The Adultress (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.4 Date Released : 6 November 1953 Genre : Crime, Drama, Romance Stars : Simone Signoret, Raf Vallone, Jacques Duby, Maria Pia Casilio Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Therese has a boring life. She married Camille, her cousin, a sickly haberdasher, fully dominated by his mother (who lives with them). She dreams about passion. One day comes a truckdriver, Laurent... and of course they fall in love. But they will be pursued by fate.
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Review :
Vivid and brooding, a Euro-noir, with a cold, stunning Signoret...slow but alive
Therese Raquin (1953)
You may be familiar with the lead actress, Simone Signoret, from Les Diaboliques, made a year after this film, and she plays a similar conflicted or complex, strong type of woman in a sordid world. She plays the title character, based on a Zola story, who is swept into a romance she doesn't completely expect and then a murder that she doesn't completely abhor.
And she is rather brilliant, a slightly different type than American actresses of the time, but commanding in her stoic intelligence. The two men are both first rate, one a foreign (Italian) charmer and the other a sharper fellow who is only slightly over his head. In fact, everyone is just slightly extended into decisions they don't quite know how to make. The fact that things go wrong is just part of great drama, and part of life, too.
The filming (photography and editing) is totally gorgeous here, The plot progresses slowly enough it might seem to drag, but I think it works in the long run, setting a deliberate and inevitable pace to events. What is maybe weakest is the ending, where things get a little spectacular, perhaps in a fascinating way, but certainly no longer believable.
Director Marcel Carne is no household name in this country, but the strength of this film alone makes me want to find others and get a feel for his style. Recommended for those who like drama, melodrama, and a sort of Euro-noir style, and who don't mind reading subtitles.
Neapolitan Carousel (1954)iMDB Rating: 6.6 Date Released : 1 October 1954 Genre : Comedy, Musical Stars : Léonide Massine, Achille Millo, Agostino Salvietti, Clelia Matania. Napoli, anni cinquanta. Un cantastorie, che abita con la numerosa famiglia in una misera catapecchia, viene sfrattato e se ne va coi suoi familiari per le strade, spingendo il pianino di Barberia, cui sono appese delle canzoni. Un colpo di vento spazza via i fogli e sullo schermo si susseguono gli episodi che formano l'argomento delle canzoni. Dall'arrivo dei mori nel 1300 fino al Secondo ..." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Napoli, anni cinquanta. Un cantastorie, che abita con la numerosa famiglia in una misera catapecchia, viene sfrattato e se ne va coi suoi familiari per le strade, spingendo il pianino di Barberia, cui sono appese delle canzoni. Un colpo di vento spazza via i fogli e sullo schermo si susseguono gli episodi che formano l'argomento delle canzoni. Dall'arrivo dei mori nel 1300 fino al Secondo dopoguerra. Passano sullo schermo Francesi e Spagnoli, Inglesi e Americani: sembra non sia cambiato nulla attraverso tanti secoli di Storia per Napoli e per i napoletani. Senza perdere del tutto la speranza, il cantastorie continua il suo cammino: prima di allontanarsi nella via accoglie nella sua famiglia un giovane cantante innamorato della figlia maggiore. Riprendono tutti insieme il difficile cammino, con la musica nel cuore e nel cervello...
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Review :
twice carousels have appeared in titles but only minimally in the movies
Whoa! I've seen some wacky movies, but this one sure came out of left field. Maybe it's because I've never seen a musical from Italy; when I think of Italian cinema, I think of Federico Fellini and Roberto Benigni. I reckon that nowadays, Ettore Giannini's "Carosello napoletano" - "Neapolitan Carousel" in English - is most notable for an early appearance by Sophia Loren (she plays Sisina). Otherwise, the whole thing runs like a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. It was apparently the first major Italian musical of the postwar era.
The plot, as far as I could tell, centers on a family wandering the streets of Naples, singing songs about various events in the city's history. But it's always hard to tell what's real and what isn't. From what I could tell, only one scene even featured a carousel (unless the title had a deeper meaning); kind of like how Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel" only features the title object in one scene. Oh well, I guess that the movie's worth seeing. Usually, I watch musicals only to heckle them. In this case, I didn't know that this was a musical, and I don't consider it appropriate to heckle Sophia Loren.
Anyway, it's an OK movie, but trying to follow the plot is sort of a challenge. Also starring Paolo Stoppa, Clelia Matania, Maria Fiore, Nadia Gray and Leonide Massine.
