Francis Covers the Big Town (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.6 Date Released : 14 August 1953 Genre : Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Romance Stars : Donald O'Connor, Yvette Duguay, Gene Lockhart, Nancy Guild Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
U.S. Army veteran Peter Stirling and his friend, Francis the talking Mule (who was not a donkey), arrive in New York City, where Peter has ambitions to become a big-time newspaper reporter, but can only get a job as a copy boy. Francis, the talking MULE (and not a donkey), though is boarding at the stables where the horses of the city's mounted police are kept, and mounted-police horses are known for being gossips, so Francis gets lots of inside information regarding local crime activity, passes it on to Peter, and Peter is soon leading the town in big-time scoops. This pleases his city-editor to no end, but the local gangsters are not amused.
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Review :
Francis Covers the Big Town (1953) ***
At last! After three unsuccessful attempts at entertainment, this fourth entry worked well for me and is the best of the bunch so far. Francis the Talking Mule and his master, Donald O'Connor (or is it the other way around?) go to New York (the setting alone perks things up a bit) where they become mixed up in all sorts of trouble, including a murder trial. This installment is better written with more time devoted to the donkey, who's actually pretty funny for a change. The script also makes better use of its supporting characters and fashions a love affair for the bumbling O'Connor.
Dragonfly Squadron (1954)iMDB Rating: 5.8 Date Released : 21 March 1954 Genre : War Stars : John Hodiak, Barbara Britton, Bruce Bennett, Jess Barker. A Korean War film with a secondary plot of the training of South Korean pilots, to fly fighters in air defense, by American Air Force instructors,led by Major Brady, a famed and skilled-but-grounded pilot, assigned to the Kongku base. Once there he meets again Donna Cottrell (Barbara Britton), whom he was about to marry a year ago until she learned that she wasn't the widow she thought she was. ..." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
A Korean War film with a secondary plot of the training of South Korean pilots, to fly fighters in air defense, by American Air Force instructors,led by Major Brady, a famed and skilled-but-grounded pilot, assigned to the Kongku base. Once there he meets again Donna Cottrell (Barbara Britton), whom he was about to marry a year ago until she learned that she wasn't the widow she thought she was. Her husband (Bruce Bennett), had been a prisoner and wasn't dead, and showed up before the wedding and more or less put a damper on the whole proceedings. He is the base doctor and also keeps a wary eye on his wife and Brady. Not a bad idea considering the short period of grief she went through, after being informed he was dead, before heading for the altar with Brady. But Bruce Bennet, as was par for the course for characters Bennett usually played, does the right thing and gets himself blown up by an enemy bomb (and is certified real dead this time), thereby ensuring the two top-billed ...
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Review :
Awful
Clichéd, trite, stereotyped. Also, in the copy I saw, almost unwatchably fuzzy- the 3D showing through, perhaps? But the worst bit is the splicing in of stock footage of vaguely relevant bits of hardware. One expects all tanks in movies of this era to be American, but seeing good 'ol all American boys being shelled by a Sherman still jars. But the funniest errors are in the aircraft. Four US jet fighters (P-80's) twice become piston engined P-51's in close up, for example. But best of all a strafing enemy "Yak/Russian" fighter with a piston engine (and a devilish oriental pilot in close up) becomes a jet-powered P-80 (which only the US used) dropping napalm before reverting to a piston engine for the rest of the attack. Masters of disguise, evidently. On the interpersonal front watch for almost every 50's cliché, including "but I had to go back to him, he's wonderful", "I'm a hard-bitten infantryman", "you ran away, you coward", and probably if you look hard enough someone in a flying saucer. Not watchable. Can I have that bit of my life back, please?
Destination Gobi (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.4 Date Released : 11 May 1953 Genre : Adventure, Drama, War Stars : Richard Widmark, Don Taylor, Max Showalter, Murvyn Vye. A group of US Navy weathermen taking measurements in the Gobi desert in World War II are forced to seek the help of Mongol nomads to regain their ship while under attack from the Japanese air force. The Mongols are rewarded by an airlift of the finest saddles." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
A group of US Navy weathermen taking measurements in the Gobi desert in World War II are forced to seek the help of Mongol nomads to regain their ship while under attack from the Japanese air force. The Mongols are rewarded by an airlift of the finest saddles.
