Reviews (30)

Star-Studded Recounting of Legendary Nazi Trials
This star-studded film vividly captures the characters on all 3 sides of the spectrum: The accused, the victims, and the international tribunal judging the perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities against fellow human beings. It is shocking to see how many of the people responsible for the gruesome deaths of millions justified their actions.

After hearing witnesses who often were tortured, mamed by sadistic doctors, and had their loved ones murdered, I can not grasp the fact that the majority of those on trial were released after serving minimal prison terms. Some of them are still among us, while millions of victims lie in their graves at the hands of an evil minority!

Stellar performances by an International cast. Most noteworthy are Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland as testifying victims, Maximilian Schell as Prosecutor (Oscar Winner), Marlene Dietrich as wife of a defendant, and an elderly Spencer Tracy, trying to make sense of it all.

Effective use of B&W photography, first rate sets and costumes, along with many other production values, make this a timeless Classic. Although considerd over-long by some, I recommend this film to be shown to high school classes as a reminder that these things happened in a not so distant past.*****

SCHELL, TRACY, GARLAND, LANCASTER, CLIFT & WIDMARK GREAT!
This is a superb film by Stanley Kramer with an unbelievably great cast at the height of their craft. Each of the legendary actors were at the top of their performances in the reinactment of the Judge's Trial at Nuremberg. The world was tired of the Nuremberg trials. This one was a mopping up operation. Against a backdrop of an escalating Cold War with the Soviet Union, the selling out of justice by prominent Nazi judges serving the Third Reich is put on trial. Spencer Tracey plays Judge Dan Haywood, a retired Maine circuit court judge brought out of mothballs to serve as the chief justice. Amazingly, the usual action actor Burt Lancaster plays the top Nazi judge who at first does not recognize the Nuremberg tribunal's authority to judge him. For some mysterious reason, critics over the years failed to acknowledge the tremendous acting job he did in convincingly carrying off what was perhaps this film's most dynamic character change. However, my personal favorite was Maximillian Schell whose quintessential Germanic Hans Rolfe, the defense attorney released the full range of this incredible actor's virtuosity. For this he deservedly won an Academy Award Oscar.

One thousand words are not enough to celebrate this timeless film: Judy Garland (in perhaps her last film role) delivers a heartbreaking middle aging Irene Hoffman, reliving her experiences of Nazi cruelty on the witness stand; once again. However, not very good was the young Canadian actor, William Shatner playing Army Captain Byers, the aide de camp to Judge Haywood (Tracy). [The Starship Enterprise didn't seem to improve Shatner's skills any.] Richard Widmark (the moody, hostile prosecutor) and Montgomery Clift [who begged for the role he was willing to play without pay!] were excellent. Clift plays a slightly retarded German laborer, sterilized by Nazi doctors because of his mental slowness. This is among the very best films made by Kramer in the decade of the 1960s. Amazingly, it was released one year after INHERIT THE WIND, another Tracy-Kramer classic!

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kramer teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kraner teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

Wooooooooow
Ok, you`ll get Garland, Dietrich, Clift, Tracy, Widmark & Schell - the production headed by Stanley Kramer.... the result is pure Hollywood vintage combined with horrors from the 2nd World War??? But indeed; it is a masterpiece.... It should be in every school-library all over the world:-) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bob Hope is in top form in this Technicolor parody of pirate pictures, doing his best vaudeville shtick as an inept performer trying to save princess Virginia Mayo from the evil clutches of governor Walter Slezak and pirate Victor McLaglen. It's all ridiculous fun, of course, but if you're a fan of Hope, you never tire of his self-effacing gags and double-entendres. His out-of-place show biz jabs were always clever, and they're all the funnier in this period setting--particularly the Bing Crosby jokes. But Walter Brennan nearly steals the film as a wacky pirate scheming to steal buried treasure, and tattooing the map on Hope's chest. Yet the two best routines are when Hope tries to conceal his chest while taking a bath with Slezak, and when he tries to impersonate McLaglen as "the Hook." --Bill Desowitz ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Bob Hope as the classic cowardly pirate
"The Princess and the Pirate" is one of my favourite Bob Hope comedies right up there with "My Favourite Blonde" and "The Ghost Breakers". During the war years escapism was high on peoples wish list and the period saw an influx of top grade pirate adventures set in far off lands on screen such as "The Sea Hawk", and "The Black Swan". Bob Hope, ever quick to pick up on the latest popular trends created his own mini classic here in "The Princess and the Pirate", with a roushing send up of the whole Pirate genre that suited his comic talents to a tee.

This film has it all, from cut throat pirates to beautiful maidens in distress, fantastic galleons filled with treasure, beautiful technicolour, swashbuckling sword play and at the centre the comic Hope in one of his famous coward roles filled with hilarious one liners. Of course no Hope film would be complete without a few Bing Crosby jokes and they are laid on in abundance here. Even San Goldwyn who produced this film comes in for a comic slaying! Bob Hope playsSylvester the Great a second rate performing act who unknowingly gets involved with a group of cut throat pirates headed bythe notorious "The Hook' played superbly by Victor Mclaglen. In a plot too convoluted to lay out here Hope unknowingly gets a rare treasure map tatooed onto his chest and thus becomes the target for the greedy pirates bent on retreiving the treasure. Along the way Sylvester becomes involved with the Princess Margaret (played by the lovely Virginia Mayo)who is being held as a captive by the pirates and who in a surprise twist at the finale, after romancing Hope throughout the entire film suddenly runs into the arms of a well known rival of Hope's whos name I wont mention here!!

The film is full of wonderful scenes and performances. Walter Brennan in a distinct change of pace literally steals the show as the wacky featherhead, the giggling pirate who tattoes the map onto Hope's chest. Bob Hope's quip upon hearing him giggling to "hurry up and lay that egg" is probably one of the funniest lines in the whole film. Virginia Mayo while perhaps not the best leading lady that Bob Hope had in his films is cooly beautiful as Princess Margaret but does perhaps lack a bit of the fire that a Maureen O'Hara type would have brought to the role. Bob Hope I feel has one of his very best roles here. Whether he is playing the wisecracking Sylvester ducking from cut throat killers or dressed as a cackling old gypsy womanto avoid detection on the pirate ship, romancing the Princess or deceiving the dreaded Hook and the govenor, he is in fine form full of the lovable quips and Crosby insults that were his stock in trade. Hilarious scenes abound throughout "The Princess and the Pirate". Stand outs are the priceless scene where Hope and the princess arrive at the boarding house in port to find a room for the night and find that the previous occupant had mysteriously "checked out" while leaving all his clothes! and the absolute rib tickler where Bob ends up sharing a bath with the corrupt governer La Roche (Walter Slezak in another funny performance) and tries to hide the tattoo of the treasure map from him, that one is guaranteed to have you laughing till you drop!.

The overall look of this production is lavish and no expenses was ever spared on Bob Hope films around this time. The colour is beautiful and the costumes, sets, and period flavour are top notch. For a fun filled, hour and a half of pure mayhem and Hope madness "The Princess and the Pirate", is unsurpassed. If you are a Hope fan like I am you cannot miss this one to see him at the absolute peak of his abilities and comic timing. Enjoy a rousing time on the high seas with Bob Hope at his cowardly best!!

a great and beautiful film!
This film is very good, so entertaining and colorful.It's packed, with glamoour, romance, comedy, and adventure.A little of everything.Virginia Mayo is wonderful in it and so is Bob Hope.

