Reviews

Although the 1966 remake of Stagecoach is not quite of the caliber of the 1939 version, this well done and very entertaining western is well worth a look, if only to see the beautiful color scenery in Cinemascope.

Particularly notable among the cast is Bing Crosby, for once in a non singing role. His portrayal of the disgraced doctor with a taste for whiskey is a solid one, it proves that despite some of his later work (Say One for Me - 1959, etc), that the popular crooner could actually act.

Alex Cord, (who is remembered for Gray Eagle - in which he portrays a Native American) is here to be seen as Ringo, and pulling a gun on the marauding "Indians" chasing the stagecoach, while trying to keep the sheriff from shooting him as an escapee, and he is in top form. Cord has not the screen presence of his predecessor in the role, John Wayne, but he carries the role off with a believable grittiness that is convincing, nonetheless.

Not to demean Robert Cummings, whom I respect very much, and once worked with in films, I don't "believe" his character as the dishonest Banker, he has the right stuff, but doesn't seem able to show it off. His portrayal is nonetheless competent and does not detract from enjoyment of the film.

The scenery is outstanding and Gordon Douglas and his cinematographer, William Clothier have done a fine job of giving this film an expansive and authentic look. The music is very good evoking the mood of the film as it changes from tense to exciting and back to tense. The final scenes were a trifle bloodier than the original film, and could have been less drawn out, but overall, the film works well.

Just a word about the supporting cast. Ann Margaret is, as always, very fine; Red Buttons (See "Red" in Poseidon Adventure" for comparison) adds a certain comical manner to his role, which was a weak spot in the 1939 version. Mike Connors is convincing and gives the film a "familiar" feel (due to his many television roles, no doubt). Van Heflin is his usual solid self, giving his role all you would expect, but with a hint that given more to do, he would have pulled that off too.

All in all, a satisfying if not top notch film, any western buff should find it very enjoyable. If you like Ernest Haycox's book (on which this film is based) "Stage to Lordsburg", you will love seeing his story in color, it really helps.

In "Dead Ringer" (ep. 2-11) We meet Bill Quentin (Williams) who is brought to distraction by his wife's mysterious illness. She suddenly has a fever and then suffers from dreams that frighten her. When she recovers, she is always anxious about there being bad news in the newspaper. Especially reports of fires.

The doctor (Prentis) is baffled by Esther Quentin's (Norma Crane) mystery ailment. But when Esther convinces her husband to get the chief of police to come over, he is even more baffled. Esther confesses that she had a twin sister when they were growing up in the orphanage. She explains that there was a fire, and since then her sister has been insane and goes around setting fires, usually to orphanages and church run schools.

At first the chief is skeptical, but when Esther insists that she can "Will" her sister to call, he agrees to return to further investigate her claims. The next evening, the phone rings and a mysterious woman asks for Esther. Suddenly Esther has a vision of a church school being torched. The chief calls the school, which is in another town, miles away. While he is on the phone, the fire alarm breaks out and the nun he is speaking with must evacuate the school. Later they learn that no one was harmed.

Finally Esther insists that her sister will be at the train station and they must go and arrest her or the fires will continue. When Bill and the chief arrive at the station, a mysterious woman who resembles Esther is there. She looks frightened by their appearance and rushes into the station. When the men look inside, no one is there! They discover only one more thing, a call to the orphanage where Esther and her sister lived, results in the discovery that Esther did have a sister and that the girl was killed in the fire! Was the dead girl burning buildings? Or was it Esther causing the fires with her "fevers". What was the real problem? John Newland again explains that the events were real. The transfer of the episode is very good, the acting by Norma Crane is top notch. Well worth seeing this episode.

In The Captain's Guests (ep. 1-19) We have an overworked older man who takes his wife on a vacation trip. They stay in a house which was built by a sea captain, whose portrait hangs in the house.

After a time, the husband begins to accuse his wife of infidelity, but strangely, he insists on calling her by a different name. As time passes he begins acting more and more strangely. Is he possessed? Director John Newland calls to our attention that this is a true story. The transfer quality of this public domain work is better than average but still could be a lot better. A pity the original copyright holder dropped the ball on renewing their claim. The efforts by the public domain market monkeys have not done much for the quality of the transfer. (Big sigh).

In this fifth episode of the family oriented teleseries, Jeff and Fenimore (the Schultz twins) are out exploring while their big brother Clayt is searching nearby for game. They come across a wounded animal and call brother Clayt to look.