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Review :
DESTINATION GOBI (Robert Wise, 1953) **1/2
While supposedly presenting “one of the strangest stories of WWII” (denoted in historical records merely by the cryptic phrase “Saddles For Gobi” – explained later), this film hardly constitutes the most engrossing or exciting war adventure to be depicted on the screen…and, besides, emerges as an even greater disappointment coming from a director of Wise’s stature! That said, the unusual desert location and attractive color cinematography makes it a pleasant – if forgettable – actioner. Apart from this, the fact that it’s one of Wise’s (and star Richard Widmark’s) rarest efforts, has made me leap at the chance of acquiring a copy of it (albeit an imperfect one, given the alarmingly frequent jerkiness of the image) – gleaned from a broadcast on French Satellite TV! – particularly in view of Widmark’s recent passing.
The interesting thing here is that, what starts off as a routine mission involving U.S. Navy personnel operating in a desert weather station, develops into a story of survival – as, following an aerial attack by the Japanese, the remaining members of the outfit trek towards the sea in an attempt to reach the Navy base on duty at Okinawa. Ironically, both the studio (Fox) and the star involved had already made a film about that campaign – Lewis Milestone’s HALLS OF MONTEZUMA (1950), which I’d watched on Italian TV but may check out again now (on DVD-R) as part of my ongoing Widmark tribute.
Amidst the typical camaraderie, the men suffer the elements, manage an unexpected alliance with a horde of Mongols (achieved by procuring the latter with saddles for their horses requisitioned from the U.S.!), are conned by a shady camel merchant, apparently betrayed to the Japanese forces by the Mongols themselves (though it transpires that the latter’s internment camp is actually close to the seashore) and then fight off the enemy on a ramshackle river boat. In the end, it’s certainly watchable and efficiently enough handled – but, as I said, the material per se isn’t inspiring enough to bring out the best from the talents involved…
The Desert Rats (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.8 Date Released : 20 May 1953 Genre : Action, Adventure, Drama, War Stars : Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Rommel has the British in retreat on his way to the Suez Canal. All that stands in his way is Tobruk, held by a vastly out numbered force of Australian troops. Richard Burton leads these troops on daring raids against Rommel, keeping him off balance as they earn the nickname 'The Desert Rats'.
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Review :
Excellent look at British and ANZAC troops
I haven't seen this gem in almost 20 years and AMC presented it today. An excellent look at the British war effort against the Germans and Italians in North Africa. Except for the minor mistakes of weaponry (American made Thompsons in the hands of Germans, Colt M1917 water-cooled MGs for German MGs, etc) this was a realistic and rousing tale of the North African campaign. Of course Hollywood liberties were taken, it is a movie, not a documentary. The interplay between Richard Burton and Robert Newton was excellent, with Newton's performance the proper balance for Burton's sometimes hysterical scene-chewing. That is is based loosely on real events and in many cases ANZAC and British troops did hold back Rommel's attacks many times only enhances the story. Kudos to the makers and an excellent addition to any war movie collection.
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)iMDB Rating: 5.7 Date Released : 2 December 1953 Genre : Adventure Stars : Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland, J. Carrol Naish. Mike and Tony Petrakis are a Greek father and son team who dive for sponges off the coast of Florida. After they are robbed by crooks, Arnold and the Rhys brothers, Mike decides to take his men to the dangerous 12-mile reef to dive for more sponges. Mike suffers a fatal accident when he falls from the reef leaving Tony to carry on the business. But now he has a companion, Gwyneth Rhys." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Mike and Tony Petrakis are a Greek father and son team who dive for sponges off the coast of Florida. After they are robbed by crooks, Arnold and the Rhys brothers, Mike decides to take his men to the dangerous 12-mile reef to dive for more sponges. Mike suffers a fatal accident when he falls from the reef leaving Tony to carry on the business. But now he has a companion, Gwyneth Rhys.
