Brian's Song (1971)

The true story of two professional football players, Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), for the Chicago Bears and their remarkable bond when they become the first interracial roommates in the history of the National Football League and how Sayers stood by Piccolo when he was diagnosed with cancer. Based on the non fiction book I AM THIRD by Gale Sayers and Al Silverman and directed by Buzz Kulik (VILLA RIDES). When this movie premiered on television in 1971, it received excellent notices from the critics and at its time was the most watched TV movie ever and even received a theatrical release after its TV debut. My lack of interest in football aside, I found it okay at best and overtly sentimental at worst. There's a fine performance by Billy Dee Williams as Sayers that anchors the film but other than that, there's not much I can say for it. The score is by Michel Legrand. With Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares, Judy Pace, Bernie Casey and David Huddleston.

The Benny Goodman Story (1956)

The story of Benny Goodman (Steve Allen), the clarinetist and band leader who became known as the king of swing and his rise from childhood to performing at Carnegie Hall. Directed by screenwriter Valentine Davies (BRIDGES AT TOKO RI) in his only film as a director. Universal had a huge success in 1954 with THE GLENN MILLER STORY so it was only natural they would want to follow up with another movie about a popular band leader and this Benny Goodman biography was it. It was nowhere near as successful as the Glenn Miller movie. As to this movie, it's a series of all the by the numbers cliches you've seen in Hollywood's mediocre movie biographies. As Goodman, Steve Allen was obviously chosen for the lead because of his resemblance to the bandleader, it certainly wasn't for his acting abilities or box office appeal. Aside from Goodman's music, the most impressive thing in the movie is Bill Thomas's stylish wardrobe for Donna Reed. With Harry James, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Martha Tilton, Robert Clarke, Herbert Anderson and Diane Jergens.

The Great Garrick (1937)

Set in 1750, the great British actor David Garrick (Brian Aherne) travels to Paris to appear with the Comedie Francaise. But infuriated by a perceived insult, the head of the Comedie Francaise (Melville Cooper) concocts a plan to teach the great actor a lesson by having his acting trouple pose as the innkeeper and servants at his lodgings. Based on the play LADIES AND GENTLEMEN by Ernest Vajda and directed by James Whale (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN). An atypical comedic farce from director Whale but actually quite amusing. Aherne is in fine form (channeling John Barrymore) as Garrick but the rest of the cast seem to relish their parts equally. Olivia De Havilland provides the love interest. With Lana Turner (not yet a blonde), Marie Wilson, Albert Dekker, Edward Everett Horton and Lionel Atwill.

I Mongoli (aka The Mongols) (1961)

Set in the 13th century, Poland sends an emissary (Franco Silva) to Genghis Khan (Roldano Lupi) to negotiate for peace. But Khan's bloodthirsty son (Jack Palance overacting terribly) is against any peace in his ambitious plan for world conquest. Directed by Andre De Toth (HOUSE OF WAX). De Toth was another European emigre to Hollywood where he worked from 1942 to 1960 before returning to Europe. THE MONGOLS was the second movie he made upon his return to Europe. It's an overlong wannabe epic balancing two storylines, Silva's emissary which includes a romance with a peasant girl (Antonella Lualdi) and Palance's psychotic warmonger and his voluptuous companion (Anita Ekberg) in death and destruction. The entire movie drags except for the scenes involving Anita Ekberg as the wicked consort of Palance. With Gianni Garko and Gabriele Antonini.

Cold Storage (2026)

In 1979, Skylab breaks apart during its reentry to Earth but because of its size (77 tons), it did not burn up completely and it scatters debris over the Indian Ocean and sparsely populated areas of Western Australia. But it brings back a deadly parasitic fungus. Based on the novel by David Koepp (who adapted his book for the screen) and directed by Jonny Campbell (ALIEN AUTOPSY). A splendid homage to 1950s B movie science fiction that balances laughs with genuine thrills. It doesn't take itself seriously and neither should you. With the exception of the first victim (Sosie Bacon, daughter of Kevin), the people who die are morons so you can enjoy their gory deaths. Is there anything better than scares and laughs in the same movie? Some of the cast are overqualified for stuff like this including Vanessa Redgrave (looking frail but wonderful to see her back on the screen), Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville but they seem to be having a great time. With Georgina Campbell, Joe Keery, Ellora Torchia and Gavin Spokes.

Obsession (aka The Hidden Room) (1949)

Tired of his beautiful wife's (Sally Gray) infidelities, a psychiatrist (Robert Newton) vows to kill her latest lover (Phil Brown). He concocts the perfect murder plan ..... but will he get away with it? Based on the novel A MAN ABOUT A DOG by Alec Coppel (VERTIGO) (who also did the screenplay) and directed by Edward Dmytryk (THE CARPETBAGGERS). Dmytryk had a critical and commercial success with the film CROSSFIRE in 1947. But he was named as one of the Hollywood Ten by the House Un-American Activities Committee so he wasn't able to capitalize on that film's success and he fled to England and this was his first film there. I found it to be a marvelous thriller in the Hitchcock style (with a wee touch of Agatha Christie) and the cat and mouse game between Newton's obsessed husband and Scotland Yard builds in suspense. The acting is quite good, notably Phil Brown as the American lover but the film is stolen by a terrier called Monty, who has an important role in the narrative. The score is by Nino Rota. With Naunton Wayne as the Scotland Yard inspector on the case and James Harcourt.