Classic Gut-buster
My siblings and I caught this movie on Sunday afternoon TV once, and laughed until we cried.Very silly gags interspersed with hilarious one-liners make this oldie stay fresh.I'm not someone who generally likes classic comedy, and I LOVE this movie!

Good, simple pic
Everytime Bob Hope made a picture in a costume, people would cringe.It doesn't have to be that way, as this movie is heads and tails above "Cassanova's Big Night".This is a fun, silly pirate movie that I loved as a kid, and still love now as a twenty-something unemployed male unable to graduate from a state college.

Good, simple pic
Everytime Bob Hope made a picture in a costume, people would cringe.It doesn't have to be that way, as this movie is heads and tails above "Cassanova's Big Night".This is a fun, silly pirate movie that I loved as a kid, and still love now as a twenty-something unemployed male unable to graduate from a state college. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although Chisum stars John Wayne--playing a benign variation on his Red River empire-builder --he's curiously sidelined in this umpteenth retelling of Pat Garrett, William Bonney, and the Lincoln County War.Sam Peckinpah would direct the world-class version of that götterdämmerung, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, three years later.This version, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen in a slightly less broad vein than usual, is just odd--not least because it omits Garrett and Bonney's celebrated final confrontation.Geoffrey Deuel's Billy is a pleasant juvenile who scarcely seems delinquent, let alone murderously psychotic.Glenn Corbett's characterization of Garrett consists mainly of wearing a seriously BIG hat.There's an irksome rivalry for Chisum's perky niece (Pamela McMyler), and a Dominic Frontiere score that's the Western equivalent of elevator music.Chief scoundrel Forrest Tucker seems bored, but Christopher George, Richard Jaeckel, and Bruce Cabot get some juice into their villainy.--Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Wayne & McLaglen tackle the Lincoln County War
Based upon historical fact, this film follows the famous range war in which Billy the Kid made his name, but chiefly from the viewpoint of aging cattle baron John Chisum (Wayne in the title role). It's 1878 in New Mexico Territory, and Chisum rides into the local town of Lincoln to meet his niece Sallie (Pamela McMyler) off the stage. His foreman and long-time Good Right Hand, Pepper (Ben Johnson practically stealing the movie--he should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor), remarks upon the many acquisitions being made by would-be real-estate magnate Lawrence J. Murphy (Tucker in a cheerfully malevolent role), but Chisum isn't looking for trouble. Still, he is inexorably drawn into the escalating situation when lawyer Alex McSween (Andrew Prine), whom Sallie befriended on the journey, finds it impossible to turn a blind eye to Murphy's machinations, and helps stake the idealistic Easterner to a store to run in competition with the one Murphy bought out from under its original owner. Not until his friend and neighbor, Britisher Henry Tunstall (Patric Knowles), is murdered on the road by two deputies of Murphy's hand-picked sheriff (Bruce Cabot), does Chisum's temper finally come unglued, and the story continues through the siege (canonical) of the McSween store by Murphy's forces, the shooting down of McSween in the street, and at last a classic brawl (in an ultimately burning building) between Chisum and Murphy that always reminds me of two old range bulls butting heads. As always, the supporting cast adds immeasureably to the movie: Geoffrey Deuel as Billy Bonney; Christopher George (who also played a villainous role in the Duke's "El Dorado") as his old enemy, gimpy, half-crazy bounty hunter Dan Nodeen; Richard Jaeckel as Jess Evans, with whom Billy once rode; Glenn Corbett as Billy's friend (and future killer) Pat Garrett. The mild liberties that are taken with history (such as Sallie's attraction to Billy) only serve to fill out the characters better. There's plenty of classic Old West action and a good score (Merle Haggard's vocal, "Turn Me Around," should be released on a retrospective of his songs), and Chisum is portrayed as a decent man who loves the land and wants the best for the people who live on it (interestingly, he isn't expected to carry a romantic relationship at all, though it's strongly hinted that he came close to marrying Sallie's mother). A solid entry to the Wayne oeuvre and one well worth your time.

The Duke Rides again
Ok, so the historical aspect is questionable, so what? This is classic John Wayne, good guys against bad guys, and predictably great until the final reel. I always felt they left the door open a little for a sequel, or moreover that this was placing a John Wayne bootprint on the story behind the story of the Lincoln County War. Whichever way, I thoroughly enjoy this every time I see it. Probably not one of the "GREAT" John Wayne westerns, and I'm being a little generous with 4 stars, but the transfer quality to DVD makes it worth it, although there isn't any extra stuff. Just under two hours, and a little violent for very young children, otherwise Enjoy

Don't buy this Movie
I am a huge fan of almost anything with John Wayne in it, especially westerns. But this may be one of his worst. The Duke had a maddening habit of surrounding himself with bad actors. But often the movie was good enough to overcome this fault. This one is not. The music is flat out horrible, almost funny it's so bad, and the script is rediculous. It is historically inaccurate, and if you are going to make a movie with real charactors in it, then this is not a minor fault. The only good things in the movie are Ben Johnson and the Duke himself. Truly one of his worst.

A good John Wayne film but not very true to history
CHISUM is a solid film for its time period. Like always, John Wayne is at the top of his game. However, I'm still not sure why Hollywood felt inclined to make a movie that used John Chisum as its main character and Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett as supporting players. It doesn't really make sense. And while there is some truth to what happens in the film, for the most part it is historically inaccurate. For example, John Chisum never squabbled fist to fist with Lawrence Murphy in real life (as far as history has recorded anyway) but since Murphy was the villain and Chisum was the hero I see why it had to be done. It's just like I said though, why did they have to be called Murphy and Chisum? Why did the producers decide to make a John Wayne western based in realism using real characters when many of his more successful westerns were entirely fictional and used fictional characters? I guess we'll never know for sure. The end result seems to be more for John Wayne fans than fans of the Billy the Kid legend and the Lincoln County War.

C-

Western classic for your library
One of John Wayne's best Action Westerns. The acting is better than average and Ben Johnson actually talks in this movie! ... Read more

Reviews (30)

irritatable
after reading the reviews of other viewers i had to respond. both marlon brando and lee marvin were great but to cut into it saying it came short of reality or truly portraying it, think when this film was made. im sure in the twenty first century the movie would be very different. anyone thats read hunter thompsons 'hells angels' or has other knowledge of bike gangs knows too well of its truth-inspired influences of hollister. but in 1953 film makers as well as anyone else including the literary crowd had its limits even if limitary. i think alot of those who reviewed it did so forgetting this fact. no its not the best film made but for what its worth it was a great performance by both marvin and brando and served as a pretty entertaining picture on all fronts. i believe this was the intention of the director. it doesnt claim anywhere to be a documentary or anything close so dont interpret it as so. i got the feeling from reading the reviews that the viewers were taking this picture into comparison with contemporary films which it is certainly not one nor is it as one review suggested a film to be viewed for those in a "classic film phase". its beyond that. perhaps im out of line but these are my thoughts at the moment.

