MAY 22, 2013

101 THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007) Directed by Richard Schenkman ***

A science fiction film written by the late Jerome Bixby and produced by his son which contains no visual effects (let alone CGI), no action and takes place in one room. An impromptu farewell party for a university professor by his friends and closest colleagues takes a weird turn when he reveals that he is actually  a  old Cro-Magnon man who  has walked the earth for 14,000 years. He is at first not believed but slowly his friends are divided between those who start to believe him and those who think he is mentally ill. This simple idea opens up into an engrossing conversation piece that tackles preconceptions about anthropology, science, religion. It is only in the area of religion where the film starts to lose itself by becoming a bit too ambitious and looses credibility - not, I hasten to add, because its arguments are invalid, albeit a bit contrived,  but rather because of the unlikely plot twist. Despite this hiccup the film is an engrossing, intelligent chamber piece. Faultlessly acted by the ensemble cast who, with the once exception of William Catt,  are unknown to me - although I am assured that, like author Bixby, many have STAR TREK connections. Definitely worth a look. Richard Schenkman went on to direct ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES.

The Man from Earth

102  MAN OF THE WEST (1958) Directed by Anthony Mann ****

Like THE LAST FRONTIER with Victor Mature, this Western with Gary Cooper is not as well known as Anthony Mann's series of James Stewart Westerns although it is highly rated by critics and writers on the Western genre, although it must be said opinions of the fans are sharply divided. Somebody was once asked what they got from an Anthony Mann film that they didn't get from one by John Ford. The answer was "a sense of urgency" and I think that is a fair comment. Mann's films are edgy affairs with damaged heroes. MAN OF THE WEST has ex-outlaw Cooper forced to team up with his former boss in an effort to save the lives of two fellow travellers after a failed train robbery. Coop is truly iconic here - never has he looked so tall - framed in Mann's amazing cinemascope vistas. The rest of the cast is truly remarkable with Julie London, John Dehner, Arthur O'Connell, Jack Lord, Royal Dano, Frank Ferguson etc. For me, however, the film's one weakness and one that jars my sensibilities whenever I watch the film is the performance by Lee J. Cobb as Doc Tobin, Coop's old outlaw boss. I admire Cobb greatly as an actor but here I feel he overacts like crazy and his shouting becomes irritating in the extreme. I can't blame Cobb as one would assume that this is the performance Mann wanted. Despite this reservation this slow-burn film is a great Western.

Man of the West

Also viewed :

103 SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1942) Directed by Preston Sturges ****
103 CENTURION (2011) Directed by Neil Marshal **
104 NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE (1947) Directed by Cecil B. DeMille ***
105 THE LAST FRONTIER (1955) Directed by Anthony Mann ***

MAY 14, 2013

100 THE PLAINSMAN (1936) Directed by Cecil B.DeMille ***

If you are looking for historical accuracy this is not the film for you. In telling his fictional story of Wild Bill Hickok tracking down renegades selling guns to the redskins Cecil B. Demille manages to weave many real elements and people from Hickok's life - his famous watch, the gunfight with 7th Cavalry troopers in Hays City, Buffalo Bill, Yellow Hand, Custer and, of course, Calamity Jane - but, oddly, completely ignores his career as a lawman on much of his real-life reputation rests. DeMille never really seemed to "get" the Western genre and this film lacks the picturesque historical tableaus which make even the more stolid of his films memorable. DeMille was never a great director but he was a genius entertainer and what THE PLAINSMAN may lack as art it more than makes up for in other areas - particularly the fine cast led by Gary Cooper (a fine Hickock without moustache) and Jean Arthur as Calamity. Look out for Anthony Quinn and Gabby Hayes in small roles. Best line in the film "Come Mr.Lincoln we'll be late for the theatre!"

