MY CLASSIC CINEMA BY PAUL BRADLEY

The critics are certainly right abut 'The Descendants'

2012-02-16T20:06:00.004Z

I have been watching a few acclaimed films this year and I left the cinema thinking that I wished I had liked those films more than I did. The Descendants was another one of those highly acclaimed films that I wanted to be really good. It was. I have no problem with saying that I left the cinema on Tuesday night feeling really happy. I really did enjoy this film.

The story begins with Matt King (a wonderful performance by George Clooney) who is a Honolulu-based lawyer and the sole trustee that controls land on the island of Kaua'i. This trust will expire in seven years so that the King family has decided to sell the land to developers. However, Matt's wife has been left in a serious coma due to a boating accident and Matt begins to address his difficult relationship with his own family because of this especially learning about his wife's infidelity.

Director Alexander Payne who co-wrote The Descendants with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, has built himself a reputation of creating generally entertaining and acclaimed films with strong themes of adultery, marriage and relationships in such films such as 'Election' (1999), 'About Schmidt' (2002) and 'Sideways' (2004). With the beautiful Hawaiian islands as the setting, The Descendants carries these themes successfully and is a worthy nominee for best picture at this year's Academy Awards.

Along with Clooney, there are so many terrific performances to behold especially from Shailene Woodley (as King's oldest daughter Alex), Beau Bridges (as cousin Hugh), Robert Forster (as Scott Thorson) and Michael Lilliard (as Brian Speer).

Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and always entertaining, The Descendants is a genuinely satisfying film experience.

'The Artist' has stolen from other artistic masterpieces!

2012-01-10T21:03:00.002Z

'The Artist' (2011)

I watched ‘The Artist’ at the Greenwich Picturehouse onSunday and I thought that it was another over-rated modern film. Directed byMichel Hazanavicius, the critics called it “original” yet it is clear that somany scenes in the film were robbed from better films from the golden age suchas ‘Citizen Kane’, ‘The Thin Man’ and countless Chaplin movies. It has becomeclear to me that modern film critics have no knowledge of Hollywoodcinema heritage. ‘The Artist’ is so thinly plotted, I could tell you the wholestory in one sentence and not leave out a single thing. What annoys me mostabout ‘The Artist’ is that the musician (Ludovic Bource) is up for a Golden Globe for BestOriginal Music, yet Bernard Herrmann’s original score forHitchcock’s masterpiece ‘Vertigo’ was used in some of the vital final scenes inthe film to enhance the tension. Kim Novak, the lead actress from the 1958Hitchcock film, is quite right when she said earlier today that the theft ofthis music to enhance ‘the Artist’ is nothing short of artistic rape. I wishedthat this old-styled black and white silent comedy picture ‘The Artist’ would be that refreshing change we wanted so badly in face of the bilge of modern 3-Dand SFX-ridden blockbusters but it was not to be. To be frankly honest, I thinkthat this simple-plotted silent film is an insult to the incredible master-works created by legendary film-makers of that era. For the ultimate homage to thesilent era, try watching the 1952 Stanley Donen/Gene Kelly musical masterpiece ‘Singin’in the Rain’ and do not get excited by this cinematic novelty disguised as art.

'Vertigo' (1958)

'For A Few Dollars More' - A stylish and influential western!

2011-12-17T17:45:00.000Z

The 1965 western classic For a Few Dollars More (Original Italian Title: Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu) is the second film of Sergio Leone's famous Dollars trilogy starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volonte.

Born in Rome, Sergio Leone had built his reputation as an assistant to the legendary Italian film director Vittorio DeSica and as an assistant director for films shot at the famous Italian Cinecitta studios, such as Quo Vadis (1951) and Ben-Hur (1959). It was not until the 1960s when Leone shifted his attention to the subgenre called Spaghetti Westerns, Italian films styled on the American western.

Leone's westerns may have been influenced by the Hollywood western especially the films of John Ford but differed significantly from them in terms of plot, characterisation and mood. Leone's vision of the American West is shown as more violent and morally complex than what was conveyed in the traditional American Western. Leone wanted to show the protagonists in his film as less moral than the conventional western character.

After the success in Italy of A Fistful of Dollars (1964), director Sergio Leone wanted to make a sequel but he knew that he required the lead star Clint Eastwood to agree to star in it. Eastwood had not yet seen the final print of A Fistful of Dollars and he had a few concerns about participating in the sequel. The US version had yet to be released and Eastwood was still relatively unknown, remembered only for playing the character of Rowdy Yates in the successful US western series Rawhide in the late 1950s. Eastwood was persuaded to make the sequel. The Dollars trilogy was to become hugely successful at the box office which built Sergio Leone's reputation and made Clint Eastwood a huge international star.

Television westerns were very popular in the 1960s especially in Italy and having Eastwood play the lead meant that Leone had a recognised face of an American TV cowboy even though Eastwood was not his first choice. Leone had Henry Fonda in mind. Leone managed to have all of his dreams realised because after Eastwood starred in the hugely successful final part of the Dollars trilogy The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in 1966, he was able to hire Henry Fonda to play a memorable villain in his classic western spaghetti epic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

Clint Eastwood as the iconic "Man with No Name"

For a Few Dollars More is my favourite Leone western. I could have chosen any of his Dollar films or Once Upon a Time in the West but for some reason the sequel does it for me. A Fistful of Dollars may be the first of the trilogy but it is a stylish remake of the Japanese classic Yojimbo. The higly regarded Japanese director Akira Kurasawa won a lawsuit against Leone for breach of copyright so it is in my opinion that this sequel develops Leone's cinematic style without standing on the shoulders of any other classic.

A typical scene shot in Techniscope, an Italian invention that retains both foreground and background focus

In For a Few Dollars More, Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef play bounty hunters who reluctantly join forces to take on the psychotic bandit El Indio (a brilliant sinister performance by Italian actor Gian Maria Volonte) and his gang (which includes Klaus Kinski as a hunchback). As in the previous film, For a Few Dollars More was filmed using Techniscope, an Italian invention that retains both foreground and background focus.This technque gives the actor less to do and so the film could become about something else which enhances the visual style.

Sergio Leone directing Clint

This film boasts another memorable score from the now-legendary Ennio Morricone who was to write the scores to all of Leone's great films. in 2007, Morricone received a special Academy Award to honour his contribution to the art of film music (presented to him by Clint Eastwood). For a Few Dollars More is the first Leone film that contains a musical theme embodied within the film itself where the music is often diegetic and non-diegetic especially in those scenes when the pocket watch is used. The overall effect is original, haunting and memorable.

After his great films of the sixties, Sergio Leone made a only few interesting films of note and interestingly turned down the chance to direct The Godfather. It was not until 1984 when the classic gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America was released but had been re-cut before release. The restored director's cut has since been hailed as a masterpiece. Sergio Leone died of a heart attack in 1989 at the age of 60.

Despite the fact that it is not spoken about in the same regard as the other Leone films, For a Few Dollars More is a remarkably stylish and violent western. It is as hugely influential as the other films from the trilogy and more importantly, it is very entertaining.

Compilation of segments from the scores of 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964) and 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965) by Ennio Morricone.

'A Hard Days Night' - a massively influential band starring in a massively influential film.

2011-12-17T13:03:00.000Z

The Beatles has to be regarded as artistically and culturally the most most amazing rock band in history. Their influence on popular music is beyond question and along with Elvis, were the biggest music force in the world. 1964 was the first year of their global domination but many people had thought that The Beatles were nothing more than a fad that would disappear quickly. So it was inevitable that they would make a major film before the end of the year. There is nothing unique about pop stars starring in films or musicals to cash on their success but nobody quite knew just how wonderful the fab four's debut film would be.

Written by Alun Owen and directed by Richard Lester, 'A Hard Day's Night' was made in the style of a documentary, describing a couple of days of the band as they travel to London to appear on a television show. It is a witty semi-fictional film with surprisingly fresh performances from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It also stars memorable British stars from the period such as John Junkin, Norman Rossington, Victor Spinelli and Irish actor Wilfred Brambell as Paul's grandfather who is always described in the film as "very clean", obvious punning with his "dirty old man" character in the famous BBC sitcom 'Steptoe and Son'.