The classic Hollywood biker film
Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin depict bikers as only Hollywood can in a film inspired by actual events that took place in a town called Hollister during the late '40s. The movie along with the rebel biker image was sparked by a Time magazine cover showing a drunken shirtless biker lounging on his Harley-Davidson with a beer in both hands. It was a bit of bad press, reading something like the "downfall of society" or "outlaw bikers take over town" that originated the rebel H-D image and gave Hollywood the inspiration to create this timeless cult classic.

brando before he got fat and untalented.
The entire time length that takes place in this movie is like less than one day. Brando and his Black Rebel Motorcycle Club cronies spend the day being retarded in some bar in some town. The only reason I could think to watch this movie is so you could see that at one point, in a galaxy far far away, Marlon Brando was a cool dude. Before arrogance seeped out of his body like sweat, he was a guy you'd want to see in a movie. Now, obviously, he's dead and like most actors who were in old movies, has been elevated to 'legend' status, despite only being in a handful of good movies. This movie was released in 1954, and I know I've become a bit jaded by Pulp Fiction and anime, but as far as I'm concerned, 1950's B&W movie or not, its not very good. The begining, end, acting, story, etc., just isn't that great, and it's really nothing more than a cult film about motorcycles.

I AIN'T JIVIN. . . BRANDO DOES ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would have to agree with other reviewers that this film is rather corny, but for its time it was revolutionary. Throughout the film I must admit I had several laughs with lines such as, "You're too square" and "Anybody thinks their too good for me, I knock 'em over sometime". And phraseology such as "that's corn ball style". And Brando's faux black accent put me in mind of a 1970's blaxploitation movie, especially with the continual use of the word "jive". Nevertheless, Brando's deliverance is awesome, everything from his facial expressions and gestures to his timing is perfect. The man is stunning in this film. It's hard to take your eyes off of him, but then again, why would you want to?!! Highly recommended!

Cheesy plot but Brando rocks
Being a huge Godfather fan, I have been curious since Brando passed away to see more of his films. Caught this one tonight on TMC. My dad warned me to remember when it was made before I watched it. I am glad he did because I probably would have thought that it was horrible and instead I came to realize that Brando was a brilliant actor! Yes, I have to agree that there is a lot of 50's cornball BS but Brando was so good in this film that it makes me truly sad to think of the crap that is made in Hollywood nowadays. Oh she has a hit single let's put her in a movie! Yeah that almost works! Looking forward to checking out more of Brando's work! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

I fell in love too easily with Anchors Aweigh
Anchors Aweigh is an MGM classic. When you watch it you'll never forget Gene Kelly's dance with the animated mouse, Jerry, Frank Sinatra's crooning of "I Fall in Love too Easily", Jose Itrubi's brillinat playing of the piano, and Kathryn Grayson's operatic "Jealousy". I don't think this is Kathryn Grayson's best role, but she sure does a good job. Some other songs that I haven't mentioned are "If You Knew Susie", "Waltz Serenade", "All of a Sudden My Heart Sings", and "We Hate to Leave". I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and if you're a fan of Frank, Gene, or Kathryn, you'll love it too.

Heartwarming, Corny, but Great Musical Fun
When I took the time to actually think about the plot of Anchors Aweigh, I wondered how anyone ever took the movie seriously. Two sailors on leave hope to find love, or at least a girl, accidentally meet a small orphan being raised by his aunt, both sailors fall in love with the aunt and also act as surrogate fathers for the boy, but never fight over the aunt, and promise to arrange an audition for the aunt with Jose Iturbi, the great Hollywood conductor and arranger. One sailor finds the girl of his dreams, another falls in love with the aunt, and everyone is happy, and of course the very talented aunt is on her way to stardom. This movie should not work, but somehow it does work and works well. Why? Because the two sailors are Frank Sinatra as Clarence Doolittle and Gene Kelley as Joseph Brady and Kathryn Grayson plays the aunt. This very talented trio created magic in the musical numbers, and since Gene Kelley is involved, the dance numbers are naturally amazing.

Though the most famous highlight of the film is Gene Kelley dancing with Jerry of Tom and Jerry fame (mixing animation and live action, quite a fete in 1945), perhaps the best dance scene is when Kelley dances with a small Mexican immigrant girl. As in so many Kelley dance sequences, Kelley compliments those who dance with him and seems to never let his ego get in the way.

This movie is more than a far fetched story with great musical and dance numbers. It also says a great deal about America at the end of World War II. Victory was imminent, but the country was tired and needed hope. Movies such as Anchors Aweigh provided such hope, and for this reason alone it deserves praise. And let's face it, who can resist a corny musical with an implausible story that can capture our hearts and imaginations?

P.S. If you don't want to spend more money, avoid the bonus tracks advertising other great MGM musicals, but if you can't resist, don't say I did not warn you!

Anchors A Snore
We bought this movie because we liked Gene Kelly in "Singing in the Rain" so much. While not expecting something quite as wonderful we were indeed surprised at how truly awful it was. The characters annoyed us and the plot was not believable. For a long, long time, we kept hoping for more dancing... or singing... or something... but eventually we went to bed and haven't even finished this movie. The kid was cute, though.

One of my absolute favorite films
Just sheer joy. Gene looking very, very, VERY good, and dancing very, very, VERY well! They didn't come much better looking or more talented than Gene Kelly, especially in this film. Frank (that voice...ah, that VOICE!) skinny and sincere, playing a shy sailor without any experience with women...who said this boy wasn't an actor?!. In other words, Frank and Gene doing what they do best in brilliant Technicolor. Great music, wonderful sets, terrific comedy, and a groundbreaking dance (the first on film, I believe) between a live action and animated character (Gene and Jerry Mouse in the delightful "Worry Song"). Kathryn Grayson, a great beauty with a stunning operatic voice, perfectly complements the nautical duo. I've heard the criticism that the film runs too long...personally, I wish it had been a little longer! A great movie and a lot of fun.

