Reviews

This film was made in 1940. We were just about to go to War with Japan & people had just barely survived the Great Depression. Most people wanted fun escapist movies. The music is great! Of course it's full of fluff. The audience preferred it that way! Ask your grandparents, they'll tell you what life was like in 1940. My grandmother had a job seating people at the Admiral theater in Seattle, Wa. Actually West Seattle, which at the time was considered a separate area from Seattle. She told us that the customers loved Musicals and Westerns. The perfect escape for a Saturday afternoon. The theater's were full for every show and only cost a dime. I think if we were to quit picking apart these films and just enjoy them for the the times they were created, we could learn a lot about life in the 40's. Try to see what we have in common with that era instead of looking for the differences. We are much too cynical and if we can't enjoy a silly film like Too many Girls, we haven't come as far as we think we have. Submitted by Little Blue

I wish people would quit second guess what could have happened if another director would have directed the film. This is a good movie. A film that has all the elements of a good western, Jimmy Stewart, Audie Murphy and Dan Dureya (spell check). There's good vs. evil. Right vs. wrong. A passionate man who plays music while teaching his young friend some valuable lessons about choices. Just sit back and enjoy the movie. Of course we all know Anthony Mann didn't direct it. That point is moot. The cast is wonderful and if you just want to enjoy a fine family film this is a good one. There are too many people who look at films from the 1950's with a 2007 eye.They didn't have the technology them. Possibly things could have been done differently, but we will never know, will we? I wish people would quit second-guess what could have been and enjoy the fine film it is! Look at the scenery! Listen to the music. Read between the lines and quit picking it apart. You might find you like it. I hope so. Maybe you've seen too many films with computer enhanced parts in it so that's what your used to.

I wish folks would quit comparing these films to any film in the year 1007. These films were short on money, long on excitement, and mainly created for the kids to have heroes to cheer for! I get tired of people putting these movies in B categories. Could you do any better with what they had? Almost no budget, and remember John Wayne wasn't considered a STAR until Stagecoach. He was only nominated twice for an academy award, once for the Sands of Iwo Jima and True Grit! For an icon, a movie legend and larger than life person, I think he should have won more Oscars! The Seachers from 1956 didn't win and it is one of the finest films ever made.

As you have already read by the person who has only seen this one film in the Boston Blacke series, they are not in the A budget class. Look a little closer and you'll see some up and coming actor, namely Forrest Tucker (Whipper). Who cares if it's not an A picture. These films are fun to watch! And by the way, the original writer of the Boston Blackie series was an opium addict and did time in prison. He began writing in prison and when he got out his stories were bought and changed for the movies. Columbia pictures had a hit on it's hands. Not all the movies made back then were Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, if it weren't for Boston Blackie and his antics Columbia would have probably gone bankrupt a long time ago. Most movies made even today aren't worth the time and money, but every now and then the movie makers get it right and it works. Open your mind and enjoy a fun film. Any Boston Blackie movie is fun to watch.

As I'm sure you have all read, this is supposed to be an excellent re-make of "Red dust" which was shot on a set in Hollywood and Clark Gable was in his early 30's. Also, "Red dust" had Jean Harlow and Mary Astor, both excellent and beautiful women I guess it is a remake in the sense that the story is almost exactly the same. However, this film was made by John Ford and he was a master of film-making. We feel like we are there in the lush jungle, humid and glorious. Just like all of his western films: hot, dry and dusty. At first, I didn't think I would like this movie, but as was also stated by others, Ava Gardener is one hellua great actress. Grace Kelly plays the perfect bored, married, upright, uptight woman and she plays perfectly off Ava Gardner I love Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly. Of course Clark Gable was one of the greatest actors of all time. No one compares to him today. I wish they could be as good as the actors from that era. I wish actors would take notes from the fine actors of the early days of film. They would probably learn many things. Not having the luck to have been born when these actors were at their prime, I look around and I don't think there is an actress/actor today that can hold a candle to either one of the two women in this film. Seems like the actors of today could do themselves a favor by watching these women and learning from them. Maybe stay out of the tabloids, keep their lives private. Don't say it can't be done, Jody Foster has kept out of the press for years and she is one of the finest actors of this era. I only say these things because I love films and would love to see some films out now that I would want to see. I am happy we had a theatre nearby so we could watch the old films for $1.00. That was last year. They just raised the price to $2.00 and the price is worth it.