'A Hard Day's Night' was a massive critical and financial success which influenced many films during the 1960s. The photography and editing style had been acknowledged by many pop video directors as a major influence and it was rated by 'Time Magazine as one of the all-time great 100 films. The film can also be regarded as an historical document of the British show business scene of the day. Most importantly though, ' A Hard Day's Night' is a delight to watch and as you can expect from The Beatles, the music is great too. A British cinematic masterpiece.

Maureen O'Hara - A quick tribute to Ireland's greatest leading lady!

2011-12-16T04:20:00.001Z

Maureen O'Hara is Ireland's most successful leading lady andone of the surviving stars from Hollywood's Golden Age. She was recently aguest on RTE's 'The Late Late Show' in Dublin and there were special recordedtributes to her from many famous luminaries such as Steven Spielberg, RobertRedford, Liam Neeson and Martin Scorsese. Here is a selection of moments from Maureen O'Hara's cinemaperformances, assembled for an Irish Film and Television Lifetime AchievementAward she received in 2004.

The trailer (and a short features review) for the Blu Ray version of 'Ben-Hur'

2011-12-15T16:08:00.001Z

I watched the classic 1959 William Wyler version of 'Ben-Hur' on Blu Ray last night and I must say that I was very impressed with the quality of the restoration. The high definition picture and sound just made the whole experience exciting! This DVD contains plenty of extra features including the 1925 classic silent version with Roman Novarro and Francis X Bushman. This Blu Ray contains so much and is most definitely value for money!

A few members of the cast and crew of 'Ben-Hur': William Wyler (director), Charlton Heston (actor), Joseph Vogel (MGM President), Stephen Boyd (actor), Sam Zimbalist (producer) and Haya Harareet (actress).

The 'Adventures of Don Juan' - the last hurrah is a resounding success!

2011-12-11T21:19:00.001Z

‘Adventures of Don Juan’ is a romantic adventure made in colourby Warner Bros in 1948. The film stars Errol Flynn as the great lover Don Juanand Viveca Lindfors as the Queen with Robert Douglas, Alan Hale, AnnRutherford, Robert Warwick acting as support.

The film begins duringthe reign of Elizabeth I of England when Spanish nobleman Don Juan is sent backfrom London to Madrid after a scandal caused by his affair with the Britishfiancée of a Spanish duke. The Spanish ambassador in London, Count de Polan(Robert Warwick) sends a letter of recommendation to his friend Queen Margaret(Viveca Lindfors), asking her to provide an opportunity at the court to reformDon Juan after the rumours about his love affairs. Don Juan is hired as a fencinginstructor at the Spanish Academy. But Don Juan discovers a plot by the Duke deLorca (Robert Douglas) to overthrow Queen Margaret and usurp power in Spain sothat he can declare war on England.

Ably directed by Vincent Sherman and written by GeorgeOppenheimer, ‘Adventures of Don Juan’ is the last quality Errol Flynnswashbuckling adventure. Flynn is well cast as the famous lover but he is now looking mucholder despite being only 39 when the film was released. Flynn would star in various films for another decade but the years of alcoholabuse was beginning to take its toll. However, Flynn does produce a great star turn inthis film. The other performances are also worthy of the production especially fromRobert Douglas as the villainous Duke de Lorca.

The film was originally to be scored by the legendary Erich WolfgangKorngold who had composed the scores for 'Captain Blood', 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'The Sea Hawk' but he had retired at the time of production. Max Steiner’s score works wonderfully anduplifts this very enjoyable adventure.

THE BEST CINEMATIC SHERLOCK HOLMES IS SIMPLE TO DETECT!

2011-12-08T08:14:00.001Z

It was really great to watch the 1938 film version of Arthur Conan Doyle's story 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' again. A new Holmes film is about to hit the cinemas but it is worth checking out the best ever Sherlock Holmes on film.

'The Hound of the Baskervilles' begins with Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. John Watson receiving a visit from Dr. James Mortimer (Lionel Atwill). Mortimer wishes to express his uneasiness about the arrival of Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), the heir of the Baskerville estate and the last of the Baskervilles because of a family curse. Dr. Mortimer tells Holmes and Watson about the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles, a demonic dog that first killed Sir Hugo Baskerville and then to to kill all the Baskervilles in the region. Reluctant at first, Holmes agrees to look into the case but sends Watson ahead with Sir Henry.

Pacing may be suspect at times but this is a genuinely atmospheric film and very enjoyable. Effective direction (Sidney Lanfield) and good production values are just part of what makes this vintage film so special. Basil Rathbone is quite simply the best cinematic Holmes and Nigel Bruce provides a lovable, more fumbling older Dr. Watson (even although he was only three years younger than Rathbone in real life!). Greene received top billing as Sir Henry because Fox studios did not think that the film would be such a massive hit and so the studio promoted Greene because of his youthful looks. Forget the horrible recent attempts directed by the inadequate Guy Ritchie containing the rather peculiar interpretation of Holmes by Robert Downey Jnr., the 1938 version of the 'The Hounds of the Baskervilles', followed by the 1939 classic 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' are the definite film versions of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary character.

'The Best Years of Our Lives' is no masterpiece!

2011-12-03T17:30:00.005Z

'The Best Years of Our Lives' was released in 1946 to universal acclaim. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn, written by Robert Sherwood and directed by William Wyler, the film tells the story of three US soldiers trying to adjust to their home town after the war. Starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Teresa Wright and Hoagy Carmichael, the film was praised for the honest depictions of the lives of these three men. 'The Best Years of Our Lives' was a massive box office success and won heavily at the Oscars, collecting seven Academy Awards including one for best picture. It is considered a classic by many film historians.

I think the film is extremely over-rated. With the exception of the wonderful deep focus photography by Gregg Toland and a few of the performances, I think the film struggles to be above-average at best. Some moments may be interesting but once you get around the commendable fact that Hollywood dared to make a film showing a different view of the ex-servicemen, then you have to judge the film on its own artistic merits. All I can take from this picture is that it is an interesting but over-long melodrama with a rather obvious plot.

The very average 'Ides of March' does not even have an ending!!!!

2011-11-27T23:09:00.005Z

I watched the highly acclaimed George Clooney political movie 'The Ides of March' a few weeks ago and I was certainly left short-changed. Good production values and performances but the story is so predictable and wafer thin. There are no twists and when the film begins to gather some momentum it ends abruptly - for no reason! No ending - not even an open ending! The film becomes completely pointless. A thoughtful twist at the end would have made such a difference! Failure snatched from the claws of victory indeed! A weak episode of 'Dallas' (with the last ten minutes wiped off) is better than this! What a disappointment!

'SCARFACE' IS A COMPLETE FAILURE! KEEP WELL AWAY FROM THIS VERSION!!!

2011-11-27T14:28:00.010Z

I watched the 1983 version of 'Scarface' at the cinema when it was released. I remember everybody talking about the theatrical poster back then but showing little concern for the film itself. I hate film reputations created by other criteria rather than the film itself. 'Scarface' is a dreadfully directed picture (Brian De Palma was the weak link in the Hollywood movie brats from the 70s) with banal dialogue (from Oliver Stone)and hammy acting (yes, even from the usually remarkable Al Pacino). I think that the poster is wonderful and I think that it is that which has produced the cult status of the remake because the film itself is quite boring. Buy the poster by all means but avoid this tedious remake! Watch the 1932 version if you want to be entertained.

All That Money Can Buy (aka 'The Devil and Daniel Webster') is priceless!

2011-11-26T22:02:00.005Z

'All That Money Can Buy' (aka 'The Devil and Daniel Webster') was released by RKO Pictures in 1941 and I have just managed to watch it on DVD for the first time this evening. It is based on the short story by Stephen Vincent Benét about the New Hampshire farmer in the 1840s who sells his soul to the Devil. This classic film is a fine example of cinematic sophistication courtesy of a remarkable screenplay (Dan Totheroh and Stephen Vincent Benét), astounding photography (Joseph H August), classy direction (William Dieterle), superb music (Bernard Herrmann) and a stellar cast especially Walter Huston as Mr Scratch. This film is still revered by film historians around the world and is easily in the same class as 'Citizen Kane'. Sheer cinematic genius!

