Reviews

Yes, this is a movie. No, it is not an action flic. As they say at the beginning, this is a dramatized story. Yet, they have done a very good job of telling the story of Chief Joseph and his attempt to flee to Canada. He won every engagement against the army. Until he was 40 miles from Canada. Then he ran out of hope. Especially toward the end there are many very find points made about what led to this chasing of Chief Joseph. The movie worth watching just for that. Overall this is really an excellent documentary. A movie can only do so much. There are many excellent books written (I have read some of them) which go into far more detail. If you can't read them you won't go wrong watching this movie.

There was a Modoc war. The main characters in the movie are factual. What happens to the main characters are factual. Makes the movie even more entertaining. An added bonus is all the great scenery. I thought this was a fairly balanced film between the Indians and the settlers. Both sides had issues here. The hatred the Indians had and the hatred of many of the whites are displayed. At the same time, many of the whites and many of the Indians got along fine and that is also seen here. Don't get me wrong, this is not a documentary. It is a movie. They take an actual event and build a story around it. They did good job.

Randolph Scott comes to Sundown to kill the man he holds responsible for the death of his wife Mary. He is consumed by hate. A hate that does not allow him to even consider what others try to tell him about Mary. For three years all he has thought about is killing one man. And now he has found him.

I felt this movie really shows well what hate can do to a person. That when you hate it can overpower all morality. This movie is really a morality play and a very good one. The town of Sundown has also thrown morality away. Scott does help it to get (at least) some of it back.

In the end, hate has taken three years of Scott's life away. And a very good friend as well. Nothing will ever get any of that back. A truly great western.

Hector has had many affairs. None of them really meant anything to him. Then he met Theodora while she was on her honeymoon. He falls for her and she falls for him. Yet Theodora recognizes that this is a love that cannot be. The movie has many effective scenes that show very clearly the love each feels for the other. No words are needed, no cue cards are needed.

Yet she is torn between her love for Hector and her vows to Josiah. Such a conflict that love can bring. What adds to this is that I believe she also has grown to at least care for Josiah and maybe even some level of love. Still, her vows are important to her. So important that she intends to leave Hector forever.

But Josiah finds out about her love for Hector. And he loves her so much that he is willing to sacrifice his love so that she can be happy. So often it seems we hurt those we love (or are hurt by them) and yet we are also willing to give up everything for the person we love so that they can be happy. And, in the end, is that not what love is?

He was rich. She was not. He had no goals, no ambitions, no cares. Yet he recognizes that he is missing something. She sails the oceans and knows how to work and enjoys what she does. Then Ramon is shanghaied. There he learns to work and how to fight. In the process he admits to being the happiest he has ever been. Then through a series of misfortunes the Lady Letty is taken by the smugglers and Moran is taken as a prisoner. Ramon becomes her protector and to care for her. Finally Moran comes to care for Ramon. Then the question--what happens when they return to port?

Like so many good movies there are many levels to this one. It is a well crafted movie that moves at a strong pace yet goes beyond being just a love story and an action movie. It is also a very good study in what is important in life. This is definitely a movie that can be enjoyed more than once.

Finally, Rudolph Valentino is excellent as an action actor. The climax is loaded with exciting action!

The longer I watched the movie the more convinced I became that the world of business in 2006 is the same as it was in 1967. Robert Morse as J.P. Finch finds a self-help book that he uses as his guide to get ahead in the corporate world. Nothing different there than now. Go to any bookstore and there are an amazing number of "how to" books simply written and easily read (don't get me wrong, many are indeed very good).

J.P. Finch follows every page's instructions very carefully. He learns how to utilize people's weaknesses to promote himself. Along the way he sings several quite original songs that are quite entertaining and definitely add to the story.

It was evident that everyone making the movie was having a good time. Yet they took their roles seriously and did not overplay their roles. The comedy is high level and the satire is nothing less than brilliant.

The Maltese Falcon is alive! Frank Sinatra is every bit the hard P.I. that Humphrey Bogart was as Sam Slade. What adds to the movie is the Miami background of the 1960's. One of the great things about old movies is when they are set in the same time frame as when the movie is being filmed. You get a chance to see life at that point in time.

The case involves a stolen diamond bracelet and Tony Rome is hired to find it. Tracking it down involves people of all walks of life, from the rich to those who want to be and those that aren't. Yet everyone is involved with the missing bracelet. Many twists and turns that come together neatly in the end. This was a movie that I thought got better as it went. This one is worth seeing again.