The original CSI is the BEST! No other CSI can cut it, New York & Miami are step-brothers to the original. I think the network should have gotten a solid fan base like "Law and Order" had before branching off into the other cities. Also, since I don't care for Caruso, I have rarely watched CSI Miami. New York is somewhat better but that's because of the cast. I am not against the other CSI shows, this is just my opinion. If there were no CSI Las Vegas, with Gil Grissom leading the crew, I doubt if the Miami and New York shows would have had a chance. I am not against actors working at their craft, but I will never understand the producers hiring "Caruso" who walked off one of the best cop shows ever made. Remember?

I will always be a fan of the the original and I always will. Even if Grissom is gone & the audience supposedly thinks he's gone for good, it makes for a mysterious story and I know it will be a good one. Sorry if I offend anyone who are die- hard CSI Miami & New York fans, but the original is the best! I don't think this is considered a spoiler because I don't know anything about Grissom. I am just guessing that he'll return.

I am sure Betty Hutton isn't a household name to most people, but I feel fortunate my mother got me hooked on movies from the thirties and forties! Now, i prefer the oldies to many of the movies out these days! Most new movies are remakes from the 30's, 40's and 50's. Almost all the movies nowadays are poor remakes. Just dazzle the audience with some special effects and anything goes. Movies like the Perils of Pauline were staples in the theaters when my grandmother was a child. Every week there was a serial and in order to find out how Pauline was going to get out of her dilemma you had to go to the neighborhood picture house so you could see how she got out of her trouble! So it was mandatory that you go to the theaters the next Saturday. Of course, movies cost a dime then. I wish we were exposed to more of these fun and silly movies, they seem so innocent and naive compared to the movies people seem to want to watch now. I am so grateful to my mom and my grandmother for getting me interested in the old films. I hope you will enjoy The Perils of Pauline too! I will enjoy it any chance I can!

I had never seen this film before last night. At first I thought (yawn)another sci-fi movie... But I watched the film with awe. For it's day the make-up was a piece of art work! I am pretty sure the studio didn't allow a ton of money to make this movie, but there are some well known names starring in it. I won't give my usual anti sci-fi speech here because this film doesn't deserve it. This is probably the best film of it's era to make it to 2006, and still be relevant. I saw the 'McCarthyism' in it and if you don't know what that means look it up! It(McCarthyism) was one of the worst witch-hunts of our time, until now, possibly. Watch this movie and think about what congress was doing at the time! It's right there like a scoop of ice cream that's fallen out of the cone, splat! I couldn't help but see the similarities, and you won't either. I hope this isn't considered a spoiler, I would never spoil a movie for anyone, knowingly. Just check it out,look for the similarities, and see if you notice them too! I am still not a sci-fi fanatic but I will admit this film helped to change my mind! I hope you get a chance to watch this soon, I saw it on TCM on September 1st, 2006! It's available at any hip video stores, and maybe a chain store if they have a decent sci-fi section. Enjoy!

