DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944). This is normally the model people use when describing Film Noir; fabulous shadowy camera work, unpleasant subject matter, a "hero" letting the little head to the thinking for the big head (and not nearly as smart as He thinks he is) and a viperous woman setting up the whole chain of events. Two people meet, aspire to a "Perfect Crime", pull it off and watch as the unraveling begins.

One of the best with Fred MacMurray going against type along with Barbara Stanwyk why is very good here, but the wig they had her wear just looks awful and while Barb is very good, think Joan Bennett or Mary Astor could have been more convincing . JB was a knockout at the time and she was great as the "Bad Girl" in SCARLET STREET.

For Me, Edward G Robison is the main reason to see this. He is fantastic and wholly deserving of an Oscar for his performance . ****1/2

Well said. Double Indemnity is the first rate film noir. Turn of the type for MacMurray and for Robinson too, who play it to the T. I didn't know Stanwyk was wearing a wig, but yeah, it doesn't look good.

TEENAGE ZOMBIES (1959). While I do have a fondness for low budget films and can appreciate the effort, find this all but unwatchable. Silly story, bad acting and some unintentionally funny scenes (particularly the scuffle towards the end when it looks like a yoga class) ; a particularly static camera does not help. 1/2

PINOCCHIO (1940)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>


The animation here is first rate and the title character is much more appealing than he is in the book (Little asshole He is there::mad::!), albeit easily led astray. Find the first 20 minute to be the least effective as Jimmy Cricket is strictly there, it seems, for the easy laugh.
Things pick up quickly when Pinocchio visits "Pleasure Island" where a boy can do anything he wants, but the price to pay for all that fun is staggering. Indeed, I find the sequence where Lampwick transforms to be extremely frightening and noticing that his last words are for his Mother. But one wonders just how much heartbreak his delinquency brought to Moms?

The scenes involving Monstro, the Whale, are also pretty intense and one can imagine all the screams during those. There is a Happy ending, but after all the adventures He's been through , it's a welcome one. ****

What prompted you to see Pinocchio?

My daughter loved the Disney films when she was little, starting with THE LITTLE MERMAID, so watched a great many of them ,including the above. Some I like better than others and hadn't seen PINOCCHIO in awhile.

THE LETTER (1940)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>.>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>

This opens with a literal bang as Bette Davis and her pistol blow a guy to Hell and Back several times. The question is, was it self defense or something more. All the fawning over Davis by the other characters- You would think She is the Queen or such- gets old, but stick with it as other info comes to light, making this pretty good. Excellent turns by James Stephenson as her Lawyer (dying in real life just a few months after TL release) and Victor Seun Young-Charlie Chan's Number One Son as well as BONANZA's Hop Sing- as his efficient but extremely conniving clerk. Herbert Marshall (THE FLY) is also good as her adoring naive husband and You feel such pity for him as the story wraps.
Lots of appearances by other genre favorites as Tetsu Komai (ISLAND OF LOST SOULS), Doris Lloyd (NIGHT MONSTER, THE WOLF MAN, THE LODGER), Holmes Herbert (THE INVISIBLE MAN, 1931 Dr Jekyll AND MR HYDE), Freda Inescourt (RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE, THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE), Cecil Kellaway (THE MUMMY'S HAND, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS) and Gale Sondergaard (SPIDER WOMAN, 1941 THE BLACK CAT) whose glare alone will give You chills. ***1/2

MAD LOVE (1935). Peter Lorre is creepy as hell here and quite a deviant tone to it, but so much filler and pointless finale. Have heard how great this is, but find it very overrated, although it's worth seeing. **

Psycho
 

I just looked back at the original "Psycho" for the first time in well over in 10 years, and found it to be more amazing than I remembered! Not only did Anthony Perkins nail that role, but it was also directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most brilliant and amazing movie directors ever! It's no wonder the sequels and the remake were unable to even touch this great timeless classic! A lot of stuff from more recent years or even more recent decades are still unable to touch the old black and white classics from way back when that were directed by Hitchcock! ::cool::

Very true::smile::!

COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (1952). Shirley Booth ,("Hazel" herself from the later TV show) won an Oscar for her role as a slovenly Dingbatted housewife married to a recovering alcoholic, well played by Burt Lancaster (who, truth be told, even with the makeup, he still looks too young for the role). They both have grown stale and complacent with one another until a Student from the local University rents a room. Terry Moore (MIGHTY JOE YOUNG) is quite fetching here and pretty frisky as well...although she mentions a serious boyfriend, she still finds time to make time with a young Richard Jackel...their makeout sessions are pretty intense.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>POSSIBLE SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Although Booth will remind You as an Edith Bunker type, stay with it and some marvelous acting from Her as more of the back story emerges and the importance of "Little Sheba" comes to light. Also, due to misunderstanding, Lancaster falls off the wagon and he is frightening in the scene when he returns home, revealing his true feelings...the resentment and loathing from him will hit You like a fist and your heart will truly go out to Booth. ****

Witchfinder General (1968), directed by Michael Reeves.

Truly a great movie, because of a deep look into the worst of the human condition (also narrow-mindedness). It manages to disturb and induce a general feeling of horror due to its violence.
The final movie of Michael Reeves who sadly died of a drug overdose shortly after the film was released. I must say, the "Witchfinder General" is well-made though it's low-budget. Vincent Price as a horror maestro of course doesn't disappoint. As a titular hero he delivers us a vicious and brilliant performance. ::love:: Certainly worth seeing!

I love pretty much anything Vincent Price does!

I'll second that.


THE MAD GHOUL (1943). While the general plot is extremely mean spirited, this Universal flick (which oddly enough, did not beget sequels) is a lot of fun with George Zucco playing a scientist involved in some rather, shall We say, unorthodox experiments. David Bruce, his Assistant, is engaged to lovely Evelyn Ankers, but Zucco deduces that She has fallen out of love with David and, for whatever reason, that She's in love with Him instead::confused::!
A screwy plot, to be sure, but George gives it his all, although he gets strong completion from Robert Armstrong (King Kong, SON OF KONG, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME) who is quite funny here. ***

I'm a huge fan of Vincent Price, too. ::wink::

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957). The one that started it all and has still held up remarkably well with Peter Cushing superb as the overly dedicated Mad Doctor who is also a First Rate Shitheel! Very good performance by Chris Lee as the Creature, especially His reveal (imagine the screams at that time::cool::::big grin::!) and his spastic movements ::EEK!::in his reveal to Paul towards the end. Hazel Court doesn't have a lot to do, but just gorgeous and with Valerie Gaunt thrown in as well, I'm just at a loss for words::embarrassment::! ****

Yes, Peter Cushing redefined Baron Von Frankenstein with this role. He didn't mimic Colin Cline's 1931-35 role; and I think made for a stronger character, which was necessary for Hammer's version.

BLOOD AND SAND (1941). A little hambone, but good story of a Bullfighter reaching the top and succumbing to all the vices around him. Tyrone Power is very good, but honestly, his Juan is basically a Bitch (no bargain either as a child), especially the way He treats his wife (well played by the lovely Linda Darnell).
Wonderful Technicolor and a lot of actors I enjoy such as John Carradine (HOUSE OF DRACULA, VOODOO MAN, THE MUMMY'S GHOST), J Carroll Naish (THE MONSTER MAKER, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, CALLING DR DEATH) and Laird Cregar (THE LODGER, HANGOVER SQUARE), whose critic has lots in common with ALL ABOUT EVE'S Addison Dewitt. ***

MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET (1942). Lionel Atwill is really the only saving grace in this....His quick Doctor is on the run and after a shipwreck, finds himself with other survivors on a island with hostile natives. Through a mixture of bluster and bullshit, He saves one of the Natives and is declared "God of Life" and given full largesse until He has to Put up or Shut up.

As mentioned, Lionel is great in here with his lecherous looks, pomposity and some genuinely sympathetic acting towards the end when He has to produce the goods...or else! The rest of the cast will test your patience with Nat Pendleton (as another Lummox) and Una Merkel standing out in their awfulness. Anne Nagel (BLACK FRIDAY, MAN MADE MONSTER) is only in the first few minutes, but her scene hits very close to home in a similar instance with her first husband in real life.
Really, there are better films to watch, so pass on this. *

LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945). Pretty good film with lovely Gene Tierney as a woman who "...loves too much" and what the lengths she will go to make sure there is no competition. Good support by Jeannie Crain, Gene Lockhart and some bravura acting by Vincent Pice, which of course, is the main reason I checked it out! ***