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Review :
It's All Greek to Sea
Robert Wagner (as Tony Petrakis) and Terry Moore (as Gwyneth Rhys) are an attractive couple; and, the color cinematography is lovely in "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef". Gilbert Roland (as Mike Petrakis) heads up an entertaining supporting cast. Mr. Wagner's hair is darkened to appear more Greek (but his on-screen sister's locks are spared). Ms. Moore is fetching. Still, Edward Cronjager (photographer) and Bernard Herrmann (musician) are director Robert Webb's most valuable players. The film helped put Wagner on the map; he won a "Photoplay Gold Medal" as filmdom's best new actor; moreover, he and Moore easily made Martin Quigley's Annual Top 10 "Stars of Tomorrow" list for 1953.
***** Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (12/2/53) Robert D. Webb ~ Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland
Loves of Three Queens (1954)iMDB Rating: 4.4 Date Released : 14 July 2014 Genre : Drama Stars : Hedy Lamarr, Massimo Serato, Alba Arnova, Elli Parvo." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
I absolutely adore Hedy Lamarr. When I first saw her face in a black and white movie on TV, way back, in the 1950's, I was transfixed by what I saw. Since then, no female in the history of movies, has surpassed her great beauty; Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner came close. It never mattered that she was not a great actress. Elizabeth Taylor, as a Hollywood insider gained some acclaim as an actress, in some pretty impressive roles; but ultimately bit the dust, in films like 'Cleopatra', 'The Sandpiper', 'Boom', 'The Comedians', and many, many more. 'Amante di Paride, L'' was a mess of a film. Much of Hedy's money went into this film, but the film was doomed by its very premise; and certainly Hedy could never have done anything with such a horrible script, and stupid story! I felt more sad than anything, because I always thought Hedy did not end up with the right directors, or the best scripts. This movie was pleasing enough on the eyes; but otherwise an assault to the other senses. This is not the way I prefer to remember Hedy.
Washington Story (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.6 Date Released : 18 July 1952 Genre : Drama Stars : Van Johnson, Patricia Neal, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer. Van Johnson's character is a congressman. Reporter Alice Kingsly arrives in Washington D.C. determined to uncover a tabloid-worthy scandal, and chooses Representative Joseph "No Comment Joe, the human clam" Gresham as her target. However, problems arise when the senator's wholesome image looks to be true and Alice becomes torn between her desire for a scandalous story and her growing attraction ..." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Van Johnson's character is a congressman. Reporter Alice Kingsly arrives in Washington D.C. determined to uncover a tabloid-worthy scandal, and chooses Representative Joseph "No Comment Joe, the human clam" Gresham as her target. However, problems arise when the senator's wholesome image looks to be true and Alice becomes torn between her desire for a scandalous story and her growing attraction to Gresham.
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Review :
DC romance with dash of drama says much about politics in '52
Washington Story promises to be a lot grittier than it ends up being, but this non-Red-scare movie nonetheless says a lot about America during the height of the Red scare (1952, actually). Van Johnson plays a hard-working, honest congressman who runs foul of a venomous columnist. The columnist sets an idealistic young reporter (Patricia Neal) on him to dig up, or manufacture, dirt. At first wary, the two grow -- naturally -- close, only to draw apart from unfounded suspicions. The appeal of Johnson and Neal make this a passable diversion, and there's some nice observation of the Georgetown cocktail-party circuit and of close friendships between ideologically incompatible colleagues, but the underlying message is never far from the surface: It's unpatriotic to talk against the "Government," and the press is nothing but a pack of subversive malcontents.
La vérité sur Bébé Donge (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.0 Date Released : 13 February 1952 Genre : Thriller Stars : Danielle Darrieux, Jean Gabin, Jacques Castelot, Daniel Lecourtois. Francois Donge, a wealthy manufacturer, is fighting death at hospital. He officially suffers from a food poisoning. But actually, his wife Bebe deliberately poisoned him. Flashback: ten years before, Francois meets Bebe. He is already wealthy, and has many affairs. She is an idealistic young woman. He is thinking of taking a wife, she is looking for love..." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Francois Donge, a wealthy manufacturer, is fighting death at hospital. He officially suffers from a food poisoning. But actually, his wife Bebe deliberately poisoned him. Flashback: ten years before, Francois meets Bebe. He is already wealthy, and has many affairs. She is an idealistic young woman. He is thinking of taking a wife, she is looking for love...
