker and Milburn Morante. 6/10
"The Last of the Clintons" (Harry L. Fraser, USA 1935) Trigger Carson arrives to help Elkins' vigilante group round up a gang of rustlers. Posing as an outlaw, he and his sidekick Jed join up with the gang who are led by Luke Todd. When Elkins' daughter Edith reveals his identity, he needs Jed's help to let him and Edith escape. Then he heads back to finish the job. Veteran Harry Caey and pretty Bety Mack are quite good in this small routine B western. 6/10
"Texas Trouble Shooter" (S. Roy Luby, USA 1942) Denby wants the Wilson ranch for the oil he knows is there. After killing Wilson his men waylay Bret Travis who has become a half owner along with Judy Wilson. After Alibi finds the wounded Travis, he overhears Denby introduce another man as Bret Travis. The Range Busters then go into action under assumed names but are in trouble when their true identities become known. Another great adventure of the Rang Busters with Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune ! Cool 7/10
"The Circus" (Charles Chaplin, USA 1928) The Tramp finds himself at a circus where he is promptly chased around by the police who think he is a pickpocket. Running into the Bigtop, he is an accidental sensation with his hilarious efforts to elude the police. The circus owner immediately hires him, but discovers that the Tramp cannot be funny on purpose, so he takes advantage of the situation by making the Tramp a janitor who just happens to always be in the Bigtop at showtime. Unaware of this exploitation, the Tramp falls for the owner's lovely acrobatic stepdaughter, who is abused by her father. His chances seem good, until a dashing rival comes in and Charlie feels he has to compete with him. Was fu to watch this classic again !! 8/10
"City Lights" (Charles Chaplin, USA 1931) A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind girl. Her family is in financial trouble. The tramp's on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor. Great classic alwys much pleasure to watch it !! 8,5/10
"While the Patient Slept" (Ray Enright, USA 1935) Grandfather is sick and the family and his lawyer gather around waiting for him to die. When he receives a telegram from his disinherited son, Charles, he passes out and a nurse, Sarah, comes to the house to attend to him. His other two sons, Ross and Adolphe, quarrel over an outstanding loan. Later that night, Adolphe is murdered and the police are called. Everyone is lying and has their reasons. A mysterious man is seen on the property before Grondel, the Butler, is killed. When the reporters arrive, they write wild stories as O'Leary looks for the killer with little help from Det. Jackson. Sarah has nothing but wisecracks for O'Leary but does offer some clues to the identity of the murderer Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee makes a great tadem in this quite funny crime comedy ! 7/10
"Les dames du bois de Boulogne" (Robert Bresson, France 1945) A society lady engineers a marriage between her lover and a cabaret dancer who is essentially a prostitute. A great movie about vengeance by a master of cinema. I enjoy a lot to watch it again. María Casares, great !! 8,5/10
"Deux jours, une nuit" (Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Belgiu, France, Italy) Liège, Belgium. Sandra is a factory worker who discovers that her workmates have opted for a EUR1,000 bonus in exchange for her dismissal. She has only a weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses in order to keep her job. A terrible movie abou the world of working… 8/10 , "Le Pacha" (Georges Lautner, France/Italy, 1968) Six months before his retirement from the criminal police, inspector Joss finds his colleague Gouvion dead, in a poorly faked suicide attempt. Joss loses his temper, and investigates on his own, which leads him through the bas-fond of Paris.. A classic crime movie but great acted and great casting… huge score too. 8/10
"Mourir d'aimer..." (André Cayatte, France 1971) A love story between a teacher, Daniele, 32 years and one of her students Gerard, 17 during the heated atmosphere of May 68. Daniele is a fiery young woman, very involved politically. ... Adapted fon true events a good engaged movie as usual with Cayatte. 8/10
"Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della repubblica" (Damiano Damiani, Italy 1971) One of the first films about the mafia occurrence, in which the fight is hopeless, because "the polyp's feeler" reaches everything and everybody. A police inspector and a deputy public prosecutor try to prove that the architect in the city is in the mafia. Excellent !! 9/10
"Duel on the Mississippi" (William Castle, USA 1955) In 1820, André Tulane (Lex Barker), hot-tempered scion of a Louisiana plantation family, is debt-bound to Lili Scarlet (Patricia Medina),notorious gambling-ship queen, and the daughter of Jacques Scarlet (Ian Keith (I)'), a former pirate with Jean Lafitte. André helps Lili fight off the river pirates led by her former Fiance Hugo Marat (Warren Stevens), after he has seized control of Lili's gambling-boat. A nice adventure movie full of colors and action Lex Barker is good. 7/10
"Address Unknown" (William Cameron Menzies, USA 1944) US art dealer returns to his native Germany for a visit and is attracted by Nazi propaganda. Despite the movie comes a bit late, a great exploration of the aisong of the Nazism in Germany. 7/10
