A socialite (Kay Francis, gloriously overdressed) is married to an older wealthy gentleman (Henry Kolker) while not quite properly divorced from her sleazy ex husband (Monroe Owsley). She flees to Cuba to untangle her life but her suspicious husband hires a private detective (George Brent) to tail her. Based on the short story ADVENTURESS by Alice D.G. Miller and directed by Michael Curtiz (WHITE CHRISTMAS). This lively pre code dramedy is rather absurd in its complicated machinations that all come out well in the end but it's enjoyable in its romantic pulpiness nevertheless. There's an amusing subplot involving Glenda Farrell as a scheming scam artist bilking wealthy men out of their money who mistakes Brent's dull witted assistant (Allen Jenkins) for a rich man. With Helen Ware and George Chandler.
Set in 1885, a young woman (Barbara Britton) sets out from Vermont by train to Wyoming where she has a job as a school teacher. It's there she meets a cowboy (Joel McCrea) known as The Virginian and eventually falls in love with him. But she discovers the ways of the West are contrary to her upbringing. Based on the novel by Owen Wister and directed by Stuart Gilmore (THE HALF BREED). The third film version of the Wister novel, previously filmed in 1914 and 1929 and would eventually be filmed again in 2000. Handsomely shot in three strip Technicolor by Harry Hallenberger (LOUISIANA PURCHASE), it's an above average western despite Gilmore's lackluster direction. The relationship between McCrea and Britton and the film's finale echo the Cooper/Kelly aspect of HIGH NOON (1952). There's a lynching scene that's disturbing even though the victims are cattle rustlers. With Brian Donlevy, Fay Bainter, Sonny Tufts and Tom Tully.
A British gangster's henchman (Terence Stamp) turned informer is trying to live in peaceful hiding in a remote Spanish village. One day two hit men (John Hurt, Tim Roth) kidnap him to bring him back for execution. Directed by Stephen Frears (DANGEROUS LIAISONS). What on the surface appears to be a traditional crime film is really a mythical contemplation of life and death. What should have been a simple "hit" turns messy when two other people (Bill Hunter, Laura Del Sol) become involved and Hurt's assurance slowly erodes. Mike Molloy's (THE SHOUT) lensing of the sparse Spanish countryside imparts a foreboding and almost imaginary aura to the movie. The performances are first rate all around. A distinctive film worth your time. With Fernando Rey and Jim Broadbent.
In a rural English village, a shepherd (Hugh Jackman) reads murder mysteries to his flock of sheep each evening. When the shepherd is murdered by persons unknown, the flock takes it upon themselves to solve the murder! Based on the novel THREE BAGS FULL by Leonie Swann and directed by Kyle Balda (MINIONS). An absolute delight! Not only a charming mixture of live action and computer generated animation but a damn good murder mystery! It's also a contemplative rumination on death, emotions and discrimination without going all preachy on us. It's amusing (though not of the belly laugh variety) and heartfelt in just the right places. The live action cast includes Emma Thompson, Hong Chau, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon and Tosin Cole and the excellent sheep voice cast includes Julia Louis Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Tommy Birchall and Laraine Newman.
A divorced, no nonsense college professor (Joanne Woodward) travels to England to do some research. Her seatmate on her flight is a talkative Oklahoman (Brian Dennehy) that gets on her nerves. When the flight arrives in London, she is glad to be rid of him. Alas, it won't be that last she sees of him. Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Alison Lurie and directed by Jim O'Brien (THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN). A bittersweet romance anchored by two good performances but enough changes from the book that turn it into a sentimental tearjerker. The film is saddled with a subplot involving Woodward's young colleague's (Eric Stoltz) affair with an older TV actress (Stephanie Beacham) that seems superfluous. Unmemorable but for the two lead performances. With Ian Richardson, Robert Hands and Alex Kingston.