Clash by Night (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.2 Date Released : 4 August 1952 Genre : Drama, Film-Noir Stars : Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan, Paul Douglas, Marilyn Monroe Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
The bitter and cynical Mae Doyle returns to the fishing village where she was raised after deceptive loves and life in New York. She meets her brother, the fisherman Joe Doyle, and he lodges her in his home. Mae is courted by Jerry D'Amato, a good and naive man that owns the boat where Joe works, and he introduces his brutal friend Earl Pfeiffer, who works as theater's projectionist and is cheated by his wife. She does not like Earl and his jokes, but Jerry considers him his friend and they frequently see each other. Mae decides to accept the proposal of Jerry and they get married and one year later they have a baby girl. When the wife of Earl leaves him, he becomes depressed and Mae, who is bored with her loveless marriage, has an affair with him.
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Review :
Not really film noir.
The subheading in the IMDb page for "Clash by Night" calls this film noir. Many fans of the genre may be disappointed. It does have one of the great film noir directors in Fritz Lang and stars two of the genres foremost performers in Barbara Stanwyck(DOUBLE INDEMNITY) and Robert Ryan(The Set Up). However, the style is more romantic drama than film noir. It reminds me of the filmed plays by Elia Kazan like "A Streetcar Named Desire". It even has a character screaming a name out the window. I guess the crime element is missing here but I guess infidelity would fit. The dialogue is up to the standard you'd expect a luminary like Clifford Odets to create. I was unsure if I would agree with the way the film ended but the characterization and plot were so well done, I knew that the ending would not disappoint. I was right.
The Golden Coach (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.3 Date Released : 5 January 1954 Genre : Comedy, Drama, Romance Stars : Anna Magnani, Odoardo Spadaro, Nada Fiorelli, Dante. In Peru in the eighteenth century. Camilla, the star of a theater company, hesitates between three men. The Viceroy gives her his magnificent golden coach. A young Spanish officer suggests the two of them settle down together among Indians. Ramon, a torero, offers her a share of his glory." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
In Peru in the eighteenth century. Camilla, the star of a theater company, hesitates between three men. The Viceroy gives her his magnificent golden coach. A young Spanish officer suggests the two of them settle down together among Indians. Ramon, a torero, offers her a share of his glory.
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Review :
an entertaining novelty
Jean Renoir's colorful English language comedy is not the masterpiece prevailing critical opinion would have you believe ("riotously textural!" raved the Village Voice), but it is a pleasant and entertaining novelty. A spirited Anna Magnani leads a troupe of Italian actors to a Spanish colony in 18th century Peru, where the appreciative Viceroy rewards her talent (and beauty) with the gift of a golden coach, setting off a small political and romantic scandal. It plays for the most part not unlike a literate stage farce, and Renoir emphasizes the theatricality of the story by directing (and shooting) it like theatre, with deliberate, flat compositions and distracting color costumes; the action even begins on a legitimate stage, the walls of which 'disappear' as soon as Renoir's camera dollies into it. The (at the time) newly struck 1992 print, presented by Martin Scorsese, shows obvious evidence of restoration only in the curious epilogue, which brings the story back to its original stage setting, and appears to have been poorly reconstructed on video.
The Black Knight (1954)iMDB Rating: 5.2 Date Released : 26 August 1954 Genre : Adventure Stars : Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, André Morell, Harry Andrews. As a blacksmith John can't hope to win the hand of Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeonil. Off he goes to prove himself a noble knight. He makes himself a suit of armor with a winged chicken helmet and runs around fighting for King Arthur as the Black Knight. Evil doings include plots by visiting kings and a Druid sacrificial ceremony at Stonehenge." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
As a blacksmith John can't hope to win the hand of Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeonil. Off he goes to prove himself a noble knight. He makes himself a suit of armor with a winged chicken helmet and runs around fighting for King Arthur as the Black Knight. Evil doings include plots by visiting kings and a Druid sacrificial ceremony at Stonehenge.
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Review :
THE BLACK KNIGHT (Tay Garnett, 1954) **1/2
In my opinion, the finest cinematic renditions of the Arthurian legends have all been revisionist in nature – Robert Bresson’s ascetic LANCELOT DU LAC (1974), the uproarious MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1974) and John Boorman’s visceral Excalibur (1981) – but, for an entire generation of youngsters during the 1950s and 1960s (that to which my father belongs to be exact), the idealized, heroic Hollywood version of Camelot, its sovereign and inhabitants was the only one there was. In fact, they were spoilt for choice when it comes to depictions of pageantry in those days with Mel Ferrer, Brian Aherne (twice) and Richard Harris being among those who assuming on film the role of King Arthur.