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Review :
Anatomy of a murder.
Ambitious,not always successful,this Decoin film is adapted from George Simenon. It's a long flashback,mixing present and past with occasional gaps.The black and white cinematography is thoroughly mastered:Danielle Darrieux, all dressed in black(and beautiful), like a death angel, visits her dying husband with a pallid face in a white room.Another shot, before the end, shows a car disappearing in the darkest night.
Bebe Donge is a romantic woman, a "Madame Bovary",who believes in true love. She does not realize that, in the bourgeois world in which she lives in, these values are no longer in use.Her husband (Gabin) is cynical and does not even try to hide his lovers.In 1951,for the bourgeoisie,divorce was unthinkable:the wedding ceremony, with great pomp meant, for these hypocrites, that what the lord joined together, the world must not undo. So Darrieux ,who was a charming young woman, becomes a murderer. There was nothing to suggest that such a disaster might happen .
Although not as good as "non coupable" with Michel Simon,"la vérité sur Bébé Donge" is eminently watchable and will reward you as much as, say, a Godard movie.Or surely more...
The Witch (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.5 Date Released : 3 October 1952 Genre : Drama, Fantasy Stars : Mirja Mane, Toivo Mäkelä, Hillevi Lagerstam, Sakari Jurkka. Archaeological team unearths a body of a young woman, who was told to be a witch buried in the bog some 300 years ago. Soon a naked woman appears and drives the men of the village crazy. Everybody is certain that this really is the witch killed in days of yore. At the end the wild happenings during those few days appeared to be a dream of the professor leading the excavations." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Archaeological team unearths a body of a young woman, who was told to be a witch buried in the bog some 300 years ago. Soon a naked woman appears and drives the men of the village crazy. Everybody is certain that this really is the witch killed in days of yore. At the end the wild happenings during those few days appeared to be a dream of the professor leading the excavations.
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Review :
Rare Finnish 'horror'
Made after the Second World War, this film, which would translate to English as 'The Witch returns to life', shows the lack of funding so common in the post-war era in Finland. But yet, to keep people's humor up, the film industry did everything to ease the living of the poor households. The 'horror' part of this film might seem to us now more or less amusing.
The seemingly light subject of the film has underlying social issues: The Second World War had ended just barely seven years ago. The heavy war indemnities forced Finnish industry to boost up its productivity. The agricultural Finland was moving faster and faster towards city-life. Women's rights were still in the developing stage. Especially in the countryside and farms the women were the ones to take care of the household while the men were busy out in the fields to secure the year's crop. 'Unconventially' behaving female was prone to draw negative attention - especially if she was young and attractive. The villager's moods could have easily turned to witch hunt-like persecution.
Mika Waltari (September 19, 1908 – August 26, 1979) is one of the best known writers of Finland. His works have been translated to many languages all over the world. The most famous book is 'Sinuhe - the Egyptian', which made the Bestsellers list in many countries and is translated to 40 languages. 'The Egyptian' - a Hollywood movie was made according to 'Sinuhe' in 1954 (Director Michael Curtiz). The theater play 'Noita palaa elämään' (1947) is one of his 26 plays and was made for film in 1952 - the year Helsinki had the Summer Olympic Games. Altogether 33 books of Waltari have been filmed.
Lucrèce Borgia (1953)iMDB Rating: 5.6 Date Released : 23 October 1953 Genre : Drama, History Stars : Martine Carol, Pedro Armendáriz, Valentine Tessier, Arnoldo Foà. In the early 16th century, Italy is ruled by the powerful Borgia family, led by César Borgia and his sister Lucrètè. In a ruthless power play, César plots to have his sister's husband murdered. But without her brother's knowledge, Lucrècè has taken a strong lover who will challenge the Borgias." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
In the early 16th century, Italy is ruled by the powerful Borgia family, led by César Borgia and his sister Lucrètè. In a ruthless power play, César plots to have his sister's husband murdered. But without her brother's knowledge, Lucrècè has taken a strong lover who will challenge the Borgias.
