Reviews

"The List of Adrian Messenger" is one of John Huston's unknown gems. It was made in the early 1960's before the cultural revolution hit the world. The movie shows how uncomplicated the world was. It shows the difference between right and wrong behavior.

It's only flaw is using superstars in small roles: Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, and Frank Sinatra. Only Robert Mitchum had a good part in his friend's movie. The starring cast were not as well known but could have carried the movie without the help of the super stars.

The movie stars George C. Scott in one of his first starring roles. His English accent is pretty good. The rest of the cast is superb. The actors:

Dana Wynter, Jacques, Herbert Marshall, and Clive Brook were probably given one of their last good roles in a movie. Only Gladys Cooper was able to make another good movie a few years later, "My Fair Lady". It is fun to see the director's son, Tony Huston, play Ms. Wynter's son. He does a pretty good job for an amateur.

The director, Robert Wise, made a very good movie on the Zeppelin disaster, the Hinderburg. The movie's only flaw is that almost everyone has an American accent. The language familiarity looses authenticity. You can't tell the difference from the Americans to the Germans. The American actors should have used German accents.

The superb cast is headed by George C. Scott,Anne Bancroft, and Charles Durning. It is fun to see many television actors get their chance to be in a good movie. Rene Auberjonois, Robert Clary, Roy Thinnes, and Joanne Cook Moore shine. Only William Atherton was able to make several good movies as a supporting actor.

After all these years, nobody knows the truth on the Hindenburg disaster. However, the movie tells an interesting story. The movie's version sounds compelling. They claim the Hinderburg was blown up by a saboteur.

"The Roaring Twenties" is like "Citizen Kane" it has everything in it: drama, humor, musical numbers, romantic triangle, and history. This is James Cagney's best movie in the 1930's. This movie was made in 1939, which is considered the year that made the most classic movies. Also, this is the best movie featuring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. They made a great team. Cagney was water and Bogart was oil.

Another great team was Cagney with Gladys George. Too bad they never worked again. Gladys George played a saloon singer. This was her best role. Cagney's other leading lady was Priscilla Lane. Ms. Lane played the girl next door who dumps Cagney and falls for Jeffrey Lynn. Ms. Lane and Mr. Lynn starred in a few movies together in the 1930's. This is their best movie.

The supporting cast is superb and the movie moves. It is never dull. Thanks to the director, Raoul Walsh.

"The Agony and The Ecstasy" is one of the last good epic movies in the 1960's. The director, Carol Reed, is responsible for this interesting history lesson between Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison). This is Rex Harrison's best dramatic performance. "My Fair Lady" ruined Red Harrison's chances in doing more dramatic roles in the movies.

It is absurd to consider Charlton Heston for Michelangelo. The feud between Mr. Heston and Mr. Harrison on and off the set works for the movie. There are other people in the movie, but you only care about the working relationship between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II.

Diane Cilento plays Contessina de Medici, Michaelangelo's married lady friend. She is wasted in this movie, but her performance is not a distraction. The supporting cast is fine, but insignificant to the story.

"To the Shores of Tripoli" is light drama/comedy about new Marine recruits going through boot camp in the 1940's. This movie is made to look like a Twentieth Century Fox musical. There is too much color in the movie. It makes the story look less real. The colors are too bold and bright. You don't see any war scenes, just training scenes. Of course, there is a spoiled, rich Marine recruit (John Payne) in love with two women (Maureen O'Hara and Nancy Kelly), who wants to get out of the Marine Corp. Randolph Scott, who plays the drill sergeant, has the best role in the movie. He trains the recruits and tries to convince John Payne to stay in the Marine Corp. This is a terrific recruiting movie. It is fun to watch. A bit of trivia: both actors have worked with both actresses several times. John Payne made five movies with Maureen O'Hara,and Randolph Scott made three movies with Nancy Kelly. The supporting cast is full of recognizable faces of the 1940's. Only Harry Morgan is known by name because of his fame from television.

Fritz Lang directed two great westerns: "Western Union" and "The Return of Frank James". The Frank James movie equals "Jesse James". "Western Union" is one of Randolph Scott's great westerns. I have never seen Robert Young in a western before; he is terrific as the telegraph employee. This is the only movie I can think of that is about the telegraph company opening up in the west. It is a high-geared story about the telegraph in the west, a triangle love story, and about loyalty.

