Reviews

This was the most boring episode of "Snapped" that I've ever seen. I thought that some of the earlier episodes were a bit too repetitive, but this one was over the top repetitive. Maybe they didn't have enough evidence to make a better episode but believe me, it was really boring! They just kept repeating the same things over and over again every three minutes.

Although I liked a lot of the characters that appeared in this episode and even liked the various ways the story went in all directions - it was just a bit too much to handle, to say the least! The problem, I feel, is that there were way too many main characters and way too many guest stars and way too many story tangents for me to keep up with to figure out what was actually going on! I mean, I felt like getting a pad of paper out so I could take notes! I think the show, itself, had a good premise, but it was just way too over the top for anyone to know what was really going on! Also, whoever wrote this particular episode entitled "Thin Air" used dialog that was so corny that it was unrealistic that people would say the things they were saying! I almost cracked up in a couple of places! The acting was fairly well by the lead character, however!

I feel that this episode should have been a two-parter - the story idea was very good, however, there was very little character development created amongst the wonderful actors in this story. This particular episode had some really good performers - Linden Chiles, always one of my favorites - I felt that his character really needed to be more established; Peter Mark Richman - although we knew he was a bad guy, we really didn't get to know anything else about him - Diana Van der Vlis, always one of my favorites didn't really have anything to work with to bring out her talent and, actually the more unknown star, even though a good actor, Nico Minardos who played the character Elias - his character was the most developed, I thought! Not a bad story, but definitely needed some more work done on the script and to show character development! 5 stars out of 10!

This episode entitled "The Legacy" is my favorite episode of the Marcus Welby television series. Starring not only Robert Young from the old Hollywood system, it also stars the marvelous Delores del Rio and the wonderful Janet Blair, also from the old Hollywood! Together, they take a story of sadness and turn life and death into a story of joy! This is available on DVD and fortunately I was able to see it again today. The last time that I saw it was when it was first introduced on television way back in 1970. This is a wonderful story - really makes you think and might make you laugh and even cry! The magic of old Hollywood is all here, the acting is superb by everyone - I wish we still had all of the old stars of yesteryear! I enjoyed this program as much as I did when it first aired years ago!

Although I really do appreciate Helen Hunt as an actress in other films, I feel that she was a wrong choice for playing the part of Pamela Smart in this picture. Hunt is too soft for this role which one can see by watching Pamela Smart on the television show 'American Justice'. Also, the movie didn't go by all the facts, even though these things were small in nature - for example, Billy Flynn was not a blond guy, he has brown hair and certain things in the film were altered from the true facts that were reported on national television when Pamela Smart was on trial for the murder of her husband, Greg Smart. I think a lot of trouble with the picture had to do with the script - there just wasn't enough passion (not in the love sense, necessarily) in any of the scenes like when Smart (Hunt) is talking to Flynn (Chad Allen) about killing her husband, etc. They might as well have been talking about going and getting a cup of coffee or planning on going on a picnic together. I was thoroughly disappointed in this film and therefore rated it a 1 out of 10 because it didn't have any suspense about it at all and the acting was terrible as well.

I usually like Mary Higgins Clark and the movies that are made based on her novels, however, this one really leaves a lot to be desired. I liked all of the major stars like Nicolette Sheridan, Page Fletcher and Anthony Lempke, but the way this movie was filmed was really awful. There isn't really very much suspense even though this film definitely screams for suspense! The flashbacks within the film are too flimsy and boring! In fact, the movie is terribly boring! I feel sorry for Nicolette Sheridan because she proved what a wonderful actress she truly is on the TV Soap "Knots Landing". I think it is a shame that a person with such talent is constantly cast in roles that don't offer her the ability to use her wonderful talent of acting! I'd pass on this one if I were you!

