Looking For Trouble - 1934 **

 

Looking for trouble? Nope, just looking for a decent movie. And it looks like I haven't found one. Spencer Tracy should really know better than to leave himself open to this poor excuse, and Constance Cummings? 'What happened to you??'

It all centres on male, chauvinistic pride. Tracy trying to outdo his girlfriend's boss by outing him as a criminal, but in doing so he ends up in a lot of trouble, and potentially loses his girlfriend. Typical. I just thought the acting fell flat, and the script wasn't very good. I didn't enjoy it.

The Big Shakedown - 1934 ***

 

The Big Shakedown follows pharmacist Jimmy, who desperate to wed his beautiful fiancé Norma as soon as possible gets involved with a gang of dodgy bootleggers headed by wise guy Dutch who latch on to the fact that Jimmy can replicate any pharmaceutical item for half the price. The plan is to get Jimmy to make the products cheaply whilst the gang pocket the difference, but when Norma unknowingly ingests some of the cheaply made product Jimmy has been forced into making during labour, she loses her baby. Jimmy is horrified and seeks vengeance.

Bette Davis does her usual sultry, strong performance here, and does her part well, despite the fact that a lot of these films have very little to offer overall. Enjoyable to a degree.

(HORROR) The Card Player _2004 ***

 

'The Card Player' follows a similar vein to other Argento movies, it's slow but also manages to deliver a scare at the same time which you are only really aware of when the movie is over.

When a British woman is kidnapped, the police unit from Rome are thrown into a terrifying and horrible game of cat and mouse. The kidnapper, known only as 'the card player' taunts the police by playing games with them online. If they can win, the victim goes free, but if they lose, they are subjected to watching the victim's slow death, via webcam. This happens again and again, until a chance meeting with a young boy who is a computer wiz at online playing appears to try to save the day.

It's really quite gruesome, but acted well by Stefania Rocca who seems to put her heart and soul into the part as the investigator desperate not to lose anymore victims. Argento knows how to get under your skin, and then stay there.

Fedora - 1978 ***

 

I'm a bit obsessive about Billy Wilder and this is one of the few famous films of his that I haven't ever seen. Well now I have, and all I can say is it's obvious that this is another portrayal of 'Sunset Boulevard' where a man seeks to visit an aging Hollywood star who has become a recluse because of her own celebrity.

Barry Detweiler is devastated when he finds out that his old flame Fedora has committed suicide, especially since he saw her only 2 weeks ago at her beautiful remote island where she has been living out of the glare of the public. Whilst there, she confided in him that she was being kept a prisoner by a mysterious Polish countess. Barry is rightly concerned and starts trying to track her movements to see why she is being kept there against her will. The results are not expected. I found this movie (with the exception of the first scene) started very slowly, progressed moderately and suddenly towards the end hurtled towards the finish like a sprinter in a race. Suddenly, all the facts are revealed and Barry is exposed to a scandalous secret that exposes what happens when stars want the limelight too much and are willing to ruin lives to get it.

I've always loved William Holden in his earlier days, and it seems so sad that we see him in this film as a washed out, past his best actor compared to his suave and handsome role in 'Sunset Boulevard.'

Still, he does well with the script, manages to be fairly convincing and even tugs at the heart strings a little towards the end.

 

Spider Baby - 1967 ***

 

This is such a bizarre film. It's hard to know whether to laugh hysterically or be utterly freaked out. I know it's turned into a hard to find cult classic now which is fine, and it seems obvious that it set the tone for 'House of 1000 Corpses' which is one of my favourite horrors. It's also got Lon Chaney Jr playing quite a big role, and he is almost unrecognisable.

The Merrye family are the last living descendants of an inbred generation. They also have a genetic condition whereby they become more and more immature the older they get. Oh, and the whole family are crazed cannibals who kill visitors and eat them. Bruno, the family chauffeur has such a fondness for his family that he covers up the ghastly crimes of the two girls Virginia and Elizabeth, especially when greedy relatives appear, desperate to make a quick buck from the family estate. But the truth never stays hidden for long. Especially when you are surrounded by utterly deranged lunatics. Features regularly on the '50 Worst Films Ever Made' lists which tells you something about the quality, but in all seriousness I have seen worse films out at present with even less of a storyline.

