gene-07202 Reviews

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride (1992 TV Movie)

Always Implying - Never saying

[10/10 · 18 April 2024]

There was always constant sexual tension between Perry and Della Street in all of their encounters. But rarely anything out in the open. Perry and Della talk about how Perry knew the family. He is introduced as an "Uncle". Not a real one but a close friend. There were implications throughout this movie that Perry is the biological father of the Bride. Subtle, but it is there. And no one comes out and says it. Even at the end when the bride's mother wants to say something to Della, and she responds you do not have to say it. I already know!... What? That she and Perry had an affair eons ago? Or that Perry is more than just a pretend "Uncle" and at one point he states that no one knows how far he would go to hlep this young Bride to be.

The Andy Griffith Show: Alcohol and Old Lace (1961) Season 1, Episode 17

The Morrison Sisters.

[7/10 · 22 March 2024]

Don Knotts and Andy Griffith and everyone are brilliant in this episode. Also Opie and Otis Campbell. One big goof that I never see documented. Barney always wants to take a great big axe, and "Pow!, Pow!, Pow!". However? When he starts in doing this with the Morrison's sister's still? You cannot do it with a fire burning underneath it. Otherwise, Barney, Andy, and the Morrison sisters would all be blown up in a fiery explosion. Suspension of disbelief. However, it is a great episode! Charity Grace and Glady Hurlbut provide comedic performances that are still entertaining today. This is one of my favorite episodes.

Wings: Whose Wife Is It Anyway? (1994) Season 6, Episode 1

Brilliant Two-Part Story

[8/10 · 3 January 2024]

Some of the scenes are hysterical. BTW. It appears that no one familiar with this TV show knows what is the name of the Red-Headed clerk that is in a tremendous number of episodes working for Roy Biggins. True, she never had any dialog, However, she was on so often? She should have been credited somewhere. On that note? In the airport scenes in this episode? There is an extra in the background? She is also a red-head and must be about six and a half feet tall. She TOWERS over everyone. Later she is seen walking up the stairs with someone. As for Farrah Forke leaving the show? Supposedly because the writers felt it was too difficult to write for her? They made Alex TOO nomal. Her replaced, Amy Yasbeck went 180 degrees in the opposite direction. She chewed up all the scenery and everyone loved it. As for the writers? Nonsense. Alex is a former Pilot who was in a war. She would have a Top Secret + clearance. She flew helicopters in the Middle East. It would have been easy to write sub-plots where her past catches up with her. Having CIA Agents showing up. Investigations. Wanting to recruit her for more missions. Later you could even have episodes where she flew famous people to remote locations to entertain troops etc. Have a famous movie star show up as an old "Middle East Boy friend. The possibilities were endless.

Battleground (1949)

The Last 4 mintes

[10/10 · 2 October 2023]

The movie pay tribute to the 101st Airborne and their defense of Bastogne during WWII. The survivors are exhausted and worn out.

The last 4 minutes of this film is incredible and will make most cry. These brave soldiers have survived unbelieble hardship and they think they are going back into battle. James Whitmore yells "About Face" and they start marching back to their own lines. Hobbling and exhausted.

When they see relief troops marching toward them? They all start changing their posture and behavior. They all straighten up and start marching with enthusiasm and pride. An incredible scene.

The Scapegoat (1959)

Alec

[5/10 · 13 May 2023]

Alec Guinness is /was a great actor. It is amazing what films did back then to imply much without ever saying it. Alec's double is shown to be incredibly immoral and evil based on all the encounters with others. His daughter's behavior? It even implies the evil of incest which appears to have harmed her intensely. As for Gore Vidal? The less said the better. He once defended Roman Polanski and implied that the child in question was a wh*re. She was 13 years old and innocent. But then many writers have had a total lack of morals and standards. This film was not a great success at the box office? However many films achieved greatness later on and were appreciated. "It's a Wonderful Life" did not break even and show a profit for 25 years. And then only with the help of television. Frank Capra's personal favorite.

