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Bataan
Bataan (1943) starring Robert Taylor, Desi Arnaz
Bataan is a World War II movie of a desperate delaying action. It’s remembered as Desi Arnaz’ best dramatic role
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The Iron Petticoat
The Iron Petticoat (1956) starring Bob Hope, Katherine Hepburn — a Cold War comedy that’s short on the comedy
Synopsis of The Iron Petticoat
Set in the midst of the Cold War, Soviet pilot Vinka Kovelenko (Katherine Hepburn) defects to the West, despite her devotion to Communism, due to having been overlooked for a promotion due to her being a female. American Air Force Major Chuck Lockwood (Bob Hope) is tasked with bringing her to embrace Capitalism. Despite being engaged to an English heiress, Lockwood and Kovelenko begin falling in love. Stuck in the middle of the conflict between East and West.
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Between Two Worlds
Between Two Worlds (1944) starring John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Sidney Greenstreet
Imagine a movie about eight people, seemingly chosen at random, riding on a cruise ship, heading to an unknown destination. It’s a movie about the interaction between these seeming strangers, and what happens as they near their destination — and it’s absolutely riveting.
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Bob Hope the road well-traveled
In short, — Bob Hope The Road Well-Traveled — is a well-researched biography of Bob Hope by someone who clearly despises him, and tries to display everything in the most negative light possible.
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By the Beautiful Sea
By the Beautiful Sea – music by Harry Carroll, song lyrics by Harold R. Atteridge (1914)
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Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley (1947), starring Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray
Movie review of the classic film noir, Nightmare Alley, possibly Tyrone Power’s best role as a carny hustler who becomes a mentalist, then a spiritualist, then begins his downfall as guilt eats away at him
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Li’l Abner
Movie review of Li’l Abner — the musical comedy movie, inspired by the Broadway play, that in turn was inspired by Al Capp’s famous comic strip about the inhabitants of Dogpatch
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The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug
The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug, by Peter Jackson
I saw The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug last Saturday with my wife, and I really wanted to love this movie–but I didn’t. If I hadn’t read the book, I would have thought it a typical adventure fantasy movie – not terrible, but not great, either.
The Story of Mankind
The Story of Mankind (1957) starring Vincent Price, Ronald Colman, Cedric Hardwicke, the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo), and many more
In a nutshell, The Story of Mankind has humanity on trial for its’ very existence. The Devil himself (played delightfully by Vincent Price) is the prosecutor. The Spirit of Mankind (Ronald Colman) is the advocate. Cedric Hardwicke as the Celestial Judge. Evidence is presented as a series of vignettes of various stars presenting famous historical moments. Some moments are serious, and others more silly. The Marx Brothers appear in their final film. However, they never show up together. Each brother has their own distinct scene.