Released 3 years after it was made due to the film company going bankrupt. It's almost impossible to find now so when you do find it it's worth savouring it.

Arrowsmith - 1931 ***

 

One can't help but find Ronald Colman utterly charming in whatever film he is appearing in, and here he is heart-breaking as Dr Martin Arrowsmith, a man who strives above anything else to cure people of illness, sometimes forgetting the people in his life that really matter. He marries nurse Leora, and she sadly miscarries their first child, causing her to turn away from being a mother and whole-heartedly supporting Martin instead. Martin is then invited to go to the Caribbean to practice when he hears that there has been an outburst of bubonic plague. Leora accompanies him despite being worried about her own safety, but the outbreak gets worse and worse, and Arrowsmith is temporarily distracted by beautiful Myrna Loy.

It's a very emotional film addressing a difficult and unpleasant topic and Colman plays his part admirably with genteel wit and passion.

Revenge of the Nerds - 1984 ***

 

Gilbert and Lewis are nerds, of that there is no doubt. Initially dismayed when their fraternity house is burnt down they perk up temporarily when they are relocated to a run down building which they decide to redecorate. The Alpha Betas (the pair's opposing gang) are furious that the nerds are making their own rules and enjoying themselves and decide to humiliate them regardless of the consequences. But the nerds are ready this time.

Quite a funny film, goes alongside the typical 1980s jock/nerd type films as well as the consensus in American film that you can only get the girl if you are completely without any character defects whatsoever. Predictable.

Ghost Ship - 1952 ***

 

A moderately amusing 'chiller' although the acting was definitely something to be forgotten as quickly as possible. A young couple purchase an old yacht despite the owner's misgivings about them doing so. When they hear about the yacht's mysterious and ghostly past they don't believe it, until an experience with an apparition which causes them to call a paranormal investigator in to see what is going on. What is uncovered is a strange story of infidelity and blackmail. This film isn't long enough to do what it needs to be properly successful, it starts off so slowly that it only really speeds up properly towards the end and scenes appear rushed. Fortunately I love all this sort of stuff so I wasn't as put off as your average movie goer would've been.

The Uninvited - 1944 ****

 

'The Uninvited' seeks to show us that an atmospheric horror film CAN be made in the 1940s, and it can hold it's audience as captivated now as it did all those years ago.

Ray Milland might not be everyone's idea of a heroic character, but he does such a good job here that you can forgive the casting directors for choosing him.

The scene is a rambling old mansion Windwood, in the same style as Mandalay from 'Rebecca' (in fact, a great many areas of this film bare some similarity to Daphne Du Maurier's classic.

Rick and his sister Pamela are on holiday in Cornwall and immediately fall in love with Windwood house, deciding on the spot to buy it (or rather, Pamela decides and Rick goes along with it.) They purchase it at a very low price from a gentleman who seems to be trying to put them off the sale. They also meet his granddaughter Stella who is devastated that the house has been sold, most notably because it was the home of her late mother Mary.

Rick and Stella become close, and subsequently Stella insists on being allowed back into the house (despite her grandfather's ban on her entering the premises) which leads Rick, Stella, Pamela and the local country doctor into a terrifyingly, supernatural nightmare.

Gail Russell is very sweet as the feisty Stella, and although Ruth Hussey is a pain to start with, she soon becomes endearing as Pamela.

This film is dark, frightening, eerie, romantic and funny all mixed together with an element of fantasy thrown in.

Money Means Nothing 1934 **

 

A very poorly done film, highlighting that Gloria Shea really isn't anything to write home about, and neither is director Christy Cabanne. Wallace Ford is usually in some pretty good stuff, but actually here he is overshadowed by Shea's boorish performance as Julie.

Julie is one of those people who always believes she is right, as well as always wanting everything her own way. When she meets Ken, a delivery driver, she spontaneously starts a relationship with him after getting involved in a hijacking on one of his trucks and marries him soon after, despite reservations from her parents and continuous disapproval from his friends and colleagues. During this time, Ken's boss Herbert is still being subjected to hijackings, and before long, Ken is caught up with the same crowd who hijacked him to start with. Very slow and uneventful.

