1984 (1984) starring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna HamiltonThis is the movie version of George Orwell’s classic novel “1984”. It deals with a totalitarian society of the future in which no one can escape observation and detection. Well done version true to the book.
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Dramatic World War II action aboard a U.S. submarine is the setting for the only film in which Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis star together. Based on a true incident, submarine Commander Casey Abbott (Reagan) leads a daring mission to enter the heavily mined Tsushima Straits to sever a vital link between the Asiatic mainland and the Japanese home islands. Abbott charts the dangerous waters, destroys an enemy island installation and sinks thousands of tons of enemy shipping. In the course of the operation, Abbott teaches his second in command, Lt. Commander Landon (Arthur Franz), the important difference between command decision and emotional reaction. Landon is put to the test when he must order a crash dive which leaves Abbot swimming alone in the trackless sea. When rescued, Abbott is cared for by nurse Blair (Davis), and now he, too, must test his own emotions.
Susan Hayward has a signature role in I’ll Cry Tomorrow, a pedal-to-the-metal look at the troubled times of singer Lillian Roth. Hayward snagged her fourth Oscar nomination for the part, which takes Roth from humble beginnings through great stardom and finally into a hell of alcoholism and recovery. The movie delivers on a couple of tendencies of its era (1956): a fresh frankness about addiction (The Man with the Golden Arm had come out the year before), plus some handy psychoanalyzing of the heroine–in this case, Roth’s problems are laid at the feet of her pushy stage mother (Jo Van Fleet).
In Badlands, Kit Carruthers, a young garbage collector and his girlfriend Holly Sargis from Fort Dupree, South Dakota, are on the run after killing Holly’s father. Because the father disagreed with their relationship.
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Movie review of Harry and Tonto, starring Art Carney, in his Academy Award (best actor) winning role as Harry, a retired teacher in his seventies living in an area of New York City where he and his deceased wife raised his children – where he’s lived all his life. The building he lives in is torn down to make way for a parking garage. So Harry and his cat Tonto begin a journey across America. He visits his children, sees the world he never seemed to have the time to see before. Along the way, he makes new friends and says goodbye to old ones.Read More »Harry and Tonto movie review | starring Art Carney
Jerry Lewis‘ The King of Comedy is not the typical Jerry Lewis movie. It’s not a comedy. It’s not for the children. It is a very dark comedy (although rated PG). The King of Comedy looks at the behind-the-scenes life of Jerry Langford. Played straight, and brilliantly, by Jerry Lewis. He’s a talk-show host seemingly similar to Jay Leno or David Letterman.
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In Orchestra Wives, beautiful but naive Connie meets her idol, trumpeter Bill Abbot, while his band’s on tour. After marriage, though, she finds out how catty the other wives can be. And how a previous tour nearly ended several marriages.
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There are a great many positive things to say about The Fighting Sullivans. It’s set against the backdrop of World War II. But at it’s heart it’s the story of a loving Irish Catholic family. As they raise five young boys and a daughter. Five very energetic, healthy, American boys, whose childhood the audience gets to share. As well as when they become young men, and volunteer for service in the Navy shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
In How to Commit Marriage, seemingly happily married couple Frank and Elaine Benson (played by Bob Hope and Jane Wyman) are on the verge of divorce. But they plan to wait until after their daughter’s marriage. The groom’s father, Oliver Poe (Jackie Gleason) opposes marriage in general. And he dislikes Bob Hope’s character in particular.
This is the film based on the true adventures of Izzy and Moe. They were two retired vaudeville performers who, being unemployed, decide to become prohibition enforcement agents. They are initially treated with scorn from fellow agents as old men pretending to be cops. That abuse soon stops when the pair refuse to use the standard but futile methods of the agency. Instead, they employ their theatrical experience to use an amazing variety of disguises and tricks. They become two of the most effective agents in the force. Eventually, their outstanding string of successful raids and arrests starts drawing the attention of the mob and their bought cops, who desperately plan to stop this pair.