Short Cut To Hell (1957)

A cold blooded hitman (Robert Ivers) is hired to commit two murders, only to be double crossed by his employer (Jacques Aubuchon). On the lam and seeking revenge, he kidnaps a nightclub singer (Georgann Johnson), the girlfriend of the police detective (William Bishop) in charge of his pursuit. Based on the novel A GUN FOR SALE by Graham Greene (THE THIRD MAN) and directed by actor James Cagney. Greene's novel had previously been filmed in 1941 under the title THIS GUN FOR HIRE. This adaptation of the Greene novel is very good and Cagney's direction is tight and taut. Alas, like Charles Laughton and NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, Cagney never directed another movie. The 1941 version had one advantage over this film. Robert Ivers and Georgann Johnson are good actors and their performances more than decent. But they lack a strong screen presence and the 1941 film had Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in their roles. Their acting talents aside, Ladd and Lake weren't movie stars for nothing and their charisma was an enormous asset to the film. Film noir fans should be pleased with this one though. With Yvette Vickers and Murvyn Vye.

Tempest (1982)

Trapped in a life that he despises, a well known New York architect (John Cassavetes) sets off on a quest to find himself. Leaving his wife (Gena Rowlands) who's having an affair and taking his daughter (Molly Ringwald in her film debut) with him, he sets off to Greece. Inspired by the play THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare and directed by Paul Mazursky (BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE). A misfire. I run hot and cold with Mazursky as a filmmaker. When he's on point, he's wonderful but he's directed more duds than good movies. The film (justifiably) received poor reviews and it tanked at the box office. The film is needlessly overlong at two and a half hours and needed some editing shears taken to it. For example: there's a scene with Raul Julia as a creepy lech lusting after a 15 year old Ringwald dancing with his goats to New York New York sung by Liza Minnelli but it has nothing to do with the narrative and just takes up time. Cassavetes' neurotic and narcissistic architect is an unpleasant protagonist and Mazursky's phony ending is a sop to bourgeois audiences. The film's only asset is Donald McAlpine's (MY BRILLIANT CAREER) attractive lensing of  Greece's Mani Peninsula. A pointless film. With Susan Sarandon, Vittorio Gassman, Paul Stewart, Sam Robards and Jerry Hardin.

The Bridge At Remagen (1969)

Set in 1945 during the waning days of WWII in Germany, a weary platoon leader (George Segal) advances on to Remagen under orders to destroy a bridge over the Rhine. Meanwhile, a German Major (Robert Vaughn) is assigned to defend the bridge although his superior (Peter Van Eyck) is under orders to destroy the bridge immediately. Loosely based on the nonfiction book by Kenneth William Hechler and directed by John Guillermin (TOWERING INFERNO). A highly fictionalized version of the actual events that transpired in early March 1945. The movie focuses on the Segal and Vaughn characters as the narrative criss-crosses between their efforts and ultimately the high cost of human lives to save/destroy the bridge. The U.S. soldiers aren't portrayed very favorably as the movie shows them robbing corpses, killing civilians and accosting women. The Germans come across as more disciplined. War movies don't interest me generally but this one is a decent enough effort. With Ben Gazzara, Bradford Dillman, E.G. Marshall, Robert Logan, Bo Hopkins and Sonia Ziemann.

Charlie Chan's Secret (1936)

When the renowned detective Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) sets out to locate the missing beneficiary (Jerry Miley) to an immense fortune, he finds himself in the middle of a family feud. The missing heir turns up alive ..... just in time to be murdered. Based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers and directed by Gordon Wiles (THE GANGSTER). The tenth entry in the 20th Century Fox Charlie Chan franchise is one of the best in the series. Seances, secret passageways and a gaggle of suspicious suspects all help in holding our attention till Chan gathers all the suspects in the drawing room to reveal the murderer! Even the usually annoying comic relief (here provided by Herbert Mundin as the scaredy cat butler) is amusing. With Henrietta Crosman, Rosina Lawrence, Charles Quigley, Astrid Allwyn and Edward Trevor.