Any film in the early days of Orson Welles is a triumph all the way to The third Man with Joseph Cotton. He is also wonderful in a Touch Of Evil. Please see them all! He tends to get pompous and self serving in films like F is for Fake, really stupid waste of film.Don't waste your time watching it. it is really ignorant. Orson Welles is a film icon and anyone studying film should see everything he has filmed. All his leading ladies are tremendous but in the end Welles became a fat drunk, like his character in A Touch Of Evil! For some reason Orson Welles had a way with women, I see how he could be considered attractive in his youth, not like Gary Cooper or Joseph Cotton, or Cary Grant,John Wayne, I could go on and on but I digress... and because I am a woman,I can see the attraction to him. He (Orson Welles) is one of the last true film makers and unless you count the film-makers of today: Tarantino, Scorscese, Spike Lee, most of the film makers just don't measure up to the film makers of the Forties! I know there are many more great film makers of today but in such a short amount of time I can't name them all. No Offense to any of the great film makers of this millennium! August 21,2006. Please remind me of some current up and coming film makers, I don't want to be stuck in the past! I love some of the films out now, but rarely are there any that I would put on a "100 best" list.. "Hustle and Flow" was great, so was "Fargo", and "Oh, Brother, where art thou," from a line in Sullivan's travels; another fine film from the forties! Can anyone give me a best list for the 90's and on up to 2006? I would like to know who to watch! Thank you! Also Props to this website! Where else can you plug a film or boo it! i love the ranting and raving from regular folks like me who can say what I want and I promise not to spoil any film for someone who hasn't seen it yet!

It starts out with a somewhat typical threesome, lots of sexual tension, she hates her husband and it seems, all men. Gilda is a little hard to figure out which is the part that keeps your eyes on her throughout the film. You never know when she's going to dig the knife in and how hard she'll twist it.. You know it's coming. Now days we'd have her in a psych clinic and then getting help for battered insecure women who were probably molested in her early teens. But in the Forties they didn't say such things, we had to put the story together in our imaginations,that's why these films are so GREAT! Eventually all of them gets whats coming to them and it's not necessarily a bad thing. Great film. TCM played it this evening and now I recall why I love Rita Hayworth so much. It's hard to believe Glenn Ford was just beginning his career. He is perfectly cast in this film and so are the other actors. Watch for some bloopers, they are there! August 21,2006

TCM must have the best film libraries around. I had never seen this film before then I got a chance to see it. Ann Southern is a funny woman, she played this part perfectly. I wish they made movies like they used to, no computerized special effects, people actually had to act! I would recommend that if you like comedies see this and have a good laugh! There are a few actors in this that I had never heard of before, but I liked them. I looked up a few names and apparently they aren't on this site or they quit acting after this film came out. Ann Southern was a fine actress and I like her in all the movies I have seen her in. This film is a fine example of her talent. Yea, it is an "OLD" film, but it's worth your time to watch this one. Hopefully more people will watch the old movies and get an education in how much better the movies were back in the old days. This was when film making was in it's infancy and they hadn't worked out all the bugs yet. Still, I prefer the old movies over what is considered a good movie by todays standards any time!

As you can probably figure out, this is one of those "guess where the outlaws hide"? movies.

It is filled with excitement and gunfights and this one has a baby in it! As a fan of Western films, I enjoyed it, even if it is somewhat predictable. There are some moments when you are surprised at what the bad guys do. The film has some talented actors in it. Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward work well together. Edgar Buchanan is good in anything! Of course Jack Elam plays his part perfectly, you wish his boss would just knock him off to be rid of him!The other actors are all known names to people who enjoy old films. It's shot outside so it has the feel of a real place in the West, it's dusty and hot and that effect comes through. Enjoy!

Cattle Empire has a strong story line and I won't give it away, but give this film a chance. If you like Westerns this is a film you must see! It is probably considered a "B" movie, but so many Western movies are(supposedly). If you look at this film through the eyes of a person in 2006, it may seem like you could have written the script yourself, but it's not that simple. There are subplots galore and Joel Mcrae is involved in them all, to some extent. There are women on this ride and that alone brings problems for the men on the cattle drive. Enjoy this film for the era it was made in and don't judge too harshly. This is an excellent Saturday afternoon rainy day film.If you like your Westerns any time watch it on a Sunny afternoon, you'll enjoy it just the same. We are true Western fans! Enjoy!