'Lost Horizon' is still a fantasy film to enjoy!

2011-11-26T14:39:00.003Z

I had the pleasure to watch 'Lost Horizon' on DVD last night for the first time since I don’t know when. It is a splendid fantasy film made by Columbia Pictures in 1937, starring Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt and HB Warner. Directed by the legendary Frank Capra and written by Robert Riskin from the book of the same name by James Hilton, the movie typifies the high standard of film making that Hollywood could produce back in the golden age of cinema. The story tells what happens to a group of people whose plane crashes in the Himalaya and finds a hidden place where there the people live in peace and complete happiness, living very long lives. This place is a contrast to the war stricken world they have left. Although the film had been re-cut on various occasions, almost the whole film has been restored to its full length except for six minutes for which stills had to be used for the lost sequences. Frank S. Nugent from 'The New York Times' wrote that 'Lost Horizon' is "a grand adventure film, magnificently staged, beautifully photographed, and capitally played”. It is most certainly brilliant and more enjoyable to watch than anything you can possibly see at the cinema today.

'Frankenstein' released on this day in 1931

2011-11-21T20:24:00.003Z

The horror film masterpiece 'Frankenstein' was released by Universal Pictures in the United States 80 years ago today. The film starred Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff (who gave quite a memorable performance as the monster). The film has so much to admire including the screenplay (Francis Edward, Garret Fort), the flawless direction (James Whale) and German Expressionist photography (Arthur Edison), not forgetting the iconic make up by the legendary make-up artist Jack Pierce. It is a film that deserves its accolades and is noted to be one of the few films made with an even more impressive sequel: 'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935).

Hollywood today needs film worthy of Apocalypse Now!

2011-08-18T11:23:00.010+01:00

The original version of Francis Ford Coppolla's war classic 'Apocalypse Now' (1979) was went on limited released earlier this year and it is clearly now a film that you would wish Hollywood would have the nerve to make today. 'Apocalypse Now' (and 'Raging Bull' directed by Martin Scorsese and released a year later) marked the end of an era for mainstream Hollywood creativity. The second golden age of cinema had ended leaving a glorious run of great films which were mature and adult. Cinema has now since been dominated by infantile popcorn movies and although a few gems crop up from time to time such as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), 'Back to the Future' (1985) and 'Toy Story' (1995), the target audience has become increasingly younger and the movies have become mostly poorly crafted CGI-laden nonsense with no cinematic flair or creativity. Film versions of comic books are the norm now and after watching the recent version of 'Thor', I have lost interest.

For those who still don't know, the story of 'Apocalypse Now' is based on the acclaimed novel 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad and it is set during the Vietnam war. US Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent by Colonel Lucas (Harrison Ford) and General Corman (GD Spradlin) to carry out a mission to seek out a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), whose army has crossed the border into Cambodia and is conducting hit-and-run missions against the Viet Cong and NVA. The army believes Kurtz has gone insane and Willard's job is to kill him!

The making of 'Apocalypse Now' is now the stuff of legend with stories of Martin Sheen's heart attack, the director's suicide threat and Marlon Brando's size now belonging to Hollywood folklore. The sheer scale of the film, the performances, the direction and the screenplay (by John Milius) are simply components that make up this masterpiece. It is common knowledge that movie legends Billy Wilder and Akira Kurosawa adored the film during a test screening. If you have not seen 'Apocalypse Now' yet, get the DVD and watch it on a big screen! You will definitely admire the craftsmanship and the sheer madness of this project! A masterpiece! (Rating: **** An enjoyable epic on a massive scale).

'Sweet Smell of Success' is still sweet after all these years!!!!

2011-08-16T21:44:00.025+01:00

After watching the 1957 classic film 'Sweet Smell of Success', you will be even more amazed to learn that the initial reviews for the film were rather mixed. The film is one of those classics that has gained its impressive reputation over time!

The film tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a musician he considers inappropriate. Burt Lancaster plays JJ Hunsecker, the intimidating columnist who is expecting Eddie Falco (Tony Curtis) to produce the goods and save his sister (Susan Harrison) from marrying Steve Dallas (Martin Milner).

Hunsecker's obsessive protectiveness of his sister borders on incest and Falco's ability to grovel low to his every whim brings out two new types of cinematic protagonists - two characters whom we should detest with a whim but are fascinating to the core. The early critics got it wrong probably because they could not digest a film containing leads with no morals. However, 'Sweet Smell of Success' has gained stature over the years not just because of the superb performances by the leads, the perfect Clifford Odets/Ernest Lehman script, the taut direction by Alexander McKendrick (formerly of Ealing studios), the classy score by Elmer Bernstein and the stylish photography by James Wong Howe but that the film is simply terrific! Rating: **** (Very entertaining and very stylish. A classic!)

It has been a while!

2011-08-16T16:11:00.008+01:00

It has been a while since my last blog but better late than never! I have not lost my passion for classic films that Hollywood and film companies from various other countries have produced over the past century! I have watched many films, have met a wonderful star from the golden era and I have even taught film studies for five years. Although I often complain about the quality of movies today, some interesting films do get made from time to time. I wish that new films are worthy of the masters from the golden age of cinema but it is very difficult for creativity to exist in a film environment where the companies are more worried about losing money than making money! That aside, I hope that everyone can share my passion for cinema regardless of what age you are! Try to avoid watching films on a laptop or a handheld device if you can! There is really only one place to watch a big film - on the big screen!
With many regards, Paul B.

Star Trek - Boldly Gone Where No Star Trek Film Has Gone Before!

2009-06-16T21:40:00.005+01:00

This prequel is a chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members is a surprise package of excitement, special effects and imagination. Nobody really expected this film to be such an enjoyable adventure but it could not fail to disappoint. Even the moments when the young Kirk (Chris Pine) goes through a period of certainty before he gets on board the USS Enterprise is enjoyable enough and the film progresses at a relentless pace. Thumbs up for the screenplay, the direction and the faultless casting! A blockbuster that actually delivers!

RATING *** Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg.
Screenplay: Roberto Orci, Alx Kurtzman
Direction: JJ Abrams

Shall make a bigger effort.....

2009-03-23T03:23:00.006Z

I hope you had a wonderful St Patrick's Day! I did! Lots of beer and food - and Ireland won the Six Nations Rugby tournament! It has been such a long time since I have posting anything on my blog website. I suppose that there has not been many decent films of interest or maybe I am just using that as an excuse! The recent Indiana Jones film was a disappointment, the major blockbusters have not really been more than average and even the critically acclaimed films have been overrated. I liked 'Slumdog Millionaire' but was it really worth eight Oscars? Anyway, I shall try to continue to add more comments to this website.....

Charlton Heston October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008

2008-04-22T10:51:00.003+01:00

Charlton Heston was the first movie star I had ever sen on the big screen. When I was a boy, I watched 'The Ten Commandments' at the local cinema and I was enthralled by the size of the picture. Such movies needed a big man to be the leading star and they do not come much bigger than Heston. His roles in such great films as 'The Big Country' (1958), 'Planet of the Apes' (1968) and my favourite film, 'Ben-Hur' (1959) were startling and memorable. Born John Charles Carter in 1923, I did not care for much of his right-wing politics that he seemed to have adopted later in his life but Heston used to be quite a liberal and a supporter of Martin Luther King. Suffering from Altzeimer's since 2002, Heston's passing is the closing of the door of a great era.

It was thirty years ago today!

2008-01-28T10:35:00.001Z

It has been thirty years today since I watched Ben-Hur for the first time. It is one of my favourite two films (the other being Roman Holiday) and I have watched it so many times since! I remember the day well. It was a Saturday, January 28th 1978. I watched the film with my brother at the local cinema in Donegal. I can not wait to watch the film again. Read my review 'Ben-Hur'.

Something to look forward to in 2008!

2008-01-02T14:22:00.001Z

Happy New Year! At long last there is a film to look forward to: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, to be released in May 22nd. Set in 1957, the film stars Harrison Ford as a more mature Indy and Cate Blanchett as the villainous Russian agent Irina Spalko. Here is the new teaser poster!