In this modest, fairly routine but equally enjoyable British production, it is Anthony Bushell who gets to play the ruler of Camelot but the actor’s relative anonymity implies (correctly as it turns out) that his role in the narrative is merely a peripheral one. In fact, the leading man here is diminutive Hollywood star Alan Ladd: curiously cast as a taciturn English blacksmith with ideas above his station (generally directed towards aristocratic Patricia Medina), he is wrongly accused of both treason (by duplicitous Saracen knight Peter Cushing) and of cowardice (by Medina herself, after a Viking attack on her castle leaves her mother dead and father, played by Harry Andrews, half-crazed with grief)! However, with the help of a prescient knight (Andre' Morell) and after adopting the titular disguise, our commoner hero saves the day by routing the villains (who also include a dastardly Scottish royal – portrayed by yet another future Hammer horror stalwart Patrick Troughton, as well as Cushing’s laughing, would-be deaf-mute giant stooge), earning himself an official knighthood and, it goes without saying, Medina’s hand in marriage. Incidentally, the tale is set off by a ballad sung in a brief prologue by a minstrel (Elton Hayes) approaching a castle but, unexpectedly enough, rather than featuring in the upcoming narrative (as a singing squire or something), he quickly vanishes never to be seen or heard from again!
Apart from the film’s unsurprising reliance on cliché, it also contains elements of camp (particularly a Pagan rite being performed at Stonehenge and the cumbersome insignias worn on their helmets by the various knights) and leads up to a curiously clumsy climax (with an ostensibly unnoticed Ladd conspicuously overhearing the scheming Troughton and Cushing from a secret passage leading right behind the former’s throne; Ladd seemingly taken aback by the aforementioned giant falling to his death in spite of himself from the castle rooftop, not to mention Cushing apparently tripping in his own armor when turning up for the final showdown with the hero)! Actually, this only increases the film’s fun factor and, over fifty years later, one can still understand how this stuff was eagerly lapped up by thrill-seeking schoolboys during their weekly matinees. Incidentally, given Cushing’s reputation as a horror star, it may come as a surprise to some that he appeared in numerous costumers over the years – including THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1939), Alexander THE GREAT (1956), JOHN PAUL JONES (1959), SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1960), THE HELLFIRE CLUB (1961), FURY AT SMUGGLER’S BAY (1961), CAPTAIN CLEGG (1963) and SWORD OF THE VALIANT (1984)!
For what it’s worth, the screenplay involves some notable names – Alec Coppel, future director Bryan Forbes and film noir star Dennis O’Keefe(!) – and its plot of King Arthur vs. The Vikings would come in handy once more that same year in the equally inauthentic but even more popular PRINCE VALIANT. Other distinguished crew members include composer John Addison, cinematographer John Wilcox, art director Vetchinsky and producers Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli(!) – this was actually the latter’s third and last picture with Ladd following THE RED BERET (1953) and HELL BELOW ZERO (1954). By the way, THE BLACK KNIGHT itself eventually got remade by Nathan Juran as SIEGE OF THE SAXONS (1963)!
Ana-ta-han (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.5 Date Released : 17 May 1954 Genre : Drama, War Stars : Akemi Negishi, Tadashi Suganuma, Kisaburo Sawamura, Shôji Nakayama. Josef von Sternberg directed, photographed, provides the voice-over narration and wrote the screenplay (from a based-on-actual event novel by Michiro Maruyana translated by Younghill Kang) about twelve Japanese seaman who, in June 1944, are stranded on an abandoned-and-forgotten island called An-ta-han for seven years. The island's only inhabitants are the overseer of the abandoned plantation and..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Josef von Sternberg directed, photographed, provides the voice-over narration and wrote the screenplay (from a based-on-actual event novel by Michiro Maruyana translated by Younghill Kang) about twelve Japanese seaman who, in June 1944, are stranded on an abandoned-and-forgotten island called An-ta-han for seven years. The island's only inhabitants are the overseer of the abandoned plantation and an attractive young Japanese woman. Discipline is represented by a former warrant officer but ends when he suffers a loss-of-face catastrophe. Soon, discipline and rationality are replaced by a struggle for power and the woman. Power is represented by a pair of pistols found in the wreckage of an American airplane, so important that five men pay for their lives in a bid for supremacy.