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Review :
Handsome production--and leading actress
I just saw a French-language (w/subtitles) DVD of this film, which is/was famous for Martine Carol's bathing au naturelle. That is not the film's only nudity, and the film was probably thus censored upon release in the USA. Otherwise, the costumes and overall production values were impressive for the era, considering that European cinema didn't have Hollywood's finances. Martine Carol played the part adequately while showing a good figure for someone past the age of thirty (we could all do as well). I'm not sure if Pedro Armendariz spoke French, but he plays the part of Lucrezia's brother César credibly. This film is condensed and probably filtered history, though it is possible that the Borgias, especially Lucrezia, may suffer from a bad press. They had many enemies, some deserved, who may have exaggerated their deeds into misdeeds.
Mutiny (1952)iMDB Rating: 5.1 Date Released : 19 March 1952 Genre : Adventure Stars : Mark Stevens, Angela Lansbury, Patric Knowles, Gene Evans. Early in the War of 1812, Captain James Marshall is commissioned to run the British blockade and fetch an unofficial war loan from France. As first mate, Marshall recruits Ben Waldridge, a cashiered former British Navy captain. Waldridge brings his former gun crew...who begin plotting mutiny as soon as they learn there'll be gold aboard. The gold duly arrives, and with it Waldridge's former ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Early in the War of 1812, Captain James Marshall is commissioned to run the British blockade and fetch an unofficial war loan from France. As first mate, Marshall recruits Ben Waldridge, a cashiered former British Navy captain. Waldridge brings his former gun crew...who begin plotting mutiny as soon as they learn there'll be gold aboard. The gold duly arrives, and with it Waldridge's former sweetheart Leslie, who's fond of a bit of gold herself. Which side is Waldridge really on?
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Review :
A wasted opportunity
Where to begin with this bottom of the barrel adventure? Dmytryk was always an inconsistent director able to produce fine films like "The Caine Mutiny" and "Broken Lance" as well as high gloss trash such as "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Where Love Has Gone" and slug like this. Strictly paying the rent actors give lackluster performances. Angela looks great and gives the film's best performance but why oh why is she wearing a 1950's evening dress on a warship in 1812? Painfully obvious that this was filmed on the cheap in a studio tank with low lighting to cover the sets shortcomings. A shame since there are not a lot a films about this time period so a wasted opportunity like this is doubly disappointing.
The Last Musketeer (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.6 Date Released : 1 March 1952 Genre : Western Stars : Rex Allen, Koko, Mary Ellen Kay, Slim Pickens. Cattle buyer Rex Allen rides into Taskerville and sees two men toss Slim Pickens, a water diviner hired by the local ranchers, into a wagon. Rex chases the wagon to the barn of rancher Lem Shaver, where he learns from Slim that Russ Tasker, a wealthy rancher and owner of the only artesian-fed reservoir in the valley, has charged such high prices for water that the ranchers are bankrupt. Tasker's ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Cattle buyer Rex Allen rides into Taskerville and sees two men toss Slim Pickens, a water diviner hired by the local ranchers, into a wagon. Rex chases the wagon to the barn of rancher Lem Shaver, where he learns from Slim that Russ Tasker, a wealthy rancher and owner of the only artesian-fed reservoir in the valley, has charged such high prices for water that the ranchers are bankrupt. Tasker's henchmen kill rancher Matt Becker and have his son Johnny branded as an outlaw. Rex learns that the Beckers had found a meager water supply and Rex suspects that is what led to the killing and the charges against Johnny. With the aid of Slim and Johnny's sweetheart, Sue, Rex finds that the Becker spring is fed from the same underground lake that feeds Tasker's well-guarded reservoir. But Rex is jailed for aiding Johnny.
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Review :
The Local Ponderosa Owner Wants Even More
Though what musketeers of any kind have to do with this story I don't know, Rex Allen stars in this fine B western where cattle buyer Allen gets involved with the problems of a valley and the small ranchers who are being starved out by James Anderson owner of the local Ponderosa who also controls all the water in the valley with a reservoir he's built and maintains with gunmen.
