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Reviews
Friendly Persuasion (1956)
Magnificent Classic
Classic Hollywood film about family of southern Indiana Quakers who resist the call to arms during the civil war. Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire are perfectly cast by William Wyler as father and mother, Jess and Eliza Birdwell who must guide their lives as well as their children's who face mounting obstacles from the civil war encroaching their southern Indiana home in 1862 in this beautifully made film. As staunch Quakers, their faith binds them to pacifism while their oldest son, played nobly by a young Anthony Perkins, struggles to find his mettle and courage as a young man. Phyllis Love, as Mattie Birdwell, the daughter, struggles also to act strait-laced as a proper Quaker lady, while fighting her emotions of love and affection for a neighbor union soldier. Don't miss little Jess (Richard Eyer) who battles an annoying pet family goose named Samantha, as well as trying to defend his mom and sister from advancing Rebel troops as well as any 12 year old could! Marjorie Main, taking a break from her Ma and Pa Kettle movies at the time, tickles your ribs as the widow Hudspeth who along with her homely, hapless daughters who pursue young Josh (Perkins) during a business trip to sell trees and plantings. Walter Catlett, who plays a bumbling organ salesman, nearly steals a large part of the movie trying to convince the Birdwells that an organ purchase would enrichen their lives- knowing fullwell that music in the home is against the Quaker religion. Dorothy Mcguire gives a brilliant performance as mother Eliza Birdwell, the spiritual glue who holds the family together through any crisis. The scene at the county fair with the entire family is pure joy! The scene with Cooper defending himself against a rebel soldier who has killed his best friend is powerful and compelling. This movie can be viewed by all ages and you will feel a sense of joy and peace yourself at the end!
Picnic (1955)
One of Hollywoods Greatest Films
"Picnic" is one of those rare smalltown movies that seems to grab you and not let go. You will remember this film for many years after you have seen it. William Holden plays a drifter, down on his luck, looking for that big break in his life. He seeks out an old college pal (Cliff Robertson) who is from the country club side of town life that Holden seeks. Holden's charisma and strong personna soon make him irrestibale to all the women in the small Kansas town that the movie takes place in. In the course of one day (labor day) he steals the hearts of several women - including the girlfriend of his future employer's son (Robertson). The movie is a grand composite of smalltown America and their hopes and dreams. Kim Novak, very alluring for the role, appears a bit stiff, but nonetheless too beautiful for Holden to resist. Rosalind Russell, the old-maid schoolteacher,nearly steals the film from it's principals, Holden and Novak, in possibly her finest film role ever. Betty Field, as the mother of Novak and Susan Strasberg is perfectly cast as the eternal hope flame for her daughters
to get out of a nowhere small town. Arthur O'Connell compliments Russell perfectly as her dowagging boyfriend. Holden, though appearing a tad too old for the part, comes through smoothly in his role and his dance scene with Novak to the theme song "Picnic" is film history. The entire music score, by George Durning is a masterpiece. The scenes at the picnic are actual and don't miss the barbershop quartet singing and the dog in and out of the picnic basket.
Picnic (1955)
One of Hollywoods Greatest Films
"Picnic" is one of those rare smalltown movies that seems to grab you and not let go. You will remember this film for many years after you have seen it. William Holden plays a drifter, down on his luck, looking for that big break in his life. He seeks out an old college pal (Cliff Robertson) who is from the country club side of town life that Holden seeks. Holden's charisma and strong personna soon make him irrestibale to all the women in the small Kansas town that the movie takes place in. In the course of one day (labor day) he steals the hearts of several women - including the girlfriend of his future employer's son (Robertson). The movie is a grand composite of smalltown America and their hopes and dreams. Kim Novak, very alluring for the role, appears a bit stiff, but nonetheless too beautiful for Holden to resist. Rosalind Russell, the old-maid schoolteacher,nearly steals the film from it's principals, Holden and Novak, in possibly her finest film role ever. Betty Field, as the mother of Novak and Susan Strasberg is perfectly cast as the eternal hope flame for her daughters
to get out of a nowhere small town. Arthur O'Connell compliments Russell perfectly as her dowagging boyfriend. Holden, though appearing a tad too old for the part, comes through smoothly in his role and his dance scene with Novak to the theme song "Picnic" is film history. The entire music score, by George Durning is a masterpiece. The scenes at the picnic are actual and don't miss the barbershop quartet singing and the dog in and out of the picnic basket.