In Bangkok, after his wife (Sophie Boudet) is mistakenly killed by a bullet intended for him, an ex-gangster (Jean Yanne) leaps back to France to exact revenge. But the mobsters who targeted him in Bangkok are waiting for him. Based on the novel by Bernard Paul Lallier and directed by Yves Boisset (LA FEMME FLIC). A taut and engaging vengeance thriller a la Francais. More complex than your routine Charles Bronson run amok revenge movie. By the movie's end, the body count is high what with characters murdered, both the guilty and the innocent, a suicide and you realize the futility of revenge. On one hand, you want Yanne to get his revenge (his wife is among several family members killed) but after all the bloodshed there are no winners. As the old adage says, an eye for an eye just ends up with everybody blind. With Sterling Hayden, Senta Berger, Raymond Pellegrin, Gordon Mitchell, Daniel Ivernel and Giancarlo Sbragia.
A NASCAR racing driver (Elvis Presley) bails friends and acquaintances out of financial hardship. Unfortunately, his business manager (Bill Bixby) is a compulsive gambler and has mismanaged the driver's income. Enter the Internal Revenue Service in the form of an agent (Nancy Sinatra). Directed by Norman Taurog (BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940). After KID GALAHAD (1962), Presley pretty much gave up on dramatic acting and SPEEDWAY remains a typical example of the Elvis formulaic movies that followed. It's the usual mixture of pretty girls, inane comedy, a handful of songs whipped together and presto! An Elvis movie! Outside of GRAND PRIX (1966), racing movies hold no interest for me so I found the movie on the tedious side. On the plus side, the choreography by Alex Romero is lively and Presley lets his leading lady (Sinatra) do a song of her own as well as a duet with him. With Gale Gordon and William Schallert.
At the end of WWI, the gentleman thief Arsene Lupin (Robert Lamoureux) resumes his mischievous lifestyle with zeal. The theft of three paintings committed by an adversary (Yves Robert) leads him to the mysterious treasure of the Golden Fleece. Based on the character created by Maurice Leblanc in 1905 and directed by Yves Robert (THE TALL BLOND MAN WITH ONE BLACK SHOE). One of the lesser adventures of Arsene Lupin hampered by some miscasting. Gentleman thieves are still criminals and in order to win the audiences over they need charm (think Ronald Colman in RAFFLES or David Niven in THE PINK PANTHER) or else a strong star presence (Steve McQueen in THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR). Alas, Lamoureux has neither. In fact, Lamoureux comes across as smug and annoying. The contrived plot is overly complicated and there's nothing really to hold our interest. A disappointment. With Alida Valli, Jacques Dufilho and Roger Dumas.
A cowboy (John Wayne) arrives in the western town of Santa Inez to work as a foreman for the K.C. ranch. But he finds out that the owner of the ranch was murdered and the ranch inherited by his grandniece (Audrey Long). But there's a lot more to the mysterious cowboy than he's letting on. Based on the novel by Gordon Ray Young and directed by Edwin L. Marin (NOCTURNE). A minor entry in the John Wayne western canon but a solid one. It works as both a western and a mystery. When it comes to leading ladies, Wayne always worked better with a strong actress and here the underrated Ella Raines is a match for him. There are enough shootouts, chases and fist fights to satisfy the western fans but the movie is a bit more than that and should appeal to moviegoers who aren't particularly interested in westerns. Audiences liked it enough to make it a hit. With the annoying Gabby Hayes, Ward Bond, Elisabeth Risdon, Frank Puglia and Don Douglas.
Ten years after her father's death, Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) has no idea that her neighbor (Yves Montand) cheated her out of her father's land. But when she discovers that he and his nephew (Daniel Auteuil) were directly responsible for her father's death, she goes after them with a vengeance. Based on the novel THE WATER OF THE HILLS by Marcel Pagnol (an adaptation of his 1952 film MANON DES SOURCES) and directed by Claude Berri (THE TWO OF US). Not a sequel but the second part of Berri's JEAN DE FLORETTE (they were shot back to back) which had been released three months earlier. Not only a satisfying conclusion to the tale but I think I liked it a tad more. Stunningly shot by Bruno Nuytten (BRUBAKER), it's a satisfying conclusion to a tale of deceit, betrayal and revenge. It allows us to eventually have empathy for Auteuil's bumbling hick and even Montand's destructive patriarch, both of whom we detested in JEAN DE FLORETTE. With Hippolyte Girardot and Yvonne Gamy.
