Ktrek's Movie Review thread

[Guest Ktrek]

It's been some time since I last posted reviews of movies that my wife and I have watched. Recently we have really seen some excellent classic movies and I thought I'd post my thoughts about them.

 

The Women (1939) - This film was directed by a very famous director, George Cukor. Cukor directed such fabulous movies like Adams Rib, The Philadelphia Story, My Fair Lady etc. The movie stars Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell and other great supporting actors. The basic story is about a woman (Norma Shearer) who finds out from a gossiping friend that her husband is having an affair with a hussy (Joan Crawford). The film deals with the emotional decisions a woman must make in this situation. What makes the film unusual is that there are absolutely no "men" in the film. Yes, men are mentioned, but you never seen one single male actor. I found the film at times very humorous and at other times very tragic full of intelligent dialog. It's an emotional roller coaster ride. This film would be loved by most women. Men who cannot appreciate emotion and women coming through adversity would probably not care for this film. I understand that a remake starring Meg Ryan is in the future. I rate this film 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

 

High Noon (1952) - This film stars Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. What can you say about High Noon? It's absolutely one of the best westerns ever made. Cooper plays a town sheriff who marries a Christian woman. He's about to go on his honeymoon and leave law enforcement when he learns that a man he sent to prison is coming back to get him. Waiting at the train depot are three other bad guys who will come into town to take it over. Cooper cannot with good conscience just leave the town and decides to stay and battle these guys. Interesting use of the clock being shown as the film progresses to show how time is running out for the noon train. Cooper tries desperately to enlist help from various members of the community to no avail and ultimately must stand against the four outlaws alone. This is a true classic! 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Gone With The Wind (1939) - We bought the new special edition of this great classic film. I have to say that Warner has done an excellent job restoring this classic. We did own the 1998 DVD release but this new version is so much more brighter and colorful and just stunning. Owning a 51" TV helps too. I love Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable in this film. The movie could not have been better casted or directed. Amazingly the director Victor Fleming also directed another hit classic the same years as Gone With The Wind and that is The Wizard Of Oz (1939). If you love film and especially old classic films be sure not to miss this legend! 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Quicksand (1950) - This film stars Mickey Rooney and Peter Lorre. Rooney plays a mechanic who is trying to dump a girl who is truly in love with him but he is hot for a femme fatale played by James Cagney's sister Jeanne Cagney. In order to date Jeanne he needs money and decides to borrow $20 from the boss' till and plans to pay it back but circumstances lead him to committing one crime after another to try and rectify a previous wrong. Really a fun film but with perhaps too Hollywood of an ending. 3 out of 5 stars.

 

Ruthless People (1986) - This movie stars Bette Midler at the height of her popularity. Her husband, played by Danny Devito, is having an affair with a woman and is planning on murdering his wife. He informs his lover of his little plan but before he can carry it out his wife is kidnapped and her life is threatened by the kidnappers if he doesn't pay up. Devito can't believe his luck and tries everything to get these guys to kill her but all goes wrong. If you like comedy of error type movies you would like this film. There is some mild nudity and some language so not recommended for family viewing. 3 out of 5 stars

 

Dial M For Murder (1954) - This film is directed by the master...Alfred Hitchcock! It stars Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. This is a fascinating suspenseful film that takes place in virtually 2 rooms. The dialog and directing are fantastic! You are never bored throughout this film. Ray Milland frames an old college buddy into murdering his wife. He thinks he has the perfect murder planned but all goes awry. I love Hitchcock and think he was one of the best directors ever. 4 out of 5.

 

Love Me Tonight (1932) - This film is one of the earliest musicals on film starring Maurice Chevalier and Jennette MacDonald. Chevalier plays a poor tailor who comes onto the estate of an aristocrat and falls in love with a princess played by Jeannette MacDonald. This is a fun little film and showcases Chevalier at his best. There are a couple of famous tunes like "Isn't It Romantic" and "Mimi". 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Silent Movie (1976) - This is a Mel Brooks film and stars himself, Marty Feldman and Dom DeLouise. At first I wasn't sure I would like this film when I found out that it truly was a "silent movie" but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It's a somewhat slapstick comedy about a producer (Brooks) and his cohorts idea to revive the silent movie and try to save a movie production company from bankruptcy. The production company agrees to finance it with the proviso that he enlists famous stars for the film. So, Brooks, Feldman and Delouise set out to find stars to join the cast. This isn't Mel Brooks best comedy but is one I found delightful and a fun diversion. 3 out of 5 stars.

 

The Beast With Five Fingers (1946) - This stars Peter Lorre and is a very fun early horror flick. A wealthy man dies leaving his estate to his nurse but suddenly it is discovered that murders are taking place and the man's hand is missing. Some nice special effects of the murdering hand, especially for the time period. This is not a movie to be taken seriously but does have a cult following. Lorre is the best part of the film. 3 out of 5 stars.

 

 

Well, that's about it for now. I'll post some more later as I think of other films we have watched recently.

 

Ktrek

The classic film lover

 

 

Edited November 16, 2004 by Ktrek

[Guest Ktrek]

Pillow Talk (1959) - The movie stars Rock Hudson and Doris Day. I found this movie very amusing and surprisingly risqué for a Doris Day movie. Hudson plays a Broadway songwriter who shares a party line with Doris Day. He's constantly on the phone talking and singing to various women. Doris gets fed up with him and reports him to the telephone company because she can never use the phone. Thus begins a series of odd circumstances that bring their paths together. Rock Hudson is taken with Doris' beauty and pretends to be a simpleton from Texas and she falls in love with him. Well you can guess where it goes from there. Although this movie had plenty of sexual innuendo I still found it highly amusing. 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Hold Your Man (1933) - Jean Harlowe and Clark gable star in this cute little romance story. Gable plays a con man who falls in love with Harlowe. However, her association with him winds up getting her into prison and pregnant. Happy Hollywood ending. 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

 

The Secret Six (1931) - This movie stars Wallace Berry in the lead role but the main attraction for me was to see the early work of Clark Gable and Jean Harlowe. Both their roles are minor and neither actor are very good yet but it is still fun to see them. This is a pretty good crime drama/gangster film. Wallace Berry leads a group of bootlegging gangsters during the prohibition. It's really amazing to see how far Gable came in just 8 years from this role to Rhett Butler! 2 out of 5 stars.

 

Ktrek

The classic film lover

 

Edited November 18, 2004 by Ktrek