Curse Of The Pink Panther (1983)

With famed detective Jacques Clouseau still missing, the French president orders Clouseau's nemesis Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) to find him! Having no such intention, he hires the world's worst detective, a New York cop (Ted Wass). Directed by Blake Edwards (VICTOR VICTORIA). Determined to squeeze every cent out of the PINK PANTHER franchise after the death of Peter Sellers (the original Clouseau), director Edwards and United Artists whipped up two movies. The first TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER used deleted footage and clips featuring Peter Sellers. This one substitutes Ted Wass as a bumbling policeman looking for the bumbling Clouseau. Wass is no Peter Sellers and the movie stinks! I only laughed once when Wass was sitting with a rubber goose between his legs. It's just such a sad, sad movie and I couldn't help feel sorry for David Niven, Robert Wagner and Capucine (the stars of the original PINK PANTHER movie) returning to the scene of one of their best films and getting this drek. The original PINK PANTHER is one of my two or three favorite comedies and this is just not funny in any way shape or form. With Roger Moore, Burt Kwouk (returning as Cato), Joanna Lumley, Robert Loggia, Harvey Korman and Leslie Ash.

Marty Supreme (2025)

Set in New York in 1952, a shoe salesman (Timothee Chalamet) has ambitions to become the table tennis champion at the British Open (a table tennis tournament last staged in 2011). To get the money to get to England, he robs his place of employment. Inspired by the autobiography THE MONEY PLAYER by Marty Reisman and directed by Josh Safdie (UNCUT GEMS). Timothee Chalamet has delivered some impressive performances since his film debut 12 years ago in movies like CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and A COMPLETE UNKNOWN but nothing compared to his dynamite performance here. With the intensity of a young Pacino or De Niro, Chalamet's Marty seems ready to jump out of his skin at any moment. At two and a half hours, the film is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and ferocity. But I absolutely hated the phony sell out ending! For over two hours, Chalamet's Marty is a total narcissistic prick and suddenly after a tournament in Japan, he switches to Mr. Sweetheart cooing at his baby? I could buy his redemption if it was gradual but it's immediate and not believable. Not quite enough to ruin the movie it still compromises the film to the point that I had to downgrade it a few notches. The excellent supporting cast include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O'Leary, Abel Ferrera, Fran Drescher, Odessa A'zion, Tyler Okonma and Sandra Bernhard.

You're My Everything (1949)

Set in 1924 Boston, a starstruck girl (Anne Baxter) has a crush on a musical comedy hoofer (Dan Dailey). They fall in love and marry when he gets an offer from Hollywood for a screen test. The studio passes on him but they like his wife and she soon becomes one of the studio's biggest stars. Directed by Walter Lang (CALL ME MADAM). Yet another nostalgic musical from 20th Century Fox that's connected by the numbers. This kind of hokum has been done so many times that the audience is always one step ahead of the plot. While it's always nice to see the underrated (as a dancer) Dan Dailey dancing, his blackface finale is cringe inducing. Fortunately there's Anne Revere as Baxter's tart tongued aunt to keep the sentimentality from completely taking over. With Buster Keaton, Alan Mowbray and Selena Royle.

Heaven With A Gun (1969)

A gun toting preacher (Glenn Ford) comes to a small town to open up the town's first church. Meanwhile, a range war rages between the local cattlemen and sheepherders. Directed by Lee H. Katzin (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO AUNT ALICE?). A gritty little western that starts off well but loses its way on its journey. It contains the usual western cliches but it also has a strong backbone that holds the movie together until the preachy finale. As the ex-gunfighter turned parson, Glenn Ford brings a believable conflict to his preacher as he tries to contain his violent nature. Ford's character is also uncomfortably wooed by two different specimens of the female sex: the aging madam (Carolyn Jones) of the local brothel and a teenage Indian girl (Barbara Hershey). With David Carradine, J.D. Cannon, Harry Townes, Virginia Gregg, John Anderson, James Griffith, Barbara Babcock and Roger Perry.