THE CHARM OF THIS MUSICAL NEVER ENDS
"Anchors Aweigh" is bar none the best of the 'sailors on shore leave' musicals that seemed to flood the film market during the 1940's and early 50's. The story is pretty contrite, two sailors fall for the same girl and lie to gain her affections. That's it, that's all. But history has taught us that most musical film fare needs nothing more that this by way of plot in order to captivate its audience.
Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra are the front liners here. This was Sinatra's first MGM film and he and Kelly are a remarkable team to behold on the screen. Sinatra's scrawniness and Kelly's male bravado bow well with one another. Add to the mix one of MGM's greatest singers, Kathryn Grayson and how could anything go wrong. It doesn't and the resulting film not only won Kelly his first Oscar nomination as best actor but took a Best Picture nomination as well.
Warner Home Video has done a pretty spiffy job on this transfer. Colors, though dated, are bold, saturated and well balanced. During the animated segments there are some instances where color balancing is inconsistent, but nothing that will terribly distract. Also, a few instances of edge enhancement crop up, but again, nothing that will ruin your enjoyment of this great musical classic. The sound, unfortunately, is a big, lousy mono but carried off with such clarity and remarkable spread that one can forgive Warner for not doing a 5.1 remix. The disc also includes a snippet from MGM: When The Lion Roars that explains how Kelly and Jerry (the mouse from Tom and Jerry fame) were able to be seen dancing together. Is it just me or is Jerry awfully big for a mouse?!?
Get the film and find out. This one's a keeper!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Wayne and Anthony Quinn star in this touching 1945 drama inspired by real-life heroism in the Philippines following General MacArthur's withdrawal in 1942 and the islands' subsequent conquest by the Japanese army. Wayne plays Colonel Joe Madden, an American who stays behind to organize a ragtag guerrilla army in the forests and hills. At his side is Captain Andres Bonifacio (Quinn), grandson of a legendary revolutionary martyred in the nation's old war against Spanish colonialists. Joe, Andres, and their fearless irregulars (with support from a schoolteacher, played by Beulah Bondi) sap the enemy's resolve through hit-and-run missions, but as time passes the locals wonder, with pronounced disillusionment, why America doesn't return with masses of troops and weapons. Wayne's star power is undeniable, and Quinn is very good as a man uncertain of his role or destiny. Edward Dmytryk (Murder, My Sweet), soon to be imprisoned during Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt of Hollywood communists, directs. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

may we never forget Bataan
Some of the most horrific events of WWII occurred in the Pacific Theater, and this film touches on what happened in Bataan, where tens of thousands of U.S. and Philippine soldiers died in captivity, either on the infamous Death March, the appalling POW camps, or the hell-ships.
At the beginning and ending, this film briefly shows some of the survivors, though it is "sanitized", and the men have some flesh back on their bones.

John Wayne is terrific as Colonel Madden, who organizes the resistance fighters, and does his own stunts, some of which must have left him muddy and bruised.
Anthony Quinn is also excellent as Captain Bonifacio, the leader of the Filipino guerillas. Both Wayne and Quinn are at their most handsome and heroic, and make a fine cinematic pairing.

Though the script is sometimes stilted, it is based on actual events and people, and was written as history was happening, taken from the daily newspapers to the screen.
Edward Dmytryk's direction is well paced, and Max Steiner's "stock music" was used, along with an original score by Roy Webb.

Much in this film can be said to be "propaganda", as it is "good vs. evil", with no subtleties or gray areas, but these were the days when Hollywood and patriotism were compatible, a sentiment that filmmakers seem to have lost, and a time that seems long gone.
May we never forget the souls who bravely fought for freedom and suffered so much in Bataan.

Just a little patriotism involved
Back to Bataan is a flag-waving patriotic movie that was filmed and released as WWII was drawing to a close. The story is about the Filipino people and their fight for freedom from their Japanese oppressors. This is very obvious patriotism with the Japanese portrayed as cowardly murderers and the Americans as noble freedom fighters. John Wayne stars as Colonel Joe Madden, the man selected to help organize the Filipino guerilla movement. His small company wreaks havoc on the Japanese forces in the Phillipines as the war progresses. The young Duke is very good in his role as Madden with Anthony Quinn also excellent as Captain Andres Bonifacio. Also starring are Beulah Bondi, Lawrence Tierney, Vladimir Sokoloff, and Paul Fix. This is a very good movie that shows a part of the war many people do not know about. Check this one out to see an exciting, well-told, adventure story. Classic Duke!

Back to Bataan: The Last of the
With the end of the Second World War close at hand, Hollywood was taking no chances as it continued to churn out patriotic, flag-waving war movies, most of which featured John Wayne. In BACK TO BATAAN, director Edward Dmytryk does showcase Wayne along with Anthony Quinn as both pay homage to the inspired loyalty of the Philipino men and women who risked their lives to aid the Americans against the Japanese. BACK TO BATAAN is an old-fashioned war film, of the kind that has not been filmed since then. In addition to the heroics of the American leads, it features a sterling cast of slanty-eyed Japanese villains to boo and hiss and stalwart Filipinos to cheer. Phillip Ahn and Richard Loo (both ethnic Chinese) play moustache-twirling Japanese officers who speak fluent if not accented English as they spin out their lines of threats and entreaties backed by more threats. Vladimir Sokoloff, a veteran of scores of films, here plays an unassuming school principal who refuses to haul down the American flag when ordered to do so. He is hanged for that, but his body, cleverly draped by the Stars & Stripes, is an unabashed symbol of solidarity between American and Philipino. Ducky Louie, as the schoolboy Maximo, is equally heroic as one who could not spell 'liberty' correctly but whose death proved that he full well understood its meaning. What BACK TO BATAAN shows is Hollywood's contemporary paen to America that the patriotism that is nowadays derided as colonialistic and left-wing jingoistic was then seen as a necessary adjunct to a war that had the bad guys on one side and us on the other.

A so-so Hollywood war film...
A hearty, but hamfisted, formulaic WWII propaganda film about the liberation of the Phillipine Islands from the Japanese occupation, loosely based on contemporary history. Future McCarthy snitch Edward Dymytrk directs; a handsome young John Wayne is the white guy who organizes the guerilla resistence, and Anthony Quinn is cast in one of his many "ethnic" roles, as the grandson of a legendary Filipino political figure, who is now called upon to lead their people to freedom. Although there's plenty of "good neighbor policy" talk about the nobility and can-do spirit of the Filipino people, this jingoistic, bluntly-scripted film is mostly pretty patronizing... And of course, the "Japs" are just pure, conniving evil. The script is pretty action-packed, though... if you like shoot-em-ups, this is OK, if you don't think too much about it. Really nice B&W cinematography.

Realistic and Innovative Filmmaking
This is an excellent film about Filipino guerillas fighting the Japanese during W.W.II. A highlight of this film is the black and white photography of realistic combat scenes filmed by cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca and directed by Edward Dmytryk. These were exciting and ahead of their time. John Wayne as Colonel Joe Madden and Anthony Quinn as Captain Andres Bonifacio give inspirational performances. The cast also included Beulah Bondi, Richard Loo, Lawrence Tierney, Paul Fix and Vladimir Sokoloff. This is one of my favorite war films of the period. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The lavish 1948 production of Joan of Arc may not qualify as a great movie, but it scores a triumphant victory as a great DVD. Thanks to a stunning restoration by the renowned UCLA Film and Television Archive, this relic from Hollywood's golden age can now be appreciated in all its magnificent Technicolor glory, restored to its original theatrical length of 145 minutes after decades of truncated TV broadcasts. Under the direction of Victor Fleming (whose credits include Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz), this is a stodgily respectable mini-epic, adapted from Maxwell Anderson's acclaimed play Joan of Lorraine and giving 33-year-old Ingrid Bergman one of her quirkiest star turns as the 19-year-old "Maid of Lorraine," destined by divinely inspired fate to rescue imperiled France from British occupation, and face trial on charges of witchcraft. Winner of three Oscars (for cinematography and costumes, and an honorary award to Producer Walter Wanger for boosting Hollywood's "moral stature") and five nominations (including acting nods for Bergman and José Ferrer, making his screen debut as the French Dauphin), the film suffers from an abundance of talky exposition and stage-bound incident, but the battle scenes are still rousing, Bergman glowing beatifically in polished armor and surrounded by a seasoned cast of studio-era character players in a rampant case of Hollywood anachronism (somehow, Ward Bond just doesn't belong in medieval France!). If you get bored during the slow parts, you can always marvel at the pristine restoration, full of heavenly sunbeams, masterful matte paintings, and enough colorful detail to make most 1948-vintage films pale by comparison. Frame by gorgeous frame, martyrdom never had a classier showcase. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A SUPERB REMASTERED ORIGINAL AND UNCUT!!!
For those who own or who have seen the "butchered" version of this 1948 classic, RUN, don't WALK to your nearest video store and get the newly restored, uncut version!!!

