smudge

Managed to fit some actual viewing in this weekend !

MARILYN (aka ROADHOUSE GIRL)

Courtesy of our own Mr. Batman (thanks Bats !) this is probably the best Maxwell Reed film I have seen so far. Max falls foul of the infernal eternal triangle when he falls for his new boss' wife at the garage where he works. Her husband is much older and rather domineering. She, on the other hand, longs for the bright lights and sophistication of London society rather than a garage out in the sticks.

She soon falls for our Max (despite his seriously dodgy DA !) and when her husband arrives home unexpectedly, and the worse for drink, Max inadvertently kills him after one of his boorish attacks on his wife.

In the classic noir construction things turnabout after the inquest and inheritance, and the wife's selfishness comes to the fore - shunning Max for the attractions of loaded lothario Ferdy Mayne (cast wonderfully to type here). Of course, it all ends in tears and policemen.

Great performances from Max and Sandra Dorne in the leads, ably supported by Leslie Dwyer and Vida Hope. Good noir atmosphere leading up to the killing and some nice directorial touches from Wolf Rilla make this one worth seeking out. One singular mirror shot stands out when Max and Sandra are alone together - very nicely done.

BICYCLETTES DE BELSIZE

A quirky musical short from the 60s which fully exploits its setting in Hampstead village. Certainly a product of its time - very 'swinging'. Nice for a bit of supporting player spotting. Pleasant and 'retro'.

TOUCH AND GO

One of the four films at the tail end of Ealing's comedies, starring Jack Hawkins, Margaret Johnston and the lovely June Thorburn. This film, about a frustrated designer who throws in his job and unilaterally decides to leave for a better life in Australia, never really seems to get going, and certainly doesn't go anywhere by the (predictable) denouement.

All of the cast give reliable performances, as one would expect, and June looks scrumptious in her ballgown. Nice support from Roland Culver as the neighbour, but with a single strand principal plot and just a couple of very minor sub-plots, you can't help but wonder why this was made at all.

Perhaps William Rose was just seeing out his contract ? He had certainly had better days than this piece of fluff and nonsense... Notable only for early appearances by (Sir) Alfred Burke and Liz Fraser (billed as Elizabeth Winch).

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

foha80

This was a great purchase and | reccommend it to anyone with a interest in this period of history
Always informative,sometimes touching and sometimes hilarious.The 'Make Do And Mend Film" almost did for me.

Terry

Rob Compton

I do so agree, Terry - these films are really fascinating and thoroughly recommended if you are interested in this period.

rgds
Rob

ChristineCB

Smudge, thanks for the reviews. Despite my best efforts to avoid them, these are the opinions that force me into longer wish-lists for books and DVDs.

batman

Thanks for the name check but I have to thank Aphra for being the original purveyor of this great little film. I can't add anything to Smudge's comments except to encourage you all to investigate the films of Maxwell Reed. He may indeed have a 'seriously dodgy DA' (see thread 'The Best Hair In The Business') but ol' Max certainly had a very watchable screen presence. In a PM to me Smudge described him as being a bit like Robert Taylor and, as a Taylor fan, that's OK by me.

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

smudge

Christine -

I'm sure Messrs. Crook and Harleybloke will endorse my return tantalising of you in this way as a suitable riposte to avatars like your latest one. The poor defenceless chaps need somebody to fight their corner, weak as they are... :

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

DB7

Silent Dust

Found this buried beneath a pile of dvds and as it was a Lance Comfort film I was expecting a second feature programmer. However, it's a tight little post-war drama opening with Stephen Murray overseeing the construction of a cricket pavilion in honour of his son who died WWII combat. Only his son isn't dead, and is a deserter who has been living off the black market since the end of the war - now penniless; he returns home to blackmail his wife. An engaging tale with a particularly fine turn from Nigel Patrick as the suave spiv who puts an amusing twist on his post-war activities.

Nick Dando

I've just caught up with Who Killed Mrs De Ropp from last week. An excellent telling of some of my favourite stories by Saki. I'd love to see some of his supernatural stories given the Christmas ghost story treatment by the BBC - Gabriel Ernest springs to mind.

Nick

smudge

HANDS OF THE RIPPER (1971)

Peter Sasdy's psychological thriller, based around the murderous inheritance given by Jack the Ripper to his daughter, is far more intelligent than I remember from previous viewings. When I first saw this film I pretty much dismissed it as Hammer past it's peak - but as I have revisited it over the years, I have seen more in the film as I have changed the way I view.

The first thing that grabbed me (even on that first viewing) was the beautiful score by Christopher Gunning ; one of the best 70s horror themes out - quite sweeping and sumptuous.

On revisiting I was struck by the detail in the sets - almost back to that feel of the very first Hammer Gothics. Also the strong performances by Eric Porter and Derek Godfrey ; that scene in the police station is quite above par for such films.

Whilst the film has a reputation for the gory murders - particularly the 'hatpins' scene - I would point out the psychological themes within. Here is a girl who is obviously struggling with schizophrenia ; whilst others around would say she is possessed and would incarcerate her in the nearest asylum, we have a forward thinking (if somewhat selfish, as scientists often are) individual who sees this and tries to help.

The struggle within the mind is quite carefully presented, despite the gore which was obviously needed to market a Hammer title, and Angharad Rees is at her most elfin as the innocent beauty who must suffer the psychological trauma.

As I said, better than I remembered...

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

DB7

Appointment with Crime (1946)

Post-war gangster film with ex-con William Hartnell out for revenge on the crime boss he believes let him down; Herbert Lom. I was reading British Crime Cinema and this was apparently submitted to the BBFC in script form under the title 999, but they demanding numerous cuts to what would have been an extremely violent film.

tvden

just looked this up it looks a good film oh well another one for the never ending list !!!! the men in the white coats are getting nearer

DB7

There's a primary and secondary list of thrillers in the book - I'll try and note them down to give you a few more prospective choices.

tvden

Good god DB dont tempt me even further

stevie boy

Christine, your comments on this Gideon film, are very very interesting. I always thought that Jack Hawkins was a superb actor, but I prefer John Gregson in the role. I always think that the Gideon film suffered by comparison with the Long Arm)also starring Jack) which is the best procedural film I have ever seen bar Jigsaw(starring another Jack). My point is that I do not favour this filma as much as you but that is a matter of opinion. Have you seen the other films that I have mentioned???

stevie boy

watched the incredible Vera Drake, magnificient. Also Secrets and Lies the night before, what a filmaker Mr. Leigh is, brilliant.