His father built the Ponderosa, but the son wants to make it bigger yet by driving all the other ranchers out and then damming up an underground river that feeds the reservoir and selling electric power to surrounding cities. In 1952 still a lot of the country had not yet gotten public power courtesy of one of the New Deal's most innovative and progressive agencies, the Rural Electrification Agency. The plot would have resonated well in the rural market area though not as well as in the Thirties. In that sense though good and still somewhat topical this would have found a bigger market in the Thirties.
Rex and sidekick Slim Pickens also have to contend with young lovers Mary Ellen Kay and Michael Hall whose father is killed by Anderson and his men and is seeking vengeance. Hall's understandable grief and quest for Anderson's hide might upset plans that Allen has to bring Anderson down legally.
Both Rex Allen and Slim Pickens have a background in rodeo, in fact Slim Pickens was a rodeo clown. About six or seven minutes in the film is devoted to Slim's routine with a bull like you would have seen in his younger days.
This is a pretty serious western and a good one showing Rex Allen to good advantage as a cowboy hero.
The Las Vegas Story (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.3 Date Released : 30 January 1952 Genre : Crime, Drama, Film-Noir Stars : Jane Russell, Victor Mature, Vincent Price, Hoagy Carmichael Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Investment broker Lloyd Rollins, insisting to his wife Linda that they stop at Las Vegas on their trip from Boston, begins to gamble heavily. Linda visits the Last Chance, a casino where she used to sing, and where she meets police lieutenant Dave Andrews, with whom she had a brief affair some years earlier. Insurance investigator Tom Hubler soon arrives to keep an eye on Linda's valuable necklace for his company, unaware that Rollins hocked the necklace with Clayton, owner of the Last Chance. Lt. Andrews, rebuffed by Linda, learns that Clayton has been murdered. He deduces the killer's identity and begins a deadly chase when he learns the killer has taken Linda hostage and fled into the desert.
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Review :
THE LAS VEGAS STORY (Robert Stevenson, 1952) **1/2
Apart from being another entry in my planned month-long tribute to Vincent Price, this also served as a nod to the recently-departed Jane Russell (as should be the upcoming MACAO from the same year, to be included in my other ongoing retrospective dedicated to Josef von Sternberg). Anyway, this is a minor noir effort: indeed, it is one of the sunnier of its type, in that the narrative unfolds as much by day as it does during the night; besides, for all its intended gloom, there is a healthy vein of humor running through it! It is saved, however, by the RKO production values (the studio, above any other, gave the genre its quintessential look) and the star cast (which also includes Victor Mature, Hoagy Carmichael, Brad Dexter and Jay C. Flippen).
The plot involves Russell's return to the gambling capital of the world after she had spent the war years as a chanteuse there (at a club where Carmichael – who else? – is the typically laidback pianist/observer). In the meantime, she has married wealthy Price but does not know he is close to bankruptcy (before noticing a wire he received reporting the suicide of his Boston colleague)!; another old acquaintance is cop-on-the-beat Mature, bitter at her apparent desertion of him. Needless to say, Russell and Mature ultimately get to rekindle their affair, but the path runs far from smoothly: apart from their own mutual resentment, Price does not look favourably upon his wife's former conquests, while complicating things further is the expensive necklace Price uses as a guarantee in order to try his luck at one of the leading casinos (which is being closely watched by insurance investigator Dexter). Eventually, the new owner of Russell's old haunt is found murdered (after he had denied Price further credit) and the necklace stolen. Of course, Price becomes the key suspect – and Russell accuses Mature of having framed him so as to get back at her! However, it is obvious from the get-go that the real culprit is the wolfish Dexter, and the film climaxes decently with a desert helicopter chase and a shootout in an abandoned hangar. As for Price, he is ready to pay the price sic of his own criminal activity back home i.e. embezzlement.
The film is reasonably enjoyable, with most of the expected noir elements intact – including its fair share of hard-boiled dialogue, not to mention having Russell and Carmichael warble a number of songs – but the contrived scripting (by Earl Felton and Harry Essex, who ought to have known better!), cornball attempts at comedy (mainly having to do with Sheriff Flippen betting what Mature's next move will be with respect to both solving the case and sorting out his private life!) and an incongruous sentimental streak (clearly evoking CASABLANCA 1942 in the subplot involving a couple of underage elopers!) prevent the promising mixture from rising to greater heights.