Blue Bloods (2010–2024)

A Great Show

[10/10 · 19 February 2023]

Here is a family of Cops. They have meals together. They pray together. They celebrate the Holidays. They love and support each others. However? "Blue Bloods" was not the first show with this kind of story.

I am also describing the "Fein Family" in "Family of Cops". Except they were not Catholics. They were Jews and they were in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, by the third and last film? Charles Bronson's health was failing and he died just a few years later. But those movies are a GREAT legacy for him and for television. "Blue Bloods" is a great show. I enjoy watching it. But I will never forget that they were not the first.

The Fountainhead (1949)

Ayn Rand had too much of an "ego".

[7/10 · 29 December 2022]

A great book and a great movie. But in both, you need to allow the action to explain the plot and theme. Never use dialog when a scene can explain what you want.

In her book "Atlas Shrugged"? The hero takes over all communication to explain his beliefs and doctrines. That narrative goes on and on and on for over SEVENTY Pages. Even a believer in her Philosophy would be put to sleep by a her ranting. She should have allowed a writer and a screenwriter to complete both the novel and the movie. But she was too stubborn and head strong. However. Her Philosophy lives on.

I would like to see a newer version of the book and movie without the incessant ranting and screeching.

Wings (1990–1997)

I have every episode on DVD.

[10/10 · 28 November 2022]

Fantastic character development. One item? Farrah Forke was released from the show, because the writers had trouble with her character. All they had to do was create some (Up till then) unknown quirky part of her character and add it to the show. The sad fact is that she was TOO "normal" compared to all the other characters who always had a funny twist to their personalities and the conflict with each other created great comedy. Her only unique trait was flying a helicopter and being a veteran from a Middle Eastern conflict. Her early death from cancer was a great loss. On adding quirkiness to characters? Replacement Amy Yasbeck was completely outragerous and added a lot of great comedy. Why this was not done with the the Alex Lambert character? I have never unbderstood that.

First Blood (1982)

Such a bad film.

[1/10 · 14 October 2022]

I realize that viewers have to "Suspend Disbelief"? But this is ridiculous and stupid. Making a movie and taking a BIG City mentality and putting it in a small town? It defies belief. In a real small town in Middle America? Rambo would last less than 60 seconds.

. As soon as he blew up the gas station and the Guns and Ammo Shop? The "Good ole Boys and Gals" would have left the nearest bar and grill, grabbed their rifles from their trucks and finished him off in seconds. Then they would FIRE their Sheriff for hiding up on the roof and screaming for citizens to "hide in their homes!". The action in this film is NOT believable to anyone that has lived in the country and not a big city. I still cannot believe that this movie spawned an entire Movie Franchise.

It is also incredible insulting to all of our military who have served in the Reserves!

Columbo: Murder, Smoke and Shadows (1989) Season 8, Episode 2

Steven Hill

[10/10 · 14 October 2022]

Mr. Hill only makes two short appearances. But the second one in the limo? Great acting. He is one of the few people in acting who could smile with his whole face behind it except for the eyes, which are projecting revenge and death. A very scary moment. His acting in Law and Order is the same. Sam Waterson as McCoy could get all excited, jumping and gesturing all over the place. Steven Hill could sit back and just GLANCE at him and totally dominate the scene and the episode. One glance and he is communicating REAMS of dialog without saying a word. Great acting is not just about dialog. Hill was an expert on all of it. His scene in the limo is priceless.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989 TV Movie)

NOT Using Valerie Mahaffey?