Clayt finds what appears to be a large white dog, which has been shot and is slowly bleeding to death, wishing to be merciful, and finding the wounded animal suspicious and hostile, Clayt raises his rifle to "put the animal out of its suffering". But his brothers beg him to spare the animal and attempt to save it.

Against his better judgment, Clayt agrees and they bring the dog home. Nursing it back to health, the dog is still distrustful at first, but learns to accept them.

Some time later, Ruel Jaxon (Jim Westmoreland) and a Cajun man named Hasner (Albert Salmi) from the Mapoy company ride by the Monroe cabin and ask if they have seen a wild dog that had recently raided their camp for food, and was possibly shot while escaping. They inform Clayt the dog is dangerous and they wish to shoot it. Monroe denies seeing the dog, but later when they are gone, he tells the boys that the dog must go, that since it survived without help before the dog will be alright on its own. He asks Jim to help him take the dog far away to the base of the grand Tetons (Wyoming) and let it go free there, hoping it will not return to the area now that others want to kill the animal.

Jim sagely tells his friend that the "Spirit Dog" will not be put off no matter how far they go, the dog will return. Not believing Indian legends, Clayt (and Jim) go and turn the dog loose after riding all night to the mountains. When he returns the next day, he is visited by Sleeve (Ben Johnson) who tells him that Hasner is accusing Clayt of hiding the dog. Sleeve also reminds Clayt that it is important for him to remain on friendly terms with the Major. Clayt tells him the dog is not there, and after looking around from his horse, Sleeve departs saying he will report to the Major that he has not seen the dog.

Back at the cattle camp, Hasner has tried to get the Major interested in a business proposal, but the Major is not interested and eventually tells the man to leave his employ. The angry man leaves, but he seeks a way to get back in the Major's good graces.

Scarcely has Sleeve departed, when the twins Jeff and Fenimore return to the cabin followed closely by "Snow" as they have dubbed the white dog. Clayt angrily asks the dog (rhetorically) why he had to come back. But unbeknownst to Clayt, Hasner, has returned and was watching the cabin. He sees the dog and returns to Major Mapoy and again accuses Clayt of hiding the animal and lying about it.

Now uncertain whom to believe, and wishing to give young Clayt the benefit of the doubt, the Major goes to the Monroe cabin with Sleeve and Hasner, to ask Clayt bluntly about the dog. He tells Clayt that during the previous night, the dog attacked and killed a young calf with witnesses who shot at it, and he wants the dog killed.

Angrily Clayt tells the Major that it could not have been the dog "Snow" since he and Jim had taken the dog away and had been miles away from the cattle camp at the time and that the dog had only just returned a few moments after Sleeve's visit - a trip which had taken all night to make. At this point, the Major realizes that this cannot be the "White Lobo" that the Cajun man, Hasner, had reported and dismisses the man from his employ (again). He warns Clayt that if their dog is ever seen near the cattle it will be shot on sight, but allows them to keep the dog, which he sees is gentle with the children, but hostile toward only Hasner, who had shot him.

Interesting story of a boy (grown boy) and his dog. Suitable for viewing by the entire family, although younger children may be upset by the wounded dog in the opening sequence and Clayt pointing his rifle at the animal.

The Ingalls family is happy and excited. Caroline (Karen Grassle) is going to have another baby. With three daughters already, Charles (Michael Landon) hopes for a son. Before long, however, Caroline seems less enthusiastic about her impending motherhood. At first Charles is convinced she is just tired due to her condition, but he soon becomes worried that there is more to her depression than meets the eye.

Caroline has become convinced that Charles will be disappointed and unhappy if her baby is not a boy, and this overshadows her happiness and begins to affect their entire family.

Another story that cuts to the heart of marriage and family. The Ingalls are faced with something many real families have had to experience. The stress of another child, another mouth to feed, another girl (or boy) in a family composed of all one sex when the other is strongly desired.

For some time now, (previous episodes starting with As Long as We're Together), the Ingalls family has lived and worked in the town of Winoka. The town, and all of it's enterprise is owned by the grasping and mean Mr. Standish (Leon Charles).

Toby Noe (Ray Bolger), the town character, who has purchased fireworks to give the town a real Independence Day celebration and then lost them in a game to greedy Mr. Standish has set the stage for a surprising chain of events.

Meanwhile, Charles and Caroline have become so unhappy with life in Winoka they have discussed returning to Walnut Grove, although they know that it will be extremely difficult to pick up where they left off and to convince the other towns folk to return.

When a tragic fire burns the hotel and the fireworks Mr. Standish has taken from the hapless Toby Noe, the die is cast and the Oleson's and Garvey's also decide to leave Winoka.