ENTER 'CAPTAIN BLOOD' - STILL EXCITING AFTER 72 YEARS!

2007-12-21T19:21:00.001Z

Captain Blood is the archetypal high seas swashbuckler set in the seventeenth century. The film tells the story of an Irish doctor called Peter Blood (Errol Flynn) who is convicted for treason for treating a rebel during Monmouth rebellion and sent as a slave to the Caribbean, only to be bought by the colonel's niece, Arabella (Olivia De Havilland). However, Peter Blood and his fellow slaves manage to escape. They steal a Spanish ship and sail the seas as pirates!

The film was released in 1935 and was hugely successful but Warner Brothers chief Jack Warner and chief executive Hal B. Wallis had taken a huge risk in hiring the then-unknown Errol Flynn. This was his debut lead performance and he is quite outstanding as the wronged doctor. Flynn became an overnight sensation but it must be remembered that the film provides many other pleasures too! Despite being modestly produced, the film is superbly directed by the Hungarian-American Michael Curtiz with all his unusual camera angles, shadows, camera movement and subjective camera styles very much in evidence from the beginning. The film is also noted for the stirring score by the highly acclaimed Erich Wolfgang Korngold whose career with Warner Brothers and Errol Flynn went from strength to strength, peaking at the inspirational score for The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Along with Flynn, the performances from the cast are outstanding, most notably from Basil Rathbone as evil French Pirate Levasseur and Olivia De Havilland (in her her first major role) as Arabella. Lionel Atwill is convincing as the sinister Colonel Bishop and so is Ross Alexander as Blood's friend Jeremy Pitt. Alexander's performance seems more touching when we learn that he was a troubled soul who committed suicide shortly after the release of the film.

The screenplay is expertly written by Casey Robinson (based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini), Captain Blood is no history lesson but pure classic Hollywood entertainment! RATING ****

'Portait of Jennie' is unforgettable!

2007-11-10T20:16:00.002Z

Portrait of Jennie (1948) is a fantasy story about a struggling artist in the depression-hit New York who meets a young girl in old fashioned clothing. He begins to draw a portrait of her from his memory but each time he meets this mysterious girl, she is clearly a few years older. The artist begins to realise that the girl had lived many years before and he is confused to why she is here now. But he is so much in love with the girl...
Although not accepted by the critics at the time, Portrait of Jennie is now regarded as a classic. It boasts another fine performance from Joseph Cotten, who plays the role of Edem Adams, the struggling artist, with a lot of sensitivity and even a sense of loneliness. The talented and beautiful Jennifer Jones is enchanting as well as quite haunting as the mysterious Jennie Appleton! What is also remarkable about this film is Dimitri Tiomkin's use of themes from Debussy in his score and the atmospheric cinematography by Joseph August. It is also finely directed by William Dieterle. Although a black and white film for the most part, the producer (David O' Selznick, who had produced Gone With The Wind almost ten years earlier) added a tinted colour sequence near the end of the film and the final shot is shown in technicolor. Portrait of Jennie is only one of the first films to have no title sequences at the beginning.

Although the narrative does not always flow smoothly, Portrait of Jennie is a haunting, beautiful and compelling film. Unique and completely unforgettable! RATING ****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYmtN8aG3zQ

'The Ghost and Mrs Muir' to be shown again on the big screen!

2007-11-10T20:14:00.000Z

The heart-warming comedy The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947) will be shown at the National Film Theatre in London during December. This atmospheric and romantic film stars Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison. It is one of my personal favourite films which I am sure will delight my fellow classic film enthusiasts.

The best Dracula to get your teeth into!!!!!!

2007-11-10T19:19:00.001Z

Dracula (1958), otherwise known as Horror of Dracula (for US Audiences) begins with a narration from the diary of Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen), who arrives at Castle Dracula at the latter part of the 19th century with the purpose of killing the evil Count Dracula (Christopher Lee). After being bitten by a vampire, Harker succumbs to Dracula's power. He knows that he himself is cursed to walk the earth eternally as a member of the "undead". His only hope is that someone will find his diary and do whatever is necessary to release his soul and to get rid of this evil man.Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) arrives at a nearby inn to find out what happened to Harker and a trip to Castle Dracula awaits him. Can Van Helsing achieve what Harker failed to do?
This is easily the best version of Dracula ever filmed. It began a commercially successful series of Dracula films for the British Hammer studios and made the relatively unknown lead stars into household names. This is also the first Dracula film to be shot in colour, with added blood and an element of sexual overtones which shocked critics when the film was originally released. Dracula may not look so shocking now but it is still compelling entertainment. Despite a modest budget, the film often looks sensational and a unique gothic look. Despite the odd dated moment, there is much to enjoy. The film has colourful set designs, an absorbing screenplay by Jimmy Sangster, a wonderful satanic score by James Bernard and brilliant direction by Terence Fisher (who had a real eye for visual set-pieces). To top all of this, the performances from Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are truly striking which helps makes this Hammer film stand out as a horror movie to savour. RATING ****

(In order to celebrate the fifty years since the release of the film, a digitally re-mastered version of Dracula has been re-released and shown at selected cinemas during November 2007)

Classy 'Ninotchka' works on every level!

2007-11-07T21:55:00.001Z

"Garbo Laughs!" That was the tag on the initial release poster for Ninotchka in 1939. The film begins with three Russians (Sig Ruman, Felix Bressart and Alexander Granach) who are in Paris to sell Jewelry that was taken from the aristocracy during the Russian Revolution of 1917. They meet Count Leon D'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) who is working for a Russian Grand Duchess who wants to retrieve her jewelry.The Russians send their cold-spoken envoy, Nina Yakushova (Garbo), to sell the jewelry and to bring the three men back to the USSR. However, Nina slowly becomes seduced by the west....

A wonderful comedy directed by arguably Hollywood's most sophisticated director, Ernest Lubitsch. The film is also remembered as being the breakthrough success for the legendary Billy Wilder who along with Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, wrote the sparking screenplay. The performances are sublime too, especially from Garbo. Utterly memorable! RATING ***

MOVIES TODAY DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO FINISH!

2007-10-26T18:51:00.002+01:00

Spider-Man 3 was a resounding box-office success which was even more profitable than the successful and critically-acclaimed Spider-Man 2. The success of this franchise is almost guaranteed courtesy of the Spider-Man brand name. So why does the writer/director (Sam Raimi) play it safe by supplying an ending that is clearly too long! Without fear of spoiling the plot, there is a moment when the leads are on a building with a sunset in the background - this would have been an apt time to finish the tale!

In a Hollywood system where studios' executives are so worried about losing money, it may be understandable for them to approach the safe route and produce a film that is formulaic so that they can make a profit in the first week of release. However, Spider-Man 3 was such a highly-anticipated film that surely it's profits were assured. So the creators decision to be produce yet another predictable and over-long ending is truly baffling!

What is so annoying about Spider-Man 3 is that it is not a bad film. It is just that it could have been so much better. However, Spider-Man 3 is just another example of the powers-at-be in Hollywood being more worried about losing money and ever-more responsive to the reaction of test audiences rather than break the formula so to create an ending that makes the film a lot more memorable.

We have witnessed loads of these films which could have been better over the past ten or fifteen years or so. One notable example is the 2000 Steven Spielberg movie AI: Artificial Intelligence. This film is clearly 20 to 40 minutes overlong that even the die-hard Spielberg fans were looking at their watches before long. The critics were quick to seize on the over-sentimentalised and overlong ending. But what was really sickening about AI: Artificial Intelligence was that the film had begun so well and had the makings of being a modern classic. This was one of those films that the late great Stanley Kubrick wanted to be involved in. So what really is going on?

It is quite simple. The tail is wagging the dog and therefore the creative elements in Hollywood needs to stand up to be counted. I do not know how this is going to happen but as I have asked my film Studies students if they thought that Casablanca would have been as effective had Rick given a "hill of beans" or if they thought that Gone With The Wind would have been as memorable if Rhett Butler had given a damn. Such great endings do not always give the audiences what they really want but by doing just that they often make the movies into gems that will never be forgotten. So let's hope for better endings - and even I have clearly outstayed my welcome already!
Spider-Man 3 RATING: *

'Ratatouille' is simply a delicious movie!