The supporting cast is superb. Dean Jagger, who made a few westerns, plays the telegraph manager. Virginia Gilmore, who plays Mr. Jagger's sister, is the love interest in the movie. Ms. Gilmore had a short career in movies. She quit films in 1952 and became a drama coach. She is primarily known as the first Mrs. Yul Brynner. It is great to see Slim Summerville in a movie with Mr. Scott again. They were in two other great movies: "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "Jesse James".

"Decameron Nights" is a fun movie to watch about a mismatched couple (Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan) from Italy in the 14th century. This is their second movie together. The first movie was "A Letter from a Unknown Woman", which was a superb and sad romantic movie.

"Decameron Nights" is just the opposite - it's a romantic romp with humor. There are three stories about the couple and the audience is made to guess which story is true about how they met. Both Ms. Fontaine and Mr. Jourdan made few comedies. This is their best. Both serious actors are funny. It is fun to see a young Joan Collins in a supporting role. Binnie Barnes and Godfrey Tearle are a superb supporting cast. Ms. Barnes was given a rare chance to shine in a movie.

I never heard of "Startime" playhouse on television in 1959. Audie Murphy made a few appearances on television. His performance in "The Man" episode was not good. Mr. Murphy played a disturbed former soldier who is trying to kill his former buddy's mother (Thelma Ritter). Ms. Ritter is terrific. Mr. Murphy tried to keep up with Ms. Ritter. Their scenes together were good, but when he is alone and trying to act like a psycho, he overacts.

The script is not very good. It doesn't explain why he wants to kill his buddy's mother, however, you can't stop watching the entire one-hour show. Another performance that was over Mr. Murphy's head was in "The Quiet American". Mr. Murphy was best in westerns.

The highlight came after the show was when Mr. Murphy spoke to the audience, apparently, it wasn't a routine thing to do for the star of the show, but Mr. Murphy wanted to. It was nice to see this quiet man, standing in front of his sponsor's car, praising his leading lady, the other actors, and the sponsor. That segment showed you a glimpse of the real man. What a waste, when Mr. Murphy died in that plane accident in 1971.

"Humoresque" is Joan Crawford's and John Garfield's best movie. It is one of the best tortured love stories ever made. It is about two misfits - one rich idle lady and one poor talented male violinist, who fall in love and make everybody including themselves miserable. Even though the movie is in black and white, it is very glamorous looking. Joan Crawford and John Garfield never looked better. Too bad they never worked again. As a favor, Mr. Garfield appeared briefly as an extra in Ms. Crawford's next movie with Henry Fonda.

The supporting cast was superb. As the parents, J. Carrol Naish and Ruth Nelson were never better. Unfortunately, Ms. Nelson was blacklisted for thirty years so she did not have the career she should have had in the movies. The other supporting actress was Joan Chandler, who played Mr. Garfield's childhood sweetheart. This is the only performance I can remember her in. She was terrific. It seems Ms. Crawford did not mind other actresses getting good parts in her movies. Hurrah for Joan!

"Sabotage Agent", also known as "Adventures of Tartu", is a first-rate British spy thriller. It is a quick and entertaining movie about a British spy, whose mission is to destroy the poison gas factory in Rumania.

Robert Donat is very good as the British spy who poses as a Greek and a Rumanian. His performance is spirited and his accent is amusing. His accent seems to be the same for the Greek and the Rumanian, but who cares, it is a fun movie to watch about a serious subject.

The supporting cast is perfect. Both his leading ladies are lovely and fill the bill: Valerie Hobson and Glynis Johns. Ms. Johns is still working today. Never seen Walter Rilla before or since, but he gave a good performance as the German officer, Otto, who is one of the villains, who loves Ms. Hobson's character.

"The Holly and the Ivy" is the only realistic Christmas movie of the 1950's. It tells the story of an English minister, Ralph Richardson, and his three conflicted adult children: Margaret Leighton, Celia, Johnson, and Denholm Elliott. Everybody in the cast does a great acting job. This is Mr. Richardson's last great role as a leading man in a movie.

The story is like riding a roller coaster. Christmas should be a calm time for families, but it is not for this English family. This movie is a forgotten gem.

"Perfect Strangers" probably told a very true tale for many married people who got together after WWII. Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr are married before WWII and get back together again to find out they are strangers. It is a well-told story and well cast. Mr. Donat had three legendary leading ladies in this movie: Deborah Kerr, Glynis Johns, and Ann Todd. All three ladies were starting their careers. Mr. Donat seem to be cast well with all his leading ladies in all his few movies.

