A motorcycle gang reunites after 20 years to help a former member's wife (Barbara Eden) whose tourist business is being threatened by a gang of hell raising river rats led by a sociopathic punk (Patrick Swayze). Directed by Noel Nosseck (YOUNGBLOOD). A rather moronic TV movie that only has two pluses. Its appealing cast and the handsome Lake Havasu, Arizona landscape setting. In one of his earliest leading roles, Swayze is just awful. One would never guess he actually had talent though to be fair, I suspect Nosseck's poor direction had something to do with it. As always, the lovely Eden is eminently likable. With Don Murray, Jamie Farr, Christopher Connelly and Robert Mandan.
A tough Paris cop (Lino Ventura) has been exiled to a second rate police station after being reprimanded. There, he is given a young partner (Marlene Jobert). The duo are soon tasked with a very difficult mission: to find a man whose evidence is instrumental in convicting a master criminal. Based on the novel by Joseph Harrington and directed by Jose Giovanni (LE GITAN). Eschewing the director's past history (he blackmailed hidden Jews during the Occupation, sentenced to prison for murder and torture), this is a solid police procedural with a downbeat and cynical ending. Given his criminal past, director Giovanni knew the French underworld which accounts for the blunt and unsentimental narrative. It's not a sympathetic look at the police as the movie portrays them as protecting their victims only as it serves their purpose and abandons them when they've served that purpose leaving them vulnerable. There's a nice score by Francois De Roubaix. With Michel Constantin and Philippe March.
Set in the swinging London of the 1960s, a new cop (Michael York) on the beat hooks up with an uninhibited underage flower child (Susan George). Meanwhile, a veteran policeman (Jeremy Kemp) on the force is obsessed with taking down a drug kingpin (Jack Watson), who consistently evades arrest. Based on the novel by Bernard Toms and directed by David Greene (GRAY LADY DOWN). A sordid look at British police where all the cops are either incompetent, psychotic or corrupt. Even the "good" ones. It's a downer of a movie but nevertheless, it's engrossing in its relentless examination of how even the best of intentions become manipulated until everyone is tainted by its foul fingers. The standout performance comes from Jeremy Kemp as an honest cop who eventually becomes demented in his obsession. A neat little crime thriller where there are no heroes. With Nigel Davenport and Madge Ryan.
Set in 1759 during the French Indian War, a group of men known as Rogers' Rangers working with the British are on a mission to attack a village in what was then the French province of Canada. Their trek home is a hardship as the men lack food and are chased by both the vengeful "Indians" and the French. Based on the (first half) novel by Kenneth Roberts and directed by King Vidor (DUEL IN THE SUN). Based on an actual historical incident but its accuracy is dubious. Okay, on the plus side, this is one gorgeous looking movie in three strip Technicolor with Idaho landscapes passing for Canada. On the downside, it's a glamourized version of what was essentially a massacre of indigenous people. Reportedly, the actual village consisted of mostly women, children and the elderly. But the film portrays the village full of savage barbaric male "Indians" and a handful of white captives. Of course, the French are just talked about and never seen. As they're Caucasian, it was much easier just to show barbaric Indians (they decapitate their victims and play ball with their heads). I found it difficult to get past the racism in the film which is blatant. With Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Walter Brennan, Nat Pendleton and Isabel Jewell.
A supervising nurse (Fay Wray) is in love with a doctor (Walter Byron), who unknown to her is a womanizing Lothario. She ignores the amorous attention of the hospital's top surgeon (Ralph Bellamy). Based on the short story KALEIDOSCOPE IN K by A.J. Cronin (KEYS OF THE KINGDOM) and directed by Lambert Hillyer (THE INVISIBLE RAY). A medical soap opera that's really two separate stories weaved together. There's the romantic triangle involving Wray, Bellamy and Byron and then there's the narrative of a young doctor (Bellamy) with new ideas fighting with the head of surgery (Walter Connolly) who resists new technology and methods in the medical profession. It's a tight compact (it runs just over an hour) little movie that manages not to insult our intelligence and shine a light on medical ethics circa 1934. With Mary Carlisle, Jane Darwell and Billie Seward.