Saying goodbye to their daughter Mary, a teacher at the blind school, and her future husband Adam, they pack their things in their wagon and prepare to return to Walnut Grove.

Disappointed, Charles has held up the departure, hoping they would be joined by the young orphan he has befriended, (Matthew Laborteaux), he discovers that the lad has gone back to living under the stairs, where he first found the boy. With his heart almost breaking, Charles says goodbye to Albert and boards his wagon. Now Albert Quinn, who has no one in the world, is faced with a decision that is surprisingly tough for him to make.

For some time now, (previous episodes starting with As Long as We're Together), the Ingalls family has lived and worked in the town of Winoka. The town, and all of it's enterprise is owned by the grasping and mean Mr. Standish (Leon Charles).

Toby Noe (Ray Bolger), the town character, is a down at the heels gentleman who has a serious problem. He can't stop gambling and drinking. One day he suddenly comes into a large sum of money and he is so happy that he tells his friend Albert Quinn (Matthew Laborteaux) that he wants to buy fireworks to give the town a real Independence Day celebration. He orders the fireworks and they are delivered.

Greedy Mr. Standish tricks Toby into a game of chance and soon has all of Toby's money. When he offers to let Toby play one more hand if he will bet his fireworks, Toby weakly does so and loses. Standish has his men take the explosives to his hotel storage room and lock them up.

In the conclusion, There's No Place Like Home part two, the Ingalls, Garvey's and Oleson's must make a life changing decision.

When the Bevins family comes to Winoka, Mr. Bevins gets a job as a handyman at the blind school run by Adam and Mary. Extremely obese Mr. Bevins (Cliff Emmich) is ridiculed by the townspeople, but accepted by the blind students who see only his kindness and concern for others. His daughter Amelia (Julie Ann Haddock) is ashamed of her father's appearance and no one in town is aware of her relationship to her father.

When Bevins has a nasty fall, Amelia must come to terms with her feelings and her past behavior and show her love for her father. Then the little girl finally realizes that love is greater than appearance.

In part one of As Long as We're Together, Charles befriended a young boy who is apparently a runaway, or an orphan. Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) refuses to disclose any of his history to Charles, who despite other people's misgivings about Albert, trusts the boy and wants to help him.

To gain the lad's trust, he allows Albert to join them at meals, and insists the youth attend Mrs. Garvey's school. Discovering that Albert gambles with other town youths, and has other bad habits, Charles attempts to teach Albert by example, that honesty and friendship are more important that money.

Eventually Charles is convinced that he has won over Albert. But the boy is afraid of getting too close to anyone and maintains an aloofness that has Charles frustrated. This relationship is developed further in later episodes, and culminates in the two part program entitled "There's No Place Like Home."

Hardship has struck Walnut Grove and many of the citizens move to other towns to support themselves. Among them are the Olesons, the Garveys and the Ingalls.

In the town of Winoka, Mr and Mrs Oleson obtain work at a saloon, Charles and Caroline are hired to run a restaurant and hotel and Jonathan Garvey obtains employment also. All of them work for Mr. Standish (Leon Charles), who controls the town and is very mean.

Mrs. Garvey attempts to continue the children's lessons, meeting in an empty building also owned by Standish, as there is no school in Winoka. One day, Charles encounters a youngster named Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) who appears to be an orphan or runaway, the boy is very cadgy about divulging his history and Charles accepts him on those terms, attempting to be his friend and encouraging him to go to Mrs. Garvey's school.

Continued in part two of As Long as We're Together.

The crime solving team of teenagers Sherlock Holmes (Rowe) and John H Watson (Cox), prep school students by day, but crime solving sleuths at night.

When young John Watson starts mid term at a London Prep school, he is greeted first by a tall slender lad of about sixteen. Sherlock Holmes proceeds to tell Watson all about himself before they have exchanged hellos. The stunned Watson admires the older lad from that moment on.

At first reluctant to involve himself in Holmes schemes, Watson finds himself up to his neck in a series of murders, as he trots beside the lanky Holmes. When they rescue a man from nearly killing himself to destroy an imagined attack, they are told a strange tale of betrayal and vengeance. When he attempts to get Sergeant Lestrade (Ashton-Griffiths) involved in solving the murders of several men, Lestrade calls them suicides and angrily orders Holmes out of his office.

That is only the beginning of an adventure that takes the boys to the notorious Wapping district where a nefarious cult of murderous religious nuts, led by the cruel and mysterious Eh Tar (Higgins), is doing heinous things to young ladies, including - to his horror, Elizabeth Hardy (Ward) Sherlock's first love! The cast is excellent, the period London sets and costumes are great and the direction by Barry Levinson (The Natural, Rain Man) is commendable. All told, a satisfying entry into the Holmesian legend. Might be a bit intense for very young children but otherwise a fine family film. I Heartily recommend seeing this film.

