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Reviews
The Feminine Touch (1995)
The Feminine Touch - A.K.A. The November Conspiracy is POLITICS AS USUAL but Masterfully portrayed
How prophetic was this film? It hinted a Consortiums seeking to destroy the American Way of Life, of ascendancy to the Presidency through whatever means, fair or foul, it has secret clues, with assassins everywhere (in our current U.S. Climate we've replaced it with political and news assassins in lieu of actual killers) and it places a damsel in distress. I'd say poor Mrs Clinton fits the bill, though this film was pure fiction, it was thrilling, fast-paced, and chock full of great actors, especially the director/Star Conrad Janis whose Mork and Mindy image was forever shot down by his seemingly benign, yet icy portrayal of a powerful lobbyist who'd stop at NOTHING to promote his views (sound familiar?), and both George Segal and Elliott Gould also definitely stepped out of their mold of buffoonery and gave two very good, realistic and incisive performances. Paige Turco has never been, and may never again be as good as she was in the part of Jenny Barron, a woman of beauty and strength, a will of iron, and a woman's heart that is broken when her lover of 4 years, Dirk Benedict is found dead, shot by the very Black Op agency who had hired him to assassinate 'Enemies of the People'. A great supporting cast rounds out this Non-Stop Action Thriller including Bo Hopkins as the Polilce Chief, the eclectic and sexy Maria Grimm as Turco's friend who stood in the way and paid the ultimate price, Virginia Capers as 'Mama', Richard Kline as Turco's boss, Lois Nettleton as Dirk Benedict's secret contact, Bret Anthony (now starring in Conrad Janis' latest film BAD BLOOD), Woodrow B. Hood as main Secret Agent, and a slew of wonderful supporting actors. This movie outshone all Independent Action Thrillers by his plausibility, and lack of BIGGER, BETTER BANGS....it relied on cleverness, suspense, character development and a sense of the Times. I hear it is to be released on D.V.D. soon. I can't wait.
Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976)
Roger Moore's crisp wit and twinkling eyes Warm all Sherlock Holmes Fans' Hearts
As a 1000 % Sherlock Holmes Aficionado it caught me off guard to see one of the handsomest & debonair Stars in Hollywood agree to play a 'new kind of Holmes' with a secret romantic past, resulting in a possible son with Charlotte Rampling who was the perfect Diva, & Scott, Roger Moore's real life son doing a great job in the film. Boris Sagal was a true genius both in his casting, (I mean who better than Roger as Holmes, & Huston as Moriarte?) but in his giving the day's pages to the actors on the same day they shot to keep all NEW & to cleverly hide the fact that this was 'High Jinks' indeed. It was Melodrama at its best, with a wink and nod to all previous Sherlocks' and Dr. Watsons' (played to the hilt by Patrick McNee) fans. No one could have pulled it off better than Roger Moore, Mr. Charm himself & particularly when working with the young 'Ingenue' Maria Grimm as Nicole Romaine, the innocent dupe of villains who held her brother to force her to kidnap her 'pet' student Scott, Charlotte Rampling's & presumably Sherlock's unknown son in order to force his hand. This was rich and creamy texture to the wonderful but sometimes dry toast previous Holmes & it is apparent that both Roger Moore and Miss Grimm had a great time playing their scenes together. She even 'swooned' on command something today's heroines would be hard put to accomplish. I look forward to owning this on D.V.D. & adding it to my Holmes collection with fondness and kudos to the late Boris Sagal, the wonderful & legendary cast & especially the most irresistible Holmes ever.