artroraback Reviews

Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)

A Great Film for silent movie buffs

[8/10 · 26 February 2003]

Laugh, Clown Laugh is a brilliant tour de force for Lon Chaney. In this film he plays a clown named Tito who takes a young orphan (played by Loretta Young) into his care. She blossoms into a beautiful young woman and a wealthy count falls in love with her. While the film is dated it is well worth watching.

Body and Soul (1925)

Interesting Film

[7/10 · 3 February 2003]

Body and Soul is an interesting film. Paul Robeson makes a powerful debut in this film about an escaped prisoner who blends into a small community as a beloved pastor. This film is an interesting period piece and was written, directed, and starred African-Americans in an era where that sort of thing wasn't done. Audiences today would be shocked at the stereotypical performances of the supporting cast and would be shocked that an African-American made this film. Well worth seeing for movie buffs. Robeson gives a great and powerful performance.

Brightness (2001)

Interesting and entertaining

[10/10 · 30 December 2002]

Brightness is an entertaining little film. Until the very end of the film you do not really have an idea of what is actually going on. Can recommend this to anyone. Look for Eric Idle of Monty Python fame as Mr. Bix.

The Wild Ride (1960)

For Jack Nicholson fans only

[2/10 · 25 December 2002]

This film is another in a long line of movies showing reckless youths with their fast cars and fast women. This film features a young Jack Nicholson as the leader of a gang in California. When a young woman gets between Jack and his best friend things go downhill for all concerned. This film is recommended only for fans of Jack Nicholson.

Speedy (1928)

A Terrific Movie

[10/10 · 25 November 2002]

If you have never seen a Harold Lloyd film you owe it to yourself to see Speedy. Filmed in 1928 this was Lloyd's last silent movie and it is funny. The story revolves around "Speedy" ,an unfortunate character who has a hard time holding down a job. There are lots and lots of sight gags and slapstick humor.

The Avengers (1998)

An Awful Movie!

[11 November 2002]

The Avengers is another in a long line of classic television shows that have made it to the big screen. This film is utterly horrible and not worth the effort to see. At test screenings the 2.5 hour film was not favorably received and the highly edited 98 minute version released on the big screen is utterly horrible. What a clunker!

New Orleans (1947)

The granddaddy of 50's rock and roll films

[6/10 · 4 November 2002]

New Orleans is an entertaining but dated little film. Set in 1917 jazz and ragtime music are frowned upon by decent society. When a young classically trained singer falls for Nick Duquesne the self proclaimed "King of Basin Street" her mother and polite society will stop at nothing to close Basin Street and chase Nick out of town. Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday appear and in particular this is a must for Louis Armstrong fans. This film is in the style of 1950's and 60's rock and roll movies. Corny but entertaining.

A Double Life (1947)

Ronald Colman gives a great performance

[7/10 · 4 November 2002]

Ronald Colman gives a terrific performance as a stage actor who really gets into his work. When he plays Othello on the stage he takes on the persona with dire results. Good film with a great supporting cast. Well worth watching.

Protocol (1984)

Only for Goldie Hawn fans

[3/10 · 2 November 2002]

Protocol is an implausible movie whose only saving grace is that it stars Goldie Hawn along with a good cast of supporting actors. The story revolves around a ditzy cocktail waitress who becomes famous after inadvertently saving the life of an Arab dignitary. The story goes downhill halfway through the movie and Goldie's charm just doesn't save this movie. Unless you are a Goldie Hawn fan don't go out of your way to see this film.

The Children's Hour (1961)

Powerful and dated yet strangely timeless

[8/10 · 2 November 2002]

The Children's Hour is a powerful film dealing with the effects of lies and discrimination. Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn give terrific performances as 2 girl school teachers accused of being lesbians. Their lives are ruined by an obnoxious little girl who spreads lies. The film is dated in that society today wouldn't bat an eyelash over such a sitation (in fact their school today would probably set attendance records) but you can substitute any minority or ethnic group for the 2 lead characters and see how people can suffer at the hand of discrimination. The movie is based upon the Lillian Hellman play and recommended for movie buffs of all ages.

Chino (1973)

Recommended for Bronson fans

[6/10 · 31 October 2002]

Chino is the story of the typical loner who doesn't fit into society. Typical Bronson film with an un-typical Bronson ending. Bronson plays Chino who breaks and sells wild horses. After taking a young boy in as a ranch hand things start to get better for Chino. He falls in love with a rancher's sister and things deteriorate from that point. Can recommend this film for Bronson fans.

Mark of the Vampire (1935)

Only for dedicated movie buffs

[6/10 · 31 October 2002]

Mark of the Vampire is based upon London After Midnight and is an unusual vampire tale. There are genuinely creepy moments but the ending ruins the story. Lionel Barrymore and Bela Lugosi can't save this movie and we can only recommend this to dedicated movie buffs. The ending is disappointing and inexplicable.

Vampyr (1932)

Surreal and eerie. Worth watching !

