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A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Unfortunately the last of the series, before SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
This kind, frame, of war movies began in 1962 with THE LONGEST DAY and resumed with BATTLE OF THE BULGE, BATTLE OF ENGLAND, BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, TOTA TORA TORA and of course this very one: A BRIDGE TOO FAR. I mean huge, mammoth production war films, showing every side of the protagonists for a major battle. Not only the "good" allies point of view, but on the contrary both point of views: Allies and German - or Japanese concerning TORA...The second peculiarity of those kinds of war films was that the cast included many, many stars. This one is directed by Richard Attenborough who gives here a true surprising masterpiece, very well made, that may help people to learn many details concerning WW2. Speaking of WW2 films, you will have to wait till 1998, with a milestone in war films history, I mean of course SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. But the frame of the Steven Spielberg's film was quite different. It showed only the American point of view, and not German, and used a very intimate angle, unlike the gigantic production which I spoke about just above.
Ni vu, ni connu (1958)
So French in the good way....
The fifties, sixties and seventies decades were the golden years of the French comedy industry. The best years. I usually hate comedies, including French ones, but with those oldies starring the likes of Louis De Funès, Bourvil and Fernandel, no one could be deceived. I first watched them when I was a child, and of course that helps me a lot to love this kind of stuff. I am an old timer and know youngsters who love those oldies too. It is very refreshing. Yves Robert was a specialist of this kind of films; this one is fun, fast paced, never boring. Besides LA TRAVERSEE DE PARIS, this is the most famous film in the Louis De Funès first part of career. Before he became a big star with LE CORNIAUD.
Battle Hymn (1957)
Pure Douglas Sirk's trademark and routine
Without any opening credits, I would have recognized here a movie directed by Douglas Sirk, a movie that of course evokes FAREWELL TO ARMS, maybe because of the plot and also the presence of Rock Hudson. That's not my cup of tea, both features, but that's the recipe of a war melodrama, the kind of scheme for which you can also expect a William Holden, a Rock Hudson or a Jimmy Stewart's presence, and certainly not Dan Duryea, who is totally in midcast here. It is a routine job from the duo Douglas Sirk - Rock Hudson, and I forgot the producer Ross Hunter. I prefer a true melodrama without any war lines.
Crazy Joe (1974)
Smooth and boring gangster biopic drama where the polizzotesco genre tries to look like Blaxploitation
I expected something a bit more exciting than this piece of junk, I tell you. It is an American and Italian production, but it looks like more a lousy US film than an Italian polizzotesco in the pure tradition, violent, brutal, gritty, as it should have been. I will also say that they try to include some Blaxploitation elements. It is talkative and slow, and that's the proof that the biopics arre not always the best formula to tell something fantastic. Actually, I have never understood why people crave so much about films inspired from actual events. Why? Actual events are always more boring - unless the screenwriters add something else and that's not that true anymore - more unbearable in terms of violence - and the screen writers will smooth them down, so what's the use to watch them? - or - and that's here that is interesting - true stories may be more surprising, more incredible than real facts. But here, it is simply a deception to me. Peter Boyle doesn't seem to be concerned at all in this role; I think he could have done far better.
The Furies (1950)
Barbara Stanwyck in a role that will open the way to others of this kind
Remember Barbara Stanwyck in CATTLE QUEEN OF MONTANA, MAVERICK QUEEN or even Samuel Fuller's FORTY GUNS. For all those westerns, she was a he woman, a woman wearing pants and leading men. Stronger, even more powerful than any Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane or Belle Starr; or even more convincing than Joan Crawford in JOHNNY GUITAR, but I admit that those two female characters are quite different and complex to be compared. So, sorry. This is a solid western given by one of the greatest specialists of the Hollywood industry; Anthony Mann. Walter Huston, for his last role, is terrific in such a role that suits him as a glove. But Barbara Stanwyck steals the film because of her incediible perrformance.
A History of Violence (2005)
David Cronenberg and his mutation obsessions
For those who know David Cronenberg's films since the beginning, this Canadian director was known for being a science fiction - horror film maker, obsessed by mutations. I mean characters mutations, for instance THE FLY, and nearly all his films are more or less involved in such plots, schemes, in any forms: . Here, HSTORY OF VIOLENCE offers us a quiet man who suddenly becomes violent, for reasons very easy to understand. The most important matter in this film is the contrast between his quietness and the brutality eruption he is able to show to the audiences. Yes, this iis a pure gem, bleak, gritty, but the ending could have been better though.