L'Innocent (aka The Innocent) (2022)

When his mother (Anouk Grinberg) marries an ex-convict (Roschdy Zem), her adult son (Louis Garrel) disapproves. But it isn't long before he's seduced by his stepfather's criminal life. Directed by Louis Garrel. Showered by 11 Cesar (the French Oscar) nominations and winning two, the movie didn't work for me. Every character is a loser and save one, I didn't give a damn what happened to any of them. The contrivances overflowing on the screen only served to distance me from its machinations. The only character I had any empathy for was Grinberg's desperately lonely mother and by the film's end, I did feel sorry for her but as far as I was concerned, everyone else deserved what they got except Noemie Merlant, who was so annoying that I was hoping she would get bumped off. Did I mention the film is supposed to be a comedy? With Yanisse Kebbab and Jean Claude Pautot.

Les Aventures d'Arsene Lupin (aka The Adventures Of Arsene Lupin) (1957)

Set in Paris at the end of the 19th century, a gentleman thief by the name of Arsene Lupin (Robert Lamoureux) is the bane of the Paris police as his cunning mocks the gendarmes as he cleverly escapes their clutches and his identity remains a mystery to them. Loosely based on the novel ARSENE LUPIN, GENTLEMAN BURGLAR by Maurice Leblanc and directed by Jacques Becker (CASQUE D'OR). Stylish and elegant and moderately entertaining. What else can one say? There's no real plot to speak of, it's just a series of moments as Lupin engages in daring thefts and romances the pretty ladies. With Liselotte Pulver, Sandra Milo, O.E. Hasse and Daniel Ceccaldi.

Home Fries (1998)

At the behest of their psycho mother (Catherine O'Hara), two brothers (Luke Wilson, Jake Busey) kill their stepfather (Chris Ellis). But when they discover their stepfather's pregnant mistress (Drew Barrymore) might have overheard the killing, she becomes a "loose end" that must be dealt with. There's a problem however, when one (Wilson) of the brothers falls in love with her! Directed by Dean Parisot (GALAXY QUEST). This quirky black comedy is ridiculous at times and over the top but still remains wildly amusing for the most part. Yes, it's a shallow movie, often going for cheap laughs but it gets the job done. The cast is up for it. Barrymore is adorable but the scene stealer is Catherine O'Hara as the batsh*t crazy mother from hell. Pity it's not better written, there's a classic black comedy in there somewhere. With Shelley Duvall, Lanny Flaherty and Daryl Mitchell.

Move (1970)

A struggling writer (Elliott Gould) in New York City writes pornography and walks dogs for the rich in order to make a living. When he and his wife (Paula Prentiss) decide to move to a new apartment, things go from bad to worse as the real world and his fantasy world clash. Based on the novel by Joel Lieber and directed by Stuart Rosenberg (COOL HAND LUKE). A mess of a movie! Taking advantage of the screen's new freedom, Rosenberg tosses in as much gratuitous nudity as possible (if you ever wanted to see Elliott Gould's butt, this movie is for you) but this film about a paranoid failed writer walking through a surrealistic Manhattan just isn't funny. This was director Rosenberg's only comedy and one can see why. The man just doesn't have a comedic sensibility. There's a slightly (very slight) amusing sequence when Gould has a sexual encounter with a ditzy Brit (Genevieve Waite channeling Marilyn Monroe) but not enough to lift the movie out of the quicksand it's in. With Ron O'Neal, John Larch, Mae Questel and Jeannie Berlin.

Kampf Um Rom (aka The Last Roman) (1968)

Set in the 6th century A.D., the Roman Empire is a shadow of its former self as the Ostrogoths rule over it. When the Ostrogoth king dies, his two daughters (Harriet Andersson, Honor Blackman) fight over who will be Queen. The devious leader (Laurence Harvey) of what remains of Rome takes advantage of this by playing both sides while the Emperor (Orson Welles) of the Byzantine empire also has designs on Rome. Based on the novel THE STRUGGLE FOR ROME by Felix Dahn and directed by Robert Siodmak (THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE) in his swan song as a film director. From 1943 to 1952, Siodmak made a series of excellent films in the U.S. but after THE CRIMSON PIRATE, he returned to Europe to make movies. Siodmak wasn't content with the script but proceeded anyway. As an epic (its 3 hours long), it's visually impressive and structurally incoherent. Unless you're a Roman history buff, you may well be confused about the Roman, Goth and Byzantine triptych's power battle. With Sylva Koscina, Michael Dunn, Robert Hoffman, Ingrid Boulting, Lang Jeffries and Florin Piersic.

A Prize Of Gold (1955)

Set in post war Berlin, an Air Force Master Sergeant (Richard Widmark) falls in love with a German woman (Mai Zetterling) who is the caretaker for a bunch of German war orphans. She is trying to get the children away from Germany and to Brazil where they can start life anew. He attempts to help her by conceiving a daring heist of gold bullion. Based on the novel by Max Catto (THE DEVIL AT FOUR O'CLOCK) and directed by Mark Robson (VALLEY OF THE DOLLS). A decent enough heist movie and, of course, everything doesn't go as planned. If it did, there wouldn't be much suspense. The group of thieves are all amateurs and it's easy to spot the loose cannon (Nigel Patrick) that is going to muck everything up and I couldn't help but wonder why the others couldn't see it too. As the "girl" providing some romantic interest, Mai Zetterling is wasted. With George Cole, Donald Wolfit, Andrew Ray and  Karel Stepanek.