I really don't understand all the hoopla over this film being so wonderful. It is a slow moving picture, in a lot of scenes it is very obvious to me that Nicole Kidman is acting, i.e., she was not convincing, and the film didn't frighten me at all! One good thing is the fact that the film maker didn't use gory scenes throughout the picture which is a plus, even though a weak one! The stars that stand out the most in this film are Fionnula Flanagan, playing the housekeeper/nanny, in a very good performance, and the daughter played by Alakina Mann. The set designs, costumes, and cinematography were good too, but the story didn't do much for me until the ending, and even that wasn't that much of a surprise to me!

I really enjoyed this film because it was done very well! I like the comedic touch portrayed by John Laroquette, whom I usually am not that crazy about! He was really great in this film though and the story is summarized mainly by him about his daughters all coming home at the same time, for different reasons, but it turns out that they are really there, perhaps unbeknownst to them, for the same reason! Wedding bells are ringing! I am glad to see Karen Valentine again for the first time in a long time! Valentine and Laroquette really showed great chemistry together too! Even though this film is a little far-fetched, I think it was done very tastefully, and it was very entertaining to say the least! Besides, strange things are known to happen in life! This is a very happy family that is portrayed in the film! If you get a chance, see this good, not too sweet or sour, family film! 8 out of 10!

This is a heartwarming and feel good film! Deanna Durbin is really great with her singing of the title number as well as other good songs! "That Certain Age" received two Oscar nominations in the musical category. The story is about a well to do family headed by a newspaper magnate who invites one of his reporters to his expansive estate to stay in the guest house behind their mansion. Durbin and her friends are rehearsing for a show that they are going to put on at the theatre in town and of course, they are using the guest house for their rehearsals. When they get word that this distinguished reporter is coming to visit to work on some articles, they don't like it and Durbin decides they will all pull some shenanigans to make him want to leave. Only one problem, the love bug bites Durbin and she is smitten by the older man. She becomes so enamored that she ignores the show and her friends and even her boyfriend. The reporter now has the task of setting her straight but that isn't going to be that easy to do! If you are a Deanna Durbin fan or a Melvyn Douglas fan, this film is one you won't want to miss! The rest of the cast is great too! Some really good laughs!

Actress Merle Oberon had seen the original of this film when she was a little girl growing up in the Orient. It was always her favorite film and it was the catalyst in her decision to become a movie star. A bit of trivia - when she came to Hollywood looking for a movie career, her dreams came true when it was announced that she would be in the 1935 remake of "The Dark Angel" along with Fredric March and Herbert Marshall. So, her dream came true and she loved this film!!! The acting is marvelous and Merle was nominated for a best actress Oscar but didn't win! The musical score was really beautiful and went along very well with the story and the events of WWI. "The Dark Angel" did win one Oscar though and that was for best art design and I mean the sets are beautiful! Available on VHS, this is a must see!

"The Black Angel" is really a great film-noir experience - plenty of plot twists throughout to really throw you off and some very interesting characters to boot!

Mavis Marlowe (Constance Dowling), a beautiful, heartless blackmailer, is murdered and one of her paramours who is married is accused of the crime. His wife, Catherine Bennett (June Vincent) pairs up with Marty Blair (Dan Duryea) to do some investigating of their own. Marty Blair is the widower of Mavis Marlowe, which keeps things interesting!

Enter some other interesting characters, a nightclub owner played by the always interesting and good actor Peter Lorre, who obviously has something to hide - and a Police Captain played by Broderick Crawford whose small part keeps the action going round and round!

Someone had to kill Mavis - wonder which one of the characters had the strongest motive? Watch and find out! Now on VHS!!! I rate this film a 10 out of 10!

I saw the American version of this film and I'll probably never watch it again - the story doesn't seem to make any sense in the beginning and the things that the story lacks in reference to the plot of the film are revealed, in my mind, at the end of the film - like I said, imagination is a marvelous tool or talent, depending on the situation you are viewing! This is about two very twisted and sick women who hitch a ride with a sea skipper to Barbados, he being unaware as to what the two women are really up to!!! The cinematography is wonderful, the editing is horrible! You really have to use your brain to figure out the meaning of this film and to understand the behavior of the women passengers! Worth viewing, depending on what kind of mind you have!