This is also one of my all time favorites of the Frankenstein movies. Peter Cushing really did a phenomenal job at Dr. Frankenstein while Christopher Lee was not bad as the monster. I looked back at that one in recent years, and it still looks good in my opinion, along with "Revenge Of Frankenstein," "Frankenstein Created Woman," and "Frankenstein and The Monster From Hell." That last one has David Prowse playing the monster from before he started playing Darth Vader. ::wink::

REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955). Sequel to CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON isn't as good, but worth seeing and You'll have much more pity for the Gillman. Good cast with John Agar, Lori Nelson (not Julie Adams scrumptious, but pretty nice all the same) and a VERY young Clint Eastwood in what I believe is his first film. Also, you'll see Ricou Browning (the Creature under water) playing a scientist taking blood samples.

Watching this again and listening to the good commentary, had quite a bit of Nostalgia...the Black Lagoon sequences (and many other films/TV) were filmed at Silver Springs FL, very close to where my parents live (went there in 1995) and the majority of the action takes place at Marineland FL, very close to St Augustine FL (went there as a boy in 1970 and took my daughter there after Xmas 1997, during an unusually chilly time. ML suffers in comparison to Sea World, but came first and I quite liked it...also loved the cool Mural of The Gillman painted on a wall next to the aquarium). Had also forgotten that the first time I saw this in January 1973, we were living in Norfolk Virginia and due to move to the Panama Canal Zone the next month. During the Creature's rampage, a Newscaster announcers the Creature has been seen "...as far north as Norfolk Virginia and as far South as Panama!"::shocked::::cool:: ***

Night Of The Blood Beast
 

This one goes back to the drive in movie theater days from back in the 1950s. It had no budget, but the cast and crew did an excellent job with what they had with a lot of great drama and dialogue to a good excellent story that is well portrayed. The black and white format also helps at not only hiding a lot of cheesiness, but also giving it a good classic appeal. This is another good example of not needing a big budget or a lot of people to still make a decent entertaining and interesting film. ::cool::

I actually never saw Revenge, I don't think, looking at the trailer. I did see The Creature Walks Among Us when I was 12. It wasn't particularly good, but I remember the Creature throws the guy 10 feet into a palm tree.

My folks took me to Clearwater a couple years ago. Very cool.


Revenge of the Creature
TOMATOMETER
Critics Consensus 22%
No consensus yet. Total Count: 9

Audience Score 31%
User Ratings: 1,632

Doesn't look like Revenge gets much love.

[QUOTE=Sculpt;1042010]I actually never saw Revenge, I don't think, looking at the trailer. I did see The Creature Walks Among Us when I was 12. It wasn't particularly good, but I remember the Creature throws the guy 10 feet into a palm tree.

My folks took me to Clearwater a couple years ago. Very cool.

The Gulf Coast of Florida is awesome. We were staying Madiera Beach a couple of years ago and took a drive through Clearwater...maybe We passed You! Remember also how damn hot it was (early October)...just sweltering and 95 degrees when we left and 57 in Manchester NH...quite the difference::smile::

Naples is also very nice

SAMSON VS THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1962). There are several dull stretches in here, but the opening scenes are rich in atmosphere and once they get a little plasma in them, the Vampire Women are Knockouts (especially Lorena Valezquez and Ophelia Montesco::love::::love::)! When not wrestling at the Arena for his many fans, Samson (called "Santo" by the ringside crowd) is assigned to protect a young lady (the actress looks a lot like a young Elizabeth Taylor) from being abducted to be the New Queen of The Vampires. About as silly as it sounds, but a lot of fun. Some real life wrestlers (Raul Mendoza in particular) and definitely watch Samson's second match...what a Finish::shocked::! ***

The Day the Earth Caught Fire

A British made end of the world tale from 1961 that was surprisingly good.
It was executed VIA the point of view of a major newspaper ... how they reported it, how it affected the people who worked there.

Very dialogue driven - exceptionally well written and acted.

I googled it after i watched it to find that the movie included some music by a fellow called Monty Norman who a year later would provide one of the most recognised pieces of music all over the world - the James Bond Theme - for Dr No.

I quite like that one myself.