The art of film preservation has done a SPECTACULAR JOB on all counts!! The film is in its original 146 minute version and will disappoint no one. As one of the other reviews mentioned, this is THEEEE Joan of Arc movie of ALL Joan of Arc movies. No one can surpass Ingrid Bergman in her portrayal. This is the way movies were meant to be made.

Victor Fleming, who directed Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, directed this with equal finesse and this ranks among his finest work. He died shortly after the film's release. He would be proud to see that, now, with the original restored version, it has withstood the test of time just like "Wind" and "Oz".

The performances are stellar, the battle scenes terrific, the musical score outstanding and the cinematography in GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR is unbelievable!!! This is film preservation at its very best, Hollywood movie making at its best!!!

Trust me....would that all films would have the happy ending of restoration and uncutting as this one has!!!

This is a true classic and I'd give it 20, 30 or 1000 stars!!!!!
They don't get much better than this!

The real thing!
If you have been disappointed by the 100 minute video of JOAN OF ARC in the past, you will be delighted with this original version. This is the same version that I saw in 1949, immaculate and with nothing added or subtracted.

Anyone who knows anything about Saint Joan of Arc is deeply disappointed by the 100 minute video version which cut many parts essential to understanding Joan's complicated story. The full length version fills us in on the historical background through clever dialogue, portrays faithfully scenes from the trial in Joan's own words and best of all draws us in to the exciting, courageous and saintly life of one of history's unique figures. The brilliant colors and exquisite costumes make the film a visual feast! Ingrid Bergman's captivating performance reflects the profound affection that the actrice felt for Saint Joan.

Beautiful Epic, Finally Available at Last!!!
First of all, let me begin by saying this is not "A" Joan of Arc movie, this is "THE" Joan of Arc movie--unexcelled and unsurpassed by any movie made before it or since. Millions of dollars and painstaking attention to detail were invested in this grand epic to ensure that it was truthful and true-to-life down to the minutest detail. The events, clothes, and portrayals were all garnered from the the current records and historians of the day (for example, we have the entire transcript of Joan's trial). Ingrid Bergman dutifully and extensively studied St. Joan in an attempt to accurately capture her mulit-dimentional personality--unlike modern portrayals which are either inconsistent with the historical records (showing Joan to be crazy) or flat, wooden, one-dimensional portrayals.
Fans of this movie will shudder to know that the studio almost destroyed this great film by butchering it to death. It was a misguided attempt to get more people to come to the theater to see it. There was nothing wrong with the film in it's original incarnation. It simply was released at a time when Ingrid Bergman was unpopular in the American press due to things in her personal life. The studio's cutting and re-editing of this film almost caused us to lose it in its original form for all time. Prints had to be brought in from overseas to restore it.
I know I've been waiting for years for this great classic to be restored and re-released and I'm finally glad it has been.

Restored epic tells Joan's story sincerely, honestly
This DVD hasn't been released yet, but from the details that are supplied it looks to be the complete theatrical roadshow version that has been unavailable in the US, at least, for 35 years or longer (I have faint memories of seeing this on TV, in two parts, in the Sixties). Finally! I understand that this has involved a major film restoration project and will hope that the technical results have been worth it, since this is the best English-language Joan of Arc film to have been made, still. (More recent films have been marred by slipshod performances, weak scripts, and dubious historical accuracy at best.) This movie has been previously released on home video in a criminally butchered 100-minute version and even that is long out of print.

This important movie belongs in the collection of anyone with a serious interest in learning something about the life and career of Jeanne d'Arc.

Update, May 21, 2004: The DVD is available now; I have viewed about half of this so far and can report that it is a spectacular job of film restoration. The colors are vivid and distinct, the image sharp, and the soundtrack clear and distinct even in its monophonic mix. This 56-year old Technicolor movie looks like it was released last week. All the fantastic detail work in the backgrounds, costumes, and matte paintings is clearly visible and Ingrid glows more beatifically than ever before. (She may not be the definitive screen Joan, but she was certainly one of the most sincere in her approach.) The DVD includes no special features but a box insert briefly describes the history of the film's production and restoration. A superb job for this deserving epic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good railroad western has a top cast
One of Alan Ladd's first starring films is this good detective western as the title character who is a railroad investigator assigned to solve the mystery of a rash of train robberies. Luke "Whispering" Smith meets up with old friend Murray Sinclaire [Robert Preston], a railroad employee whose fine ranch and well-to-do lifestyle are not in accord with his workman's salary. Railroad executive George McCloud [John Eldredge] suspects Sinclaire of wrong-doing but can't prove anything until Sinclaire is caught red-handed looting a wrecked train, and is terminated from the railroad on the spot. Sinclaire is now free to rob and plunder trains as part of a gang led by mastermind Barney Rebstock [Donald Crisp]. With Smith closing in on Sinclaire, the two erstwhile friends square off in a showdown at Sinclaire's ranch in the last reel. There is a romantic triangle of sorts involving Smith, Sinclaire and his wife, Marian. Brenda Marshall has a touching, feminine role as Sinclaire's unhappy wife who was Smith's sweetheart at one time and still carries a torch for him. Ray Rennehan's camera and Adolph Deutsch's music top off a first-rate production.

ONE OF THE BEST RAILROAD WESTERNS
Not just a western, but this is one of the better RAILROAD westerns--there's a lot of us train nuts out here. This film shows a vanished way of life on the American railroad that held true for over 100 years. The power of the railroad, the comradory, wreck trains, roundhouses, etc.

Not only that, but for a 1948 release it's also in COLOR--jeesh not even 1976's SILVER STREAK is out on DVD!!!

You get to see all those 4-4-0 Americans seen in Cecil B.'s UNION PACIFIC--only in COLOR and, get this, Robert Preston is the heavy in this film just as he was in UP!!! Ooh he's a mean one here too.

A good price, hopefully an equally good scan (the scan on Jimmy Stewart's NIGHT PASSAGE was a bit dark; in any even you CAN'T go wrong here!!!

Now if they'll only release DENVER & RIO GRANDE over at Paramount!!!