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Review :
Sternberg's fascinating finale
After many months of searching I located Josef's The Saga of Anatahan. It definitely held my attention and was a unique viewing experience. A completely Japanese war tale relayed in english (?) it has a strange beauty that is difficult to approximate in plain text. I don't know how Sternberg decided on this as his last cinematic statement, but it is certainly a fascinating b & w piece.
The Girl Next Door (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.5 Date Released : 24 May 1954 Genre : Comedy, Musical Stars : Dan Dailey, June Haver, Dennis Day, Billy Gray. Stage-and-night club star Jeannie Laird (June Haver) buys her first home, and everyone who is anyone comes to her first garden party only to be blinded by smoke from next door. Jeannie charges next door to bawl out her new neighbor and meets comic-strip artist Bill Carter (Dan Dailey). Bill has devoted himself to his strip, and raising his ten-year-old son Joe (Billy Gray) since the death of his ..." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Stage-and-night club star Jeannie Laird (June Haver) buys her first home, and everyone who is anyone comes to her first garden party only to be blinded by smoke from next door. Jeannie charges next door to bawl out her new neighbor and meets comic-strip artist Bill Carter (Dan Dailey). Bill has devoted himself to his strip, and raising his ten-year-old son Joe (Billy Gray) since the death of his wife. Joe bases his strip on the everyday happenings of he and his son and is proud of keeping it scrupulously honest. When Jeannie and Bill fall in love, young Joe is hurt, especially when Bill starts using a lot of the father-son time to be with Jeannie. Bill cancels a father-son trip to Canada, and Joe decides to write a letter to Bill's syndicate pointing out that the current plot line of the script being set in Canada isn't honest, since they didn't go.
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Review :
Wow...Dad is sure a jerk in this one...though, it is still a sweet movie.
I am an odd person in that I like musicals BUT dislike them when they have a lot of songs or unnecessary song and dance sequences that slow down the plots. So, while I really loved the plot from "The Girl Next Door", I felt that a couple times the song and dance routines got in the way--particularly the fantasy sequences. Now this is NOT to say I disliked the film. I think it's actually highly underrated and don't exactly know why it isn't thought of as one of the better musicals. Perhaps it's because it starred Dan Dailey and June Haver--and they were not see as in the same level as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland and other top Hollywood names. Well, despite this, it is a very good picture...even with a song or two too many.
The film begins by showing us very quickly the life of the actress Jeannie Laird (Haver). Now, after wowing audiences all over the world, she has just bought a home and plans to settle down a little bit. She's still a working woman and loves acting, but now she has a house to call her own. But, on the night she's throwing a big housewarming party, she runs afoul of her neighbors--Bill and Joe Carter (Dan Dailey and Billy Gray). Fortunately, this minor tiff did not characterize the movie or their relationship and soon she and Bill are dating. The problem is that Joe LOVES all the attention he gets from his single dad--and he naturally resents anyone who might try to take him away from him. Unfortunately, Bill is a bit oblivious to this and it takes patience from Jeannie and some understanding from Joe to work through all this.
This is a very nice family film. The relationship between father and son seemed natural and sweet. Daily and Haver are exceptional, but the real star to me was Gray. While he'd played precocious and ill-behaved brats in a few previous films, here he was all boy--and I mean that in the best possible way. He seemed very natural and was in his element in the film. Overall, apart from one or two songs too many, the film has a nice story, excellent acting and is well worth your time.
By the way, this was Haver's last film, as she soon retired to be a nun. This didn't take, apparently, and a bit later she became Mrs. Fred MacMurray and never looked back at her film career. Also, get a load of the big kiss at the end--it's one of the best of the era!
If you see this on DVD, look for the special features--they are excellent!
Sailor of the King (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.9 Date Released : 11 June 1953 Genre : Action, Drama, War Stars : Jeffrey Hunter, Michael Rennie, Wendy Hiller, Bernard Lee. A British naval officer has a brief affair with a woman in England and never knows that she bears him a son. 20 years later the boy is on a ship under his command when he is tracking a German Raider. When the boy is captured after his ship is sunk, he finds a way to slow the German's progress while a lethal hunt for him goes on." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
A British naval officer has a brief affair with a woman in England and never knows that she bears him a son. 20 years later the boy is on a ship under his command when he is tracking a German Raider. When the boy is captured after his ship is sunk, he finds a way to slow the German's progress while a lethal hunt for him goes on.
