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garyoverman
Reviews
10 Rillington Place (1971)
Creepy film, but excellent!
This British thriller is one of the best films I have ever seen. It tells the story of John Christie, the serial killer whose "career" lasted from the middle 1940's until the early 1950's. The name is taken from the scene of the murders; 10 Rillington Place, Notting Hill, London.
Chillingly portrayed by the great actor Richard Attenborough , Christie was a little mouse of a man who first lured his victims home on some pretext or other, usually by saying that he could perform some desired medical procedure on them, for example, an abortion, which was illegal at the time. Once there, he put them at ease by offering them a cup of tea, deceived them into breathing gas from the pipe, rendering them unconscious, then strangled them. He disposed of the bodies, at first by burying them in the garden, then putting them under the sink in the water closet, and finally by tearing up and replacing floorboards and papering over cupboards.
The primary reasons that Christie was able to do what he did for so long were first of all the war. London was undergoing the blitz, and people had a tendency to disappear during the bombing. Another reason was that he was able to turn the suspicions of the police from him to a not very bright truck driver named Timothy Evans, (played by John Hurt) who was convicted of the death of his baby daughter, and was also suspected in the murder of his wife, but due to English law could only be tried for one or the other of them. He was hanged in 1950. The scene in the film where Evans is hanged is chilling, and quite accurate.
Slow at first and shot on location at the actual scene of the murders, the film shows a dangerous manipulative killer hiding behind a bland, mild exterior. Because he appeared so mild, Christie was all the more terrifying. Attenborough brings this out expertly and the overall effect is very creepy.
This superbly-acted film is British cinema at its' very best.
Cup of tea, anyone?
Count Dracula (1977)
By far the best version of "Dracula"
This is by far the best and most faithful rendition of what the writer Stephen King called "Bram Stoker's evil fairy tale" that I have ever seen. I still watch it from time to time, and each time I see it, I think of just how perfect Louis Jourdan is in the role of the Count.
Frank Finlay also turns in a superb performance as Dr. van Helsing, as does the lovely Judy Bowker as Mina, and Susan Penhaligan as Lucy.
The deviations from the book were few and insignificant, the acting was superb, and the BBC produced an absolute masterpiece.
If it is ever shown on your local television area, tape it. If it is ever released on videotape, buy it. You will not regret it.
Badge of the Assassin (1985)
Realism not usually seen
This is the true story, told from the viewpoint of the prosecutor, of the Jones-Piagentini case. NYPD officers Waverly Jones, who was black, and Joseph Piagentini are lured by a false call to a street corner and are ambushed and killed by a small band of black "revolutionaries".
The film concentrates on the investigation by the police and the Manhattan district attorney and the two trials that followed.
Good performances by an excellent cast, and a very good script, based upon prosecutor Robert Tannenbaum's book by the same title, give this film a sense of drama that is not usually seen.
Overall, this was an excellent film.
Nuremberg (2000)
compelling historical drama
Knowing quite a bit about the Nuremberg Trial, I was curious to see if the producers would gloss over certain
details.
Watching the film served to satisfy my sense of history,
as the film turned out to be not only historically accurate, but compelling drama as well. I was surprised
to see that the scene where Hermann Goering almost trips
Justice Jackson up was left intact; also I was glad to see
that a number of the defendants--notably Hans Frank, and
Albert Speer--did accept the moral responsibility for their
actions during the Nazi regime.
About the only thing I can find to quibble about was the
portrayal of Colonel Andrus. He was the American officer
in command of the detail guarding the prisoners, and I
understand that he was a very decent man, not at all like
he was depicted in this film.
Still and all, the film was excellent. An exceptional
cast, interesting subject matter, and a good historically
accurate script made this film well worth watching.
This is one film I intend to keep.
When Worlds Collide (1951)
disappointing adaptation of the book
I am a great fan of the book by Balmer & Wylie and I suppose that I was just expecting too much of the film.
My essential complaint is that the film changed too much of the book. It was technically speaking, a good film, with first rate acting, but I wish that it had stuck a little more closely to the original story.
This movie was an overall disappointment.
American Playhouse: Concealed Enemies, Part I: Suspicion (1984)
superb drama about alger hiss
Even though I disagreed with the central theme of this program--that is, the innocence of Alger Hiss--I found it to be a very enjoyable historical presentation.
The cast was superb. Edward Herrmann was excellent, as was the late John Harkins. Peter Riegert gave one of his best performances ever as Richard Nixon.
The main problem--in fact, the only problem--was the very shaky assumption that Hiss (played by Herrmann) was framed by Whittaker Chambers (Harkins).
This was one of very few efforts put this story on film, and even if it must be taken with a grain of salt, is still very much worth watching.
World Without End (1956)
enjoyable science fiction from the 1950's
I first remember seeing this movie on TV as a young boy in the early 1960's. From then on I watched it as often as it came on until they stopped showing science fiction movies on that station. For about twenty years or so, I did not see it, and then last year, I found it on video.
Much to my delight, I found that I still enjoyed it as much as ever.
The film concerns the first flight to Mars, and what happens when they start back. Hitting a great turbulence, the ship crash lands on an unknown planet, and the crew meets with many adventures before they discover that they are are on earth in the far future, and they deduce that an atomic war has taken place a couple of centuries prior to their landing.
The film has a good plot, cast and script, and even if the special effects are not what we are capable of today, it still is a movie that is worthwhile seeing.
Like I said before, I still enjoy it even after thirty years.
Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami (1988)
a look at the legal system
It surprises me that so few people seem to be aware of this excellent look at the U.S. legal system.
Sometime in the future a Mid Eastern terrorist (played by Robert Davi) is kidnapped overseas and brought to the federal court in Virginia to stand trial. His reluctant defense attorney is played by Ron Liebman. Sam Waterston is the U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case. Jo Henderson, in her last role, is the judge.
Strong performances, an excellent cast, and a good, legally accurate script characterize this superb drama.
It is a very good movie.