"Agent trouble" (Jean-Pierre Mocky, France 1987) Amanda Weber (Catherine Deneuve) is a museum employee. Her nephew, Victorien (Tom Novembre), who feels that wild animals should not be kept in zoos, has been murdered, and she seeks to find out why and how. She knows that Victorien was witness to a mysterious government project where fifty tourists were killed by an unknown poison gas, and the bus in which they were travelling was found at the bottom of a lake. Alex (Richard Bohringer), a callous government assassin who is having marital problems with his wife Delphine (Sophie Moyse), has orders to kill anyone who knows about the cover-up of that project, and Amanda soon becomes his target. Quite unuual Mocky movie but still interesting ! 7/10
"Gravity" (Alfonso Cuarón, USA 2013) Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The improbable becomes possible with CGI, but it doesn’t make a good movie… 3,5/10
"Tarzan Finds a Son!" (Richard Thorpe, USA 1939) Tarzan finds a boy from a crashed plane and raises him with Jane in the jungle. A search party comes looking for the plane. Souvenirs, souvenirs… I was a child the first time I watched thi one… Great !! 8/10
"Valkoinen peura", ( Erik Blomberg, Finland, 1952) A newly wed woman goes to the local shaman to get some help with her lovelife, but instead gets turned into a white reindeer vampire. Excellent horror movie in the land of the Sami… On the big screen !! 8/10
"Altered States" (Ken Russel, USA 1908) A psycho-physiologist experiments with drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank and has visions he believes are genetic memories. An interesting exploration of the huaman mind…. 7/10
"Bubba Ho Tep" (Don Coscarelli, USA 2002) Elvis Presley and a black "JFK" stay in a nursing home where nothing happens - until a wayward Egyptian mummy comes and sucks out the old people's souls thru their a-holes. The two decide to fight back. Crazy movie but already cult !! Excellent 7,5/10
"Long Week End" (Colin Eggleston, Australia 1978) When a suburban couple go camping for the weekend at a remote beach, they discover that nature isn't in an accommodating mood. Nature takes revenge in the quite interresting movie !! 7/10
"Wake in Fright" (Ted Kotcheff, Australia 1971) John Grant, a teacher working in the remote Australian town of Tiboonda, is under a financial bond with his Government job. At the end of term before Christmas holidays, he plans to visit his girlfriend in Sydney. In order to catch a flight to Sydney, he takes a train to the nearby mining town called Bundanyabba (or "The Yabba"), and plans to stay there overnight before moving on further to the fun !! Amazing movie. If you have already been in true Autralia, you realize that nothing has changed, it’s true Aussie life ! 10/10
"Le maître d’école" (Claude Berri, France 1981) After having lost his job for having saved a child accused of shop lifting, Frédéric Barbier decides to become a school teacher with some funny results.The great comedy actor Coluche is excellent as a simple school teacher. A gentle comedy with Coluche… School was perhaps liks that… before. But still enjoyable ! 6/10
"Rocky IV" (Sylvester Stallone, USA 1985) Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the ring in a boxing match against a Russian Boxer named Ivan Drago. Drago is too strong for Creed, and unfortunately kills him in his match. Balboa blames himself for Creed's death and is determined to defeat Drago in a boxing match. He gains the help of Creed's former manager, Duke and travels to U.S.S.R. to take on Drago. Typical cold war movie but fun… 6/10
"Bengal Tiger" (Louis King, USA 1936) Cliff Ballenger, the wild-animal trainer for the circus had no fear of "Satan," the fiercest man-eating tiger in captivity, but the creature hated its master and longed to tear the big man to pieces with its rendering claws and fangs. A curious adventure movie quite interesting. 6,5/10
"Rocky III" (Sylvester Stallone, USA 1982) Sylvester Stallone returns to the character which made him famous in this wildly successful sequel. Rocky III starts with the Italian Stallion so famous that his likeness is everywhere, including pinball machines. Fame and complacency soon cause Balboa to lose his title to young thug Clubber Lang ( Mr. T ), who inadvertently causes the death of Rocky's beloved trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), before their first championship bout. After sinking into a depression, Balboa must regain the love and support of his family, as well as the elusive "eye of the tiger," the hungry need to beat the opponent which former foe Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) teaches him during this film's training sequence. In the end, Balboa faces off against Lang for a second time. Rocky against Mr T. great !! 7/10
"Strangler of the Swamp" (Frank Wisbar, USA 1946 A number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the guilty ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared. Very good small horror movie very well filmed despite the lack of means, a great atmospheric movie… 7,5/10
"La croisière" (Pascale Pouzadoux, France 2011) I thought they stopped to make such pathetic comedies with the good resolutions of the new millenium… they didn’t… 1/10