Alan Ladd's WHISPERING SMITH at last!
Although I write this "review" weeks in advance of the release on DVD of "Whispering Smith," there is, I think, the need to acknowledge this significant release before the event. Certainly after his magnificent "Shane" Alan Ladd's "Whispering Smith" deserves greater familiarity and exposure. It's a superb western, with some excellent acting, good production values, and well worth viewing. I am unaware that it ever showed up on VHS; but now that Universal intends to release it on DVD, moviegoers and western fans can enjoy it in their homes. Thanks, again, to Universal for this release. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The shadow of World War II falls over this stateside film noir thrillerabout a GI paratrooper (Humphrey Bogart) who trails his AWOL war buddy to atreacherous city populated by gamblers, goons, pug cops, and the smoky,suspicious Lizabeth Scott, a seductive femme who may be fatale. Bogie's tightlipped, war hardened intensity dominates the B roster of supporting actors(Morris Carnovsky as a finicky nightclub owner with a gambling sideline, MarvinMiller as his brutal baby-faced thug) and the plot echoes with elements ofearlier Bogie classics The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon recaston a low budget. Scott is, for all her fog-voiced sultriness, no Lauren Bacall,but her mannered performance is appropriately ambiguous and the film's cynicaledge, ruthless desperation, and tarnished view of small-time hoodlums with bigdreams casts a darker shadow unique to Hollywood's postwar funk. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Gulf City noir not quite steamy enough
Lizabeth Scott, whose brief candle of a career flared all but exclusively in film noir, was obviously being groomed as the B-list Betty Bacall. Looks, hair, even the husky contralto are the same; was the pairing with Bogie supposed to complete the identification and capitalize on that team's success in The Big Sleep, etc.? John Cromwell, later to do such atmospheric work in Caged, dozed at the switch here. Bogart, not on best form, takes a stab at the disillusioned returning vet so prevalent in these post-war nightmares; he's tracking down a war buddy gone missing. Though the movie spills over with images and contrivances from this dark genre, most of them lack conviction. There's one eye-popping scene, so bad it verges on greatness, when Scott, as shantoozie Coral Chandler (aka Dusty, aka "Mike") starts singing a forgettable love song while seated at her nightclub table, spotlight and all. And Scott's character (she is, after all, the deadly female of the piece) betrays careless development -- as though two possible endings were under consideration -- making the film's denouement oddly unsatisfactory.

The Smell of Night Blooming Jasmine
A lot of reviewers are prejudiced against this film because it stars beautiful and sultry Lizabeth Scott instead of the familiar Bacall. They are wrong. Scott is terrific and this is one of Bogarts best films, full of atmosphere and crisp dialog. Bogart comes to Gulf City to clear his Army buddy's name and gets tangeled up with the beautiful Lizabeth Scott in a town where nothing is on the up and up.

There is some truly origional banter between Bogart and Scott. A wonderful scene has Bogart explaining to Scott how women should be kept in a mans pocket, taken out only when needed. They are driving in a convertible with the wind blowing Scott's long blonde hair and when she laughs at this idea we can tell something is going on inside for both of them.

There is a subtle noir atmosphere all the way through this film. Scott wears perfume that smells like night blooming jasmine. Bogart is sitting next to the window of his hotel room deep into the mystery and catches the scent drifting in the wind, not sure if Scott is around or if it's just the bushes outside. The whole film is like that.

There are other great scenes, like Scott standing in the rain at night, her fate being decided in that moment. This is a marvelous film and it doesn't lessen the Bogart & Bacall films to say that Bogart & Scott made a great team also. It is a shame they did not get a chance to make another one together. I strongly suggest a trip to Gulf City to find out just how spectacular they were together on the big screen.....

With a name like Rip Murdoch how can you go wrong?
I watched this flick back to back with "The Maltese Falcon", and I must say, "Dead Reckoning" was MUCH more enjoyable. Outside of Bogey's inherent coolness, there wasn't much else in "The Maltese Falcon" to hold my interest. "Dead Reckoning" was much grittier, and I think, much more true to the essence of film noir. To top it off, you get lots of colorful banter and the sultry Lizabeth Scott!

Dead Quality
It pains me to see quality classics destroyed by garbage studios such as Columbia Tristar. They release horrible reproductions of your favorite classics only to re-release them one year later as a special edition. Do you think if write Santa this Christmas I might be able to get a widescreen release of this film or one with a better picture. The pigs at Warner are infamous for crappy reproductions. Is it time to feed the pigs more money and buy this release? No way, get yourself a good DVD decryption program, rent this DVD, and copy it! Thank GOD for piracy, the studios have been ripping off the consumer for years and now it's time to fight back! Also download the lastest movie release's off your favorite newsgroup.It's time to send the studios a meesage. Hail Criterion for there restoration work on some of my favorite films. The films from Criterion are worth every penny you pay for them!

Cheap ...
As a Humphrey Bogart fan, it pains me to say this movie was horrible. It is missing something throughtout the film, and it's hard to say what. I wasn't expecting Casablanca or the Big Sleep, but I clearly was disappointed and wanted to turn the movie off several times throughout the film. In general Bogie is the only actor you'll know int his film, or care to know. The plot was almost uninteresting, and never really develops. This movie definately could have used a Lauren Bacall, Edward G Robinson, Peter Lorre, or someone else.. Also, there are some lines at the end that are word-for-word out of Maltese Falcon, which shows this films desperation to be a classic, but it's far from it ! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Humphrey Bogart is at his villainous best in William Wyler's taut home-invasion thriller, The Desperate Hours. Sharply adapted by John Hayes from his own fact-based novel and Broadway play, this marked a slight departure for Wyler, whose celebrated versatility is on ready display as Bogart--leading a panicky trio of escaped convicts--seizes control of a suburban family in the (dis)comfort of their own home. The domestic terror (similarly dramatized in the 1954 potboiler Suddenly) escalates as cautious patriarch Frederic March waits for an opportunity to retaliate, while the police (led by Arthur Kennedy) close in for an ambush. Viewers may recognize the home's exterior from TV's Leave It to Beaver, while its interior gives Wyler a sealed chamber for nail-biting advances and setbacks--and Bogey was rarely better at portraying ruthless, unpredictable menace. Poorly remade in 1990, The Desperate Hours remains a potent precursor to the many similar films (like Panic Room) that followed its enduring example. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Top-drawer thriller from Hollywood's 'golden age'
THE DESPERATE HOURS (USA 1955): The patriarch of a middle-class suburban family (Fredric March) is forced to take action when they're held hostage in their own home by three escaped convicts, one of whom (Humphrey Bogart) is an experienced lifer with nothing to lose...

The first and only pairing of superstars Bogart and March is a tightly-wound thriller, written by Joseph Hayes (based on his novel and stageplay, inspired by actual events), and directed by Hollywood veteran William Wyler, distancing himself from the 'women's pictures' he had helped to popularize during the 1940's (THE LITTLE FOXES, MRS. MINIVER, THE HEIRESS etc.). Photographed in gleaming deep-focus VistaVision by Lee Garmes (SCARFACE, THE PARADINE CASE), the movie wrings incredible tension from the claustrophobic settings and frequent stand-offs between staunch family man March and embittered con Bogart. The movie's themes are fairly conservative and the outcome is never really in doubt, but this is a top-drawer thriller from Hollywood's 'golden age'. Also starring Arthur Kennedy, Martha Scott, Dewey Martin and Gig Young in crucial supporting roles. Unmissable.