I just watched this film on TMC on June 10,2006, and I wonder what took me so long! This is a beautiful love story, it isn't one that you have to watch between the lines to figure out the deeper meaning. Sir Anthony Hopkins is perfectly cast as the loyal butler. Poised and dedicated far beyond any human can be. When the people who are "above" him in class, he respectfully declines to give his opinion even if he wants to! Those who think they are "above" him, can't touch him! His character is so complete, I believed (his character) he really felt true to his position. He would never consider appearing to know anything about politics or the state of England in the 1930's. When asked if he shared his bosses opinions - he deferred comment, for or against. He is quite a man! He contains his feelings and I wondered when he was going to break! I was quite shocked at the end of this film. This is a film worth watching, and I too, would like to read the book.

This is a good story of a few families in the South and how they dealt with the Civil War aftermath. The film features all real life brothers, including the Carradines, and the Quaids and the Keach bro's. I hadn't seen this film for many years and I was happy to see that it stood the test of time! James Keach is pretty good in it as Jesse, but the Carradines take the film away from the Keachs', in their portrayal of the Younger Brothers.Also Dennis and Randy Quaid are good in it as well. The film shows how war ruins lives, and how war causes good people to do desperate things during desperate times. I don't exactly agree with the things they did after the war, but I would probably do the same thing in the same situation! The South was destroyed, and some people from the North exploited them. This film tells the story, and tells it well. See this film if you haven't seen it in a while. If you like the Western anti-hero, you will like this film!

We watched this on the Memorial Day weekend while TCM was showing all the WWII films. This is probably the best film made, John Wayne is at the Top of his game, and the supporting actors are all perfectly cast.There are lots of racial slurs we would never say now, if you object please remember we weren't "politically correct" nor at that time would any one be upset at the words used. We were at war! This film is like being on a roller coaster, up emotionally, then down emotionally. I laughed, I cried, and I felt real patriotism. I know that most of these WWII films were propaganda for the war effort, but at the time, this was the best way to show the folks at home what the navy accomplished in the Phillipines. Too many people have forgotten how brave and honorable guys these men (and women) really were. We looked at a PT site, and looked closely at the real boats these guys worked on. It's amazing how much our veterans went through! Here it is Memorial Day weekend, we are in another War, and once again our Military Personnel is doing a great job! always say we'll never forget! So, I'm thankful to John Ford for his cockeyed loyalty to our country! Not enough true patriots left.Watch this and love it, don't worry about the ending... We all know the end of that conflict! Let's just remember what our fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers were doing in their teenage years, and have some gratitude that they did what they did! This is an excellent film! 10 or better!

This film is great for the era it was filmed in! The cast is awesome, with Dana Andrews and Claude Rains as the two main characters. I liked it, and had never seen it before the "Memorial Day" War movie weekend on TCM. This film will have you guessing and once you think you have it figured out, __________________!!! I liked it and I usually get tired of the same old..... but, this is a good movie. I recommend viewing this film even if you aren't a WAR film buff. It has an element of film noir, lighting and spooky, lots of tension. Keep an open mind. Watch it! You might learn some things you didn't know. I sure did! This film is good viewing, great special effects, remember it was in the 50's so don't confuse it with any of the special effects that are available now. I don't especially like WAR films, but this is not just a 'shoot everyone, ask questions later' type of film. Quite enjoyable!

I am one of the people who enjoy short and sweet, somewhat predictable films. Having said that, I liked this little film. We as a society have become so "sophisticated" that some of us won't allow ourselves some enjoyment from the past. Yea, there are parts in the film that could have been more realistic, but the point of the film was to tell the story of a boy and the horse he loved! Don't judge this film, please, by what others have said. While their feelings are true for them, it's sad that they aren't able to look past the flaws in the movie. Life is flawed, sometimes you get the wrong end of the stick. Get used to it. Sometimes it's nice to have a "Hollywood" ending, and other times it's appropriate to switch it up. This film is from the late 1940's,and it still has a timely message.Enjoy!