[10/10 · 31 October 2002]

Vampyr is a surreal and creepy movie. It is well worth watching and hard to describe. Can highly recommend this to any horror film buff. The story revolves around a young traveler who ends up in a French village that is plagued by vampires. Is it all a dream?

Background to Danger (1943)

Peter Lorre can't save this film!

[4/10 · 30 October 2002]

This film seems to be an inept attempt to recapture the magic of Casablanca (it even features the ending scene of the plane taking off) and fails despite having Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. The story deals with a Nazi plot to stir up trouble in neutral Turkey and it doesn't work. George Raft is miscast and just doesn't pull it off. It is ironic that he turned down the lead role in Casablanca and movie fans should be grateful.Recommended only for movie buffs and Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet fans.

Village of the Damned (1960)

Creepy and Spooky. Well worth watching!

[10/10 · 25 October 2002]

Village of the Damned is a creepy and spooky movie. Filmed in black and white to give it an eerie spookiness this movie manages to scare without any special effects. The story revolves around a small town in England where after an unusual occurrence all of the women of childbearing age inexplicably give birth to seemingly too-perfect children. Well worth watching and highly recommended.

The Way Ahead (1944)

Strong cast makes this appealing.

[7/10 · 23 October 2002]

This is a good film that was intended to bolster morale during World War II. The cast is very good and headed by David Niven. This is a story primarily of 8 men of different backgrounds who survive their basic training and end up driving Rommel out of North Africa. The film is primarily about how men develop character when push comes to shove and there isn't a whole lot of action. Good story and worth seeing for the strong cast alone.

The Garden of Allah (1936)

Worth watching for the stunning imagery but a bit dated.

[5/10 · 21 October 2002]

The movie is visually stunning but dated. This was one of the earliest films utilizing breathtaking Technicolor. Marlene Dietrich gives a good performance as a woman in search of herself and Charles Boyer plays the troubled man that she falls in love with. The story is good but the script is hokey. The colors and imagery makes this a film worth seeing for any movie buff. Look for John Carradine in a few brief scenes.

The Unknown (1927)

Creepy and Bizarre

[7/10 · 18 October 2002]

Lon Chaney gives another amazing performance as a circus freak in this silent film from 1927. Without giving away the plot let's just say that it is bizarre. Lon falls in live with his assistant in his act and his world crashes down when she announces her marriage to the strong man. While short in length the story is well told and recommended to any horror movie fan. The version we have seen on Turner Classic Movies has good background music added to it which adds to the creepiness.

Hitler's Children (1943)

Sensational for it's time it is an interesting period piece.

[6/10 · 15 October 2002]

I can see how this film would have created a stir when it was released in 1942.World War II was being fought and the Germans dominated Europe. The film is the story of two star crossed lovers: an American girl with German blood and an unfortunate young man who rises from the Hitler Youth and becomes a colonel in the Gestapo. Kind of an unusual take on the boy meets girl story but a good film just the same. Recommended for history buffs and Tim Holt fans.

Dinner at Eight (1933)

They don't make them like they used to.

[10/10 · 14 October 2002]

Dinner at Eight is an example of movie making at it's best. The all star cast gives great and believable performances in this tale set during the Great Depression. A wealthy woman looking to move up in the social world decides to throw a dinner party and invites well to do folk who all have their share of problems. A lesser director than George Cukor could have turned this into a maudlin soap opera. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.

Dancing Lady (1933)

Joan Crawford sings and dances!

[5/10 · 14 October 2002]

This is the story of an ambitious burlesque girl/stripper played by Joan Crawford who decides to fulfill her life's dream by dancing in a Broadway show. A rich playboy who wants to marry her pulls the strings so that she gets a special audition. Clark Gable plays the director. Despite all the cliches it is still nice to see Clark Gable and a young Joan Crawford. Fred Astaire, Robert Benchley also appear. The Three Stooges make one of their first film appearances. Recommended for movie buffs only.

Young Bride (1932)

Not a bad little movie

[6/10 · 7 October 2002]

This is an entertaining little movie. Helen Twelvetrees plays Allie Smith, a young woman who has few friends and keeps to herself. She meets Eric Linden, as Charlie Riggs who is always working on the big deal that will set him financially for life. She is swept off her feet and after her marriage she finds out that Charlie is not the man she thinks he was. In true Hollywood fashion everything works out after they both hit rock bottom. Good performances make this film rise above all the cliches.

Hell's Highway (1932)

Great little film

[7/10 · 7 October 2002]

This is an entertaining film despite containing all the cliches one could expect to fine in a chaingang movie. Well worth seeing for any movie buff. Richard Dix gives a great performance as Duke Ellis,the leader of the chain gang. His brother Johnny,who idolizes him ,is the newest prisoner on the chain gang for trying to kill the man who ratted on his brother. Duke does all he can to help his younger misguided brother. Despite all the cliches it is entertaining just the same.