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The Big Circus

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The Big Circus (1959) starring Victor Mature, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Red Buttons

While flipping through channels, I saw The Big Circus on Turner Classic Movies as part of a marathon of circus movies.   Despite my love of the circus, I almost went past … Until I saw Vincent Price as the ringmaster.   I’m a long-time fan of Vincent Price.  He’s one of the small fraternity of actors who never turn in a poor performance.   Another member of that fraternity is Peter Lorre, who also co-stars here as one of the circus clowns.   I’m glad that I stayed to watch — The Big Circus is an entertaining, although not dreadfully original, movie.

Thousands Cheer

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Thousands Cheer (1943) starring Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson

Thousands Cheer is a  musical romance, set in the U.S.A. during World War II.   The first half of the movie deals with Kathryn Roberts (played by Kathryn Grayson). She’s a  concert singer who is retiring from the stage to work on putting on shows for the Army, to help morale.   This is also designed to let her bond with  her father, an Army colonel. Whom she hasn’t seen since she was a baby, after her parents’ divorce.  

Cry of the Werewolf

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Cry of the Werewolf (1944) starring Stephen Crane, Nina Foch

Celeste, a Romany princess visits a paranormal museum where the curator Dr. Morris is writing the history of her werewolf mother, Marie LaTour. Shortly after her visit to the museum Dr. Morris is murdered. The police automatically suspect Elsa, his personal assistant. So the deceased Dr. Morris’s son Robert aka Bob, with Elsa’s help investigate what really happened to Dr. Morris.

Advise and Consent

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In short, Advise and Consent is one of the best political intrigue movies that I’ve ever seen.   The basic plot involves a very ill President of the United States (Franchot Tone) who wants to nominate for Secretary of State a senator.  A man with a small secret in his past (played beautifully by Henry Fonda – a great performance).   The Senate Majority Leader (a wonderful performance by Walter Pidgeon) tries to line up the votes.  But he’s being undercut by a zealous young senator (Don Murray).  And, on the “other side of the aisle” by a Southern senator (played by Charles Laughton in his final performance), a man who views himself as a kingmaker, using the other senators and people like pawns on a chess board.

No Time for Sergeants

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No Time for Sergeants (1958) starring Andy Griffith

Technically, No Time for Sergeants is Don Knotts first movie.   However, his time on-screen is very brief. He plays a neurotic Army officer who gives Andy Griffith’s character, Will Stockdale, one of his tests.   As a consolation, however, No Time for Sergeants is a hilariously funny movie.   The basic plot has Will Stockdale being drafted into the Army. Attempts by other recruits to harass the country boy fail miserably. Due to Will’s easy-going nature, lack of apprehension of some of the insults, and his incredible good luck.

Chicago Confidential

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Chicago Confidential (1957) starring Brian Keith, Dick Foran, Beverly Garland, Elisha Cook Jr.

Chicago Confidential is one of those films that wouldn’t be produced today.   It’s not that it’s a film noir.  The basic plot has an honest Illinois District Attorney. Played well by Brian Keith. He’s investigating a murder seemingly committed by a Union head played by Dick Foran.   Foran’s character is innocent. His girlfriend, convincingly played by Beverly Garland, is instrumental in convincing Keith after the conviction.

Quo Vadis

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Quo Vadis (1951) starring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov

Quo Vadis is the kind of movie that Hollywood doesn’t, and won’t, make anymore. It’s a three-hour epic, telling the story of Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor). He’s a Roman general returning to Nero’s Rome after 3 years of service in the field. There, he swiftly falls in love with a lovely Christian, Lygia (Deborah Kerr).   This star-crossed romance is interwoven among the spectacle, and debauchery, of Nero’s Rome.

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