The Most Dangerous Game - 1932 **

 

'The Most Dangerous Game' is overall a rather weak attempt at suspense. The main characters don't have enough about them to be taken seriously, the main protagonist is laughable, the woman is stereotypically pathetic (preferring to scream and fall over instead of actually helping herself) and Joel McCrea's character is half-hearted at trying to stay alive. This pre-code RKO has been adapted from a book into film, tv, plays and any other medium that you can think of, but it wasn't given enough substance in it's 63 minutes for us to really empathise with anyone.

After Bob Rainsford is marooned on an island after a terrible shipwreck, he comes across the foreboding and menacing Count Zaroff who owns a beautiful chateau (out in the middle of nowhere) and is eager to play the perfect host, especially considering he already has four other guests from a previous sinking.

 The same night, Count Zaroff introduces Bob to his obsession - hunting. But Bob is unaware just how far Count Zaroff is willing to go to fuel his habit.

It sounds like it's going to be amazing but it really isn't. I am aware that films made cheaply like this had to try to make do with what they had, but I found it overall poor. Oh, and in case you are wondering, the most dangerous game is fighting for your life.

The Bad Sister - 1931 **

 

Notably the first film of Bette Davis's career (and it shows!) as well as one of the few to star the beautiful and tragic Sidney Fox, this romantic drama centres around, two sisters, one named Marianne and the other named Laura. Marianne is naïve but manipulative, and when she falls for conman Valentine, he convinces her to sign over her father's money, a move which leaves everyone devastated. The real distress however is when Valentine marries Marianne and then abandons her on their wedding night, leaving her in such a state that she comes crawling back to her ex lover. Valentine isn't done yet however, and soon reappears, and turns his attentions to Laura.

Not a particularly strong film, but one that fans of Davis should be aware of.

Bette Davis was apparently so devastated by her performance in this film that she left the screening early and cried all the way home, what a contrast to the gutsy, feisty woman she turned into in later years. If only she had known how popular she would become.

Divorce Invitation - 2013 **

 

I'm afraid this film led me off on a bit of a rant about sexist men.

Mike has everything, a beautiful and devoted wife Dylan and a child on the way. But can he resist when an old 'friend', the coincidentally stunning Alex comes back into town and catches his eye? No, of course not, because that would mean a man in a Hollywood movie having morals and not giving in to temptation, and where would be the fun in that? Added, to which, Alex is the 'one who got away' which makes it even more interesting.

Mike then has an awful dilemma: he wants to divorce his wife and get with Alex immediately (nothing like a long term partnership) but he has signed a pre-nuptial agreement which states that if he wants a divorce he must throw a 'divorce party' and invite all the guests he invited to his original wedding. Will he do it?

I know it's only a film, but films are there to make us think, and I found Mike's behaviour of both women pretty shoddy. He dithers about, not really being sure of what he wants, terrified that he's let a supermodel-type woman go in favour of the 'comfortable' family life many people would kill for. He's exceedingly selfish and unlikeable, seemingly unaware of his moral responsibilities as a husband and a father-to-be and in my opinion both women could do much better than him.

 

Best Laid Plans - 1999 ***

 

I'll be the first to admit that I didn't really understand the plot of this film, I appear to have missed a couple of crucial scenes out (I was in and out of the room) so I'm behind on what actually happened.

Lissa is a supposedly sweet girl picks up a man in a bar one night. Afterwards, she changes and starts to blackmail the man she's had a one night stand with of being with an underage girl. He in turn gets his old friend involved who isn't all he seems.

I think actually the premise of this was good, and it's probably a film that warrants a second viewing, mainly so that some of the confusing parts can be resolved, but it would be unfair of me to say much more given that I didn't have my attention 100% on the film at the time.

Child of Manhattan - 1933 ***

 

Nancy Carroll is just the sweetest thing ever, and you can't help but be drawn to her every time she is on the screen. When dancer Madeleine meets rich playboy Paul, she immediately falls for him, even going so far as to give up her job to live as a kept woman. But things go downhill when she falls pregnant and Paul insists that they marry for social reasons. Madeleine is by now convinced that he doesn't really love her and is only with her for the sake of the baby, so decides to get a divorce in Mexico, a move that doesn't go down at all well with Paul.

Enjoyable and daring for it's time. Worth a watch for cutie Carroll.

