Reviews

Wanted to enjoy this one. I like Matt and Ann... but...

The sound was so muffled and badly recorded, I gave up after an hour. I just couldn't; tell a word they were mumbling.

Whatever happened to dubbing??

The biggest miracle in this Bible story is...... just WHERE did Noah get all that wood.... Gopher, or otherwise???

This version is set in a vast desert wilderness - not a sign of a tree for miles and miles; and yet, we see old Noah gallantly struggling home with just one branch. Regardless of where he got it from, it would take him a couple of days just to get that one branch back, let alone the very LARGE pieces we later see he's managed to install. At this rate, I reckon it would have taken him about 20 years to float his boat. Later on, the kids relent and start to help a bit but ????

The cast are excellent but, sadly, the writing and the planning of this one let them down badly.

If you want a traditional Noah's Ark story, stick to 1966's "The Bible....in the Begining.". There you will find John Huston doing a fine DIY job, complete with animals going in, two by two, torrential rain and a proper flood..... not to mention a cracking score by Toshiro. Mayuzumi.

If you enjoy spending time with a bunch of irritating, childish characters who spend their entire time squabbling and shouting ( usually accompanied by the loud wails of a crying child) you'll love this one. If you don't ???....... avoid it like the plague!

The only reason to watch it is to see Audrey Hepburn's. First featured role. It's not a big part but,. Her Star quality is obvious to all. You can see why, just over two years later, she had an Oscar on her shelf.

I watched this today as it came up free on. Stream. As my headline says, I hate drag acts.... I just don't get it. Guys prancing around in a frock saying "Ooo..look at me. I'm being a girl". Amateur "performers" are not for me. I never even liked Danny La Rue. There are only two drag acts that I enjoyed. One was Lilly Savage. Paul created a REAL brilliantly funny person. The other one ( well two) was/were Hinge & Bracket. Again, Patrick and George created REAL, brilliantly funny characters. I mean, I can't watch an Anna Neagle film today without seeing Dame Hilda!

However, I really enjoyed Jamie's story. Max does a superb job with him and the supportiing cast are brilliant too, particularly Sarah, Shobna and. Lauren. ...and Richard E. Grant is just terrific.

Not a great fan of the musical score but then again, most of today's "music" leaves me totally cold? The performers deliveries of the songs are however, beautifully done.

I was a bit undecided at the end. Did I agree with Jamie's teacher about his actions being rather selfish, exhibitionist and all about him and to hell with everyone else?....Maybe??

By all means, be yourself and enjoy what you do but, DO bear in mind other people's feelings too.

DO give this beutifully made movie a try. I think you'll enjoy it.

Terribly, terribly mannered and all rather tedious shenanigans amongst the Mayfair set. It must have been very old fashioned even at the time it was made. I love Noel Coward ...a genius. But.....sadly, not here. Apparently, Michael Redgrave should have done this part but Coward thought him wrong and had him removed. Unfortunately, Coward himself is a disaster as the philandering psychiatrist responsible for all the astonished hearts on display, He acts throughout as if he has a hot poker stuck up his backside and has no rapport at all with his dangerous liaison, Margaret Leighton. The fact that his real life boyfriend Graham Paiyne is also in the film as the doctor's right hand man does nothing to inspire credibility. The beautiful Celia Johnson and Margaret Leighton do their best but....this is a total non-starter. The whole thing comes across of one of those wonderful send-up sketches that Hugh Paddock and Betty Marsden used to do in radio's "Round the Horn"......."Oh Darling...let's not pretend. You know I know you love me. Oh Charles...Yes, I know you know I know you know I ,love you......"

My copy of this long wished for treasure arrived today and it looks fantastic. The new Blu-Ray from Network is stunning and does full justice to this beautifully made tribute to G&S. This is a "must have" for anyone who loves their operettas. There are lots of excerpts from their work and I sang along throughout. Robert Morley is on top form as Gilbert and Maurice Evans does sterling work as Sullivan. The sets and costumes are beautiful and this restored Technicolor print looks ravishing. Buy it and enjoy!

There is an oft-told story of how Paul Newman took out a full-page ad to apologise for his performance in his first film, "The Silver Chalice" when it was first shown on television. Wether this is true, or apocryphal. I don't know ? {Has anyone ever seen a copy of it??).

Now, anyone who has seen "The Silver Chalice" knows that Newman did not do that bad a job in the film. For a first attempt,it's ok. The movie is pure hokum but, most of these "Sword & Sandle" Epics were. (What it does have is amazing and wonderfully stylised art direction, which keeps you watching!)

In my opinion, it is this, his third film, for which he should be humbly apologising. Originally planned by Warners for James Dean, it is risible, to say the least!

Newman gives an almost comic (and terrible!) impression of both Brando and Dean combined, which grows more and more hysterical until its "I AIN'T got the bullets" finale. I think the only Brando cliche he doesn't utilise is the "I could'a bin a contender" line?