[6/10 · 25 August 2022]

I bought the whole set of Perry Mason movies. I enjoy them. However? In the original series. Perry Mason had a Courteous/Friendly but competitive and adversarial relationship with his DA.(The late William Talman). He had the same kind of relationship with the character played by David Ogden Steirs for 9 episodes. Then they bring in Valerie Mahaffey for a few episodes? They take ZERO time to develop the same type of relationship. In many of the episodes? They waste a TREMENDOUS amount of time with William Moses' character running or driving through the streets. Running through buildings. Running through warehouses. Knocking people down while chasing someone. A waste of time if done too long and too often. There should have been a few short scenes developing the character relationship between Perry Mason and Valarie's DA Character. A talent like her, and it is WASTED..... There would have been personal and professional friction. Maybe even sexual ones like Perry and Della. The point is they had a VERY talented actress for DA and wasted the opportunity. There should have been less running, jumping, car smashing, and more on the characters and their development. Devolving into a "Formula" and not taking chances? They are cheating. I like the show. I will watch all the movies? But they wasted some great Hollywood talent with Valerie Mahaffey!

Cannon (1971–1976)

After Watching the Re-Runs late at Night?

[10/10 · 4 August 2022]

On ME-TV along with "Mannix" and Barnaby Jones"? I ordered the entire Cannon Series on DVD and watched them.

James Cagney was only 5'6'', but he never stood on boxes or had co-stars stand in holes. He was larger than life on the screen BECAUSE of his acting.

That being said? William Conrad played Sheriff Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke". BUT ONLY on the radio for over a decade. Meaning no disrespect to the late actor James Arness? The series "Cannon" showed that William Conrad could have played Sheriff Matt Dillon on the screen and did not have to be seven feet tall to do a great job. William Conrad's list of achievements in Narration, Directing. Voice-Overs. Films and TV is amazing. A talented man. May he R. I. P.

Jake and the Fatman: Street of Dreams (1991) Season 5, Episode 3

Great Show and Great Stories

[6/10 · 28 July 2022]

A minor "GOOF".

The reward of 10%? That goes to the Graffiti Artist?

Ten percent of 20 million is 2 million dollars.

Not 200 thousand. Otherwise a very good story.

Hombre (1967)

One Thing Bothered Me

[6/10 · 18 June 2022]

Their most precious possession is water. They know they are being chased. They take refuge and leave all of the water someplace else instead of on their person. It makes zero sense.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Entertaining but silly

[6/10 · 3 February 2022]

IF Indiana was a real Historian and Archeologist? And he KNEW the history of the Ark? He would have HELPED Belloc get the Ark. He would have told him to take it to Berlin immediately and bring it to the Fuehrer and give it to him as a present.

The Bellboy (1960)

The "Hand" of Stan Laurel" is all over this film.

[7/10 · 3 January 2022]

A great film..... On other Jerry Lewis Films? He would strike out. Not always. But often. He offered Stan Laurel a hundred G's per year to be a consultant on his films. Although Stan Laurel turned him down? Stan did review and rewrite the screenplay for "The Bellboy (1960). The "Hand" of Mr. Laurel can be seen everywhere in this film. Kudos to Jerry Lewis for acknowledging Mr. Laurel's contributions to this film. I would have liked to have seen Stan Laurel get an Oscar foe "co-writing" but it never happened.

Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006 TV Movie)

All of the Jesse Stone Movies are great!

[10/10 · 5 August 2021]

The acting performances are always top notch. From Viola Davis, Cathy Baker all the rest to Rueben, Sadler and others.

Suspension of Disbelief? Well, in a town of 50,000 + residents? You have to have a police force of at least 100. Now if the main officers WERE detectives and it focused on them for certain crimes? That would be believable.

Otherwise, I enjoy the series very much and I watch them over and over.

Operator 13 (1934)

Marion Davies and Gary Cooper

[3/10 · 30 January 2021]

Both are trying to do well in a movie that does not measure up. As for "Stereotypes"? The Mills Brothers were a great group and were together for over a half century. Propfessionals? Yes. They performed in a professional manner. It was also quite obvious on the screen? That NONE of them were happy peforming a racist number called "Jungle Fever",

Very unusual picture that offends many.