Shyamalan has done it again! This is top notch entertainment. For lovers of the scary and supernatural, this fits the bill. The plot builds nicely from the moment strange things start happening in Lynn Sear's kitchen to the final moment when Cole convinces his mother that he really does see ghosts. This film is destined to be a classic.

Young Osment does a top notch job as Cole Sear the boy who sees dead people everywhere. He is at once frightened and confused, but bravely tries to keep his mother from knowing his real problem.

In a standout performance, Willis has broken away from his portrayals of tough guys and baddies. Here he gives a sensitive, compassionate performance as the acclaimed child psychiatrist, confused by his wife's chilly behavior and the baffling case of the troubled Cole Sear whom he is treating. When he sees his wife in an apparently compromising situation he takes his anger out by destroying the shop window.

Yet he genuinely loves his wife and is nearly distraught by her behavior both by her apparent lack of interest in him and her actions (locking the basement door, pulling the check away just as he reaches for it).

Even Angelica Tom, who plays Kyra's disturbed and dangerous mother does a good job in her short time on the screen.

Having filmed what is probably one of the greatest ghost stories ever written, Director Shyamalan appears briefly (as the doctor who treats Cole), as he does in all his films, as a tribute to his idol the late Alfred J. Hitchcock. If you are a fan of ghost movies, this is one you should not miss.

I also recommend you see ALL of M. Night Shyamalan's other films. They are: Signs, Unbreakable, The Village, and Wide Awake (which is by the way a comedy, not at all like his other films and is ideal for the whole family). This effort is certainly in the same class as THE OTHERS directed by Alejandro Amenabar.

Peter Duguid can be proud of the efforts he made in adapting this classic to the small screen.

Tom Baker and Terrence Rigby are outstanding as Holmes and Watson, and for once Watson is not the buffoon as portrayed by Nigel Bruce. Baker gives a down to earth portrayal of the great detective, he comes across keen and intelligent, but not so dismissive and patronizing as Jeremy Brett often was in the same role for television.

Woodeson is fine as Sir Henry and Ravenscroft is perfect as the conniving and murderous Stapleton. The doctor, who is a part time archaeologist and collector of skulls, is ably portrayed by Knightley. His apparent willingness to believe in the supernatural dog is offset by his own keen observation and grasp of human nature.

The production values are excellent - typical of a BBC production. THe costumes and sets are very period, as they should be. THe modernized WW II era Holmes portrayed by Rathbone always left me feeling a little unsatisfied. All told, this version is excellent and does not deserve any of the trivial criticism heaped upon it by some. I heartily recommend this film if you can get it on video. I was fortunate to tape it in 1984 and still enjoy it twenty two years later.

Director Alan Grint (who did a bang up job directing some of the episodes of the British Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett) has successfully translated an F H Burnett book to the small screen. This Hallmark Hall of Fame version introduces us to a grown Mary Lennox who in flashback, relives her childhood experience in coming to the rural manor of her guardian.

The real story has no reference to grown Mary or her romantic connection to Colin Craven. This is probably due to the fact that in the novel, Burnett makes it clear that Mary and Colin are actually cousins. This film version has erased that from the story, which would not be required if the unnecessary adult portions of the story had been left out.

Young Gennie James is excellent as (at first) ill tempered and selfish Mary Lennox. She resents her new situation (orphan living in someone else's house) and strains the patience of her caretaker (Whitlaw). When she discovers there is a secret garden, she is determined to find it, and when, upon finally meeting her guardian Mr. Craven, she steers him into granting her permission to make a garden anywhere she chooses. Of course she chooses the walled in garden.

When she finally tames Colin enough to tell him of the garden and her new friend Dickon, and his mysterious way with animals, the willful Colin is determined to see these wonders for himself and demands that the servants take him outside in his wheel chair and allow Mary to escort him with Dickon to push him. The servants balk, but give in to their young master's whim. This, of course, proves to be the beginning of the sickly Colin's road to recovery.

Young Oliver as Dickon is quite good, though he has little to say. Steele does a fine job of playing the demanding, insufferable crippled boy. Horndern is just right as the crusty but faithful Gardener and Whitlaw is good as always. All in all, a charming and satisfying, if slightly altered, version of the excessivley wordy classic novel.

Incidentally, for you fans of Harry Potter, NO, director Alan Grint is not the father of Rupert Grint.