Set in 1861 just prior to the American Civil War, a Union soldier (Audie Murphy) fights the anti Native American attitudes of his new superior officer (Robert Sterling). However, as the Civil War approaches, Confederate sympathizers plot to provoke the Native Americans to go on the war path. Directed by Frederick De Cordova (BEDTIME FOR BONZO). A slightly (very slightly) above average western with an interesting plotline. It's not the kind of movie where the acting matters much so the narrative is what holds our attention. Audie Murphy is, well ..... Audie Murphy but the rest of the cast recite their lines with enough believability that they don't embarrass themselves. Western fans should be entertained. With Joan Evans, Dennis Weaver, Ray Collins, Gregg Palmer, Russell Johnson and Jack Kelly.
A husband (Jack Carson) and wife (Ann Sothern) vaudeville act is failing because they haven't changed their corny act in years. But when they add their talented 14 year old son (Robert Ellis) to their act, they become a sensation. Directed by James V. Kern (THE DOUGHGIRLS). Oy! Does this one creak! It's the kind of old timey Technicolor costume musical usually associated with 20th Century Fox and starring Dan Dailey and Betty Grable except here it's in B&W with Carson and Sothern. All the cliches are here and you you know exactly where it's going every step of the way. I never cared much for vaudeville plots. As a musical, the songs aren't original but era favorites like On Moonlight Bay, Carolina In The Morning, Every Little Movement as well as the title song. As usual, Jack Carson and Ann Sothern are dependable performers but they can't do anything with the hokey plot and characters. With Robert Alda and S.Z. Sakall.
Set in contemporary Iran, a woman (Leila Hatami) sues for divorce after her husband (Peyman Moaadi) refuses to leave Iran because of his Alzheimer suffering father (Ali Asghar Shahbazi). When her divorce petition is denied, she moves out of the house and her husband hires a caretaker (Sareh Bayat) to watch his father while he is at work. This is when his life begins to fall apart around him. Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi (THE SALESMAN). Winner of the foreign language film Oscar, this is an absorbing and complex film ruminating on ethics and morality while providing an intense eye on two families falling apart due to pride, injustice and deceit. The performances are all around excellent. When the film is over, there are no victors but our empathy extends to everyone involved. With Sarina Farhadi (the director's daughter and the most mature looking 11 year old I've seen, she looked to be in her teens), Shahab Hosseini and Kimia Hosseini.
Recently married, a young woman (Rosita Arenas) and her husband (Abel Salazar) travel to a secluded country mansion to reunite with her aunt (Rita Macedo). But what awaits her is an evil sorceress bent on resurrecting an ancient specter. Directed by Rafael Baledon (THE HELL OF FRANKENSTEIN). There have been many film versions utilizing the Hispanic myth of La Llorona, the crying woman, both in Mexican cinema and the U.S. This version is admired by many but I found it rather silly, poorly acted, bordering on camp with shoddy special effects. Arenas' damsel in distress is a ninny and while director Baledon manages some atmosphere, the film has no style and no suspense. The dull score by Gustavo Cesar Carrion only makes matters worse. I couldn't help but think what Roger Corman might have done with it at American International in color with Hazel Court and Barbara Steele in the leads. With Enrique Lucero and Carlos Lopez Moctezuma.
Set during the 1960 Rome Olympics, the film focuses on four runners in the 26 mile marathon race: a Brit (Michael Crawford), an American (Ryan O'Neal), a Czech (Charles Aznavour) and an Australian Aborigine (Athol Compton). Based on the novel by Hugh Atkinson and directed by Michael Winner (CHATO'S LAND). A by the numbers sports movie on the stale side. The British and American runner stories aren't interesting but the two others have some appeal. The aging 41 year old Czech runner pulled out of retirement for propaganda purposes by his communist government and the aborigine exploited by his racist trainer (Jeremy Kemp). Not boring if you can tolerate the cliches. There's an excellent score by Francia Lai (A MAN AND A WOMAN). With Sam Elliott, Leigh Taylor Young, Stanley Baker, Stephanie Beacham, Kent Smith, Mona Washbourne, Rafer Johnson and Elaine Taylor.