THE CHASE (1966). In one of his biographies, this Marlon Brando film was described as "...Peyton Place, Southern Fried" and I would add a dash of HIGH NOON to it as well.
Very young Robert Redford escapes from prison and heads back to his hometown where it seems the main pastimes are drinking, humping and Redneck violence. While it's long, I do like this mainly for the cast. Besides Brando, there is also Angie Dickinson::love::, Jane Fonda, Martha Hyer (FIRST MEN IN THE MOON), Robert Duvall, Janice Rule (What a TRAMP her character is::embarrassment::), EG Marshall (THE DEFENDERS, CREEPSHOW), James Fox (THE SERVANT, PERFORMANCE),Miriam Hopkins (DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE 1931), Henry Hull (THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON), Bruce Cabot (KING KONG), Clifton James (the Sheriff in LIVE AND LET DIE and THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN), Diana Hyland (THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE), Lori Martin (CAPE FEAR) and a young Paul Williams (PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE and many hit songs). ***

Treasure Island (1934)
8/10

This isn't a kid's movie. This is rough 1930s film making, having the sensibilities of the other Robert Louis Stevenson’s adaptation Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931). Sure, young Jackie Cooper plays the lead of "Young Jim Hawkins" like he was Shirley Temple, which is slightly annoying, but it sure contrasts the viscously cold realities and frightening cutthroat violence in the film.

There are excellent character performances here, particularly Wallace Beery as Long John Silver, Lionel Barrymore as Billy Bones and William V. Mong as Pew.

Intact and fascinating is the portrayal of British patriotism and praise of "gentlemen", as in gentry.

Knife in the Water
 

I finally got around to watching my Criterion laserdisc of Polanski's first film thinking it was a thriller.

Turns out it's anything but. There is some tension built between an older man trying to force his tough guy militaristic ways on a young freewheeling hitchhiker (each envious of the other) but it didn't go where I expected. It was more of a portrayal of a standard male self important asshole type and how it affects his marriage and anyone he comes into contact with.

It's a good movie .. as a character study... but definitely not the thriller i was hoping for.

Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers, The Tenant, Repulsion, and Rosemary's Baby are where to go for the horror ... oh, and The Ninth Gate.

I struggle with his films .. because hes a little paedophile creep .. but he is such an amazing filmmaker. I wish it was easier for me to separate the art from the artist but it's very difficult to do so.

Killers From Space
 

This one goes all the way back to the lower budget drive in movies from the early 1950s that were shown as openers to double and triple features a lot of the time. This one definitely had a low budget, even for standards back then, but they did overall well with what they had to go with. The story and plot are overall well written and the actors and actresses did really well at portraying and bring out their roles. I could also see that the whole cast and crew really put in all of their hearts and souls during the filming of this one, which is something else I really like about it. The aliens' masks are cheap and campy looking, even for standards back then, but they are also funny and cool looking as well, to help make this film more entertaining. The aliens also have a section in their caverns with large mutated reptiles and insects that looks overall cool in the traditions of "Them!", "Tarantula," "Earth vs. The Spider," "Godzilla," "Gamera," and the like. The film keeps interest as the main character who was abducted by them, drained of his memory before gradually regains it, eventually remembers where they are hiding and figures one possible way that might actually stop their plot from taking over the planet. Those wanting a major blockbuster ought to skip this one, even back when it first came out. Those who can enjoy or appreciate a good entertaining B-movie that is overall well done with what they had, along with being able to tell a lot of time, effort, and hard work was put into it might actually find this one worth a look. ::cool::

The Day The Sky Exploded
 

Here's another gem from the 1950s drive in movie theater era! This one starts out with a rocket ship blasting off to the moon, only to have its steering controls go to where the astronaut was unable to control before it was totally out of Earth's gravity system, so he dislocated the cabin to be dropped back down to the Earth's surface instead of ending up lost in space forever. The astronaut makes a good speedy recovery, but it then turns out the top part of the rocket ship, like a missile, knocked a bunch of meteors and asteroids in outer space off course, now heading for the planet Earth. They only have a couple of days to figure out something to prevent those asteroids and meteors from crashing into the planet Earth and possibly destroying her. There is plenty of suspense that keeps going as the plot keeps building up. There is also a lot of good feel to this film with the good drama and dialogue, developing each of the characters real well. The special effects are low budget, but still relatively well done for what they had, along with a lot of work being put into it. The picture is also in black and white format to hide a lot of cheesiness, and to give it a good classic appeal. Those who like the drive in horror and sci-fi classics from the 1950s should enjoy this one as well. ::cool::