The movie runs 112m 25s on Paramount's region 1 DVD, and the image is letterboxed at approx. 1.85:1 (anamorphically enhanced), the recommended aspect ratio of most VistaVision movies. The beautiful black and white photography is supported by a strong Dolby 2.0 mono soundtrack, and the disc contains English captions and subtitles. There are no extras, not even a trailer.

NB. Though nowhere near as dreadful as most critics would have you believe, Michael Cimino's remake DESPERATE HOURS (1990) isn't a patch on the original.

SUPERB THRILLER
William Wyler directs Humphrey Bogart in the super tense thriller THE DESPERATE HOURS. Three on the lam thugs invade a heartland American home and hold a family hostage. Everyone seeks survival and an ordinary dad (Frederick March) puts his life on the line for his family. Bogie at his very best as a snarling, deadly con. Heartstopping showdown. Unforgettable climax. You'll hold your breath and bite your nails. This is one to own. See what great filmmaking and storytelling is all about.

Don't confuse this with the pallid 1990 remake starring Mickey Rourke, directed by Michael Cimino.

Simply Amazing
With all the thrillers, i've watched till date, The Desperate Hour is truely the king of them all. Humprey Bogart rocks in this movie and while March plans to protect his family with the unloaded gun, the tension grips high times. This is a classic that need to be in every movie collectors shelves.

Only a 50's paranoia
I am such a fan of Bogie and Wyler, but although the production is impeccable, the screenplay is so boring, and the typical "happy 50's family" is so square, that I was begging at the end of this feature, "C'mon Bogie, kill'em all! Kill'em all!".Unfortunately, he didn't.

Filmed In DesperationVision
Boring, boring, boring ...

That's really all that can be said for this William Wyler "thriller." While the performances of all of the principles (with the notable exception of Humphrey Bogart) are almost laughably unconvincing, even Bogart's magic isn't enough to elevate this drama filmed in DesperationVision to anything above passable ... yes, even for cinema's golden years.

Perhaps if they had given Bogey more screen time, I might feel different, but, that fact aside, HOURS plays out like hours ... upon hours ... upon hours ... upon hours ...

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ..... ... Read more

Reviews (9)

why have to tell lie?
well i bought it at the mall store. it said it has closed captioned on it back then i started to on my dvd on tv and didn't apear at all just blank. you know that i am deaf guy i can't hear at all. you got that. huh just let me know here my e-mail address is cecilo57@webtv.net.

Good Ol' Coop and his Swamp Fox
For Gary Cooper fans, this is an above average flick. It's not in the same class as The Westerner or Sgt York, but it has plenty of suspense and action. It also has one of the hottest leading ladies I've ever seen! Apparently some hotshot must have married her (Mari Aldon) and cut short her career because this seems to be her only lead role. As for Coop, he's in fine shape-ok, a little past his prime, but still handsome and tough. His entrance scene is a great shot showing what a Golden Age movie star ought to look like.

After attacking and destroying the Seminole Indians arms cache (Florida circa 1840) most of the movie concerns the small band of soldiers led by Cooper being chased through the Everglades by some seriously fearsome Seminoles. In a way, it's a chase movie, and the retreating group is in a situation of convincing danger. Therein lies the heroic nature of a Gary Cooper character in his adventure films: he is a formidable opponent, but he can be killed. He is not the superhuman as Clint Eastwood often is, or even John Wayne. You get the feeling that he may not make it to the end of the movie. However, he is the kind of man you would put your faith in and follow just about anywhere. Coop seems to be enjoying himself in the film and looks like he's doing many of his own stunts. The climactic and imaginative underwater knife duel is well done and caps the tension of the story. I have to admit, the movie started a bit slow for me, but I continued watching and was pleasantly rewarded. For a younger Gary Cooper, and more violent film, I would recommend The Real Glory, but this is a harder to find movie than Distant Drum. One bit of criticism is, as usual, with the quality of the print. It's not terrible, but it is faded somewhat. I give it four stars because of the action and suspense, Cooper's lively performance, and Miss Aldon is HOT!

Hollywood Screws the Native Americans - Again
This Movie (like all Hollywood Movies involving Native Americans) is a JOKE! How can one not see the terrible stereotyping of the Native Americans? Oh yeah I guess stupid and senseless people dont see the racist stereotyping.

As a Seminole/Creek Native American (yes - born and raised on the Seminole Reservation) I can attest that the only thing the film got right was some of the Seminole Regalia (clothing). And even then it got the feathers, face paint, and weapons wrong.

And there was no such thing as the "Indian Princess" in our Tribe much less any other tribe. The only "Indian Princesses" are the ones today that are part of the White Man's Beauty Pagents - which have sadly taken hold in the Native American Culture.

The Seminoles did not ask the White Man to push him into Florida and did not ask the White Man to try and control him either. And as far as rescuing the Women or even the Slaves - what another joke. Documented History from so called "captives" have proven that Slaves avoided the White Man and any concept of rescue and stayed with the Seminoles and became part of the Tribe. History also documents that many White so called "captives" chose to stay with the Seminoles and refused "rescue." And this is not made up - check the stories of so called "captives" themselves as many have been told and even published.

But I did give it one star. At least it took place in Seminole Country and some of the Clothing for the Seminoles is correct. Everything else is a joke and bad history.

One of the worst films I've ever seen
This is maybe the worst film I've ever seen. The indians are evil beasts who,among other horrible things, throw some soldiers into a basin with crocodiles in.
Gary Cooper and his soldiers are innocent people who are just trying to defence themselves: Is that a realistic story?
I was disappointed of Cooper, I'd never thought he would be starring in such a film.
I'd never recommend that picture to anybody

"Distant Drums" - an eastern Western
In a previous review, dgraeter seems to have covered most of the bases and I agree wholeheartedly. I loved "Distant Drums" as a kid and it's just as good today, remaining a fine actioner set in a lush and novel setting - Florida pre-Civil War and pre-tourist! Having lived not 30 miles from location filming, I appreciate the scenery, birds, etc. even more today than as a child.

Cooper is fine as Quincy Wyatt, quiet yet exuding strength and purpose. The rest of the cast is admirable in a shoot that must have been trying under the best of conditions.

As far as supporting actors go, check out Sheb Wooley as Private Jessup in his first appearance with Gary Cooper. His next would be in "High Noon" as Ben Miller.

Action, adventure, plot, Seminoles, ladies in distress, heroism, alligators, tropical birds, underwater photography (I read somewhere that a special underwater camera was developed just to film the fight scene between Cooper and the Seminole chief)...if there's anything more to ask from a movie, I'm stumped.

Check out "Distant Drums." You won't regret it! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Deserves a viewing
Although The Men was Marlon Brando's first movie, all the elements of his acting style were in place for the viewers to see. The supporting cast is effective, particularly a young Jack Webb, who shows an acting range beyond that seen in his most famous role as Sgt. Joe Friday in the TV series Dragnet.
A Streetcar Named Desire may have made Brando a movie star, but The Men put him on the map.

Who says sequels suck?
As the sequel to Man, this is an awe inspiring film that introduced audiences to black and white film although the film takes place in a post apocalyptic 1989 where robotic spiders, demonic apes and serial killers with amnesia rule the world. Frightening yet inspiring. Look out Citizen Kane, i think i found a new favorite film that involves robotic spiders.

