Change Your Image
ronfrankl
Reviews
Naked City: One, Two, Three, Rita Rakahowski (1963)
Terrible
Despite a strong line-up of guest stars, shockingly bad writing sinks this episode, making it unwatchable. Perhaps it was time to end the series when this ridiculous script hit the airwaves.
Teen-Age Strangler (1964)
Such Sweet Cheese, and A Lot of Fun
Yes, it's amateurish, but this movie is also a lot of fun. It's a teen-age gang movie and a strangler movie all in one package. And "Yipes Stripes," the film's big musical production number, will stick in your head for days. It probably cost about $500 to make this movie but don't worry, they got every dollar on the screen. The violence is more implied than shown, and while there's not a lot of action, the story moves fairly quickly. Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 may remember their take on this picture, but it's entertaining even without Mike and the robots. Somehow there's a sweetness to this movie, and for fans of trashy movies, this is a must-see.
The Killers (1964)
Where's the Hemingway? Lousy Remake of Noir Classic
If Ernest Hemingway hadn't blown his brains out three years earlier, he certainly would have if he'd seen his name attached to this turkey. Only a few elements of his short story survive in this potboiler, and there's nothing to recommend it even to noir fans. Despite the high-caliber cast there are no outstanding performances. There is, however, the perverse pleasure of seeing Ronald Reagan in his last dramatic role (as opposed to the light comic role he made his own in the 1980's) as a sadistic crime boss. The violence and sadism, both depicted and implied, is constant and distasteful. And this surely must be regarded as the low point in Don Siegel's inconsistent directorial career.
The 1946 version of "The Killers," starring Burt Lancaster and directed by Robert Siodmak, is well worth seeing, even if it, too, takes liberties with Hemingway's story. This version, however, is a colossal waste of its collected talents, and is an insult to both Hemingway and the 1946 film.