This is an interesting movie on several levels. First, a good look at early rock and roll. You get glimpses of what goes on behind the scenes to start something new. We forget that rock and roll was a scary, challenging music to the parents in the early 1950's. We forget how people looked at race relations in the 1950's. This movie provides glimpses of that time.

The teens took to it because they liked the beat, as a means of rebelling, and as a way to show their independence. Mostly I think they liked the upbeat tempo of the music.

As Alan Freed liked to keep pointing out, he was Mr. Rock and Roll. He started the revolution. Unfortunately for him, the music grew bigger than him. In time, the music was what became important. It took him awhile but I think he finally understood that.

Unfortunately we don't get to see the original stars (this was made in 1991 - 35 years later). But the music is there, how they performed is there, how they danced is there. The story of the movie is the music. And it was (is) great music. Enjoy it.

What a superb movie! This one really gives you a glimpse into what families at home went through (and still go through today) when a family member goes to war. The film touches very briefly on food rationing and coupons. The heart and soul of this fine film deals with the emotional impact on families. Because of its length it has the time to build multiple story lines. One of its' most telling points is that life does go on. That there is both happiness and sadness even during war. And be sure to pay attention to what happens during crowd scenes in the railroad station. The background conversations all deal with life and living.

Once you have seen this one, then watch Hollywood Canteen (1944) and get the view of how the troops were being entertained while waiting to go overseas. The movie stars really went all out to bring some joy into their lives (there really was a Hollywood Canteen and I have commented on that movie as well).

Five pilots are shot down over France and escape to Paris. Their mission is to contact British Intelligence and escape back to Britain. This movie makes you feel that you are indeed in Paris. Most of the action takes place at night and then makes brilliant use of shadows to heighten the suspense. The movie centers around a barmaid, Joan, and her growing relationship with Paul. Surrounding this is the Gestapo's growing presence as they work at catching the fliers. With all that is happening, the movie takes time for Paul and Joan to look to the future and grow ever more in love. The last 1/3 of the movie deals with Paul's attempts to get away from a Gestapo agent intent on following him and capturing the other fliers. Very suspenseful. Finally, one of the great roles in the movie, that of the Nazi chief in Paris, is Herr Funk (played by Laird Cregar. He dominates every scene that he is in. He truly adds a great touch to the movie. The movie would not have been as dramatic as it was without him. 8/10

This is a fun movie. While I was watching it I started remembering all of the science fiction that I read when I was in junior high and high school and how much I enjoyed them. Seeing the rocket was so similar to the visions in so many of the books. This was a good story line. There was depth to the characters, action, romance developed, and of course the "need to explore." Definitely one of the better of the early science fiction movies.

When this movie ended I could hardly believe that I had been in the theater 3 1/2 hours. The first two hours went through the battle at Fredericksburg. It felt like one hour. The 1 1/2 hours after the intermission felt more like 30 minutes. I was so caught up in this film it was like I was actually there. After seeing what happened at Fredericksburg I can better understand why the union soldiers at Gettysburg yelled "Fredericksburg" after Picket's Charge ended (I knew why they did that but Gods and Generals really drives home the why).

I am at a loss at many of the critic's comments on this film. What we see is the way the war went. The Civil War was not one fight after another. There were many breaks in the fighting. The charge at Fredericksburg was indeed suicidal. But that is how they fought. The union was famous for charging stone walls and standing in the open and shooting. That point is very well driven home at the end of "Glory."

Gods and Generals does a very good job of showing just how chaotic fighting can be. They didn't have radios to communicate with. It was by runners. We certainly did not need to see lots of blood and gore to know that that was what was happening. There were enough glimpses of that during the battles to carry the imagination forward.

And for Heaven's sake that is how people talked! These were very noble leaders on both sides. Very well educated and very religious. Both sides were always praying. That is one of what I consider to be one of the ironies of war. We want God on our side, we pray to Him (remember George C. Scott praying in "Patton" just before he arrive to rescue the soldiers at Bastogne) and then they went out to kill all of the enemy they could.

That is the Civil War. Robert E. Lee was right. It's a good thing that war is so horrible so that we don't come to love it (this is a paraphrase of what he said at Fredericksburg).

Everyone should see this movie and then watch "Gettysburg" and then talk about the war, the fighting, and all of the ideas presented.

Thank you Ted Turner. 10/10

This is the best of the Next Generation movies by far. It rates right up there with "Wrath of Kahn" (the best of them all) and "The Voyage Home" (the 2nd best of them all). This ranks third on the list.

