Green Grow the Rushes (Derek Twist, 1951) 7/10
Rare film with one of Richard Burton's early appearances as a liquor smuggler in a small community in Kent. Lovely Honor Blackman is the snoopy reporter looking for a story to publish. Burton's star presence is unmistakable - the blazing eyes, the remarkable voice with clear diction and his cocky in-your-face bravado. This was his last British film before he left for Hollywood and super stardom.
Last Seen Movie - The Latest Movie You Have Seen; ratings
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Stolen Face (Terence Fisher, 1952) 6/10
A plastic surgeon (Paul Henried) helps a scarred convict by changing her face to resemble the woman (Lizabeth Scott) he loves but cannot have. Absurd melodrama gives Scott a chance to shine in a double role - the sweet concert pianist and the transformed cockney with sociopathic tendencies.
A plastic surgeon (Paul Henried) helps a scarred convict by changing her face to resemble the woman (Lizabeth Scott) he loves but cannot have. Absurd melodrama gives Scott a chance to shine in a double role - the sweet concert pianist and the transformed cockney with sociopathic tendencies.
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Address Unknown (William Cameron Menzies, 1944) 7/10
Superbly photographed anti-Nazi propaganda. A businessman (Paul Lukas) moves his family back to his native Germany just as the Nazis are coming to power and ends up caught in the frenzy. The second half of the film is full of Christ imagery via use of expressionistic lighting and shadows with the camera placed at odd angles emphasizing the plight of the characters. K. T. Stevens is very good as the jewish girl who moves to Germany at the wrong time to study and become a stage actress.
Superbly photographed anti-Nazi propaganda. A businessman (Paul Lukas) moves his family back to his native Germany just as the Nazis are coming to power and ends up caught in the frenzy. The second half of the film is full of Christ imagery via use of expressionistic lighting and shadows with the camera placed at odd angles emphasizing the plight of the characters. K. T. Stevens is very good as the jewish girl who moves to Germany at the wrong time to study and become a stage actress.
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Shock (Alfred L. Werker, 1946) 7/10
A woman witnesses a murder, goes into a catatonic state and is hospitalized by a doctor (Vincent Price) who is the actual murderer. A cat and mouse game ensues as the doctor and his lover (Lynn Bari, who is superb as the Lady Macbeth like nurse) try to convince everyone that the woman is insane. Nifty little "B" noir.
A woman witnesses a murder, goes into a catatonic state and is hospitalized by a doctor (Vincent Price) who is the actual murderer. A cat and mouse game ensues as the doctor and his lover (Lynn Bari, who is superb as the Lady Macbeth like nurse) try to convince everyone that the woman is insane. Nifty little "B" noir.
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They Made Me a Fugitive (Cavalcanti, 1947) 7/10
A petty crook (Trevor Howard) is jailed after being double crossed by his boss and framed for murder. He breaks out of jail, gets framed for a second murder and goes on the run seeking revenge. Atmospheric, little known British noir is superbly photographed. Pretty Sally Gray is the girl involved with both men.
A petty crook (Trevor Howard) is jailed after being double crossed by his boss and framed for murder. He breaks out of jail, gets framed for a second murder and goes on the run seeking revenge. Atmospheric, little known British noir is superbly photographed. Pretty Sally Gray is the girl involved with both men.
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Panique / Panic (Julien Duvivier, 1947) 8/10
Classic french noir centering on a murder investigation being carried out in a small provincial town. A woman (lovely Viviane Romance) is released from jail after taking the rap for her crooked boyfriend and entraps an older man (Michel Simon) who is infatuated with her. Downbeat film that expresses despair concerning human nature with strong racist undertones but filmed in an upbeat fashion. Burly Michel Simon is superb. Remade years later as the equally great Monsieur Hire.
Classic french noir centering on a murder investigation being carried out in a small provincial town. A woman (lovely Viviane Romance) is released from jail after taking the rap for her crooked boyfriend and entraps an older man (Michel Simon) who is infatuated with her. Downbeat film that expresses despair concerning human nature with strong racist undertones but filmed in an upbeat fashion. Burly Michel Simon is superb. Remade years later as the equally great Monsieur Hire.