Jimmy the Gent - 1934 ***

 

Such a strange thing to watch Jimmy Cagney being hilarious and acting completely over the top in a film. I'm so used to seeing him as the 'White Heat' type gangster, instead of an almost comedic villain who drinks too much tea, walks like he needs the toilet and throws rocks through his glass door whenever the mood takes him. It shows how much his characterisation of 'James Cagney' has changed throughout his years as an actor.

When Joan Martin decides she can't work for con man Jimmy Corrigan because of how unethical his business is, she goes to work for the opposition, creating a rift that offends Jimmy no end. All he wants to do is find the heirs to wealthy people who have died and left a lot of money (and if he can't find them, well.. he just poses his friend as the 'heir' to the fortune instead) but in doing so he has alienated his one chance at supposed love in Joan. Well Jimmy isn't going to let that stop him, and sets out to become an upstanding member of the community to win her back.. inevitably with a few complications!

Amusing little gem, one scene in particular made me laugh out loud, and Bette Davis was suitably demure and sultry as his love interest. Enjoyable.

Manhattan Tower - 1932 ***

 

Who would know that the lives of a variety of office workers in a Manhattan office block would be so interesting? Mary and Jimmy are keen to get married, but unfortunately they don't have the money to do so, so Mary asks her dodgy, womanising boss what he thinks she should do. He suggests that she invest all her savings and give them to him to do so, without her knowing that he is paying off debts after losing his own and his wife's money on the stock market. At the same time, his wife wants a divorce to marry his best friend which he won't agree to unless she pays him to keep it away from the newspapers. It's a bit of a farcical situation, but I actually really enjoyed it, and thought Mary Brian was a little cutie.

(NOIR) Pushover - 1954 **

 

What a strange film. Neither MacMurray nor Novak seem to be giving their all here, and it's a bit half-hearted with a barely noticeable amount of chemistry.

Paul is a cop assigned to trace a dodgy villain who has stolen a lot of money. On trying to do so, he meets the girlfriend of the robber, and things start to get 'steamy.' Lona tries to pull a 'Double Indemnity' type double cross by asking Paul to murder her boyfriend so they can make off together with the loot, but if he does this he first has to trick his boss and colleagues.

Just a bit of a jumble that I didn't think much of. I've seen better performances from both MacMurray and Novak.  

Ladies of Leisure - 1930 ***

 

Supposedly the film that really made people sit up and take notice of Barbara Stanwyck, this slow burner had a passionate end, and some rather funny moments which made me smile.

Wealthy artist Jerry escapes from a bawdy party and comes across headstrong Kay, whom he asks to pose for him, despite being aware that she is a call girl of sorts. Before long she has fallen for Jerry, and when his parents intervene to stop them being together, Kay must decide whether she is doing the right thing staying with the 'only man she has ever loved.'

I don't know what happened to Stanwyck, because at the beginning she was quiet and rather unassuming, but then, half way through the film she suddenly comes to life and delivers a series of heart-breaking scenes that almost bring a tear to your eye. Supposedly Frank Capra wasn't initially pleased at having her as the lead because she acted like she didn't want the part, and it was only after seeing her audition tape for an earlier production that he fell for her hook, line and sinker. You can see why.

 

Gambling House - 1950 *

 

The way the poster screams 'MATURE' at you might make you believe that the film is going to be fast paced and well acted. But sadly no. I found this to be incredibly disappointing with downright shoddy acting and a ridiculously wooden storyline. The characters were utterly 2 dimensional and there didn't seem much point to anything that was happening. Terry Moore, instead of being a 'femme fatale' type character, was just a bloody pain, and although Victor Mature had all the charm and charisma of a lump of dough with one fixed facial expression it did make you wonder how he put up with her.

Eight O'Clock Walk - 1954 ****

What is poor Tom supposed to do when he finds himself at the centre of a child murder case after being the last person to see a young girl on his way to work? No one seems to believe him when he says that he was led onto an abandoned wasteland by the girl as a prank and soon after she was murdered. It's a nightmarish scenario where there is no alibi to cover you, and no way to prove that you are telling the truth. The only hope is that there is a way to prove that someone else is lying.
Richard Attenborough plays just the right amount of good, without being mushy or over the top, and it's a rather painful process to watch as his wife, desperate to prove his innocence hires a barrister who ends up prosecuting against his own attorney father in the trial.
I liked this a lot, especially as it's one of those films where every second of viewing is important in case you miss anything.
A pretty decent attempt at a crime film.