Seven Cities of Gold (1955)
Amazing American adventure yarn
This is a rather rare film produced by 20th Century Fox and never aired on French channels during the seventies. At least, I don't remember it. Never released on DVD or either VHS in France; and only VHS in certain European - Spain - countries. No DVD release in the UK nor USA. Very strange for a 104 mn Twentieth Century Fox production, starring Anthony Quinn. A true mystery, why such a film is so rare? Why? Because of a rights owner issue? It doesn't make sense and doesn't deserve it. I first thought it was a Conquistadore film, as were for instance AGUIRRE - twenty years later, I know - or even Carlos Saura's ELDORADO. But no, it concerns Spanish in California during the eghteenth century searching gold. Good film, in the pure Hollywoodian tradition. Robert D Webb was a director for Fox and was involved with many good westerns and adventure movies with much budgets and strangely B films castings. Very strange.
The Avengers: Return of the Cybernauts (1967)
Peter Cushing again but with another creature of his.
And this time, Peter Cushing is not Dr Frankenstein but Dr Armstrong and his creature is not the deceased man brought back to life but a robot. For the rest, you can consider it as a kind of tribute to the Hammer Films movies. Anyway, many AVENGERS episodes are actually more or less inspired by Hammer Films topics or even Hollywood ones too. This is a milestone in this TV show series. You also had the cybernauts in the previous season, and you'll still have it ten years later, with Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt. But no cybernauts in the season in between, the season with Linda Thorson as Tara King. It's is sufficiently important to be noticed.
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
Excellent Hammer films yarn
Maybe from the real die hard fans of Hammer films - and Peter Cushing's performances in particular - point of view, this is a lesser effort to, once more, use the Frankenstein character, Frankenstein and his endless experiments. Always the same scheme, same ending - or kind of endings, abrupt endings, the Hammer films trademark - but the charm is still here, thanks to the production design. This movie is for me exquisite and the best example of what this British film company could offer us. You will confound it with all the other features directed by Freddie Francis and his buddy Terence Fisher, involving the mad doctor and body snatcher. Val Guest, John Gilling and Don Sharp also were Hammer films "home" directors but never made Frankenstein nor Dracula movies. Peter Cushing will have three years later a role in THE AVENGERS series episode THE CYBERNAUTS which will be a tribute to Frankenstein and his creature scheme.
Mob Land (2023)
CHARLEY VARRICK rip-off under NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN influence
Yes, definitely, and with Stephen Dorff in Joe Don Baker or Javier Barden's role; I mean the mob enforcer sent to bring the stolen money back. It is a rural American action thriller, set in deep South USA, where you expect to see a Confederate flag from time to time. Of course, t is not as powerful as the Don Siegel or Cohen brothers' films, which plot and atmosphere is close to this very one - but it remains a good time waster. There were thousands of this kind of films made by the independant film industry, a rural action drama, with a good character depiction, but unfortunately not destined to wide audiences who will consider it lame, which is definitely not.
Vivants (2023)
Cute little film but wrongly made.
I think that this subject, rarely - if not never - done before could have been more powerful, convincing. Because the story telling and directing seemed to be ankward, boring, and Roschdy Zem deserved better than to be in such a bad movie. But strangely, despite the fact it is not a good film, I think it is cute, it is an honest picture trying - I insist on trying - to show how difficult it is to be a journalist. However, it is never convincing, I repeat, I am sure another director would have done better. Imagine if a film maker such a Sidney Lumet had done it before - remember NETWORK - it would have been terrific. But not only a prestigious director.
Idz przodem, bracie (2024)
Why a so lousy ending? Why?
I was really attracted by this amazing social thriller, giving so much importance on characters, even supporting ones. Not too easy to follow, to summarize, but really well made, pulled by convincing performances. It so poignant, gripping, violent in the same time. Only the last part of the last episode deceived me, deceived me so much that I prefer forgetting this TV show from Poland. It could have been darker, grittier, instead of this American like style. You know what I am talking about. I hope that the makers of this TV show will give us something more downbeat next time. I don't regret the time I spent on it. No, only the last fifteen minutes are junk.
The Tall Target (1951)
John Kennedy tries to prevent the assassination of the president
I know it seems very strange, but in this thriller which plots reminds me Lewis Allen's SUDDENLY, there is a lead character named John Kennedy, and this very dude will have to prevent the President Lincoln assassination. JOHN KENNEDY. Of course this film was made twelve years before what you know. But it is totally crazy. Admit it. That said, it is an interesting film, maybe not my favourite from director Anthony Mann, but more interesting than BORDER INCIDENT for instance, or GOD'S LITTLE ACRE. This plot uses some Alfred Hitchcock's elements in terms of suspense, twists, thrilling lines that glues you to this amazing movie.