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The Eagle and the Hawk (Stuart Walker & Mitchell Leisen, 1933) 10/10
Superb antiwar film about a group of American flyers stationed in France during WWI. Fredric March is excellent as a reluctant hero who grows more and more disillusioned with each plane he shoots down and as the death count rises. He is ably supported by Cary Grant as his brash gunner, Jack Oakie as the happy go lucky friend to all and in a brief part the glamorous Carole Lombard as a society girl. A forgotten classic and a must see.
Superb antiwar film about a group of American flyers stationed in France during WWI. Fredric March is excellent as a reluctant hero who grows more and more disillusioned with each plane he shoots down and as the death count rises. He is ably supported by Cary Grant as his brash gunner, Jack Oakie as the happy go lucky friend to all and in a brief part the glamorous Carole Lombard as a society girl. A forgotten classic and a must see.
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Justine (George Cukor, 1969) 7/10
A film "rescued" by veteren George Cukor after the original director was fired although scenes shot by him on location were retained. Cukor shot the remaining film on the backlot and manages to retain the atmosphere of Lawrence Durrell's "The Alexandria Quartet" on which it is based. The overbaked plot and numerous characters come flying in all directions but the story remains interesting.
In Alexandria a young poet (Michael York) befriends Justine (Anouk Aimee) via a British diplomat (Dirk Bogarde). She is a former prostitute now married to a gunrunner (John Vernon) who is involved in a plot to arm the jewish underground in Palestine. Ambitious adaptation which throws in everything - incest, adultery, nymphomania, homosexuality, child prostitution, suicide, corruption and political intrigue. Well acted by Bogarde, York, Anna Karina (as another prostitute) and Vernon. An interesting failure. And Anouk Aimee is incredibly sexy.
A film "rescued" by veteren George Cukor after the original director was fired although scenes shot by him on location were retained. Cukor shot the remaining film on the backlot and manages to retain the atmosphere of Lawrence Durrell's "The Alexandria Quartet" on which it is based. The overbaked plot and numerous characters come flying in all directions but the story remains interesting.
In Alexandria a young poet (Michael York) befriends Justine (Anouk Aimee) via a British diplomat (Dirk Bogarde). She is a former prostitute now married to a gunrunner (John Vernon) who is involved in a plot to arm the jewish underground in Palestine. Ambitious adaptation which throws in everything - incest, adultery, nymphomania, homosexuality, child prostitution, suicide, corruption and political intrigue. Well acted by Bogarde, York, Anna Karina (as another prostitute) and Vernon. An interesting failure. And Anouk Aimee is incredibly sexy.
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Sin Takes a Holiday (Paul L. Stein, 1930) 6/10
A lawyer gets out of a compromising situation by making a deal and quickly getting married to his secretary (Constance Bennett). She ends up falling in love with a stranger (Basil Rathbone) on a cruise. Charming little romantic comedy.
A lawyer gets out of a compromising situation by making a deal and quickly getting married to his secretary (Constance Bennett). She ends up falling in love with a stranger (Basil Rathbone) on a cruise. Charming little romantic comedy.
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Family Honeymoon (Claude Binyon, 1948) 6/10
An eligible bachelor (Fred MacMurray) marries a widow (Claudette Colbert) and finds himself on their honeymoon with her three unruly kids in tow. Silly fluff with the two stars very funny but the annoying kids quickly wear out their welcome.
An eligible bachelor (Fred MacMurray) marries a widow (Claudette Colbert) and finds himself on their honeymoon with her three unruly kids in tow. Silly fluff with the two stars very funny but the annoying kids quickly wear out their welcome.
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The Garden of Allah (Richard Boleslawski, 1936) 8/10
To escape her woes a woman (Marlene Dietrich) goes to the Algerian desert (the garden of Allah) and runs into a neurotic man (Charles Boyer), a trappist monk, who has fled his convent. Absurd characters abound - Hollywood's ridiculous version of the exotic Arab - filthy soothsayers muttering "AllahuAkbar", nubile Arab maidens wearing outfits that reveal skin & gyrating to music and the obligatory urbane sheik on a horse speaking in clipped British tones (Basil Rathbone). All this (and let's not forget dear Sir C. Aubrey Smith as a man of the cloth) and laughable heavy handed dialogue between the two stars (both stiff as mannequins but making a great pair) results in a true camp fest. And it's all photographed in glorious technicolour which won a special Academy Award. Great escapist fun.