I did feel the beginning dealing with Riker's and Deanna's wedding went a little long. And I thought the ending should have been Picard's walking the ship's corridor (as in the original episode 'Balance of Terror" one of the best episodes ever).

But in between! Tremendous action! Excellent music score by Jerry Goldsmith kept the blood flowing. Very good pacing. Good humor. I look forward to this one on DVD. 8/10

This one is a very solid Randolph Scott Western. He plays Bat Masterson and goes to Liberal, Kansas to clean up the town. He becomes good friends with Robert Ryan who played a very, straight up leading man role. It was not until after this that Robert Ryan began playing much darker roles. In fact, in 1947 Randolph Scott made one other movie which was not a western and never made anything but westerns after that until he retired in 1962. This movie has good pacing and builds up to the climax steadily. I can't say any more as it would give away the plot. Be sure to see this one. 8/10

After all of his movies in the asphalt jungle, Cagney came west. He acquits himself well too. He did own a ranch and was a pretty good rider. Throughout the movie his trademark mannerisms show. When you consider how you would imagine an "Oklahoma Kid" to be and act, then Cagney was perfect for the role. Always in control with a touch of humor but tough when he had to be. He was in many westerns later in his career but this was his first western.

Bogart handled himself as you would expect a tough guy to act in the west. Bogart is Bogart and he plays his role well. Two tough guys, one bad and one bad with some good points. In the end they have to settle. The ending is not what you expect.

This movie shows very well how people are willing to overlook the bad as long as they are taken care of. The people kept Willie Stark in power because they were prospering. Willie built hospitals, schools, roads. People benefited. Therefore they tended (there are always a few who try to point out the problems) to ignore the corruption behind the prosperity. How often we still see that today. As long as "I don't suffer," as long as "I am doing OK," then morality can be ignored.How often we see that today. Yet in the end we pay a price-in the end Willie Stark paid a price.

As long as we are prosperous few care about what is happening "behind the scenes." Ann Stanton paid a price, Judge Stanton paid a price. A very good movie with a very good, well written, tight story. A movie that is good on two levels, a story to enjoy and a story to learn from.

Roger and Carolyn Standish head west to give themselves a chance at a future after her father dies. On the way they are robbed and Roger is shot. While recovering from the gunshot wound the town they settle in is robbed. Roger leads the town after the robbers. Then they start a bank. Over the next 50 years they face a series of successes, failures, and successes. In spite of everything that happens to them they never give up.

I think the idea behind this movie is that over time, we will face many ups and downs and that we must keep our faith that there is a future and that it will be better than the past. This film contains many cliches about the building of America. There are several scenes of a hugely growing economy followed by a crash then pessimism then more growth. This was obviously aimed at depression-era audiences to give them hope in the future. And, I think, it was also intended to give a brief overview of what it took to build our country.

No question that it tends to be somewhat melodramatic at times. But it is also uplifting and tells an interesting story and keeps a good pace throughout. Well worth seeing.

If you are into war movies then this is the movie for you. As a war movie it captures the essence of war. It is not political it is about war and the brutality, the senselessness, the utter chaos that can be a battle. Black Hawk Down comes down to a fight to stay alive and to keep your comrades alive. In the end that is what any battle is about.

Sit back and enjoy this one. A story of two producers that have been feuding for years. Both end up with half the rights to a radio program "People Are Funny." Along the way to getting the program on the radio you get to hear some very good musical numbers by a variety of performers. The longer you watch the more you realize that you really like what you are seeing and hearing.

Eddie Bracken is in the Navy. His dad (Victor Moore--aka Bronco Billy) is a guard at Paramount but has told him he is head of the studio. His girl (Betty Hutton who he has never met) does her part to keep the deception going. When Eddie gets shore leave with his buddies they naturally want to go to the studio and then the fun begins as the attempts at keeping the deception going get more involved and intricate up to the point where dad agrees to hold a show for the whole ship.

No question that this movie was to be patriotic and to showcase Paramount stars. This is a good vehicle for it. You get a chance to glimpse studio life in its' various forms and to see many stars of the time perform brief numbers. Yet the stars don't overwhelm the story.

Some very funny scenes such as when Betty wants to get into the studio by climbing over a wall and during the show for the ship's men there is an absolutely hilarious sketch with men showing how women act when they get together for an evening of playing cards. There is also a great sketch where Bob Hope is trying to hide from William Bendix and he has to do it while Bendix is taking a shower with Bob in the shower with him! A nice light-hearted movie with good entertainment.