Les passagers (1977)
Good French thriller drama
I always confound this film with another of this kind - L'AGRESSION - and also starring Jean-Louis Trintignant in the role of an ordinary law abiding citizen who suddenly encounters many issues against some lunatics whilst he is travelling on French roads and motorways with his child. In the other film, he co stars Catherine Deneuve and here Mireille Darc. Both stories are quite different though; this one closer to Steven Spielberg's DUEL than the other one which is closer to DEATH WISH and the vigilante scheme. My feelings were the same for both films made the same year, or one year in between.
The Man with Bogart's Face (1980)
I have always had great tenderness for this film
I usually dislike detective films, I mean I don't particularely like gumshoe films, which I rarely undertsand, because of the too complex plots. But here, this is an exceptional piece of work, funny, totally crazy and a fantastic tribute to Humphrey Bogart and his legend. Again, as for any private eye film, don't bother the details of the story, it's not important at all. Just enjoy and pay attention to those old actors such as George Raft, Yvonne De Carlo, Victor Buono. Useless to say it is a light hearted film, nearly a comedy and it could never had been a novel; only a movie. And it was actually a book. I hardly believe it. The director Robert Day was a British film maker who gave us some TARZAN adventures in the sixties. Good little, very small tribute to Gene Tierney for LAURA about which we can hear a bit of David Raksin's music. Yvonne de Carlo has a too tiny role here, if only tou sneeze, you'll miss her. She appears in the party, no lines. She deserved better. Poor Yvonne.
Night Riders of Montana (1951)
Only if you search for sleep
Fred C Brannon the director will forever be for me the co director of the Republic Pictures serials of the forties, with the master and cult serial director Wiilliam Witney - CRIMSOM GHOST - and more serials co directing with Spencer Gordon Bennett, not that bad either, even more prolific than Witney. However, without William Witney or Spencer Gordon Bennet, Fred C Brannon was at the same level as the likes of Philip Ford or the first RG Springsteen before he becomes more ambitious. Here, don't expect anything special, it is a chain made western, identical to many many others of this kind. And even if you have a small detail which is special, unusual, you'll miss it because of the bland direction. I am not sure the makers noticed this interesting detail, it was just there, by chance. Pure hazard. Only for crazy B westerns die hard fans.
Two Rode Together (1961)
John Ford in the quiet and light heart mood
This is definitely not my favorite from director John Ford. This is not THE SEARCHERS - despite a close plot and scheme too - and not THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALENCE; it remains a good John Ford's film, very well made, directed, acted, but bringing nothing exceptional and even boring from time to time. But is is John Ford, and not a lousy director who is behind the camera. So it is worth the watch anyway, don't misunderstand me. This is not the most famous from him, it is usually forgotten from John Ford tributes. The Irish born film maker decided to give something quiet, cool, so why not? He deserved it, did not he?
Border Incident (1949)
The less interesting from Anthony Mann
And this scheme, topic, I mean migrants, illegal migrants from Mexico, is so "fashion" now, in November 2024, that this 1949 thriller seems to be totally in the mood, and not old fashioned at all. You know what I am talking about, don't you. OK, the directing and acting are Ok, how could it be different from such a director. And Howard Da Silva better than ever in the lead gang boss. But that's the Tony Mann's less interesting film, besides so DR BROADWAY like movies from his early career. I usually forget this one, unlike TALL TARGET - also from Mann and made two years later - which is really a pure thriller, riveting and so on...This one evokes a problem not that much told about in those times. But in the migrants scheme, I prefered DESIERTO, 2016.
Nabonga (1944)
I discovered Sam Newfield thru this very film
The king of the psychotronic movies, the most notorious in France during the fifties and sixties ; at least that's what the old timers told me. It was a cult movie at the French cinémathèque during this period. It is stupid, lousy, but that's precisely for this reason that this film is so fun. Look for Julie London at seventeen years old. In another Sam Newfield's flick - BEAST OF BERLIN - it's Alan Ladd that we had in a very small role, nearly an extra. Don't watch it with the same expectations that you would have for KING KONG, a real quality film. Here, you have Buster Crabbe, Barton McLane, and the gorilla.... Just enjoy and have fun.