七人の侍 (aka Seven Samurai) (1954)

Set in 16th century Japan, a village of farmers hire seven samurai to help defend their village from bandits who return after harvest time to steal their crops. Directed by Akira Kurosawa (RASHOMON). A popular success in Japan in 1954, the film wasn't released in the U.S. until 1956 and in a cut version. Now considered one of the greatest films ever made, SEVEN SAMURAI lives up to its heady reputation. At three hours and 27 minutes, it's a true epic. The first half of the movie is heavy on exposition and can be a bit tedious but the second half of the film (after the intermission) is thrilling. Attempts have been made to over analyze the film (often chastising it for its perceived condescension to the farmers) much to Kurosawa's displeasure and while there's an intelligence behind it too often missing from action films, I take it for what it is ..... a stunningly crafted action piece. As the foolish but good hearted clown, Toshiro Mifune stands out among the excellent cast. A big thumbs up to Fumio Hayasaka's score. With Takashi Shimura as the samurai leader, Daisuke Kato, Isao Kimura and Keiko Tsushima.

Frankenstein (1973)

A scientist (Robert Foxworth) is determined to prove to his skeptical colleagues that it is possible to sustain life after death. However, he is not prepared for the consequences of his "creation". Based on the novel by Mary Shelley and directed by Glenn Jordan (ONLY WHEN I LAUGH). A decent adaptation of the classic Shelley novel that is hampered by its small budget and being filmed on videotape rather than film. It was filmed entirely on the MGM soundstages which hinders a more expansive production. The production design and art direction are superior which helps give the film some atmosphere. The film portrays Frankenstein's creature (Bo Svenson) as both a victim and a revenge seeking monster so it manages to create some sympathy for him while still portraying him as a monster unable to control his emotions. With Susan Strasberg, John Karlen, Heidi Vaughn and Willie Aames.

La Frusta E Il Corpo (aka The Whip And The Body) (1963)

The sadistic son (Christopher Lee) of a wealthy Count (Gustavo De Nardo) returns to the family castle much to the dismay of his family, the servants and the beautiful woman (Daliah Lavi), now married to his brother (Tony Kendall). Directed by Mario Bava (LISA AND THE DEVIL). Quite controversial when first released because of its sadomasochistic elements (Lavi's character gets her kicks being beaten with a whip), the film was cut by ten minutes. The transfer I saw had the ten minutes restored. The gothic tale has the feel of those Roger Corman AIP Poe adaptations but none of the artistry. While I didn't dislike it, the movie just had a deja vu quality to it and without its kinky S&M element, it would be pretty routine. Its initial reviews weren't especially good but in the ensuing years, the film has grown into a cult film with its share of admirers. With Ida Galli and Harriet Medin.

One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)

An international secret formula, microfilmed and hidden on the massive skeleton of a museum dinosaur spawns a race between London based Chinese intelligence agents and a battalion of British nannies. Based on the novel THE GREAT DINOSAUR ROBBERY by David Forrest and directed by Robert Stevenson (MARY POPPINS). With Caucasian actors Peter Ustinov and Clive Revill playing Chinese villains in "yellowface", the film is embarrassing in 2026. I think the Disney organization knows this hence the film is unavailable (to the best of my knowledge) on streaming or physical media in the U.S. For some reason, all the actors including Helen Hayes as the leader of the nannies play their roles in annoying high pitched voices. The novel was aimed at adults but Disney has "disneyfied" it for the family market. The humor is silly (and not in a good way). With Derek Nimmo, Joss Ackland, Natasha Pyne, Jane Lapotaire, Roy Kinnear and Kathleen Byron.