Brando's first film!
Marlon Brando's performance alone makes the movie worth watching. His sensitivity to the character's pain is so visible that it's just touching to see. It's a great start to the unforgetable legend's film career. I really enjoyed it simply because of Brando. So if you don't particually care for him, then it's not really worth it.

Exemplary civic lecture.
There is a marvellous, under-rated comedy from the 1960s called 'Bedtime Story', in which Marlon Brando plays a novice thief who tries to upstage master conman David Niven. In this film, Brando devastatingly burlesques his role in 'The Men', making it difficult to watch that film with a straight face. The fact that endless parodies of Stanley Kowalski or Terry Molloy haven't blunted the power of 'a Streetcar named desire' or 'On the Waterfront' suggests there was alredy something wrong with 'The Men'. If you know the film was produced by Stanley Kramer, you will understand what that might be.

'The Men' is the 'cinematic' equivalent of a disease-of-the-week TV movie, in which a group of 'freaks' is paraded for the sympathetic delectation of a 'normal' audience; where any attempt to understand character, or the repressive culture that produced the social attitudes marginalising the disabled, is replaced by stern lectures and intellectually deadening experiments and facts. Brando does what he can, but, as he implied in 'Bedtime Story', perhaps the only genuine reaction is to laugh.

Brando's First Film
Fred Zinnemann finally came up with a script that Marlon Brando liked enough to leave the stage and head for Hollywood. And the rest is history. That script turned out to be The Men. Brando is Bud, a parapoliegic shot in WWII and recovering in a veterans hospital. Unfortunatly there is no hope for Bud ever walking again, a fact he refuses to except. This movie is an interesting character study. Brando shows here why he would become the most influential actor of the last half century. He briliantly depicts a man at tremendous odds with himself. The supporting cast of characters, Teresa Wright(Bud's love interest), the doctors, and the men in the hospital, are well cast. Fans of character driven dramas and Brando fans should get a kick out of this film. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Bell Tolls for Captain Midnight....
Dave O'Brien leaps into battle against evildoers as the famous radio adventurer Captain Midnight. Midnight seeks to protect a scientist and his daughter from invention-stealing bad guys out to wreck America's defense effort. The bad guys, lead by Ivan Shark and his daughter Fury, stoop to new lows as they battle the Captain and plot to destroy our war effort.

O'Brien fills the role of Midnight well, despite looking and sounding a bit like a young Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman from "The Six Million Dollar Man").

Dorothy Short as the scientist's daughter, Joyce Edwards, is mostly suitable as a sort of love interest for Midnight, but mostly useless in every other capacity. She brings the helpless-girl-who-gets-in-trouble-in-almost-every-chapter to heights never dreamed of by Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in the classic Superman TV series. Short's continual screaming and helpless antics drag the serial down a bit. Far better (and a better choice for the Joyce character!), is the evil daughter of Ivan Shark, Fury, played by Luana Walters.

Joseph W. Girard plays the gruff but concerned Major Steele, who lets Cap walk all over him (apparently, in Midnight's army, being a "mystery man" means a captain outranks his commanding officer). Guy Wilkerson and Sam Edwards lend a hand as Captain Midnight's pals, who, like Captain Midnight and all the crooks, share the strange inabillity to retain their firearms when they get their foes cornered.

Ivan Shark, played by James Craven, is a great villain. He is a master of disguise, and has a fabulous secret lair. Several things fail Craven however, as his personal "Arab" outfit to hide his features is discarded about half-way through the story. Also dropped is the gang members going by numbers and not names. Worst of all, Shark's purpose and motivation for trying to wreck America's defense plants is never very clearly explained. As he sneers his evil way through confrontations with Midnight, all the while operating his dubious death traps, there never seems to be any connection with the Germans or Japanese, an element that would have added to the believability of Shark as an anti-American fifth-columnist villian.

One gets the sense that this serial (released in early 1942) had originally been more about a gang of rogue, criminal aviators who are after the scientist's new bombsight to serve their own ends. That would make sense, seeing as how the oft mentioned but never seen defense plant attacks were probably incorporated into the story post-Pearl Harbor.

The serial is pretty good overall, with moderately suspenseful cliffhangers and some good tricks, secret hideouts, and fights. It's probably two or three chapter too long, though, and things can get a bit tedious after a while. Probably Columbia's best effort, but it's no Republic serial, for sure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the most vital of all film noir pictures, Gun Crazy has more cinematic gusto and sexual heat than almost any movie of its time. It's a variation on the Bonnie and Clyde story, but with a bizarre set-up:firearms enthusiasts John Dall and Peggy Cummins (neither of whom were ever this wild again) meet as sharpshooters in a carnival, then turn to crime. The direction, by Joseph H. Lewis, is like a spray of hot lead from a gun barrel, capped by an amazing sequence--shot in one long take--of a bank robbery seen from the backseat of the getaway car. (Billy Wilder himself called up Lewis to find out how he did it.) If most film noirs trace the anxieties of postwar America, Gun Crazy goes directly to sheer madness. Trivia note: the film had a title change, to Deadly Is the Female, for its original release, whereupon it was changed back. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Description

Carrie's dreams of adventure in the big city are quickly squashed as she discovers all that awaits her there is a bleak life of grueling and poorly-paid factory work. That is, until a traveling salesman named Drouet steps into her life and changes her outlook. Breaking all the rules of morality at the time, Carrie moves in with him and at first she's content, but when Drouet introduces her to the wealthy and married Hurstwood, who manages a restaurant, Carrie instantly sizes up the difference between the two men and discovers she's falling for him. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Interesting adaptation
I notice many of the other reviewers lamenting that this film adaptation of Dreiser's novel is not as good as the book itself. Of course it isn't, but that doesn't mean there isn't considerable merit in this film. Naturally there are considerable differences between the book and the movie, but that is inevitable in any screen translation.

The performances are uniformly good. Jennifer Jones was hardly considered an outstanding actress, but she's well cast here in the role of a passive, timid and one-dimensional Carrie. The ambitious side of Carrie in the novel is muted a bit for the screen. Olivier is exceptional in the lead character and his disintegration from rich restaurant manager to skid row bum is masterful. Perhaps the most overlooked performance is that of Eddie Albert, cast as Carrie's first lover. Albert is exceptional and most resembles the original character in Dreiser's book.

The ending will have you reaching for your handkerchief's, so be forewarned. For anyone who has not read Dreiser's novel, you will be prompted to lay hands on the book as soon as this film is concluded. Recommended viewing.

Good, But Could Have Been Better
If you are a fan of Laurence Olivier, then you should definitely see this movie. The beautiful Jennifer Jones is an adequate, if uninspired, Carrie--hampered partly by production codes that took too much bite out of the character and her overriding drive for happiness. The excellent novel by Theodore Dreiser definitely deserves another shot by Hollywood, but not if it involves the previous reviewer's suggestion of the title character being portrayed by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Miss Leigh has very little talent and plays every one of her characters as if she's on the brink of committing suicide. She ruined the remake of "Washington Square" with her talentless performance, so if "Sister Carrie" is remade, please, Hollywood, don't let Miss Leigh get her hands on this fascinating character from another American Classic!