To escape her woes a woman (Marlene Dietrich) goes to the Algerian desert (the garden of Allah) and runs into a neurotic man (Charles Boyer), a trappist monk, who has fled his convent. Absurd characters abound - Hollywood's ridiculous version of the exotic Arab - filthy soothsayers muttering "AllahuAkbar", nubile Arab maidens wearing outfits that reveal skin & gyrating to music and the obligatory urbane sheik on a horse speaking in clipped British tones (Basil Rathbone). All this (and let's not forget dear Sir C. Aubrey Smith as a man of the cloth) and laughable heavy handed dialogue between the two stars (both stiff as mannequins but making a great pair) results in a true camp fest. And it's all photographed in glorious technicolour which won a special Academy Award. Great escapist fun.
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The Cheat (George Abbott, 1931) 7/10
Remake of the 1915 silent about a spoilt society wife (Tallulah Bankhead) who gets in over her head with gambling debts and turns to a sleazy man for help. When she refuses to sleep with him and instead decides to pay him back he brands her with an iron rod like one of his conquests. She shoots him and her husband takes the rap. Overheated melodrama with an outstanding performance by Bankhead.
Remake of the 1915 silent about a spoilt society wife (Tallulah Bankhead) who gets in over her head with gambling debts and turns to a sleazy man for help. When she refuses to sleep with him and instead decides to pay him back he brands her with an iron rod like one of his conquests. She shoots him and her husband takes the rap. Overheated melodrama with an outstanding performance by Bankhead.
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So Ends Our Night (John Cromwell, 1941) 6/10
Episodic anti-war drama about german refugees escaping the Nazi menace and running from country to country in Europe as they have no papers. Fredric March is on the run because of his political beliefs leaving behind his wife Frances Dee and chased by Erich Von Stroheim. Glenn Ford is half jewish and romances Margaret Sullavan while they are both on the run. Moving but slow.
Episodic anti-war drama about german refugees escaping the Nazi menace and running from country to country in Europe as they have no papers. Fredric March is on the run because of his political beliefs leaving behind his wife Frances Dee and chased by Erich Von Stroheim. Glenn Ford is half jewish and romances Margaret Sullavan while they are both on the run. Moving but slow.
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The Spanish Gardener (Phillip Leacock, 1956) 8/10
A rigid British diplomat (Michael Hordern) in Spain, beset by professional and marital problems, resents the friendship between his lonely son (Jon Whitely) and their sympathetic gardener (Dirk Bogarde). One of many little gems from the Rank studio during the 1950s. Exquisitely acted by a superb cast and filmed on location.
A rigid British diplomat (Michael Hordern) in Spain, beset by professional and marital problems, resents the friendship between his lonely son (Jon Whitely) and their sympathetic gardener (Dirk Bogarde). One of many little gems from the Rank studio during the 1950s. Exquisitely acted by a superb cast and filmed on location.
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The Trials of Oscar Wilde (Ken Hughes, 1960) 9/10
At the height of his fame Oscar Wilde's (Peter Finch) involvement with Bosie (John Fraser) results in his filing a libel suit against the boy's father, the Marquis of Queensbury (Lionel Jeffries), which tragically brings about the witty playwright's downfall. The film is a sharp critique of the pomposity and hypocricy of the Victorian era and in many ways is still relevant today. Superbly shot in colour and widescreen with an outstanding BAFTA winning performance by Peter Finch.
At the height of his fame Oscar Wilde's (Peter Finch) involvement with Bosie (John Fraser) results in his filing a libel suit against the boy's father, the Marquis of Queensbury (Lionel Jeffries), which tragically brings about the witty playwright's downfall. The film is a sharp critique of the pomposity and hypocricy of the Victorian era and in many ways is still relevant today. Superbly shot in colour and widescreen with an outstanding BAFTA winning performance by Peter Finch.