[QUOTE=FryeDwight;1042016]Yes. The Gulf Coast in Florida is very nice. Clearwater Beach is another awesome one to visit some time(after this corona virus deal is over, of course). "The Creature Walks Among Us" is the third sequel made to close the trilogy. That one is more comedy than horror or sci-fi. The best of that series is definitely the original, which was one of the first very good monster movies out there that could still hold its own with today's standards to an extent. "Revenge Of The Creature" is a good worthy sequel as well. If you get quarantined in, the Creature From The Black Lagoon series should be a good series to keep you company. Of all the old black and white Universal monster movies, that series is definitely one of the best of them all. ::danger::

The Beast From 200,000 Fathoms
 

Here is another classic that I have always wanted to see, but never had the chance to, until now, and it's about time! I am so glad I finally got to see it! I saw it three times in the past two days, to be exact! For those not familiar, this one is about a dinosaur brought out of its frozen state in the North Pole, then travels its way by ocean to its old mating grounds, which is for the then present day, New York City. It has a timeless classic scene when it first arrives to the city with a NYPD officer shooting at it, only to get swallowed whole by it, which is done with style. For standards then, that scene might have been scary, but for today's standards, it's hilarious. Scientists who have researched that type of dinosaur and how it can be stopped team up with the National Guard to stop its raging spree before it destroys the whole city, while killing everybody in the process. Those who like the classic King Kong, Godzilla, Gamera, Tarantula, and Them! films should really enjoy this one as well. It is another one of the better black and white monster classics out there. ::danger::

It IS a good little film, isn't it. Check out the source story, "The Foghorn" by Ray Bradbury.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (1940). Good special effects are all that save this painfully unfunny "Comedy". Dotty John Barrymore (his final film, I believe) wants to try his invisibility formula on a human to help out feckless benefactor and flighty model Virginia Bruce takes the plunge. Watch the 1933 THE INVISIBLE MAN instead. *

Yes, it's a great one. I will try looking at the source story some time. Ray Bradbury was another one of the great horror and suspense writers. I actually enjoyed "The Invisible Woman," but didn't expect much real amazing from it, just an enjoyable comedy parody that it is. Funny coincidence that you mentioned "The Invisible Man" from 1933. That's another classic I have always wanted to see, but never got the chance to. I should be able to rent that one on Prime over the weekend, though, and probably will if I get the chance.

RIO BRAVO (1959). It took me a long time to check out John Wayne's films as my Stepfather and Father In Law almost afforded deity status on him. But with time passing, he really did do some good films and this one is probably at the top. Great chemistry between JW and Dean Martin (solid performance as the conflicted lush), Rick Nelson (Colorado reminds me a lot of the persona Tom Cruise affected in the late 80's onward), Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson::love::. ****

I remember liking Rio Bravo. You've probably already seen it, but I thought the best, and surprisingly enjoyable, 'John Wayne film' was Stagecoach (1939). (Which is on youtube).

It's been awhile, but STAGECOACH was pretty good. Like John Carradine a lot in it and Thomas Mitchell won an Oscar.

A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964). "I don't think it's nice, You LAUGHIN'!" and with that , the Ultimate Bad Ass-AKA Clint Eastwood- comes into prominence. After several forgettable films, especially THE WORLD'S FIRST TRAVELLING SALESLADY (as Carol Channing's romantic interest::shocked::) and the RAWHIDE television series, this was his first starring role. This "Spaghetti Western" features "The Man with No Name" (Clint) riding into a town torn apart by two feuding families, where He slyly plays them against each other, collecting money along the way. Lots of closeups and still pretty violent with memorable music score. ****

SHE DEMONS (1958).A hurricane washes a small group on a uncharted island-what else would it be- that has a group of Nazi's conducting skin grafting experiments, turning the local Native girls into ugly faced/fanged monstrosities, but still possessing perfect dancer's bodies! Not great by any means, but it has Chalie Chan's Number One Son (Victor Seun Young, a few years from playing Hop Sing on BONANZA) and lovely Irish McCalla (from the television series SHEENA : QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE), which is certainly inspiring casting. To add to the fun of watching this, the YOUTUBE version I watched gets sound/sight synchronization out of whack by a couple of minutes, which actually sort of helped::big grin::. **1/2

White Zombie - By 2020 standards, it's not that captivating. But as a pioneer of the genre, it deserves to be seen and preserved.

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