The Plainsman

MAY 13, 2013

095 QUEEN OF BLOOD (1966) Directed by Curtis Harrington **

Curtis Harrington is one of those directors whose films are rarely, if ever, totally successful. On the other hand they are usually bizarre enough to be interesting and enjoyable - especially if, like me, you enjoy trawling through the lower depths of exploitation cinema. You just have to look at some of Harrington's film titles to see where he is coming from - DEVIL DOG HOUND OF HELL, THE CAT CREATURE, WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO? , THE DEAD DON'T DIE, - well, you get the picture. Working almost obsessively within the horror genre (except for a period as an assistant to producer Jerry Wald) Harrington was a film fan of the kind that many of us can identify with and, personally, I find it hard to turn down the opportunity to catch up with one of his rarer films. QUEEN OF BLOOD came from the Corman stable - one of several films that were cobbled together by splicing together special effects from cheaply acquired Russian sci-fi films and newly filmed footage featuring American actor with the help of directors like Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Coppola and Harrington. The plot involves a group of astronauts who travel to mars to try and rescue survivors from a crashed alien spaceship. The lone survivor turns out to be a vegetable based life form in the shape of a woman who happens to be a vampire!  The cast is very interesting with b-movie stalwart John Saxon, Judi Merydith, Basil Rathbone slumming towards the end of his career and Dennis Hopper (who had starred in Harrington's first feature, NIGHT TIDE). The film's best performance comes from Florence Marly who gives a genuinely eerie turn as the vampire woman. For those of us who up reading Famous Monsters of Filmland there's a nice little cameo from Forry Ackerman.  Not a particularly good film but an interesting one and  worth seeing if you are a genre fan - particularly for Florence Marly.

Also viewed :

096 I MARRIED A WITCH (1942) Directed by Rene Clair ****
097 THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942) Directed by Frank Tuttle ***
098 THE BLUE DAHLIA (1946) Directed by George Marshal ***
099 SWAMP WATER (1941) Directed by Jean Renoir ***

R.I.P RAY HARRYHAUSEN

 

It was with genuine sadness a few minutes ago I learned of the death of Ray Harryhausen. Ray was, of course, a true legend in his own lifetime so I will not even try to list his achievements here. I first met Ray during my early days working as a messenger in the London offices of Columbia Pictures. We spoke for only a minute or two but I was thrilled to meet one of my heroes. Several years later I was commissioned by a French film magazine to do an interview with Ray. I simply looked him up in the phonebook and rang him. He graciously invited me to his beautiful home in Kensington. I was a very inexperienced interviewer and the great man showed infinite patience and was a charming host. It was a magical afternoon and he very kindly allowed me a quick look into his workshop - at the time he was working models for the forthcoming  GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD and he was understandably a bit secretive about revealing his creations for the film. I was privileged to be able to hold the original GWANGI - a model that Ray's cat attacked at every opportunity. Later I shared tea with Ray and his charming wife. Ray felt that some of his answers to my questions were not to clear and a week later I received in the post several closely typed sheets of paper with more detailed answers - that he would take time out from his busy schedule to do this was very much the measure of the man.  A few days later in Russell Square I bumped into director Gordon Hessler whom I had met on a couple of occasions when he was working with Vincent Price and he told me how thrilled he was to be working with Ray whose films he had admired for years.I believed for a long time that the interview never appeared in L'ECRAN FANTASTIQUE although I found out later that they had printed it without informing or paying me. I subsequently gave the interview to Gary Svehla who arranged for it to be published in the American fanzine THE LATE SHOW No.3 and it was later reprinted in an English fanzine.

My afternoon with Ray was something I will never forget and I mourn his passing. From his amatuer films (available on DVD), through his work on MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and his long a successful collaboration with producer Charles H. Schneer Ray gave us wonder upon wonder - his legacy is truly the stuff that dreams are made of.  R.I.P. Ray Harryhausen...and thank you.

MAY 3, 2013

091 THE CURSE OF THE FACELESS MAN (1958) Directed by Edward L. Cahn **

As you might expect, a low-budget horror movie from producer Robert E. Kent but an easy time-killer if, like me, you are quite forgiving of this type of thing. It is in most respects just another perambulating Mummy film although in this case it is a man who was buried in the ashes when Mount Vesuvius destroyed the city of Pompeii. What more can I say except that it doesn't outstay its welcome and in one scene (see the still below) achieves a real eeeriness. The cast is nothing to get excited about although it does feature the lovely Adele Mara as one of the two females. The hero is Richard Anderson who looks rather unhappy and uncomfortable - perhaps because he'd read the script and knew he had to go into the sea wearing his toupee. Scripted by sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby who wrote IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (the precursor to ALIEN) and the interesting THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007).

