LDRose Reviews

The Last Run (1971)

Memorable ride

[8/10 · 24 November 2007]

George C Scott plays Harry Garmes, a former getaway driver who comes out of retirement to prove to himself he hasn't lost his touch. He lives in a small Portugese fishing village, but he isn't fulfilled; he views retirement as preparation for death and goes behind the wheel again to inject some vitality into his existence. What promises to be a straightforward job, however, brings him unexpected challenges. The film boasts suspenseful car chases, impressive cinematography, a good script and a compelling performance from George C Scott as the cynical driver who gets more than he bargains for as he chauffeurs an escaped prisoner and his girlfriend across country. The film is thought-provoking, it deals with love, death, regret, frustration and determination, and coupled with tension and suspense makes it a memorable ride.

The Last Tycoon (1976)

Mix of stars past and present

[8/10 · 14 May 2007]

The Last Tycoon revolves around a 1930s movie mogul Monroe Stahr (Robert De Niro) and gives an insight into the studio system of the time. De Niro gives a subtle and sensitive performance as Stahr who becomes distracted following a chance sighting which reminds him of a love from his past. The ensuing budding romance is accompanied by a haunting Maurice Jarre score and beautiful cinematography. At times, though, this part of the film feels drawn out and not enough time is given to the star-studded supporting cast - especially Jack Nicholson, who has great scenes at the end of the film with De Niro. There are plenty of familiar faces, including Robert Mitchum, Tony Curtis, Ray Milland, Dana Andrews and Anjelica Huston, who mainly appear in cameo roles. The film as a whole is richly detailed and absorbing and is a compelling portrait of Stahr's work and love - a love invoked from the past that gradually unravels his grip on the present.

Marked Woman (1937)

Mark these great performances!

[8/10 · 15 September 2006]

Bette Davis plays Mary Strauber, a nightclub hostess working in club 'Intime' which gets taken over by a gangster Johnny Vanning (Eduardo Ciannelli) who soon changes the decor and the name to 'Intimate'. Mary stands up to the gangster right from the start,defending a friend he tries to fire, and letting him know he won't intimidate her. Her resolve is tested to the limit after her younger sister comes to stay, who unwittingly crosses Vanning's path, leading to tragedy. Davis gives a commanding performance and Eduardo Ciannelli is effective as the ruthless gangster. Humphrey Bogart also puts in an appearance - cast against type as an earnest DA. They don't make movies like this any more - enjoy!

Conflict (1945)

Interesting psychological mystery

[8/10 · 15 September 2006]

Conflict stars Humphrey Bogart as architect Richard Mason, not in love with his wife (Rose Hobart) and infatuated with her sister Alexis (Evelyn Turner) Events soon take a sinister turn, when Richard hatches a plot to murder his wife on a remote mountain road. Just when he thinks he has committed the perfect crime, things start to happen which plant seeds of doubt in his mind.

Sydney Greenstreet gives a fine performance as a psychologist friend of the Masons who offers useful insights into the criminal mind and gives you food for thought as he voices his opinion on the human psyche.

With good performances all round, this is an atmospheric mystery which will keep you guessing to the end.

We're No Angels (1955)

Anarchy with the angels

[9/10 · 15 September 2006]

Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray are the motley trio of convicts who escape from prison on devil's island just before Christmas in this festive comedy. They look for places to steal from and stumble across a store run by kindly but bumbling Felix Ducotel (Leo G Carroll) and persuade him to employ them to fix his roof. From the aerial view, they observe his wife (Joan Bennett) and love-lorn daughter (Gloria Talbott) and it isn't long before they descend to lend the family their unique help!

Basil Rathbone appears as Felix's scrooge cousin - there are some great exchanges between him and Bogart. Bogart gives a wonderful dead-pan performance, ably supported by a youthful Ustinov and Ray, and you end up rooting for them as they do their best to solve the family's problems! Although the action largely takes place on Christmas Eve, the comic moments ensure things don't get too sentimental - this is an enjoyable, feel-good movie!

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Enthralling thriller

[9/10 · 9 June 2006]

The Day of The Jackal is a gripping film, based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth, tracking the efforts of a professional hit-man hired to assassinate the French President in 1963. The hit-man is known only as 'The Jackal', a cool, enigmatic, cold-blooded individual, superbly portrayed by Edward Fox. The film is bolstered by a terrific support cast, particularly Michael Lonsdale as the dogged French police detective on the Jackal's trail. Filmed on location in Britain, France, Austria and Italy, the film has a distinct continental flavour and is complemented by some beautiful scenery. The film always keeps the viewer engrossed, there are plenty of twists and turns and is an enjoyable, intelligent thriller - if only more films today could be like this!

