tophoca Reviews

The Jane Froman Show (1952– )

A treat for Jane Froman Fans.

[10/10 · 18 November 2006]

Films about or films starring Jane Froman are almost impossible to obtain legally so it was nice to find this gem from 1954 'The Jane Froman Show' Presented in black and white the show runs for approximately 20 minutes and features Jane in a studio version of the Scottish Highlands backed by some rather camp acting extras in kilts! Jane sings several songs associated with Scotland and closes the show with her signature song 'With A Song In My Heart'.

The show was sponsored by General Electric and features adverts for their own photographic flash bulbs. The picture and sound quality is perhaps better than one might expect from a 50 year old TV programme.

It is great to see the beautiful and talented Jane Froman at her peak.

Smiley (1956)

Enchanting Aussie Movie

[9/10 · 11 November 2006]

I saw this film as a youngster in the 1960s and along with the sequel 'Smiley Gets a Gun' it has always stuck in my memory as two films I must get round to watching again. I managed to obtain two new commercial releases from Australia and sat down with a bag of chips and a tinny to relive happy childhood memories, I wasn't disappointed.

Yes the Australian accents are a bit over the top and yes the films are now showing their age a bit, but for sheer charm and gentile entertainment 'Smiley' and its sequel take some beating. The acting is top notch and the camera work is exceptional. Both films are pure magic! Fine examples of Australian cinema are worth of a place in anyones DVD collection.

Boum sur Paris (1953)

Great French Stars

[9/10 · 26 February 2005]

O.K. there isn't really a plot as such but the film revolves around a French perfume by the name of boum. What we do get is the chance to see some of the all time great stars of France. Charles Trenet appears and sings two of his hits from the period. It is great to see Trenet at his prime and it helps one see why his career extended over six decades. Lucienne Delyle makes an all to brief appearance. Delyle was to die a few years later from leukemia. Edith Piaf, Annie Cordy, Juliette Greco all make appearances along with Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck, although quite why they were included is beyond me. A great platform for French stars of the 50s!

Yossi & Jagger (2002)

Absolutely Stunning!

[20 November 2004]

This just has to be one of the most haunting movies I have ever seen. That it has taken an Israeli film crew, Israeli actors. with the backdrop of the sad history of conflict in that troubled region, makes the film even more stunning.

I was surprised to learn that Israel has allowed gay men and women to serve in their armed forces since the mid eighties. That the military in Israel allowed this film to be made is a credit to a nation that I do not normally admire.

The plot has been detailed in earlier comments and the comment has been made that the film is too short. I would have liked to have seen more of Yossi and Jagger, perhaps going one that long dreamed of holiday that was so important to Jagger. Despite the films short running time,this film just has to be the best ever made on what still remains a controversial subject, even in this enlightened time. Can one even contemplate this film being made in Turkey for instance..not a chance!

This is definitely a film that deserves a wide audience. I doubt that it will ever be equalled so make an effort to see this wonderfully moving and tragic tale.

The Montecarlo Story (1956)

Marlene glitters but the film doesn't!

[20 November 2004]

Why on earth Marlene Dietrich got involved in this nonsense is beyond me. She must have been short of cash to have even considered appearing in this load of tosh.

The plot, such as it is, is thin involving a group of 'society gamblers' in Monte Carlo. Marlene wears some great clothes and generally glitters in contrast to de Sica who appears as dim as a Toc H lamp!

The one bright spot in this whole sorry saga is Marlene's rendition of "Back Home Again In Indiana" Not that she had any connection with the state, I bet Marlene wished she was back in Indiana!

This, along with her appearance in the 1944 version of "Kismit" just has to be Dietrich's darkest hour (or two) !

Here Come the Waves (1944)

Hutton lets it down.

[20 November 2004]

This film should have worked. great Mercer score, Bing Crosby songs and Mark Sandrich directing.. but along comes Hutton to spoil the show.