Julie (1956)
Prequel of the seventies
Don't forget that the Stones - Andrew and Virginia - were, in the fifties, the specialists of small budgets thrillers, which often announced the disaster films of the seventies. This one for instance made me think of the AIRPORT film series, I don't speak of the dozens of Tv seventies films from the likes of Jerry Jameson, Jack Smight, made during the seventies. Especially the last part of this movie for which the last minutes are soooo long, because soooo predictable. The other particullarity of the Stones' films was the suspense. Here, the suspense remains in every part of the film, every minute, and in the other features of this peculiar directors couple, you'll notice it is always the same: CRY TERROR, STEEL TRAP, NIGHT HOLDS TERROR, RING OF FIRE, LAST VOYAGE; the latest also announcing disaster films of the next next decade. And Louis Jourdan here steals the whole film in terrms of evil character, more than Doris Day.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
Amazing, terrific bucolic living environment....
I am so astonished to realize that no one seemed to have noticed that this movie is no more no less the same topic as DEATH IS MY TRADE, the Robert Merle's book adaptation made in 1977. A German film, not english, as this one...No one noticed, such a shame. Anyway, this removes nothing to this amazing, engrossing piece of work. It is awesome and the best lesson of history for the new generations. So, my comment will be more or less the same as my review fo DEATH IS MY TRADE. The picture of an ordinary factory big executive, the boss of a gigantic industrial facility, whose job was to produce, produce, optimize the reesults, increase the numbers of finished product "pieces". And this factory was nothing else than Auschwitz extermination - and not concentration, as Dachau for instance - camp. This film speaks of the same thing, the same topic as the previous film, but the theatment is quite different. The incredible scene of two women admirying a beautiful garden, the flowers, the quietness of the vicinity whilst they perfectly hear the gunshots and Jewiish prisoners howling, shouting in the camp from other side of the wall. Incredible and outstanding sequence. And the most unbearable thing that happens in the life of this big executive - Rudolf Hoëss - is to be relocated;..A pure tragedy for this "poor" guy. Who reads tales to his kids, where it is also question of evil witches thrown into a oven.... Was this humor for the screen writers?
The Hired Gun (1957)
One of Ray Nazzaro's best
I was amazed to see here a Ray Nazarro's film made in LBX and released - not produced, release - by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. I did not believe it. It is a truly interesting plot, very unusual, surprising, where Ann Francis's role steals the film. The directing is above average for a director such a Ray Nazarro, some kind of Lesley Selander prolific western maker. Nazzaro gave his best film during the fifties, his second part of career, after a long while for B westerns starring Charles Starrett. So, yes, this western is very worth the watch, it proves once more than B - 75 or 80 minutes - movies can from time to time good surprises. But if you replace Ann Francis by a man wrongly accused of murder, it would have been forgettable in the second after watching, as a drop of water, on a hot plate, that would evaporate.
All Things to All Men (2013)
Not bad at all
It is a rare good, I mean not so bad - British crime thriller from the 2010's and I would say from the 2000's, because the bulk of them all is rubbish, lousy, I would say unbearable. This one is not a masterpiece, but I like it because there are many characters, not a really lead one, most of them are all villains, there is no romance, no female character who would have nothing to do here. The supposed main character Parker is a rogue cop, a very nasty one. I literally love this kind of role. So, yes, I definitely prefer seeing such a crime film - even a straight to DVD or streaming platform junk - than a predictable Hollywood, or not, big budget movie with big bankable stars.
Inferno (1953)
Impressive thriller from a British director
I have always more or less confounded this thriller with John Sturges' JEOPARDY, because of the story plot, settings.... But this one is of course more thriller, because you have a criminal element, in the James Cain or James Hadley Chase manner. In the Sturges' feature, you had a criminal character, a supposed to be villain guy, but strangely, there was no criminal line in the plot. Unlike here, that's the main difference between the two movies. It's also surprising to have Robert Ryan in the good guy role. But why not? Roy Ward Baker was a British director who worked for Hollywood, for instance this very film and another one starring Marilyn: DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK. The ending could have been better though.
Kill or Be Killed (1950)
Not the best Larry Tierney - Max Nosseck's job
If I had to remember a film reuniting Lawrence Tierney and Max Nosseck the director, it would be DILLINGER and why not THE HOODLUM, but strangely not this one, which remains however a good time waster, adventure drama very pleasant to watch. It is not a thriller, nor a crime film, and Lawrence Tierney was born to be bad, to kill on screen - as he was precisely in Robert Wise's BORN TO KILL; he was not the best choice for something else. But, I repeat, the whole result is not bad at all. So, if you are a great fan of Lawrence Tierney because of Dillinger, this movie is not DILLINGER, nor THE HOODLUM. Appreciate it anyway. Please.