Murder with Mirrors (1985 TV Movie)

Reflection of the 80's

[7/10 · 1 December 2005]

This is a made-for-TV movie starring Helen Hayes as Miss Marple and features several prominent stars - Bette Davis, John Mills, Dorothy Tutin and Leo McKern.

Miss Marple is asked to visit an old friend, Carrie-Louise Serrocold (Davis) by her stepson who is concerned that his stepmother is being slowly poisoned. Once Miss Marple arrives at the English country estate, she soon discovers that all is not as it seems.

The location scenery is lovely, however the story is set in the 1980's, losing the authentic period atmosphere so closely associated with Agatha Christie.

Helen Hayes gives a decent performance, although Bette Davis is under-used and looks visibly frail. John Mills is good, as always, and Dorothy Tutin gives a sympathetic turn as Davis's down-trodden daughter. Leo McKern portrays the police inspector with relish, including several entertaining exchanges with Miss Marple.

The plot keeps you guessing, complemented by the usual red herrings supplied by Agatha Christie. Overall, an enjoyable film.

Night Must Fall (1964)

Gripping thriller

[9/10 · 17 October 2005]

Night must fall is a riveting film with Albert Finney giving a fantastic performance. He plays Danny, the boyfriend of a kitchen maid (Sheila Hancock) who works for a wealthy widow. However, it isn't long before he sets his sights on the widow's daughter, Olivia (Susan Hampshire). Danny hides a terrible secret from those around him, he is not who people think he is. He is charming towards his girlfriend, his employer and even manages to win round Olivia, and it is this charm which makes his dark side even more frightening. Albert Finney is wonderful to watch, combining charm and humour with menace and danger. The supporting cast is also first-rate, there is a tense atmosphere throughout and it is a shame this film is so little-known - it is an excellent, suspenseful, engaging thriller.

Another Time, Another Place (1958)

Enjoyable war time melodrama

[7/10 · 5 October 2005]

Sean Connery and Lana Turner are journalists who fall in love, in this enjoyable war time melodrama. Connery plays Mark Trevors, a radio reporter for the BBC and Turner plays Sara Scott, posted in London working for an American newspaper. Their relationship, which is never fully developed, has a sting in the tail. The second half of the story takes place in Cornwall, and although filmed in black and white, the scenery is still alluring. Turner, who gets most of the screen time, gives a decent performance and Connery, who at the time was relatively unknown, demonstrates the charisma which makes him a potent screen presence.

The Wicked Lady (1945)

A wicked treat

[8/10 · 18 September 2005]

The Wicked Lady is a sumptuous tale of excitement, passion, danger and deceit. Margaret Lockwood plays Barbara Skelton, who engages in treachery almost from the outset by stealing her best friend's man. It becomes clear that she is a ruthless character who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even engaging in highway robbery to enliven her dull existence. Soon she meets a notorious highwayman, Jerry Jackson, and sparks soon begin to fly between the two outlaws! In order to preserve her secret lifestyle, all manner of wickedness ensues. Margaret Lockwood is fantastic as the selfish, devious protagonist and James Mason smolders as the dashing highwayman. This is a wicked treat not to be missed!

The Captain's Paradise (1953)

A piece of paradise

[9/10 · 2 April 2005]

This film is a treat! It is the tale of an English sea Captain (Alec Guiness) who thinks he has devised the perfect arrangement for paradise. He has a wife in two ports - each one half his idea of the perfect woman. His English wife (Celia Johnson) is the dutiful, domestic wife, whilst his Latin wife (Yvonne De Carlo) provides the excitement which he craves. All three play their roles well - Alec Guinness is a delight to watch, making you root for him and at times losing sympathy for him. The two wives appear to be stereotypical characters - but neither is quite as they seem! The script is witty and perceptive and the plot always engaging. I can recommend setting sail for the Captain's Paradise!

Shredder (2001)

Wintry horror

[10 September 2004]

Admittedly, this is not a classic horror flick but it is enjoyable nonetheless. The action takes place at an abandoned ski lodge - there is a killer stalking the snowboarders, known as 'shredders'. The teen characters (predictably, they look older!) are typical clichés of horror movies. There is a surprising amount of gore and you root for the 'good' characters. I liked the wintry setting, there are some good stunts and the whole movie is a guilty pleasure.