Audie Murphy is one of my favorite actors, in westerns he's real good. Clint Cooper returns to the town he was run out of, 2 years prior to the start of the movie, and he Audie, tells a flash back-like story. He returns because he wants to redeem himself, and in the beginning it's tense, but as per usual, the town begins to let Clint Cooper know, everything isn't as it seems. So, without giving the plot away and telling how well lit the scenes are, I will just end by saying if you like to root for the good guy turned bad guy, turned good guy, then you might like this film. One funny thing is seeing a rough tough rancher with a bright purple shirt on. Something tells me, that wouldn't have happened back in the day. The trouble starts when Tom Morris finds out that Clint Cooper is back in town! Tom want's revenge for Clint killing his two sons in a gun fight while Tom Morris and his sons were trying to steal Clint's families land. So the towns people hate Clint and want him gone! But the town doesn't have time to run him off this time. Spangler's on his way with his gang to rob the town and burn it to the ground if "I feel like it, nobody could stop us". Clint's been thinking about the cute little school marm he left behind, figures he can come home and pick up where he left off! But she's gonna marry Clint's old buddy the Town Sheriff. So watch and see how all this untangles! But be careful 'couse Clint's gun "got to fast"

This is a sleeper. Not many of my friends have seen this film. Now that Law and Order "Criminal Intent" has proved itself, watch this film and you'll see actors who are playing on television at this time, 10-2005. Vincent D'Onfrio (I hope I spelled correctly) is fabulous as this geeked out guy who is over the top as a drugged out gansta, I am not giving the plot away, just a little about "Goren" on Criminal Intent. Man, can he act! I loved him in this film, and Val Kilmer is cool too. If you get a chance. watch it. If you like creepy crime drama, with twists and a somewhat unpredictable ending, you might like this. It's a little off the beaten path.

The Thin Man is one of the most fun films ever created. All the people work perfectly together! The main duo Nick and Nora Charles (and dog Asta) seem to have a perfect life, they are married, in love with each other, and Nick drinks all the time! He rarely gets real drunk, considering the amount of booze he drinks. They go to parties, they wear beautiful clothes, and suddenly they are involved in a murder mystery. Believe it or not, unless you have seen the film, you won't guess whodunit! The whole series of Thin Man films are wonderful, however, this is the first and finest of the lot! Watch The Thin Man, have fun and enjoy! You'll enjoy the whole series if you like this one! Nick and Nora are 2 of the most well known screen couples, of all time, and they have yet to top the two sophisticated husband and wife crime solving team! Watch and laugh!

If you like your films to pull your emotions out of you, if you like your films with a guy you can root for, and relate to, if you like your films in black and white, you gotta see this film! Watch it from start to finish, because you don't want to miss a beat. It is sometimes slow, and it makes you wonder when something is going to happen, then when the plot begins to unfold, you will be on the edge of your seat! I know I was! My Mother told me about this film as our family had some of the same things going on in it as the film does. We loved Frankie, who plays the lead convincingly. What ever you think about Frank Sinatra, put that aside, in the film, he is skinny and he doesn't sing, so keep an open mind. For the era it was made in, it tells a story that is still being told today in homes all across the nation, and quite possibly the world. Please watch, if you like older films, give this one a try.

As a lover of Western film, this rates as one of the better ones to watch.The main person has been tried, convicted and hanged by a group of thugs,he finally gets rescued and proceeds to become a lawman. This film has some familiar plot themes, good vs. evil, etc. It asks some complex questions, and the script is well written. Mr. Eastwood is perfect as the avenger. He never over acts, and yet, you feel for him as he does his job. This is not a Leone film as many people seem to think. Lots of great actors, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Ben Johnson and many others. This film has to be part of any Western film lovers library. I recommend that you see it again. Watch the other people in their roles. Great film!