Romolo e Remo (1961)
Strong tale of the Founding of Rome
Double beefcake with the story of Romulus and Remus - the alleged founders and twin brothers of Roman legend who established the "eternal city" in folklore, Rome. Great casting with plenty of bulging biceps in Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott of Tarzan fame. Scott appears somewhat burdened and uneasy playing second fiddle to Reeves in this film as the overly zealous brother Remus who upon his father's dying bed (in this case a straw covered ledge!) is told he is the son of a god along with his brother (Reeves), but Scott keeps the secret until he is forced to tell his brother...........very begrudgingly. As the movie rolls on Reeves becomes more of a hero and Scott more of a villain as they part ways with their loyal bands in an attempt to try and reach Rome first and to escape from the posse of Roman soldiers who are attempting to recapture the general's daughter(the lovely Virna Lisi)......in the end a great "duel" with a knife wielding joust between Reeves and Scott, with Mr. Reeves laying down his brother with tears and proclaiming the founding of the eternal city, Rome.
Agi Murad il diavolo bianco (1959)
Reeves Weakest Film
The White Warrior is definitely one of,if not Steve Reeves weakest films. Set in 18th or 19th century Russia (??) Steve plays a cossack warrior who tries to over run a mad man Russian czar by running up a mountain side with his rebel band in a goofy looking Russian white tunic..... For the most part the great Reeves physique is hidden in a goofy, knee length tunic, with an even more sillier looking russian hat.
The action is rather minimal, with only a good wrestling scene from the mid waist up that shows off the great Reeves physique. This is an apparent attempt by the producers to move Reeves out of the sword and sandal genre into another historic era, with poor results. The dialogue from the script is hard to understand at various points, and only commentary from the narrator allows the viewer to understand what is really happening from scene to scene. I would image Reeves regretted making this film, but in an attempt to try and get out of his toga and sandals and tribune armor it helped launch him to other historic characters such as Morgan the Pirate and the Thief of Baghdad.
Il figlio di Spartacus (1962)
One of Steve Reeves best films
"The Slave" (aka Son of Spartacus) is a an excellent action Reeves film with a good story line to borrow from (the original Spartacus). Reeves learns of his heritage after being captured by a band of slave drivers in the Egyptian desert - also tagging along is a beautiful slave girl who along with Reeves survives being dumped overboard by a ship which hits a barge in the River. Great scene,when Reeves doubtful that he is Spartacus's son walks slowly into a small catacomb and finds the helmet and sword of Spartacus and muses for several minutes about his heritage - linking a medallion he has worn since birth with the same emblem on the sword handle of Spartacus. Also great action scene when Reeves rescues a band of prisoners of Ceasar Crassus who are tied into a large moat with water rushing in to cause a drowning execution. Excellent sword and action with several bad guys being wiped out by Steve, looking like an adonis with a metal helmet on in a great swashbuckling scene.....Reeves as a tribune of Ceasar finally realizes as did his dad, Spartacus, that the Roman empire cannot survive as a slave empire.....reluctantly Ceasar realizes it also and gives Reeves and his slave followers their freedom. Good cloak and dagger role for Steve as he poses as a tribune working for Caesar and also as the Son of Spartacus - wearing an impressive full head helmet to complete his disguise.
good
Morgan il pirata (1960)
Great Pirate Swashbuckler
It is a shame that "Morgan the Pirate" is not shown or recognized more by action fans. It is very hard to find this film on any tv station - including cable or video stores. Steve Reeves gives his very best acting job in this venerable pirate tale.....also, an oddity is that Steve has to pursue the lovely Dona Inez, the daughter of the governor of Panama, throughout the film.....she makes Reeves work very hard to make a conquest of her. In other Reeves tales the women begin swooning over him very early. Morgan the Pirate has great action scenes, with good closeups of some beautifully reconstructed pirate ships. The costumes are quite historical, with Reeves decked out in a slew of pirate regalia as the film progresses. The music sets off this swashbuckler to a great extent. Best music score around for this pirate tale. Reeves survives a mini mutiny among his own pirate group, spearheaded by a jealous cohort captain who Steve outduels in an excellent action sequence early in the film as Reeves establishes his authority as the overall leader of the pirates. Some lovely women to look at in this film, and Reeves does not appear overly muscular for the role.
Plenty of pirate fighting and a good romantic ending for Captain Morgan.