The Petrified Forest (1936)

Timeless emotions

[10 September 2004]

This movie is a brooding tale of desperate characters who are brought together by fate at a desert diner. The two characters we see the most of are Gabrielle Maple (Bette Davis) and Alan Squire (Leslie Howard). Gabrielle is a dreamer working in the diner who wants to escape her tedious existence, and reads poetry to aid her fantasies. Alan, a disillusioned idealist, turns up at the diner and helps fuel her romantic illusions. The pair get an unexpected reunion when Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart) a murderous gangster, and his gang, take hostages in the diner in a bid to hide out from the law. The movie is a concoction of suspense, romanticism and philosophy, with a superb performance from Bogart as the violent, brooding Duke. The emotions and philosophies are timeless and this movie is a fond reminder of a glorious age of cinema.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

An emotional rollercoaster

[26 August 2004]

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is an intense, emotional experience. It is not the most comfortable movie experience but it is worth watching for the tour-de-force performances from the four main protagonists - Elizabeth Taylor as Martha, Richard Burton as George, Sandy Dennis as Honey and George Segal as Nick. Nick and Honey are a young married couple who are invited to George and Martha's house for late-night drinks but, without giving anything away, they end up wishing they had never set foot through the door!

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Highly enjoyable film noir

[10/10 · 26 August 2004]

The Maltese Falcon is a classic example of film noir. Humphrey Bogart plays Sam Spade, a no-nonsense private detective who ends up searching for a mysterious jewelled statuette - the Maltese Falcon. However, he quickly realises that he is not the only person after the bird. Magnificent characters played by Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre add color to this film noir. There are plenty of witty lines uttered by Bogart, in one of his greatest roles, and this wonderful movie is packed full of suspense and intrigue - it has all the ingredients of a fantastic film noir!

The Prize (1963)

Light-hearted adventure

[8/10 · 16 August 2004]

The Prize is a deft mix of action, suspense and humor.

It stars Paul Newman as a Nobel prize winning novelist who travels to Stockholm to accept his award. Soon after his arrival, he starts to suspect that there is more going on than meets the eye. He gets caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue, and at times the film is very Hitchcock-esque. Paul Newman oozes charisma in the lead role and Edward G Robinson plays a good dual role. There are good location shots of Stockholm and good use of light-hearted moments to contrast with the suspense. Highly recommended!

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

Superior film noir

[10/10 · 29 July 2004]

Lana Turner and John Garfield generate sparks in this excellent crime thriller. Turner plays Cora Smith, a restless young waitress married to a much-older man who runs the roadside diner. Garfield plays Frank Chambers, a drifter who turns up at the diner and is captivated by Cora. Cecil Kellaway is great as Cora's naive husband Nick, whose main concern is the diner. The fact that it is filmed in black and white helps create the suspenseful atmosphere and highlight Cora's striking cream outfits. This is far superior to the 1981 remake, for although it was made under a strict production code, it smolders with desire and tension and is an unforgettable classic.

Mogambo (1953)

African Adventure

[10/10 · 28 July 2004]

I love Mogambo, the cinematography is breathtaking, filmed in luscious technicolor and some of the characters are equally as colorful. The cast is headed by Clark Gable, who plays tough trapper Victor Marswell. Joining him is Ava Gardner, on fantastic form as fun-loving Eloise Kelly and her rival for Marswell's affections is Grace Kelly as Linda Nordley, a repressed anthropologist's wife. The banter between Gardner and Gable is superb and there is a chance to see a good performance from Kelly before she became known as Hitchcock's glamorous leading lady. Highly recommended!

Peyton Place (1957)

Terrific melodrama

[8/10 · 26 July 2004]

There are many timeless issues and interesting characters in this first-rate melodrama. There are secrets and lies aplenty lurking within the respectable facade of Peyton Place. Lana Turner plays against type as Constance Mackenzie, an uptight mother of an 18 year old girl. Her daughter and her friends have their fair share of problems and conflicts. The characters are realistic, they make you feel for them and want to follow their development. There is never a dull moment and I can thoroughly recommend this great slice-of-life drama!

Mogambo (1953)

Sultry Safari (some quote spoilers)

[10/10 · 26 July 2004]

This is one of my all-time favorites. An action-packed safari adventure.The African scenery is fantastic, the witty banter between the characters is delightful and there is a great love triangle between Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly. Clark Gable plays the tough trapper Victor Marswell, Ava Gardner plays the free-spirited, fun-loving Eloise Kelly and Grace Kelly plays the prim and proper anthropologist's wife. Aided by wonderful cinematography and direction, you really feel as though you too are on location with them. So many snappy quotes - mainly from Eloise Kelly -"Look, Mr whoever you are, let me jump to my own conclusions!", "Look, buster, don't you get overstimulated with me!", "Everything snarls around this joint!" and (referring to wine) "Any year, any model, they all bring out my better nature" to name but a few.

This is an absolute must-see!