Screeming like a demented banshee for much of the film, Hutton spoils what merit there is in the somewhat thin plot. Basically a flag waver along the lines of the earlier Crosby film "Star Spangled Rhythm" where Hutton also ruined the stirring Crosby number "Old Glory" again with her ear shattering screems, this film fails because someone failed to put prosac into Hutton's tea. If you can put up with Hutton then this makes for average rainy afternoon viewing. Bing deserved a better co-star than this and there were plenty around in 1944.

Jud Süß (1940)

Not a bad choice for a rainy afternoon!

[11 September 2004]

OK folks, "The Jolson Story" it certainly ain't but as propaganda films go, this one is not that bad. 60 years down the road, there can be no justification for putting this film on the banned list anymore. The film had a message to give to the German people of 1940 and was successful in that respect, but surely we have all moved on now. The final scene in "Jud Suss" should have todays audiences in fits of laughter. I am surprised that Mel Brooks hasn't done a remake of Jud Suss. Find a copy if you can and that isn't too difficult despite attempts to prevent the film being issued,and sit down with a nice box of chocolates a stiff gin and tonic and enjoy. Jud Suss certainly beats walking in the rain after all!

Imitation of Life (1934)

Interesting and Entertaining

[14 March 2004]

The previous reviewer finds this film "Racist Garbage" Oh for goodness sake! The 1934 film version of Fanny Hearst novel is broadly similar to the Douglas Sirk remake made in the late 50s with Lana Turner. O.K. maybe neither version could be describe as PC by todays standards but as the films are between 46 and 70 years old thats hardly surprising. Both versions make a statement relevant to the period they were made. The 1934 version is on a par with the later Sirk version but stands on its own as a fine tribute to its stars Claudette Colbert and Delilah Johnson. I find it difficult to believe that any viewer interested in cinema history would find either film version of the Hearst novel offensive.

The Blue Light (1932)

Stunning film and a tribute to a great lady.

[16 December 2003]

Unlike the previous reviewer, I have an excellent print of "The Blue Light" that Leni Riefenstahl sent to me a few years ago. This is truly a magnificent film and along with "Tiefland" should be for what this great lady is remembered for. "Triumph of the Will" and "Olympia" are stunning documentaries but "The Blue Light" and "Tiefland" are outstanding movies and a tribute to the greatest female film director ever.

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

What a load of sentimental slush

[19 June 2001]

... and I loved every minute of it! Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson team up again in another weepie that is sure to have you crying into your afternoon tea! Douglas Sirk was the master of the weepie and in this one he pulled out all the stops. Rock Hudson plays the handsome gardner and Jane Wyman the lonely widow who is also the mother of two All American Brats! Fortunately Rock wins and the brats are left watching mothers christmas present, a television set! Brilliant acting, stunning photography, a film that nobody should miss.

Little Boy Lost (1953)

Crosby at his best!

[19 June 2001]

Why this film has been neglected over the years is hard to understand. This is not quite what you would expect from Crosby in that it is a superb dramatic acting role for him. In my opinion Crosby is more convincing in this film than he was in "The Country Girl."

The story is about an American war reporter who returns to Paris after the war to look for his lost son. Lovely shots of Paris and great acting from all concerned. A real tearjerker from start to finish.

Recently played on Turkish T.V. surely one of the video companies will make this available to the public. Otherwise I would suggest a mass exodus to Turkey, it really is that good!

The Tunnel (1940)

A better script for Robeson this time around!

[19 June 2001]

This film was shown to a group of Turkish students recently with a surprising result.. they loved it! Robeson suffered all through his career from dud scripts. He was usually cast as an African chief in low budget British made films, in this film he plays the part of a coal miner in Wales. Songs include "Deep River" and "Land Of My Fathers". Robeson was accepted more in England than he was in the USA probably because of his political beliefs. Communist or not he had a great voice and this film shows that given a half decent script he was a good actor. Buy it while you can, these Gems tend to go out of print very quickly never to be seen again for years.