"The Young Mr. Pitt" gives you a good history lesson on British politics of the 18th and 19th centuries. Robert Donat plays the young British prime minister, Mr. Pitt. Mr. Donat made three movies during WWII. All three movies were patriotic and well cast. Many of the actors in all three movies I have never seen before or since. After Mr. Donat, the next best performance was by Raymond Lovell, who played the king, George the third. Mr. Lovell is one of the actors I had never seen before.

The movie is long and is interesting to watch once, but not a second time. It is still on video.

As far as I know, "The Moon and Sixpence" is George Sanders first starring movie and it hits a home run. It is based loosely on Paul Gauguin's life. Mr. Sanders is superb and is backed by a terrific supporting cast. Too bad Mr. Sanders wasn't given the chance to star in better movies. The only other good movie that he starred in was "Village of the Damned", a very scary science fiction movie. .

As far as I know, this is George Sanders first starring movie and it hits a home run. It is based loosely on Paul Gauguin's life. Mr. Sanders is superb and is backed by a terrific supporting cast. Too bad Mr. Sanders wasn't given the chance to star in better movies. The only other good movie that he starred in was "Village of the Damned", a very scary science fiction movie. .

During the 1950's, Hollywood made many biblical movies. "Quo Vadis?" is one of the better biblical movies. Robert Taylor made several action packed movies; this is his best. Mr. Taylor plays a Roman general and Deborah Kerr portrays a Christian lady that he falls in love with. They made a lovely couple. Too bad they never made another movie together; for instance, a modern drama.

The story is a fantasy based on real times after Christ died. Peter Ustinov gives a great performance as a frightening Nero. The supporting cast, headed by Leo Genn, is terrific.

"Undercurrent" is Vincent Minnelli's first good dramatic thriller. It may appear over the top in some scenes but it was made after WWII. A lost of anxiety and anguish came out after the war. This is Robert Taylor's first movie after he left the service. MGM gave him a terrific leading lady, Katharine Hepburn, who portrays his wife. Mr. Taylor is a glamorous scientist, who is hiding a secret and a brother (Robert Mitchum).

Mr. Taylor gave three terrific dramatic performances during his career: "Johnny Eager" (1942), "Undercurrent" (1946), and "Above and Beyond" (1952). The first two movies he played the bad guy. In "Above and Beyond", he played the super good tough guy.

Some people may think this movie is too hysterical, but it is never boring. Ms. Hepburn never looked lovelier. She and Mr. Taylor made a great team. Too bad they never worked again. Ms. Hepburn was very feminine in this movie; thanks to Mr. Taylor, a very masculine guy.

"Her Cardboard Lover" is Norma Shearer's last movie. She quit the movies and, I think, joined the Board of Directors at MGM. That was a good move on her part. "Her Cardboard Lover" was talky and boring in parts. It was obvious there were only a handful of actors with speaking parts so they had a lot of dialogue to speak to keep this turkey afloat.

The story was a good idea about a wealthy woman (Norma Shearer) hiring a man (Robert Taylor) to make her playboy fiancee (George Sanders)jealous. I am surprised that the director, George Cukor, did not cut many of the talky scenes between Ms. Shearer and Mr. Taylor. Mr. Cukor served Ms. Shearer well in "The Women" but not in this movie.

The best performance in the movie was given by Robert Taylor. During Mr. Taylor's career, he was given his best comedy roles in this movie and "When Ladies Meet" in 1941. In 1942, he gave his best comedy performance in "Her Cardboard Lover" and, up to then, his best dramatic performance in "Johnny Eager." He had a busy year. I think of all the actors at MGM, Mr. Taylor worked with all the major and minor actresses on the lot. Also, MGM gave Mr. Taylor all types of movies to make - most of them were successful. That is why MGM kept him for 25 years.

Mr. George Sanders was very good as a socialite heel. He played a similar role eight years later in "All About Eve" for which he won an Oscar for a supporting role. As for Ms. Shearer, this was one of her worst performances, she was not funny and too dramatic for this comedy. It is strange that she made a great comedy in 1939, "The Women", and gave her best performance. It was obvious that she was too old looking for her younger leading men in "Her Cardboard Lover." Also, it didn't help that some of her clothes were awful.

Too bad she and Mr. Taylor did not make another dramatic movie like their last movie together, the superb "Escape". The same comments about this movie can be said of another movie, "Personal Property" that Mr. Taylor made in 1937 with Jean Harlow. It was too talky, boring, and the actress looked old. Ms. Harlow looked ill throughout the movie and nobody in Hollywood noticed to tell her to see a doctor, so in 1937, she died at age 26. What a waste! She was becoming a good actress and getting better roles.