2007-10-18T21:00:00.001+01:00

In the new animated Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille, Remy is an unusual rat. His father, brother and the other scavengers eat just about anything to survive but Remy is different. He has a gourmet sense of smell and prefers food that is refined and cultured. He has learned his specialised cooking skills by watching Auguste Gusteau's cookery television programme on the television at an old woman's house where his colony of rats live. After watching that his hero Gusteau has just died following the severe criticism of his restaurant by evil food critic Anton Ego, the colony of rats are found by the old woman, who then tries to shoot them. They escape but only to lose Remy on the way. Remy finds his way to Gusteau's restaurant in Paris and it is by the vision of Gusteau who inspires him to help a talentless rubbish cleaner Linguini, who has no cooking talents, to become a gourmet genius. However, the former sous-chef, Skinner is in charge and does not warm to Linguini and needless to say that the evil Anton Ego, whose reviews had destroyed Gusteau's life, is due for a re-visit in the near future.

Ratatouille is a wonderful return to form by Disney and Pixar. Written and directed by Brad Bird (of The Incredibles), the film is witty and stylish,which keeps the attention of the viewer throughout. The visuals are simply amazing and even the rats look cute, despite not looking that much different to real rats! The vocal performances are striking especially from Patton Oswald (Remy), Peter Sohn (Emile), Janane Garfalo (Colette), Ian Holm (Skinner), Brian Dennehy (Django), Brad Garrett (Auguste Gusteau) and Lou Romano (Alfredo Linguini). However it is Peter O'Toole's sinister performance as the creepy Anton Ego that is the scene stealer in the movie! The performances are a major ingredient in what is a meaty and spicy film that will swallow loads of awards - including Oscars! Enjoy! RATING ***

BEN-HUR: SIMPLY MY FAVOURITE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE!

2007-10-10T15:44:00.001+01:00

Ben-Hur (1959) has always been one of my two favourite films, along with Roman Holiday (1953), both of which were directed by veteran director William Wyler. The story is set in Judea during the time of Jesus Christ when the Roman Empire was in the ascendancy. The film focuses on Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a Jewish nobleman who greets the arrival his old Roman childhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd) who is now in command of the local Roman garrison. Messala lets Judah know that more legions of Romans will be arriving in Judea very shortly but he promises Judah that he and his family will be saved.

After meeting Judah's mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Mary O'Donnell) at the house of Hur, Messala's real intentions become known. He tries to force Judah to name any Jewish "troublemakers" to him so that they will be punished. Judah angrily refuses Messala's request and after an angry exchange of words, Messala gives Judah a straight forward ultimatum that he is either FOR him or AGAINST him. Judah's response is "if that is the choice, then I am AGAINST YOU!" Messala leaves Judah's house in disgust.
Later Judah and his sister overlooks the welcoming parade for the new Roman governor from the rooftop of their house but a broken brick becomes dislodged and falls off, barely missing the governor. Despite knowing that Judah and his mother and sister are innocent, Messala decides to arrest them anyway. Judah's family are a powerful Jewish family and Messala uses this moment to make an example of them. He sends Judah's mother and sister to prison and sends Judah to the galleys, without even a trial. Judah does get a chance to make one promise to Messala just before he is dragged away by the Roman soldiers: "God grant me vengence that you will live when I return!" The adventure for justice begins....

Ben-Hur was an exceptionally expensive production made for a then-unheard figure of $15 million. The production required 200 sets scattered over 340 acres (or 1.4 km²).

The original silent version of Ben-Hur was made in 1925 on an expensive budget and was a huge gamble for the new MGM studios but the final result was a critical and commercial success. Once again, the 1959 version was a huge gamble made by MGM to save itself from bankruptcy which did pay off, earning a then-huge figure of $75 million. However, the producer of the movie, Sam Zimbalist, suffered a fatal heart attack during production which many colleagues believe was due to the stresses of making such a hugely important picture.

The film delivers. It is a visually a gigantic epic, filmed in a process called MGM Camera 65, with an aspect ratio of 2.76:1 which is one of the widest prints ever made. The width is almost three times its height. The amazing music opus by Hungarian-born film composer Miklós Rózsa is truly epic and the overall production is amazing to behold. Although the set pieces such as the sea battle are well-staged, it is the memorable chariot race that is the highlight of the film. The chariot race took over three months to complete, using 8000 extras on the largest film set ever built. Although filmed in the days long before computer generated images, the chariot race is still extremely enjoyable and even by today's standards, it is considered by most critics as one of the most exciting action sequences ever filmed.

Charlton Heston is convincing as the downtrodden Judah Ben-Hur and deservedly won an Academy Award for this performance. Irish actor Stephen Boyd plays the evil Messala with a perfect measure of venom and camp that suits the character. He was awarded the Golden Globe that year. The other actors such as Jack Hawkins (Quintus Arrius), Hugh Griffith (Sheik Illderim), Haya Harareet (Esther), Sam Jaffe (Simonides) and Finlay Currie (Balthasar) provide sensitive performances. The screenplay is credited as written by Karl Tunberg, but it seems certain that he had written the original draft before it was re-written by Gore Vidal and Christopher Fry. This was a contentious point but Charlton Heston paid tribute to Fry's contribution during his Best Actor Academy Award acceptance speech.

Ben-Hur was expertly directed by William Wyler and co-directed by Andrew Marton who played an enormous part in the filming of the amazing chariot race. The film went on to win eleven Oscars including Best Picture, a record that was only equalled recently by 'Titanic' (1997) and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003).

Ben-Hur is without question the film in which other epics are measured by. It is not without flaws but they are really so few. In the recent four-disc DVD edition there is a unique documentary included entitled 'Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema' with current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas discusses the importance and influence of the film.

In regards to me, I remember watching Ben-Hur all those years back at the old Scala Cinema in Letterkenny. I was taken away by the experience and I have not recovered since. I love Ben-Hur so much and along with Roman Holiday, this is my favourite moment in film history! I have seen the film so many times already but I look forward to watching it again and again! RATING ****

Wendie's favourite films - for the moment!!!!!

2007-10-09T05:02:00.004+01:00

I have known my dear friend Wendie from Arizona for almost 7 years now and I still haven't got the slightest clue about what films she likes! So her comments will be news to me!
Well, I've been thinking of my top 10 movies all week; and I am not that good at performing this task because I keep changing my favorite movies. I like:
1. The Crow with Brandon Lee
2. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (A stupid, cheesy flick that made me afraid of clowns as a child, but always brings a smile to my face.)
3. Knocked Up (I've seen this one 3 times in the theatres. I just bought the dvd, and the deleted scenes are hilarious!)
4. American Beauty (I hated this movie the first time I watched it. The ending is quite beautiful.)
5. Sideways (b/c I've always appreciated real-life situations, although too depressing for some)
6?. There's some romantic wine movies out there, but I've forgotten the titles.
7. Waking Life (b/c it's deeply philosophical and intellectual)
8. Boondock Saints (b/c it's awesome!)
9. Amelie (b/c it's sweet)
10. What the Bleep do we Know? (intellectual)
11. Harry Potter (Who doesn't like HP?)

Another enjoyable trip on the River Thames!

2007-10-08T22:43:00.001+01:00

This is me on the river Thames in August with the famous landmark called "Monument" standing right behind me! Monument was built to commemorate the great fire of London and it is a 61-metre (202-foot) tall stone Roman doric column, near to the northern end of London Bridge. It is located at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, from where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. The guide on the tour mentioned film references on this boat trip including where Michael Caine worked (real name Maurice Micklewhite) in Billingsgate Fish Market before he became a world famous actor.

My two favourite films of all time to be reviewed shortly!