Overall I was not overly impressed with the movie. It was a nice evening's entertainment. There are a couple of good scenes and the best by far (that makes the whole movie worth watching!) is the scene with Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the ship's bar. They sing "Thanks For The Memories" which Bob took as his own theme song. Without a doubt it is the best rendition of that song I have ever heard. When the movie was over I backed it up just so I could see it again.

Douglas Fairbanks knew how to be in the middle of the action. In all the scenes he is in it is go, go, go. He never walks when he can run, jump, even fly. Fairbanks was very athletic and he shows those skills in the movie. Very rarely in this film does he stand still and that is not for long. When he is in a scene there is always going to be plenty of action.

The basic plot is that Fairbanks wants to become one of the King's musketeers and in the process finds himself involved in protecting the Queen's honor. The movie is a bit overlong and I found myself having troubles at time following the plot which made the move drag somewhat. But when there was action everything changed. The film comes alive during the scenes involving sword play and when Fairbanks is trying to get back to the Queen from England. And when all is said and done Fairbanks gets his wish and becomes (as you know he will) a Musketeer!

This is a superb telling of war and how it affects the "common people." It begins with life in a small French village and how people go about their daily lives. This is the story of two Americans (Lillian Gish and Robert Harron) who meet and fall in love. But during their courtship Lillian's sister (Dorothy) takes a liking to Robert (called The Boy on the movie title cards) and tries to take him which leads to some interesting scenes. She finally realizes she can't have him and decides to take what she can have.

There are good action battle scenes that very well show the chaos that is a battle. Chaos reigns supreme again when the town is bombed and the citizens have to flee. They have to try and pack then get out and still survive the bombing. Then there are those that don't want to leave. The movie does a good job of showing the horrors of death and the impact that has on people.

War is about people. We tend to forget that (today's news refers to the impact on non-soldiers as 'collateral damage'). D.W. Griffith shows that impact. And yet, when it is over, how quickly we again look for the bright side of life and that is how it should be.

One of the great features of this film is the limited use of title cards. They are used mostly as background filler and very little for conversations (much like Sunrise). Yet you know what is going on and the emotions of the moment. There is nothing mechanical about the acting. 8/10

Overall this is a delightful, light-hearted, romantic, musical comedy. I suppose a small case could be made for the movie being to long. But I'm not sure what you would cut out. The singing that Kelly and Sinatra do? No. The fabulous dancing that Kelly does? No. The time the movie takes to develop the story line and develop the relationships of the characters? No (that seems to be a common complaint many times that more recent movies don't develop the characters).

Some comment that Iturbi didn't bring much to the movie but this gives us a chance to see and hear a great talent from the 1040s. So what if he wasn't an actor? He was an important part of the movie as the basic plot was to get Grayson an audition with him.

Originally Katherine Grayson wanted to be an opera star. Louis B. Mayer brought her to MGM for a screen test that included an aria. During her audition in the movie there is a shot of the MGM brass nodding and smiling. You can just imagine it was like that when she had made her real screen test years before.

This movie is so full of life it is hard to hit all of the highlights. Great use was made of color and lighting throughout the movie. You can see why Frank Sinatra became the star he did. A nice counter-point in the movie is how Sinatra (a ladies man even then) played the role of wanting to just find a date while on leave. You'll feel good after seeing this movie. 7/10

I came across this by accident and discovered that over time people have lost sight of this movie and that is a shame. Herman Tibbits (Paul Guilfoyle) gets out of five years in prison and just wants to be a duck farmer. His wife Goldie is not sure she wants that and thinks that one more robbery would help them considerably. In an attempt to steal what they think is $50,000 they meet up with a struggling writer named Mike Winslow (Lee Tracy) who is on the same train as them heading to Hollywood.

There are many plot lines to this movie. Winslow is trying to get in good with Barbara Lang (Joan Woodbury), who wants to be an actress. Mike wants to write movie scripts for Wonder Studios. Herman and Tibbits want to go straight and work with Winslow. In fact, it is Herman who knows how to be a real robber and that is what helps Winslow write very effective movie scripts. Turns out they are too effective as they are based on Herman's life before prison and that makes the attention of The Hawk (the head of the gang that Herman had been part of) who the movies are about.

It is all of that coming together that makes this such an interesting movie. The movie keeps up a steady, increasing pace throughout. The dialogue is crisp and well written. The start of the movie lays out a very solid foundation. The middle builds the pace and the ending has a lot of action. It is amazing that a 65 minute movie has so much in it and yet doesn't leave you wondering what got missed (nothing does). 9/10