"Guarding Tess" is Shirley MacLaine's last best movie so far. This is Ms. MacLaine's and Nicolas Cage's best comedy. It is funny and tells the truth about some presidential couples. These two great actors should work again in another comedy and try a drama. The supporting cast is tops, too.

"The Yellow Rolls-Royce" is a good "B" movie with "A" performances. The story is a piece of fluff but it is interesting. It is about a yellow rolls-royce that is owned by three different wealthy owners over a period of 20 years.

My favorite story is the first. Marquess of Frinton (Rex Harrison) buys a new yellow rolls-royce for his French wife (Jeanne Moreau) as a belated anniversary gift. He supplies his wife with gifts and love but realizes she is not happy. Mr. Harrison was given a few good roles after "My Fair Lady": "The Yellow Rolls-Royce", "The Agony and the Ecstasy", "The Honey Pot", and "Doctor Dolittle." It is nice to see Mr. Harrison play a nice husband in "The Yellow Rolls-Royce."

The last two movies the director, Anthony Asquith, directed were very good ensemble movies: ""The VIP's" and "The Yellow Rolls-Royce." Every actor in both movies was superb.

"The Ghost Goes West" is Robert Donat's only and best romantic comedy. Mr. Donat only made nineteen movies - they were dramas or light dramas. This movie is hysterical. It helps to have Eugene Pallette play the father of the girl (Jean Parker) that Donat's character loves. Mr. Donat plays two roles - Murdock Glourie (the ghost) and Donald Glourie (the current proprietor of the Scottish castle).

This was Eugene Pallette's first great speaking role. The other great roles he played were in: "My Man Godfrey", "Robin Hood", "Zorro", "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", "The Lady Eve", and "Heaven Can Wait."

It is fun to watch the unknown cast - most of them did not continue working in the 1940's and so on. Only Donat, Parker, and Pallette were lucky to continue working. Ms. Parker is still alive and living comfortably at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, CA.

When I was a Seaman at Memphis in the 1970's, I was doing night duty at the Enlisted Men's Club, the sailors watched only two movies: "The Caine Mutiny" and "Mr. Roberts." They would rather watch those two movies on television than drink or listen to music.

"The Caine Mutiny" is one of the best ensemble movies ever made; also, it is the last great war movie. Back in the studio days in Hollywood, you could afford to have many top leading actors in one movie. All the actors gave great performances in this movie, but the actors Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Tom Tully, and Robert Francis gave their best performances.

Humphrey Bogart gave a performance that was totally unlike himself. Most of his performances were part of his colorful personality. In "The Caine Mutiny", he was nothing like the paranoid Navy captain. Fred MacMurray plays another great heel, and Jose Ferrer plays another heroic, dashing guy.

The Academy Awards should have an award for best ensemble acting. "The Caine Mutiny" would have won that award hands down!

"The 39 Steps" looks outdated because the story happens in 1935, but the story is exciting and unbelievable. It is about a guy (Robert Donat) getting mixed up with spys (before WWII) and a beautiful- unfriendly blond (Madeleine Carroll). This is Robert Donat's most spirited performance. It is hard to believe that he suffered with asthma all his life.

This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's first big hits. It is a good thing he never made the remake of this movie. It didn't need it! Someone else did the remake in the 1950's and it is rather dull. Nobody could top Robert Donat's and Madeleine Carroll's stress in many tense moments.

"Random Hearts" is Harrison Ford's only romantic movie. Of course, there is crime and adultery added to the movie. Mr. Ford's movies always have intrigue in it; romance is never enough.

His leading lady (Kristin Scott Thomas) was perfect in the role of the Congresswoman. This is Ms. Thomas's second best role since "The English Patient." Mr. Harrison and Ms. Thomas should work again.

The story is interesting: a policeman finds out that his wife (Susanna Thompson), who died in a plane crash, was having an affair with Congresswoman's husband, (Peter Coyote). There are a couple of weak points in the movie: there should have been more scenes with the spouses and less scenes on crime. However, it is still a good movie.

It is fun to watch the director (Sidney Pollack) play a political consultant. This was Mr. Pollack's second best role since "Tootsie. The ending of "Random Hearts" makes sense.

"A Night To Remember" is the best of the Titanic movies because it tells some of the real stories of the Titanic. It's reality of the tragedy is horrifying. You can put yourself into this movie and cringe. It makes you wonder what you would do if you know you are going to die because there are not enough lifeboats.

Of all the documentary-type movies of real stories, "A Night To Remember" is the best. This is one of Kenneth Moore's best movies. He plays an officer who is second in command of the Titanic.