Ivanhoe (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.9 Date Released : 20 February 1953 Genre : Adventure, Drama, History, Romance Stars : Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
In the centre of this Walter Scott classic fiction inspired film the chivalrousness and the daring stand. Ivanhoe, the disowned knight join to the bravehearted and high-minded Robin Hood, the valiant of Forest Sherwood. They want King Richard to rule the kingdom instead of evil Prince John.
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Review :
A fascinating adventure movie
An engrossing movie about 12th century England. It has everything you would want to see in a movie about medieval Europe: knights, fair maidens, jousting tournaments, battles, and feuding crowns. Yet the movie is not boring in any way. I enjoyed every minute of it. The title character is an Anglo-Saxon knight who's on a mission to return the imprisoned king, Richard the Lionhearted, to his throne. Along the way, Ivanhoe encounters some obstacles that may endanger his own life and threaten the future of England. Everything about this movie is enchanting. The movie is very colorful, the score is outstanding, and it's exciting to watch the battle scenes. I really enjoyed seeing one of my favorite actors, George Sanders, playing yet another villain. It was also great to see the always ravishing Elizabeth Taylor (at a very young age), who plays a jewish maiden. I liked the way the movie demonstrated the persecution of jews living in England at the time, and how they were looked down upon in spite of the different ethnic groups that made up the English population. Above all, I really liked the ending--it was awesome. Interestingly, this movie (which is from 1952) is more entertaining than and not as theatrical as some of the historical dramas that were made AFTER this movie.
I'll Get You (1952)iMDB Rating: 5.5 Date Released : 16 January 1953 Genre : Crime, Thriller, Drama Stars : George Raft, Sally Gray, Frederick Piper, Reginald Tate Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
When nuclear scientists are kidnapped and smuggled behind the Iron Curtain, an FBI man and a British agent are assigned to catch the kidnappers.
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Review :
Don't be fooled, NOT Film Noir
This is being advertised as part of a film noir collection. Its is definitely not noir. It is a cheap B&W second run British post-war espionage mystery. It has some very good London exteriors showing WWII bombed out building, streets, and vintage cars but that's about it. George Raft is his usual upright, erect, suave self and the story is hokey, naturally there is a female romantic interest thrown in as usual formula but it is not objectionable or at all a waste of time, it's a good display of a has-been American actor on the cheap to a a thrifty British production and that's all. It is watchable, you don't want to turn it off, so see it for what it is without any high expectations.
Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.9 Date Released : 24 December 1952 Genre : Drama Stars : Burt Lancaster, Shirley Booth, Terry Moore, Richard Jaeckel Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
For two decades Doc and Lola Delaney avoided coming to terms with what Doc considered a "shot gun" marriage. Lola lost the baby and gives a lot of her affection to Sheba, a dog that disappeared a few months before the film opens. Doc blames Lola for having to drop out of medical school and not becoming a "real" doctor. Until joining AA a year ago, his escape was alcohol. Then college student Marie rents a room in their home. Doc feels passion for the first time in 20 years. But Marie has two suitors her age. Lola -- unaware of Doc's emotions --becomes as interested in Marie's future as if Marie were her daughter.
William Inge's play transfers nicely to the big screen, with perfectly cast leads Shirley Booth and Burt Lancaster.
A middle aged, childless couple struggles with the husband's periodic alcoholic "episodes". When they rent out a room in their house to a young college girl, the audience learns a lot about the couple just by observing their reactions to "the young people". "Doc" Delaney exhibits fatherly, protective feelings toward the young woman, expressing disgust when she brings a young man to her room. A regular at AA meetings, he eventually "gets sick" again. Determined never to give up, his devoted wife Lola stands by her man. The ending leaves us hopeful that all will turn out well.
There are many beautiful moments in this film, assuring a lover of tearjerkers a full pay-off! Shirley Booth deserved her 1953 Oscar for her portrayal of Lola Delaney. Oh, and don't look for little Sheba, she won't be back.
Francis Covers the Big Town (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.6
