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Lucifer (2016)
Great Stuff!
I am enjoying this show, mainly because of the actor Tom Ellis, as Lucifer. He plays the part perfectly and should have a bright acting future. The show has some seriously gorgeous females too!
One thing that surprises me is the way Tom Ellis's British language and slander have been included in an American show. Most unusual that, as most Brit actors have to take on the American language. Perhaps this feature is why some US experts have panned it because they don't understand a word of it!
I like the way Lucifer throws people around and wish they would include more of it. The female detective seems to be slow on the uptake, and does not see who he is. Not much of a detective, is she!
I'm not up on some of the religious details, but this is such a different experience I am enjoying it very much.
A really good cast rounds it off.
Wanted for Murder (1946)
Unknown
What a terrific thriller this black and white film was. An excellent cast followed the serial killer through a taut plot with many twists and turns. The plot is the thing! But I would say it could do with a remake.
Watching a black and white film does not make it less exciting than watching a colour film with wide screen. The acting by the murderer was particularly good, and the young hero, a bus conductor, came to the fore near the exciting end. I don't recall seeing the actress who played the murderer's mother before, but she was also very good.
One thing - where did they get all those hundreds of policemen from? And didn't London look very different in those days!
Dead of Night (1945)
Great Stuff!
Most of the ghostly stories in this film are worth a watch, but the one with Michael Redgrave as the ventriloquist was a real frightener! For a film made so soon after the war, it was great fun. The director was Cavalcanti, someone to watch at the best of times.
Assassin for Hire (1951)
Surprisingly Good
Sydney Tafler is quite outstanding as the Anglo Italian assassin, and maintains his Italian accent throughout the film. One minor gripe is that his on-screen brother has no accent whatsoever! But it has a clever plot, with a fine surprise near the end.
Flood Tide (1934)
Terrific 1934 Film
This is, without doubt, the nicest film I have ever seen. Every part of the simple story was lovingly presented, with great character acting. Some scenes along the River Thames were interesting, and Big Ben had a different roof to the one seen today.
The print I saw recently on TV was very clear, with no deterioration over time. The sound track was also very good. Has it been restored?
It Ieft me with a pleasant feeling...
Silent Running (1972)
Bruce's Film
I think this is one of the best scifi films ever made. Strangely, Bruce Dern is the only cast member I can recall, as he performed so brilliantly in his part, which seemed made for him. The special effects and the two small robots also stood out. Great all-round entertainment.
I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
Weird
First off, the title means nothing in the plot and I cannot figure out why it was called this. Then they convince us that the big cop is the murderer, but surprises follow. The stars are good, particularly Victor Mature. And where did men get those big shoulders in those days?
Man Hunt (1941)
Not UK
This was a very good thriller with an intriguing story line. George Sanders played the nazi very well, and was he really speaking German I wonder. Only one thing betrayed the fact that the film was made in the USA - the dodgy 'English' accents! I wondered why the girl burst into tears, as there was no obvious reason. A modern remake could be worthwhile.
Interpol Calling (1959)
Before Bond!
Charles Korvin was a real 'action man' in this series, using chops to the back of the neck! It's strange how the Interpol organisation is virtually unknown to the general public. I must say the episode supposed to be in Australia was way off beam. Not one person had an Aussie accent, and the plot was more like the wild west of America.
Decision at Sundown (1957)
Strange
What an unusual western this was. Our hero, Scott, comes to town to kill someone in revenge, and ends up not doing that and finds he was wrong. The last scene shows him throw a 'hissy fit' by throwing a drink at the bar. Weird, or what?
Spooks (2002)
Army Losses
MI5 seems to have an attrition rate like an army! So many of the agents are bumped off just as you get to know and like their characters. But don't get me wrong - this is an exciting spy series. Mind you, the American FBI and CIA don't fare too well.
On the Night of the Fire (1939)
A Real Actor
This film started off a little slow, with Ralph Richardson playing a mild-mannered barber. Then it gradually unravels with him a hard-nosed murderer! This actor slowly changes before our eyes. Great stuff! One little character was a not glamorous Glynis Johns, later a real sex-boomb...
Call Me Madam (1953)
Moiman
A great Hollywood musical, one of many. Why did they stop making them? I am an old man, now, and a Brit at that. But I thoroughly enjoyed the song, the dance, the wonderful choeography. Plus, of course the stars that performed them. And Ethel Merman was one of those great performers. Her foghorn voice could lift you out of your seat. Donald O'Connor was a fantastic dancer, although you can hear in this film not a great singer. Hollywood, bring them back!
Moiman? Well, she sounded like she came from the Bronx!
Joan of Arc (1948)
Almost Perfect
I watched this the other day and was very impressed. I don't know why I missed it on release. A couple of points - the producers got the weapons used by the French and English the wrong way round. The French used crossbows and the English longbows. And I wonder if the scriptwriters understood the name they gave the fat archbishop? It means pig in English!