"A Woman Called Golda" is an excellent film, brilliantly told by her spokeswoman and Golda herself. It is a long film, being a miniseries, but there isn't one boring moment in the whole film. Ingrid Bergman, I so admired, as far as her acting goes, preferred to work on this film even though she was in a great deal of pain from the cancer that was ravaging her body at the time. I believe the film goes into almost every aspect of Golda's life and tells of everything she did to obtain peace for Palestine. She was always there whenever the people needed her even after her retirement - always raring to go, always ready to work to make peace. Ingrid Bergman was supreme in her role as Golda because, I feel, she was Swedish and she was playing the part of a Russian woman - in fact, she even looked exactly like Golda Meir. Excellent film and Ingrid Bergman won an Emmy for her performance posthumously. Hope you take the time to watch this one. A good family film that anyone can learn from.

This film promises a lot more than it delivers. Most of it is made up of filler material not related to the story and becomes quite boring. If you can wait an hour for some action to really happen - the keyword here is 'action' - the film will almost be over. Will say that Jessie Bradford was the best of the bunch as far as acting goes. Film, no thank you.

This is one of the most boring and poorly written films that I've ever seen. I would have enjoyed it being shown on television with Elvira: Mistress of the Dark hostessing the film. I know that she would definitely pick this one apart to make it watchable! The kitchen sink scene with all of the apples would have been a hoot on television but only with Elvira! Since we don't have the privilege of Elvira anymore, stay away from this one.....doesn't go anywhere interesting! The song, "In Dreams" recorded by Roy Orbison that is played at the beginning of the credits after the film concludes is the high point of the whole film!

From the very moment I started watching Executive Suite until the very end, I was amazed at how accurate the producer and director and the stars of this film portrayed big business as it has always been and unfortunately as it always will be! Big business films are never dated! The same backstabbing political games were there then and are still there now! Sure, this film was made in 1954 and it is now almost 50 years later and the way in which business is transacted has changed but big business itself hasn't changed a bit. Watch the movie and you will see. Everyone was superb in this film and even though Paul Douglas didn't get very good reviews, I personally thought that he was one of the best actors in this great film. Barbara Stanwyck whose screen time was very short, turned in a grand performance as a family stockholder. Nina Foch was never better in the role of the secretary of the big boss and more than deserved her academy award nomination for best supporting actress even though she did not win. I also liked the casting of William Holden and June Allyson together; at first I thought an odd combination but they worked well together! You gotta see this one! Lots of suspense!

Ida Lupino was a genius and way before her time! All of the films that she has directed including "The Bigamist", to me, have something in them that I'm always surprised that the censors didn't take out! Excellent story, good cast that work together wonderfully, great cinematography, good script! This film is almost a film-noir as there is an air of mystery about it! Enjoy!

Too often, there are many films that are hidden away from the public even though they are really very well written and well acted movies. "The Visit" is one of these movies, unfortunately, not available on video or DVD. The story is of a poor young girl who leaves a mythical country in Europe (Bergman) only to return years later as the richest woman in the world! The way the movie opens is with a train going across the landscape which adds to the suspense because of the title of the film and the town in this mythical country is very anxious and glad that Karla is coming to visit them since they are poverty stricken. A rare gem, the story is solid and interesting--not like the critics said about it being choppy and hard to follow--and Ms. Bergman's costumes are an eyeful. Anthony Quinn is her leading man and together they both deliver more than fine performances, Ms. Bergman's being the strongest. If you ever see this film, you won't regret it. Put a tape in your VCR to record yourself a copy as "The Visit" is a haunting film with moral issues that are unusual for the time in which it is filmed. This is one you will want to see definitely more than once. You've never seen Ingrid Bergman like this before!!!