The Curse of the Faceless Man

Also viewed :

092  THE HOBBIT (2012) Directed by Peter Jackson ****
093  PARTIE DE COMPAGNE (1938) Directed by Jean Renoir ****
094  BOUDU SAVED FROM DROWNING (1936) Directed by Jean Renoir ***

APRIL 3O, 2013

090 BABY FACE NELSON (1957) Directed by Donald Siegel ****

Don Siegel once stated that his real forte was comedy although he didn't get much chance to try his hand at the genre. When he did make a couple of comedies at the end of his career they were pretty disastrous and very unfunny. No, I'm sorry Don, I'm afraid you will rightly be remembered for your crime films for they were your true forte, even if you didn't think so. Films like MADIGAN, CHARLEY VARRICK, DIRTY HARRY, COOGAN'S BLUFF are for me the best Siegel movies (along with his classic INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) and I have fond memories of some of his earlier smaller budget efforts like THE LINEUP, which like BABY FACE NELSON is so rarely, if ever, seen today. BABY FACE NELSON was part of the 1950's gangster cycle that included such excellent films as Richard Wilson's AL CAPONE and Budd Boetticher's THE RISE AND FALL OF LEGS DIAMOND but for many years the film has eluded me. But now somebody has kindly uploaded a copy to You Tube. It is a poor copy but beggars can't be choosers and I am grateful to finally see it. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Although far from historically accurate the film is tough and gritty and thankfully makes no attempt to turn Nelson into a Robin Hood character (which would be pretty difficult!) and he is played superbly by Mickey Rooney who gives one of the best performances of his long career. Carolyn Jones, best remembered these days as Morticia in THE ADDAMS FAMILY television series is excellent as his girlfriend. The rest of the cast features some of my favourite character actors from the period - Leo Gordon (as Dillinger - see below)), Anthony Caruso, Jack Elam, John Hoyt, Elisha Cook Jr, Emil Meyer and Ted De Corsia. Sir Cedric Hardwicke also turns up, cast against type, a a lecherous old doctor. Siegel's direction is fast and snappy making this one of his best films of the period.  A nice good condition print on DVD would be a real treat.

Baby Face Nelson

APRIL 26, 2013

086 KHOLODNOE LETO PYATESYAT TRETEGO/Cold Summer of 1953 (1987) Directed by Alesandre Proshkin ****

It is 1953, Stalin in dead and Beria, head of the secret police, has announced an amnesty/pardon for all convicted criminals but not political prisoners. In a small Siberian trading post, two political prisoners, unaware that Beria himself is now out of favour and they too will soon receive a pardon live on the charity of the poor villagers and by doing odd jobs. The town is invaded by a small band of violent released criminals who shoot the local lawman and rob the villagers and who intend to escape on a motor launch which will soon visit the village. The local officials seem impotent to resist.
Only the two political outcasts, spurred by the attempted rape of a young girl who has been kind to them, decide to resist and one by one they pick of the criminals.  This is essentially a Russian Western which reminded me rather of both Andre De Toth's DAY OF THE OUTLAW and Sergio Corbucci's THE GREAT SILENCE (although, ironically, it is the Russian film which is devoid of snow) and it is a pretty good one with some terrific performances by actors whose names I won't even attempt to spell. The setting is as interesting as it is unfamiliar and while it has none of the sophistication or flash that a contemporary Hollywood film might have brought to the subject the direction of Alesandre Proshkin is unobtrusive and one can't help thinking that the film is better off for it.

Cold Summer of 1953

Also viewed :

087 VANILLA SKY (2001) Directed by Cameron Crowe ***
088 ABRE LOS OJOS/Open Your Eyes (1997) Directed  by Alejandro Amenabar ***
089 LIMITLESS (2011) Directed by Neal Burger  ****