2007-10-03T15:58:00.001+01:00

My two favourite films of all time are 'Ben-Hur' (1959) and 'Roman Holiday' (1953). I remember watching 'Ben-Hur' on the big screen during it's last run before it was shown on television and I loved watching it so much. I still do. I remember watching 'Roman Holiday' on TV on a Sunday night when I was a young boy and then on January 1988. To think that on September of that year I was so lucky to have met the lead actress, Audrey Hepburn. I have so many reasons to love these wonderful films and I can not wait to share them with you in the very near future.

The star alongside my logo

2007-10-02T22:39:00.001+01:00

The actress shown alongside my "Classic Cinema" logo is the beautiful Irish-American star from the 1940's, Gene Tierney (1920 - 1991). Best remembered for her performance in the title role of 'Laura' (1944), Tierney had starred some other classic films such as 'Heaven Can Wait' (1943) and 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' (1947), my favourite film of hers. Suffering from depression and mental health problems for most of her adult life, Tierney died in 1991 of emphysema just before her 71st birthday. Gene Tierney is one of my favourite actresses who was stylish, talented and truly special.

'RED RIVER' - A MEMORABLE WESTERN FROM THE 1940s

2007-10-02T21:56:00.001+01:00

'Red River' (1948) is an acclaimed western, directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Montgomery Clift and Walter Brennan. It tells the story of Thomas Dunson who wants to start up a cattle ranch in Texas. Along with his trail hand Groot (Walter Brennan), he leaves the wagon train and his girlfriend (Coleen Gray) behind to go it alone but later he learns that they have been killed by Indians. He continues to pursue his ambition and comes across a young orphan boy called Matthew Garth whom he takes under his wing. Fourteen years later, Dunson, Groot and Garth (played as an adult by Montgomery Clift) lead a massive herd hundreds of miles north to Missouri. However stubborn Dunson's leadership is becoming tyrannical and it it beginning to affect the men. How long can they hold out against Dunson?

This is probably the best western made during the 1940's and certainly one of the most entertaining westerns ever made. Wayne is very convincing as the increasingly tyrannical Dunson but his star performance is matched by the newcomer Clift. There is a lot more than just the splendid performances though. There is the picturesque cinematography by Russell Harlan and the memorable music score by Dimitri Tiomkin. However the star of this film is the legendary director Howard Hawks who has created a genuine masterpiece and a must-see experience. RATING **** (watched by Suky on 25/9 and by me on 25.12.2006)

'Night of the Demon' on TV and soon on DVD - and about time!!!!

2007-09-26T15:48:00.001+01:00

'Night of the Demon' (1957) is a genuinely suspenseful and atmospheric British horror film from the acclaimed French-American director Jacques Tourneur. The film stars Dana Andrews as the sceptical scientist Dr. John Holden who investigates the activities of a satan-cult leader Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall McGinnis). He is contacted by the niece of a professor who was recently killed by an unknown animal (we know that he was killed by a demon at the beginning of the film) and by Dr. Karswell, who threatens him. However, Holden continues to proceed to investigate more.
Remembered today as the horror film with the line used by Kate Bush in her song 'Hounds of Love' ("It's in the trees! It's coming!"), this is a well-crafted horror tale with genuine moments of suspense and with a wonderfully menacing performance by McGinnis. A notable classic and definitely worth watching! RATING ***

Shown on BBC2: Mon 1 Oct, 12:10 am - 1:45 am 95mins

'VERTIGO' - HITCHCOCK'S MOST INFLUENTIAL AND PERSONAL WORK

2007-09-24T20:22:00.001+01:00

'Vertigo' is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1958. The film stars James Stewart as John "Scotty" Ferguson, a San Francisco detective who develops acrophobia after a police officer falls to his death from a rooftop after trying to rescue Scotty.

Forced to retire from police work, Scotty is asked by an old college friend Tom Elster (Tom Helmore) to work as a private detective so that he can follow his wife, Madeleine (Kim Novak). Elster is concerned about his wife's mental health, that she is possessed by the spirit of someone who had lived and who had committed suicide over a century before. Scotty reluctantly agrees to follow Madeleine and after following her around San Francisco, Scotty notices that Elster's concerns about Madeleine appear to be genuine. Feeling a strong sense of attraction for Madeleine, he follows her to San Francisco bay where she jumps in in what appears to be a suicide attempt. Scotty jumps and rescues her. In an attempt to help her with her obsession, Scotty brings Madeleine to the Mission San Juan Bautista , the location featured in one of Madeleine's dreams. However, when they arrive at the scene, Madeleine runs up the steep staircase to the bell tower in what appears to be another suicide attempt but can Scott overcome his acrophobia so that he can follow her up the stairs?

'Vertigo' is one of my favourite films but it was not well-received by the critics or the general public at it's initial release. However it is now regarded as one of Hitchcock's most influential and personal works. The screenplay was by Samuel A Taylor and Alec Coppel from the French novel 'Sueurs froides: d-entre les morts' (Cold Sweat: From Among the Dead) by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Hitchcock's wonderful use of colour is evident throughout which adds to his very unique visual style. His stylish direction is supported by a wonderful team of technicians such as the a haunting score by Bernard Herrmann (at the top of his form) and master cameraman Robert Burks.

The performances are excellent too. James Stewart is excellent as the likable Scotty who shows vulnerability and a streak of nastiness as he becomes more obsessed with Madeleine. As well as looking quite stunning as Madeleine, Kim Novak's performance portarys a ghostly, tortured soul who is the centre of Scotty's obsession. Barbara Bel Geddes plays the sympathetic Midge, who harbours a passion for for Scotty.

'Vertigo' was restored by Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz and this restoration was released in 1996. The film contained newly-restored colour, DTS digital surround sound and was shown in 70mm, which was quite similar to the original Vistavision process used for the original film.

I remember watching 'Vertigo' at the Rio Cinema in Dalton Kingsland on a cold Friday evening back in 1990. The print was possibly the same print used for the initial releases from decades before, although I did enjoy the experience. However the newly-restored print is wonderful and I have just shown it to my film studies class today. All of the pupils had never seen the movie before and they loved it. 'Vertigo' becomes better after every viewing and so like me, they will anticipate the day when they will watch it again. RATING ****

'Dances With Wolves' - Entertainment on an epic scale!

2007-09-21T18:46:00.001+01:00

Released in 1990, 'Dances with Wolves' is a multi-awarded western epic, directed by and starring Kevin Costner. The film tells the story of John Dunbar (Costner), a United States cavalry officer from the civil war who wants to see the frontier "before it is gone". So he travels into the Dakota Territory, near a Sioux tribe and in time, earns the trust of members of the local Sioux leaders.

Although 'Goodfellas' was released on the same year and it is regarded by many as Martin Scorsese's most entertaining film, 'Dances With Wolves' has been attacked by many critics over the years as the film that won the Oscars at the expense of 'Goodfellas'. But 'Dances With Wolves' is an escapist if over-indulgent film perhaps, but thoroughly enjoyable in it's own right! It is epic in scope and it graces a massive production alongside a beautiful haunting music score by John Barry. The acting has it's moments too, especially Graham Greene's intelligent performance as 'Kicking Bird'.

The opening sequences and the many great vistas stay in the mind and not even the lengthy extended versions (released on VHS and DVD shortly after the cinematic release) diminishes the power of such a beautiful movie! Always worth watching and certainly under-rated! RATING ***

Sir Guy and Prince John discuss tactics

2007-09-13T13:50:00.001+01:00

"I don't fear Robin Hood. I fear South Africa. We play them in the Rugby World Cup Finals on Friday!"

MY TOP TEN FAVOURITE JAMES BOND MOVIES

2007-09-06T21:59:00.003+01:00

I am a big fan of the James Bond film series and the following selected Bond films are my favourite. I also think that they represent the very best of the inventive additions to the series. It is in my opinion that 'From Russia With Love' (poster above and photo below) is the best simply because I feel that it has the best screenplay of the whole series. I must admit that I think that 'Goldfinger' does come quite close.