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Review :
Great role for Jeffrey Hunter and a touching love-affair...
...between Hiller and Rennie.
"Sailor of the king" seems to be a lot of fiction. But it is a gripping story of two lovers in WW1 and the adventures of their son in WW2.
I love the beginning of the movie with shy Michael Rennie and the charming Wendy Hiller. Then Jeff comes and takes the command. It is very thrilling to watch him shooting Peter van Eyck who is a famous german actor and plays very well too.
I do not like the ending. It is too unrealistic. >
Rue de l'Estrapade (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.8 Date Released : 15 April 1953 Genre : Comedy, Drama Stars : Daniel Gélin, Louis Jourdan, Anne Vernon, Jean Servais. While Henri Laurent speeds along on the racing circuits, his pretty wife Françoise goes from luxury boutique to luxury boutique with her best friend Denise. One day, Denise lets her know that Henri has a lover. Outraged, Françoise moves out of marital home and rents a maids' room in Rue de l'Estrapade. Henri tries to get his wife back but Françoise does not listen. She even looks for a job in a ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
While Henri Laurent speeds along on the racing circuits, his pretty wife Françoise goes from luxury boutique to luxury boutique with her best friend Denise. One day, Denise lets her know that Henri has a lover. Outraged, Françoise moves out of marital home and rents a maids' room in Rue de l'Estrapade. Henri tries to get his wife back but Françoise does not listen. She even looks for a job in a prêt-à-porter shop and lets herself be courted by Robert, her neighbor across the landing...
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Review :
Escapade
"Estrapade" (Estrapado) was a horrible torture which I'm not going to depict here.The word sounds like "escapade" which means " gentle runaway".And "Rue De L'Escapade " was tailor made for such a movie,for the wife (A beaming Anne Vernon) ,tired of her husband's (handsome Louis Jourdan) infidelities ,runs away from marital home and rent a seedy tiny apartment in the working-class area of the city.
After a masterpiece such as "Casque D'Or" ,one of the peaks of the French cinema,anything would be a let down.Becker did not even try.His "Rue DE L'Estrapade" ,with the exception of his debut ("Dernier Atout" ) was his weakest film then.He was to sink lower with "Arsene Lupin" and his dismal "Ali Baba" -Fernandel in the title role!- before coming up with aces for his final -and perhaps most ambitious- chef d'oeuvre "Le Trou" ,maybe the best prison movie ever done.
"Rue De L'Estrapade" is a curious patchwork:it includes snatches of previous works :the chic world of fashion ("Falbalas" ) ,a little walk in the popular town ("Antoine Et Antoinette" ) Amorous Quarrel ("Edouard Et Caroline" ).If only he had borrowed from his three early major works ("Casque D'Or" ,"Rendez-Vous De Juillet" "Goupi Mains Rouges" ).It's pleasant enough with a nice appearance -at the 46th minute- by Daniel Gelin as a singer short of the readies performing Georges Brassens' lovely "Le Parapluie" .
Fans of Jacques Becker will like it;but a young person who wants to discover this great French director should pick up one of his four towering achievements:"Casque D'or" "Goupi Mains ROuges" "rendezvous De Juillet" and "Le Trou".
NB: a bisexual character (Jean Servais),which was risqué for the time.
Valley of Head Hunters (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.4 Date Released : 29 July 1953 Genre : Adventure Stars : Johnny Weissmuller, Christine Larsen, Robert Foulk, Steven Ritch Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
In the 12th of the "Jungle Jim" series from Sam Katzman's production unit at Columbia, Jim (Johnny Weissmuller) is assigned to accompany a government agent into the interior to get the native's approval for copper mining. Unknown to Jim, Arco (Robert C. Foulk), also wants approval but for oil, not copper. Arco and his henchies make a series of raids on the villages which he is able to blame on Jungle Jim.
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Review :
Not the worst Sam Katzman's stuff
I can bare that kind of Sam Katzman's production, no more than 70 minutes length at the most. A rather amusing time waster that you may forget one hour after the viewing. Many stock shot - footage material - unconvincing, and I would say laughable, acting and of course a tepid directing. But who would ask more for this grade Z stuff made for the big screen. Yes, I can stand this Sam Katzman's prod piece of work, but certainly not his serials, all made for Columbia Pictures in the late forties and till the late fifties. Those serials were a real killing, even for the most hard boiled serial fan - I am not, I admit, except for Republic ones. A million miles away from Columbia serials.