Depending on how old you are, you will understand why this film is very unusual and a taboo subject for the year 1949 in which it was made. Ida Lupino, although not taking credit, basically directed this film about an unhappy girl who gets mixed up with a loser who gets her pregnant and then leaves her hanging. Since this isn't a taboo subject today in society's eyes, a lot of people will probably miss the whole point of the film. Lupino was a genius--an accomplished actress, a producer, writer and screenwriter and director. She made this film, I believe to bring attention to all sides of the story about an unwed mother not knowing what to do. In my book I rate this film highly.

I really like this film because of all the stars and the dancing and the story that goes along with it. Rita Hayworth was at her most glamorous in this musical and the costumes were gorgeous. Although a musical, I thought Rita Hayworth did a fine performance of dramatic acting in this film as well. As far as her dancing, I think she was excellent. Even Betty Grable pretty much endorsed Rita's dancing in this film as she commented that Rita danced rings around her own dancing and let's face it, Betty Grable was an excellent dancer. The cinematography and vivid colors are also noted. Rita wants to be a cover girl for a magazine but she's also in love with her mentor played by Gene Kelly. Does she leave Kelly to fulfill her dream and bypass love and Broadway stardom or does she stick around to find that unique pearl that will change her life forever? You'll have to watch the film to find out!

I usually don't care for the films made from Agatha Christie mysteries, as they must be very hard to film because something is usually lacking in the transference from book to movie. "Witness for the Prosecution", however is another matter as it is an excellent film. There isn't a dull moment in this story. All of the actors and actresses are perfectly cast, especially Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. Even Tyrone Power is cast in a role unusual for him--instead of being just a pretty boy he is a distinguished defendant. There is a lot of comedy within this film as well as suspense and a lot of plot twists to keep you guessing who killed Mrs. French. Elsa Lanchester is excellent as the nurse prescribed for the stubborn Charles Laughton. Just sit back and watch, relax and enjoy! A 10 out of 10!

Watching this movie was actually like going to the circus! The cinematography is brilliant as are the costumes. My favorite character is Buttons the clown played by Jimmy Stewart. It is a different kind of role for him, rather than his usual, but he definitely is very well cast for the part and carries it off beautifully. I love the trapeze acts with Betty Hutton and Cornel Wilde as well as their admiration for one another and the competition between the two of them. Add Gloria Grahame's snappy sarcastic remarks and the singing voice of Dorothy Lamour and Charlton Heston in his best role and you've got yourself a

real great picture! Enjoy the drama, music and the fun! A 10 out of 10 stars!

I watched the documentary on AMC that aired on her 75th birthday, 6-01-2001.

I was disappointed in the fact that the documentary said that in 1999, AMC, 20th Century Fox and the Estate of Marilyn Monroe had started and completed restoration of 9 hours of film from Something's Got to Give. I believe this but find it hard to believe that they only could get 37 minutes out of 9 hours of film! There is more film footage available as in 1991 there was a documentary on this film that showed at least 10 minutes of film where Marilyn in her Greta Garbo accent was showing Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse around the house. Marilyn was absolutely hilarious. There is a lot of material that was left out on this attempt to make a picture out of what was left of the original film. Personally, I think someone concerned with this effort really didn't want to let people see Marilyn look so good when all they did was talk so bad about her while the filming was in progress. Just my point of view. Someday, I hope they will somehow finish this film with computerization. If filmmakers finished Jean Harlow's last film in the 1930's after her death with a stand in, I'm sure that someone could finish "Something's Got to Give" today, especially with all the film that has been restored and also with the technology that is available to film makers today. I hope that whomever or whatever is holding this back will have a change of heart and release a complete 2 hour film. After all, 9 hours of film is a lot to restore if you are not going to show it!

Anyone who has a heart can find something they like about this great picture. During World War II, I imagine that people really needed their spirits lifted and they were by a lot of different things, in this case by Hollywood. This film is great fare even today if you like music and good singing, comedy, and even bad singing provided mostly by dramatic stars! There are quite a few laughs and the storyline is not bad; even tho a bit silly, this film provides a lot of pleasure. This film is about love and caring and sharing! Thanks to all the stars!