Apart from those two points, it was an excellent rendering of the tale. and, of course, Ingrid Bergman shone in the part of the Maid of Orleans. She shone in all her parts. I must admit I was a little in love with her! Very fine colour for that time.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)
Mind Teaser
I have thoroughly enjoyed this show all the way throgh. Do'Nofrio is perfect in the part as a sort of different Sherlock Holmes. His sidekick is a perfect foil. Favourite episodes have been the ones where the 'Aussie' murderess is challenging the detective. No, she does not sound like a real aussie, but she's gorgeous so who cares?
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
Great Stuff
I saw this film in a cinema when it was first released and viewed it again yesterday on British TV. I have to say it was still one of the best westerns ever. But I think the real big star of it was Eli Wallach, not Clint Eastwood. Eli's brilliant portrayal of a no-good Mexican bandit was amazing, especially from his Jewish background! I only gave the film nine stars, because some of the long shots were too long.
Hell Is a City (1960)
Great Stuff!
I thoroughly enjoyed this old black and white British thriller. There were some great characters such as the great Joseph Tomelty and even the actress who was killed played that part exceedingly well! The theme music was terrific, but one small downer was that Stanley Baker was shot in the heart and still managed a fight with the baddy! I don't think so...
When the Whales Came (1989)
Acting Masterclass
I very much enjoyed this film and wondered why I had not seen it before. The acting was terrific and the two children perfect. The scenery was perfect too. Paul Scofield was absolutely superb. "Suspend belief" said the bard, and that was the effect here. The only small squibble I have is the inclusion of an aerial fly around of the boy at the end. That did not fit in any way.
Castle Sinister (1948)
Scottish?
Yes, this was an amateurish item, but perhaps the plot could be copied and used to better effect. The awful acting totally destroyed this film for me. I got the impression it was a Scottish production and there was probably no film industry in that country at the time. As another reviewer pointed out, the Talking Pictures channel should be praised for bringing these old films to us.
Lured (1947)
French?
Has anybody else noticed that all the text shown in the film is in French? The newspaper small-ads and even the police identity card held by Lucille are in the Gallic language. I was wondering if it was supposed to be Paris! Why do you think they did that?
Sailor of the King (1953)
Previous Version
I agree with all other reviewers here, and found this film terrific when I saw it back in the 1950s - but then I am British! However, you may not know that this one was an almost see exact copy of a previous film made in the 1930s. That one, called for some strange reason 'Forever England', starred a very young John Mills as the sniper. The naval battle scenes were really good for that time, but the sniper died and was given great praise for his bravery by the German captain! You could enjoy both versions, if you can find a copy.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)
Mind Teaser
I have thoroughly enjoyed this show all the way throgh. Do'Nofrio is perfect in the part as a sort of different Sherlock Holmes. His sidekick is a perfect foil. Favourite episodes have been the ones where the 'Aussie' murderess is challenging the detective. No, she does not sound like a real aussie, but she's gorgeous so who cares?
Submarine Seahawk (1958)
Wooden Walls
I was very surprised to see John Bentley in this movie. I remember him in the distant past as a particularly wooden actor in British 'B' films. Maybe that is why casting chose him for his part as a non-communicative, wooden, officer!
All the same, to me as a Brit, he actually sounded like an American and 'rose to the part!'. Maybe the best actor in the thing.
My title above is a saying that refers to the old Royal Navy warships of the past, which were often called wooden walls. Thought you all might like to know that!
As for the movie itself, well it has already been covered in the above posts. Not a good war film. Was this mission something that really happened in the Pacific War?
Body of Evidence (2001)
Interesting
The detectives call in Dayle when they are stumped, and she always appears beautifully-dressed and with a fine hair do! Very smart and attractive lady this, but those nails look scary.
Having said that, she seems to have a lot of insight into the minds of murderers. Could that be her training, or because she uses feminine intuition? Are there other profilers in the Florida law enforcement agencies?
One interesting thing about the cases she deals with is that the detectives sometimes ignore her - but are invariably proved wrong.
Good for people like this. Catch those evil people and put them away!
Sadly, I am reducing the number of stars on my rating of this show. The problem is, the editing of the last few episodes seem to have been given over to computer geeks, with flashing, 'wham/bam' filming effects (for want of a better term). This makes viewing a real pain, so I shall have to say goodbye to the delightful Dayle!
Stone Cold (2005)
Laid Back
I think that the whole Jesse Stones series has been really excellent entertainment, and the best thing Tom Selleck has ever done. It's a shame there are no more episodes on the way.
The 'New England' locations (actually filmed in Canada, I believe), show a laid-back region of the US where everything is not how it seems. As a Limey, I can appreciate how New England got its name - it's always raining!
The plots are ingenious, and full of surprises but hardly any gun-play, which is how I prefer my drama to be. The cast is excellent - even the dog looks mournful on cue (!), and the women are beautiful. What more could a man want?