1. From Russia With Love (1963)
A wonderful sequel to 'Doctor No', with a taut plot helped by a brilliant screenplay by Richard Maibaum and Johanna Hawood. There is a lush music score by John Barry. exotic cinematography by Ted Moore, clever editing by Peter Hunt and stylishly directed by Terence Young. The performances by Sean Connery (a laconic and unforgettable James Bond), Lotte Lenya (as the evil Rosa Klebb) and Robert Shaw (as the menacing Red Grant) are unforgettable. A truly enjoyable Bond picture. RATING ****

2. Goldfinger (1964)
The ultimate Bond film with amazing set designs by Ken Adam and an unforgettable brass score by John Barry. Beautiful visuals by cinematographer Ted Moore and an amusing screenplay (by Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn), along with another memorable performance by Sean Connery as the invincible Bond contribute to make this a classic to remember. RATING ****

3. The Living Daylights (1987)
This was the movie that introduced a new James Bond after the many years of Roger Moore and this new Bond was Timothy Dalton. The Bond film contained the last score by John Barry for a Bond film and it is indeed a memorable one. Dalton's performance is a serious but striking one which helps this makes this film unique if slightly underrated addition to the Bond canon. RATING ***

4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
The critics may have been quite right about the central miscasting of former Australian model George Lazenby as James Bond but the movie is now regarded as a classic and one of the best of the series. This movies contains loads of exciting moments and has another memorable score by John Barry. RATING ***

5. You Only Live Twice (1967)
An enjoyable picture despite a rather thin screenplay by Roald Dahl. The film boasts a superb brief performance from Charles Gray as Dikko Henderson and a genuinely menacing Donald Pleasance as enemy Blofield. The set pieces may not be the best of the series but the memorable score by John Barry and the inventive set designs by Ken Adam, along with the masterly direction by Lewis Gilbert gives this film an edge over many of the others.
RATING ***

6. Doctor No (1962)
The first if not quite the best of the highly successful Bond series. Sean Connery provides a smooth and memorable performance as the suave 007. Joseph Wiseman is well cast as the creepy Dr. No, a performance that has been much imitated throughout the years. It is amazing to know that one of the set pieces in 'You Only Live Twice' had cost more than the whole of 'Doctor No'. RATING ***

7. Thunderball (1965)
An amazing global box office success on it's release, this movie may be regarded as a lack- lustred follow-up to 'Goldfinger' but it does contain many enjoyable action sequences and some inventive set designs by Ken Adam. RATING **

8. Casino Royale (2006)
Nobody expected this new vision of Bond to work. But it does, well until the last thirty minutes when we can safely say that the movie becomes tedious. The critics were impressed with Daniel Craig's debut performance as the spy but it is the stunts and the cinematography by Phil Meheux that make this Bond film one of the best for many years. RATING **

9. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The first part of this Roger Spottiswoode directed Bond film is as good as any other of the series with a particularly memorable moment when Pierce Brosnan (an excellent James Bond) confronts the evil killer, Doctor Kaufman (Vincent Schiavelli). Sadly the second part of the film develops into a standard action thriller with a weak villain and containing lacklustre setpieces with lots of explosions. RATING **

10. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
Heavily criticised by critics throughout the years, this entertaining addition to the Bond series is campy and humorous. Roger Moore's comic timing is evident and the expensive set pieces are worth the price of the entry alone. Clearly not the best Bond film but definitely not the worst. RATING *

"AAAAHHHH Paul Bradley is in my shower!!!!!!"

2007-09-06T17:29:00.000+01:00

Watch out world, I shall submit my first Hitchcock review to the blog very shortly! It will be 'Psycho' (1960) OR 'Vertigo' (1958).

Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1956) to be released on DVD at long last!!!

2007-09-05T20:57:00.001+01:00

My review of the science fiction classic

'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' is a truly amazing science fiction movie! Originally released in 1956, you would think that from the title you are about to watch a "B" movie but this is no "B" movie! It is a thrilling cinematic masterpiece which enhanced the careers of the director, Don Siegel (Coogans Bluff, Dirty Harry) and of the film's lead stars, Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter.

The film begins with how a small American town doctor, Dr Niels Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) tries to convince local residents of behaving hysterically. They accuse their loved ones of being emotionless imposters but we learn that these local residents are not wrong because plant-like aliens have indeed invaded earth and are replicating many of the local residents.

The idea that humans are being replaced by pods from another planet may sound absurd but this is science fiction film which contains an intelligent screenplay (written to perfection by Daniel Mainwaring and an uncredited Richard Collins) and it has parallels with the McCarthy politics present in the United States at the time of the film's original release. The film is gripping from the start and contains effective suspenseful moments. Watch out for a cameo from the soon-to-be legendary film director Sam Peckinpah.

Remade twice, 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' ranks as possibly the greatest science fiction film of all. Owning a copy of the film is essential. Watching the movie is a MUST! Rating ****

DVD to be released on 1/10/07

Director of such classic films as 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner' says that 97 per cent of all modern films are "stupid".

2007-09-04T19:16:00.000+01:00

Ridley Scott has proclaimed that 97 per cent of all modern films are “stupid”. The director of such classics as ‘Gladiator’, ‘Alien’, ‘Thelma and Louise’, and ‘Blade Runner’ was speaking at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday when he said that “where it used to be 50/50, now it’s three per cent good, 97 per cent stupid”.

Scott also said that new technology is killing off the big-screen experience, saying that mobile phones and computers are the threat. He said that “people sit there watching a movie on a tiny screen. You can’t beat it, you’ve got to join it and deal with it and also get competitive with it. But we try to do films which are in support of cinema, in a large room with good sound and a big picture”.

3:10 to Yuma remake to be released soon

2007-08-30T12:05:00.000+01:00

The remake of the classic 1957 western '3:10 to Yuma' is slated to open on September 7th, 2007 in the Unites States. The original film (original film poster, right) starred Glenn Ford as outlaw leader Ben Wade and Van Heflin as Dan Evans. The 1957 was well-received by the critics and the public. The 2007 film (original film poster, below) stars Russell Crowe as Wade and Christian Bale as Evans. It is hoped that the remake will be as good as the original but I know which original film poster I would go for!

REVIEW: KEY LARGO WORKS UP A STORM!

2007-08-29T20:03:00.001+01:00

Humphrey Bogart and director John Huston were an intriguing and memorable combination of talents. Having previously worked together in the celebrated 'The Maltese Falcon' (1941) and the equally lauded 'The Treasure of Sierra Madre' (1948), special things were expected from their next offering, 'Key Largo' (1948).

Bogart plays Major Frank McCloud, a decorated war hero who arrives at a hotel belonging to the family of his friend who had died in action during the war. The father of the deceased and propertor, James Temple (sympathically played by Lionel Barrymore) finds some comfort in talking about his brave son to McCloud and sadly remembers him despite his bravery. However, there are gangsters in his hotel and they begin running things to allow the criminal Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) to escape Key Largo but this is the night of the big storm.

Robinson's performance as Rocco is electrifying and the epitome of pure evil. The virtues of his characters are clearly the opposite to the James Temple's son not just because he is an evil gangster but that he made a living out of crime when others were dying for their country in the war. Bogart's performance is as reliable as ever, producing a performance that portrays a flawed hero rather than a knight in shining armour. Lauren Bacall's performance as Temple's daughter Nora is vulnerable and so different to her performance as the seductive Marie in 'To Have and Have Not' (1944) but very effective.

Despite the great performances and the technical mastery of the storm sequences (brilliantly photographed by the legendary Karl Freund), it is the writing (by John Huston and Richard Brooks) and the direction that make this fine example of film noir. The film effectively captures the mood of post war despair. The storm itself heightens the moments of claustrophia and tension, creating a masterpiece which is in my opinion the best of the Huston-Bogart classics. RATING: ****
Watched on DVD on August 23rd 2007

MY SWEETHEART'S FAVOURITE FILMS

2007-08-29T20:00:00.001+01:00

Suky's top ten favourite movies are:
Dead Poet's Society (1988)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Shirley Valentine (1989)
Educating Rita (1983)
LA Confidential (1997)
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
Moonstruck (1987)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
All the President's Men (1976)
West Side Story (1961)

Suky's background is Indian therefore her top three Indian (or 'Bollywood') films are:
Veer Zaara (2004)
Lagaan (2001)
Sholay (1975)

WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS?