This film made entirely in studios - who would expect locations - I repeat, is lightly better than the Bomba films, but far worse than the Tarzan features. I won't class it among the Jungle Jim series. All seem the same for me. I won't tell if it is the best JJ ever or the second or the worst, the last in the best JJ of the whole series.
If you are a fan or just a time killer, don't hesitate.
Genevieve (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.3 Date Released : 15 February 1954 Genre : Comedy Stars : Dinah Sheridan, John Gregson, Kay Kendall, Kenneth More. It's time for the annual London to Brighton antique car rally, and Alan McKim and Ambrose Claverhouse are not going to let their friendship stop them from trying to humiliate each other. Along the way, some old jealousies are kindled to the point where the two men decide to have a "friendly" wager on who will be the first back to London. Once the competitive juices get all fired up, however, it ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
It's time for the annual London to Brighton antique car rally, and Alan McKim and Ambrose Claverhouse are not going to let their friendship stop them from trying to humiliate each other. Along the way, some old jealousies are kindled to the point where the two men decide to have a "friendly" wager on who will be the first back to London. Once the competitive juices get all fired up, however, it quickly becomes a nasty, hotly-contested affair. Ambrose's companion must suffer through her "maiden voyage" on the rally, while Mrs. McKim, on the other hand, is a long-time sufferer of her husband's obsession.
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Review :
One of my favorite movies!
I wish they made more movies like this one! A light hearted comedy about an antique car rally and the competitive relationship between two friends. A recipe for a wonderful film that I could not recommend enough. The previous comments say it all! I only wish one of our vintage film channels would show it.
Le portrait de son père (1953)iMDB Rating: 5.1 Date Released : 22 November 1953 Genre : Comedy Stars : Jean Richard, Michèle Philippe, Brigitte Bardot, Mona Goya." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
My guide on Brigitte Bardot-movies tells me that 'Le portrait de son pere' (= his father's portrait) was never issued in the USA or in England. Not even in the late fifties, when Bardot's fame had rocketed skyhigh, and her earlier movies were eagerly re-issued for a quick cash-in.
One can well wonder why. In 'Le portrait de son pere' French actor Jean Richard convincingly plays a simple country lad. He inherites the shares of a Paris department store, and becomes its succesful manager.
This very French comedy provides us with a good and consistent story, emphasizing on family values. The acting is good, too. Young Brigitte Bardot plays the manager's Parisian step-sister. She is a well educated young girl here, without even the slightest hint to sex and nudity. Throughout the entire movie the manager's behaviour towards Brigitte is strictly one of brotherly love and concern; Brigitte's behaviour towards him follows the same pattern. In the end both Brigitte and her step-brother run off with a different partner, and not with each other.
I guess it's this lack of anything immoral that makes this BB-movie so unknown outside France. Quite unjustified in my opinion, because 'Le portrait de son pere' is good. To appreciate it, maybe in your mind you should first disconnect Brigitte Bardot with her usual trademarks of slight immorality, sex and nudity.
Tourments (1954)iMDB Rating: 5.8 Date Released : 23 April 1954 Stars : Paul Azaïs, Blanchette Brunoy, Claudy Chapeland, Raymond Cordy." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Forever Female (1953)iMDB Rating: 6.8 Date Released : 1 January 1954 Genre : Comedy Stars : Ginger Rogers, William Holden, Paul Douglas, James Gleason Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Playwright Stanley Krown has a terrific new play. It's got a great part for reigning Broadway star Beatrice Page, and a young actress named Sally Carver will do just about anything to get the ingénue lead. The problem is that Beatrice doesn't want the great role written for her. She wants the ingénue role, something she could have played wonderfully -- when she was twenty years younger.
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Review :
All About Eve made palatable
This film was made in the shadow of ALL ABOUT EVE, and paints a more benign view of that film's central situation. Ginger Rogers plays a leading Broadway star, who retains a close relationship with her former husband (Paul Douglas), and works closely with playwright William Holden (possibly a softer build-up for his play director in Bing Crosby's/Grace Kelly's THE COUNTRY GIRL). Pat Crowley, a younger woman of some acting talent, is trying to break into the circles that cast and produce Broadway plays (she is doing mostly off-Broadway work). The relationship of these four characters are the basis of this comedy.