Penn must take most of the blame for encouraging Newman to ham it up like this. It is like an over-long episode of one of Warners' TV Cowboy shows that were so popular at the time ("Cheyenne",etc).

Don't get me wrong. I've always been a big fan of Newman's...... he did some terrific stuff in his career. But.... this one would try anyone's patience.

I saw the trailer for this and thought..."Hmmm...looks interesting?" but then forgot it was on. Later, I discovered that it was on Catch Up TV. I sat down to watch, just the first episode .... and stayed for the entire 8 episodes! This is an absolutely gripping and absorbing series. Susan Sarandon & Jessica Lange give outstanding performances and totally become Bette and Joan. I can't find enough superlatives for their work here. Alfred Molina is also superb as Robert Aldrich and wins (and keeps) your sympathy throughout. Stanley Tucci makes you really glad that you didn't work for Jack Warner. The highest praise must go to ALL concerned with the production of this outstanding series. If you loved "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", then I suggest you sit down, right now and catch up with what happened to Bette & Joan too. Enjoy!

Just watched this on Talking Pictures. This channel are doing a great job in bringing us a wide range of "long missing from TV" movies, most of the time in excellent prints.

Not sure what to say about this? I think Michael Redgrave is/was one of our greatest actors, but... everyone has there off days, and, in this movie, EVERYONE seems to be having an off day!

Losey whips them all up into a frenzy of over acting, particularly Leo McKern & Alec McOwen, and things are not helped by the ridiculously over-wrought musical score, which at times drowns out the dialogue.

By the end, I couldn't have cared less who did what to whom,and why,as I was losing the will to live!

I too remember this little gem....at least, it was then!

I was 7 years old and my Dad took me to see this at our local Gaumont. It was the support film for Disney's "Davy Crockett", which was a real "Biggy" that year.

It's many,many years since it was on TV but, it's one of those films that has always stuck in my memory.

The only thing I can remember about it for sure is that Mr Pastry had a lot of trouble with some soap suds?

Unseen for many years, we can finally catch up with it next Monday, Feb 1st, 2016 when those excellent people at the Talking Pictures Channel will be showing it, at 12:05pm.

I can't wait!

This is hardly the laugh-fest that the previous reviewer tells us it is. It is mildly amusing, with a good cast and some good performances.

Duncan McRae is very good as the starchy killjoy Professor, intent on curbing the (innocent) fun of the students, and Charles Hawtrey excels as his son.

All in all, it's a pleasant way to spend a wet, Monday afternoon.

Interesting to hear that the previous reviewer bought Ronnie Corbett's Saab, after his death.

I'm sure Ronnie would be VERY interested to hear this as he is still very much alive and kicking! (Nov. 2015).

Maybe the reviewer had had a little too much whiskey, just like Charles Hawtrey's character in the movie?

Bought this great movie recently. It is out now on DVD and is one of the four movies on -"The Ealing Studios Rarities Collection - Volume 10". (The other 3 titles are: The Divided Heart, His Excellency & Let's Be Famous)

Network have done a terrific job on putting out this wonderful series of the lesser known movies from the Ealing Studio.

Don't miss this one. The period atmosphere is spot on. Anyone who knows the Salisbury pub in St Martin's Lane will feel right at home here. There are even roaring fires.

Gordon Harker and Mervyn Johns stand out in a superb cast and you will have great fun trying to work out Whodunnit!

It is presented here in a lovely, newly restored print too.

As I said before....DON'T miss this one !

I just watched this on the new DVD release ..."Ealing Rarities Collection - Vol: 9".

It's another little gem in this excellent series. Each 2 disc set includes four movies...the others in this set being : "Meet Mr Lucifer", "Cheer Boys,Cheer" and "Whom the Gods Love".

It's a really nice, crisp print, much of it shot on location. A real look back into 1931.

To say that this was made only two years after the first talking picture, this movie has a really sharp quality in both picture and sound.

The two leads are appealing, especially Benita Hume. A stagey plot ?...maybe?...but it's a lovely and entertaining glimpse back into a very different world....sadly, gone forever !

With regard to the earlier contributor to this thread, "LUCKY ME" most certainly WAS the FIRST MUSICAL in CinemaScope to be released.

Of the two examples he quotes, firstly: "How to Marry a Millionaire" was NOT a musical. Can he name any songs from it, or tell me who sang them? I think not!

Secondly: "A Star is Born" was not released in the States until September, 1954. "Lucky Me" was released in April, 1954.

Twentieth Century Fox's own musical entry in the CinemaScope stakes - "There's No Business Like Show Business" was not released until December, 1954.

Therefore, "LUCKY ME" was most definitely the first musical in CinemaScope.

What a pity this one didn't go into production before "Calamity Jane", then we might have had a much worthier movie as the first!