The Banker (1989)

Starts Out Great. Then falls apart.

[1/10 · 23 January 2021]

For two hours, Duncan Regehr plays a person who is a genius and insane. Then the last 15 minutes he transforms into a person who is a genius and a moron. VERY disappointing.

Star Trek: Plato's Stepchildren (1968) Season 3, Episode 10

On the "Big Kiss"?

[6/10 · 19 January 2021]

Leonard Nimoy was supposed to kiss Nicole Nichols, but Shatner intervened as he always did when he thought anyone was going to "steal the spotlight" from him. On this Inter-Racial" Nonsense? Frances Nuyen No one ever says a things about Frances Nuyen in the Episode - Elaan of Troyius (1968)... It seems that it ONLY counts as "Inter-Racial" in America if it is Caucasian and African American....... Go figure.... So Frances Nuyen is completely ignored in Television Trivia. Of course. her episode did come after Plato's Children.

Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)

Paul Neuman Directing and Acting

[8/10 · 17 January 2021]

Right from the beginning you have a Logging Union Leader on the front porch of the Stamper Family. They are independents and they have a contract. And they "Never Give an Inch" and they do not break their word... The Union Leader using that innocent line narrative threatens them while NOT threatening them. Paul Neuman in his controlled understated acting responds beautifully catching both meanings. And you know that this is going to be an incredbile film.

JFK (1991)

Not Historically Accurate - a But a good film - BTW

[6/10 · 16 October 2020]

In the beginning of the film at the Inaugural Partying and Celebrating? Was that Ted Lewis dancing with the top hat on stage? If so? He is never listed among all the many REAL people in archival footage as "Self"...... If it is him, it should be corrected in the future.

Columbo: Forgotten Lady (1975) Season 5, Episode 1

I loved this "Columbo"

[7/10 · 22 September 2020]

One or two observations? Columbo lists the reasons why 15 minutes go by before the broken film is fixed. ANY Lawyer would just respond. "It was midnight. She dozed off. Woke up 15 minutes later and fixed the film." The Double Dosage on the medication? That could have been just an old person forgetting that they took the first pill. Columbo solves the crime. But no one would get tried for this. It would not even get passed a Grand Jury.

Moonraker (1979)

Lots of Action and Fast Paced

[6/10 · 10 September 2020]

In the Trivia Section:? "Sir Roger Moore's distaste at the shooting scene is quite genuine. In his autobiography, Moore expressed an extreme dislike for bloodsports, and a reticence about guns." >>-**** However? Roger Moore's 007 is so ruthless as to be almost sociopathic. A woman helps him in the beginning of the film. She is not a villain. After, 007 just flies away to South America not caring what happened to her and she is killed horribly (Off Camera) by trained attack dogs. The actor Roger Moore would always say that he disliked guns and in this movie only fired once and killed a sniper that is getting ready to kill 007. However, to have his character just leave this woman to be killed for helping Bond. And to be killed by trained attack animals? And she is not even a villain? She is being killed for helping him. Forget about not using a gun. This type of brutal lethal ruthlessness ruined what could have been a truly great 007 Film. Roger Moore should have insisted that 007 NOT desert this woman. There should have been a re-write. Here is Moore complaining about using handguns while leaving this scene in the movie. I could never understand this. It ruined the movie for me. The rest is exceptional.

On the Beach (1959)

Good Acting from many Stars

[7/10 · 9 September 2020]

However, when ever many talk about "Suspension of Disbelief" and "Plot Holes". This movie completely ignores the nature of Gamma Radiation and its nature. In addition to Alpha and Beta Particles and Radiation. Considering the dangers of nuclear war and this is the late 50's? I guess there can be a "pass" given on all of this. However the average person seems to know very little about REAL Radiation. This includes the people who wrote this screenplay and produced the movie. AND the author that wrote the Novel which was required reading for me in high school back in the early 70's.