There are differences between the situation here and the situation in EVE. There was more of an atmosphere of the theater and it's traditions in EVE (because Joseph Mankiewicz writes literate scripts, and was determined to show what goes on behind the stage curtains). But there Bette Davis has gotten trapped into a lonely greatness on stage, and she turns out to be willing to vacate her pedestal if she can have a human life with Gary Merrill. She just does not like the way Anne Baxter is trying to replace her in her parts - Baxter's underhanded methods are despicable. Crowley is not Baxter. She genuinely admires Rogers, and just wants entry (which she may get through Holden). It is just that Rogers is still clinging to her youth - Holden is her last chance for such a cling when they go out together. But even Rogers realizes that she is beyond the point of return. In fact, towards the end of the film the audience and Holden and Crowley discover that Rogers actually gives herself a long summer vacation where she can wear softer, easier clothing and eat as much as she wants to. In the end she accepts that the scepter is passed, but she still has her old husband/friend/and continuous argument partner Douglass to play with.
On Top of Old Smoky (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.0 Date Released : 25 March 1953 Genre : Western Stars : Gene Autry, Champion, Gail Davis, Grandon Rhodes Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Poachers are harassing toll road owner Jen Larrabee. They want her land because it holds valuable minerals. Autry and the Cass County Boys, mistaken for Texas Rangers, help out.
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Review :
On Top of Action
Gene often named his movies after popular songs (usually to promote his recording of the tune). Seldom did the song title have much to do with the plot of the story. "On Top of Old Smoky" is a traditional American folk song most likely from the Appalachians that was given a new life in 1951 by the famous folk group The Weavers, selling over a million records that year. The catchy call and response rendition received an added oomph by the tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a young Pete Seeger. Over a year later, Gene's version came out. At the beginning of the film, Gene rides the trail alone singing a plaintive version of the unrequited love ballad. And it's not bad. He even adds a final cowboy verse making the song apropos to the prairie where a person is unlikely to find a "mountain all covered with snow."
There are other pleasant songs sung by Gene with help from the Cass County Boys (you've probably heard the voice of one member of the trio without realizing it - Jerry Scoggins sang "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," the theme to long-running (and still re-running)"The Beverly Hillbillies") and Smiley, the best being "I Hang My Head and Cry," co-written by Gene. Smiley does some great harmony with Gene on this one. "If It Wasn't For The Rain" is also a fine ditty.
For a change, Gene plays a phony rather than a real Texas Ranger as a result of a misunderstanding. Seems Gene is with group of singers known as the Rangers (Cass County Boys). Those who see the fake badge think it's real. This leads Gene and Smiley into all kinds of chases, fisticuffs, and shenanigans trying to get evidence against a band of crooks attempting to force Jen Larrabee (Gail Davis) to sell her toll road and station to them because of valuable minerals found on her land. An added oddity in this one is Gene taking Smiley's girlfriend away from him. Usually, Smiley's women were more like female frogs, but this go-around she's the lovely Gail Davis from Arkansas (TV's Annie Oakley). Shelia Ryan has a small role as a small-time thief and showgirl, but she makes every minute before the camera count. The redoubtable Kenne Duncan is around to supply meanness and mayhem.
Though this viewer favors the early Gene Autry Republic westerns, "On Top Of Old Smoky" is a winner and the music is infatuating, especially if you're already a Gene Autry fan.
The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.2 Date Released : 20 October 1953 Genre : Comedy Stars : Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne, John Gregson Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company.
Watch The Titfield Thunderbolt Trailer :
Review :
Thumbs up for the 'Thunderbolt'
For my money this is the best and funniest of all the 'Ealing Comedies', it is so quintessentially post war British that it could not have been made by any other than Ealing Studios. The plot is simple - British Railways decide to close a local branch line and a group of villagers led by the local squire and vicar battle government red tape and the local bus company to run their own railway, eventually using an ancient locomotive (Thunderbolt) from the museum to pull their train. The character acting is superb as is the beautifully photographed scenery, but what makes this film stand by itself is that it does not rely on sex and violence (well only hammed up - such as the unforgettable joust between a railway locomotive and Sid James's steam roller)and no bad language. It is a reminder of a long departed much simpler and more idealistic age where its message of right would eventually overcome wrong, was almost believable. It is a very gentle film, an innocent film, and despite its age still manages to deliver a feel good factor of 10/10.
The Adultress (1953)iMDB Rating: 7.4