2007-08-28T19:02:00.000+01:00

We live beside the Thames and knowing that the weather has not been great this summer,as well as the fact that I go back to work on Monday, I thought that I should enjoy a life of leisure while it lasts. As a teacher I know that this time next week I will be under so much stress but I doubt that I will be able to receive any sympathy at the moment! I shall return to my blog very soon but until then, cheers!!!! Paul B.

COMING UP ON TCM UK

2007-08-25T04:33:00.000+01:00

The wonderful James Cagney stars as a mother-obsessed psychotic thug in Raoul Walsh's gangster classic 'White Heat' (1949) which will be shown on TCM at 19.05 on August 29th, 2007. This is a memorable film about a government agent who manages to infiltrate a group of violent gangsters. A genuinely entertaining film with top notch performances and a wonderful screenplay which includes the classic much-quoted line: "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"

REVIEW: MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962) - SURPRISINGLY ENTERTAINING!

2007-08-25T03:23:00.001+01:00

My own Amazon.com review of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' from September 3rd, 1999

The 1962 remake of the classic 'Mutiny On The Bounty' story has been savaged by the critics thoughout the years. Criticisms have included over-length, poor acting (not forgetting Brando's accent) and an over-dramaticised death scene finale.

After the release of the original 1935 version, many critics were quick to applaud this Frank Lloyd classic as the epitome of modern film-making. However, it can now be regarded as a slackly told adventure, although still very entertaining.

During the making of this version, leaks to the media of the problems which beset the production has not been helpful to its cause. Problems alerted included directorial conflicts (the resignation of Carol Reed for Lewis Milestone), delayed and rewritten screenplays, Marlon Brando becoming difficult onset etc.. It became quite clear that the knives of the critics were beginning to sharpen at the prospect of this remake of a universally acknowledged classic. It would also have been professional suicide for any of these original critics to think that this movie was to be anything other than a "turkey".

The main point of scathing by the critics was Brando's accent. I am Irish and I have had to endure dreadful "oirish" accents in movies throughout the years. So, when a main Hollywood star tries to make an eccentric interpretation of a real life English hero with an English accent, suddenly everybody gets particular to what part of England it is from. What Marlon Brando did was make a spirited if unsuccessful attempt at creating a different and more realistic Fletcher Christian.

The production was fine. The other performances are excellent, especially Trevor Howard's Captain Bligh (much more realistic than Laughton's interpretation) and most importantly, this version entertains. I accept that it could have been better but I do enjoy watching this version than the other two versions. It is not perfect and I appreciate that it is overlong - but even if you hate this remake you must admit that there is no way it deserves the scathing reviews it has received throughout the years. RATING: ***

Meeting Audrey Hepburn

2007-08-24T01:18:00.000+01:00

In September 1988 I had the honour of meeting Audrey Hepburn, film star and UNICEF ambassador, at the UNICEF function at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin. A member of the hardworking Irish UNICEF committee allowed me to come down from Donegal to attend the ceremony. I used to work quite actively with voluntary youth work back then but as a film enthusiast I never did think that I would ever meet quite the most beautiful movie star of all. Ms. Hepburn had real star quality, having gained her legendary reputation in such film classics as 'Roman Holiday' (1953), 'Sabrina' (1954), 'Funny Face' (1957) , 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961) and 'My Fair Lady' (1964). She was also a wonderful ambassador for UNICEF. I am delighted to say that I found Ms. Hepburn to be a genuinely kind and friendly person! I still feel really happy when I think about that day and I feel so privileged to have been allowed to meet such a wonderful lady.

Meeting Audrey was one of the happiest moments of my life!

The following organisations are closely linked with Ms. Hepburn and they are full of wonderful people too, as well as the fact that their causes are important. Please contribute when you can. Thank you.
http://www.audreyhepburn.com
http://www.unicef.org.uk/

My better half is watching 'The Immigrant'

2007-08-24T00:51:00.001+01:00

My better half is currently watching this early masterpiece from Charles Chaplin on DVD called 'the Immigrant' about a penniless immigrant on his way to New York who meets a girl on a boat. Made in 1917 for the Mutual Film Company, this silent comedy was written, directed and starred Chaplin and the film includes his usual ensemble of stars such as Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell and Albert Austin. The film is only 20 minutes long but worth watching. The DVD version includes a recent score by Carl Davis. May I add that several years back we were lucky to attend the very screening at the Royal Festival Hall when Davis played the accompanying score to this film for the first time. RATING: ****

2007-08-24T00:50:00.000+01:00

My summer holidays are nearing the last week.
But frankly my dear I don't give a damn!

REVIEW: Billy Liar - The recent screening of the sixties classic at Greenwich Picturehouse

2007-08-24T00:08:00.001+01:00

The 1963 John Schlesinger classic 'Billy Liar' was shown at the Greenwich Picturehouse on Tuesday last week as part of the 'Best of British' season. The film print had been recently digitally re-mastered although it was difficult to tell judging from the high quality of the print of the recent DVD release of the film. Based on the novel by Keith Waterhouse and the play by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall who both wrote the screenplay, we are introduced to Billy Fisher (Tom Courtenay), an undertaker's clerk who resides with his parents and grandmother in a drab north England town during the early 1960's but frequently escapes into his own world of fantasy. He imagines himself as different characters in his own imaginary world of Snowdonia. His parents do not value him for anything other than someone who wastes his time, with his father (Wilfred Pickles) sarcastically referring to him as "his lordship". Even Billy's ambitions are fantastical. Billy tells his closest workmate Arthur Crabtree (Rodney Bewes) that he will be handing in his notice to his boss, Emmanuel Shadrack (Leonard Rossiter) to quit his workplace so that he can create jokes for comedian Danny Boon (Leslie Randall). His lovelife is a tangle but the return of Liz (Julie Christie), a independent girl whom Billy loves would eventually make him face a dilemma: to remain in his own fantasy world or face a reality with Liz in London.

'Billy Liar' is a funny and historical document of a country in transition. This social changes are evident in the many references such as the images of construction work, the comment made by the grandmother (Ethel Griffies) about the new types of foreign workers arriving lately, the nostalgic points made by Counsellor Duxbury (Finlay Currie) about how everything was different was he was a boy and of course the iconic image of Liz (julie Cristie) representing the immediate future of the sexy, independent girl-about-town of swinging London. It is unclear how much the screenwriters or John Schlesinger had predicted about what was about to happen to England but the fact that these images and points are just referred to and not preached gives the film a sense of honesty which makes it one of the best "British kitchen sink" films from the 1960's. The monochrome photography by Denys Coop is rather excellent but alongside the impeccable screenplay and direction, it is the performances, especially from the Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie and the underrated Gwendolyn Watts (Rita) that makes 'Billy Liar' a film experience to cherish. RATING: ****

MY MOVIE REVIEW RATINGS

2007-08-23T19:35:00.001+01:00

my new movie ratings

I shall be review future films using the old film review process similar to how to the process used by the great Leslie Halliwell.

**** Classic
*** Classic but not completely perfect!
** Good to Classic but not a complete classic!
* Average, with possible interesting moments.
No Stars: Average or below.

Stars or technicians or writers or directors or producers written in italics: A unique contribution to the film.

Old Review system:
9 - 10 marks (out of 10): Brilliant
8 marks (out of 10): Excellent
7 marks (out of 10): Very Good
6 marks (out of 10): Good
5 marks (out of 10): Average

3 - 4 marks (out of 10): Below Average
2 marks (out of 10): Poor
1 mark (out of 10): Very Poor

INTRODUCTION: Welcome to my world of classic cinema!

2007-08-23T19:34:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my world of classic cinema! When I say my world of classic cinema I usually refer to the golden age of Hollywood cinema during the 1930's and 1940's, silent films, landmark European and world films, the epics from the 1950's and the 1960's, the often-regarded second Hollywood golden age (usually cited as between 1967 and 1977), and modern classics - my list is endless! How I define classic cinema are those movies made that have reached or have almost reached the point of brilliance or movies that strive for greatness but have failed! I am sure that you know that this site contains just another collection of personalised opinions from someone who just loves watching films! I hope that my passion for classic cinema can be shared and that my random comments, however opinionated they can sometimes be, can be helpful in anyway!